SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 2/1/2020 1173791 Ducks fall to Lightning and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who 1173822 Blackhawks rookie Dominik Kubalik hopes his breakout gets his 150th win season continues after scoring 10 goals in 10 January 1173792 Ducks get a look at what their future might look like in loss gam to Lightning 1173823 Why February's a make-or-break month for Blackhawks 1173793 Ducks left wing Max Jones seeking the right balance 1173824 Recharged and refreshed, Blackhawks ready for playoff 1173794 ‘Sometimes you can do something little’: The story behind push John Gibson’s Kobe Bryant tribute mask 1173825 Ten keys to the Blackhawks getting back into the playoffs 1173826 here are they now? Niklas Hjalmarsson comfortable with his place in Blackhawks’ core 1173795 Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson being evaluated after leaving game vs. Kings 1173796 What we know about the NHL’s reported, ongoing 1173827 Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen confident in second-half investigation of the Coyotes surge: “I can be even better” 1173828 All-Star Nathan MacKinnon rejoins Avs, eager for final 33-game stretch 1173797 Bruins edge Jets in rough-and-tumble affair 1173798 Dealing David Backes before deadline among Don Sweeney’s options 1173829 Blue Jackets expect familiarity with pressure to make 1173799 Tuukka Rask expected back in net for Bruins at Winnipeg playoffs to help as games become more important 1173800 Bruins fight their way past Jets in Winnipeg 1173830 Tortorella puts trust in Columbus Blue Jackets players 1173801 Blake Wheeler’s found a home in Winnipeg after long layoff 1173802 Bruins pregame notes: Out of the break in Winnipeg 1173831 Blue Jackets players love adding dogs to their roster 1173803 Bruins show physicality that they're going to need in win 1173832 ‘The season starts again now’: Surging Blue Jackets crank over Jets it up for stretch run 1173804 Bruins at the Break: How will B's get past Capitals or Lightning as potential playoff foes? 1173805 Bruins ‘dragged into the fight’ and respond in ‘old-time 1173833 Denis Gurianov is Stars’ latest youthful revelation — a hockey’ win in Winnipeg look at his speed, development and upcoming contract 1173806 Bruins, back from the break, need these three things to 1173834 Dallas Stars trade deadline primer: What’s the cost of start swinging in their favor possible targets? 1173807 Amerks continue hot streak by topping Syracuse 1173835 Detroit Red Wings slumber for two periods en route to 4-2 1173808 Stanley Cup winner Michael Frolik says Sabres need loss to Rangers confidence, consistency 1173836 Game thread: Red Wings lose to Rangers, 4-2 1173809 As another season slips away, Sabres fans unleash their 1173837 'They were on top of us': Red Wings rally late, still get anger steamrolled by over Rangers 1173810 Amerks Hall of Famer Domenic Pittis recalls time he 1173838 Red Wings' Valtteri Filppula slower but wiser as he nears played Sabres-Amerks doubleheader 1,000th NHL game 1173811 Sabres prospect Mattias Samuelsson shows maturity, 1173839 How to watch Detroit Red Wings at : strength as pro decision awaits TV channel, start time, stream Jan. 31 2020 1173812 With Kyle Okposo down, Sabres call up Jean-Sebastien 1173840 Red Wings fall to Rangers 4-2 after extended break Dea 1173841 How does this Red Wings season stack up with the worst 1173813 DGB Grab Bag: A Sabres fan’s rant, debating your team’s in NHL history? trade targets and happy Bettman anniversary Oilers Flames 1173842 Draisaitl big weapon as Oilers knock off Cup champion 1173814 Joey Bats or Flames' Big Save Dave ... Who flipped it Blues better? 1173843 AHL pipeline finally starting to flow for 1173815 Flames Juuso Valimaki finally back on skates 1173844 Edmonton Oilers Game Day: Blues looking to collect dues 1173816 Flames GM Treliving defends captain, calling accusations 1173845 Oilers call-up Yamamoto might not see Bakersfield ever of malicious intent 'complete garbage' again 1173817 5 subtle developments for the Flames heading into 1173846 JONES: 'Knuckles Nuge' punching above his weight for Saturday’s Battle of rematch Edmonton Oilers 1173847 ‘I got a text from that I’ve still got saved’: 8 years later, Sam Gagner reflects on his 8-point 1173818 With no margin for error, ‘no-show’ Hurricanes playing a dangerous game 1173819 Back from long break, Hurricanes’ late rally not enough 1173848 Will the Florida Panthers trade Hoffman or Dadonov? 5 against the Golden Knights questions as the final stretch kicks off 1173820 Canes’ Erik Haula says, ‘I feel good. I feel confident. I’m ready to go.’ 1173821 Bag of Jerks, Part 2: Trade tiers, Jake Gardiner’s time to 1173849 Kings look to follow Alex Iafallo’s lead vs. Ducks shine and dressing room vibes 1173850 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: JANUARY 31 1173851 Pastrnak and Boston take on Minnesota 1173885 Sidney Crosby lifts Penguins past Flyers, 4-3, in overtime 1173852 Wild needs a sense of urgency in season restart thriller 1173853 Gameday preview: Wild vs. Boston 1173886 Flyers and longtime equipment manager Derek Settlemyre 1173854 Minnesota Wild Week: Coming back after a long layoff part ways; Alex Lyon ready to face Avs 1173855 Marcus Foligno plays physical but he also can score, kill 1173887 Dave Scott: Flyers are a playoff team, and eyeing a move penalties and be nice off the ice to improve chances | Sam Carchidi 1173856 Wild return from break ready to make final push for 1173888 Sidney Crosby stars, Flyers need more, but this overtime playoffs loss to Penguins isn't a bad one 1173857 Wild return from lengthy break with playoff push in mind 1173889 Kevin Hayes mic'd up is the gift that keeps on giving 1173858 The telltale stretch begins: Wild return to the ice and the 1173890 2020 players and puppies calendar for Flyers is all you churning rumor mill wanted ... and then some 1173891 Hershey Bears to wear chocolate-themed jerseys vs. Flyers' AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1173859 Hickey on hockey: Julien hints at riding Price until all hope 1173892 Trade rumor target Shayne Gostisbehere nearing return is lost for Flyers 1173860 What the Puck: Scratching Kotkaniemi shows Canadiens are bungling reset 1173861 Canadiens send defenceman Cale Fleury down to AHL's 1173893 Empty Thoughts: Penguins 4, Flyers 3 (OT) Laval Rocket 1173894 Minor league report: Jake Lucchini leads Penguins past 1173862 With their playoff clock running down, the Canadiens buy Phantoms a few more seconds in Buffalo 1173895 Sidney Crosby scores overtime winner as Penguins beat Flyers Devils 1173896 Ex-Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen finds success 1173863 How Devils handled emotional swings in back-and-forth with Flyers loss to Predators 1173897 Black hockey history celebrated in Hill District with mobile 1173864 Predators’ John Hynes opens up on firing by Devils, museum landing with Nashville 1173898 Mark Madden: Penguins could benefit from Tristan Jarry’s 1173865 NJ Devils coach Alain Nasreddine sends message to Jack puckhandling against Capitals Hughes as John Hynes gets revenge 1173899 Penguins rookie Anthony Angello set to make NHL debut 1173866 Who would make the ’ all-time lineup? 1173900 Jaromir Jagr feels was ‘chafed’ when he We asked four experts signed with Flyers 1173901 Tim Benz: 3 crucial points for Penguins to address out of the break 1173867 Islanders looking for quick start with 10-day break over 1173902 Penguins grab win against Flyers in OT, 4-3 1173868 Islanders player poll: The ‘most stylish’ has refined his 1173903 Justin Schultz return brings the Penguins blue line one look over the years step closer to full strength 1173904 NHL’s Black Hockey History mobile museum visits Miller New York Rangers Elementary in Hill District 1173869 Rangers roll over Red Wings in return from break 1173905 Tristan Jarry gets first start after the All-Star break; plus, 1173870 Pavel Buchnevich could be playing way into Rangers what's up with Nick Bjugstad? trade deadline plans 1173906 Penguins-Flyers: Game time, TV information and matchup 1173871 Igor Shesterkin impresses as Rangers dispatch Red notes Wings 1173907 Where there are stars, there’s a way: Sidney Crosby, 1173872 Rangers dangling promotion to top line as motivation for Evgeni Malkin will the sluggish Penguins past the Flyers rookie Kakko 1173908 A secret weapon could aid the Penguins in the season’s 1173873 Postgame analysis: NY Rangers come out of the break second half with a win over lowly Red Wings 1173909 Alex Galchenyuk opens up on his disappointing first half: ‘I 1173874 NY Rangers projected lineup: New 'D' pairs separate feel like everything is under a microscope’ rookies Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox 1173875 Pavel Buchnevich triggers 2nd-period blitz as Rangers top Red Wings 1173910 Joe Thornton on Tomas Hertl: “He knows he’s not alone in 1173876 Young Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko refreshed after trip this” home to Finland during All-Star break 1173911 Sharks GM Doug Wilson talks expectations, EK65, Martin 1173877 Igor Shesterkin the ‘shooter’ continues to impress the Jones and trade deadline Rangers 1173912 Five Sharks storylines to watch over final 30 games of 1173878 Playoffs? What the Rangers must do to achieve their 2019-20 season stated of making the postseason 1173913 Duhatschek Notebook: In search of subtle deadline deals, Preds answers lie within and time for Sharks to reset NHL 1173879 Inside the KeyArena developer’s strategy for sponsorships St Louis Blues and naming rights at NHL Seattle’s future home 1173914 Blues updates: Steen, Gunny in, Mac healthy but out against Oilers Senators 1173915 Long and winding hockey road leads Steen to his 1,000th 1173880 WARREN GAME REPORT: Ovechkin storms past NHL game Messier as Capitals knock off Senators 1173916 Blues notebook: Whirlwind four days brings Brouwer back 1173881 Ovechkin runs down the legends, Wilson, Tkachuk and to Blues the mutual admiration society, Samsonov and the Capitals 1173917 Gordo: Stretch-run stress can make NHL teams — or n break them 1173882 's road to an NHL bench started with 1173918 Preview: Blues at Edmonton Pembroke Lumber Kings 1173919 Is St. Louis’ killing line a victim of puck luck or a 1173883 Stevenson’s 7 thoughts: What’s character worth, chink in the Blues’ armor? attendance woes and more 1173884 Salvian: Why the Senators should help the Bruins and acquire David Backes Websites 1173920 Lightning score first and go on to beat the Ducks 1173957 The Athletic / Willis: Which first lines are the most (and 1173921 NHL Scouting Confidential Part II: Ranking the Lightning’s least) productive? top trade chips 1173958 The Athletic / NHL team superlatives: Best of the team player polls Maple Leafs 1173959 .ca / Oilers flip script by holding off champion 1173922 Maple Leafs winger William Nylander proving doubters Blues in third period wrong after ‘crazy’ season 1173960 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Jacob Markstrom turns 30 playing 1173923 ‘It was crazy’: Despite hectic start, Jake Muzzin is now some of his best hockey relishing life as a Leaf 1173961 Sportsnet.ca / Former Maple Leafs GM Burke on how 1173924 The Leafs’ Jake Muzzin might have had a difficult month trade came together healing from a broken foot, but it was still easier th 1173962 Sportsnet.ca / Flames come to Giordano's defence after 1173925 The confidence of Keefe is getting the most out of the polarizing hit on McDavid Leafs and their young offensive stars 1173963 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers starting to reap benefits of being 1173926 Game Day: Senators at Maple Leafs patient with prospects 1173927 Coach Keefe leaning on talent, and it's producing results 1173964 Sportsnet.ca / Buffalo Sabres fans are ready to snap – 1173928 Leafs' Matthews on Nylander: 'Everybody's thrilled with and you can’t blame them the way he has been competing' 1173965 Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: Why Ilya Kovalchuk 1173929 Maple Leafs' Nylander putting the puck in the net as he should stay on Montreal's top line finds inside view to his liking 1173966 Sportsnet.ca / Steve Dangle looks back at Leafs' trades 1173930 Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner and coach Keefe seeing eye to for Phaneuf, Giguere eye 1173967 Sportsnet.ca / Senators' Mark Borowiecki continues 1173931 Mirtle: All of your Maple Leafs trade ideas for 2020 are heroics for hometown team bad… and here’s why 1173968 Sportsnet.ca / How Chateauguay's Kim St-Pierre broke barriers for Olympic dreams 1173969 TSN.CA / Tireless Marner brings boundless energy to 1173950 The history of the Vancouver Canucks, through a Maple Leafs lineup photographer's lens 1173970 TSN.CA / staying focused through scoring 1173951 Demko stays sharp in the shadows with goal to hone role slump as best backup 1173971 TSN.CA / Friday Five: We’ve got ourselves a Rocket 1173952 Comet Bailey gets Canucks' call to inject some banging, Richard Trophy race make his mark 1173972 USA TODAY / Alex Ovechkin scores goals No. 694 and 1173953 Canucks at 50: End of the road for Vancouver's Little Lost 695 to pass Mark Messier for eighth all-time Rocket 1173954 Self-critical and ‘rusty’ after knee surgery, how Antoine Roussel can give the Canucks a huge second-half boos 1173943 If Jets can't beat Blues, playoffs won't matter 1173955 Inside the Canucks’ warmup rituals: From half moons to 1173944 Bruins lay on a bruisin' bathroom breaks in unison, players are creatures of hab 1173945 Game Day: Blues at Jets 1173956 Wheeler’s 2020 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 13 1173946 Jets come out of break with a loss in a feisty affair with Vancouver Canucks Bruins 1173947 Laine flourishing despite lower-than-he-wants goal tally 1173948 Maurice 'all for' trade boost, but Jets need to get harder, 1173932 Alex Tuch’s late goal sparks Golden Knights to win too 1173933 Erik Haula sees Golden Knights again after eventful 7 1173949 Wiebe: Why a Kyle Connor/Jack Roslovic reunion could months give the Jets an offensive spark 1173934 Gerard Gallant shocked, disappointed over Golden Knights firing 1173935 Golden Knights emerge from break hot, survive late surge SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 to beat Hurricanes 1173936 5 things to watch for the rest of the Golden Knights season 1173937 Golden Knights trade tiers: Who could move? Who’s untouchable? 1173938 Alex Ovechkin’s inexorable march to 700 continues with two goals in Capitals’ win 1173939 No. 8 for the Great 8! Ovechkin passes Messier for 8th all-time in goals 1173940 Nicklas Backstrom on his new extension: 'It means a lot for me and my family' 1173941 Capitals at Senators: Ilya Samsonov draws Ottawa 1173942 Capitals Prospect Report: Vanecek impresses at the AHL All-Star Challenge 1173791 Anaheim Ducks Honoring Kobe Bryant

Gibson wore a Kobe Bryant tribute mask for the game. The mask featured a silhouette of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, surrounded by the Ducks fall to Lightning and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who gets his 150th names of the seven other victims of Sunday’s fatal helicopter crash. The win mask also included the years of all five of his championships and his 81- point game. Bryant’s jersey numbers of No. 24 and 8 were also prominently displayed on both sides. JAN. 31, 2020 11:14 PM Noteworthy Staff Writer Stamkos also extended his point streak to six games with an assist on Kucherov’s goal. Patrick Maroon’s second-period assist gave him a point in 11 straight games against the Ducks. Getzlaf has eight multipoint Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist for his fifth straight multipoint games this season. game, Andrei Vasilevskiy picked up his 150th career NHL win, and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Ducks 4-3 on Friday Up next night. Lightning: At San Jose Sharks on Saturday to complete a four-game trip. Vasilevskiy — who has 13 straight wins in regulation — stopped 23 shots. He is the fourth goalie in league history to get 150 victories in less Ducks: At Kings on Saturday in this season’s third installment of the than 250 games played (246). The others are (241), Andy Freeway Series. Moog (245) and Braden Holtby (246). LA Times: LOADED: 02.01.2020 “You look in the last few years here, we have some special players on this team and he is right at the top,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s great to see him being rewarded like that, especially in that last stretch.”

Vasilevskiy is 13-0-2 with a 2.10 goals against average during that span. His string of earning a point in 15 consecutive games is second in franchise history and one away from tying Nikolai Khabibulin’s 2003 mark.

Kucherov put the game out of reach midway through the third period with a highlight goal to put the Lightning ahead 4-2. He took a stretch pass from Steven Stamkos, split the Ducks’ defense and went top shelf with a backhand past Ducks goaltender John Gibson for his ninth goal in the past 10 games.

“You have to be fearless to go through the middle like he did,” Cooper said. “He bounced off it. He takes that backhand every day, and to do that against an elite goalie, not too many guys can go do that.”

“It was an unbelievable play,” Tampa Bay defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. “I think the way he takes that pass initially and kind of sneaks through both of those guys. He does a tremendous job of hiding his stick and not showing the goalie which way he is going to put it. To put it top shelf was a pretty sick move.”

Anthony Cirelli, who also had a goal and an assist, had the go-ahead goal with 1:02 remaining in the second period when Jan Rutta’s shot deflected off his skate and into the net.

Ondrej Palat and Erik Cernak also scored for the Lightning.

Rickard Rakell and Michael Del Zotto each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who have gone 3-3 in their last six games, while Ryan Getzlaf added a pair of assists. Troy Terry scored late in the third period, and Gibson made 18 saves.

“It feels like we’re playing really well from time to time, or most times in the game, and then something happens and it’s in the back of the net,” Rakell said.

Palat opened the scoring at 4:07 with his first goal in 12 games. Cirelli dumped the puck into the Ducks’ zone and then chased it behind the net before feeding it to Palat for his 13th goal of the season.

Rakell tied it four minutes later with a wrist shot, beating Vasilevskiy through a screen. Rakell fanned on his first shot before regaining possession and firing a shot after making a spin move to get free from Lightning defenseman .

Cernak put Tampa Bay back on top with 5:17 remaining in the first when he took a pass from Brayden Point and tapped it past Gibson. It is the first time the second-year defenseman has scored in back-to-back games. Del Zotto evened it with 1:31 left with a wrist shot through traffic.

Terry scored with 11.9 seconds remaining when the Ducks had the extra skater. He skated in front of the net and deflected Rakell’s pass over Vasilevskiy.

Ducks goalie John Gibson wears a Kobe Bryant tribute mask against the Lightning on Jan. 31, 2020. 1173792 Anaheim Ducks no chance for him to save the pinball shot that put the Lightning in front 3-2.

Eakins has played Gibson in each of the Ducks’ first three games after Ducks get a look at what their future might look like in loss to Lightning their nine-day layoff for the bye week and the All-Star break and in 39 games overall this season. Ryan Miller is expected to start Saturday against the Kings at Staples Center, however. ELLIOTT TEAFORD The Ducks then leave Sunday for a four-game trip to play the Ottawa January 31, 2020 at 11:31 PM Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres, completing a stretch in which they will have played 10 of 12 games away

from Honda Center. ANAHEIM — The Tampa Bay Lightning skated onto the Honda Center Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.01.2020 ice Friday and provided a glimpse of what the future could look like for the Ducks, provided general manager Bob Murray’s rebuilding project works out as he intends some day soon.

The Lightning parlayed their up-tempo skating and quick passing game, plus a little puck luck, into a 4-3 victory over the Ducks, who did their best to keep pace. But it’s quite a leap from the Lightning’s lofty perch among the NHL’s elite to the Ducks’ position near the bottom of the league.

The Ducks and the Lightning played similar styles, but the Lightning did it better. The Ducks showcased a strong skating and passing game, but they were no match for the polished Lightning, who broke open the game with Nikita Kucherov’s goal that made it 4-2 at 10:56 of the third period.

“As long as I’ve been in the league, they’ve been in the mix every year,” Ducks defenseman Michael Del Zotto said of the Lightning. “They have 50-goal scorers and guys who have been doing it a long time. It showed tonight. We played some really good hockey, but one or two mistakes and they capitalized.”

Kucherov’s goal proved to be more than just insurance for the Lightning because Troy Terry scored with 12 seconds remaining in the game to pull the Ducks within 4-3, with goaltender John Gibson on the bench in favor of a sixth attacker.

“We’re going to be hard to play against,” Terry said when asked to look to the future. “That’s kind of the staple here, and I think we’ve been doing that. I think we have some guys who down the road can kind of — I don’t want to say score on command — but make these kinds of plays.

“I hope we can get to that point (and play like Tampa Bay) because it looks fun.”

Ondrej Palat scored to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead only 4:07 into the game, but the Ducks countered with Rickard Rakell’s tying goal at 8:42. Erik Cernak put the Lightning back in front 2-1 at 14:43, but the Ducks equalized on Del Zotto’s goal that made it 2-2 at 18:29.

Del Zotto has been in and out of the lineup all season, but his game was better suited to Friday’s opponent than was Korbinian Holzer’s. Del Zotto was superb throughout the first period and not just when he picked off an errant pass at the blue line and then scored his second goal of the season.

“I thought he was excellent,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said of Del Zotto, who also assisted on Rakell’s goal. “I thought maybe it was the best game he’s played for us this year. He was engaged and transitioning the puck very well. He made some great reads in the offensive zone as well.”

The Ducks spent the better part of the first two periods countering the Lightning’s speed and passing ability with some determined grunt work along the boards and in front of their own net. The Ducks won plenty of battles for loose pucks and carried the play for extended stretches.

So, naturally, the Ducks trailed 3-2 entering the third.

Anthony Cirelli put the Lightning ahead to stay with a play that required zero skill but plenty of hockey sense. He took a hit that knocked him down and then skated to the front of Gibson’s net and waited for teammate Jan Rutta to fire a puck from the perimeter toward the goal.

The puck ricocheted off Cirelli’s shin pad and into the net at 18:58 of the second. Kucherov extended the Lighting’s lead to 4-2 and the Ducks were forced to chase the game the rest of the way. They never could catch up and dropped to 20-26-5.

Gibson, wearing a new mask that paid tribute to Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash in Calabasas, stopped everything he could stop to that point. But there was 1173793 Anaheim Ducks now you’ve pushed it a little too far,’” Eakins said. “But that’s the whole back-and-forth swing of finding that balance for that player.

“Right now, I’d rather try to rein him in than have to push him (to play a Ducks left wing Max Jones seeking the right balance physical game).”

The 21-year-old is adapting to new roles after playing a different game as Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.01.2020 a junior-level player and in the AHL

ELLIOTT TEAFORD

January 31, 2020 at 2:03 PM

ANAHEIM — Max Jones’ game has changed. It has been tweaked, altered and modified, and there might be more to come this season and in those to come.

Jones and the Ducks’ coaching staff are still trying to determine how he can best serve himself and the club.

It’s an ongoing process.

Nothing has been settled.

“He’s had to take on a new role,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “It’s a different role than when he played in juniors and even a different role than when I coached him in San Diego. There’s a process to that. He’s still go a ways to go, obviously, but he’s taken really good strides.

“It’s really encouraging for us to see.”

Jones, a 21-year-old left wing, had five goals and two assists in 39 games going into the Ducks’ home game Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, modest statistics to be sure. He had been on the ice for as many goals scored as given up and amassed 20 penalty minutes.

Do the Ducks expect more from him?

Of course they do.

The coaches and executives expect more goals and assists, more sound defensive play and more effective penalty killing. They want more from everyone on the roster this season, from their youngest, apple-cheeked prospect to their oldest, most grizzled veteran.

Above all, the Ducks like Jones’ speed, size and aggressiveness.

In part, that’s why they have asked him to kill penalties this season.

It’s a new role for him with the Ducks, but it’s one that seems to suit him now that he’s no longer a novice at it.

“I think he’s taken great strides from where he was at the start of the year,” Eakins said over Jones’ overall play. “He’s been up and down (to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL) a couple of times, which I think he has handled very well and kept that mindset of trying to get better no matter which league he’s playing in.

“I think he’s become kind of the conscience of that line he’s been on. They’ve been very good as of late for us. All three guys have played very well, but I think ‘Jonesy’ has really settled into what’s important for a winger of his pedigree in this game. Sometimes less is more.”

Eakins referred to a youthful line of Jones, 21-year-old center Sam Steel and 24-year-old right wing Ondrej Kase. Each of the three is learning on the job, and Jones is no exception, having adapted to a role as a power forward alongside two players with more subtle skills.

“He’s got really good speed,” Eakins said of Jones. “He can close on pucks fast. He’s going to have to be physical when warranted. We don’t want him running all over the ice, out of position, to make a hit, but when it certainly presents itself. You’re able to turn over pucks that way.

“Once you’ve laid into a defenseman a couple of times, the human nature will be to avoid that. You rush the play. It creates a turnover somewhere else. The other thing is it will naturally give him more room on the ice. It takes time to get comfortable with that.”

Jones has pushed the limit a time or two or three this season, but that’s OK with Eakins.

“The thing is, as he finds his game, as much as we’re trying to push him to be aggressive, there are times where it’s, like, ‘OK, whoa, whoa now, 1173794 Anaheim Ducks “It’s such a tragic event. Sometimes you can do something little to hopefully remember them.”

Once Ennis learned Gibson was on board with a tribute mask, the 32- ‘Sometimes you can do something little’: The story behind John Gibson’s year-old former hockey player got to work. He immediately started putting Kobe Bryant tribute mask together a list of things that would reflect Kobe and his vast accomplishments. The things that were important to him. But the list also had to include a reference to the remaining victims. They could not be Eric Stephens ignored.

“As soon as I hear we have a green light, I’m thinking, ‘What do we need to incorporate in the goalie mask design?’” Ennis said. “Obviously, ANAHEIM, Calif. — An unimaginable tragedy at a hillside on the western Kobe’s number. I wanted to incorporate his Black Mamba logo. Wanted outskirts of the San Fernando Valley shook the sports world on a sleepy to incorporate his shoe logo. It’s kind of one of those things where the Sunday morning in Southern California. And after they processed the Ducks and Kings have such a heated rivalry — you don’t want to pay too details of the horrific event along with millions around the globe, Matt much respect to L.A., but at the same time, you’re close to that. You’re Brayfield and Noah Ennis felt compelled to act on the feeling that jumped putting the fact the rivalry is something but that this is bigger than inside them. hockey. This is for everybody. Especially with everybody that was Nine lives were lost in the Calabasas helicopter crash. Kobe Bryant, the affected just in the Orange County area by what had happened.” retired Lakers legend and global basketball icon, was the most famous of Ennis has a flourishing business. Designing and painting goalie masks those who perished. His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was with him and was an offshoot of the many NASCAR helmets and race car graphics he news of that added to the tidal wave of pain being felt. The knowledge of worked on after moving from New York state to North Carolina in 2008. seven more — John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton This is a particularly busy time as he has to fulfill orders for the Daytona Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan — that were also gone in an 500 that’s in two weeks. instant was all the more sickening. An endless stream of prayers and condolences were not only for the nine that perished but for all their “I basically told everybody, everything’s got to come to a screeching halt surviving family members. for, like, the next 72 hours,” he said. “I’m not saying I don’t have time. You guys are just going to have to give me a 72-hour window. As a week of emotional outpouring would lay ahead, Brayfield, who is an assistant equipment manager with the Anaheim Ducks, had an idea. And “Mask got here at 2 o’clock (on Tuesday). Instantly started taking it apart. he enlisted Ennis, a painter of hockey masks based outside Lincoln, Neb. Sanded it. Primed it. And, basically, I knew my deadline to be able to ship On his mind was the Ducks were playing the Los Angeles Kings at and be there Friday so Gibby could possibly wear it was that it had to be Staples Center on Saturday. in FedEx or UPS hands by 7 p.m. Thursday. It came down to 4:30 p.m. when I got it finished.” “Sunday night, after the news had come out, I was texting with Matty,” Ennis told The Athletic in a telephone interview Friday. “He was like, ‘It’d And over those four days, Ennis estimates that he “slept roughly six be really cool if we could do something to pay respects to Kobe and hours in the course of 50 hours.” everybody.’ I said, ‘Yeah, it would be great.’ And then bright and early Monday morning, Matty calls and says, ‘Hey, have you talked to Gibby? It is Brayfield, whom Ennis got to know while he worked for the AHL’s He wants to do something. If we can get a hold of Bauer (Hockey) and San Diego Gulls, who turned Gibson on to the artist. Gibson, who has have Bauer next day air you a goalie mask, can you get it here by worn inventive marks like a Pac-Man-inspired design over the years, has Saturday because we’re playing at the Staples Center.’ went with Ennis on other masks in the past. One was to honor Ducks legend before the team retired his number. Another paid “He goes, ‘Honestly Gibby is not going to be playing that game because tribute to the military. he’s starting Friday night. But it would still be cool to have it for Saturday’s game for warmup. Just to pay respects.’ I said, ‘If Bauer can “Obviously, he does a great job,” Gibson said. “It was pretty remarkable get it here.’ After going back and forth with (them), Bauer said we do how fast everything kind of came about.” have something. We can get it overnighted. We can’t guarantee on a Gibson said he had little input in the Kobe-themed design. He put it in timeframe it’ll get there on Tuesday. But we will do our best.” Ennis’ hands.

The mask arrived Friday morning, with pictures of it tweeted out by the “Honestly, I can’t take a lot of credit for it,” he said. “I think you know I’m Ducks and Ennis’ Shell Shock Designs and then worn by John Gibson in pretty simple. But I obviously have some (staff) here that have a good the evening as the Anaheim goalie faced off against the Tampa Bay mind and a good eye. So, they help me out with a lot of that. Lightning. The design is a stunning tribute to Bryant and his daughter while making sure that all nine victims were recognized and honored. “I’m fortunate enough to be able to wear something that I can put a little meaning into or show some symbolism. In the past, with the Kariya one One side of the mask has Bryant’s No. 8 and the other has No. 24. Both and the military one, you just try to do something for a good cause. And I are in purple with a gold outline, reflecting the numbers he wore over 20 think this is just another example of that. Obviously, it’s a lot bigger than seasons with the Lakers. On top is the Ducks’ current webbed-D logo but anything that’s happened in the past. Hopefully people like it and it goes this one has an image of the superstar within it. Five stars that weave a long way.” through a city skyline circling the mask include the years he won championships in L.A. A sixth star pays homage to the 81 points he once How Ennis got into mask painting is its own story. He lives in Nebraska scored in a game. In front is Gibson’s No. 36 superimposed on a with his wife to be close to her family. But his origin is in Syracuse, N.Y. It basketball which is encircled by a mamba snake. is where he grew up playing competitive hockey. And the plan was to do that as long as he could, at whatever level. That all changed on March 6, As impressive was the design that Ennis created, the most enduring 2005, a date he instantly recalled. image may be on the backplate. A silhouette of Kobe hugging Gigi, both wearing their jerseys. Gigi was following in her father’s footsteps and the “I was hit head-on by a U.S. Postal truck,” Ennis said, bringing up the cruel irony is they were traveling with their friends to play in a tournament details of his fateful auto accident. “And I was told, ‘Your hockey career is at the star’s Mamba Academy in Newbury Park when the helicopter went done. You’re never going to walk again. You might as well just get used down on a fog-shrouded morning in the west hills. Two were her to being in a wheelchair permanently.’ I was in rehab for nine months teammates. Seven names that weren’t as well known until this week roughly. Had close to 20 surgeries. I spent the year and a half, two years surround the silhouette. All resided within Orange County, where the confined to a wheelchair.” Ducks play and honored the fallen with a moment of silence before Thursday’s home game against Arizona. During outpatient rehabilitation, Ennis said he met a former boxer named Angelo. He can’t remember his last name. What he does remember are “It’s just cool,” said Gibson, speaking to The Athletic in a muted, serious the things Angelo said as he wondered if he would ever regain his tone Friday morning at Honda Center after seeing the mask for the first physical mobility. How this ex-boxer was determined to work with him. time. “All the little details. The two numbers. The image of him. Having everybody’s name on the backplate. Just covers all the bases. “He said, ‘I can get you out of that wheelchair if you give me three months,’” Ennis said. “And I said, ‘What do need me to do to get out of this wheelchair?’ He said, ‘Due to your injuries and the nerve damage and everything, I can get you walking. Just give me three months.’ I said, “When I wrote down the list of everything I wanted to put on there, the ‘Fine, I have nothing to lose.’ biggest thing was I wanted it to be something where if Kobe came to me and said, ‘I want you to paint something that is for me. Whether I put in “Basically, he just went through and re-trained all the muscles in my legs. my man cave or in my gym or whatever,’” Ennis said. “When I do (a To do all the stuff that my nerves wouldn’t tell my brain to do. And within mask), I won’t normally do it from the point of doing it for that person. But three months, I was using a cane. Within six months, I was not using a in this case, I actually went with, ‘This is something that Kobe would cane at all.” want.’

Now, Ennis says, “everything on the left side on my body is all artificial.” “I looked for and researched everything. From all his clothing brands and But he could move again. Hockey was indeed over. Another purpose his style. And I just thought I could encompass all that into the mask would fill that void. design to kind of give it that Mamba feel.”

After moving to North Carolina and doing projects for NASCAR drivers John Gibson’s mask honoring the victims of the helicopter crash that and race teams, Ennis struck out on his own and focused on designing killed Kobe Bryant. (Eric Stephens) racing helmets. Occasionally, he’d mix in a motorcycle helmet. It was his Ennis knows hockey fans can have opinions about masks. But the one Syracuse roots that would help chart a new career course. that was wearing it Friday night believes he hit all the right notes.

“In 2014, I was out on one night,” he said. “J.F. Labbe liked “Something like that, I don’t think you want to go overboard with it,” something I tweeted. J.F. was actually a goalie with the Syracuse Gibson said. “It’s clean and it’s just a good representation of everything Crunch. So, I had sent him a direct message and said, ‘Is this the same that happened. Just trying to remember everybody the best you can and J.F. Labbe that played for the ?’ And he said, ‘Yes, it is. do a little tribute that way.” How do you know that?’ I said, ‘I grew up watching you. I actually have one of your jerseys.’ He goes, ‘Well, I’m actually working for the San It left quite an impression within the Ducks’ locker room. As has the Diego Gulls as a goalie coach and the Sherbrooke Phoenix junior team. tragedy no one would ever want that spurred the act of remembrance. Could you give me a call tomorrow?’ “They’re artists for a reason, right?” Lindholm said. “You could tell he put “So, I gave him a call the following day. And we struck up a friendship. a lot of heart and effort into that one. With everything that’s been going J.F. basically introduced me to Matty. Introduced me to everybody in on, it’s really been tough on all athletes. You don’t wish that on your Sherbrooke. J.F. even went as far as introduced me to several of the worst enemy. It’s so sad for all the families that were lost in that accident. other goalie coaches and equipment managers throughout the NHL. Just basically opened the door for me to get my foot in just to talk to these “He’s a guy with such a career. It just shows how sport — and when people.” you’re an athlete in that position and you’re also a big family guy and a great guy — how you can affect people around you and how you can get Labbe, who was inducted into the Hall of the best out of people. As much bad that came from this accident, there’s Fame in 2015, was so impressed with Ennis’s work that he had him probably a lot of people looking at themselves in the mirror and what they design a mask for his son. Now Ennis counts a number of goalies in the can do differently with their loved ones. How you can keep moving on. junior leagues and AHL as clients including the Gulls’ Kevin Boyle and Matt Hackett. He has designed masks for the Minnesota Wild’s Alex “It’s a really cool way to pay tribute to a guy that meant a lot to a lot of Stalock. And now Gibson, one of the NHL’s best netminders. Of Ennis, people.” Labbe simply said, “He’s the best.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm got a look at his teammate’s Kobe mask before it was put it into use and said, “I just think it’s a really cool way to pay tribute to a legend … it’s really cool.”

Ennis joked that “in order to get in the big leagues, you got to start somewhere.” A constant source of inspiration is Swedish mask artist David Gunnarsson, who has designed lids for Gibson and numerous other NHL goalies over the years. In 2018, The Athletic’s Corey Masisak traveled to Gunnarsson’s homeland to do an expansive profile on the creator behind DaveArt.

Considered the preeminent expert in mask painting, Gunnarsson represents the level Ennis wants to reach.

“DaveArt is kind of what I would consider the godfather of goalie mask paintwork,” Ennis said. “Obviously, he’s the titan of the industry and everybody else is basically trying to measure up to him. Which I think in a lot of ways is good. Because if everybody just does their own so-so work, then obviously nobody would be pushed to be better.

“With him setting the bar so high, I think that makes everybody else up their game.”

Another mask has already been done for Gibson. Ennis excitedly said that it is in chrome with a theme based on “The Fast and the Furious” movie franchise. “It’s still under wraps,” he said. “When he said, ‘Go wild,’ I went wild. And then he goes, ‘I might have told you to not go that wild.’”

There is nothing wild about his Kobe-themed mask. It has style but is also very clean. Bold Images juxtaposed with simple details. Respectful reflections.

One detail was the No. 81 on one of the six stars. Ennis is a self- proclaimed Toronto Raptors fan back to the days when Vince Carter was a skywalker. Carter would not stay in Toronto, but in 2006, Bryant would drop 81 points on the Raptors. It is the second-most prolific scoring performance in NBA history. An embarrassing statistic to Ennis but a number that had to be put on the mask.

Every detail was thought with him in mind. 1173795 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson being evaluated after leaving game vs. Kings

MATT LAYMAN

JANUARY 31, 2020 AT 3:33 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Coyotes captain and top-pairing defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left Thursday night’s loss to the Kings and did not return.

Head coach Rick Tocchet still didn’t have a definitive update on his status Friday afternoon, but indicated that he was getting an MRI.

“I don’t think it’s serious, but I don’t know. I’m not a doctor,” Tocchet said. “So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Tocchet said it was a day-to-day issue unless he gets results that would indicate otherwise. The Coyotes did not practice on Friday, but will have a morning skate on Saturday before their evening game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jordan Oesterle, who was scratched on Thursday, would seem the most likely candidate to replace Ekman-Larsson in the lineup if he were to miss the game.

OTHER HEALTH UPDATES

— Goaltender Darcy Kuemper was on the ice Friday and is still working back from a lower-body injury that’s kept him out since Dec. 19.

“Light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the same thing,” Tocchet said. “Hasn’t practiced with us yet. I don’t know when that’s going to be. But he’s obviously getting better.”

— Forward Brad Richardson (lower-body) has a “good chance” of playing on Saturday against Chicago. “I’m not sure. We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Tocchet said.

— Forward Barrett Hayton, who injured his shoulder at the World Junior Championship, is still working back to getting cleared for contact. He skated on Friday, and Tocchet said Hayton looked “good.”

Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173796 Arizona Coyotes experienced staff, but an NHL scout cast doubt on that possibility because the league stresses the importance of distributing the rules and policies to all staff members.

What we know about the NHL’s reported, ongoing investigation of the “It’s a clear violation of the NHL rules,” the NHL scout said. “Teams are Coyotes sent and reminded strict guidelines every year. Players are tested at the NHL combine, if you want further testing it cannot happen until after the combine.” Craig Morgan An NHL source told The Athletic that they couldn’t recall other teams Jan 31, 2020 being fined or investigated for this infraction, so it does not appear to be a common occurrence.

The policy was updated in April 2019. The Coyotes’ 4-5-2 January swoon is enough cause for concern within the organization, but a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger on Thursday has It is unclear whether the league has placed any timeline for the cast a further cloud over the organization. Per Dreger, the NHL is completion of the investigation. investigating whether the Coyotes fitness tested draft-eligible Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players before the NHL scouting combine. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020

Dreger reported that the Hockey League, the and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, all of which fall under the CHL umbrella, sent emails asking teams to report any contact. Per Dreger’s sources, multiple teams reported contact, a violation of the league rules.

If the Coyotes are found guilty, they could face substantial fines of $250,000 or more per incident, at the discretion of commissioner Gary Bettman.

Bettman, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell all declined comment on the ongoing investigation when reached by The Athletic on Thursday. OHL commissioner David Branch, who was the CHL’s president until this past summer, did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

The Coyotes issued the following statement before the team faced the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena on Thursday night.

“We are aware of the reports. We have discussed the matter with the NHL and we will have no further comment at this time.”

Here is what the Combine Testing Policy states:

Pre-Combine Period (in effect until the morning after the Combine)

— No physical testing for prospects on the Combine invite list.

— Psychological testing and interviews are permitted for all prospects.

Post-Combine Period

— No physical testing for prospects on the Combine invite list.

— Physical testing is permitted for prospects not on the Combine invite list.

— Medical examinations are permitted for all prospects.

— Psychological testing and interviews are permitted for all prospects.

In addition, as reviewed by the 2016 General Managers’ Meeting in Toronto, and in order to eliminate any confusion regarding this policy, the Combine Testing Policy prohibits NHL club personnel from directly or indirectly advising invited players regarding Scouting Combine participation.

Any club that violates these policies will be fined no less than $250,000 for each violation.

Per a source familiar with the policy, the rules were changed in response to teams holding their own combines or workouts. As the source noted, “it was a circus and it wasn’t fair to these players who wanted to do whatever they were asked because they wanted to play in the NHL.”

Lindsay Hofford is the Coyotes’ director of scouting. He joined the organization in July 2018. His arrival coincided with widespread changes within the scouting staff, including terminations and resignations of several scouts.

Scout Craig Cunningham resigned last week, though he told The Athletic that had nothing to do with the allegations that surfaced Thursday.

Due to financial constraints that were present before purchased the team last summer, the Coyotes employ a fair number of younger scouts and associated staff. One source suggested that may have led to some confusion with the rules and proper protocol with less 1173797 Boston Bruins two-minute penalty – just an appetizer for the fourth-year Boston blue liner.

Midway through the second period, Bourque put a clean hit on Charlie Bruins edge Jets in rough-and-tumble affair Coyle and Carlo felt compelled to jump Bourque. Not smart. The officials rung up Carlo for 17 minutes: two for instigating, five for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct. Not a guy the Bruins want to lose for 17:00. Kevin Paul “Definiitely a physical game — fun to jump right back into it,” said Carlo. January 31, 2020, 10:41 p.m. “I think we did a real good job of handling that style of play tonight. We didn’t back down.

“We’re trying to build in more of a physical identity into our team — never WINNIPEG — Rested, restless, and ready to rumble, the Bruins returned backing down. I think when a team wants to start playing physical with from their mid-winter bye break as a stouter, chippier version of us, we definitely want to show that’s not going to work and it’s honestly themselves and cashed in a couple of timely power-play goals to pin a 2- going to feed into our hands a little bit.” 1 loss on the Jets on Friday night at Bell MTS Place. More fireworks followed at 15:30 when Kuhlman dropped Mathieu Jake DeBrusk knocked home the winner when he popped in a David Perreault with a hit in the slot, the Jets winger folding up and heading to Pastrnak feed to break a 1-1 tie with 3:07 gone in the third period, getting the room with what looked like a shoulder injury. Sbisa filed an immediate the Black and Gold off to a solid start on their two-game reimmersion objection and began beating on Kuhlman, and this time it was Sbisa who road trip. was bundled up for 17 PIMs – 2, 5, and 10. The win was the 30th this season for the Bruins (30-10-12), who are still The ’80s Throwback Night only lacked Phil Collins belting out something in first place in the Atlantic Division. They take on the Minnesota Wild on “In the Air Tonight”. Saturday night in St. Paul. DeBrusk, a product of the “Dub,” the rough-and-tumble Western Hockey When Friday’s game was over, the Bruins logged 42 penalty minutes, League, felt right at home. Dub is derived from “W” in WHL. forcing them in part to kill six power plays, and Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, and Karson Kuhlman all logged fighting majors. “It was a Dub ref out there, too,” said an animated DeBrusk, clearly enjoying the gritty brand of hockey of his youth. “I was talking to him and Out of nowhere, it turned into a throwback ’80s night, reminiscent of a said, ‘This reminds me of Swifty vs Brandon.’ ” more rough-and-tumble NHL era. That would be Swift Current, his junior team, vs. the club from nearby “Listen, part of the message, has definitely been about being harder to Brandon, Manitoba. play against,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, making clear he wants to see more physicality from his group as the playoffs creep closer. “Build in “I was on the bench yelling, ‘Hey, how many Dub guys we got here?’ ” he these type of games if they’re out there for you. It was there. It presented said. “And it was like crickets [silence] . . . and B.C. was in the penalty itself.” box.”

The highlight of the opening period was the old-fashioned hip check that That would be Carlo, who also once played in the Dub, for the Tri-City Charlie McAvoy used to drop Mark Scheifele, the big center caught with Americans. For one night, the fight game lived again. his head down in open ice. Real thump. Neal Pionk responded by jumping McAvoy, because that’s what happens in 2020 on big, clean hits. Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2020

“Changes the complexion of the game,” noted Cassidy. “OK, it’s going to be one of those games. So . . . get dragged into some fights. That’s something our team needs, typically responds well.”

Pionk drew an extra two minutes in penalties, and another minor on the Jets soon left the Bruins with a 5-on-3 manpower advantage that led to the tying goal. Patrice Bergeron potted the equalizer, snapping in a pinpoint wrister from the right wing circle, beating goalie Laurent Brossoit to the far side.

“Too many penalties,” said Cassidy, who watched the Jets roll up fighting majors from the likes of Nikolaj Ehlers, Gabriel Bourque, and Luca Sbisa. “Some were warranted. Some weren’t.”

McAvoy was caught standing and watching on the Jets’ opening goal earlier in the first when Ehlers zipped down the left wing, curled behind the net, and dished in a clean feed from near the right post. Left unguarded low in the left wing circle, Patrik Laine snapped home the 1-0 lead.

With 3:28 gone in the second, Marchand and Ehlers squared off. It’s rare when Marchand gets in a true scrap, but Ehlers stared him down at center ice and Marchand finally flipped. Marchand picked up an extra 2:00 PIMs for instigating the battle, but it was Ehlers who offered the invite by staring him down.

“Great for our team to show up and stick up for each other,” said Marchand, who also contributed his team-high 45th assist of the season, setting up Bergeron’s tying strike. “Games like that are a lot of fun to be part of.”

Asked if it felt like a throwback ’80s night, a smiling Marchand added, “Yeah, I was born in the late-’80s, so . . . yeah that’s old-time hockey right there. Any time there was a big hit there was a fight. That’s how it used to be — fun to play a game like that. Won’t happen every night. But when they do, it’s fun to be part of.”

Carlo, usually mild mannered, was especially feisty, flipping Scheifele out of Tuukka Rask’s crease at 5:12 of the second, and getting tagged with a 1173798 Boston Bruins Presumably, Backes, a 14-year vet closing in on 1,000 career games, is both disappointed and frustrated. He realized soon into his Boston tenure that he needed to trim weight and try to pick up some speed in the ever- Dealing David Backes before deadline among Don Sweeney’s options faster NHL. He lost a few pounds, reported to his second Boston camp both lean and eager, but all the work paid minimal dividends. He spent much of the past couple of seasons trying to remain productive and relevant as a bottom-six winger and sometimes power-play front man at Kevin Paul the crease. January 31, 2020, 6:37 p.m. “Again, I’m not going to speak for David,” said Sweeney. “He is disappointed, mostly because he wants to continue to play and impact our team . . . and he’s been a great teammate, despite what people may GLOBE STAFF WINNIPEG — The NHL’s Feb. 24 trade deadline fast or may not believe about him as a player and such. He’s made an impact approaching, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney noted here late on our hockey club. He has taken it personally in that regard. Thursday morning that dealing sidelined forward David Backes would be among his potential near-term options. “But the roster is what it is and we are trying to figure that out going forward — and I am trying to be respectful to him, because he deserves Overall, though, Sweeney was typically vague about the future of the it.” proud, well-liked veteran, who was waived off the Boston roster nearly two weeks ago. When asked a best-case scenario from the Bruins’ perspective, Sweeney made it clear his immediate focus is on a potential trade. On Wednesday, Sweeney announced that the Bruins and Backes agreed that it would not be in their mutual best interest for the 35-year-old “Would we explore situations where you could move a player and get center/wing to report to the club’s AHL affiliate in Providence. some relief, or and/or assets?” he mused. “Yeah. I am going to explore everything that is possible to us. I don’t have a crystal ball as to what For now, and likely until or unless Sweeney makes a deal prior to Feb. best-case scenario may present itself. We are in a situation here that we 24, Backes remains a man without a team, but still collecting on his five- had roster decisions to make and that’s really where the ultimate decision year, $30 million contract that doesn’t expire until spring 2021. In the was made. He was healthy, able to play, and we had other players . . . meantime, the Bruins gain a small amount of cap relief ($1.075M) on his that we were going to put in situations to try and that’s the decision we annual cap hit of $6M. had to make.”

“He’d like a different opportunity,” said Sweeney, though noting that Progress slow for Miller Backes had not requested a trade, “if it’s not going to be [with the Bruins].” Now nearly 10 months beyond first fracturing his kneecap, veteran defenseman Kevan Miller still has a “long, slow progression in front of Sweeney made his comments here hours ahead of the Bruins facing the him,” before getting back in action, said Sweeney. Jets, Boston’s first game back after a scheduled 10-day bye break. “We’re going to be very cautious in how he goes about that,” added the Backes, placed on waivers two weeks ago on Friday, did not immediately GM. “We have a plan laid out. Those are week-to-week updates as return an e-mail sent to him by the Globe early Thursday afternoon. His opposed to day-to-day updates . . . so best to check back in a couple of agent, Wade Arnott, previously declined to return two e-mails seeking weeks to see where we are. He won’t be integrated into practice for comment. some time. We just need to give him the proper time to reinsert himself, hopefully, back into practice and we go from there.” “David’s preference is obviously still to play in the ,” said Sweeney. “He still believes he can play — he is fit to play. Miller, 32, first fractured his kneecap in his last game at the start of April But at this time we’re not going to have him play. We’re going to see and broke it again as he prepared to return to action in late May, in what options we have between now and the deadline and certainly advance of the Stanley Cup Final. He was very encouraged by his moving forward.” progress over the summer and felt he was tracking toward a return to action in the early part of the 2019-’20 season. If Sweeney can move Backes, it likely would be in the type of deal he crafted two years ago when he tucked an unwanted Matt Beleskey, Sweeney was more optimistic about defenseman Connor Clifton making another of the GM’s underperforming, high-priced free-agent it back in the more immediate future. acquisitions, into the deal that brought Rick Nash to the Bruins from the Rangers. “Connor, I think, will be more on the shorter-term side of things,” he said. “He’ll get back to full strength, full on the ice, full motion . . . then he’ll Beleskey at the time was near the end of the third year of his five- reintegrate himself back into practice.” year/$19M deal, signed in the summer of 2015, and the Bruins agreed to retain 50 percent of the remaining two-plus seasons on his contract, Chara adjusts to bye which carried an annual cap hit of $3.8m. The Bruins this season still Team captain Zdeno Chara, still on the job now 22 years into the grind, carry $1.9M of Beleskey money on their 2019-20 books. broke into the NHL long before bye breaks of 8-10 days became a mid- If the Bruins cannot deal Backes, his cap hit of $6M would be reduced to season norm. approximately $4.9M next season if he were to remain a waived player. Among the sport’s most devoted, if not maniacal, workers both on and off It’s more likely the Bruins this June would buy out his final season, which the ice, Big Z no doubt felt lost not to be at the rink the last week-plus. would result in $1 million savings in terms of a cap hit — with $4M to be charged against the club’s 2020-’21 payroll and $1M the following “No, you just have to adjust,” said Chara, before taking the ice for his season. regular-season game No. 1,535. “I think that’s just a part of the new NHL — you’ve got to be able to adjust around things like this, having breaks in “We have some things we have to understand the landscape of, moving the schedule and different kind of back-to-to-back travels on so on.” forward,” said Sweeney. “It’s mutually based. David would report and play [in Providence], but I think he would prefer not to at this stage and Case in point: The Bruins play again Saturday in St. Paul, then dash see if he could get back on our roster or somewhere else.” home to face the Canucks at the Garden on Tuesday and dart out that night for a game Wednesday night in Chicago. Sweeney said he had spoken both to Backes and his agent, but when asked, offered little insight into the veteran’s state of mind regarding his “You have to be ready, when you come off the break, that you get back current non-playing status. mentally to the stage where you need to compete,” added Chara.

“David’s the only one who’s going to be able to answer that,” said the Asked by a reporter if he “allowed” himself a day off during the hiatus, GM. “I certainly have spoken to him directly on multiple occasions, as Chara offered a deadpanned, “Of course, yeah.” well as his representative. I would always want to be able to speak with a player, if available. I’ve met with him personally and spoken with him over “You’re a liar,” the long-time wag told Chara. the phone. He has been nothing but a professional in that regard . . . that Chara’s deadpan turned into a wide-grin, then a chuckle, and then a does not come as a shock that he’s handled it as well as he has.” hearty laugh. “Two days?” said the wag.

Bigger laugh.

Rask returns to the net

Tuukka Rask was sharp in his first game back after his Jan. 14 concussion, turning back 37 shots and improving to 18-4-6 on the season. “I’ve played enough hockey, it’s more mental,” said Rask, dismissing the idea that he might have been anxious after such a long layoff. “You try to feel those first few shots. I think the first period, my rebound control wasn’t where it could have been. After that, I found the pucks and held on to them. But, no, I wasn’t worried.” . . . Patrik Laine scored the Jets’ lone goal for the 1-0 lead at 6:06 of the first. He fired a game-high 14 times at Rask, but the goal was one of only four of his shots that made it to the net. One was blocked and nine were off net. The Bruins fired 41 times all night, and only missed the net time times total as a team . . . It was the rare night that Patrice Bergeron finished underwater at the faceoff dot, losing 15 of 25 drops. Mark Scheifele won 13 of 19 for the Jets, accounting for some of Bergeron’s uneven ledger . . . David Pastrnak did not add to his league-high total of 37 goals, but the All-Star MVP did add a pair of assists, improving his line to 35-37—72. He now needs only 9 more points to equal the career-high 81 points he posted last season.

Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173799 Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask expected back in net for Bruins at Winnipeg

Kevin Paul

January 31, 2020, 11:02 a.m.

GLOBE STAFF WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Back to work here Friday night for the 29-10-12 Bruins, their legs and minds rested after their prolonged All-Star break as they take on the 25-22-4 Jets in the front half of a two- game road trip (stop No. 2 is Saturday night in St. Paul).

■ The Bruins remain atop the Atlantic Division, despite their game slipping of late, winning only slightly more than a third of their last 23 games (9-7-7). The hard-charging Lightning are only 5 points in arrears, with a game in hand.

■ The Bruins hope the nine-day siesta between games has rejuvenated their scoring touch, particularly on the power play. They were blanked on the advantage (0 for 15) across the four games leading up to the break.

■ General manager Don Sweeney has just over three weeks to figure out whether he can orchestrate a roster move prior to the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Dealin’ Don has been among the busier GMs at the deadline the last two seasons, and he’ll likely be compelled again to shore up what has become a spotty and inconsistent offense over the last two months.

■ Called up Thursday from AHL Providence, Karson Kuhlman (F) and Jeremy Lauzon (D) likely will draw into the lineup vs. the Jets. Both were in uniform for last Tuesday’s win over Vegas.

■ The Jets were among only three clubs – along with Toronto and Philadelphia — to lose hold of a playoff berth between Thanksgiving and the All-Star break. As of Friday morning, they were 3 points out of a wild- card spot. The three clubs that wiggled their way back into the pack of 16: Tampa Bay, Columbus, and Calgary.

■ Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, last seen departing the ice Jan. 14 in Columbus with a concussion, is expected back in the barrel against the Jets. Backup Jaro Halak is slated for the start in St. Paul, where the Wild also are below the cut line for postseason play and fading faster than a tie-dye T-shirt from Yasgur’s Farm.

■ This back-to-back is the first of seven such couplets on Boston’s schedule over the final 31 games of the regular season. And the next one comes quickly: After the Canucks visit the Garden next Tuesday, the Bruins face the Blackhawks the next night in Chicago. Of the 14 games in those back-to-backs, the Bruins play only four on home ice.

Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173800 Boston Bruins For Tuukka Rask’s first game back from concussion, he didn’t have it easy; Laine scored the early goal but he was tested plenty after. Early in the third, rookie defenseman Jeremy Lauzon bailed him out with a stick Bruins fight their way past Jets in Winnipeg stop on Scheifele who appeared to have had an open look. He faced 37 shots overall. DeBrusk with PP winner early in the third The Jets pulled Laurent Brossoit with 1:30 left and while the Bruins didn’t jump at their first couple of empty net chances, they survived.

MARISA INGEMI The Bruins face the Wild in Minnesota on Saturday night as a part of their back-to-back weekend. January 31, 2020 at 11:51 PM Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2020

WINNIPEG — It’s not often that teams combine in one period for more penalty minutes than there are minutes in a regulation game.

The Bruins first game back from the All-Star break was anything but boring, and the 2-1 final score — a B’s win — doesn’t do a 64 penalty minute-filled second period justice, as the Bruins came from behind and used fisticuffs aplenty to get past the Jets at Bell MTS Place on Friday night.

“I thought there was some physicality and spirited play,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “It was the same way last year in Winnipeg. I thought this year we had more of our full group, last year we were a little short.”

A thunderous Charlie McAvoy hit in the first period sparked a violently intense affair, forcing the Bruins to kill six penalties — which they did successfully — en route to their second consecutive win, though those victories were more than a week apart thanks to the All-Star break and the Bruins’ schedule bye week coinciding.

“It was great for our team to show up and stick up for each other and have a game like that,” said Brad Marchand, who got into a second period scrap. “A lot of fun to be a part of, especially when you’re shorthanded the whole second period and kill that off, come up with the win.”

Nikolaj Ehlers circled the net and made a nice dish from the opposite faceoff dot to Patrik Laine at the edge of the slot, the the Jets winger fired in his 18th goal of the year to put Winnipeg ahead 1-0 just 6:06 into the contest.

After that is when things got physical.

It all started with McAvoy’s hit on Mark Scheifele late in the first period. Jets defenseman Neal Pionk challenged him, and the two grappled — with no official fighting major called — and the Bruins ended up on the power play.

On an ensuing 5-on-3, Patrice Bergeron took a feed from Brad Marchand with 53 seconds left in the period and sniped his 22nd goal of the season for a 1-1 game.

Things were just getting started in the most eventful period without a goal all season.

Ehlers laid a heavy hit on Marchand in the neutral zone 3:28 into the second and the two fought, sending Marchand to the room for a bit.

After a handful of Bruins penalty kills, Brandon Carlo challenged Gabriel Bourque for a hit on Charlie Coyle, earning himself an additional 2- minute minor and 10-minute misconduct for instigating. Karson Kuhlman brawled with Luca Sbisa later on in the frame, and Sbisa suffered the same fate.

“Part of the message…. It was about being harder to play against and building these games in,” Cassidy said of Carlo. “It was there, it presented itself. (Zdeno Chara) has a hit, Charlie has a good, clean hit they go after him. All of a sudden that changes the complexion of the game, like okay, it’s going to be one of those games.”

The period even ended on a thrilling note, with a Laine breakaway being stopped by Torey Krug as the Bruins defenseman went to the box for holding.

While the Bruins killed six straight Jets power plays, they struck on their fourth of the night just over three minutes into the third.

Pastrnak found Jake DeBrusk by the crease and DeBrusk deposited his 16th of the season from right in front to put the Bruins ahead with 16:53 left in the game. 1173801 Boston Bruins

Blake Wheeler’s found a home in Winnipeg

MARISA INGEMI

January 31, 2020 at 6:54 PM

WINNIPEG — The Blake Wheeler captaining the Jets is far different than the Blake Wheeler who played for the Bruins 10 years ago.

It doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago when Wheeler donned the spoked B alongside David Krejci and Michael Ryder on one of the most dynamic second lines in the NHL, but the last time that happened was the end of 2011, before Wheeler and defenseman Mark Stuart were sent to Atlanta.

The first time Wheeler suited up against his old team, it meant something. Now, it’s more like just another game.

“I think the nostalgia is probably gone,” he said. “It’s been a long time now. They’re always a good team when we play them. These are the types of games you get ready for just because they’re always a good team.”

Wheeler played two-plus seasons in Boston, but it seemed longer. He scored 21 goals in his rookie season and expectations soared, which were tough for the first-round selection to keep up with. By the time he was traded, he had just 11 goals in 58 games.

The trade to Atlanta brought Rich Peverley to Boston, and he was a contributor to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship team, so the trade has been viewed as a win in the minds of Bruins fans.

Wheeler has found plenty of success in Winnipeg, but at first, there was something more when he faced the team that traded him.

“There’s a certain element of you always want to play well against the team that trades you,” said Wheeler. “Especially early on. At the time they were the best team in the league, so there was a little bit extra there, just getting up for those games because they’re such a tough team to play against. Since I’ve been gone it’s been quite the run those guys have gone on.”

Wheeler’s career has flourished as a Jet, consistently netting 20 goals since 2013 and reaching 91 points in each of the past two seasons.

He attributes that to stability in his situation and also his growth off the ice.

“I’ve grown up a lot, was a younger player, it’s been 10 years,” he said. “You grow up on and off the ice. I have a family now, I have three kids. I’ve come a long way since my days in Boston but always look back fondly on those days. I was given an opportunity to play in the NHL and always grateful for that.”

Wheeler may have reached the same heights had he stayed in Boston, but the kind of development he got with a then-lesser Atlanta team allowed him room to become the player he is now. That ice time and opportunity might never have come in Boston.

“Young players, there’s always inconsistencies in their game,” said Wheeler. “Tried to find that consistency, and once you get traded, it almost sends shock through your system. There’s not too many opportunities and you got to take advantage of it. I was given a great opportunity in Atlanta and here to play a lot. No matter how bad I was playing, I was playing. Sometimes as a young player that’s what you need to get you going.

“I think it was right time, right place.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173802 Boston Bruins

Bruins pregame notes: Out of the break in Winnipeg

MARISA INGEMI

January 31, 2020 at 1:41 PM

WINNIPEG — The break in the action is over and the hockey has begun again.

The Bruins don’t have it easy after 10 days off, sans all-star David Pastrnak, with a back-to-back on the road right off the bat. Tonight, they deal with a slumping Jets squad and tomorrow go to Minnesota to face a disappointing Wild team.

The Bruins entered the break on a good note with a win over the Golden Knights, and it was needed following a collapse in Pittsburgh two days prior.

Overall, though, the Bruins have hit a challenging point in the season, now more than midway through the schedule and a large chunk of it still to go. They’ve dropped three of their last five, and all have been in epic fashion, whether the blown lead and shootout failure in Philadelphia or abysmal effort in Columbus or the collapse in Pittsburgh.

That’s all behind them, though, and they’re hoping to pounce on a struggling Jets team inches away from missing the postseason. Winnipeg has issues around the net defensively, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck has bailed them out all season but has slightly dipped of late.

When the Bruins are at their most dominant on offense they’re finding seams around the net and crashing it, so it could be a chance to reinvigorate the offense, especially the power play.

The Jets have had penalty kill woes as well, so this might be the perfect game to re-establish some of the things the Bruins do best when they’re going well.

Winnipeg is hungry, though, and the Jets have had the same extended break as the Bruins, and they might have more desperation.

Game notes

Tuukka Rask starts his first game since getting concussed in Columbus on January 14. He missed three games and the remainder of that one with the concussion, the second of his career.

The rest of the lineup stays essentially the same as it was going into the break with Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork staying with Charlie Coyle while Jeremy Lauzon is in at defense for John Moore.

Joakim Nordstrom is back in the lineup as well with Par Lindholm and Anton Blidh the scratches.

About the Jets

The Jets (25-22-4) went into a four-game slide heading into the break, ending with three consecutive road losses in Carolina, Chicago, and Columbus.

Despite defensive inefficiencies the Jets have allowed the 11th fewest goals against in the NHL, thanks in large part to all-star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Given they’ve seen the fourth most shots in the league with 1,681, that’s impressive. Where they hurt, though, is on the penalty kill where their 74.4 percent is the fifth lowest in the NHL.

Mark Scheifele leads the team with 54 points and Kyle Connor comes in second with 50. Former Bruins winger and now Jets captain Blake Wheeler rounds in with 43 points.

Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173803 Boston Bruins BY THE NUMBERS: 3 – the number of fighting majors for the Bruins with Marchand, Carlo and Karson Kuhlman all dropping the gloves to stand up to the Winnipeg Jets and earn the two points.

Bruins show physicality that they're going to need in win over Jets QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was a physical game. It was fun to jump right back into it. I think we did a really good job at handling that style of play tonight." –Brandon Carlo to reporters in Winnipeg about the gritty, tough Joe Haggerty win over the Jets.

February 01, 2020 12:07 AM SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020

GOLD STAR: Charlie McAvoy didn’t have a point in this game, but he showed how he can impact an intense, physical hockey game at a moment’s notice.

The Bruins were down 1-0 in the first period and Winnipeg had thrown a couple of big hits at the Bruins when McAvoy decided to throw a massive hip check at Mark Schiefele as he entered the offensive zone. It wiped out the Jets star forward and then McAvoy dropped the gloves with Neal Pionk in the immediate aftermath to answer for the hit.

What a hit from Charlie McAvoy on Mark Scheifele. pic.twitter.com/QIhsal0Dxx

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 1, 2020

Winnipeg was slapped with extra penalties that put Bruins on the power play and the Bruins scored their tying goal. And that all came as a result of McAvoy throwing that initial big hip check.

McAvoy finished with no shot attempts, two hits and three blocked shots in 25:08 of ice time. He played the kind of gritty, impactful defense that the Bruins are going to need in the second half of the year.

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BLACK EYE: There were black eyes all around with the Bruins and Winnipeg Jets combining for 64 penalty minutes in the second period, six fighting majors and one instigator penalty apiece in the most combative 20 minutes of the season for the Black and Gold.

It was a stark contrast from some of the other games the B’s have played this season where they haven’t responded enough to being pushed around. And it was exactly the kind of performance that Boston needed to show coming out of the break with just 30 games remaining in the season.

McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Brad Marchand led the way in the physicality and toughness department, and the Bruins need plenty more of it in the next few months.

TURNING POINT: The Bruins killed six Winnipeg power plays in the second period. It seemed like it was a constant parade for the B’s to the penalty box. Some of it was about the Bruins standing up and defending themselves and some of it was about bad calls like the holding whistle against Torey Krug at the end of the second period.

The Jets managed 12 shots on net during these power plays and ace PK defenseman Brandon Carlo was in the box for a couple of those penalty kills, but the Bruins still managed to keep the Jets off the scoreboard on special teams.

Once the Bruins had killed all six of those Winnipeg power plays and still came out of it all tied up 1-1, they paved the way for the winning third period where they secured the two points.

Highlights: Bruins earn hard-fought win over Jets

HONORABLE MENTION: As great as the penalty kill was and as impactful as Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo were when it came to winning and losing, big credit needs to go to Tuukka Rask with his 37 saves in his first game back from a concussion.

We all know that Rask is extremely good when he’s well-rested and that was the case after missing the final three games headed into the All-Star break, and then staying off the ice for the 10-day break during NHL All- Star weekend and the bye week as well.

Rask was at his best in the final 40 minutes of the game stopping 26 out of the 26 shots that he faced in a tight game where any misstep could have cost the Bruins the two points. Instead, Rask was perfect and set a good tone to start the second half following the break. 1173804 Boston Bruins Well, the first thing the Bruins could do immediately is add a big, fast and productive winger to their top-six who could battle with the big D-men in Tampa and Washington. New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider would Bruins at the Break: How will B's get past Capitals or Lightning as be at the top of that list should he become available. He would aid potential playoff foes? Boston’s designs on getting closer to the net for postseason offense.

Certainly, others such as Kyle Palmieri or Tyler Toffoli wouldn’t be the same kind of impact wingers, but they would still be an upgrade over Joe Haggerty what the B’s now have, just as Marcus Johansson was a good trade deadline fit for them last spring. January 31, 2020 3:43 PM It seems with the promotion of Karson Kuhlman, on the heels of waiving

Brett Ritchie and David Backes, the Bruins are instead going the fast, The “Bruins at the Break” is a five-part series this week with the B’s on a skilled route and that’s just going to lead to them getting pushed far and bye that has examined the first half of the season and how it could away from the net as happened last June vs. St. Louis and two years ago potentially impact the remaining 31 games in the second half. Today, we against the Lightning. look at the biggest question facing the team: How will they beat the It’s a pattern and a way to beat the Bruins in the playoffs and it’s going to bigger, deeper and stronger Capitals or Lightning in the playoffs? happen again against one of those bigger, stronger and deeper teams The Bruins had fortune on their side last spring in the Stanley Cup unless management finds a way to address it over the next month. Playoffs in a big, big way. That will be the mission for management the next few weeks as these Both the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning were Bruins compare very favorably to the ones that ultimately fell short of shockingly out after the first round and, in many ways, those two ousters their goal the past two seasons. cleared the path for the Black and Gold to get all the way to the Cup Final Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 once all four No. 1 seeds were eliminated after the quarterfinal round.

The Bruins, of course, couldn’t close the deal in part because they faced a bigger, stronger Blues team after managing to avoid bigger, stronger and deeper teams in Tampa Bay and Washington in the Eastern Conference playoffs. So, eventually, they ran into the same old problem — even though it took four rounds of playoffs to get there.

Boston would be foolish to assume that kind of lightning is going to strike twice, no pun intended, this spring, and should instead assume it could be facing Tampa or Washington, or even both if the B's advance deep enough into the postseason this time around.

It was the Lightning that dispatched the Bruins in the playoffs a couple of seasons ago in a five-game series that wasn’t all that competitive. It’s the Capitals that have routinely bounced the Bruins around for the better part of five years.

Just prior to the Christmas break, the Bruins got a rare blowout win over the Capitals that was still marred by Washington’s physicality. Once Boston built a strong lead against a Washington team already focused on Christmas vacation, the Capitals spent the rest of the game pounding the smaller B’s until both Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug were knocked out with injuries.

The Bruins have plenty of game-breaking skill and breathtaking two-way play on their top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, but they don’t have fire-breathing, heavy, physical playoff-built forwards such as Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson on their roster. That becomes a real issue translating a Boston team built for the regular season into becoming one in the playoffs capable of imposing its will for two months.

Regardless of whether the Bruins can retain their hold on first place in the Atlantic Division in the regular season's final 31 games, the Lightning are the only team that can catch the Bruins at five points back. Still, the regular season and postseason are two different things, and Tampa Bay has depth up front with their forwards that the Bruins can’t really approach.

It’s part of the reason that two springs ago the Brayden Point line was able to shut down Boston’s Perfection Line while other Lightning players took turns beating the Black and Gold and Tampa’s big defensive corps did the job against the smaller B’s forwards as well.

This season, the Lightning have four players on pace for 30-plus goals (Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Point and Alex Killorn) and already have seven players in double-digit goals at the midpoint in the season. By comparison, the Bruins have each member of their Perfection Line on a 30-goal pace with five players in double-digit goals as Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci are also on pace for 20-goal seasons.

That kind of scoring depth makes a big difference when it becomes a matchup game in the playoffs, where the Bruins were hopelessly outgunned two seasons ago. They would appear to be the case if these two divisional rivals meet again this postseason.

So what can be done about it? 1173805 Boston Bruins “I’ve never really liked it,” Cassidy said. “It used to be you take a number and try to bump (the opponent’s) skill. It’s changed and is universal throughout the league.”

Bruins ‘dragged into the fight’ and respond in ‘old-time hockey’ win in The Bruins play the same way when the opposition starts to run bodies, Winnipeg and that was evident against the Jets. You can count Marchand as a player who is all for that type of reaction when a teammate gets pounded physically. He said it builds camaraderie in the room and on the ice. Joe McDonald “That’s what separates good teams from bad teams,” Marchand said. Jan 31, 2020 1 “When you have a team that really cares about each other, all good teams have that. It’s not something we’re going to lose in here, and I

think it’s necessary.” WINNIPEG, Manitoba — George Parros had a front-row seat for one of Besides the physical aspect of the game, Boston’s special teams were a the more entertaining games of the season for the Bruins. As an ex-NHL major reason for the victory. Both goals came on the power play, while enforcer and current head of the Department of Player Safety, he must the Bruins’ penalty kill went a perfect 6-for-6, including a pair of five-on- have had a smile on his face. threes. It was a good, clean, old-school-type hockey game that featured 74 “That was a good battle and we needed those kills,” Rask said. minutes in penalties while the Bruins finished with a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night at Bell MTS Place. The only thing missing was a line brawl.

The final score sheet resembled something out of the 1980s. “That’s old-time hockey right there,” Marchand said. “Any time there was a big hit, there was a fight and that’s how it used to be. It was fun to play “It was great for our team to show up and stick up for each other and a game like that. It’s not going to happen every night, but when they do have a game like that. They’re a lot of fun to be part of,” Brad Marchand they’re fun to be part of.” said. From a physicality standpoint, it was the type of game the Bruins need It had all the makings to potentially be a crazy game. Both teams were more of down the stretch and into the . returning after their respective All-Star break and bye week. So, with nine days between games and freshly tanned skin, players were well rested The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 and energized to entertain.

The teams didn’t disappoint.

Bruce Cassidy’s message coming back from the break was simply to refocus and once again be the type of team that’s hard to play against. When an opportunity presents itself, like it did Friday night, then accept it and win that battle.

“We got dragged into the fight, which is something our team needs and we responded well,” Cassidy said.

Both teams were a bit rusty because of the layoff, but this game checked all the boxes for the 15,325 in attendance and the fans watching at home. It featured nearly everything a hockey fan would want to see with teeth-shattering body checks, highlight-reel saves from both , a special-teams battle, fights, roughing penalties and nonstop chirping.

It was mass hysteria.

“It was good hockey and we need more of that moving forward,” said Tuukka Rask, who finished with 37 saves.

The physicality increased after the Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy leveled the Jets’ Mark Scheifele with a clean, heavy, open-ice hit late in the first period that ignited the fireworks. The hit forced McAvoy to drop the gloves with Neal Pionk.

That trend continued when Marchand went toe-to-toe with the Nikolaj Ehlers after a hit at center ice. Brandon Carlo, who played with some serious grit all game, was forced to answer the bell with the Jets’ Gabriel Bourque.

It didn’t end there.

The Bruins’ Karson Kuhlman registered his first NHL fight when he went with Luca Sbisa.

Only a few weeks ago many questioned Boston’s lack of response when opponents started playing physical against the Bruins. Jake DeBrusk, who scored the game-winning goal Friday, said this was the type of game that can bond a team. Carlo agreed.

“We’re trying to build more of that into our identity of being a physical team and never backing down,” he said. “When a team wants to start playing physical with us we definitely want to show that’s not going to work and maybe it feeds into our hands a little bit. That’s the kind of mentality we had tonight.”

Responding with a fight after a clean hit has become a trend throughout the NHL. Some believe that shouldn’t happen, while the new generation is all for it. 1173806 Boston Bruins The Bruins will return to their rotation with Rask back. The trick will be to feed Rask enough action to stay sharp but fold in enough rest to make him fresh for the playoffs.

Bruins, back from the break, need these three things to start swinging in The Bruins practiced with 23 healthy players Thursday. Connor Clifton their favor (upper body) and Kevan Miller (knee) skated before practice. Neither traveled to Winnipeg.

Fluto Shinzawa “I would think Cliffy’s a little closer,” Cassidy said. “We had said middle of February was his timeline. We’re getting into February. So he’d have to Jan 31, 2020 skate with us for a while.”

3. Fight for ice time

The Bruins will restart their engines Friday in Winnipeg with a five-point The Bruins started the season with only two new players: Ritchie and Par lead over Tampa in the Atlantic Division. Even amid a Lightning Lindholm. The positives to that are the quality and chemistry inherent in resurgence, the Bruins have one of the eight Eastern playoff positions returning such a successful group. The drawback came in how returning just about locked up. the majority of the roster did not address the concept of competition.

Bruce Cassidy doesn’t want to hear it. Things have changed. Anton Blidh replaced Joakim Nordstrom in the 3-2 pre-break win over Vegas. Ditto Jeremy Lauzon with John Moore. Ritchie “We’re in a good spot now,” said the Bruins coach. “It doesn’t guarantee and Backes are off the roster partly because of Kuhlman’s pace. you squat, to be honest with you. We’ve got to play well here the next 31 games, solidify our spot and try to get the highest seed we can. That will On Thursday, Nordstrom practiced in his usual spot next to Sean Kuraly be what our focus is. I think the guys understand it. They know. They’ve and Chris Wagner. Blidh was one of two extra forwards (Lindholm was been in this league a long time. They know this is the time of year that, the other). ‘Let’s tighten up in certain areas so we’re hitting our peak at the right time.’” Moore, however, was the No. 7 defenseman. It may be that Lauzon gets another game on Matt Grzelcyk’s right side. Cassidy knows the points will come if his team follows the protocol of performing the right way: skating crisply, smothering opponents, “I think it has,” Cassidy said when asked if young faces had ramped up generating below-the-dot chances and tending the net. the competition. “That was our plan three or four games ago, to try and inject some of that. Some of that was health-related, guys we hoped It’s not as easy as it sounds. were just coming back and getting back into the game, like Kuhlman and Blidh. Lauzon, less so. He’d been playing. I hope it pushes us in the right The All-Star break, in combination with the team’s bye week, may have way where guys want to be part of it but still being good teammates when healed bruises, cleared minds and reduced inflammation. But much- their number’s not called. Those are the things we’ve always hoped for needed rest will not ease the fact that the Bruins have accumulated wear around here. I think we’re going to see a little more of it down the stretch. and tear that last season’s non-playoff teams did not. Some other guys in Providence are playing well. We may dip into that “This season’s been a little long,” Brad Marchand said. “It seems a little again to keep that philosophy going. Right now, this is what we have. We longer than usual. It’s always good to get away and get a break from it like it.” all. Just enjoy some time with your family, buddies, teammates or It’s not just that competition puts the fringe players on notice. Youngsters whatever you get away with. It also gets you excited to come back and eager to make impressions can play with contagious energy. The Bruins play again.” need every bit of that heading into the playoffs. The Bruins will need three post-break things to swing in their favor: The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1. Help at right wing

The Bruins began their makeover by waiving Brett Ritchie on Jan. 15. Two days later, they said goodbye to David Backes. Backes is now in limbo after the sides mutually agreed he will not play for Providence.

Karson Kuhlman, recalled from Providence on Thursday, will start the post-break run as the No. 3 right wing next to David Krejci. Anders Bjork will remain the No. 2 right wing alongside Charlie Coyle.

That’s not going to be good enough.

This is Bjork’s first full professional season. His first two were interrupted by shoulder injuries. The 23-year-old has developed well, first at left wing, and now on the right side. It would be a big ask, however, to deploy Bjork as the No. 2 right wing to start the playoffs. In fact, Bjork may be the Bruins’ best asset with which to acquire a more accomplished right wing.

Whomever the Bruins acquire, they will likely need financial assistance from their trade partner via salary retention. This will drive the price up.

2. Good health

Tuukka Rask practiced Thursday without limitations. He is in line to start either Friday against Winnipeg or Saturday against Minnesota. Because of his concussion, Rask did not have to serve a one-game suspension for saying no to the All-Star Game.

Rask reported headaches and severe motion sickness among his initial symptoms after being hit by Emil Bemstrom on Jan. 14. Rask suffered a concussion last year when he was hit by Filip Chytil. Two years ago, a practice collision with Bjork gave Rask a concussion.

“My headaches were not too bad,” Rask said. “But I sat in the car and started walking, it was kind of like spinning a little bit. That was different. I figured it might be because I got hit in the side of the head and messed up my balance.” 1173807 Buffalo Sabres

Amerks continue hot streak by topping Syracuse

Staff Writer

Fri, Jan 31, 2020

The won their fourth straight game Friday night, a 4-2 victory over Syracuse at the .

Scott Wilson scored twice with C.J. Smith and Casey Mittelstadt rounding out the Amerks’ goals.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was solid in net. He made 31 saves over a full 60 minutes of work.

Rochester improved to 24-13-2-4 overall and moved into a tie for second place in the AHL North Division with Utica.

Both teams have 54 points and are four points back of the division- leading .

Wilson opened the scoring in the first period by finishing off a breakaway with a wrist shot past former Rochester goalie Scott Wedgewood.

Syracuse tied the game on a goal from Daniel Walcott but fell behind again on Mittelstadt’s goal.

He squeezed a shot under the crossbar for a 2-1 Amerks advantage.

Wilson made it 3-1 for Rochester in the third period. While the Crunch got within one, Smith’s tally was the clincher.

Rochester was without the services of Jean-Sebastian Dea, who was called up to the Sabres earlier Friday.

The Amerks will play at Binghamton tonight at 7:05 p.m.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173808 Buffalo Sabres really, really have had a good run of PK here since he’s been in our group.

“He’s a good guy in the room. He’s a mentor kind of player, works hard Stanley Cup winner Michael Frolik says Sabres need confidence, off the ice, another good example for our young guys to see why he’s consistency been in the National Hockey League for this long.”

Frolik’s ice time declined in each of the last three seasons in Calgary, Jason Wolf down to an average of 11:56 this season, before being traded. He's playing nearly 14 1/2 minutes per game with the Sabres, the most he's Fri, Jan 31, 2020 received since the 2017-18 season, when he had 10 goals and 15 assists in 70 games.

Frolik has played for five NHL franchises since being selected with the Michael Frolik won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 10th overall pick by Florida in 2006 draft. 2013, assisting on the Cup-winning goal by Dave Bolland in Game 6 in Boston. He waived his no-trade clause to come to Buffalo, and said he’s happy with his role. He knows what it takes to win. “Yeah, definitely. Obviously, my ice time has been higher and my role He knows what a winning locker room looks like. has been pretty good here coming from Calgary. I’m happy with that, for And in his month with the Buffalo Sabres, he’s seen this isn’t it. sure,” Frolik said. “I’m happy for that opportunity. Hopefully, like I said, I want to play the right way and don’t think too much about the scoring. But “In Chicago we had great, great guys and a great team,” Frolik said after it’s a little bit in your head, too. You want to help the team, help the guys practice Friday. “I think it’s just a matter of, from what I remember from and get some experience. I know we got a young team here and strive to there, I think the belief. We had a belief in the room that we can win be an example for them on the ice and in the practices and stuff.” every game. Even if we were down two, three goals, I think you could see in the room the belief that we could turn the game around. But with the trade deadline approaching, he didn’t rule out waiving his no- trade clause again, should the Sabres wish to deal him elsewhere. “Also I think the issue here a little bit is just to play a full 60 minutes. We’ve had a little trouble with the second period. It seems like we always “Obviously, the opportunity’s getting bigger, so that’s why I kind of came have a pretty good first period and then we kind of take a little bit our foot here,” Frolik said. “So far, I’m happy here. I just want to help the guys, off the gas, but I think the mindset here needs to be a full 60 minutes and help the team. You never know, but I like the guys, I like the group here, I that’s the challenge for the next game.” don’t want to be changing too much. You never know, but like I said, I’m happy here and I’m happy to be a Buffalo Sabre.” The Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday afternoon, their third consecutive home game in a stretch of nine of 10 at KeyBank Happy enough to consider re-signing with the Sabres this offseason, Center since returning from the All-Star break. To this point, they’re 0-2, when he’s slated to become a free agent? with demoralizing losses to the struggling and Montreal “I don’t want to go too much ahead, but I think if some offer happens, I Canadiens. definitely want to stay in the league,” Frolik said. “I think still I can play in Buffalo (22-22-7) has lost three consecutive games to drop to sixth in the this league. But you never know what will happen in the summer. I’ve Atlantic Division, and on Friday afternoon sat 10 points out of a playoff been through that free agency. So I know it’s tricky and you kind of never spot with 31 games remaining in the regular season. know. But yeah, if any offer happens here I’d definitely consider it and take it.” Players admittedly lost confidence after allowing two goals in just over two minutes in the second period of their Thursday night loss to Montreal, For now, Frolik said he’s focused on helping the Sabres improve their but coach Ralph Krueger said the group remains committed to one consistency and work ethic, and trying to help the team push for an another and the system. unlikely playoff berth.

“We feel a continued, complete buy-in by the players of what we’re “We have to realize this is the time for us,” Frolik said. “Every game for working on,” Krueger said Friday. “And are the results the way we want us should be like a kind of playoff game. And it’s between us here. We them? No. And do fans deserve to boo us after games like Ottawa and need to do the work. We need to put the work in and I think we were, it’s Montreal? Yes. Do we need to take that? Yes. And it should fuel us to just we took a couple of minutes off and they make us pay. In this league, continue to work in the right direction so that’s how I’m feeling right now you need to be consistent the whole game and every single game and and that’s how the group is feeling. And we’re going to continue to work that’s what we’re looking for the next few games.” hard here.” Okposo, Bogosian likely out Jack Eichel, who’s enjoying a career year statistically with 30 goals and Kyle Okposo will not play in Saturday's matinee against Columbus after 34 assists, capped Thursday’s frustrating performance by smashing his being injured early in the first period of Thursday's loss to Montreal. stick. Krueger made sure to clarify that the veteran did not suffer another “It wears on everyone,” Eichel said Friday, addressing the team’s concussion, but simply had an upper-body injury “below the neck.” struggles, “but that’s my job as a hockey player, as a leader, as a person, Zach Bogosian did not practice Friday because he’s sick and is expected to be able to find a way to regroup every day and come to work, get to miss the game. better and prepare for the next game and I think that’s what I try to do every day.” “Zach is extremely ill, so expecting that’s going to take a couple of days,” Krueger said. The captain hasn’t received much help. Brandon Montour also didn’t skate. He was given a maintenance day. The Sabres have been plagued by a lack of secondary scoring, inconsistent play and an inability to sustain pressure in the offensive Dea recalled from Rochester zone. The Sabres recalled forward Jean-Sebastien Dea from Rochester. Frolik, who turns 32 on Feb. 17, has just an empty-net goal and one assist in eight games since being traded from Calgary to Buffalo for a Dea has 13 goals and 17 assists in 41 games for the Amerks. He leads fourth-round draft pick on Jan. 2. The forward had five goals and five the team with 30 points and he is tied with Andrew Oglevie for the team assists in 38 games with Calgary this season. lead in goals. It's the second recall of the season for Dea, who made his Sabres debut Nov. 27 against Calgary. But his experience and work ethic count, too. “I’m just going to stay myself, try to bring as much positive as I can,” Dea “He’s just a real solid character player who understands the game away said. “If I can help the team win, that’s obviously my main goal.” from the puck and also understands what his team needs from him,” Krueger said. “I think that he has courage and his [addition] to our Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2020 penalty kill has been good. Other than the game against Ottawa, we 1173809 Buffalo Sabres Martin said she wrote her Botterill parody more than a month ago but shelved it when the Sabres traded Marco Scandella to Montreal about an hour before she was going to post it. She had jotted down several verses As another season slips away, Sabres fans unleash their anger in the middle of the night.

"It didn't make any sense to have all these defensemen," she said. "How has he not made a trade right now? Then he did and I thought it became Mike Harrington irrelevant. Now almost a month later, I felt the same so I said, 'Why not?' and I posted it." Fri, Jan 31, 2020 The song has quickly spread on and was prominently

featured across Canada on BarDown, TSN's sports culture blog. Hey Jason Botterill, do you like it in this city? "That was great. I don't do a lot on Twitter but I saw a lot of notifications I've been watching all these games, and well on my phone and I'm thinking that's different," Martin said. "I guess I have some new followers now from Canada." This team's not looking pretty from my view Martin is a teacher's aide at Dodge Elementary School in Williamsville The spotlight's shining bright on you and a youth sports coach at KidsPlay. She and her mother shoot the videos and she does the editing. She said music is just a "fun hobby." To make a move The Sabres were her big hobby for many years. Not anymore. – Melody Martin to the tune of "Hey There, Delilah" "I don't even want to pay $5 StubHub prices anymore," she said. "I went There have been other dark moments in the Buffalo Sabres' history. It's to the Bruins game (a 3-0 loss on Dec. 27) and it was the first time in my easy for people to forget, for instance, how empty KeyBank Center was life I left the game early. If they were losing, it would be one thing if the during the end of the Rigas bankruptcy era before Tom Golisano bought games were entertaining and there was a bit of passion and excitement. the team in 2003. The franchise's very viability was in question. Like 5-4 and it's a good game, whatever. I'm sick of 18 shots on goal, no That's not the case now. Still, this is a troubled time. legitimate scoring chances. It's boring. Be better.

It looks like the Sabres aren't going to the playoffs for the ninth straight "I was a fan my whole life. In 2006, you could not find me away from the season. The franchise is just 24th in the NHL in percentage of tickets TV when the games were on. That was the moment I knew I loved this sold (with many disguised as empty seats). And fan unrest with this club with all my heart. They got eliminated in June and I started playing seems to be at a breaking point, certainly the worst since hockey in September (for the Buffalo Regals). I loved hockey that much became owner in 2011. because of them."

The booing in the arena during this week's dreary losses to Ottawa and Hey Jason Botterill, that O'Reilly trade was rough. Montreal was richly deserved and might only get worse with seven more How could you think that Patrik Berglund and Sobotka were enough? home games in the next 17 days, starting with Saturday's matinee against Columbus. It sounds insane. But I hear O'Reilly is doing great.

[Column: Yet again, Sabres just leave you scratching your head] So they say.

Turbulence is everywhere. There's a growing call for a protest rally next Hey Jason Botterill I just hope you have the answers week on the arena's Alumni Plaza. A fan rant on WGR Radio sparked the social media #WeAreAllDuane in honor of the caller. There's 'Cause our rink's starting to look and feel just like the Florida Panthers' even a parody song on YouTube imploring General Manager Jason And it's tough Botterill to make a trade in the best spirit of #DoSomethingDarcy that dogged former GM Darcy Regier. It's a situation where this sucks

"This team has just sucked the life out of me," said Melody Martin, 25, Enough's enough the Williamsville woman who has done Sabres song parodies for the last two seasons. "I just don't even care about these games anymore. If Most fans in Buffalo have similar views of Terry and Kim Pegula that this people want to protest, they can go ahead but I just feel like I've corner has expressed over the years. They are the most important completely lost every ounce of love I have for the Sabres. figures in downtown development in the 21st century, with LECOM Harborcenter being a potential game changer for decades. "I just don't even care and that feels so much worse. I'd much rather be angry." The Pegulas saved the Bills, when it seemed like a purchase and move out of town was likely. The team has gone to the playoffs twice in three Canisius College physical education major Peter Tripi feels that anger. years and a fully renovated stadium or a new one seem imminent. The He's organizing a "Pack the Plaza" event outside the arena at 11 a.m. Sabres? No playoffs for nine years, a shabby arena falling far behind the Feb. 8 to show Sabres management their dismay over nearly a decade rest of the NHL and a 50th anniversary celebration that has fallen flat for of failure under Pegula ownership. He says he wants the gathering to be fans with snafus including alumni jerseys with misspelled names and peaceful, respectful, passionate and in support of the players. knockoffs handed out to '80s and '90s alumni.

"I still have Briere and Drury stuff all over my house. That was my first "It's just the way they're treating fans now," Tripi said. "Treating the real memory," said Tripi, a sophomore who graduated from Williamsville alumni, the arena itself and the franchise with all the losing for nine North. "When they left [in 2007], there was confusion and doubts and years. It's inconceivable. It's not like this anywhere else in the entire everything. It's crazy how bad that was and how big a mistake that was. United States and Canada. But seeing how bad we've been in the last 9 years, we're worse and I never thought I'd see something worse. "I cannot remember someone coming out and saying it's going to get better. We have two first overall picks (Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin) "We're desensitized to losing when it comes to the Sabres. The Pegulas and we're just wasting their time here. It's sickening really. need to worry the day people stop caring. That's when they should worry. "I love the Pegulas, love what they did for our community but the fact of Hey Jason Botterill, I'm sure things are not that easy the matter is Buffalo is a blue-collar town. We're a hockey town. We don't deserve a billionaire owner refusing to listen to us, refusing to show up in But your answer to our scoring woes public and acknowledge he's sorry or apologize in any way about how Was Johansson and Vesey the Sabres are being portrayed by their fans or around the league. They're a laughingstock." Well it's true Eichel is one of the top 10 players in the league this season and what Without Jack Eichel we'd be screwed has the 2015 tank that allowed the team to get him resulted in? No What would we do? playoffs and the sight of their captain baseball bat-smashing his stick into the goalpost after Montreal's empty-net goal Thursday night.

Firing coaches and general managers hasn't worked. The discord between ownership and team legend/short-term president Pat LaFontaine was a disastrous chapter that remains embarrassing.

Fans are pretty vocal in the arena, but at least that means they're still there. What happens when they start expressing themselves with their feet and their wallets?

"I would tell the Pegulas how much I appreciate them," Martin said. "I just wish they would put a little more attention to the Sabres. I have a couple more song ideas but I don't want to come off as negative or mean. But right now, that's what seems to be resonating."

Hey Jason Botterill, I don't have much left to say

Because like Risto and Ryan [O'Reilly] I've lost my love of this game

And it's a shame

At least we have the Bills to play postseason games

Oh, you gotta do something

Oh, you gotta do something

Oh, you gotta do something

Oh, you gotta do something

Gotta do someth-iiiing.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173810 Buffalo Sabres

Amerks Hall of Famer Domenic Pittis recalls time he played Sabres- Amerks doubleheader

Bill Hoppe

Fri, Jan 31, 2020

Domenic Pittis, who will be inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame prior to Friday’s game against the Syracuse Crunch, sounded nostalgic recalling perhaps the wildest day of his 19-year career.

On the afternoon of March 28, 1999, Pittis, then 24, made his fourth NHL appearance, skating 12 minutes, 36 seconds in the Sabres’ 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Following the game, Sabres GM Darcy Regier approached Pittis, a free agent he had signed the previous summer.

“He’s like, ‘Hey, do you want to play in the second one? You don’t have to play a lot,’ ” Pittis recalled.

The second game was at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. So Pittis drove 75 miles and said he played a whopping 24 minutes in the Amerks’ 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, registering two assists.

“It was exciting, I guess, right?” Pittis said of his doubleheader. “Part of me was like, ‘What are we doing playing two games?’ But part of me was like, ‘I got to get myself ready to play another game.’ You’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going to be tired, emotionally drained.’ ”

When the game started, Pittis forgot he had played earlier in the day.

“You’re just like, ‘Oh, now I’m in it, now I want to play as much as I normally do,’ ” he said. “You don’t think much more about it. It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t even think about it. I remember being pretty hungry afterwards.”

The center’s effort paid off. He would end up winning the American Hockey League scoring title with 104 points, two more than the Providence Bruins’ Randy Robitaille.

Pittis spent three seasons in Rochester over two stints, scoring 75 goals and 246 points. He’s the last Amerk to crack 100 points in a season.

Pittis only played 14 games with the Sabres, but he parlayed his dynamic play during his first stint – Rochester reached the Calder Cup final both seasons – into a one-way contract with the Edmonton. He spent the next two years with the Oilers.

“I owe all that to the Sabres and Roch, really, to be honest with you,” said Pittis, now an assistant with the , the ’ AHL affiliate. “The opportunity I was given, someone saw that I was worth the chance.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173811 Buffalo Sabres After rookie defenseman Jacob Bryson played the first 40 games this season, he was scratched for the Amerks’ 3-2 overtime win Jan. 22 against the Cleveland Monsters.

Sabres prospect Mattias Samuelsson shows maturity, strength as pro “I just made a decision that I felt it’s best for him as a young player he decision awaits needed a night off,” coach Chris Taylor said.

Taylor said the Bryson, 22, responded with “one of his best games he Bill Hoppe had all year” in the Amerks’ 4-1 victory versus the Laval Rocket on Jan. 24. Fri, Jan 31, 2020 The diminutive Bryson, a Providence product, tried to use sitting out as a learning experience.

At 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Buffalo Sabres prospect Mattias “I hadn’t done that all year,” he said. “I played 40 straight there. It’s Samuelsson has the size to play pro hockey. different from going from college, where you play 40 games, and then playing 40 games and you still have 36 left. It’s a long season, and just to Samuelsson has played big minutes throughout his career at Western watch it up top was kind of good. Confidence-wise, I knew I could come Michigan, earning perhaps more ice time than any freshman in the back and play well.” country last season. Bryson has already played 42 games, as many as he played last season The former second-round pick just captained Team USA’s entry at the in the NCAA. That includes the Frozen Four in Buffalo. World Junior Championship, his second consecutive appearance in the tournament. Oglevie tallies

When his college season ends, Samuelsson, 19, could be ready to sign After scoring seven goals in a six-game stretch in November, Amerks his entry-level contract with the Sabres. He was selected 32nd overall, forward Andrew Oglevie battled a long slump and a lower-body injury, the first pick in the second round, in the 2018 draft. scoring just once over his next 14 outings.

“It’s something you always have in the back of your mind, it’s something When Oglevie scored an early power-play goal against the Rocket, he you’re constantly working toward,” Samuelsson said of turning pro. “But celebrated emphatically. at the end of the day, I’m a Bronco right now and you just want to focus on this season.” “I was fired up to score that one,” he said.

Following a slow start this season caused partly by a spate of injuries, Oglevie added an empty-net goal later in the game and scored the next Western Michigan has won four games in a row. night in the Amerks’ 3-2 win in Syracuse.

“We’ve got the people back that we expected to play together,” coach Taylor hinted Oglevie isn’t 100% yet. Andy Murray said. “He’s playing through some stuff right now,” he said.

Samuelsson said he suffered a high ankle sprain doing off-ice training Malone gets bounce before the season – “Rolled it the wrong way,” he said – and he missed four games to start the season. Amerks forward Sean Malone’s eight-game drought ended Jan. 24 when Rocket goalie Keith Kinkaid played the puck off his own defenseman into “It was hard, I never had anything like that,” he said. “I tried coming back the net. maybe a couple weeks earlier. The pain was a little too bad ... So I took some time off at the beginning of the year. Once I came back on the ice, “I was about to (change),” Malone said. “I turned to our bench, I had no it felt fine.” idea it went in. Guys came over to celebrate with me. It was a funny moment and something I’ll remember.” Samuelsson’s growth this season, according to Murray, can be traced to a less taxing summer. Fewer commitments allowed him to train regularly After playing the Crunch, the Amerks face the Binghamton Devils on the and improve his conditioning. road Saturday.

“He’s stronger than he was last year,” Murray said. Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2020

Samuelsson said he been showcasing a more physical style and has become tougher to play against in the corners and in front of the net.

“That’s something I pride myself on is being a pain to play against for the opponent,” said Samuelsson, who has compiled one goal and seven points in 18 games this season. “I feel like playing against older, bigger guys every day is helping me.”

Samuelsson only faced teenagers during Team USA’s short run as captain at the World Junior Championship.

“He’s very mature,” Murray said. “I think right away, they had a feeling he would be a leader, they had a young team, they needed somebody with his kind of stable attitude.”

While the Americans lost in the quarterfinal, Samuelsson’s play during the five games impressed Sabres assistant general manager .

“I saw a guy who handled the captaincy extremely well,” Sexton said. “I saw a guy who, I think, to a large degree played to his identity. He was big, strong, he moved pucks intelligently, defended with vigor, anchored the PK, blocked shots – did all the small things that it takes to win at any level.”

Samuelsson said captaining his country “was pretty surreal.”

“You dream about playing in the World Juniors, let along being the captain for Team USA,” he said. “So it was … super humbling. I mean, really an honor.”

Bryson responds to scratch 1173812 Buffalo Sabres

With Kyle Okposo down, Sabres call up Jean-Sebastien Dea

Mike Harrington

Fri, Jan 31, 2020

Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said he didn't expect Kyle Okposo to be available for Saturday's matinee against Columbus and the confirmation for that apparently came Friday morning when the team recalled forward Jean-Sebastien Dea from Rochester.

The team later confirmed that Okposo will undergo further evaluation and will not play Saturday.

Dea has 13 goals and 17 assists in 41 games for the Amerks, leading the team with 30 points and sitting in a tie with Andrew Oglevie for the team lead in goals. It's the second recall of the season for Dea, who made his Sabres debut Nov. 27 against Calgary.

Okposo was injured early in the first period of Thursday's 3-1 loss to Montreal. Krueger made sure to clarify that the veteran did not suffer yet another concussion, but simply had an upper-body injury "below the neck"

Defenseman Zach Bogosian will not practice Friday with an illness and Brandon Montour is being given a maintenance day.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173813 Buffalo Sabres KEEP CLIMBING @OVI8!!

AND NOW A MESSAGE FROM MR. YZERMAN #ALLCAPS #GR8 DGB Grab Bag: A Sabres fan’s rant, debating your team’s trade targets PIC.TWITTER.COM/HVVB9BSWZH and happy Bettman anniversary — WASHINGTON CAPITALS (@CAPITALS) JANUARY 30, 2020

The second star: Pierre McGuire ignored – OK, this isn’t what it sounds Sean McIndoe like; they’re clearly on a commercial, and Pierre is just feeding a setup for after the break. Still, it cracks me up, mainly because a Jan 31, 2020 request followed by an unenthusiastic “yup” followed by several seconds of dead silence reminds me of pretty much every conversation I’ve had with my kid since she got a cell phone.

We are all Duane. The first star: Captain Pastrnak – Look at me. Look at me. I’m the Or at least, at some point, we all have been. Probably more than once. captain now.

Duane, as you probably know by now, is the Buffalo Sabres fan who NO ONE TELLS CAPTAIN PASTA (@PASTRNAK96) WHAT TO DO. triggered a minor controversy this week when he called into a local sports radio show to vent. That’s not all that unusual, but Duane’s rant quickly WATCH NHL ALL-STAR ALL-ACCESS: ramped up, turning into an epic soliloquy of fan frustration. It struck a chord with fellow Sabres fans, who are watching their team waste an FEB. 5 AT 8 ET ON NHL FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE & IGTV MVP-caliber season from their franchise player as they stumble to a ninth straight year without the playoffs. FEB. 5 AT 8:30 ET ON @NHLNETWORK

That should have been the end of it. But this being the Sabres, it FEB. 5 AT 11:30 ET ON @NHLONNBCSPORTS AND @SPORTSNET somehow got worse. A tweet linking to the rant disappeared among fan PIC.TWITTER.COM/WEOF5TU4P8 speculation that the team was unhappy with the station for promoting — NHL (@NHL) JANUARY 27, 2020 Duane’s screed, and that helped make sure that Duane became a genuine news story. Suddenly, a rant that had already Sabres diehards Debating the issues nodding along was being heard by fans everywhere else. This week’s debate: The trade deadline is less than a month away, and And it was fantastic. Like I said, we’ve all been there. It’s one thing to root there’s plenty of buzz about who could be heading where – including that for a team that’s below average; by definition, half of us will do that every rumor about your favorite team acquiring a certain player. But would that year. It another thing to root for a team that’s bad, especially if it happens player be worth the reported asking price? years in a row. But it’s another thing entirely to root for a team that’s hopeless, and that doesn’t seem to have any idea how to even get itself In favor: Oh for sure. As a fan of the team you guys would be trading pointed in the right direction. with, I can tell you, this player is amazing. You guys should absolutely want to acquire him. That’s where the Sabres are at right now, and it sucks. I know, because I’m a Leafs fan, and I’ve spent way too long watching my team spin its Opposed: Hmm, maybe. But at what cost? The price has to be wheels in the same way. You probably know it too, because every team reasonable. goes through this sort of thing eventually. Some teams don’t seem to In favor: It is reasonable! It’s more than reasonable. Haven’t you seen ever stay there long, but even the ones that don’t put down roots at least that rumor going around? You guys would be getting him for practically drop by for an occasional visit. nothing.

The Sabres have been there for a long time, and you can hear it in Opposed: You must not be seeing the same rumors I am, because from Duane’s voice as he recounts everything the team means to him. He tries what I’ve seen, you guys are asking way too much. to keep it together, and lasts about a minute before saying screw it and just opening an emotional vein. You kind of have to listen for yourself. In favor: Are you serious? This guy has the potential to be a huge impact addition. You really wouldn’t give up a pick and some no-name prospect Is it a little over the top? Well, yeah, more than a little. Is it kind of sad? for him? You could look at it that way. Have the last few years of the internet taught us that Duane will inevitably get milkshake duck’d this weekend, Opposed: Hey, that no-name prospect is a stud. That guy is going to be a outed as somebody who liked the Ville Leino signing or got his own name future star. on a slug jersey or whatever else? Of course. But that’s not the point. We’ve all been Duane, and we didn’t need Duane to tell us that. In favor: Says who?

And if you somehow haven’t been a Duane – if you’re brand new at this, Opposed: Says me, and I think I know my own team’s prospect pipeline. or you’re a Golden Knights newbie or a Caps or Blues fan who just got And they are all absolute blue-chippers. You guys would be lucky to get into hockey recently – well, just wait. The Duane train comes for us all, any of them straight up, let alone as part of a package. eventually. In favor: Oh, so now you won’t even part with a pick? You’re crazy.

“I can’t do it anymore, man,” he tells us, and threatens to bail on the Opposed: Well, maybe a late-round pick, if we’re feeling generous. But I whole team. hate to break it to you, but your player just isn’t very good.

He won’t. I didn’t either. You won’t. We’ve all thought about it, but the real In favor: You’ve obviously never seen him play. fans are in too deep. I’m told that if you stick with it and things do turn around and your team finally wins the big one, then it’s all worth it. I’ll Opposed: Yeah, mainly because I only watch highlights, and he’s never have to take their word on that. In the meantime, caring about sports will in them. remain the thing I do for fun that is less fun than anything else I do. In favor: Ha ha. But trust me, this guy is a superstar, and any GM with Hang in there, Duanes of the world. It might get better. It probably won’t. half a brain would be ready to offer up a ransom for him. But you’re not alone. Opposed: If he’s so good, why is he even on the trade block? The week’s three stars of comedy In favor: Um … shut up. The third star: knows what’s up – Check out the quick aside at the end. Hey, he’s the Red Wings’ GM, this will be his only Opposed: He sucks. We don’t want him. chance to celebrate anything for most of the next decade. In favor: He’s a beauty. We don’t want you to want him.

9. ALEX OVECHKIN (693) Opposed: He’s awful.

10. STEVE YZERMAN (692) In favor: He’s awesome. Opposed: He’s garbage. Tomorrow is an important anniversary in the NHL, one that I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about. Feb. 1 is the anniversary of Gary Bettman’s In favor: He’s the GOAT. first day on the job as NHL commissioner, marking 27 years since he Opposed: He is the drizzling hot squirts on a plate. arrived on the scene back in 1993. I’m sure you already have your party planned. The final verdict: Uh … Guys? Bettman has experienced plenty of ups and downs over the years, and Opposed: And not even a good plate. Like a paper plate, that somebody I’m sure he hasn’t enjoyed every single day he’s been on the job. But to already ate off of and you pulled out of the garbage and it’s all stained mark tomorrow’s anniversary, let’s take a moment to appreciate him and torn but you use it anyway. doing what he loves: Being really awkward with Ron MacLean.

The final verdict: Guys? It’s Jan. 18, 1997, and a still relatively fresh-faced Bettman is attending just the third All-Star game of his tenure. He’s been invited to appear on Opposed: HE’S NOT WORTH A SPOT ON OUR ECHL TEAM AND I the CBC’s broadcast to talk shop with Ron MacLean, a consummate pro WOULDN’T TRADE A USED KLEENEX FOR HIM! who is almost universally beloved by the Canadian public, which is to say In favor: HE IS MY FAVORITE PLAYER IN THE UNIVERSE AND YOU the NHL’s best customers. How do you handle a situation like this if WILL NOT BESMIRCH HIS NAME! you’re Bettman? If you answered “be as smug and condescending as humanly possible”, you are a) someone who should maybe reevaluate The final verdict: Trade’s done guys. how you approach social interactions and also b) absolutely correct.

Opposed: Uh … what? Our clip begins with a shot of San Jose, who is this year’s host. Fun fact: this is back when the NHL was doing honorary All-Star captains, and the The final verdict: Yeah, LeBrun just broke the news on Twitter. Done West’s pick is future Sharks GM Doug Wilson. The game finishes 11-7, in deal. case you’re looking for an origin story of where he got his ideas about In favor: … what good goaltending looked like.

