SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/7/2019 1164932 Ducks take their best shots but can’t overcome Capitals 1164967 Valeri Nichushkin resurrecting his NHL career with 1164933 Coach Eakins explains why young Ducks are Avalanche aboard I-5 shuttle 1164968 The red hot Avalanche look to extend winning streak in 1164934 The fall of Mike Babcock might be too steep for another Boston rise 1164969 Avalanche Prospect Portfolio: WJC looms 1164935 Coyotes fall to Penguins in Phil Kessel's return to 1164971 Rangers 3, Blue Jackets 2 | 3-2-1 breakdown Pittsburgh 1164972 Aleksi Saarela gets fresh start with Panthers as Bobrovsky 1164936 Taylor Hall trade rumors: Arizona Coyotes in middle of returns to face Blue Jackets star speculation 1164973 Filling a -shaped hole in the Blue Jackets 1164937 Coyotes in 1st place of Pacific Division after road victory lineup against Flyers 1164974 Portzline: Artemi Panarin’s triumphant return, and other 1164938 Neutral Zone: Examining the Coyotes’ place in the Taylor observations from the Blue Jackets’ loss to the Range Hall sweepstakes, Kessel’s return and more 1164975 Filip Zadina is back with the Detroit Red Wings. Here's 1164939 could rejoin Bruins lineup Monday how long he might stay 1164940 A stunning comeback salvaged a for the Bruins 1164976 says he drank beer on bench after Mike 1164941 Chris Wagner has been perfect fit with Bruins Babcock benched him at Winter Classic 1164942 Bruins prepared for Colorado rookie defenseman Cale 1164977 Detroit sports are terrible. But one day, it will make Makar’s return to the Garden winning that much sweeter 1164943 Complacency and comfort are real concerns for a Bruins 1164978 Red Wings' Filip Zadina: There's pressure to win, not team running away with division perform individually 1164944 Bruins' Patrice Bergeron (lower body) out Saturday 1164979 Eric Tangradi, key player in Griffins’ 2017 Calder Cup title, against Colorado Avalanche rejoins the team 1164945 John Moore returns to Bruins lineup, and shows the way 1164980 Why Filip Zadina isn’t playing on Red Wings’ top line to stand up for David Pastrnak 1164981 Chris Chelios spent 2009 Winter Classic game drinking 1164946 How Charlie Coyle’s deal, and expansion Seattle’s arrival, beer on the bench because of Mike Babcock touch Torey Krug’s future 1164982 JONES: Oilers bounce back with win over the Kings 1164947 Jack Eichel making his points on hottest streak of his 1164983 Oilers powerplay gets job done against career 1164984 Drew Doughty would jump at chance to team up with 1164948 Andrew Oglevie developing into one of Sabres' top Connor McDavid on an Olympic squad forward prospects 1164985 Edmonton Oilers loving increased pressure from Western 1164949 Punchless power play is a crisis for the Sabres rivals 1164986 rewarded for his bets on the resilience of Flames Mikko Koskinen, Oilers 1164950 Flames teammates thrilled to see Milan Lucic end scoring 1164987 ‘She makes me happy’: With call-up to Maple Leafs, drought Pontus Aberg becomes one of NHL’s rare single fathers 1164951 Weight lifted off Gaudreau's shoulders with against 1164988 Lowetide: How many value contracts do the Oilers have Sabres and are any more on the way? 1164952 ‘He’s probably one of the cockiest guys on the ice’: On Rasmus Andersson’s bold path to becoming an NHL regula 1164989 Aleksi Saarela gets fresh start with Panthers as Bobrovsky returns to face Blue Jackets 1164953 Canes to move into new practice rink in 2020 and leave Los Angeles Kings Raleigh Center Ice 1164990 Kings cannot overcome slow start in loss to Oilers 1164954 Hurricanes host the Wild following shootout victory 1164991 Oilers hand Kings their 10th straight road loss 1164955 New practice facility will be a source of pride for the 1164992 Whicker: The fall of Mike Babcock might be too steep for Hurricanes — and a potential tournament destination another rise 1164993 Kings repeat the same story, lose another close game on the road 1164956 , and Kirby Dach convert in 1164994 SAN JOSE 9, 2 – JONNY BRODZINSKI & the shootout as the Blackhawks top the Devils 2-1 for t STOTHERS 1164957 Zack Smith believes fighting has a place in hockey — but 1164995 DECEMBER 6 RAPID REACTION: OILERS 2, KINGS 1 that doesn’t mean the Blackhawks forward wants to hur 1164996 GAME 30: LOS ANGELES AT EDMONTON 1164958 Blackhawks’ Zack Smith wants assistant coach Marc 1164997 DECEMBER 6: PROJECTED LINEUPS; KEMPE Crawford to stay with the team: ‘Hopefully it’s not just mak STRONG ON THE PUCK; IMPROVING STARTS 1164959 Blackhawks place Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw on 1164998 PREVIEW – ONTARIO VS. SAN JOSE, 12/6 injured reserve 1164960 Blackhawks edge Devils as Alex DeBrincat’s long-awaited awakening takes second step 1164961 As Blackhawks endure concussion plague, ‘symptom nonlinearity’ creates an extra challenge 1164962 Chicago hosts Arizona after shootout victory 1164963 Dach scores shootout winner, Blackhawks beat Devils 2-1 1164964 Crawford comes up big for 250th win 1164965 5 Takeaways: Blackhawks win 2-1 in shootout vs. Devils 1164999 Gameday preview: Wild at Carolina 1165029 Despite better all-around effort, Rangers lose on late goal 1165000 Wild recalls Nico Sturm; moves Mikko Koivu and Greg 1165030 Artemi Panarin leads Rangers to victory over Blue Jackets Pateryn to injured reserve in return to Columbus 1165001 With 20 of first 30 away from the X, the Wild turned into 1165031 David Quinn gives Marc Staal high marks in Rangers road warriors return 1165002 Wild and ? Suddenly, the notion isn't so far- 1165032 Rangers are winning with every Alexandar Georgiev fetched minute 1165003 Wild place Mikko Koivu on IR, recall Nico Sturm from the 1165033 Rangers give up late goal in tough loss to Canadiens minors 1165034 Rangers give up winning goal with 1:07 left in third period, 1165004 What the Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek does to make opponents fall to Canadiens want to rip his head off 1165035 Rangers defenseman Marc Staal returns to lineup after missing 13 games Canadiens 1165036 Former Newsday beat writer Steve Zipay writes book on 1165005 In the Habs' Room: Line juggle pays off for Julien with late Rangers' history winner against Rangers 1165037 Some wins you steal, while others escape: Rangers suffer 1165006 Nate Thompson's last-minute winner puts Canadiens over through expected growing pains Rangers 1165038 What we can learn from some of the Rangers’ worst 1165007 Nick Suzuki moves back to centre to replace concussed defensive breakdowns Kotkaniemi 1165008 What the Puck: Harsh reality sets in for Canadiens 1165009 Canadiens at New York Rangers: Five things you should 1165039 WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could know return, Hart's at home and a new Flyers recipe 1165010 How Brett Kulak broke the circle of self-doubt and found 1165040 LOGAN'S RUN: Brown may be in jeopardy of demotion his game when the Canadiens needed him after playing five minutes against Oilers 1165011 Video Review: Nate Thompson plays the hero with a late 1165041 GAME DAY: Senators at Flyers game-winner against the Rangers 1165042 Sens not talking after accusations he took children from ex-wife in Russia 1165043 Senators’ Brady Tkachuk, a Joel Embiid super fan, can’t 1165012 Peter Laviolette denies allegations he bullied, abused quit ‘Trust the Process’ players while coaching Flyers 1165013 Predators' Roman Josi on PK Subban's return to Nashville: Expect 'some chirping for sure' 1165044 Flyers look to revive a power play that has foundered 1165014 Peter Laviolette addresses incident, denies he despite team’s hot streak bullied players 1165045 New-look Flyers: The team that laughs together wins 1165015 ‘This is the player I am. This is the person I am’: Kyle together | Sam Carchidi Turris’ confidence is overpowering his frustration 1165046 Flyers’ 5-game winning streak comes to an end as goalie Darcy Kuemper shines for Coyotes New Jersey Devils 1165047 Alain Vigneault has kept the surging Flyers fresh. Will it 1165016 Devils drop 5-round shootout to Blackhawks for 4th pay off in the playoffs? | Marcus Hayes straight loss 1165048 From 199 to the NHL: Voorhees' Cayden Primeau makes 1165017 No, Devils’ Jack Hughes won’t go play in World Junior debut for Championships 1165018 Devils’ lines, pairings vs. Blackhawks (12/6/19) | Jack Hughes returns; Connor Carrick on AHL loan 1165049 Empty Thoughts: Penguins 2, Coyotes 0 1165019 What Devils’ interim coach Alain Nasreddine changed in 1165050 Minor league report: Pierre-Olivier Joseph scores first goal 1st practice with Penguins in loss 1165020 NJ Devils' P.K. Subban returns to Nashville amid struggles 1165051 Phil Kessel appreciated a warm welcome back from the 1165021 NJ Devils projected lineup: Jack Hughes returns to action Penguins vs. Blackhawks 1165052 Tristan Jarry, Penguins record second straight shutout 1165022 Devils fall in shootout as interim coach remains winless against Coyotes 1165023 Devils’ P.K. Subban is marketing everything except his 1165053 Penguins to start Tristan Jarry against Coyotes own game 1165054 Penguins’ remaining defensemen are embracing bigger minutes 1165055 Mark Madden: There’s no goalie controversy; Matt Murray 1165025 Bad behavior of some NHL coaches has created fallout for is the Penguins’ No. 1 all, including good guys such as Barry Trotz 1165056 Penguins activate Justin Schultz from IR, assign Zach 1165026 Jordan Eberle believes Islanders' approach is same on Trotman to AHL road as at home 1165057 Kessel Comeback: Phil Kessel returns to Pittsburgh with 1165027 Duhatschek Notebook: Taylor Hall’s worth as a deadline 1st-place Coyotes rental and how the Islanders created a winning culture 1165058 Phil Kessel on Pittsburgh: 'I love this city' 1165028 ‘It’s a mindset’: What’s behind Anthony Beauvillier’s 1165059 On the night Phil Kessel returned, Penguins goalie Tristan breakout with the Islanders Jarry stole the show 1165060 Nearly 400 miles apart, Zach Trotman and his wife make 'crazy' marriage work 1165061 Bryan Rust, Justin Schultz, Jack Johnson return to Penguins lineup 1165062 Penguins fans love Phil Kessel — and they’ll love him forever 1165063 Marshall: A closer look at the Penguins’ goaltending situation Websites 1165064 San Jose Sharks search for ways to fix anemic power play 1165102 The Athletic / Peter Laviolette addresses Ville Leino 1165065 Hurricanes poke fun at Petr Mrazek after fighting Sharks' incident, denies he bullied players Joe Thornton 1165103 .ca / Canadiens' Carey Price continues to show poor November was anomaly St Louis Blues 1165104 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers win over Kings shows team can win 1165066 Talent, toughness, tightness make the Blues road warriors with defence too 1165067 Blues notebook: Turns out the party wasn't over as 1165105 Sportsnet.ca / 10 potential backup goalie targets for the Berube accepts another award Maple Leafs 1165068 Blues updates: Sundqvist, Steen nearing return, but not 1165106 Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Kings' Drew Doughty on defending Saturday against McDavid and Draisaitl 1165069 DGB Grab Bag: Is your terrible NHL team secretly the next 1165107 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Ferland: 'Got to be smarter' after Blues? Take the quiz and find out fight leads to concussion 1165070 Blues’ defense-first mentality helps, but netminders Jordan 1165108 Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: How have the Maple Binnington and Jake Allen are carrying this team Leafs changed under Keefe? 1165109 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Pontus Aberg finding balance between parenthood, hockey 1165071 Lightning not panicking but need to find ‘killer instinct’ 1165110 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi resting at 1165072 Lightning celebrate their 29th birthday with 90’s Night home with concussion 1165073 Why the Lightning’s ‘unacceptable’ pride in D-zone against 1165111 TSN.CA / : 'The puck's just not going the Wild was concerning in...' 1165112 USA TODAY / Carolina Hurricanes put Petr Mrazek body Maple Leafs outline on ice at practice after goalie was punched by Jo 1165074 Confident regains his scoring touch, and his Maple Leaf teammates couldn’t be happier 1165075 Maple Leafs place Andreas Johnsson on long-term injury 1165094 Antropov forever tied to Jets 2.0 list 1165095 Far from Ducky, but determined 1165076 Aberg hopes his A-game translates after surprise call-up 1165096 Solid killing opens door for Jets' scrappy third- from Leafs with Johnsson down period rally 1165077 The Leafs have talent to burn in a season that could go up 1165097 Grunt work has Jets sitting pretty in flames — but don’t blame Nylander 1165098 ‘He’s skating like a shooter’: How Nikolaj Ehlers has grown 1165078 Saturday NHL preview: at St. Louis into the Jets’ top goal scorer Blues 1165079 Game Day: Maple Leafs at Blues 1165080 Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keith says Auston Matthews SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 doing his best 1165081 Leafs recall Pontus Aberg as an A-1 sub for injured Johnsson 1165082 Maple Leafs place Andreas Johnsson on IR, recall three 1165083 ‘She makes me happy’: With call-up to Maple Leafs, Pontus Aberg becomes one of NHL’s rare single fathers 1165084 Bourne: The luxury of ‘getting comfortable’ and the challenge ahead for a team like the Maple Leafs 1165085 With former Leafs defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo aboard, TSN 1050 sees radio ratings gains in Toronto 1165086 Mirtle: Should the Maple Leafs pursue Alex Pietrangelo to fix their blue line, now or in the summer? Canucks 1165099 Canucks could have more bark for Buffalo as Beagle, Ferland might play 1165100 Canucks: Naslund isn't a fan of getting back at coaches, but understands Sopel 1165101 Why Quinn Hughes will emerge as the Calder front-runner — surpassing Cale Makar 1165087 Nate Schmidt impresses in OT shift against Islanders’ Mathew Barzal Capitals 1165088 Caps keep grinding, finish four-game road trip with four wins 1165089 As Capitals thrive, the bond strengthens between T.J. Oshie and Jakub Vrana 1165090 Alex Ovechkin jokes he'll retire if he passes Wayne Gretzky on all-time scoring list 1165091 4 things to know for Caps-Ducks: Is there any bad blood? 1165092 Capitals Prospect Report: 3 Caps prospects earn invites to national junior team camps 1165093 Caps’ Jakub Vrana is impossible to ignore right now: ‘I know my potential’ 1164932 Anaheim Ducks Gudas wasn’t penalized for the hit, but the Ducks’ Nicolas Deslauriers did what he could to stand up for Ritchie by pummeling the Capitals’ defenseman in a one-sided fight midway through the second period. Ducks take their best shots but can’t overcome Capitals Again, Deslauriers received additional punishment, drawing a 10-minute misconduct.