Opposed: … It’s the first intermission right now, and MacLean welcomes Bettman to the program. Hey, I sure hope he leads off with a joke for Canadian In favor: Ha, you guys got robbed. He’s not that good. viewers that seems harmless at the time but feels weirdly awkward 23 years later. Opposed: Yeah you wish, he’s the final piece, we just won the Cup. “It’s great to be here, but where’s Coach’s Corner? I miss Don.” Yep, In favor: Enjoy buying him out in a few years. that’ll do. Opposed: Enjoy watching that crappy prospect tear up the Swiss B MacLean starts off like he’s coming in with a softball about how great league. things are going, then pulls a hard turn into a tough question about the In favor: Suckers. recent lack of scoring. Bettman is ready for him, as he goes into an obviously rehearsed bout of feigned confusion. That actually works, Opposed: Chumps. momentarily putting MacLean on the defensive as he starts disavowing The final verdict: This is what every debate about a trade rumor sounds his own question. Bettman is so pleased by this that he makes a mental like to me. (Except the ones involving the Leafs, in which half the fans note to use the same tactic on literally every tough question he gets from are always very reasonable.) the media for the rest of his life.

Obscure former player of the week MacLean recovers to rhyme off some of the current problems, namely too much clutching-and-grabbing and inconsistent enforcement of the Last week, we had some fun with the 1982 All-Star game, including a rulebook. For context, at this point 1996-97 was on pace to be the first joke about starting goaltender Michel Dion. It turns out a few of you were full season to average fewer than six goals per game since the 1960s. confused. Was that a real guy, or was the whole thing just a setup to a The trap was everywhere, and the expansion Panthers had just punch line? Was there really a guy named Michel Dion starting an NHL obstructed their way to the Stanley Cup final. With an emphasis on TV All-Star game? And if so … how? deals and attracting new fans, this is obviously catastrophic, but don’t worry, I’m sure Bettman is taking the issue seriously and has a great Yes, it’s a real guy, and yes, he started the All-Star game. And yes, he’s answer lined up. going to be this week’s obscure player. Ha ha no of course he doesn’t, giving us a world salad about obstruction Dion was born in Quebec and was a two-sport star growing up, playing calls instead, but that’s fine. Look, you know my take on this. I’ve been both hockey and baseball. He eventually settled for hockey, since writing about this league’s lack of offense for over a decade now. There’s Canadians never really excel in baseball, and made a name for himself in a whole chapter in my book about it. I wrote the definitive post about it Montreal as a junior. He eventually wound up in the WHA, where he five years ago. By this point, I’ve stopped caring. I’m dead inside. There tended goal for Indianapolis and Cincinnati, then wound up in the NHL is nothing Bettman can say here that will remotely bother me. with the Nordiques after the 1979 merger and dispersal draft. He was the Nordiques main starter in their inaugural year, splitting time with future Oh wait, he’s not done. Apparently there’s another thing to keep in mind. NHL coach Ron Low and top-notch obscure player candidate Goran Can’t wait. Hogosta, and put up decent numbers. But he slumped in his second year in Quebec and was sold to the Jets midway through the campaign. That He … thinks the problem is fixed. Because scoring has been up. Over summer, he signed with the Penguins, becoming their starter for the the last few weeks. He thinks the league has done a great job on this 1981-82 season. issue because … the dead puck era is over … in January 1997.

That’s the year he wound up in the All-Star game. So how did he do it? OH GOD THAT WAS SO MUCH WORSE THAN I THOUGHT IT Well … actually, he was just really good that year. There’s no weird John WOULD BE. Garrett-type story here. Dion put up solid numbers in a league where not Seriously, this is Gary Bettman telling a national audience that the NHL many goalies were doing that, so he was picked as the starter. (The has already fixed its scoring problem in January of 1997. Done! Nothing league made the choice; fan voting didn’t start until 1985.) He actually to see here! He actually breaks out his waggle-finger to give MacLean a finished third in that year’s Vezina race. little lecture about the numbers. This is the part where I’ll mention that it’s That was pretty much it for him as an elite goalie. He played parts of now 23 years later and scoring is still not back to the 1995-96 level. So three more seasons in Pittsburgh, but both his numbers and playing time yeah, mission accomplished. fell off. By 1985, he was stuck in the minors, and he retired after that There’s a weird interlude where Bettman mentions measuring goalie season. But he’ll always be able to say that he started an All-Star game. pads – not actually doing anything with those measurements, by the way, And also that he looked good in a headband, as you can see in this fan- but taking them. At this point he loses MacLean completely, as the host made tribute reel. challenges him about “your little get-together with the officials” and Classic YouTube clip breakdown responds to the goalie pad claim with “You seriously believe that?”, causing Bettman to backtrack and say he was just playing while making this face:

MacLean moves on to the officiating, which Bettman acknowledges may have been inconsistent in the past before outlining the changes they’ve made to address the issue. Another problem solved! I can’t tell if this interview is from an alternate universe where the 1990s NHL had actual leadership or it’s been artificially engineered just to troll me personally.

MacLean hits him with another excellent question: Should the GMs really be the ones making these decisions, given that they’re all biased toward whatever’s best for their own teams? Bettman rejects that, saying “I think the people who are in the game are the best qualified.” In unrelated news, this is back when the skate-in-crease rule is in full swing.

“We’ve got to be very careful when he makes changes, we’ve got to be very conservative, and when you make a change it’s got to be in the form of fine-tuning.” I mean, you can say a lot of things about Gary Bettman, but you can’t say he’s abandoned his principles over the years.

After an aside about a Mike Keenan contract dispute – no, not that one, the other one – MacLean segues to expansion, and whether Hamilton is just “a pipe dream.” Bettman responds by saying that everyone will be considered, all while making the same frantic hand motions I make when my wife asks me if I know where all the kids’ Halloween candy went. Meanwhile, MacLean hits him with a classic “this guy is so full of it” face:

And that’s all the time we have. MacLean makes a joke about Dale Hunter that somehow cause Bettman to creepily put his arm around him, and we’re done. I know I’ve been critical on Bettman here, but if you think I went easy and want to read a full-scale ethering, check out the legendary Helene Elliott’s column from the same All-Star weekend. And in case you think that’s an outlier, here’s a few months later. His media strategy was going great!

We’ll end on a positive, by pointing out that Bettman may have at least managed to solve one problem that came up in this interview. No, not scoring. No, not the officiating. No, not GMs making dumb and self- serving rules. But according to rumors, he may have had a hand in temporarily getting MacLean off the air a few years ago thanks in part to tough interviews like this. See? Real leaders can drive real change. Happy anniversary, everyone.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173814 Calgary Flames Draisaitl to put a bow on the Flames’ third straight triumph over their provincial foes.

Rittich is now 6-0 in shootouts this season. He maintained a firm grip on Joey Bats or Flames' Big Save Dave ... Who flipped it better? his paddle after the previous five.

“I guarantee you that wasn’t a planned thing,” Talbot said of the stick-flip. Wes Gilbertson “That’s in the heat of the moment and with how big of a moment that is, sometimes those things just come out. I don’t think it’s a cocky thing or January 31, 2020 6:25 PM MST anything like that. I know Bautista said kind of the same thing — it was just a reaction after he hit it, and I think Ritter was the same way.

Sometimes, that stuff just comes out.” David Rittich is admittedly not a big baseball fan. Besides, this guy is full of surprises. A bunch of his Calgary Flames teammates, however, do keep summer “That’s David — that’s who he is,” said Flames forward Andrew tabs on the Toronto Blue Jays, so there were no shortage of expert Mangiapane, who potted a pair in Edmonton. opinions on this timely topic. “If you know Ritter, that’s his character and he does things like that all the Jose Bautista, a.k.a. Joey Bats, or Big Save Dave … Who flipped it time,” Giordano added. “He’s just a high-energy guy and he meant no ill- better? will by it. He’s just having fun with the game. The kissing the posts and all “Bautista’s was a little bit higher and farther, I think, and more of a stare- that, that’s just him in a nutshell. And when he stops doing stuff like that, down,” assessed Flames captain Mark Giordano. “But Ritter’s was great that’s when you know he’s not having fun and he’s not feeling it. So we because of the poke-check, right? I think that’s why he did it was like when he’s doing things like that.” because he poke-checked and he was saying, ‘My stick!’ ” Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 Seems like a plausible explanation.

Better, certainly, than what his goaltender could provide.

“I just did what I did. I don’t have any reason why I did it,” Rittich shrugged. “I just felt like, you know, my stick was already almost there, so I just threw it. I didn’t want to compare to anyone.

“I just felt good after that game, and that’s it.”

The comparisons were inevitable.

Rittich sealed Wednesday’s shootout victory against the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers with a gutsy poke-check on Leon Draisaitl, one of the NHL’s most dangerous marksmen.

The Flames’ all-star puck-stopper then punctuated an intense, emotional, entertaining night by springing to his feet and heaving his stick in the air.

It was a throw-back to another memorable moment — Bautista’s iconic bat-flip after he slugged a three-run dinger in what turned out to be a series-clinching win over the Texas Rangers in the MLB playoffs in 2015.

“I didn’t have any idea — I’m not really a baseball fan,” Rittich said. “I’m not watching that on TV. So, sorry guys.”

No need to apologize, plenty of others could weigh in on this topic.

“I mean, they were both good flips,” said Flames sparkplug winger and Blue Jays supporter Sam Bennett. “I’ve never seen that in hockey before, so it was pretty funny. We had a good laugh after the game about that.”

With so much animosity around the , from the now- settled feud between Matthew Tkachuk and Zack Kassian to the allegations — nonsense, from this vantage point — that Giordano might have been trying to injure Connor McDavid when he clipped his leg, this topic is considerably more light-hearted.

So let’s get to the bottom of this … Who flipped it better?

“I’ve gotta give it to my partner,” said Rittich’s backup, Cam Talbot. “I mean, Bautista’s might have gone a little bit higher but Dave’s went straight in the air, and that‘s tough to do. So I’ve gotta give it to Dave, but they were both good.”

Perhaps this is a case of backstop bias, because a couple of Flames forwards did side with the former Blue Jays outfielder.

“I think Bautista, just with it being playoffs, how big it was … ” said winger Dillon Dube. “I mean, it was awesome against Edmonton, like unbelievable. But it was kind of more of a throw. Bautista was just, like, ‘I’m the man!’ He was the of attention. With Ritter, it was more about the team. So a one-on-one showdown, I have to go with Bautista.”

The Flames, no doubt, will again go with Rittich in Saturday’s rematch with the Oilers at the Saddledome (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

The 27-year-old delivered 31 saves Wednesday at and had a little luck on his side, too, with McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins both ringing the post in the breakaway competition before he denied 1173815 Calgary Flames

Flames defenceman Juuso Valimaki finally back on skates

Wes Gilbertson

January 31, 2020 5:02 PM MST

Juuso Valimaki is back on blades.

The Calgary Flames defenceman was finally able to dust off his skates earlier this week, a positive sign as he recovers from a major knee injury.

“I know the first question is going to be, ‘Well … when is he back?’ ” said Flames general manager Brad Treliving. “There is still no timeline on that, but this is a significant next step to get him back up and going.

“I’ve said all along, we’re going to be real cautious with him. He’s an important young guy and we want to make sure this is healed properly and rehabbed properly. But it’s arrows up when you get to the point of skating, so that’s really good news.”

According to Treliving, Valimaki’s recovery is on or even ahead of schedule.

The 21-year-old — so far, with just 24 nights of NHL know-how — was pencilled in to be a regular on the Flames’ blue-line this winter, but he has instead been sidelined for the entire season so far after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in an August training session.

He needed surgery to repair the damage and couldn’t skate for five-plus months.

“It’s a significant injury. Every morning, he’s here early and he’s here late, and it’s as much a mental grind as it is a physical grind,” Treliving said. “You can train in the gym all you want, but until you can put your pads on and you’re skating around the ice, the end doesn’t seem near.

“Now, you’re not going to skate twice and be back in the lineup — let’s not be confused that there is still a long ways to go here and there is still a process to go through — but once you have gear on and you’re skating, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. That’s sort of where he is at, so it’s meant a lot to him.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173816 Calgary Flames

Flames GM Treliving defends captain, calling accusations of malicious intent 'complete garbage'

Wes Gilbertson

January 31, 2020 4:50 PM MST

Much ado about nothing.

That’s how the Calgary Flames feel about any uproar and finger-pointing from Edmonton after Mark Giordano clipped Connor McDavid’s left leg during Wednesday’s edition of the Battle of Alberta.

“Any talk that there is a malicious intent on the Gio hit is complete garbage, so let’s just put an end to that,” said Flames general manager Brad Treliving. “And I don’t think there is.

“You’re talking about a guy who is a Norris Trophy winner, who is a top player. Obviously, Connor is one the top players in the world. Everybody is going to battle for their space but to me, that is just a non-issue.”

Whenever one of the NHL’s leading stars is screaming at the refs over what he perceives to be a questionable play, it’s bound to become big news.

McDavid’s reaction on the bench — he slammed and then snapped his stick as he fumed — has been replayed countless times, although the Oilers speedster was tight-lipped about the incident after Wednesday’s clash, telling reporters in the home locker-room at Rogers Place that he didn’t want to “start a big media circus.”

With a Battle of Alberta rematch Saturday at the Saddledome (8 p.m. MT, CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), this case of captain-on-captain has emerged as a storyline anyway.

“I saw the puck coming off the wall and in my opinion, I thought I was going to get that puck, to be honest, but we all know what kind of speed he possesses so he’s a bit faster than I am,” Giordano said after Friday’s practice. “At the last split-second, he chipped it by me. I tried to get a piece of him with my hip. I threw my arm out there, as well. I guess you could say it was interference or a penalty, but I had no intent, obviously. I think our shins or our ankles clipped, and I think that’s where he was upset. Or I don’t really know — he might have been upset about the non- call.

“But I was just trying to make a play on the puck. It was a hockey play. It was unintentional the collision that happened with our ankles or our shins.

“He’s an exceptional player, obviously, and what he’s great at is cutting. He cut real quick and right at the end, I tried to get a piece of him. I didn’t try to connect with his knee or his legs or anything like that. It was just an honest play.”

There are some in the provincial capital who won’t buy that explanation, especially since it was Giordano who tripped up McDavid as he headed toward Calgary’s net in the regular-season finale last April, with No. 97 suffering a serious knee injury when he slid into the post.

Both Treliving and Flames interim skipper Geoff Ward pointed out Friday that Oilers bench boss shrugged off this latest play as the sort of thing you see in emotional games, saying that he didn’t think there was any malice from Giordano.

“For me, it’s just what comes up at this time of year,” Ward said. “We’re going to see it for the rest of the season and we’re going to see it in the playoffs, too. Guys just naturally ramp up at this time of year. But I’m with Tipp — I didn’t think there was much to it.”

“There’s nothing there,” Treliving echoed. “It was a highly-contested game. I thought it was a really hard, emotional game. But I think we’re looking for stuff if that’s the topic. If people actually look at the play, Gio doesn’t stick his knee out.

“I get that everything gets sort of built up, but a non-issue in my mind.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173817 Calgary Flames giveaway to Gaudreau, who then set up Robinson at the side of the net, only for him to be robbed by Smith.

Why Robinson’s emergence is important is the club has been seeking a 5 subtle developments for the Flames heading into Saturday’s Battle of right shot forward and they’ve also been searching for the right fit with Alberta rematch Gaudreau and Monahan. Perhaps unexpectedly, they have it all in one package and from a guy that was languishing in the AHL, trying to shed the heavy baggage that comes with being labelled a career minor Darren Haynes leaguer.

Jan 31, 2020 2. B&B music factory

“Mikael, you complete me.” That’s Sam Bennett talking, or at least that’s presumably what Bennett is thinking as he and Backlund are a duo that Angry tweets, pointed replies. has worked in the past. Coming back from the break, tweaked lines from Shaking fists, shrugs of disdain. interim head coach Geoff Ward has seen Backlund return to centre with Bennett on his wing — just the second game they had lined up together Accusations, fiery debates. this season — and the result for the club has been doubly good as Backlund looks more comfortable and involved back playing his natural So much grousing, just as much jubilation. position and Bennett has produced a pair of beauty primary assists. First, More than 36 hours have passed since the third installment of this he set up Mark Jankowski’s go-ahead goal against the Blues. Against the season’s five-part Battle of Alberta and emotions continue to run high Oilers, he alertly jumped around Zack Kassian to get to a loose puck in across the province after Calgary’s enthralling 4-3 shootout win over the the corner, then he calmly wired a perfect pass to Mangiapane, who had Oilers on Wednesday night. found open space in the slot, and he ripped a shot top corner.

After all, the much-anticipated showdown that one hundred percent lived While the offence is nice, Bennett’s inspired play is the biggest positive. up to the hype produced five major storylines that had fans buzzing: In the first period in Edmonton, he collected a puck deep in his own zone and sped up ice, flying through the neutral zone. Hitting the Oilers blue In the fight nobody saw coming, Sean Monahan dropped the gloves for line at top speed and forcing the defence to backpedal, he dropped the the first time in his career and exchanged punches with Ryan Nugent- puck to Noah Hanifin, setting up a scoring chance. All night, he was Hopkins. forechecking assertively at one end, backchecking doggedly at the other — tying up James Neal in one sequence to turn a 2-on-1 rush into a The fight everybody wondered about came to fruition with Matthew harmless 2-on-2. We saw him shoot — forcing Smith to stab out his Tkachuk battling it out with Zack Kassian. blocker to stop a shot labelled for the far side. We saw him show poise — Then there were Andrew Mangiapane’s two dandy goals, Mark waiting behind the net for an open seam and eventually setting up Milan Giordano’s non-penalized leg/knee on Connor McDavid and David Lucic at the side of the net. We saw him stubbornly determined — after Rittich’s celebratory stick-toss. having the puck stripped from him, he immediately stole it back. Of course, we also saw him play physical, laying out a couple of Oilers with But what else? If those were the featured fights, what was on the heavy hits. undercard? Why this is important is a good Backlund and a good Bennett makes Lost in the fallout on Thursday as players enjoyed an off-day were five Calgary a much deeper team and a far more difficult team to play other more subtle, yet for the Flames, important developments. Should against. they be a sign of things to come, it would bode well for Calgary’s second- half push in a division that remains tight — the Flames waking up Friday 3. The Good Doctor in second place, two points back of Vancouver (who holds one game in What a luxury it is to have Derek Ryan on the payroll. After a one-period hand) and two points up on Edmonton (who holds two games in hand). experiment with him on Gaudreau and Monahan’s wing on Tuesday, 1. Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson Ward quickly returned him to centre. But with Backlund back at centre, plus Monahan and the ongoing Elias Lindholm experiment, that meant it It was an effective line put together in the second period the previous was a demotion to the fourth line for Ryan. While it can be argued he night against St. Louis, so Buddy Robinson found himself back with should be playing higher in the lineup, what can’t be argued is the fourth Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau to start Wednesday’s game and once line is at its best when he’s centring it. He really does make all the again, the 28-year-old — the fourth-oldest forward dressed for Calgary — difference. looked impressive. Remember, this is a guy who prior to this week had gone more than three years since his last NHL appearance and over his With Zac Rinaldo and Tobias Rieder on his wings on Wednesday, the pro career had played just as many seasons in the minors (seven) as fourth line fared OK in a tough enemy barn. At one point early, they games in the NHL (seven). hemmed in the McDavid line in its own end for most of a shift. Moving forward, Ryan will see time with Lucic, Jankowski and Dillon Dube and Against the Oilers in the first period, you saw him do what he does best probably others and regardless of his line configuration on that particular and that’s get in fast on the forecheck. When someone 6-foot-6 and 232 night, expect defensive responsibility — it’s why Ryan is a fixture on the pounds comes barreling in like a freight train, it can lead to defensive PK — and also expect the line to generate some chances — it’s why miscues for the opposition. In the first period alone against Edmonton: Ryan’s skill makes him part of the PP.

Robinson’s enthusiastic forecheck forced last-man-back Adam Larsson Why four strong centres is important for the Flames is that last year in the to nearly turn over the puck in a panic. second half, it was the fourth line of Ryan, Mangiapane and Hathaway He rattled the glass with a ferocious shoulder into the chest of Riley that was the club’s most consistent. As the playoff race intensifies and Sheahan behind the net, stapling him into the boards and dislodging the the tight-checking increases, Calgary will need more sources for offence. puck. 4. Power surge

He laid a heavy thump on the far-smaller Kris Russell and seconds later The Flames only had one power play against the Oilers so you’re when they met up again, Robinson boxed him out with ease to secure a probably wondering what one could possibly glean from that. Ward has loose puck. He then fed Gaudreau to set up what potentially could have preached that they direct more pucks on net rather than waiting for the been a dangerous scoring chance. one perfect shot. So far, it’s working as the shooting mentality the Flames Stockton’s leading goal scorer with 16 snipes showed that he has some brandished against St. Louis resulted in them going a perfect 3-for-3 in soft mitts, too, for a big fella. After starting a breakout with an outlet pass regulation, before failing to score on the quirky and rarely practised 4-on- to Gaudreau, he hustled up ice, and eventually got the puck back. 3 opportunity they got in overtime. Demonstrating the benefits of being a right-shooting right winger — a In those two minutes on Wednesday, Calgary produced four shots on rarity for this organization — he threaded a perfect feed into the slot and goal. For context, four shots is also how many shots Edmonton got an on-rushing Monahan, who one-touched it just over the crossbar. Early across four chances with the extra man. While showcasing crisp puck in the third, it was his pressure on Mike Smith, that led to the goaltender’s movement, Tkachuk took a shot, Calgary maintained possession, working it around quickly, then Tkachuk directed another shot on net, this time through a screen. Then it was Tkachuk again from closer in, looking far corner, forcing Smith to kick out a pad. Lastly, it was Tkachuk going cross-ice to Rasmus Andersson for a hard slap shot.

The reinvigorated power play is an important development because the Flames PP has been on the skids of late. If it can get hot and stay hot, it can make a big difference between wins and losses, given Calgary seems to find itself in one-goal games nightly where a big goal on special teams could mean the difference between two points and zero points.

5. Not just OK, but better than that

It was to the surprise of some that Oliver Kylington even played on Wednesday after the young defenceman’s rough outing against St. Louis in which he made an egregious giveaway on the opening Blues goal and the rest of the night, if it could go wrong, it was going to go wrong.

But despite the back-to-back and an able-bodied veteran in Michael Stone in waiting, Ward went back to the 22-year-old and the show of confidence worked as he was really good against the Oilers. Even better, Kylington took that confidence with him onto the ice. In one sequence, after collecting the puck on the half-wall in Edmonton’s end and beginning with a little juke to elude McDavid, then another to avoid the stick check of Darnell Nurse, he wheeled around the offensive zone and nearly completed one full lap, sidestepping each of the other three Oilers on the ice, before finally dishing to Rieder for a one-timer.

Later, there was more speed on display from Kylington who used his quick feet to close the gap on Sheahan and stay with him in the D-zone. Forced to try and get a shot away by Kylington’s aggressiveness, the Oilers forward’s shot was knocked down by Kylington and he immediately raced up ice with the puck, using his speed to get around Sheahan and getting away a dangerous shot on goal from 25 feet out.

That aggressiveness, using his skating ability accompanied by an active stick, is how Kylington has to defend as he doesn’t have the size or strength to knock players off pucks the same way as Giordano, Andersson or Travis Hamonic. For Kylington to defend, he needs to close gaps. If he gets beat, he must get back fast to take away gaps and use that speed to take away lanes to the net and force players around the net, rather than through the crease. Meanwhile, he can also get involved in the rush, or lead a rush, as he’s starting to do a lot more. His blinding speed remains his best asset.

Why it’s important to see Kylington continue to develop is it opens up the possibility of a future hockey trade for the Flames. Whether it be this season or in the summer, if Kylington can establish himself as a legitimate long-term left-side option, add in Juuso Valimaki when he returns from injury (he’s back skating) and the ageless Giordano and they’ll have solid depth on the left side, allowing them to consider trading a guy like Noah Hanifin if the right hockey deal comes along.

The talk in coffee shops, at the mall, in arena lobbies, all across Alberta the last couple days — from a Flames perspective — would have no doubt been centred around Tkachuk, Monahan, Giordano, Mangiapane and Rittich. While important pieces, all of them, who played giant roles on Wednesday night, it’s an improved and/or upgraded supporting cast that can ultimately make the biggest difference and put Calgary over the top.

Can Robinson, Backlund, Bennett, Ryan and Kylington keep the momentum going from Wednesday and build on it? We’ll find out Saturday night when the two sides renew hostilities at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173818 Carolina Hurricanes

With no margin for error, ‘no-show’ Hurricanes playing a dangerous game

LUKE DECOCK

JANUARY 31, 2020 10:56 PM

RALEIGH

When you let things come down to a broken stick, or a linesman throwing the wrong guy out of a faceoff, your fate is out of your hands. And probably has been for a while.

The Carolina Hurricanes could point to either as the reason the Vegas Golden Knights scored the late game-winner Friday night, but they had only themselves to blame for letting things come down to such relatively minor twists of fate.

There have been more moments of frustration for Rod Brind’Amour this season than in what amounted to a fairy-tale debut, but this 4-3 loss seemed to particularly irk the coach, as it absolutely should. The Hurricanes went into the break feeling pretty good about things, and those 10 days felt more like nine months after a first period that saw them outshot 16-6 and down two goals after less than 10 minutes.

“Terrible,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s not acceptable to come out and play like that for two periods. Two-and-a-half periods, to be honest with you.”

This is a team with no margin for error. The Hurricanes have as little security in the playoff race as they typically have at the end of January, which is to say none at all, thanks to an NHL playoff system that contrives to leave the 12th-best team in the league out of a playoff spot. That’s where the Hurricanes stand after Friday. Very little has to go wrong to send things spiraling south. A great deal has to go right to keep things headed north.

“We’re in crunch mode here,” said Jordan Martinook, whose play earned him a battlefield promotion to the top line with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen on a night few distinguished themselves. “We’re right on the edge of it.”

There is no room for a performance like this one, for example, when two teams came out of a week-long break and only one looked like it. A furious third-period comeback put the Hurricanes into position to claim at least a point, undeserved as it may have been, only for fortune to intervene, and not on their behalf.

Joel Edmundson’s stick broke while firing a shot, and the resulting dribbler led first to a Vegas break the other way and next to a Aho hooking penalty trying to slow things down. On the ensuing faceoff in the Carolina end, the linesman kicked Jordan Staal out of the circle as the Hurricanes argued his stick was on the ice and Paul Stastny actually encroached on Staal. They were right to be concerned: Stastny beat Brock McGinn and Vegas scored the winner 6 seconds later.

It took the Hurricanes about 47 minutes to get in gear, but two goals less than four minutes apart from McGinn and Aho got the building up and engaged, and it started to feel like one of those nights when the noise might carry the Hurricanes through. The euphoria was short-lived, from broken stick to broken hearts in a matter of seconds.

“We got what we deserved,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s a tough one. We played about eight minutes of hockey. The situation we’re in, that’s a tough one.”

Too many “no-shows,” Brind’Amour said, and for a coach who goes out of his way to avoid criticizing his players -- Nino Niederreiter’s impending status as a healthy scratch was addressed only cryptically Friday morning -- it had the ring of an indictment. A few more nights like this, and the case will be closed entirely.

News Observer LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173819 Carolina Hurricanes After the game, the Canes’ locker room was a somber spot, with only the sounds of weights hitting the floor as the players went through a postgame workout.

Back from long break, Hurricanes’ late rally not enough against the “I wish I had the why,” forward Jordan Martinook said in trying to describe Golden Knights the Canes’ poor play. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the break ... I don’t know. I’m saying I don’t know a lot because I don’t know.”

News Observer LOADED: 02.01.2020 CHIP ALEXANDER

JANUARY 31, 2020 10:10 PM

RALEIGH

There wasn’t much for Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour to say Friday after a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at PNC Arena.

Did a poor start cause the Canes to chase the game the whole way?

“Yep,” Brind’Amour said.

Was it the kind of game he feared?

“Yep.”

Coming off a nine-day break for the NHL All-Star Weekend and then the team’s bye week, Brind’Amour expected some sluggishness, perhaps a slip in mental focus. But this?

“It’s terrible,” he said. “It’s not acceptable to come out and play like that for two periods. For two and a half periods, to be honest with you.

“They were good, I give them a ton of credit. They played the way they had to, played desperate, played fast. We weren’t ready to kind of match that and that’s what you get.”

The Golden Knights (26-20-7), like the Canes, also had been off for the All-Star festivities and then their NHL week. But they were energized and ready from the drop of the puck, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Paul Stastny and Jonathan Marchessault and leading 3-1 in the third before the Canes rallied.

Goals by Brock McGinn and then Sebastian Aho tied the score 3-3, bringing the crowd of 18,150 to full throat. Aho’s goal, his 25th of the season, came on a power play with 3:39 left in regulation, but the Golden Knights maintained their poise.

“They pushed back hard but we didn’t sag,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said.

Aho was called for a hooking penalty with 2:34 left in regulation. The Knights scored in six seconds on the power play, Alex Tuch getting the winning goal after a faceoff win by the Golden Knights’ Stastny, who then tipped a pass from defenseman Shea Theodore to Tuch for the easy shot and score.

The Canes pulled goalie Petr Mrazek for an extra attacker but the Knights were stout in front of goalie Malcolm Subban, who made his first start since Jan. 9 -- goalie Marc-Andre Fleury suspended one game for skipping the All-Star Weekend after being selected to the Pacific Division team.

Aho and Teuvo Teravainen each had a goal and assist for the Canes, and Justin Williams, in his third game of the season, assisted on McGinn’s goal. But there was not much to like for the Canes (29-19-3), who won their last two games before the break.

“We lost a lot of battles and played kind of slow,” Teravainen said. “They started better and I think that was the game. We tried to get going but it took some time. Still, not very happy about the game.”

Not Brind’Amour.

“We got what we deserved,” he said. “We played about eight minutes of hockey. In the situation that we’re in, that’s a tough one. We were slow and they were fast.

Brind’Amour decided to make forward Nino Niederreiter the healthy scratch -- Niederreiter missing part of Thursday’s team practice. During the game, Brind’Amour shuffled his lines, looking for some answers.

“There were just a lot of no-shows tonight,” he said. “We’re not good enough to have one or two guys not show. We had probably half a dozen and that makes it tough.” 1173820 Carolina Hurricanes with the Minnesota Wild. After four seasons, the Wild made him available in the 2017 NHL expansion draft and the Golden Knights took him.

“It was tough,” he said. “Minnesota was kind of like home for me,.” Canes’ Erik Haula says, ‘I feel good. I feel confident. I’m ready to go.’ But Haula became a part of a sensational feel-good story in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights captivated the city in their first season. It was as if the confetti never stopped falling as the Knights, with Haula scoring a CHIP ALEXANDER career-high 29 goals, reached the 2018 Stanley Cup final before losing to the Washington Capitals in seven games. JANUARY 31, 2020 11:54 AM “There’s really no words for it,” Haula said. “It was the best year of my

life, probably, until we came up a little bit short. I’ll never forget that and I RALEIGH don’t think anybody on that team will. They’re always going to carry that, the ‘Misfits’ and all that stuff. With 32 games left in the regular season, it figures to be a sprint to the finish line for the Carolina Hurricanes, with every point precious in the “Good players, the right players, everything worked out. You hear sports push for the playoffs. stories all the time about how teams aren’t always the best or expected to win. When it clicks ... this team is a good example of it last year.” “It seems like that,” Canes center Erik Haula said Thursday. “I think it should be like that every year and you should have the mentality that it Meaning the Hurricanes. Everything fell neatly into place as the Canes will be. Ultimately that’s when you’re at your best.” ended a nine-year playoff drought and surged to the Eastern Conference finals in Brind’Amour’s first year as head coach. Haula is determined to be at his best. A healthy scratch in the Canes’ final game before the extended break for the NHL All-Star Weekend and The Canes now must find a way to compensate for the loss of do- bye week, he had considerable time to mull over the situation. everything defenseman Dougie Hamilton, out with a broken fibula. And Brind’Amour must leave an extra forward out of the lineup, game to The return of former captain Justin Williams from semi-retirement has game. given Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour 13 available forwards — and a lineup decision to make. In Williams’ first game back, Jan. 19 against the “They’re making it tough on me and that’s what’s good. I don’t want it to New York Islanders, forward Jordan Martinook was the healthy scratch. be an easy decision,” Brind’Amour said. “Thirteen forwards that I want to Then Haula, two days later against the Winnipeg Jets. play, can’t do it. You’ll see different guys going in and out all the time as long as we’re healthy.” Haula’s reaction? “It sucked. I was rattled for sure,” he said. Haula said he probably would not catch up with any of his former Haula, who had gone nine straight games without a goal, said he teammates this week. Maybe in another week or so, he said, when the discussed it with Brind’Amour, noting, “Ultimately he makes the decision Canes play at Vegas. on who plays and who doesn’t play and he decided I wasn’t going to play. “It’s always fun to play all your buddies and turn them into your enemies for a few hours,” he said, smiling. “I’m sure it’ll be a good battle.” “Obviously, nobody wants to sit. No one wants to sit and I wasn’t happy it was me but now we’re past that.” News Observer LOADED: 02.01.2020

The long break is over. The Vegas Golden Knights, Haula’s former team, are in town for a Friday game at PNC Arena and the Canes (29-18-3) resume their season with a tenuous grip on the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

“I know the level I can play at and that’s where I’m trying to get to,” Haula said. “Most of the season I’ve been on that level and I’m happy about that. It’s getting back to that and that’s the goal. Obviously I want to be one of the best players on this team, finishing the season.

“I feel good, I feel confident, I’m ready to go. “

Haula, 28, had a super start in his first season with the Canes, scoring seven goals in the first nine games, three on the power play. But he banged up a shoulder against the Anaheim Ducks in the Canes’ ninth game, later missed some games, returned, missed 15 more games and hasn’t been as consistent or productive as he was early in the season.

Haula said after the break he feels refreshed — no knee or shoulder issues. He was in the lineup Friday night, centering Brock McGinn and Martin Necas.

The Canes need No. 56 being a pest in front of goalies, a power-play threat, reliable in the defensive zone and dependable in the faceoff circle.

“He’s one of our top guys and we need him to be able to play at the level he expects to,” Brind’Amour said Friday. “If we want to have a chance to get in (the playoffs), get on a run, we’re going to need him doing what he does.”

Haula is in the final year of his contract and will be a pending unrestricted free agent after the season. There’s a financial incentive for him but it’s also a matter of personal pride.

Playing the Golden Knights, he said, should be exiting. While he has a lot of close friends on the team, it was Vegas that traded him away after last season, after he wrecked his right knee and put in months of grueling rehab trying to return for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Haula’s hockey life has been both pleasing and painful.. The Finnish forward played college hockey at Minnesota and began his NHL career 1173821 Carolina Hurricanes As I said in Part 1, I’m not even sure if it would be worth it — Lehner’s been solid recently, and we all witnessed how great he was in the playoffs. I understand a lot goes into this, and Lehner’s playing behind some non-ideal defense in Chicago. But he hasn’t been that significantly Bag of Jerks, Part 2: Trade tiers, Jake Gardiner’s time to shine and better than the Petr Mrazek/James Reimer tandem to me. dressing room vibes It has been half a season, plus. The last couple of games may have given us hope. Is it possible Jake Gardiner will be able to fit into RBA’s defensive game? — Tom S. Sara Civian Of course! Jan 31, 2020 Look, he’s never been on any team other than the Leafs. It takes some

time, especially when it was such a rigid system under Mike Babcock. It’s Good morning, folks. Hurricanes hockey is finally back Friday. the polar opposite with the Hurricanes. He’s also in a reduced role compared to what he’s used to. There’s also that he was one of the most Let’s close out January (and this super long break) with the second of unlucky players in the entire NHL in terms of shooting percentage for two Bags of Jerk. most of the first half of the season. You can just tell he’s got a certain swagger now that he’s got a multi-point game under his belt. Which adjectives or phrases would you use to compare/contrast the Canes’ vibe at this time last year to their vibe (so far) this year? — Ross Is it time to try Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov? — Jason D. P. Y’all know I am usually gung-ho about this stuff (Who could forget the I would say there are more expectations and pressure this season, but #FirstLineSvech campaign), but actually I don’t think it’s time. I love how that’s what happens when Rod Brind’Amour and Justin Williams sought Necas is progressing. I feel like you leave that alone but bump up his ice out to raise the standard and succeeded. time — perhaps on the power play? Besides, I like them both on the right wing right now — that might change as Williams progresses. There’s an air of relevancy — it’s no longer hip to know who Jaccob Slavin is. You’d better know who he is, you know? I’m still team #FirstLineSvech, by the way. I want to see him with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen now and forever. At the same time, “fun” is still up there in the Top 8 adjectives I’d use to describe the team. “Hilarious” for sure, there are some characters in this Given that “The Svetch” is basically an unstoppable shot, is there any room and that hasn’t changed at all. chance the Canes would start putting him behind the net on power plays (especially five-on-three) when there’s lots of room and let him Svetch to From a trade tier point of view, which roster players are least likely to be his heart’s content? How about during OT — it would seem easier to get traded, a maybe to be traded or on the block? Maybe same thing for the shot off three-on-three than five-on-five? — Lance S. prospects/picks, who/what is untouchable versus one they’d be willing to move? — Jonathan G. First of all, it’s “The Svech,” come on.

Trust me, Jonathan G., we will talk about this in-depth leading up to the Second of all, I love the creativity, here — but not over Brind’Amour’s deadline. This question is actually in my arsenal as a standalone article. I dead body. For me, the beauty of The Svech is in its unpredictability. It’s think it would be fun to play a game (Saw voice) in the comments before I like you’re walking through the tall grass in Pokemon and a wild Svech dive in. Y’all comment on this with your own trade tiers and we’ll compare appears — super rare. It might actually be a good idea to put him back notes shortly. there to fake people out and go for a pass.

Last season they didn’t want to make any huge deadline deals because Kind of related: It seems the Canes have a handful of set-behind-the-net of messing with team chemistry, and that ended up being the right move power play plays as it is. The bang-bang passes that occur there — last year. many coming from Necas — amuse me.

This year there have been multiple quotes about some people on the The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 team not being completely bought in to the play-style that Rod preaches.

Assuming that means that there may be a couple folks that are expendable, how active of a trade deadline are we going to see? Rentals vs. players with term, etc. — Will A.

I think it might be slightly more active than last season, meaning there’s a good chance a trade will actually happen — but I still don’t think it’ll shake the world. With Williams proving a more-than-competent own rental, there’s not much doing on that front. The Canes have sniffed around for help on the blue line, but I have a feeling (pure speculation) a cornerstone of that return would be prospects and/or picks.

So there might be drama, but on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d project a 4.

Do you think the Canes will make the playoffs this year? — Mary P.

I do.

Who are the defenders most likely to be traded and what will it cost from the Canes point of view? Also, given that we tried to sign goaltender Robin Lehner over the summer and failed, will we try and acquire him before the deadline? Shouldn’t be a steep price given that he’s an UFA after this season. — Grant R.

Wait … defenders? Anything is possible for a good enough return (especially knowing Hurricanes GM ’s history), but it’s highly unlikely to me that the Canes will deal a defender before the upcoming deadline. If anything, it seems like a forward or a prospect.

And yes, there have been rumblings that the Hurricanes have inquired about Robin Lehner. But it’s hard to believe the Blackhawks would deal him right now — especially considering they’re in playoff contention. We’ll have to keep tabs on how their season unfolds the next two weeks. I assume they’d want picks and/or prospects. 1173822 Chicago Blackhawks junior leagues. The season didn’t go as planned, and he returned to Europe to continue his career.

His goal was to improve steadily and — if the NHL ever came calling — Blackhawks rookie Dominik Kubalik hopes his breakout season to be ready. When the Hawks acquired his rights from the Kings last continues after scoring 10 goals in 10 January games: ‘I’m just trying to year, it was a matter of preparation meeting opportunity. be calm’ Competing against fellow Czech natives Jakub Voracek and Michael Frolik was a big step toward realizing this NHL journey could work out.

JIMMY GREENFIELD “It’s amazing to watch them,” Kubalik said. "Your confidence is going higher because you can play with them, you can play against them. I was JAN 31, 2020 | 7:35 PM just hoping that this year was going to work out. Obviously I didn’t know if that was going to be like it is right now.

“It’s unreal. I’m just really happy that the plan to make the NHL actually | GLENDALE, ARIZ. worked.” With every game and every goal, the NHL has been getting to know Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2020 Dominik Kubalik better.

But his first brush with the limelight has led to moments that remind the Blackhawks forward he’s still a rookie with a long way to go.

In mid-January, a Jets player — Kubalik didn’t know his name — looked him in the eye shortly before a faceoff and congratulated him on having a great year. Then the player had to ask: “Where were you last year?”

The answer is Switzerland, but the way Kubalik has taken the NHL by storm in January, he seems to have come out of nowhere.

Kubalik scored 10 goals in 10 games in the month to propel himself into the Calder Trophy discussion with a league-high 21 goals among rookies and make Hawks general manager Stan Bowman look like a genius for picking up the 24-year-old Czech Republic native from the Kings for a fifth-round pick last year.

The calendar is turning to February, and there’s still a lot of hockey to be played, including Saturday night against the Coyotes in the Hawks’ first game since Jan. 21. Kubalik needs to prove his play over the last month was no fluke, and the Hawks — who entered Friday three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot — need him to keep producing if they want to end their two-year playoff drought.

The fact is Kubalik has been in this situation before. He had goal-scoring streaks while playing in the top leagues in the Czech Republic and Switzerland and learned how to handle things when, inevitably, they ended.

“We’re in the NHL, so I’m not saying it’s the same thing, but I remember when I had the first stretch like that in Czech and then in Switzerland — seven games with a goal — I was probably way too excited about it,” Kubalik said. "I was trying to push it to keep scoring and I didn’t score (for) like five or seven games.

“Right now I’m just trying to be calm, do the little things that bring me to those situations, like scoring goals and being in a good spot. Shoot if I can, don’t do something overcomplicated. ... I hope it’s going to continue, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t score in the next two games.”

Instead of taking a pair of nine-hour flights to the Czech Republic and risk messing with his body over the extended All-Star break, Kubalik and his girlfriend flew to Miami to relax for a few days. Kubalik has tried to pace himself since the season began, well aware that the NHL’s 82-game season is more condensed and longer than he has experienced in his career.

Still, he played 70 to 80 games each of the last two seasons, factoring in national-team commitments and some midseason tournaments, so he doesn’t expect to hit the proverbial rookie wall.

“The games are going much faster here,” Kubalik said. “You just need to take care of your body and stay with the things that bring you success.”

That includes making sure he stays on a line with Jonathan Toews, who has had the primary assist on each of Kubalik’s last four goals.

“It started when I was playing with Tazer,” Kubalik said. “Me, him and (Brandon Saad), we had a couple of pretty good games. Then Saader got hurt, but me and (Toews) stayed together, and we found some chemistry. As a line we had a lot of scoring chances during every game, so that was probably the biggest reason for that success.”

The other big reason: Kubalik never forgot the difficult season he had as an 18-year-old in the Ontario Hockey League, one of Canada’s major 1173823 Chicago Blackhawks Oh, and how about that penalty kill? Duncan Keith, Connor Murphy, Olli Maatta and Ryan Carpenter are big reasons why opponents are just 5- for-51 on the power play over the last 20 games.

Why February's a make-or-break month for Blackhawks After Arizona, the Hawks will play at Minnesota on Tuesday then host Boston on Wednesday.

They'll then get a few days off to prepare for a huge road trip against John Dietz Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg again.

1/31/2020 6:20 PM Said Toews: "These are do-or-die games for us that we need points right now (in), so we can't wait any longer."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 02.01.2020 Jonathan Toews isn't blind.

He knows exactly what's ahead for the Blackhawks as they come out of their off week and begin a critical stretch with a game against Arizona on Saturday.

"It's a huge month for us and a huge month for a lot of other teams," Toews told reporters after the Hawks practiced in Arizona on Thursday. "So the faster we can get into the playoff-hockey mindset, the better."

It's a huge month because 11 of the Hawks' 14 games are on the road. Not only that, but eight of the first 10 games are against Western Conference teams that are fighting for a playoff berth.

It would be a bit silly to overemphasize the first game of this stretch, but a regulation victory over the Coyotes (26-21-6, 58 points) would pull the Hawks (24-21-6, 54 points) within 2 points of Arizona while a regulation loss would put them 6 points behind.

The Hawks appear to be catching the reeling Coyotes at the right time, too, because they are just 1-5-2 over the last eight games, averaging just 1.57 goals in those 7 losses. Also, Arizona may be without injured goalie Darcy Kuemper and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

"If we lose the game it's not the end of the world, but it is a big opportunity," said coach Jeremy Colliton.

While this road-heavy stretch might look daunting to some, it might actually be an advantage to the Hawks, who are 7-1-0 away from the United Center since Dec. 19.

"This group has been pretty good on the road," Colliton said. "It's in no small to the approach, the mentality that we have taken.

"Just one shift at a time, play a simple game, take the chances when they're there. But stay in the game. Play a gritty, patient style and I think that's fit our style pretty well."

The Hawks entered the break having won five of their last six, although they did drop their last decision, 4-3 to Joel Quenneville's Florida Panthers. Colliton wasn't happy with the way his team handled some second-period adversity in that setback as they fell behind 1-0, 2-0 and 3-0 in less than six minutes.

"It felt like we really got loose with our puck plays and we give them free momentum, free opportunities to create offense," Colliton said. "And they capitalized because they have a tremendous offensive team.

"When we've had our success we've avoided that."

The success lately has come in large part to everyone picking up their games.

Dominik Kubalik (15 goals last 22 games) is one of the hottest players in the league, Toews (9G, 20A last 22) is also on fire, Patrick Kane is on a 40-goal, 101-point pace, and Robin Lehner (9-2-0 last 11) continues to be a rock in net.

But it's not just the big names.

Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist look more and more comfortable every game, Zack Smith has found another level, Drake Caggiula has provided a burst of energy, and defenseman Slater Koekkoek has more than impressed with his first extended run of the season. 1173824 Chicago Blackhawks

Recharged and refreshed, Blackhawks ready for playoff push

Charlie Roumeliotis

January 31, 2020 5:30 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The NHL All-Star break and four-day bye week came at a conflicting time for the Blackhawks.

On one hand, the Blackhawks had been playing their best hockey of the season and probably would've preferred to continue riding that wave after winning 11 of their past 16 games and five of their past six.

On the other hand, it allowed them to get healthy and, most importantly, rest and recharge their batteries — both mentally and physically — for the stretch run. There are pros and cons to the timing of the break, but the Blackhawks took full advantage of the rest and want to pick up where they left off immediately.

"We talked before practice about getting back to that mentality we had the last seven games before the break," Erik Gustafsson said. "If we can get back to that as quick as possible I think we can have a good run here in February."

If Friday’s practice was any indication, the Blackhawks should have their legs underneath them on Saturday when they return to action against the Arizona Coyotes. It was a high-intensity session that lasted a full hour, consisting of special teams practice, 5-on-5 work and battle drills.

"We wanted to dial it up a little bit," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "I'm sure they didn't feel that good out there, but they'll feel better tomorrow because of it. ... It's all about getting prepared for tomorrow."

Teams coming out of the bye week going up against teams that have played a few games before that are winless so far this season. But fortunately for the Blackhawks, they’ve had two practices to get back into gear whereas a majority of others across the league have only gotten one.

"It's big," Colliton said. "Felt pretty good about the days off because the days off are huge, the rest is really important. But then you always worry about getting the team ready. It's big points. Having days of practice is huge, especially being here too — it helps you get mentally prepared, being in the city you're going to play, and those two days help a lot."

February is a crucial month for the Blackhawks, who sit three points out of the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference. They play 11 of 14 games on the road and eight of those matchups are against teams within six points of the Blackhawks in the standings.

It’s a significant opportunity for the Blackhawks to pull themselves closer to the playoff picture while preventing other teams from doing so as well. And it starts Saturday.

"It's a huge month for us," Jonathan Toews said. "Huge month for a lot of other teams, so the faster we can get into the playoff hockey mindset the better. These are do or die games for us. We need points right now, so we can't wait any longer."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173825 Chicago Blackhawks can use to make that last cross-ice pass open up. More pucks to the net, recover that puck and then hopefully there will be some more options.

“It’s nice to have a couple different looks so that you’re not so worried Ten keys to the Blackhawks getting back into the playoffs about getting to your spot. The longer it takes to run something, the more time for the killers to get their lanes back and sort everything out. We want movement, too. It’s all things that can hopefully help you have a better power play.” Scott Powers 2. The penalty kill Jan 31, 2020 Where the power play has fallen this season, the penalty kill has risen for

the Blackhawks. They’re seventh in the league with an 82.8 percentage. GLENDALE, Ariz. — There’s been a positive energy around the Over the last 18 games, they’ve killed off 39 of 44 penalties for an 88.6 Blackhawks the last few days. percentage.

They’re rested and relaxed after the All-Star break and their bye week. The Blackhawks’ main penalty killers over the last 18-game stretch have They stepped away from hockey and most got away into warm and been Duncan Keith (averaging 2:42 short-handed ice time), Connor sunny environments. Restarting in Arizona helps, too. There are worse Murphy (2:33), David Kampf (1:58), Ryan Carpenter (1:55), Jonathan places to be for a few extra days. Toews (1:46), Zack Smith (1:33), Olli Maatta (1:28) and Slater Koekkoek (1:23). Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton was even cracking jokes on the first day back. 3. Third defenseman pairing

“You think about it every day, no matter what,” Colliton said of the While the Blackhawks were beginning to get other aspects of their game Blackhawks’ last game. “That’s just the business we’re in and everyone’s heading in the right direction, their third defenseman pairing was really competitive. My kids are asking me where we are in the standings, weighing them down. They just couldn’t find a consistent and reliable so it’s like, thanks, like rub my nose in it (laughs). At the same time when answer. you don’t have to prepare for the next day, you do get some time to Seven games ago, Colliton decided to pair Maatta and Koekkoek. He put relax.” Maatta, a left-handed shot, on his strong side, and Koekkoek, another There’s also the fact Colliton and his players are returning to a team that left-handed shot, on his weak side. The combination has been magic this has something to play for this month and possibly the coming months. time around. They reinvigorated their playoff chances by going 12-6-0 over their last In the last seven games, the Maatta-Koekkoek pairing has a 62.15 Corsi 18 games. percentage, has been on the ice for eight goals for and two against and The reality is they still have work to do, but there’s definite hope again. has an expected goals-for percentage of 69.23, according to Natural Stat Just think, if the Blackhawks defeat the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday Trick. night, they’ll be two points out of the final wild-card spot regardless of any “I think they both understand what they have to do to be effective and other result around the league. With 31 games to go (11 on the road this they’re complementing each other,” Colliton said Friday. “There’s a lot of month), the Blackhawks’ fate is very much in their own hands. communication. They both play physical and good sticks. They both Here are 10 keys to the Blackhawks closing out the regular season understand it’s really important to defend. Defend first and be as clean as strong and finding their way back into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the possible with the puck because then you don’t have to defend as much. first time since 2017: As a pair in all areas of the ice I feel like they’re defending entries really well, they’re getting stops in D-zone, helping us break out and I think their 1. The power play offense at the blue line has been quite good, too, getting pucks to the net, and that’s been good.” One difference between the Blackhawks’ playoff push last season and this one is they relied heavily on their power play last season. This 4. A true top line season they’re lacking that power-play production and actually playing better overall hockey as of late. Over the last 18 games, the power play If there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s as Toews and the has scored eight times on 52 chances for 15.4 percent. That’s basically top line go, often go the Blackhawks. To start this season, Toews and their percentage for the season, too. They’re 27th in the league with a that line were off. They weren’t reliable in any of the zones, and the 15.6 percentage. numbers reflected that. Toews had a 45.24 Corsi percentage after 20 games. “It’s a been a little disappointing this year for us because we felt we had a lot of momentum coming into this season on the power play from last In December, Colliton shook up the lines and put Dominik Kubalik and year,” Patrick Kane said after practice Friday. “The good thing is we’re in Brandon Saad with Toews and that clicked right away. Then Saad got the race really without having a good power play, so if we get going here hurt and Toews and Kubalik continued to drive possession with a variety the last 31 games, it could be a big piece to our whole team game.” of linemates.

The Blackhawks put in some power-play time during Friday’s practice. The line of Toews, Kubalik and Kane continues to produce the most Colliton has been emphasizing shooting and moving more. He’s kept the together — it’s been on the ice for 11 goals for and three against this units pretty much the same. He’s confident the top unit of Kane, Adam season — but Toews, Kubalik and Drake Caggiula has shown to have Boqvist, Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews can get the job potential as a possession top line. The line has a 52.38 Corsi percentage done. together in 41:13 of ice time. It’s been on the ice for three goals for and three against. If the Blackhawks can continue to get those numbers while “Of course, we think about it all the time,” Colliton said of the power play matching up against other top lines, they’ll be in good shape. coming out of the break Thursday. “We just keep working at it. There’s no magic formula. You can try to do things and sometimes the challenge is Kubalik and Toews are also having more individual success together. to stick with something long enough for it to come around and whether Over the last 18 games, Kubalik has 11 goals and 16 points in five-on- we do that or not we’ll see. I think it’s important for our team to generate five play and Toews has five goals and 16 points. both positive momentum from those situations but also goals. Because I 5. Secondary scoring think a lot of other areas in our game are quite good right now.” Kane, Toews and Kubalik combined for 21 goals over the last 18 games. Colliton went into more detail about the power play Friday. That’s fine to be carried by your top offensive players, but it’s essential “We’re not far away,” Colliton said. “When we look at the power play, a for the Blackhawks to have others contribute as well. lot of it is just conversion, just scoring on our chances. Overall, we’d love Lately, they’ve been getting goals from up and down the lineup. In those to shoot the puck a little more, put some more pressure on the opposition 18 games, they scored 27 goals in five-on-five play outside of Kane, by putting pucks in that area, giving yourself a chance to get a bounce. Toews and Kubalik, and 15 different players contributed to that tally. But often when you recover those pucks, that’s when those big lanes you Saad and David Kampf were tied for fourth with three goals each. Six whoever he plays with, he’s been very effective in my view for a very long players had two goals each. time here. I understand the production hasn’t been there maybe to a level that others might expect, but I also look at it (as) he’s just turned 19 and Saad being back has already helped the offense. Dylan Strome should he’s been playing really well away from the puck and helping drive play have the same effect. Strome is fourth on the Blackhawks behind for us. It’s only a matter of time before the production comes too. Last Kubalik, Toews and Kane this season in points per 60 minutes in five-on- game he broke through there. Whether you feel good about yourself and five play. your play or not, seeing that puck go in the net, it can give you a little bit The Blackhawks have shown they don’t need DeBrincat to score a ton of of a spark. Hopefully he can continue on.” goals to succeed this season. But if he could start putting the puck in the Colliton has also continued to show faith in 21-year-old Alex Nylander back of the net consistently again, it would obviously help. and he’s been better as of late. After being scratched three consecutive DeBrincat scored 24 goals in five-on-five play in 82 games last season. games, Nylander has played the last eight games. He has a 50.93 Corsi He has four through 51 games this season. percentage and has been on the ice for four goals for and two against in those games. He also has a goal and an assist in that stretch. Strome’s return could help him, too. In 350:58 of five-on-five ice time with Strome this season, DeBrincat has four goals and 12 assists. In 343:01 Colliton will also be mindful Kubalik, Boqvist and Dach aren’t accustomed without Strome this season, DeBrincat has zero goals and six assists. to 82-game schedules.

6. Better all-around hockey “The mental grind of it is probably the biggest factor,” Colliton said. “Just getting used to there’s never much time before you got to get ready to go The Blackhawks have been a different team in many ways over the last again. We think this break can really help all those guys, those days off 18 games. where you don’t have to prepare for another battle. The schedule’s going to be intense here at the end but I do think once you get to this part of the They’ve been more of a four-line team and struck some balance. They’ve season you’re so close to the end and the games are so big it gets easier had three consistent defense pairings with Keith and Boqvist, Erik to prepare yourself. So we’ll continue to help them along, but I think Gustafsson and Murphy and Maatta and Koekkoek. Robin Lehner and they’re doing a pretty good job overall.” Corey Crawford have been both in net for victories. They’re closing out games better and have won their last eight games in regulation after 9. Goaltending leading after two periods. The Blackhawks are where they are because of their goaltending. Since Dec. 15, only six teams have a better points percentage. They’re Wherever they go, it’ll probably be because of their goaltending, too. getting closer to 50 percent Corsi (49.33 over the last 18 games). Their expected goals percentage has improved too. It was at 47.35 in the last Lehner and Crawford have combined to face a league-high 1,794 shots 18 games. They also had a plus-8 goal differential in five-on-five play in this season and have combined for a 91.25 save percentage, which is that stretch. They’re not playing perfectly, but they’re playing better. sixth in the league. They’re also ninth with a 92.49 five-on-five save percentage and third with an 89.12 short-handed save percentage. Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat could be reunited Saturday. (Jerome Miron / USA Today) 10. Cap space

7. Staying healthy If Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman wants to add a player or two to improve the Blackhawks at the trade deadline, he’ll have the cap The Blackhawks didn’t make a big deal out of all their injuries and it’s true space to do it with. The Blackhawks will have about $12,868,333 of cap all teams have injuries, but it had a definite impact on this team. It’s just space at the deadline, according to Cap Friendly. not an organization that has a lot of depth right now. Colliton would try to fill one hole by moving around players after an injury and would end up The Blackhawks could probably use another offensive forward to add with another hole elsewhere. some more scoring depth and another defenseman to improve their depth there. That’s also easier said than done considering the Out of all the players the Blackhawks recalled from the AHL this season, Blackhawks probably don’t want to give up another first-round pick, don’t only Boqvist and Matthew Highmore have proved they can play well have a second-round pick in this year’s draft and probably don’t possess enough and consistent enough to be everyday NHLers. Dennis Gilbert, a lot of prospects teams are interested in. Bowman has gotten creative Dylan Sikura, John Quenneville and others had games in which they before, so you never know. looked like they belonged, but there were still too many ups and downs to be trusted game after game. Bowman will take his time, though. He’ll want to make sure the Blackhawks are going to be in the hunt before he pulls the trigger on With Strome likely back from his injury Saturday, the Blackhawks will be anything. as healthy as they’ve been in some time. With Andrew Shaw’s status uncertain for the remainder of the season and Brent Seabrook and Calvin The Blackhawks’ players are aware of the cap space situation and the de Haan already out for the season, this is probably as healthy as the potential of adding at the deadline to help make a run. Blackhawks can be, too. “Obviously we’ll see what happens,” Kane said. “We want to be a team It’s probably unrealistic for the Blackhawks to remain completely healthy that gets into the playoffs and could be pretty dangerous there. I think we the rest of the way, but they will be better off with as few injuries as have some experience. We have some guys who want to get back there possible. and feel that playoff-type hockey. Some guys that haven’t been there. It’s an exciting time for us to be playing now. What the management does is 8. Youth development kind of up to them. Obviously we haven’t really seen many moves this year. I think maybe just the (Brendan) Perlini trade. Other than that, The Blackhawks eased 19-year-olds Boqvist and Dach into the NHL this we’ve pretty much had the same group. We’re building as a team in here season, but they’re now swimming in the deep end. The Blackhawks and trying to get better. I think you saw that a little bit before the break.” could use both of them to continue to develop and contribute down the final stretch. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 Boqvist has been playing on the top pairing with Keith for a while now. He’s also been promoted to the top power-play unit. Boqvist has been more reliable than many expected in the defensive zone, but there is more offense for him to give. The Blackhawks would like for him to shoot more.

With Dach, his production hasn’t been great, but he also hasn’t looked out of place. Colliton has also been giving him a spot on the top power- play unit. During Friday’s practice, Dach also centered Kane and Saad on the second line.

“It’s an option,” Colliton said Friday. “It’s not necessarily how we’ll start tomorrow, but (it’s) an opportunity to try some different things. Kirby, 1173826 Chicago Blackhawks When I got to Chicago, we had Duncs (Duncan Keith) and Seabs (Brent Seabrook) there, that was big role models for me, and I could see them every day and how they carried themselves off and on the ice. I tried to pick up bits and pieces from both of them. Very fortunate to play with here are they now? Niklas Hjalmarsson comfortable with his place in defensemen like that. I think that’s very important for a young D-man Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup core coming up and see how to play the game the right away every day, every night in the league.

What was life like away from the rink, at The Pony, all those places? Scott Powers (Laughs) As I said, especially the first year there when everybody was Jan 31, 2020 still young, not a lot of us had kids or anything. Maybe you spend some more time out downtown having a bit more fun outside hockey then the other years maybe in a different way. Yeah, have a lot of good memories GLENDALE, Ariz. — Of the seven Blackhawks who won three Stanley in Chicago as a city. It’s going to be special for me. Great city, I love the Cups, Niklas Hjalmarsson probably received the least attention. city and the people there. I was very fortunate to come into an organization exactly at the right time where everything just switched to It’s not that fans didn’t value Hjalmarsson — there are still plenty of the better. Hjalmarsson jerseys worn at the United Center — it’s just they valued what the others brought more. Blocking shots will often lose out to Are there specific memories you have from that season? Plays? Games? scoring goals. Moments?

Hjalmarsson understands that. He sacrificed much for the Blackhawks to Not especially about 2010. When the years go by, for me, it almost succeed, and that included his ego. becomes a blur. I can’t tell you which teams we beat in 2010 in a row or I can’t tell you which teams we beat in ’13 or ’15. I know the teams we “Just puts his team before himself, so that’s the first thing that comes to beat in the finals, but other than that, I know we played San Jose a lot my mind,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said of Hjalmarsson on and Nashville, but I’m very bad at remember specific things. Thursday. Do you recall the Anaheim series in 2015 when you were playing with Hjalmarsson was that way from the start. His role on the Blackhawks’ basically four defensemen? 2009-10 Stanley Cup-winning team set the tone for his time with the Blackhawks. He always put the team and winning over himself. Was that the ’15? Yeah, that Cup was also very fun in a different way. It was trying to prove … because we were saying you can’t win a Cup, you “Well especially that team, I’d say of any team, he was always can’t go the whole way with basically playing four D. I think that triggered underrated for the contribution that he brought to those championship us even more. Johnny (Oduya), me and Duncs and Seabs to we’ll show teams, but 2010 for sure,” Toews said. “He was a young kid coming up you guys. That was just fuel for us to be able to show everybody we can and doing a lot of good things on the defensive side of the puck and manage to go the whole way with just four D. That was a pretty special obviously he was rewarded for it. You could pretty much say you don’t thing to do too, also very proud to be a part of. win that Cup or any of the other ones without a guy like Hammer.” Niklas Hjalmarsson was traded from the Blackhawks after the 2016-17 Hjalmarsson, now 32, took time before Thursday’s Arizona Coyotes season. (Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today) game to discuss his role with the Blackhawks, the 10-year anniversary of that first Stanley Cup, the core and more. If we were to do a word association with the guys you won the three Stanley Cups with, what would come to mind with Keith? Do you think winning the Stanley Cup changed your life in any way when you think of the bigger picture? Just durability, the way he’s played the game ever since he’s gotten into the league and still does. I watched a couple games. He’s played so No. It’s definitely not changed my life. Obviously that’s memories that’s much hockey and still plays at an extremely high level. He’s just a great going to stick with me throughout my whole life and the bonds I have with athlete. I’d say endurance and pretty close to perfect, I’d say. the guys there especially amongst the ones I was all with the three Cups. As I said, all the memories will stick with me for the rest of my life. That Seabrook? obviously means a lot, but it’s not like a life-changing thing. Life goes on. Definitively something I’m extremely proud of to be able to be a part of a Seabs is just steady. Just steady, very important guy to have in the successful group like that. locker room. He brings such a calm energy around him. He was obviously a huge part on the ice as a player, but even more off the ice What made that 2010 team so unique and special for you? with his … You knew he was going to show up and play the same way every single game, just being steady Seabs. I think that was our first Cup. We were all really young, extremely hungry, motivated and just had a lot of fun on and off the ice together. First one I Marian Hossa? would say for me is always going to be the most special one in a way. Obviously the first time you hoist the Cup. I think that team we had that Hoss is probably the most professional guy that I met. When he came to year, I played with some of the guys in the minors too coming over from our team before, he had so much experience in the league, going to Cup Sweden. We played in Rockford with probably five or six guys from finals, a lot of personal success and just see the way that he practiced Rockford. That was special too to be able to play with some of the guys every day. He worked harder than some of the younger guys who’d come in the minors and make the step up to the Blackhawks and be able to win in and were fighting for a spot. He outbattled those guys in practice, the whole thing. which I think says a lot about him and the character about him. As a defenseman, he’s probably my favorite guy I ever played with. He was so Toews said earlier today he thought you were especially underrated on good defensively, his backchecks, always responsible in the offensive that 2010 team. Did you feel like you didn’t get as much of the spotlight zone. So, I’ll pick him to my line every time. as the other guys who had won the three Stanley Cups? Patrick Sharp? Not really. I know the role I play is not the flashiest one. Maybe it’s not super easy to pay attention to the crowd. As long as I feel like I’m doing Sharpie is just a sniper. Just a speed sniper that scored big goals. Just my job, I know myself what role I had in those three Cups, and that’s loved scoring more than anything else. (laughs) really the only thing that matters for myself. Patrick Kane? What lasting influence did Joel Quenneville have on your career? Kaner, the magician I would say. That’s one of those guys you hate to A lot. Just the way to play defensively which is my game basically, with play against. You never know what he’s going to do next. Some players an active stick and never let anyone pass the puck through you and you kind of expect where they’re going to put the puck and what the next things like that. But I was also very fortunate ever since I played in momentum is going to be, but with him, you don’t really know what’s Sweden coming in as a young guy, we had a couple really good going to happen. You need some of those pattern breakers in your team professional, older players on our team that I always looked up to and when there are tie games or something to break the pattern in a game. tried to look how they worked every day and how they played on the ice. That was exactly what he was doing. Toews?

I was going to say Captain America, but I guess it’s Captain Canada. He’s the ultimate captain. I think just great guy off the ice who cares about his players and who wants team success more than anything else. Just great overall guy, great player, good both ends of the ice, good faceoff, penalty kill, power play. You know great captain.

Has there been any silver lining for you to be traded from the Blackhawks to the Coyotes? Have you gotten to look at it in a different light over the last few years?

Yeah, for sure. Obviously I wasn’t happy with the trade at the time. I wanted to stay there and play the rest of my career there. I’m not going to lie about that. At the same time, I know the business. Now in my third year here, I really like it here. I like playing here. I feel like we have a better team this year to make a playoff push now and there’s 30 games left. Life off the ice here is pretty nice too with the weather and everything. I really enjoy playing here. I’m definitely happy where I am right now.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173827 Colorado Avalanche “It’s great to see him going full stride back from the injury,” Avs defenseman Mark Barberio said. “We’re going to need all our big guns going down the stretch toward the playoffs.”

Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen confident in second-half surge: “I can be “I don’t put too much pressure on myself” even better” Rantanen became the Avalanche’s highest-paid player last fall when he Rantanen details recovery from ankle ligament damage, expectations as signed a six-year, $55.5 million contract. Might the burden of grand top-paid Avs player expectations (plus injury) be to blame for his ho-hum start to the year?

“It doesn’t change the way I think about the game,” Rantanen said. “I don’t put too much pressure on myself, but I know I have a big contract, KYLE FREDRICKSON and I have to play up to that.”

January 31, 2020 at 6:06 PM Colorado would greatly benefit from a Rantanen surge with 33 games left over only 64 days. It begins with a five-game road trip through

Philadelphia, Buffalo, Ottawa, Columbus and Minnesota. The Avs (28-15- If the weight of a $55.5-million contract sits heavy on the broad shoulders 6) are currently second in the Central Division with 62 points. of Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, win or lose, the near-permanent “The production (from Rantanen) hasn’t been as high as it was last smile on his face certainly doesn’t betray it. year,” Bednar said. “We’ve seen stretches and glimpses of it at times “That’s my big thing,” Rantanen said. “If the games are not going well, I’m where I’ve really liked him. … I would say that we’ll see the best of him at not coming to the rink being negative.” the most important time of the year, which is basically now.”

Count Avalanche newcomer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare among those Rantanen used his All-Star break absence to “rest the head and rest the initially surprised by Rantanen’s even demeanor. body” in advance of a critical stretch to prove the Avalanche correct in pinning much their Stanley Cup hopes on his ability to maintain “He’s a goofy guy,” Bellemare said. “I didn’t know that side of him.” excellence.

Lately, Rantanen has manufactured all the positivity he can muster. His One thing you can bank on? Rantanen will keep his smile on Colorado’s NHL All-Star selection last season did not come with a return trip in 2020. quest for a championship. Not that anyone was expecting it after the start of Rantanen’s season was derailed by injury and inconsistency. “The end of the year is always the most fun time,” Rantanen said. “The playoffs are coming and games have more pressure on them. Everybody Left ankle ligament damage held him out of 16 consecutive games over a needs the points. For myself, it’s about being consistent and playing 200 period of nearly six weeks. His current point total (34; 15 goals) is well feet of hockey to help the team in every situation.” behind his pace at this time a year ago (74; 23 goals). Over his last seven games, Rantanen has zero goals and three assists. And he failed Denver Post: LOADED: 02.01.2020 to record a point in five consecutive January contests.

It calls for blunt assessment from Avs coach Jared Bednar.

The question: Have we seen the best version of Rantanen yet this season?

“I would say, no,” Bednar said.

Back in the Avalanche locker room, the 23-year-old Finlander is calm and confident as ever that the real Rantanen will soon stand up.

“I can be even better,” Rantanen said. “As one of the core players of the team, it’s on us to help the team, and it’s a big responsibility.”

“You have to play with a little bit of pain”

The cringe-worthy video replay is dated Oct. 21 from St. Louis when Rantanen’s left ankle twists on the Blues’ ice. He immediately hobbled toward the locker room and Bednar initially projected his return as week- to-week. But mending a severe high-ankle sprain isn’t a simple fix.

A total of 41 days passed in between Rantanen games.

“With bone injuries, you basically know when it’s going to be healed and there is usually not much of a change,” Rantanen said. “With this ligament (injury), it depends on the person. Some guys heal quicker and some guys take more time. It was a long process, but you have to go through it if you get hurt.

“The first game (I came back) against Chicago, I actually didn’t play in the third period because I tweaked it in the second. With those ligaments, it’s not going to go away right away, even though you’re back playing.”

Teammates with a similar injury history took notice of Rantanen’s toughness.

“You have to play with a little bit of pain,” Bellemare said. “There’s a lot of respect because it was a tough injury.”

Rantanen came back in late November, but the team still slumped to three victories over 12 games in December/January, and his place in the lineup fluctuated. Rantanen’s play followed suit. Although confidence returned with three straight wins before the All-Star break in which Rantanen racked up a trio of assists.

That pesky ligament pain? It’s finally gone. 1173828 Colorado Avalanche

All-Star Nathan MacKinnon rejoins Avs, eager for final 33-game stretch

The Avs begin a five-game road trip Saturday at Philadelphia, with stops at Buffalo, Ottawa, Columbus and Minnesota

MIKE CHAMBERS

January 31, 2020 at 5:21 PM

Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche’s lone NHL All-Star in St. Louis last weekend, rejoined the team Friday morning eager to begin the final 33- game regular-season push.

“It’s awesome,” MacKinnon said about having more games than practices in the final 64 days of the regular season. “I love that, getting in the rhythm, just playing games, some back-to-backs. It’s going to fly by, too — two more months and we’re in the playoffs. So it’s a big stretch. We want home ice and we’re excited for that final push.”

MacKinnon had an excused absence Thursday when the Avs held their first practice in a nine-day span, which came after the All-Star break and the team’s mandatory bye week. The Avs begin a five-game road trip Saturday at Philadelphia, with stops at Buffalo, Ottawa, Columbus and Minnesota.

MacKinnon has played in all 49 games for Colorado (28-15-6) and leads the team in goals (30), assists (42) and points (72). He is third in NHL scoring behind Edmonton teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both of whom played in last weekend’s All-Star Game.

So what was MacKinnon’s favorite moment in St. Louis?

“I get asked that a lot and I really don’t have an answer,” he said. “It’s just fun to be around all the best players. And it’s cool to catch up with guys around the league and see what they’re up to.”

Superstar Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals was among a handful of older players to decline to play in last week’s game. MacKinnon, 24, doesn’t see that happening for himself.

“It’s not that hard on your body. You barely get a workout in,” he said. “I’m always going to go. There’s no reason not to, for myself.”

Footnotes. Avs coach Jared Bednar said his squad on Friday had another strong practice after the long break. The Avs will have a morning skate in Philadelphia — the last tuneup for their first game in 11 days. … Save for forward Colin Wilson, who is out long-term after undergoing shoulder, Colorado is as healthy as it was opening night in October.

Denver Post: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173829 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets expect familiarity with pressure to make playoffs to help as games become more important

Jacob Myers

Jan 31, 2020 at 7:58 PM

It was a meeting in Vancouver late last year that the Blue Jackets say helped them win seven of their last eight games to make the playoffs as the final wild-card team. Maybe this year it’s a team meeting scheduled prior to Saturday’s afternoon game in Buffalo.

Jackets coach John Tortorella said the team would have a meeting just to talk about expectations for the final 31 games of the season after the team posted the most points in the NHL since Dec. 9.

There are things Tortorella wants his team to improve on, sure. But this meeting won’t be like the one in Vancouver meant to set the record straight. The Jackets are coming off a nine-day break positioned in a playoff spot that many didn’t think they would be in.

Tortorella and the players know that they won’t be able to sneak up on teams anymore, but the past few seasons of pushing to make the playoffs has prepared them for important games.

“I think it's a whole different style and a whole different type of intensity,” Tortorella said.

Only in 2016-17 were the Jackets not sweating to make the playoffs. The past two seasons, their fate has pretty much come down to the very last game.

Their approach to those final games is the way Tortorella wants his team to play out of the gate from this long break. In a way, that familiarity should help the players identified as leaders, who could be looked to by younger players that aren’t familiar with what’s to come.

“We've had no easy ways getting into the playoffs, so I think this team is built for it,” defenseman Zack Werenski said. “It starts tomorrow, just trying to win some games, string some wins together and not trying to make it come down to the last few games. Hopefully, we're in before that.”

Perhaps the Jackets are already accustomed to playing in these high- intensity, high-stakes games. They lead the league in most one-goal games and have had to make their living with dominating teams in the third period to get to a 16-2-4 record since Dec. 9.

The Jackets don’t focus on handling pressure, Tortorella said. It’s more about dealing with being the hunted instead of the hunter.

"We got to try to jump right back on that momentum that we had,” Tortorella said, “or at least play the way that we have been playing and think about adding to it.”

Injury updates

Forward Josh Anderson skated again for the second day in a row. He did not skate with the four forward lines, likely indicating he will not return to the lineup Saturday.

Defenseman Ryan Murray skated on his own prior to the team’s practice Friday, as well.

Anderson (shoulder) and Murray (upper-body) have each missed the past 19 games.

McCudden away from team

Assistant coach Kenny McCudden will not be with the team in Buffalo or Montreal this weekend. He will be away indefinitely to deal with a family medical issue.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173830 Columbus Blue Jackets Players are gearing up for it, too, especially after getting away from the sport.

“Now is the time where you see teams take a step up (the standings) and Tortorella puts trust in Columbus Blue Jackets players after long layoff take a step down, and you want to be that team that steps up,” Dubois said. “We were playing really well before the break, but now is the most important part of the season.”

Brian Hedger Anderson's almost back

Jan 31, 2020 at 8:54 AM Josh Anderson practiced with the full team for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury on Dec. 14 in Ottawa.

The Jackets' most imposing power forward hasn't played in more than six It used to be a concern. weeks, missing 12 games, and he is at the top end of his four- to six- John Tortorella once would fret about the impact of midseason breaks week recovery time. like the one the Blue Jackets returned from Thursday with a practice at Anderson didn't skate with the top four lines, but his presence was a the OhioHealth Ice Haus, but he has learned it's just wasted energy. positive sign. “I don't even think about it anymore,” said Tortorella, whose team won six “I'm glad he's on the ice,” Tortorella said of Anderson, who got off to a straight games and went 16-2-4 in a 22-game stretch prior to getting nine slow start to the season with just one goal and three assists. “I'm not sure days off. “Early in my career, I'd worry about it … about where the team where he stands. We'll find out more after practice, how he felt, but it's was before the break — 'Is it the right time?' — and overthink it.” good to see him part of the team.” Now? Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 It's apparently all Hakuna Matata. No worries.

“There's nothing you can do about it, especially now with the new schedule that's come out the past few years (and) the amount of days you do get off,” Tortorella said, referring to the league adding a mandated five-day break in 2016-17 in addition to its usual time off for All-Star weekend. “You trust your players. We give them a program (to train). We don't hold their hands to follow it. If you have the right people in the room, they follow it, and they do their business.”

So, in his assessment, did the Blue Jackets complete that business to a satisfactory level?

“I thought we practiced well today,” Tortorella said, after putting the Jackets through a workout that included a lot of odd-man rushes and was designed to get their skating legs back. “I don't want to do a lot of stopping and starting (in the first couple of practices). I just want to get as many puck touches as we can get. I want to get some sort of conditioning and just get the blood moving in them.”

That was accomplished, but the tricky part of this particular return from holiday is what lies ahead on the schedule. Tortorella and his coaching staff need to strike the right balance between going hard enough to get players prepared and going too hard prior to a challenging set of back-to- back afternoon road games this weekend in Buffalo and Montreal.

“I think sometimes players think it's going to be just a dog day, as far as just kicking 'em,” Tortorella said of the first practice back. “We play an afternoon game after another day (of practice) here, back-to-back afternoon games, so you have to trust your players. That's all you can do, and go about your business accordingly when you come back.”

It's a test for players, too.

After most of them spent a week in the sun — fanning out to places such as the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, south Florida and Mexico — the sound of waves lapping ashore was suddenly replaced by the sound of whistles, hockey stops and slap shots.

“You have to find that balance,” said center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who split the third extended break of his NHL career between Miami and the Bahamas. “I mean, a break's a break, and an 82-game season is a long season. So when we have that break, you don't want to be the guy that doesn't take it — or the opposite, the guy who takes too much of a break.”

Preparing for the 'grind'

The Blue Jackets played 16 games last March, and this year they face a packed February schedule after their break. They will play 15 games that month, 14 in March and two in April to conclude the 82-game slate — a frenetic finish with a lot of playoff implications.

“The season starts again now,” Tortorella said. “Now you've put yourself in that (better) spot. Now our season starts here, and this is the grind of the season, when February starts and you have 30-plus games (left). and teams get stingier, more physical, more of a grind.” 1173831 Columbus Blue Jackets A majority of the Blue Jackets’ dogs are smaller in stature, making it easier to travel with them, both during the season and in the summer when international players head home.

Blue Jackets players love adding dogs to their roster Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and his wife, Anastasia, recently got a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Willy.

"He’s the most beautiful dog," he said of the 10-month-old. Allison Ward Like many of his teammates, Gavrikov keeps up with his pup through Jan 31, 2020 at 6:01 AM video conferencing when he is on the road.

"Every day, we call on the FaceTime," Gavrikov said. "My wife will say, ‘Yeah, I’m OK,’ and I’ll be, ‘What about Willy?’" Pierre-Luc Dubois’ French bulldog, Philly, marks just one of seven canines who have joined the Columbus Blue Jackets during the past 18 And it’s clear the pets miss their players during long road trips, too. months, and Dubois now is one of 10 players to own a dog. Koby, an 11-month-old Cavapoo (a Cavalier King Charlies spaniel- Columbus Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois watched nervously as poodle mix), often pees from excitement when goalie Elvis Merzlikins Philly flew across the ice chasing after a puck. returns home after being away.

It was the 1-year-old French bulldog’s first time on the rink. He says they are working on training the dog not to do that, but Merzlikins usually doesn’t mind too much, especially after trips such as "I was curious how he’d do in a new environment with a lot of dogs and the weeklong West Coast swing they had early in January. on the ice," Dubois said as six dogs belonging to players frolicked on the ice one recent day. "I missed him so much that I really didn’t care about his peeing," said Merzlikins, who loves to nap and wrestle with Koby. "I was really happy There was little need to be anxious, though; the pup proved a natural on about seeing him." the slippery surface at Nationwide Arena. Just like his doggy daddy. The young pup has such a wild and playful personality that he has more Dubois had long wanted to get a dog of his own, but the 21-year-old than 3,000 followers on his own Instagram page, @happy_koby, which is needed to first get a place of his own — he lived with teammate David run by Merzlikin’s girlfriend, Aleksandra Tyszkiewicz. Savard his first year in the league — and figure out who would take care of a dog during his extensive traveling for road games. Although the dogs can be a lot of work — between dealing with late-night play sessions, figuring out doggie daycare and attending obedience- That wasn’t a problem on a team that particularly loves dogs. training sessions — they provide the players much-needed respite and "Maddie (Clark), (defenseman) Scott Harrington’s girlfriend, she helps a comfort, especially during the grind of an 82-game hockey season. lot," Dubois said. "She grew up with a French bulldog. She loves Philly." "It’s nice he’s a friend," Merzlikins said. "He understands when you have If the players aren’t talking about upcoming opponents, defending the net your ups and downs. He feels that, and he’s close to you." or playoff pushes, there’s a good chance you’ll hear one of them Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 bragging about a new trick their pup has learned or showing off cute photos of their dog.

That’s because Nationwide Arena is experiencing a puppy boom.

Philly marks just one of seven canines who have joined the team during the past 18 months, and Dubois now is one of 10 players to own a dog.

This isn’t surprising to those in the organization, given the passion the coaching staff has for four-legged creatures. John Tortorella, for example, was an outspoken advocate for animals well before he became the Blue Jackets’ head coach in 2015. His family’s foundation supports many animal-welfare agencies.

"It’s an easy place to find anybody willing to talk about dogs, that’s for sure," said assistant coach Brad Shaw, who has a Rottweiler-mix named Kevin and who is involved in local rescue efforts with his wife, Mary.

"There are a lot of guys who love them, lots of guys who have them. It’s great that they can help these little guys along and give them a good home."

Shaw observed that just like the players on the team, the dogs represent various sizes and personalities.

There is the 18-month-old miniature Dachshund named Iitu (a popular name for girls in Finland), belonging to defenseman Markus Nutivaara. Philly the bulldog fancies her, Dubois said.

Many of the dogs know each other and meet up for walks with their owners along the Scioto Mile or playdates in Hocking Hills State Park.

Then there are veterans such as Harvey, a 6-year-old yellow Labrador retriever who has belonged to center Gustav Nyquist and his family since the dog was a pup.

And the large, 22-pound Pomeranian who lives with forward Cam Atkinson and his wife, Natalie, has been around hockey most of his six years. He’s named Eastonafter the hockey-stick manufacturer.

"We did get him DNA-tested when he kept growing," Natalie said. "He’s 100 percent Pomeranian." 1173832 Columbus Blue Jackets The Jackets stumbled out of last year’s extended layoff, losing three in a row after the break, beginning (oddly enough) with a loss to Buffalo. But they won their first game back in the previous two seasons, beating Dallas (2-1 in a shootout) in 2017-18 and routing the Islanders (7-0) in ‘The season starts again now’: Surging Blue Jackets crank it up for 2016-17. stretch run The big news Thursday was that power forward Josh Anderson, who’s missed virtually all of the turnaround because of a shoulder injury, was back on the ice and looking like he’s ready to join the lineup soon. Aaron Portzline Tortorella wouldn’t say whether Anderson will play Saturday in Buffalo or Jan 31, 2020 Sunday in Montreal, but he’s getting close.

“I’m glad he’s on the ice,” Tortorella said. “It’s good to see him being part of the team.” COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella cut in on a question Thursday about how his club’s run of play before the extended Anderson has had an awful season (one goal in 26 games), but he’s a break sets them up for a fascinating finish in the final 31 games of the game-changing forward when he’s playing well. Two others who fit that season. bill, forwards Cam Atkinson and Oliver Bjorkstrand, have made a significant impact with their returns recently. “No,” Tortorella said, flatly. “We play Buffalo (on Saturday).” More injury news: The veteran coach, who could win his third Jack Adams Trophy this season, gets in these moods from time to time. Remember when he • Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo skated Thursday, but he did so ahead of wouldn’t discuss the Blue Jackets’ near-record-setting win streak in the practice group. That’s a good sign in his recovery from knee surgery 2016-17 until it reached the teens? Or his refusal to discuss the power in late December. The next step is for him to join the group for practice. play two years ago when it was drier than the Atacama Desert? • Defenseman Ryan Murray (back) was not on the ice, which should be Eventually, Tortorella comes around, as he did quickly Thursday. After seen as another setback. The Blue Jackets were hoping he’d be able to all, the story of how close the Blue Jackets came to “repurposing” this return on the other side of the break. 2019-20 season toward development and the future is always worth a The Blue Jackets’ schedule is a mixed bag the rest of the way: retelling. • Seventeen of the final 31 games are on the road, including a three- On Dec. 8, the Blue Jackets were 11-14-4 and 11 points out of the game Western Canada swing in early March and a five-game, all-over- playoffs. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen took off for a long scouting the-map road trip — Toronto, New Jersey, New York (Rangers), Tampa trip, including the IIHF World Junior Championships, which is where Bay and Dallas — at the end of March. general managers go to mine the best young talent available in the NHL draft. • Twelve of the next 16 games are against opponents that aren’t currently in a playoff spot. “When we were struggling there for a little bit … where were we going to go?” Tortorella said. “There’s a question with the team — how young it • The Jackets have 15 games in the next 28 days, including three back- was — where are we going to go? Sometimes you have to redefine what to-backs. your organizational philosophy (for that season) is. Let’s be honest here. Are we going to develop? If you’re that far out, do you keep trying to go The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 for it?

“I think our players made a stand here and told us what to do. I’m proud of the way they handled themselves. We talked about a couple of ‘bubble’ situations, before Christmas and before the break. And they end up winning the games.”

The Blue Jackets’ 16-2-4 run has them in the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot, but they’re one point back of the third-place New York Islanders and five points behind second-place Pittsburgh in the .

A season that once felt like a lost cause now holds meaning. The games hold weight, the standings matter, the trade deadline can be looked upon by fans with anticipation, not dread.

“The season starts again now,” Tortorella said. “Forget about all the things you’ve done and some of the things you’ve crawled back into. Now you’ve put yourself in that spot, and so now the season starts here.

“This is the grind of the season, when February starts and you have 31 games and teams get stingier, more physical, more of a grind.”

The Blue Jackets were back to practice Thursday, a 45-minute skate with drills designed to emphasize puck-handling and skating. What’s lost first during an eight-day layoff, the legs, the lungs or the hands?

Good question. Either way, the next 48 hours are going to be a challenge.

Buffalo has played (and lost) two games since its break ended, so the Sabres will be back in the flow of the season. The Blue Jackets know that the first period Saturday — day games are notoriously difficult, anyway — could be a challenge.

“Players think it’s going to be a dog day of practice, with us (coaches) just kicking them,” Tortorella said. “We play back-to-back afternoon games. You have to trust your players. That’s all you can do. They practiced. They touch the puck a lot. They did a little skating.

“(In Friday’s practice) we’ll do a little bit of bumping, just to get some body contact, get them thrashing around before we go play a game.” 1173833 Dallas Stars Gurianov said: “Still learning, you know? Still working on trying to play defensively first. Defense creates offense. If you play good defensively, we will have chances in the offensive zone.”

Denis Gurianov is Stars’ latest youthful revelation — a look at his speed, Gurianov has found a home on the power play in the right circle, blasting development and upcoming contract one-timers on his way to five power-play goals this season, and that weapon is part of why Gurianov was on the ice late against Toronto, Here’s why Stars assistant coach Derek Laxdal compares Gurianov’s Laxdal said. development ... to an onion. Denis Gurianov at Colorado

The good: Matthew DeFranks - PP goal 3:10 PM on Jan 31, 2020 - Forced delay of game penalty

The bad: FRISCO — Denis Gurianov’s game is so loud, so noticeable, so wonderfully fast and so undeniably exciting that his appearance on the - Neutral zone giveaway score sheet has become routine, a beacon of hope on the otherwise - Lost defensive zone coverage offensively challenged Stars roster. - Late forecheck on lost FO Gurianov has become the latest youthful revelation in Dallas, a prospect- turned-force following in the footsteps of Miro Heiskanen and Roope - Icing Hintz (and to a lesser extent Jason Dickinson and Radek Faksa). He has 13 goals this season, fourth-most on the roster, and third-most among - Giveaway at the blue line NHL rookies. He has scored in back-to-back games and has seven goals Small things, but coaches notice. pic.twitter.com/RhHq7YcZya in the last 14 games, tied with Jamie Benn for most on the team across that time frame. — Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) January 16, 2020

His breakout has been courtesy of his superb bursts of speed through Now, the Stars have to figure out what to pay Gurianov. the neutral zone, dusting defensemen before puzzling goaltenders with an array of backhands and forehands that zip between legs or over Gurianov, 22, will be a restricted free agent for the first time this summer shoulders. His speed is something that’s always been part of his game and he’s on pace to finish the season with 22 goals and 10 assists. If and a reason why the Stars selected Gurianov in the first round in 2015, short-term deals from last summer are to be followed, Gurianov’s cap hit but something the team tried to harness during his development with could be somewhere between $3.2 million and $3.35 million. Here are AHL affiliate Texas. some comparables:

“I’m not going to develop his speed, but we’re going to teach him how to Pavel Buchnevich, NY Rangers: 21 goals, 17 assists, 2 years, $3.25 use it,” said Derek Laxdal, current Stars assistant coach and former million cap hit Texas head coach. “That’s the one thing we’re trying to do is teach him Kasperi Kapanen, Toronto: 20 goals, 24 assists, 3 years, $3.2 million how to use it here.” Jakub Vrana, Washington: 24 goals, 23 assists, 2 years, $3.35 million Laxdal said the Stars want Gurianov to use speed down low in small areas, breaking out of the corners, rolling off guys, holding on to pucks Perhaps buying a year of unrestricted free agency changes the bottom and taking them to the net. It’s speed in short spurts in addition to the line for Gurianov like these contracts: buzz-saw skating through center ice. Andreas Johnsson, Toronto: 20 goals, 23 assists, 4 years, $3.4 million, Teaching Gurianov shouldn’t be a problem. He wants to learn. Gurianov one year of UFA has an educational background, taking college classes while he was in the AHL on track to become a lawyer, and he shows interest in Frank Vatrano, Florida: 24 goals, 15 assists, 3 years, $2.533 million, one understanding on-ice strategies that he has nothing to do with. year of UFA

“He doesn’t kill penalties but every time I’m running the penalty kill Or a long-term contract like these pumps Gurianov’s wallet: meeting, the first guy in there is Denis because he wants to learn,” Stars Alex Tuch, Vegas: 20 goals, 32 assists, 7 years, $4.75 million interim head coach Rick Bowness said. “He’s trying to improve in all areas of the game. He knows he’s not going to kill penalties, but he’s in Travis Konecny, Philadelphia: 24 goals, 25 assists, 6 years, $5.5 million there watching and he’s in there listening and he’s in there learning.” Regardless of what the Stars pay Gurianov (and Hintz as well), his The knock on Gurianov has long been that he’s not good enough in his development has been one of the biggest stories of the season, own zone to draw big minutes in the NHL. Right or wrong, the way that especially with the ongoing struggles of Tyler Seguin and Pavelski. Now, Bowness coaches the Stars, defense comes first and he believes good it’s just about adding more to his toolbox. defense leads to offense (as evidenced during Monday’s win over Tampa “It’s like an onion,” Laxdal said. “You’ve got the foundation of the onion in Bay). the center core. We’re just trying to add layers to it. We’ve got some Gurianov’s detriment in the defensive zone has led to an overall cut in layers there. We want to take those defensive layers and add them to his minutes since Bowness took over for Jim Montgomery on Dec. 10. In 19 game. Add some more offensive layers, the o-zone time, protecting games under Bowness, Gurianov ranks 11th among Stars forwards in 5- pucks, hanging on to pucks.” on-5 ice time, receiving 10:19 per game, including just 2:29 when Dallas Briefly: The Stars recalled forward Joel Kiviranta on Friday morning from is protecting a lead. AHL affiliate Texas, and placed forward Justin Dowling on injured reserve Perhaps Wednesday’s 5-3 loss against the Maple Leafs was a turning with a lower-body injury. Dowling was hurt during Wednesday’s loss to point. Gurianov played 17:48, (the second-most of his career) closed out Toronto and did not practice Thursday. With Kiviranta’s addition, the the game as the extra attacker at 6 on 5 and replaced Joe Pavelski on a Stars active roster is full. third-period power play. During a third-period power play, Gurianov raced Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.01.2020 back to his own zone to disrupt a Toronto shorthanded chance and keep the Stars in the game.

“He’s come a long way, and we need him to do that because we need him to play big minutes and we need him against whoever they’re putting on the ice against us, especially on the road,” Bowness said. “So he needs to be more reliable, but he’s a coachable kid. It’s not a natural instinct for him yet, but we’ll get him there.” 1173834 Dallas Stars sent in their suggested trade targets. If you want to discuss any further targets, let’s do so in the comments below.

I then took some of those names to my colleagues who cover their Dallas Stars trade deadline primer: What’s the cost of possible targets? respective teams at The Athletic to see what they think it would cost to acquire those players.

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers Sean Shapiro Why he’d fit: Kreider is the top name on the market, and his speed would Jan 31, 2020 certainly help any NHL team. His 17 goals so far this season on a struggling Rangers teams wouldn’t hurt, either. As an unrestricted free

agent on July 1, he’s a pure rental, but the deal could be similar to the FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Stars believe they are a Cup contender. one the Stars made last season to land Mats Zuccarello.

That’s the feeling around the franchise after taking the St. Louis Blues to What’s the cost: The Rangers want a first-round pick, according to my Game 7 in the second round. It’s been echoed within the organization New York colleague Rick Carpiniello. That’s a fair ask after the Rangers throughout this season: Once in the playoffs, the Stars have a system traded Kevin Hayes for a first-round pick, Brendan Lemieux and a and goaltender that could piece together a run to the Stanley Cup. conditional fourth-round pick last season. Carpiniello also said he believes the Rangers could work on a Zuccarello-type deal like they did But puzzles can be altered and improved, and that’s why the Stars are a with Dallas last season, with conditional picks that escalate if Kreider re- team to at least keep an eye on when it comes to the Feb. 24 trade signs. deadline. Dallas boasts one of the NHL’s best defensive teams, but are greatly struggling to score. There’s still hope and prayers from the front Picks are nice, but Carpinello also said what could really get a deal done office that all of these individual scoring dips will reverse, but there’s also is a young player who is established or close to NHL ready, preferably a a sense of realism that a trade might be necessary to help fix an offense forward. That could mean moving Robertson and something else to get firing duds. the deal done, which is extremely expensive for a rental.

But before considering any deal you have to remember what the Stars Blake Coleman, New Jersey Devils have when it comes to potential tradeable assets. Why he’d fit: Coleman isn’t a rental. He’s also a native Texan from Plano Five players (Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, Joe and trains with Stars players in the offseason in Frisco. He’s got another Pavelski, Ben Bishop) have full no-movement clauses. Corey Perry also year left on a team-friendly contract at $1.8 million against the cap, and has a no-trade clause where he can list the five teams he would accept a he already has 19 goals this season. If the Stars acquired Coleman trade to. He is also unlikely to get traded. today, he’d be their leading goal scorer right away.

We can also confidently say the Stars aren’t going to trade Miro What’s the cost: According to our Devils’ writer Corey Masisak, a deal Heiskanen, John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, Stephen Johns, Anton would be highly unlikely. Masisak said if we’re to believe the statements Khudobin, Denis Gurianov or Roope Hintz. from Devils ownership about trying to be back in the hunt during the 2020-21 season, then the forward is untouchable and isn’t getting That leaves just 10 players on the active roster that Jim Nill would likely moved. The Devils don’t have much reason to move him, so the cost will be willing to trade in the right deal: Andrew Cogliano, Blake Comeau, be high. Masisak said the package Ottawa got for Ryan Dzingel last Mattias Janmark, Radek Faksa, Jason Dickinson, Justin Dowling, Jamie season — two second-round picks and Anthony Duclair — is probably Oleksiak, Roman Polak, Andrej Sekera and Taylor Fedun. the minimum to even start the conversation.

Of those 10, only two — Dickinson and Faksa — would have a line of The Stars don’t have a second-round pick this year, so they’d likely have other teams reaching out to acquire their services. Janmark is an to offer either their first-round pick in 2020 or their second-round interesting name because he could be moved to another contender but selections in both 2021 and 2022. On top of that it would also likely take holds little value for a buyer like Dallas since he’ll be an unrestricted free a top prospect like Dellandrea or a player like Radek Faksa or Jason agent in July. Dickinson that New Jersey could see as a part of the long-term future.

When it comes to prospects, the Stars have made a strong commitment Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils to not moving their top prospects — Thomas Harley, Ty Dellandrea, Jason Robertson, and Jake Oettinger. The rest of the prospect board is Why he’d fit: Palmieri has scored at least 20 goals in three straight likely available, but there’s a steep drop-off when it comes to perceived seasons and is well on his way to topping 20 this year. He’s a power-play value. cannon who could help the Stars, who struggle there, and he’s not a rental — with another year left on his contract at $4.65 million. Aside from maybe Oskar Back or Albin Eriksson, there aren’t any other prospects in the Stars system I would covet if I were another NHL GM at What’s the cost: Turning back to Masisak, he thinks the Devils aren’t this point. For conversation’s sake I’ll mention Ben Gleason and Riley going to trade Palmieri unless they can get a similar package to the one Damiani as other prospects that could be part of a larger deal, but I also they got for Taylor Hall. He believes it would likely cost a first-round pick wouldn’t have much issue parting with either of them. or a conditional pick with easy conditions to become a first, a good prospect or an interesting young player and maybe a second pick as Dallas’ draft capital isn’t strong, either. The Stars only have four picks in well. the 2020 draft and don’t have a second or third-round selection. They do have all of their picks in 2021 and 2022, but the long-term viability of a If we use that formula, the Stars would likely have to offer up their 2021 franchise can take a hit if it continuously shows up to the draft and has second-round pick with conditions it becomes a first-round if the Stars nothing to do. win a playoff series. In addition to that pick the Stars would likely either need to offer up Dellandrea or Robertson, or hope that a package of Cap space also comes into play. At this moment the Stars have $815 in Gleason or Back with an additional third-round pick would entice the cap space. No, there isn’t a zero missing from that figure. Dallas does, Devils. however, have $4.75 million available if they wanted to dip into the long- term injured reserve money they saved after Martin Hanzal’s career Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings effectively came to a close. Why he’d fit: Toffoli has a dozen goals this season and has bounced So the Stars, in theory, could get one of the bigger salaries on the back after a down 2018-19 season. As an unrestricted free agent in July, market, but it would likely take another corresponding move and would he’s a rental, but a rental that would be well known by Stars assistant impact the salary cap for next season when bonuses come into play for coach John Stevens. He’d be an offensive upgrade for the Stars in their guys like Heiskanen, Perry, and Sekera. top nine.

Now that we have a rough idea of what the Stars have available, let’s What’s the cost: The price seems somewhat reasonable after talking to take a look at the more realistic cost for some of the targets that could be those on the ground in Los Angeles. Our Lisa Dillman said she believes moved in February. For much of this list I used the responses that fans that Toffoli’s market price should be a second-round pick and a B-level had mentioned to me on Twitter earlier this week, so thanks to all that prospect. In theory, the Stars could do that if the Kings were interested in the 2021 selection and a player like Back.

Alex Galchenyuk, Pittsburgh Penguins

Why he’d fit: From my understanding, the Stars aren’t high on Galchenyuk as a player, so this seems unlikely. Galchenyuk is one of the more affordable targets and could be viewed as a player that would find a bit more offensive pop after a move out of Pittsburgh, where he has just five goals this season.

What’s the cost: Penguins writer Pittsburgh Rob Rossi said he believes Galchenyuk could be had for a conditional fourth-round pick that becomes a third if the Stars go deep enough in the postseason. That’s a move Dallas could make, but with those conditions, those picks would have to vest in 2021.

Josh Anderson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Why he’d fit: Anderson seems to be on the market, and many believe he’ll be moved either this month or in the summer, when he’s a restricted free agent. He’s going through quite the down year, but he contributed 27 goals and 47 points last season. He’d be more than a rental since the Stars would be able to re-sign him.

What’s the cost: Aaron Portzline tends to have a pretty good read on the pulse of the Blue Jackets and said it would take a first-round pick and a prospect to land Anderson. That’s a selection Dallas doesn’t want to surrender, as well as one of the Swedes in either Back or Eriksson. Would that even be enough for Columbus, who would probably prefer a prospect of real value in Dellandrea? Probably not.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa Senators

Why he’d fit: Pageau is likely the top center on the market, and the Stars could use a reliable second-line center with 20 goals. He’s a UFA this summer and is likely a pure rental based on the Stars’ cap situation in the future.

What’s the cost: A first-round pick is needed to get this done and as Pierre Lebrun noted earlier this week, the Stars aren’t going to be willing to move a first-round selection in 2020 for a rental piece. There could be some maneuvering with a 2021 first-round choice and some add-ons, but once again, the Stars run into an issue where they don’t have much in the prospect pool to trade.

Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators

Why he’d fit: He’s a 24-year-old already on his fifth NHL team, but he’s found his game in Ottawa this season with 33 points. Duclair was also selected to the All-Star game in St. Louis. He’s a restricted free agent after this season and would be part of the long-term plan if the Stars made this move.

What’s the cost: I’m not sure why the Senators would trade Duclair in the first place, and Hailey Salvian in Ottawa agrees. She said Duclair isn’t on the block and that he’s part of the long-term plan in Ottawa. With that in mind, the Stars would have to offer a major package to Ottawa to get the deal done, which isn’t in the realm of reality.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173835 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings slumber for two periods en route to 4-2 loss to Rangers

Helene St. James,

9:37 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2020

NEW YORK — The Detroit Red Wings endured a scare to their best player during a second period that was frightful.

Their Friday night matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden was marred by a 20-minute span during which Dylan Larkin headed to the dressing room after being hit by a puck, and the Wings surrendered three goals.

Jimmy Howard stole the first period but his teammates' inability to get out of their own one until the third period led to a 4-2 loss. The Wings have not won on the road since Dec. 14 at Montreal and are winless in their last seven games.

Larkin left after being hit by the puck in the back of his legs when Tyler Bertuzzi ripped a slap shot, but returned for the third period. The Wings did a better job gaining the Rangers’ zone in the final 20 minutes, but they faced a 4-0 deficit when Mika Zibanejad added a goal to his two- assist performance. Robby Fabbri scored at 5:59 and added an assist when he had a hand in Valtteri Filppula’s goal at 10:59.

Howard with the save

The Wings had Jimmy Howard to thank for emerging from the first period without being in a hole. He came through with 15 saves, two of them while Filppula served a penalty for hooking Filip Chytil. Three of Howard’s saves were on Artemi Panarin. While Howard did his job, his teammates struggled to exit their own zone and gain any modicum of puck possession. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin only saw seven shots, and none of them were very good.

Two in a row

The Rangers had a 20-11 edge in shots when their first line broke through in the second period. Chris Kreider sprang Zibanejad with a long pass, and Zibanejad raced up the right side, with Pavel Buchnevich taking the right flank. Zibanejad closed in on Howard and sent a perfectly timed pass to Buchnevich for the goal, at 9:23. In a season-long trend, the Wings gave up another within minutes. Kreider was credited for his 18th goal of the season when he tipped Adam Fox’s shot, at 11:56.

Panarin's highlight goal

Panarin earned his 27th goal of the season, sticking it to the Wings in the last minute of the second period. He controlled the puck on his stick, going from backhand to forehand while dancing around Wings defenseman Alex Biega, and flipped the puck into a tight space between Howard’s right arm and the goal post.

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Game thread: Red Wings lose to Rangers, 4-2

Marlowe Alter

9:29 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2020

Detroit Red Wings (12-35-4) at New York Rangers (23-21-4)

When: 7 p.m. tonight.

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York.

TV: FSD+, ESPN+.

Radio: 97.1 FM (Red Wings radio affiliates).

Game notes: Red Wings play their first game since the All-Star break. Their 28 points are 13 fewer than the next worst NHL team (L.A. Kings at 41). ... Wings and Rangers play again Saturday at LCA. The Rangers won the lone meeting this season, 5-1 on Nov. 6 at MSG.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173837 Detroit Red Wings “Too much defending,” said Blashill of the Wings’ second period. “Jimmy had to be great in the first, or otherwise it could have looked like that in the first.”

'They were on top of us': Red Wings rally late, still get steamrolled by Panarin’s goal with 41.9 seconds left in the second period capped the over Rangers Rangers’ explosion and showed why the Rangers paid big money for the unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Panarin came down the wing, used an inside-out move around Ted Kulfan defenseman Alex Biega, then flicked a backhand shot past Howard for his 27th goal. 12:21 a.m. ET Feb. 1, 2020 The Wings had no power plays the entire game, while the Rangers had

three, with Zibanejad scoring his 19th goal on a third-period power play, New York — If you were expecting a different looking Red Wings team making it 4-0. coming out of that All-Star break, no such luck. “At the end of the day we weren’t dangerous enough,” said Blashill, They pretty much looked like the Red Wings from most of this season describing the Wings’ offensive attack. “If you’re not dangerous, you’re Friday in a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. not going to draw penalties.”

The Red Wings rallied with two third-period goals, but it was after they Detroit News LOADED: 02.01.2020 trailed 4-0, and too large a deficit to overcome.

“They were on top of us, the ice tilted against us the first two periods,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “They had more jump, they were cleaner with the puck and they were out of the zone quicker and caused us to defend way more.”

The time off may have been a factor, but the Rangers were off the same duration. So it was a level playing field from that perspective.

“It just looked like we were discombobulated all night until five minutes into the third period,” goaltender Jimmy Howard said.

That’s seven consecutive losses for the Wings, who are nearing the 12- and eight-game losing streaks they had earlier this season.

Robby Fabbri and Valtteri Filppula scored third-period goals, with Fabbri also drawing an assist on Filppula’s goal.

Valtteri Filppula talks about the Wings' 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. The Detroit News

“We’re giving up goals too easily,” said Filppula, who’ll play in his 1,000th career game Saturday, when the Wings host the Rangers at Little Caesars Arena. “The goalie is playing great, but we’re giving up too many Grade-A chances and good players score off those.

“We have to be better defensively.”

The Wings appear to have dodged a major obstacle after Dylan Larkin returned to start the third period after taking a Tyler Bertuzzi slap shot near the side of Larkin’s knee.

Larkin staggered to the bench while being tended to by trainer Piet Van Zant. Larkin appeared to modestly test the leg during a timeout with six minutes left in the period but decided to head to the locker room.

But Larkin returned to start the third period and skated a regular shift, and in fact, set up Fabbri's goal, while playing 18:34.

Dylan Larkin talks about getting hit by a puck on the side of his leg in the second period. The Detroit News

“Luckily everything is OK, just took a puck at a bad spot at the side of the leg where it’s a boney spot,” Larkin said. “It hit the nerve there, so I lost feeling and movement in my foot for a bit. That’s mainly the reason I had to get it looked at. Everything is OK.”

Pavel Buchnevich, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad (power play) had Rangers goals, as Howard stopped 35 of 39 shots.

Howard stopped all 15 Rangers shots in the first period, keeping the game 0-0.

“Howie bailed us out big time,” Larkin said.

Buchnevich and Kreider scored just under three minutes apart midway in the second period, quickly giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Buchnevich converted on a 2-on-1 feed from Zibanejad for his ninth goal, at 9:23, opening the game’s scoring.

Kreider then extended the lead to 2-0 with his 18th goal, at 11:56, deflecting Adam Fox’s shot from the point. 1173838 Detroit Red Wings “It’s an achievement,” Blashill said. “Some guys get into the league earlier, but it’s harder to stay as long now, and the game is so fast. If you lose a step it can be real hard.

Red Wings' Valtteri Filppula slower but wiser as he nears 1,000th NHL “The guys who seem to keep going and be productive are the guys with game good brains – and he has a real good brain. So even though he doesn’t skate quite as fast as he used to, he has a real good brain, and it’s a heck of an achievement.”