Eakins took issue with the extra penalty, which was apparently for By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 10:05 pm | Deslauriers’ swipe at Vrana after the fight with Gudas had ended. UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 11:38 PM Several Capitals, including Vrana, moved toward Deslauriers and began chirping at him. Vrana just happened to be the closest to Deslauriers.

“The fight’s over, players are supposed to clear the area, Vrana came ANAHEIM — There was barely a ripple when it began, but it was there, over and started talking away and ‘Des’ took a swipe at him,” Eakins said lying just below the calm surface. After a tame first period, the Ducks and when asked for his view of the proceedings. “I didn’t think it was a big reached full boil in the opening minutes of the deal and, suddenly, we’re nailed again.” second, their antagonism on display for all to see Friday at Honda Center. Eakins also was upset about Gudas’ hit on Ritchie, which he believed to be low and late. The date had been circled on the Ducks’ calendars since the Capitals’ Garnet Hathaway spit on Erik Gudbranson during a brawl in last month’s “It seems to be something that happens quite regularly from that young game in Washington. In the days leading up to the rematch, the Ducks man, and a player I’ve admired going back to when he used to play in talked publicly about simply winning the game and delivering a payback Norfolk (Virginia) in the American League,” Eakins said. “There’s no that way. reason for that hit there. We’ve given up the puck. Ritchie doesn’t have the puck. It wasn’t to be, though. “All of a sudden, it’s a hip into his knee.” The Ducks dropped a 3-2 decision to the NHL-leading Capitals, but they delivered a bit of old-time hockey justice. The ice was no place for the Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.07.2019 faint of heart over the course of the final two hotly-contested periods, when the teams traded punches, hard hits and goals.

“I thought it was a great game,” Ducks coach . “We were a true team. The guys were all in it together. Lots of talk on the bench. Lots of talk in between periods. Lots of positives. It was a true team effort, and those are heartbreaking when you can’t get the win.”

Gudbranson delivered a couple of shots to Hathaway during a brief third- period fight, their second attempt to settle their differences after linesmen Devin Berg and Bevan Mills rushed in to keep them separated in the second period. Each player was given a 10-minute misconduct after their first try.

But, in a curious bit of officiating, Gudbranson was given an extra minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Gudbranson later said he was told it was because Hathaway didn’t wish to fight despite tossing aside his stick and landing a punch before they could be separated.

It ended up costing the Ducks a goal. Evgeny Kuznetsov’s power-play goal at 5:10 of the second staked the Capitals to a 2-0 lead, after Travis Boyd had scored a first-period goal on a pinball from a sharp angle nine minutes into the game.

The Ducks would tie it 2-2 on goals by Ryan Getzlaf in the second period and Adam Henrique in the third, but Jakub Vrana’s goal at 1:37 of the final period proved to be the decider, propelling Washington to its 22nd victory in its 31st game of the season.

Gudbranson seethed after the game. He believed the linesmen should not have interceded before he and Hathaway could fight in the second period. Gudbranson shrugged off Hathaway’s decision to hit the ice and avoid an extended battle in the third. Gudbranson stands 6-foot-5; Hathaway is listed at 6-3.

Above all, Gudbranson believed Hathaway had to answer for the spitting incident Nov. 18.

“The way he handled it tonight, I never would have done that, never in a million years,” Gudbranson said. “Actually, I’ve never met another hockey player who would have handled that situation the way he did tonight. He ended up fighting and I’ll give him that.

“He dropped his gloves, I’ll give him that, but he could have gotten it over with, I think. The guy should stand up and be a man about it. Honestly, I can’t leave satisfied that he did that today. That’s the frustrating part about it, regardless of what happened in the third period.”

In addition to losing the game, the Ducks also lost left wing Nick Ritchie to an apparent knee injury after a first-period hip check by the Capitals’ Radko Gudas. TV replays showed Ritchie’s knee bent in an unnatural way as Gudas hit him in the corner, behind the play.

Ritchie was ruled out for the rest of the game.

“I don’t have the official (report), but it does not look very good,” Eakins said. 1164933 Anaheim Ducks

Coach Dallas Eakins explains why young Ducks are aboard I-5 shuttle

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 2:45 pm | UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 4:21 PM

ANAHEIM — When the Ducks reassigned left wing Max Jones to their AHL team, the San Diego Gulls, and recalled left wing Max Comtois and defenseman Josh Mahura earlier this week, it was not the latest in a series of moves designed to clog the already dense traffic on I-5.

There is a method to the Ducks’ madness.

Reassignments are not a sign a young player has failed to earn a spot on the Ducks’ roster and will no longer be considered a part of the NHL team’s future. What’s more, recalls shouldn’t be viewed as proof that a player has secured a permanent spot in the big club’s lineup.

For example, Ducks coach Dallas Eakins explained in detail why Jones was sent to San Diego, and it had nothing to do with goals or assists. The Ducks returned Jones, 21, to the Gulls because they wanted to develop his penalty-killing skills in a less-pressurized environment.

“We’d started working ‘Jonesy’ in on the penalty-kill,” Eakins said. “It’s something that he’s going to have to do. But this can’t just be about developing ‘Jonesy’ as a penalty-killer and keep him going out there because we’re also trying to win games, and we’ve got some excellent penalty-killers.”

That’s just one specific reason one particular player was reassigned to the Gulls. There are many others, including the fact that young players such as Jones, Comtois and Mahura are on their entry-level contracts and can be sent to the AHL without having to clear waivers, as veterans must.

There’s also good old-fashioned competition for jobs.

“That’s integral to any good organization,” Eakins said. “We need that internally.”

A reassignment also can reveal a player’s character and his confidence in his abilities.

“If you’ve played the game, you know what that feeling is like when they say you’re going to the American League,” Eakins said. “You’ve often heard that it’s for your best, the best interest of you. That is usually not what is going on in that young man’s brain. ‘How can this be good for me? I’m going to a lesser league.’ But it’s always quite interesting. When guys come back, that’s when it’s like, ‘Man, that was the best thing for me.’ You don’t know it until you’ve gone through it.”

Plus, there’s also the dues-paying aspect of playing in the AHL.

“Go look at Ryan Getzlaf,” Eakins said of the Ducks’ longtime . “I think he played 17 or 18 games that first year (2005-06). I think he played in the playoffs, too. It’s unbelievable how many guys play in that league. It’s certainly not beneath any of us to go and learn there.”

In fact, Getzlaf had eight goals and 25 assists in 17 games before he was recalled and later cemented his role as a key contributor on standout teams that would go on to the Western Conference finals that spring and win the the following season.

Eakins cautioned against writing off players sent to San Diego. The competition is ongoing.

“There’s competition there and there’s competition here,” he said. “There’s a number of things. Anybody who goes down, it does not mean they’re out of the plans. Guys you haven’t seen here yet, it doesn’t mean they’re out of the plans. The guys who are here, it doesn’t mean they’ve made it, either.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164934 Anaheim Ducks , who didn’t bring Babcock back to the Ducks because he felt Babcock was too nice, calls them “Greenpeace coaches.” Canadian streets are full of cabs driven by such ex-coaches.

The fall of Mike Babcock might be too steep for another rise Now the players are richer and more powerful. They scare young executives. They know they can get coaches fired. The line has moved. How do you find it?

By MARK WHICKER | PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 12:25 pm | “The line between right and wrong is pretty clear,” said Todd McLellan, UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 12:25 PM the Kings’ coach. “Sometimes feelings are hurt when you’re pushing a player to get more out of their toolbox, so to speak. I care a lot more

about the players respecting me than liking me. It’s easy to be liked, but Mike Babcock has coached a Stanley Cup champion, reached the Final you have to earn their respect. They have to know you care about them, three times, and took Team Canada to one World Championship and two and not just whether they win or lose. Olympic golds. “But we all take stock of situations we’ve been in. You feel good about He also will have a difficult time coaching in the some. Others, you wish you had a do-over.” again without several hours of mea culpas and maybe a confessional Mike Babcock’s career is long past rewinding. It also might be salvaged if book. humiliation changes him as profoundly as success did. The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Babcock when he was not quite halfway Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.07.2019 through the fifth year of an eight-year deal that made him by far the richest coach in NHL history. Maybe he was victimized by injuries and the analytics disciples in the front office. In other ways, he was victimized by the man in the mirror. He was no longer the jocular, relentlessly positive fellow in Anaheim who made a surprise visit to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2003, a year after Bryan Murray hired him as a rookie NHL coach.