Ted Kulfan Ice chips

4:34 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2020 Goaltender Jonathan Bernier (lower body) and forward Andreas Athanasiou (undisclosed) both continue to progress, with Bernier

possibly being ready to play Saturday against the Rangers. Athansaiou New York – So, what does it mean for Valtteri Filppula to reach the could be ready either Saturday, or Monday against Philadelphia. 1,000-NHL game milestone Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena? … Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson was expected to return to the lineup Filppula, ever the straight-forward and bottom-line type of guy, never Friday for the first time since breaking his nose Dec. 15 against Los flinched. Angeles. Ericsson appeared to be taking the place of Madison Bowey in the lineup, judging from the morning skate. “It means I’m getting older,” said Filppula, 35, who originally joined the Wings during the 2005-06 season after being a third-round draft pick in Rangers at Red Wings 2002. “Being able to stay healthy, that’s the good thing. I’ve been able to Faceoff: 7 p.m. Saturday, Little Caesars Arena play for a while and in a great league. I’m proud of that. TV/radio: FSD/97.1 FM “That first game, you’re thinking hopefully to get a few more games. Now, 15 years later, it’s still good to be able to play, but you don’t really think Outlook: The teams play the back end of their home-and-home set about that. I haven’t thought about it (1,000 games) until this season, that coming out of the All-Star break. … This will be the Rangers’ lone trip into I’m getting pretty close. Detroit this season. … D Jacob Trouba (Rochester Adams/Michigan) has seven goals (23 points) for the Rangers. “It’s nice, I’m excited about it, but I hope it would be under better circumstances with the team doing better. But it’s something positive for Detroit News LOADED: 02.01.2020 the year.”

Filppula remembers that first game in the NHL, on Dec. 15, 2005, becoming the first Finnish player to play for the Wings.

“I do remember, all one minute and 20 seconds of it,” said Filppula of his NHL debut. “We played in Florida and I got called up with a dads’ trip going on. I didn’t play much but it was obviously exciting.”

The Wings were coached by Mike Babcock, who coached Filppula until the forward signed a free-agent contract with Tampa (whose general manager was Steve Yzerman at the time) in the summer of 2013.

Filppula credits Babcock with some key knowledge, which Filppula has carried throughout his career.

“You need to be good defensively,” Filppula said. “I had quite a few meetings about, ‘I can’t trust to keep you out there,’ and it took a while, but it made me a better player.”

Filppula went from the Wings to Tampa, then Philadelphia, and the New York Islanders, before re-signing with the Wings in July, as Yzerman brought back the veteran forward on a two-year contract worth $6 million ($3 million cap hit).

“It’s great that it happened that way,” said Filppula of returning to the organization that drafted him. “I didn’t really plan on coming back. I didn’t know if it was going to happen. I left on good terms, so this summer, when the opportunity was there to come back, I was really excited about it.”

Jeff Blashill was an assistant under Babcock during the 2011-12 season when Filppula was still in his first turn with the Wings.

“I was really impressed with so much about him back then,” Blashill said. “He’s a great pro, works extremely hard and has a really good skill set, probably an underrated skill set.

“In coming back (to Detroit), he’s done an excellent job of being a role model for our guys. It’s certainly important for anything in life, but in the situation we’re in, to have a great model for guys to look up to and see how they do it.

“He’s a very smart player and I’ve been able to pick his brain and get his opinion, and the players out there are doing it and he’s done it for a long time, getting to 1,000 games.”

Blashill says the 1,000-game milestone is especially meaningful these days, with competition for jobs so fierce and speed becoming such a necessary ingredient. 1173839 Detroit Red Wings

How to watch Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers: TV channel, start time, stream Jan. 31 2020

Jan 31, 2020

Lauren Williams

The Detroit Red Wings are back on the ice in an away and home series with the New York Rangers. The first night will take place in New York then the team will return to Detroit to host.

The Red Wings season hasn’t panned out the way that they expected. The team is 12-35-4 and are in last place in the NHL. They’ve allowed 199 goals this season and have scored a league-low 109.

Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin have been bright spots for the team with 36 points apiece. Bertuzzi has 17 goals this season, while Larkin has 13.

The Red Wings and the Rangers (23-21-4) will face off first on Friday, Jan. 31 at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m.

WATCH

Broadcast: Fox Sports Detroit Plus

Live Stream: FOXSportsGo | Hulu | YouTube TV

LISTEN

Red Wings Affiliates: Detroit (WXYT-97.1 FM/ 1270 AM); Ann Arbor (WTKA-1050 AM); Grand Rapids (WTKG-1230 AM); Kalamazoo (WQLR- 1660 AM); Saginaw (WSGW-790 AM)

Live Stream: TuneIn Radio

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173840 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings fall to Rangers 4-2 after extended break

ALLAN KREDA

Jan 31, 2020

NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists, and Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider each added a goal and an assist to help the New York Rangers return from an extended break and beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 Friday night.

Pavel Buchnevich also scored to start the Rangers’ three-goal second period, and rookie Igor Shesterkin stopped 23 shots. New York was off since a 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Jan. 21, getting time off for the All- Star break and subsequent bye week.

Robby Fabbri had a goal and an assist and Valtteri Filppula also scored in the third period for the Red Wings, who lost their seventh straight (0-6- 1). Detroit, playing for the first time since Jan. 22 for its extended break, has only 12 wins in 52 games.

Jimmy Howard finished with 35 saves for the Red Wings to fall to 0-15-2 over his last 17 games since his last win on Oct. 29. He is 2-20-2 on the season.

The teams meet again on Saturday night in Detroit.

After a scoreless first period in which Howard made 15 saves, Buchnevich broke through at 9:23 of the second, converting a slick cross- ice pass from Zibanejad for his ninth.

Kreider, who also had an assist on Buchnevich’s score, made it 2-0 at 11:56 tipping Adam Fox’s shot past Howard for his 18th. Kreider has three goals in his last four games while Zibanejad, who also had an assist on the second goal, has multi-point efforts in three of his last four games and five of his last eight contests.

Panarin increased the margin to 3-0 with his team-leading 27th goal at 19:18, his fifth goal in his last seven games. Panarin has points in 37 of the 48 games he has played this season, including 23 of the Rangers’ 24 wins.

Panarin missed the Rangers’ last game before the break and then last weekend’s All-Star Game in St. Louis with an upper-body injury. He leads the Rangers with 70 points, fifth-best in the league.

Zibanejad increased the lead to 4-0 with his 19th at 5:02 of the third.

Fabbri got the Red Wings on the scoreboard with his 12th at 5:59 of the third. Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin assisted on the goal for his 250th career point.

Filppula, playing his 999th career game, scored for Detroit at 10:59, his fourth of the season.

The 24-year-old Shesterkin was making his fourth start for the Rangers this month. He now has recorded wins in three as the Rangers improved to 6-2-0 in last eight home games.

NOTES: The Red Wings have been outscored 33-12 in their seven straight losses. ... The Rangers scratched F Micheal Haley and G Alexandar Georgiev. ... The Red Wings scratched D Mike Green, D Madison Bowey, and F Brendan Perlini. ... The Rangers won the teams’ previous meeting 5-1 on Nov. 6 at the Garden. ... The Rangers have scored at least three goals in nine of their last 13 games.

UP NEXT

Rangers: At Detroit on Saturday night.

Red Wings: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173841 Detroit Red Wings We’re drastically limiting the time frame here by using an advanced stat like expected goals (you can only find these stats back to 2007-08). But we might as well get more in-depth to see to how these Red Wings compare to some of their peers of the current era in this facet, which in How does this Red Wings season stack up with the worst in NHL history? broad terms attempts to measure the overall volume and quality of scoring opportunities teams create versus allow over the course of a

game at 5-on-5. It’s by no means a perfect stat, but it’s one of the best Max Bultman we’ve got right now.

Jan 31, 2020 So far, as measured by Natural Stat Trick, the Red Wings’ share of expected goals at 5-on-5 (xGF%) is actually not even the worst in the league this season. Their 45.84% mark is well above Winnipeg’s 42.74%, and only a couple points behind the Rangers (45.88%) for 29th. That is a As the Red Wings begin the final two months of their season Friday in sign the Red Wings may not be quite as bad as that last section might New York, history looms in the backdrop. Just not the kind anyone lead you to believe. Going further back, that’s fleshed out even more. involved wants to make. In 2018-19 alone there were three teams with worse xGF% than this If its current pace holds, Detroit would finish the season with 45 points, season’s Detroit team (including last year’s Red Wings, with a league- giving it the worst record of the salary cap era and putting it in the same worst 44.54%). You can find 12 worse ratios in the last five seasons breath as some of the worst-performing teams of recent memory. The alone, and nearly 30 since the stat began being tracked in 2007. So at worst Red Wings team of all time likely came prior to the cap era, when least by this metric, the Red Wings come out of things looking like the 1985-86 group finished with 40 points in 80 games (two fewer than they’ve been a tad snakebitten. 45.84% is certainly an ugly number, but this year’s team will play). That team gave up 415 goals, the second it’s not nearly bad enough to put them among the worst of the worst. most in league history, according to Hockey-Reference.com. Here’s a glimpse at how the above cap-era teams with similar goal It’s important to note, of course, that “worst” is a distinction best used differentials stack up by this metric: when speaking relative to era. Hockey players are faster and more skilled than ever, and so to some degree trying to do a comparative analysis of The 2014-15 Sabres had an astonishingly bad 39.26 mark, the worst teams from three or more decades ago is fundamentally flawed. So is the recorded. fact that some of the more useful advanced stats we now use to judge teams have only been around since 2007-08 (although, in this case, In 2013-14, Buffalo was at 42.25. some of the most notable teams are still within the advanced stats era). The 2016-17 Avalanche were right in line with these Red Wings at 45.70 And yet, with the Red Wings where they are in the standings, it’s And the 2014-15 Coyotes were at 47.24, well clear of the pack in this impossible not to at least wonder how they stack up with history’s other case, but did turn in an ugly 42.40 number in 2016-17. least successful teams on a baseline level. So, that’s exactly what we’ll attempt to do. So, there’s no historic shame at 5-on-5 for these Red Wings, at least when it comes to the underlying numbers. In fact, comparing their actual Goal differential GF% (35.71) to the expected (45.84) is an easy way to see that they’ve Let’s start with a pretty basic measure: how many goals history’s most likely been on the wrong end of a whole lot of bad 5-on-5 bounces. Even infamous teams gave up compared to how many they scored. It’s a bit that 2014-15 Sabres team with the worst xGF% of the era had a better rudimentary, and I’m not totally sure what, if any, effect leaguewide actual 5-on-5 GF% at 38.33. scoring trends would have on these comparisons (in a past era when By this metric, this Detroit team can breathe easy. scoring was higher, for example, should the goal differential be expected to be more extreme for particularly bad teams? Or still similar?). But with Special teams 31 games left, the Red Wings’ negative-90 goal differential is already putting them on a nightmarish trajectory either way. But 5-on-5 also isn’t everything, and the Red Wings’ special teams this season have, indeed, been a major source of their undoing. Their penalty Extrapolated out for an 82-game season, that’s about a negative-145 kill (73.3 percent success rate) is the worst in the league. Their power pace. Only 12 teams have ever finished a season worse than that. Here’s play (14.8 percent) is just a few decimal points from the same distinction. the bottom 20 all-time, per Hockey-Reference.com’s play index. See if you notice any trends. Historically, though, there have still been worse units on both ends of the ice. The league only has special teams stats dating back to 1977-78, but I don’t think I would have noticed it until Prashanth Iyer pointed it out to that still gives us more than four decades to work with. me, so in case you didn’t either: Only four of the teams that finished worse than negative-145 (the Nordiques, Golden Seals, Rangers and On the power-play side, there have been two teams (the 1997-98 1985-86 Red Wings) were beyond their first two years of existence when Lightning and original 2000-01 Minnesota Wild) to turn in seasons of less they were outscored to this level. That is not the kind of company you than 10 percent power-play effectiveness. After them, there are almost want to keep. 150 more teams until you get to these Red Wings. So the power play really doesn’t rate all that bad historically. And on top of that, most of these teams are from decades ago. The penalty kill, though, has fared quite a bit worse. The worst recorded So how about the worst goal differentials of the salary cap era (beginning kill percentage is 68.2 percent by the 1979-80 Los Angeles Kings. But in 2005-06)? the Red Wings aren’t that far behind. They’re currently operating with the 23rd-worst PK% since that stat has been kept, and the third-worst since via Hockey-Reference the year 1990. The 2018-19 Blackhawks (who successfully killed just Only five teams in that span finished a season with a worse goal 72.7 percent of their penalties) are the worst of the last 30 years. differential than the Red Wings have already accumulated, and it’s not And if you want an analytic take on this one, Detroit’s penalty kill is giving even February. If things go poorly this weekend, the Red Wings could up the second-most expected goals per 60 minutes (8.35) of any team very possibly pass the Sabres (and maybe even the Blues?) by this time since the stat has been tracked (beginning in 2007), according to next week. Evolving-Hockey. That 2018-19 Blackhawks team is a hair ahead at 8.37, Now, it is worth noting that the 13 empty-net goals the Red Wings have which suggests Detroit’s rough shorthanded results this season are much given up this season are already more than all of these teams’ full more than bad luck. And if you add a score and venue adjustment filter, seasons except for the Coyotes (14) and Avalanche (15), per these Red Wings grade as the worst of the era. morehockeystats.com. That does add to the differential without really Goaltending being indicative of actual quality of play. Last but not least, it’s worth looking at the goaltending. It’s naturally hard But it doesn’t even come close to explaining this goal differential. to separate goalies’ stats from the teams in front of them, but that can go Expected goals share (5-on-5) both directions. Just like a struggling team can fail to provide adequate defense for its goaltender, a struggling goalie can mean small mistakes end up in the net, magnifying stats like goal differential.

How exactly to parse the stat, then, is a fair question. So would be how to weight certain stats from other eras, when goaltending equipment was different and save percentages leaguewide were lower. So (partly because Evolving-Hockey is the only place I found with sortable team goalie stats that could isolate specific seasons over a multiyear period) we’re going to limit this criteria to find the lowest all-strengths, team save percentages since 2007, with no score or venue adjustments. (It’s the last column on the right below).

It won’t give a perfect historical context, but it’s the most complete look I know how to find altogether right now, and it stays consistent in the current era.

Source: Evolving-Hockey.com

Again, you can “chicken or egg?” this one all day to try and decide if it’s really measuring goaltending, or more a product of poor play all around. That historically bad expected goals against rate on the penalty kill, for example, is one piece of evidence that suggests Detroit’s goaltenders have been hung out to dry in key situations.

That said, based on Evolving-Hockey’s goals saved above expectation (score and venue adjusted): Jimmy Howard is last in the league at negative-21.36, Calvin Pickard is at negative-6.56 and Bernier is also in the red at negative-2.99 (though that actually puts him near the middle of the pack leaguewide). So it all factors into the broader stat in the end.

And no matter what the “true” source of the issue, no team wants to see itself anywhere near this grouping, let alone at the very bottom.

Conclusion

So: Are the Red Wings having one of the worst seasons in league history? At this point, it’s probably still a matter of personal opinion, and depends how you weight things like special-teams performance in the equation. And if you’re using more advanced stats, you can only really judge them against the last decade-plus.

By goal differential, certainly, these Red Wings are on pace for one of the most lopsided losing seasons ever. Digging deeper shows that problem can be traced in part to disastrous special teams (mainly the penalty kill), below-expectation goaltending and likely some brutal luck at 5-on-5. Which makes sense: A season like this almost has to involve some amount of bad breaks, in addition to poor play, to reach this point.

There’s also still time for those things to change, though. (And, considering Detroit is now 16 points behind 30th place, fans can actually hope for things to get better with little concern for the team’s lottery odds.)

But if the Red Wings continue to get the same results they’ve had through 51 games, you might have a hard time arguing this isn’t one of the three worst seasons of the salary cap era. At minimum.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173842 Edmonton Oilers the shelf with a broken hand. Nygard’s hand was not only split open, but x-rays found a fracture and he had surgery Friday afternoon.

“Not sure of an exact timeline yet on how long he’s out,” said Tippett. Draisaitl big weapon as Oilers knock off Cup champion Blues “He’s got a bit of history with concussion stuff and wasn’t feeling right the other day so we want to be careful. He’ll take a step back for a week or so.”

Jim Matheson GRASSROOTS NO-GO

February 1, 2020 1:02 AM MST Blues coach Craig Berube, who had his special day with the Stanley Cup in Calahoo in July, said he considered taking his players to his hometown

for a skate Thursday. If you thought the Edmonton Oilers would get their knuckles rapped “I thought about a practice there and asked the boys if they wanted to Friday night because they were playing the NHL’s reigning rulers, lo and go,” said Berube, who didn’t get a resounding yes. The rink would have behold, the St. Louis Blues left town red-handed. been big enough but it might have been a bit chilly.” Often there’s a trap game between two highly-charged games against a This ’n’ that: James Neal, who played through a broken toe earlier in the rival where you can get caught looking ahead, but Leon Draisaitl was a season, was a surprise scratch with what Oilers say is a foot injury. He’s horse with two goals and six shots and was plus-3 as the Oilers raised making the trip to Calgary but is iffy to play. He was limping around the the bar and knocked off the Stanley Cup champions 4-2 ahead of dressing room after the Calgary game. It was his first miss of the year … another battle with the rival Calgary Flames at the Saddledome looming Sam Gagner’s NHL-playing dad Dave, now an agent who represents Saturday night. Blues’ Jordan Kyrou, was at the game … Expect farm call-up winger “These are games where you learn an awful lot about your team,” said Tyler Benson to play in Calgary with fellow left-winger Jujhar Khaira Oilers coach Dave Tippett, who watched Josh Archibald put it away with (minus 2) maybe coming out. an empty-net shorthanded goal with two minutes left. “That’s a good, Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 deep team and I thought our guys met the challenge.”

He got it against the Blues, who have had the best record in hockey since Jan. 1 of last season (61-22-13), with Leon Draisaitl taking over the NHL scoring lead on his two goals to give him 79 points, two more than Connor McDavid.

There’s been no Cup hangover for the Blues, who have 70 points, but the Oilers were clearly better early, outshooting them 13-3 in the first. And while they bent, they didn’t break when St. Louis got it back to 2-2. In the end, Draisaitl proved too much for them.

“When Leon gets going, he plays a big man’s game. He got the two goals and they were well-earned, good shots,” said Tippett, who saw linemate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins get two assists and Kailer Yamamoto deftly set up Draisaitl for the winner two minutes after Robert Thomas tied it 2-2 in the third. “I thought our push-back was huge. It’s no secret that that team over there knows how to win hockey games and to have them tie it up and for us to come back, it’s a big confidence boost for sure.

“Great step in the right direction.”

The Oilers scored twice in 17 seconds before the game was six minutes old, with Draisaitl and Caleb Jones getting two on Edmonton’s first three shots. Draisaitl got the winner early in the third as he slipped past Justin Faulk and beat Jake Allen, both times on Allen’s catching glove.

Draisaitl, who got a point in 10 straight games, scored his first one Friday on a 25-footer past Allen’s mitt five and a half minutes into the first. Then on the next shift, Jones’s long shot hit Allen in traffic and dribbled behind him and over the line.

Draisaitl rushed to collect the puck thinking it was Jones’s first NHL goal but it was his second; his first was Dec. 29, 2018 against San Jose.

“I guess he forgot my first. It was a game where we got killed,” laughed Jones. “I was on the bench and Harry (assistant equipment manager Brad Harrison) was taping the puck when I told him I already had one. He threw it into the garbage.”

Ex-Oilers winger David Perron, who took a puck in the face in the last two seconds and was bleeding as he went to the dressing room, got his 23rd of the year with a terrific, no-look backhand from his knees in the middle frame. Then Robert Thomas, the second-year pro who might wind up as the Blues No. 2 centre if they ever move Brayden Schenn to the wing, slipped one past the Oilers goalie 132 seconds into the third.

Mikko Koskinen shut the door after that for his first win since New Year’s Eve against the Rangers.

“Yeah, this was only my second start of the month,” he said. “Sometimes you can be a little rusty because of that but I felt good from the start.”

ON THE SHELF

Nygard’s play in the dying seconds of the first period against Calgary, where he threw his body into the path of a 50-foot snapshot, showed how much he wants to contribute. But it’s cost the Swedish rookie weeks on 1173843 Edmonton Oilers “He’s really smart and he works hard. Last year, he lead our team in points, was a point per game, and this year, it’s the same thing. He’s earned it. I expect him to come up and hopefully make an impact right away. He’s a really talented player.” AHL pipeline finally starting to flow for Edmonton Oilers Edmonton’s Matt Benning, who just returned from a three-game conditioning stint in Bakersfield, had the most recent look at Benson and liked what he saw. He’s also trained with him in the summer for years Robert Tychkowski and can attest to the work ethic. February 1, 2020 1:04 AM MST “He’s a very smart player, crafty in tight areas,” Benning said. “He’s a guy that has good skill and a knack for scoring.

The Edmonton Oilers spent the better part of two decades trying to build “He’s an AHL all-star, and he’s leading the team in points for a reason. a pipeline of young draft picks who could step in one day and help the big He’s battled through injuries for most of his career. I’m happy for him.” team. Nobody is happier to see another one of their boys get a shot than the Problem was, almost every time one of those prospects came up through rest of the Bakersfield Six. the feeder system and got his shot in the NHL, he was in Edmonton just “Me, Bearsy, Russ, Yamo, Benny, Laggy, we were all playing in long enough to prove he wasn’t ready. Bakersfield last year, so it’s exciting when you come with a group of three But there seems to be a significant change in wind direction lately, as or four guys who’ve all been working hard and trying to get to the NHL,” player after player comes up from the and not only said Jones. “When you see other guys rewarded, it’s definitely exciting to sticks with the Oilers, but plays an important role. see.”

Ethan Bear plays top-four minutes on defence. Kailer Yamamoto plays Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 top-six minutes up front. Caleb Jones and Patrick Russell can step in at a moment’s notice and make solid NHL contributions.

And now Tyler Benson, who put up 104 points in 115 career American Hockey League games after being selected 32nd overall in 2016, is getting his chance to join the parade. The 21-year-old left winger, recalled this week, will draw in as early as Saturday night in Calgary.

“I’m anxious to see what Benson can do,” said head coach Dave Tippett. “He’s played just over 100 games in the American League and has been a good point producer down there. He’s earned the opportunity to come up.

“It’s an exciting time for him and I can say we’ve had some pretty good luck with some of our depth. It would be nice to see more guys jump up in that role.”

Being able to count on their development system to produce useful players is the result of many contributing factors, starting with the coaching staff in Bakersfield and ending with a new management philosophy in Edmonton that stresses patience.

“I give Jay Woodcroft a lot of credit down there, the guys who’ve come up have been ready to play,” Tippett said of the Condors head coach, who’s made a brilliant transition from Todd McLellan’s assistant to a head guy in the AHL.

“Jay and his staff down there have been doing a nice job. The players coming here are well schooled and they’re ready for the opportunity.

“Everybody is always anxious for young players to get here but that experience of playing in the American League is a valuable, valuable part of development.”

The young players are the first to admit it.

“I think the organization has been doing it the right way,” said Jones. “They’re letting guys stay down there and work on their games and not rush them up too quick and I think it’s paying off.

“(Yamamoto and Benson) both started the year there. I started the year down there. (William Lagesson) has been there for a bit. Ethan Bear played two full years. Russell has been there. It’s a process, but if you let players develop at their own pace, usually you get rewarded in the end.”

They can’t wait to see what Benson can do here. He was a can’t-miss kid growing up in Edmonton, until injuries pushed things off the tracks in junior, but he’s proven himself at the AHL level and now it’s time for the next step.

The call-up might have been bumped ahead a little after Joakim Nygard was lost to injury (the Oilers claim it’s a broken hand), but in reality Benson has been knocking on the door for weeks.

“He’s a really good offensive player, great vision,” said Jones. “He’s one of the better passers I’ve played with so far. Obviously some great ones here, but coming up, he’s one of the best passers I’ve seen. 1173844 Edmonton Oilers Special Teams Oilers: PP 29.6 percent (1st) PK 82.3 per cent (9th)

Blues: PP 25.2 percent (4th) PK 80.5 per cent (16th) Edmonton Oilers Game Day: Blues looking to collect dues Injuries

Oilers: Joakim Nygard Jim Matheson Coyotes- Vlad Tarasenko, Oskar Sundqvist, January 31, 2020 3:00 AM MST OILERS

James Neal • Connor McDavid • Zack Kassian. NHL Ryan Nugent • Hopkins-Leon Draisait • Kailer Yamamoto Game Day: Blues at Jets Jujhar Khaira • Riley Sheahan • Josh Archibald St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers Sam Gagner • Gaetan Haas • Alex Chiasson 7 p.m., SportsNet, 630 CHED Oscar Klefbom • Adam Larsson Career year for Perron Darnell Nurse • Ethan Bear Ex-Oilers player David Perron, whose NHL high is 70 points when he played in Vegas on the same team as current Oilers member James Kris Russell • Matt Benning Neal, has 52 points to lead the Blues. He got to the all-star game in St. Louis in a fan vote, the first time he’s played in the game. He’s very Mikko Koskinen dangerous on the power play with nine goals and has 25 points. His Mike Smith power-play points are fourth most in the league behind Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak. BLUES

Suffocating defence Jaden Schwartz • Brayden Schenn • Jordan Kyrou

The Blues, 9-3 in their last 12 visits to Edmonton, looked nice and loose Zach Sanford- • Ryan O’Reilly • David Perron in a 5-4 shootout win over Calgary on Tuesday night at the Saddleome, a game their coach, Craig Berube, didn’t like at all because it was too wide Alex Steen • Tyler Bozak • Robert Thomas open. Expect them to get back to what they do best, especially against Sammy Blais • Jacob de la Rose • Ivan Barbashev the Oilers, who only have two even-strength goals in their two losses to the Blues this season. Vince Dunn • Alex Pietrangelo

Defence match-up Jay Bouwmeester • Colton Parayko

The Blues usually have St. Albert’s Colton Parayko and Edmonton’s Jay Carl Gunnarsson • Justin Faulk. Bouwmeester on the ice against McDavid, and they’re the NHL’s best combination of size and skating ability as blue-line shutdown guys. Jordan Binnington Parayko is just back after an injury and Bouwmeester, at 36, is having Jake Allen another very good season. They don’t provide much offence, but they almost never take penalties doing what they do. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020

Bounce-back year

Jordan Binnington, who led the Blues to a Cup victory parade last spring, is their No. 1 but Jake Allen, after a couple of rough seasons, has beaten the Oilers twice and has better stats than Binnington, albeit in 18 games compared to 36. Allen has a 2.21 goals-against average and .926 save percentage and will get the start against Oilers for a third time. Expect him to go against Mikko Koskinen, who lost a 2-1 game to St. Louis in mid-December.

Keep the power play rolling

The Blues are 20th on the penalty kill on the road at just 77.9 per cent. The Oilers at home are second to Tampa (31 per cent) and have 25 goals in 24 games at Rogers Place. This might be something to exploit if they can get three or more power-play chances against St. Louis. James Neal (12), McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (10 each) are second and in a tie for fourth for most power-play goals on the season.

Big Matchup

Ryan O’Reilly vs. Connor McDavid

We say this every time the Blues meet the Oilers, but then O’Reilly usually draws the other team’s top gun centre, so he’s used to it. O’Reilly is arguably the most underrated player in the league, even after the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP last spring. He’s taken the most draws (1,117) in the league and is second to Vancouver’s Bo Horvat in face-off wins (631 to 628). His face-off percentage amongst guys with at least 1,000 draws is 56.2 per cent, third-best behind Horvat and Jonathan Toews. McDavid, who is tied with Leon Draisaitl atop the scoring race with 77 points apiece, has more speed than O’Reilly and with home-ice advantage Oilers coach Dave Tippett can play McDavid on other lines. But O’Reilly is a master at disturbing stars without getting many penalties. He’s always on the right side of the puck and not taking penalties. Plus, he has 44 points, 28 on even strength. 1173845 Edmonton Oilers “If he’d fall more, we’d probably get more power plays but that’s not who Connor is. He respects the game, plays the right way and isn’t diving around looking for power plays.”

Oilers call-up Yamamoto might not see Bakersfield ever again Tippett says Giordano was “sticking his hip out a bit because he was beat. I think cooler heads have prevailed today.”

BLOCKING SHOTS Jim Matheson Winger Joakim Nygard bravely dove in front of a Calgary blast with five January 31, 2020 3:00 AM MST seconds left in the first period Wednesday and took a ripper off his hand, which may have sliced open the skin and broke some bones.

He’s now on injured reserve and the Oilers have called up winger Tyler Leon Draisaitl says linemate Kailer Yamamoto is “a very good NHL Benson, Bakersfield’s leading scorer. Winger Patrick Russell and centre player,” which means the Edmonton Oilers call-up isn’t going to see the Gaetan Haas were the extras against the Flames but there’s room for a farm in Bakersfield again, if Draisaitl has a say. farmhand on the 23-man list. Nygard, who had a rib issue from mid- And coach Dave Tippett concurs that strong nights like Wednesday October to Nov. 12 and missed 13 games, only has nine points, but the against the Calgary Flames reinforce the idea the winger is fully trusted Oilers will sorely miss his speed. by the staff. This ’n’ that: Defenceman William Lagesson has been recalled because Yamamoto has seven points in nine Oilers games since he was recalled, Kris Russell is on injured reserve under concussion protocol … Tippett allowing Draisaitl to move to the No. 2 centre slot with Ryan Nugent- said Zack Kassian’s four-year deal reinforces what he brings to the table. Hopkins on the left side. “He’s able to play in the hard games and there’s still more upside on the offensive part. He’s been a good five-on-five player. Brings good passion Yamamoto, who scored his fourth goal in the loss to the Flames, looks to the game,” said the coach. It’s been suggested that Kassian’s $2.3 mil like the farthest thing from being a place-holder for somebody better or salary in Year 4 when he’ll be 33 will make him tradeable, but unless his older. He’s stayed relevant with Draisaitl, whose tied with Connor skating falls off, he’s going nowhere … McDavid’s old Erie Otters junior McDavid for the NHL scoring lead. general manager Sherry Bassin was around the rink Thursday … Sam Gagner, moving to centre on the fourth line, had a feisty competitive “He belongs in the NHL and a lot of nights he makes a difference,” said game against the Flames, showing his 827 NHL-game chops. Draisaitl. “It’s great to see that he stuck with it down there and worked on his game. Our line has been producing and generating chances and he’s Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 a big part of that. He’s made an impact.

“That’s what you want from young players coming up. You don’t want them sitting on the bench the whole game playing two or three minutes. That does no one any good.”

Tippett played Yamamoto more than 17 minutes against the Flames.

“Games like that one, you not only learn a lot about your team, but individuals. Who plays well in what situation?” said Tippett. “You play big minutes against the Flames and play them well. He looks like an NHL player to me.

“I’m sure he was champing at the bit (in Bakersfield) wanting to come up and he’s done a lot of good things, which allows a coach to trust a player.”

Yamamoto got his first chance on the three-on-three in overtime with Draisaitl, as Tippett broke up the Draisaitl-McDavid duo to put the captain with Nugent-Hopkins on another attacking unit.

“Our results haven’t been very good the last while so you’re looking for different results,” said Tippett of why he split up the co-NHL point-leaders in overtime. “Yamo has the skill-set to play three-on-three.”

Yamamoto loved the overtime.

“Crazy out there, lots of fun, playing with Leon,” he said. “I didn’t go in overtime much in the A (American Hockey League). I was out there against (Johnny) Gaudreau. He’s pretty shifty.”

SO, ABOUT GIORDANO

Much ado about … well depends who you talk to about Mark Giordano’s open-ice attempt to stop McDavid on a rush Wednesday.

McDavid was furious later as he stood on the Oilers bench, either yelling at the refs for the non-call for impeding him or at the Flames captain for what McDavid perceived as a bad hit. Post-game, McDavid didn’t want it becoming a media circus and wouldn’t go into detail about his feelings.

Draisaitl thought it was a knee by Giordano as he waded in Thursday, and if McDavid had gone down, there would have been a penalty. Tippett thought it was a Giordano hip, nothing nefarious, after he looked at the tape.

“(Penalty questions) just never stop, but the refs didn’t make the call. I thought it was clearly a knee. Connor probably gets to the puck but he gets kneed and who knows what happens after that?” said Draisaitl. “If Connor falls, it’s a penalty. People should recognize that he doesn’t fall easily and should respect that but there’s calls that go your way and the other way and you have to keep playing. 1173846 Edmonton Oilers “Anything can happen when it’s two teams like us going up against each other,” he said. “Monahan kind of gave me a crosscheck up high and I responded with a little slash of the back of the leg. Fortunately when I could see he wanted to go, I got my glove off quick and once we actually JONES: 'Knuckles Nuge' punching above his weight for Edmonton Oilers squared off, it ended up being all right. The best thing you can do in situations like that going against a huge guy is throw ‘em and try to catch

him off guard a little bit.” It was Monahan’s first career fight. January 31, 2020 3:00 AM MST Nugent-Hopkins counted it as his third.

“I wouldn’t say I’m 3-0 in my career, but I don’t think I’m 0-3 either,” he It was one of those games that was so hugely hyped, it figured to have said. “In my second year, in Vancouver, I fought Dan Hamhuis and a no chance to even come close to living up to it’s billing. couple of years ago against Chicago, I fought Vinnie Hinostroza, who is now with Arizona. But it did. Boy, did it ever. “I just fought once in junior. It was in Saskatoon. It was more that I kind of There were still a little more than three minutes left in the first period got jumped in that one.” when it became a second straight fully accredited, legitimate, certified, old-fashioned edition of the Battle of Alberta — arguably the best Nugent-Hopkins conceded he probably shouldn’t be throwing punches example of 1980s Oilers-Flames hockey in more than a couple of coming off his hand injury. decades. “Yeah, that probably wasn’t the smartest. In that situation I could have And with hundreds of fans in the sellout crowd dressed in turtle costumes had a broken hand and it still would have happened. You’re kind of mocking Matthew Tkachuk, the Calgary Flames forward crawled out of running on adrenaline. It happens fast and you have to react to it. But it his shell and gave Oilers’ Zack Kassian the fight the code said he was actually held up fine.” owed, and took a brief beating in the process. Kassian loved Nugent-Hopkins’ bout. That fight, won by the Oilers forward who just signed to a $3.2 million, “That was good,” he said. “You never want to see a guy like that fight too four-year extension, didn’t live up to the hype. It wasn’t even the best much. But he did a great job there. Obviously, Monahan wanted to go fight of the period. and Nuge kind of got on him quick and ended up giving it to him really It was preceded by the Burnaby Brawler, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, good. registering a unanimous decision over six-foot-two, 200-pound Sean ‘The “Nuge shouldn’t do it at all. Obviously, we’d like to keep him on the ice. Yawn’ Monahan. He did well tonight and I think he gave our team a boost.” Knuckles Nuge, who some might think of as more of a golfer, pole-vaulter But there goes the Lady Byng Trophy? or figure skater type than a middleweight pugilist, was really throwing them. He was kind of like Ralphie beating up on the bully, minus the “You don’t want to win that anyway,” said Kassian. cussing, in The Christmas Story. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020 To me, Nugent-Hopkins is one of the most underrated players in the game, a true 180-foot player who has willingly accepted a role as a second liner, often with unworthy line-mates, without complaint.

And some people don’t see past his choirboy looks to the hungry, competitive player that he is.

Indeed, you can make a case there’s no player on this team who wants it more.

Nugent-Hopkins, in his ninth NHL season, is the longest-serving member of this team. Wednesday was his 583rd regular season game with Edmonton since the Oilers drafted him first overall from the Red Deer Rebels.

He’s only played in 13 playoff games.

The Nuge is used to playing for a hockey team that is routinely already out of contention at this time of year, much less in the middle of a mad scramble with Vancouver, Calgary, Arizona and Vegas atop the Pacific Division.

To me, seeing Nugent-Hopkins win a fight over Monahan essentially shamed Tkachuk into allowing himself to get into it, if keeping it as brief as possible with Kassian, although the Oilers heavy hitter testified Tkachuk asked for the bout before the opening faceoff.

I mean this was Nuge, the Oilers centre who missed six games after being ineffective offensively for a couple of weeks with a hand injury. Without thought, he was risking re-injury by making it a fist and proceeding to pound poor out-matched Monahan.

He was also The Nuge, who defensively saved one off the goal-line, set- up a goal and came close to scoring on a couple of other occasions, which would have given him his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick — a goal, an assist and a fight.

The centre, with nine points in his last six games, was the best Oilers player on the ice.

Nugent-Hopkins didn’t come to Rogers Place expecting to become the main event of a Battle of Alberta card. But in a game like that, in an exceptional atmosphere like that, spit happens. 1173847 Edmonton Oilers I could see that go either way. I could see them not calling an assist there. I’m sure on a couple of Wayne’s eight-point nights he might have got something that might have gone another way, too. Sometimes you get points on that. Sometimes you don’t. It depends what building you’re ‘I got a text from Wayne Gretzky that I’ve still got saved’: 8 years later, in or the way the officials are feeling that night. I’m obviously happy that I Sam Gagner reflects on his 8-point night got that one.

I had three in the second (period) and one of them was kinda iffy, right? Then, in the third period, it really took off. Daniel Nugent-Bowman Gagner had three goals and two assists over the final 20 minutes alone. Jan 31, 2020 He was picking apart a Chicago team that was just two years removed from a Stanley Cup win but would fall for the fourth straight time as part of an eventual nine-game losing streak. It was eight years ago Sunday that Sam Gagner joined an exclusive club — and he’s still the last member to gain entry. They had an off night that night. They were going on a Vegas trip right after that (after the following night’s game in Calgary). I don’t think they Gagner, then in his first tour of duty with the Oilers, became the 13th were too worried about checking. It worked out for me. I got to take player in NHL history class — and the 16th ever — to record at least advantage of it. eight points in a game. He was in on all eight goals (four goals and four assists) as Edmonton beat Chicago 8-4 on Feb. 2, 2012. People talk about being in the zone or whatever; I couldn’t have felt more in the zone. There was a play where Hallsy was skating up the ice and The closest anyone’s come since was when current teammate Connor normally I’d be hurrying to get up and catch him. I just kinda sauntered McDavid notched six points in a 6-2 victory over Colorado last up the ice. Him and Ebs made a couple plays, hit me on the back side November. Although Gagner’s signature performance came on a night and then I made a play to get another point. When you’re in the zone like with the same four-goal margin, the circumstances couldn’t have been that, you don’t overthink it. You just play. more different. It was just one of those nights where everything was going my way. I just The Oilers and Blackhawks were tied 3-3 heading into the third period; remember how effortless everything felt. There’s times when you’re going Edmonton led 5-4 with 14 minutes left in regulation before Gagner along and things feel really hard and you’re battling everything. It takes a capped off his hat trick at 6:25. Goals were still in demand, so the red-hot lot of hard work to be successful in this league. And then there’s a night Gagner kept going over the boards. like that where I feel like I didn’t even need to try to accomplish anything. I let the game come to me. Conversely, the Oilers were up four goals heading into the final frame against the Avalanche. On a night when it looked like McDavid couldn’t Gagner’s seventh point was a tap-in after being set up by Eberle with be stopped, coach Dave Tippett only played him 4:14 in over the final 40 5:29 left in regulation. That got his imagination going. minutes and no goals were scored the rest of the game. Once I got to seven, I felt like, “Whoa. Something special’s going on “I was fortunate in a lot of ways that night,” Gagner said. “I got some here.” Then I got to eight. I was told it (tied) an Oiler record. Everyone bounces. And then the fact that the game was close as well, it doesn’t knows about Darryl Sittler’s 10-point record. When you’re in the moment, feel like you’re showboating or anything. I kept getting put out there. you’re thinking, “Why not? Let’s go after it.” I had a couple chances that didn’t go in that game, too. You keep trying to push forward. “If you look at Connor’s six-point night this year, we were up 6-2. And he doesn’t play as much. Once I got to seven, we were up 7-4, but guys I was thinking on the bench; my dad (ex-NHLer Dave Gagner) talked to were still giving me their shifts — trying to give me their shifts. I felt like I me a lot about Wayne Gretzky growing up and how he never set limits could have gone forever.” and he just kept going. You look and when he broke the all-time points record. They stopped the game to do a little ceremony for him and he It’s a night Gagner says he could talk about forever, too. And so he did scored again (in overtime). He doesn’t stop, right? That was my mindset with The Athletic ahead of the eight-year anniversary of his eight-point throughout that game. Why not keep pushing and see where it could end night. up? This is what Gagner had to say about what sparked his offensive Gagner would run out of time to add to his total. He was named all three outburst, his postgame celebrations and conversations, what caused his stars of the game before the celebrations and congratulations from well- luck to run out and about joining Wayne Gretzky (twice) and Paul Coffey wishers began. in Oilers and NHL lore. It was pretty special. I mean, Hallsy and Ebs each had four points that Drafted sixth overall by the Oilers in 2007, Gagner had been a staple with game, too, so they could have been second and third. I still talk to Hallsy the team ever since. But the 2011-12 season wasn’t going well for him. about it every once in a while. We train together in the summer. He had 22 points in 43 games heading into the Chicago game. I had a beer with (dressing room attendant) Joey Moss in the lounge. It I’d had a tough year up until that point. I started the year injured and was took a little while to do media and think about what just happened and playing through some pain. You’re just hoping for one of those nights then I had a beer with Joey. I got a call from my parents. I wouldn’t be where things go your way and gets ya playing like you know you can. where I am today without them and the support they give. That was a Nuge (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) was hurt before that (game), and I was pretty cool moment to sit in the lounge, talking to my parents and having playing with Ebs (Jordan Eberle) and Philippe Cornet. We had a bad first a beer with Joe. period, so (coach) Tom Renney switched it up and gave me a chance I got a text from Wayne Gretzky that I’ve still got saved. I screenshotted with Hallsy (Taylor Hall) and Ebs. It took off in the second period. it. He said something like, “Congratulations. Welcome to the club.” He The first one was a long stretch pass to Hallsy. He got caught, but he signed off – 99. I wasn’t sure. I was like, “Is this actually him?” It just said made something out of nothing. Sometimes when something like that – 99. I was like, “That’s really cool if it is him.” I had to ask around, but it goes in, any offensive guy will tell ya, the more touches you get — if was actually his number. you’re able to get a point early — it just kinda gets you into the game. It He comes around (now), so I’ve talked to him about it since. Paul Coffey allows you to just make plays. Once that happened, we just kinda settled lives in Toronto, so I’ve seen him, too, and we’ve talked about it. He in. We got a couple bounces, a couple cheesy ones. called me after the fact, a couple days later. That was pretty cool. With Hall scoring at 2:22 of the second, Gagner tied the score with a Those are two of the best players of all-time at their respective positions. wraparound five minutes later. Defenceman Ryan Whitney gave the Any time you can be mentioned in the same breath as them, it’s a huge Oilers their first lead on a power play at 12:23. Gagner was credited with honour — even if it is just for one night. an assist even though, after gaining the blue line, Blackhawk Niklas Hjalmarsson knocked the puck off his stick and David Bolland’s clearing I didn’t sleep for a while. I have a hard enough time sleeping after games attempt went to Whitney. as it is. That one, I was just staring at the ceiling the whole time just going through everything in my head. With the matchup against Detroit upcoming, Gagner couldn’t rest on his laurels for long — nor did he intend to.

We had a game in two days. You’re trying to focus on parking it and keeping your confidence and going to try and do it again, right?

I had three points in the first period. I was like, “Am I gonna do this again?” Henrik Zetterberg came up to me after the first period and said, “Slow down.” And I slowed down. I wasn’t trying to slow down.

I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a guy you idolize for the career he’s had. For him to come up and acknowledge what was happening was cool. He laughed about it. That’s a special moment for me. Those are the ones you remember when it’s all said and done.

Buoyed by his eight-point outing — and 11 points in two games — Gagner finished the season with a career-high 18 goals in 75 games. His 47 points were two shy of his previous best.

I was having a tough year up until that point. You just wanna try to keep it going after a night like that, right? I had a good little stretch there. It turned my season around. It helped a lot.

The support you get from your teammates on a night like that and the people that reach out, those are the special things. It’s all about the relationships you build as you go along. It was a fun night, something I’ll remember forever.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173848 Florida Panthers points), that suggests they are willing to lose at least one of them in the offseason. Which is OK.

This is a team in playoff contention, and both players bring something Will the Florida Panthers trade Hoffman or Dadonov? 5 questions as the important to the mix. Dance with who brought you, yadda yadda yadda. final stretch kicks off Unless the Panthers are adding something that significantly improves the team and has to use one of them to get it, trading either in the midst of a playoff race is going to be a mighty hard sell to both fans and the players George Richards in the room.

Jan 31, 2020 Hoffman said Thursday he understands the business of the game, but even as the deadline closes in, he says he is just focusing on his play.

“The deadline is there. Everyone knows it is there, and it would be hard CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The Florida Panthers came out of their 10-day to say it is not in your mind a little bit,” Hoffman said. sabbatical looking tan, rested and ready to get back at it. “We do everything we can to help this team win each night, and those When we last left them in Chicago, Florida had wrapped up a three-game other things will take care of themselves. It is not always up to you what road trip with wins against the Red Wings, Wild and Blackhawks as they happens, but if you do your part on the ice, everything should work itself went into the extended All-Star break riding a season-high six-game out.” winning streak. 2. What will Tallon be shopping for at the deadline? The Panthers hold third place in the Atlantic Division and appear to be playing their best hockey of the season. Aside from winning its past six, Barring injuries, the Panthers like the team they have. Are there some Florida has won 13 of 17 since Dec. 16. holes in their game? Sure. Could the Panthers address them at the deadline? Maybe. With their respite over, with the trips to Mexico and the islands complete, the Panthers jump right back into things Saturday night in Montreal as But for Florida to do anything, some money is going to have to be moved they kick off the unofficial second half of the season with the final three around. games of what is technically a six-game road trip. Right now, the Panthers would be over the salary cap but are getting Florida opens against divisional foes Montreal, Toronto and playoff some relief with defenseman MacKenzie Weegar being on long-term contender Columbus, and the Panthers know they cannot get off to a injury reserve. Weegar appears to be ready to come back, so that slow start. presents another problem.

“We want to recapture the way we went into the break,” coach Joel Goalie Chris Driedger could be headed to LTIR as well due to a groin Quenneville said after the team’s first practice Thursday afternoon. injury (Quenneville said Thursday he is “still a long ways away … it’s going to take time”), but his cap hit of $850,000 would still put Florida “We are coming off a real good start to this road trip and let’s continue on right against the ceiling. knowing the teams we’re going to be playing are ready, they have been in some important games and we can’t wait to catch up in games.” In a perfect world, the Panthers would be looking for some defensive help (who isn’t?) and perhaps another bottom-six forward. Florida has 33 games remaining in the regular season between now and April 4. That is 33 games in 64 days — the sprint to the finish line (and, With Noel Acciari finding a new home up on the second line, the perhaps, the playoffs) is here. Panthers may have to address the bottom six from within. Jayce Hawryluk and Denis Malgin have been scratched quite a bit and could “We have to take it one day at a time, and it started (Thursday) with a factor back in unless one is moved to create cap space. good practice and we will have another one tomorrow,” said goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who is expected to start Florida’s first two games in Panthers defenseman Anton Stralman handles the puck during a Montreal and Toronto. January game against the Maple Leafs. (Douglas DeFelice / USA Today)

“You build it as it comes, and we have some big games coming up. 3. Can the Panthers cut down on their goals against? These first three games are so important and you go from there. Things are tighter now, there is some excitement and it is fun to play these Are the Panthers really a free-wheeling, high-flying team that gives up games.” goals at a frenzied pace? As they come out of the break, they remain in the bottom third in goals against at 3.27 per game. Nonetheless, as the final two-plus months of the season approach, there are still some questions surrounding the Panthers. Of those teams in the bottom third, Toronto (which is tied with Florida in points) is the only other one that’s close to a playoff spot. The trade deadline is Feb. 24, and general manager Dale Tallon has always added when his team is competing for a spot in the postseason. Quenneville said that while his team is scoring at a high clip, it could find And this year — despite being up against the salary cap — should be no some trouble if it tries to simply outscore its opponent every night. different. It will be interesting to see what he and his front office can do. “We are definitely improving the consistency game in, game out when it Here are some of the topics we will be following down the homestretch: comes to defensive-zone coverage, and playing without the puck has more of a purpose behind it,” Quenneville said. 1. Will the Panthers trade Mike Hoffman or Evgenii Dadonov at the trade deadline? “We are not playing up-and-down, getting into a track meet. That’s not winning hockey. Our guys have shown improvement in that area, and Florida has a number of players who will be unrestricted free agents at that has been reflected in our recent stretch.” the end of this season, and Hoffman and Dadonov are the biggest names among a group that also includes Mark Pysyk and Brian Boyle. The Panthers have worked hard on cleaning things up in the defensive zone, but there is still work to do. Both Hoffman and Dadonov play important roles with the Panthers, so unless Tallon is using one of them to bring in a piece he feels will be Even during this six-game winning streak, Florida has given up an important to the team moving forward (like a defenseman), I don’t think average of 2.8 goals per game. The Panthers are not surrendering a lot either player moves at the deadline. And certainly not for future of odd-man rushes, which is a positive, but tightening up in front of their considerations. goaltender is a must moving forward.

The prevailing thought is that Florida, with its salary cap situation and They know this. what both players will command financially, cannot afford to sign both to “Defense is, really, just hard work,” defenseman Anton Stralman said. extensions. But, the Panthers should be able to keep one of them. “You can talk about structure and personnel, but it is really the If the Panthers keep both players at the deadline (Dadonov leads the commitment to work hard and have a complete buy-in, and that’s what team in goals with 23 and Hoffman is tied for fourth on the team with 40 we need. “This team, in the past, has a reputation for giving up a lot of goals, and I don’t know if that has been because the attention was not given to playing defense as much. There have been a lot of bad habits and things we are working through. We’re getting there. You can see, when our defensive game is on, we’re a different team. If we’re hard to score on, we’re going to be hard to beat. Because we can score some goals. That’s the nature of this team.”

4. Can the Panthers keep up this scoring pace?

Although Florida may not want to get into a “track meet,” as Quenneville said, the numbers show they have had some success with that approach in the first 49 games.

The Panthers entered Thursday leading the league in goals per game at 3.67 and are a plus-20 in goal differential (ranked sixth among playoff contenders in the East).

Individually, the Panthers have seven players with 14 goals or more, which is more than any other team in the NHL. Washington and Vancouver each have six players with 14 goals or more, while Colorado, Vegas and Winnipeg have five each.

Florida also has four players with 40-plus points (plus Keith Yandle at 39), which is tied for third-highest in the league. Tampa Bay and St. Louis each have five, while Toronto, Vancouver, Washington and Winnipeg also have four.

Two players (Jonathan Huberdeau and Sasha Barkov) are in the top 13 in scoring, and Florida has five within the league’s top 61.

Yeah, the Panthers have some serious offensive talent. Things tend to tighten up at this time of the season, however.

“I think we can keep the offense going, but whether it stays at No. 1 or not, that is up in the air,” Hoffman said. “We win hockey games by scoring, and that is what we have been doing. I hope this keeps up.”

5. Are the Panthers a playoff team?

The Panthers have not held a playoff spot at the All-Star break since they last tasted the postseason in 2016.

They should be a team that returns this spring.

Florida will have a number of tests moving forward — starting with these three road games coming out of the break — and only play 15 of its final 33 games on home ice. The Panthers have a couple of big road trips coming up, including a five-game trip out West and a four-game trip to Canada and Boston in late March.

Yet looking at the numbers, the Panthers sit in a pretty nice spot. With 33 games remaining and 61 points to its credit, Florida needs 36 points to hit the magic mark of 97, which should be enough to earn a spot in the playoffs.

To get to 97, the Panthers basically need to win 18 of those final 33 games — which is more than doable. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173849 Los Angeles Kings

Kings look to follow Alex Iafallo’s lead vs. Ducks

After his first career hat trick in Thursday's win in Arizona, left wing looks to stay hot tonight at Staples Center

ANDREW KNOLL

January 31, 2020 at 11:35 am

The Kings halted a five-game skid, finished strong and got a career game from one of their top players in Arizona on Thursday.

Now, they look to keep it rolling against their rivals from just down the 5 Freeway when they host the Ducks on Saturday at Staples Center.

Left wing Alex Iafallo scored all three goals in a 3-2 victory over the Coyotes, getting on the board first with a one-timer, earning a power-play goal with 2:56 to play to send the game into overtime, then scoring the winner right off the hop in OT.

Iafallo had nine points in 10 January games. He had a nine-game point streak between Dec. 21 and Jan. 9, and Thursday was his first career hat trick.

“His game speaks for itself. He was all over the puck. He was sharp when he shot it,” Kings coach Todd McLellan told reporters. “He’s played well all year, but particularly since Christmas.”

The Kings finished strong as a whole, completing their second successful third-period comeback of the season. They nearly doubled their shot total from the first 40 minutes in the final 20.

For Iafallo’s part, he skated on a line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown as usual, though the Kings shortened their bench and scrambled lines a bit as a bit of malaise set in during the second stanza.

Per the NHL, Iafallo’s goal was historic on a franchise and league level. He was the fourth King to complete a hat trick in overtime, joining Michal Handzus, Bryan Smolinski and Marcel Dionne. He was also the third player to score two overtime goals in the first 25 seconds of an overtime period in a single season, a feat previously accomplished by Columbus defenseman Seth Jones and Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry.

The Kings have won two of their past 10 games and the Ducks have won four of their past 10. For the Ducks, it will be the second half of a back-to- back set, with the front end being a meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday at Honda Center.

Anaheim sits two points ahead of the Kings, who remain in last place in the Pacific Division and the West.

The Ducks, much like the Kings, have some solid organizational depth but are led at the top level by a thinning group of veterans. They bought out right wing Corey Perry this past summer and the future of center Ryan Kesler seems increasingly nebulous.

Center Ryan Getzlaf leads the Ducks with 22 assists and 33 points in 48 games. Center Adam Henrique tops the team in goals with 17.

Goalie John Gibson has performed admirably under heavy fire. He ranks fourth in saves and shots faced, having played at least three fewer games than the three goalies in front of him.

Ducks at Kings

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Staples Center

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West/iHeartRadio

Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173850 Los Angeles Kings

WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: JANUARY 31

JON ROSEN

JANUARY 31, 2020

The LA Kings, night-to-night, are largely consistent. Their pace has improved, they attack and push play and out-generate their opponents with varying looks that prove difficult to capitalize on and aren’t sustained by overflowing skill or creativity. But night-to-night, minus a few periods here or there against the Panthers or Flyers or the Coyotes in their last visit to Gila River Arena, their detail and work ethic and ability to grasp concepts and apply them in game situations has been a positive. It was something Todd McLellan referenced before the game, using the two games against the Lightning as examples. “They ate us alive in Tampa in entries, on rushes, finding the fourth man, poor gap and we improved immensely in that area. We worked a lot on it,” he said. Los Angeles out- shot Arizona but didn’t out-chance them in a remarkably even game in which the Kings, as is tradition, owned the zone time and the Coyotes owned the rush chances and produced some whip-fast skill plays around the net that Jack Campbell fought off. Campbell and three-goal man Alex Iafallo starred for an L.A. team that gritted one out against a stingy opponent in a performance that wasn’t quite as suppressive as the Tampa game but again relied on a good start and added third period adjustments that bookended the successful comeback.

Speaking of consistency, hey, Alex Iafallo recorded his first career hat trick and has a high baseline from which his game has recently grown. With nine goals, 15 points and a plus-four rating over an 15-game stretch in which Los Angeles has won only four times and has been outscored 33-18 in five-on-five play, his ascendance is representative of the overall importance and success of his line, which relies on his diverse manifestation of unheralded hustle and puck retrieval independent of how many points he generates. For the second straight game they made their mark up and down the ice and generated more attempts and looks than their opponents despite starts that aligned slightly towards their own end. But Iafallo hasn’t cooled off at all since his nine-game point streak and is a positive player who helps his team in all situations. “A player that I was aware of but didn’t appreciate from the outside looking in,” McLellan said before the game. “When you stand on the bench or you’re on the ice with him day-after-day you get to understand that he’s got a great hockey mind, he thinks the game well, he positions himself well, he’s got a skill set that complements it. There’s very few nights when you come away wishing that you got more from Alex. He’s been a real solid contributor and one of our more consistent players in all situations, and that’s all a teammate can ask and a coach can ask for.”

Interesting juncture for the Coyotes, who exit a disappointing January clinging to a Wild Card berth with the most games played in the NHL. Independent of any narrative or broader picture, last night’s loss was their seventh straight on the second night of a back-to-back set as they fell to 1-5-2 in their last eight overall. It’s an important year for a group that added and Taylor Hall, spent to the cap and extended John Chayka. There’s a solid blue line and a competitive, up-tempo identity in front of a goaltending corps that when healthy has been among the best in the league. Save percentage is highly impacted by the overall team game, but this rough stretch does correlate largely with the injury to Darcy Kuemper on December 19 at a point when Arizona led the league in 5×5 save percentage. Since his injury, they’ve ranked 17th. That Oliver Ekman-Larsson left last night’s game is an ominous sign for a team that has been hit hard by injury in recent seasons and would like to transfer its many organizational strides into a playoff berth. They’re at the juncture where it’s time to step up and seize a playoff berth.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173851 Minnesota Wild

Pastrnak and Boston take on Minnesota

Staff Writer

FEBRUARY 1, 2020 — 2:25AM

BOTTOM LINE: David Pastrnak leads Boston into a matchup against Minnesota. He ranks third in the league with 72 points, scoring 37 goals and recording 35 assists.

The Wild are 14-6-4 on their home ice. Minnesota is eighth in the NHL shooting 10.5% and averaging 3.1 goals on 29.5 shots per game.

The Bruins are 13-8-3 on the road. Boston has scored 44 power-play goals, converting on 26% of chances.

In their last meeting on Nov. 23, Boston won 5-4. Patrice Bergeron recorded a team-high 4 points for the Bruins.

TOP PERFORMERS: Zach Parise leads the Wild with 19 goals and has totaled 32 points. Ryan Suter has recorded seven assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

Brad Marchand leads the Bruins with 45 total assists and has collected 66 points. Pastrnak has totaled seven goals and five assists over the last 10 games for Boston.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 6-3-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.7 assists, 4.3 penalties and 11.1 penalty minutes while allowing 2.7 goals per game with a .911 save percentage.

Wild: 4-5-1, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.5 penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game with a .893 save percentage.

INJURIES: Wild: None listed.

Bruins: None listed.

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173852 Minnesota Wild have to start stringing some wins together, especially the games with teams that are right above us.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2020 Wild needs a sense of urgency in season restart

The Wild resumes play after an eight-day break with a long climb to earn a wild-card spot.

Sarah McLellan

FEBRUARY 1, 2020 — 12:31AM

Mats Zuccarello relaxed in Mexico.

Same with Jason Zucker, who pretty much didn’t use his cellphone unless he was snapping pictures of his kids swimming.

“It’s nice just to wake up and not have anywhere to be and spend some time with the family,” he said.

Ryan Hartman also shifted his focus elsewhere, catching only a snippet of the end of one hockey game on his cellphone.

“I was worried about what we had the next day, and that was either the pool or the beach,” said Hartman, whose souvenir from his Mexican getaway was a sunburned nose.

Wild players took full advantage of the NHL All-Star break and subsequent bye week, using the eight-day hiatus to unplug from hockey and recharge by letting their attention drift to the sunshine, golf and their families.

But when the group returns to action Saturday at home against Boston, players don’t anticipate having any trouble recapturing the urgency of a playoff race in which the Wild is trailing.

“I hope it’s not tough for any of them to get back into it,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I hope they’re hungry.”

The Wild embarked on the break five points shy of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. That gap grew to six points Friday night, hours after the team reconvened for practice Friday afernoon at — a busy, battle-heavy, hour-plus session that wrapped with snow shavings flying as players skated back and forth over center ice.

“I wanted to get them used to the physical part of the game again,” Boudreau said.

The Wild also returns from break with one more team it has to jump to get to a playoff spot.

Two victories by Nashville catapulted the Predators past the Wild, putting four teams ahead instead of three for that last invite. But all the teams directly above the Wild, except for the Predators, have played more games, an opportunity for the Wild to move closer if the team takes care of its own business.

“It’s all up to us,” Hartman said. “We’ve got to do our job, and that’s winning hockey games. If we’re winning hockey games, it’s all going to sort itself out.”

Although its 32-game trek to the finish line starts with an Eastern Conference foe in the Bruins, the Wild’s ensuing schedule is heavy with division rivals and West opponents.

And that slate also could help the Wild rediscover the intensity of the season after a lengthy layoff, especially considering teams’ fates can be decided during this part of the calendar.

The Wild’s fate was decided down the stretch last season; with 55 points, the group sat third in the Central Division going into the 2019 break. But when it resumed playing, the team fell out of contention after dropping four in a row and sputtering 1-6-3 after returning.

This year, though, the Wild isn’t trying to protect a berth.

It’s trying to grab one.

“I actually think that’s a good side to be on because it gives us that urgency to push and not just hold on and know that we’re in a spot and win a game here and there,” Zucker said. “We’ve got to catch up. We 1173853 Minnesota Wild

Gameday preview: Wild vs. Boston

Sarah McLellan

JANUARY 31, 2020 — 9:28PM

7 p.m. vs. Boston • FSN, FM-100.3

Bruins escaped in OT last time

Preview: The Wild is back in action after an eight-day break, resuming a seven-game homestand against the Bruins. Boston returned from its bye week Friday, taking on the Jets in Winnipeg. Before the schedule paused, the Wild won three out of four games. In those victories, the team outscored the opposition 14-4.

Players to WATCH: Bruins RW David Pastrnak had 24 points in 18 games leading up to the break. G Jaroslav Halak has a .923 save percentage in 13 career games vs. the Wild. … Wild LW Zach Parise has six points during a five-game point streak. Over his past 19 games, C Eric Staal scored nine goals and recorded 17 points.

Numbers: C Mikko Koivu is two assists shy of 500 for his career. The Wild has scored three or more goals in a period 15 times this season. … The Bruins rallied 5-4 in overtime vs. the Wild on Nov. 23 in Boston after two goals in 48 seconds by C David Krejci forced extra time. Before playing the Jets, the Bruins were 2-2-1 in their past five games.

Injuries: Bruins Ds Kevan Miller (knee) and Connor Clifton (upper body) are out.

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Minnesota Wild Week: Coming back after a long layoff

JANUARY 31, 2020 — 8:24PM

Staff Writer

Bye-week observations: Wild players might have taken a break from hockey during the recent shutdown, but coach Bruce Boudreau didn’t. He has been watching action around the league since the NHL restarted Monday, and what he’s noticed is a sloppiness in the games where teams are coming off their layoffs. Boudreau relayed that observation to the players Friday when the team regrouped at Xcel Energy Center before its first game back Saturday, a message that also highlighted puck management and passing.

Wild, wild West: When the Wild reunited Friday, only 10 points separated 11 of the 15 teams in the Western Conference. The Blues have a comfy cushion as the leaders of the West, but it’s tough to say anyone has a firm hold on the remaining seven playoff seeds. “I just think every team can beat every team in the West on certain nights,” Boudreau said. “Obviously, St. Louis is well ahead of the pack. But I look at every other team in the West, they’ve been beaten by the last-place teams in the West and vice versa. To me, it’s being able to do it on a consistent basis, and the team that does it on a consistent basis like St. Louis is going to be successful.”

Milestones WATCH: Keep an eye on LW Zach Parise. Not only is he four games shy of 1,000 for his career, but he needs just one goal to record 20 for the fifth time with the Wild — which would tie him with Marian Gaborik for the most seasons scoring 20 or more goals in team history. Parise is also two assists away from 400.

SHOOTOUT GOAL

Make it memorable: The NHL continued to tinker with the All-Star Game this year, and it will be interesting to see what tweaks it makes for the next rendition in Florida. But what went down last weekend in St. Louis could certainly serve as a blueprint. Integrating stars from the past with ties to the Blues such as Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull (above) and Al MacInnis was a neat sight. Kudos to the league for continuing to showcase elite women players, and the new challenge that had players trying to hit targets from the stands was certainly entertaining. If this event is to remain a break from the competition and stakes of the regular season, focusing on what makes the game and its players unique is important.

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173855 Minnesota Wild “Marcus has gone his own road in a lot of ways,” Nick said, “and I’m proud of him for that.”

But after Buffalo selected him in the fourth round in 2009, Foligno began Marcus Foligno plays physical but he also can score, kill penalties and be to showcase offensive talents. nice off the ice “You could see everything come together for him,” Nick said. “Then, man, Marcus Foligno plays physical on the ice, but is Mr. Nice Guy off of it he just took off.”

Time to change

Sarah McLellan After scoring 23 goals in his final junior season in Sudbury, Foligno racked up another 16 in his first pro season in the American Hockey FEBRUARY 1, 2020 — 12:15AM League.

But when he joined the Sabres full-time in 2013, his production waned. He would max out around 20 points every season with a team struggling He wore slippers rather than skates. to rebuild. Gone was his Wild jersey, getting swapped out for a sweater and jeans. Foligno got a fresh start in 2017 when he and Tyler Ennis were traded to And he wasn’t focused on pasting an opposing player into the boards. the Wild in exchange for Marco Scandella and Jason Pominville, and then he got a four-year, $11.5 million contract, which came with an Instead, Marcus Foligno concentrated on teatime with his 21-month-old epiphany. daughter Olivia during a snowy afternoon at their Edina home, serving from a pink teapot that lit up while it sang. “You can’t just be a fourth liner, fighter anymore,” he said. “You can’t. This league is just changing so much, and you have to be able to pass, “You gotta blow on it. It’s hot,” Foligno instructed urgently, as if they were shoot, score and create offense as much as you’re being good about to sip real tea, but Olivia already had tipped the cup. defensively.”

She watched as he blew over his matching mug and they clanked cups. Foligno was a top-nine forward with the Sabres, but coach Bruce Boudreau ended up using Foligno on the fourth line. He used his first Wild winger Marcus Foligno shared a cup of ‘tea’ with his daughter, Wild season to familiarize himself with the team. Olivia, at home. He said having her “gives you more purpose in life.” “Bruce has his guys at the time,” Foligno said. “You gotta respect that.” “Cheers,” Foligno said. By Year 2, a spot on the penalty kill gave Foligno more responsibility, In his third season with the Wild after being acquired in a trade from and he flourished amid the opportunity, morphing into one of the Wild’s Buffalo, Foligno is a fascinating enigma. most reliable options. The 6-3, 225-pound winger with a team-high 137 hits is also Mr. Nice And as he prepared for this season, Foligno eyed the next step of his Guy, an easygoing softy who spends downtime with wife, Natascia, evolution: offense. watching Olivia bounce on a miniature trampoline. “For a few years, Nick was the guy pushing Marcus,” said Mike, who also The son of former NHLer Mike Foligno and brother of Columbus captain played for Buffalo and scored 355 goals in the NHL. “Then this year, this Nick Foligno, the 28-year-old left winger isn’t the same player as his summer before training camp, [Nick] mentioned how Marcus was the guy offensive-minded kin. He grinds in the bottom-six forward group, but he’s that was pushing him. He’s found his next level, and it’s really showing not a prototypical third liner that used to populate the game as a one- now.” dimensional checker. Foligno is a new-age version that offers a little bit of everything because he can score, defend, hit and fight. Hitting his stride

And by boasting a diverse skill set, Foligno has discovered the best and Although Foligno started the season on the fourth line, his well-rounded most enjoyable hockey of his career. play eventually earned him a promotion.

“I’m having fun,” he said. “It’s nice to be rewarded for hard work, and I Since then, he’s been one of the Wild’s most consistent catalysts; for the feel like this season I’m getting rewarded.” season, he has nine goals and 11 assists and is on pace for career highs in both. The makings of Moose “He’s finally realized how to put it all together,” Nick said. From childhood, Foligno was suited to toil in the trenches. Husky as a kid, he kept growing, getting taller than his brother, Nick, despite being But Foligno’s impact has been broader; his line with Luke Kunin and Joel four years younger. Growing quickly, he was uncoordinated, breaking Eriksson Ek supplies goals, defends the opponent’s best and kills both of his ankles playing basketball and his nose in flag football. penalties.

His family dubbed him “Moose.” “He just works so hard all the time, just does the right things on the ice,” Kunin said of Foligno, who hasn’t neglected his bread and butter. “He looked like a baby moose trying to figure out how to walk and move,” Nick said. “He’s one of the best hitters in the league,” Nick said. “I always admire that. I don’t know how he lines guys up so well, but he’s been doing that But while Nick idolized the skilled and savvy Peter Forsberg, Marcus’ since he was young.” favorite player was Claude Lemieux, one of the NHL’s most notorious pests. “When he hits you,” Mike said, “it feels like a Mack truck has hit you.”

In minor hockey, Foligno became hooked on hitting when he saw the But Foligno doesn’t just hit for the team. reaction it stirred. “I’m not the quickest out there, but I think me being physical slows down “Just hearing the roar of the fans from being more physical than other the game for my liking,” Foligno said. “It actually helps my game out players was something that always got me excited,” Foligno said. because defenses don’t like to go back for the puck when they know I’m on the ice.” Mike Foligno played more than 1,000 NHL games before becoming a coach, and Nick was on his way to becoming a first rounder just like their Still, there’s an art to it. dad. “If my feet are moving, I’m getting myself in those really good positions to “We were always around it, and I fell in love with it,” said Marcus, who hit guys along the boards,” he said. “I’m not running out of my way. … was born in Buffalo before settling in Sudbury, Ontario. He also was When my game’s really good, the hits are almost coming to me.” drafted, but mostly because he had size and strength, and he embraced a heavier brand of hockey. Fierce and friendly Another factor is at work here, and it makes perfect sense and none whatsoever at the same time.

Foligno is a disciple of the fiercest faction of the sport because of his friendly personality. He is determined to help the group, even if that means he must administer punishment and absorb some himself.

“Everybody likes him,” Boudreau said.

Not a fan of staged fighting, Foligno will drop the gloves if he feels he’s standing up for a teammate or eliciting justice for a dirty play. He thrives on the heat of the moment — except when it comes to trash talking.

“I have a tough time coming up with something right on the spot,” he said.

But he is chatty with his teammates, and can remind everyone of what’s at stake. In that sense, he’s become a leader, a role that’s spilled over into being a stand-up guy for the media.

Foligno learned this from his dad, who was also an NHL assistant and head coach in the minors and juniors.

“He was always the heart and soul of the locker room, the type of guy who would do anything for his teammates,” said Foligno, the youngest of four children. “I saw that and being around for his speeches as a coach, he knew how to amp the guys up. He knew how to rally a team, and he was a motivator.”

He’s a reflection of his mom, Janis, too.

She died in 2009 after battling cancer, leaving a legacy Foligno still upholds.

“You don’t give up,” he said. “She never gave up, so I feel like that’s been my motto, too.”

Playing with a purpose

Back in Olivia’s toy room, Foligno and his daughter wore identical smiles after they finished teatime.

“He’s a big kid himself,” Natascia said, “so he loves to play with her.”

After squirming out of Foligno’s lap, Olivia homed in on a stuffed animal of the Wild’s mascot. She calls him, “Nordy, boom, boom,” mimicking the sound of the drum Nordy pounds at games.

“I think she’s the cutest girl in the world,” Foligno said, “and when you look at her, you don’t really think about the game. You don’t really think about the problems and the stress that you have.”

Foligno can’t completely forget his work life when he’s at home, not when Olivia is already telling him to “shoot the puck, Daddy.”

But being a dad and a hockey player aren’t mutually exclusive, even if both demand different sides of him.

“You are not worried about yourself anymore,” Foligno said. “You’re worried about Olivia now, and that’s the biggest thing that you look forward to. It gives you more purpose in life. Although I love life, when you have someone else to share it with and someone else to provide for, it gives you more purpose.

“You’re motivated to do your best every day.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173856 Minnesota Wild

Wild return from break ready to make final push for playoffs

DAVE CAMPBELL

JANUARY 31, 2020 — 5:30PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild were playing at the beginning of the season like they were destined for the draft lottery, with the possibility of a high first-round pick hovering as a tantalizing prize for a franchise long mired in the middle of the pack in need of a jump.

The Wild, though, have proven time and again they're too good to tank. With three wins in their last four games before the All-Star break and subsequent bye week, they made sure they'll at least be in the thick of the chase for spots in the playoffs during the final nine weeks of the regular season.

"I think they're going to put a push on. We have been pretty resilient, if we take away the first seven games of the year. We seem to play, other than Pittsburgh, pretty good against the good teams," said coach Bruce Boudreau, recalling the 7-3 loss on Jan. 14 and the 7-4 defeat on Oct. 12 to the Penguins.

The Wild, who resume play on Saturday night against Boston for their first action in 10 days, have recovered well from their 1-6 start. Though they're in 12th place in the Western Conference, they began the day on Friday five points out of a playoff spot with games in hand on most of the teams in front of them. The problem is Nashville, Winnipeg and Chicago are ahead of them, too, in the crowd of teams on the cusp of the wild card spots.

"I actually think that's a good side to be on, because it gives us that urgency to push and not just hold on," left wing Jason Zucker said after practice on Friday.

The good news for Minnesota is only defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis has separated from the pack, with catching Colorado or Dallas for a top-three finish in the Central Division still an attainable feat. That's going to require the kind of hot streak that has been in short supply for the Wild this season, though. They went 9-1-3 over a 13-game stretch from Nov. 14-Dec. 14.

Last year, when the Wild's streak of six straight appearances in the playoffs ended, they were in third place in the Central Division during their break. They were in control of a postseason spot until mid-March and wound up 11th in the Western Conference.

"Every team has to create their own story," captain Mikko Koivu said. "I think for us the mentality is that we can't worry about other teams or look the scores and how every team is doing. It's all about us right now, and we have to get that confidence back up again."

Blurring the outlook a bit is the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 24, but first- year general manager is unlikely to make any major changes if the Wild are still in contention then. Their current collection of long-term contracts and no-trade clauses are also prohibitive of a potential tear- down.

Zucker had two goals and two assists over the last three games before the break, getting his rhythm back after a broken right leg cost him 10 games and beginning to forge some chemistry with new second-line teammates Victor Rask and Kevin Fiala.

"If we're healthy, I'm liking a lot of the fits right now. The idea, though, is for us to win we need 19 guys. We don't have Connor McDavid if 17 guys aren't going, and that's taking nothing away from our players. I love it when we have everybody playing and everybody contributing," Boudreau said.

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173857 Minnesota Wild In the past, they have been in playoff position during the home stretch, needing to hold on while other teams try to catch them. That’s not at all the case this time around.

Wild return from lengthy break with playoff push in mind “This is a little bit different as far as our sense of urgency,” Zucker said. “We have to jump these teams. That’s a good side to be on because it gives us that sense of urgency to push and not just hold on and know that we’re in a spot and win a game here and there. We have to catch up. DANE MIZUTANI We have to start stringing some wins together.” January 31, 2020 at 6:00 PM Pioneer Press LOADED: 02.01.2020

Never mind the fact the Wild are currently sitting dead last in the NHL’s Central Division with 32 games left in their 82-game schedule.

As far as players in the locker room are concerned, everything they want to accomplish is right there in front of them.

Similar to the message coach Bruce Boudreau preached heading into the lengthy break, the Wild feel like they are going to make a push to at least make things interesting over the final nine weeks of the regular season.

“Every team has to create their own story,” Wild captain Mikko Koivu said. “We can’t worry about other teams or look at the scores and how every team is doing. It’s all about us right now, and we have to get that confidence back up again, and then we’ll start building on it and climb up. Just starting to find it. That’s all we can worry about right now.”

To say the Wild needed to “find it” after a week and a half off is putting it lightly.

According to speedy winger Jason Zucker, the team’s first practice back Friday went about as poorly as humanly possible.

“It felt terrible,” Zucker said. “It felt like I hadn’t touched a puck in a couple of years.That’s the way it goes. That’s the way the first practice is. You’ve got grind through it and push. It was good to get out there and skate and get that puck feel back a little bit.”

That said, the time away was probably a good thing for the Wild in the long run, especially as they prepare to go full bore toward the finish line.

“I think it makes a big difference,” Zucker said. “I think it renews the sense of urgency and the overall love for the game.”

That will be huge as the Wild try to chase down the final playoff spot in the gridlocked Western Conference.

As of Friday afternoon, the Vegas Golden Knights (57 points) are positioned as the final team in; the Wild (52) are nipping at their heels with a couple of games in hand. The teams in between in the standings include Central Division foes like the (55 points), Winnipeg Jets (54) and Chicago Blackhawks (54).

“It comes down to us,” veteran winger Zach Parise said. “We have a few games in hand on teams. It comes down to us winning those games and trying to avoid, as best we can, the standings watching. Just worry about ourselves.”

While the strength of schedule won’t do the Wild any favors the rest of the way — a game against the Atlantic division-leading Boston Bruins (70 points) awaits on Saturday night — there are enough home games coming up for them to go on a realistic run.

For that to happen, some players need to step up.

As much as veterans like Parise, Eric Staal and Ryan Suter have held their own this season, potential breakout candidates like Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway and Ryan Donato have not.

“For us to win, we need all 19 guys going,” Boudreau said. “We don’t have someone like Connor McDavid if 17 guys aren’t going, and that’s taking nothing away from our players.”

There’s also the pressure of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

As much as the Wild want to go down swinging, general manager Bill Guerin could pull the plug and shift into sell mode if he starts to feel like this season is a lost cause.

That makes the next couple of weeks extremely critical for the Wild to prove this season is working fighting for.

That said, the Wild might have something working in their favor. 1173858 Minnesota Wild year, next year, and X-amount of years later that he’s trying to build toward.”

Whatever Guerin is thinking, he isn’t showing his hand yet. In a pre-bye The telltale stretch begins: Wild return to the ice and the churning rumor interview with our Michael Russo, Guerin was understandably light on mill specifics, saying he has been getting his share of phone calls and asserting he didn’t plan to “fire-sale everything.”

“Look, if we’re close to a playoff spot,” Guerin told Russo, “I think the Jessi Pierce players have earned the right to see it through. But that might also mean just holding where we are or that might be trying to improve by making a Jan 31, 2020 few moves. I’m going to try to do what’s best for the team in order to make us better. It might be nothing. It might be something. But the one thing that the guys have proven is that they can put together long Craig Leipold took a seat in the stands Friday at Xcel Energy Center stretches of really good hockey.” checking in on the Minnesota Wild’s first practice following a nine-day mandated league break. The team owner didn’t sit inconspicuously, Can the next 11 games be one of those good stretches of hockey? It’s a positioned at the end of the rink chatting and laughing with radio tough slate, even if eight are at home — the Wild play the first-place broadcast analyst Tom Reid with peeks toward the ice. Bruins on Saturday in their return from the bye, face each of the top three teams in the Central, have the Pacific-leading Canucks twice and see While not ominous, his presence still served as a reminder that the NHL two other playoff teams (Vegas and Edmonton) in the next 23 days. trade deadline looms just 24 days away. As does the possibility of another team shakeup as the organization looks to get back into the As we wait to see what happens between now and the Feb. 24 deadline, 2019-20 playoff race. Zucker points out that Guerin has already had a lot longer than 11 games to plan for how he wants to improve the team. “(Trades are something that) we have no control over,” Jason Zucker told The Athletic. “We can’t worry about it. There’s no reason to lose sleep, “(Our evaluations) started at training camp,” Zucker said. “That’s where it no reason to do that, just play hockey and the rest will fall where it falls.” started for him, trying to get to know us as players, and I think it’s been a 50-game audition, so I don’t think the next (11 games) are going to make At nearly this exact time last season the Wild had positioned themselves as much of a difference. I think it makes a difference where the team’s at for a playoff push, sitting third in the Central Division at 26-21-3 with 55 as far as wins and losses, but individually I think he has a pretty good points. They returned from that bye week, dropped four straight (0-2-2) idea of what he wants to do right now.” and went 1-6-3 in their first 10. Back to work Everyone knows how the rest of the story goes. The team was dismantled. First with Nino Niederreiter (Jan. 17), followed by Charlie Players were met Friday with a more than one-hour-long all-out practice Coyle (Feb. 20) and Mikael Granlund (Feb. 25). Their six-year playoff that ended with neutral zone sprints as they returned from tropical streak ended, and they cut ties with their first-year general manager, Paul vacations and hockey escapes. Fenton — though largely for other reasons than the on-ice moves. Zach Parise was in Florida. Zucker and a very sunburnt Ryan Hartman This year’s team, 50 games in, is only three points worse than last year’s traveled separately to Mexico. team at the same point but is seated dead last in the division. Four teams Boudreau kept in line with his hockey-centric lifestyle, monitoring teams and eight points separate the Wild from the third spot in the Central, and that returned from the break earlier in the week and making note of four teams and five points sit between them and the second wild-card. struggles he wants his squad to avoid when they host the Boston Bruins They’re on pace for just 85 points, and only once in the seven-year on Saturday. history of the current playoff format has a team made it with fewer than 90 — the 2015-16 Minnesota Wild. BACK IN ACTION.#MNWILD PIC.TWITTER.COM/BAFUJTXAUB

Though the Wild entered the break with wins in three of four, that uphill — MINNESOTA WILD (@MNWILD) JANUARY 31, 2020 climb ahead still begs the question: What will general manager Bill Guerin do? “I hope it’s not tough for any of them to get back into it,” Boudreau said. “I hope they’re hungry. I look at it, and when we left for the break, we were Wild coach Bruce Boudreau spent the bye seeing all our wonderful five points out of a playoff spot. I looked today, and we’re five points out theories about that and chalks the trade speculation up to a slow news of a playoff spot. That’s pretty promising, to me, because the other teams week. have played games. So it’s just up to us to win.”

“Listen, people are out there, reporters, media and sometimes on a nine- Lines looked to be the same as before the break: day break, they’ve got nothing to do. So what do they do? They make up, ‘Hey, wouldn’t this be a good trade?’ Because I don’t think too many Zach Parise — Eric Staal — Mats Zuccarello people were phoning Matt Dumba on the beach in the Cayman Islands or Jason Zucker — Victor Rask — Kevin Fiala wherever he was to ask him what he was thinking. When time’s on your hands, like I do the same thing, ‘Geez. this guy would go, what a good Marcus Foligno — Joel Eriksson Ek — Luke Kunin trade, this would go here, here and here.’ But I don’t put it on Twitter or social media.” Jordan Greenway — Mikko Koivu — Ryan Hartman

“I DON’T THINK IT’S TOUGH TO GET BACK INTO IT. I HOPE THEY Ryan Suter — Jared Spurgeon ARE HUNGRY.” -BRUCE BOUDREAU Jonas Brodin — Matt Dumba

BREAK IS OVER AND THE #MNWILD TAKES ON BOSTON Carson Soucy — Greg Pateryn TOMORROW AT HOME! HEAR MORE FROM THE TEAM AFTER PRACTICE TODAY.#MNWILD PIC.TWITTER.COM/CAR4NYH0FK Nick Seeler, Ryan Donato, Brad Hunt all rotated in accordingly.

— MINNESOTA WILD (@MNWILD) FEBRUARY 1, 2020 The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020

Zucker — who had more than one reported deal to send him out of Minnesota fall through last season — is once again hearing his name heavily floated atop the trade rumor circles.

“For me, it’s something that I have no control over, just like everyone else in this room,” Zucker said. “I have control over the 10-team (no-trade) list that I’ve put in at the beginning of the year, and that’s it, that’s all I can worry about. As far as the rest of the deadline goes and trades, it’s part of the game, it’s the way it works. Bill’s going to do what he thinks is best for this team and the organization moving forward. That includes this 1173859 Montreal Canadiens Women deserve more help The NHL provided women’s hockey with a showcase during the all-star

weekend with top players from Canada and the United States Hickey on hockey: Julien hints at riding Price until all hope is lost participating in their own 3-on-3 showdown. It was a welcome gesture, but what the women need is continuing support and a relationship similar "We want to make a push for it ... and, for the time being, you have to to that of the NBA and the WNBA. (use) the best lineup possible," Claude Julien said Thursday. Since the collapse of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, the top players have been participating in the Dream Gap Tour under the aegis of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association. There are PAT HICKEY events this month in Toronto and Philadelphia, and the Arizona Coyotes January 31, 2020 have announced a series of women’s games next month in Tempe.

Montreal is home to some of the top players in the world in Marie Philip Poulin, Mélodie Daoust, Lauriane Rougeau and Ann-Renée Desbiens, Be prepared to see a lot of for as long as the Canadiens but attempt to stage an event here have been unsuccessful. Apparently, have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs. the women have been unable to find an arena to accommodate a three- day event, but it seems there might be some open dates at the Bell While head coach Claude Julien hasn’t addressed his choice of Centre in April. goaltenders for the weekend matinees Saturday against Florida (2 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) and Sunday Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 against Columbus (2 p.m., SNE, SNO, SN1, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM), he tipped his hand when he explained his decision to sit Jesperi Kotkaniemi for Thursday’s game in Buffalo.

“We want to make a push for it, to see if we can get back into it and, for the time being, you have to (use) the best lineup possible,” Julien said after the 3-1 win over the Sabres.

The best lineup possible has Price in goal and that means we’re looking at a repeat of last season, when the Super Bowl weekend was the start of a run that saw Price appear in 27 of 28 games. He didn’t get a break until the Canadiens were eliminated from playoff contention and Charlie Lindgren played the final game of the season.

The Canadiens had hoped to ease Price’s workload this season so he would be fresh for the playoffs. But there won’t be any playoffs if the Canadiens don’t go on an extended win streak and Price — who has already played 41 of 52 games — could easily surpass the 66 games he played last season.

As for Kotkaniemi, there will be a lot of fans who will be disappointed in the decision and see it as the team’s lack of commitment to his development or a sign Julien doesn’t like young players.

But, as Julien pointed out, the priority is to make a playoff push and Kotkaniemi’s development is on hold because he hasn’t been contributing to that push. He has struggled with injures, has shown no improvement in the faceoff circle and he has one goal and no assists in his last 12 games. At a time when Julien is asking his players to tighten up on defence, this is an area of the game where Kotkaniemi has to be better. But remember: He’s only 19 years old and he is experiencing a minor setback.

And any suggestion Julien isn’t comfortable with young players is countered by the increased responsibility and ice time he has doled out to Nick Suzuki and Ryan Poehling.

NHL ruling hurts fans

Imagine you’re a hockey fan who appreciates Alex Ovechkin’s skill at putting the puck in the net. When the NHL schedule came out last summer, you noticed Ovechkin’s lone appearance in Montreal would be on Jan. 27 and you forked out $600 so you and your two sons could attend the game.

What you didn’t realize until a few days before the game was Ovechkin wouldn’t be playing because he decided to skip the All-Star Game.

In an effort to ensure participation in its weekend of shinny, the NHL has decreed anyone skipping the game must sit out the first regular-season game coming out of the break.

In Ovechkin’s case, that meant Monday in Montreal, where his activity was limited to eating a couple of hotdogs in the media dining room and shooting some baskets while his teammates were dressing after their 4-2 victory over the Canadiens.

I can understand the NHL wanting to protect its brand, but the big losers were the fans in Montreal who were deprived of a chance to see one of the game’s superstars. If the NHL wants to make a point, it should consider forcing Ovechkin to sit for a game in Washington, where the fans have 41 opportunities to watch him. 1173860 Montreal Canadiens Kotkaniemi hasn’t looked good this season. He hasn’t looked good since fall 2018, and maybe fellow Finn Saku Koivu was right when he said KK should’ve spent some more time playing in Finland before coming to the NHL. But with the Habs, it’s always about PR spin first and foremost, What the Puck: Scratching Kotkaniemi shows Canadiens are bungling about selling the dream to the unwashed masses to ensure they keep reset buying overpriced tickets.

There are two explanations for the Jersperi Kotkaniemi mess – either the The team added Kotkaniemi in fall 2018 because it allowed the Canadiens picked the wrong guy or the team has mucked-up his Canadiens to present a feel-good story, underlining Bergevin’s much- development. touted plan to build on youth. It’s clear the kid wasn’t ready. And on a winter night in Buffalo a year-and-a-half later, the coach made it clear it’s

not about resetting and youth. It’s about trying to get into the playoffs to BRENDAN KELLY keep the fans from revolting and storming the palace.

January 31, 2020 And if it ruins Kotkaniemi’s career in the process, well that’s just too bad. And how’s that youth movement looking? The team demoted Fleury to Laval on Friday, Poehling’s getting little ice time and has one goal and no assists in 25 games, Victor Mete was the least-used defenceman There are two explanations for the mess that is the Jesperi Kotkaniemi Thursday, and Kotkaniemi has six goals and eight points in 36 games situation and neither explanation makes Habs management look this season. particularly smart. The one youngster who looks to be on track is Nick Suzuki. Funny that, One possibility is Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin and his eh? He’s the only one of the kids not drafted by Timmins and the Habs. drafting guru, Trevor Timmins, made the wrong pick in 2018 when they Makes you think. went with Kotkaniemi as their first pick (No. 3 overall) in the NHL Entry Draft. Perhaps they should’ve instead snapped up Brady Tkachuk, who Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 went No. 4 overall, and is positively rocking it with the Ottawa Senators? Or Quinn Hughes, the No. 7 overall selection that year by Vancouver, who is looking mighty fine on the Canucks’ blue line and is considered a front-runner for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year.

The other possibility is Kotkaniemi was the right player to snap up with the No. 3 pick and the problem is the Canadiens have mucked up his development the way they’ve mucked up so many other young players’ development in recent years.

Both are entirely plausible explanations and, in fact, the real answer might well be Kotkaniemi’s predicament is due to a combination of both things — that the Habs drafted badly and developed badly, just like they’ve so often done in the Bergevin-Timmins era.

With so many young players that haven’t panned out in recent years — a list that includes Alex Galchenyuk, Nathan Beaulieu, Michael McCarron, Jarred Tinordi and so many more — the question is always whether they were bad picks or were simply developed poorly by Habs.

On Thursday, head coach Claude Julien scratched the 19-year-old Finn from the Canadiens’ lineup for a meaningless game against the Buffalo Sabres. The game was meaningless because neither team is going to make the playoffs. It was also an absolutely abysmal hockey game, a preview of what we’ll be seeing between now and early April. It was the first time Kotkaniemi was a healthy scratch this season.

Here’s how Julien explained the benching in his post-game news conference:

“We’re focused on winning,” Julien said. “We’re trying to get back into the race (for the playoffs) and we’re going to give everything. So you go with your best players. It’s not that Kotkaniemi is not a good player. It’s that he’s having trouble. His injuries have really slowed him down this season. We talk about the sophomore jinx. He’s had two injuries. He really hasn’t found his momentum yet. … It’s not a matter of hurting the development of a player. You have to make decisions for what you want to do as a team. So tonight I put out the best lineup I could for this game.”

Here’s the thing: Habs management actually has to decide — are they doing their famous “reset” or are they trying to do everything possible to make the playoffs? Because you can’t do both. If it’s a reset, then the focus must be on developing the young players and you do not, under any circumstances, bench Kotkaniemi to give ice time to a bunch of older spare-part players like Nick Cousins, Dale Weise and Nate Thompson. What message does that send to a player who, when he was drafted, was billed as the great hope at centre that the CH has been seeking for 20 years?

But Julien let the cat out of the bag in Buffalo. He said it loud and clear. They’re on a push to make the playoffs and he’s making that a priority over the development of Kotkaniemi, Ryan Poehling and Cale Fleury. It is mathematically possible they’ll make the playoffs, but they’d have to win roughly 70 per cent of their remaining games to do that. In other words, it’ll take a miracle. 1173861 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens send defenceman Cale Fleury down to AHL's Laval Rocket

Rookie had been a healthy scratch for the last four games and had one goal and no assists in 41 games with Habs this season.

STU COWAN

January 31, 2020

The Canadiens announced Friday that rookie defenceman Cale Fleury has been sent down to the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

In 41 games this season, Fleury had one goal, no assists and was minus-4 while averaging 14:21 of ice time. The 21-year-old ranked fourth on the Canadiens in hits with 102, trailing Jeff Petry (133), Ben Chiarot (114) and Artturi Lehkonen (105).

Fleury was made a healthy scratch for the fourth straight game Thursday night in Buffalo when the Canadiens beat the Sabres 3-1. Nineteen-year- old centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi was also a healthy scratch in Buffalo.

When coach Claude Julien was asked about Fleury’s situation after practice Wednesday in Brossard, he said: “It’s a numbers game, but also he’s a young player. He’s a big hitter, but there’s a lot of parts of his game he’s struggled with lately. So, you know, sometimes taking a step back’s not a bad thing. We go game-by-game with a guy like him.”

The Canadiens selected Fleury in the third round (87th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. Last season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder played 60 games with the Rocket, posting 9-14-23 totals and was minus-16. The Rocket plays the Belleville Senators at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Laval’s Place Bell. The two teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Place Bell.

The Canadiens had the day off Friday before playing their annual back- to-back Super Bowl weekend matinee games at the Bell Centre against the Florida Panthers on Saturday (2 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday (2 p.m., SN1, SNE, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173862 Montreal Canadiens “Every opportunity has to be earned,” he said. “It can’t be handed out, it can’t be given, because otherwise you’re going to take it for granted and you’re not going to make the most of it.”

With their playoff clock running down, the Canadiens buy a few more As long as the Canadiens continue to believe there is time on the clock, seconds in Buffalo that’s the principle that must prevail. Rookie defenceman Cale Fleury has seen more and more mistakes creep into his game in recent weeks; he sat out his fourth straight game against Buffalo. Considering this, Julien’s decision to scratch Kotkaniemi was not only defensible, it was an obvious Sean Gordon one for him to make. The Finnish teenager has one point in his last 12 Jan 31, 2020 games and was, well, pretty crummy against Washington on Monday. There may soon be a time when Julien starts thinking about coaching for next year, and for the future. That time is not this week.

BUFFALO — At this point, it’s probably best to picture the NHL wild card Basically, Julien is all in on winning now, this minute. He decided the standings not as a column of team names and numbers but as a steep, lineup with the best chance of beating Buffalo, who was fresh off a muddy hill. humiliating loss to Ottawa, didn’t include the third overall pick from 2018. It’s an eyebrow-raising conclusion. As it happens, events proved him Or maybe as a treacherous glacier, whatever, let your imagination run right. But he’s also evidently aware of the reaction to his decision, and wild. here’s what he said after the game. The point is catching up to those ahead is a hard, mean, dispiriting slog; “Every question about (Kotkaniemi) is coming with a different vibe, at the and there are people on all sides and behind who are willing and more end of the day KK is a good player and will be a good player, he’s going than capable of pulling you off it by the hair. through some tough times,” he said. “This whole season, from the So how do you keep focused on the ascent? injuries he’s had, it just hasn’t allowed him to pick up his game. When I say he’s struggling, he’s just not on top of his game right now. We want Bloody-mindedness helps. So does concentrating only the moment at to make a push here, we want to do our best to see if we can’t get back hand. And sometimes there are mantras. into (the playoff race), and for the time being you’ve got to put out the In the Buffalo Sabres’ capacious dressing room (yes, there is a stuffed best lineup possible. He’s 19 years old, he’s got a heck of a future ahead bison head in there) it’s ‘keep the picture small.’ of him, he’ll only get better. But right now you’ve got to balance the decision of playing a guy because you want to develop him, but at the There will be nights, however, when the temptation is strong to forget the same time you can’t keep playing a guy who’s really struggling, it’s not picture and just smash the frame. Perhaps with the vigour Jack Eichel helping his confidence and it’s not helping our team right now.” displayed in obliterating his stick at the end of a 3-1 loss to Montreal in a game both teams absolutely had to have. There’s a lot to unpack there, but the subtext is clear: the Canadiens still think they can string together an improbable run, and there’s a standard 3-1 ENG. EICHEL FRUSTRATED. #SABRES50 #GOHABSGO to be met for that to happen. PIC.TWITTER.COM/PLHK8BLZVC The Canadiens were nowhere near reaching in the early going on — BUFFALO HOCKEY MOMENTS (@SABRESPLAYS) JANUARY 31, Thursday, they had only one shot attempt through the opening 11 2020 minutes of the game. But then they woke up, partly because Julien shuffled his lines to put Ilya Kovalchuk out with 20-year-old Nick Suzuki On Thursday night, the Canadiens were able to kick the Sabres a little and Joel Armia. Suzuki, in particular, had himself a bit of a night. In the further down the metaphorical hill, and even scrambled their way up it a last nine minutes of the first period, the Canadiens directed 21 attempts few meters. at net, eight of them finding the target. They also ramped up the intensity They were 10 points out of the second wild card going into the game, on the defensive side of the equation, limiting the Sabres to just 10 shots now they’re eight back of Carolina, which has two games in hand, and in the final two frames. eight in arrears to the Panthers, who have played three fewer times. “Toward the end of the first we had a good shift, everybody had a good Their odds of making the playoffs remain largely theoretical at about 1.5 couple of shifts, that’s when we got back into the game,” said Phillip percent. Danault, who was happy to regain his regular linemate Brendan Claude Julien understands the math, which is why he said before the Gallagher and it showed both on the ice and in the room afterward. game that “time is running out.” It already has, frankly, but the Canadiens Somewhat more relevantly, the comeback win over the Sabres also stubbornly continue to believe, there is hope and they’re going to cling to served as a refresher on how to approach a must-win game and come it, dammit. out the other side with a couple of points. And in Danault’s mind, at least, Given the way pro athletes are wired, what choice do they have? it showed a few green shoots of growth.

Anyway, that belief has tangible manifestations. One of them was the “Despite the two eight-game losing streaks, I think we’ve learned a lot of decision to leave a certain 19-year-old centre off the lineup sheet on things this year. Like, tonight we were fighting hard, and it’s what we Thursday. have to do every night, find that battling identity. There’s no reason for us not to,” he said. “I thought we had that figured out at the beginning of Judging from the replies to the official Canadiens Twitter account when the year, but then you take a couple of steps back. The important thing the lineup in Buffalo was broadcast to the world, scratching Jesperi now is to bring that into every game. It shouldn’t be complicated, Kotkaniemi wasn’t a universally popular move. honestly, to be that determined all the time.”

By which I mean it was greeted with incandescent, volcanic rage and Montreal will need to end the season at a .718 clip to make the playoffs; demands that Julien be fired forthwith, immediately, now. they have only 18 points to lose between now and April. That’s a dark and scary portrait, so the Canadiens are confining their gaze to only one There is a sizable segment of the fan base that quite correctly believes small portion of it at a time. the time has come to play the kids, that the cost of a lost, non-playoff season should at least be accompanied by the benefit of giving younger They didn’t drop any points in Buffalo, therefore so far so good. There players meaningful ice time. wasn’t much euphoria in the dressing room afterward, more of an exhale, and a sense that this type of game is repeatable. The coaches and players are working according to a different scale. Like fans, players are looking for signs that the growing snowball has As Brendan Gallagher told The Athletic’s Arpon Basu about the subject started rolling in the Canadiens’ favour rather than into their path. It’s of handing the keys to the youth, winning requires giving ice time to the hard to discern while it’s happening, but every NHL player has been on a best and most deserving players in that moment, which in turn creates a lengthy winning streak at some point. culture of internal competition that pulls everyone upward. “Everybody in here knows that feeling,” Victor Mete, whose junior London Knights once ripped off a 17-game win streak in the playoffs, said this week. Or as Suzuki encapsulated it in speaking about a 15-game heater he was teaching, notably about how his players need to figure out how to turn involved with as a junior in Owen Sound: “We came into every game down the ambient noise. super confident, nobody had any negative thoughts in their mind. We weren’t cocky, we just knew we’d be able to compete no matter what.” It’s a work in progress, as evidenced after the game.

Is Buffalo where a famous streak starts? We’ll know soon enough. But ON HOW THEY CAN KEEP FROM FALLING INTO OLD SLIDES JAKE even if all of this ends up being illusory (the available evidence strongly MCCABE SAYS (PARAPHRASING) “TO BE HONEST WE HAVE TO points to that being the outcome) it’s the emotional and mental space this TUNE YOU GUYS OUT.” team is in. — JOE YERDON (@JOEYERDON) JANUARY 31, 2020

And those who would strip it of key assets in hopes of a soft tank and a If there is a team in the NHL that can relate, it’s the Canadiens; to wear high draft pick to add to a core of emerging players built around their uniform is to be accompanied by a brass band and a crowd of Kotkaniemi and Suzuki, be careful what you wish for. hecklers everywhere you go.

It could end up looking like the team down the hall in the home team’s There is a din in Montreal, to which the Canadiens have shown a variable dressing room at KeyBank Center. level of tolerance this season. There will be more noise if they happen to The Sabres, not to put too fine a point on it, are not in a happy place. lose a small raft of games over the next little while. But for one night, at least, they found a way to lower the volume. Following a great start, the club is floundering at the back end of the standings. It’s the identical script as a year ago, just with more angst. When Julien was asked about whether the performance was evidence Insofar as these things are perceptible, and given the fact the Sabres are his team is also learning, he waved the question away. all fit young men in the prime of their lives who are paid scandalous “One game is one game,” he said, “we need to put a stretch together, amounts of money to play a game, appearances can be deceiving. There that’s when we’ll know we’re learning to win hockey games.” is a tinge of bewilderment, and helplessness, and frustration and anger about the place. Julien told his players before and during the game that he needed a push. He got it. Like Montreal, the Sabres are supported by a passionate and demanding fan base. And they’re not happy. There were lusty boos after the second “That’s tonight,” he said. “We need another push Saturday and we’re period ended, and at the final horn. In recent days, the city’s sports talk going to need another push Sunday. That’s more the evaluation that I radio shows have gotten full-on splenetic. think I need to look at.”

THANK YOU, @DUANES39 PIC.TWITTER.COM/96EGQHEMHH The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020

— MATTHEW BOVÉ (@MATT_BOVE) JANUARY 30, 2020

That rant has spawned a minor online uprising among Sabres fans (#WeAreAllDuane), and if the internet is to be believed, it piqued the team’s head office a little.

RECAPPING SABRES MANAGEMENT/OWNERSHIP TODAY:

1- MAYBE BULLIED THE RADIO STATION INTO TAKING DOWN A TWEET LINKING TO AUDIO FROM A CRITICAL CALLER

2- ELLIOTTE FRIEDMAN GOES ON RADIO AND SAYS SOMEONE WITH THE TEAM WASN’T HAPPY ABOUT HIS 31 THOUGHTS BLURB

BABIES!!

— KEVIN (@NTRIDER825) JANUARY 30, 2020

Last spring the Sabres hired Ralph Krueger to coach the club, he is the sixth man to hold that job since May 2012, which is when Marc Bergevin was hired as Canadiens general manager. The Sabres have also cycled through three GMs and a president of hockey operations over that span, and are staring down the barrel of missing the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season.

For every Pittsburgh and Chicago, there is an Edmonton, an Arizona or a Buffalo.

The Sabres have plenty of high-end players, including a former first overall pick in Rasmus Dahlin and a stud top-line centre in Eichel, who scored his 30th goal against Montreal. It’s not enough, evidently.

They’ve tried a tank-lite strategy, which got them Eichel instead of Connor McDavid — about as good as it gets in terms of consolation prizes. They’ve tried addressing holes via free agency (notably Kyle Okposo, who was hurt on Thursday). They’ve been aggressive in the trade market, and passive. Ownership has not hesitated to pull the trigger on failed experiments. None of it has helped.

The Canadiens can’t match the Sabres’ marquee talent (although let’s give Kotkaniemi and Suzuki a little time); they’ve also been a more successful team over the past seven years.

Bergevin has been ridiculed for talking up questions of attitude and culture, and to an extent some of the brickbats are deserved. Leadership, grit and high character aren’t much help if they aren’t alloyed to talent. But the work environment matters, and cultivating a winning mentality and a culture of success does too.

Krueger, who tends toward the professorial, is clearly preoccupied by those themes. On Thursday he spoke about learning processes and 1173863 New Jersey Devils

How Devils handled emotional swings in back-and-forth loss to Predators

Jan 31, 2020

Chris Ryan

Each time one team seemed to be taking control, the other managed to flip the momentum with a goal.

Tensions mounted between the Devils and Nashville Predators, with pushing and jawing over the course of the game nearly ending with a fight after the final buzzer in overtime.

The Devils found a way to handle most of those wild swings of emotion before eventually losing in a 6-5 shootout to the Predators and ex-coach John Hynes on Thursday at Prudential Center in Newark.

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In both the first and third periods, the Devils allowed goals in the opening minute of play. Those types of scores have been their undoing at times this season, but in both instances they answered with the next goal, tying the game in the first period and taking the lead — temporarily — in the third.

“Just a lot of emotion. I think it was a really high intensity out there, and you could see both teams wanted to win," center Nico Hischier said. "And it’s fun to play in these games. But I think for for everybody in here, obviously the older guys had some of those games already and they know how they gotta act in it, but for a couple guys in here, even me, you can learn a lot from that game.”

Despite 10 goals being scored, neither team ever led by more than one. The game was tied on five separate occasions, including the final 10 minutes of regulation and the five minutes of overtime.

The game also featured some emotional buildup, with the Devils knowing they were playing against Hynes for the first time since he was fired in December. The players knew that going in, but once the puck dropped, they didn’t think about it much. After all, it’s rare for players to notice an opposing coach while play is ongoing.

Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine and Hynes gave each other a quick personal moment of acknowledgement before it turned into just another game for both.

“I was actually looking forward to it almost all day, what I would feel when I saw him over on the other bench," Nasreddine said. "After the national anthem and before the drop of the puck, we looked at each other, and that was it really from there. You just try to focus on your game and focus on what you have to do help your team win.”

There were plenty of points over the course of the night where things could have unraveled for the Devils. They trailed 2-1 for nearly 20 minutes between the first and second period before tying the game.

“Guys have confidence. You hear them on the bench, they’re saying all the right things,” Nasreddine said. “But they’re not just saying it. You can feel it. So we never feel like we’re out of the game. We keep pushing and we took the lead here two or three times. So now that’s definitely a positive. Guys I think take pride in that.”

Some defensive breakdowns, particularly on the two first-period goals, hurt the Devils over the course of the night, but they kept themselves alive for 65 minutes before losing in the coin flip that is the shootout.

“We could have won the game, but it was some mistakes that we probably can do better, probably would have won the game if we would have done it better," Hischier said. "But at the end we’ll take the one point, and I think if you ask everybody in the whole stadium, they’d say this game was never boring.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173864 New Jersey Devils

Predators’ John Hynes opens up on firing by Devils, landing with Nashville

Jan 31, 2020

Chris Ryan

The first thing John Hynes did was step away.

After being fired by the Devils on Dec. 3, less than two months into his fifth season as head coach in New Jersey, Hynes turned to his family and took a brief break from the game.

Even after the Devils’ miserable start to the season, there was still plenty of shock and disappointment for Hynes to process before he could start mapping out his future.

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“The first couple weeks you kind of just disconnect a little bit from everything and you go through different things," Hynes said prior to Thursday’s game between the Devils and Nashville Predators at Prudential Center in Newark. "What could have you done better? What went wrong? There’s different range of emotions that go through and then I think it was good that it was right around the holidays because then you go into basically the Christmas weeks and I think it takes your mind off and away from things. As a family went down to Universal for a few days, which was great, and then came back.”

Hynes’ break from hockey didn’t last long, since he was hired to coach the Nashville Predators 34 days after his dismissal from the Devils. Thursday marked his first trip back to The Rock since the coaching change.

When NHL coaches are fired, they remain under contract with their former teams for the duration of their deals. So Hynes couldn’t go out and start actively looking for jobs. Any interested team would need to go through the Devils to ask permission to speak to him. And eventually, that Predators did just that.

The Predators job materialized very quickly, and Hynes’ initial thinking had him planning for months down the road.

“You also want to be able to look back on the things that you felt went well and didn’t go well and why," Hynes said. "And then I was kind of settling into a spot where you were (thinking), ‘OK, what’s going to be next, next year?’ There was an opportunity with the USA World Championship team to kind of get back in, maybe scout some players, help put that team together and get looking forward to that, and then I got a call from Nashville and that happened pretty quick.”