Babcock has been called out spectacularly on social media. Johan “The Mule” Franzen, a component of Detroit’s 2008 championship team, called Babcock a “terrible person, the worst I ever met, a bully who was attacking people. … They were verbal attacks, horrible things. I was terrified to be at the rink.”

Hall of Famer Chris Chelios said Franzen suffered a nervous breakdown in a Nashville locker room after one of Babcock’s outbursts. At the time, Franzen was already dealing with concussions and depression. Franzen called that incident “the tip of the iceberg.”

Chelios also said he spent most of a Winter Classic game at Chicago drinking beer on the bench because Babcock had refused to play him in his hometown. , a former Ottawa leader now playing for minimum salary in Toronto, was gratuitously scratched for the season opener against the Senators. , another Hall of Famer, had to settle for 1,499 career games because Babcock scratched him for the final three of the season.

These needless, personal slaps are dumbfounding enough. But Babcock topped, or bottomed, himself when he asked , a rookie in 2016-17, to rate the veteran Leafs in terms of their effort. Then Babcock showed Marner’s ratings to the veterans themselves.

Ten years ago, none of these incidents would have seen daylight. Now, players and ex-players piled on with gusto.

Said Jeff O’Neill on TSN, “I’ve had a lot of coaches who pushed me and then in later years we’d have a beer and laugh about it. Have you ever heard anyone say that about Babcock? No. He’s a bad guy and everyone knows it.”

Meanwhile, left the after it was learned he kicked Michal Jordan from behind his bench at Carolina, and that he used a racial slur toward Akim Aliu 10 years ago in Rockford.

This is a drastic shift in the coach-player dynamic. Coaching humanitarians are a rarity in hockey. Marc Crawford, , and spread the sulfur on a daily basis. ’s nickname in Philadelphia was “Hitler.”

They all won Stanley Cups, although not as many as , the greatest winner in any North American sport and the most despised.

Steve Shutt famously said the Canadiens hated Bowman 364 days a year. “On the 365th day, we got our rings,” he added.

In Detroit, Bowman forced Tomas Holmstrom to wear No. 96 because “that’s the year you’re going back to .” That was in ’95. Holmstrom played through 2012.

Hockey is a game defined by nonstop and often fruitless effort. It lives on discomfort. A coach insists that you invest in that discomfort. It is not a request. 1164935 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes fall to Penguins in Phil Kessel's return to Pittsburgh

Associated PressPublished 8:20 p.m. MT Dec. 6, 2019 | Updated 9:05 p.m. MT Dec. 6, 2019

PITTSBURGH – Tristan Jarry spoiled Phil Kessel’s return to Pittsburgh, turning aside all 33 shots to post his second consecutive shutout as the Penguins edged the Arizona Coyotes 2-0 Friday night.

Kessel helped Pittsburgh to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017 before being traded to the Coyotes in exchange for last summer. He received a rousing ovation during the first period and played 21 inspired minutes but couldn’t solve Jarry.

Neither could the rest of the Coyotes. Jarry won for the fifth time in his last six starts and is making a serious case to supplant Matt Murray as Pittsburgh’s top . Jarry’s best stop came on a point-blank save on late in the third period with the Penguins on the penalty kill trying to protect a one-goal lead. Keller was in perfect position just outside the right post and had an open net to shoot at before Jarry’s glove got just enough to send the puck sailing over the crossbar.

Evgeni Malkin broke a scoreless tie 7:13 into the third period to put the Penguins in front. Brandon Tanev chipped in an empty netter with two seconds remaining as the Penguins won their fifth straight meeting with the Coyotes. Antti Raanta finished with 24 saves but couldn’t quite match Jarry, who stole the show during Kessel’s highly anticipated return.

Kessel had 110 goals and 193 assists in four highly productive seasons with the Penguins. His lethal shot and underrated passing played a vital role in Pittsburgh’s resurgence, and his rumpled persona off the ice made the sometimes mercurial Kessel a fan favorite.

The marriage, however, ended in June when the Penguins sent him to Arizona following a decidedly blah 2018-19 in which Kessel’s often inattentive defense drew the ire of coach Mike Sullivan. The move reunited Kessel with former Penguins assistant Rich Tocchet, who developed a reputation as a “Phil Whisperer” for the bond the two developed before Tocchet left to take the head coaching job with the Coyotes.

Kessel’s arrival sent a message that Arizona was serious about ending a seven-year playoff drought. The Coyotes are off to their best start in nearly 30 years and Kessel appears to be regaining his scoring touch. He found the net twice in a win over Philadelphia on Thursday and was all over the ice while playing in his 803rd consecutive game just 24 hours later, perhaps energized by a long standing ovation during a video tribute the Penguins put together to mark his return.

Jarry, making his sixth start in Pittsburgh’s last seven games over a struggling Murray, kept Kessel at bay. Raanta might have been even better. The Penguins’ best chance came during a nearly two-minute two- man advantage in the second period. They came up empty when Raanta somehow got his paddle on a rebound by Rust from just outside the crease.

Raanta, however, wasn’t quite so lucky in the third period. The Penguins won a draw in the Arizona zone, and fired off a snapshot that deflected off a skate to the end boards, where it then ricocheted off Raanta’s right skate right to Malkin. Malkin steered it between Raanta’s legs for his seventh of the season.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164936 Arizona Coyotes signing Hall long-term will not be on the table. But with that playoff drought in mind, the Coyotes should be ready to add one of the top rentals on the trade market and stay competitive in the Western Conference." Taylor Hall trade rumors: Arizona Coyotes in middle of New Jersey Devils star speculation Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.07.2019

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona RepublicPublished 11:40 a.m. MT Dec. 6, 2019

The Arizona Coyotes sit in first place in the Pacific Division and have their sights set on ending their seven-year NHL playoff drought.

Could the team be eyeing a trade for the New Jersey Devils' Taylor Hall to help them in their postseason pursuit?

Speculation surrounding Hall has taken off this week with the Coyotes right in the middle of it.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported that the Coyotes are "definitely interested" in acquiring Hall, 28, who has 22 points in 27 games this season.

Hall won the 2017-18 Hart Trophy and is reportedly on the trading block for the Devils.

"Well there’s lots of speculation right now as to who might be (or) who should be interested in, given the fact that he is a hot commodity and is a pending unrestricted free agent," Dreger said on "Insider Trading." "But I can tell you there is at least one team who is definitely interested in acquiring and that is the Arizona Coyotes. When you look at past transactions like this, what it might take to acquire a player like Hall, based on his status, the Arizona Coyotes aren’t concerned about that at this point. But again, there’s a lot of discussion that has to happen moving forward. But credit to John Chayka, the general manager for the Arizona Coyotes, who always seems to be in these big game hunts."

Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Coyotes were in pursuit of Taylor Hall.

"The Devils have made it clear they want first-rounders (although they are willing to discuss conditional situations, depending on the acquiring team’s ability to re-sign Hall or playoff results) and/or high-level prospects who are ready to play," he wrote. "They badly need defence, which is why there’s a lot of focus on Colorado as the perfect trade partner. The Avalanche have plenty of defensive prospects and think they can win. Several teams believe Arizona is making a serious effort. Hall is what they need, too. It’s believed Dallas and St. Louis are among other pursuers."

Fansided wrote about why Taylor Hall is right for the Coyotes.

Dave Stevenson wrote: "The Coyotes are in an interesting place. They’re clearly playoff contenders, as they’re in second place in the Pacific Division. The Coyotes are just one point out of first place, as the Oilers have 37 points to the Coyotes’ 36. However, they’re just four points ahead of the , who have 32 points. If the Coyotes want to ensure their spot in the playoffs, which would be huge for them, they’ve got to make a move to get more scoring. Last season, a lack of scoring cost them, as they finished 27th in goals scored. This season, the Coyotes have improved to 20th, as of Dec. 4. That’s probably not good enough to make the playoffs, and it’s not good enough to make a long run in the postseason."

Sporting News wrote why Taylor Hall could be a good fit with Coyotes, others.

Jace Mallory wrote: "Hall can become an unrestricted free agent next season, which could be a very appealing situation for a team looking for a quick fix to make a Stanley Cup run or a team that wants to see how Hall meshes with its squad."

Could trading for New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) help solve the Arizona Coyotes' offensive woes?

Fansided wrote about how the Coyotes are ready to go all the way in and get Taylor Hall.

Brad Berreman wrote: "A move to add Hall, and the remainder of his $6 million cap hit for this season, would be an all-in proposition for Coyotes general manager John Chayka. Arizona is projected to have just $785,000 in cap space next season, so unless they send some salary back to New Jersey in a deal (or offload salary via other moves) re- 1164937 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes in 1st place of Pacific Division after road victory against Flyers

BY TORRENCE DUNHAM | DECEMBER 5, 2019 AT 8:57 PM

UPDATED: DECEMBER 5, 2019 AT 11:10 PM

The Arizona Coyotes are in a spot they haven’t been in since they went to the conference finals seven years ago – sitting atop the Pacific Division in December.

The Coyotes were able to accomplish the feat by taking down a hot Philadelphia Flyers team, 3-1, Thursday night on the road.

Coming into the matchup, the Flyers had won five games in a row and sported a 9-1-4 record on home ice.

Phil Kessel got things going for the Coyotes with a power-play goal in the first two minutes of action. A good sight for the first-year Coyote, who has struggled to find the back of the net recently. It was his first goal since Nov. 23 against Los Angeles.

That would be it offensively for the Coyotes for two periods as the team only managed nine shots on goal in the first 40 minutes of play, a far cry from their average of 20.

Conor Garland broke through for the Coyotes and added some breathing room with his team-leading 11th goal of the season with eight minutes left in regulation.

Kessel added his second goal of the night on an empty-net goal during a power play six minutes later to secure the win.

Coyotes’ goaltender Darcy Kuemper was the star as he made the lone goal stand up through two periods.

His play at the end of the second period was crucial in the win as he had to deal with two Philadelphia power plays in the final two minutes of the second period.

Kuemper ended the night with 28 saves, allowing a goal to Matt Niskanen with five minutes remaining in regulation.

Arizona’s impressive play on the road continues, now 10-3-3 on the season.

UP NEXT

Having picked up four points so far on the four-game road trip, the Coyotes (17-9-4) visit the former home of Kessel on Friday night as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The puck drops at 5 p.m.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164938 Arizona Coyotes Marian Hossa’s contract on long-term injured reserve. Hall is in the final season of a seven-year contract carrying an annual average value (AAV) of $6 million, but he has a pro-rated cap hit of $4.032 million, also per CapFriendly. The Coyotes can’t afford to take on Hall right now, but they Neutral Zone: Examining the Coyotes’ place in the Taylor Hall could if they moved a player off their roster or New Jersey retained some sweepstakes, Kessel’s return and more of Hall’s salary.

Next season, the Coyotes would gain more cap space when Mike Ribeiro’s buyout comes off the books, the cap presumably rises and both By Craig Morgan Dec 6, 2019 Brad Richardson and Carl Söderberg become free agents, but they would still have some work to do to fit Hall under the ceiling.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Sunday that the New Jersey The salary demands Devils were listening to trade offers from teams for forward Taylor Hall, It goes without saying that the Coyotes would want some assurance they who can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. would be able to re-sign Hall before making a trade. Chayka has shown LeBrun named Colorado, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Boston and San little willingness to acquire players on a purely rental basis. Could that Jose as some potential suitors. You can add the Arizona Coyotes to the change if the Coyotes feel Hall could put them over the top in a wide- mix, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has already hinted. open Western Conference? Sure, but as Chayka has noted, history and Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that the Coyotes have the economics of those rental moves have not produced a good run of interest. Just as any general manager would, Arizona’s John Chayka results. declined specific comment on Hall or his situation, but Chayka did speak Hall will want a substantial raise over his current figure, with some in general terms during an interview in Philadelphia on Thursday. estimates suggesting between $10 million and $11 million on a term that “It’s my job to look at everything and I’ll always do that to decide whether could extend seven years. Again, the Coyotes would have to tweak other it makes sense or not,” Chayka said. “It takes some time to figure that out parts of their roster to make that fit. They still need to re-sign restricted but I think I always have to at least explore everything.” free agent Vinnie Hinostroza and they would still need to fill out their forward depth. The Coyotes climbed into first place in the Pacific Division with a 3-1 win against the Flyers later that night. That added to the context of how There is another question to ask however — one that the Coyotes are Chayka views supplementing his roster. surely discussing right now.

“I think you have to take direction from your team,” he said. “Right now, Is Hall worth it? with the way the team is playing, they’re saying they want to be serious Hall will turn 29 in November. The numbers on players on the wrong side about making a push. of 30 are telling (not in a good way), but Hall is a special player who, “I view each season as sacred. Any time you get a chance to make a despite a down season on a bad team, has averaged 0.91 points per push, you have to look to do that. When players have earned that right game over his career and won a Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in and are serious about making a push — if they’re doing their job then I’ve 2018. got to do my job. If these guys keep playing hard and playing well, then Jonathan Willis of The Athletic did an excellent breakdown of why Hall yeah, I think it’s going to force us to make some additions to this team.” might be the exception to that over-30 fear. Keep in mind it is very early in the process. There is still a chance that If you believe the reports, the Coyotes are not at the head of the class Hall will re-sign with the Devils, but as LeBrun noted, agent Darren Ferris when it comes to acquiring Hall, but again, it’s hard to discern if there is normally advises his impending UFA clients to wait until after the season anything other than a media-generated head of the class so early in this to make decisions. New Jersey isn’t likely to make the playoffs, so a process. Chayka has never been afraid to be aggressive when he feels trade seems a strong possibility if GM Ray Shero wants to maximize a the asset is worth it. If the Coyotes remain in strong playoff position as valuable asset, rather than risk losing him for nothing on July 1. the trade deadline nears, that penchant will likely surface. If it’s not Hall That doesn’t mean that the Coyotes are at the top of the trade-partner he lands, he will probably look to make another significant splash. list. At this point, I’m not sure there is a set-in-stone pecking order that Phil’s return extends beyond conjecture over cap space and farm-system rankings, but let’s examine how Hall could end up in Arizona. When Phil Kessel emerged from the team hotel in Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon to board the bus to PPG Paints Arena, a group of fans was Acquisition cost waiting for him. Some chanted his name while another screamed loudly, The conventional wisdom suggests that when a player of Hall’s “We love you, Phil.” magnitude is available, it requires between two and four assets to land Kessel boarded the bus with a grin on his face as he dropped off a him. A first-round pick and a high-end prospect would likely comprise the handful of possessions in his seat. Then he climbed back down the bus starting point, with perhaps a conditional pick and a rostered player or stairs to mingle with his fans and sign autographs. another prospect thrown in. It was tough to discern his emotions in his first game back in Pittsburgh Much of this depends on Shero’s mindset, but when you trade a player of since the Penguins traded him (and other pieces) for Alex Galchenyuk Hall’s magnitude, you may be eyeing a lengthier timeline for team and P.O. Joseph. Kessel asked Coyotes media relations to move any success, so the Devils may not want or need immediate help. questions about his Pittsburgh years until after the game when he faced It should also be noted that Chayka is happy with his current roster and about a dozen reporters. would prefer to keep it intact. To date, he has shown no willingness to During the first period, the Penguins showed him on the scoreboard, part with goalie Antti Raanta because the past few NHL seasons have announced his name and he got a healthy ovation from the fans, with underscored the need for two quality goalies. some standing to honor him. They also posted this tribute on Twitter. “I’m not looking to change this team,” he said. “I’m not looking to take “He got a little teary-eyed,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He had some away from it but if we can add something we’ll look to do that for sure.” chances, too. It would have been nice for him to score.” It’s impossible to say how the Devils view the Coyotes’ farm system. Kessel had three shots on goal and six shot attempts, including a great, Every team has its own evaluation process and those processes often backdoor chance on a power play that he shot just wide. The Coyotes produce differing opinions. One thing to keep in mind when looking at the couldn’t solve goalie Tristan Jarry (33 saves) and dropped their first Coyotes system. There are at least three untouchables: forwards Barrett game of this road trip, 2-0, but Kessel still reflected on the four seasons Hayton, Jan Jenik and defenseman Victor Söderström. (two Cups) he spent in Pittsburgh. The cap “It’s strange,” Kessel said of being back. “I had some good years here Arizona currently has about $2.625 million in available cap space and great memories. The fans gave me a warm welcome. I love this city, according to CapFriendly, based on the cap relief it received from placing I love them. They treated me great here. “I don’t think you ever know (how a city feels about you) but they were has played this season) for the Hamilton Bulldogs, and was second in very nice to me tonight and I appreciate that. I loved my time here.” OHL points (56); third in goals with 22.

Hjalmarsson on the ice The longest point streak in OHL history belongs to Doug Gilmour (55 games, set in 1982-83). The all-time record for the CHL is held by Mario Chayka confirmed that defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson began skating Lemieux (61 games, set in 1983-84). this week as he rehabs a broken left fibula suffered while blocking Erik Johnson’s slapshot in a game against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Here are the 13 OHL players who have recorded a point streak of at least Center on Oct. 12. 25 games since 2000 (thanks to CHL communications coordinator Cory Wilkins for the research): When the Coyotes announced Hjalmarsson’s injury, he was expected to miss between 10 and 12 weeks. It has been eight weeks. Because Streak Player Team Season Hjalmarsson just began skating, Chayka is still not putting a timeline on his return, but Chayka did confirm that Hjalmarsson is skating in full pads 32 Brett MacLean Oshawa 2007-08 and engaging in “game-type situations.” 30 Jordan Kyrou Sarnia 2016-17

Hjalmarsson is working with Jeff Ulmer, Coyotes coordinator of skill 27 Oshawa 2007-08 development and assistant director of special projects. He is also working with strength and conditioning coach J.P. Major. 27 Alex DeBrincat Erie 2016-17

Hayton Plan, Part IV 27 Connor McDavid Erie 2014-15

Coach Rick Tocchet opted to go with the same lineup (other than in goal) 26 Jeremy Bracco Windsor 2016-17 that produced wins on the first two games of this road trip when the 26 Jan Jenik Hamilton 2019-20 Coyotes faced the Penguins in the second half of a back-to-back set. Even so, he said he wants to get rookie Barrett Hayton back in the lineup 25 Kevin Labanc Barrie 2014-15 soon. 25 Anthony DeAngelo Sault Ste. Marie 2014-15 Hayton hasn’t played since a game at the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 29. I have documented the Coyotes’ plan for Hayton on three other 25 Sam Bennett Kingston 2013-14 occasions, but it is clear they are trying to balance his development with 25 Tyler Toffoli Ottawa 2010-11 enough playing time to provide him hands-on experience. 25 Sergei Kostitsyn London 2006-07 It is still possible Hayton could play for Canada at the World Junior Championship, but the Coyotes have not made that determination. Most 25 Steve Downie Kitchener 2006-07 nations have released their preliminary rosters, but The Athletic’s Corey Pronman said rosters do not have to be announced until Christmas Jenik’s production is a continuation of what he did at Coyotes rookie evening and it is not unheard of for a team to hold a spot open beyond camp, when he jumped up the prospect depth chart by wowing Tocchet that point if it feels a significant player could be added. and the entire staff with hard-nosed play, net-front presence, passion and skill. “Our focus all along has been to have Barrett here,” Chayka said. “At the right time, we’ll make a decision on what’s best for his development. “He came to train in the summer and had a great summer,” Chayka said. Right now, it’s not a matter of urgency. There’s still a lot of hockey to be “He put on 10 to 12 pounds of lean muscle mass, really worked on his played here. A lot of things could change, including injuries, so it would skating and when he came to rookie camp, he was one of our best be premature right now.” players if not our best and then just kept going.

The World Junior Championship will be held in Ostrava and Trinec, “It has translated to points for him and he’s playing with good linemates Czech Republic, from Dec. 26, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020. and the coaching staff there is really helping him out so there is a lot of factors that are contributing. The fact that he’s been that good at the CHL Another Hayton opinion level is not surprising but you have to respect the level of consistency. I think he’s an every-coach kind of guy. In order to win a Stanley Cup, While in Philadelphia, I caught up with Hayton’s former Sault Ste. Marie you’ve got to have guys like that. teammate and good friend Morgan Frost, a rookie forward with the Flyers. Hayton and Frost had dinner at a steakhouse in Philadelphia on Jenik turned 19 on Sept. 15. Wednesday night. Despite the cost — Frost planned to pick up the bill — Frost chose that type of cuisine for a reason. “He’s a unique player but he’s still so raw,” Chayka said. “If he was born a couple weeks later this would have been his draft year so he’s still just “We’ll have to go somewhere that has a pretty good serving portion a puppy, but he keeps trending the right way and it won’t be long before because he eats a lot more than me,” Frost told me on Wednesday he’s here and making an impact.” afternoon after practice at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees Township, N.J. If you’re wondering about Jenik’s NHL timeline, two to three years is a fair guess. While Hayton has played just 14 games for the Coyotes this season, Frost believes that, like himself, Hayton is happy in his current situation. Loose pucks

“I don’t think it’s affecting him too much,” he said. “He knows he’s good Ivan Prosvetov continues to strengthen his position as an elite enough to be in an NHL lineup so he’ll just keep working.” goaltending prospect in the Coyotes system. Entering the Tucson Roadrunners game at the Iowa Wild on Saturday, Prosvetov was 5-1 in Frost knows that plenty of people back in the Soo would like to see the AHL with a 2.31 goals against average and a .939 save percentage. Hayton return for one season, many of whom believe the Coyotes are This comes after Prosvestov went 4-1 with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush stunting Hayton’s development. He does not agree. with a 2.40 GAA and a .930 save percentage.

“Not a chance,” he said. “His game is too mature, he’s too skilled and “Full credit for him,” Chayka said. “It would have been very easy for him he’s too strong to go play down there. I don’t think that would benefit him to go down (to the ECHL) and take it the wrong way, but he went down too much, to be honest. there and won and was a difference-maker, then he came back up and he is stopping the puck at an elite level. “The Soo has a really good development program, it’s a great staff, it’s always a great group of guys and I learned so much there. It’s a really “He’s an exciting guy. I love his work ethic. I love his mindset. Like any good environment, but like I said, for a guy like Barrett, I don’t think it young goalie, he’s still got a long way to go in terms of his technique and would benefit him.” just being patient, but obviously, the first step is dominate the level you’re at and he’s doing that. He’s confident but he has really matured the last Jenik’s streak few years in his approach. He’s one of our best character guys and he’s Coyotes prospect Jan Jenik was recently named OHL player of the got some swagger. We like swagger.” month (November) after leading the league with 31 points (11 goals) in 12 games. He is currently riding a 26-game point streak (every game he According to NHL Public Relations, the Coyotes’ 10th road win of the season (Thursday in Philadelphia) established a franchise record for fewest games (16) needed to reach 10 road wins in a season, eclipsing the previous low of 17 set in 2011-12 (10-6-1, 21 points) when Arizona won the Pacific Division and advanced to the Western Conference Final. Arizona was 10-3-3 on the road before Friday’s game in Pittsburgh.