Thursday also marked his first head-to-head matchup against Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine, who served as an assistant to Hynes in the AHL and NHL since 2010. When they met for an extended lunch during last week’s bye week, Hynes said it was the first time the two got the chance to really talk, aside from some texting and brief phone calls.

“You’re excited for him and he’s done a good job, and we’ve worked together," Hynes said. "It’s nice to see him getting the opportunity that he’s getting and doing the job that he’s doing. He’s done well, and I’m not surprised that he’s done well. So it’s a little bit part of the business where you know eventually if you work with good people and good people move on to different situations, you’re going to wind up competing against them.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173865 New Jersey Devils "I jumped in for Hughes today twice but (the unit) has been working hard," Zacha said. "It's been giving us momentum in the game when we need it so we've got to keep that going."

NJ Devils coach Alain Nasreddine sends message to Jack Hughes as Hey, Devils fan — stay on top of breaking news, scores and analysis with John Hynes gets revenge our Fire & Ice app — find it on the App Store & Google Play.

The first overall draft pick in June ended with 12:57 of ice time. It was somewhat surprising considering he had such a strong game Monday in Abbey Mastracco Ottawa, with eight shots on goal and the shootout winner.

8:09 a.m. ET Jan. 31, 2020 But the mental grind of the NHL is an adjustment for everyone and Hughes is still a teenager. Nasreddine did what he felt was necessary to

hold him accountable. NEWARK — Former New Jersey Devils’ head coach John Hynes "He's a young player, it's a tough league and it's tough to get ready to go returned to Prudential Center Thursday night for the first time since he every night and every game," Nasreddine said. "His start of the game was told he would no longer coach the team. was not where we wanted it to be, so it was just a quick reset and he did It was barely two months ago the Devils dismissed their second- skip a couple shifts." winningest coach in franchise history after over four years at the helm of Notable the team, but Hynes quickly rebounded, taking over as the head coach of the Nashville Predators 36 days later. The Devils honored all nine victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash with their names and photos on the screen, as well as 24 seconds of silence His good friend and longtime assistant coach Alain Nasreddine opposed in honor of Kobe Bryant’s jersey number. him on the home bench, the interim coach since Hynes' Dec. 3 firing. The two are still friends, having met for a lunch during the All-Star Break that However, the team did not do a tribute video or any scoreboard went so long their wives asked them to please come home. acknowledgment for Hynes, preferring to keep the attention on the game. There is still some hostility that exists within the fanbase and with Hynes' During that lunch, Hynes told Nasreddine he wanted him to do well every family in attendance, the team felt it best to omit any sort of tribute. night, except for this one particular Thursday night. But it was clear each team was battling hard for each head coach. For It's tough to know which coach did better, but it was Hynes' team that many of the young Devils, Hynes was their first NHL coach. Seeing him won 6-5 in a shootout, getting that second point. on the other bench was strange. Pavel Zacha scored twice and assisted once for a three-point night, "There were a lot of emotions," forward Nico Hischier said. "It was really Nikita Gusev had a goal and an assist, Jesper Bratt scored his 30th intense out there. You could see both teams wanted to win and it's fun to career goal and John Hayden scored his second of the season. play in these games. I think the older guys have had a couple of those Mackenzie Blackwood made 30 saves. games already and they know how they've got to act but there are a "All day I was wondering what I would feel like when I saw him over on couple of guys in here who can learn from it. the bench," Nasreddine said. "After the national anthem, right before "Even me, I can learn from that game." puck drop, we looked over at each other and that was really it from there. You just tried to focus on your game and focus on what you have to do to It's been an emotional week in sports and an emotional week for the help your team win." Devils, but a young team in turmoil has managed them well.

How they lost Bergen Record LOADED: 02.01.2020 The Preds took a quick lead just 42 seconds into play when one-timed one past Blackwood from the point. Zacha tied it up with a shorthanded goal at 4:54 and a wild one ensued from there.

The Devils scored three goals in the third period and the game was tied five times.

Matt Duchene wired one top shelf off the rush 33 seconds into the third to tie it at 4-4. But the fourth line then came through in the clutch with Hayden sniping one off of the draw past Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne at 6:37.

The lead was short-lived. A controversial hooking penalty by Wayne Simmonds led to a power play goal by Filip Forsberg that effectively put the game into overtime.

Duchene had the shootout winner for Nashville. New Jersey is 3-4 in shootout contests this season.

Message sent

There was a brief moment of panic for fans in the second period when rookie center Jack Hughes was nowhere to be found. He took only three shifts in the second period and was replaced on the second power play unit with Zacha.

But it wasn't an injury. Hughes was benched.

"We thought the start of his game wasn't exactly where we needed Jack to be as far as effort and attention to detail and getting involved and engaged in the game," Nasreddine said. "Sometimes just a quick reset is all you need."

Zacha scored on a second-period power play in his place. The second unit has suddenly been sparked with three goals in two games after going the first 48 games without scoring a goal. 1173866 New Jersey Devils Gomez, who has the fifth-most points in club history, was also named to all four teams. There is some symmetry to this: We have two-thirds of the “A-Line” and two-thirds of the “EGG Line” represented on one unit. Gomez’s spot in the top-five should be safe until Nico Hischier and Jack Who would make the New Jersey Devils’ all-time lineup? We asked four Hughes start climbing the list. experts Zach Parise – Kirk Muller – John MacLean

Parise: 194 goals, 410 points Corey Masisak Muller: 185 goals, 520 points Jan 31, 2020 MacLean: 347 goals, 701 points

MacLean probably deserves to be the first-line right wing. His public The Devils will celebrate the 20th anniversary of winning the Stanley Cup reputation might not be as strong, between his time as the club’s head this weekend when the Dallas Stars, their opponent in the 2000 Cup coach and Sykora’s placement on the most famous line in team history. Final, come to Prudential Center for a Saturday night showdown. The Devils have had 40-plus goal seasons from nine players in their history. MacLean has three of them, and he’s the only player with more This year is also the 25th anniversary of the first championship in club than one. history, when the Devils toppled the Red Wings in 1995. And what’s wrong with commemorating the 17th anniversary of the franchise’s third Muller and MacLean were also unanimous choices. He and MacLean title? were the only forwards to show up on three different lines. His 94 points in 1987-88 are tied for the second-most in a season in franchise history. Given the warm feelings of nostalgia during an otherwise trying season, Parise had the other 94-point season. The Athletic has asked four members of the New Jersey hockey community to help craft the definitive all-time Devils team. Taylor Hall – Jason Arnott – Claude Lemieux

OK, so it’s not definitive and fans will have their own favorites, but we Hall: 76 goals, 208 points welcome the differences in opinion. There will be plenty of time to debate Tim Stutzle vs. Alexander Holtz or Marco Rossi or Yaroslav Askarov Arnott: 110 goals, 245 points before the draft lottery. Lemieux: 142 goals, 297 points Let’s introduce our blue-ribbon panel of experts: Hall and Arnott were both named on two ballots as first- or second-liners. Ken Daneyko, also known as Mr. Devil, played nearly 1,500 games with Lemieux was a unanimous choice, as either a third- or fourth-liner. the club (including playoffs) While Hall is 37th in club history in points, he’s first in points per game at Greg Wyshynski, lifelong Devils fan who works for ESPN.com but most 0.99. He’s also first in league MVP trophies as the only Hart Trophy people still call him “Puck Daddy” winner the franchise has had.

The rules were simple: We needed 12 forwards, six defensemen and two Lemieux earned a reputation as one of the great playoff performers in goalies. The panelists were encouraged to consider players’ time spent league history, winning the Cup four times with three different teams. He with the Devils, but it wasn’t mandatory. scored goals at about a 27-per-82-game pace during the regular season with the Devils, but collected 34 in 82 playoff contests. He had 13 in 20 First, some takeaways from the results: games in 1995 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Five forwards were named to all four teams, while 19 earned at least one John Madden – Bobby Holik – Sergei Brylin nomination. Madden: 140 goals, 297 points Three of the four panelists had someone on their second line who didn’t end up on any of the other three teams. Holik: 202 goals, 472 points

Five defensemen were named to all four, and only seven earned at least Brylin: 129 goals, 308 points one spot. All three of these players were named by three of the four panelists. They All four panelists named a different backup goaltender. are your prototypical heart-and-soul NHLers.

We consulted veteran radio play-by-play man Matt Loughlin to break the Madden won the Selke Trophy and was runner-up three times. He was four-way tie in net. Picking the 12 forwards for the lineup plus two extras also runner-up to three different winners (Jere Lehtinen, Kris Draper and was relatively easy, given the way the four teams from the panelists Pavel Datsyuk), which probably hasn’t happened often with NHL awards. shook out. I took care of placing them throughout the lineup, which will Brylin is one of five players who was part of all three Cup-winning teams. likely earn some constructive criticism. They were defense-first forwards who all produced at the other end, as Here is The Athletic’s all-time Devils team, with each of the panelist’s well. Holik, in particular — he had 20-plus goals and 50-65 points in five teams below. (Note that all stats are from the players’ time with the of his last six seasons with the Devils (not counting the one-season Devils). return at the end of his career).

Forwards Extras: Travis Zajac, Jay Pandolfo

Patrik Elias – Scott Gomez – Petr Sykora Zajac’s game would have fit perfectly with the ethos of those Cup- winning teams. He’s fifth in games played, fifth in goals and third in points Elias: 408 goals, 1,025 points in club history.

Gomez: 123 goals, 484 points “When I did this initially before the start of the season, I had Taylor Hall in my lineup because he’s the only Devil to win the Hart Trophy and, at that Sykora: 166 goals, 394 points point, I was thinking they had a decent shot at re-signing him,” Gulitti Controversy at the top of the lineup! Two panelists had Jason Arnott as said. “After he was traded, it didn’t make sense to keep him on the all- the No. 1 center, with the entire “A-Line” at the top of their lineups. The time team. That made me re-look at Travis Zajac, who is in the top five in other two did not have room for Arnott at all, which speaks to some of the team history in games, goals and points. So, I shifted Scott Gomez to fluidity among the forwards. After Elias are many great players who didn’t wing (which he did occasionally) and fit Zajac in at center.” necessarily spend a long time playing for New Jersey, so trying to place Pandolfo teamed up with Madden and Brylin to form one of the best them in a lineup like this isn’t easy. defensive lines in the NHL since the Devils moved to New Jersey. Elias, arguably the best wing and center in club history, is the easy one here. Sundstrom played 305 games with the Devils, which is tied for 49th, but Driver is third among Devils defensemen in goals and points, and was his 246 points are 25th, one more than Arnott. He’s seventh in points per the fifth player on the blue line who appeared on all four of our panelists’ game among players with at least 100 games played. teams. The sixth spot was split between two — Fetisov and Colin White.

“Obviously, some of the other (Cup-winning) guys didn’t play with him, Extra: Colin White and his career was cut short by the back injury, but he was Patrik Elias,” Daneyko said. “That’s how good he was. He was unbelievable. Just an While White played 402 more games with the Devils and won the Cup incredible two-way hockey player. He’s one of my faves, so I had to get twice, we’ll let Greene and Gulitti have the say on who gets to be No. 6 him on there. Just a wonderful player.” instead of No. 7.

Kovalchuk is fourth on the points-per-game list. He was instrumental in “Zach Parise and Brian Gionta were tough ones to leave out at forward,” leading the club to the 2012 Cup Final. Leaving for the KHL mid-contract Gulitti said. “Leaving Colin White, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, out on has made him a villain at Prudential Center, but he honestly did Ray defense was also difficult, but I ended up going with Slava Fetisov Shero/Tom Fitzgerald a favor by getting them out of that contract. It because of the historical significance of him being one of the first would have five more years left after this one, with significant cap Russians to come over to play in the NHL.” recapture penalties if he retired early. If he were still in New Jersey and “It was just his influence,” Greene said of Fetisov. “I know he wasn’t here retired after this season, the Devils would have a $4.67 million cap that long, but what he did after he came here and the influx of Russians penalty for the next five years. who came after him.”

Gionta, who was the third member of the “EGG Line,” had five 20-goal Goalies seasons with the Devils, but he’s most remembered for the club-record 48 in 2005-06. Nine players have had five or more 20-goal seasons with the team, and only three (Elias, MacLean, Holik) have more than five. Chris Terreri “John Madden was tough to leave off for me,” Daneyko said. “Kovalchuk Brodeur: 688 wins, .912 save percentage, 2.24 goals against average because of his talent, but he didn’t have the longevity. Brian Gionta, ugh, this was so hard! I love all these guys, but I had to cut it down. Terreri: 118 wins, .892 save percentage, 3.07 goals against average

Richer was also one of the guys with five 20-goal seasons. He was one Brodeur is self-explanatory, but picking the goaltender behind him was goal shy of averaging 30 in his five years with the club, and that includes one of the most divisive choices. Terreri got the not from Loughlin in the the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. He’s behind only Alexander tiebreaker, and Daneyko acknowledged that he might hear it from his old Mogilny (121 games) in goals per game among those who played at least pal because he picked Sean Burke instead. 100 with New Jersey. Terreri is second in club history in wins. It seemed like a foregone “On talent alone, (Richer) might be the best player on this list,” Daneyko conclusion that Cory Schneider, who has the best save percentage of said. “I guess on some nights maybe he didn’t always want to bring it, but anyone who played at least eight games, would pass Terreri, but right he was a big-money player in the playoffs. In ’95, he was as good as it now he’s six wins shy. Burke was instrumental in the club’s first playoff gets.” run as a rookie in 1988 — he played in 17 playoff games after getting in just 13 during the regular season. McKay was another member of the “Crash Line” along with Holik and Mike Peluso, and is top-15 in franchise history in games, goals and Resch was No. 1 in net when the franchise arrived from Colorado, and points. he finished sixth and seventh in the Vezina Trophy voting the first two seasons in New Jersey. His contributions to the franchise in his post- “Aaron Broten and Travis Zajac were both good soldiers, but fell just playing days as a television and radio analyst and ambassador for the short for me,” Wyshynski said. “I know Stephane Richer and Alex club are ongoing and immense. Mogilny both have strong cases, but I have to take the ultimate pest/postseason hero (Lemieux) at right wing.” “As for Brodeur’s backup, anyone that saw Terreri pull his dime-store Dominik Hasek routine during the Devils’ lean years knows he’s got the Defensemen goods to be Marty’s understudy,” Wyshynski said. Scott Stevens – “Picking the second goalie was also difficult,” Gulitti said. “I chose Chico Stevens: 93 goals, 430 points Resch over Sean Burke and Chris Terreri because Chico was the Devils’ first — and maybe only — star in the early years and gave the franchise Niedermayer: 112 goals, 476 points an identifiable figure after it moved to New Jersey.”

Two of the best to ever do it at this position. Niedermayer won the Norris Just missed: Glenn “Chico” Resch, Sean Burke, Cory Schneider in his final season with the Devils, but only finished in the top 10 in the voting twice in 13 years. He would have collected more trophies and Here is a look at the four individual teams from the esteemed panel: many more top-10 finishes if he had played in this era. Stevens, one of Ken Daneyko the most intimidating, two-way players in league history, finished in the top 10 in the voting 10 times in an 11-year span, and 15 times when Andy Greene including his time with Washington, but never won. Tom Gulitti There are two defensemen in NHL history with 900-plus points and 2,000-plus penalty minutes — Stevens and Chris Chelios. Greg Wyshynski

Brian Rafalski – Ken Daneyko The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020

Rafalski: 44 goals, 311 points

Daneyko: 36 goals, 178 points

Rafalski was an undrafted free agent who didn’t reach the NHL until he was 26 years old, but he finished in the top 10 in the Norris voting at 27 and won the Cup twice in seven years with the Devils. Daneyko leads the franchise in games played, penalty minutes and number of A-plus stories told about the halcyon days.

Bruce Driver – Slava Fetisov

Driver: 83 goals, 399 points

Fetisov: 19 goals, 130 points 1173867 New York Islanders

Islanders looking for quick start with 10-day break over

Andrew Gross

January 31, 2020 7:59 PM

The importance of starting quickly as their 10-day All-Star Game/bye week break finally ends on Saturday afternoon is not lost on the Islanders.

“We’ve got to win every night,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock, whose team will begin a three-game Brooklyn homestand against the Canucks at Barclays Center. “We’ve just got to be prepared to play basically playoff hockey from here on out.”

But it’s also not lost on the Islanders, certainly not coach Barry Trotz, that successful playoff-like hockey means keeping mistakes to a minimum.

And one thing that uncharacteristically marked the Islanders’ 2-3-2 stretch in the 11 days preceding the in-season vacation was costly late- game mistakes.

For instance, the Islanders held a four-goal lead on the Rangers in the third period at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 21 when defenseman Scott Mayfield took a double-minor for spearing. The Rangers scored twice on the ensuing four-minute power play and the Islanders had to sweat out a 4-2 win. All-Star Mathew Barzal was benched for the third period of that game after a second-period turnover.

The Capitals scored five third-period goals in a 6-4 win at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 18 after defenseman Devon Toews mocked Evgeny Kuznetsov’s bird-like goal celebration. And in the final minute of a 3-2 loss to the Rangers at the Coliseum on Jan. 16, Derick Brassard was called for cross-checking, setting up Chris Kreider’s power-play winner.

“We had a reality check in Carolina and we talked about a lot of things,” Trotz said of a 2-1 shootout loss to the Hurricanes on Jan. 19. “Those are the things that can’t happen down the stretch for us. We had a number of them in a row where it impacted us in terms of our points or possible points, and it’s too tight of a league.

“Sometimes you do things when you’re tired, grumpy, fatigued, can’t think straight,” Trotz added. “We’ll put it up to we’re glad it happened during the regular season and it won’t happen if we can make it to the postseason.”

Trotz said that after Mayfield’s spearing penalty against the Rangers, to show his trust in one of his top penalty-killers, he put the defenseman right back on the ice after the Islanders were whistled for a too-many- men infraction — but he also told him, “They better not score again.”

As for Barzal, Trotz said there was no need to talk things out. He said their relationship is fine and likened it to a disappointed father temporarily taking the car keys away from his son.

“Still love him,” Trotz said. “We won’t be able to win without him. I don’t hold grudges a whole lot. It’s part of growing up as a player.”

Notes & quotes: Pulock skated with rookie Noah Dobson for the second day in a row on Friday in East Meadow. Nick Leddy again was paired with Johnny Boychuk. Trotz split up that longtime pair, putting Dobson with Boychuk and Leddy with Pulock, after Pulock’s partner, Adam Pelech, suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on Jan. 2 . . . Retired defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, now a member of the Islanders’ player development staff, practiced with the team for the second straight day.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173868 New York Islanders

Islanders player poll: The ‘most stylish’ has refined his look over the years

Arthur Staple

Jan 31, 2020

In our quest to bring you as close to the players as possible, The Athletic conducted our annual NHL player poll. The aggregate results and anonymous answers to 10 questions were released last week.

Here on the Islanders beat, we added five team-specific questions that were a bit more lighthearted. Still anonymous so as to guarantee the most honest answers, we asked 22 Islanders players to pick a teammate who best fits each question and we’ve turned the answers into short stories complete with supporting quotes from various teammates and the winners themselves.

Today’s question: Who is the most stylish Islander?

The results:

Matt Martin — 13 votes

Anthony Beauvillier — 3

Brock Nelson — 3

Johnny Boychuk — 1

Style, like music taste, is pretty subjective. There probably isn’t anyone in the Islanders room who would say he has no style. But there definitely are guys who care more about how they look than others and Martin pulls it off best, the overwhelming choice as style maven among the players.

“I definitely tend towards classic wools, three-piece suits, things like that. I’m a big ‘Peaky Blinders’ fan and I love that classic style,” Martin said.

He wasn’t always so into fashion, but the NHL has a way of rubbing off on you, giving players the means to look their best.

“I think you pick up stuff along the way,” Martin said. “When I first got here and became a pro, Mark Streit was a guy I always looked at. He was always sharp, very traditional, a lot of wool and I borrowed a little from that. When I went to Toronto, some of the young guys there really caught my eye — a little more modern, off-white, a little bolder. And I’ve borrowed from them, too.”

A few teammates were reluctant to give the nod to Martin, but mostly out of a sense of duty to never give an untainted compliment.

“I have to pick Marty, but only because he’d give me crap if I didn’t,” one player said.

“It’s Marty,” another said. “He looks good most times and he’ll definitely tell you about it.”

Beauvillier and Nelson are polar opposites in terms of look — Beauvillier is short and broad-shouldered and Nelson is a bit of a string bean. But they tied for second, with both going for bold looks in game-day suits. No one really has a favorite designer since the hockey world is one of custom-made suits, given these guys are not fitting into your off-the-rack 42 regulars.

Martin’s best advice to younger players looking to up their style game?

“Spend on a good pair of shoes,” he said. “I used to buy shoes that weren’t high-end and they were done in six months. My first pair of great shoes were Prada. I’ve had them nine years now and I still wear them all the time.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173869 New York Rangers “He was going for it. He might have just run out of time,’’ Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said. “Two-goal lead with 10 seconds left, you’ve got to go for it.”

Rangers roll over Red Wings in return from break NOTES: The Red Wings have been outscored 33-12 in their seven straight losses. ... The Rangers scratched F Micheal Haley and G Alexandar Georgiev. ... The Red Wings scratched D Mike Green, D Madison Bowey, and F Brendan Perlini. ... The Rangers won the teams’ ALLAN KREDA previous meeting 5-1 on Nov. 6 at the Garden. ... The Rangers have FEB 01, 2020 | 12:41 AM scored at least three goals in nine of their last 13 games.

UP NEXT

Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists, and Artemi Panarin and Rangers: At Detroit on Saturday night. Chris Kreider each added a goal and an assist to help the Rangers return Red Wings: Host the Rangers on Saturday night. from an extended break and beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 Friday night. New York Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2020 Pavel Buchnevich also scored to start the Rangers’ three-goal second period, and rookie Igor Shesterkin stopped 23 shots. The Rangers were off since a 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Jan. 21, getting time off for the All- Star break and subsequent bye week.

“We did a good job in the second of controlling the game. We got the goals. It was a good win,’’ said Zibanejad, who reached the 200-point mark as a Ranger. “We know what’s ahead of us. We’re excited about it.”

Robby Fabbri had a goal and an assist and Valtteri Filppula also scored in the third period for the Red Wings, who lost their seventh straight (0-6- 1). Detroit, playing for the first time since Jan. 22 for its extended break, has only 12 wins in 52 games.

Jimmy Howard finished with 35 saves for the Red Wings to fall to 0-15-2 over his last 17 games since his last win on Oct. 29. He is 2-20-2 on the season.

The teams meet again on Saturday night in Detroit.

“They played really well. They worked us in the offensive as a five-man unit,’’ Howard said. “We have a unique opportunity to go at them tomorrow night. We have to show them better.”

After a scoreless first period in which Howard made 15 saves, Buchnevich broke through at 9:23 of the second, converting a slick cross- ice pass from Zibanejad for his ninth.

Kreider, who also had an assist on Buchnevich’s score, made it 2-0 at 11:56 tipping Adam Fox’s shot past Howard for his 18th. Kreider has three goals in his last four games while Zibanejad, who also had an assist on the second goal, has multi-point efforts in three of his last four games and five of his last eight contests.

“Buchie did a really good job tonight and Kreids had a good night as well,’’ Rangers coach David Quinn said, referring to the strong play of his top line which also includes Zibanejad.

Panarin increased the margin to 3-0 with his team-leading 27th goal at 19:18, his fifth goal in his last seven games. Panarin has points in 37 of the 48 games he has played this season, including 23 of the Rangers’ 24 wins.

Panarin missed the Rangers’ last game before the break and then last weekend’s All-Star Game in St. Louis with an upper-body injury. He leads the Rangers with 70 points, fifth-best in the league.

Zibanejad increased the lead to 4-0 with his 19th at 5:02 of the third.

Fabbri got the Red Wings on the scoreboard with his 12th at 5:59 of the third. Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin assisted on the goal for his 250th career point.

Filppula, playing his 999th career game, scored for Detroit at 10:59, his fourth of the season.

The 24-year-old Shesterkin was making his fourth start for the Rangers this month. He now has recorded wins in three as the Rangers improved to 6-2-0 in last eight home games. The Rangers have also allowed two goals or fewer in four of their last five games and they are 17-3-0 this season permitting two or fewer goals.

“The team really helped me,’’ Shesterkin said through an interpreter. “There were a lot of blocked shots today.”

Shesterkin also seemed to have his sights on a possible empty-net goal as the final seconds ticked off with Howard pulled for an extra skater. 1173870 New York Rangers Once the Blueshirts took the lead, the Red Wings were little more than fried octopi.

“It would be easy to get frustrated, but I thought we did a good job of Pavel Buchnevich could be playing way into Rangers trade deadline staying with it,” said Zibanejad, who scored his 19th goal and added a plans pair of helpers. “I thought we did a good job controlling the game.”

Buchnevich finished with three shots on goal. The winger who entered the season with a 13.9 shooting percentage left Friday’s match at 9.6 Larry Brooks percent. He’s been getting chances, but hasn’t been finishing. Whether that’s simply a matter of bad luck is left to Gorton and management to February 1, 2020 | 2:43am divine.

“The way he holds himself, the way he deals with situations, he’s taking So the Rangers wouldn’t take both of Mika Zibanejad’s wingers away big steps forward,” Zibanejad said. “He has such a strong work ethic. He from him at the deadline, would they? wants to help the team.

For while we know Chris Kreider, who recorded his 11th goal in the past “He’s getting better and better.” 17 games in Friday’s 4-2 Garden victory over the horrid Red Wings, is an As Feb. 24 draws nearer on the calendar. endangered species, the same could be true of Pavel Buchnevich, who scored the match’s opening goal. For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast: It is not as if the Russian winger poses a cap problem, working as he is on the first half of a two-year deal worth $3.25 million per. It is not as if New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2020 Buchnevich would yield the kind of bounty in return that management might be able to elicit in return for Kreider.

It is that the Rangers might want to engineer a horses-for-courses kind of trade, exchanging Buchnevich’s skill game for a winger with a more north-south, hard-hat mentality. Then again, with the talent like No. 89 possesses at an affordable price, that might be one for general manager Jeff Gorton to keep in his pocket.

“In my eyes, he’s still a young player in this league,” Zibanejad told The Post in speaking of the 24-year-old who is in his third full NHL season. “He’s figuring it out and figuring himself out. He’s getting it more and more and is improving all the time.

“I think he has all the upside in the world.”

Buchnevich scored the 1-0 goal at 9:23 of the second period by driving to the left post and deflecting home Zibanejad’s gorgeous feed from the right circle. It was as north-south a play as it gets, the rush begun by a snappy headman feed from Kreider to the centerman, except for the fact that it was actually a west-east play from the Eighth Avenue end of the building to Seventh.

But this is not a lesson in cartography.

“I thought Boochie did a really good job beating his man up the ice,” said David Quinn, who has resisted the temptation of flipping Buchnevich with third-line right wing Kaapo Kakko. “I think Boochie had a really good night. He’s a good player and we believe in him.

“He’s been battling the flu for a while, I know people don’t want to hear that, but that’s the reality of the situation. He’s a 20-goal scorer in this league and he’s got a little bit of chemistry with Mika. He’s earned this opportunity.”

Buchnevich recorded 21 goals last season, but he is neither a natural nor instinctive goal scorer. And everyone has seen the frustration written all over his face and the negative body language that flows after No. 89 misses a prime opportunity. Sometimes he brings it to the bench with him. It looks for all the world as if he’s pouting.

“It’s that he cares so much,” Zibanejad said. “He obviously wouldn’t show those kinds of emotions if he didn’t care. He’s very hard on himself, and I think that’s a good thing. He’s trying all the time to contribute and become a better player.

“He’s still a young player with so much skill. The way he can handle and pass the puck, the way he holds onto it. He’s more of a pass-first player. He and I know each other very well.”

The Blueshirts had their way with Detroit, one of the worst teams of the cap era. Last overall at 12-36-4, the Red Wings are well on their way to joining the 2016-17 Avalanche that finished 22-56-4 as the only two teams of the era to finish last overall in the standings and in both goals scored and allowed. It takes a special absence of ability to achieve that dubious milestone.

But though dominant through the first 29 minutes, the Rangers could not beat Jimmy Howard, who has the rather astonishing record of 2-20-2. But that’s when the Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich conga line took charge. 1173871 New York Rangers “It’s important to come back after a break like that and feel good about yourself,” Zibanejad said. “I thought we played a good game, and did enough to win.”

Igor Shesterkin impresses as Rangers dispatch Red Wings New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2020

Brett Cyrgalis

January 31, 2020 | 9:57pm

If the standings don’t end up mattering much before the Feb. 24 trade deadline, well then at least there are nights like this one to keep the Rangers’ psyche intact.

The Blueshirts were able to take a 4-2 victory against the Red Wings on Friday night at the Garden, beating the worst team in the league in their respective first games back from the nine-day hiatus that encompassed All-Star weekend and their bye weeks. It wasn’t very pretty, but it certainly got the Rangers feeling better than they did before the break.

“It was a good break, kind of reset your mind a little bit and rest your body,” said Mika Zibanejad, who had a goal and two assists as his line with Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich did most of the heavy lifting, while rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin almost had his first NHL shutout in his fourth game — and almost had an empty-net goal in the waning moments.

“Guys were excited to be back,” Zibanejad said. “We know what’s ahead of us, and we’re excited about it.”

What lies ahead of the Rangers (24-21-4) is a very uphill battle to get back into the playoff picture, and more than likely another deadline when key pieces leave in trades with the organization focused on the future. But those who have experienced that the past two years during this rebuilding phase know that it can get ugly fast if they allow themselves to be distracted.

Mika Zibanejad celebrates his goal.for the NY POST

It would have been easy to look past the horrid Red Wings (12-26-4), who are the opponents again on the second leg of this home-and-home, back-to-back, in Detroit on Saturday night. Even with goalie Jimmy Howard’s historical penchant for playing well against the Rangers — and the Syracuse native looked like that player while turning aside all 15 Rangers shots in a 0-0 first period — the Blueshirts kept their heads down and kept pushing.

“It was one of those feelings of, ‘Uh oh, is this going to be one of those nights where you’re doing a lot of good things and the goalie is doing his part on the other end of it?’ ” coach David Quinn said. “You just have to keep going, keep getting pucks to the net, getting inside, and managing the game.”

The floodgates opened when Buchnevich finished a great cross-ice feed from Zibanejad at 9:23 of the second, followed by a tip-in from Kreider at 11:56 and a highlight-reel drag-and-flip on a left-wing rush from the superlative Artemi Panarin — who didn’t seem any worse for the wear after missing the last game before the break (and the All-Star Game) with an upper-body issue.

When Zibanejad scored a power-play goal at 5:02 of the third to make it 4-0, that’s when the Rangers relaxed a little bit and were reminded that even the worst team in the league can’t be given the space in front of the net with no challengers in sight.

“Their chances,” Zibanejad said, “basically were us giving it to them.”

Shesterkin’s bid for his first shutout came to an end when Robby Fabbri scored from in front at 5:59 of the third, and some tremors went through the building when Valtteri Filppula made it 4-2 at 10:59. The new defensive duo of Brady Skjei and Adam Fox were on for both goals, nowhere to be seen near the net at the time of the puck crossing the goal line.

But Quinn quickly broke them up, and the Rangers managed to shut it down from there, with Shesterkin firing two pucks the length of the ice at the empty net in the final minute, barely missing both times. It was almost festive at that point, the two losses going into the break — and the dire shadow of the trade deadline less than a month away — almost entirely forgotten. 1173872 New York Rangers “I like playing hockey,” he said. “So it’s good for me.” New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2020

Rangers dangling promotion to top line as motivation for rookie Kakko

Brett Cyrgalis

January 31, 2020 | 2:47pm

Kaapo Kakko shook his head in affirmation.

“So good,” the Rangers 18-year-old winger said about the recent trip back to his native Finland while his NHL team was on a nine-day break for All-Star weekend and their bye week, which ended with Friday night’s Garden match against the Red Wings.

“It was so good for me to spend time with friends and family,” the No. 2- overall pick said Friday morning. “It was so good for me.”

There have obviously been high expectations for Kakko, but, as could have been expected for such a young player in his first time on the smaller North American rinks, there have been ups and downs. One of the big ups was getting the most ice time of his short NHL career during the game just before the break, elevated to the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad while logging 19:33.

Coach David Quinn did not keep him there coming back, set to start Kakko on the third line with Brendan Lemieux and Filip Chytil against the league-worst Red Wings. But Kakko was going to have a great opportunity to move back up if he keeps playing the way he was just before the break.

“One of the things that I think people can lose sight of is when you put an 18-year-old on your top line, they’re going to face the other team’s top line and the other team’s top ‘D’ pairing, and that can be a tall task,” said Quinn, who started the game with that top flank occupied by Pavel Buchnevich, who had been sick for a while before the break.

“I think [Buchnevich] is a good fit for that line right now,” Quinn added. “But that being said, I would not be hesitant at all to put Kakko up there.”

Like most teenagers — with his 19th birthday coming Feb. 13 — Kakko has focused on his point production, which is far from what he was used to playing in the top Finnish league. He had seven goals and 16 points in his first 44 NHL games. That included one goal in his previous 28 games, and no points in his previous eight, going into Friday night. Quinn and his staff have tried to reassure him that he shouldn’t evaluate his game solely on points production, and that is a lesson that seems to at least be partially settling in.

“I think the last [few] games, I played better,” Kakko said. “I have no goals, no points. But it’s coming. Last game, I played almost 20 minutes. So that’s good for me.”

Though the most games he ever played in a Finnish season was 45, Kakko was dismissive in saying, “Tired? No, I’m not.” And Quinn had a reason for that.

“If you talk to him, he hasn’t played as many minutes, so that’s why,” Quinn said. “I don’t see the fatigue in him. He had a little bit of [a dip in play] in November, along with some of our other younger guys. But I have not seen [fatigue].”

Quinn’s team will play the next few weeks in the shadow of the Feb. 24 trade deadline, which could drastically change the makeup of the roster. Among the forwards, Kreider is arguably the best rental on the market, and Buchnevich could be on the move, along with pending free agents Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast. That is a lot of minutes to be had if any number of them leave.

With the short trip back home for a couple days, the hope is that Kakko is refreshed and ready to take on a bigger role in the second half.

“An 18-year-old from Europe, there are a lot of challenges because the game is just so different,” Quinn said. “Kakko is making a lot of adjustments in his life, and that’s an awful lot to throw at an 18-year-old — and I think he’s done a good job handling it.”

As for contemplating the increased minutes and role, Kakko cracked another fresh-faced smile. 1173873 New York Rangers How does he even... pic.twitter.com/iBj0x4IMIr

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 1, 2020

Postgame analysis: NY Rangers come out of the break with a win over The Rangers' fourth and final goal came from Zibanejad in the third lowly Red Wings period. It was his third point of the game and 200th as a Ranger.

Panarin added an assist on the play, upping his season total to 70 points in just 48 games played. Vincent Z. Mercogliano More takeaways from Vin 10:58 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2020 It wouldn't have been a surprise if Quinn had decided to demote Buchnevich coming out of the break. He's been inconsistent for a decent stretch now and got bounced from the first line in favor of Kaapo Kakko in NEW YORK - With trade rumors swirling and their playoff chances the loss to the Islanders on Jan. 21. Kakko played really well that game, dwindling, the Rangers returned from the all-star break trying to block out so there were reasons to give him an extended look. But for all of tough distractions and negativity. love we've seen Quinn give Buchnevich, he's also gone out of his way to The old "one game at a time" cliche applied. show faith in him. I asked him why. "Because he's a good player and we believe in him," Quinn said. "He's been battling the flu for a while — I "Our approach is to put ourselves in the best position to win a hockey know people don't want to hear that — but it's the reality of the situation. game," coach David Quinn said. "It really is that simple and we are that He's a guy that’s a 20 goal-scorer in this league and he's got a little bit of short-sighted." chemistry with Mika and he's earned this opportunity."

The Rangers know they're not going to change their outlook in one day. That whole line with Zibanejad, Buchnevich and Kreider was really good. They each finished plus-two and combined for three goals and three It's going to require an extended winning streak, and even that might not assists. There's a reason Quinn wants to keep them together. "I thought be enough to make up the ground they need to for a legitimate playoff that line was really good — and it wasn't just all about Mika," he said. "I push. But there's only one way to start it — with win No. 1. thought Kreids and Buchy had a good night, as well."

They got it Friday night at Madison Square Garden with a 4-2 win against The driving force, of course, was Zibanejad. I asked Quinn about his the NHL-worst Detroit Red Wings, with the first three goals coming in a overall impact in the two years they've had together. "I can’t say enough span of less than 10 minutes during the second period. great things about him — not only what you see on the ice, but what you Key moment see away from the rink," Quinn said. "He’s everything you want in a player. He’s coachable, he’s a great teammate, he plays 200 feet — I Despite 15 shots on a goal and a few close calls for the Rangers (24-21- mean, I could go on for a long time about him. We’re lucky to have him." 4) in the first period — including some key saves from 35-year-old Ranger-killer Jimmy Howard — the game entered the second period Quinn went with rookie Igor Shesterkin to begin this stretch of 20 games scoreless. in 37 days, and while he didn't see a big workload with 23 saves, he did make a critical pad save early in the first period that could have changed Then the floodgates suddenly opened. the entire complexion of the game. "He made some big saves early," Quinn said. "We talked about it quite a bit after the first," Mika Zibanejad said. "Just keep going; keep doing the same things we did in the first. It’s very easy Meet Shesty. pic.twitter.com/BHRVmBhMkk after a first period like that to kind of get frustrated and maybe start looking for one more extra pass, and I thought we did a good job — New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 1, 2020 continuing what we did in the first and got rewarded." We had a funny moment with Shesterkin after the game. He took a It started close to the halfway point, with Mika Zibanejad darting down the couple of long attempts at the Red Wings' empty net and nearly got a right wing and centering a pass to Pavel Buchnevich. He raced down goal. When asked if he's going to keep trying, he smiled really wide and other side of the ice and redirected it in before sliding hard into the nodded enthusiastically. He also said that he's done it before in Russia. boards. Quinn sounded pretty confident that he will in the NHL, too. "I'd be surprised if he doesn't get one," Quinn said. "He does have that ability. "We've seen that play before by Mika where he can throw a little bit of He's one of those goalies that can — he's got poise, and he's got the deception on his initial rush and make that backdoor pass," Quinn said. ability physically to get that puck down the ice."

It was the second goal in as many games for Buchnevich. Prior to that, Omg he tried for it again, he's gonna get one this year he had gone 13 games with just one goal. pic.twitter.com/h9GNNXGbep

"Over the games where he hasn't scored, he's been right there," — Fitz (@FitzGSN_) February 1, 2020 Zibanejad said. "The chances have been there for him — it just hasn’t gone in. And that happens sometimes during the season, and I think he's There was a lot of talk before the game about the new defensive pairs, been sticking with it and it was nice to see him score today." with Ryan Lindgren joining Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox teaming up with Brady Skjei. I thought they looked solid for most of the game and didn't Less than three minutes later, Chris Kreider picked up his 18th goal of allow too many chances — although, to be fair, Detroit has the worst the season by tipping in a wrist shot from Adam Fox. record in the league for a reason — but the Skjei-Fox pairing was on for both of the Red Wings' third-period goals. After the second one, they It was the sixth goal in eight games and 11th in the last 17 for Kreider, were done playing together. Quinn went back to old D pairs and left the who has been the central figure for many of the Rangers' trade rumors. door open for what he might do next game. "Because they were on for Buch and Kreider back to back to give us the 2-0 lead two goals and I thought it was time to go back to the original pairings," pic.twitter.com/jWGtapnfaJ Quinn said when asked why he made the change. "That doesn’t mean I’m not going to go back to what we saw tonight, but Brady and Foxy — Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) February 1, 2020 were on for both of their goals and I wanted to change it up."

Finally, with 42 seconds left in the second period, leading-scorer Artemi Quinn also made a minor in-game lineup change, dropping Brendan Panarin got in on the action. Lemieux to the fourth line and moving Brett Howden back up to the third with Kakko and Filip Chytil. "Lemieux obviously had been hurt for a while, He received a pass from Jesper Fast near center ice and took it the rest and then we had the nine-day break," Quinn explained. "He was a little of the way himself, fighting through defenseman Alex Biega and then gassed as the period was going on in the first. I don't know if he's quite flicking a backhand shot past Howard from a difficult angle. ready for all those minutes that he probably was going to play, and It was 27th goal of the season for Panarin, who missed the last game Howden’s had a good stretch. So, really it was more — and I said this to before the all-star break with an upper-body injury. (Howden) before the for the game — I said, ‘Listen, we didn’t love your game against Islanders, but if you go back to what you were doing, you'll "It’s nice to have him back," Quinn said with a smile. have an opportunity to get back up.’ So there's a little bit of a combination of Lemieux still working his way back and Howden."

Let's not get too crazy over one win against a team with the worst points total in the league by 16 (!). But as I wrote at the top, the Rangers needed to start somewhere. Playoffs or not — and we know the answer is probably not — it's important for them to have a second half that they can build on going into next season. At the time of this writing, they sat nine points behind Toronto and Carolina for the final wild card spot in the East. But if they fall off like they did last season and finish in the 78-80 point range, it won't feel like they've made much progress. They need to block out the outside noise and stack some wins together. As Lindgren told me, "We can't take any game for granted." One down, with another to go Saturday in Detroit. "It's important to come back after a break like that and feel good about yourself," Zibanejad said. "I thought we played a good game (Friday) and did enough to win. Now we focus on tomorrow."

Bergen Record LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173874 New York Rangers Projected lineup: Jan. 31 vs. Detroit Red Wings NOTE: This lineup is based on Thursday's practice and could be subject

to change. NY Rangers projected lineup: New 'D' pairs separate rookies Ryan Forwards Lindgren and Adam Fox First line → Chris Kreider (LW) – Mika Zibanejad (C) – Pavel Buchnevich

(RW) Vincent Z. Mercogliano Second line → Artemi Panarin (LW) – Ryan Strome (C) – Jesper Fast 5:40 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2020 (RW)

Third line → Brendan Lemieux (LW) – Filip Chytil (C) – Kaapo Kakko (RW) TARRYTOWN – Fresh off vacationing together over the all-star break, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox received some surprising news when they Fourth line → Brett Howden (LW) – Greg McKegg (C) – Brendan Smith arrived at the MSG Training Center on Thursday afternoon. (RW)

The New York Rangers' rookie defensemen have been paired together Defense for more than two months, but the lineup chart in the locker room had First pair → Ryan Lindgren (L) and Jacob Trouba (R) them listed separately. Second pair → Brady Skjei (L) and Adam Fox (R) “I just got to the rink today and they changed it up,” Lindgren said. “You never know what’s going to happen. Me and Foxy had a good run Third pair → Marc Staal (L) and Tony DeAngelo (R) together, but it’ll be a new challenge to play with (Jacob Trouba) and it’ll be a good test (Friday against the Detroit Red Wings) to see how we do. Goalies I’m looking forward to it.” Starter → Igor Shesterkin

Trouba had been on the top pair with old friend Brady Skjei, but Rangers Backup → Henrik Lundqvist coach David Quinn indicated “I just haven’t loved a couple of the pairings” lately. Healthy scratches: Alexandar Georgiev and Micheal Haley

He made it clear, though, that he'd been pleased with the all-rookie Bergen Record LOADED: 02.01.2020 tandem.

“I think Lindgren and Fox have really played well,” he said. “We were hesitant to break them up because of that, but we’ve been toying with this for a while. It just seems like the right time to see how it works.”

In many respects, Trouba and Lindgren are the Rangers' most physical defensemen. They both bring a level of toughness and the ability to dish out big hits.

It'll be interesting to see how they mesh given those parallels.

"He’s a guy that plays similar to me in the physical aspects," Lindgren said. "I think we’ll go out there, bang some bodies and I think we’ll do well together."

When asked if promoting Lindgren to play with Trouba — who was acquired during the offseason to be the Rangers’ No. 1 defenseman — was an endorsement of Lindgren, Quinn quickly replied, “Yes.”

He's been searching for the right partner for Trouba all season, with Skjei, Libor Hájek and now Lindgren taking their turns.

“The thing I really like about Lindgren and I think has surprised all of us is his ability with the puck and how he’s been able to get us out of our own end,” Quinn said. “Troubs, when he’s on his game, he does that as well. It’s a gut feeling. We want to see how it looks. I think they both play with a little bit of a snarl. Maybe they can give us that consistent, shutdown D pairing that we’re looking for.”

Meanwhile, Fox has burst onto the scene after coming straight to the NHL from college.

The 21-year-old has arguably been the Rangers’ best defenseman, playing in all 48 games heading into Friday's 7 p.m. home game and ranking second among D-men on the team with 27 points (six goals and 21 assists). He has the best Corsi rating on the team at 52%.

Fox will now be paired with Skjei, with the only D pair that remains the same being Marc Staal and Tony DeAngelo.

Injury updates

After missing the final game before the all-star break with an upper-body injury, Rangers' leading-scorer Artemi Panarin returned to practice Thursday and is expected to play Friday.

"We were confident he was going to come back 100%," Quinn said.

Another forward, Ryan Strome, had to leave practice early due to illness. But Quinn indicated that he expects him to play, too, and he should have his full lineup against the Red Wings. 1173875 New York Rangers

Pavel Buchnevich triggers 2nd-period blitz as Rangers top Red Wings

Colin Stephenson

January 31, 2020 11:27 PM

Realistically, making the playoffs is a long, long shot for the Rangers. As of right now, though, they believe they still have a chance to do so, and the plan is to play desperate hockey and give themselves the best chance they can.

Games like their 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night at the Garden are absolute must-haves. The Red Wings are last in the NHL at 12-36-4, and the Rangers will play them again Saturday in Detroit.

“Right now, regardless of who we’re playing, these points are points we have to have,’’ coach David Quinn said at the morning skate.

The Rangers (24-21-4) gained two points on Carolina, which lost at home to Vegas, and one point on Philadelphia, which lost in overtime to Pittsburgh. With 52 points, the Rangers are nine points out of the second wild-card spot.

Second-period goals by Pavel Buchnevich, Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin got the Rangers going after Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard held them at bay in the first period, making 15 saves to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.

“It’s very easy, after a first period like that, to get frustrated,’’ said Mika Zibanejad, who set up Buchnevich’s goal, had the second assist on Kreider’s and scored a power-play goal that made it 4-0 early in the third period. “And I thought we did a good job continuing what we did in the first and got rewarded.’’

Buchnevich’s goal, at 9:23 of the second period, was a thing of beauty. Kreider sent a diagonal pass from left to right wing for Zibanejad, who drove hard to the bottom of the circle and sent a pass across for Buchnevich, who directed it behind an out-of-position Howard before losing his edge and crashing into the end boards.

That goal seemed to open the floodgates for the Rangers.

“Yeah, when you’re pressing that hard and creating those chances and you don’t get rewarded, it’s obviously nice when you get that first one,’’ said Zibanejad, whose goal was his 200th point as a Ranger. “And ‘relax’ is maybe the wrong word, but I think you feel a little bit more confident in that situation, and it was noticeable.’’

Kreider made it 2-0 at 11:56 when he deflected in Adam Fox’s blue-line wrist shot for his 18th goal. Panarin made it 3-0 when he scored a magnificent goal in the final minute of the period. He drove up left wing, dropped the puck behind him, then flipped it forward and backhanded a shot over Howard’s right shoulder and into the inside corner at 19:18 for his 27th goal.

Zibanejad’s power-play goal at 5:02 of the third period made it 4-0 before Detroit got goals from Robby Fabbri at 5:59 and Valtteri Filppula at 10:59.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin, starting his fourth NHL game, made 23 saves to earn the victory. He nearly scored a goal of his own, firing a shot from in front of his crease toward an empty Detroit net in the closing moments. The shot went wide.

Afterward, Shesterkin smiled when asked if he’ll try to score the next time he’s in the same situation. He said he scored once before, in junior hockey in Russia.

“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get one,’’ Quinn said. “He does have that ability. He’s got poise. And he’s got the ability, physically, to get that puck down the ice.’’

Notes & quotes: Henrik Lundqvist is scheduled to start in goal Saturday . . . G Alexandar Georgiev and LW Micheal Haley were the scratches Friday.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173876 New York Rangers

Young Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko refreshed after trip home to Finland during All-Star break

Colin Stephenson

January 31, 2020 7:37 PM

Kaapo Kakko made a last-minute decision to go home to Finland during the All-Star break and according to coach David Quinn it was a good decision.

Quinn said Kakko, the 18-year-old forward the Rangers drafted No. 2 overall last summer, looked like “a very happy 18-year-old,’’ at the Rangers’ first practice after the break on Thursday. “He needed it.’’

About a week before the break, Kakko thought it unlikely he'd go home. He wondered whether the seven-hour time difference between his hometown of Turku and New York would be a problem. But he said he decided about two games before the break to go home.

“I was just thinking, five days, six days in Finland — it’s a long time,’’ he said. “So why not?’’

Kakko, who turns 19 on Feb. 13, played his 45th game of the season Friday. That was as many as he played all last season for his Finnish club, TPS. He insisted the heavy concentration of games in the NHL schedule has not been a problem and he is not tired.

“I like to play hockey so [more games] is good for me,’’ he said.

Kakko started on the third line Friday, with center Filip Chytil and left wing Brendan Lemieux, but Quinn said he was willing to move him up to the first line — as he did against the Islanders in the last game before the break — if Kakko played well and deserved the promotion.

Blue notes

G Alexandar Georgiev and LW Micheal Haley were the two lineup scratches . . . The 15 games on the schedule in February is the most the Rangers have had in February. They’ve had 15 games in February once before, in 1956 . . . Besides Kakko, five other Rangers have birthdays in February: Brendan Smith (31 on Feb. 8), Georgiev (24 on Feb. 10), Ryan Lindgren (22 on Feb. 11), Adam Fox (22 on Feb. 17), and Jacob Trouba (26 on Feb. 26).

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173877 New York Rangers “He made some big saves early on,” Quinn said. “I don’t know if anybody remembers it … but at the three-minute mark of the first period, he makes a great save after we had had some zone time and he made saves that he needed to.” Igor Shesterkin the ‘shooter’ continues to impress the Rangers “He just gets better and better,” Mika Zibanejad said. “Great job. And he was there when we needed him.”

Rick Carpiniello The idea to send Shesterkin down, to play during the break, and to recall him to start the first game after it ended worked out fine. Henrik Jan 31, 2020 Lundqvist, who has played just once since Jan. 2, gets the start in the return match in Detroit on Saturday. And the schedule gets very compacted, so all three goalies are going to get work. Just none will get NEW YORK — If the numerous NHL scouts in the house wanted to see as much work as they’d like. Chris Kreider as he barreled toward D-Day, they got a show. Or if they wanted to see Tony DeAngelo. Or Pavel Buchnevich. Thoughts

If they wanted to see Brady Skjei, well, not so much. And if they wanted 1. The bye week was almost as bad as the two-week Super Bowl break to scout Alexandar Georgiev, well, he was in a suit and tie somewhere as (but not as bad as the monthslong NCAA football championship break). It the Rangers continue to try to make their three-goalie thing work. is a recipe for bad hockey, and Friday’s game was bad hockey. The Rangers, at least, defended fairly well and persisted with their game plan Let’s get to the third goalie — third only perhaps because he was the last for most of the night, sticking with it when they weren’t being rewarded to arrive on the scene, and third least-likely to be traded now or any time for their offensive-zone work. in the coming years. I asked Zibanejad, who had another fabulous night, how difficult it is to Igor Shesterkin got his third win in only four starts, 4-2 over pathetic play after that break. Detroit at the Garden on Friday, five floors above massive subway protests at Penn Station. “It’s hard, but you’re anxious to get back,” he said. “It was a good break to kind of reset your mind a little bit and rest your body. Guys were Shesterkin got the start mostly because unlike the rest of his teammates, excited to be back. We know what’s ahead of us and we’re excited about save for Kreider the All-Star, he had played since Jan. 21. He played it.” twice, in fact, for Hartford during the absurd nine-day All-Star and bye- week break. Detroit hadn’t played since Jan. 22, so a matchup of teams 2. Unless it was accidental or coincidental, the first game back was also out of the playoff picture devolved into a difficult game to watch and, we’d against a rusty sun-tanned opponent who had barely practiced. The assume, to play. highlight of the first period, actually, was when Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards were dropped via parachutes from the bridge. But Shesterkin was solid, if not spectacular, having zero chance on either of the late Detroit goals in the third period. 3. It looked for a while like it was going to be another typical Red Wings- Rangers game. Nine of the previous 14 were decided in overtime or a Then he opened some eyes and mouths. Because Detroit had scored shootout, and six of the previous seven were decided by one goal. two goals to make a 4-0 game interesting, it pulled goalie Jimmy Howard for an extra skater. Not once, but twice, Shesterkin had the puck on his 4. I thought moving Ryan Lindgren to the top defensive pair with Jacob stick and attempted to score a goal. Twice his shots were knocked down Trouba worked really well for as long as they were together. Pairing before they had a chance to go in, but that is rare — and rarer among the Trouba and Skjei has not worked twice now, and the Rangers need to Rangers. have a first pair that can shut down opponents. They also need to have Trouba freed up to be the player they paid him to be. It will be interesting SHESTY WAS 푔표푖푛푔 푓표푟 THAT GOALIE GOAL. to see how much of a look they get together down the road, especially PIC.TWITTER.COM/SP4JVABU7S when they play a team with considerable first-line talent.

— NEW YORK RANGERS (@NYRANGERS) FEBRUARY 1, 2020 5. The Rangers pinned the Red Wings in their own end for the first 1:05 or so and had some opportunities right off the hop, too. Then, at 2:07, Fifteen goals have been scored by NHL goalies, eight of which were Shesterkin robbed Adam Erne from the slot among four watching actually shot into the net. Billy Smith of the Islanders was the first, but he Rangers players. Howard — Superman when he plays the Rangers, as was credited with a goal when an opponent scored into his own net and he was 10-4-3 with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .944 save Smith was the last to touch it. Martin Brodeur of the Devils scored three, percentage entering the game — stopped Artemi Panarin with his stick, including one of those in the playoffs, shooting it the length of the ice for perhaps with the knob, early on. two of them with an own goal credited on the third. The Predators’ Pekka Rinne did it Jan. 9. 6. Filip Chytil drew a penalty and Detroit killed 45 seconds of it by freezing the puck along the back wall. When it ended, Howard made a The Rangers? Never happened. When I was a kid, I recall seeing Eddie terrific stop on Chytil in tight. Giacomin trying to bank one in off the sideboards and he always said he wanted to score. He never did. I can’t even remember the last time, if JIMMY HOWARD: NOPE, NOT TODAY. ♂ ever, another Rangers goalie attempted to hit an empty net. Maybe Cam PIC.TWITTER.COM/FVYX0VSUH0 Talbot? — NHL (@NHL) FEBRUARY 1, 2020 Shesterkin? He’s done it before. 7. Late in the first, Panarin rang one off the post, and the period ended “Oct. 31,” Shesterkin said. with a high-speed Kreider-to-Zibanejad two-on-one that ended when Zibanejad redirected Kreider’s pass over the crossbar. That was in 2013-14, when playing for a junior team, Spartak Moscow, in Russia’s MHL. Shesterkin said he was going to give it one more shot if it 8. Kakko-Meter: Kaapo Kakko, back on the third line, had a great chance presented itself Friday, a lead of two or more providing enough of a from the high slot in the first and was stoned by Howard on a redirection cushion to make the cost of an icing call less dangerous. early in the second. Shesterkin followed with a flashy glove save on Jonathan Ericsson, who was walking in unchecked to the left dot. Early in “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t (eventually) get one,” Rangers coach David the third, he carried on an odd-man break and decided, correctly, to Quinn said. “He does have that ability. He’s one of those goalies that shoot it. Howard made a toe save. The Diaper Line started with Brendan can. He’s got poise and he’s got the ability, physically, to get that puck Lemieux replacing Brett Howden, but eventually, Howden was back on down the ice.” the left side of Chytil and Kakko and Lemieux was on the fourth line. Shesterkin is confident. I think, once he gets a better grasp of the 9. In the second, Buchnevich, who was having a strong game to that language, he’s going to be funny, too, and a character. point and who scored in his previous game, drove to the net off a quick Right now, he’s a rookie goalie making very early impressions in the NHL exchange from Kreider to Zibanejad and swatted Zibanejad’s clever after dominating the KHL and the AHL. “deception” pass (Quinn’s word) past Howard before crashing into the end boards. 1-0. See what happens when Buchnevich shoots? Buchnevich was replaced on the Zibanejad line for a bit before the break AGAINST COLUMBUS. THE RANGERS AND RED WINGS ARE by Kakko, but he was back up there Friday “because he’s a good player PLAYING A HOME-AND-HOME SET ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS FOR and we believe in him,” Quinn said, “and he’s been battling the flu for a THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAR. 26-27, 2000. #NYR while. I know people don’t want to hear that, but it’s the reality of the situation. He’s a guy that’s a 20-goal scorer in this league and he’s got a — NYR STATS & INFO (@NYRSTATSINFO) JANUARY 31, 2020 little bit of chemistry with Mika, and he’s earned this opportunity.” 18. The last time the Rangers and Red Wings played a home-and-home PAVEL BUCHNEVICH DECIDED TO ADD A LITTLE EXTRA FLAIR ON on consecutive nights, in March 2000, Detroit won 8-2 and 6-0. After the THIS ONE. PIC.TWITTER.COM/MDG1BTD9C3 game, coach John Muckler was being grilled particularly hard by two reporters who barely spent any time around the team that season. They — NHL (@NHL) FEBRUARY 1, 2020 badgered him with comments like, “Coach, the media is saying your team has quit on you.” … When the presser ended, Muckler walked away, with 10. Adam Fox — playing with Skjei as his partner — circled the top of the his final public words as the Rangers’ coach being, “Where did those two zone and sent a wrist shot that Kreider deflected from the high slot past fuckin’ guys come from?” He and GM Neil Smith were fired the next Howard. No. 18. Another assist for Zibanejad. Fox has a goal and 10 morning, but not before one of those two reporters left the press scrum assists in his last 11 games. 2-0. saying, “I think they’ll both be back.” Assistant John Tortorella, of all CHRIS KREIDER LEADS THE NHL IN GOALS ON TIPPED SHOTS people, was named interim coach for the final four games, and the SINCE THE START OF THE 2015-16 SEASON (33). HE HAS TALLIED Rangers went 0-3-1. A GOAL IN EACH OF THE LAST TWO GAMES, IN FOUR OF THE Shayna Goldman’s analysis LAST FIVE GAMES, AND IN SIX OF THE LAST EIGHT GAMES. #NYR • The Rangers were the better team at five-on-five against the Red Wings — NYR STATS & INFO (@NYRSTATSINFO) FEBRUARY 1, 2020 as they took the majority of the adjusted shot share through each period 11. Daily Bread: He’s back. After missing the last game, and the All-Star for a 60.4 percent total. When factoring in quality, the Rangers fell short Game, with an upper-body injury, Panarin returned and scored a solo in xG in the third period, taking just 42.3 percent of the share as Detroit goal late in the second, taking Jesper Fast’s pass, toasting Alex Biega in tried to battle back in the final frame. However, because of their strong the left circle and putting a back-hander short side past Howard. His play in the first two periods, they finished with a decisive 64.4 percent of 27th. 3-0. By the way, I much more enjoyed his genuine one-legged arm- the xG share. pump celebration before he adopted a contrived Rockettes leg-kick thing. • Panarin was the most frequent shooter with 12 attempts in all situations. Panarin added a power-play assist, making him the third undrafted player Ten of those were taken at even strength, and the Rangers took 15 more to put up 70 points in each of his first five seasons in the NHL, joining shots than the Red Wings with Panarin on the ice (29 for, 14 against). Wayne Gretzky and Peter Stastny. By doing it in 49 games, he was also was the fourth fastest to 70 points in a season in team history, behind • Buchnevich and Kreider, who each scored, took the highest quality of Jean Ratelle’s 39 games in 1971-72, Jaromir Jagr’s 39 games in 2005-06 shots, culminating in a team-leading 0.31 individual xG for each. and Rod Gilbert’s 47 games in 1971-72. • The Rangers tilted the ice the most in terms of quality with Fox on at .@ARTEMIYPANARIN TRYING OUT FOR THE @ROCKETTES. even strength. His 0.59 expected-goal differential led the team, as did his PIC.TWITTER.COM/WSVH0RLQVU on-ice xG of 1.03. The Rangers were at their offensive best in terms of shots and scoring chances for with the Skjei-Fox pair on defense and — NHL GIFS (@NHLGIFS) FEBRUARY 1, 2020 with the Panarin-Strome-Fast trio up front.

12. When asked the difference between having and not having Panarin, • Lemieux drew two penalties, bringing his season total to 25 to rank sixth Quinn said it’s “a lot.” “You have a guy of that magnitude, and I said this in the league — and that’s after missing 11 games with injury. the game that he sat: In essence, you lose three players when you lose a guy like that because his two linemates aren’t the players they are when • Shesterkin faced 33 unblocked attempts and stopped 23 of the 25 shots he’s in the lineup. So, him and Mika have that ability, when they’re not in that went on net. He finished the night with a minus-0.81 goals saved the lineup. When they are in our lineup, they make their two linemates above expectation, allowing two goals on the 1.19 expected goals the that much better. So, it’s nice to have them back.” Red Wings generated.

13. Lemieux drew a penalty to Detroit’s pest, Justin Abdelkader, and on • Zibanejad led all skaters with a 3.66 game score, which blends the power play, Zibanejad sniped one through Kreider’s screen and past traditional and advanced statistics for a single value. Rounding out the Howard for his third point of the night. It was his 19th of the season and top five of all skaters were Kreider (3.06), DeAngelo (2.84), Buchnevich his 200th point with the Rangers. 4-0. “I can’t say enough great things (2.84) and Panarin (2.63). about him,” Quinn said. “Not only what you see on the ice but what you see away from the rink. He’s everything you want in a player. He’s The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 coachable. He’s a great teammate. He plays 200 feet. I could go on for a long time about him. We’re lucky to have him.”

14. Seconds later, Shesterkin flung one into the corner and Fox and Skjei chased it, leaving nobody to defend in front. Robby Fabbri was allowed to walk in from the right circle and rip one under the crossbar to ruin Shesterkin’s bid for a first NHL shutout. 4-1. Another breakdown by the Fox-Skjei pair and the Diaper Line led to Valtteri Filppula standing all alone in the slot with the puck, and he beat Shesterkin. 4-2 … with almost half a period left.

15. Quinn Bin: Having gone back to his forward lines from before the break (Lemieux, still recovering from time off with a broken hand, was a bit winded, Quinn said, hence the return to the fourth line), Quinn had seen enough of Fox and Skjei after the two goals and went back to his original defensive pairs, too, though he said he might go right back to the pairs that began the game, with Lindgren replacing Skjei on the first tandem.

16. My Great-Aunt Tillie Could Have Scored: Or maybe not. A kid shot a puck through a tiny hole in a piece of plywood from center ice and won a car during the second intermission. Brett Cyrgalis of The Post called it.

17. Good Tony, Bad Tony: Two more assists for DeAngelo. That’s 27 to go with 12 goals. Ka-ching. Ka-ching.

THE RANGERS ARE PLAYING AGAINST THE SAME OPPONENT ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCT. 9-10, 2015 1173878 New York Rangers games played in Hartford (AHL) last weekend. Lundqvist, who has played one game since Jan. 2 (a 5-2 loss in St. Louis), will start Saturday in Detroit.

Playoffs? What the Rangers must do to achieve their stated goal of “Looking forward to that, to get an opportunity to play,” Lundqvist said making the postseason Thursday. “That’s day by day. Big picture, we’ll see what happens. We’re three guys who want to play and we support each other and try to make the best of it right now.

Rick Carpiniello “You miss the action. You miss being out there.”

Jan 31, 2020 Rangers coach David Quinn noted the quirkiness of the schedule, when the Rangers went into the break with three of their four games against

the Islanders – and Georgiev played because of his numbers against that GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Time is of the essence for the Rangers in terms particular opponent. But he said the goalies want “clarity.” of their stated goal – to make the playoffs after two years out of the When asked why Shesterkin Friday and Lundqvist Saturday, he said, “I tournament. had the choice to play a goalie who’s been playing and played two But let’s not kid ourselves. The mission statement is not, and never was, games (in Hartford last weekend) or playing a goalie who’s been on the “playoffs or bust.” The rebuild remains ongoing, and is and must be the beach for nine days.” end goal, the priority, even at the sake of another dark springtime at Lundqvist smiled throughout his session of the usual questions about the Madison Square Garden. “challenging” nature of the situation. Do the Rangers have a shot? Yes. Mathematically, they do. Talent-wise, Again he was asked about the Eli Manning connection, especially the perhaps they do, given that they’re better in that regard than they were “only a Giant” comments at his farewell press conference. last February or the February before. No, it wouldn’t take several teams filing Chapter 11 and folding. “I will always feel like a Ranger,” Lundqvist said. “It doesn’t matter. In 10- 15 years when I’m done playing, it doesn’t matter. The things I’ve But realistically? experienced here, it’s pretty amazing. That will never change no matter The Rangers returned from eight days in warm and/or faraway places for what.” Thursday’s practice to find themselves nine points out of the final wild Lundqvist suffered through Year 2 of the rebuild, especially when it card spot in the East, with 50 points in a conference where it will likely became obvious they would deal his great friend, Mats Zuccarello. He take more than 90 to get in. They would have to jump over five teams to thinks and hopes this year will not be as drastic in terms of changes. grab a wild card, a feat unto itself despite having one, two or three games in hand on all of the other teams in the conference. “I think now we’re all looking forward,” he said. “I think last year we were still maybe taking a step back. At least that’s the feeling. I could be It’s daunting because you’re talking about needing a pretty solid streak of wrong. But it felt like we let a couple of guys go to look more to the future wins from a Rangers team that has won as many as three in a row once and I think the mentality or the feeling going into this season was we kind all season (around Thanksgiving) and has won as many as two straight of turned the corner. But we’ll see what happens.” just three times since then. The Rangers could get very much worse at the deadline, depending on Pile on top of that a schedule with two absurdly long breaks – one at the how deep they go in sell-offs: The obvious ones would be Jesper Fast beginning, one just ending Thursday – which will compact the final 34 (16 and Ryan Strome, the less obvious Tony DeAngelo, Brady Skjei or Pavel home, 18 road) games in the next 65 days, with a trade deadline in 24 Buchnevich. They would have to make some moves to fit Kreider in days (13 games) that promises to bring more changes. under the cap. Georgiev remains the most likely of the goalies to go, And yes, they’re going to be sellers again. That hasn’t changed though that doesn’t need to be done until the summer. regardless of what the standings say or have said. So figure they’ll be worse for the final 21 games and throw that into the Speaking of which, Chris Kreider is garnering much attention around the make-the-playoffs equation. league as a likely available rental – the most desirable pure rental But all of that will be moot if the Rangers don’t clean up their forward if he is available – from teams like Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado, inconsistency and knack for poor starts. It won’t matter at all if they don’t perhaps Nashville, Dallas and others too. play better defensively – and I don’t mean their defensemen, but the I think there is a chance (25 percent? 30?) that the Rangers will re-sign entire unit of five. And I don’t mean defensively in their own end, but and therefore keep Kreider if they can get him off the expected seven- rather taking much better care of the puck through the neutral zone, and year term. If he’d go for six years at a little south of $7 million per, I think spending more time – a matter of will they don’t possess in most cases – the Rangers would love to hold onto a cornerstone and absolutely unique in the offensive zone. And, of course, doing something with that time. player that they will not be able to replace any time soon. Quinn pointed out that some of the stats from the last loss before the But if he wants what the market will bear on July 1 – say the $7 million break – 4-2 to the Islanders in which the Rangers had the puck a lot — per for seven years that Kevin Hayes got from Philadelphia – then the were “misleading” he said, “a little too much fluff to them,” meaning, Rangers have no choice but to trade him by Feb. 24. yeah, the Rangers had a ton of shots and spent more time with the puck in the offensive zone (six-plus minutes more, by his staff’s count) than did Kreider, back from the All-Star game and back on pace to score near 30 the Islanders, but spent too much of that time “on the perimeter.” goals, continued to sidestep any commenting on his future after Thursday’s practice, repeating his “focus on the task at hand” mantra This is what this team does when it’s bad. And because of that, it then he’s held onto all season. relies on its goalies too often.

Asked if, as a human being, he doesn’t think about the possibilities, They get careless, or stubborn, when playing against a team that clogs Kreider said, “Nope. Nope. You can’t do your job at this level if you’re the neutral zone. They get fancy and waste a lot of their possession thinking about anything else.” forcing passes when a shot is the better option. To win several in a row, or more, these are things that need to be fixed and pronto. So there’s that. Quinn will do some experimenting, too, breaking up – for the second time The Rangers have one other sore thumb of an issue to sort out as they – the first defense pair of Jacob Trouba and Skjei, inserting 21-year-old attempt to stay in the race – they lost their last two games before the rookie Ryan Lindgren on Trouba’s left. It could last a few shifts or it could break, and in their last three their only even-strength goals have been last a long time. But the Rangers have a need for a top pair. scored by defensemen, both of them Jack In The Box goals, by Tony DeAngelo and Brady Skjei. Quinn loved the rookie pair of Lindgren-Adam Fox. He said the move is an endorsement of Lindgren (unsaid was how much of an indictment it The sore thumb, which doesn’t appear to be going away, is the three- has been of the Skjei-Trouba pair as a shutdown tandem). He likes the goalie conundrum, with Henrik Lundqvist, Alexandar Georgiev and Igor nice surprise of how well Lindgren moves the puck. Shesterkin, who starts Friday against Detroit after returning from two “It’s a gut feeling,” Quinn said. “We want to see how it looks. I think they both play with a little bit of a snarl. Maybe they can give us that more consistent shutdown D pairing that we’re looking for.”

The Rangers are relatively healthy. Artemi Panarin, easily their first-half MVP (and their lone All-Star until an upper-body injury sidelined him just before the break) is 100 percent ready to go, Quinn said.

Brendan Lemieux, all healed from that broken left hand, was with the Diaper kids, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko, on Thursday, with Brett Howden sliding down to the fourth line wing. Strome left practice early with the flu, but is expected to play Friday.

There are innumerable ways the Rangers need to improve if they’re going to make a run here, if they’re going to be relevant until Feb. 24, and then beyond, if they can at least put off the beginning of the Tragic Number count and the inevitable Tank talk that surfaced the last two years.

“We’ve got to win games,” Kreider said. “We’ve got to climb the standings. We’ve got a lot of games coming up in February. We’ve got a lot of games against teams that are in front of us in the standings, so I think, the same approach as before the break there – every game is a huge game for us and an opportunity to make up ground and to get better and to work towards our ultimate goals.

“We’ve got a great opportunity in front of us.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173879 NHL the December resignation of CEO Mark Okerstrom would impact the company’s involvement.

For now, OVG remains focused on securing a premium for founding Inside the KeyArena developer’s strategy for sponsorships and naming partnerships; a strategy sources indicate has paid off thus far. rights at NHL Seattle’s future home Midmarket arenas with one major sport tenant typically generate $5-6 million annually for naming rights. But sources suggest OVG has already beat that by securing several $4-6 million deals on its founding an. 31, 2020 at 5:43 PM partnerships alone.

Geoff Baker For the KeyArena technology partnership, OVG put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) a year ago through project partner ME Engineers and

drew more than a dozen respondents, including Verizon, T-Mobile and Tim Leiweke, CEO of KeyArena renovation developer Oak View Group, AT&T. Beyond the partnership’s sponsor component, a prime attraction made a surprise denial last week, saying he wasn’t close to a naming- was the contract to hardwire the arena for technology infrastructure. rights deal for a venue only 16 months from its estimated reopening. Equipping “new build” sports venues is a coup in the competitive tech But the reason talks aren’t further along, according to multiple sports and field, often bringing prestige and new business. corporate sources, is that escalating arena costs — now $930 million, up “It’s pretty unusual to get everybody throwing their hat in the ring,” one from an initial $600 million — caused OVG, by late 2018, to shift priorities source familiar with the process said. “But this was one of those cases away from naming rights in order to first secure premium amounts for where it was a desirable enough property that they generated some smaller founding partner sponsorships. pretty good competition. So, it put OVG in a pretty good spot.” OVG is said to want $4 million to $6 million annually for founding If Verizon is indeed picked over Bellevue-based T-Mobile — nothing has partnerships, such as those done with Symetra, Virginia Mason and been officially signed yet — it would differ from prior OVG founding Alaska Airlines. Sources also say OVG is in final negotiations with partnerships involving only local companies. But multiple sources say Verizon on a coveted technology founding partnership that’s taken longer New York-based Verizon pushed ahead because of its willingness to do because of the volume of competing bidders. a “bundle deal” beyond KeyArena on OVG projects potentially including Leiweke said last week he had shifted from prioritizing naming rights. arenas in Belmont, N.Y.; Austin, Texas; and an American Hockey League facility in Palm Springs, Calif., for NHL Seattle’s farm team. “There is an order to what we plan to do,” he said, adding that naming rights come last. “Like everything we’re doing with this arena, we are OVG is said to have received KeyArena technology partnership offers taking our time to do it right and think about things differently.” surpassing $5 million annually, with an additional $20 million guaranteed infrastructure spend. OVG informed competing bidders in late December Theories abound on why that strategy shift occurred. One is that OVG it would focus on a Verizon deal. securing higher founding partnership amounts will drive up the bigger- ticket naming rights. Had the naming rights sold first, it would set the “Because of all the competition, I think this has taken a little longer than high-bar sponsorship price and potentially lower what founding partners what they’d hoped,” one source said. “Now, they’ve really got to put would pay. rubber to pavement to get it all done and ready before they open up the building.” Also, when initial naming rights discussions happened in early 2018, the arena’s projected cost was still $700 million. But by the time Mortenson Numerous “robust players,” national and local, are also said to have replaced Skanska Hunt as project contractor in December 2018, applied for the wireless partnership, including McKinstry in Seattle’s Sodo estimates were nearing $900 million and OVG had shelved naming rights neighborhood. Sources also expect a beverage partnership, though that to focus on founding partnerships. involves fewer applicants and usually just a choice between Coca-Cola and Pepsi. “Everybody involved in this assumes the final cost of the arena is going to be a billion dollars or more,” one source involved in sponsorship Once done, focus shifts to naming rights, for which the SBJ story said discussions said. “And Oak View Group is making these sponsorship OVG is seeking $14 million annually. Sources labeled that figure decisions based on that because at the end of the day, they’re paying for unusually high for Seattle, but they could envision OVG asking for it the place.’’ given what’s described as its aggressive KeyArena approach — resembling bigger-market arena deals in San Francisco and Toronto. Leiweke heads a five-member KeyArena sponsorship team that includes his daughter, OVG president (business development) Francesca Bodie; JPMorgan Chase in 2016 pledged $15 million annually over 20 years for his brother, NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke; OVG global partnerships naming rights at San Francisco’s Chase Center, and Scotiabank in 2017 head Ryan Brach; and NHL Seattle VP (corporate partnerships) Jeff committed a record $32 million per year at Toronto’s venue. Webster. They vet one deal at a time, completing Symetra last June, Tim Leiweke ran Toronto’s arena until 2015 as CEO of Maple Leaf Virginia Mason last July and Alaska in mid-January. Sports and Entertainment and knows its finances. Also, he’s a longtime NHL Seattle spokesperson Katie Townsend said Friday the sponsorship associate of former SuperSonics ball boy and current Warriors president team is “still in discussions with a number of prospective Rick Welts, who oversaw the Chase Center deal. technology/solutions partners” and won’t comment further until a deal Those venues do differ from KeyArena: has the NHL’s happens. coveted Maple Leafs franchise and the defending NBA champion Once founding partnerships are done, including the technology deal and Raptors. And the lone-tenant Golden State Warriors in San Francisco are one for wireless and beverage partners, the focus reverts to naming worth several times more than NHL Seattle. rights. Amazon has been widely viewed as a contender for those, But much depends on whether KeyArena naming-rights bidders consider including in a Sports Business Journal (SBJ) story last week — it a future home to more than the NHL and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. dismissed as “speculation” by Tim Leiweke — that pegged the online One factor driving competition and higher pricing on partnership deals, retailer as the naming rights front-runner. according to sources, is the belief a future NBA team could follow NHL But sources suggest is also interested in naming rights and Seattle to KeyArena. could make more sense from an integration perspective. Microsoft Xbox Seattle Times LOADED: 02.01.2020 had a decadelong jersey and pitch sponsorship with the Sounders, signed in 2009 when Tod Leiweke was the soccer club’s president. Also, a yearly NHL video game by EA Sports has helped fuel sales of the Xbox One gaming console.

Another potential bidder is said to be Expedia, which last year expanded to an Interbay campus two miles from KeyArena. But it’s unclear whether 1173880 Ottawa Senators Tierney now has four shorthanded goals to lead the NHL. As a team, the Senators have a league-leading 13 shorthanded goals.

“When we see chances, we try to go,” said Tierney, who finished off a WARREN GAME REPORT: Ovechkin storms past Messier as Capitals pretty passing play that also involved Dylan DeMelo and Connor Brown. knock off Senators “We’re pretty in tune with what we’re doing out there. We’re usually with the same guys, so we know each others tendencies. We’ve been doing a good job of jumping on loose pucks and trying to catch the other power play off-guard.” Ken Warren Coming in, the Senators were looking to match the effort level they Published:February 1, 2020 displayed in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Updated:February 1, 2020 12:03 AM EST For the first time this season, they scored three goals on the power play, and from start to finish it was one of their most complete efforts in months. CAPITALS 5, SENATORS 3 Knocking off a Buffalo squad that has effectively dropped out of the race The Ottawa Senators made a game of it Friday at the Canadian Tire for a playoff spot is, of course, not the same as facing the powerhouse Centre, but it was really all about Alex Ovechkin adding a little more Capitals. history in his quest to become the NHL’s all-time goal scoring king. From Ovechkin’s goal-scoring prowess to the stellar two-way play of Ovechkin scored two more goals in the Capitals’ 5-3 win, giving him 695 likely Norris Trophy winner John Carlson to the slickness of centres in his illustrious career, moving him past Mark Messier into sole Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom to the intensity of rugged winger Tom possession of eighth spot on the NHL’s all-time goal scoring list. Wilson to the goaltending of Samsonov to the depth of the four-line attack, weaknesses are hard to find. “It’s nice to be in that company,” a soft-spoken Ovechkin said. “Lots of legends up there.” The Senators didn’t need any reminders of what they were in for. The last time the clubs met, on Jan. 7 in Washington, the Capitals rolled over Ovechkin paid tribute to his teammates for giving him the puck again and the Senators en route to a 6-1 win. again, giving him every chance to move up the goal-scoring ladder. His first goal came on a two-on-one break in the second period. His second The Capitals have also proven to be as strong on the road as they are at went into an empty net with 15 seconds remaining, finally finishing off a home. Senators team that didn’t quit. Given all that, the Capitals are definitely front-runners to win the Stanley All told, Ovechkin had 11 shots on goal and 19 attempted shots. Cup for the second time in three years.

“I’m happy for him,” said Senators centre Artem Anisimov, who narrowed Naturally, they are a role model for what the Senators want to eventually the Capitals’ lead to 4-3 with a power-play goal in the third period. “I become. played with him on so many (Russian) world championships teams and I know him and I’m so happy. But we needed to do a better job to not let The Senators were on their heels at the outset, unable to slow down the him score against us. He’s such a good player. He finds a way.” early pressure as Hogberg was put to the test early and often.

Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot, who also scored for the Oshie opened the scoring with a nifty deflection of a Carlson pass only Senators, offered similar sentiments. four minutes in. When Kuznetsov scored the Capitals second goal at 11:22, the Capitals held a 12-1 edge in shots. “You hate seeing it against you, but I mean, this is just incredible to see him able to score so many goals. He’s done it over and over and over The Senators offered some push back late in the period. Samsonov again over the years,” Chabot said. “He has proven he’s one of the best, stopped Vladislav Namestnikov on a breakaway and Drake Batherson if not the best. You’ve just got to be happy to see there are some kind of flipped a backhand off the post, but that’s as the close as the Senators crazy record things in the NHL in the entire history and to see him could come in the opening 20 minutes, where the Capitals finished with a working his way slowly to the top, it’s really impressive for sure.” 16-5 shots advantage.

As a team, the Capitals were just a little too much for the Senators, Ovechkin was credited with five of those shots. Another two shot overpowering them en route to an early 2-0 lead and holding off a series attempts whistled wide of the net. But the Senators couldn’t keep him off of spirited Senators comeback attempts. Three times the Senators the scoresheet forever. closed to within one goal, but could never get the equalizer against Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020 Capitals rookie goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who stopped 25 of 28 shots.

Chris Tierney also scored for the Senators. T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Carl Hagelin also scored for the Capitals on Marcus Hogberg, who faced 36 shots.

It was the Capitals’ 35th win of the season — and their 20th on the road — but the Senators didn’t go into the night quietly.

Hagelin’s shorthanded breakaway goal early in the third period put the Capitals ahead 4-2, but Anisimov quickly replied on a power play, adding spice to the Senators’ late comeback attempt.

“We showed some resiliency for sure,” said Senators coach D.J. Smith. “We didn’t lay down. I thought we hung out (Hogberg) in the first period. In saying that, they’re a really good team. They make plays and there’s a reason why they are one of the best teams in the league and there’s a reason they can score goals.”

“We upped our compete level and stayed with them in the second part of the game and I was happy with that.”

Dominated throughout much of the first period and down 2-0 heading into the second period, the Senators woke up with a spirited second.

They narrowed the gap to 3-2 on goals by Tierney (shorthanded) and Chabot. 1173881 Ottawa Senators NHL’s Black Hockey History Mobile Museum, which travels throughout the league during the season.

CHANGING CREASES: While Senators coach D.J. Smith adopted a new Ovechkin runs down the legends, Wilson, Tkachuk and the mutual approach Friday, waiting until the last moment to officially announce admiration society, Samsonov and the Capitals net Marcus Hogberg as his starting goaltender against the Capitals, it’s no secret Hogberg is part of the club’s future plans. Pending UFA Craig Anderson, meanwhile, is living with the very real possibility that every game could be his last one in Ottawa. Over on the Capitals’ side, Friday’s Ken Warren rookie starter, Ilya Samsonov, appears to have won the top job over Published:January 31, 2020 Brayden Holtby, also a pending UFA. It was only two years ago that Holtby backstopped the Capitals to the Stanley Cup. Samsonov, 22, has Updated:January 31, 2020 11:12 PM EST been brilliant, meeting the Senators with a 15-2-1 record, 2.07 goals- against average and .927 save percentage, putting him into Calder

Trophy consideration as top rookie. After his win over the Senators, he’s Alex Ovechkin is relishing every major milestone, including every big a perfect 10-0 on the road. As Belleville call-up Drake Batherson plays name he passes on the goal-scoring charts. his part on an improved Senators power play of late, he has established a small, but significant development in his career. Batherson picked up a Alex Ovechkin has always been an original. pair of assists in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over Buffalo, the first points he has As he continues to chase down Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 registered in 12 road games in the NHL. He has scored four goals and goals — at one time, it was considered an impossible record, a mark that eight assists in 19 games at the . Batherson had would stand forever — he’s not adopting the standard clichés about plenty of jump against the Capitals, on the puck (he hit the crossbar in waiting to the end of his career to appreciate everything he has the first period) and on the body (four hits) all night…Nick Paul continues accomplished. He’s relishing every major milestone, including every time to make progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain. He skated he passes a big name on the goal-scoring charts. with Christian Wolanin (headed to Belleville next week) and Bobby Ryan (still in the NHL/NHLPA’s Assistance Program) Friday morning…Wolanin Ovechkin hit the 694 mark with a second-period goal Friday, tying Mark will be joining a Belleville squad that continues to be red-hot. On Friday, Messier for eighth on the all-time list. He added No. 695 into an empty the B-Sens defeated Laval 4-3 on the strength of a 40-save effort from net with 15 seconds to play in the third. With 11 goals in his past five Joey Daccord. Josh Norris, Logan Brown, Christian Jaros and Jordan games, the Russian Train continues to run on full steam. Murray scored for Belleville, with Alex Formenton registering a pair of assists. “When you get close to 700 goals, of course you’re going to try to get there as quick as you can,” Ovechkin said. “They’re big numbers. Not Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020 many people in NHL history have done that. Being with those names is something special.”

Earlier this season, he roared past , Teemu Selanne and Mario Lemieux. Earlier in the week, he overtook Steve Yzerman, whose resulting video tribute also paid respect to the fun Ovechkin has outside the game as well.

“If you ever do break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record for most goals in the league … after watching your Stanley Cup celebrations, I wanna be invited to your party,” Yzerman said.

Ovechkin, 34, says he appreciated the words from the Hall of Famer. So, too, did Ovechkin’s teammates.

“It’s pretty much on brand, which is pretty cool coming from another real special player,” said John Carlson, well on the way to winning the Norris Trophy as top defenceman. “Everyone had a good chuckle.”

Linemate Tom Wilson, who has helped create a little extra room for Ovechkin due to his robust style, said, “I don’t think anyone in the game of hockey would want to miss that party. Ovie is true to himself every single day. He’s a lot of fun to have around.”

NEVER GIVING AN INCH: The Senators don’t have anyone who can remotely compare to Ovechkin, but there are plenty of similarities, and a mutual respect, between Wilson and the Senators’ Brady Tkachuk. “That’s a player I look up to,” said Tkachuk. “He’s got a lot of skill and you just see how crucial he is for that team. When he’s on the ice, your head is up a little bit more. That’s the type of player everybody can use.” Statistics only tell part of the story. Tkachuk went into Friday’s game with 15 goals, 14 assists, 60 penalty minutes and 199 hits, while Wilson checked in with 16 goals, 20 assists, 71 penalty minutes and 172 hits, but one way or another, the two have an impact every game. “It’s always fun to have younger players come into the league still having that battle mentality and that fire in their game,” Wilson said of Tkachuk. “You want to be able to turn it on and off. There are times to do it and it was something in my game I tried to learn a little bit, and I’m sure he’s going to go through the same thing, but he’s a tough kid with a lot of skill.”

Wilson added an assist to his totals Friday, while Tkachuk jumped over the 200-hit mark with a game-high five hits.

REMEMBERING HISTORY: The Senators have joined forces with the NHL and Black History Ottawa to celebrate Black History Month, which begins Saturday. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Lansdowne Park’s Aberdeen Pavilion will contain an exhibit celebrating the impact of Canadian black people on the game. That showcase will also include the 1173882 Ottawa Senators “Most guys in their early 20s want to buy a nice boat or a sports car or something, but he thought it would be cool to own a hockey team,” Abrams said. “When the opportunity to buy the team came up I called him late in the (2003) season and I told him I thought this was the best Sheldon Keefe's road to an NHL bench started with Pembroke Lumber Tier II junior ‘A’ franchise in the province and maybe the country. Kings “He told me if I had stumbled across something to let him know and then we pursued it and it was sold to another group. We were out. In June, we got a call the deal had fallen through and wondering if we’re still Bruce Garrioch interested. It was pretty late but I called Sheldon and he said if I thought it Published:January 31, 2020 was a good deal we should do it. We made the deal really quickly.”

Updated:January 31, 2020 5:19 PM EST Keefe turned to coaching during the 2005-06 campaign. After suffering a devastating knee injury, he moved to Pembroke and joined Abrams’ staff as an assistant. Now, that may be daunting for some, however, he appreciated having Keefe around because his presence meant Abrams TORONTO — The Battle of Ontario will take to the big stage Saturday could focus on his GM duties., night at Scotiabank Arena as the Ottawa Senators take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2 of the provincial rivalry this season. It wasn’t hard to tell Keefe, known by some to be stand-offish as a player, could have success as a coach. He worked hard breaking down video But 380 kilometres north of the The Big Smoke in the heart of the Ottawa and helping to prepare practice plans on a daily basis while helping to Valley, you’ll have to forgive some people in Pembroke (population make sure everybody was on the same page so the Lumber Kings could 14,000) if they’re torn on which team they’ll cheer for as Sheldon Keefe have success. faces the Senators for the first time since he was brought in to replace Mike Babcock on Nov. 20 with the Leafs on a six-game losing skid. “The injury made him look at a lot of different things,” said Abrams. “I told everybody, and no one listened for a long time, that this guy’s work ethic Afterall, Pembroke is only 150 km northwest of Ottawa. and understanding of the game and passion is like a player that you While the 39-year-old Keefe was born in Brampton, he put down some know is so committed and he’s going to succeed. roots in Pembroke when he purchased the historic Lumber Kings of the “I’m not going to sit here and say I could tell you he was going to coach Central Canada Hockey League in 2003 while playing for the Tampa Bay the Toronto Maple Leafs, but as he kept winning it was so clear that this Lightning — and had no shortage of success when he took over as guy should get a chance. He rolled up his sleeves and got into it. He general manager and head coach in 2006-07. didn’t just show up and push pucks around.” Yes, he may have left to take over the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault During the summer of 2006, after making an early playoff exit that spring Ste. Marie Greyhounds, but the mark Keefe left with the Pembroke when Pembroke was hosting the Fred Page Cup, Keefe and Abrams sat franchise won’t be forgotten because the .742 winning percentage he down for a heart-to-heart chat about what they needed to do next. amassed still ranks him No. 1 in the history of the league and that’s going Abrams was ready to step away to take a job outside of hockey and was to be difficult for anybody to match. encouraging Keefe to take over the GM/coach role. The road to where he is now wasn’t easy, and there were no shortage of “He had some obstacles to overcome when he took the team over and I skeptics when Keefe bought the franchise because of his past said to the folks in the community, and I was there for three years, and I association with controversial agent David Frost, but people look back had lots of people who said to me, ‘Who is this guy?,” Abrams said. “All I fondly at what Keefe and the franchise accomplished by winning the RBC said to them was, ‘you spend half an hour with this guy and if I’m wrong Cup, the national championship, in 2011. tell me, but you’re going to find the most sincere and well-intentioned and No, Keefe isn’t from Pembroke, but forgive anybody who thinks he might amazing person.’ hail from there because he did win five straight CCHL championships “I told them they had to give him an opportunity because he’s not that with the Lumber Kings. When he left Pembroke, he had a 265-76-20 outgoing so you’ve got to give him a chance. He met with the community record. leaders and he impressed them because they gave him a chance and he “He’s the adopted son, without question,” CCHL commissioner Kevin proved to them that his intentions were great to make that a great place Abrams, a former GM/coach of the Lumber Kings who lives in the to play hockey and he wanted to be part of the community and he Pembroke area, said this week. “When I first went there in 2003, my became part of the community. He delivered on everything he said he brother had played there in the 1980s and a guy like Jim Farelli was was going to do.” legendary, but forever Sheldon Keefe’s name will be held in high regard Despite his success in Pembroke, Keefe had a difficult time making the in Pembroke. step to the next level because Ontario Hockey League teams were weary “Winning the national championship, when no one else has in that kind of about taking the chance on him. He was no longer in contact with Frost, market, it just put him at a level nobody else has ever been at and I’m not but it was going to take a GM willing to give him a chance. sure anybody else will ever get to in Pembroke. It’s a pretty tough act to That came in Oct., 2012 when , then GM of the Greyhounds, follow. He’s Pembroke’s own. If you look at his career, and all the places hired Keefe to take over in the Sault and he got the club to the playoffs. he played, he didn’t really have a hometown per se by playing here and As assistant GM of the Leafs, Dubas hired Keefe to move to the Toronto there. Marlies, the club’s AHL affiliate, in 2015-16. “One of the factors in taking the job in Pembroke was that he wanted to “That was the break he needed,” Abrams said. “I don’t know Kyle Dubas set down roots and he’ll tell you it was a place for him to settle in with his and I’ve never spoken with him and I think a lot of him as a GM, the wife and family and he still has close friends in the area that he visits reality is as much as he gave Sheldon an opportunity, that might have back and forth. He’s about as hometown a guy as you can get without been strike three for Kyle in the Soo as well. He made a coaching being from there.” change from (Mike) Stapleton to Keefe and it was a gutsy move. The decision to buy the Lumber Kings was a no-brainer for Keefe when “He rolled the dice on an unknown coach and if that doesn’t work out for he purchased it from a local businessman in 2003. The people in Sheldon then maybe Kyle isn’t GM of the Soo for much longer. Both of Pembroke are passionate about the franchise and wanted to make sure them have found each other and it’s one of those hockey partnerships he was going to be the right person to help the club be successful on and that really clicks. They’ve both really benefitted.” off the ice. As a coach, Keefe is tough but he’s fair and that’s why he’s at this level. Abrams, a close friend of Keefe’s, was assisting him with the purchase Plus if you look at his record, he’s had success at every level he’s been and the two had to assure local politicians/business people he was going at — including an AHL championship with the Marlies in 2018. to take the franchise in the right direction. He had to prove to them that he had learned from his past and was ready to turn the page by bringing Keefe hasn’t forgotten his time n Pembroke. his strong work ethic to the rink. “It’s where it all started. That was a key time for me in that transition from playing to becoming a coach, but not just a coach, an owner and president of a team in that community,” Keefe told Postmedia’s Terry Koshan on Friday. “And I needed the community to trust me and rally around me and to care for their team, which is so important to them. That really was where it all started.”

Keefe said he thinks about his time there often.

“I look back on it frequently. I still have a number of great friends and relationships there that are important to me and my wife. Both my boys were born in Pembroke so we will have the lifelong connection there, which we’re very grateful for,” Keefe said.

“It’s very important to me to never forget the people that gave me the chance there because I was running a junior hockey team as the sole full-time employee, and it’s a full-time business.We had such great volunteers and sponsors and fans and supporters all throughout the community that without all of their time and money, and dedication, I wouldn’t even had a chance to be coaching.

“I had to own my own team and give myself a chance to learn how to coach and immersed myself in a community. They embraced me and gave me a chance and certainly I would not be here without that.”

AN IMPRESSIVE RUN

Sheldon Keefe’s year-by-year record with the Pembroke Lumber Kings:

2006-07

Regular season: 41-12-2

Playoffs: 12-3, league championship

Fred Page: 3-1, championship

RBC: 2-3, semifinal loss

2007-08

Regular season: 46-12-2

Playoffs: 12-2, league championship

Fred Page: 2-2, loss in final

2008-09

Regular season: 43-14-3

Playoffs: 12-6, eague championship

Fred Page: 1-3, loss in semifinal

2009-10

Regular season: 52-10-0

Playoffs: 12-4, league championship

Fred Page: 3-2, loss in final

2010-11

Regular season: 51-9-2

Playoffs: 12-2, league championship

Fred Page: 3-1

RBC: 3-3, championship

2011-12

Regular season: 12-8-1

Left to coach Sault Ste Marie in late October

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173883 Ottawa Senators For a team immersed in a rebuild and poised to skew younger next season, I’d say the importance of having a player around like Borowiecki has never been more important.

Stevenson’s 7 thoughts: What’s character worth, attendance woes and 2. Marcus Hogberg more There were questions, particularly after the slow start to his season in the AHL, about where the 25-year-old was in his development curve. He was a stud down the stretch last season to keep Belleville in the playoff By Chris Stevenson Jan 31, 2020 conversation until the last weekend of the regular season. They didn’t make it, but it was because the scoring dried up.

After getting a chance to play in the NHL with injuries to first Craig As the countdown to the trade deadline begins in earnest with less than a Anderson and then Anders Nilsson, Hogberg has shown he’s ready to at month to go, the past seven-game segment for the Ottawa Senators least be a backup in the NHL. marked a turn from what’s happening on the ice to what will be happening off it. His play in the past seven-game segment has been outstanding despite his 1-0-4 record. He started five games (appeared in six) and faced 189 Not that there weren’t some interesting developments on the ice to fuel shots (an average of more than 34 shots a game). the debate about what Senators general manager should do as he balances the short and long-term ramifications of his impending He’s turned in a save percentage of .931 (!) in that span. decisions. He’s been a victim of the same thing that dogged him in Belleville last We’re dividing this Senators season into segments to assess in what season: lack of run support. Before giving him five goals in the win over areas the team is trending up or down and establishing benchmarks to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, the Senators had scored a total of six check in on how the team and individual players are progressing. goals in his previous four starts.

This season is less about winning for the Senators with the focus on So the takeaway from this last seven-game segment is the Senators growth and improvement at this point in the rebuild. could feel completely comfortable trading away Anderson, content in the knowledge that Hogberg looks at this point to be ready to be a regular in Here are seven takeaways from my deep dive into the latest seven-game the NHL. segment: 3. Contract talks 1. The importance of Mark Borowiecki The past seven games didn’t bring any news of contract talks between The play of the Senators veteran defenceman over the past seven the Senators impending unrestricted free agents like Borowiecki, Jean- games has ramped up the discussion about how much character is Gabriel Pageau or Dylan DeMelo. worth. Dorion has been scouting in Europe (he was in Sweden on Thursday), Borowiecki’s coming back to play after getting high-sticked in the face or not that contract talks couldn’t be handled from there. after blocking a shot or being railroaded into the boards continues to earn the admiration of the people who matter the most, his teammates. While guesting on TSN 1200 recently, I asked Dorion about the state of negotiations and he said the following, which to the best of my He was speared in the face Monday by Blake Coleman of the New knowledge still applies: that he would have talks with some UFAs and Jersey Devils (no penalty) on a play on which he said he feared he might that “you can do contracts fairly quickly.” have suffered severe damage to his right eye after looking down with his left eye and seeing blood on his hands. I wouldn’t have a problem bringing all three of those players back if they would accept close to my terms. After getting stitched up, he was back on the ice. So to cut to the chase, this is what I would offer the three free agents I “If I got hit in the face (Monday) like that, I think I’d be out for about six just mentioned: weeks,” goaltender Craig Anderson said. “Tough guy there and we love having him.” 1. DeMelo: three years, $9 million

PIC.TWITTER.COM/2DZXJEQMRV 2. Borowiecki: two years, $3 million.

— OTTAWA SENATORS (@SENATORS) JANUARY 28, 2020 3. Pageau: three years, $11 million

Borowiecki has been an interesting redemption story here in Ottawa. Not Both DeMelo and Pageau are veterans to bridge the transition as more so long ago, he was the target of fans on social media who wondered prospects are introduced to the lineup. They would provide some why a no-talent fighter was on the team. They chirped him for his fancy insulation until we find out if and when players like Jacob Bernard Docker stats and running around looking for hits. and Lassi Thomson on defence and Logan Brown and Josh Norris (and maybe whoever they get in this summer’s draft) will be capable of taking But a funny thing happened. Over the past couple of years, after some on bigger roles. serious introspection, Borowiecki made a decision to curtail the fighting. He’s worked hard on becoming a better player. Now he leads the team in If most of the prospects pan out (doubtful) then they would probably be goals by defencemen with six. just about ready to really hit their stride when all those deals are expiring.

On a team with a goal differential of minus-31, Borowiecki owns a plus-2 Now, maybe those guys think they can do better on the open market in mark. which case I would say, “thanks for what you’ve done and good luck and I will trade you by the deadline.” As a potential unrestricted free agent this summer, you can debate what Borowiecki is worth. Just a thought.

What makes his case more interesting is what he means to the Senators 4. The penalty kill franchise off the ice. With his social consciousness, his work with veterans in the Soldier On program and being one of the first Senators to A sore point the past few seasons (23rd last season; 26th two years support and attend the Capital Pride parade, Borowiecki has brought ago), the penalty kill under associate coach Jack Capuano has solidified respect to a franchise in woeful need of it. itself in the middle of the NHL pack. Maybe that doesn’t sound that great, but given where it was coming from, I think that’s solid progress. He even took one for the team doing a video with the owner in the fall of 2018. The last seven-game segment saw the Senators kill off 15 of 18 short- handed situations which ranked them 11th in the league. On top of that, Say what you want about Borowiecki’s abilities as a hockey player, but they scored two short-handed goals and now lead the league with 11. there is no denying the respect he brings to the Senators with the way he plays the game and the way he carries himself off the ice. The franchise What stands out for me is the penalty kill at this point has scored half as needs all hey can get of that right now. many goals (11) as the power play (22). That’s the highest ratio in the league. The Anaheim Ducks are next with nine shorthanded goals The Senators are now on pace to score 226 goals this season, a drop of against 20 power-play goals. 16 goals from the total scored by the last-place Senators last season. (To be fair, I should also point out the Senators are on pace to allow 270 Nobody else is close. goals, which would be a drop of 31 from last season. At this point they 5. Attendance are in a position to improve their goal differential by 15).

When Hailey Salvian and I revisited our bold predictions from the 7. Arrow Up preseason, one of the predictions I made didn’t look so good: I thought The Senators had four power-play goals in the past seven-game we would see an uptick in attendance this season. segment for the second segment in a row, matching the most they’ve had The opposite has been true. in a segment this season.

The past seven-game segment saw the Senators have the second- I mentioned in this spot in the last Seven Thoughts about the spark smallest crowd of the season (and in the history of the Palladium/Corel Drake Batherson gave the power play in his one game at the end of the Centre/Scotia Bank Place/Canadian Tire Centre). That was 9,673 against last segment and he’s continued to be a positive factor. the New Jersey Devils on Monday. Current Seven Game Segment

The five smallest announced crowds, according to the Senators, this Tuesday @ BUFF season: Friday vs. WAS 5. 10,407 vs NSH, Dec. 19 Saturday @ TOR 4. 9,929 vs. LAK, Nov. 7 Feb. 4 vs. ANA 3. 9,740 vs. SJS, Oct. 27 Feb. 6 vs. COL 2. 9,673 vs NJD, Jan. 27 Feb. 8 @ WIN 1. 9,204 vs STL, Oct. 10 Feb. 11 @ COL The Senators used to publish an update on attendance in the game notes, comparing the current season’s attendance figures to the past The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 season, but those numbers have been dropped from the game notes this season. Not hard to figure out why.

There is no question a portion of the shocking decline in attendance (the Senators averaged 16,744 just three seasons ago) is attributable to fans unhappy with current ownership. Attendance has been in free fall since the owner made his controversial comments on Parliament Hill on the eve of the NHL 100 Outdoor Classic.

Subsequent events (the “broken” dressing room, the tire fire that was the LeBreton Flats fiasco, and the trading of , Mark Stone and Matt Duchene) have contributed to the decline.

That’s what makes the attendance situation so interesting. If we assume the status quo (and despite wishful thinking on the part of fans, there is no reason to believe a change in ownership is in the offing) is there anything that can be done to reverse the attendance trend?

Jim Little has been hired as the CEO and his No. 1 mandate has to be repairing the broken relationship between the club and what I think is a significant portion of its fanbase.

Throw in the potential departure of the last remaining popular veterans in Borowiecki and Pageau and there might still be a couple of public relations potholes to navigate. Things might get worse on the attendance front before they get better.

BTW: As near as I can figure combing through the Senators media guides, the smallest crowd for a Senators game in Ottawa in the modern era is 8,167 at the Civic Centre against the New York Islanders Nov. 30, 1995.

If you can believe it, there was even more apathy towards the team then as they were in the midst of a continued stretch of miserable play that had dogged them since their return to the NHL. They often played in front of crowds of less than 9,000 at the Civic Centre (capacity 10,575).

You think you know crazy? They were in the process of going through two presidents, two general managers, three coaches and two buildings that season.

6. Arrow Down

The offence took a dip in the past seven games with 16 goals, seven less than the last segment and the third-lowest output in a seven game segment this season.

A big reason for the decline has been the cooling off what had been their two hottest players in Pageau and Anthony Duclair. They were each held to just one assist each over the past seven games (Pageau missed two games because of injury and Duclair has been slowed by a sore foot).

The only player to average a point-a-game pace in the past seven-game segment was Connor Brown (three goals, four assists). 1173884 Ottawa Senators Senators can buy out his contract over the summer like the Hurricanes did with Marleau and let Backes try to play where he pleases.

According to Cap Friendly’s buyout calculator, the Senators would have Salvian: Why the Senators should help the Bruins and acquire David to pay Backes $2 million over the next two years ($1 million annually). Backes And they would be responsible for carrying $4 million toward their 2020- 21 cap hit and $1 million in 2021-22.

The cap penalty is as steep as it is due to Backes’ bonus structure, but By Hailey Salvian Jan 31, 2020 the Senators are still only responsible for paying him $2 million. Realistically it’s not that much money if the price is right.

And, the cap hit could actually prove useful to the Senators to reach the Add an unexpected name to the Ottawa Senators’ list of trade deadline cap floor next season. (The ceiling hasn’t been set yet, and targets: David Backes. commissioner Gary Bettman hasn’t given a specific range yet. However, On Thursday, the Boston Bruins announced Backes will not play for the The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun has speculated a $1 or $2 million raise.) Providence Bruins in the AHL after going unclaimed on waivers on Jan. Right now, the Senators have committed only $38.8 million to eight 17. players and 23 standard player contracts. They have 10 pending UFAs Thanks to that agreement with the team, Backes is not in violation of his and 11 RFAs across the NHL and AHL, so general manager Pierre contract or under suspension. For now, he will continue to earn the full Dorion has a lot of work to do over the next eight months and plenty of value of his deal that carries a $6 million cap hit and a $4 million salary money to spend. ($3 million in signing bonuses and a $1 million base salary). However, Ryan Callahan’s $5.8 million and Clarke MacArthur’s $4.65 That the Bruins have not forced Backes to report to Providence may million contracts are up this summer. indicate the possibility of dealing the 35-year-old. If they were to make a That’s over $10 million coming off the Senators’ books. Even with trade, Boston would likely need to bundle Backes’ contract with a draft Thomas Chabot’s $8 million deal kicking in, and a combination of free- pick or prospect as an incentive for another team to absorb the agent signings, the Senators won’t be cap-strapped by any means. remainder of his contract, which has one year remaining with a $6 million cap hit. Backes would also likely need to waive his eight-team modified In fact, they are probably one of the better-positioned teams financially to no-trade clause. help out the Bruins.

With roughly $5.8 million in cap space, it is a deal the Senators should Ultimately, a deal would hinge on two things: consider trying to make. At this point in the Senators’ rebuild, any opportunity to add some assets should be taken. 1. What are the Bruins willing to give up to get out from under Backes’ deal? And so far, the price for dumping a $6 million cap hit has been a first- round draft pick. 2. Will ownership be open to spend a little money to get what the Bruins are offering? Last summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs set that precedent in a move with the Carolina Hurricanes to get Patrick Marleau’s $6.25 million cap hit off According to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, prospects Jack Studnika and their books. Urho Vaakanainen are off limits. He also believes the Bruins would be reluctant to deal a first-round pick, but everything else would be on the Clearing that cap space wasn’t cheap. It cost Toronto its first-round pick table. in 2020 (if it’s not in the top 10) along with a seventh-rounder in the same draft. In addition to the salary-cap breathing room was a sixth-round pick With the Leafs giving up a first-rounder, one would think the Senators from Carolina. would set that as their price. If the Bruins don’t want to budge, Ottawa could package one of their 10 pending UFAs to persuade the Bruins to Carolina bought out the final year of Marleau’s contract and he returned release their first-round pick. Vlad Namestnikov could be a depth forward to San Jose as a free agent in the fall. for Boston on a Stanley Cup run. Mark Borowiecki could add some penalty killing, hitting and rugged defence. The options are plentiful with It was a lofty price but a necessary one for the Leafs, who were, and the Senators. continue to be, tight under the salary cap. Boston is in a similar situation. If a first-round pick is completely off the table, the Bruins would likely The Bruins currently have roughly $63.5 million committed to 13 players need to offer a package with at least a second-round pick and possibly a next season. prospect to make the deal worth it for Ottawa. That leaves them with under $19 million in projected cap space to re-sign If the Bruins aren’t willing to pay, then the Senators can move on. But it is notable free agents Torey Krug, Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, Matt something they should at least make some calls on. Grzelcyk and Jaroslav Halak. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 Getting Backes off the books would not only give the Bruins some cap flexibility at the trade deadline (his remaining cap hit sits at $1,747,581, according to Cap Friendly), it also gives them the freedom to get out from under his full $6 million cap hit next year.