While Hayton’s status is undetermined, four other (maybe five) Coyotes prospects have a chance to play in the World Junior Championship: Jenik for the Czech Republic, Kevin Bahl for Canada, and Matias Maccelli and Aku Räty for . Victor Söderström was not on the initial roster for Sweden. He is still a possibility. Chayka said he suffered a minor injury recently and it was the Coyotes who pushed to hold him out extra time to make sure he was healthy.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164939 Boston Bruins Par Lindholm and Nordquist on another. “Fits in easy with both lines,” Cassidy said. “Scored a big goal for us on the power play on the bumper. Made a play on the net [vs. Chicago] — something we were trying to emphasize a little bit more of, especially those two bottom lines. They are Patrice Bergeron could rejoin Bruins lineup Monday probably going to score more that way. They’re harder to contain that way, going to the net.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 12.07.2019 By Frank Dell’Apa,Updated December 6, 2019, 9:49 p.m.

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron took a step toward returning to action Friday but will not be in the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche at TD Garden Saturday.

Bergeron (core/groin injury) worked out pre-practice, then participated at near full speed wearing a red noncontact jersey during a 45-minute practice session at Warrior Ice Arena.

Bergeron, who has missed seven successive games and nine of the last 11, could play at Ottawa Monday.

“Red sweater, that’s good,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Participated in some line rushes. It wasn’t a heavy contact practice. Won’t play [Saturday], but once you have red sweater on, you’re that much closer.

“So I guess Monday becomes more of a target date for us, if there’s no setbacks.”

Marked man?

Cassidy questioned a penalty against David Pastrnak in the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Blackhawks Thursday. Pastrnak was called for retaliation in a clash with Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy.

“I didn’t like the call in front of the net,” Cassidy said. “I thought he got cross-checked right in the ribs. Maybe the ref missed that. That’s when it’s like, really? Like if he goes after a guy because he got hit, he’s frustrated, put him in the box. That’s part of . . . you’ve got to have some discipline.

“But the call in front of the net, I didn’t agree with. Now, maybe we’d been on the power play a little bit and they were looking for something, or they just missed it, or chose not to call it. I can’t comment on what they did or didn’t see.

“But that is one that could have frustrated David. I don’t know if it did or didn’t. But that’s one, he’s protecting himself in a scrum. I think that should be nobody goes or they both go.”

Pastrnak (25-18—43), who has been held scoreless for two successive games, appears to have been targeted recently. He lost his helmet after absorbing a blind-side hit from Joel Armia in the Bruins’ 3-1 win over the Canadiens Sunday.

Asked if Pastrnak might have lost his cool, Cassidy said, “I think David knows the best way he can help this team win is by creating offense and scoring. So, if that’s not happening . . . maybe that’s part of it. I know he cares more about the team than his own stats.

“Of course, he wants to score, that could be leading into it. It has been three, four games, he has taken some hits and some of them are borderline late. Armia, I thought, was a little bit late. So we’ll keep an eye on it.

“I’ve always felt you hit their skill clean, you’ll settle the score in a hurry, things’ll calm down. Typically, that’s what we’ve experienced. Somebody’s going to hit Pasta, we go out next shift, bang [Patrick] Kane or [Jonathan] Toews, all of a sudden their guys might, ‘OK, you know what, put my guys in harm’s way.’

“It sort of sorts itself out, and that’s policing the game internally and the appropriate way in today’s game.”

Ritchie is close

Brett Ritchie (shoulder) could return Saturday. Ritchie is “skating better, so another practice under his belt — we’ll have to look at that in the morning,” Cassidy said. “If he goes in, obviously, have to take a right winger or move someone around. But he’s close.” . . . has produced a goal and assist in the last three games, after missing nearly a month with an upper-body injury. Backes finished a one-timer against the Canadiens and assisted Joakim Nordquist against the Blackhawks. Backes has been playing Anders Bjork and Sean Kuraly on one line and 1164940 Boston Bruins Moore dropping the gloves with Smith (despite playing his first game of the year after shoulder surgery).

“No, not at all,” said Pastrnak, when asked if he was frustrated. “It’s A stunning comeback salvaged a point for the Bruins hockey. I don’t get frustrated unless we lose.”

He took two penalties, one of them a retaliatory roughing on defenseman Connor Murphy. By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated December 6, 2019, 8:55 a.m. “The ref told me I started it,” Pastrnak said. “I got a cross-check right in the ribs. I’m going to push him back. It was probably a little stupid by me, but at the same time, tough luck. I don’t think I started it, but I’m going to Even though the Bruins’ winning streak is over, their point streak remains push back.” intact, and this fact is still true: “Him and Marchy [Brad Marchand], they’re used to scoring,” Cassidy At TD Garden, no enemy lead is safe. said. “These are high-end players and you want them to play their way Rising from their slumber with three unanswered goals in the third period, out of it . . . Teams are just recognizing that these are the leading scorers the Bruins brought the Blackhawks to overtime, but lost, 4-3, on a in the league. You’ve got to pay a little more attention to them.” Jonathan Toews breakaway goal. Wagner scored a shorthanded goal with 4:59 remaining, beating Lehner They kept their home point streak alive (12-0-5) with some late magic, glove side after backchecking defenseman Erik Gustafsson fell down at including the tying goal by Torey Krug with 2:33 left in regulation. But the his own blue line. The Garden exploded when Krug cashed a feed out of building soured after a streaking Toews went five-hole on Tuukka Rask, the corner from Jake DeBrusk. 54 seconds into OT. The Chicago captain was 2-on-0 with Patrick Kane “It was ugly for the first 41 minutes, for sure,” Backes said. “Some after upending David Pastrnak, who had the puck in the offensive zone. character was shown tonight, but it wasn’t our best effort.” A smattering of plastic bottles and cups flew from the rafters, and Zdeno Boston Globe LOADED: 12.07.2019 Chara had an extended discussion with officials, all in Black and Gold believing Toews tripped Pastrnak. But coach Bruce Cassidy wasn’t convinced.

“That’s one of those judgment calls made quick,” he said. “They didn’t make it . . . You get some of those some nights. You don’t other nights.”

It was another one of those nights for the Bruins (20-3-6), who stumbled and fumbled their way through the first 40 minutes. They gave up goals to Ryan Carpenter and Dylan Strome in a 37-second span near the end of the second period, and have allowed the first goal in six of their last eight games. The good news: they have fallen behind, 2-0, five times this year, and taken points each time (2-0-3).

“Not a recipe for success,” said David Backes, who set up Joakim Nordstrom’s rebound goal at 1:49 of the third. “We showed some great character, and found a way to get one point of it.”

Nordstrom scored to answer Alex DeBrincat, who sniped on Rask (four goals on 31 shots) some 17 seconds into the third period. That saddled the Bruins with their first 3-0 deficit of the season.

Another first: Boston went 0 for 4 on the power play for the first time all year. It was their worst performance on the man-advantage. The visitors even took penalties in the first minute of both the first and second periods, but the Bruins couldn’t make good on the fast, fresh ice.

Last year’s Vezina Trophy finalist, Robin Lehner, played like one. The Bruins peppered him with 40 pucks, and he made 10 of his 37 saves on the penalty kill. His teammates blocked 18 Bruins tries.

Boston went five games and 15 PKs without allowing a power play goal, but ended that streak with 1:09 left in the first period. With Pastrnak in the box for interference, defensemen Zdeno Chara and Brandon Carlo playing out high, Strome was all alone to tip a point shot past Rask.

The Bruins fell down, 1-0, after another special teams gaffe. Working the power play point, Charlie McAvoy had David Krejci open in the left circle, stick raised for a one-timer. But McAvoy whiffed on the pass, and Ryan Carpenter raced the other way. Rask blockered aside Connor Murphy’s shot on the rush, but when the rebound jumped over McAvoy’s stick, Carpenter dunked the rebound at 18:14 of the first. It was the first shorthanded goal allowed by the Bruins, who tied for the league-worst (15) last year.

The Bruins’ eight-game winning streak may be gone, but their 13-game point streak is still on. They pushed their edge to 15 points on second- place Florida in the Atlantic Division. They are also in the midst of a run of 11 games in 18 days, which was more apparent than any factor. They continue to hit the snooze button once the puck drops.

Chicago (11-12-5), which ended a three-game losing streak, came in with three points in their last seven games (1-5-1). Like other Bruins foes of late, they pestered Pastrnak. The league-leading goal-scorer, stuck on 25 after two scoreless games, took a game-high seven hits. One pop in particular, by Chicago fourth-liner Zack Smith, had defenseman John 1164941 Boston Bruins

Chris Wagner has been perfect fit with Bruins

By MARISA INGEMI | December 6, 2019 at 6:00 PM

No one is expecting Chris Wagner to be a primary offensive threat for the Bruins.

That’s why a career-high 12 goals in his first season with the Bruins was somewhat surprising. He’s played well enough in his year-plus since joining his hometown team that he earned a new three-year contract.

As a fourth-liner, that’s not exactly typical. But Wagner has shown plenty of reasons why he’s a better fit with the Bruins than anywhere else he’d been in his career prior.

“He’s a hard-nosed kid that really plays the right way,” said Bruins general manager . “Comes to the rink a little bit crusty and I think it rubs off on some of the guys and drags them into the battle each and every night. I think the Buffalo game (on Nov. 21) is a great example of what Chris brings. He’s earned the opportunities to be here, he hasn’t done it the easy way. Spent time in the minors, got a crack in Anaheim, bounced around a little bit, and landed with us.”

If all Wagner brought was a physical element to bring energy to the fourth line, the Bruins would be happy. That he’s shown some offensive output, and enough skill to even be a shootout option twice this season, is icing on the cake.

“When Wags has had some space like he did (against the Blackhawks), he can certainly beat a goalie,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “He’s shown that on breakaways over the course of his three years here. He’s made some nice moves when he’s in all alone. He’ll get dirty goals going to the net, but those little tight-area plays, maybe his hands aren’t as fast as, say, a (Brad Marchand) or the sense isn’t quite as (David) Krejci’s — or whatever you want to call it. It’s not for lack of effort, that’s just the type of player he is and a lot of times he wants to finish checks on the forechecks, so he’s not going fishing for that easy strip or pick off a pass.”

It’s unlikely Wagner is enough of a goal-scorer to ever elevate from the bottom six, but they simply don’t need him to. Since he joined the Bruins, Wagner has been a natural fit, and they recognized that by extending him.

If production like last season occurs again they would certainly take it, but Wagner just doing what he’s done since joining the Bruins earned him his deal far more than his offense has.

“He wants to do his job and get his hits in,” said Cassidy. “That’s what we got him for. I think that’s a product of just his style of play; a little more north-south, a little more workman-like than skill. At the end of the day he plays the right way and has some skill around him, I still think he’s capable. What’d he have, 12 last year? I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he could get that again. He’s behind that pace right now, but maybe this gets him going a little bit.

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164942 Boston Bruins Boxed out Cassidy was still fuming about the roughing penalty issued to Pastrnak at

12:58 of the second period in the Bruins 4-3 overtime home loss to the Bruins prepared for Colorado rookie defenseman Cale Makar’s return to Blackhawks on Thursday night. the Garden Pastrnak was in front of the Chicago cage when he took a cross check to the ribs from Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy. Pastrnak retaliated in kind and got lugged while Murphy took a pass. By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 4:30 pm | UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 5:09 PM “I didn’t like the call in front of the net,” said Cassidy. “I thought he got crosschecked in the ribs and maybe the ref missed that.

“Maybe they missed it, or chose not to call it, I can’t comment on what Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy had a lot of things to say about Colorado they did or didn’t see. When he’s protecting himself in a scrum either defenseman Cale Makar, but rookie wasn’t one of them. nobody goes or they both go.”

Makar, a former UMass All-America and Hobey Baker Award winner, will Boston Herald LOADED: 12.07.2019 return to the TD Garden for the first time since last season’s Hockey East semifinals when the Bruins host the Avalanche on Saturday night.

“We don’t see him a lot but I’ve seen highlights of him,” said Cassidy following practice on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

“He’s dynamic offensively, great shot, quick release. We just saw Chicago and I’m watching their penalty kill and they just played Colorado back-to-back and Makar is in all the highlights.

“He’s running Colorado’s power play so we have to find ways to break down their (power play) when he’s snapping the puck around. He’s got that part of his game down, the point-producing part and he looks like a really nice player.”

Makar averages 20:19 minutes a game and he’s the NHL’s leading rookie scorer with eight goals and 20 assists, which includes three game- winning goals, a plus 10 and zero penalty minutes.

If Makar remains on his current pace, he’s a lock for the Calder Trophy and belongs in the conversation for the Norris Trophy with Tampa’s Victor Hedman, Washington’s John Carlson and the San Jose tandem of Erik Karlsson and Brett Burns.

“I haven’t seen too much of him, he’s out West but I’ve heard he’s a phenomenal player and really exciting and he has great offensive ability,” said Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.

Makar and McAvoy began their pro careers in similar fashion. McAvoy was Boston’s first round pick (14th overall) in 2016 with an extensive international resume and two Hockey East seasons at Boston University before joining the Bruins.

McAvoy was a Hockey East first team all-star who went from the NCAA tournament to a brief tryout with the and on to the . He appeared in six playoff games with the Bruins, averaged 26:12 minutes of ice time and had three assists.

Makar was Colorado’s first round pick (4th overall) in 2017 and joined the squad immediately after UMass’ 3-0 loss to Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA title game on April 13 in Buffalo. Makar played in 10 playoff games with the Avalanche and had a goal and five assists on 14 shots with a plus three.

“Those games really helped me to get ready for next year,” said McAvoy. “I wouldn’t say I was acclimated because I still had so much to learn but it definitely gives you a leg up having played in what is the highest-stakes settings of our game.”

Bergeron in red

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron participated in a few drills during Friday’s practice wearing a no-contact red jersey and will not be available for the game against the Avalanche.

Bergeron will miss his seventh straight game with a lower body injury. Center David Krejci has been exceptional on the Bruins’ first line well between wingers David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand in place of Bergeron.

“A red sweater, that’s good and he participated in some line rushes and it wasn’t a heavy-contact practice,” said Cassidy. “Once you have the red sweater on you are that much closer and I guess Monday (at Ottawa) now becomes more of a target date for us.”

Cassidy said Brett Ritchie (elbow infection) will likely skate against the Avalanche but would not say who he would replace at right wing. 1164943 Boston Bruins the way and still breeze right into the playoffs, and win the division as well.

It's difficult to stay sharp under those circumstances and it will be equally Complacency and comfort are real concerns for a Bruins team running difficult to match the intensity in the postseason facing a team that will away with division have been scratching and clawing in order to get there. Torey Krug maintained he didn’t know what kind of lead the Bruins had in the Atlantic Division standings, and that’s probably the best thing for the Bruins to do right now. By Joe Haggerty December 06, 2019 5:00 PM “I would say normally yes, but it doesn’t feel like we’re in that position

right now,” said Krug, when asked if the Bruins need to guard against BOSTON – The good news for the Bruins is that they hold a 15-point complacency. “I don’t why that is. It’s so early in the season and we’re lead over every team in the Atlantic Division and it isn’t even Christmas. chasing perfection, and there’s a high standard here. So maybe that’s where it comes from, but it doesn’t feel like we’re that far ahead [of The relatively bad news for the Bruins is also that they hold a 15-point everybody else]. lead over every team in the Atlantic Division and it isn’t even Christmas. “We’re missing a lot of guys too, so you always feel like going into these Clearly, the Bruins would rather be up 15 points than behind 15 points, games that you need to bring your ‘A’ game because of who we’re but with every situation there comes challenges. missing. As a veteran guy, you feel like you need to take more onto your shoulders. I’m not even sure if guys know [their lead in the Atlantic] and NHL Power Rankings: Bruins, Capitals, Blues form Big 3 it’s probably a good idea to just stay in the moment.” It certainly seems as if some disarming comfort and an old-fashioned Clearly, Krug walks it the way he talks as it was the puck-moving D-man lack of urgency have crept into the B’s game as they again stumbled that notched the tying goal Thursday in the final minutes to cap off the through the first 40 minutes Thursday night before a patented third-period three-goal comeback in the third period. comeback earned them a point in an eventual overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden. The one silver lining that could stoke the B’s hunger and keep them at least partially invested in the game-to-game gauntlet the next five The game against Chicago was particularly damning because it months: The top seed in the Eastern Conference is still wide open in uncovered a real lack of focus in the overall game. The Bruins allowed a competition with the Capitals. pair of special teams goals in the final two minutes of the first period and were caught napping again 17 seconds into the third to dig a 3-0 hole. Home-ice advantage all through the playoffs is certainly something to play for and could be a difference in a conference final showdown with One can dissect the individual problems, whether it was a costly turnover Washington, and that should be a carrot directly in front of the Bruins that from Charlie McAvoy on the power play that led to Chicago’s the coaching staff can sell them on. shorthanded goal, or the ensuing penalty from David Pastrnak that allowed the Blackhawks to double up with a PP goal 37 seconds later. Or But at no point does it seem as if the Bruins are going to have to fight for Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug flat out getting caught flat-footed on Alex their lives for the rest of the season and they are already close to DeBrincat’s speed rush in the opening shift of the third that finally finishing the season series with the Maple Leafs and Canadiens, rivals seemed to act like smelling salts to the Black and Gold. that are chasing them in the standings.

It says something about the character and the overall talent of the team Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 that they can continuously overcome deficits in the third period. There’s no denying they are the best team in the NHL in the final 20 minutes of the game.

They are outscoring opponents by a 2-1 margin (42-21) in the third period and have a whopping plus-21 goal differential when it comes to winning time.

But the lack of urgency out of the gate game after game of late sure looks like complacency and certainly looks like a team that knows they are far out ahead in the standings.

“Complacency? I would say no. Lack of urgency some nights? I would say yes. We’re not pushing as hard as we need to to get to our level. Is that because of where we are, is that because of last year, is that because we feel like we’re a good enough team that we can flip a switch? Probably bits and pieces of all those things, I’m not going to deny it,” said Bruce Cassidy. “Our job is to make sure we don’t get complacent. I don’t think we have been, to be honest with you. I think it would show in our record if we were.

"But, lack of urgency from period to period, absolutely. We’re going to continue to address it, but to get to your level 82 times a night for 60 games, if you feel you’re better than – you’re going to be in that second season, it is a challenge for a coach, and it’s a challenge for the players, but we’ll need [the urgency]."

Highlights: Krug's goal finishes comeback but Bruins fall in OT

The danger, of course, is that the Bruins turn into this season's version of the Tampa Bay Lightning, where they race off to such a commanding lead that they never truly face character-building adversity in the regular season. The B’s have enough experience and talent to overcome that once they are in a playoff series, which would make them demonstrably different than a Lightning team that folded like a cheap chair in four games against Columbus last spring.

But there is still very much a danger now that the Bruins can float through the rest of this regular season where they only need to win half (27) of their remaining 53 games to still get to 100 points based on their bounding start. Essentially the Bruins could play .500 hockey the rest of 1164944 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Patrice Bergeron (lower body) out Saturday against Colorado Avalanche

By Joe Haggerty December 06, 2019 1:52 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins will continue to be without Patrice Bergeron this weekend, but the B’s top center is making progress with his lower-body injury.

Bergeron, 34, took a positive step by participating in practice with his teammates for the first time since being injured on Friday morning at Warrior Ice Arena, though he was wearing a no-contact sweater and didn’t really mix in with his normal linemates for drills. Bruce Cassidy confirmed following practice that Bergeron won’t play Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche, but remained hopeful he may return early next week barring any setbacks.

“[He’s wearing] a red sweater; that’s good. He participated in some line rushes, but it wasn’t a heavy contact practice,” said Cassidy. “He won’t play [against Colorado], but once you have the red sweater on you’re that much closer. Monday [against Ottawa] now becomes more of a target date for us if there are no setbacks.”

It will mark the seventh straight game that Bergeron has missed with his lower-body injury and the ninth game of the past 11 games that he’s missed due to the nagging injury. The amazing thing: The Bruins have gone 6-0-2 thus far without Bergeron and have done a pretty good job of getting by having David Krejci, Charlie Coyle and others fill into his many different roles on the ice.

Brett Ritchie skated in line drills and appears close to a return, but it remains to be seen which forward he might replace in the lineup.

Here are the projected line combos and defense pairings based on practice Friday ahead of the big non-conference tilt Saturday against eth talented, explosive Avs:

Marchand-Coyle-Heinen

DeBrusk-Krejci-Pastrnak

Nordstrom-Kuraly-Wagner

Bjork-Lindholm-Ritchie

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Moore-Grzelcyk

Rask

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164945 Boston Bruins

John Moore returns to Bruins lineup, and shows the way to stand up for David Pastrnak

By Joe Haggerty December 06, 2019 11:17 AM

BOSTON – John Moore didn’t expect to get into a fight in his first game back from major shoulder surgery over the summer.

But somebody had to step up and step in with other teams taking runs at David Pastrnak the past couple of weeks, and it was Moore that did just that after Zack Smith blew up the NHL’s leading scorer with a borderline high hit in the third period of the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the Blackhawks at TD Garden.

Smith handled Moore pretty easily in the ensuing altercation and it looked like the Bruins defenseman thought he re-injured his shoulder as he skated back to the dressing room afterward.

Still, the message was sent by Moore that the opposition wasn’t going to make it open season on Boston’s game-breaking right winger without paying a price for it. That says something about Moore in his first game back after missing the first 28 games with a grueling rehab from shoulder surgery, but it also says something about the rest of the Bruins that a guy coming off shoulder surgery was the one that had to finally do it.

“You can’t say enough about him, right? Here he is, coming off of shoulder surgery and obviously it’s a reaction thing. He’s not thinking about anything other than protecting his teammates. So, that just tells you all you need to know about his character,” said Bruce Cassidy. “Probably not the perfect guy in that situation coming off that injury, but good for him. He’ll earn a lot of respect in that locker room that he already had, but now even more.”

HAGGERTY'S Power Rankings: B's, Caps, Blues form Big 3 at top

The good news for Moore was that his shoulder checked out okay after he finished with three shots on net, three hits and a couple of blocked shots in 16:11 of ice time. Still, more than any of the other plays in the game, Moore will be remembered for finally doing something about the runs teams have taken at Pastrnak while trying to slow him down offensively.

“I don’t know if it was the smartest decision in the world, but I saw somebody take liberty with [Pastrnak] and thought it was my turn,” said Moore. “I’m totally fine and no issues [with my shoulder]. I was right there, I saw [the hit] and I didn’t like it. I thought something needed to be done so I acted on it. That’s just the way I am. I thought it had to be addressed there.

“I was excited [to return]. I wasn’t going to need any extra motivation going into this game. If anything I was trying to calm myself down. When you take almost 30 games watching, you have a lot of time to reflect, appreciate and be grateful to be a Boston Bruins and play in the NHL. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”

Perhaps now other players on the Bruins roster will be ready to follow Moore's lead as it appears teams aren't going to stop taking liberties with Pastrnak as long as it’s working to slow him a little offensively.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164946 Boston Bruins The Seattle franchise does not even have a name yet. But it is already impacting the Bruins’ most critical decision.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 How Charlie Coyle’s deal, and expansion Seattle’s arrival, touch Torey Krug’s future

By Fluto Shinzawa Dec 6, 2019

The Bruins, presumably, have not committed a new six-year deal and $31.5 million to Charlie Coyle to see him walk for nothing in the 2021 expansion draft.