The Bruins are in Stanley Cup contention mode now. The cap space to add upgrades at the deadline and to bring back some notable players could prove to be invaluable. That is something the Senators could use as leverage to make the deal attractive.

After all, it is going to cost Ottawa some cash.

The way Backes’ contract and bonuses are structured, he is only due $1 million in salary this year. He has already collected a $3 million signing bonus. So, in terms of real money, he is not due very much for the rest of the season.

Next season could play out a few ways financially.

Backes could report to Ottawa and play a veteran role — in that case, he could report as soon as the trade is made if both sides agree he will play for the Senators. The organization could tell him to stay home and essentially pay him not to play. Or — the most likely scenario — the 1173885 Philadelphia Flyers “We were checking well, I think both teams were,” Niskanen said. “Everybody was a little rusty with the puck and it was pretty evident. … It wasn’t a bad period for us after a long break and it was nice for us to get a goal there at the end of the period.” Sidney Crosby lifts Penguins past Flyers, 4-3, in overtime thriller Things opened up in the second period. That wasn’t good news for the Flyers because the Penguins have more offensive firepower. by Sam Carchidi, The Penguins scored three goals (on nine shots) in the first 11:03 of the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Two of the goals were scored on power

plays, and Malkin had a hand in all three goals. PITTSBURGH – The Flyers started better Friday than the last time they The Penguins tied it at 1-all as Malkin knocked in his own rebound with played after a long layoff. Still, they absorbed a loss. 16:05 left in the second, ending Elliott’s scoreless streak at 86:55 in They salvaged a point, however, in a 4-3 overtime defeat to the games against Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Just 1:21 later, Bryan Rust finished off a quick passing play with Crosby Flyers-killer Sidney Crosby scored from the right circle with 4:05 left in and Malkin and scored from in tight on the power play. overtime to give the Penguins the win. Crosby had three points and now The Penguins made it 3-1 with 8:57 to go in the second on another has 43 goals and 105 points in 70 career games against the Flyers. power-play goal. Defenseman Kris Letang scored from near the end line After nine days between games because of the All-Star break/bye week, as he fired a shot that bounced off Elliott and into the net. the Flyers overcame a 3-1 deficit and tied the game early in the third Elliott was beaten by the host Penguins, 7-1, on Oct. 29. He also was in period. They dominated the third period -- outshooting the Penguins, 17- goal for the Flyers’ shutout win over them at home Jan. 21. The Penguins 4 -- but Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry had most of the answers. had just 19 shots in the latter game – and none in the last 10:49. “There’s a lot we can take from that third and take into [Saturday’s home After Friday’s morning skate, Vigneault said the Flyers were in a “great game against Colorado],” Flyers center Kevin Hayes said. “I don’t think spot. We’re sort of in charge of our own destiny. Everybody is re- they really had a chance in the third. We completely tilted the ice and a energized and focused, and we’re playing against one of the best teams couple guys had chances to bury it. They’ll start going in.” in the league. It’s a great way to start" the stretch run. “We got on our heels a little in the third period," Penguins coach Mike But not quite the start he wanted. Sullivan said. “I give our guys credit. We found a way to get the right result.” “I liked our five-on-five game tonight,” Vigneault said. “I thought we got better and our execution got better as the game went on.” The Flyers, who had a 30-20 shots advantage, are 1-1-1 against the Penguins this season. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2020 "Obviously, we wanted to get the two points,” said winger Tyler Pitlick, who had a goal and an assist and was elevated from the fourth to the third line in the third period. “It is what it is. I thought we had a real good effort in the third period.”

“We can build off this,” winger Scott Laughton said.

Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists for the Penguins, who also were playing for the first time since Jan. 21, when they lost to the Flyers, 3-0.

When the Flyers returned from their holiday break in late December, they lost in San Jose, 6-1, starting a 1-4-1 road trip.

This “restart” of the season is critical because it began a 32-game stretch to the finish line.

”To me, this is a lot like training camp,” coach Alain Vigneault said before the game. “You’re excited. It’s a new opportunity.”

Hayes whipped a shot toward the net early in the third period and the puck deflected off Pitlick and took a fortuitous bounce to a wide-open Laughton. Laughton knocked in his seventh goal of the season, knotting the score at 3-3 with 17:40 to go in regulation.

The Flyers had gotten within 3-2 when Pitlick, taking a feed from Nic Aube-Kubel (seven hits), finished off a two-on-one down low with 3:31 remaining in the second.

Much earlier, the Flyers’ first power play of the night looked out of sync. Shoddy passing. No shots.

And then …

With just 19 seconds left in the power play, Matt Niskanen made a slick cross-ice pass to Jake Voracek, who put his left-circle shot into a mostly vacant net to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 27.3 seconds remaining in the opening period.

It was Voracek’s 11th goal and third in the last five games.

“It was a point shot which led to a scramble," Niskanen said. “The puck just happened to pop over to my forehand and Jake was hiding out at the back door.”

The teams combined for just seven shots, four by the Flyers, in the opening period. 1173886 Philadelphia Flyers everyone just wants me to come back good and healthy." ... The Penguins recalled 6-foot-5, 210-pound center Anthony Angello, a fifth- round draft choice in 2014, from the AHL, and he made his NHL debut Friday. He had 16 goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. ... On Friday, the Flyers and longtime equipment manager Derek Settlemyre part ways; Flyers started a stretch in which they play nine games in 16 days, Alex Lyon ready to face Avs including six road contests.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2020 by Sam Carchidi,

PITTSBURGH — Head equipment manager Derek Settlemyre, who has worked for the Flyers in some capacity for a quarter-century, and the team have parted ways.

General manager made the announcement after the Flyers’ morning skate at PPG Paints Arena on Friday, saying the decision was “mutually agreed upon.”

Fletcher would not elaborate. Settlemyre did not return a phone message.

Settlemyre, nicknamed “Nasty,” was in his 14th season with the Flyers as their head equipment manager and in his 25th year in the organization. Earlier this season, he was saluted with a scoreboard tribute for working in his 2,000th professional game.

“He loved it, and he loved the boys,” said former Flyers trainer Dave “Sudsy” Settlemyre, Derek’s dad, in a phone conversation from his home in North Carolina. “He absolutely loved that job as much as I did."

“He can’t talk to you, and that’s just the way the world works,” he added about his son and the organization parting ways. He said he could not elaborate.

The younger Settlemyre, a Voorhees resident, came to the Flyers after 10 years as head equipment manager for the Phantoms, the organization’s AHL affiliate. Setttlemyre had been with the Flyers for two years as an assistant equipment manager and one year in that role with Florida (when Fletcher was there) before joining the Phantoms when they were founded in 1996.

A North Carolina native, Settlemyre also has worked for Team USA in the Olympics, the World Cup of Hockey, and the World Championships.

Besides being the Flyers’ trainer, his dad was their backup goalie for a game on March 24, 1990 after Ken Wregget pulled his hamstring during pregame warmups. Pete Peeters played the entire game against New Jersey, so Dave Settlemyre wasn’t needed. He later became the Florida Panthers’ trainer.

Lyon facing Avs

With goaltender Carter Hart still sidelined by a lower abdominal injury, Alex Lyon will make his second start of the season Saturday when the Flyers host Colorado.

Lyon played well as the Flyers dropped a 4-1 decision to Montreal on Jan. 16.

“I liked his game. He gave us a chance,” coach Alain Vigneault said before goalie Brian Elliott and the Flyers faced the Penguins on Friday. “We’re playing back-to-back and in a sequence where we play three games in four nights. I need two goaltenders.”

Lyon is grateful for another start.

“The coaches here do a great job of instilling confidence in all the players,” he said. “Everybody in here can feel it.”

Lyon said he felt comfortable against the Canadiens.

“There are certainly things I can clean up and do better, but in terms relative to how I’ve felt in the past. ... I think I’m getting to the point where I understand what I need to do to make my game go well," he said. "I’m trying to enjoy the process more and it’s really helped my game.”

Breakaways

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, took part in the morning skate but did not play Friday. Asked if he could play Saturday against Colorado, Gostisbehere sounded cautious: “If they need me, I could definitely play, but I think we’re in a good spot right now and it’s not necessary to push it, I guess. I think 1173887 Philadelphia Flyers Among the centers who could be available: Minnesota’s Eric Staal and Joel Eriksson Ek, Nashville’s Nick Bonino, Ottawa’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Los Angeles’ Jeff Carter.

Dave Scott: Flyers are a playoff team, and eyeing a move to improve The Flyers are on pace for 98 points, which would get them into the chances | Sam Carchidi playoffs in most seasons. This year, because of the Eastern Conference’s strength, it might not be enough.

Seeking a deal by Sam Carchidi, Scott said he recently met with Fletcher, the pro scouts and advisers, and the data-analytics team and they went through all the options that would make the Flyers better in the stretch run. The sky was gray and somber, but the Wells Fargo Center conference room, high above ice level, became sunlit when a tall man wearing black “We think there are some things we can do out there,” Scott said. “A slacks and a matching, outdoor Flyers vest strode into the room. fourth-line center, or better, would be nice to have. I came home feeling great that day. We have some good options. We’ll see what we end up Dave Scott, chairman of the Flyers’ parent company, Comcast with there. A center would be great, and if Nolan were to come back — Spectacor, was in a cheery mood. His hockey team, despite medical and we’re hopeful — that would [help].” problems, is in the playoff hunt, and, with recent wins over Washington, Boston, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh, has shown it can play with the big Patrick has been skating but has yet to take contact. boys. Without prompting, Scott said he felt justified that he stunningly dismissed general manager Ron Hextall in late November 2018. “There are some good indicators there,” Scott said.

“I was concerned then that if I waited until the end of the season, we’d With Patrick out, the Flyers have jockeyed their third- and fourth-line lose another year,” Scott said Tuesday of the decision he made with centers all season. They recently moved Claude Giroux from left wing then-club president to fire Hextall early last season. A back to center on one of their best lines, giving them more strength up week later, Chuck Fletcher was named the GM and got a chance to the middle. That move has made Sean Couturier, Giroux, and Hayes watch the team and figure out what he needed to make it more their top three centers. competitive. Off the ice, with his engaging, outgoing personality, Hayes has loosened Fletcher fired head coach Dave Hakstol two weeks later. The remaking of up the locker room and helped make the Flyers more close-knit. On the the Flyers was underway. ice, he has aided the penalty kill’s revival and is on pace for 23 goals and 44 points, helping the Flyers stay in the crowded playoff race. ‘Gold-plated coaching staff’ If the Flyers fall short and don’t reach the playoffs, would Scott call it a Scott likes what Fletcher has done, likes that head coach Alain Vigneault wasted season? was hired after last season and that Mike Yeo and Michel Therrien were added as assistants. “Our gold-plated coaching staff,” he called it. “I wouldn’t say wasted because we’ve played some good hockey,” he said. “It’s building blocks. I think things are so much better than it would He is happy with the progress the Flyers have made — they are 27-17-6, have been had we done it the traditional way and let [last] season play 12 points better than at a corresponding point last season — and out with Ron. … We really did try to get ahead of it.” believes Fletcher’s offseason additions (center Kevin Hayes and defensemen Matt Niskanen and Justin Braun) have triggered the In Scott’s mind, the clouds are lifting. The gray sky is turning blue. improvement. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2020 So he smiled easily and had an air of satisfaction as he sat at the conference table for a rare state-of-the-team discussion.

“We needed some more veteran players. I told Chuck that time and time again. I said, ‘You have to look at things you are able to affect,’ ” Scott said. “Kevin Hayes was probably the biggest piece. As you look at life right now, we really needed that, especially in light of what happened to Nolan” Patrick, who hasn’t played this season because of a migraine disorder.

Niskanen and Braun “reshaped that young defense. The defense is much better,” Scott said. “In my mind, Chuck positioned us real well for this season.”

To most fans, however, the season won’t be considered a success unless the Flyers reach the playoffs and make a strong showing. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2012.

Facing adversity

Yes, they would be in a much better position if Patrick and Oskar Lindblom were healthy. But virtually every team has had to overcome medical problems, though few have had the emotional toll the Flyers experienced with Lindblom’s diagnosis of a rare bone cancer.

That said, the Penguins and Blues are among the teams that deserve credit for losing star players and not skipping a beat.

The Flyers have also stayed afloat, thanks to improved defensive play and a strong farm system built by Hextall. They have used 11 rookies this season.

“We’ve adjusted and hung in there,” Scott said. “I feel good. I’m excited. Things aren’t perfect, but we’re in the hunt. That’s how we went into the season. We want to make the playoffs, and once you get in, anything is possible.”

Scott said the Flyers, who have little salary-cap room, would like to at least add a fourth-line center before the Feb. 24 trade deadline, but even if that doesn’t happen, “we’re definitely a playoff team,” he said. 1173888 Philadelphia Flyers Positive performances from many of the Flyers' role guys. The team did not get enough from its big boys.

• The Flyers opened the game's scoring in the first period when Niskanen Sidney Crosby stars, Flyers need more, but this overtime loss to snuck a slick pass to Jakub Voracek for a power play goal. Penguins isn't a bad one Joel Farabee picked up an assist on the play, giving him a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists). Prior to the streak, he had two points (both assists) in his previous 15 games. By Jordan Hall January 31, 2020 10:25 PM The Flyers will need the 19-year-old's offense down the stretch.

• Rivalry put aside, the Penguins showed they are "Oskar Strong" for Sidney Crosby wasn't quiet this time. Oskar Lindblom. Very cool gesture by Pittsburgh.

The Flyers turned him away before the extended break but Crosby Even as a small gesture, I think it’s pretty awesome that teams around turned it on after to hand the orange and black a 4-3 overtime loss Friday the league continue to show they’re thinking about Oskar. night to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. • In their 11th back-to-back set out of 17, the Flyers return home Pittsburgh's superstar delivered his second three-point game in three Saturday night to play the Avalanche (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+). meetings with the Flyers this season. He capped this performance with the OT winner after the Flyers impressively erased a 3-1 deficit (see Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 highlights).

Following the All-Star festivities and their NHL-mandated bye week, the Flyers (27-17-7) entered the game one point out of a playoff spot. They have 31 games remaining, 13 of which come against the deep Metropolitan Division (see standings). To their credit, the Flyers are 9-2-4 within the division.

The Penguins (32-14-5) haven't lost consecutive games since Nov. 29- 30, a stretch in which they've gone 18-5-1.

• The Flyers didn't play a terrible game. They allowed only 20 shots. They outshot the Penguins 17-4 in the third period. They got contributions from role players. They didn't have Carter Hart.

But Pittsburgh's big names earned the headlines. On the other hand, the Flyers' big names must do more. Head coach Alain Vigneault has said it over the course of the season.

In three games against the Penguins, Claude Giroux (one assist), Travis Konecny (one assist), James van Riemsdyk (one goal), Kevin Hayes (one assist) and Ivan Provorov (scoreless) have combined for four points.

• In their 3-0 blanking of Pittsburgh before the break, the Flyers held Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to without a point.

Those two going scoreless in the same game against the Flyers has happened only nine times.

It didn't come close to happening again 10 days later. Crosby and Malkin flipped the game with five points in a 7:08 span of the second period as the Penguins seized their 3-1 lead.

Matt Niskanen was caught watching the play on Malkin's goal, which ended the Flyers' 1-0 advantage.

Crosby and Malkin then generated power play goals for Bryan Rust and Kris Letang. In the previous meeting, Pittsburgh's man advantage went 0 for 3 with only three shots.

The Penguins were not happy with their performance in Philly, so everyone expected a different team in Pittsburgh. Crosby and Malkin led that charge.

• Brian Elliott had his three-game winning streak snapped. During that spurt, he allowed only four goals on 87 shots. The Penguins cracked him four times on 20 shots.

The 34-year-old goalie has given the Flyers a lot. He could have been better Friday, but he wasn't a huge problem.

Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry entered with a 2.16 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. The Flyers have put up five goals and 59 shots against him in the last two games. Not too bad.

• Depth at forward will be topic of discussion all next month as the Feb. 24 trade deadline nears. That's probably the most glaring area in which the Flyers can add.

Well, the Flyers' bottom-six forwards gave general manager Chuck Fletcher plenty to like against the Penguins. Goals from Tyler Pitlick and Scott Laughton tied the game at 3-3. Nicolas Aube-Kubel made a strong play to assist Pitlick's tally, while Pitlick notched a helper on Laughton's marker. 1173889 Philadelphia Flyers

Kevin Hayes mic'd up is the gift that keeps on giving

By Brooke Destra January 31, 2020 4:45 PM

Kevin Hayes has proven himself to be a solid addition in the offseason for the Flyers, but it seems like every week more and more fans are taking a liking to not only his game, but his personality, too.

If Hayes didn't grow up playing hockey and being a ref, since you know, he used to ref, then one might think he would grow up to be a comedian.

Every time he gets mic'd up for a game, Flyers fans are in for a treat. This time was no different when the team hosted the Los Angeles Kings on 80s night (though Hayes knew nothing about the theme night until he hit the ice).

He also recycled a joke during warmups — after getting a laugh from Claude Giroux when questioning him about the current playlist, he found himself alongside Connor Bunnaman cracking the same joke, but about Alain Vigneault. Equally funny, though.

When both teams find themselves on the benches waiting for a challenge from Vigneault to be completed, Hayes and Nicolas Aube-Kubel have a laugh when 'Kubes' jokes if A.V. has to go to the box if the call was not overturned.

Now, was this nickname one Hayes often used for Aube-Kubel, or does it change every game? These are the questions that keep Flyers fans up at night.

Hayes also jokes quite a bit about being bad with, "I suck," "I might f------retire," and "I'm the f------worst player in this league right now."

Everyone knows he's great. Truly, where would the penalty kill be without him this season? You know what ... that's a dark and twisted path I'd rather not go down at the moment.

The funniest bit though has to come when a puck hits the boards right in front of Hayes while he's on the bench and calls for security.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173890 Philadelphia Flyers

2020 players and puppies calendar for Flyers is all you wanted ... and then some

By Brooke Destra January 31, 2020 2:10 PM

Players and puppies. That’s it, that’s the post.

Just kidding — but honestly, I’m not sure if there could be a combination that tops it ... unless Gritty is involved. Then it would be a trifecta for Flyers fans.

Flyers Charities decided to get very creative with its 2020 calendar and went with a shoot that involved the players as well as some furry friends to join them.

Heather Barry, the photographer of the shoot, reflected on the day it all happened.

“My experience with the day was incredible," she said. "We started setting up for the shoot at 9 a.m. early in November. The setup included two lights, a 12x30 backdrop and lots of puppy pee pads and gaff tape. Players arrived with their own dogs and players without dogs were given an adoptable puppy to photograph with.”

One of the most notable moments during the day for Barry though came when Brian Elliott spontaneously picked up his dog in the middle of their shoot. If you look at the tweet above, the teaser video shows Elliott along with his son, and a very, very big pup.

“I've been working alongside Flyers Charities all season long,” Barry said. “From the Gritty 5K, this Puppy Calendar shoot, and the Flyers Wives Carnival. The team of women there are incredible, positive and it's really refreshing to work alongside them. They go above and beyond for the fans and community events they get involved with.”

The dynamic duo of Harvey and Charlie make an appearance with their dad, Claude Giroux.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173891 Philadelphia Flyers

Hershey Bears to wear chocolate-themed jerseys vs. Flyers' AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms

By Jordan Hall January 31, 2020 12:00 PM

Pro athletes are always dealing with distractions.

The Phantoms will have to fend off quite the distraction Saturday night. The Flyers' AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley plays the Hershey Bears at Giant Center.

The Bears will be covered in chocolate. No, like, their jerseys will actually depict chocolate dripping down the threads.

Pretty sweet, huh? Get it? Sorry.

CHOCOLATE JERSEYS! We are proud to unveil our Chocolate-Covered February jerseys to be worn this Saturday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

When the Phantoms saw the jerseys on Twitter Friday, they had the right thought.

The Phantoms return home after visiting Hershey. Nobody would blame them if they got some chocolate for the trip back.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173892 Philadelphia Flyers “We’ve got a real good challenge ahead of us,” Vigneault said. “I think we’ve prepared ourselves to face the opportunity head-on. We’ve got 32 games left. It’s almost the same as everybody else in the same amount of time. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think the coaches have to Trade rumor target Shayne Gostisbehere nearing return for Flyers step up. Obviously our veteran leadership needs to step up and the young players we have that are getting their first taste, first, second or

third taste very early in their career to have an opportunity to make the Dave Isaac, NHL writerPublished 4:12 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2020 playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup, I think it’s an exciting time for everybody.”

It sure beats the feeling around these parts last year. VOORHEES — Michael Raffl and Wayne Simmonds sat on a couch at the Flyers’ practice facility last year, watching trade deadline coverage on “It’s nice. You’re in the mix,” Raffl said. “You’re battling for each other. television knowing full well that one, if not both, would be on their way out You’re competing for a playoff spot and once you’re in, anything is of Philadelphia where thoughts of the postseason had already escaped possible. The ultimate goal for everybody here is to win and in order to the realm of reality. win, you have to make the playoffs. So these 32 games coming up now are huge for us and I think everybody is really excited.” Simmonds was moved to Nashville and Raffl stayed and signed a two- year, $3.2 million extension. Courier-Post LOADED: 02.01.2020

This year it could all be different with the deadline less than four weeks away and the Flyers in a more enviable spot.

“Honestly I try to not remember too much of last year,” Raffl said. “That was not a nice feeling to be out this early, pretty much play…people say you play for pride and everything but it made the last 30 games feel like 580.”

After retuning from the bye week with a practice on Thursday, the Flyers have 32 games left and it probably feels like fewer. They’re one of 10 teams vying for eight spots in the Eastern Conference and the most notable name in trade rumors is Shayne Gostisbehere and he’s been hearing it for more than a year already.

Gostisbehere skated with the team Thursday after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Jan. 14. He last played Jan. 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He went to pivot skating backward to forward and his knee locked on him, but he said it was “tweaking” before that.

“That (pivot) finished it off,” Gostisbehere said Thursday. “It was just time. It is what it is. It’s over now.

“I couldn’t put it off anymore. It’s good that it wasn’t a lot worse than we thought. I think it was a blessing in disguise.”

He won’t play Friday night in Pittsburgh, and said he wasn’t sure about Saturday’s home game against the Colorado Avalanche. Flyers coach Alain Vigneault seemed to think it wouldn’t take too much longer and that he'll go back into the lineup when ready.

The surgery came at a bad time personally for Gostisbehere, who had struggled earlier in the season but was really seeing his play come around.

“I definitely had a better mindset mentally,” he said. “I was feeling good and I think we realize on this team that we’re doing the little things. Every guy has a small role. No matter what your role is, just roll with the punches and you might not get all the glam ant glitz and people might be mad because they’re not doing too well but you know you’re helping the team get wins.”

That’s what makes all of this easier: the Flyers are in a much better position than a year ago and everyone has bought into what needs to happen to get them back to the playoffs.

Even a player whose name is in trade rumors — Gostisbehere’s $4.5 million salary cap hit is the easiest for the Flyers to move and they need help at center — is focused on the task at hand.

“I think those are things now in today’s game that some players on each team hear it a lot,” Vigneault said. “They’ve got to focus on their game, focus on their job, on hockey. I think Shayne’s done a good job of that. Even before me getting here, his name was out there. Other than one time (their first meeting upon Vigneault’s hiring) I brought it up with him, it’s been game-to-game, day-to-day and he’s been fine with it.”

Vigneault said that Thursday’s practice felt a little like the first one of the season. The bye week allowed players and coaches alike to get away and think about something else. (Vigneault joked he enjoyed so many martinis on his pontoon in Florida that he had to pass off his captain’s hat one day.)

The result of the time off is everyone coming back with energy. 1173893 Pittsburgh Penguins the stick of Niskanen into the cage for his 16th goal. The lone assist went to Hornqvist.

(Video courtesy NHL) Empty Thoughts: Penguins 4, Flyers 3 (OT) A power-play goal only 81 seconds later gave the Penguins their first lead of the game. Taking a pass low to the right of the cage, Hornqvist snapped a pass to the slot for Malkin who one-touched the puck to SETH RORABAUGH | Saturday, February 1, 2020 1:40 a.m. Crosby in the left circle. Crosby settled the puck with his left skate then fed a pass to the right of the crease where Rust lifted wrister. Sanheim

blocked the shot partially but not enough as it slid into the vacant net. Observations from the Penguins’ 4-3 win against the Flyers: Assists went to Crosby and Malkin.

This has been a season of first for Bryan Rust. It became a 3-1 game with another power-play goal at 11:03 of the second. From the center point, Malkin fed a pass to Crosby on the left To wit: half wall. Surveying the offensive zone, Crosby snapped a cross-ice pass to Letang, slinking his way up the right wing. Moving in towards the cage, • This is the first time he’s reached 20 goals. Letang lifted a wrister that deflected off Elliot’s left leg and into the cage • This is the first time he’s had substantial time on the top power-play for his 11th goal. Crosby and Malkin registered assists. unit. The Flyers responded at 16:29 of the second. Corralling a puck deep in • This is the first time he’s led the team in goal scoring. his own right corner, Letang made a careless backhanded pass attempt up ice which was easily intercepted above the right circle by Niskanen Despite all of that success, one thing he had not done this season prior who then fed the puck to Flyers forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel below the to Friday is play on the left wing. left dot. With Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson scrambling to At least to the best of his recollection. defend, Aube-Kubel slid a pass to the left of the crease where forward Tyler Pitlick lifted a wrister past Jarry’s glove hand on the far side for his “I think this is game one,” Rust said. “Maybe game two.” fifth goal. Aube-Kubel and Niskanen had assists.

As far as any documentation shows, Rust has been exclusive to the right It became a 3-3 game only 2:20 into the third. Settling a puck on the right wing this season. In years past, he’s flipped back and forth to the left half wall, Flyers forward Kevin Hayes ripped a wrister into a forest of legs wing as the situation dictates. above the crease. The puck glanced off a skate of Pitlick and deflected to the left of the crease where Flyers forward Scott Laughton easily tapped On Friday, with Dominik Kahun sidelined due to a concussion, Rust was in a forehand shot for his seventh goal. Assists went to Pitlick and Hayes. moved to the left wing of Evgeni Malkin’s line and produced a fairly key goal, albeit on the power play. The Penguins claimed victory only 55 seconds into overtime. Letang handed the puck off to Crosby above the left circle. With the benefit of While Kahun appears to be well on his way to recovery – he has been open ice during three-on-three play, Crosby looped around to the right skating on his own in recent days – Rust figures to be bolted onto the left circle and sniped a wrister past Elliott’s blocker for his ninth goal. Letang wing – his off side – for the foreseeable future. and forward Jared McCann collected assists.

Will that impact the outstanding production he has enjoyed this season? Statistically speaking

“Honestly, I have no idea,” Rust said. “Haven’t really thought about it. Not • The Flyers led in shots, 30-20. something I’m really trying to think about it. I’m just trying to go out there and do the same things that I’ve been doing.” • Couturier and Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk each led the game with four shots. Rust isn’t unique in displaying such selflessness. The nature of hockey doesn’t really allow for too much narcissism. • Forward Dominik Simon, Hornqvist, McCann and Rust each led the Penguins with four shots. But few players are so capable of filling in when needed in so many important roles such as Rust. • Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov led the game with 27:13 of ice time on 27 shifts. His goal on the power play is evidence of that considering he’s basically a fill in for the injured Jake Guentzel. • Letang led the Penguins with 24:48 of ice time on 30 shifts.

Rust is having a career year as he’s up to a team-best 22 goals. But • The Flyers controlled faceoffs, 27-23 (54 percent). that’s not what defines his career. • Couturier was 10 for 17 (59 percent). Versatility is. • Malkin was 7 for 15 (48 percent). “He’s played like that since he got here on day one,” said forward Sidney Crosby. “His speed and his work ethic allow him to make those plays. His • Hornqvist led the game with three blocked shots. all around game is unbelievable. When he’s making plays like that, guys • Defensemen Justin Braun, Philippe Myer and Provorov each led the are going to benefit, if not himself too.” Flyers with two blocked shots.

What happened Historically speaking

The Flyers took the first lead of the game late in the first period at the • Malkin (1,055 points) surpassed Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman 19:31 mark. Working on a power play, Flyers defenseman Travis Denis Potvin (1,052) for 71st place on the NHL’s career scoring list. Sanheim fired a one-timer from center point. The puck struck Flyers forward Sean Couturier above the crease. After Flyers forward Joel • Penguins rookie forward Anthony Angello made his NHL debut. He Farabee dug at the rebound but failed to corral it, the puck slid to the logged 4:13 of ice time on eight shifts and was credited with one blocked right dot where former Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen slid a subtle shot. pass to forward Jakub Voracek, low in the opposite circle. As goaltender • Angello became the fifth player in franchise history to wear No. 57. He Tristan Jarry scrambled in vain to his right, Voracek roofed an easy was preceded by forward Chris Ferraro, defenseman Shawn Heins, wrister for his 11th goal of the season. Niskanen and Farabee netted forward Marcel Goc and forward David Perron. assists. • Angello became the 16th “Double A” – players with A as their first and Things were tied, 1-1, 3:55 into the second period. Chasing down a loose last initial – in NHL history: puck on the left half wall of the Flyers’ zone, Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist chucked a wrister towards the cage. Flyers defenseman Ivan Useless Stat of the Night: Penguins forward Anthony Angello is expected Provorov swatted at the puck but ended up deflecting it to the far side of to make his NHL debut. the crease past goaltender Brian Elliott’s glove hand. Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin deadened the puck with his left skate and pushed it past He would be the 16th player in NHL history with “A” for his first and last “I thought the pair was decent. It’s not ideal. It’s not what we would prefer initial. but there’s no perfect scenario right now based on where we’re at. Chad did a pretty good job on that left side. That’s not easy to play the off side, • Voracek scored his eighth career power-play goal against the Penguins. especially when you’re not used to it. We asked Chad to embrace that Among active players, only Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (16) and role for us. One of the things we love about Chad is whatever we ask of Canadiens forward Ilya Kovalchuk (11) have more power-play goals him, he accepts it and just goes about his business. The pair was decent against the Penguins. tonight. Justin, being his first game back, was decent.”

Randomly speaking Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 • Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz returned to the lineup after missing 16 games due to an undisclosed injury. He logged 16:57 of ice time on 24 shifts.

• There was a sequence late in the second and early in third periods where Schultz’s primary partner, Chad Ruhwedel, was absent from the game. He returned from the dressing room fairly early in the third period. He appeared to take a big hit late in the second period and left afterward. There was no official word on why he was absent.

• When he was on the ice, Ruhwedel primarily was used on the left side of a third pairing with Schultz.

After the morning skate, Sullivan somewhat explained why that decision was made:

“Chad is a good player, ” Sullivan said. “He’s got a simple game. He’s a real mobile skater. … We think he’s capable of playing the off side. … One of the things we like about Chad’s game his is mobility for one. Skating is one of his assets which would allow him to play the off side. But his simplicity as well. He understands what he is. He plays the game within himself. He’s a real, safe, reliable player for us.”

• The Penguins went 2 for 2 on the power play.

Publicly speaking

• Crosby on the importance of this win, especially considering it game 10 days after a poor loss in Philadelphia:

“We’ve got a lot of division games, tough opponents. Every point is crucial. You always look at this time of year when your team has to elevate your game, everyone else is doing the same. We’re going to try to do that. Coming off a break, to get the first two points there and build off of that is important.”

• Schultz was pragmatic about the victory, even if they gave up a two- goal lead:

“We got the two points, right? Obviously, it didn’t go our way in the third. We’ve want to clean that up. But for the most part, it was a pretty good game.”

• Crosby was asked if anything in particular was clicking on the power play:

“Nothing specific. The effort I think was the biggest thing. (Rust) keeps the puck alive there on the goal he ends up scoring. He’s the one who retrieved the puck and kept it alive. Then the other one, we found a way to (Letang) through there. He made a great play, a great read. I think it was more our worth ethic than our execution or our Xs and Os.”

• Rust on his goal:

“We were in the (offensive) zone for a long time on the power play. Then, we ended up causing a turnover at the top of the zone. All five guys might have touched it before it went in the net, or at least four guys did. Sid made a really nice play to me on the back door. I think it went over the line by two inches.”

• Sullivan on the power play:

“The power play was real good tonight. We supported the puck, we won puck battles, we didn’t force things, we took what they gave us. They were a high-pressure kill and I thought the guys did a great job. There was a lot of movement. … When the puck’s moving and people are moving, that’s when our power play is at its best and I thought there was a lot of motion tonight.”

• Sullivan on Schultz’s return and his pairing with Ruhwedel:

“(Schultz) was fine. It’s never an easy thing when you miss the amount of time that he’s missed then you jump right into a game like that that was pretty intense. But I thought he did a real good job. He gets a grade-A scoring chance on his very first first shift. That would have been terrific but he makes a hell of a shot. 1173894 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Jake Lucchini leads Penguins past Phantoms

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 31, 2020 11:42 p.m.

Two goals by forward Jake Lucchini led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-1 home win against the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Forwards Jan Drozg and Sam Lafferty also scored goals for the Penguins (23-16-3-4), who extended a winning streak to five games, while goaltender Casey DeSmith made 29 saves.

Highlights:

The Penguins’ next game is at home against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 34 saves for the Wheeling Nailers in a 3-2 home win against the Orlando Solar Bears at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.

Forward Cam Brown scored two goals for the Nailers (20-18-5-0), who have won three consecutive games, while forward Myles Powell recorded two assists.

Highlights:

The Nailers’ next game is at home against the Solar Bears on Saturday, 7:35 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173895 Pittsburgh Penguins “We got the two points, right?” said Justin Schultz, returning to the lineup after missing 17 games because of injury. “Obviously, it didn’t go our way in the third. We want to clean that up. But for the most part, it was a pretty good game.” Sidney Crosby scores overtime winner as Penguins beat Flyers They’ll need plenty of games like this over the next two-plus months.

“We’ve got a lot of division games, tough opponents,” Crosby said. SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 31, 2020 9:47 p.m. “Every point is crucial.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 Having stumbled into their nine-day respite from the NHL’s grinder of a schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins profess they are fully aware of how they must perform following the All-Star break. Especially because 17 of their final 32 games come against Metropolitan Division foes.

“We’re going to get right into it,” forward Sidney Crosby said. “From here on in, we understand that every point is crucial. Every team that wants to be there at the end of the year in the playoff picture has got to elevate their game this time of year.”

One person clearly took that decree to heart.

Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins’ captain scored the winning goal 55 seconds into overtime and recorded two power-play assists in a 4-3 victory against the rival Philadelphia Flyers on Friday at PPG Paints Arena.

Ten days earlier, Crosby sat in his stall at Wells Fargo Center at Philadelphia, minutes after a putrid 3-0 loss to the Flyers and vowed, “We’ll be motivated when we come back.”

He personally validated that guarantee Friday.

“It was important to find a way to get that second point,” Crosby said. “We’re glad that we did that.”

During a very hesitant first period in which the teams combined for seven shots, the Flyers took the first lead of the game with 29 seconds left in the opening frame when forward Jakob Voracek cashed in on a power play for his 11th goal of the season.

The Penguins tied the score, 1-1, 3:55 into the second period when forward Evgeni Malkin cleaned up a loose puck to the left of the crease for his 16th goal.

A power-play score 81 seconds later gave the Penguins their first lead of the game. Taking a pass low to the right of the cage, Patric Hornqvist snapped a pass to the slot for Malkin, who one-touched the puck to Crosby in the left circle. Crosby settled the puck with his left skate then fed a pass to the right of the crease, where forward Bryan Rust lifted a wrister for his 22nd goal.

It became a 3-1 score with another power-play goal at 11:03 of the second. From the center point, Malkin fed a pass to Crosby on the left half wall. Surveying the offensive zone, Crosby snapped a cross-ice pass to defenseman Kris Letang, slinking his way up the right wing. Moving in toward the cage, Letang lifted a wrister that deflected off Brian Elliott’s left leg and into the cage for his 11th goal.

The Penguins’ power play went 2 for 2.

“The effort, I think, was the biggest thing,” Crosby said. “(Rust) keeps the puck alive there on the goal he ends up scoring. He’s the one who retrieved the puck and kept it alive. Then the other one, we found a way to (Letang) through there. He made a great play, a great read. I think it was more our work ethic than our execution or our X’s and O’s.”

The Flyers responded at 16:29 of the second. After a careless pass attempt by Letang out of his own right corner, Flyers forward Tyler Pitlick converted that turnover into his fifth goal.

Philadelphia tied it 3-3 only 2:20 into the third when forward Scott Laughton collected his seventh goal.

The Penguins claimed victory less than a minute into overtime when Letang handed the puck off to Crosby above the left circle. With the benefit of open ice during three-on-three play, Crosby looped around to the right circle and sniped a wrister past Elliott’s blocker for his ninth goal.

The victory was hardly perfect. Allowing the Flyers to climb back from a two-goal deficit was evidence of that.

But? 1173896 Pittsburgh Penguins “The first year is probably the toughest when you face your most recent team, especially having a good connection with everybody in Washington with what we’ve accomplished there. That’s really weird. I’m sure it is for everybody. Just like it was weird coming back here. That first year after Ex-Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen finds success with Flyers you leave, it’s hard to describe really.”

Of the trio of teams, which ones have the best rivalry?

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 31, 2020 6:58 p.m. “I think just because of the success that ‘Pitt’ has had, Wash-Pitt and Philly-Pitt,” Niskanen said, utilizing shortened nicknames for cities like

many NHLers do. “We had one playoff series, Washington against Philly, It was a considerable adjustment for Matt Niskanen this offseason when first round in (2016). But that one didn’t really evolve into anything. It he was traded from the Washington Capitals to the Philadelphia Flyers. didn’t seem like it.

A new team, a new city, a new everything. “It’s a rivalry, for sure, but it’s not at the same level as ‘Wash-Pitt’ or ‘Philly-Pitt’ where those series are ultra competitive. Some of Pitt-Philly Even parking for practice was different. ones are nasty. The Wash-Pitt ones got a little nasty. A little different level.” With the Capitals, he could not use the garage adjacent to the practice facility in Arlington, Va., because his truck could not clear the maximum Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 height of the entrance.

What’s different about parking at the Flyers’ facility in neighboring Voorhees Township, N.J.?

“It’s outside,” the former Penguins defenseman said. “So we’re good.”

Good is a fair way to describe Niskanen’s first season with the Flyers. Primarily playing on the top pairing with Ivan Provorov, Niskanen has appeared in 49 games with a respectable 19 points (five goals, 14 assists). He’s also second on the Flyers with an average of 21 minutes, 49 seconds of ice time per game prior to Friday.

Niskanen and — more importantly — his $5.75 million salary cap hit were jettisoned by the Capitals this offseason due to salary cap concerns.

Having helped that franchise win its first Stanley Cup title in 2018, Niskanen realizes his departure was rooted in the business of the sport.

“I didn’t expect it, but I wasn’t surprised at the same time,” said Niskanen, who has one year on his contract beyond 2019-20. “I knew they were in a (salary) cap situation. Somebody’s probably got to go. I was 32. They had a pretty good group of defensemen there. So it was pretty easy to do the math so I knew there was a chance. I was disappointed but I get it.”

“His teammates calls him ‘Steady Eddie,’ ” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault joked. “He’s steady, consistent, understands the game at both ends and has been a real good leader for us. He’s one of the best pros I’ve ever coached.”

The Flyers pursued Niskanen, in part, to team him with Provorov, a 23- year-old in defenseman in his fourth season.

A first-round pick in 2015, Provorov’s production regressed last season as he produced only 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 82 games. This season, he already has 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in only 50 games.

“For Ivan, for his development as a player, as a pro, understanding what you need to do on a daily basis, I don’t think (general manager Chuck Fletcher) could have gone out and found a better guy for him,” Vigneault said. “For the Flyers, in the short term, in the medium term, and the long term, this is going to be real beneficial for our organization.”

“High-end talent,” Niskanen said of Provorov. “Way better than I am. So that’s always good.”

Once upon a time, Niskanen was a former first-round pick struggling to find his game. Drafted No 28 overall by the Dallas Stars in 2005, he nearly “washed out” of the NHL, by his own description, before being traded to the Penguins during the 2010-11 season and repairing his game under the tutelage of assistant coach Todd Reirden, now the Capitals head coach.

Niskanen described his move to the Penguins nearly a decade ago as “winning the lottery” as it saved his career.

Now with the Flyers, he has a unique perspective on what is arguably the NHL’s best “three-way” rivalry — if such a thing exists — between the Penguins, Capitals and Flyers.

“Really strange,” Niskanen said. “If I get traded to New York next … wow. It’s weird to see how the guys interpret it from every side now. I just try to keep it to myself, but it’s been fun to see. 1173897 Pittsburgh Penguins As part of this weekend’s events, the Penguins will host a screening of “Soul on Ice: Past, Present, & Future,” a documentary film directed, produced, and written by Kwame Mason which tells the story of the Colored Hockey League and the history of black players in in Black hockey history celebrated in Hill District with mobile museum the United States and Canada. The event which includes a panel discussion begins at 11 a.m.

“We can’t just say that the history of black athletes in hockey starts with PAUL GUGGENHEIMER | Friday, January 31, 2020 5:33 p.m. the P.K. Subbans and the Wayne Simmonds. It goes all the way back to the 1800s,” said Mason.

When Kwame Mason was a pre-teen and a high scoring right wing for Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 the Toronto Aeros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, he wanted to be like Guy Lafleur, the high flying right wing for the Montreal Canadiens.

“When you’re playing hockey out with your friends, you always say ‘I’m going to be x player or y player’ and I remember saying: ‘Hey, I’m going to be Guy Lafleur.’ When he used to skate, his hair was flowing in the wind. I loved that guy,” Mason said. “And I remember this kid saying to me ‘You can’t be Guy Lafleur because Guy Lafleur is white.’”

When Mason got together with his black friends, they told him, “We’re not playing hockey, that’s a white boy’s sport.”

So, at age 13, Mason quit playing hockey.

It’s a decision he now regrets.

These days he’s making sure that current generations are aware of the prominent black players of the past and present. He is the co-curator of the NHL’s Black Hockey History Mobile Museum. The 90 feet by 15 feet museum built inside a tour bus is the centerpiece of the NHL’s Black Hockey History Tour.

“What it made me think years later when I got older is that I did not have anybody to look up to,” said Mason. “At that time there were (black) guys like Mike Marston and Tony McKegney who were playing or Willie O’Ree but I had never seen those guys play so I didn’t have a role model.”

The tour bus made stops in Pittsburgh on Friday, including the Miller African Centered Academy, an elementary school in the city’s Hill District. The Pittsburgh Penguins Community Outreach and the Black Girl Hockey Club sponsored the event.

Students toured the museum which featured locker stalls of former black Penguins players Trevor Daley, Ryan Reaves, and Jarome Iginla. They tried on hockey gloves and helmets.

“We have a museum that really gives people a chance to touch and feel and smell the history of black athletes in the game,” said Mason. “What I see this doing is making kids be able to look around and say ‘I see Jarome Iginla, Ryan Reaves, Trevor Daley, I can see their jersey and their faces and when I see their faces, they look like mine. If they can do it, maybe I can do it.”

Jaden Hutchinson, a first grader at Miller, sat comfortably in Trevor Daley’s locker and said that he liked playing hockey.

“I like how they shoot the puck in the net and score,” he said.

The museum also featured a Boston Bruins jersey worn by Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first black player. There was a mask worn by Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr when he played for the Buffalo Sabres and a stick used by Reggie Savage, one of only five NHL players to score his first NHL goal on a penalty shot.

“With the growth of hockey, the National Hockey League and the hockey industry has a responsibility to make sure that people know that hockey is for everyone and to take away all these stereotypes,” said Mason. “We need to go into the Black and Hispanic communities and say ‘just because you don’t see as many people like you in this particular field doesn’t mean that you can’t do it.”

Penguins President and CEO, talked about the challenges facing inner city kids who want to play hockey.

“I grew up in Beechview,” he said. “I played street hockey on a basketball court. We couldn’t get to an ice rink. That’s the same thing with neighborhoods like the Hill District. My goal is not only to get more African-American kids playing hockey, but I want to draft an NHL player from the Hill District. Now that’s easy to say. But if anyone is a hockey parent and anyone’s been around hockey, that’s going to take a lot of work and we’re going to need the NHL’s help.” 1173898 Pittsburgh Penguins The Capitals lead the Eastern Conference with 73 points but are not without flaw. Trading ex-Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen to Philadelphia for Radko Gudas was a big dip in talent, and Niskanen has often fared well matched against Sidney Crosby. Goalie Braden Holtby is Mark Madden: Penguins could benefit from Tristan Jarry’s puckhandling mercurial and has mostly been outplayed by rookie netminder Ilya against Capitals Samsonov, whose stats dwarf Holtby’s.

If the Penguins and Capitals meet in the postseason, the series will go six or seven games. Little things will mean a lot — like, perhaps, Jarry’s MARK MADDEN | Friday, January 31, 2020 4:01 p.m. puckhandling.

This isn’t a campaign for Jarry. It’s urging Sullivan to consider every The Pittsburgh Penguins’ biggest obstacle in the Eastern half of the single factor. Stanley Cup playoffs figures to be Washington, and vice versa. Same as Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 it ever was.

Last year’s first-round hiccup vs. the New York Islanders was disappointing. But this year’s Penguins have found structure and system and would be legit challengers to Washington in a best-of-7.

Uh, probably.

You see, the Penguins haven’t yet played Washington this season. Goaltender Tristan Jarry has never played against the Capitals.

That makes Sunday’s afternoon game at D.C. all the more interesting. It illuminates the goaltending battle between Jarry and Matt Murray in a fractional but crucial way.

The Capitals play big. Their forecheck puts you through the boards. It’s designed to hurt.

Their captain, Alex Ovechkin, leads the charge. How many superstars have ever played with that kind of reckless physicality?

Fellow winger Tom Wilson plays with borderline criminality. But his combination of size, skill and malfeasance is unique to the NHL. If the Penguins countered him with a goon, it would cripple one of their lines. There’s no equal for the Penguins to get.

Wilson is hardly hockey’s best player. But he’s one of the toughest to deal with. He’s unique, a top-line enforcer. Wilson and Ovechkin on the ice together are lethal.

That’s where Jarry comes in.

Jarry handles the puck very well. That helps control the foe’s forecheck and keeps the defensemen from playing with their nose against the glass.

You don’t want your nose against the glass when Ovechkin, Wilson, etc., are barreling at you. That’s how you get your nose broke, along with other body parts.

The Penguins’ defensive corps is the team’s biggest strength besides center. Keeping it intact throughout the playoffs seems crucial. Jarry in goal against Washington allows a better chance of that happening.

That’s not to say coach Mike Sullivan should play the inferior puckstopper. This is based on all else being equal.

That’s not to say this decision has to be made now.

But series between the Penguins and Capitals always hang on a razor’s edge. It’s not absurd to say Jarry’s puckhandling could be a big factor. It’s advisable to play Jarry against Washington ASAP — as in Sunday — to see how this dynamic plays out.

There aren’t many options when it comes to neutralizing how big the Capitals play, not least because they also have ample speed and skill.

General manager Jim Rutherford has tinkered with ways to offset Wilson. But tough-guy winger Ryan Reeves wasn’t good enough to play a regular shift. Hulking defenseman Erik Gudbranson was too slow and unskilled to fit the Penguins’ style.

The Penguins put their style first, and rightly so. The best way to trump Wilson and Washington’s method is to skate fast, play fast, possess the puck and make the Capitals chase the Penguins. That has been known to happen.

But Wilson exacts a toll: Witness the 2018 playoffs, when Wilson broke Zach Aston-Reese’s jaw with a high hit to earn a three-game suspension. (No offense to Aston-Reese, but the Penguins were quietly happy with that trade.) 1173899 Pittsburgh Penguins Jared McCann — Sidney Crosby — Dominik Simon Bryan Rust — Evgeni Malkin — Patric Hornqvist

Zach Aston-Reese — Teddy Blueger — Brandon Tanev Penguins rookie Anthony Angello set to make NHL debut Alex Galchenyuk — Andrew Agozzino — Anthony Angello

Jack Johnson — Kris Letang SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 31, 2020 1:06 p.m. Marcus Pettersson — John Marino

Chad Ruhwedel — Justin Schultz Penguins rookie forward Anthony Angello had a solid contingent of loved ones at PPG Paints Arena to watch his NHL debut Friday against the The top power-play unit included Crosby, Hornqvist, Letang, Malkin and Philadelphia Flyers. Rust. The second power-play squad involved Galchenyuk, Marino, McCann, Schultz and Simon. They were also well traveled. • Injured forward Dominik Kahun (concussion) skated before the morning “I’ve got family driving in from Syracuse,” Angello said after the morning skate. skate. “My sister is flying in from Alabama where she goes to school. And my aunt is flying in from Kansas.” • Bjugstad, sidelined since Nov. 15, has not skated for the past two days since the team returned from its nine-day break in the schedule. He had Angello didn’t have to trek over as much physical ground to get to the been skating in recent weeks and even accompanied the team on a road NHL, but his journey to the Penguins was hardly a brief stroll. trip earlier this month on the western portion of the continent. A fifth-round pick in 2014, Angello spent three seasons at Cornell before Sullivan was asked if Bjugstad had suffered a setback in his recovery. turning professional late in the 2017-18 season and joining the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout. “He hasn’t had a setback per se,” Sullivan said. “I’d rather not get into the details of his progress or his rehab process. Our medical staff is trying to After parts of three seasons in the American Hockey League, he finally is make the best decisions that they can on a daily basis, or a weekly basis getting a chance in the NHL. for that matter, to get Nick to where we can get him back to the lineup. “It feels really good,” said Angello, 23. “I got a good sleep last night. I feel That’s what’s taking place. There are always improvements and plateaus good. … I got some good advice from a mental coach I work with. He just as part of the rehab process, especially when it involves a longer-term said, ‘Hey, it’s a bigger crowd. It’s the same sheet of ice, the same game injury like Nick’s. They’re just going through that process together. of hockey. Go out there and do exactly what you did to get yourself here “Our medical staff is making the decisions according to make sure that and continue to work hard to stay here.’ I’m excited, a little bit nervous. we continue making progress when it comes to the rehab process for But those nerves should go away pretty quick here.” Nick. It’s going to involve sometimes being on the ice. It’s going to Angello has emerged in his third professional season with Wilkes- involve sometimes being off the ice. They’re going to make those Barre/Scranton. He has 25 points in 45 game, including a team-leading decisions accordingly.” 16 goals. Last season, he established a career-high with 16 goals in 65 • The Flyers are expected to start goaltender Brian Elliott. During the games. most recent game for both teams Jan. 21, Elliott made 19 saves in a 3-0 “Honestly, I’ve just been shooting the puck,” Angello said of his success shutout of the Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. this season. “I’ve been playing free. I haven’t been overthinking it, and In 24 games this season, Elliott has a 12-5-3 record with a 2.89 goals- I’ve just been playing hockey. As simple as that sounds, that’s the style I against average, a .904 save percentage and one shutout. need to play and it’s been working out.” Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 He’ll likely have a familiar face lined up next to him Friday in Andrew Agozzino. The two have been linemates most of the season with Wilkes- Barre/Scranton.

“Once we started playing together, we had some good chemistry right away,” Agozzino said. “He kind of got hot. He was shooting the puck really well. That’s kind of one of his best assets, how well he can shoot it. We had some chemistry together. We were playing well. We just kind of started rolling together.”

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Angello offers an element of size the Penguins don’t possess in great abundance, especially with forward Nick Bjugstad (6-6, 215) sidelined with a core muscle injury.

“He protects the puck well,” Agozzino said. “That’s one of the biggest things. He can throw his body around on the forecheck, but when he has the puck, he’s pretty effective when he’s holding onto it and protecting it.”

Said coach Mike Sullivan: “It just adds another dimension to our group of forwards. He’s a physical player. He can help us on the forecheck. He can lean on people, which makes us more difficult to play against. Anthony’s got a pretty simple, straight-ahead game. So we think that he can help us here. We’re excited to get him in the lineup.”

Notes

• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is expected to start for the Penguins. In 25 games this season, he has a 16-8-1 record along with a 2.16 goals- against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts.

• Defenseman Justin Schultz is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past 16 games because of an undisclosed injury. He skated on a third defensive pairing with Chad Ruhwedel during the morning skate.

• The Penguins’ lines and pairings in the morning skate were: 1173900 Pittsburgh Penguins Jagr’s sense, though, appears to be that Lemieux may not quite concur. And some fence-mending may need to happen on Jagr’s part before we see a kumbaya moment between the Penguins organization and one of its all-time greats. Jaromir Jagr feels Mario Lemieux was ‘chafed’ when he signed with Flyers Even if many fans are ready to see it happen.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020

TIM BENZ | Friday, January 31, 2020 6:17 a.m.

Penguins owner Mario Lemieux may have been more upset about how Jaromir Jagr spurned his franchise to go to Philadelphia in the summer of 2011 than we thought.

And Lemieux may have carried that grudge longer than assumed, as well.

Former Penguins player and current team radio broadcaster Phil Bourque made an appearance on WDVE Thursday morning (you can hear it at the 1:02:50 mark of this link). He relayed a story about a trip he took to the Czech Republic during the Penguins’ recent off-week.

While he was there, Bourque saw Jagr play with the team that he owns, Rytíři Kladno. Bourque said that during their hour-long visit, Jagr opened up about why he decided to join the Flyers in the summer of 2011 and how Lemieux responded to getting spurned for a hated rival.

Via Bourque, Jagr told him that he chose the Flyers because he felt he would’ve only been a “third-liner or fourth-liner” in Pittsburgh. But he knew that the Flyers would put him on one of the top two lines.

Jagr ended up with 19 goals and 54 points that year. Then he was part of a Philadelphia team that eliminated the Penguins in the postseason. He was also on the Bruins when they bounced the Pens in 2013.

Jagr had made a comment two years prior to signing in Philly that he would play for the league minimum to come back to Pittsburgh.

The way Bourque relayed the story, Lemieux and the Penguins took that suggestion somewhat seriously, whereas Jagr described himself as “saying things, just to say things.”

“Well guess what, Jags,” Bourque said. “We believed you.”

In the end, Lemieux seemed to buy that idea, too.

Despite Lemieux reaching out to Jagr in hopes of getting him to return to Pittsburgh after seven years of glory to start his career, Jagr signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal in Philadelphia in July 2011. The Pens allegedly offered a one-year, $2 million contract.

Bourque told the audience that Jagr got the vibe that Lemieux was still upset about that turn of events when the men met at the NHL 100 ceremony in January 2017.

“I’m paraphrasing here,” Bourque explained. “But (Jagr said) Mario was chafed. Mario was (ticked). That was the first time he had ever seen Mario (ticked) at him. Because Mario went out of his way and actually called (Jagr) to make this happen and thought it was a done deal, and all of the sudden the Flyers got in the mix and they scooped him.

“He knew that he had wronged Mario, and there is no way to right that wrong now.”

If there was any tension from Lemieux that NHL 100 night, it wasn’t evident when this photo was taken of all the Penguins greats who were at the event.

Nor was there an ill word to be spoken, as Lemieux praised Jagr for still being healthy enough to play competitively at the age of 44 at that time.

However, Bourque still insisted he feels the Penguins will eventually retire Jagr’s jersey at PPG Paints Arena. One hitch is that Jagr wants to keep playing hockey in the Czech Republic until he is 50 years old. He doesn’t want to consider a jersey retirement until then.

Bourque says Jagr is trying to make the process about his own introspection.

“He basically said (of signing with the Flyers)—in a self-infliction type of way—that ‘I was being selfish. I was taking care of me.’ You don’t like to hear that. But also, there’s a part of you that, maybe, understands it.” 1173901 Pittsburgh Penguins “Performance is always going to be the dictator in influencing the decisions coaches make at all the positions,” Sullivan said. “In particular, the goaltending position. But right now, we feel we have a strong tandem.” Tim Benz: 3 crucial points for Penguins to address out of the break On 93.7 The Fan Thursday, general manager Jim Rutherford was effusive in his praise for Jarry this season. But he sure sounded like someone with an eye toward seeing Murray in the net come playoff time. TIM BENZ | Friday, January 31, 2020 6:01 a.m. “Over the last month, he is tracking well,” Rutherford said. “He’s working

hard, and I would expect he’s going to have a big second half.” The Penguins’ 10-day break ends Friday night when they host the Well, if Rutherford is right, I can’t imagine Murray having a “big second Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. half” and wind up as the backup to start the playoffs. It begins a 32-game stretch to the end of the regular season. They start it If Murray keeps “tracking” in this direction, Tristan Jarry is going to have in second place of the Metropolitan Division with 67 points, six points to do his best Patrick Roy impersonation to be the starter come playoff back of the division-leading Washington Capitals. time. They are seven points clear of falling out of the last playoff spot. Is a trade for a winger coming? Those are the basics. It better. Is there more to the Penguins puzzle between now and a sixth Stanley Yes. The Penguins need to offset the loss of Jake Guentzel. At least a Cup title? Sure. But how these three things shake out will go a long way little bit. toward determining how hard of a road that would be. But it’s not just that. They need some depth in case Patric Hornqvist gets Here’s a look at the three most pressing issues coming out of their hurt again. Or Jared McCann. Or Bryan Rust. extended mid-season vacation. Or if Rust suddenly realizes he’s not Mike Bossy and cools off from his Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and I talk about these topics in hot pace (43 points in 36 games). Friday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. The only question is, how much is Rutherford willing to give up in order to LISTEN: Three points Penguins need to address coming out of long acquire some help? layoff After listening to him Friday, he sure sounds like he’d be willing to give up The schedule a first-round pick. We’ve talked about this before. But head coach Mike Sullivan better “It’s something I may get forced to do or have to consider in the right make sure his team is sharp and ready to play at top performance deal,” Rutherford said. “Based on where the team sits right now and how immediately. positive we feel about where we could go right now, it might be It has to start Friday against the Flyers, who beat the Penguins, 3-0, in something I have to do.” their final game before All-Star weekend. Philly is just one point out of a Quick, somebody send Jason Zucker a Zillow link so he can start house tie for the final wild-card spot with 60 points. hunting in Pittsburgh. After that, it’s a game in Washington on Super Bowl Sunday, followed by Eh, maybe he still has it in his inbox from last summer. a game in Tampa Bay against the Lightning (65 points, second in the Atlantic), one in Sunrise, Fla., against the Florida Panthers (61 points, a Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2020 six-game winning streak and two wins already this season against the Penguins), then a return date against the Lightning at PPG Paints Arena.

All that between Feb. 2 and Feb. 11.

“We’re going to get right into it,” said captain Sidney Crosby. “That’s a good thing. Just making sure that we start off right (Friday night). From here on, we understand every point is crucial.”

The Penguins (67 points) are seven points ahead their pace through 50 games in the 2018-19 season. Last year, 98 points were needed to qualify for the playoffs. The Penguins finished with 100. They didn’t clinch a berth until Game 81.

A little more breathing room — and potentially home ice in the first round — would be nice.

The goaltending

The combination of Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray rank sixth in goals allowed, eighth in goals-against average and ninth in save percentage.

Murray has played in 27 games. Jarry has played in 25. Murray has 15 wins. Jarry has 16.

While Jarry has a statistical advantage in most other categories, Murray has been better since Christmas. Since the holiday, he has won five in a row with a save percentage of .925. That would be a mark good for seventh in the league at a full season’s pace.

On Thursday, Sullivan acknowledged he knew who would start against Philadelphia, but he didn’t want to announce it.

He also didn’t want to make a commitment to either netminder long-term for the second half of the season. Instead, he implied that whoever was playing better at a given moment would be the barometer for decision making. 1173902 Pittsburgh Penguins The Flyers started fighting back late in the second period. Tyler Pitlick capitalized on a breakdown by the Penguins in front of their net, beating Tristan Jarry over his glove. Scott Laughton scored on a tap-in to tie it up early in the third. Penguins grab win against Flyers in OT, 4-3 “First and second period, we played pretty well,” Johnson said. “Third period, we got a little sloppy. We weren’t breaking out cleanly, causing some turnovers there. Turnovers in the neutral zone are usually the root MATT VENSEL of most problems.” FEB 1, 2020 5:24 AM Jarry responded by stopping James van Riemsdyk from point-blank range. With about five minutes left in regulation, he kicked out his right pad to stop Michael Raffl. Jarry made 16 saves in the third to get the Jack Johnson has only been in Pittsburgh for a season and a half. But it’s Penguins into OT. long enough for him to have gotten wind of the damage his good buddy, Sidney Crosby, has done against the Philadelphia Flyers over his 15 “We didn’t give up a lot in the first two periods. But, having said that, the years in the NHL. goals that they scored were high-quality chances,” Sullivan said. “In the third period, I thought he was at his best. He made some real big saves, “Yeah, I’ve heard about that,” said the smirking blue-liner, who as a especially in the last 10 minutes of the period, that gave us an teenager first played prep hockey with Crosby at Shattuck St. Mary’s in opportunity to get to overtime.” Minnesota. Jarry, who played in his first NHL All-Star Game last weekend, got the Crosby tormented the Flyers once again Friday, snapping a shot over nod over Matt Murray between the pipes. Jarry entered Friday with a Brian Elliott’s right pad 55 seconds into overtime. That gave the Penguins league-leading .929 save percentage. Murray, meanwhile, has won five a 4-3 win after they blew a 3-1 lead in their first game in 10 days due to consecutive starts. the All-Star break. Sullivan downplayed the decision, saying that Friday’s game was just “We had a good view from the bench where we were sitting, kind of right one of 82 and that both goalies will be relied upon down the stretch. But behind him,” Johnson said of the winner. “When our guys crisscrossed, the coach added that performance will ultimately dictate how often each Sid got it and [the Flyers] got a little tangled up. He was walking in and goalie plays. we were all like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. He’s going to put one in right here.’ And sure enough, he did.” Jarry allowed three goals on 30 shots. None were bad. But Jarry, who has been beaten for exactly three goals in seven of eight starts, was Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz goes through drills during afternoon once again steady but beatable. That could open the door for Murray to practice Thursday, Jan. 30, 2019, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in start Sunday, when they travel to face the first-place Washington Capitals Cranberry Pa. for the first time this season.

Crosby tallied three points in Friday’s win at PPG Paints Arena. The The Penguins, by avenging their 3-0 loss in Philadelphia on Jan. 21, captain now has 105 points in 70 career games against their Keystone improved to 15-4-1 in their last 20 games. It was their league-leading State rivals. 19th home win.

Much has been made, and it’s all warranted, about Crosby’s domination “Every point is crucial,” Crosby said. “This time of year, your team has to against the Flyers. But Evgeni Malkin has given them the business, too. elevate your game. Everyone else is doing the same. So we’re going to Entering Friday, the 33-year-old had 70 points in 57 career games try to do that.” against Philadelphia. Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 Malkin had a hand in all three Pittsburgh goals during the second period and his line, with Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist on his wings, sparked the Penguins after a quiet first period with only three shots getting through to Elliott.

They buzzed around the Flyers’ zone for more than 30 seconds and finally broke through when Hornqvist’s shot from the boards hit a stick and bounced to Malkin at the right post. With his second whack, Malkin hit the back of the net.

Less than two minutes later, after the Flyers hauled down Jared McCann, Rust gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead with his team-leading 22nd goal. They had a 3-on-1 down low when Crosby corralled the puck with his skate and found Rust.

“All five guys might have touched it before it went in, or at least four guys,” Rust said. “Sid made a really nice play to me on the back door and I think it went over the goal line by two inches. … I kind of fanned on it, but a goal’s a goal.”

With 8:57 left in the second period, All-Star defenseman Kris Letang from an improbable angle banked a shot off of Elliott and in, making it a two- goal lead. That goal also came with the Flyers on the penalty kill, giving the Penguins multiple power-play goals for the fourth time in their last seven games.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry celebrates after defeating the Arizona Coyotes in a shootout at Gila River Arena on Jan. 12, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz.

Tristan Jarry gets first start after the All-Star break; plus, what's up with Nick Bjugstad?

“They have a high-pressure kill and I thought the guys did a great job,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “There was a lot of movement and I think for me, with just my experience coaching these guys over the last four or five years, when the puck’s moving and people are moving, that’s when our power play is at its best.” 1173903 Pittsburgh Penguins “I thought Chad did a pretty good job on that left side. It’s not easy to play the off side, especially when you’re not used to it. One of the things we love about Chad is whatever we ask of him, he accepts it and just goes about his business.” Justin Schultz return brings the Penguins blue line one step closer to full strength If the Penguins choose to go away from the look with Ruhwedel playing his off side, there are a couple options. The simplest would be to play Riikola on his natural left side instead of Ruhwedel. However, the Penguins have showed on several instances that they’d rather play two MIKE DEFABO same-handed defenseman together rather than play Riikola. FEB 1, 2020 4:12 AM Another option would be to play Marino and Letang together, as they initially did when Dumoulin got hurt. That look had its issues. But it’s an option that would allow the Penguins to still keep the same six healthy First shift. First shot. players on the ice, with Schultz and Pettersson together and then playing Johnson with Ruhwedel. That’s how fast the scoring chance happened for Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz. Almost immediately after the defenseman hopped over Those decisions will surely be sorted out over the coming games as the the boards for his first shift since a Dec. 7 lower-body injury, Sidney Penguins reincorporate Schultz into the lineup. But for now, they’re just Crosby found him streaking down the middle of the ice. glad to have some more options with one of their top-four defensemen back – and creating scoring chances. But, this is no Mario Lemieux story. The shot was snared out by the gloved hand of Philadelphia Flyer goalie Brian Elliott, robbing what would Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 have been the perfect welcome-back moment for Schultz.

“I literally stepped onto the ice and got that chance,” Schultz said. “That was nice. I wish I would have buried it, but it was nice to get a chance there.”

Penguins grab win against Flyers in OT, 4-3

It turned out the Penguins didn’t need the extra tally after all, as Crosby eventually lifted the Penguins past their in-state rival, 4-3, in overtime. But that scoring chance flashed just a little bit of what the Penguins have been missing with Schultz sidelined.

The Penguins trust his offensive instincts enough that they initially envisioned Schultz could be on the top power play, along with Kris Letang, during training camp. As the season evolves and Schultz reintegrates himself into the team, it will be interesting to see if the Penguins try that look again to create more offensive opportunities for Schultz.

Schultz said he felt just a little rusty on the ice. But all in all, solid for a first game back.

“It’s never an easy thing when you miss the amount of time that he’s missed and then you jump right into a game like that,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “It was pretty intense. But I thought he did a real good job. He gets a Grade-A scoring chance on his very first shift. It would have been terrific if he scored. But he makes a hell of a shot.”

During an injury-plague season, the forwards were hit hardest initially, to the point that defenseman Juuso Riikola had to play wing for a handful of games. Then, that injury bug migrated to the blue line, where Schultz, Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang have all endured stints on the injured reserve.

With Schultz finally back, the Penguins are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel on defense – and possibly what the defensive corps could look like if everyone can get healthy at the same time.

Currently, Dumoulin remains the lone blueliner still injured, as he works his way back from ankle surgery. When he returns, Dumoulin will likely step back in to play next to Letang on the top pair. That will leave the Penguins with a decision. They can either reunite Marcus Pettersson and Schultz, as they did for a significant chunk of the season when both were healthy. Or, with as well as Pettersson and rookie John Marino have played together, the Penguins could opt to play Jack Johnson with Schultz, something the pair did a decent amount last season.

Students from the Miller PreK-5 School in Pittsburgh listen to Kwame Mason talk about

But that may be looking too far ahead.

For now, the Penguins will have to do some juggling to get their best six healthy defensemen on the ice together at the same time. On Friday night, that meant playing Chad Ruhwedel on his unnatural left side next to Schultz on the third pairing.

“It’s not ideal,” Sullivan said of playing Ruhwedel on the left. “It’s not what we would prefer. But there’s no perfect scenario right now based on where we’re at. 1173904 Pittsburgh Penguins Capitals forward Reggie Savage used to score his first NHL goal on Nov. 30, 1992.

Two of the most important black trailblazers were also recognized. NHL’s Black Hockey History mobile museum visits Miller Elementary in Hanging on one wall inside a glass case was the No. 22 Boston Bruins Hill District jersey that Willie O’Ree wore on Jan. 18, 1958 when he became the first black athlete to skate in the NHL.

Next to the jersey is a comic book featuring Herb Carnegie, one of the MIKE DEFABO best hockey players of the 1940s and 50s. Though racism prevented him from getting a fair shot in the NHL, Carnegie nonetheless became an FEB 1, 2020 12:32 AM inspiration to many by starting North America’s first hockey school. Marvel Comics loved his story so much that they teamed him with Spider-Man in the comic book to catch a group of drug dealers who were Two-by-two, the schoolchildren hopped down the steps in front of the trying to smuggle drugs in hockey pucks. Miller PreK-5 School to find their next lesson waiting just beyond the front stoop. “I myself was very unaware of the history of African American in hockey,” Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle said at the event. “I was unaware how The NHL’s Black Hockey History mobile parked for the afternoon in much African Americans shaped the modern NHL. For that reason, Pittsburgh's Hill District. The museum-on-wheels – which features a unfortunately, many young boys like myself and many children in this makeshift locker room, hockey memorabilia and several interactive neighborhood – because they don’t understand the history – don’t features – is in the middle of a 14-city tour through the United States and necessarily see themselves playing hockey. Canada. The aim is to educate, entertain and inspire as a part of the league's “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative. “With this initiative, I want to thank [NHL’s Executive Vice President Kim Davis] for expanding the ‘Hockey Is For Everyone’ initiative to include this “Our goal is to be able to have people see a little bit of a different side of specific effort. They can now begin to see themselves, understand the hockey and learn that the game of hockey has a long-standing history, rich history that they have as it relates to hockey and now also aspire to especially in the black community, dating all the way back to the 1800s,” be it.” said Kwame Mason, co-curator of the mobile museum and director of the documentary “Soul On Ice : Past, Present & Future.” Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020

The event in the Hill District brought together local politicians and leaders from the hockey world that included Penguins CEO David Morehouse and Mayor William Peduto, who declared Jan 31, 2020 “Black Hockey History Day” in Pittsburgh.

Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz goes through drills during afternoon practice Thursday, Jan. 30, 2019, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Pa.

As they celebrated the past and educated students on the history of black hockey, they also looked forward to a brighter day with more opportunities to grow the game, especially in the inner city and minority communities.

“I want to draft a player from the Hill District,” Morehouse said. “That’s easy to say. But if anyone is a hockey parent and anyone has been around hockey, that’s going to take a lot of work. We’re going to need the NHL’s help.”

Morehouse said he plans to work with the Penguins’ partners in the Hill District, Ammon Community Recreation Center, the YMCA and the Pittsburgh Police to achieve that goal.

Meanwhile, Mr. Peduto pointed to several ways in which the city of Pittsburgh is trying to make athletic opportunities available to every child. Friday night, the city hosted the Grand Reopening of the Schenley Park Skating Rink. Mr. Peduto has also been active in the efforts to revitalize the Alfred E. Hunt Armory in Shadyside, where a long-touted indoor ice rink could soon become a reality.

“Hockey is a great way for us to bring everyone together,” Mr. Peduto said. “Unfortunately, in the city, we haven’t had that opportunity… yet. As we stand here today and we celebrate the leaders and the pioneers who have started to change the face of hockey, we should also be looking at what opportunity is right before us. That’s very simply the Hunt Armory.”

“We can bring our universities together with all of our high schools in the city of Pittsburgh and have a place where kids, no matter what neighborhood you live in, will have that opportunity to become hockey players.”

Friday’s event outside of the elementary school in the Hill District was an important step in its own way toward these goals. Students played floor hockey in the school gym and then toured the museum.

Inside the mobile museum, students were greeted by a video where the rapper Snoop Dogg talked about hockey lingo such as “biscuit” for puck and “apple” for assists. As they walked through the museum, the walls were lined with jerseys of former Penguins Trevor Daley, Jarome Iginla and Ryan Reaves.

The museum also included sports memorabilia such as a Buffalo Sabres mask worn by netminder Grant Fuhr and the stick that Washington 1173905 Pittsburgh Penguins rehab process for Nick. So it’s going to involve sometimes being on the ice. It’s going to involve sometimes being off the ice. And we’ll make those decisions accordingly.”

Tristan Jarry gets first start after the All-Star break; plus, what's up with Bjugstad, who has one point in 10 games, last played in a game Nov. 15. Nick Bjugstad? Schultz looks ready to go

Justin Schultz, as expected, returned to the lineup Friday against the MATT VENSEL Flyers. The defenseman had been out since Dec. 17 with a lower-body injury. JAN 31, 2020 5:48 PM With Schultz back in the mix, Juuso Riikola was the odd man out. And Chad Ruhwedel, a righty, moved over to the left side to partner with Schultz. Tristan Jarry got the start Friday at PPG Paints Arena when the Penguins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers in their first game after the NHL’s All-Star “I’ve played a little bit on the left,” he said. “Obviously, the right side is break. more natural because of the amount of reps I’ve taken. But the game is the same.” There was intrigue over which goalie Mike Sullivan would turn to coming out of the break. Matt Murray has won five starts in a row and was given Sullivan explained why the Penguins trusted Ruhwedel to play on his off back-to-back games two weekends ago. Jarry then got their last one side even though it’s not something they’ve asked the 29-year-old to do before the break, a 3-0 loss to these Flyers on Jan. 21, before making his often. All-Star debut in St. Louis. “Chad’s a good player,” he said. “One of the things that we like about Sullivan opted to stick with Jarry, who, despite a bit of statistical dip in Chad’s game is his mobility, for one. I think his skating is one of his January, still ranked in the top two in the league entering Friday’s action assets, which will allow him to play his off side, but his simplicity as well. with both a 2.16 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. But He understands what he is and plays the game within himself. He’s a the coach said the Penguins intend to keep both goalies busy the next real, safe, reliable player for us.” couple of months. Angello to make NHL debut “It’s not an instance where if you win, you’re in,” Sullivan said of the decision to start Jarry on Friday. “We look at in much more detail than Dominik Kahun, who suffered a concussion Jan. 19, skated Friday on an that. We think both goaltenders right now are playing extremely well and individual basis for a second straight day. The winger is still not cleared we’re going to try to utilize both goaltenders as best we can to keep them to play. sharp and help us win games.” That meant that Anthony Angello made his NHL debut Friday and Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry speaks Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at NHL brought something to the lineup that the Penguins don’t have a lot of up All-Star media day in St. Louis. front — size.

Murray started 18 of their first 21 games. But for the second straight Angello, a 2014 fifth-round pick, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds. season he struggled in November, creating an opening for Jarry. He took Among Penguins players, only Bjugstad and blue-liner Jack Johnson are advantage. heavier.

From Nov. 16 through Jan. 16, Jarry went 15-4-1 with a .929 save “I just think it adds another dimension to our group of forwards,” Sullivan percentage. Murray averaged about one start per week during that two- said. “He’s a physical player. He can help us on the forecheck. I think he month span and saw Jarry, who at 24 is a year younger than him, earn can lean on people, which makes us more difficult to play against. And an All-Star invite. he’s got a pretty simple, straight-ahead game. … We’re excited to get him in the lineup.” Coming out of the break, it may be closer to a 50-50 split. But Sullivan indicated Friday that the plan could change should Jarry or Murray seize Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 the reins.

“Performance ultimately will always be the dictator,” he said. “That’s the nature of the world [in which we live] in pro sports, pro hockey. But we feel comfortable right now that we’ve got a really strong tandem. We think it’s a competitive advantage for our team and we’re going to try to utilize it as best we can.”

What’s up with Bjugstad?

The Penguins, coming off an eight-day layoff for the players, practiced in Cranberry on Thursday then held a morning skate at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.

Nick Bjugstad, who underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury more than 10 weeks ago, was not spotted on the ice before either of those practices. That was noteworthy because he traveled with the team on its West Coast road trip earlier this month and skated on an individual basis most of those days.

Penguins center Dominik Kahun battles for position with Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena in Uptown.

So Sullivan was asked Friday if the big center had experienced a setback.

“He hasn’t had a setback, per se,” he said. “I’d rather not get into the details of his progress or his rehab process. … There are always, I think, improvements and plateaus as part of the rehab process, especially when it involves a longer-term injury like Nick’s. And so they’re just going through that process together.”

He continued: “Our medical staff is making the decisions accordingly to make sure that we can continue making progress when it comes to the 1173906 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins-Flyers: Game time, TV information and matchup notes

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

JAN 31, 2020 10:30 AM

Who: Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

When, where: 7 p.m. Friday, PPG Paints Arena

Look, listen: AT&T SportsNet, NBCSN, WXDX-FM (105.9), PittsburghPenguins.com.

Noteworthy: The Penguins lost, 3-0, to the Flyers on Jan. 21 in their last game before the NHL’s All-Star break. The two teams have split the season series thus far. ... The Flyers also have not played since that Jan. 21 game in Philadelphia. ... Bryan Rust leads the Penguins with 21 goals in 36 games. Jake Guentzel had 20 in 39 prior to getting injured. ... Kevin Hayes, whom the Flyers added in the offseason, has 27 points and a minus-14 rating in his first 50 games with Philadelphia. ... The Penguins have won eight of 11 home games since the start of December. ... Flyers goalie Carter Hart remains sidelined due to injury.

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173907 Pittsburgh Penguins eight games, not a great number. Clearly, his performance has come back to earth a bit. But I’m not here to be critical of him. He stopped 27 of 30 shots on a night when the Penguins were badly outplayed at times. He was at his best in the final 10 minutes, when the Flyers found Where there are stars, there’s a way: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin will themselves with a number of opportunities to emerge from Pittsburgh the sluggish Penguins past the Flyers with a victory. Of course, he also got help from the post on at least three occasions. The thing I like about Jarry is that he rarely allows bad goals.

Even on an off night, he almost always gives the Penguins a chance to By Josh Yohe 5h ago win. Now, let me pose this question: Who starts in Sunday’s showdown in Washington? My money is on Matt Murray. After Sunday’s game, the Penguins don’t play again until next Thursday in Tampa, and I don’t think the Penguins want either goalie to miss too much time. So, I’m guessing The Penguins looked like a team that hadn’t played in 10 days during Murray will play, and he’s won five straight starts, so it isn’t like this would much of Friday evening against the Flyers at PPG Paints Arena and be a bad decision. I will say this, however: If the Penguins are thinking nearly lost control of the contest during a horrendous third period. about going with Jarry in the playoffs — and, of course, they’re at least Unfortunately for the Flyers, the only two Penguins who didn’t look rusty considering it — they should get him some action against the Capitals. were the ones who will have their numbers hanging from the rafters of He’s never faced Washington, has never seen that power play, has never this building someday. faced an Alex Ovechkin one-timer. I think it would be good for him to see the Capitals at least a couple of times during the regular season, but my Evgeni Malkin put up three points and was the game’s dominant player. hunch is that Murray will get the call Sunday. Sidney Crosby also produced three points and buried a shot 55 seconds into overtime for the winner in the Penguins’ 4-3 victory. • The third period was sensationally bad for the Penguins. They were outshot 17-4, made horrible decisions in terms of situational hockey, “I think it’s pretty obvious what happened,” Marcus Pettersson said. “We failed to get pucks deep on a number of occasions and were consistently didn’t play great. We had a really bad third period. But those two guys out of position in the defensive zone. That the Flyers scored only one won us that game.” goal during those 20 minutes is a tribute to Jarry and perhaps also That much is difficult to argue. Consider the facts: because of some luck. I’d suggest that the Penguins were absolutely the better team in the first two periods, especially from a territorial standpoint. • On the Penguins’ first goal, Malkin bullied the Flyers during the entire But the third wasn’t pretty. At all. shift, then managed to get position on Matt Niskanen before tapping in a goal that evened the score at 1. • A number of players, notably Aston-Reese, told me fatigue was a big issue in the third period. It’s probably fair to remember that, while the • Only 1:21 later, the Penguins struck on the power play. Malkin directed Penguins are professional athletes, they’re also human. And remember, a pass to Crosby, who was dominant all evening while operating from the they had only one practice in the past 10 days. Most of the Penguins left side on the power play. He delivered a perfect pass to Bryan Rust in spent the bye week in warm climates and did not skate for around five the slot, and Rust’s shot trickled over the goal line to give the Penguins days. Sure, they are mentally recharged, and there’s something to be their first lead. said for that. But they looked tired in the third period. Apparently, they were. • Later in the second period, the Penguins again struck on the power play. Crosby again orchestrated the play. From the left circle, he sent a • Long breaks can do funny things for a hockey team and for individuals. centering feed through a number of bodies and directly onto the tape of The good news for the Penguins is that the first-half Rust appears to be Kris Letang, who scored from a bad angle to put the Penguins up 3-1. no different from the second-half Rust. He continued his sensational season by recording his 22nd goal, this one coming on the power play, • In overtime, a fresh Crosby replaced Malkin, took a feed from Letang, where he continues to thrive. Rust almost scored a sensational goal in circled through the high slot and buried a wrist shot over Brian Elliott’s overtime, his shot clanging off the post only a handful of seconds before right shoulder for the winner. Crosby ended the contest. Mike Sullivan consistently talks about the “I think you could see the difference those two guys made tonight,” Zach evolution of Rust’s game, and it’s easy to see why he’s so impressed. If Aston-Reese said. “I wouldn’t say we played a bad game, but I do think Rust continues to maintain this level of hockey into the postseason, the we were tired in the third period, and it showed. Having those two guys Penguins are going to be difficult to beat in a seven-game series. I really makes all the difference on a lot of nights, and this was one of those believe that, and I really believe in his importance to this team. He’s nights.” always been a good player, always been a brilliant big-game player. This season’s version of Rust, however, is utterly different from anything The Penguins were outshot 30-20 by the Flyers. we’ve seen from him. He’s simply been great.

Crosby and Malkin, however, managed to produce and set up the shots • Not many Penguins stood out Friday other than the superstars and that mattered most. Rust. But I really liked Patric Hornqvist’s game. He did a nice job of paving the way for Malkin by creating space for him. Hornqvist always Since returning from sports hernia surgery, Crosby had racked up 11 looks good with Malkin, which is probably something to keep in mind. He points in only six games. Malkin, meanwhile, has 53 points in only 38 had three shots on goal and four hits and blocked three shots. If you games this season, good for an outrageous 1.39 points per game despite wanted to find Hornqvist, you only had to look where the action was. playing two months without Crosby in the lineup. That’s when he is at his best. Given the way Hornqvist plays, I suspect “That’s why those guys have the respect they have around the league,” the long break was an important thing for him. He looked refreshed and, Jared McCann said. as I’ve been saying all season, he has played well when he’s been healthy. This is a development that should not be ignored. A healthy, Crosby and Malkin have made careers of torturing the Penguins’ biggest energized Hornqvist will only help. rival, and it was no different Friday. The schedule is about to get especially nasty for the Penguins, as their next four games are at • Justin Schultz made his return to the lineup and almost brought the Washington, at Tampa Bay, at Florida and back home against Tampa house down in the first period on his first shift. Schultz literally had just Bay. stepped onto the ice for the first time when a wide-open lane presented itself. He marched down the slot and nearly scored, only to be robbed by With Crosby and Malkin operating at such a high level, though, the Brian Elliott’s excellent save. All in all, Schultz looked fine in his first Penguins aren’t about to feel overmatched. game back. Sullivan seemed fairly pleased with his performance. Schultz played around 17 minutes, which was three minutes fewer than John “They definitely give us a different kind of confidence when they are Marino played. I’m interested to see who emerges as the right-side going like this,” Pettersson said. “They were both just awesome in this defenseman on the second pairing. It’s hard to argue that it should be game.” anyone but Marino, but then, Schultz does have quite a pedigree. It’s not Ten postgame observations a bad situation to have.

• Tristan Jarry did give up three goals again, something that has been a • Chad Ruhwedel was hurt in a second-period collision, missing a good trend. In fact, he’s permitted three or more goals in seven of his past chunk of the period before returning for the third. I didn’t think he had a great game, but in his defense, he was playing on the left side of the ice. That’s not easy. It’s also a little strange. The Penguins love having three right-handed defensemen and three left-handed defensemen in the lineup. Well, they easily could have had such a setup by inserting Juuso Riikola alongside Schultz. I’m surprised they didn’t. I sense the coaching staff simply likes Ruhwedel’s game a bit more than Riikola’s right now, and that’s fine, but I don’t think he’s playing at a level that is so much better than Riikola that you’d prefer to use four right-handed defensemen. Interesting.

• In many ways, it was a classic Letang game. He scored his 11th goal, had two points and did a terrific job of quarterbacking the power play. As usual, he did things with his legs that many people take for granted. However, he was out of position on a couple of Flyers goals. What I disliked most about his game came late in the third period. With about two minutes remaining and the Penguins holding on for dear life, simply trying to reach overtime, Letang pinched deep into Philadelphia territory and found himself trapped. This created a dangerous rush for the Flyers, who enjoyed a sustained surge of offensive zone time as a result. The Penguins, Letang in particular, have been much better in terms of situational hockey this season. Much better. But there were some lapses Friday. (I still don’t like Letang and Jack Johnson together. They just don’t look right.)

• A number of Penguins complimented the Flyers’ ability to clog up the neutral zone. The Penguins had the puck almost exclusively during the first two periods but weren’t able to generate many shots. This strikes me as a change in approach for the Flyers. Throughout the years, they’ve never really subscribed to the neutral zone trap game that the Devils perfected. Rather, the Flyers have always believed in a strong forecheck and an aggressive style, one that often meshes well with the Penguins. The teams have produced a number of high-scoring, entertaining games over the years. I saw the Flyers skating backward in this game far more than usual. They played their system relatively well, but it certainly was a passive look for them in each of the past two games against the Penguins.

• The Penguins held a moment of silence for Kobe Bryant before Friday’s game, a very classy touch. Also, on Friday morning, Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Pettersson and Hornqvist posed for pictures wearing #Oskarstrong shirts in support of Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom, who recently learned he has Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The crowd acknowledged these pictures during a break in the action and delivered a nice round of applause. One of the most famous moments in Penguins-Flyers history occurred in 1993, the night Mario Lemieux returned from his Hodgkin’s disease treatments and received a standing ovation at The Spectrum. Here’s wishing Lindblom and full and speedy recovery. The next time the Flyers play in Pittsburgh, let’s hope he’ll be in uniform and will receive a nice ovation in person.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173908 Pittsburgh Penguins • Bjugstad is a natural center but has thrived at times playing on the right wing and, in fact, the Penguins remain intrigued by the idea of playing him on the wing at some point.

A secret weapon could aid the Penguins in the season’s second half • If the Penguins acquire a wing to play with Crosby, the top line likely will feature Crosby, McCann and said new winger. The second line of Malkin, Rust and Kahun figures to remain. The Teddy Blueger line, which includes Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese, won’t be touched, as it has been By Josh Yohe Jan 31, 2020 exceptionally good. The three forwards who would remain? Bjugstad, Simon and Patric Hornqvist. Those three together gave the Penguins their best line late last season and could provide Sullivan with a bottom- Jim Rutherford is going to make a trade. History says so. The general six line that has showcased wonderful possession numbers. manager practically said so earlier this week. “We felt so good together last season,” Simon said. “We definitely He wants a forward and, while it seems inevitable that he’ll snatch one clicked, and Nick was a big part of that. We just all played off of each from another team, Rutherford also is getting one back into the lineup at other. I think Nick and I like to hold onto the puck. And Horny is just such some point during the second half of the season. of a presence always. So together I think we did some good things.”

Contrary to rumors that have swirled for months, he doesn’t sound all Bjugstad has one year remaining on his contract and his annual salary that intent on dealing Nick Bjugstad. Rather, he seems intrigued by how cap hit is $4.1 million. It’s a fairly high number and, truth be told, the the 6-foot-6 center could make the Penguins even better. Penguins might not need Bjugstad. He offers them certain luxuries, however, and Rutherford wants to see more of the big forward. Bjugstad has been out of the lineup since Nov. 15 with a core injury, and it’s not known when he’ll return. He has been skating for weeks but didn’t “Very much so,” he said. “Last year, the coaches put him at center and take part in Thursday’s practice and won’t play tonight against the Flyers. McCann on the wing. When we made the trade, we thought McCann would be at center. I think that’s probably his best place. Bjugstad, I’m “He’s been out a while, and that’s too bad,” Rutherford said. “I would say not sure. But we know he can play center or wing and we know he can that I’m curious. That’s the word I would use. I’m very curious to see what help us. I just want to get him back in the lineup. I’m very curious.” this team looks like with him in the lineup.” There’s that word again. To McCann, though, it’s not even a matter of There is a line of thinking that suggests Bjugstad doesn’t fit in with the curiosity. He’s convinced that a healthy Bjugstad could help put the Penguins. Not these Penguins, the ones who have been so sublimely Penguins over the top. transformed into a reincarnation of Mike Sullivan’s 2016 team, with speed and tenacity paving the way to the NHL’s fourth-best record. “He will make an impact, I’m telling you,” he said. “I’ve been close with him for a long time and I know what he can do. He does a lot of things Bjugstad is big and physically gifted. He also doesn’t play with the with that big body. He’s missed. I just want him to get back as soon as quickness that many of the Penguins produce. Intensity never has been possible.” his thing. There is a quiet feel to his game, one that mirrors his laid back personality. If these Penguins are about Sidney Crosby’s never-ending The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 quest for perfection, Evgeni Malkin’s passionate dedication to two-way hockey, Kris Letang’s incomparable wheels, Brandon Tanev’s turbo- charged forecheck, Dominik Kahun’s quickness and Bryan Rust’s energy, then why on earth would Bjugstad fit?

The player on the Penguins roster who knows him best set the record straight.

“People who think he won’t fit or make us better are just wrong,” Jared McCann said. “Way wrong.”

Teammates, past and present, are particularly defensive of Bjugstad and of his game. Vince Trocheck, his former teammate in Florida, predicted he would become an instant star in Pittsburgh. It didn’t happen but, like is usually the case with Bjugstad, it was difficult to determine how ineffective or effective he was.

Bjugstad has participated in only 10 games this season and has been held without a point in nine of them. Still, in portions of two seasons with the Penguins, Bjugstad has scored 10 goals in 42 games despite typically receiving bottom-six minutes and never seeing time on the top power play.

“I think he’s a great player, to be honest,” Dominik Simon said. “He has this ability to hold onto pucks, to use his big frame and to generate offense for us. The way he’s capable of hanging onto pucks for a long time is something that made us really effective.”

McCann argues that any opinion that Bjugstad’s speed, or lack thereof, is an issue is simply misinformed.

“No,” McCann said. “No. He can skate. He can fly, really. I think, maybe, it doesn’t look like he’s moving as fast as he is to people because of his size. I don’t know. Maybe big guys don’t look like they’re moving as fast as they really are. But I know he can do it. I’ve played with him for a long time. You’ll see it when he’s healthy. He can skate a lot better than people give him credit for. I honestly think he’ll fit right in with what we’re doing.”

The Penguins are wary to move Bjugstad because of the flexibility he offers. Consider:

• Should Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin sustain an injury between now and the postseason’s conclusion, Bjugstad is an eminently capable No. 2 center with a 24-goal season and a 49-point season on his resume. 1173909 Pittsburgh Penguins I still wake up at the same time when I’m back home. It’s a normal thing for me to stay on schedule. I just tried reset, like you said. I tried to not think about hockey.

Alex Galchenyuk opens up on his disappointing first half: ‘I feel like You wanted to have scored more than five goals. Let’s take the numbers everything is under a microscope’ off the table. What do you need to see from yourself to feel like a turnaround might be possible?

Creating. For me. For my teammates. For my line. From the left side. I By Rob Rossi Jan 31, 2020 need to create more.

What about shooting more?

Sometime in the middle of last September, not long after arriving in You know, it’s about working on those parts of the game that I can do Pittsburgh, a stranger to the city climbed into the back seat of a cab and better, that I can improve on. I should bring more offense. I can work minded his own business as the driver listened to sports talk on the radio. harder on all the things to see what will work out for me. Creating. The topics were the Penguins. The driver, not minding his own business, Shooting. Doing more on offense. asked aloud if this passenger had heard of their new winger — the one who was part of the Phil Kessel trade. Did you come into training camp healthy?

The passenger politely nodded his head. The driver took that response Yes. Absolutely. I felt great coming into camp. I was ready. as an invitation to audibly mangle the new winger’s surname. You are known for being in excellent condition. That injury in camp Gal-cher-niak. seemed to catch everybody by surprise.

Gal-chev-civic. It wasn’t great.

Gal-ser-sovich. You had, like, a week of camp. Then you were gone until before the home opener. Did you rush back before you were ready? Now scanning the screen on his cell phone, the passenger posed another pronunciation to consider: Gal-chen-yuk. I was feeling it a little bit. I mean, it’s nothing on our doctors’ side, because I was feeling good. It was all me. I wanted to play. And, you To that, the driver responded, “these guys will say it again … they said know, I was in the gym doing things and feeling good. he’s looked good in camp with Geno.” But a game is different. Especially when it’s your first one for your new The passenger smiled, nodded again and thought to himself that team. I wanted to be out there that first night. Pittsburgh could easily become a home. This driver, like many of the people he had previously met, reminded him a lot of folks from Other players who have been injured in camp have said it’s the worst Milwaukee, where he was raised. time to get an injury because you lose all the gains from summer training. Do you feel that happened with you? The driver spoke up again. He wanted to turn up the radio to hear the talk show’s co-hosts say that surname. It was a little tough. New team. New system. New everything. But I’m not going to sit here and make excuses. It is what it was. But it was definitely “I told him I was sure my way of saying it was the right one,” Alex hard. It was hard. Coming off an injury with a new team — I think its a Galchenyuk said. “I don’t think, after getting out, he believed me.” little bit more challenging.

The Penguins were on the verge of their regular-season opener when If this isn’t accurate, please say so. But it sounds like you’re saying you Galchenyuk shared that story. He had been then what he was Friday might not have pushed as much to play in the opener if you hadn’t been after a practice at Lemieux Sports Complex: one of the last players off on a new team. Is that what you’re saying? the ice, and feeling a little out of place with Stanley Cup heroes Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist to his left and Images of other all-time I don’t think I would have played in the first game, no. Penguins on the wall above him. I mean, it was my call. I told everybody I was ready to go. It’s not like it What the cab driver had heard that day back in September was correct. was going like I wanted up to that point. I wanted to come in for the whole Galchenyuk had looked good skating to the left on Malkin’s line early training camp. I wasn’t. So, I really wanted to be there with the guys during training camp. But four months (and only five goals) later, opening night, and I fucked myself. Galcheyuk found himself working with a couple of players the Penguins I’m sorry. It was just frustrating. had recalled from their AHL affiliate. You mean getting injured, coming back too soon because you wanted to Hockey can be as humbling as Pittsburghers are welcoming to new be part of this new team, and then missing most of October and … Penguins. And though he is well aware that general manager Jim Rutherford could deal away his expiring contract at any point between I had to restart everything. now and the Feb. 24 trade deadline, Galchenyuk said Friday he still holds out hope for a second-half turnaround. Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation at any point of your career? Actually, he said a lot more than that in this interview with The Athletic. In Arizona. Last year. But it was different. Like, I’ve never really dealt with Did getting away — going back to Arizona for the break — allow you to a groin injury. reset after a first half that clearly didn’t go the way you had thought it would? I don’t know if we’re saying what the injury was.

I mean, whenever you’re not feeling great about your game or not great Everybody knows. Why was a groin injury so troublesome for you, other generally or whatever it might be, it’s good to get away. We’ve had a than it being tough to skate or train while you’re recovering? grating schedule. You don’t hear us — the players — say that a lot, It’s not like a knee, where you feel weak, wobbly, whatever. With the because they do everything great here in Pittsburgh, but all the flying and groin, you feel good, but there’s a little pull and then you’re, like, “Oh, the back-to-back games, all that stuff … it was nice, even that first day what’s going on?” back home, to wake up, look at the clock and be, like, “Oh yeah, I don’t have anything to do.” When I re-injured it — it was like the second or third period of a game — and it was, like, “I felt so good in practice.” So, yeah, you practice, you But you seem to enjoy waking up and going to work. Coaches, can feel great. But you get in a game, toward the end of a period, and teammates, almost everybody says you’re one of the hardest working that can happen. players they’ve been around. Are you saying not going to work during the break was good for you? I didn’t know why it happened. It was tricky, something new for me. But I’ll definitely learn from it. There was this thought when you finally scored a goal that once it happened you might get on a hot streak. It didn’t work out that way. Now you have only five goals. There are stories about you being traded. You’re going to be a free agent. And you’re an offensive player who isn’t scoring. How does anybody stay positive amid all of that negativity?

I mean, I feel like everything is under a microscope. All year, it’s been, “You’re not producing, you’re not producing, you’re not producing — when are you going to?” It’s not fun.

You’ve got to stay positive with everything: life, games, practice. Just try to bring yourself up and work hard and get a break. I hope.

You’ve only been in Pittsburgh for a few months. Teammates say great things about you. It sounds and looks like you’ve fit in everywhere but on the ice …

The season’s not over.

Of course. And even the all-time scorers go through slumps. But the question was going to be who have you turned to for support. It’s one thing to struggle when you’re familiar with teammates and the franchise and the city. That’s not your situation. So, who have you turned to for support?

Just the people that are around me. My girlfriend. My parents. My sister. My agent’s been positive. My trainers have supported me.

What about here in Pittsburgh, specifically on this club?

It’s a great group of guys. I’m not going to lie, it’s a group I want to be part of, to contribute more, to help us win games.

It’s a good mix of guys who have won — not just won, but won consistently. If you win three (Stanley Cup championships) in 12 years, it’s consistency. And they have that here. There are younger guys. There are newer guys, like me. It’s a mix of all cultures. It gels pretty well. It’s a group I was excited to join.

I want to be a part of it and do more than I have so far.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173910 San Jose Sharks “It’s just depressing. You’re coming off that all-star game where you had five goals and then you play a game like (he) did, he started against Vancouver, I thought he was the best player on the ice and he deals with something on a very harmless play. So it’s bad luck.” Joe Thornton on Tomas Hertl: “He knows he’s not alone in this” For complete Sharks coverage

Simek tore the ACL and MCL and damaged the meniscus in his right CURTIS PASHELKA knee in a game with the Jets in March of last year. He missed all of this season’s training camp, and did a two-game conditioning assignment January 31, 2020 at 7:33 PM with the Barracuda before he returned to the Sharks’ lineup Nov. 5.

Simek is feeling good now, after he missed the last seven games before SAN JOSE — Sharks center Tomas Hertl is scheduled to have surgery Christmas to have a procedure to alleviate irritation in the knee, but was Monday to repair the torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral upset that his countryman now has to go through the same thing, ligaments in his left knee. “When I heard (Thursday), I was so sad because I was with this injury, After that will come months of difficult rehabilitation for Hertl, who is almost same, last year,” Simek said. “It was so hard for me because it expected, according to general manager Doug Wilson, to be ready for was six months or eight months of every day rehab.” the start of training camp in September. Simek said it was about two weeks after surgery that he was able to ride Sharks center Joe Thornton and defenseman Radim Simek can relate, an exercise bike again. Thornton, though, said he wasn’t able to get having both been through the arduous process — twice in Thornton’s flexion in his knee for a long time. case — in recent years. “And that was the biggest thing for me, was getting that flexion,” Thornton Both said there will no doubt be difficult weeks and months ahead for said. “Some guys come within a week, and some guys do a month. It’s Hertl, who was injured Wednesday, but are optimistic he can pick up his kind of the timetable you’re set on. But for me, it took a long, long time, career where it left off. for both knees actually.

“The first couple days, it’s tough on you. It’s tough on you mentally,” “I know for Tommy, (after) his previous (surgery), he was very quick. Thornton said. “Especially since (Hertl) has been there before, and he Different bodies go at different speeds. But him being young, his will be knows what kind of work has to go into it to get it better.” real quick.”

Thornton first suffered ACL and MCL tears his left knee in 2017, just Thornton was 37 at the time of his first knee injury, and Simek was 26 eight days before the start of the playoffs. Remarkably, he returned for when he was hurt. Hertl was 20 when he first needed surgery, and is 26 Game 3 of the Sharks’ first round series against Edmonton, which won now. the series in six games. “He’s been down this avenue before, which is tough, so he knows what “I don’t recommend it for anybody,” Thornton said of his unlikely kind of goes into the rehab,” Thornton said. “But I told him, he’s young — comeback. “But I’m glad he gets to take some time and rehab it properly, I went through two myself — and he’s going to heal quick and be get it fixed and he’ll be ready for us.” hopefully be ready for training camp next year.

Thornton then tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Jan. 2018. He “But we have so much love for him that, he knows he’s not alone in this, did not play again that season, as the Sharks lost in the second round to which is very, very important as well. The guys will take good care of the Vegas Golden Knights. him.”

“It’s a mental grind to start, but once you kind of get in that mindset that, San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.01.2020 ‘Hey, I’ve got to get back to the guys.’ Then you just dial it in and go to work, and you can see an end goal,” Thornton said.

“The training staff and the (strength and conditioning) guys working out with him every day, they make it fun. They make it interesting, and they make that you want to come every day to get better for the guys.”

Like Hertl’s injury, both of Thornton’s knee injuries came on random sequences of events.

His first, on April 2, 2017, came on an awkward collision with then- Vancouver forward Michael Chaput right next to the boards. The second came in the neutral zone after Mikkel Boedker landed on the back of his leg following a check from Andrew Copp of the Winnipeg Jets.

Hertl suffered his injury in the first period of Wednesday’s game with the Canucks. Christopher Tanev slid in front of the Vancouver net as he was trying to block a shot by Hertl, and collided with Hertl’s left leg.

Just four days before, Hertl stole the show at NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis, scoring five goals in two 3-on-3 games to help the Pacific Division team win the tournament. Minutes before he was injured, Hertl had scored the game’s first goal.

In his rookie season in 2013, Hertl suffered damage to the MCL and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee in a knee-on-knee collision with Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown.

Although his ACL was not affected, Hertl needed surgery, and missed roughly four months before he returned to play two games at the end of the regular season before the Sharks played the Kings in the first round of 2014 playoffs.

“It (stinks) for the player. He’s dealt with some injuries in the past and he’s come back from them, and he’ll come back from this one as well,” Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner said. 1173911 San Jose Sharks Karlsson leads the Sharks with 37 points and is second on the team in average time on ice at 24 minutes and 39 seconds per game. The Sharks, though, are 28th in the NHL at 2.58 goals per game, and have scored just 20 times on the power play. Sharks GM Doug Wilson talks expectations, EK65, Martin Jones and trade deadline Wilson said he doesn’t regret giving out the contract, adding, “He’s a special player who is highly competitive and is only 29 years of age. I San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson has every expectation think some of his best hockey will be ahead of him.” the team will return to the NHL playoffs in 2021 In exchange for Karlsson in a Sept. 2018 blockbuster trade with Ottawa, Wilson sent a sizable package of draft picks, prospects and NHL players to the Senators, including a conditional first round draft selection. That CURTIS PASHELKA pick turned from a 2019 first round pick to a 2020 first rounder when the January 31, 2020 at 3:38 PM Sharks made the playoffs last season.

Right now, it appears that pick will be somewhere in the top 10.

SAN JOSE — Doug Wilson has every expectation the Sharks will return “That’s the cost of acquiring high-end players. That’s the cost,” Wilson to the NHL playoffs in 2021 after what’s arguably been the most trying said. “You need difference makers to compete in this league. With where season of his near 17-year tenure as the team’s general manager. were at with our difference-makers ages, (Patrick) Marleau, (Joe) Thornton, (Joe) Pavelski. There’s not many players like him, and, that’s The Sharks entered Friday with a 22-26-4 record and are in 13th place in the deal.” the Western Conference, nine points back of the last playoff spot, and will likely miss the postseason for just the third time since 1998. Karlsson has at times been a lightning rod for criticism, considering his contract and the expectations that were bound to follow. Injuries to their top two centers have beset the Sharks in recent weeks, as captain Logan Couture suffered a fractured bone in his left ankle Jan. “People are entitled to their comments, but they don’t have the luxury of 7. Thursday, it was revealed Tomas Hertl has torn anterior cruciate and being within this group,” Wilson said. “When you don’t have the results, medial collateral ligaments in his left knee and will miss the rest of the people may get frustrated.” season. Wilson also touched on a few other topics Thursday. Wilson received a vote of confidence from Sharks majority owner Hasso On his approach to the trade deadline: “The results dictate what we do. Plattner last week, and remains in charge of returning the team to Our record is our record,” Wilson said. “You always explore things that prominence after a forgettable few months that saw the team make its are the right things for the team both now and for next year. Not prepared first in-season coaching change since Dec. 2002. to surrender this year or anything like that but my job also is to make “I feel very strongly that we will be in a good place,” Wilson said. “But decisions that get us back to where I know we’re going to get in we’ve got a lot of work to do, make no mistake about it, on several September. If opportunities are there, we will explore.” fronts.” On whether there has been any interest from other teams in acquiring In meeting with reporters at the Sharks’ practice facility Thursday, shortly Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. after he received the news regarding Hertl, Wilson pointed to the team’s Thornton and Marleau, both 40, are on one-year contracts this season: turnaround after it missed the playoffs in 2015 as an example of how “This time of year, I wouldn’t share that with anybody, any conversations quickly he expects the club to rebound. I have with fellow GM’s about players or whatever it might be, for a lot of reasons.” In the summer of 2015, the Sharks signed free agents Paul Martin and Joel Ward and traded for goalie Martin Jones. Those three players made On what he sees with Jones, who has won just one game in his last 11 significant contributions to a team that would come within two wins of starts and has four years and $23 million left on his six-year contract he capturing its first Stanley Cup the following season. signed in 2017: “He’s got some things to work on. Very fortunate to have (Evgeni Nabokov) here. Martin is also a guy that took us to the Cup For this upcoming offseason, Wilson said he would, “explore all options. finals. … Is it how we played? There’s an impact there, too. The benefit we have now is time, to get some people back on top of their game. To again reestablish our identity. That’s important. If you play the “But there’s some work to be done, time to be used, to see if we can get right way, the results will take care of themselves.” all of our players (to improve). It’s not specifically to Martin. It’s an important position. Yes, we’ve got address it.” Wilson felt the Sharks had a “disjointed” training camp with Erik Karlsson coming back from his groin surgery and fellow defenseman Radim Simek Is a buyout of Jones’ contract off the table? still out after he had reconstructive knee surgery — similar to the one “Right now,” Wilson said, “we’re focused on helping all of our players get Hertl will have to go through — in March 2019. He did not return to play on top of their game and playing the right way.” in the NHL until early November. On the job Bob Boughner and his staff have done. The Sharks are 7-10-2 Still, Wilson believes he has the framework of a contending team, led by since they fired Pete DeBoer as coach on Dec. 11: “The things that Couture, Hertl, wingers Evander Kane and Timo Meier and defensemen they’re working on and the commitment to getting us going in the right Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. direction has been really good.” Per CapFriendly.com, those seven players will have a combined cap hit Asked if he has a clearer idea on whether he will remove Boughner’s of $52.125 million for next season, when the league’s salary cap is not interim tag, Wilson said, “we are just zeroed on playing the right way. expected to rise much from its current upper limit of $81.5 million. Everybody is, because that is the most important thing for the rest of this That would seem to make a turnaround more of a challenge than it was year, for everybody.” five years ago. On asking players to waive no-move or no-trade clauses to give him “To win in this league, I think you have to have a bit deeper of a core. I more flexibility going forward: “There’s not as many limitations as you don’t think you can be carried by just one or two players.” Wilson said. think. A player would have to come to me if he has a full no move. Again, “When you look at the positions those guys play, center, defense or those conversations stay in confidence. But the core of our group is power wingers, it allows you to bring in people around them. I think how something that we’re counting on to get us back to where we want to get we’ve dedicated our dollars is to the proper positions. We’ll have some to.” opportunities to grow this team. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.01.2020 “But I don’t think I look at it as a big an issue as (an outsider) would.”

The 2019-2020 season started with the Sharks resigning Karlsson to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension, the richest deal in team history and the largest for any defenseman in the NHL. 1173912 San Jose Sharks

Five Sharks storylines to watch over final 30 games of 2019-20 season

Brodie Brazil

January 31, 2020 7:00 AM

The chips are down in San Jose.