They are already obligated to protect Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand because of their no-movement clauses. Declaring David Pastrnak off limits will be an automatic call for general manager Don Sweeney. They would prefer not to allow Jake DeBrusk, one of their three 2015 first-rounders, to be a member of Seattle’s charter class.

That they have five forwards projected to be protected steers them toward the 7-3-1 model they employed for Vegas’ 2017 expansion draft.

This makes a Torey Krug re-signing anything but guaranteed.

The Bruins do not make transactions with expansion at the forefront of their thinking. But like every other organization, they’d prefer to minimize the pain that losing a player for free inflicts.

Two years ago, they did not want to say goodbye to Colin Miller, one of the pieces they acquired from Los Angeles for Milan Lucic. But they exposed Miller by protecting seven forwards (Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak, David Krejci, David Backes, Ryan Spooner, Riley Nash), three defensemen (Krug, Zdeno Chara, Kevan Miller) and one goalie (Tuukka Rask).

Although they lost Miller, they shielded Nash, the unheralded but versatile veteran pivot. Spooner, one of the other protected forwards, became trade collateral to acquire winger Rick Nash from the New York Rangers.

This time, if they repeat the 7-3-1 scenario, it would allow them to protect two more players than the other option: eight skaters and one goalie. The 8-1 format would allow the Bruins to protect more than three defensemen; Nashville did this to keep Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi and P.K. Subban. But this perk would sacrifice volume and set up the potential of losing an important forward.

Let’s say, for example, the Bruins re-sign Krug. This could make them lean toward the 8-1 model, allowing them to protect Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk.

Up front, they would start by protecting Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak. But it would leave them with a difficult decision for the fourth and final spot: Coyle or DeBrusk. Whoever is left exposed will likely be claimed. The Bruins would not find either possibility pleasant. It would also leave Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork unprotected as well.

The 7-3-1 model would ensure the forwards are not raided. But after protecting McAvoy and Carlo, the Bruins would have to expose Krug or Grzelcyk. Like Coyle, the Bruins would not re-sign Krug long term to let him go to Seattle. Losing Grzelcyk, who will be 27 by then, would be a below-the-belt boot.

On the other hand, if Krug does not re-sign, the Bruins would find it easier to go 7-3-1. Up front, they would likely protect Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak, Coyle, DeBrusk, Heinen and Bjork. On defense, they would make McAvoy, Carlo and Grzelcyk hands-off. In that case, Seattle would probably draft Connor Clifton.

The Bruins like Krug. They are a better team with him. He is the heartbeat of their power play. Krug has grown into a dependable 5-on-5 defender on Carlo’s left flank. The 5-foot-9 defenseman plays several inches bigger than he is. He belongs to the next wave of leaders. These are all reasons negotiations continue.

But the trickledown expansion effect of re-signing Coyle is one of the factors that may discourage the Bruins from exceeding their internal limits on Krug. Other reasons: Krug’s age (29 at the start of next season), power-play alternatives (Grzelcyk and McAvoy) and their left-side options (Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril, Jeremy Lauzon). 1164947 Buffalo Sabres Eichel has 13 goals and 26 points at home, second in the NHL in both departments. He also has a league-leading plus-15 rating. Things are much tougher on the on road, where the last change gives the home side a matchup edge. Eichel is at 5-8-13 in 15 games with a minus-5 rating. Jack Eichel making his points on hottest streak of his career "One of the advantages (of using an 11-forward, 7-defeneseman lineup) is you can slip that line in after two shifts, three whatever. Just to break the matchups and get him away from a Giordano for instance," said By Mike Harrington Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, referring to Calgary Norris Trophy winner Published Fri, Dec 6, 2019|Updated Fri, Dec 6, 2019 Mark Giordano. "It gives the Eichel line a different feel and look. It's tough on him at times because they focus so much."

Krueger has been thrilled with Eichel's 200-foot play as well as his VANCOUVER -- Jack Eichel is as hot as he's been at any point in his five scoring. Eichel feels his improved defensive game has translated to NHL seasons. The Buffalo Sabres may be a veritable mess on special offense and he said he's harped on the point with his linemates. teams right now but that factoid surrounding their captain is keeping them in the thick of basically every game. "As better we are with the puck, the less time we'll play in our own end," he said. "We want to get pucks deep and outwork teams in their zone. Eichel enters Saturday's visit to Rogers Arena against the Vancouver Use our skill, creativity and ability to protect the puck to get more Canucks in rare air for his career. A point-a-game player for the first time chances." last season, Eichel has 39 points in 29 games this year, with 18 goals and 21 assists. Okposo could return

So heading into Game 30 on the schedule, he's on pace for 51 goals and The Sabres again went with an 11-7 lineup Thursday night but it seems 110 points. Those are numbers in Pat LaFontaine and likely they will go with a standard 12-6 output here Saturday. Kyle territory, circa 1993. Okposo was full-bore in practice and could return 10 games after suffering his latest concussion. He skated with regular linemates Johan Eichel enters the game on an 11-game point streak, tied for the longest Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons on Friday. of his career. His 10 goals and 20 points during the streak are tops in the NHL for games since it began on Nov. 16 with his first career four-goal "As a person, as a leader, it's so good to have him back in our space," outburst in a win over Ottawa. Krueger said of Okposo, one of five Buffalo forwards injured in a five- game stretch. "It seemed to hit all our veteran guys back to back to back If Eichel gets a point Saturday, he would have a 12-game streak and that and you could feel that hole a little bit." would be the longest by a Sabre since Tim Connolly's 16-gamer from Dec. 23, 2009-Jan. 25, 2010. A promotion for Asplund

"It's been good for me. I'm trying to be consistent and work hard every Larsson was back with his regular linemates and out of the spot shift," Eichel told The Buffalo News after practice Friday at the University alongside Jeff Skinner he's spent the last four games. Back at center with of . "If you do little things, the points will come. I'm Skinner is Marcus Johansson. A new addition to that line at right wing is playing with good players and we're doing much better in the O-zone. promising rookie Rasmus Asplund. We're getting much more sustained pressure on cycles. We definitely put "We think he's shown a grit to the game that's really interesting," Krueger in a lot of effort being better down there and I think it's paid off." said. "We think he's improving every day and showing more and more The streak was never more in jeopardy than it was Thursday in Calgary, what it takes to play in the National Hockey League." when Eichel got his point on a power-play goal with 47.4 seconds left. It Buffalo News LOADED: 12.07.2019 was the final tally in a disheartening 4-3 loss that saw the Sabres go 0 for 7 on the power play until that goal.

Eichel spent plenty of time this summer looking to score more goals, even after reaching a career-high of 28 last season. He's been working with longtime NHLer and current shooting-coach-for-the-stars Adam Oates and the results are clear.

Eichel never had a shooting percentage above 10.2 percent in his first four seasons. He's at 16.5 this year and basically averaging the same number of shots on goal at 3.75, compared to last year's 3.94.

"Hitting the net is a mindset. If you notice, I've scored a lot more goals this year by going low," he said. "I've stopped trying to beat goalies bar- down every time and over their glove. You want to put pressure on them and make them make a save. Low glove, low stick and I've benefited. They can't stop what they can see too. I've used screens more."

The Sabres worked hard on man-advantage situations in practice again Friday. Eichel and linemates Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson were joined on the top unit by Jeff Skinner and Rasmus Ristolainen.

"It's a bit of an urgency for us right now," Eichel said. "We think it's just set it up, make a couple tape-to-tape passes and someone will hammer a one-timer in. We have to get back to outworking the other team more. Last night was a broken play with no one in their set position and we get a shot on it.

"This league is so special-teams driven, it's crazy. Look at the top teams. The majority of them have really good penalty kill and power play."

Eichel was particularly annoyed with Buffalo's power-play failures in the first period Thursday, as the Sabres frittered away a 5-on-3 chance when they could have taken a quick two-goal lead.

"You got a 5-on-3 to go up 2-0 on the road. It doesn't happen much," he said. "It's a good chance for us ... We squandered it but you have to keep harping how important they are in the first period." 1164948 Buffalo Sabres during the regular season,” Sexton said. “He’s … not a real big body, so he’s got to be real strong.”

Oglevie’s maturity – he’s older than most second-year pros – helped that Andrew Oglevie developing into one of Sabres' top forward prospects progression.

“He’s able to keep things in perspective,” Sexton said. “One of the challenging things for young players, sometimes they let their minds play By Bill Hoppe tricks on them. They read too much into a decision that an organization makes. They create anxiety for themselves because they think they see Published Fri, Dec 6, 2019|Updated Fri, Dec 6, 2019 signals that don’t exist.

“Andrew’s maturity allows him to look beyond that and focus on critical ROCHESTER – Andrew Oglevie thought nothing of that first hit he took things he needs to focus on and not waste one ounce of negative energy three months ago. The Buffalo Sabres' prospect popped up and or one ounce of anxiety on issues that he can’t control that are quite continued his shift in the Prospects Challenge opener. likely not real.”

But when he returned to the bench that night, a teammate asked the Oglevie’s upbeat personality also helped him handle the rough season. question on everyone’s mind. “He’s very outgoing and positive,” said Amerks forward Sean Malone, “Someone was like, ‘You all right, Ogs?’ And I’m like, ‘Why wouldn’t I Oglevie’s roommate. “He always finds a way to make light of most be?’ ” Oglevie said following a recent practice in Blue Cross Arena. “And situations.” then I came back, ‘Oh, yeah, I was concussed three times last year.’ ” Oglevie said: “Life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That’s the saying. Oglevie, 24, has quickly bounced back from his concussion-riddled So I was handed some sour lemons, but I tried to do my best to make the rookie season, developing into one of the Sabres’ top forward prospects. best lemonade I could.”

The Notre Dame product has scored a team-leading nine goals and 16 Still, Malone, a West Seneca native who endured his own injuries last points through 21 games with the Americans entering Friday’s contest season, said the concussions took their toll on his friend. against the . “It’s kind of scary. Your future’s kind of unknown,” he said. “But, yeah, I After injuries and recalls began decimating the Amerks' forward corps, think we were both kind of hurt last year. So we kind of found a way to Oglevie emerged as an offensive threat at right wing beside center Kevin make light of the situation. I think he did a really good job of persevering.” Porter and Brett Murray, helping buoy their current 11-game point streak. Oglevie said he leaned on his roommates – Malone, Amerks Oglevie, who signed with the Sabres as a free agent in 2018, recorded defenseman Will Borgen and winger C.J. Smith – for support. The his first hat trick in Saturday’s 3-2 road win coaching staff and management also helped by allowing him to take road against the Cleveland Monsters. He has scored seven times in the last trips when he was healthy enough. seven games. “It was a whole new group of guys, and they didn’t want me to feel “He’s got the hockey sense, he’s got the skills, to play in the NHL,” quarantined,” Oglevie said. “They did a good job of helping me out and I Amerks General Manager Randy Sexton said. tried to stay around them as much as I could.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Oglevie showcased those skills in his first NHL Leier on the mend training camp last year, making a strong impression with the Sabres. It Amerks forward Taylor Leier, out all season after undergoing offseason felt like he could earn a recall. shoulder surgery, started full-contact practice this week. Sexton said Then a string of concussions stymied Oglevie’s rookie year, limiting him Amerks don’t have a timetable for Leier’s return. to just 28 appearances. He had suffered two by November and missed “It’s imminent,” he said. “We just want to make sure that when we turn two and a half months before leaving the lineup for good in late March. him loose, because he’s got a little of that Tasmanian devil in him, that “I got hit a couple more times, on two different occasions, and then I he’s fully healed and ready and go and can absorb it. Barring a setback, flared up again, the symptoms came back, and the third time they came it won’t be long.” back for a prolonged amount of time – longer than what is expected for a Buffalo News LOADED: 12.07.2019 normal concussion,” he said.