The Sharks have 30 games left on the 2019-20 schedule, and need to produce around 50 points for any chance at their pace of the last four seasons. That math isn’t pleasant.

Oh yeah, they’re also down two All-Star centermen in Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture.

What remains this season won’t be easy, but will be interesting.

How does the goalie situation play out?

There’s no question Aaron Dell took over frontman duties from Martin Jones shortly after the coaching change from Peter DeBoer to Bob Boughner, but does it stay that way until Game No. 82? Can Jones show any kind of kickback if opportunities continue on a limited basis? And how do the Sharks handle Dell (pending unrestricted free agent this summer) versus Jones (under contract until 2024) in terms of splitting time? Telling answers are sure to be witnessed.

Will any more young players emerge?

Mario Ferraro is the only rookie to enjoy any kind of breakout season, in what was supposed to be a campaign centered around multiple young Sharks making their marks in the NHL. Now that injuries have opened the door, and with potential trade departures looming, will any more statement performances be seen by San Jose’s pipeline?

Many in this group have bounced up and down to the AHL this season, but the final 30 games might be their sustained chance in the NHL spotlight.

What players get closer to personal paces?

Yes, we’re discussing individual stats, but it’s a collective issue in San Jose. Many established performers are well off their typical paces in production. Whether it’s goals, assists, points, or plus/minus, can the final 30 games prove that “the stats take will care of themselves" is true?

Erik Karlsson is currently projected to lead the team with 58 points at the conclusion of 82 games. That would be the lowest leader in a full season since the 2003-04 season when Patrick Marleau posted 57.

Can the Sharks compete down the middle?

The lineup suddenly looks a lot different minus their top two centers. It stings enough to lose a pair of top-five goal scorers from the roster, but the fact that Couture and Hertl play the same position compounds the issue even more.

Can San Jose’s remaining centers hold their own in the face-off circle, defensively, and in front of the scoring crease?

How different does the roster look after Feb. 24?

We know the Sharks need different results. And we know they’ll be making changes to attempt achieving that. But to what extent? Will the NHL’s trade deadline see general manager Doug Wilson wheeling a number of smaller maneuvers to gain some salary cap flexibility? Or will he entertain something more drastic?

Does the team have better options in-season, or will they wait until a more market-friendly summer? And separately, maybe even selfishly: How many more opportunities will we have to witness two future Hall of Famers in Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau take the ice as Sharks teammates?

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173913 San Jose Sharks Part of the problem is the tight race currently being conducted in the middle of the Western Conference standings. At the All-Star break, all seven teams in the Central Division had .500 records or better. Meanwhile, according to the NHL’s stats site, the 2019-20 season marks Duhatschek Notebook: In search of subtle deadline deals, Preds answers the first time in the NHL’s expansion era (post-1967-68) in which the five lie within and time for Sharks to reset top teams in one division (the Pacific) were separated by a single point past the halfway mark of the season. That’s how the slate of games

began this past Monday when the league was gearing up to start play Eric Duhatschek after the All-Star break.

Jan 31, 2020 Now I know that 12 of 15 Western Conference teams with a .500 record or better is a function of the current system, which generously rewards teams with points for losing in OT and the shootout. You can complain about it all you want – and about two weeks ago, Calgary Flames’ coach The calendar clicks over to February on Saturday and by now, most NHL Geoff Ward added his voice to the chorus of people who want to see teams have sorted themselves into buyers and sellers ahead of the trade three points for a win, the way they do in some European leagues. Ward deadline. made the point that it’s easier to come from off the pace if you could earn This year, the deadline falls on Feb. 24, which means there are roughly three points for a regulation win than under the current system. 175 games to go between now and the witching hour – and then a further Until that changes, we are stuck with the reality of the league today. 300 games after the deadline passes, for playoff wannabees to integrate newly acquired personnel into their lineups. The resulting logjam in the standings is the primary reason why the trade calculations going on in the various executive suites are so complex and In the last couple of seasons, we saw a bit of a trend unfold, where muddled right now. teams didn’t wait until the 11th hour to make their moves. That’s primarily a concern if you’re a buyer. The more time you give a new player to Take, for example, the Nashville Predators – who won two crazy games make the necessary adjustments – on and off the ice – the greater the this past week, one over the Washington Capitals and one over the New chance you have of getting said player to produce at crunch time. Jersey Devils – to move to within two points of the Golden Knights in the chase for the second wild-card spot (and currently hold two games in Last season, for example, Toronto made the Jake Muzzin deal with the hand.) Los Angeles Kings early enough so that Muzzin was able to play in 30 games for the Maple Leafs before the playoffs began. Here is a team, Nashville, that has made a series of all-in moves ever since qualifying for the 2017 Stanley Cup final and losing heartbreakingly By contrast, the Ottawa Senators went far closer to the wire with the to the Pittsburgh Penguins. players it was offering up. The net result: Mark Stone, who was traded to Vegas in the final hours, got into just 16 regular-season games for the Preds GM understands the concept of championship Golden Knights; while Matt Duchene (23 games) and Ryan Dzingel (21 windows opening and closing – and he may also know, deep down, that games), who were moved a little earlier, got in a few more skates after the Predators of today are probably further away from a championship landing as rentals with the Columbus Blue Jackets. than they were at this time last year, or two years ago.

Long term, which of the deals that went down in 2019 had the subtlest, But that doesn’t change the fact that, with the dollars they committed to understated impact? signing Duchene this past summer, and the fact that goaltender Pekka Rinne isn’t getting any younger, how can they possibly be sellers this If you’re the Senators, you could argue it was the Dzingel deal, which time around unless the bottom completely falls out between now and netted them two second-round draft choices, plus Anthony Duclair. Most Feb. 24? of the early attention was paid to the draft choices that came Ottawa’s way, not Duclair – who was essentially being cast off by the Blue Jackets Tricky isn’t it? For sure, whatever Nashville may do, you cannot possibly but has thrived since joining the Sens. After scoring 14 points (including imagine a scenario where they make any kind of impact deal until almost eight goals) in 21 games for Ottawa last season, Duclair was one of two the 11th hour and 59th minute – and even then, you might not be certain players selected to represent the Senators at the 2020 NHL All-Star of the correct path forward. Game. Remember, the best deal of Poile’s life happened back at the 2013 If you remember all the trade chatter at this time a year ago, very few deadline, when Washington wanted Martin Erat so badly that they were (meaning none) framed it as the year of the Anthony Duclair willing to part with an A-level prospect to get him. sweepstakes. That A-level prospect, Filip Forsberg, may well be the Predators’ most Which, by the way, is often my favorite part of how these breathlessly complete two-way forward. Presumably, you never know when a team is anticipated trade deadlines play out. going to step up and make you an offer you can’t refuse.

Pretty much every year, you can find – way down in the fine print – a By the same token, adding reinforcements at the deadline didn’t help the transaction that tends to be glossed over as all the big names are Predators in any meaningful way in the last two years. changing teams – but long term, they tend to make the biggest impact. In 2018, a small goalie deal was made that hardly anyone paid attention to Last season, they went out and got Wayne Simmonds, who wasn’t ever – the Arizona Coyotes picked up Darcy Kuemper from the Los Angeles really healthy and contributed just three points and a single goal in 17 Kings for Tobias Rieder and Scott Wedgewood. games. The Predators also traded away a youngish forward in Kevin Fiala to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Mikael Granlund, who has Until he was injured in December, Kuemper was in the Vezina Trophy never really found his footing in Nashville, and certainly didn’t last year, conversation – and was one of the main reasons the Coyotes got off to when he managed just five points (and a single goal) in 16 games. such a great start (more on the Coyotes and Kuemper’s impact in a minute). The lesson is – when plotting strategy at the deadline – sometimes, less is more. All of this is a long and circuitous way of saying that while the names atop the available boards – Chris Kreider of the Rangers, Tyler Toffoli of Of course, no one wants to be that trading-deadline killjoy, because the Kings, Jean-Gabriel Pageau of the Senators – are mildly interesting, player movement is fascinating – and in some cases, really helpful. no one listed there inspires the sort of intrigue that a Stone or a Duchene The Strome brothers, Ryan and Dylan, were both traded in the 2018-19 might. season and both have thrived in their new locations, Ryan with the It also means that the inevitable trade that comes out of nowhere at the Rangers (from Edmonton) and Dylan with the Blackhawks (from 11th hour once again might have the longest-lasting impact of any deal. Arizona).

And that would be a good thing too, because ever since Taylor Hall came Those are the type of big-picture, long-term transactions that can make a off the board back in December – traded to the Arizona Coyotes for a difference (especially if you’re New York, where the piece you gave up to package of draft picks and prospects – is there even a single player up get Strome was Ryan Spooner, currently playing for Minsk in the KHL). for grabs in 2020 that makes your pulse race? No. Not mine either. Ryan Strome, at the break, had 43 points in 48 games for New York, second only to Artemi Panarin in team scoring. Does anyone ever If he can, then you have to like the Coyotes’ chances of staying in the mention the Rangers’ Jeff Gorton as a candidate for GM of the year? hunt. It wouldn’t hurt to see a little additional production from Phil Kessel, who came over from Pittsburgh in the Alex Galchenyuk trade last The good thing about a week like this one, where the NHL plays a limited summer and was supposed to be a difference-maker on an offensively schedule because 14 teams were mostly still on their byes, is you can challenged team. Eleven goals – only four at even strength – tell you all focus more closely on the handful of teams that are back in action. you need to know about the Kessel experiment thus far. Not at all what For me, it gave me a chance to watch Nashville closely in its first two they had hoped when they made the deal. games coming out the break – and what a couple of wild, unpredictable Elsewhere on the site, you can read Rob Rossi’s excellent Q&A with Alex games they were. leaving me more puzzled than ever about the Preds’ Galchenyuk who has been – like the player he was traded for in Kessel – chances of legitimately competing for the Stanley Cup this spring. For an underachiever in his new home. example, Ryan Johansen struggled mightily all over the ice in the first two periods against Washington, and then came back in the third and It’s led to speculation that Galchenyuk could be moved again ahead of produced a couple of points to spur the come-from-behind win. the deadline – though this time, it would be as a rental. Galchenyuk is on an expiring contract which pays him $4.9-million per season and will be It was the kind of all-over-the-map outing from Johansen that must have an unrestricted free agent this summer. new Predators’ coach John Hynes scratching his head, puzzling about what to expect from his No. 1 center from shift-to-shift. Galchenyuk’s 26th birthday is just around the corner – Feb. 12 – so he does not exactly fall into that young-prospect/needs-a-new-home On the long list of underachieving Predator forwards this season, category anymore. Johansen probably comes in at the top, but Viktor Arvidsson, Granlund, Duchene and even Forsberg are right there too. He did score 30 goals for the 2015-16 Montreal Canadiens, but that was four seasons ago. Other than Rocco Grimaldi, who has been productive in under 13 minutes of average ice time per game, my takeaway was that they need Usually, the thinking among NHL people is that this far along in a career, to get collectively more from the current roster than they do if you’ve only hit an impressive scoring number once, the easy reinforcements from elsewhere. conclusion is that season was an outlier and not a sign of things to come. Which is not good if you’re Pittsburgh and hoping to get real value for After watching two nights of erratic play by Nashville at every position all Galchenyuk at the deadline. over the time, that’s the one simple solution that ultimately leaped to mind: Galchenyuk, in his interview with The Athletic, said all the right things – that he hoped there was enough time left in the season to get things Just play better … and maybe get Ryan Ellis back from injured reserve to turned around and convince the Penguins to keep him in Pittsburgh. That help Roman Josi carry the defensive load. would then give him a chance to salvage a year in which he started Whatever the case, it sure feels as if the answer in Nashville – if there is physically less than 100 percent, and has never quite found his rhythm. one at all – isn’t going to come externally. It needs to come from within. In randomly rattling Galchenyuk’s name past a few NHL people this past Arizona Coyotes an interesting case study week, the response was mostly lukewarm. Nobody was overly positive – or negative, which I found interesting. There was a collective sense of – The Pacific Division standings have spread out a little since the he’s a player with theoretically more to give, but how do you get it out of resumption of play, post-All-Star Game. Not much, but a little. I’m always him? cautious when evaluating how a team performs either going into an extended break or coming out of one. There are too many factors – most It’s been that way for a while in Calgary with Sam Bennett too. Bennett of them, relating to distractions off the ice – that enter into performance. was the fourth overall selection in the 2014 draft; Galchenyuk third overall in 2012. At some point, maybe they will each find a new landing For example, Arizona looked awful in its first game back, losing to spot, the way the Stromes did, where their production eventually matches Anaheim, just as the Ducks had looked awful losing their first game after their potential. Because time will eventually run out for both. the break to the San Jose Sharks. Things were only marginally better on Thursday night for the Coyotes who, playing at home against the last- Tomas Hertl injury place Kings, gave up a goal to tie the game late and then another in Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Sharks, overtime to lose a valuable single point in the standings. along comes the news this week that Tomas Hertl will be lost for the The Coyotes’ Rick Tocchet is like all NHL coaches these days – they can season because of ACL and MCL ligament tears in his knee. do the math. A little blip now, a little losing streak and suddenly a team One can reasonably argue that Hertl is San Jose’s second-most can go from within the thick of the race to a half-a-dozen points behind, important forward after Logan Couture, currently out recovering from a which makes gaining the necessary ground oh-so challenging. fractured ankle.

Arizona is an intriguing case study because the Coyotes did what Even with all hands on deck this season, the Sharks weren’t very good. appeared to be the right thing, when it came to landing an important Without their two key forwards, it looks as if they have a chance to sink rental, by winning the bidding for Hall just before the Christmas trade further in the Pacific Division standings. freeze kicked in. For a team that made it to the conference final a year ago, it’s a hard fall Hall is a rental for now, but Arizona didn’t take a player off its roster and – made worse by the fact that the Sharks don’t have their own first-round didn’t surrender any of its genuine A or A-plus prospects to get him. pick this season, thanks to the Erik Karlsson trade.

And Hall’s numbers are OK in Arizona – 16 points, including seven goals, Ottawa finished 37 points behind San Jose in last year’s final NHL in his first 18 games (after producing 25 points in 30 games for New standings. This year, the two teams are separated by just three points. Jersey). That would have taken some crystal-ball gazing to predict – that Ottawa, But since the trade, Arizona is just 7-9-2 with Hall in the lineup – a with two chances at a lottery pick this year, now has a few more reasons function less of his contributions and more because Kuemper, their for cautious optimism. San Jose, meanwhile? Yikes! starting goalie, who was in the midst of a Vezina-type season but was lost to injury a couple of days after Hall arrived. As much as possible, my operating principle is to look for solutions and silver linings when assessing a season gone off the rails. Without Kuemper, the Coyotes’ overall attention to team defense has slipped noticeably – 61 goals against in 18 games. But when you look at the collective age of the Sharks’ core, the dollars committed long term to players inching past their prime years and the The good news in Arizona is that Kuemper is getting close to returning to lack of Grade-A prospects coming through the pipeline, it does look grim. the lineup. For decades, you could argue that only the Detroit Red Wings were a The uncertainty is, can Kuemper quickly regain the top goaltending form more consistent franchise, year in and year out than San Jose – immune that helped the Coyotes gloss over the defensive miscues that they made for the most part to the natural ebb-and-flow of the standings. when he was doing most of the heavy lifting in goal? The day of reckoning eventually came for the Red Wings. It now seems at hand in San Jose too.

Once that realization sets in, the focus has to shift rapidly to tomorrow. Ottawa is the best example recently of an organization that seemed like a complete basket case a year ago that has gotten enough things right – and also got a little lucky along the way – to sell a renewed sense of hope.

I was there just before the All-Star break and you could feel a different vibe in the city. It’s maybe the only thing the Sharks can hang their hat on. As dark as today looks, things can change rapidly in the NHL if you dare to make aggressive moves and hard decisions.

In a season gone off the rails, the sooner the Sharks start planning for the future, the better off they will be.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173914 St Louis Blues the Oilers, with a 2.40 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

For Edmonton, Mikko Koskinen makes only this third career start against Blues updates: Steen, Gunny in, Mac healthy but out against Oilers the Blues: he’s 0-2-0 with a 3.59 GAA and .922 save percentage. But he was strong in the 2-1 Oilers loss at Enterprise in December¸ stopping 42 of a season-high 44 shots by the Blues.

Jim Thomas CALAHOO FIELD TRIP?

Berube made it to his nearby hometown of Calahoo on Wednesday, and was tempted to make a team field trip there during the Blues’ two-plus EDMONTON, Alberta _ The lower-body issue that kept Alexander Steen days in Edmonton. out of Tuesday’s Calgary game after the second period apparently is behind him. “I asked the boys, but they didn’t want to go. I wanted to have practice out there,” Berube said. The Blues didn’t run lines Friday morning during a heavily-attended morning skate, but coach Craig Berube confirmed that Steen will be in We think he was kidding. the lineup for Game No. 999 of his career when the team takes on the Edmonton Oilers in an 8 p.m. (Central) start at Rogers Place. BLUES LNEUP

“He does everything for us out there, you know,” Berube said. “He’s been Forwards a solid player in this league for a long time. When you have a guy like Schwartz-Schenn-Kyrou that, not only in the locker room but on the ice that does things right all the time it goes a long way for our team. Leadership.” Sanford-O’Reilly-Perron

With his first-period goal against Calgary, Steen passed Pavol Demitra Steen-Thomas-Bozak for fifth place on the Blues’ career points list with 494. His game has perked up lately, with all five of his goals coming in the last seven Blais-de la Rose-Barbashev contests. Defensemen

“That line’s got good chemistry,” Berube said. “Robert Thomas’ game Pietrangelo-Faulk has really come around. And (Tyler) Bozak, too. I think the three of them are just playing good hockey together.” Bouwmeester-Parayko

GUNNY IN, MAC OUT Dunn-Gunnarsson

Once again, Carl Gunnarsson will be on the third defensive pairing ahead Goalie of Robert Bortuzzo, but fourth-line forward Mackenzie MacEachern will sit out his third consecutive game after dealing with a lower-body issue Allen coming out of the bye/all-star break. (Extras: Bortuzzo, Brouwer, MacEachern)

Berube said MacEachern “is probably good to go. I think he’s ready to OILERS LINEUP go. We’ll get him back in there.” Forwards Just not Friday night, with Sammy Blais slotted once again for MacEachern’s spot on the fourth line. Neal-McDavid-Kassian

As for Gunnarsson, he will be playing in two consecutive games for the Nugent-Hopkins/Draisaitl/Yamamoto first time since just before Thanksgiving _ Nov. 25 at Nashville and Nov. 27 at Tampa Bay. Khaira-Sheahan-Archibald

Against Calgary, Berube said it was “normal Gunny. He does his job. Gagner-Haas-Chiasson He’s smart player and good defensively and just makes a simple play. He Defensemen hasn’t played a lot of hockey here this year, so keep him going here tonight again.” Nurse-Bear

In part because of injury, Gunnarsson has played only 19 games this Klefbom-Larsson season entering tonight’s contest. The D-man he’s replacing again, Jones-Benning Bortuzzo, had played in 17 consecutive games until Tuesday in Calgary. Goalie DYNAMIC DUO Koskinen Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl share the NHL scoring lead with 27 goals and 50 assists apiece. But coach Davie Tippett has separated the SCHEDULE SCOPING pair lately. Berube sounds like he prefers it that way. The Blues are 12-3-3 against the Pacific Division this season. The Oilers’ “When they’re together, they’re real dangerous for me,” Berube said, contest marks Game 3 of a post all-star break stretch in which 10 of 11 chuckling. “But they’ve been separated. We’ll see what they do tonight.” Blues games are against Western Conference teams _ a stretch ending with back-to-back games against Central Division rival Nashville on Feb. Draisaitl is expected to once again center a line with Ryan Nugent- 15-16. Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto on the wings. Following the Predators’ contests, the Blues will see a lot of the Eastern “But again, they’re both fantastic players,” Berube said, of McDavid and Conference over the remainder of the regular season _ 12 of their final Draisaitl. “It takes a lot of effort to do a good job against them defensively 22 games. when they’re out there.” BLUE NOTES However, the Draisaitl line with Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto has clicked lately, combining for 15 goals and 22 assists over their last nine _ The 5-4 shootout win over Calgary gave the Blues 70 points in the games together. standings in 51 games. That’s the fourth-quickest they’ve reached 70 points in team history. They needed only 50 games to do so in 2014-15 ALLEN IN GOAL and 48 games to so in 2013-14 and 2000-01. Jake Allen gets the start against Edmonton, meaning he will have started _ The Blues have scored at least one power play goal in 13 of their past all three games against the Oilers in the season series. Allen stopped 32 17 games, and are a league-best 32.6 percent (16 for 49) over that span. of 34 shots in a 5-2 win at Rogers Place on Nov. 6 and stopped 35 of 36 in a 2-1 triumph Dec. 18 in St. Louis. For his career, he’s 7-5-1 against _ Alex Pietrangelo leads all NHL defensemen in power play points with 21 (five goals, 16 assists).

_ The Blues are 20-0-5 this season when leading after two periods.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173915 St Louis Blues He didn’t know he had a chance to make a career out of hockey until a few years later in Europe. A year after Thomas Steen retired, the family headed to Germany where Thomas was supposed to be coaching hockey. But he ended up playing for three years. Long and winding hockey road leads Steen to his 1,000th NHL game Then it was off to Thomas’ native country, Sweden, where he finally got to coach.

Jim Thomas Yes, growing up was very much an international experience for Alexander.

“My brother (Hamilton) and sister (Cassandra) went to an English school EDMONTON, Alberta — Last summer, Thomas Steen and three friends on the old west side of Berlin,” Alexander said. “And I went to a German won a Texas scramble golf tournament in Winnipeg, Manitoba. First prize sports school on the old east side. was four tickets to a Jets game and four Jets jerseys. “I was at the rink or at school pretty much all day. We had like classes Turns out the four tickets were to the Jets’ Feb. 1 home game against the where you head to the rink and dress and skate. So I got a lot of ice time. defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, with the seats located And I played with different age groups as well. It was very beneficial,” near the Blues’ bench. Alexander said. Son Alexander plays forward for the Blues. And he is scheduled to play When the family moved to Sweden, Alexander continued playing older in his 1,000th NHL game — a significant milestone — on Saturday in his competition, including current New York Rangers goalie Henrik hometown of Winnipeg. Lundqvist. “We’re ready,” Thomas said. “Everybody’s coming. Family and a bunch “That’s when I kind of felt like OK, this can turn into something if I put the of friends. And there’s a lot of friends who got tickets on their own for this work in,” he said. game.” It turned into first-round draft status by Toronto, and then early in his It looks like Alexander is ready, too. He currently sits at 998 games. No. fourth season with the Maple Leafs, a trade to St. Louis. The Blues sent 999 would come Friday in Edmonton against the Oilers and then No. Lee Stempniak to Toronto for Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo on Nov. 24, 1,000 on Saturday in Winnipeg. How perfect. 2008. Then next week it’s back in St. Louis, where the Blues will hold the “I didn’t expect to be here 12 years,” Steen said. “I’ve obviously grown traditional silver stick ceremony to commemorate No. 1,000. Probably extremely fond of the city and the people here. It’s become home for us.” next Thursday — against Winnipeg. Just perfect. But at the time, St. Louis was a blank slate — he’d only played there But Tuesday in Calgary, Steen didn’t play after the second period once as a Maple Leaf. because of what was announced as a lower-body issue. So much for that ideal scenario. When he arrived, Highway 40 was being re-done, so it was a scramble to find his way to work. Suffice to say he’s settled in. He’s had nine seasons Steen was back on the ice Thursday in Edmonton, doing everything in a of 10 or more goals, four seasons of 20-plus goals. (Like father like son.) brisk, up-tempo practice. It looks as if what happened in Calgary was a And yes, he’s won a Stanley Cup. false alarm. All systems are go for Steen, and what figures to be a memorable Saturday night in Winnipeg. “I think he’s always been recognized as a really strong two-way player,” said defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, at 36 the only Blues player older “I was just banged up a little bit, but I’m all right,” he said. than Steen. “He was always good on the defensive side of things. But he “He looks ready to go,” coach Craig Berube said. also had a lot of skill.

No disrespect to St. Louis, the hockey hometown that Steen has grown “He’s a guy that could play in all the different situations. He played on the to love, but it all began for the 35-year-old forward in Winnipeg. power play and he killed penalties. I think there’s traits in his game that you kind of relate to Ryan O’Reilly now, just the way that they forecheck Literally. and they’re always on the puck and that sort of thing. Just a really complete player and I think a guy who’s respected around the league for He was born in the city, where his dad starred for the first incarnation of that. the Jets. Alexander led that charmed life of a rink rat, hanging out with the Jets from his earliest days. “(He) may have flown under the radar a little bit playing here in St. Louis. But when the teams here started to get stronger, he was really a main “Yeah, they were great to me,” he said. “‘Zinger’ (Craig Heisinger) who is guy and I think his leadership has really shown as you transition through the assistant GM there now, he worked the room there as the head your career.” equipment trainer. He let me hang around there when the guys were on the ice. And then obviously played mini-sticks (hockey) and all those fun It’s a leadership that has manifested itself on and off the ice. things that kids do in the locker room. “Steener’s been really the heart and soul of this team,” goalie Jake Allen “You know, at the time I didn’t think I grasped how fortunate I was. But said. “He’s a guy that you can approach without any hesitation about any the older I got and having been around those guys and seeing everything topic — life, hockey, he’ll be there to give you wise advice, good advice. they go through on a day-to-day basis. And some of the elite players that He’s just a good person and a good human.” came and went through that room. It was a big motivation, inspiration for me as I grew up, and also it showed me what it’s like to be an NHL That cordial side is not necessarily one Steen routinely shows to the player.” media. Ultra-intense and competitive on game day, it’s hard to turn that off in the few minutes between when the game ends and when the media His father was a fixture in Winnipeg, playing all 950 games in his NHL enters the locker room. career there (from 1981-95) and amassing 264 goals and 817 points. Incredibly consistent, Thomas Steen had five seasons of 20-plus goals, Get your microphone too close to Steen and he might just swat it away. and only in his final season — a lockout year when he played only 31 (The media has teased him about that a time or two.) Ask a dumb games — did he fail to score at least 13 goals. question, and he’s liable to let you know.

He’s being inducted into the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame on Feb. 11. “Everyone knows he’s negative, just like I am,” former teammate Paul Stastny said, laughing. “That’s what you always see. He’s very even- So the gene pool must have smiled upon young Alexander. But playing keeled more than anything. He’s super hard on himself. I don’t think he’s youth hockey in Winnipeg, he had no idea he was anything special. ever satisfied with his game.

“We had a lot of guys around my age that came up at the same time that “He always wants to be better. He always wants the team to be better. had careers, both in the NHL, AHL and over in Europe,” Alexander said. And always looking to improve.” “So we had a traveling AAA team that did really well in all the tournaments we were at. I knew we had a good team.” Steen didn’t complain when assigned to the Blues’ fourth line down the stretch last season, working with younger players Oskar Sundqvist and Ivan Barbashev and helping that line become one of the team’s most effective units.

Away from the ice, there’s a side of Steen that pays-it-forward, and helps the less fortunate.

“Just very selfless,” said Stastny, now with the Vegas Golden Knights but still one of Steen’s closest friends. “He doesn’t like people seeing it. And I like that. I like that he tries to keep it on low key. And tries to help those around him.”

And still enjoys the game. It looks that will be 1,000 times true on Saturday.

P.S. — Thomas Steen said he won’t be wearing that Jets jersey he won in the golf tournament. Not on this night.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173916 St Louis Blues MacEachern skated well Thursday and looks like he’s on the cusp of returning to action after missing two games.

“I think Mac’s probably good to go, but it’s just a confidence thing until he Blues notebook: Whirlwind four days brings Brouwer back to Blues feels like he’s probably 100 percent,” Berube said. “He doesn’t want to reinjure it.”

• More than two dozen friends and relatives from Berube’s hometown of Jim Thomas Calahoo, Alberta, made the 45-minute drive to Edmonton to watch the Blues practice Thursday. Among the traveling party was Berube’s sister

April and his lifelong friend Bruce Patrick. EDMONTON, Alberta — Troy Brouwer never made it to Vancouver (or St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 Calgary), and never made it to San Antonio.

But the veteran forward has made it back to the Blues, and was on the ice for practice Thursday in preparation for Friday’s game with the Edmonton Oilers.

Talk about a tough four days. Brouwer was placed on waivers Sunday, went unclaimed over the 24-hour waiver period, then was assigned to the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio. General manager gave him a week to sort through his options.

If you’re Brouwer, your entire professional life and family life is flashing before you. He was in the middle of the “sorting” process when the Blues called again. With Oskar Sundqvist going on injured reserve after suffering a lower-body injury Monday in Vancouver, Alexander Steen unable to finish Tuesday’s game in Calgary because of a lower-body injury, and Mackenzie MacEachern not quite back from — all together now — a lower-body injury that occurred Jan. 18 in Colorado, the Blues, uh, needed Brouwer back.

So there he was Thursday, skating with the rest of the squad at Rogers Place.

“It is the way hockey works,” Brouwer said. “You always kind of have to expect these things.”

Meaning expect the unexpected.

“It’s a funny game, how just some things happen at certain times,” he said. “We got healthy, and then we weren’t healthy.”

While the Blues were in Canada for the start of their weeklong trek to four cities, Brouwer skated at Centene Community Ice Center with injured Blue Vladimir Tarasenko and former Blue Barret Jackman. When he wasn’t at the rink, he was talking over — well, everything — with his family.

Should he report to San Antonio? Should he retire? Should the family stay in St. Louis. Etc., etc., etc.

“We had thought up a bunch of different scenarios, hadn’t come to a conclusion yet,” Brouwer said. “We looked at everything, from what we’re gonna do with the family to insurance situations, schooling situations. You know, trying to cover as many angles as we can.

“We get pretty deep into it and have some good discussions with the family, and then all of a sudden this happens and I’m back. So those discussions, we’ll probably keep having ‘em, just because we don’t know exactly what’s going to happen in the weeks to come. But for now I’m back with the Blues and we’ll go from there.”

As long as Sundqvist is sidelined, and Craig Berube expects that to be at least 10 days, Brouwer should be wearing the Bluenote.

No matter what happens when Sundqvist returns, Brouwer says his family is staying put for a while in St. Louis. After all, he just moved them to town about 10 days before Christmas.

“That was a little disappointing, but that’s the business of hockey,” Brouwer said. “We understand that. Doug’s trying to be as accommodating as possible.

“Even if something does happen, we’re gonna end up staying in St. Louis until the school (year’s) over, regardless. So St. Louis is our home for the next five months, no matter what.”

One of the worst parts of not accompanying the Blues on the start of this trip for Brouwer was that he didn’t get a chance to visit his parents, who live in Vancouver.

Blue notes 1173917 St Louis Blues In the Central Division, the Blues snugly are in the postseason bracket with a 16-point edge on fourth-place Winnipeg. But the Pacific Division is a free-for-all with the top five teams separated by five points.

Gordo: Stretch-run stress can make NHL teams — or break them Can the upstart Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes keep it up?

“We’ve been there at the top for a while now,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “Now we’re in a situation if we have a bad week, we could Jeff Gordon be in fifth place. We understand that. The break came at a good time for our players. Now it’s downhill.

“We’ve got some young guys. I think they understand it’s going to be The stretch run of the NHL season can define a team’s persona. Just ask hard. If you think it’s hard now, it’s going to be really hard. That’s the Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano about that. awareness they are going to have to have.” Last season the Flames traveled the exact opposite path of the Blues’ Head-to-head games within the conference and division will decide the championship run. The Flames cruised until the All-Star break, posting a playoff bracket. The Flames came out of the break with a 5-4 shootout 33-13-5 mark. loss to the Blues, then they rebounded with 5-4 shootout victory over the They started cooling down the stretch, going 17-12-2 during their last 31 arch-rival Edmonton Oilers. games. Then the Colorado Avalanche flattened them in five games in the “You know what happens at the end of the year, everybody starts playing first round of the playoffs. each other, so it even heightens it even more,” Giordano said. “It’s going “It’s about putting it together at the right time,” Giordano said. “I feel like to be cool to be a part of it.” last year we had a great start and an unbelievable first half and sort of The playoff intensity of these games — such as the “Battle of Alberta” lost that confidence that we had down the stretch and that carried over in battles between the Flames and Oilers — can prepare a team to the do- the playoffs. or-die postseason showdowns. “So hopefully this year is a complete opposite.” “It’s going to be a fight to the end,” Vegas Golden Knights winger Max The Blues famously rallied from dead last in the NHL in January to reach Pacioretty said. “We’re expecting these last 30 games to be really the playoff bracket, then roll on to the Stanley Cup. They became a intense, but on the bright side, if you’re able to get in, if you’re able to get different team during the new year. through these games, that should prepare you for the playoffs.”

“We always knew last year, when the Blues were struggling at the start, Just ask the Blues about that. what quality players they have and what kind of team they could be,” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 Giordano said. “When they turned it around, it was all about confidence and belief.”

Which team could make that sort of run this season? The Toronto Maple Leafs underachieved in the first half of the season, like the Blues did last year. They changed coaches, like the Blues did.

They have lots of offensive depth, like the Blues did, plus some true superstars. And just like the ’Note last season, the Leafs need to tighten up their defensive work and display more grit.

“With the Blues, they found their groove and they kept going last year and rode that wave,” Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner said. “We need to find that groove and kept pushing. The teams right behind us and right in front of us are doing the same thing.”

Another interesting Eastern Conference team is Columbus, which lost top scorer Artemi Panarin and and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to free agency last summer. They earned mostly dire predictions for this season.

But the Blue Jackets won six consecutive games heading into the break to move squarely into the race. They are playing all out for taskmaster coach John Tortorella, the way the Blues responded to Craig Berube.

“We’re coming together pretty nicely,” Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones said. “I think we’re playing pretty good hockey earlier in the year and we weren’t getting the results. As of late, really the past eight weeks, we really came into our own.”

Hot goaltending can mean everything, as Jordan Binnington proved with the Blues last year. Look at the Blue Jackets this season: First Joonas Korpisalo elevated them, then back-up Elvis Merzlikins stepped up when Korpisalo went down and kept them winning.

“Korpisalo, before he got hurt, sprung us into this winning streak here, of playing good hockey,” Jones said. “Elvis has come in and done a good job with all the shutouts and the big saves he’s making.”

Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy noted how well Frederik Andersen of the Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy played for him in the All-Star Game.

“I don’t like to see the Tampa and Toronto goalies get hot, I’m not going to lie to you,” Cassidy said with the chuckle.

Indeed, Vasilevskiy is 12-0-2 in his last 14 starts for the Lightning — another team determined to atone for last spring’s first-round playoff flop. 1173918 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues at Edmonton

Jim Thomas

Jan 31, 2020

BLUES VS. OILERS

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta.

TV, radio: FSM, WXOS (101.1 FM).

About the Oilers: The last time the Blues played here, Alexander Steen suffered a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for 16 games, and Robby Fabbri was traded to Detroit after the Nov. 6 game. The Blues won 5-2, a deceptive score because the last two goals were empty-netters. The Blues then beat Edmonton 2-1 on Dec. 18 in St. Louis, so the Oilers are trying to avoid a season sweep in the three-game series.

Edmonton is coming off an emotional, hard-fought 4-3 shootout loss Wednesday to Calgary in the Battle of Alberta — the Oilers’ first game following the All-Star break. Calgary-Edmonton is the NHL’s hottest rivalry, and the Oilers are in Calgary on Saturday to play the Flames. Will they be caught looking ahead against the Blues?

As always, it starts and ends for Edmonton with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are tied for the NHL scoring lead with 27 goals and 50 assists apiece.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173919 St Louis Blues Monahan’s second goal — Calgary’s third power play goal — was a hybrid of the mistakes made on the first two.

Yet again a Flames forward (in this case Gaudreau) was free to release a Is St. Louis’ penalty killing line a victim of puck luck or a chink in the shot from the point following a zone entry. That shot would be blocked by Blues’ armor? Steen, who was marking Monahan as he drifted down toward the faceoff dot to Binnington’s blocker side. When the puck rebounded off his shin pads, though, Steen was caught in between. He proceeded out to Gaudreau as the puck landed at Monahan’s feet, providing him with JEFF JONES another free opportunity from a high danger area. JANUARY 31, 2020 10:00 AM To some extent, the three Calgary power play goals tell a story about the variability of puck luck and the number of ways a team can score. Taken as a whole, though, they tell the story of a team with flaws in its penalty ST. LOUIS killing scheme that were revealed and picked apart in that scheme’s most vulnerable spots. Last Tuesday night’s 5-4 shootout win in Calgary snapped a losing streak for the St. Louis Blues and guaranteed they would salvage at least two According to the venerable @STLBluesHistory Twitter account, before points from a dreaded western Canadian road trip. Tuesday night, the Blues hadn’t allowed three power play goals in a game they won since Nov. 6, 1993. Tuesday night’s comeback was an The game also revealed some vulnerabilities in the team’s penalty killing important hill to climb for a team which could have seen a streak get scheme that the Flames, given the better part of a week to prepare, were away from them, but instead found a rallying point around which they can able to exploit with regularity. build momentum heading into next week’s homestand. Calgary scored three power play goals in the game, with Matthew Maintaining that momentum will require an eye for detail and an Tkachuk’s first period marker followed in the same frame by Sean examination of the team’s own weaknesses in order to guarantee they Monahan and then in the second by Monahan once more. A review of can be patched before they’re picked apart. each of the three goals in question reveals substandard defensive play by Blues forwards which led directly to high danger chances. The penalty kill secret is out now. The video is widely available. It’s an essential problem to solve, and then on to the next. Tkachuk’s goal was certainly the most random of the three. His one-time shot from the top of the circle to Jordan Binnington’s left appeared to Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 02.01.2020 flutter on its way to the net, perhaps glancing off of Carl Gunnarsson.

Ivan Barbashev, paired up front with Alexander Steen, drifted deep into the slot as the Flames entered the zone. The Blues were never able to set up their system fully on that zone entry, resulting in additional time and space for the shooters around the perimeter of the Calgary power play.

Tkachuk’s fluttering shot may have looked tricky in real time, but it wasn’t the result of a challenge from a defender or any sort of rushed play. Had the pass from Mark Giordano not hit a rough spot in the ice, the play would’ve seamlessly transitioned from novelty to laser beam.

Though Steen wasn’t directly involved in Tkachuk’s goal, he would be part of the play — or, notably, not — for each of Monahan’s. While Barbashev drifted too low to allow the first Flames goal, both of Monahan’s tallies would be the result of forwards being stapled to their positions far too high in the defensive zone.

Monahan’s first goal — Calgary’s second — came immediately after Tyler Bozak lost a faceoff at the start of the Blues’ penalty kill.

Bozak then followed the puck high as it went to the point and the Blues shifted into a diamond-shaped penalty kill formation. This represents roughly a 45 degree rotation from the standard box shape, and it would be Steen’s instincts for the latter which created trouble for the former.

As Calgary passed the puck between points, Steen drifted high to cut down the options for Mark Giordano. Giordano was forced to throw the puck to Johnny Gaudreau on the half wall, but with Steen out of position high, his quick and inaccurate pass to Monahan was able to be gathered in, walked to the middle of the slot, and eventually buried after an inordinate amount of time and space was ceded to Monahan, the goal scorer.

The streak has been broken.

St Louis Blues Win their 1st game when allowing 3 Power Play Goals in a game since November 6 1993.

Their record in the 56 games since then was 0-52-2-2.#stlblues https://t.co/XkXI1T054T

— STL Blues History (@STLBlueshistory) January 29, 2020

The quick move by Steen to challenge the defenseman can be a good play if he’s certain that either he can make an effective play on the puck or that Bozak, the other forward, will slide back to cover behind him. In this case, neither happened, leaving St. Louis’s two penalty killing forwards practically on top of each other as a Flames player was able to pick a spot against a defenseless goaltender. 1173920 Tampa Bay Lightning Vasilevskiy. Anaheim took a timeout to devise a plan for those final seconds, but the Lightning ran the clock out for the win.

“It wasn’t out best game tonight but we found a way to gut one out,” Lightning score first and go on to beat the Ducks Maroon said. “We ground through. Every zone we grinded — from the D- zone, neutral zone, offensive zone, we found ways to chip away at it.” Tampa Bay hadn’t scored first in its previous two games coming out of the all-star break Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.01.2020

Diana C. Nearhos

ANAHEIM, California — Not every win goes in the scrapbook. The Lightning didn’t play a perfect game on Friday by any measure, or a pretty one, but they gutted out the win, to borrow Pat Maroon’s phrase.

There was one pretty moment for the Lightning in the 4-3 win over Anaheim: Nikita Kucherov’s dazzling goal midway through the third period. It started as an insurance goal and became necessary to win the game.

The winger known more for his creativity with the puck than any physicality, barreled his way through defenseman Josh Manson, who has four inches and 40 pounds on Kucherov. Cooper called the move through the middle of the ice fearless. Kucherov skated on the net, hiding his shot and then flipping a backhand over goalie John Gibson.

“He does a tremendous job of hiding his stick and really not showing the goalie which way he’s going to put it,” Kevin Shattenkirk said. “To sneak it in there top shelf is a pretty sick move.”

Kuch really did that, huh?? pic.twitter.com/mjRNKctDBE

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 1, 2020

That eventual game-winner midway through the third came after momentum had swung on a pendulum for much of the game.

That morning, Cooper stressed the need for better starts, specifically to score the first goal. The Lightning did that much. Ondrej Palat and Anthony Cirelli got the scoring started 4:07 into the game. Cirelli got in deep on the forecheck, dug the puck out behind the net and passed up to Palat, as he crashed the net. Palat just had to redirect the puck on net.

Lethal forecheck. pic.twitter.com/V3mXpowXAP

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 1, 2020

After Palat put the Lightning on the board, the Ducks responded. Forward Rickard Rakell scored on a spin-o-rama, trying to get away from Victor Hedman in the high slot — Anaheim’s prettiest moment of the game. The teams traded goals for the rest of the first period.

RELATED: Caley Chelios will be missing from the road radio broadcasts for the rest of the season

The spin

The snipe@RickyRakell93 with the heat. #LetsGoDucks pic.twitter.com/h8YcxFWzf7

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 1, 2020

Erik Cernak scored his second goal in as many games, finishing off a series of tic-tac-toe passes from Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, to put the Lightning back on top. Then, Ducks defenseman Michael Del Zotto tied it up again in the final minutes of the frame.

Kid's heating up. pic.twitter.com/NCJRu70ODE

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 1, 2020

Cirelli gave the Lightning the lead for good with 1:02 left in the second period, mostly by being in the right place at the right time. Jan Rutta ripped a shot from the point that deflected off Cirelli and into the net.

AC with the go-ahead! pic.twitter.com/Dwkl09Nl6S

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 1, 2020

The Ducks brought the game within a goal with 11.9 seconds left when Ducks forward Troy Terry redirected Nick Ritchie’s shot past Andrei 1173921 Tampa Bay Lightning (or for themselves). That doesn’t mean the Lightning will trade either one, of course. First of all, only two first-round picks were dealt around last year’s deadline, and as LeBrun suggested, contending teams are becoming more leery of trading those coveted picks, even to go “all in.” NHL Scouting Confidential Part II: Ranking the Lightning’s top trade chips “Then you’re putting all your eggs in one basket,” BriseBois said. “Even if it’s the best basket of eggs, it doesn’t mean you’re going to win the Cup that year. Then what do you do? You’ve set all your eggs in that one Joe Smith basket. You’re trying to build something that is sustainable so that every Jan 31, 2020 year fans believe you’re in it, the players believe you’re in it, you actually are in it (smiles) and you’re giving yourself a chance to have a magical spring.”

LOS ANGELES — With the trade deadline a little over three weeks Tampa Bay is prepared to go into June’s draft armed with both of its first- away, we’re beginning to get some clarity on what the Tampa Bay rounders and knowing this is a strong and deep draft, especially Lightning are thinking. considering they don’t have a lot of high-impact prospects in the system (which is what happens when you don’t pick in the top-10 for seven There’s a good reason for the team’s brass to like their current vibe, years; their last top-10 pick was Jonathan Drouin No. 3 overall in 2013). having won 13 of their last 16 games, including Wednesday’s 4-2, come- The Lightning did trade a first-rounder in the 2018 deadline deal for Ryan from-behind win over the Kings. Tampa Bay doesn’t have any glaring McDonagh and J.T. Miller, both of whom they eventually signed to holes or needs, assuming they’re healthy, with depth both up front and extensions. on the blue line. However, the fact that the Lightning have all of their picks in the next Even though they have just $3 million in current cap space, the Lightning three drafts — except this year’s fifth-rounder, which they traded to can add as much as $10 million in salary at the deadline, per Ottawa in the Ryan Callahan deal — gives them plenty to work with. CapFriendly. That’s good for the rental market. But the flexibility ends this Tampa Bay also has the Red Wings’ fourth-rounder this year (courtesy of summer when Tampa Bay faces its most significant crunch yet and still the Adam Erne trade) plus Ottawa’s sixth-rounder, and it also has two has to sign the likes of Anthony Cirelli and Mikhail Sergachev to new extra seventh-rounders in 2021 (Nashville’s and New Jersey’s from the deals. Ingram and Domingue deals, respectively). So, if the Lightning stand pat like they did last year, nobody would be This year’s first-rounders would be the franchise’s top non-roster chips. surprised. “The first-round pick has more value,” said another NHL scout. “Teams But that doesn’t mean GM Julien BriseBois won’t be busy. There are look for picks more than prospects unless the prospect is really high end, reasons to at least kick the tires on potential impact rentals like Chris which there’s not in this case here. Put in different terms, I would be Kreider of the Rangers or the Kings’ Tyler Toffoli (see his slick goal surprised if Tampa Bay gets a first(-round) pick back if they traded any of Wednesday?). They also could explore adding another top-four these prospects.” defenseman, which our Pierre LeBrun discussed earlier this week. Is Tampa Bay comfortable heading into the playoffs with a fourth line that Mathieu Joseph includes two rookies in Carter Verhaeghe and Mitchell Stephens? There are some bottom-six fits on the market (like former Lightning center Nate There is some definite intrigue surrounding Joseph, 22, who was a Thompson). regular on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning team a year ago. Joseph was demoted to Syracuse in the AHL a month ago in the hope that he could With that in mind, we decided to break down what the Lightning could find his game (and reclaim some confidence), but he remains more of a give up in any deal, asking several NHL scouts and execs who they think known quantity than the other prospects in the system. Is Joseph are the franchise’s most coveted tradeable pieces. What we learned was perfect? No. But scouts see the same disruptive speed and defensive interesting. ability that landed him a lineup spot on the best team in the league last year. Joseph has 11 points in his first 15 games (three goals) with As a Cup-contending team, the Lightning aren’t likely to deal anyone Syracuse despite being a minus-13. from their current roster for a few reasons, from chemistry to the fact that many players have no-trade clauses (like Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat “I think he’ll reset his game,” said one NHL scout. “He has energy, he has and Yanni Gourde). Other coveted pieces like Cirelli and Sergachev speed. Even when he’s not scoring, there’s something there. He’s not aren’t going anywhere. But Tampa Bay does have its share of trade just coasting, where, with other guys, I don’t know if you could say the chips, including a flush of picks in the next three drafts (potentially two same.” first-rounders in June) and a prospect pool that we broke down here (and here). This is not to say that Joseph is being shopped. But there would be interest in Joseph as a complementary piece in a trade. What the Lightning don’t have, however, are many legitimate prospect anchors for any trade, aside from potentially 2019 first-rounder Nolan Lightning winger Mathieu Joseph (center) celebrates a win over the Foote. Penguins on Oct. 23. (Kim Klement / USA Today)

“The other guys wouldn’t be a main part of a deal,” said one NHL scout. Nolan Foote “If I’m a bottom-end team and I’m giving up a regular, let’s say you’re The Lightning doubled down at June’s draft by taking Nolan Foote, 18, looking for a top-four ‘D,’ none of those guys are pieces that make it the younger brother of Tampa Bay defensive prospect Cal Foote, in the work. They’re an additional piece, like a first and a second and a ‘B’ first round (27th overall). prospect.” “He’s got an NHL shot right now,” Lightning scouting director Al Murray The scout continued that Mathieu Joseph, trying to find his game again said then. “A quick release. Hard shot. He’s a big boy who plays with with AHL Syracuse, could be a “different conversation.” some edge. He’s a good skater and we think he’s got room to improve.” “The other guys are bottom-six guys, that if you don’t already have in After an impressive training camp, which included a couple of exhibitions, your system, your system is pretty depleted,” the scout said. “Those the younger Foote was a standout for Team Canada at the World Junior aren’t the difference-makers in making the trade. You’ll ask for them, Championships. Though he was recently sidelined with a lower-body they’re nice to add to your depth. But you’re not excited because you’re injury, Foote is considered one of the top prospects in Tampa Bay’s getting that and giving up a top-four (defenseman) or top-nine forward.” system. It would be hard to imagine the Lightning dealing Foote, one of So what are the Lightning’s most enticing trade chips? their few forward prospects with top-six potential, but it won’t stop other teams from inquiring. First-round picks “He’s got a cannon,” said The Athletic prospect writer Corey Pronman. The Lightning no doubt will be targeted by sellers because they have the “But he’s got more than just his shot. He’s got the brain, the size, he’s got potential of two first-rounders in this year’s draft. They’ll have their normal skill — a lot of components that could make a good NHL player.” pick, and if the Canucks make the playoffs — and it sure looks like they will — Tampa Bay will have another first-rounder to use as a trade chip Alex Barre-Boulet Alex Barre-Boulet, 22, was one of AHL Syracuse’s two All-Stars, and he you some greasy goals. He’s got good instincts. I don’t think he’s very is following up a strong first pro season (in which he tied for the league creative. Not a passer or rush guy. Won’t carry plays. They both need to lead with 34 goals) with another productive year (18 goals in his first 43 add some quickness in my mind to be able to play a regular role up top.” games). There are still questions about Barre-Boulet’s skating ability and strength, but he has the kind of enticing toolkit that could spark interest The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 from other teams.

“I think he’s a real smart playmaker,” said one NHL scout. “He gets a lot of points, power-play time. He’s pretty crafty in that situation. My thing for the next level would be footspeed and weight. Just the weight of his game. The size doesn’t bother me anymore. If you play a weighty game and fight through checks, he definitely has a power-play presence, but the feet have to get better and (he) has to put on more weight. I wouldn’t count him out. But there’s some development time left there.”

Alex Volkov

We’ve broken down how Volkov is an enigma to scouts. There’s the top- six skill set, the size of a power forward, and the tutelage of Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov, who took the fellow Russian under his wing. Volkov, 22, a second-round pick, has back-to-back 23-goal seasons at Syracuse. But Volkov hasn’t wowed in his first few NHL call-ups.

“What I find interesting is what (the Lightning) did: They kind of turned him into a bit of a defensive player,” said one NHL scout. “Watch his neutral-zone play, the way he breaks up plays. They’ve leaned his game more to a defensive side. I still think there’s some rawness in terms of offensive upside. He still knows how to use his body, but he’s not a physical player. You don’t have to look out when he’s on the ice. You were expecting that at some point, and I haven’t seen it. I don’t know if it’ll ever come.”

Cal Foote

There’s certainly a sense that Foote, 22, Tampa Bay’s first-rounder in 2017 (14th overall), is getting closer to being NHL-ready. It might not happen by the end of this season, but it’s easy to imagine him being part of the plan at the start of next year when the Lightning have just four defensemen under contract. Foote, the son of former NHL defenseman Adam Foote, may not have the mean streak and physicality of his father, but he’s got the smarts, puck-moving ability and size to play in the league. And there are always teams that can use depth on the right side. Foote still has to work on his foot speed, though he feels he has improved on it considerably since becoming a pro.

“He needs some work on his mobility and play under pressure — and those are all things that could come eventually — but he has to be quicker,” Pronman said. “Quicker in terms of making his decisions. They are taking their time with him. They see the raw potential. I wouldn’t expect a top-two (pairing) defenseman there. I would say a third-pair guy, maybe a secondary power-play guy. Just don’t expect a top-four — that’s all I’m saying. But he’ll be a guy that you’re patient with, bring him along slowly and groom him that way.”

Sammy Walker

It sounds like Walker may draw more interest than some of the other forward prospects in Syracuse. Walker, though he is just 5-foot-10, has dynamic speed, which helped him become Mr. Hockey in Minnesota and Big 10 Freshman of the Year at the University of Minnesota. Considering Tampa Bay picked Walker in the seventh round in 2017, he has definitely increased his value.

“(The Lightning) aren’t trading those guys unless there’s a major piece coming back,” Pronman said. “You’re not trading those guys if you’re not getting a real high-end talent, getting a Kreider or someone that is fundamentally changing your roster. From what I’ve heard, the going rate for Kreider is a first-round pick or first-round-pick-caliber prospect, which I believe both (Nolan) Foote and Barre-Boulet are. I don’t think everyone thinks Barre-Boulet is that good, but I know people think that of Nolan Foote.”

Taylor Raddysh/Boris Katchouk

The two second-rounders from 2016 were expected to be knocking on the NHL door by now. But they’re not quite there yet. Raddysh has a sniper’s shot and is getting better in his battles. Katchouk is the Crunch’s jack-of-all-trades, which may mean he is closer to a call-up based on his versatility and fit in a bottom-six/penalty-kill role. But neither appears likely to be a big piece in any trade.

“They have their issues and are bottom-six guys to me,” said one NHL scout. “Katchouk is a good cycle guy, power forward, net-front. He’ll get 1173922 Toronto Maple Leafs Keefe said the perception Nylander, who he also coached with the AHL Marlies, prefers to play on the outside largely comes from when he’s in possession.

Maple Leafs winger William Nylander proving doubters wrong after “It’s hard when you have on your stick to find your way to the inside ‘crazy’ season because the other team’s not gonna let you,” Keefe said. “Where he’s having a lot of success now is when others have the puck. He’s putting himself in good spots so that when it does arrive to the net he’s there.

JOSHUA CLIPPERTON “He’s figured that part out.”

JANUARY 31, 2020 Leafs forward Alexander Kerfoot – currently on a line with Nylander and John Tavares – said the eighth pick in the 2014 draft’s reputation even

found its way to Colorado before he was traded to the Leafs in July. William Nylander was in uncharted territory around this time last season. “I thought he was a little bit more of a perimeter-oriented player,” Kerfoot And not in a good way. said. “But playing with him you realize he can do everything. He hangs onto the puck really well down low, he can shoot and he can score from His contract impasse with the Toronto Maples finally came to a all different areas.” conclusion when he put pen to paper on a big-money deal minutes before an early December deadline. But despite doing his best to stay in Nylander, who wanted to focus on consistency this season, leads the shape on his own time, Nylander was in the rest of the field’s rear-view team with a 5-on-5 shot differential of 55.1 per cent, is second behind mirror in terms of conditioning and feel after missing training camp and Matthews in even-strength goals (27 to 18) and is third in points. the first two months of the season. Kerfoot said what’s impressed him the most is how his linemates uses a It took until Game 20 to register his fourth point on Jan. 20, 2019, and six-foot, 196-pound frame. there were near-immediate rumblings from fans and media alike that the “He’s got a really strong lower body and he’s able to fend off defenders Leafs – facing an impending salary cap crunch – had vastly overpaid a and use his edges,” Kerfoot said. “That, combined with his quickness to player set to make nearly US$7 million annually through 2023-24. get out of spaces, he’s able to hold off defenders for a second and then Nylander remained his usual quiet, confident self, but the lack of gain separation really quickly, which gives him a lot of space.” production still weighed on him. Last year’s struggles now a distant memory, Nylander insists he knew “(It) was so crazy to me,” he said. “I’ve never been in a situation like that.” this was coming.

A 61-point man in each of his first two full NHL campaigns, the Swede “I know what I can do,” he said. “I wasn’t too worried.” finished with just seven goals and 27 points in 54 games, good for a 41- He might have been in the minority. point pace. Globe And Mail LOADED: 02.01.2020 While there were stretches where Nylander started to feel good about himself last season, things finally started to turn at the world championships after Toronto was eliminated by Boston in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive spring.

He led the tournament with five goals and 18 points, got back to work over summer and declared in September he intended to “dominate” in 2019-20.

Thus far, Nylander’s been a man of his word.

Heading into Saturday’s home game against Ottawa, he has 24 goals and 46 points in 51 games. He’s found the back of the net in five straight contests, has eight points in his last six outings, and is on an 85-point pace (16 goals, 13 assists in 28 games) since Sheldon Keefe took over for Mike Babcock as head coach on Nov. 20.

“This is what we paid for,” Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said back in December.

Toronto centre said following Friday’s practice it shouldn’t have come as a surprise Nylander struggled last season or that he’s rebounded in 2019-20.

“Coming in halfway through the year when you haven’t played a hockey game in six months ... it’s not easy,” Matthews said. “Everybody’s thrilled with the way he’s been competing every night. He’s big part of this team.”

Keefe willingness to up the minutes of his young stars – Nylander, Matthews and Mitch Marner – has led to more opportunity. Nylander was promoted to the top power-play unit, but the trio has also been encouraged to take risks, something that wasn’t the case under the old regime.

“That’s important when you get in certain situations,” Nylander said. “As long as you’re not getting scored on it’s good that you’re able to try stuff.”

There was, and still is in many cases, a narrative that the 23-year-old’s unwilling or unable to get to the dirty areas of the ice – a so-called “perimeter player” – where most goals are scored in today’s NHL.

But Mike Kelly of the NHL Network and the analytics website thepointhockey.com tweeted after Nylander buried the winner against Dallas on Wednesday that he leads the league with 19 goals from the “inner slot” this season.

“That’s where you gotta go,” Nylander said. 1173923 Toronto Maple Leafs around a bunch of flashy sports cars, he provides a physical presence and toughness that is otherwise sorely lacking.

On Dec. 27, he played 18 shifts with a broken foot after he got in front of ‘It was crazy’: Despite hectic start, Jake Muzzin is now relishing life as a a slap shot by New Jersey’s P.K. Subban. Leaf “An injury like that is kind of a fluke,” Muzzin said. “It is part of the game. All you can do is listen to the doctor, heal up the right way and be prepared when you come back.” MARTY KLINKENBERG His return was especially critical because Morgan Rielly, a fellow JANUARY 31, 2020 defenceman, will be out for at least another six weeks. He fractured a foot blocking a shot one game after Muzzin did.

“It is just unlucky, really,” Muzzin said. “From talking to [Morgan], it’s the Jake Muzzin of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck ahead of first broken bone of his life. For me, it is the first bone I’ve ever broken in Lawson Crouse of the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of the my foot.” NHL game at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. Muzzin had spent parts of eight seasons with the Kings and won During the all-star break, Muzzin travelled to Georgia to play golf at a Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2014. Augusta National with Nylander, Frederik Andersen and Kasperi Kapanen. A year ago this week, Jake Muzzin and his wife, Courtney, arrived in Toronto with 20 suitcases and three dogs: a shiba mix, a part chow-chow There was frost on the greens early in the morning and the course was and a 120-pound St. Bernard. They moved into a hotel downtown. mostly empty, but they loved it. Courtney was nearly eight-months pregnant. “It was kind of a bucket-list thing because of the history there,” Muzzin “We had a suite but we could have probably used two more,” the Maple said. "They treat you really well. Even as a guest they make you feel like Leafs’ rugged defenceman said on Friday. “The baby was coming in a you belong. month and a half, and we were in a wild hunt to rent a place. “I can’t wait to watch the Masters this year.” “It was crazy.” If the Maple Leafs are in the playoffs, he won’t get a chance to watch He had spent parts of eight seasons with the Kings and won a Stanley very much. Cup with Los Angeles in 2014. It never occurred to him that he was in for a sudden change. With a few days left in January, he was dealt to Globe And Mail LOADED: 02.01.2020 Toronto for two prospects and a first-round pick in last summer’s draft.

Everything went upside down.

“You never come to the rink and expect to be traded,” Muzzin said. “It was shocking.”

Flash forward 12 months and he and Courtney have a young daughter and a house in the suburbs with a nice backyard. And, of course, an assemblage of wagging hounds.

“I think we have settled in nicely,” Muzzin said.

He is 30 and Toronto’s lone player to own a Stanley Cup ring. His value has never been questioned but has certainly become more apparent this season, during which the team has seesawed between a playoff position and not.

On Dec. 27, Muzzin suffered a broken foot while a blocking a shot. In his absence, the Maple Leafs gave up four or more goals five times and had one victory in six games before the all-star break.

Muzzin returned this week and has helped shore up the leaky blueline. Road victories over Nashville and Dallas have allowed Toronto to climb back to within one point of a playoff position.

There will be only 30 games left to secure a spot after Saturday night’s encounter with Ottawa at Scotiabank Arena.

“It is not easy coming off a break and we did a good job of preparing and played very well against two good teams in difficult buildings,” Muzzin said. “I like the direction the team is going.”

Auston Matthews has 20 goals over his past 21 games and 36 over all, one fewer than NHL scoring leader David Pastrnak of Boston. William Nylander has scored in five successive games and has a career-high 24 goals after seven in 54 games last season. He enters Saturday with five goals and three assists during a six-game points streak.

Five of the Maple Leafs’ next seven games are at home, with the Senators appearing to be a very friendly first draw. The Sens have won only six of 25 games away from home this season and are coming off a game on Friday night in Ottawa against the Washington Capitals.

Things have got so bad in the country’s capital that less than 10,000 spectators showed up at Canadian Tire Centre one night this week.

Toronto’s prospects are decidedly better even if it seems to have a predilection for peril. Nashville and Dallas combined for five goals this week with Muzzin back in the fold. As a pickup truck on a team built 1173924 Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs’ Jake Muzzin might have had a difficult month healing from a broken foot, but it was still easier than last year’s turmoil

Mark Zwolinski

Fri., Jan. 31, 2020

Jake Muzzin can simply focus on hockey this week, a welcome contrast to this time last year.

The classy Maple Leafs defenceman was just making his way from Los Angeles a year ago after being traded by the Kings on Jan. 28. It was an untimely uprooting for the now-30-year-old veteran.

“Being in a hotel with three dogs and a pregnant wife,” Muzzin said. “Yeah, there was a lotta stuff going on.

“When you get traded, for the most part, it’s a shock. You don’t come to the rink everyday expecting it. You come to enjoy your time there and enjoy your teammates. If it happens, you get over it, you get over the initial shock, and do your job. It was crazy there but we got through it.”

Muzzin quickly took on a leadership role in Toronto and brought a much- needed physical presence to the blue line. He laid out a few crowd- pleasing hits and the Leafs compiled a 39-24-9 record after trading for him.

While Toronto has soared offensively under new coach Sheldon Keefe, Muzzin and the Leafs defence have seen their offensive numbers fall off, in large part because of injuries. Muzzin and Morgan Rielly both have suffered broken foot bones since Christmas and the blue line has combined for just 17 goals. Tyson Barrie has five, Travis Dermott four, and Muzzin and Rielly three each. Rielly, who could be sidelined most of February, had 20 on his own last season.

Muzzin returned from a month-long absence on Monday and says he isn’t focused on the production or the injuries. Rather, he tells his fellow blueliners that injuries are an opportunity for others to step up.

“They’re taking on new roles and new opportunities, so you look for guys to take advantage, and I think we’ve all seen one guy (rookie Rasmus Sandin) doing that,” Muzzin said.

Muzzin welcomes the challenge of steadying the Leafs’ blue line. He had a lot more to deal with a year ago. He left his wife in Los Angeles with the knowledge she was about a month away from giving birth to their first child. When he arrived in Toronto after an initial road trip, he began a search for a new home. He was willing to either own or rent but, with three dogs in tow, there was very little available to rent.

He wasn’t able to reunite with his wife and their pets until over a week had passed in Toronto.

“There were about 20 suitcases in the hotel there,” Muzzin said, referring to the first few days after his wife arrived. “There were lots of meals in the hotel, lots of meals at the rink. Our baby was coming in a month or a month-and-a-half. We had to find a place … we found one and we’re still in it and we’re pretty happy here now.”

Muzzin is in the final year of the five year, $20-million (U.S.) contract extension he signed with Los Angeles. That could be a distraction, especially with the Leafs featuring some talented young defencemen in their system, such as Sandin and Timothy Liljegren. But Muzzin keeps his focus on the ice.

“I’ve got nothing to worry about,” he said. “If you are worrying, you’re not being a good teammate, and you’re not your best self. Some guys handle it differently, but I don’t worry about it, to be honest with you.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173925 Toronto Maple Leafs “They’ve been connecting and once you get rolling like that, sometimes you just don’t think, you just go,” defenceman Jake Muzzin says.

“Yeah, that is what I wanted to see,” Keefe says. “I wanted to give those The confidence of Keefe is getting the most out of the Leafs and their guys every opportunity, or more opportunity, to make the difference that young offensive stars we felt they’re capable of making. A part of that is ice time. Part of that is linemates and, in Willy’s case, including him on the first power-play unit, which I think is more than just being on the unit … it’s a little more inclusion that you’re a part of it. Bruce Arthur “So that was the intent. And then the other part of it is just with our style Fri., Jan. 31, 2020 of play and how we’re moving the puck around, trying to keep the puck as much as we can, keep it in the hands of the good players more often. We felt that those type of things could produce positive results for them, When Mike Babcock ran the Toronto Maple Leafs, he may as well have and then thus the team.” carved his core beliefs onto two stone tablets, for all the immutable faith he put into them. Once in a while he would deviate, but you always got In one way, it’s simple: They’re one year older, even if Nylander is a year the sense he wasn’t doing it to interrogate his ideas as much as to older than the other two at 23. Playing more is better, and a system discredit other people’s. geared to their talents is beneficial. Simple.

One of those tenets involved ice time. There was both a hierarchy and a But in the bigger picture, it’s what opens the window to being the core of ceiling, and the stars, in the regular season, played within limits. In a contending team that the Leafs hope to wedge open for a decade. It fairness, in the past two seasons Babcock also had a team that was in adds up to players becoming who they’re supposed to be. the playoffs from the moment the first puck was dropped. Saving energy Toronto Star LOADED: 02.01.2020 for the long haul made a sort of sense.

But of all the changes to the Leafs under coach Sheldon Keefe, the way the team’s young stars have been given the keys was always a central tenet. He tried to gear the system to their skills, upped their ice time, and changed up the line combinations. So far, so good.

“I mean, I think the only thing that’s really been kind of given is just more opportunities,” centre Auston Matthews says. “So I think for us, we’re just trying to take advantage of that. And obviously we changed up a lot of things; I’ve been playing a little bit more. So I think as players, as offensive players, it’s everything you want, right?”

More or less. Toronto has played 28 games since the coaching change. In that time, Matthews has 22 goals and 33 points in 28 games, which is a 64-goal, 97-point pace. Mitch Marner has nine goals and 32 points in just 22 games, which projects to 34 goals and a stunning 119 points. William Nylander, a contractually obligated ghost on the scoresheet last year, has 16 goals and 29 points, which over 82 games would be 47 goals and 85 points.

Their ice time, of course, has been juiced: 20:42 per game for Matthews, up from 19:50 before the switch this season; 22 minutes per game for Marner, up from 19:36; 18 per game for Nylander, right about the same, but up from his career high of 16:41, set two seasons back.

Part of it is that pucks are going in: Matthews is shooting 19 per cent in that span, Nylander 18.8, and Marner 16.4, above their respective career numbers of 16, 11.2, and 11.3. But Keefe allows them more leeway — to attack, to try things, to make mistakes. They’ve all talked about it: They have not just time, but freedom.

“It’s a little bit I get to play more,” Nylander says. “But … in certain situations you want to be able to try things and not be worried. As long as you’re not being scored on against, I think it’s good that you’re able to try stuff.”

It’s not that they didn’t have justified confidence before. In his four-year career, Matthews has 10 more five-on-five goals than any other player in hockey — Connor McDavid is second and Alexander Ovechkin is third, and they have played 29 and 30 more games, respectively — and is second only to McDavid in goals and first assists per 60 minutes played over the past four years. Marner struggled at times with confidence when Babcock played him lower in the lineup, but he is fifth in five-on-five points per 60 minutes over last season and this one. He’s behind only Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

And after two 60-point seasons, Nylander struggled with his confidence for really the first time last season, after coming in late following his contract dispute. As Matthews says, “I think it weighed on everybody.”

But now Keefe clearly believes in them. And even great players can benefit from that.

“I mean, I honestly think that confidence is everything,” Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot says. “Obviously, when you have more confidence, you’re going to produce more, and when you’re producing more, it’s going to feed into your confidence, and it’s kind of a positive feedback loop.” 1173926 Toronto Maple Leafs Andreas Johnsson-Pierre Engvall-Kasperi Kapanen Trevor Moore-Frederik Gauthier-

Defence pairs Game Day: Senators at Maple Leafs Jake Muzzin-Justin Holl

Travis Dermott/Martin Marincin-Tyson Barrie Terry Koshan Rasmus Sandin-Cody Ceci February 1, 2020 12:04 AM EST Goaltenders

Michael Hutchinson OTTAWA SENATORS (18-24-9) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (27-17-7) Frederik Andersen Saturday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena SENATORS LINES TV: CBC, Sportsnet LW-C-RW Radio: 1050 AM (Toronto), TSN 1200-AM, Unique, 94.5 FM (Ottawa) Brady Tkachuk-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Connor Brown THE BIG MATCHUP Vladislav Namestnikov-Chris Tierney-Anthony Duclair Ron Hainsey vs. Mitch Marner Tyler Ennis-Colin White-Drake Batherson Mitch Marner and linemates Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman are bound to see a lot of Ron Hainsey, if not another former Leafs teammate, Filip Chlapik-Artem Anisimov-Scott Sabourin fellow defenceman Nikita Zaitsev. “That can (help) a little bit,” Marner said of the familiarity. “But I think it also helps them. They know our Defence pairs tendencies pretty well. I went against Ron quite a bit in practice and the Thomas Chabot-Ron Hainsey same with Zaitsev.” Still, expect Marner to add to the 14 points in 12 career games he has against Ottawa. Mark Borowiecki-Dylan DeMelo

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Mike Reilly-Nikita Zaitsev

1. Play of Hutchinson Goaltenders

With whispers continuing that the Maple Leafs are looking to upgrade the Craig Anderson backup spot behind Frederik Andersen, Michael Hutchinson gets an opportunity to perhaps give general manager Kyle Dubas pause for Marcus Hogberg thought. The Leafs need the Hutchinson who stopped 33 shots for a INJURIES shutout against the New York Islanders on Jan. 4 (his previous start), not the one who was lousy in relief duty in two appearances since. Senators — LW Nick Paul (ankle), G Anders Nilsson (concussion), D Christian Wolanin (shoulder). 2. More from Matthews Maple Leafs — D Morgan Rielly (foot), RW Ilya Mikheyev (wrist). In his charge toward 50 goals, Auston Matthews has scored in each of the Leafs’ two games after the break to put him at 36. In 13 career SPECIAL TEAMS games versus Ottawa, Matthews has 12 goals and 19 points, tied for his best output against any NHL club. Matthews began the season with two Power play goals against the Sens, and while Ottawa coach D.J. Smith knows him Senators: 14.4% (31st) well, it’s going to take more than that to quiet No. 34. Maple Leafs: 23.7% (6th) 3. No pushovers Penalty kill Anyone glancing at the schedule and assuming it’s guaranteed-win night for the Leafs because the Sens played on Friday at home against Senators: 81% (15th) Washington would be mistaken. Ottawa has six road wins, the second- Maple Leafs: 76.9% (25th) fewest in the NHL, but has managed to put together a 3-4-2 record in the second game of back to backs. “It’s a team that works hard every night,” Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020 Marner said. “We have to make sure we’re ready.”

4. Chabot on cue

There have been defensive struggles for Sens defenceman Thomas Chabot — not that those make him different from his teammates — but other factors set him apart. Chabot is the kind of player the Sens can build around, and if the game is close on Saturday, he can make a difference. The Leafs have had troubles with him before, as Chabot has four goals in seven career games versus Toronto.

5. Heat up at home

For the Leafs to take a serious run at solidifying a playoff spot, they’re going to have to improve at Scotiabank Arena. In their 25 home games, the Leafs recorded a middling mark of 12-6-7. If the Leafs need special teams to win on Saturday, they would take into account the Sens’ road power-play success rate of 13.9%, among the worst in the NHL. On paper, the Leafs have the upper hand in skill and depth.

MAPLE LEAFS LINES

LW-C-RW

Zach Hyman-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Alex Kerfoot-John Tavares-William Nylander 1173927 Toronto Maple Leafs After achieving career highs with 47 goals and 88 points, Tavares has 18 goals and 41 points in 44 games.

“Part of it is that he is playing with different linemates, not just now but Coach Keefe leaning on talent, and it's producing results even at the start of the year and didn’t get into much rhythm, like he had the season previous playing with Mitch and Zach (Hyman),” Keefe said. “Their injuries, his injury, all that sort of stuff disrupted his rhythm early.

Terry Koshan “The reality is, there is only one puck, and we’re scoring a lot. The things that I’m more focused on with John is all the little things that he does. January 31, 2020 10:09 PM EST We’re trying to establish purpose with our play and he’s leading the way. It’s going to hit a point where some of our other guys we will cool off and he’ll heat up.” Sheldon Keefe knows what Mitch Marner is thinking when the Maple Leafs’ star winger makes eye contact on the bench. LOOSE LEAFS

“He gives you a little look over his shoulder wondering if he’s next or if Contract talks between the Leafs and Jake Muzzin are expected to pick he’s not, a ‘Why-aren’t-I’ kind of thing,” Keefe, the Leafs coach, said on up steam, but as much as Muzzin enjoys playing in Toronto, we don’t get Friday. “Those are the cues you look for from players, especially your the idea the 30-year-old defenceman would settle for a contract that best guys. You’re trying to gauge whether they are tired. Sometimes if doesn’t make financial sense for him. Muzzin, heading for unrestricted they’re tired, they don’t want the next shift and they’re telling you by not free agency this summer, is in the final year of a five-year contract with giving you the eye contact, that they need a little bit more of a breather. an annual average value of $4 million … Defenceman Travis Dermott didn’t practise on Friday because he was sick, and Keefe was not sure “When a players give you the eyes he’s telling you ‘I’m ready, so don’t whether Dermott will play against Ottawa. If not, Martin Marincin, who slow this down anymore. Let’s get this going.’” was partnered with Tyson Barrie at practice, will play … The Leafs recalled defenceman Kevin Gravel from the , but only to Does the 22-year-old Marner, whose energy seems boundless, get tired? have another body on the ice at the . Gravel, Keefe wasn’t sure. after practice, was loaned back to the Marlies. “It’s a great question, because it doesn’t appear that he does, frankly,” Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020 Keefe said. “He’s very smart with how he conserves his energy, seems to be in great shape and seems to be able to go forever, whether it’s the power-play minutes or the penalty-kill minutes. Sometimes they overlap and there’s not much downtime there for him, but he seems to be able to go.”

Keefe has been using his most talented players more often than Mike Babcock did and that strategy is providing positive results. In Marner’s case, the ice time has gone to 22 minutes a game from 19 minutes 39 seconds under Babcock (including the game against Philadelphia on Nov. 9 when Marner played 7 1/2 minutes before he was hurt).

Marner had 18 points in 18 games with Babcock as coach. With Keefe, Marner has 32 points in 22 games.

There’s more: Marner didn’t play for Keefe until Dec. 4, after recovering from an ankle injury. That night against the Colorado Avalanche, Marner had no points. In the 21 games since, Marner has had at least one point in all but two games.

Marner has put himself in some impressive company while producing under Keefe. In the same span, prior to games on Friday, only Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers, with 35 points, had more than Marner.

How much has the increased ice time helped in Marner’s production?

“A lot,” Marner said. “Being on the ice more, you get more opportunities to score and you get used to playing against certain people and find out their tendencies and I think it helps.

“There are times when (he gets tired), but I try to make sure that my conditioning throughout the year is always at the top level.”

TAVARES PEERS INWARD

Leafs captain John Tavares will be looking for a bit of a spark on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators — from himself.

“Coming off the break, I haven’t maybe been as quite as sharp as I’d like to be feeling at times,” Tavares said. “I’ve done a lot of good things and had good stretches and just haven’t been able to finish plays off and be rewarded.”

Tavares was held without a point in Leafs wins in Nashville and Dallas after the bye week, but his lack of production goes back further. He had 11 points in a six-game stretch that ended on Jan. 2, but in the nine games since, Tavares has just five points. And three of those came in one game, against New Jersey on Jan. 14.

“Sometimes it’s the way it goes,” Tavares said. “Sometimes it’s just a bounce here or there and just finishing off some plays.”

Overall, Tavares’ output has slipped from what he accomplished last season, his first with the Leafs after signing a seven-year, $77-million US contract in July 2018. 1173928 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs' Matthews on Nylander: 'Everybody's thrilled with the way he has been competing'

Terry Koshan

January 31, 2020 8:29 PM EST

Looking back on it, William Nylander’s contract situation with the Maple Leafs during the first couple of months of the 2018-19 season had a ripple effect.

Talk of Nylander’s future often was a topic before he signed on the Dec. 1 deadline, and then his lack of production upon returning to the lineup became a focal point.

“I think it weighed on everybody,” Auston Matthews said on Friday. “It weighs on you personally and weighs on the team. Whether you like it or not, it’s a distraction. It’s tough.

“I think we’ve talked about it more than enough but (Nylander) coming in when you haven’t played a hockey game in six months, it’s not easy.”

Of course, that Nylander chatter is so last year.

“He has been playing unbelievably for us,” Matthews said. “I think everybody’s thrilled with the way he has been competing every night. He is a big part of this team.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173929 Toronto Maple Leafs “He hangs on the puck really well down low, he can shoot, he can score, in all different spaces on the ice.

“He has a really strong lower body and he’s able to fend off defenders Maple Leafs' Nylander putting the puck in the net as he finds inside view and use edges. He gains separation really quickly, which gives him a lot to his liking of space to make plays.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020

Terry Koshan

January 31, 2020 8:25 PM EST

More than a year after he spent the first few months of the season on the outside looking in, William Nylander is proving to be anything but a perimeter player.

The Maple Leafs winger on Friday called the start to his 2018-19 season “crazy,” summing up his struggles after missing the initial two months before signing a long-term contract with Toronto.

Not that the rest of the hockey year was terrific for Nylander, as he finished with just seven goals and 20 assists in 54 games, leaving many Leafs observers wondering whether the money the Leafs gave Nylander — $45 million US over six years, with an annual average value of $6.9 million that kicked in this season — was going to be properly earned.

Those questions have disappeared in 2019-20. Nylander has become the crucial performer the Leafs figured they had, scoring 24 goals through 51 games to put him on pace for 39, and demonstrating the kind of consistency without the puck that the club believed existed as well.

Not only has Nylander scored the majority of his goals from the inner slot, his 55.1% in shot attempt differential during five-on-five play, a shade better than Auston Matthews and John Tavares, leads the Leafs.

“A lot of the times where you’re talking about him as a perimeter player is when he has the puck on his stick,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nylander. “It’s hard when you have it on your stick to find your way to the inside, because the other team is not going to let you get there. Where he’s having a lot of success now is when others have the puck, he is putting himself in good spots so that when it does arrive to the net, he’s there. He has figured that part out and it’s helping him.”

When the Leafs play host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, with backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson making his first start in four weeks, Nylander will attempt to become the first Leaf since Matthews in 2018-19 to score at least one goal in six consecutive games.

It’s the second time this season Nylander has scored in five games in row. He had a similar streak end on Jan. 4 against the New York Islanders.

Nylander’s teammates will tell you he is among the more laid-back in the group — Alex Kerfoot referred to Nylander’s “quiet confidence” — so it’s of small surprise to know that Nylander didn’t start second-guessing himself as little went well for him last season.

“I’m pretty sure I know what I can do, so I wasn’t too worried about it,” Nylander said.

“(The front of the net) is where you have to go to score goals. I’ve been finding the puck coming toward me in that area, when maybe in the past the puck would have gone to the other side of the net. I’m trying to see where the puck is going to be.

“I did feel like toward the end of last season I was playing the way I should be playing. I have never been in a situation like that (missing time when everyone else was playing).”

The chemistry between Nylander and Tavares has been forged off the ice as much as it has on the ice, as the two tend to get together for dinner on the road.

For Kerfoot, the other member of the line, playing alongside Nylander has been a revelation of sorts. As a member of the Colorado Avalanche before coming to the Leafs in the Nazem Kadri trade last summer, Kerfoot’s perception of Nylander was based mostly on what he heard or read, and knows now it was not true.

“I thought he was a little bit more of a perimeter-oriented player but playing with him, you realize that he can do everything,” Kerfoot said. 1173930 Toronto Maple Leafs Performance Centre. Later in the day, Gravel was loaned back to the Marlies.

The Leafs and Senators have not squared off since the 2019-20 regular- Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner and coach Keefe seeing eye to eye season opener, won 5-3 by the Leafs in Toronto.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2020

Terry Koshan

January 31, 2020 3:43 PM EST

Leafs' Nylander putting the puck in the net as he finds inside view to his ...

Sheldon Keefe knows what Mitch Marner is thinking when the Maple Leafs’ star winger makes eye contact on the bench.

“He gives you a little look over his shoulder wondering if he’s next or if he’s not, a ‘why-aren’t-I’ kind of thing,” Keefe, the Leafs coach, said on Friday. “Those are the cues you look for from players, especially your best guys. You’re trying to gauge whether they are tired. Sometimes if they’re tired, they don’t want the next shift and they’re telling you by not giving you the eye contact, that they need a little bit more of a breather.

“When a player give you the eyes he’s telling you ‘I’m ready, so don’t slow this down anymore. Let’s get this going.’”

Does the 22-year-old Marner, whose energy seems boundless, get tired? Keefe wasn’t sure.

“It’s a great question, because it doesn’t appear that he does, frankly,” Keefe said. “He’s very smart with how he conserves his energy, seems to be in great shape and seems to be able to go forever, whether it’s the power-play minutes or the penalty-kill minutes. Sometimes they overlap and there’s not much downtime there for him, but he seems to be able to go.”

Keefe has been using his star players more often than Mike Babcock did and that strategy is providing positive results. In Marner’s case, the ice time has gone to 22 minutes a game from 19 minutes 39 seconds under Babcock (including the game against Philadelphia on Nov. 9 when Marner played 7 1/2 minutes before he was hurt).

Marner had 18 points in 18 games with Babcock as coach. With Keefe, Marner has 32 points in 22 games.

How much has the increased ice time helped in Marner’s production?

“A lot,” Marner said. “Being on the ice more, you get more opportunities to score and you get used to playing against certain people and find out their tendencies and I think it helps.

“There are times when (he gets tired), but I try to make sure that my conditioning throughout the year is always at the top level.”

Michael Hutchinson will start in goal for the Leafs against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night.

It will be the first start for Hutchinson since Jan. 4, when he made 33 saves in a 3-0 shutout against the visiting New York Islanders. Since, Hutchinson came off the bench to twice relieve Frederik Andersen (on Jan. 6 against Edmonton and on Jan. 12 against Florida) and was saddled with the loss both times.

Fans shouldn’t be thinking it will be guaranteed-win night against a Senators team that will be on the second game of a back-to-back after playing host to the Washington Capitals on Friday night. The Sens are 3- 4-2 in the second game of back to backs this season.

“It’s always a team that works hard every night, never takes night off and never takes a shift off,” Marner said, recognizing the kind of work ethic coach D.J. Smith demands from his players. “It’s going to be a hard match and we know that going into it. We have to make sure we’re ready.”

Defenceman Travis Dermott did not practise on Friday because he was sick. Keefe said he was not sure whether Dermott will play against the Senators. If not, Martin Marincin will return to the lineup after sitting out the past two games.

The Leafs recalled defenceman Kevin Gravel from the Toronto Marlies, but the move was made to have another body on the ice at the Ford 1173931 Toronto Maple Leafs season. I like the idea of getting an experienced LW like Kreider to fill the void left by Johnsson temporarily, although I’m not sure Kyle Dubas will have much interest in rentals, in any circumstance. There’s a framework here that could make sense, though, and I think a larger trade is how Mirtle: All of your Maple Leafs trade ideas for 2020 are bad… and here’s Georgiev might ultimately wind up in Toronto. why Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire

‘The Leafs would not do this’ division James Mirtle One thing that surprised me, given so many of these proposals came Jan 31, 2020 from Leafs fans, is that a lot of them would not be great for their team. Nearly 30 percent of the trades we received fall into this category!

By Dom’s calculations, nearly half of the 50 trades listed in this post So I’ve made a big mistake. would be a net negative for Toronto. So a lot of you cannot have Dubas’ On the heels of Blake Murphy’s wonderful deep dive into various Raptors job. trade proposals from our subscribers, we decided to open the floor to our 3. Kapanen and a fourth-round pick for Georgiev and Lias Andersson (via Maple Leafs readers for a similar exercise. I blame Mike Cormack, our Adam D.) editor here, for all of this. This comes down to what you think of Andersson. I know he was taken “BTW,” he said. “Here’s another idea for closer to the deadline you might seventh overall in 2017, but that’s currently looking like a terrible pick, as have some fun with!” he hasn’t produced in the NHL or AHL when given an opportunity. He’s Yes. Fun. Sure, let’s do it. The problem was that, within 24 hours, there only 21, but if I’m trading Kapanen, I want a sure thing – likely on defence were literally hundreds of responses, including many arguments among – not a couple of lottery tickets. Sorry Rangers fans. yourselves over the validity of said proposals. It got ugly in there. Quickly. 4. Tyson Barrie and Ceci for a 2026 fourth-rounder (via I.M.) Some of you may want to find a safe house and lay low for a while. The good ol’ punt job. Free up some salary, decimate your blue line on “Man, there are some truly fucked up proposals in there,” one of our RD and then … profit? This would leave only Justin Holl on the right side other editors texted me after taking a look. on the Leafs blue line and, I guess, Timothy Liljegren? Move Dermott or Sandin over? I’m surprised how many fans are advocating to trade away Indeed. the Leafs pending UFAs “to get something” when the team has been one of the best in the league over 28 games under Sheldon Keefe and has a Now, somehow, I have to sort through 10,000 words of insanity, make real shot to do some damage in the coming months. Plus, this deal isn’t sense of it, and weigh in here with some entertaining words of wisdom. even giving the Leafs anything of value, when there are teams out there It will not be easy. It will not be for the faint of heart. But we are going to who covet Barrie, especially at his salary. I think it’s unlikely they move come up with some answers, dammit, while ranking your random Leafs him, but if they do, they’ll get something decent. trade musings from least offensive to downright ridiculous. I’ve 5. Travis Dermott and Johnsson for David Savard and a pick (via Josh condensed this down to 50 trade proposals, as there were many, many B.) variations of “Kasperi Kapanen for Player XYZ” with different prospect and pick combinations attached. The Leafs and Blue Jackets are weird trade partners. I’m not sure why they ended up in so many proposals here, as Columbus is in basically Eighteen of the trades involved Kapanen. Sixteen included Cody Ceci the exact same spot in the standings as Toronto. There’s no clear buyer- and 13 had Andreas Johnsson. Then, there were some with William seller relationship to be found. That said, Savard is a middle-of-the-road, Nylander, Frederik Andersen, Mitch Marner and even Auston Matthews. right-shot defenceman who will turn 30 in the fall and has only one year It got to be a little much. left on his deal until he’s UFA. I guess if the Leafs are prepared to give The good news is we’ll have chart help from Dom Luszczyszyn, who can up on Dermott, who’ll be cheaper and continue to improve, maybe there’s rank anything that has two legs and a heartbeat. a fit here. But as of now, I expect Toronto would want more of an upgrade if they’re giving up two younger roster pieces like this. I can’t Here we go … imagine they want to perpetually be trading assets for D who will be UFA ‘This actually might make sense’ division the following season, either.

Hmmmm. 6. Johnsson for Colin Miller (via Eric M.)

Yeah, no … not much here. This frankly just seems like too much for Miller, who’s not playing a lot on a bad Buffalo team. I’m not convinced he’s more than a third-pair type. ‘Well, maybe …’ division 7. Johnsson for Jujhar Khaira and Matt Benning (via Ryan L.) 1. Kasperi Kapanen for Josh Manson (via Marc U.) Similar to the above deal, as again both players are depth pieces. In an Marc posted this idea mere hours before my story breaking down the ideal world, the Leafs would be looking to package Johnsson for a better Leafs cap situation illustrated how almost the exact same deal could upgrade on the blue line, not take back two lesser players. Otherwise, work for Toronto. It’s not altogether implausible, given Manson has had a they’re likely better off just keeping him. tough season, but fits Toronto’s need for an experienced right-shot defenceman to play in their top four. He’s cost-controlled and under 8. Kapanen and Dmytro Timashov to Edmonton for Adam Larsson (via contract for another couple years at a reasonable number. The biggest Josh L.) question here is can the Ducks afford to move out one of their few Timashov has been shopped around the league with no takers and is experienced D, and would they want a winger like Kapanen in return? My barely playing, so he’s essentially a throw-in. This boils down to Kapanen guess is they’d prefer a younger defenceman, which may make this for Larsson, which, as I’ve talked about in the past, is an intriguing idea. I move improbable, but the value proposition isn’t way off here. (Dom’s think the deal would have to be expanded beyond that to make sense for model rates Kapanen as slightly more valuable, although as you’ll see, it the Leafs, however. The Oilers really like Kapanen, though, and he’d play tends to value forwards a lot more than defencemen.) higher in their lineup than Toronto’s. I do wonder about Larsson, given 2. Andreas Johnsson, Jeremy Bracco, 2021 second-rounder and Cody his age and injury history. I could see this being something talked about Ceci (with 50 percent retained) for Chris Kreider and Alexandar Georgiev more seriously in the offseason. (via Matthew M.) 9. Kapanen and Dermott for Connor Murphy and Alex Nylander (via The Leafs are a bit low here, given the Rangers are hoping to land a first- Daniel M.) round pick for the rights to rent Kreider. But Johnsson is probably worth This is a tough one. For the record, Dom’s calculations have this as one more than Georgiev and there is a second-rounder included, plus a of the most even deals listed here. But he’s higher on Murphy than I am, prospect like Bracco, who has at least some value, even during a tough and I’m really uncertain if mini-Nylander is going to be an impact player in the NHL. Again, Dermott’s potential is a big factor here. Is he going to be 21. Kapanen, Dermott and Ceci for Darnell Nurse and Larsson (via Steve a top-four defenceman? How you feel about his development is going to G.) swing whether you’d want to pull the trigger on a trade like this or not. This is somewhat intriguing as a concept, depending on how you value 10. Bracco, Kapanen and Ceci for Alec Martinez and Kyle Clifford (via Dermott and Larsson, but it’s too big of a hit for Edmonton’s blue line, in Ian C.) my opinion. The Leafs would love to get Nurse, though, and have pursued him in the past. Maybe there’s something here they can work This is another trade Dom felt was closer than I’d expected. But that’s out, either now or in the summer. But this ain’t it with both teams trying to largely because of Ceci’s negative impact in his model and Clifford’s make the playoffs. value, even though he’s a pending UFA. The Leafs don’t get enough of an upgrade on the back end here to justify giving up Kapanen. 22. Kapanen and Nic Petan for Nurse (via Andrew H.)

11. Kapanen, Dermott and Ceci for Manson and Ryan Miller (via Bill R.) Petan is in the minors and has almost no value in a deal. And Nurse is effectively a top-pair defenceman for Edmonton. It’s going to take more This feels like a lot more than the Kapanen-for-Manson swap just to get a than Kapanen for the Leafs to land one of those. modest upgrade on a backup goalie. Miller is almost 40 and has had a so-so season in limited action; I don’t like the idea of giving up someone 23. Ceci for Ron Hainsey (via Andrew C.) like Dermott to include him in the deal. Miller’s strict no-trade clause is another factor, too. Why would Ottawa do this? If they’re trading their pending UFAs, they’ll want futures to help the rebuild. I’m not even certain Hainsey, at his age, 12. Johnsson and Ceci for Malcolm Subban (50 percent retained) (via is better than Ceci, either. Randy K.) 24. Kapanen, Timothy Liljegren and Nick Robertson for Seth Jones (via We’re making Vegas retain salary on a near-league minimum backup Ryan L.) goalie? Odd. But OK. Subban hasn’t had a great year, and it’s unclear how much of an upgrade he would be for the Leafs. Why give up Seth Jones was a popular target. You can see why. He’s finished in the someone like Johnsson for him? Plus Vegas isn’t exactly swimming in top 10 in Norris Trophy voting the last two years. He’s Columbus’ best cap room to make this happen. player. He’s a smooth-skating, 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenceman who is only 25 and makes just $5.4-million. He’s a unicorn, with few peers 13. Barrie for James Reimer (via Josh D.) around the league. Why would anyone trade him for a couple of decent prospects and a second-line winger? They would not, unless we were Some Leafs fans clearly do not like or value Barrie. And they want an talking about a pending UFA. upgrade on Michael Hutchinson in goal. Nonetheless, Barrie’s in Toronto’s top four, and unless they have a way to replace him, this 25. Frederik Andersen (and of course Bracco and a third-rounder) for doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for the Leafs. And the Hurricanes Darcy Kuemper, Adin Hill and a pinkie swear from the Coyotes that they likely need Reimer anyway, given how well he’s played. will never present Auston Matthews with a Kachina jersey… (via Jason S.) 14. Kapanen for Georgiev and second-rounder (via Chen-Yu L.) Weird trade. Andersen and Kuemper have very similar career numbers in 15. Johnsson for Casey DeSmith and a second-rounder (via Charles M.) terms of save percentage, but Andersen’s been a starter more frequently DeSmith has a .903 save percentage in the AHL and is signed for two and has a much larger body of work. Of course, Andersen is only signed more years at more than $1-million. No. for one more year and then can cash in for a big payday as a UFA, so that makes him less desirable. Something tells me the Coyotes wouldn’t 16. Kapanen and Ceci for Travis Hamonic and a second-rounder (via want to do this, if only because of the whole pinkie swear thing puts a Brandon S.) dent in their free agency plans in 2024.

Hamonic is a pending UFA who can be had for nothing on July 1. And 26. Kapanen and Liljegren for Hampus Lindholm (via Trevor H.) he’s playing pretty significant minutes in Calgary, where they’re battling for playoff positioning. If you’re convinced you can re-sign him, maybe Dom’s model actually has this as a loss for the Leafs. Maybe I’m there’s something here that could work, but it feels implausible that you overrating Lindholm, but I have a hard time seeing the Ducks giving up trade Kapanen for the right to negotiate with Hamonic early. on their No. 1 D, unless they’re convinced Liljegren is going to be a top- pair D in the near future. I am not. ‘The other GM would hang up on you’ division 27. Kapanen for Jonas Brodin (via Brian B.) 17. Johnsson, Bracco and 2021 second-rounder for T.J. Brodie (sign and trade) and Sam Bennett (via Jordan M.) Brodin is simply too valuable of a player to get straight up for Kapanen. That said, he is only under contract at a low figure for one more year, so The tough thing here is Brodie has Toronto on his no-trade list after they that’s a factor here that likely makes this a bit closer. attempted to get him in a Nazem Kadri trade back in June. So that would prevent any deal from taking place. Plus he’s a pending UFA and the 28. Alexander Kerfoot and a third-rounder for Radek Faksa and a Flames aren’t exactly in a throw-in-the-towel position where they’d want second-rounder (via Jordan A.) to dump one of their better defencemen anyway. The Leafs are Faksa is likely to be cheaper on his next contract. He’s strong defensively interested in both players, however. and would be a good fit for the Leafs, but I can’t see the Stars giving him 18. Bracco and maybe conditional pick(?) for Georgiev (via Sean L.) up, especially when they have to include the better pick.

The Rangers have already made it clear they’ll turn a deal like this down, 29. Kapanen, Bracco and Ceci for Jeff Petry (via David P.) so we probably shouldn’t call them up and make it again. You’ll just rile Petry only has a year left on his deal, and I like him as a fit for the Leafs. up Gorton. This isn’t enough of a package to warrant Montreal trading him to one of 19. Johnsson, Ceci, Trevor Moore (California kid), Bracco and their biggest rivals, however, especially as the only defenceman they get Hutchinson for Manson, Miller and Nick Ritchie (via Santo P.) back is a pending UFA salary dump.

I’m going to call this a Kitchen Sink offer. Throw together a whole pile of 30. Frederik Gauthier to Montreal for Cale Fleury (via Jacob M.) lesser assets and try and get fewer, better ones by hoping volume makes Another weird one. I don’t see any reason why the Canadiens would them look better. It doesn’t. There’s no reason on earth for Anaheim to want to do this, as Fleury is a 21-year-old D with some upside. God love do this unless Bob Murray is just a really big Leafs fan. the Goat, but he is what he is. And while teams do like him as a big 4C, 20. A second- and third-rounder in 2021 for Dustin Byfuglien (via Rob B.) they don’t like him this much.

The cap fit is really difficult for the Leafs here. Byfuglien’s injury issues 31. Barrie to Vegas for a first in 2020 and second in 2021 (via Andrew B.) are also a huge hurdle. But if Winnipeg gets to the point where they’re Another attempt to punt Barrie. The Golden Knights are really tight trading him, and he’s healthy enough to play, my guess is they’ll want against the cap and have their two top D, Shea Theodore and Nate more. Highly unlikely it comes to that, however. Dom ranked this as one Schmidt, eating minutes on the right side right now. They do want to add of the more lopsided trades for the Leafs out of them all. on the blue line, however, and I suppose they could move one of them over and shift Barrie into their top four. But giving up a first-round pick for Hmmm … Did an actual rock write in? a rental defenceman who doesn’t exactly fit their most pressing need feels off. ‘So batshit crazy it might actually work?’ division

‘Not even close’ division 45. Johnsson and Ceci for Shea Weber (via Jonathan C.)

32. Kapanen, Liljegren and a 2022 first for Seth Jones (via Patrick L.) Let me preface this by saying there’s no way this would happen. I just like this deal as a thought experiment. Imagine a world where the Habs Similar to the above offer for Jones that we have rejected. Jarmo is not a were giving up. Where they wanted to go the route of a full-scale rebuild fan of us at this point, as he doesn’t want to trade his franchise and try to trade Weber, Carey Price, and their other vets. What could defenceman for anything short of another established star player. they get for them? How many teams would be willing to take on those contracts, and all the ramifications that went with them? And wouldn’t 33. Or William Nylander for Jones straight up (Patrick L. again) Weber, for a couple years, be an interesting fit in Toronto? He may be Also not happening. No slight to Nylander, who is having a marvellous old, and expensive, but he’s still a very good player. And Toronto is one year, but Jones is on a better contract and is harder to replace, in my of the few teams that wouldn’t bat an eye at stuffing the last three or four opinion. But you’re getting closer, Patrick. years of a contract like that on long-term injured reserve. (Montreal could, too, but the question is: what do they do in the interim with him?) My 34. Kapanen, Bracco and Moore for Jared Spurgeon (via Bill G.) guess is if the Canadiens decide to move him at some point, they’ll be looking for better assets in return than this. But it’s not the most Another kitchen sink type offer. Not close to what the Wild would want for outlandish thing to start contemplating. one of their best players who they just re-signed long term. 46. Morgan Rielly and Johnsson for Colton Parayko and Oskar Sundqvist 35. Ceci for P.K. Subban (with half retained). Genuinely curious as to (via Scott L.) what people think (via George A.) At first, I didn’t like this deal. It made my head hurt. But the longer you Again, the Devils are going to want to get some future assets in a trade look at it, and factor in the Leafs issue with too many lefties and not like this, not just a salary dump. Especially if they’re retaining that much enough righties, the more you realize, yes, perhaps Scott L. has done a money. The Leafs would have to include something of future value here good thing here in bringing something so radical to our attention. Still, the to pull this off. Leafs are going to say no. Unless Rielly wants $10-million on his next 36. Ceci, Bracco and Timashov for Martinez and Jack Campbell (via deal … Zach A.) 47. Mitch Marner and Liljegren for Miro Heiskanen. Toronto eats Not much there for LA to get excited about. They’ll be able to find a better whatever is needed to make it work for Dallas’ cap this year. Yes, pipe is return elsewhere. lit and dreaming of the next Salming in Blue and White (via James K.)

37. Ceci for Connor McDavid. Edmonton retains 100 percent of his salary Dom’s model hates this trade. With an undying passion. It’s got Marner (via Jazib K.) as far, far more valuable than Heiskanen, but that’s before the contracts are accounted for. And there’s no question Marner is going to be more The CBA only permits teams to retain half of a player’s salary. Otherwise expensive. It’s interesting to think about though, as Dom (and many I think you’re onto something. analytical) models seem to value forwards over defence, which makes ‘I really don’t want to do this anymore’ division trading a superstar F for a superstar D difficult to get equal value, at least according to these statistical breakdowns. In the real world, defencemen 38. Muzzin, Johnsson and conditional second (becomes third if Muzzin are often more expensive in transactions than scoring wingers. Still, I re-signs) for Parayko (via Andrew K.) think the package here would probably have to be bigger than this to make sense. Now pass the pipe, fellow James. Muzzin is basically a rental player in this situation, unless he signs the new deal. I can’t imagine the Blues would move a 26-year-old stud off ‘Possibly the worst trade of them all’ division their blue line for this kind of package. What’s the upside for them here? Andreas Johnsson? 48. Auston Matthews and Rasmus Sandin for Jack Eichel and Brandon Montour (via Brennan M.) 39. Dermott, Johnsson, Ceci and second in 2021 for Seth Jones (via Andrew K.) The Leafs aren’t trading Auston Matthews. And they sure as heck aren’t making this trade with a division rival, while also giving up their top Ugh, not again. prospect on defence. Maybe Brennan is a Sabres fan?

40. Kerfoot and Bracco for Matt Dumba (via Brian A.) 49. How about Marner straight up for Drew Doughty? (via Dom M.)

I’m sorry, this trade is a bit dumb-a … If we don’t count the McDavid for Ceci offer, which probably wasn’t serious, Dom’s model rates this as the worst trade of them all. Doughty 41. Kapanen, Bracco and a second for Parayko. Thoughts? (via Ronson has begun to decline and he’s signed for $11-million a season for B.) another seven years after this one. Some folks complain about what the I have only one: It’s that I need a drink. Leafs paid their kids, but it’s far more costly to reward past performance with a deal that 30+-year-old players obviously can’t live up to. There are 42. Johnsson and a second for Mattias Ekholm (via Joshua S.) probably going to be some lean years in LA here.

Nashville simply isn’t going to do this. If it was that easy, the Leafs would 50. Nylander for Georgiev and Kreider (and, if lucky, a second-rounder) have a stacked blue line already. Some of these rejections come down to (via Jason R.) simple scarcity, as there are a lot more depth wingers like Johnsson and Kapanen than there are defencemen like Parayko and Ekholm. Supply The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 and demand. 43. Muzzin, Kapanen, Ceci, Barrie and 2020 second-rounder to New Jersey for Subban (with $3-million retention), Sami Vatanen and Connor Carrick (via Claudio M.)

Wow, all three UFA D in one package to a seller team. Generous. The cap dollars work here, but are the Leafs really getting any better with this swap? Let’s be kind and call Barrie+Ceci a saw off with Vatanen+Carrick; the rest of the deal is Muzzin and Kapanen for Subban, who’s struggled this year? Plus a second-round pick?

44. Bracco and second for Petry (with Habs eating $1.8-million) (via Rock M.) 1173932 Vegas Golden Knights Stastny and Marchessault scored the Knights’ first two goals, with Smith recording assists on both. Marchessault also had an assist on Stastny’s goal to give him 100 with the Knights.

Alex Tuch’s late goal sparks Golden Knights to win Stephenson’s line wasn’t too bad, either. It finished with an 8-5 edge in scoring chances at 5-on-5.

3. Subban shines By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal DeBoer admitted to being a Malcolm Subban fan before taking the Knights’ job. He’s probably an even bigger one now that he’s seen the goaltender up close. RALEIGH, N.C. — Peter DeBoer faced crisis for the first time behind the Golden Knights’ bench Friday. Subban was impressive in his first start since Jan. 9 and second in 12 games. His 22 saves belied his impact. Several were jaw-dropping, His team, which had played so well through 52-plus minutes in one of the especially a sliding stop on the penalty kill that took a goal away from NHL’s toughest road environments, suddenly found itself tied 3-3 after a Aho. two-goal rally by the Carolina Hurricanes. The announced crowd of 18,150 was electric. #VegasBorn Malcolm Subban robs #LetsGoCanes Sebastian Aho pic.twitter.com/OPxmOjrepZ The fans could smell an oncoming “Storm Surge,” the Hurricanes’ infamous celebration after a home win. The “Bunch of Jerks” were ready — Here's Your Replay (@HeresYourReplay) February 1, 2020 to spoil a night that featured progress in key areas. “I think I heard him calling for it,” Subban said. “I just tried to be patient. But the Knights had other ideas. Left wing Max Pacioretty drew a penalty, Obviously, you don’t want to cheat. It’s a good league. You can get right wing Alex Tuch scored a power-play goal and the Knights escaped burned pretty easy cheating. I just tried to stay square, and then if he PNC Arena with a 4-3 win in their first game after their bye week. Tuch passed it make a move.” tapped in his first goal since Dec. 31 to give DeBoer his second win in four games. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.01.2020

“We didn’t sag,” DeBoer said. “We got back on our toes, we started to attack, drew a penalty, scored on the power play. Big goal, big win, big, important start to the road trip.”

The Knights appeared to seal the game with 7:51 remaining when defenseman Nate Schmidt scored his fifth goal off a perfectly executed play off the rush. That put them ahead 3-1, and the Hurricanes, who entered Friday with the sixth-most home points in the league, looked poised for a rare loss in Raleigh.

But Carolina responded immediately. Left wing Brock McGinn scored 16 seconds after Schmidt’s goal. Center Sebastian Aho tied the game on the power play with 3:39 remaining. Every ounce of momentum seemed to shift to the home side.

The Knights didn’t let it affect them. After Pacioretty was hooked by Aho, they needed five seconds on the power play to score.

Center Paul Stastny won the faceoff, right wing Mark Stone sent the puck back to defenseman Shea Theodore and Tuch knocked Theodore’s shot into the net with 2:28 remaining.

“We stayed resilient,” Tuch said. “We kept pushing. We didn’t back off. We kept trying to create offense.”

Those are lessons the Knights can carry into their final 29 games, including their next three on the road. Here’s what else stood out from the win:

1. Fast start

The Hurricanes were forced to rally after the Knights applied loads of pressure early.

The visitors looked more ready after their bye and took a 2-0 lead after 9:59. It was only the Knights’ second 2-0 lead in their past 20 games.

They were clean and quick in their defensive zone, which allowed them to spend plenty of time in the offensive zone. The Knights outshot the Hurricanes 16-6 in the first period and had a 23-11 advantage in shot attempts.

“I think the first period is how we want to play,” DeBoer said. “On our toes, attacking, hard in the offensive zone, using our size and our physicality. That was 20 great minutes.”

2. New top six clicks

The fast start was spurred by DeBoer’s first major change to his forward lines. He moved Stastny to the first line with left wing Jonathan Marchessault and right wing Reilly Smith, and had Chandler Stephenson center Pacioretty and Stone.

The tweak paid off. 1173933 Vegas Golden Knights “Nashville’s a team that’s trying to catch us,” left wing Jonathan Marchessault said. “We have to be ready for them. It’s going to be a big game tomorrow.”

Erik Haula sees Golden Knights again after eventful 7 months Player moves

The Knights sent goaltender Oscar Dansk to the AHL after Friday’s game and called up defenseman Zach Whitecloud. Dansk served as Malcolm By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal Subban’s backup against the Hurricanes while Marc-Andre Fleury served his one-game suspension for missing the All-Star Game.

Whitecloud has seven points in 34 games for the Chicago Wolves. RALEIGH, N.C. — Erik Haula has been through so much since being traded by the Golden Knights. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.01.2020 He got married. He went on a scoring tear. He got hurt. He lost an unborn daughter. He worked to find his top form again.

The forward was nothing but delighted by his latest twist of fate, though: a reunion with his former team. Haula, now with the Carolina Hurricanes, played against the Knights on Friday for the first time since his June trade.

Haula had one shot on goal and was a plus-1 in the Hurricanes’ 4-3 loss.

“It’ll be fun,” Haula said after a Thursday practice. “I’m sure they’re going to give it to me, and I’ll try to give it back. I’ve been through it, playing an old team, before. Hopefully I’m better for it.”

Haula has had an interesting first season with the Hurricanes. The pending unrestricted free agent, who was with the Knights in their first two seasons, scored seven goals in his first nine games with one assist.

Things have cooled off since. He has 11 goals and eight assists in 30 games. He missed a month-plus with a knee injury, which had to be frightening after a knee injury ended his season in November 2018.

Haula returned this time only to deal with a personal tragedy. He and his wife, Kristen, revealed Jan. 1 on Instagram that their unborn daughter lost her heartbeat.

Haula had scored the previous night against the Montreal Canadiens, kissed his hands and pointed to the sky afterward. pic.twitter.com/H6XUaBbWqT

— Here's Your Replay (@HeresYourReplay) January 2, 2020

It was a simple gesture that said so much. It was revealing, even as Haula struggles to put his past seven months into words.

“It’s been interesting,” he said. “There’s a lot that’s happened, for sure. You wake up every morning and get after it.”

Haula was given a nice respite Friday as he saw some old friends. He’s also looking forward to visiting Las Vegas with the Hurricanes on Feb. 8 for a game at T-Mobile Arena.

Not so much that he doesn’t want to win. But seeing Knights sweaters still stirs up warm memories.

“I have a lot of good friends on that team,” Haula said. “(I) definitely follow them. It’s a place close to my heart.”

Roy returns

The player Haula was traded to the Hurricanes for, center Nicolas Roy, also faced his former team for the first time. Roy was recalled from the American Hockey League on Thursday and returned to the rink where he made his NHL debut.

New coach Peter DeBoer started Roy, and he won the opening faceoff.

“It’s a little bit weird at first,” Roy said after Friday’s morning skate. “I wasn’t expecting that, to get traded. I’m very grateful to be back here. It’s going to be fun.”

Predators preview

The Knights play the Nashville Predators on Saturday to complete a back-to-back. It’s perhaps the most important game of their four-game trip as they fight for playoff positioning.

The Predators have won two straight and briefly leapfrogged the Knights in points percentage Friday morning. It would behoove them to stay in front of Nashville in case they wind up fighting for wild-card spots. 1173934 Vegas Golden Knights — On whether he’s over the initial shock: “I feel a lot better right now. I came back to Vegas a couple of days ago just to sort of clean things up and get things taken care of. I don’t know where I’m going to go after that, whether I’ll go back to Canada. I’m not sure.” Gerard Gallant shocked, disappointed over Golden Knights firing — On what he did after being notified by McCrimmon and McPhee: “I got on a flight later that afternoon and went back to Moncton (New Brunswick) actually. My wife was there already with the grandkids. She By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal was there for three or four days. We were planning on going to the All- Star Game after the break. I was in Boston. I was going to go to (Prince Edward Island) and then the All-Star Game from there, so we were all Gerard Gallant wanted to make it clear he did not have philosophical going to go together.” differences with the Golden Knights front office. — On whether he’s watched any NHL games: “I started watching a few Gallant spoke to the Review-Journal on Friday morning and said no rift games the last three or four days, but not a whole lot. I think I might have existed between himself, general manager Kelly McCrimmon and watched a period or two in the Vegas-Boston game. It wasn’t because I president of hockey operations George McPhee, which made his Jan. 15 wasn’t trying to watch. It was just that I was doing other things. I wasn’t dismissal so surprising. really into watching anybody at that time. I was spending time with the grandkids. I was just getting away from it for a while. “We got along good. We called up players. There was no issues,” Gallant said in a phone interview. “I was stubborn a little bit at times and stuff like “It was a shock. I was really disappointed. I was really frustrated. I went that, but there’s nothing toward me or Kelly or George. It was come to back home and reset a little bit. It probably took a week or so before I work. Work with your GM. That’s why I was surprised. really said, ‘You know what? There’s no sense complaining and whining. Let’s move forward and see what’s going to happen in the future.’ It was “I don’t know the reason totally, either, but there was nothing to do with good. I did the right thing going home and seeing the grandkids. I had a them demanding this or me demanding that. There was nothing like that.” lot of fun with them, and they’re the perfect age. It was good healing.” That morning in Ottawa — On being fired by the Florida Panthers compared to the Golden Gallant went 118-75-20 with the Knights and won the Jack Adams Award Knights: “This is completely different. The Florida one I knew was for coach of the year in 2018 after leading the expansion club to the coming, it was just a matter of when. I knew that from a meeting in the Stanley Cup Final. summertime. I had the feeling.

The Knights lost in the Western Conference quarterfinal last season, but “This one I had no idea it was coming. I didn’t feel it coming at all. That expectations were high for this season after spending big on right wing was the toughest part. I understand you lose four games in a row, we Mark Stone and restricted free agent center William Karlsson, among didn’t play well the last three home games. We won the first four and others. then the Buffalo game I thought we should have won. We missed a couple open nets, just things didn’t go our way.” But the Knights never found their footing and were out of a playoff position at 24-19-6 after a 4-2 loss to Buffalo on Jan. 14 that was their — On his next coaching stop: “When you’re a coach and you’re no longer fourth in a row. coaching, you’re going to look at anything. If something comes up and somebody calls me, I’ll listen to anybody and everybody. It doesn’t matter Gallant received a phone call at 8:45 the next morning in his hotel room where the team’s at (in the standings). You look at the NHL today, the in Ottawa, Ontario, and was told McCrimmon and McPhee wanted to top team and the bottom team, seriously, there’s not a huge difference. speak with him. And it can change from year to year. It really does. There’s so many “I went to their room. I was told they’re going to go in a different direction. teams that are close. I’m going to listen to anybody that wants to talk.” What do you say when that happens?” Gallant said. “I thought maybe we — On what he’ll miss about Las Vegas: “It was pretty close to perfect. I were going to have a conversation of, ‘Let’s get ’er going here. Let’s get had a nice home here. We were six minutes from the practice rink, 20 the team going. Who are we going to call up?’ That’s what I thought it minutes to downtown. For 2½ years, it was great. I had no issues. was going to be. Everything was good. I enjoyed everything. We had a good staff. I really “Usually you have an idea. You can feel something. But I didn’t have that. liked it. The fans were unbelievable. The city was unbelievable. I’m Maybe that was my own stupidity, I don’t know. I never felt like anything disappointed obviously, and you kind of get over it and move on, but it like that was going to happen.” was a perfect place for me. I really enjoyed it.”

No meddling from above — On his fondest memories from coaching the Knights: “The first year was incredible. The closest thing to a miracle on ice I’ve ever seen. It The Knights underwent a major defensive change starting with the game was fun, and it will never be forgotten. Great memories from that, for at Nashville on Nov. 27, switching from a man-to-man system to a zone sure. And the players were awesome. I loved it here. I had a great time. coverage scheme. A 13-4-2 run ensued, culminating Jan. 4 with the For 2½ years, it was exceptional. I couldn’t ask for anything more. We largest comeback in franchise history in a 5-4 overtime victory over St. loved it. The fans were tremendous. They showed a lot of respect to our Louis. team and to me. It was a great place to work for 2½ years, there’s no doubt.” Defenseman Shea Theodore indicated the decision to change came from the coaching staff and management, but Gallant said the coaches made — On whether he’ll get a tribute video when he returns to T-Mobile the tactical adjustment and were not being undercut by the front office. Arena: “I sure doubt it. It was only 2½ years. It’s not like I was there five or six.” “Every summer as a coaching staff, we have our meetings,” Gallant said. “We talk about should we change anything? Should we do something to LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.01.2020 our systems? For two years I thought it went real well. Coming into year three, we had some issues and we had our own complaints about it.

“Some of that man-to-man wasn’t working for us, so as a coaching staff, we talked about, ‘Let’s change this. Can we do this now or should we do it at the end of the year?’ There was all kinds of that back and forth. But management never came down and said, ‘Change this.’ No, that never happened.”

More thoughts

Gallant also touched on a few other topics during the 10-minute interview Friday. 1173935 Vegas Golden Knights nine coming against current playoff teams. Even the two that aren’t in the playoffs — the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild — aren’t far out of contention.

Golden Knights emerge from break hot, survive late surge to beat Vegas missed a prime opportunity in its last stretch of games, a four- Hurricanes game swing through Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston. The first three games were against teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, while the Golden Knights had a third-period lead against Boston. They finished with three of a possible eight points. By Justin Emerson (contact) “We weren’t playing well and the break came at a good time,”

Marchessault said to AT&T SportsNet. “Coming out of the break, we Anything could have happened coming off a 10-day layoff. It could have cashed in and played well tonight.” been a sluggish start, or it could have been a blowout in the Golden LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 02.01.2020 Knights’ favor, or it could have been one of the best games of the year.

Vegas seized the last option. The Golden Knights had a two-goal lead late into the third period, only to see the Carolina Hurricanes battle back to tie it. Alex Tuch netted the game-winner with 2:28 left in the third period and the Golden Knights came out of the bye week with a 4-3 victory over the Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Friday.

“It was pretty crazy,” Tuch said to AT&T SportsNet. “We just kept pushing and didn’t let down even though they were coming back.”

The Golden Knights started strong, ending the first period with a 2-0 lead after controlling the frame. Carolina didn’t go quietly: A power-play goal with 3:39 remaining in regulation appeared to make the game destined for overtime before Tuch’s winner.

Paul Stastny, Reilly Smith and Nate Schmidt also scored for Vegas, which won for just the second time in its last eight games. Malcolm Subban made 22 saves in the win.

Here are three takeaways from the victory.

No playing for overtime

Against an Eastern Conference opponent, going to overtime wouldn’t have been the worst thing. It would have become a three-point game, but if the Golden Knights hung on to win anyway, the extra point going Carolina’s way wouldn’t affect Vegas much. Still, the Golden Knights had no interest in that.

Schmidt’s goal with 7:51 left in the third period gave Vegas a 3-1 lead, but Carolina’s Brock McGinn scored 16 seconds later, then Nicolas Roy went to the box 3:48 later. And just eight seconds into the Hurricanes’ power play, Sebastian Aho redirected the game-tying goal into the net with 3:39 left.

“Obviously at 3-1 in the third period you want to close that game out, but I mean they’re a hardworking team and you have to give credit to them,” forward Jonathan Marchessault. “At the end of the day, good teams find a way to win and we did.”

It was a wild ending to the game. The Golden Knights got a power play of their own just 65 seconds after the Aho goal, and Tuch scored five seconds into it.

“I liked our response,” coach Peter DeBoer said to AT&T SportsNet. “Big goal, big win, big important start to the road trip.”

New-look top line

The first major change Peter DeBoer has made to the Golden Knights lineup came Friday when he shifted Stastny to the top line between wingers Jonathan Marchessault and Smith. It’s a combination that Vegas had not used before, and it paid almost immediate dividends.

Not only did Stastny score 3:52 into the game on assists from his linemate, Marchessault netted another with a Smith helper at 9:59. The trio had both the Vegas goals and five combined points in the first period. Marchessault’s assist was his 100th as a Golden Knight.

The trio generated more shot attempts than any other Vegas line on Friday, and Vegas had a 2-0 advantage in goals while those three were on the ice.

“As a hockey player we’re able to adjust no matter what,” Marchessault said to AT&T SportsNet. “I thought overall we looked pretty good tonight.”

Important win to start tough stretch

The Golden Knights didn’t catch any scheduling breaks coming off the bye week. The game against Carolina started a stretch of 11 games with 1173936 Vegas Golden Knights On defense, watch how Shea Theodore lines up. He’s been terrific with Nick Holden in an 11-game sample, but cracks started to show in their last game against Boston. Theodore is morphing into a bona fide star and could boost the play of whomever he is paired with. What about Nate 5 things to watch for the rest of the Golden Knights season Schmidt, who is having a down season after two strong ones in Vegas? Perhaps Brayden McNabb, with whom Theodore played for the second

half of last season? By Justin Emerson (contact) Will Vegas pull off another blockbuster at the trade deadline?

The Golden Knights have $3.4 million in projected deadline cap space, Hard as it is to believe, the hockey season is mostly over. The All-Star according to CapFriendly, but even that is probably on the high side. break is thought of as the halfway point, but 52 games into the season, Vegas has only 21 players on its roster, and calling up Nicolas Hague the Golden Knights have just 30 games before the end of the regular and Nicolas Roy will drop the projection, perhaps even under a million. season. Still, the Golden Knights have swung two major moves over the past two A lot that can happen in those 30 games. Here are five things to watch as trade deadlines, acquiring Tomas Tatar from Detroit in 2018 and Mark the Golden Knights begin the “second half” at 4:30 p.m. at the Carolina Stone from Ottawa last year. The cap space will hinder Vegas this year Hurricanes. but won’t make it impossible.

The Golden Knights are going to make the playoffs … right? The Golden Knights have several expiring contracts on their books, including the $3.85 million cap hit from Cody Eakin and the $2.775 million That answer is a little blurrier than it was a few weeks ago. The Golden from Ryan Reaves. Knights are holding the second wild card playoff spot while in fifth place in the Pacific Division. Four teams are within five points of the wild card. While neither player would net a large bounty in a trade, unloading either would free space for Vegas to turn around and acquire a player. Clinging to a wild card position is not where the Golden Knights feel they should be. Coming into the year they were considered one of the The Golden Knights have a need for a top-four defenseman, preferably a favorites in the Pacific, and once the Sharks’ season spiraled the way it right-handed one, and would love to add a puck-mover to their back end. did, it seemed like it was Vegas’ division to lose. Instead, the Golden The team’s front office has been aggressive in the past, so don’t expect Knights trail the three Canadian teams in the division, and two of them total silence from Vegas ahead of the Feb. 24 deadline. have games in hand. Vegas is five points back of Vancouver. How will the goaltending hold up? Five points in 30 games may not seem like a lot. If the Golden Knights In Marc-Andre Fleury’s first 10 games, he had a .937 save percentage, win their next three games and Vancouver loses its next three in but in the 26 since, he has an .894 save percentage. In Malcolm regulation, there you go. But keep in mind the Golden Knights have only Subban’s first 10 games he had a .909 save percentage, and in the six three winning streaks of three-plus games, and the Canucks have only since, he has an .879 save percentage. lost three in a row twice. Fleury was perhaps the best goalie in the league for the season’s first The Athletic gives Vegas just an 11% chance of winning the division, and month, and when his numbers started to regress when he was on a leave a 50% chance of finishing fourth or fifth. That translates to a 61% chance of absence, Subban shouldered the load and carried the team. Now of making the playoffs. neither is playing well. Will special teams improve? Maybe DeBoer’s tweaks will make life easier on the men in the net. The Golden Knights were a middle-of-the-road team on the power play Maybe the penalty kill, where the goalies have struggled mightily lately, and penalty kill under Gerard Gallant. One place where the new coaching will improve to help give them easier saves. staff of former San Jose Sharks, headed by Peter DeBoer and assisted Most likely though it will take Fleury and Subban, who have combined for by Steve Spott, can make an impact is with special teams. two games with a save percentage over .900 in the 2020 calendar year, Spott was brought in partly to run the power play. Despite the Sharks’ to re-find their game. But Fleury turned 35 years old two months ago, and power play clicking at just 16% when DeBoer and Spott were dismissed Subban has been a backup his entire career. If Fleury is indeed in a (ninth-worst in the NHL), the overall body of work has been strong. Since decline in his career and Subban doesn’t improve, the Golden Knights DeBoer and Spott joined the Sharks in 2015, the Sharks had a top-six are in trouble, both this season and beyond. power play in the league in three of their five full seasons, including a LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 02.01.2020 23.6% mark that was sixth-best in the NHL last season.

The San Jose penalty kill, meanwhile, had a league-best 88.3% success rate at the time of the coaches’ dismissals. The penalty kill is a place to watch, as Vegas had the No. 19-ranked unit at the time DeBoer was hired. The Golden Knights killed off nine of the 10 penalties in three games before the break.

Will the lineup look different?

DeBoer was hired with three games left before a 10-day layoff, so a drastic change to the lineup was unlikely. During the break, he had time to work with his assistants to formulate the best lineup.

William Karlsson missed the last three games before the break, but when healthy, frequently played on the same line as Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. Could splitting up the trinity provide a spark lower in the lineup? Smith in particular has been tremendous this year and could boost whatever line he is playing on.

The other option would be separating Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, who have been the best forward duo on the team. It’s for a similar reason: They’re great together, but they could drive play on their own, too.

What about putting Pacioretty on the opposite wing of Alex Tuch, who has struggled this season. Maybe Stone gets together with Marchessault, as the two of them played together for Team Canada at the World Championships. 1173937 Vegas Golden Knights If there’s one player on the team that could be considered “Gallant’s guy,” it’s Marchessault. Not only did Gallant coach him in Florida, but he made him a top-line player in Vegas and helped him finally earn a long- term contract. Marchessault went as far as crediting Gallant with his NHL Golden Knights trade tiers: Who could move? Who’s untouchable? career. I believe all of those reasons put Marchessault in this category, and not the one above. Much of the same could be said about Smith, but

because he’s playing so well right now I don’t think Vegas can afford to By Jesse Granger Jan 31, 2020 31 move him. Marchessault is an immensely talented player, whose fiery leadership can galvanize the dressing room. But I also think as the guard changes in the organization, Marchessault could be the most talented piece Vegas is willing to part with in order to bring back a major player. I The trade deadline is quickly approaching, and one of the pieces the still don’t think it’s likely Marchessault is traded, but if Vegas decides to Golden Knights are looking to bring in is a puck-moving defenseman. make a drastic move at the deadline to shake things up, he would be one In order to do that, most likely a player would have to leave Vegas. To of the candidates. explore who that will be, I’ve categorized players within the organization Nate Schmidt ($5.95 million AAV) into groups based on how likely they are to be traded on or before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. It’s a mix of analysis, guesswork and informed Schmidt is struggling through a down season by his standards. He’s still speculation, based on what’s out there a few weeks prior to the deadline. playing top-pairing minutes against the top offensive threats from the opposition every night, but he’s not doing it nearly as successfully as he Not going anywhere has the past two seasons. Still, the Golden Knights are lacking in skating Max Pacioretty ($7 million AAV) and puck-moving ability on the blue line, so getting rid of Schmidt wouldn’t make much sense. I’m honestly hesitant to call anyone untouchable after what just happened with Gerard Gallant, but here we go. The Golden Knights gave Cody Glass ($863,333 AAV) and Nic Hague ($791,667 AAV) up a dump truck full of assets to acquire Pacioretty, and they did it for this Neither of these rookies has exactly stepped into the spotlight during exact moment. It was going to be tough for the 31-year-old to live up to their first season in the NHL, but they’ve both been good enough to expectations after Vegas sent Tomas Tatar (or the first-, second- and believe their futures are still extremely bright. While Vegas has been third-round picks they gave Detroit for him, depending on how you look at willing to part with major prospects in the past (Suzuki for Pacioretty and it), first-round pick Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second-round pick to Erik Brannstrom for Stone) I don’t think the Golden Knights are willing to Montreal, but Pacioretty is playing the best hockey of his life. He was part with these two. phenomenal in last year’s playoffs, and the Golden Knights hope he can do it for an extended run this season. Peyton Krebs ($925,000 AAV) and 2020 first-round pick

Mark Stone ($9.5 million AAV) This organization values Krebs a lot, as they should. He is more talented than his draft spot implies, as he fell due to the uncertainty around his Like Pacioretty, Stone was also brought in to help Vegas compete for a Achilles injury last summer. He’s already showing signs of full recovery in championship now. His 46 points in 52 games is slightly below where the his play with the Winnipeg Ice and is expected to be a pillar of the Golden Golden Knights hoped he’d be at this point, but he controls play in all Knights roster down the road. I also don’t think Kelly McCrimmon will be three zones and is the best overall skater on the team. He has no chance eager to trade another first-round pick after Vegas moved a lot of its of being traded. future assets in its past few moves. Shea Theodore $5.2 million AAV) Could move if Golden Knights decide they’re big buyers Theodore took a massive step forward this season on both ends of the Paul Stastny ($6.5 million AAV) ice and has established himself as the best defenseman on the team. For a team needing help on the blue line, it goes without saying that its best It’s been a strange season for Stastny. It feels wrong to call it a down defenseman, who also happens to be 24 and locked up through 2024-25, year, considering the 34-year-old is actually on pace to score more goals is untouchable. than he has in a single season since 2013-14. His 14 goals have already topped last year’s total, but Stastny’s bread and butter — his playmaking William Karlsson ($5.9 million AAV) ability — has nearly evaporated. He currently has only 11 assists, on Karlsson hasn’t enjoyed the same success this season as the first two pace to finish the season with only 17. That would be the lowest total in players mentioned in this piece. The 27-year-old Swede has struggled to his career (excluding the shortened season in 2012-13). Chandler net only 10 goals to this point, and hasn’t scored since Dec. 13. Stephenson’s fantastic play between Stone and Pacioretty doesn’t make However, Karlsson is Vegas’ best center, and it’s not particularly close. Stastny expendable, but it would make it easier to palate. If the Golden He’s a machine on the forecheck and is the motor that makes the top line Knights determine they want to make a major move for a playmaking run. Without Karlsson, Vegas may not have a single viable option for top- blueliner, they may have to give up a good piece, and while I don’t think line center. Add in the fact that he’s locked up for the next seven seasons it’s likely, Stastny could be that piece. under an extremely reasonable AAV (that he only took because he Alex Tuch ($4.75 million AAV) wanted to remain in Las Vegas) and Karlsson isn’t going anywhere. The follow up to Tuch’s monster sophomore season has been Reilly Smith ($5 million AAV) disappointing. A year ago Tuch finished top-five on the team in goals (20) Smith is currently on pace to break his career highs in both goals and and points (52) but he’s struggled to a meager six goals and seven points. He’s been one of the most consistent offensive producers for the assists this season. That’s partially due to struggles with injuries, and a Golden Knights this season and consistency is something they can ill rotating cast of forwards on his line that he never seems to play with long afford to lose right now. enough to develop chemistry. If the Golden Knights make calls around the league, Tuch is definitely going to be a player teams are interested in. Marc-Andre Fleury ($7 million AAV) I just don’t think it’s smart to sell this low on a talented, young forward The Golden Knights will go as far as Fleury can take them. His play who the Golden Knights have locked up to an extremely reasonable hasn’t been good enough lately, there’s no doubt about that. His .892 salary for the next seven seasons. save percentage over his past 18 games has a lot to do with Vegas’ Various top prospects slump. But he’s still the backbone of this team, and when he’s at his best, he can singlehandedly will the team to victory. If you thought firing Because of its youth as a franchise, Vegas doesn’t have quite as deep of Gallant caused a shake up in the dressing room, trading Fleury would be a prospect pool as some teams, but the Golden Knights do have a few the nuclear option. He’s not going anywhere. talented young pieces who could be valuable in trades. We’ve already established I don’t think they want to give up Glass, Hague or Krebs, but Could move only in extreme circumstances the next tier after those players could be available if Vegas wants to Jonathan Marchessault ($5 million AAV) make a splash. That means the AHL’s leading scorer amongst rookies Lucas Elvenes, Hobey Baker Award candidate Jack Dugan, and highly touted AHL defensemen Dylan Coghlan, Zach Whitecloud and Jimmy Schuldt. I wouldn’t say they’re likely to be traded, but they aren’t off-limits Assortment of second-round picks (2020 Vegas and Pittsburgh) (2021 like the aforementioned prospects. Vegas, New Jersey and St. Louis)

2021 first-round pick I think the most likely pieces Vegas will be dangling in the trade market for the next few weeks are the various prospects in the organization, and It will likely cause physical pain to McCrimmon if he has to surrender the assortment of second-round picks they have acquired for the next another first-round pick, but there’s a lot of pressure on this team to win two drafts. The Golden Knights have two second-round selections in now, so I don’t think it’s completely out of the question. 2020, and three in 2021. While McCrimmon and George McPhee will be Could move for various reasons, but unlikely hesitant to move another first-round pick, I think they’d be more than willing to part with a couple of those second-rounders if it means shoring William Carrier ($725,000 AAV) and Chandler Stephenson ($1.05 million up the blue line. AAV) The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 I think it’s very unlikely either Carrier or Stephenson go anywhere before the deadline because they both fill roles the Golden Knights desperately need. That’s solid, reliable forwards at an extremely low price tag. The two combine to make only $1.775 million, and both are restricted free agents this offseason so will likely return as a great value again next season.

Tomas Nosek ($1 million AAV)

Nosek doesn’t cost Vegas much against the cap at only $1 million, and his versatility makes him valuable. He can play center or wing on both of the bottom two lines, making him worth keeping around. If a team asked for him in a trade, Vegas would likely let him go, but I don’t see them actively trying to use him as a trade piece.

Brayden McNabb ($2.5 million AAV) and Deryk Engelland ($700,000 AAV)

Neither McNabb nor Engelland are spectacular. If they were, the Golden Knights wouldn’t be in the position of needing to trade for a defenseman in the first place. But both are outplaying their current salary, which is what cap-strapped teams like the Golden Knights need out of their role players. McNabb is drastically outplaying his meager $2.5 million, serving as Vegas’ top-pairing defenseman all season long. While Vegas is clearly looking to upgrade at the blue line, I don’t believe these two are the ones needing to be moved out at the moment.

Nic Roy ($720,000 AAV), Jon Merrill ($1.375 million AAV) and Malcolm Subban ($850,000 AAV)

I lumped these three together because none make enough money to justify moving them to clear salary cap space, and none are valuable enough to bring back any major defensive upgrades. Could they be included in a trade? Sure. But it’s much more likely these three are with Vegas moving forward.

Most likely to be dealt

Cody Eakin ($3.85 million AAV)

Eakin has struggled mightily this year, with only seven points through more than half of the season. His expected goals differential is the worst on the team, and Vegas’ defensive numbers when he’s on the ice haven’t been good at all. With the emergence of Glass, it’s unlikely Eakin is re- signed this offseason as an unrestricted free agent, so he may be the most likely piece to be moved to open up salary cap space for an incoming player. Eakin’s $3.85 million AAV could make room for a sizeable upgrade on the blue line.

Nick Holden ($2.2 million AAV)

Holden’s play has improved dramatically recently, and it’s no coincidence that coincides with him playing alongside Theodore. Nearly every defenseman on the team has played at his best when playing with Theodore, and Holden has done the same. The offensive side of his game has shined a bit more this year, and he’s filling his role nicely on most nights. However, he’s making $2.2 million, which makes him a candidate for a salary cap dump trade.

Ryan Reaves ($2.775 million AAV)

I’m sure you see a trend developing by this point. Players who play on the bottom line — or bottom defensive pairing — who make more money than they probably should, are likely candidates for a trade. In Reaves’ case it has nothing to do with a lack of performance. He’s filled his role well this year as the bruiser — leading the entire NHL with 218 hits — but has also contributed offensively with six goals. I don’t think the Golden Knights want to move Reaves, but if it comes down to his inflated $2.775 million salary preventing them from acquiring a difference-maker, they would make the move. 1173938 Washington Capitals advantage of a turnover with the Senators buzzing on the power play, looking for an equalizer.

While the game was dicey late, the Capitals dominated early, taking a 2- Alex Ovechkin’s inexorable march to 700 continues with two goals in 0 lead with opening-period goals from T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Capitals’ win Oshie’s 19th was a redirection in front off a slick feed from John Carlson at 4:10. Carlson’s assist was the 361st of his career. He got his 362nd on Ovechkin’s empty-netter late in the game to pass Calle Johansson for Samantha Pell most by a defenseman in Capitals history.

January 31, 2020 at 10:50 PM EST AD

Carlson, who has 62 points (13 goals, 49 assists) through 52 games, said he didn’t know he surpassed Johansson’s record until Nicklas OTTAWA — Is it possible that Washington Capitals captain Alex Backstrom told him. Ovechkin, at 34 years old, in his 15th NHL season and already considered one of the greatest goal scorers of all time, might be getting “It is pretty cool, pretty special,” Carlson said. “I am good friends with better? Calle and what he has meant to the organization and all that. It is an honor for sure, and a lot of guys to thank for that.” A case could certainly be made, especially considering the rush he is putting on as he pushes toward career goal No. 700. He added two more After Oshie’s goal, Kuznetsov scored a wacky goal seven minutes later Friday night in a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, giving him 695 for his that triggered a delayed reaction from the players on the ice. Off a feed remarkable career and placing him eighth all time. from Jakub Vrana, Kuznetsov’s shot hit goaltender Marcus Hogberg’s leg and disappeared near side under the net skirt. Players initially didn’t Goal No. 694, midway through the second period, tied him with Mark realize it went in. Then the center threw up his hands in celebration when Messier; goal No. 695, an empty-netter in the closing moments at he realized the puck had crossed the goal line for his 17th tally of the Canadian Tire Centre, gave him 37 on the season and was his 11th goal season. in his past five games, the hottest stretch of his career. The Senators cut the Capitals’ lead to 2-1 with a shorthanded tally by “It’s nice to be in that company, obviously lots of legends up there,” Chris Tierney at 7:15 of the second period. The goal came while Ovechkin said. Ovechkin and the Capitals’ second power-play unit were on the ice. AD AD Ovechkin is the second player in NHL history 34 or older to score 11 It was the fifth shorthanded goal the Capitals have allowed in the past goals in a span of five appearances, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Joe eight games, a stretch that seen the team produce six power-play goals. Mullen, who did in December 1991. The Capitals have allowed nine shorthanded goals on the season, tying Capitals’ Todd Reirden continues to find ways to push players them with Detroit for the most in the league.

Behind their captain and strong play down the stretch, the Capitals (35- “I thought we played pretty well to start the first half of the game and kind 12-5) left Ottawa with a gritty win, a response to Wednesday’s sloppy of know that a push is always going to be coming,” Carlson said. “That is loss at home to Nashville. the way the league works no matter how well you are playing. The other teams are going to come back and give it to you at certain points.” “We are so fortunate to have him in Washington and what he has done for the game there and building it, and how fortunate the fans are to see The Capitals have a day before Sunday’s marquee matchup at home him 41-plus times a year,” Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said. “We are against the Penguins, the first meeting between the Metropolitan Division pretty lucky and lucky as coaches and players to play with a guy who is rivals this season. The team has yet to name a starter in net. chasing an unbelievable record and certainly hasn’t stopped the last few Washington Post LOADED: 02.01.2020 games.”

After the Capitals jumped up to a 4-2 lead early in the third period with a tally from Carl Hagelin, who scored his fourth goal and first shorthanded of the season, the Senators responded with a power-play goal from Artem Anisimov only 1:40 later.

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The Capitals fought off a hard Senators push and were up an extra man for the final 3:42 of regulation after Colin White received a double minor for high-sticking. Ovechkin’s empty-netter came with 15 seconds left.

“Obviously I had plenty of chances today to score more, but you know, I’ll take two and move forward,” said Ovechkin, who had 11 shots on goal and 19 total attempts.

Ilya Samsonov (25 saves) has won 11 straight decisions, dating back to Nov. 30 against Detroit. He became the third rookie goaltender in NHL history to earn a win in 11-plus consecutive decisions, joining Ross Brooks (14 in 1973-74) and George Hainsworth (11 in 1926-27).

“After the season I’ll get excited, but right now it’s the same after every game, it feels same spot,” Samsonov said. “I am happy we got the win today. It was a really hard game for me after the all-star break.”

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The win improved Samsonov to 16-2-1, but he was far from flawless. While he had a stellar start (his breakaway save on Vladislav Namestnikov was one of the highlights of the opening 20), there were noticeable struggles down the stretch.

With the Capitals holding a 3-1 lead midway through the second period following Ovechkin’s first goal, Samsonov let in a nifty goal from Thomas Chabot only 1:04 later. The momentum shifted, but Hagelin took 1173939 Washington Capitals

No. 8 for the Great 8! Ovechkin passes Messier for 8th all-time in goals

By J.J. Regan January 31, 2020 9:11 PM

This current streak is impressive, even for Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin scored yet again on Friday against the Ottawa Senators for career goals No. 694 and 695, putting him in sole possession of eighth all-time.

Nicklas Backstrom passed to Ovechkin on the wing on a 3-on-1 break. With his head up, Ovechkin cocked the stick and looked ready to pull the trigger on the pass. Instead, he stick-handled once more then fired the wrister through the seven-hole of goalie Marcus Hogberg. That stutter move appeared to handcuff the netminder, who was beaten for the third time on the night.

In the final minute, Ovechkin added an empty-netter for his second of the game.

Ovechkin now has an incredible 11 goals in his past five games. The flurry of goals has propelled Ovechkin into the thick of the scoring race for the season. He now has 37 goals on the season, now tied with Boston Bruins forward Davis Pastrnak at 37.

His next target after reaching eighth? Former Caps player Mike Gartner, who is seventh with 708.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173940 Washington Capitals

Nicklas Backstrom on his new extension: 'It means a lot for me and my family'

By Julia Karron January 31, 2020 11:40 AM

When the Capitals re-signed star center Nicklas Backstrom to a five-year, $46 million contract, it was a big day for the Swede and his family.

In their newest installment of Beyond Hockey, the Caps took fans behind the scenes of Backstrom's big day.

When the Capitals signed @backstrom19 to a 5-year extension, they didn't just sign the player with the most assists in franchise history.

They signed an incredible teammate who is dedicated to his family and the franchise.

This is Beyond Hockey with Nicklas Backstrom#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/NmYZ7OYjeS

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 28, 2020

Nicklas starts the episode playing mini-sticks with his son Vince before his big press conference announcing the signing. He takes fans on a tour of his home, which includes a familiar face in his office.

"Couple of Kuzy here," Backstrom says as he bops an Evgeny Kuznetsov bobblehead. "I think this is Vince's favorite."

But quickly Backstrom becomes more vulnerable about why he wanted to stay in Washington for another five years.

"My older one (daughter), she didn't really get it at first," Backstrom reflects. "But then I tried explain it to her and she really wanted to stay here and that's all she knows too."

After his daughter and fiancee come home, Backstrom assists in the kids' homework before he heads out for his press conference on his extension.

"It means a lot for me and my family," Backstrom notes. "The kids grew up here, they're born here, and to be able to get an offer to stay here, we're very fortunate to stay with the same team this long."

So how did he celebrate? By taking his family to dinner afterward. "Hopefully the kids will behave and sit down and eat, and me and my fiancee will probably have a glass of wine," Backstrom chuckled.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173941 Washington Capitals

Capitals at Senators: Ilya Samsonov draws Ottawa

By J.J. Regan January 31, 2020 11:30 AM

The Capitals (34-12-5) return north of the border on Friday to take on the Ottawa Senators (18-23-9). Tune in to all the action on NBC Sports Washington. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with Caps FaceOff Live followed by Caps Pregame Live at 7 p.m. taking you up to the 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Stick with NBC Sports Washington after the game for postgame coverage with Caps Postgame Live, D.C. Sports Live and Caps Overtime Live.

Here is what you need to know for Friday’s game.

Samsonov in net

As Todd Reirden revealed on Tuesday, Ilya Samsonov will get the start. He has been dazzling this season with a 15-2-1 record, .927 save percentage and 2.06 GAA. He remains undefeated on the road with a 9- 0-0 record.

With Braden Holtby's continued struggles in net, Friday could perhaps be an audition for Samsonov for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

No changes

Samsonov starting in net appears to be the only change to the lineup.

Here are the lines from the morning skate, per Sam Pell:

Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Tom Wilson

Jakub Vrana - Evgeny Kuznetsov - T.J. Oshie

Carl Hagelin - Lars Eller - Richard Panik

Brendan Leipsic - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Michal Kempny - John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov - Nick Jensen

Jonas Siegenthaler - Radko Gudas

Ovechkin watch

With his goal on Wednesday, Ovechkin now has 693 for his career. He is in sole possession of ninth place all-time and is one goal away from tying Mark Messier for eighth. He is just seven goals shy of becoming the eighth player in NHL history to reach 700.

One more goal will also put Ovechkin exactly 200 away from tying Wayne Gretzky's record of 894.

When last we met

Friday's game will be the second of three meetings between these two teams. Washington blew out the Senators in the last meeting on Jan. 7. Ottawa took a 1-0 lead, but the Caps rallied to score the next six including a goal for Ovechkin that came just 18 seconds after another shot by him was swept off the goal line by defenseman Dylan Demelo.

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Capitals Prospect Report: Vanecek impresses at the AHL All-Star Challenge

By J.J. Regan January 31, 2020 6:00 AM

Hershey Bears goalie Vitek Vanecek was brilliant in the AHL All-Star Challenge, earning MVP honors for the event on Monday. In his second consecutive all-star appearance, Vanecek played in parts of four games allowing only two goals.

What a stop!

Vitek Vanecek makes a sprawling stop in the dying seconds of Game 4 to hold on and give the Atlantic division the 3-2 over the Pacific. #AHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/U4c0G8pzFb

— AHL (@TheAHL) January 28, 2020

The AHL All-Star Challenge is similar to the NHL All-Star Game in that it is a 3-on-3 format with divisions playing as a team. Unlike the NHL All- Star Game, however, each division plays every other in a round-robin style tournament capped off by a championship game between the two top teams.

The Atlantic Division, which Hershey plays in, lost its first game, but won the next two to reach the championship. It then defeated the Central Division 3-1 to win the event.

Vanecek also shared the CCM Top Goaltender award for the skills competition the night before. He split it with two other goalies, however, which makes it largely just a participation trophy, but clearly Vanecek was impressive throughout the all-star festivities.

In his last 13 games with the Bears, Vanecek is 9-4-0 with a 2.26 GAA and .919 save percentage.

As this is the follow-up question for all things Capitals goaltending these days, let's get this out of the way: No, I don't think it would be smart to trade away Braden Holtby and call up Vanecek to be the team's backup.

Vanecek has no NHL experience. He is doing exactly what he should be doing in the AHL, but I would still put his ceiling as a high-end AHL starter, low-end NHL backup.

Other prospect notes

Vanecek is not the only goalie with the hot hand right now. Pheonix Copley has gone 9-1-0 in the Bears' latest hot streak with a 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage. And no, I would not consider him a better option than Holtby as a playoff backup either.

Hershey is 19-5-0-0 in its last 24 games. During that span, Brian Pinho and Garret Pilon both have 10 goals each while Philippe Maillet has 21 points.

Aliaksei Protas has 22 goals and 35 assists in 42 games this season. His 57 points are good for 10th in the WHL. One stat that is being overlooked, however, is PIM. Protas has two. In 42 games, he has been called for only one minor penalty, a trip on Jan. 18. Among the other nine players in the top ten, none of them have fewer than 12 PIM. That could mean one of two things. Either Protas gives zero effort when he loses the puck or he plays a very clean game. Considering he was not considered to be a top offensive player when Washington selected him in the draft, I doubt he would have been a third-round draft pick if he was taking defensive shifts off. This is an impressive stat and one that should be music to the ears of Caps fans considering the trouble the team has with staying out of the penalty box.

Connor McMichael has scored five hat tricks this season. In Patrick Kane's lone season with the London Nights, he scored seven.

Tobias Geisser may have returned to Europe, but he believes the NHL dream is still alive. "I keep trying to get better," he said to SRF, as translated by Google Translate. "What happens after this season is completely open." Geisser is currently playing in Switzerland after he was loaned by the Caps to EV Zug.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173943 Winnipeg Jets Where the Blues truly excel is getting passes into that area for their best shooters to take those shots, and they do that not by forcing mistakes down low with a grinding style of play, but by cycling the puck.

If Jets can't beat Blues, playoffs won't matter In the absence of Vladimir Tarasenko, who hasn’t been able to suit up for a game since October 24 after being sidelined with a shoulder injury that Almost every road to post-season progress passes under Gateway Arch needed surgery to repair, the Blues have leaned heavily on David Perron, Jaden Schwartz, and Oskar Sundqvist to step it up as shooters

off the cycle. Andrew Berkshire The Blues boast a deep and versatile forward group who all try to get in on the action, but those three are their scoring chance leaders and the players teams should be focused on taking shots away from. On the The Winnipeg Jets have an uphill battle to either outpace the Pacific other side of the equation are Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn, who Division teams for a wild card spot or catch the Dallas Stars for the last lead the team in slot passes and completed offensive zone passes guaranteed spot in the Central Division. overall.

No matter which route proves most favourable, the road to crawling their Despite the Blues being at the top of the Western Conference, they don’t way back into contention includes Saturday night’s game vs. the Western look quite as dominant as they were last season, really only exerting a Conference leading St. Louis Blues, which is also a likely first-round ton of influence over one areas of the ice. If a team is capable of focusing matchup if the Jets do climb back into the playoff picture. on and breaking their cycle game, either at the pass point or the shooting point, without Tarasenko they’re not necessarily the offensive The reigning Stanley Cup champions and last season’s first-round powerhouse you fear to match up against. opponents for the Jets have had a very different regular season than they experienced in 2018-19, where they bottomed out before storming back Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.01.2020 in the second half as the league’s hottest team entering the playoffs.

This season, the Blues have been at the top of the conference for most of the season, relying on strong goaltending from sophomore starter Jordan Binnington and backup Jake Allen. Binnington has struggled of late, but when accounting for the difficulty of shots faced, he has been among the league’s best this season.

The Jets can go head to head with the Blues as far as goaltending is concerned, but outside the crease, what kind of team are the Blues?

They have the reputation of being a lunch pail team; a hardworking, blue collar group that grinds teams into submission with a strong forecheck and winning battles in tight. Sometimes reputations don’t hold up to scrutiny though.

Surprisingly, the Blues don’t out-forecheck opponents at 5-vs-5 or in all situations. They do dump the puck in a lot on zone entries and they forecheck hard, so you can see why that reputation exists, but they don’t create a lot of offence through the forecheck compared to the rest of the league. They aren’t particularly excellent at defending forechecks either.

You may remember when I previewed the first-round series between the Jets and Blues last season, I mentioned that defending off the rush was the biggest weakness that the Blues had and that the Jet’s shift throughout the last month of the season to focus more on rush attacks might pay off. That focus was a large reason why the Jets made that series competitive after looking like they were circling the drain in the season’s second half.

This season the Blues haven’t changed much in that area — still giving up a high number of chances off the rush while not creating much on their own. That remains a very exploitable area against this team, provided you can beat Binnington regularly.

The Blues also don’t dominate teams from the inner slot. In fact they are much less efficient at defending that area than they were last year en route to winning the Stanley Cup, which is why Binnington’s expected save percentage of .911 may not seem so great but to date remains a solidly impressive number.

It’s a little bit surprising that a team whose identity is hard-nosed, tough hockey is being so drastically outplayed from the most important area on the ice, but there is a growing trend around the league this year to borrow some of what the Jets have been doing for a few seasons now.

If you’ve been paying attention to how the Jets have created their offence and structured their defence under Paul Maurice, you’ll know that the areas they flex most on opponents are in controlling passes to and through the slot, and shooting from the high slot area. Most passes to the slot are going to end up in the high slot simply because there’s more room to receive a pass there, and then turn it into a shot.

Snipers generally prefer shooting from that area since they have a bit more room to not only evade sticks and take the shot, but also more room to change the angle on the goaltender and pick their spot. 1173944 Winnipeg Jets played, our offensive game was right, pucks to the net, a better mentality there.

"Good fight, good heart, good bench. I’m proud of the way our hockey Bruins lay on a bruisin' team played tonight."

Fisticuffs aplenty in tight 2-1 loss for Jets Back from the break, the Jets showed no evidence of lethargy and were a worked-up group from the opening whistle. Early in the period, Patrik Laine tossed himself at the NHL’s tallest — and oldest — player, 6-9 defenceman Zdeno Chara, 42, who knocked down centre Mark Scheifele By: Jason Bell only seconds before.

Just hours after telling reporters he’s a shade disappointed with his goal Think the Battle of Alberta generates fire and brimstone? How about the production, the young Finn used his lightning release to open the scoring latest fiery chapter in the Battle of Manitoba and Massachusetts. at 6:06.

Huh? Laine’s 18th was composed by Ehlers, who buzzed in on a clean zone entry, circled the net and then threaded a pass to a guy he’s rarely The Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins, a couple of NHL clubs that rarely played with this season. They were only on the ice together because see each other, have clearly carved out a long-distance revulsion. Kyle Connor changed on the fly and was replaced by a streaking Ehlers. Absence, it seems, makes the heart grow hostile. Late in the period, Charlie McAvoy caught Scheifele with a clean but For the record, the visitors left Bell MTS Place with a 2-1 triumph Friday thunderous open-ice hit. That prompted a response from Neal Pionk, night, and the hosts came away empty-handed for the fifth straight game. somewhat miscast as the guy out for retribution for a teammate. And it came with a cost. Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk snapped home the winner at 3:07 of the third period, jamming in his 16th of the season on the power play after a He and McAvoy jostled, and the Jets defenceman was assessed four terrific feed from David Pastrnak. Astonishingly, Andrew Copp’s skate minutes while the Bruins blue-liner received only a minor. Josh Morrissey lace got snagged on the heel of Anthony Bitetto’s skate, both Jets then took a hooking penalty with his club shorthanded, and Boston centre tumbled and DeBrusk found himself alone on the doorstep. Patrice Bergeron whipped in his 22nd goal of the season on the ensuing 5-on-3 advantage. Chalk up that aberration to the luck of the Jets lately, who deserved of a far better fate in their first test after an eight-day break, yet had to settle Winnipeg’s inability to score on the power play was a determining factor for their seventh loss in eight games. in the outcome. Laine dented the post on a second-period 5-on-3, and then ripped a shot off the crossbar in an early third-period man "I had no idea what (the skate lace) caught on, then I looked down and advantage. saw it was that. Less than a one-in-a-million play," said a clearly perturbed Copp. "Basically, are you f—-ing kidding me? "I think we had more than enough chances to bury, myself included. I had a couple crossbars, posts — a lot of good chances but couldn’t score. "There’s nothing you can do. I don’t know if that’s the way it’s going, but (Brossoit) kept us in the game the whole game and gave us a chance to that’s lotto-ticket-type odds there." win. It’s hard to win if you score one goal," offered Laine. Veteran goalie Tuukka Rask, playing his first game since returning from a The Jets have fewer than 24 hours to refuel before Saturday’s concussion sustained Jan. 14, was brilliant, stopping 37 shots. confrontation with the St. Louis Blues, who occupy the Western Back-up netminder Laurent Brossoit, a surprise starter for the Jets (25- Conference penthouse. 23-4) considering the intense pressure on a squad to string wins The defending Stanley Cup champions faced the Edmonton Oilers late together, was solid and had no chance on either puck that got past him, Friday night and wrap up a four-game swing through Western Canada in turning aside 23 Boston drives. Winnipeg. Winnipeg is four points below the playoff line in the Western Conference. In a rather serendipitous twist, Blues winger Alex Steen, a familiar face Boston capitalized on two of its four power-play chances, while the Jets around these parts, plays the 1,000th game of his NHL career today. The were blanked on six opportunities with the man advantage, including two 35-year-old son of former Jets 1.0 star centre Thomas Steen has been 5-on-3s. But they had their looks. elevated to the third line in recent weeks and had scored in three of his last five games, prior to the Blues-Oilers tilt. "I don’t think you can physically generate more chances on the power play than we did tonight. Obviously, we had 25 (chances), so their killers The Jets will spend a considerable amount of time at home the next two are going to be tired," said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. "You’re going to weeks, as Friday kicked off nine of 10 at Bell MTS Place. back them in and get what you want. But there’s only five guys on the ice Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.01.2020 for us and I think each guy had at least one or two Grade-A chances, players that typically bury those. It just wasn’t our night."

Playing rough-and-rugged hockey is simply a state of mind for the Bruins, now 30-10-12. But credit the Jets, who applied their own adage ‘Stay in the fight’ to its most literal sense — all with the NHL’s sheriff, department of player safety boss George Parros in the building.

The Jets and Bruins have no heated history this year. In their only previous meeting, the teams combined for six minor penalties Jan. 9 at TD Garden as the hosts edged Winnipeg 5-4.

The second period was, perhaps, the most entertaining scoreless 20- minute session in the history of the downtown arena. Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer would have been a busy man, introducing the combatants for three separate fights.

Let’s get ready to rumble: Brad Marchand earned a TKO over Nikolaj Ehlers, Gabriel Bourque and Brandon Carlo battled to a draw, while Luca Sbisa beat Karson Kuhlman on points, just second after Kuhlman knocked Mathieu Perreault out of the game on a high hit.

"Yeah, no complaints with (the effort)," said head coach Paul Maurice. "I’ve seen it in the last three, but tonight was a different level, because we were well rested and they could push hard in the game. That’s well 1173945 Winnipeg Jets Sammy Blais-Jacob de la Rose-Ivan Barbashev Defence

Alex Pietrangelo-Justin Faulk Game Day: Blues at Jets Jay Bouwmeester-Colton Parayko

Vince Dunn-Carl Gunnarsson Postmedia News Goalies

Jordan Binnington ST. LOUIS BLUES AT WINNIPEG JETS Jake Allen Saturday, 6 p.m., Bell MTS Place Winnipeg Jets TV: Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 360, CITY; Radio: TSN 1290 Forwards THE BIG MATCHUP Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Patrik Laine Connor Hellebuyck vs Jordan Binnington Nikolaj Ehlers-Blake Wheeler-Mason Appleton Both Jets coach Paul Maurice and Blues boss Craig Berube took a look at this weekend’s back-to-back games coming out of the all-star break Mathieu Perreault-Andrew Copp-Jack Roslovic and decided to save their ace for the second one against a fierce division rival. So it’s a rematch of the goaltenders from last year’s first-round Jansen Harkins-Nick Shore-Gabriel Bourque playoff series. Both will be hoping to start anew after wobbling into the Defence break. Josh Morrissey-Dmitry Kulikov

Luca Sbisa-Neal Pionk FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Anthony Bitetto-Sami Niku Stay physical Goalies Winnipeg’s game against Boston on Friday drew the ugly out of the Jets, and included scraps and plenty of big hits. When Nik Ehlers is slamming Connor Hellebuyck bodies and dropping his gloves, you know something’s up. Perhaps the Jets decided over the break to put a little more muscle into their game as Laurent Brossoit they try to punch their way back into a playoff spot. That won’t hurt INJURIES against a Blues squad that doesn’t shy away from contact. Blues: F Vladimir Tarasenko, F Oskar Sundqvist Special teams Jets: F Mark Letestu, F Bryan Little, D Nathan Beaulieu, D Tucker Really? Again? Yes, again. The Jets power play squandered several Poolman, D Carl Dahlstrom, F Adam Lowry, D Dustin Byfuglien glorious chances to build a lead through two periods against Boston, (suspended) including plenty of five-on-three time. What used to be this team’s strength is only average these days. That’s simply got to change if the SPECIAL TEAMS* Jets want to reach the post-season. Meanwhile, the penalty kill was less than perfect. Again. POWER PLAY

Down the middle Blues: 25.2% (4th)

Interesting matchups at centre ice for this one. With Bryan Little and Jets: 20% (15th) Adam Lowry on the sidelines, the Jets boast a good one in Mark PENALTY KILLING Scheifele, a converted winger in Blake Wheeler, a sometime-centre in Andrew Copp and journeyman Nick Shore. The Blues counter with Blues: 80.5% (16th) Brayden Schenn, Ryan O’Reilly, Robert Thomas and fourth-liner Jacob Jets: 74.4% (27th) de la Rose. Advantage, St. Louis. *stats going into Friday night’s games Help on the blue line Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.01.2020 There’s a decent chance Nathan Beaulieu returns from sick bay to give the Jets one more healthy body on defence. They can use all the help they can get in what has been an area of concern all season. Beaulieu is coming off a lower-body broken bone from a blocked shot, his third broken bone of the season. Tucker Poolman and Carl Dahlstrom remain out.

The back-to-back blues

Both teams played on Friday, so you know what that means. Some legs will be sluggish to start the game, others will fade as it progresses. The rule of thumb is to play the simple game: Chip it out, dump it in and don’t give up anything easy. That describes the Blues game more than it does the Jets, but Winnipeg would be wise to adhere to it.

GAME DAY LINEUPS

St. Louis Blues

Forwards

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Zach Sanford-Ryan O’Reilly-David Perron

Alexander Steen-Robert Thomas-Tyler Bozak 1173946 Winnipeg Jets mishap that allowed Jake Debrusk to bury his 16th on the power play at 3:07 of the third.

“I had no idea what (his skate lace) caught on, then I looked down and Jets come out of break with a loss in a feisty affair with Bruins saw it was that. Less than one-in-a-million play,” Copp said.

And what was going through Copp’s mind in the immediacy after the goal? Scott Billeck “Basically, ‘are you (expletive) kidding me?’” he said. “There’s nothing you can do. I don’t know if that’s the way it’s going but that’s lotto-ticket type odds there.” As far as heartbreaking defeats go, this one is as tough as it gets for the Winnipeg Jets. Added Laine: “I’ve watched hockey for many years, never seen that. That’s apparently how it goes now. Unfortunate play.” And their hearts were certainly in their 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins at Bell MTS Place on Friday. The Bruins finished 2-for-4 with the man advantage. The Jets were 0-for- 6 despite 12 shots and a pile more chances. Failing to convert on two In what has been a trend over the past little while, it just wasn’t their night separate 5-on-3s won’t cut it, either. as the Jets dropped their fifth straight game and eight of their past nine at home. “I don’t think you can physically generate more chances on the power play than we did tonight,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “Obviously, Everything was in place to win, except what was needed to win: Goals. we had 25 of them so their killers are going to be tired. You’re going to And with the Jets four points adrift of the final wild-card spot in the back them in and get what you want. But there’s only five guys on the ice Western Conference, there’s no room for silver linings at this point. for us and I think each guy had at least one or two Grade-A chances. “I don’t know if we’re taking moral victories right now,” Andrew Copp said. Players that typically bury those. It just wasn’t our night.” “There are some good things that we did and the overall, general theme Mathieu Perreault’s night ended early when Kuhlman crushed him with of how we played is what we need to do for these 30 games. But I don’t an open-ice hit of his own, sending the Jets forward to the ice in a heap think we’re looking at moral victories right now.” of pain. He was later ruled out with an upper-body injury. No update was Coming out of their bye week, the biggest question facing the Jets was given after the game. how they’d respond against the Bruins in their first game back. The run-in Meanwhile, Tuukka Rask, fresh off a three-game spell on the sidelines to the week-long lay-off included four losses on the trot and just five wins thanks to a concussion, put in a stunning performance, stopping 37 shots in their previous 16. sent his way. That wretched run needed to end, or as Patrik Laine put it Friday The Jets are four points back of the Arizona Coyotes for the final wild- morning, the bleeding needed to be stemmed. card spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg has a game in hand on And, by all accounts, the Jets played well enough to win Friday’s game. the desert dogs and face the St. Louis Blues on Saturday in the second game of a rare back-to-back at home. “Yeah, no complaints with that,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said of his team’s effort. “I’ve seen it in the last three but tonight was a different Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.01.2020 level, because we were well-rested and they could push hard in the game. That’s well played, our offensive game was right, pucks to the net, a better mentality there. Good fight, good heart, good bench. I’m proud of the way our hockey team played tonight.”

Laine announced Winnipeg’s intentions at the 6:06 mark of the first period, firing home his 18th of the season for an early 1-0 lead.

The play was made possible by some vintage work from Nikolaj Ehlers, who gained the zone, circled the net and, with every Bruins’ eye trained on him, fed the pass to Laine, who made no mistake on the quick one- timer.

“It’s hard to win when you score one goal,” Laine said after the game.

Indeed.

The lead was erased by Patrice Bergeron in a hate-filled second period, one that featured a combined 64 minutes in penalties.

Bergeron’s goal came on a 5-on-3 power play at 19:07.

What happened before that was a mini-UFC event.

“It was a weird game,” said Laurent Brossoit, who stopped 23 shots while getting the start over Connor Hellebuyck. “It had a bit of a different feel and the fighting was included in that.”

The main card included Ehlers vs. Brad Marchand, Gabriel Bourque vs. Brandon Carlo and Luca Sbisa vs. Karson Kuhlman. John Tortorella would be proud.

The hate had been building.

Small battles were taking place all over the ice dating back to the opening frame. Mark Scheifele, playing in his 500th career game, and Zdeno Chara were sworn enemies all game. Laine, engaged as ever, took a run at Chara twice.

Elsewhere, Neal Pionk and Charlie McAvoy threw down in the first after the latter drilled Scheifele with a devastating (and clean) open-ice hit.

The game-winner came on a wild play where Andrew Copp’s loop on his right skate lace got caught on the heel of Anthony Bitetto’s skate, a 1173947 Winnipeg Jets Laine seems to be in a good headspace this season. There are no signs of a lack of confidence, which may be the biggest factor in all of this.

MR. 500 Laine flourishing despite lower-than-he-wants goal tally In a career that has always seemed destined for milestones, Scheifele hit another one on Friday night.

Scott Billeck As Scheifele stepped onto the ice to take the opening faceoff, his games played counter ticked over to No. 500.

“It’s flown by,” Scheifele said after Friday’s pre-game skate. “It’s a pretty There’s a part of Patrik Laine that’s conflicted 50-plus games into the cool milestone to hit. Hopefully, there’s a lot more milestones. Just got to 2019-20 season. be happy for it and be thankful for health. It’s a pretty cool thing.”

While he doesn’t want to say he’s disappointed with the number of goals Scheifele’s first NHL game came on Oct. 9, 2011, against the Montreal he has scored this season — 17, for those counting (and you are) — he Canadiens. Just a couple months earlier, the Jets chose him with the also says he doesn’t have as many as he’d like to (and as many as seventh-overall pick at the NHL draft. A couple of months before that, the others would like him to have.) Jets were still the Atlanta Thrashers and located in a different country.

“So that’s kind of a disappointment,” Laine said after Friday’s pre-game “I remember Hal Gill sitting on me … that was the main one,” said skate. “Usually, with my goals, I’ve been able to help the team win more.” Scheifele, recalling a memory from his first game.

For a guy who burst onto the scene with 36 goals in his rookie season in Winnipeg’s run to the Western Conference final in 2018 would be the 2016-17, following that up with 44 as a sophomore, 17 with well under standout highlight for Scheifele, nearly nine years on. half a season left to play may come across sub-optimal. “Hopefully, there’s a lot more white-outs to be experienced,” Scheifele But Laine has done a couple of things in his fourth year in the NHL that said. should be considered mitigating factors in the court of public opinion. Scheifele has 174 goals and 251 assists for 425 points through those Specifically, Laine’s 45 points in 49 games have him on pace for 75 this 500 games. He has developed into an elite two-way centre in the NHL season. If he keeps travelling down the same road, he’ll set a new and a perennial point-per-game player. career-high by five. If he ramps up the goal scoring, which is entirely possible, he could shatter his previous mark. When Winnipeg has gone to the playoffs, Scheifele has proven to be a force on the NHL’s biggest stage with 16 goals and 26 points in 27 Winnipeg’s second-overall pick in 2016, Laine is now in a transition playoff games. period from being a quote-unquote “one-trick pony” that feasts on the power play to a player making significant strides in the defensive end of Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.01.2020 the ice while piling up the points at five-on-five.

Only three of Laine’s 17 markers this season have come with the man- advantage. Only nine of his 45 points have come on the power play. For the sake of comparison, 15 of Laine’s 30 goals last season came on the power play.

Laine has found ways to produce at even strength and he’s not just relying on lighting the lamp, either. If everything keeps up, this will be his first season in the NHL where he has scored fewer goals than he has assisted on. Through his 49 games played, he’s already on even terms with his career-high of 28 assists.

Even more flattering for Laine, he has done all of this while playing on Winnipeg’s top line with Mark Scheifele, where Jets head coach Paul Maurice can’t shelter his minutes.

“There’s a big difference playing against the other team’s best (and) their one-two set of (defencemen),” Maurice said. “And if you’re playing with Mark, you’re getting the one-two or the shutdown pair if they’re not offensively one-two. That’s the major difference. He’s also getting more minutes than he’s ever played. He’s getting a different looking kind of offence playing with Mark and Kyle (Connor). So there’s a whole lot of new going on. His five-on-five game is far better than it was, as it should be.”

The Jets have stripped Laine and rebuilt him, in a sense. They’ve retained his remarkable shot while augmenting him with a package that’s fit for the NHL. And now that he’s been re-tooled, Maurice believes his scoring will begin to catch up.

And that may hold true, but as Maurice points out, he doesn’t have to default to a shoot-first mentality anymore either.

“He’s now got different kinds of options to not shoot the puck,” Maurice said. “Giving the puck to Mark or giving a puck to Kyle, it’s not a bad option. So there has to be more than just, ‘I shoot every puck.’”

Coming into Friday’s game, Laine’s shooting percentage this season is at 10.4%, down just under 2% from last season and down 4.5% from his career average. There’s room for that to re-inflate again, as well.

As Laine reminded reporters on Friday morning, he’s capable of putting a lot of pucks into the net in a short time frame.

“I scored 11 in one road trip before, so you never know what’s going to happen,” he said. 1173948 Winnipeg Jets Across the room where the defencemen hang out, Nathan Beaulieu, citing team chemistry, didn’t think the Jets needed to add anything, either.

Maurice 'all for' trade boost, but Jets need to get harder, too “This team’s really close,” Beaulieu said. “You look at the last couple of years, who’s won, St. Louis and Washington. It’s just a really tight-knit team that’s been together. One or two changes isn’t going to change the world. Everyone believes in each other in this dressing room.” Paul Friesen Even on a blue line that’s been thin since Day 1.

“Thirty-one teams in the league want another defenceman,” Beaulieu He’s not the GM, and sounds glad about that. said. “We’re not the flashiest, but everyone’s comfortable with where But Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice, fresh off the week-long all- we’re at.” star break, didn’t mind sharing his thoughts on where his team stands Where they’re going, though, will be anything but comfortable. just over three weeks from the NHL trade deadline. Maurice says playoffs or not, this team has plenty to learn about The question posed: Are the next three weeks all about proving to becoming “harder,” and that lesson begins when the Boston Bruins come management this team is worth adding to for a playoff push? to town, Friday. Why wait for the deadline, was Maurice’s somewhat surprising initial “This is a great opportunity to make yourself harder, better, more response. competitive,” is how the coach put it. “That idea of bearing down. Valuing “I don’t think there’s necessarily a mandate that you have to wait until the the hard. Because that’s where you’re trying to get to. It’s true of all of last day before the trade deadline to make a decision on your team,” he these teams that finally get to that pure contender status. It’s the said. “The core of this team is right. And young and going to get better. hardness in their game, not necessarily the talent. So if there’s something there that gives us a boost right now, (I’m) all for “We’ve got good, young talent here. It’s getting to the hardness. it.” Developing it night after night. Under pressure.” Everybody knows the Jets could use some help on the blue line. They’re In other words, no more days at the beach. not exactly bursting with depth on their bottom forward lines, either. Jets Beaulieu puts broken bones behind him But Maurice says getting “a boost right now” probably shouldn’t include throwing away a prime asset for a pending free agent who’ll only be in Jets defenceman Nathan Beaulieu could write his own blues song: if he Winnipeg for one spring run-off. didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.

He’s thinking more of a long-term fix. Beaulieu is on the brink of returning to the lineup, likely Saturday against St. Louis, after recovering from his third different injury of the season. “So paying a high price for a rental, I don’t know that that makes a whole lot of sense for us,” he said. “If we get a guy that can come in and play “It’s been a long road,” he said as the Jets returned from the NHL all-star maybe more than the rest of the season, you’d think about doing that.” break, Thursday. “Going into the season you want to play as many games as you can. But you break three bones in a season, it’s hard to do Maurice’s squad was reeling going into the break, losers of four straight that. It’s a big time of year… so this is the time of year you want to be and six of their last seven. playing hockey anyway.” To say the week off came at a good time is an all-star understatement. Beaulieu says two of his three broken bones came as the result of The only momentum they lost was downward. blocking shots, including the last one against Colorado at the end of “Get away from it,” was Mathieu Perreault’s approach. “Not even think December. In November, it was a broken hand. about hockey for five, six days, was good for everybody.” “I’m not going to shy away from it,” he said. “It’s pretty fluky. You block 50 Perreault did it by taking his wife and kids, and a nanny, to Mexico. Bare shots, one will really hurt. But it seems like they don’t hit me in the right feet instead of skates. Sand instead of ice. Waves instead of the sound spot. Unfortunately.” of pucks. Saying he’s not at all superstitious, Beaulieu nonetheless wasn’t ready to “I didn’t really do anything,” he said, grinning. “I was just sitting in my commit to playing this weekend. chair on the beach and relaxing.” “I could wake up next morning and block a shot on the way to the rink, or Andrew Copp was in Florida with his parents. something might hit me,” he said. “I’m just going to take it one day at a time.” Doing? Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.01.2020 “Nothing,” he said. “You wake up late, and then you go to the couch, play with the dog and then you fall back asleep and have a nap before noon.”

When he wasn’t getting some shut-eye, Copp split his time poolside, on the golf course and at the beach.

As for the prospect of their GM being a shark at the trade deadline, neither Copp nor Perreault were particularly keen on it.

“The next few games will be a good tell of where we’re at,” Copp acknowledged. “But we’re not worried about trying to add guys or whether we’re going to do anything. It’s just a matter of getting our game going and what we have in here right now.”

Perreault could raise a fancy umbrella drink to that.

“As of right now we’re fighting for a playoff spot, so we’re also right in the mix,” he said. “So we’re going for it, as players, for sure. We like what we have here. You never want to look somewhere else to find solutions. We rely on each other. So I want to do it with these guys.”

Perreault is hoping the fight the Jets showed earlier in the season, the ability to come back and win games, will resurface. 1173949 Winnipeg Jets After going through a lengthy offensive dry spell that included one goal and five points in 19 games, Roslovic moved down to the third line, but the demotion was designed to help him regain his confidence and get him out on the ice more against the opposition’s third defence pairing and Wiebe: Why a Kyle Connor/Jack Roslovic reunion could give the Jets an third and fourth lines. offensive spark Roslovic responded by scoring in consecutive games, but he was held off the scoresheet for the final three games heading into the break.

By Ken Wiebe Jan 31, 2020 12 As mentioned on The Boarding Pass this week, I believe Roslovic has the potential to produce 20-plus goals and be an offensive threat,

consistently eclipsing 50 points. Might it be time for Paul Maurice to get out the blender again? Can he do that as a member of the Jets? This isn’t an endorsement for full-powered usage, but rather a lower That’s up to Roslovic to determine. setting, where a relatively minor tweak could offer some potentially large dividends. At a time when the Jets are looking for solutions, giving him a shot with Connor and Wheeler could be something that provides an offensive The head coach of the Winnipeg Jets recently had to make a change spark. when Adam Lowry suffered an upper-body injury that is going to keep him out of the lineup for an extended period of time (at least until late The other part of the equation involves putting Nikolaj Ehlers back up February), which meant moving Andrew Copp back in the middle on the with Scheifele and Laine. third line. Both Ehlers and Laine have shown considerable development in their all- It also brought a shuffle of wingers, with Mason Appleton eventually around game this season and while they’ve played together plenty in the moving up with Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers and Jack Roslovic past, they haven’t really had much time with Scheifele between them. staying on the third line with Copp and Mathieu Perreault. Ehlers has adopted more of a shooter’s mentality this season, but he’s At least from where I sit, these units appear to be about providing a bit gone seven games without scoring and has only one assist during the more balance to the attack and there is no doubt the head coach has past six outings. considered all of his options and has sound reasoning for the way his units are currently constructed. But you can bet he’s feeling refreshed after the break and is determined to be a force during the stretch run. But as the Jets get set to open a critical four-game stretch against the Boston Bruins on Friday, I can’t help but wonder if an additional tweak Ehlers could also benefit with the bump in ice time that moving to the top might help produce the desired result. line would provide.

Maurice has been more open to making subtle tweaks to his combos If the suggested moves don’t have the desired results, Maurice can throughout this season and while some of those — like Wheeler moving always go back to the drawing board and get the blender out again. to centre on the second line — have been borne out of necessity, I’m The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 curious why he hasn’t tried a reunion of Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic yet.

This is not to suggest that Connor hasn’t been productive in his current spot alongside Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine on the first line.

Connor already has 25 goals and 50 points in 51 games, which leaves him as the top goal scorer on the Jets (along with trending toward a third consecutive 30-plus goal campaign) and just four points behind Scheifele for the team lead.

And Laine remains close to a point per game player (45 points in 49 games) while flourishing with the additional ice time and responsibility he’s been given.

So, it’s natural to see why Maurice would want to keep that trio together — they’ve been highly productive.

However, in search of that aforementioned balance, I can’t help but wonder if bumping Connor to the second line with Wheeler might be worth a shot, along with moving Roslovic back up.

Connor and Roslovic had tremendous chemistry as linemates in the minors with the Manitoba Moose and some of that has been on display at the NHL level during occasional four-or-four or overlapping shifts together at even strength.

They’re both outstanding skaters who can pull the trigger and score off the rush.

Wheeler and Connor played together extensively on the top line during the past several years and contributed plenty offensively, so it stands to reason that Roslovic might round out that trio nicely with his speed and skill set.

It’s been an interesting season for Roslovic, who has already tied his career high in goals (nine) and is quickly closing in on his career best for points (24).

Roslovic’s average ice time is up considerably (14:57 compared to 9:45 last season) and he’s taken a significant step forward when it comes to his consistency and overall play.

But like many young players, there are still stretches of inconsistency he’s working to eliminate. 1173950 Vancouver Canucks Bower has mounted several shows of his Sun pix since he retired. On Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. he’ll be teaming up with North Shore News photographer Mike Wakefield for a talk on Shooting The North Shore at the West Vancouver Memorial Library. The history of the Vancouver Canucks, through a photographer's lens One of Bower’s best shots shows goalie Dunc Wilson sprawled on the ice, snow covering his mask.

JOHN MACKIE Updated: January 31, 2020 “A player had sprayed ice all over his mask when he came in on him, and when you looked in he had a mask covered with snow,” said Bower.

“That made the picture. I didn’t even know I had it, it’s a dark room A few years ago, The Vancouver Sun was about to throw out a box of special.” negatives of the Vancouver Canucks back when they were in the Western Hockey League. By that he means that he shot rapid-fire photos and then discovered the snow in one of the frames. He was able to capture it thanks to his So photographer Ralph Bower saved them. invention, hooking a camera up inside the net. “They were going into the garbage can, so I just took the box home. Why He triggered it with a doorbell. put it in the garbage?” said Bower, 85. “But I never looked at it. About five or 10 years later I was going through my old negs and there was a whole “You know how a doorbell makes a ring? Well that went to the camera box of them.” (via a wire under the ice), it made the motor work. There was no infrared. You had to run it by juice, follow me?” The negs were important to Bower because he’d shot many of the pictures. He started working for the Sun in 1955, and photographed the It took a bit of talking to let the Canucks use his net-cam. Canucks until he retired on New Year’s Eve, 1996/7. “I had it arranged to go in the net with (coach) Harry Neale, but he said Looking through a pile of prints recently, he could pick out players from (goalie Richard Brodeur) was pretty reluctant about it,” he recounts. decades back, from both the Canucks and visitors. Phil Maloney, Gump Worsley, Willie O’Ree — he’s got action shots of them all. “I said ‘it’s a major thing’. He said ‘Well, OK.’ But as soon as they finished the national anthem, (Brodeur) took his stick and plucked my camera out He shot with a Speed Graphic in the old days, a camera that was of the net.” technically limited but produced awesome photos. Especially when the players weren’t wearing helmets or masks. Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2020

“You could see the expression on their face,” he said. “Hockey in those days wasn’t as fast — it’s twice as fast today.”

Bower is a bit of a pack rat — he kept prints and clippings of his photos when they ran in the paper. Which makes for a one-of-a-kind Canucks photo archive — the paper usually didn’t keep game photos, particularly the larger 11-by-14 prints he favoured.

Rogers Hometown Hockey will be coming to North Vancouver on March 14 and 15. The “family-friendly hockey celebration” will be held at The Shipyards district at the foot of Lonsdale on the North Van waterfront.

The Polygon Gallery is also at the foot of Lonsdale, and decided to do a Canucks photo show in tandem with Hometown Hockey, starting March 7. They’re going to be using old Sun and Province photos, and this week, curators Diane Evans and Justin Ramsey went through Bower’s cache.

There are some incredible shots, such as goalie George Gardner spreading his arms like an eagle in flight, a dejected Dale Tallon on his knees in the Canucks goal after they’ve been scored on, and former Canucks owner Coley Hall posing shirtless with Dennis Ververgaert in 1973.

“Ververgaert was the first draft choice of the Canucks, and Coley Hall was the owner,” Bower explains. “Coley said ‘You guys aren’t as tough as we used to be’ and took his shirt off to match him at the press conference.”

Coley would have been 67 at the time, Ververgaert was 20. But their physique was similar — and Hall was a renowned tough guy. When he was asked to testify on behalf of Canucks majority owner Tom Scallen after Scallen was charged with theft, Hall reportedly said “let him rot in jail.”

Bower started off taking Canucks photos at the Forum, at a time when the rink was surrounded by wire mesh, not Plexiglas. The lighting was dim, so you had to use a flash, which meant you had to be close to the action to get anything.

In order to get a photo without the wire, the photographers cut a little box in the wire near the net, which you could pull out when you wanted to take a photo.

“You opened a wire hole with a square window and put the camera through and shot with a flash, strobe,” he said.

“I got hit once. Gordie Howe hit me, right in the arm. He shot the puck and it went right through the hole. He came right over, ‘Are you all right?’ I said ‘It’s not too bad.’ He said ‘Well it wasn’t one of my hard shots!’” 1173951 Vancouver Canucks But he’s also one of five NHL backups with less than 20 games who are double digits in wins.

“We help each other and we push other,” Markstrom says of Demko. “At Demko stays sharp in the shadows with goal to hone role as best backup the same time I’m a competitor and he’s a competitor. We both want to play but there’s only one net out there.

“It’s not his fault if he isn’t playing. It’s the coach’s fault and my fault.” Ed Willes Still, Demko doesn’t take it personally. He knows what his role entails. He also knows the only way to achieve his career goals is through success in that role, and if he ever forgets, goalie coach Ian Clark is there to Here’s the easy part: Thatcher Demko wants to become a No. 1 goalie in remind him. the NHL. “Because you’re not playing as regularly and rhythmically as the starter, Now here’s the tough part: Demko’s ambition represents a complex you have to have a certain mentality,” Clark says. “It’s a bit of a cliché for equation that has something to do with his ability and a lot to do with any backup goalies, but your practices are your games. That’s where you number of variables beyond his control. build confidence because that’s the activity you’re getting. His situation might change as early as this off-season with Jacob “All he can do is keep grinding and growing his game mentally, Markstrom’s contract negotiation. It might change in 2021 with the structurally, athletically. He’s made a nice step in those regards.” Seattle expansion draft. It might even be further down the road before a team weighs all the factors and decides Demko is their guy. So he’s getting better. He’s also working cheaply this season and next — just over a million per — and that’s part of that complicated equation. By then, who knows where the Canucks’ backup will be in his career? It’s all a little unsettling and that uncertainty can fog the mind if you let it. But Markstrom is heading into unrestricted free agency this summer. Demko Demko, who has a maturity that belies his 24 years, copes by breaking becomes an RFA a year later. With their cap challenges, it doesn’t figure things down to their simplest terms. the Canucks can afford to pay Markstrom like a No. 1 and pay Demko like an elite backup. Practices are his games. There just aren’t 17,000 people watching him as he goes about his work. There are some difficult decisions waiting for both the organization and the two players. But they also lie in the future. “For me it’s taking the mentality of being game-ready in practices,” Demko says. “Obviously it’s not a switch you can just turn on when you In the meantime there are all those practices for Demko. get the call. You have to have it going every day. I think it’s going to help me in the long run.” “It’s my first full year and I’m just embracing that,” he says. “My expectations are a little higher. I just want to keep getting better and Makes sense. It’s helped him in the short run. make sure I’m consistently giving my team a chance to win.”

“I know I can play at this level,” he continues. “For me right now, it’s a For now, that’s enough. learning role and a development role and just being a good teammate. I’ve always seen myself as a supportive, positive guy and I think this year Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.01.2020 that’s my role.”

Even if that can change with the snap of the fingers.

In this, his first full season as the Canucks’ backup, Demko has served notice he’s one of the NHL’s emerging young goalies. True, his goals- against average and save percentage don’t jump out at you, but the truest measure of a backup is his won-loss record and Demko is 10-5-1 in the 17 games he’s played to date.

As for his future workload, that’s another one of those variables, but if there were any questions about coach Travis Green’s confidence in Demko they were answered when he gave him the net for Monday’s 3-1 win over the visiting St. Louis Blues.

The Canucks also have five back-to-backs between now and the end of the season starting with this weekend in, first, Brooklyn, then Carolina. That means Demko will get his games down the stretch.

What he does with those starts might determine the Canucks’ final place in the standings.

“I like goalies who stop the puck,” Green says. “I don’t like the ones who don’t quite as much. We’ve got two guys we really believe in. It makes the decision easier.”

The Markstrom-Demko tandem, in fact, has been the foundation on which the Canucks have built their season. It’s difficult to know where, precisely, they rate among all goaltending duos around the NHL but one thing is certain: There are few teams that rely on their goalies to the extent the Canucks rely on Markstrom and Demko.

Markstrom’s season has been covered extensively in this space and others and he turned in another gem in San Jose on Wednesday night, stopping 38 of 40 shots in a 5-2 Canucks win.

Demko, meanwhile, has allowed three goals or fewer in 12 of his 16 starts, including nine when he allowed two or less. There have been a couple of stinkers in there, most notably an 8-6 loss in Pittsburgh when he surrendered seven, inflating his save percentage and goals against in the process. 1173952 Vancouver Canucks collarbone area. Whatever the injury, Motte returned to Vancouver and is being evaluated by the medical staff.

Antoine Roussel also missed Friday’s practice in Manhattan, but Green Comet Bailey gets Canucks' call to inject some banging, make his mark said it was just a “maintenance day” for the winger and that he expected him to play on the weekend against the Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes.

Patrick Johnston MacEwen skated in Roussel’s spot on left wing on the third line, with Adam Gaudette at centre and Brock Boeser on right wing. Bailey was the

extra forward, with Tim Schaller sliding into Motte’s spot on left wing on NEW YORK CITY — “Can we stop at the next gas station?” is a familiar the fourth line. Green said it was possible that Bailey could get into one cry for a driver of any vehicle to hear. Often it’s a kid asking a parent to of the games on the weekend. pull over because they need to use the bathroom. “Bailey, it’s good to get him up here and have a look at him in practice. In the case of Justin Bailey and Zack MacEwen on Thursday, it was He’s having a good year down there. Big guy, fast, we might see him on because they had just been called up by the Vancouver Canucks from the weekend as well. We’ll know more (Saturday),” Green said. the Utica Comets and the two forwards needed to jump off the team bus. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.01.2020 The Comets were just over an hour into a six-hour bus trip to Cleveland — the Canucks’ AHL players were en route to play the Monsters twice this weekend — when the two lanky forwards got the call that it was time to head back to the NHL.

The next available exit was not a gas station, but a rest stop just west of Syracuse, N.Y., where the players pulled their hockey gear and suitcases off the bus. Then they found an Uber to drive them back to Utica where they repacked and hopped into a car the Canucks had hired to take them to the Big Apple, a four-hour drive.

“Obviously that was a pretty decent call to get,” Bailey said with a smile Friday after his first regular-season practice with the Canucks at Chelsea Piers on the west side of Manhattan.

Bailey, who stands 6-foot-4 but is best known for his blazing speed, has been a key contributor to the Comets’ success this season, who at 25- 17-2-2 sit third in the AHL’s North Division. The team has scored 162 goals this season, the second-most in the AHL, and 24 of those goals have come off Bailey’s stick, tying him for the team lead with Reid Boucher.

Nine of those goals came via three hat tricks inside a week last month, the first of which came with Canucks GM Jim Benning in attendance. The scoring touch had a lot to do with good luck, Bailey said.

“It was a fun week that week with scoring a few hat tricks there … It was helping the team win and at the end of day that’s what I’m trying to do on a nightly basis,” he said.

“Obviously you want to be as detailed as you can when (Benning’s) around, but at the same time it was just another game. But I was happy that I was able to get a hat trick with him in the building, for sure.”

He has been called up by the Canucks this time not to be a scorer. He’ll be counted on to be a banger, an energy player on the fourth line. And he knows it. He’s played 63 games in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers during the past four seasons, scoring five goals in that span.

“For me it’s making sure that I’m doing the role that I’ve been brought here to do. I think in the past when I was a little bit younger, 20, 21, I went from being a guy in the minors that’s relied on to score a lot and was able to have a little bit of a bigger leash and then came up here and tried to do the same things.

“Coming up here at 24 from communicating with the coaching staff, you know, having a clear vision of what they want me to do and what things they expect from me on a nightly basis and just going out there and executing that.”

Bailey added: “You make adjustments. I think when I went to Philly, I think I played that fourth-line role pretty well and that was a team that was pushing for the playoffs. So, you know, making sure I’ve taken these experiences I’ve had over the last four years of pro and making sure that I’m dialled in, ready to go.”

Bailey and MacEwen were called up to the big club after Tyler Motte suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury during Thursday’s game in San Jose after being hit into the boards by Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson.

Motte left the ice in obvious discomfort. Canucks head coach Travis Green said he wasn’t dealing with a head injury but wouldn’t say anything beyond that. It appeared Motte may have damaged his shoulder or 1173953 Vancouver Canucks tell everyone what they were sometime soon. I don’t know when. But I love the city and I want to make sure everyone knows that.

“When I went public telling I wanted to be traded, I was still living in Canucks at 50: End of the road for Vancouver's Little Lost Rocket Vancouver remember. And people came up to me and every single person said, ‘Good luck wherever you go, we love you.’ Nobody was mad at me in person, although some people in the media try to make them mad. I had seven great years there and I want to thank everyone from Staff Reporter the bottom of my heart.”

Bure was so elated with the news he forgot he would be joining former Columnists Jim Taylor and Tony Gallagher weighed in on the exit of by- teammates Kirk McLean and Sean Burke with the Panthers. then disgruntled superstar Pavel Bure to the Florida Panthers in January “Oh yeah, he’s there,” said Bure of McLean. “Who’s the other goalie? 1999 Oh right, of course. It should be pretty good there. The travel is a big After a long holdout and many rumoured trades, disgruntled superstar thing for me. It will be a lot easier. They are in the same time zone as Pavel Bure was finally traded on Jan. 17, 1999. The circumstances of almost all of their games, up and down the coast. I’m looking forward to him leaving town are still resented by some Canucks fans to this day. it. Reaction at the time was that the Canucks didn’t get enough back in “I missed the game so much. I love to score so much, to play in front of return. the people and hear the cheers. They give me so much feeling when I Columnist Jim Taylor had a trademark take on the whole holdout/trade play. I have been practising, but playing in the games is the fun for me. I saga: am happy to be playing again.”

In the end, the Pavel Bure trade was like bad sex: much panting and Bure was so excited he didn’t much seem to care about the fact he will endless foreplay followed by “You finished?” almost certainly soon be signing a long-term contract which will pay him close to $50 million US over the five years following this one. With Vancouver Canuck fans, who’ve waited so long for some sort of climax, bonuses, that could like go much higher. It’s expected he will be paid there’ll be little doubt who got, uh, the worst of the deal. “just” $3 million US this shortened season. He was trying to get his mother a ticket to Calgary to stay with brother Valeri for a few days Essentially, it swaps one of hockey’s premier scorers for a tough, free- before she visits Miami. wheeling defenceman (Bure for Ed Jovanovski), shuffles bit players (defencemen Bret Hedican and junior Brad Ference to Florida; veteran “I guess after Calgary, maybe she’ll be ready for some warm weather.” centre Dave Gagner, junior winger Mike Brown, and goalie prospect Kevin Weekes to Vancouver) and swaps draft picks, Florida’s first-round With those words, the greatest player ever to have played for the for Vancouver’s third either this year or next, Florida’s option. Canucks, took his leave.

To people who bought their season tickets anticipating another year of Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.01.2020 the electrifying Bure, that’s not going to be nearly enough.

Thus ends, for now, the Tale of the Little Lost Rocket.

Pavel’s much-speculated secret reason for demanding a trade is out (he was upset because management never supported him when it was suggested that he’s threatened not to play in the playoffs), coach Mike Keenan has given the trade his blessing, and Canuck fans are now free to get back to criticizing the Mark Messier deal.

But fear not. This is Vancouver, where the other shoe doesn’t always drop but is always teetering on the tip of the heel. There will be another crisis on which the customers can chew.

Whether they liked it or not, they will find at least short-term relief in the Bure trade. Bad sex is better than no sex at all.

Tony Gallagher was the first to speak to Bure to get his reaction to the move, which to this day is somewhat cloaked in shadows and innuendo.

When Pavel Bure put down the telephone and told his mother Tanya he’d finally been traded, her emotions broke.

Truth be told, so did those of the Russian Rocket.

“My mom cried for a half an hour she was so happy,” said Bure from his apartment in Moscow after learning he was part of the biggest deal in the history of both the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers. “She cried because she said she was so happy for me. She said, ‘I knew it was the hardest time of your life even though you had been strong through everything. I was so worried about you and I knew you were worried.’

“And it was very tough to be sitting for five months like that. I really missed hockey.”

Mother and son headed to the local bar for a quick celebration hoist before Bure returned home for a short night, a result of his trek back to North America.

Bure was asked about his reasons for wanting to leave but he again chose the high road, even though it’s becoming abundantly clear GM Brian Burke merely scratched the surface when he volunteered his understanding of the Rocket’s reasons.

“I want to tell the people of Vancouver that I have nothing against the city or the people I know there. I have many friends and they will always be my friends. My problems were all with management and I will probably 1173954 Vancouver Canucks forecheck who forces turnovers and recovers loose pucks. He can use his skating, smart stick and physicality to wreak havoc and win battles.

Look at the explosiveness with which he’s able to hunt the puck back in a Self-critical and ‘rusty’ after knee surgery, how Antoine Roussel can give couple of clips from a game last year, for example. the Canucks a huge second-half boost Couple Roussel’s puck pursuit with his underrated knack for making plays in transition and you understand why he can be so effective at pushing and keeping possession in the offensive zone. By Harman Dayal Jan 31, 2020 9 By that same token, Roussel’s success in this area is dependent on his north-south speed game and with his knee not letting him hit that extra gear, it’s been a tough go in his first 23 games. Just two or three decades ago, an ACL tear could have represented a career-ending injury. Refinding that valuable trait could be critical down the stretch.

That isn’t the case any more thanks to remarkable developments in We don’t know, for instance, how long Loui Eriksson will be able to medical technology and rehabilitation, but the road to recovery remains a sustain his current level of play on Horvat’s line. If Eriksson’s form slips gruelling, arduous process. down the stretch, a peak Roussel would give Travis Green another viable option to throw alongside Horvat in a matchup role. Alternatively, if the Six to nine months is the normal timeline to get back to action following a fiery winger stays with Gaudette, he’d be a big help for a third-line that torn ACL, but the step from feeling healthy to playing your best hockey is hasn’t been feasting on the soft matchups like they ideally would be. a challenge that can span months after you’ve returned to the lineup. In any event, with each day that passes, Roussel’s knee is becoming and Ask Antoine Roussel who had knee surgery in late March, and he’ll tell more comfortable being pushed to the limit — something that directly you that playing games upon returning was significantly more difficult relates to how well he drives play at even-strength. If he can bounce than the eight months of rehab. back into being close to the player he was last year, it’d be a significant “The hardest part was starting to play again and playing my hard game,” boon in adding another middle-six quality forward to the Canucks’ talent Roussel told The Athletic on Tuesday. “It’s taking some time to get back pool. to a decent level. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 “I don’t think I’ve reached my level from last year yet.

“It takes time, I read guys like Corey Perry came back from surgery last year and said he felt like the whole year was tougher. I don’t think I’m in that trend, but it still feels like a build-up.”

From a surface level point of view, you could be convinced into believing that the rust hasn’t detrimentally affected his play. Roussel may not be repeating the 39-point pace he produced at in a career-year last season, but the five goals and eight points he’s registered through 23 games are almost identical to his career scoring rate.

Peel the layers of his performance back deeper, however, and it’s clear that the subtle ways in which he’s influenced his team’s even-strength control of games have eroded.

Ever since he’s emerged as a full-time NHL player, Roussel has shown the ability to tilt the ice in his team’s favour. As a Dallas Star, he finished each season with a shot and scoring chance share comfortably above 50 percent — his two-way presence is easily the most underappreciated part of his game. The 30-year-old French native established that same utility in a Canuck uniform last year. Of the seven forwards that played at least 100 minutes with Roussel in 2018-19, all but one saw a significant improvement in their ability to outshoot and out-chance the opposition.

The greatest beneficiary of Roussel’s two-way plaudits last season was Bo Horvat, who saw a huge boost in his performance whenever the 5- foot-11 winger joined his line.

Roussel’s uncharacteristically struggled in that department this season — the Canucks controlling just 45 percent of shot attempts and a paltry 38.1 percent of scoring chances. Expected to prop up Adam Gaudette who’s still got a ways to go in rounding out his 200-foot game, Roussel has instead hurt a third line that has been caved in its defensive zone and lost the territorial battle by a large margin.

“I had no legs for ten games,” Roussel said bluntly. “I was rusty, my pop wasn’t there and then you slowly get back there and I’m at game 22 now. So 12 games where I felt pretty decent, I’m just trying to build on that.”

Roussel’s self-assessment may sound very harsh, but there’s a lot of truth to his timeline. In the first 10 games he suited up for, Roussel controlled less than 40 percent of shot attempts and scoring chances. Since the ten-game mark, he owns the best shot attempt differential (49.4 percent share) of any forward not on Bo Horvat’s line and while his 42.5 percent expected goal share would suggest he’s still got a ways to go in driving quality chances, it represents a notable improvement nonetheless.

When you think about the strengths of Roussel’s game, it makes sense why his even-strength impact is so heavily contingent on the “pop” in his game. The fiery grinder succeeds as a tenacious disrupter on the 1173955 Vancouver Canucks In the minutes before warmups, players put on what remains of their gear. Your average beer leaguer would be astonished by how quickly some NHL players are able to gear up and down, like Superman in a phone booth. Inside the Canucks’ warmup rituals: From half moons to bathroom breaks in unison, players are creatures of habit Some get their equipment on relatively early. Some mill about in the tunnel, pumping up their teammates, and others just hang out in the room.

By Thomas Drance Jan 31, 2020 29 “I’m always sitting right before warmups,” said Elias Pettersson. “And when the time comes at 16:15 or so, I just sort of walk out. A lot of guys

are waiting in the hallway, or standing, but I’m just chilling.” The NHL is “the show,” and that’s intended literally. And if the player is one who customarily takes warmup skate without a Professional hockey is an entertainment product: a game is a live helmet, commonly referred to as “going no bucky,” he may even be in performance and everything backstage is tightly choreographed. There’s front of a mirror doing his hair. even an official run of show, called a time sheet. It’s drawn up by game “I have to touch up my hair, but just water,” said Pearson. “Guys who put presentation departments around the league and approved by the NHL, gel on are crazy. You start sweating and it gets in your eyes.” and it keeps the show flowing predictably for everyone from the team captain, to the head coach, to the colour commentator, to the mascot. “I might wet it, but I don’t put any product in it,” Tyler Myers added. “I know sometimes guys do, but I won’t name names.” And ruling over it all, dictating all of the moving parts on an NHL game day: a little red digital clock, embedded high on the wall of every dressing “I’m putting hair gel in my hair before warmups,” admitted Canucks room. forward J.T. Miller.

On a standard game day with a 7 p.m. puck drop, off-ice officials set that Among Vancouver’s skaters, it’s almost exclusively veteran players who clock to run for 60 minutes at 5:45 p.m., so that it hits 00:00 at exactly don’t wear helmets during warmups. Miller, Pearson, Edler, Horvat, 6:45 p.m — the precise moment the warmup skate ends. Stecher, Myers, Chris Tanev and Brandon Sutter are most likely to “go no bucky,” although some additional skaters may ditch the helmets for a The time on that little red digital clock is the same countdown fans see on game in their hometown. the Jumbotron and it’s displayed prominently in every dressing room. With 16 minutes remaining on the little red digital clock, the warmup According to some of those veteran players, the Canucks don’t have a skate begins. standard rule for who can and can’t take the warmup skate without a helmet. A younger guy “going no bucky” is more likely to hear about it, Because of muscle memory, superstition and a strict adherence to though. routine, you can be pretty sure where every player is — if you know their routines — and exactly what they’re doing in the leadup to the warmup “Maybe there is a rule,” Miller said, “but we don’t talk about it. Guys want skate based on what that little red clock reads. to go no bucket, I don’t give a shit. Guys are going to chirped for it, but that’s part of the game.” Pre-skate routines Still other veterans insist on wearing a helmet because, in their own “Everybody has a routine, every player,” said Canucks captain Bo words, they might otherwise be a genuine safety risk. Horvat. “So if a player tells you he’s not superstitious, he’s lying to you.” “I wear a helmet every time because I’m a hazard out there,” Beagle That routine can include two touch soccer. It can be a specific, well- said. “I’ve been called a hazard by many people in warmups, because I thought-out mix of activities designed to sharpen reflexes. It can be like to buzz around.” listening to music on headphones and stretching. It can be eating something, having the same exchange with a teammate, or even Among the players who hang out in the hallway early, meanwhile, there’s relieving themselves before putting on equipment. a variety of standard handshakes and routines. When Tim Schaller is in the lineup, for example, he and Adam Gaudette do a vertical version of That last one, hitting the toilet at a predictable moment in time on a game the Chandler and Joey cool guy handshake which is followed by day, is a pretty common theme, which makes sense when you consider Gaudette and Beagle doing a couple of shoulder checks. the gear involved. “We do a little handshake, and then he usually runs his shoulder into my “It’s always the same,” noted Canucks defenceman Troy Stecher. “Guys chin,” said Beagle of that particular tradition. “Gets me fired up.” are going to the bathroom at the exact same time. You go in the gym and it’s the same four guys in the gym every time, and they have different Heading out onto the ice routines, but they’re doing the exact same stretch. It’s kind of weird.” There is an order to all things in these pregame preparations, particularly Jay Beagle is one of those guys who takes a timed bathroom break, during the warmup skate itself, which can seems like a strange beast to immediately prior to going down the tunnel. onlookers.

“At 17:30 on the red clock, I’m taking a pee,” he said. “Almost every time. Some of that order is dictated by seniority. Some of it by superstition. Then coming back, I’ve got my helmet and my gloves and we go.” And some of by institutional memory, going back decades.

Another Canuck, who declined to be identified, shared his pregame ritual: Longtime Canucks defender Alexander Edler, for example, is responsible “After warmups I go take a leak and when I do, the same teammate is for watching the little red clock as it ticks down to 16:00 for the start of taking a shit. Every single time.” warmups. Shortly before it does, he’s responsible for calling out that it’s “time to go” to his teammates. As such, he’s the first skater onto the ice Whether the habits are born of superstition or routine depends on the for the warmup skate after the starting goaltender. player, but the goal is the same: get ready to be at peak performance for puck drop. Edler does this every game day when he’s healthy and in the lineup (if he’s out, the responsibility is assumed by Jake Virtanen), and it’s an “I’m a guy that thinks about it. I put a lot of preparation into my warmups,” institutional relic dating back to Kevin Bieksa, who is now retired. said Beagle. “I know exactly where I’m going to be at certain times, to make sure that I’m on schedule to get to where I want to be and feel the “Bieksa used to do it and he said, why don’t you do it,” Edler explained. best for the game.” “So I said, ‘OK’.”

Tanner Pearson has an unusual habit of getting in some pregame “I assigned Eagle to do it because I told him he needed a responsibility,” pushups. “I come into the room after soccer, probably around 6ish. Bieksa recalled to The Athletic via text message. “True story.” Roughly 44:00 on the red clock,” he said. “I just do 20 of them. It started last year. Patric Hornqvist did them, so I started doing them. You do so By the time Canucks skaters filter onto the ice, they do so in a very much stuff to get the legs going, so I do it to get the upper-body going, predictable order. Of late, while the team has been winning and relatively get the core engaged.” healthy and the lineup fixed, it’s tended to look like this in chronological order: starting goaltender, Edler, Virtanen, Myers, Roussel, Pearson, Miller, Tyler Motte, Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, Loui Eriksson, “Gauds and Millsy shoot kind of early, Petey shoots, and then Eddie,” Gaudette, Beagle, Oscar Fantenberg, Quinn Hughes, Tanev, Sutter, Bo Stecher told The Athletic back in November, while Motte was still out of Horvat and then the backup netminder. the lineup with injury.

Even in this, there’s a legacy of years gone, co-mingled with superstitious “That’s where my routine kicks off, I fire Eddie a bullet. Bennie, I throw habit, that shapes the order. him sauce. Virt and I do the same thing, we throw sauce to each other and catch it in our V-Triangle,” Stecher continued, mimicking holding his “I always go last coming out of the tunnel because when I started, I didn’t feet together at his heels, with his two feet jetting out so that they form a know where to go,” Horvat says. “So I just went last. V. “Then I sauce to Bo, who sometimes goes with the V, then I fire a “The older guys had the place where they went, so I just filled in where I bullet to Mysie. Then it’s a soft little muffin to Boes! could and that was last. So I just went last. I didn’t have any warmup “And then when I move sides I always set a puck up close to the net and duties, which is good. I hate picking pucks out of the net.” then I deke around it, I toe-drag around it and fire to Tanny. The last guy At the start of warmups and for the first couple of minutes players — is usually Sutts, but since he’s out right now it’s usually Beags. I slide it including goaltenders — just circle the ice surface getting a few shots in under his stick, and then I stretch and Virt takes over from there.” and perhaps sending teammates some backhand saucer passes. Even Some players want these passes from Stecher in a specific way, but in this, some players have a very specific routine they follow. some of them aren’t even aware of it. They’re just used to the passes he “I take three pucks from the right side, three pucks from the left side,” delivers. currently injured Canucks forward Josh Leivo told The Athletic back in “I know Stechie fires me a pretty hard pass,” Myers said of his spot in the late November. “Then I just mess around, pass and stuff. I shoot three half moon. “I might shoot one way or one spot, for a few games, then I and three, before I do anything else.” might change it up. I don’t worry too much about it.”

“First shot is high left, second shot I try go low post and in, third shot is While Myers doesn’t worry about it too much, Horvat does. In fact, after clapper,” said Tanner Pearson of his routine. playing around with the V-Triangle pass reception early on in the season, The half moon Horvat has become a convert. At the moment he never takes the pass from Stecher in the half moon without utilizing it. This freeform portion of warmups tends to last for a couple of minutes. Occasionally a skater will greet a former teammate or a friend at centre “I saw Jake do it, I don’t remember when I saw it,” Horvat says, “But he ice, while others get into their stretches in the neutral zone. By about the kept doing it and we kept winning, and then he stopped doing it and we 14-minute mark, Stecher goes and fishes the pucks out of the net for the lost. Then I started doing it and I don’t know, I’ve kind of kept going with first time in the warmup skate, and once he’s finished the starting it. Stech, I think, once gave me a shit pass and I kind of had to do it and goaltender takes the net to take a few shots and feel the puck. then we won. So I had to keep doing it no matter how good or bad the pass was.” On every NHL team, there’s a designated player who picks pucks out of the net during the warmup skate. This player functions like a waiter Horvat’s also absolutely committed to taking the exact same shot every during the half moon, and essentially goes to clear pucks out of the net time. every couple of minutes during warmups. “I always shoot blocker on the half moon,” Horvat says. “100 percent of In Vancouver, it’s Stecher who does the digging. It’s a job that fell to him the time. Always, always, always.” when the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, assigned him to do it after “I know Bo is going to shoot blocker side and it’s going to be a blocker Alexandre Burrows was traded to the Ottawa Senators midway through save, and I’m already over there on that side so I have to get away from the 2016-17 season. Prior to Burrows, Matt Cooke held down the job, the rebound,” Stecher says. “It’s crazy, the routine is something you and Burrows fell into it for a similar reason — he was young when the could do in your sleep.” position was vacated, and someone had to do it. Winding down Stecher doesn’t mind the assignment. In fact, he takes pride in doing it well. As the warmup winds down, a few players take power laps in the neutral zone. Other players send sauce to one another from either side of the “My first couple of games my teammates were like, ‘Let’s go!’ ‘Let’s go!’ ice. Lately, Virtanen and Roussel have been setting each other up for five and I didn’t know how to time it,” Stecher said, laughing as he recalled one-timers from either face-off dot. Beagle — every game — always the work he put into mastering his technique — which includes flattening does a bench spray, which involves a significant hockey stop that he his stick to get pucks out in bunches early in the warmup skate, and later directs at the Canucks bench. It commonly serves to give a hefty snow passing 3-4 pucks out of the net at a time. shower to camera people and Canucks team staff.

The Richmond, B.C. native legitimately put study time into working on his It’s at the point where Beagle noticed the other day when no one got technique, watching how other guys in the league did it and mastering his caught in the spray: craft. NOBODY TO SPRAY. POOR BEAGLE. “I go flat stick and put them all in one big group,” Stecher said. “I think it’s PIC.TWITTER.COM/TANF30XUXB way more efficient.” — VANCOUVER #CANUCKS (@CANUCKS) JANUARY 15, 2020 About a third of the way into the warmup skate, the Canucks — and all NHL teams — line up in the neutral zone and perform line rushes. This is “I sprayed the one guy really bad last game,” said Beagle, laughing as he a very basic pregame drill, a mock rush of sorts that players go through recalled an incident in early December. “I think he was a camera guy for alongside their defence partner or linemates. It typically lasts for two or Sportsnet. I’ve done it every game for 13 years and I’ve never felt bad, two-and-a-half minutes after which Stecher clears the net of pucks again but I did that time.” and the players line up — in a very specific order — for the half moon. And in all of this, of course, Canucks players will look for kids and fans in The half moon, or horseshoe, is so-called because of how the players the crowd to give souvenir pucks to. line up in an inverted U shape along the blue line, while Stecher (and then Virtanen) feed shooters the puck. Skaters take turns skating in and “If I see a sign that says something about me, I try to give that person or unleashing a shot on the starting goaltender, who tends to take at least kid a puck,” Pettersson said. “Some games there’s been a lot of signs, so five shots — though Jacob Markstrom will sometimes take eight or so. I can’t give them all a puck, but I always really appreciate it.”

Currently, Gaudette shoots first, then Motte. Miller goes third and always “I like to watch the crowd and say hello to any people I may know, and takes a slap shot. Pettersson is the fourth shooter. some people I don’t even know!” said Roussel.

“I always shoot it high glove,” Pettersson said. “I always try to aim for the Horvat has a set routine even for this. He always gives away three pucks goalie’s glove get them some reps.” to Canucks fans. No more, no less. And it seems he chooses which fans will get the pucks not based on signs or Horvat jerseys, but based on After Pettersson, it’s Edler. And this is where Stecher’s work as a pass their location around the glass. waiter in the half moon gets really detailed. “I always put three pucks over the glass to the fans, in certain spot,” Horvat says. “Not to certain fans, but I pick my three spots where I throw them and that’s where I throw them. I try to stick to my same routine.”

GOOD GUY BO HORVAT JUST WANTED TO GIVE THIS @CANUCKS FAN A PUCK, BUT THE NETTING IN PHILLY WASN'T MAKING IT EASY FOR HIM. PIC.TWITTER.COM/NMBLHST4FD

— SPORTSNET (@SPORTSNET) NOVEMBER 26, 2019

With a couple of minutes remaining in warmups, Canucks skaters and the backup goaltender play a final game called “Last Puck” or “Final Puck” or “Two Minute Drill” depending on the player or the team in question. The game starts when Edler sends a bullet pass to Stecher in the neutral zone.

“I end up getting last puck, where you’ll see Eddie fire it all the way to the red line and we’ll play last puck.”

The game pits an unlimited number of skaters versus the backup goalie, as Stecher takes a long distance shot from the neutral zone, which is usually saved, and then Canucks teammates crowd the goaltender and try to score from point blank range with jam plays, shots off of rebounds and other short-range shot types. Miller recently tried to score with a Michigan lacrosse move. The game doesn’t end until the puck is in the back of the net.

Finally, the clock winds down to 00:00, the buzzer sounds, and the teams clear the ice. Prior to his injury, Leivo was always the last Canucks skater to leave the ice at the end of the warm-up skate. He’d stay out and set up three pucks by the Canucks bench, then try to bank pucks off of the far boards and into the net.

As with most things in the warmup, it worked once, and it just kind of stuck.

“It was last year, I focused on banking the puck into the net at the end of warmups and I scored after,” Leivo explained. “So that’s what I do now and I’m sticking with it.”

With warmup skate ended, the little red digital clock resets to 15:00 and counts down for the start of the show — which begins with the anthems, and not with puck drop itself — and Canucks players get back into the room and focus up for the game. It’s at this point that the coaching staff will enter for a final chat and to read out the starting lineup (a task that differs from team to team, but is often outsourced to players or special guests).

Canucks head coach Travis Green isn’t typically on the bench during the warmup skate. He’s often in his office working, or having a coffee, or having a final strategic chat with his assistant coaches.

On some higher leverage game days, or in some more historic arena, he’ll poke his head out and step onto the bench to get a feel for the atmosphere prior to the contest.

While players stick with a very specific routine pre-game, it’s notable that Green doesn’t remember what he used to do as a player. It’s all a haze to him now, even as he remembers that he was very rigid about doing the same thing every game.

He also went “no bucky.” It would’ve been a waste not to, what with the mullet he sported early on in his playing days.

“Wearing a helmet over that, it would’ve been a fine,” the Canucks bench boss joked.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173956 Vancouver Canucks Podkolzin, who played just a few shifts a night early on in the KHL season, has begun to make the most of increased opportunity of late, with points in three straight games while I write this. His game has always flashed a lot of pro qualities. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s Wheeler’s 2020 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 13 Vancouver Canucks powerful, he’s strong on pucks, he plays on the inside, he’s a pain in the ass, he doesn’t give up on plays and he’s got great hands. My concern

with his game has always been about his ability to slow the game down By Scott Wheeler Jan 31, 2020 59 and process it. If he needs to beat a defender one-on-one, he often can. If he needs to fight his way to the net, he often can. If there’s an available passing lane to an obvious target, he’s talented enough to execute through seams. But he lacks an on-ice awareness, which contributes to a Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2020 rankings of every NHL organization’s style of play that revolves around doing the first thing he sees, rather prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on than opening up his sightlines to assess the zone and utilize his the criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 31 to No. 1. The linemates. As a result, I often feel like he looks like he’s doing more than series, which includes evaluations and commentary from coaches and he actually is. It makes him a bit of a weird prospect. Most top players staff on more than 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11. have that inherent sense to their game but need to develop their skills to This ranking is probably one of the stronger departures from the a pro level. He has the skill and I’m not sure you can teach the rest, consensus throughout the series. That’s true both in where the Canucks though experience will certainly help. I have little doubt he’s going to be a are ranked as a farm system overall (some would likely have them a few useful NHLer, my worry is just that he may not become a line-driving spots higher) and in the way their individual prospects are ranked (more offensive threat and that’s what you want at 10th overall. His skating, on that below). while powerful, also splays from the knees and needs some tweaking.

As a whole, the Canucks have proven to be one of the better drafting 3. Tyler Madden, C, 20 (Northeastern University) teams in recent memory. They’ve knocked a lot of top picks out of the Madden is another in a long line of Canucks success stories in the last park and they’ve mined lower rounds for talent and upside, hitting on few years. He has shown, despite lacking size, strength and a pull-away several players. gear to his straightaway stride, that skill can solve a lot of those While I’m higher than a lot of evaluators are on many of the Canucks’ top concerns. Northeastern, who’d just dealt with a similar player in prospects, I’m lower than most on the player most perceive as the Blackhawks forward Dylan Sikura, have proven they can help those organization’s top prospect. Due to the recent graduations of Quinn players succeed in a heavy college hockey game, too. This year, Hughes, Adam Gaudette and Thatcher Demko, the pool has also begun Madden has built on his slick puck skills and superb cross-ice vision to to thin out a bit — something that’s worth keeping an eye on seeing as add a goal scoring element to his game, taking him from one of college they will also likely make the playoffs this year and lose their first-round hockey’s best freshmen to one of college hockey’s best players. When pick in 2020 in the process. he’s got the puck, he’s capable of making plays out of nothing, whether that’s with a creative pass through traffic, a dangle in tight or his ability to Still, the Canucks boast one of the deeper prospect pools in the NHL, lose bigger defenders with a quick cut. He will face some challenges with intrigue at all three forward positions (though they certainly have less along the wall at the college level — and might be asked to play the wing depth at centre than they do on the wing), some interesting D prospects — but he can run a power play and make things happen at even and an intriguing goalie prospect. As I mentioned in Tuesday’s look at the strength, both of which I suspect will translate. And though I wouldn’t say 16th-ranked Sabres prospect pool, the group of teams from No. 16 to No. he’s a dominant defensive player, Madden’s versatile enough to be 6 in the series are all tight. If all of the Canucks’ top three prospects pan trusted in all situations. out, their outcomes will look more favourable than 13th in a few years. 4. Olli Juolevi, LHD, 21 (Utica Comets) 1. Nils Höglander, LW, 19 (Rögle BK) You’ve probably heard me say — or write — this before but I really do If you’ve followed my work, this probably doesn’t come as a huge believe Juolevi has NHL games under his belt by now were it not for the surprise to you. When I released my final ranking for the 2019 draft last knee injury. He’s not athletic enough to lose forecheckers with his speed May, Vasili Podkolzin landed at No. 17 and Hoglander ranked just one or dynamic enough to score many goals from the point but Juolevi is spot back at No. 18. A month later, I believed one was a bit of a reach unfazed by pressure when he has the puck and he’s an excellent outlet and the other was a bit of a steal. But they’ve always been close for me. passer, both of which are assets for most of the game’s modern puck- And while Podkolzin is five months younger than Hoglander, I would moving defencemen. He can also make high-to-low plays in the offensive argue the latter has had a better year relative to their respective ages. zone or slide down the wall to fire a pass east-to-west for a backdoor That was certainly true at the world juniors (though that’s not to say play. Though he’s not an overly physical defender for his size, Juolevi Podkolzin didn’t have a good tournament because he did) and it’s true also does a nice job gapping up with smooth footwork, disrupting passing with their club teams, where Hoglander has more consistently made lanes with his instincts and outsmarting opposing players along the wall. I plays at the pro level. Hoglander’s puck skills, playmaking ability and still think he may become a contributing second-pairing defenceman. touch around the slot are the first things that leap out (besides, maybe, that he’s a little small). I’m most impressed with his footwork, though. 5. Kole Lind, RW, 21 (Utica Comets) Hoglander does a brilliant job changing pace to slow down, bait Last year, as Lind struggled as an AHL rookie, I told a number of diehard defenders and then burst back into stride to pass them. He’s also Canucks fans in my life to be patient. Part of that was a belief in his tools, explosive in and out of his edges, which helps him stop and start to lose part of it was probably me not wanting to give up on a player I have been opposing players and create some separation. high on since his draft year. But Lind has begun to make true on his Watch here the way a stop-up forces the defender into a blow-by, giving talent level this season. He has always had a dangerous shot in tight Hoglander the opportunity to get set for his shot: (he’s not the kind of player who’s so gifted that he’s going to overpower goalies from a distance but he’s a natural scorer who still has more to Or watch here, the way Hoglander opens up his right foot to carve to a show there). This year, though, we’re seeing some other elements of his better angle and drag the puck into his lead heel: game take steps. In my viewings, I’ve been impressed with how engaged Or watch how Hoglander’s ability to rely on his edges and remain he is in board battles, something that was a strength of his game at the balanced helps him create a second opportunity off his own rebound, junior level but faded a bit last year when he looked unusually timid. Lind here: is at his best when he’s playing an honest, north-south game. He’s not going to light up the highlight reel but he can make plays through holes, Hoglander is proof you don’t have to be the fastest player on the ice to be he’s a fast skater and he doesn’t really lack any one offensive quality. I one of the best skaters. I would like to see a little more discipline in his still think he’s the kind of player who projects to slide up and down an game (with and without the puck) but he’s stronger than you expect a 5- NHL lineup, capable of playing a depth role on a good team or supporting foot-9 winger to be and all of the offensive tools are there. He’s got what higher in the lineup as more of a complementary piece. it takes to be a low-end 1LW or a high-end 2LW. 6. Jack Rathbone, LHD, 20 (Harvard University) 2. Vasili Podkolzin, RW/LW, 18 (SKA St. Petersburg) After a strong freshman year at Harvard, Rathbone has continued to show real promise as a sophomore. There have never been concerns with his talent level or his skating, both of which look easy for him on the Brisebois has intrigued me dating back to his draft year in 2015 when I ice. Rathbone’s one of the smoother defenders in the NCAA, using four- was with McKeen’s Hockey as a bit of a case study in what a modern way mobility to escape pressure, create for himself or his teammates shutdown defenceman might look like. Though he’s not huge, he plays from the point or shake past opposing players through the neutral zone. the way I want a quote-unquote safe player to play. His idea of safe is a And while he’s definitely on the smaller end for an NHL defenceman, I quick head-man pass, instead of a chip off the glass or a shot through don’t think it’s going to be a major obstacle. He defends well with his feet, traffic instead of a ring around the boards. He makes smart plays that sticking with opposing puck carriers down the ice or winning races to produce a result, instead of those that just get the puck out or in. He’s loose pucks along the wall before he ever has to engage physically. Due also a good skater for his size, which helps him snuff out plays in the to his size, he’s not going to be the kind of player who jumps straight neutral zone, gap up against fast skaters or pivot back on dumps without from the NCAA to the NHL following a monster junior or senior year. Just getting caught flatfooted. He’s probably not going to play higher than the don’t be surprised if he becomes an impact guy at the AHL level and third pairing at the next level but he can be relied upon in tough minutes gives the Canucks no choice but to audition him. Though size is still more and I think he’s just talented enough to potentially progress. of a roadblock for defenders than it is for forwards and some teams don’t want to have too many little guys on their back end, preventing 11. William Lockwood, RW, 21 (University of Michigan) opportunities from worthy players in the process, that’s not at the front of Lockwood was a good junior who became a good college player. Today, my mind when I evaluate a player. Rathbone’s good. he’s probably a cut above good college player while also serving as 7. Jett Woo, RHD, 19 (Calgary Hitmen) captain in his senior year. He has always been a well-rounded two-way winger who can finish off plays, hang onto the puck as a carrier when he After a slow start, Woo has looked more and more like the player who needs to and play with pace. He’s a little on the smaller end, though, and dominated the WHL and earned an entry-level contract last year. I he hasn’t progressed quite like you’d probably hope offensively, which wouldn’t worry too much about the dip in his production. Some of that is limits his upside. I could see him becoming a very good AHL player who driven by a trade to a less talented team. Some of it is driven by the fact is a little bit of a tweener. The good news is that he’s got the versatility that he has spent most of the season playing behind Flyers prospect you want in a depth player, so he’s not a top-six or bust type. Egor Zamula in offensive situations. Woo is a throwback, playing a physical, simple brand of hockey that makes him hard to play against. 12. Arvid Costmar, C, 18 (Linköping HC) He’s also an elite athlete, which means when he hits, it hurts (it also I watched Linköping’s junior team play a fair amount last season but I means he’s a powerful skater). While it means his coaches have to live always came away more impressed by Costmar’s teammate, Nikola with the odd penalty, they’re usually OK with it because he brings an Pasic, than I did by him. Costmar was physical, he played hard in his element most teams covet — and many lack. Woo’s probably not going own zone and he showed flashes of some impressive skills but he never to play at the top of an NHL lineup, nor will he likely run a power play really took over a game. So his dominance at the SuperElit level this year unit, but he can play tough minutes at even strength, move the puck up has surprised me a little, even if it hasn’t translated at either pro level. ice with leading passes and penalty kill. He’s also just a good, hard- Costmar looked unstoppable in one recent viewing with the junior team working player. I’m a fan. and he has a July birthday so he could just be playing catch-up. Costmar 8. Petrus Palmu, LW, 22 (JYP) has more talent than I gave him credit for, I think. When he plays fast, he can make a lot of plays as both a scorer and a passer. He’s not going to Palmu is tiny. Maybe even too tiny to play in the NHL no matter how be a primary carrier on a line, per se, but he’s got some versatility to his talented he is. But his tininess also helps him have skills that few NHL game. players have. It helps him sneak past hits and side-step defenders as a carrier, a skill that he uses equally well off both wings. Watch the way he 13. Aidan McDonough, LW, 20 (Northeastern University) spins to the inside on his edges, using a sharp radius to cut to the middle I often worry about players who don’t join their programs as true off the right wing: freshmen because if they stumble out of the gate or get a coach who Now take note of the way he almost jumps to the inside to blow past leans heavily on veterans, it can mean that they don’t work their way into another pinching defender on the left wing here: more prominent roles until they’re 23 or 24. If you want to remain a legitimate prospect and you’re going to enter college at 20 instead of 18, Smaller players also have a stickhandling and coordination advantage you have to show that you look more like a sophomore or a junior than a because they’re lower to the puck, offering them more control. That’s at freshman. Otherwise, it’s hard to climb out of it. Nobody wants to start play in small areas, where Palmu excels at using his feet to kick pucks to their pro career at 24. In a way, it can put more pressure on someone like his stick and quickly make a play: McDonough, who needed to grow into his 6-foot-3 frame after a huge growth spurt. It took him time to remodel his game and build confidence While bigger players can leverage their length to generate torque on their with the puck again. He has looked good this season, though, playing at sticks, smaller players tend to use their shorts sticks to lean off one foot a point per game pace while chipping in offensively in a variety of ways. without throwing themselves off balance in their range of motion through He’s not all that physical for his size but he can make plays off the rush their shot: and he’s got a decent top speed (his first couple of steps need some If Palmu lacked any of these skills, he wouldn’t be on a list like this. But work). Keep an eye on him. he doesn’t. He has what you’d hope a player his size has. He thinks the 14. Linus Karlsson, C/RW, 20 (BIK Karlskoga) game one step ahead as a passer, even when chances on net for himself are there: After an uninspiring post-draft season and a trade from the Sharks to the Canucks for Jonathan Dahlen (a much better player, in my opinion), He executes tape-to-tape saucer passes most players don’t: Karlsson has put together a nice follow-up campaign as an impact player Does that mean he’s a lock to play in the NHL? Of course not. But I do in the second tier Allsvenskan. He’s got a dangerous shot (wrister and think he has a lot more to show than he did in the AHL last season one-timer), his playmaking has improved and he has always played a (and/or than he was given the opportunity to …). well-rounded, net-driven game in the middle of the ice. I would want to see him continue to contribute at a higher pro level before getting too 9. Michael DiPietro, G, 20 (Utica Comets) excited, plus his skating is average, but coaches love him and he’s got decent skill. I debated having DiPietro lower on this list after subpar play with the Ottawa 67’s spilled into a mediocre start to his AHL career (though he Here’s that shot I was talking about (I know his 10 goals in 40 games was decent during Ottawa’s playoff run). That, coupled with DiPietro’s 6- doesn’t leap out but that’s good for a 20-year-old and he can pound it): foot frame, is enough to at least raise some questions. But he’s also young, the Comets don’t do a great job protecting their goalies from high 15. Jonah Gadjovich, LW, 21 (Utica Comets) danger chances (at least not this year) and he’s got a lot of tools, led by Speaking of players who are kind of slow, can rip it and endear rare athletic ability, that help him make tough post-to-post saves or go themselves to coaches by playing on the inside. I like a lot of what low-to-high to challenge shooters. I’ve seen some saveable pucks sneak Gadjovich brings. He’s got some pro qualities, he’s tough to knock off the through DiPietro this season but I’m willing to give him a pass on puck and I think he has more offence than we’ve seen to date. pedestrian play this season given it’s his first full year at the pro level and he’s got an extended track record of solid play. 16. Toni Utunen, LHD, 19 (Tappara)

10. Guillaume Brisebois, LHD, 22 (Utica Comets) Think Brisebois, but younger and smaller. Utunen’s a bit of a weird prospect because he doesn’t have very many high-end skills and he’s a 5-foot-11 defenceman. He has always played up an age group (or two) and excelled, though, because he’s an excellent defender who makes the first right play almost every time he has the puck — and often when he doesn’t. Can you defend your way into the NHL while making very few plays from the blue line in, at his size? It’ll be tough. He’s worth a mention, though.

17. Carson Focht, C, 19 (Calgary Hitmen)

Focht’s got pro size, he does a great job winning back pucks with his length and his body positioning and he’s got a powerful shot with a quick release. All of those things make him really effective at the junior level. He doesn’t have one quality that really flashes, though, so his upside is probably limited even if his puck skills continue to develop.

18. Ethan Keppen, LW, 18 (Flint Firebirds)

Being big and strong with an NHL shot normally gets players an opportunity to play pro but this has been a disappointing season for Keppen, who showed some power forward qualities last year without a lot of help around him.

Artyom Manukyan, RW, 21 (Avangard Omsk)

Manukyan is one of the smallest players in pro hockey but he oozes skill and I don’t think anybody would be surprised if he worked his way into the NHL later in his career (I’m talking mid-to-late 20s) after slowly beginning to dominate in the KHL. I would normally have him higher on this list but he just returned from a five-month layoff with a hand injury so I want to watch him play and update my notes before I give him a definitive ranking. Consider him an honourable mention for now. He’s one of the more fun young Russians right now and was a terror in the MHL.

The Tiers

Each of my prospect pool rankings will be broken down into team-specific tiers in order to give you a better sense of the talent proximity from one player to the next (a gap which is sometimes minute and in other cases quite pronounced).

The first thing you’ll notice about the Canucks prospect tiers is that there’s no clear standalone tier at the top, which there is for almost (almost) every other organization. In fact, they’re actually the only one of the 31 teams with three players in that top tier. That’s a good thing in that it speaks to organizational depth. It’s a bad thing in that it also highlights that I’m a little unsure about Podkolzin, because there’s some risk in the projections of Hoglander and Madden to the next level too. After that it’s pretty straightforward, with Juolevi a slight cut above three other players who I think have real NHL upside (not the tweener kind that follows them).

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173957 Websites board. Not for nothing, but Couturier was the PHWA’s midseason Selke favorite.

We started with the Blues, and St. Louis is a powerful reminder that goal The Athletic / Willis: Which first lines are the most (and least) productive? results are sometimes fickle. One handy tool for spotting unstable situations (for good or bad) is expected goals. A year ago, expected goals would not have told us that Tarasenko and Co. were about to start dominating the league, but would have told us that their wretched on-ice By Jonathan Willis Jan 31, 2020 27 goal share (just 36 percent) was an aberration and that on merit they should have been just over 50 percent.

Not many readers need to be convinced that the performance of a team’s What about this year? We’ll keep teams in order of their actual goal best players goes much of the way to determining that team’s success or difference, but replace the numbers with expected metrics instead. failure. For anyone wondering, last season’s Blues are instructive. One drawback to using an expected goal model is that it cannot The dramatic midseason turnaround of the Blues’ top line, the worst in incorporate puck movement, which matters a lot and especially so when the NHL in mid-December, is a fascinating element in their fantastic looking at skaters playing with and often against the league’s best 2018-19 redemption arc. A lot changed along the way, including the head playmakers. Unsurprisingly, it errs on the conservative side with NHL top coach and starting goalie. Against that backdrop, the shifting lines. performance of the stable first line was as big a factor. While it shouldn’t be taken as gospel, it is a useful sanity check. When The Athletic’s Tyler Dellow, now an executive with New Jersey, For instance, if we apply some common sense to the Rangers, we’re not wrote about NHL top lines in December 2018, he found that Pittsburgh’s surprised by this massive disparity. Panarin is, admittedly, a ridiculous first line was the class of the league, outscoring the opposition by two talent. New York wouldn’t have spent $11.6-million annually on him goals per hour. At the other end, St. Louis’s top line was the only top unit otherwise. Yet his most common linemates this year have been the getting blown out of the water by more than a full goal per hour. competent Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast, both quality players but (with From the moment Dellow wrote that article until the end of the year, the respect) not elite NHLers. He also spent a ridiculous 100 minutes with Blues’ top line would average 1.75 goals per hour more than its Filip Chytil, too, in which the duo outscored the opposition 10-2. opponents. It’s fantastic that the results have been so good so far. It’s unexpected, It’s a testament to how important a team’s top players are, which is why particularly given the youth New York is working into its lineup and the we’re going to borrow some of Dellow’s methodology and take a look at time missed by Mika Zibanejad, and it probably won’t last. first lines around the league today. He studied the results when each New York has the biggest gap between expected and actual results, but club’s most-used forward in each game was on the ice; since the identity for the most part, good teams are good and poor teams are poor. One of that forward rarely changed from game-to-game we’ll just use on-ice expects that: goal results might be fickle but they aren’t manufactured results for the most-used forward over the course of the entire season from whole cloth. (the one exception is New Jersey, where Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac were neck-and-neck, but Hischier was selected because he represents In 26 of 31 cases, expected goals think these lines should be scoring the more appropriate choice). less than they are, which is roughly what we’d expect given the limitations of the model. What’s interesting are the five other cases, It’s important to note that this remains a team, rather than an individual where even the arch-conservative model looks at these lines and player, number. The best players play with the best players (and often wonders why they aren’t driving more offense. Most are near the bottom against their equivalents). We’re using one player to provide a capsule of the list by goal difference as a result. summary of the top end of each franchise. Nashville is known more for its defensive prowess than its firepower, but Here are the results as of the start of action Thursday. The 10-best NHL the Predators have underwhelmed this year and the inability of the Matt teams by points percentage are marked in red. Duchene line to score is part of the reason. They’re the worst line by This look ignores special teams entirely and focuses on just 5-on-5 play. actual results that expected goals really likes; provided Nashville doesn’t Initially, we can see how important it is, given that seven of the 10 best ship out a bunch of talent at the deadline a resurgence is a reasonable teams are getting above-average performances from their top lines. Six expectation. of those seven are outscoring at a truly elite rate. Dallas and Arizona, the two units averaging less than two goals per hour, Elite talent is undeniably part of the equation. The players used as both have good cases for a bump. We’ve covered the Coyotes but anchor points at the top end of the chart include Artemi Panarin, Brayden there’s really no reason for a unit centered by Tyler Seguin (and more Point (on a line with Nikita Kucherov), David Pastrnak (with the famous often than not featuring Jamie Benn and Alex Radulov) to be struggling Patrice Bergeron/Brad Marchand duo), Sean Couturier, Nathan this badly to score, even accepting that the Stars play a conservative MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and J.T. Miller (technically used more than brand of hockey. regular center Elias Pettersson). Anaheim and Calgary are the other two, and a superficial look suggests Washington’s nominal first unit starring Alex Ovechkin (usually in there’s a good case for both to score more. Gaudreau and Monahan are combination with Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson) is the only one proven talents having uncharacteristically poor campaigns; without among the game’s best teams getting outscored by the opposition. The knowing anything else we’d expect them to rebound. The Ducks are team’s success despite this is made possible by ridiculous balance: more debatable, with top forward Ryan Getzlaf now 34 and a lot of lineup Wilson and Ovechkin are the only two regular forwards on the team to be fluctuation, but it’s not a group that seems worst-in-the-league bad. on the ice for more goals against than goals for. The second, third and Mostly though what we see is that the best lines also have superior fourth lines have all been extremely successful, something which was expected results, and the worst lines also have inferior expected results. also largely true (though also with much better first-line support) during The exceptions are interesting, and since expected goals is mostly a the team’s 2018 playoff run. result of shot volume (there is a shot quality element, but it only really Arizona and Calgary jump off the page, too. The Coyotes already made warps the picture at the edges) it’s worth looking at the underlying one major investment in trading for Taylor Hall, while the Flames are shooting and save percentages. rumored to be looking for an impact forward. It’s easy to understand why: The average shooting percentage for these units is 9.4 percent, which both teams are in the thick of a divisional title race despite mediocre underscores how crazy New York’s performance has been. results from their most-used forwards (Johnny Gaudreau, usually with Sean Monahan, in Calgary; Derek Stepan with a mixed bag of wings in Ordinarily, I’d poke holes in Tampa Bay here too, but the Lightning make the desert). Hall, an elite 5-on-5 talent, is a reasonable attempt at fixing it tough. As much as their top-line numbers are probably a little the problem and it’s the Coyotes’ rotten luck that as he stepped in the exaggerated, this is the third consecutive season that Kucherov’s on-ice door, their starting goalie got hurt. shooting percentage is in double digits. Looking at the talent on the roster, it’s defensible to argue that this is an above-average shooting The Flyers’ first line, led by Couturier, doesn’t drive goals for at an elite first-line rate, but it has the best defensive numbers of any club on this group even by NHL first-line standards, and that seems to be borne out Edmonton’s hard to figure because McDavid’s on-ice shooting by recent history. percentage is habitually high, but right now he’s playing with Zack Kassian and James Neal so it might drop, and the goalies behind him are Boston and Philadelphia both have great on-ice save percentages; given not sure bets to fix that save percentage. the goalies involved I buy it more for the Bruins than the Flyers but even if the numbers move downward, both should still be above-average in Winnipeg’s expected goal rates are awful. The defensive corps looks bad terms of preventing goals against. on paper and has fared poorly in actuality. So far the top line has survived by finishing at an elite rate, but as much as it’s a talented group, I haven’t really talked about the Leafs yet, and a Canadian hockey writer a dip should be expected. Goals are going in 40 percent more than they bypasses Toronto at his peril, so let’s just take a moment and did last year with top-line center Mark Scheifele on the ice. If that dries acknowledge how reasonable the numbers underpinning the Matthews up, the Jets will fall rapidly. line have been. I’m not sure I buy that save percentage given the ongoing drama in the Maple Leafs’ net, but it’s in the range of acceptable The Stars’ sub-six percent finishing rate is incredible, especially since and the shooting percentage is a mirror image of last season and below Seguin’s worst on-ice shooting percentage in the last eight years was 8.4 what it was two years ago. They’re very good at the top end, though that percent. There’s too much talent there for that not to come around, and isn’t really a surprise. Nashville, Calgary and Arizona (post-Hall trade) are all reasonable bets to improve as well. Pittsburgh and Montreal are notable for different reasons. Washington will undoubtedly turn to Ilya Samsonov (.937 5-on-5 save The Pens have been absolutely beset by injury, with a list of ailments this percentage) at some point if Braden Holtby (.904 5-on-5 save season guaranteed to reduce a general manager or head coach to tears. percentage) can’t figure things out. The Capitals have some margin for It hasn’t mattered: whichever of their star players are in the lineup on any error and Holtby has a good history, so their patience in this regard is given day are getting the job done. Jake Guentzel, now out for the understandable but presumably not infinite. season, was our anchor player for these numbers and the lone skater in our sample to have played fewer than 88 percent of his team’s contests, Most of the league’s also-rans land on the bottom of this list, either due to but there wasn’t much choice in the matter: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni a lack of elite players at the upper ends of their forward and defensive Malkin have missed even more time. depth charts or owing to lousy goaltending. The latter is a lot easier to fix than the former given the nature of the goalie position. The Habs looked great last season by shot metrics, but had pretty lousy percentages, producing results that suggested they were a run-of-the-mill For a team without high-end talent, sometimes the only answer is a first line. It’s the same trio getting most of these minutes this year as last prolonged rebuild, as much as that should be avoided if possible. year, and it’s worth quoting what Dellow wrote then: Colorado, Toronto and Vancouver are all good examples of teams that have struggled in recent years, drafted high and mostly well, and now Montreal probably deserves some special mention here, given how well have top-end players that can go head-to-head with virtually anyone. their first line has done from a possession perspective. As we’ll see, the percentages aren’t quite as kind. As a result, the possession dominance The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 doesn’t really turn into goal dominance. That’s the sort of thing that will happen when your most commonly used forward is Phillip Danault and he plays with Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher most of the time. You’re bringing a knife to a gunfight …

What I like about where the Canadiens are right now is that they’ve built an inexpensive middling team … Given changes to the league’s lottery over the years, which makes tanking less of a sure thing, trying to build a good team that leaves a bunch of money on the table so that it can go after high-end talent if and when it shakes loose doesn’t seem entirely nuts.

The second paragraph is notable because the Canadiens tried to take that advice last summer. Montreal was connected via rumor to practically every big-name free agent, whether restricted or unrestricted and actually signed Carolina’s Sebastian Aho to an offer sheet. None of it worked and the execution of the offer sheet left much to be desired, but the strategy was plain.

What’s cool this year is watching the same basic dynamic play out with this group again. That’s an underrated trio and they do a good job of driving the puck into the right end of the rink. The percentages haven’t been great but they haven’t been awful either, and the unit has been one of the league’s more effective first lines. Tatar has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate by colleagues Pierre Lebrun and Arpon Basu and would presumably command a lot in exchange.

In Buffalo, Jack Eichel’s never finished a season with an on-ice shooting percentage north of nine percent, so be wary.

In Florida, Dale Tallon’s $10-million annual bet on 31-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky is not off to a great start. Bobrovsky should be better than this, so it might be just an off half-season. It might also be an off full-year.

Chicago does well by both shooting and save percentage. I’m not convinced it’s hot air. Patrick Kane’s lines have a history of shooting the lights out and both Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner are having unremarkable years relative to their excellent histories as stoppers. Kane has been a target of derision in some analytics circles, but his actual on- ice goal numbers outperform expected goals, in some cases by a lot, seven of the last eight years. That’s the sort of run that should make even a skeptical analyst reflect on the possibility his model is missing something.

Vegas, Columbus, Carolina and St. Louis all have decent arguments that their top lines’ shooting percentages should climb, with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes having a save percentage argument, too. 1173958 Websites Leon Draisaitl and shoots on the vacant net. He does this three times and then passes back to Draisaitl on a final attempt to allow his German teammate to shoot.

The Athletic / NHL team superlatives: Best of the team player polls For other players, it’s the pregame meal that has to be just right. And when it isn’t, you can be reminded of that for a long time.

Before playing in his first preseason game with the Panthers, the legend By The Athletic NHL Staff Jan 31, 2020 13 goes, Noel Acciari noticed there were no cookies in the pregame spread. And, boy, he wasn’t happy about it.

“He was full-blown pissed there weren’t any cookies, which I get,” Keith The standings and statistics are important, but sometimes it’s fun to get Yandle said. “If that’s part of your pregame ritual, you better have it. But, an inside look at the personalities on our favorite hockey team. here he is, the new guy on the team, screaming ‘Where are the So in addition to surveying players on all 31 teams about league-wide cookies?!’ It was great.” topics, we asked them about things that impact just their dressing room. The result: Acciari’s nickname is now “Cookie.” And the results — basically a collection of teammates chirping each other One common thread among most teams is a game of two-touch with a — were amazing. soccer ball before the game. Most time in the weight room? In Chicago, no Blackhawks player wanted to pick who was best, but it Seems like a simple question, who spends the most time in the weight was very clear who are the dirty players. room, but most used it as a chance to have fun at a teammate’s Seven players immediately voted for themselves upon being asked who expense. is best at the game. Said one player: “That’s because it’s a game of no For the Wild, Ryan Donato got a lot of votes, but more so as an integrity.” attendance award than making the honor roll. “He’s a scummy player, but I’m going to go with (Robin Lehner). He wins “Hmmmm. Productive time?” Ryan Suter wondered. “Donato spends a all the time. He just bullies you.” shit ton of time in there. He’s the smallest guy on the team, yet he “Lehner’s (the dirtiest). That’s why he’s the best.” spends the most time in there.” “(Alex) DeBrincat’s the worst. He’s the worst and he gets mad about “Now, does this mean actually working out or does this mean just being everything. ‘SHOW EFFORT!’ He gets fired up.” in the weight room? Because if it’s the latter, it’s Donny,” said Zach Parise. “I don’t play, but I can tell you who the biggest cheaters are.” DeBrincat and Lehner? “Yup, DeBrincat and Lehner.” A similar theme in Vegas where Ryan Reaves got half credit: “I’d vote for Reaves, but he only works on biceps,” one player said with a laugh. Worst roommate?

The Panthers at least took the question seriously. The current collective-bargaining agreement makes it so most players have their own room on the road. But that doesn’t mean they don’t think “(Sergei Bobrovsky) is very impressive,” Jonathan Huberdeau said of about who they wouldn’t want to share a room with. Bobrovsky. “When we get to the arena, he has already been there for 45 minutes or an hour getting himself ready. He cares about the game, and “Looking around this room right now, (Korbinian) Holzer maybe,” Ducks that is how he does it. He doesn’t talk much but you know he is focused.” defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “Farts all the time. Nonstop.”

Best dressed? “(Pat) Maroon,” said a Lightning player. “I feel like he’d be just a lot of responsibility.” Looks became a common theme across the dressing rooms. “I can see him being a massive snorer,” added another Lightning player. In St. Louis, Ryan O’Reilly agreed with his teammates that he easily uses the most hair products. In Minnesota, Jordan Greenway ended up on most players’ Do Not Room list. “Me for sure. I load this thing up with Vaseline and some other stuff,” O’Reilly said. “I use something else as well, but I’ve got naturally curly “You’d have to drag him out of bed half the time,” Devan Dubnyk said. hair, so it’s got some great hold there, where it kind of locks it back so it “He literally wouldn’t do anything other than be in his bed. You might doesn’t come curling up.” have to even help him to the bathroom once in a while.”

But there was some debate in Anaheim about who spends the most time Echoed Donato, “He’d probably be ordering pizza at 4 in the morning or in the mirror. doing something stupid.”

“(Cam) Fowler actually,” Michael Del Zotto said. “I notice him blow drying Greenway obviously had a problem with this line of thinking. his hair a little bit. Granter (Derek Grant). Guys are a little sensitive in here. Boys have been getting on each other about their outfits and their “This is absolutely absurd. Honestly,” Greenway said, laughing. “That’s hair lately. Some guys are taking it a little more personal and putting absurd! I would like to know the reasons because honestly I think I’d be a some work into it.” great roommate. Pretty laid back, I’m up for anything. This is just ridiculous. I don’t even know what to say. Honestly. Pizza boxes? Yeah, I But Grant pointed to Del Zotto: “Big mirror guy. Brings his own hairbrush eat a pizza once in a while. Big deal. I don’t really see that as a problem. to the rink.” “These guys just know I’d be chirping them the whole time and they As for clothes, Erik Karlsson got the nod in San Jose and Adrian Kempe wouldn’t be able to keep up. This is ridiculous. That’s OK, though. I like in L.A. — sort of. rooming alone.”

“I’d probably go with Karl. He has the most money, he can afford it,” Some did jump to Greenway’s defense, like Matt Dumba. Aaron Dell said. “I’d love to room with Greener,” Dumba said. “I’d probably get like a free “I don’t know if he’s the best, but he (Adrian Kempe) spends a lot of pizza out of it every night at like 3 a.m., it’d be quiet because he’s going money on it,” said a Kings player. to be sleeping a lot and when he’s up, we both would want to watch sports on TV. I bet it’d work.” Pregame Routine Best prank? Many things go into preparing for a game. The Winnipeg dressing room seems to have a lot of fun, explaining a few Connor McDavid was deemed most superstitious for his routine, which of the tricks they’ve played on teammates. goes like this: After a scramble goal has been scored on the backup goalie, McDavid cuts around the right faceoff circle, receives a pass from “Brendan Lemieux had three sticks for morning skate,” an unnamed Jets “Not too bright of a team.” player said. “We cut all of his sticks. Sawed them halfway through, so whenever he went to shoot, he broke his stick. It doesn’t matter who did “Jeez. Lot of dumb guys in this room.” that. Keep my name off of it. He doesn’t know who did it. But somebody “Lehner, in his mind, is always right.” definitely did it.” “I think Gilly’s (Denis Gilbert) undercover smart.” And if you are looking for another idea: “(Jonathan Toews) is always studying something and reading up on “You put clear tape on the bottom of a guy’s blades. You get on the ice stuff.” and think your skates are dull and then you look down and there’s clear tape on the bottom of them. You can’t see it when you first put on your “(Brandon Saad) looks like he’s pretty smart.” skate.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2020 But there might be another good answer coming to this question next year. In Calgary, when David Rittich found out teammate Cam Talbot is actually a horrible flier, his reaction signaled something could be coming.

“I didn’t know that.” Rittich laughed with a devilish smirk. “But thanks for telling me.”

Best chirper?

Ah, the chirp. Like peanut butter and jelly, you can’t have hockey without a good chirp — both on and off the ice.

Some found opportunities throughout this exercise to get a laugh at a teammate’s expense.

Like the Flyers’ Jakub Voracek calling teammate Sean Couturier the team dad: “I can picture him one day, driving a minivan, taking four fucking kids to practice, on time, all the time.”

Or the Bruins’ Charlie Coyle picking an alternative profession for Chris Wagner: “If he wasn’t a hockey player, he would be a grumpy old man. That would be his job, to be a grumpy old man. He would be on the porch and yell at kids, ‘Leave me alone.’”

Or when it comes to Tyler Johnson avoiding picking up a check: “I think he’s been here five years and made a lot of money, but he doesn’t pay,” joked one Lightning teammate.

Or even just picking the best chirper in the Canadiens’ room: “He’s (Brendan Gallagher) not the best chirper but he tries hard so I’ll go with him.”

Or in Vancouver: “I would say Millsy (J.T. Miller), but he can’t take the chirps so I don’t want to give him credit.”

But in New York, the Islanders actually explained what makes Cal Clutterbuck so good at the art of chirping.

“He remembers everything — every story, every rumor about a guy on another team,” Scott Mayfield said. “And he just files it away for when he needs something on the ice. And I think the reason people don’t think he’s cheap or anything is because he doesn’t just go after the big name guys, he’ll go after the other team’s tough guys too. He doesn’t spare anyone.”

“What he does that’s so smart is he’ll say stuff about himself first and that just takes away the other guy’s ammo,” Matt Martin said. “He’ll go, ‘Yeah, I know I’m a fourth-liner,’ or ‘I’ve only got two goals, so what?’ Then the guy just stands there with nothing to say and Clutter comes in with a line that just leaves everyone shaking their heads.”

In the end, we got a great look at the dynamic of each dressing room.

You could feel the “love” for David Perron in St. Louis as his teammates nominated him for almost everything:

Biggest talker in the dressing – “He doesn’t stop, no matter what it is. He’s not talking structurally, like he’s not telling guys what to do. The odd time he might be trying to create a play, but most of the time he’s just talking to talk,” said Vince Dunn.

Who hopes they get asked for an autograph – “Perron! Did he get a lot of votes? It happened when we were in Vegas and we were giving him crap about it. We were all sending snaps to each other.” Alex Pietrangelo said.

And most likely to wear his championship ring – Most teammates didn’t have an answer so they just replied, “Probably D.P.”

And they weren’t afraid to poke fun at themselves.

In Chicago, the question “Who is the smartest?” got this response:

“Not me.” 1173959 Websites they’ve been separated the team is 7-1-2 and has outscored the opposition 44-28, by far the longest stretch of games they’ve ever played apart.

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers flip script by holding off champion Blues in third Draisaitl wasn’t great in a 4-3 shootout loss to Calgary on Wednesday, period and against the Blues the Colton Parayko-Jay Bouwmeester pair did a pretty good job on McDavid and his line.

But against St. Louis Draisaitl, with Kailer Yamamoto and Ryan Nugent- Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec February 1, 2020, 1:10 AM Hopkins on his wings, was the difference-maker. His second goal was a great solo effort after a sneaky good pass from Yamamoto.

"It was a big man’s game and he played well in it," Tippett said of EDMONTON — These are the moments. The small windows where you Draisaitl. "Both of his goals were good goals, well-earned goals. That line can say, ‘OK, we see something different here. It’s not the same as has played well for us. It is good to see that Leo, he has his game turned before." back the other way and is playing very well." The Edmonton Oilers walked out of the dressing room after 40 minutes Coming out of their All-Star break, Edmonton lined up against the leading the St. Louis Blues 2-1, with visions of closing out a hard, gritty Calgary Flames, St. Louis, and the Flames again in Calgary on Saturday win over the defending Stanley Cup champions. night. Snaring four points in those three tough games is what a playoff- Well, that lead lasted a mere two minutes and 12 seconds. bound team should do, and this morning the Oilers awake with three points in the bank and a chance for five with a win on Hockey Night in The reflex reaction in any matchup between the Oilers and the Blues Canada. was, "Hmmm, how many more will St. Louis get this period?" "Every game is huge. Standings are tight, points are tight," said Draisaitl. But something funny happened on the way to St. Louis’ come-from- "Just have to keep grinding away, keep getting points. behind victory. "Hopefully at the end it will be enough." Leon Draisaitl scored a beastly goal just 121 seconds later — goal No. 29 for No. 29 — and the Oilers took the rest of the period away from the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 Blues, outshooting them until the final moments when the St. Louis pulled goalie Jake Allen.

When it was done, Draisaitl was celebrating a two-goal night, Josh Archibald a crucial empty-netter, and the Oilers a 4-2 win in a game they simply have not won many of over the past decade of mediocre hockey.

And they looked confident and comfortable while doing it.

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"That team over there, they know how to win hockey games," Draisaitl said afterwards. "For them to tie it up, and for us to come back and win the game, it’s a big confidence boost for us."

Head coach Dave Tippett was without James Neal (foot), Joakim Nygard (broken hand) and Kris Russel (concussion), in a game against a lineup that plays hard, heavy hockey with some of the best structure in the NHL today.

"These are games where you learn a lot about your team," Tippett said, "because that is a good, deep team. Especially losing Nygard, Neal and Russell out of our lineup. There were opportunities for other people."

Caleb Jones slotted in for Russell, scored a goal and showed poise in his own zone. Archibald, who has proven to be a nice platoon player on Connor McDavid’s left side, stepped in and played well. And Mikko Koskinen was excellent in just his second start in nine games, making a series of huge saves. He was simply better than Allen, and that’s the difference in what was essentially a one-goal game.

St. Louis reduces the game to a calculated series of puck battles, because they know they’re going to win 75 per cent of them. They’re big, strong, and even their few smaller players have the market cornered on that hockey commodity known as battle level.

"They’re so structurally managed that they’re doing the same thing every single night," said Oilers defenceman Adam Larsson, who thrives playing this kind of hockey. "It doesn’t matter if it’s early November or late January, February, they’re doing the same thing and have a really structured team play. That’s where we’re getting at."

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This was a prime example of why the Oilers are a far more dangerous team when McDavid and Draisaitl are deployed on separate lines. Since 1173960 Websites level stars Pettersson and Hughes, that significant charge will be rolled into next season’s cap expenses.

So an $83.5-million salary cap in 2020-21 could leave the Canucks with Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Jacob Markstrom turns 30 playing some of his as little as $16.3 million to spend. best hockey And more than half of that could be eaten up by new deals for Markstrom (let’s say $5.5 million per season) and valuable defenceman Chris Tanev, the Canucks’ other key unrestricted free agent, who could get Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet January 31, 2020, 7:05 PM close to the $4.45 million he is making this year.

Restricted-free-agent-winger Jake Virtanen needs to be re-signed and, with a breakthrough season and arbitration rights, should get at least as VANCOUVER – Even when the Vancouver Canucks are winning, it is not much as newly-signed Edmonton Oilers power forward Zack Kassian, hard to find an argument regarding the team. Except over their most whose comparable offensive numbers earned him $3.2 million for each of valuable player this season. the next four years. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are game-changers, literally and for Once the Canucks give modest raises to RFAs Tyler Motte ($975,000 the outlook of the National Hockey League franchise. But no one has salary this season) and Adam Gaudette ($917,000), and likely re-sign been as important to the Canucks this season as goalie Jacob injured UFA Josh Leivo ($1.5 million), their cap space for 2020-21 could Markstrom, whose save percentage (.917), wins (19) and minutes-played be down to zero. (2,072) heading into Saturday’s matinee against the New York Islanders do not fully reflect the impact of the Swede who turned 30 on Friday. That would leave no money to re-sign 25-year-old defenceman Troy Stecher, a solid player who is making $2.3 million but has seen his Markstrom has evolved into a top-10 starter in the NHL, a galvanizing average ice time limited to 14:46 this season. leader on a team that plays high-event hockey and has needed its goaltender to be its best player on many nights this season. Markstrom’s Home of the Canucks salary will reflect his status when he signs his next contract on or before July 1. Stream all 82 Canucks games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all Although negotiations between Markstrom and the team remain in the outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. early stages, Canucks general manager Jim Benning has publicly pledged to keep his starting goalie, who has made it clear that he loves The Canucks will also have a handful of prospects, including Nils Vancouver and wants to stay. Hoglander, Olli Juolevi and Kole Lind, pushing to make the NHL team in September on entry-level deals. "He likes the guys on the team and the guys like him," Benning told Sportsnet two weeks ago. "We’re going to get that figured out so he can Benning may try cutting some costs before then. Defenceman Jordie remain playing for us." Benn has been scratched for 13 of the last 14 games. He and his $2 million salary should be easily tradeable if Benning is willing to dare the The goaltender market is always tricky, and the free-agent class of 2020 hockey gods to go after what has been an uncharacteristically healthy could include A-list starters Braden Holtby and Robin Lehner, as well as Vancouver blue line this season. reliable (and more affordable) B-listers like Jaroslav Halak, Anton Khudobin and Thomas Greiss. Checking centre Brandon Sutter has another season after this one at $4.4 million and could be traded (with retained salary) or bought out in And, of course, the situation in Vancouver is especially intriguing June. The Canucks continue to look for an exit on Baertschi. because backup goalie Thatcher Demko, under contract next season at just $1.05 million, is only 24 years old and shows every indication of Maybe the team makes a hard decision and keeps a younger, cheaper developing into a star. Too bad he has played only 27 games in the NHL. Stecher over Tanev. And if you’re in the mood for hard decisions, there is a question about where Brock Boeser will fit long-term among the Whether Markstrom eventually signs a multi-year contract that includes a hierarchy of outstanding and expensive young Canucks, not all of whom salary beginning with a five or six, whatever he and the Canucks settle Benning will be able to keep. on will affect Demko. No wonder within the organization there is a strong feeling, growing in There is, after all, that little matter of the Seattle expansion draft in 17 urgency with every new win, that the surprising Canucks need to do months, when teams will be able to protect only one goalie. everything they can to maximize this season and see how far they might go this spring. Because this summer, there will be salary-cap casualties. But with time on the Canucks’ side and a lot of options open to Benning to try to protect both goalies from Seattle or trade one of them before the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 expansion draft, there probably has been too much short-term focus on how a Markstrom contract will affect Demko and not enough about how it could impact several other players on a team scraping its head against the salary ceiling.

Any Markstrom deal in Vancouver is going to have a trickle-down effect that goes well beyond the goal crease.

According to CapFriendly.com, the Canucks have $63.5 million committed to 16 players next season. This includes Sven Baertschi’s cap charge of $2.3 million for playing in the American Hockey League, the ongoing cap-recapture penalty of $3 million on Roberto Luongo and the final year of the Ryan Spooner buyout at $1 million.

Of course, it also includes the $6 million on Loui Eriksson’s buyout-proof contract, although "Little Things" Loui has been doing some big things lately and for once in his three-and-a-half seasons on the West Coast is not a focal point of fan discontentment.

With the NHL Players’ Association suppressing the salary cap because its constituency either doesn’t like or understand escrow, the spending limit for next season won’t be increasing much beyond the current ceiling of $81.5 million. The cap is expected to be set in the $83-83.5 million range.

Since the Canucks are operating at the cap limit this season and haven’t left space for $3.7 million in performances bonuses likely going to entry- 1173961 Websites “We really felt we had the fastest team in the NHL, and the toughest team in the NHL,” the longtime executive said. “If you go back and look, we had (Mikhail) Grabovski, we had (Phil) Kessel, we had really good foot-speed … and then we could scare the hell out of you with the bottom Sportsnet.ca / Former Maple Leafs GM Burke on how Dion Phaneuf six. And that team made the playoffs.” trade came together Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020

Sonny Sachdeva | @sachdevasonny January 31, 2020, 12:59 PM

It was a decade ago today that the paths of two Canadian franchises took a sharp turn, a single seven-player swap altering the timelines of both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames.

A look back at the particulars of the deal — heading West: Niklas Hagman, Ian White, Jamal Mayers and Matt Stajan, the last of those names eventually becoming a nine-season fixture in Calgary.

Heading East? Fredrik Sjostrom, Keith Aulie, and a 24-year-old Dion Phaneuf.

The big-bodied blue-liner — who’d amassed 206 points through his first four seasons in the league up to that point, while also serving as a noted bruiser — was named captain soon after, before leading the team through a tumultuous seven-year stretch that brought just one post- season berth to Toronto, complete with a Game 7 heartbreak for the Maple Leafs faithful.

Looking back on the 2010 blockbuster, Brian Burke — who was at the Maple Leafs’ helm at the time — remembers the process of nudging that 2010 blockbuster from hypothetical to reality being no small feat.

“I really loved Dion as a player, I thought he was a fabulous player,” Burke said Wednesday on Sportsnet 590’s Lead Off, reflecting on how the deal came together. “… I had asked (then-Flames GM) Daryl Sutter about Dion and he had said, ‘No I’m not moving him.’ And then like four days later I was talking to Bob Murray from Anaheim and he said, ‘Are you in on Phaneuf?’ I said, ‘Well Phaneuf’s not in play.’ He said, ‘Yeah, he is — Daryl just offered him to me.’

“So I called Daryl back, I was swearing at him, I said, ‘I thought you said he wasn’t available!’ He said, ‘I was going to call you, don’t worry about it,’ and then we started working on the deal.”

Nearly missing out on the chance to make an offer for Phaneuf was just the first obstacle. Getting through a tense weekend without any of the seven players involved succumbing to injury was the second key hill to climb.

“[Sutter] asked to do it on Sunday — he said he had to meet with his owners and explain the deal to them and he wanted to do it on Sunday. I said, ‘Daryl, Saturday is Hockey Night in Canada.’ All seven players in that deal played on Saturday night,” Burke told the Lead Off crew. “Daryl said, ‘I’ll make the deal sight unseen.’ In other words, no matter who gets hurt, we’ll make this deal on Sunday.

“So, we played that night and we watched, because Matt Stajan was in that deal, Nik Hagman, Jamal Mayers, and Ian White. All four of them played, got through healthy. And then Calgary played, Dion stayed healthy, and Sjostrom stayed healthy. And Keith Aulie stayed healthy in the late game in Abbotsford. And we did the deal on Sunday.”

That same day, Burke acquired netminder Jean-Sebastian Giguere, who he’d had previously in Anaheim, sending Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake to the Ducks in return. That both significant deals dropped at the same time was more than simply coincidence.

“I was trying to shake up the team. I did not like the team I inherited here,” Burke says of his reasoning for the busy Jan. 31. “Sometimes a GM really likes a team, and sometimes can’t stand the team, and it’s not always whether they’re in first place or not.

“… I did not like the group I inherited — moving them out a piece at a time, it took longer than I thought it would take. When I first got here I asked (then-head coach) Ron Wilson, ‘Do we need a goalie?’ He said, ‘No, Toskala’s good enough.’ He had had him in San Jose, and he really believed that. Obviously, he was wrong. That’s why we got Giguere — I couldn’t stand watching Vesa Toskala play anymore.”

While the moves didn’t bring a title — or more than a lone playoff run — to Toronto as hoped, Burke said he truly believed he’d put together a promising squad by the time he was removed from the GM role in 2013. 1173962 Websites "He’s an exceptional player and he’s so good at cutting. He cut really quick and I tried to get a piece of him. I didn’t stick out a knee or anything."

Sportsnet.ca / Flames come to Giordano's defence after polarizing hit on They meet again Saturday in Calgary. McDavid Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020

Eric Francis | @EricFrancis January 31, 2020, 6:02 PM

CALGARY – If only the video was as clear as Brad Treliving’s thoughts on it.

"Any talk that there’s a malicious intent in the Gio hit (on Connor McDavid) is complete garbage," said the Flames GM Friday of a collision involving captain Mark Giordano. "Let’s just put an end to that. It was a highly-contested game. A really hard, emotional game.

"I think we’re looking for stuff, if that’s a topic. He doesn’t stick his knee out. There’s nothing there. I get everything kind of gets sort of built up, but (it’s a) non-issue in my mind."

McDavid felt differently, as the Edmonton Oilers star was furious about the referees missing a clear interference penalty in the second period of Wednesday’s game.

He was also likely angered by how close he felt it came to being the type of hit that could have reinjured the knee he spent all summer rehabbing.

As McDavid attempted to skate by Giordano in the neutral zone, the Flames defenceman reached out with an arm and his left leg to try slowing the superstar down.

It has the effect of spinning the player, diffusing a rush in which McDavid had chipped the puck past Giordano.

McDavid was furious on the bench, snapping his stick.

He showed tremendous class and restraint afterwards by refusing to fuel yet another Battle of Alberta debate.

“I don’t want to start a big media circus at all,” said McDavid following a 4-3 shootout loss that had emotions running high all night. “He’s obviously a guy that plays hard and that’s that.”

Oilers coach Dave Tippett pointed out Thursday that Giordano didn’t stick out his knee and wasn’t guilty of crossing the line.

He’s right — there was no knee, which is key in the discussion.

But that hasn’t stopped many in Oilers nation from being furious over how perilous a position it almost put their captain in.

"I saw Tips’ comments yesterday and we’re talking about a top coach who is a very clear thinker," said Treliving. "There’s nothing to it. You’re talking about a Norris Trophy winner and top player. When your 106 and you’re still in the league, you’ve probably had a few things in your career that have gone on."

Giordano, 36, spoke Friday for the first time since the game and denied any wrongdoing.

"I saw the puck coming up the wall and I thought I was going to get that puck, to be honest," he said. "But we all know what kind of speed he possess, and he’s a bit faster than I am. Last second he chipped it by me. I tried to get a piece of him with my hip and throw my arm out there as well. I guess you could say it was interference or a penalty, but there was no intention. Our shins or ankles clipped, but it was a hockey play. It was unintentional, the collision with our ankles or our shins. He might have been upset about the non-call."

Given the off-season McDavid had, no one could blame him for being upset the play was borderline dangerous.

After all, the evening had everyone on edge.

"We made eye contact a few times throughout the game," said Giordano when asked if they exchanged words. "You could tell he was upset. Hey man, it’s a heated game. We play a lot against each other, a lot of shifts against each other. That’s what makes the battle so good between us. I think there are going to be moments like that every game. 1173963 Websites Benning’s grandfather, Elmer, was one of Western Canada’s great hockey scouts, traversing the Prairies for 45 years for the Montreal Canadiens. The grandson sounds a bit like his grandpa when he assesses Benson, a player he recently played with during a conditioning Sportsnet.ca / Oilers starting to reap benefits of being patient with stint in Bakersfield. prospects Home of the Oilers

Stream all 82 Oilers games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec January 31, 2020, 3:03 PM 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more.

“He’s a very smart player,” begins Benning. “Crafty in tight areas. Good EDMONTON — We’ve always heard a lot of talk about how the skill. He’s a guy that has the knack for scoring. Makes really good Edmonton Oilers are going to start “doing things right” as an passes. He’s a smart, smart player. organization. Like any team in any league, they’re in the good news business. “He’s an AHL All-Star, and he’s leading the team in points for a reason. He’s battled through injuries for most of his career. I’m happy for him.” Those who prefer the real, concrete evidence however, have continually watched Edmonton fast-tracking its prospects. Not enough first-round Clearly, it’s not just talk anymore here in Edmonton. The players coming picks have been sent to the American League affiliate to percolate, and if up, almost to the man, have helped the big team win. And with draft picks they go they tend to be called up after 25 games. like Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod all playing their first pro seasons there — perhaps to be joined next season by 2019 first-rounder Filip Well, that time has finally arrived when deeds meet words. Broberg — it seems like the words and the evidence are finally beginning As Tyler Benson, the 32nd pick in the 2016 draft, arrives in Edmonton to match up. after 115 American Hockey League games, he joins an Oilers team that “I’m anxious to see what Benson can do,” said Oilers head coach Dave will dress five players tonight who have recently spent at least two Tippett. “He’s played just over 100 games in the American League now seasons plying their trade in the minors. and has been a good point producer down there. He’s earned the Benson was to arrive later Friday afternoon, so unless someone falls ill opportunity to come up. It’s an exciting time for him and I can say we’ve this afternoon he was not expected to play Friday night against the St. had some pretty good luck with some of our depth. Louis Blues. But Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, Kailer Yamamoto and Patrick “It would be nice to see more guys jump up in that role.” Russell were all slated to play, with defenceman William Lagesson providing depth in the press box. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 They’re not all superstars, but that’s not the point. Edmonton is battling atop the Pacific Division this season in part because of their increased depth. Because a kid like Bear emerged to become a top-four defenceman, while Yamamoto’s ability to play in the top-six has for the first time made a success out of separating Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on to their own lines.

It’s an actual farm system. Like the good teams have.

“I think the organization has been doing it the right way,” said Jones, “letting guys stay down there and work on their games and not rush them up too quick. It’s paying off.

“You can see Yamo and Benny both started the year there. I started the year down there. Laggy’s been there for a bit. Bearsy played two full years. Russ has been there. It’s a process, but if you let players develop at their own pace, usually you get rewarded in the end.”

Jay Woodcroft, formerly an assistant on Todd McLellan’s staff in Edmonton, is gaining traction as an excellent, up and coming coach in Bakersfield. He’s a teacher, and the proof is in his pupils.

“Having Woody down there,” Yamamoto said, “he’s teaching some really good hockey, showing the process and what it takes. You can see how good everyone is getting down there.”

The latest call-up is Benson, who has simmered in the American League since leaving the Western Hockey League at the end of the 2017-18 season. An organization with a penchant for rushing high-end draft picks like Jesse Puljujarvi has resisted with Benson, the second player chosen in the second round of his draft.

The result is a player who is likely ready for his chance, one he may get on Saturday in Calgary with Joakim Nygard being placed on injured reserve with a broken hand.

“Really good offensive player, great vision,” Jones said of Benson. “Coming up through (the AHL) he’s one of the best passers I’ve seen. Really smart and he works hard. Last year he led our team in points, was a point per game, and this year it’s the same thing. He’s earned it. I expect him to come up and hopefully make an impact right away. He’s a really talented player.”

Oilers defenceman Matt Benning, like Benson an Edmonton native who grew up cheering for the Oilers, has skated with Benson for many summers. “Benny’s a great guy, and it will be good to have another Benny in the dressing room,” he laughed. 1173964 Websites Botterill not signed him ahead of free agency last summer the GM would have received a lot of flak, but signing Skinner long-term to a $9 million cap hit with a no-move clause was not the better call.

Sportsnet.ca / Buffalo Sabres fans are ready to snap – and you can’t Skinner was rewarded for a 14.9 shooting percentage season — well blame them above his career average — and this year he’s on pace for about half as many goals with a defensive game as problematic as ever. A deadline trade was the better way out.

Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen January 31, 2020, 10:16 AM The Ryan O’Reilly trade was also a disaster.

And on that note, more than one player has voiced a preference to not be a part of this organization. O’Reilly famously said he had lost his love for I wasn’t sure if the headline for this piece would be accurate enough. the game of hockey with the Sabres. After Tyler Ennis and Marcus Sabres fans are ready to snap, or have snapped? If their first loss this Foligno were traded to Minnesota in 2017, they both alluded to a week — 5-2 at home to the dreadful Ottawa Senators — wasn’t the negative culture. “It’s definitely nice to be here, where losing is not an breaking point this season, Thursday’s 3-1 home loss to Montreal, in option,” Ennis, now ironically, said of Minnesota. which Buffalo managed just 10 shots over the last two periods, surely was. This year two players, Zach Bogosian and Evan Rodrigues, have reportedly asked to be traded out. I don’t live in the city of Buffalo, but I live close enough in Toronto that the Sabres are in the backyard. The columns are (fairly) getting more heated As we’ve watched the epic Battle of Alberta unfold this season, it’s hard and the fans, well, an epic rant from someone named Duane on WGR not to think about a revived Battle of the QEW. When Toronto was 550’s Schopp and the Bulldog encapsulates what’s going on there: picking Auston Matthews first overall in 2016, the Leafs and Sabres were on a similar track. But while Toronto successfully got out of its rebuild, This is a cautionary tale of what can happen when you gleefully dive Buffalo is still grinding away with no obvious solution. That can’t be an head first into a rebuild you assume will turn out rosy after making a few easy pill to swallow either. high draft picks. Today the message in Buffalo isn’t even pretending to be about Cups on When Terry Pegula first bought the team in 2011 the message was about the horizon. It hasn’t been that way in more than six years. his dedication to winning the Stanley Cup. “We’re looking long term here,” Botterill said the day he introduced “If I want to make some money, I’ll go drill a gas well,” he declared at the Krueger as his head coach. “We can understand a fan’s perspective, but time. Pegula said all the right things to invigorate a fan base that day. it can’t impact our decisions, our vision of how our team needs to “Starting today, there will be no financial mandates on the Buffalo eventually look.” Sabres‘ hockey department… I’m going to make decisions based on winning the Stanley Cup and what is right for the fan base and the team.” There are two ways to look at that statement.

Of course, that didn’t go as planned. And it wasn’t long until the message The pessimists angle would frown on the fact this team is still rebuilding was flipped to the opposite. nearly a decade after first starting out down this road. The optimists view would be that this is a team with a number of expiring contracts and a In 2015, after back-to-back last place finishes in their division, Buffalo whole whack of summer cap space to work with and that, by playing the had picked second overall twice in a row. At that point everyone, long game, they won’t feel obliged to make the worst mistake and throw including the majority of the fan base, was OK with starting from scratch around money in free agency in a bid to rush their way back to relevance. and building it back up again. Pegula said that stretch represented “two of the most successful seasons we’ve ever had” because it brought the We’re betting a healthy amount of Sabres fans are registered pessimists Sabres Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel high in the draft. about their team right now, as they watch Eichel’s prime years wasted and Dahlin develop inside of a losing, frustrating atmosphere. Just look Five years later and the Sabres are still well out of the playoffs. Unless over some of the conversations being had on the #Sabres hashtag on they finish with the league’s best record the rest of the way, they’re not Twitter. making it there in 2020. Edmonton has been razzed many times in the past decade for their futility, but Buffalo has the longest active playoff And we can’t blame them. drought that’s about to extend to nine years. If they miss again next year — and, really, who’s betting against that now — they’ll equal the Oilers Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 for longest playoff drought in league history.

The frustrating thing is the Sabres have the pieces that are hardest to acquire. In Eichel they have the stud young star centre, and he’s having an MVP-type of season that’ll get swept under the rug after the playoff whiff becomes official. In Rasmus Dahlin, picked first overall after another disastrous season in 2017-18, they have a superstar defenceman in the making. Both of them are performing at a level you’d expect for their ages and experience levels.

But it’s not mattering. At all. Nothing else has come together.

I told you I've heard this #Sabres story before, but here's Jake McCabe with the latest version on lack of desperation and urgency, search for confidence, and how tuning out the media's negativity is a key for team turning things around… pic.twitter.com/L2dIMM5lVn

— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) January 31, 2020

Ralph Krueger was a bold and strong coach hire last summer and the start he and the Sabres had teased an emergence from the depths of the league standings. In their first 13 games, Buffalo had just two regulation losses and were tied with Boston atop the Atlantic when October closed.

Since Nov. 1, the Sabres are 13-20-5, with a better points percentage than only Anaheim and Detroit. That hot start lacks any meaning now, the same way last season’s 10-game November winning streak was just a mirage.

There have been a few questionable roster decisions by the GM Jason Botterill, not least of which was the re-signing of Jeff Skinner. Had 1173965 Websites That gives the Canadiens an opportunity to spread out their depth and use Gallagher to either insulate rookie Nick Suzuki at centre with an aggressive player who pushes play forward, or squeeze more offence out of the high-flying Max Domi while adding some much-needed defensive Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: Why Ilya Kovalchuk should stay on presence. Montreal's top line Montreal’s goal right now probably shouldn’t be to desperately push towards the playoffs, but if they’re saying they’re not giving up, it would be interesting to see them take more advantage of their depth by using Andrew Berkshire Gallagher on another line.

THE QUESTION When the Montreal Canadiens decided to give Ilya Kovalchuk a bargain This week Steve Dangle is interested in the data behind the results that basement deal to finish out the season after a series of injuries blew up help create his “Dang Its” series, specifically why one team appears on it their forward group, there weren’t many negative views out there on the so often… media landscape. “Everyone knows the New Jersey Devils aren’t good, but they’re also not The vast majority of opinions were similar to what I wrote; don’t expect a the Red Wings. And yet they show up on the Dang Its all the time. Is superstar, but this is a move with no inherent risk, so what’s the harm? there anything to back up that they’re particularly mistake prone, or are However, even the most rose-coloured optimistic take likely wouldn’t their mistakes just always huge?” have predicted that Kovalchuk would seamlessly slide into Brendan Usually when a team is giving up really awful-looking goals or scoring Gallagher’s spot on the Canadiens’ top line and put up five goals and chances, the issue comes down to puck management either in the four assists through his first 10 games, while playing some stellar defensive or neutral zones. Because as bad as you can be without the defensive hockey on top of it. puck, it looks far worse when you make a mistake that forces at least one SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCE skater out of position.

Kovalchuk’s point production has been great, but more important than That isn’t the case with Jersey this year — at least not at even strength, that in my opinion is his line with Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar has where they’re pretty much dead on average in turnover rate, ranking 16th remained incredibly dominant at controlling the flow of play with in the offensive zone, 14th in the defensive zone, 23rd in the neutral Kovalchuk on the right wing instead of Gallagher. zone, and 15th overall. Being in the bottom-10 in the neutral zone certainly isn’t good, but it’s not an area where they’re so much worse For Kovalchuk, that’s an even more impressive feat than his point than anyone else that they must be constantly getting dummied in production when you compare to how he looked in Los Angeles. hilarious ways because of it.

Playing on his strong side as a right hander, but off-wing considering he’s The next place I usually look to is what happens when a team is a natural left winger, the Canadiens have been crushing teams into dust desperate to relieve pressure? But the Devils are actually decent at that while Kovalchuk has been on the ice, especially in the inner slot area once they get the puck. They have the second-best dump out success where his line is getting three shots on goal every 20 minutes and rate in the league, so they’re not turning the puck over while desperately allowing just over one. Any team would kill for that ratio and their attempting to clear the zone. dominance as a line carries through the larger sample size metrics, though not quite as strong. The issue as I can see it comes in two areas. One is that they struggle at stopping opposing rushes, allowing 42.2 controlled entries against every What’s interesting is that Kovalchuk himself isn’t really driving that much 60 minutes, which is better than only the Chicago Blackhawks, who are offence. At 5-on-5, Kovalchuk has been involved in creating 5.43 scoring the league’s worst defensive team. That leads to the Devils giving up chances every 20 minutes since he joined the Canadiens, and among more chances on net off the rush than any other team, with 4.91 per 60 forwards with 100 or more minutes played, that ranks just ninth on the minutes. team, only outpacing Nate Thompson’s 4.48. But there’s an even bigger issue. Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, The Devils give up the third-most slot passes in the league and the they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover passes they allow are more dangerous than the league average as well. Canada’s most beloved game. No team gives up more one-timers on net than the Devils, and no team’s goalies face a higher percentage of their shots as one-timers than the Per 20 minutes Kovalchuk ranks seventh in shot attempts, fourth in shots Devils’ 13.4 per cent. on goal, eighth in scoring chances, fourth in scoring chances on net, but third in inner slot shots behind only his linemates. His passing game is a The slot passes are dangerous even if they aren’t immediately converted bit stronger as he ranks fifth on the team in completed offensive zone into a one-timer, but the Devils also give up the most one-timers in the passes, fifth in slot passes, third in passes off the rush, and second in league from the slot and inner slot. The way the Devils defend passes is, East-West passes — but he’s not dominating here either. to be kind, inept.

But there are areas where Kovalchuk has really excelled at keeping the When you’re constantly letting pucks go through the middle of the ice offence going. He’s ranked second on the team in offensive zone loose without any disruption, your positioning is clearly not very good, and it’s puck recoveries and first in puck battle win percentage. Who would have only going to get worse once the passes get through and panic sets in. guessed that it would be Kovy’s physicality that set him apart? Whether this is a roster or structural issue, it can not be left unattended in While he’s no longer one of the most dangerous shooters in the league, the off-season if the Devils want to rebound in 2020-21. Kovalchuk’s playmaking remains pretty strong, and his physicality has QUICK HITS helped fill the gap left behind by the absence of Gallagher, who is a forechecking beast. • The Devils allow opponents to complete 109.8 offensive zone passes every 60 minutes, the third-highest mark in the league. On the other end On top of all that Kovalchuk hasn’t been a defensive liability. He’s posted of the spectrum are the Carolina Hurricanes, who only allow 78.2. It’s the second-lowest defensive zone turnover rate on the team among very difficult to make a pass in the Hurricanes’ zone. forwards after Tatar, and third-lowest in the neutral zone. It’s easy to see why he’s had success and earned the trust of his coach. • Per SPORTLOGiQ’s expected goals model, the top-two even strength teams in the NHL are the Carolina Hurricanes (57.4 per cent) and Vegas However, Gallagher is back now and Kovalchuk has been shifted down a Golden Knights (54.9 per cent). Those two also lead the league in icings line, but I wonder if that is the wisest move short-term. Gallagher has a per 60 minutes. Is there something they know that we don’t? Is the NHL long history of driving play and that line with Danault and Tatar is a top- too lenient on teams who ice the puck as a strategy? Or is that 10 line in the NHL when the trio is united, but they’ve remained excellent completely random? with Kovalchuk. • The teams that force their opponents to ice the puck the most? Also the Hurricanes and Golden Knights.

• One thing you always hear hockey people talk about when it comes to playoff hockey is the ability to win or at least draw one-vs-one puck battles. If that’s truly very important, the Edmonton Oilers might need to worry a little. They win the lowest percentage of those puck battles of any team at just 27.7 per cent.

• Teams around the league are dumping the puck in a lot more often this season, but who recovers those dump-ins and creates possessions most efficiently? If you expected a team with a blue collar mentality, you’d be right. The Blues lead the league in recovering 39.3 per cent of their dump-ins. However, they only turn 19.5 per cent of those recoveries into scoring chances, which ranks way down at 20th.

• The league leaders at turning dump-ins into scoring chances are the Carolina Hurricanes, again. The Hurricanes recover only 35.4 per cent of their dump-ins, the 20th-best mark in the league, but they turn a league- high 23.7 per cent of those recoveries into scoring chances. They’re a scary team.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173966 Websites they had a decision to make. The Flames had all those defenders and meanwhile, the team had just two players eclipse 40 points.

The Leafs needed… well, everything. But to add Phaneuf and Aulie to a Sportsnet.ca / Steve Dangle looks back at Leafs' trades for Phaneuf, young core with Luke Schenn? That was a big deal. Giguere I still remember the narratives.

• “Luke Schenn could be the new Scott Stevens.” Steve Dangle January 31, 2020, 4:33 PM • “Phaneuf is finally the leader they need.”

• My personal favourite: “Keith Aulie’s gonna end up being the biggest How do you forget a day like this? part of this deal.”

I’ve seen people tweeting about how today marks the 10th anniversary of Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it the Leafs acquiring Dion Phaneuf from the Calgary Flames. That’s right 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, — 10th. Yep, you’re old. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. What I haven’t seen quite as much is how on that very same day, Leafs GM Brian Burke sent both Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake to the I can’t help but feel like if this trade happened in 1990 or even 2000 all of Anaheim Ducks for Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Ironically, Toskala went to that may have been true. But by 2010? The age of the big, bruising the Flames to end the season after yet another trade. defender was on its way out.

Let’s take a look back at the carnival that was January 31, 2010. Phaneuf was still only 24 when he was traded, though. He’s entering his prime! It’s only bigger and better from here, right? Let’s get this out of the way right now: The Leafs sucked. “Bro, they always suck lol.” Tuck that tweet away. We’re not talking about regular Well… run-of-the-mill sucking. We’re talking second-last in the entire league The Leafs didn’t exactly have Bouwmeester, Giordano, or Regher to after giving up two first-rounders for a winger who’s recovering from surround Phaneuf with. Tomas Kaberle? Sure. A young Schenn and Carl shoulder surgery sucking. It was Taylor and Tyler-mania. Taylor Hall and Gunnarsson? Cool. Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek… I try Tyler Seguin, slam dunks to go one and two in the 2010 NHL Draft, two not to talk about it. of junior hockey’s biggest stars, and two kids playing in Ontario… After 10 goals in 55 games with the Flames that season, Phaneuf had It’s OK, though. The Leafs persevered and had a hot start to the season. just two in 26 games with the Leafs, both of which came in the final two Kidding! They began 0-7-1. games of the season and neither of which was at home. Actually, his first So yeah, “They always suck” doesn’t cut it. For a team that hasn’t won a goal of the following season didn’t come until Dec. 14, partially due to a playoff series since 2004 and hasn’t won a Cup in over half a century, month-long injury, and that was on the road in Edmonton. Phaneuf’s first this might have been their lowest point in memory. goal in front of a home crowd as a Leaf came on Feb. 7, 2011, over a full year after the trade, against the Atlanta Thrashers. It took 44 home Unfortunately, the Leafs had a calm and patient GM willing to wait out games to pull off. their trials and tribulations. Kidding! They had Burke and he had even less patience for losing than he had for ties. On top of that deal, there was another blockbuster, this time with Burke’s former team, the Anaheim Ducks. Then the kablooey. Vesa Toskala’s tenure in Toronto was… stunning. There’s just something about the Leafs trading with the Flames. It can never be a little one, can it? In his first full season, he had a .904 save percentage, which is bad. The next season, he had an .891 save percentage, which is worse. In 26 Less than one year prior, on July 27, 2009, the Leafs sent Colin Stuart, a games in his third Leafs season, he posted an .874. That was the worst 2012 seventh-rounder, and some kid named Anton Stralman to the save percentage in the NHL among goalies who played at least six Flames for Wayne Primeau and a second-rounder. Fun fact: That games that season. Imagine how annoyed fans were when Toskala second-rounder went on to become Brandon Saad, who has two Cups ended up in Calgary to end that season, played six games, and threw up and zero games played as a Leaf. a .918.

Listen, you can stop reading whenever you want. I won’t blame you. Jason Blake on the other hand… is complicated. He signed a nice, fat contract with the Leafs in the summer of 2007 coming off a 40-goal year There was also — stop me if you’ve heard this before — the Doug with the Islanders. That was immediately followed by a leukemia Gilmour trade with Calgary in 1993 that saw 10 players involved, five diagnosis, one he played through in 2007-08 and, in fact, Blake did not guys per team. miss a single solitary game. It was the type of story and the type of Heck, supposedly the Flames and Leafs had some kind of deal involving performance that should have been more appreciated. Nazem Kadri and T.J. Brodie that got scrapped last summer. Blake followed up a strong 25-goal and 63-point second season with the On January 31, 2010, it was a seven-player deal between the Leafs and Leafs with just 10 goals and 26 points in 56 games as a 36-year old. Flames. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey The Flames got Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers, Niklas Hagman, and Ian world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what White. The Leafs got Fredrik Sjostrom, defensive prospect Keith Aulie, they think about it. and the electrifying Dion Phaneuf. So you’ve got a goalie who can’t stop pucks and an aging winger Some of you will roll your eyes at that, but young Phaneuf was must-see struggling to produce. Burke called up the Anaheim Ducks and said “Hey, TV. He was part of Canada’s monstrous 2005 world junior team and do you want both of those things at the same time?” Miraculously, they levelled everybody. He was a rookie during the 2005-06 season, which said yes. was utter anarchy. You have to understand: There had just been a year- The trade-off was that J.S. Giguere was aging himself and made a lot of long lockout and breathing was considered a penalty. The league was money. The perk was that he, you know, stopped pucks. He was good packed with a logjam of unreal rookies, including the spectacle that was enough to kick the goaltending can down the road for young up-and- the Sid vs. Ovie show. But Phaneuf was in that conversation, a rookie comer Jonas Gustavsson, who was enough until James Reimer showed defender with 20 goals, 49 points, and the ability to turn you into a crater. up. But the Flames had a problem the Leafs simply couldn’t relate to: Having In a way, those trades were both exactly what the Leafs needed at the too many good defenders. time and a cautionary tale in hindsight. They had Jay Bouwmeester, a young Mark Giordano, Robyn Regher, The Leafs needed a shakeup and they got one. They traded away six and Phaneuf. Rumours of conflicting personalities and whatnot aside, guys and acquired four in one afternoon. But, as they would go on to prove, a shakeup doesn’t necessarily lead to success. It took the team until 2013 to even qualify for the playoffs and that was in a lockout- shortened Franken-season on a PDO bender. The defence was anything but stable and the solution in net came two starting goalies later.

A big trade is fun. Two big trades on the same day are even more fun. But once the excitement of the deal dies down, you have to win some hockey games.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173967 Websites about, that final scene would have sold them on the value of this unrestricted free agent as the trade deadline approaches.

Fans in Ottawa who, for a time, didn’t fully appreciate the intangibles of Sportsnet.ca / Senators' Mark Borowiecki continues heroics for Borowiecki, would expect no less than him sacrificing his body with the hometown team game on the line — regardless of the Senators’ low league rank.

“It’s just the way you’re wired, it’s not really a conscious thing,” Borowiecki said. “Off the ice I’m a pretty tame guy, but you go out there Wayne Scanlan January 31, 2020, 11:50 AM and a switch flips. You’re just a competitor, you’re playing instinctively and not really thinking about it. It doesn’t matter what place our team is or

where we are in terms of a rebuild, it’s just the way I’m going to play and The first blow, an errant stick blade to the face from New Jersey Devils‘ what I’m going to bring. It’s a point of pride.” winger Blake Coleman, would have sent the average hockey warrior into Senators head coach D.J. Smith was once a tough player himself, but the dressing room for the night. when he’s asked if he’s ever seen anyone as tough as Borowiecki, he “If I got hit in the face like that, I think I’d be out for about six weeks,” said answers swiftly. Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson. “No,” Smith said. “I mean, he’s mentally tough, physically tough. He Mark Borowiecki is no average hockey warrior. conditions himself harder than anyone else. And when you train harder than everyone else, I think you have an edge on everybody. Mentally, It was Monday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Devils were you know you can go the extra distance. You know you’re maybe more visiting. Bleeding from a cut above and below his right eye, the 6-foot-2, prepared than other people. I haven’t seen many guys in hockey that 204-pound Borowiecki got stitched back together and returned to the work as hard as he does before and after [a game]. He takes care of game — only to get hit in the face again, leaking badly this time. Never himself. And when you have a guy playing that hard, the guys on the mind a trainer, by that point the Senators defenceman needed a boxing bench notice. cutman in his corner. Again, the wounds were sealed, and he finished the game. “We have a lot of fearless guys but he certainly leads the way.”

Miraculously, the eye didn’t swell shut overnight, meaning Borowiecki In his own mind, Borowiecki was such an afterthought for the 2008 draft, was available for duty the next night in Buffalo. In the third period, he didn’t bother to attend. And the event was being held in Kanata, Ont. Borowiecki was slew-footed, unintentionally, by the Sabres’ Kyle Okposo, — a small suburb outside Ottawa — where he grew up and has lived his sending him crashing to the ice and grabbing his right leg. entire life.

When he finally was able to get to his feet, helped off the ice without At home fiddling with a fishing rod, Borowiecki was stunned to get the call putting any weight on his leg, the entire scene had the look of a season- he’d been drafted by the Senators in the fifth round, 139th overall. He ending injury. Except this is Borowiecki, so, he was back in the game in a hustled over to the rink in late afternoon to do a few interviews. If nothing few minutes, whereupon he put together a 20-second highlight reel that else came of his career, he’d provide reporters with a local sidebar for could serve as a career GIF. the day.

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it Selling him short then would have been a mistake. Though not blessed 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, with natural skill or skating ability, Borowiecki had a history of over- they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover achieving through sheer stubborn will and commitment. At Senators Canada’s most beloved game. rookie camps, he twice won the hardest worker award, and could have won it a third time but the team opted to let some else have a shot. Late in the third, with Ottawa clinging to a 3-2 lead, Borowiecki positioned Ottawa’s development coaches adored Borowiecki for his work ethic, but his body in the way of a Marcus Johansson blast. The puck returned to they were hardly the first to fall in love with him. the point and the Sabres teed-up Johansson once more. At nearby Smiths Falls Ont., coach and GM Bill Bowker drafted Borowiecki twisted right just as he did the first time, blocked the shot Borowiecki for his CCHL team out of Kanata minor hockey, largely for his again, only this time the puck stayed near him. He turned and launched it character. Bowker was struck by how respectful Borowiecki was to his out of the zone. It caromed off the boards and into the empty net as mother while greeting her in the arena lobby after a practice. though guided by the will of the hockey gods, rewarding Borowiecki for his pain and suffering in the name of the game. From there, Borowiecki became a heart-and-soul player — what else? — at Clarkson University in New York, and was team captain in his senior Ottawa’s bench went crazy with celebration for their lunch-pail hero. year. As a junior, he scored eight goals and added 11 assists — not bad for a guy better known for clearing out the front of his own crease. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his career-best 20th goal that night, but all he wanted to talk about was Borowiecki. More than 11 years after being drafted, Borowiecki, 30, calls it “surreal” to be approaching his 10th season as a pro. He first joined AHL “I think my favourite goal tonight was Boro’s,” Pageau said. “Two blocked Binghamton in 2011. shots – he’s the kind of guy who’s showing up every day, day-in, day-out, being a good pro, always bringing his 110 percent. And to see him score Regrets? He has a few. Mostly, the way he was awestruck as a rookie. that goal after the two blocked shots, I would love to see the camera on our bench. I mean, everyone was just so pumped.” “I was a bit timid at the beginning of my career,” he says, using a word never associated with this hard-nosed character. Post-game, Borowiecki greeted reporters in Buffalo with an ice pack on his knee and his face a red and swollen mess. The cut underneath the “Sometimes there’s a missed opportunity you didn’t make the most of eye, he reported, required five stitches while the cut over the eye was because you’re scared, you’re nervous, you’re anxious. Coming into the held shut by glue. He absolved Okposo of blame for his sore knee, league, you’re not comfortable in your own skin and that can translate to saying it was an awkward accident. being a little hesitant on the ice. But it’s been an amazing journey, I’ve made so many good relationships and been blessed with so much. “The 20-year-old me would have been able to hop back up probably,” Borowiecki said, after a Thursday practice in Ottawa. “A few more miles “ I don’t feel old but the greys are sprouting and I’m 10 years pro.” on the body now. The ride hasn’t always been smooth. A few years ago Borowiecki was “The one against Jersey was a little ridiculous. Sabby [Scott Sabourin] getting so much flak on social media — especially from the data analysts said it was like medieval jousting. Right in the eyeball, I can’t believe that — that he quit Twitter. In recent years, though, his followers in real life went unnoticed. Such is life. It’s part of the game. It all comes out in the have grown to be legion. How can anyone not admire Borowiecki’s will wash.” and selflessness for the cause, his honesty and generosity in the community? Watching Borowiecki endure all, bounce back, prevail, were 25 scouts in the Buffalo press box. If they didn’t know yet what Borowiecki was all Now the deadline is approaching and there is fear Borowiecki could be Like Kyle and Julie Turris before them (Matt Carkner was the first traded. He has seemed hurt there haven’t been any real contract talks, Senator to get involved with the Condors), Mark and Tara Borowiecki, do although a breakthrough is still possible. endless work for the Condors, but are also actively involved in charities for the LGBT community and Canadian soldiers, through Soldier On. Before the All-Star break, he admits he became extremely sensitive to the situation — his wife, Tara, expecting the couple’s first child in two Borowiecki has often said if he wasn’t a pro hockey player he would likely weeks, and Borowiecki wary of being dealt for an asset or draft choice by be a soldier or police officer today. Instead, he keeps peace on the ice, Feb. 24. He had what he calls a “mini-meltdown,” and felt the uncertainty sometimes using his fists, although after suffering a bad concussion he of his situation was affecting his play. Borowiecki leaned on his Ottawa only fights when he can’t avoid it these days. coaches for support, including a discussion with Senators consultant Dave Smart, the Carleton University basketball coaching legend. In truth, he’d prefer to restore order without violence, just as he routinely commits acts of goodwill so naturally that a third alter ego comes to mind: Talking it out helped. Now he’s trying to think of going through this GoodSamaritanMan. uncertainty as a chance to grow as a person. A book could be written on known examples of Borowiecki lending a “When you get too emotionally attached, too sentimental, that’s when you helping hand, and there are likely many more not yet shared. The make things hard on yourself,” Borowiecki says. Senators’ communications site once tweeted out photos of Borowiecki pushing cars out of snowbanks on Palladium Drive, near the Canadian And yet, we all know he doesn’t want to leave Ottawa, the community or Tire Centre, during a February storm. There is another tale of him ripping the Senators coaching staff. the car door off a vehicle to free a woman trapped inside.

“I’ve put my heart and soul into this team, this organization,” he says. Tara shared a story with The Athletic of travelling with Mark to Montreal “I’ve been asked to do a lot, sometimes against my better judgment, I’ve for his sports hernia surgery in 2015, only to stop en route to assist a done it. I feel a very strong sense of loyalty to this city. This city gave me motorist with two passengers whose car had flipped over and into a ditch. a chance to grow up in a safe environment. I was given a ton of Borowiecki ran across the highway, first on the scene, while Tara called opportunities to blossom as a person and would you like to see it 911. resolved sooner? “Just another day at the office for BoroCop,” as a play-by-play “Sure. But again, there’s a business side to this. broadcaster said of Borowiecki’s on-ice heroics in Buffalo this week.

“My eyes have been opened a bit in terms of having a child soon and On or off the ice, the Borocop is ever-alert and vigilant. taking care of my family. I know I’m in the back half of my career here and my No. 1 priority is taking care of my wife and my kid. Wherever that He’s not just a guy the Senators – or all NHL teams – need. takes me, so be it.” He’s a guy the world needs right about now. As if on cue, the hockey gods have ordained that Borowiecki would have the highest offensive output of his career as he pursues his next contract. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 With six goals – double his previous best – Borowiecki has nearly as many as the rest of the Ottawa’s D-corps combined (seven). His 17 points are also a career-high.

Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki (74) high fives teammates to celebrate a goal scored by Connor Brown against the Toronto Maple Leafs during first period of preseason NHL hockey action in Ottawa, Wednesday September 18, 2019. (Justin Tang/CP)

Like everything else in his career, Borowiecki worked for this offensive boost – spending the off-season focused on shooting and cardio, even losing a few pounds to keep up with the “kids” of the NHL.

If he didn’t already exist in the real world, Mark Borowiecki surely would have been invented as a comic book superhero.

‘BoroCop’: The hockey player who fights crime by day, blocks 100 miles per hour shots at night.

Or, ‘NailGun’ (a name bestowed upon him by Brady Tkachuk): Abuse him with sticks, pucks and fists and he comes back spitting nails.

In 10-plus years in the Senators organization, Borowiecki watchers have seen the man display so many feats of strength, courage and bone- crushing hits while standing up for marginalized members of the community that it takes a lot to get our attention.

But the recent BoroFiles are something else. As it is with superheroes, stuff happens around them. And not just double blocks on Marcus Johansson slapshots. Spiderman can’t avoid conflict no matter how hard he tries to sling to his own business. BoroCop can’t even walk down the street in Vancouver’s Gastown district the day before a game against the Canucks without being in the middle of a crime scene.

Naturally, he acted.

This was in early December. Borowiecki saw a man smash a car window and grab a knapsack within. Borowiecki told the suspect to put the bag down, but the man came at him on his bicycle. Borowiecki reached out and clothes-lined him, wrestled him to the ground like a dangerous goal- scorer in the slot and recovered the bag, which contained passports and other valuables.

Of course, the story went viral. Rather than capitalize on the incident for his personal gain, the ‘BoroCop’ t-shirts that emerged from the caper were used to support the Ottawa Condors — the group of hockey youth with physical and mental challenges who are Borowiecki’s other, non- Senators teammates — and he their honorary captain. 1173968 Websites She retired from the national team in 2013 as its record holder in appearances by a goalie (89) and wins (64). St-Pierre also finished with a 1.17 GAA, .939 SVV% and 29 shutouts, the first two marks sitting second to just those attained by Sami Jo Small among Canadian goalies with five Sportsnet.ca / How Chateauguay's Kim St-Pierre broke barriers for or more games under their belt — although St-Pierre played in 32 more. Olympic dreams Kim-St-Pierre

Despite all the accolades, that first gold-medal game — when her Mike Shulman | @ByMikeShulman January 31, 2020, 3:19 PM girlhood dream came true — remains the sweetest.

“When you actually get to your first Olympic Games, it’s very crazy. Like the opening ceremonies that I used to watch on TV — now I was able to “You don’t want to lose to a girl.” walk in the stadium when they would call Canada,” reflected St-Pierre. Kim St-Pierre remembers opponents lobbing insults, using her presence “And we had lost like eight games in a row in preparation against the in net to motivate each other and trying to get in her head. U.S. team, so there was a lot of pressure, a lot of stress, but once you get there and you’re able to be the starting goalie for this final game She remembers the coach who posted a newspaper article about her in against the U.S.A. in Salt Lake City, it was so amazing to win this game.” his dressing room so his boys could take turns slashing it with their sticks. With the gold medal around her neck, St-Pierre, who now lives in Montreal with her husband and two kids, returned to Chateauguay — She remembers the parents who accused her of stealing a boy’s spot on where her parents still reside — for a celebration with a few thousand her team. locals in the old arena.

But none of it stopped her. Despite being that girl — the only one in the While St-Pierre’s journey up the ranks of Chateauguay’s minor-hockey Chateauguay minor hockey association at the time — she would not be system wasn’t without its difficulties — with most of the animosity coming shaken in her drive to be the best. from other teams — she believes she always had the support of the hockey community. It was hard for St-Pierre at times, sure — as well as for her parents — but all the jealousy, malice and, undoubtedly, sexism also served as “Even if I was a girl, they believed in me and they gave me the fodder for her aspirations. opportunities to get better,” said St-Pierre of the association she played in until she was 18. She could’ve lashed out or quit, but St-Pierre wanted to prove them wrong and kept her sights locked on loftier goals than revenge. And she’s trying to replicate this web of support in her second career with the non-profit organization BOKS, which helps schools introduce children “I was never trying to be the first one to do this or be the only girl,” said to physical activity and tries to keep them active. the three-time gold-medal-winning goaltender for Team Canada, who moved to the Montreal suburb, where there were no girls’ leagues, in St-Pierre is often on the ground encouraging kids — especially young Grade 4. “No. For me, it was just about being so competitive. I wanted to girls who too often drop out of sports — to find something they love, like play at the highest level I could.” she did with hockey, and to stick with it.

But she didn’t do it alone. Growing up in Chateauguay, Que. — where “When I go into schools, I say, ‘I thought I was an alien,’ because I Rogers Hometown Hockey makes a stop this week — her dad, Andre, a couldn’t see any other girls playing hockey,” she said. “But I think what defenceman who was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1970, and her made a difference is the support of my parents — like, my mom and dad mom, Louise, a phys-ed teacher and triathlete, always had her back. were always there supporting me and being there for me — and all my teammates, too.” Andre even took up goaltending, learning everything he could about the position so he could help coach her. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2020 Celebrate Our Community. Celebrate Our Game.

She also had unwavering support from her teammates and coaches.

“They took good care of me and they gave me all the opportunities to play at the highest level,” said the 41-year-old St-Pierre, now retired. “I played mostly with all the same guys from my age and they were all like little brothers to me.”

With no professional women’s hockey players to idolize, St-Pierre bled the blue, blanc et rouge of the nearby Montreal Canadiens.

She wanted a career in high-level athletics, but, ironically, she never counted on hockey being part of the equation.

“My dream when I was younger was to go to the Olympics. I had said once on a local TV station, ‘I want to go to the Olympics in every sport but hockey,’ because hockey was not for girls back then,” recalled St- Pierre, who also excelled in soccer and softball. “So it’s funny that I was able to succeed in women’s hockey.”

Succeed is a massive understatement.

St-Pierre went on to star for the University of McGill, where she broke more barriers by becoming the first woman in U Sports history to win a men’s game. She then backstopped Canada to its first-ever gold medal in women’s hockey — and first of four straight — at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. She was named top goalie at the tournament after compiling a 1.25 goals-against average, 93.59 save percentage and two shutouts as Canada narrowly edged the U.S. 3–2 in the final.

St-Pierre won two more gold medals (2006 and 2010), five world championships — picking up top goalie honours in 2001 and 2004 — and became a member of the Triple Gold Club after capturing the now- defunct CWHL’s Clarkson Cup with the Montreal Stars in 2009 and 2011. 1173969 Websites "With our style of play and how we're moving the puck around, we try and keep the puck as much as we can," Keefe said, "keep it in the hands of the good players more often."

TSN.CA / Tireless Marner brings boundless energy to Maple Leafs lineup Indefatigable Marner always giving Keefe ''the eyes'' on the bench

Sheldon Keefe has Mitch Marner playing more than 22 minutes a night since taking over as head coach of the Leafs, which is almost two Mark Masters minutes more than what he was getting under Mike Babcock. Mark Masters has more on how Marner has convinced his new coach to get

him out more. TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes --- on the Maple Leafs, who practised at Ford Performance Centre on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Tavares has been relatively quiet since returning from the bye week Arena. failing to hit the scoresheet in Nashville and Dallas. He was also held pointless in a loss to the Blackhawks before the break. Mitch Marner plays on Toronto's top line, top penalty kill unit and top power play unit, which doesn't leave a lot of time to rest during games. "Certainly, you know, I'd like to be more productive and continue to raise Does he ever get tired? my game," Tavares said. "I think coming off the break, I haven't maybe been quite as sharp as I'd like to be. I feel like at times I've done a lot of "It's a great question, because it doesn't appear that he does, frankly," good things in good stretches and just haven't been able to finish plays said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. "He's very, very smart with how he off and be rewarded." conserves his energy, seems to be in great shape and seems to be able to go forever." TSN's Kristen Shilton has more on the captain's dry spell here.

Marner is averaging 22:03 of ice time per game since Keefe took over Marner was asked what he's seen from Tavares of late. behind the bench, which is an increase of 1:42 from what he was getting under Mike Babcock. Among forwards, only Connor McDavid (22:10), "He keeps us calm and collected through the room, through the bench, Leon Draisaitl (22:19) and Jack Eichel (22:44) are seeing the ice more so he's done great in that aspect," Marner said, "and he's still creating since Marner returned from an ankle injury on Dec. 4. near a point a game ... He means a lot to this locker room and everyone knows that in this locker room. We stick together in here. We don't really On the Leafs only Morgan Rielly, a defenceman, has averaged more ice try and read too much of the outside noise and this place can get a little time per game under Keefe. So, we asked the man himself, does Marner crazy and will turn on people real quick and we know that so we stay ever get tired? close with each other and we don't let anything bother us."

"No," the 22-year-old said with a chuckle. "I mean, I don't know. It doesn't Tavares is averaging 0.93 points per game this season, which is down feel like it sometimes, but there's obviously shifts out there where you get only slightly from 1.07 last year. trapped in your own zone or something like that and you need to take a little breath and relax so there's definitely times when it happens. I try to ''I'd like to be more productive'': Tavares admits he's not as sharp since just make sure my conditioning throughout the year is at the top level." break

Marner is making the most of his minutes with 32 points in 22 games Maple Leafs captain John Tavares admits that he'd like to be more since the coaching change. That clip of 1.45 points per game is behind productive and continue to raise his game, and says he's focused on only Sidney Crosby (1.6, but only in five games), Artemi Panarin (1.55) overcoming whatever challenges he's facing. and Nathan MacKinnon (1.46) in the games since Nov. 20. --- And there's no sign of Marner wearing down. In fact, he's always looking On Saturday night Jason Spezza will get his first taste of the Battle of for more. Ontario since signing with Toronto in the summer. The veteran forward "He gives you the little look over his shoulder wondering if he's next or, if was a scratch on opening night when the Leafs beat the Senators, but he's not, 'Why aren't I?’ kind of thing," Keefe said with a smile. "But those since the coaching change the 36-year-old has consistently dressed. are the cues you look for from players, especially your best guys, Keefe says he appreciates the veteran presence noting that Spezza because you're trying to gauge, are they tired? Sometimes if they're tired seems to have a good rapport with many referees. they don’t want the next shift and they're telling you by not giving you the "It’s just important to treat people as people," Spezza said of his eye contact or you just see their back moving a little bit because they still approach. "I think that’s always been something I've been cognizant of. I haven’t quite caught their breath, those are all the little things you're get into it with refs sometimes, but there's a human element to it too and I looking at. So, when a player is giving you the eyes he’s telling you, 'I'm understand that. Those guys work extremely hard, they travel, they go ready so don't slow this down any more, let get me going.'" through a grind and I respect that and usually those guys love the game, "It's more just so he knows he doesn’t have to sit our line or wait for our that’s why they're doing it. So, try to have a good relationship. You get to line," Marner said. "It's just after a PK or something like that or if he thinks know guys over the years. You see a lot of the same faces. There's been I'm still tired from that, I just try and give an eye or talk to (assistant coach a lot of turnover lately so there’s a lot of guys I don’t know, but the guys Paul McFarland) and let him know, 'I'm good to go.'" that have been around you just form relationships with. We've all been doing the same thing for a long time and you treat them like people, say It's not just Marner getting more minutes. John Tavares and Auston 'Hi' to them after games and I think it goes a long way." Matthews are also taking more shifts under Keefe. And the players say it's a big help in unleashing their offence. During Monday's game in Nashville, Spezza was seen sharing a laugh with linesman Scott Driscoll during a break in play. "We're trying to take advantage of that," said Matthews, who's up 55 seconds per game. "We're playing a little bit more throughout the games Spezza chatting it up during a break. #LeafsForever so, as offensive players, that's everything you want, right. So, it's what pic.twitter.com/lf08uZ23RE you do with that opportunity and we've been trying to make the most of — Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) January 28, 2020 it." "Me and Scottie go way back," Spezza said. "He's one of my favourite Matthews has 22 goals in 28 games under Keefe, which leads the league guys. He's closing in on retirement and we were having a chat and I think in that stretch. he said he's going to have 1,850 (games) by the end of it and that's "Being out on the ice more you get more opportunities to score," Marner pretty impressive and he's cramming games in because he's retiring and said. "And I think you get used to playing against certain people and kind he’s not taking a break. He's a big boy, but gets around the ice still pretty of find out their tendencies and I think it helps out a lot." good. He's a great guy and someone I've enjoyed over the years and gotten into it with him lots at times, but he's a guy who's really old school Keefe notes that his newly installed system works best when the best and you can laugh about it three shifts later so one of my favourite guys, players are on the ice and in a groove. for sure." ---

Travis Dermott (sick) missed practice.

"I'm unsure," said Keefe when asked about the defenceman's status for Saturday’s tilt with Ottawa. "We got to see. He was ill and didn't come into the building today."

Martin Marincin will draw in if Dermott is unavailable.

Keefe confirmed that Michael Hutchinson will play against the Senators, his first start since Jan. 4.

Leafs Ice Chips: Dermott questionable with illness; Hutchinson starts vs. Sens

The Maple Leafs practiced in Toronto on Friday but Travis Dermott was not on the ice, as the defenceman is dealing with an illness. Mark Masters has more.

---

Lines at Friday's practice:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner

Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander

Johnsson - Engvall - Kapanen

Moore - Gauthier - Spezza

Timashov

Muzzin - Holl

Marincin - Barrie

Sandin - Ceci

Gravel

Hutchinson

Andersen

Injured: Rielly, Mikheyev

Sick: Dermott

TSN.CA LOADED: 02.01.2020 1173970 Websites mentality just sets the tone for our team, even if he may be going through a tough stretch offensively.”

Marner balks at the idea of Tavares having been curtailed offensively at TSN.CA / John Tavares staying focused through scoring slump all, citing the breadth of his work this season as reason to not overanalyze the last couple of weeks.

“He’s still creating near a point a game; he’s done great, I think still, on Kristen Shilton the ice,” Marner said. “He means a lot to this locker room. We stick together in here. This place can get a little crazy and will turn on people

real quick, and we know that so we stay close with each other and we TORONTO – After the final whistle had blown on the Maple Leafs’ Friday don’t let anything bother us.” afternoon practice and he’d led teammates in a stretch, John Tavares The fact Toronto has put together consecutive victories out of the All- went back to work firing one-timers from assistant coach Paul McFarland Star break also helps keep pressure off Tavares to immediately remedy into an empty net. his streaky scoring. And while there may only be one puck to go around It’s not unusual to see the Leafs' captain linger on the ice, but with only for the Leafs, Keefe is confident it's Tavares who will be leading the three goals in his past 10 games, Tavares is especially focused on charge for Toronto's offence soon enough. increasing his offensive output – sooner rather than later. “It’s going to hit a point here where some of our other guys will cool off, “Certainly I'd like to be more productive and continue to raise my game,” and then [Tavares will] heat up,” Keefe said. “I think that's just the way it'll Tavares said on Friday. “I think coming off the [All-Star] break, I haven't work.” maybe been quite as sharp as I'd like to be. I feel like at times I've done a TSN.CA LOADED: 02.01.2020 lot of good things in good stretches and just haven't been able to finish plays off and be rewarded. But [I want to] continue to just find a level I can be consistent at in all areas.”

It’s consistency that has eluded Tavares most this season, despite his solid offensive totals. Tavares has pumped out 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) over 44 games, but his production has slowed since the calendar turned to 2020, with points in just three of his past nine games (three goals, three assists).

“Sometimes it's the way it goes,” Tavares shrugged. “Sometimes it's just a bounce here or there, just finishing off some plays, so it's just staying with it. Every day is a new day; you start again and go to work and just try to find ways to get better and adapt your game and overcome whatever the challenges are and look forward to the next opportunity.”

There have been more difficulties for Tavares to overcome this season compared to a year ago, when he set career-high totals in points (88) and goals (47). Tavares accomplished that with linemates Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner stapled to his side, but head coach Sheldon Keefe has had Tavares playing with a number of different wingers this year, most recently Alex Kerfoot and William Nylander.

Tavares also missed seven games earlier in the campaign with a broken finger, which Keefe said “disrupted his rhythm.”

“We're looking at different things with him,” Keefe explained of Tavares. “I think he obviously had great production last year and he's the type of player that would expect that would continue, but it doesn't always work that way. The reality is, there is only one puck.”

When Toronto has had possession lately, it’s been the players around Tavares finding the back of the net most often. Through the Leafs’ last 10 games, Marner has 13 points, Auston Matthews has 12, and Nylander has 11, but playing with the red-hot Swedish winger hasn’t helped Tavares hit mesh any more often himself.

That depth of scoring is why Keefe said focusing on any one player’s contributions doesn’t feel appropriate, especially where Tavares is concerned.

“We're trying to establish purpose with our play and how we play – both offensively and defensively – and he's leading the way for us in a lot of regards there,” Keefe said. “At six-on-five [in Dallas on Wednesday], he won two massive faceoffs for us late in the game. [Yes], he wants to produce more, and we'd like him to find a way to get some of those chances to fall in because he is still getting a number of chances. But he does a lot of really good things for our team and sets us up for success with his approach every single day and we need that to continue.”

Tavares’ ability to remain steadfast in his preparation, regardless of how it translates to the scoresheet, is part of what Kerfoot has enjoyed most about playing with the 29-year-old, noting he was surprised by how level- headed Tavares can stay under any circumstance.

“He knows that there's stretches where you're not going to be as good,” Kerfoot said. “I think the one thing that he does probably better than anyone is that it doesn't change what he's going to do the next day; he still comes into the rink and works as hard as he can. That routine and 1173971 Websites Not every NHL manager would be on board with that potential change. “I personally feel we need to protect the CHL,” Blues GM Doug

Armstrong said. “We have had 19-year-olds [Europeans] in the AHL, but I TSN.CA / Friday Five: We’ve got ourselves a Rocket Richard Trophy feel they develop more being the alpha dog in the CHL if they are good race enough.”

Rest assured, this will be a major talking point at the NHL’s GM Meetings in Florida in early March. Frank Seravalli “There are special cases and that might make sense,” Canucks GM Jim Benning said. “But I haven’t had very good experiences with 19-year-olds in the AHL. It’s a tough league. Unless it’s a special case, I think it’s Welcome back to the Friday Five, where we point out quirks, quips and better for everyone’s development to play in junior and try to dominate questions that pop up throughout the week in the NHL season. against their own age instead of grown men. It reduces risk of injury and 1. The Great Eight has company they still have great coaching and strength and conditioning.”

Alex Ovechkin has won the Rocket Richard Trophy so many times, 3. Entry-level contract changes? taking home six in the last seven years, that it typically hasn’t been much If the next NHL-CHL agreement does allow for all 19-year-old prospects of an intriguing award in recent years. to play in the AHL, does that mean there should also be changes to the But we’ve got ourselves a Rocket race this season - and it’s the first time entry-level contract slide system? it’s been a three-man race at this juncture of the season since 2006-07, Maple Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin is who some may point to as a when Vincent Lecavalier, Dany Heatley and Teemu Selanne battled it out poster boy for change. Sandin, 19, just burned the first year on his rookie to the finish. deal by playing his 10th NHL game of the season on Monday in Ovechkin and Auston Matthews have closed the gap on David Pastrnak Nashville. to form a three-headed monster atop the goal race. The amazing thing is Let’s say, for illustration purposes, that Sandin remained at nine games Pastrnak hasn’t even really slowed down; he has nine goals in his last 12 played and finished out the year in the AHL. Since Sandin was drafted games and is on pace for 60. Matthews has 20 goals in his past 21 from Sweden he was eligible for the AHL at age 18, where he played for games, on pace for 58, which would shatter Rick Vaive’s Maple Leafs the Marlies. The Leafs would have gotten two full seasons of pro hockey franchise record of 54. out of Sandin before even using a year on his contract. Meanwhile, Ovechkin has a staggering nine goals in his past four games. That would have essentially extended Sandin’s three-year deal into a He is on track for 57, which would be the second-highest total in his five-year deal. On a cap team, players producing at a high level on an career and his most since 2007-08. entry-level deal are absolutely critical to success. The Leafs would have Wouldn’t it be something if sitting out a game because he skipped All- had a fresh three seasons of Sandin at just an $894,167 cap hit starting Star weekend costs Ovechkin his ninth Rocket Richard? He has to be the next year. betting favourite, but he’s also the only one of the big three to not play It’s a quirk that makes rival teams unhappy. The player likely isn’t thrilled every game so far this season. In a race this close, that one game might with the system either, since he wouldn’t be accruing years of service mean something. while also delaying his eligibility for free agency. 2. Could we see more 19-year-olds in the AHL? The NHLPA declined to comment, saying it’s a matter that would be The NHL’s seven-year agreement with the Canadian Hockey League subject to collective bargaining. But it’s probably safe to say that players expires on June 30. The two sides haven’t begun formal negotiations yet, would likely be in favour of any system change that provides players or but one item that seems to be gaining momentum behind the scenes is their teams with additional options and flexibility. the idea of allowing 19-year-old prospects to be assigned to the AHL. 4. Bang for your Buck In the current agreement, players drafted from European clubs are the Speaking of contracts, it’s always fun to see where teams have found – only prospects permitted to play in the AHL as teenagers. This has been and misplaced – value in the salary cap world, thanks to a hot-button topic for years in major junior circles, because taking away CapFriendly.com. 19-year-olds means taking away star players. Best bang for buck But some NHL GMs would like to find a more suitable landing spot for players who are stuck in between – those with not much left to (Lowest cost per point, non-entry level contract) accomplish in the CHL, but not quite ready for the bright lights of the NHL. 1. D Anthony DeAngelo, N.Y. Rangers - $25,000 (37 points, $925,000)

Players like Barrett Hayton (Arizona), who is still recovering from his 2. RW Conor Garland, Arizona - $26,724 (29 points, $775,000) injury at the World Juniors, and Noah Dobson (N.Y. Islanders) come to 3. LW Tyler Ennis, Ottawa - $27,586 (29 points, $800,000) mind. Dobson is playing regularly now, but both players have sat for stretches this season as NHL healthy scratches. They couldn’t be sent to 4. C Lucas Wallmark, Carolina - $30,682 (22 points, $675,000) the AHL, only back to junior. 5. LW Robby Fabbri, Detroit - $37,500 (24 points, $900,000) “You bet I’d like to have more say over a high pick if I had that option,” one Eastern Conference GM said Friday. “I think a lot of my counterparts No surprise that Elias Pettersson has provided to most points among would at least like to have the ability to keep that player in our system, entry-level players, cashing in at $17,788 per each one of his 52 points. with our coaches and our development and training staff working with On the flip side, there has been no shortage of ugly contracts. Sergei him on a daily basis, rather than in junior.” Bobrovsky, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn all haven’t lived up to their OHL commissioner and former CHL president Dave Branch said Friday huge cap hits. But they don’t make the cut on this list. that he expects to arrange a “date and time” with the NHL to discuss the Worst bang for buck next agreement. (Highest cost per point, non-entry level contracts) “We have not had any discussion and out of fairness to the process, I wouldn’t want to speak out of turn,” Branch said. “I think we all have 1. D Brent Seabrook, Chicago - $1.78 million (4 points, $6.88 million) common interests here. We’ll just see what happens here.” 2. LW Justin Abdelkader, Detroit - $1.42 million (3 points, $4.25 million) The NHL is scheduled to write the CHL a cheque for $12.6 million in total grants this season, according to a copy of the agreement. The NHL is 3. D Nick Jensen, Washington - $833,333 (3 points, $2.5 million) also required to pay an additional $60,000 per skater and $75,000 per 4. D P.K. Subban, New Jersey - $818,181 (11 points, $9 million) goaltender for major junior- eligible players who play in the NHL instead. 5. C Frans Nielsen, Detroit - $750,000 (7 points, $5.25 million)

5. Could Georgiev stay in New York?

The next TSN Trade Bait Board will be released on Monday, three weeks before TradeCentre airs. One of the more intriguing names on the most recent board was New York Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev at No. 5.

He’s likely to slide down on the board on Monday. While it’s certainly possible Georgiev is dealt ahead of Feb. 24, the Rangers seem to be comfortable finishing out the season with three goalies on the roster. That would push a decision to next season’s tandem to the summer – and raise an eyebrow about Henrik Lundqvist’s status.

Lundqvist, 37, played just two games in the month of January. He has one season remaining at $8.5 million. The Rangers certainly would not push a franchise icon out the door, one who has by all accounts handled this transition well. But Lundqvist is one of the ultimate competitors and if he wants to start elsewhere next season, he could make that be known.

New York would then have its goaltending tandem of the future set in Igor Shesterkin and Georgiev, if Lundqvist decided to move on.

Either way, there will be a good goaltender up for grabs on Broadway, whether it’s now, in the summer, or in the 2021 Expansion Draft. Stay tuned.

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USA TODAY / Alex Ovechkin scores goals No. 694 and 695 to pass Mark Messier for eighth all-time

Mike Brehm

No. 8 is now No. 8 on the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin scored two goals against the Ottawa Senators Friday night -- the 694th and 695th of his career -- to move past Hall of Famer Mark Messier for sole possession of eighth place.

Messier needed 1,756 regular-season games to reach his 694 career goals. Ovechkin was playing in his 1,135th game.

"It's a good number," Ovechkin told reporters after the game. "It's nice to be in that company. Obviously, lots of legends up there."

Ovechkin fired a wrist shot past Senators goalie Marcus Hogberg midway through the second period to tie Messier.

He added an empty-net goal in the third period for a 5-3 win.

That gives Ovechkin 11 goals in his last five games. According to the NHL, Ovechkin became the second player in NHL history 34 or older to score 11 goals in a span of five appearances, joining Joe Mullen with the Pittsburgh Penguins in December 1991.

Next up on the list is Mike Gartner at 708 goals. No. 1 Wayne Gretzky is 199 goals ahead.

Ovechkin had plenty of opportunity Friday night with 11 shots.

"Every time they had a chance to find me out there, they try to do it," he said of his linemates. "Obviously, I have plenty of chances today to score more, but I'll take two and move forward."

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