Oglevie said he essentially experienced “one big (concussion) that just kept reoccurring.”

“A lot of it was neck-related, not so much concussion,” he said. “I went to go see a specialist late in the season last year and he helped me fix a lot of things with my neck, which in turn helped my headaches and whatnot.

“So that was a big turning point for me.”

Oglevie felt so good he said he “was in full swing” about a month after the season ended.

So Oglevie said he decided he wouldn’t “hold anything back” during his training.

“I feel healthy, I feel good, I’m not even going to think about it,” he said.

That’s why when Oglevie took a lick in the corner Sept. 6 in LECOM Harborcenter, he had to be reminded what had just happened.

For the second consecutive year, instead of going home to , Oglevie spent the offseason in Buffalo training with the Sabres’ staff.

“I really believe the results that we’re seeing are as a result of that commitment to be in Buffalo,” Sexton said.

Sexton said the Sabres identified three areas – speed, strength and quickness – for Oglevie to focus on during the summer.

“We could see the progress at the development camp (in June), we saw the progress at the rookie tournament, and we’ve seen the progress here 1164949 Buffalo Sabres "We need to read that and support him better than we did," Krueger said. "That lack of support really led to the goal against."

"Obviously the bounce was pretty tough for me on the blueline," said Punchless power play is a crisis for the Sabres Jokiharju.

The Sabres took a 1-0 lead on Reinhart's deflection at 3:29 of the first period but failed to extend the lead with the man advantage. The game By Mike Harrington was ultimately lost right then and there.

Published Fri, Dec 6, 2019|Updated Fri, Dec 6, 2019 "We had a good start for the game and the second period was still a 1-1 game," Jokiharju said. "But those things turned around and it's frustrating

they turned the game that way." CALGARY -- It was Military Appreciation Night here Thursday. Kind of "Our biggest thing when our power play isn't working," Reinhart said, "is appropriate. we've got to do our best to not let it affect our 5-on-5 game, which is a Keeping with the theme of the night, it doesn't take a deep breakdown to tough thing to do." say the Buffalo Sabres' special teams are at DEFCON 1. The team will convene for practice again Friday in Vancouver. It's pretty Their 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames in Scotiabank Saddledome can clear what the point of emphasis will be. almost exclusively be pinned on a hideous power play. Buffalo News LOADED: 12.07.2019 The Sabres were 0 for 7 until Jack Eichel scored with 47 seconds left and Linus Ullmark on the bench for an extra attacker. That was Buffalo's third chance at a two-man advantage on the night. The first two were feeble.

The power play failed on one 5-on-3 that could have produced a 2-0 lead in the first period. And it endured its greatest indignity when Tobias Rieder gave the Flames the lead for good, 2-1, in the second period by blocking a Henri Jokiharju shot and beating Ullmark on the ensuing breakaway for a short-handed goal.

The Flames, meanwhile, got a goal on their only power play over the first two periods. Big difference.

"Again, the specialty teams shifted the momentum in their favor," said coach Ralph Krueger. "And for them to add a dagger in by scoring on the short-hander was a turning point in the game. We had a really bad second period overall. ... We just gave up all our principles for a stretch and couldn't find it back in the third."

The 1-for-8 night left the Sabres at 3 for 47 on the power play over the last 16 games and they are last in the NHL with the man advantage since Nov. 1.

Eight chances produced a measly four shots on goal. Clearly, Krueger has no answers.

Victor Olofsson and Jack Eichel thrived on the flanks firing one-timers over the season's first 10 games or so. Opponents have choked off those passes and Krueger has been unable to adjust.

"They pressured us all over the ice and you really saw that on their PK," said Olofsson, who scored his first six goals of the season on the power play but hasn't connected since Oct. 16. "We just have to keep it simple. We always want to make a nice play and try to find that perfect chance all the time."

The Sabres have never looked worse this season than they did in the third period of this one, when they could barely connect on a simple 5- foot pass with the man advantage.

"That's your assessment of it," bristled Sam Reinhart. "I don't know about that. I think there's times in the game where we weren't at our best but I don't agree with that assessment."

For his part, Krueger acknowledged the passing issue.

"This league is punishing. If you let up just a few percentage points, you're going to get it right back in the teeth like we did tonight," he said. "I think the power play is a reflection possibly of just losing a few percentage points of intensity.

"We're going to go to the drawing board. We're going to try to look for simplicity and add that to the work ethic we need on the power play to get it going."

Krueger is going to need a lot of luck. The Sabres miss Ramsus Dahlin out top and pulled Jokiharju from the spot in favor of Rasmus Ristolainen after the Rieder goal.

Despite the personnel change, Krueger absolved Jokiharju of sole responsibility on the play, when the 20-year-old's shot was blocked and the Flames got a clear breakaway. 1164950 Calgary Flames “That was the thing that I was trying to build towards all year long.” His buddies have witnessed the build-up.

Which is why Thursday’s reaction really told the story. Flames teammates thrilled to see Milan Lucic end scoring drought “I think every guy jumped up,” said Flames alternate captain Sean

Monahan of the scene on the home bench when Lucic converted. “He’s Wes Gilbertson one of those guys who is obviously really well-respected in this locker- room and in the league. So when a guy like that scores a goal like that, Published:December 6, 2019 there’s a lot of emotion that goes into it. We were all so happy for him.”

Updated:December 6, 2019 6:22 PM MST One of them was so happy he jumped for joy.

Literally.

Flames vs. Sabres GameDay — Five storylines “You don’t meet too many guys like him, just the way he carries himself every day,” Dube said of Lucic. “In Calgary, it’s a big market here and One of his linemates jumped for joy. everybody is rooting for him a lot. Our fans have been so good and Literally. chanting his name every game. So you knew it was a matter of time, and you just know he wanted to score even more for the crowd. If you replay the clip of Milan Lucic’s first bury on behalf of the Calgary Flames, you’ll notice that fellow forward Dillon Dube leaps in the air as “You saw the whole huddle, everyone was so excited on the bench … It the puck hits the back of the net. was just awesome.”

“Pure excitement,” said a slightly-sheepish Dube after Friday’s practice at Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.07.2019 the Saddledome. “I guess my body just took over, and I jumped up. It felt like a peewee celebration, but I was just really happy for him. It was awesome.

“I’m not much of a celebrator. I like to keep it low-key. That’s probably the most excited I’ve got in a very long time … I think I got, like, five or six feet of air there.”

That’s an exaggeration, but this is not — Lucic’s long-awaited goal prompted one of the best reactions of the season at the Saddledome.

The fans roared.

Dube (sorta) soared.

And that was before anybody realized it would stand as the game-winner in Thursday’s 4-3 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres, a third straight victory for the Flames.

“The crowd has been dying for it, it seems like, for a couple weeks now,” said interim coach Geoff Ward of that first notch for No. 17.

Just imagine what it must have been like for the 31-year-old Lucic.

Goals have been relatively few and far between for the big man over the past two winters, but there’s no doubt he was itching to make an immediate offensive impact after arriving in a rare swap between the Flames and Edmonton Oilers.

Instead, he was blanked in 27 straight skates.

Adding to what must have been an agonizing wait, the guy he was traded for — — started the season on a scoring tear for the provincial rivals.

Earlier on this three-game homestand, which wraps with Saturday’s showdown against the Los Angeles Kings (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), Lucic told reporters he was through smashing sticks and slamming doors out of frustration over his season-long shutout.

In the very next outing, his attitude adjustment was rewarded.

Dube dropped a pass as he darted into enemy territory. Lucic dished to , and the centre drew a defender with a fake and put a return pass right on the tape.

You likely would have been able to hear the sigh of relief when Lucic fired into the yawning cage, except that the building was rocking.

As has become customary, the fan-fave forward was serenaded with screams of ‘Looooooch!’

“When you’re down and you’re frustrated, you’re shrugging your shoulders, you’re second-guessing yourself and when you find yourself in those scoring areas, you’re not relaxed and that’s when it doesn’t end up going in for you,” Lucic said after Friday’s practice. “So when you have that positive frame of mind, you start thinking that way and things start to flow. I guarantee if you ask all the top scorers in the league or the top scorers of all-time, they will all tell you that they were always happy and positive and confident every time they were on the ice. 1164951 Calgary Flames But the constant line of questioning from the outside world, he said, does not get frustrating. He understands why people are hard on him.

“I’m an offensive guy,” he said. “I have to make sure I’m helping my team Weight lifted off Gaudreau's shoulders with goal against Sabres win games and I have to make sure I’m playing my role. It’s something I have to be better at.”

According to Ward, there were signs early on in Thursday’s game. Kristen Anderson, Postmedia “We started the game and he was having fun on the bench, he was Published:December 6, 2019 smiling,” he said. “I think it carried over into his play. He was playing way freer than he has for a long time. He looked like there was a weight lifted Updated:December 6, 2019 6:23 PM MST off his shoulders. Things were happening for him. He was making plays. He was hanging onto pucks. He was doing the things that just come naturally to him as a player. Only Santa would have a list longer than the Calgary Flames’ problems this season. “When we saw that happening, he was trending towards having a good night.” Outside of goaltending, their struggles, gut-punches, and challenges have been well-documented and, at the moment, they seem to be Gaudreau finished the game with a game-leading five shots on net and emerging from an early-season funk. played 13:09. That was a season-low for ice time, somewhat in relation to the fact the Flames took eight minor penalties during the game. At the top sat Johnny Gaudreau’s scoring woes through the team’s first 30 games of the season. Remember, more ice time does not equal quality ice time.

To put it into perspective, at this time last year, the 26-year-old was on a Ward alluded to that on Friday when asked if the reduction of Gaudreau’s seven-game point streak and had 12 goals and 27 assists in 30 games minutes was intentional. for the Flames who were on a tear in the Western Conference. Through Depth, he said, is important and his current line juggling — it seems — is 30 games in 2018-19, Gaudreau had 39 points, a point per game pace of a way of achieving that. 1.30. “The thing for us is we understand we’re going to have to be a four-line This year, the Carneys Point, N.J., native has six goals and 16 assists for team — that’s what we’re really working towards,” Ward said. “Where it’s 22 points in 30 games. He’s a minus-10. going to pay off for us is down the stretch. Last year, we saw we had Gaudreau is reserved, quiet and serious about the game. When he’s on some guys near the end that were a little tired. This year, we’re going to the bench. Listening to a drill. In the media. try to manage that a little bit more . . . we’re all about what’s happening through the four lines of our hockey team right now. Or going through scoring issues that have been weighing on the play- making whiz kid. Gaudreau stormed the scene back in 2014 out of “I think the guys are finding that less time means they can go at it Boston College and had 99 points last year, but also couldn’t find the harder.” back of the net during the 2019 playoffs. When Gaudreau scored on the power play and was immediately “When you’re a scorer and you don’t score, I think that’s the hardest job embraced by , he didn’t celebrate. He didn’t break into a in all of hockey,” said Milan Lucic, weighing in on the expectations of wide grin, although his teammates on the ice did along with the Gaudreau, the second-highest paid forward on the team at $6.75-million Scotiabank Saddledome when Gaudreau tied the game 1-1. USD per season. “Especially in a market like this where sometimes it It was business-like which, contrary to misconception, isn’t indicative of gets dissected and all that type of stuff. Sometimes it’s hard to get how much he cares or not. through. And it’s not because he doesn’t care, “It’s not the case at all,” Lucic said. “You can see it. He takes a lot of “It’s because he does care. He wants to score. Sometimes it takes a little pride and a lot of joy in playing that scoring type of game. When you shake-up where he was put in the lineup and he still got his minutes and don’t get rewarded, you sometimes second guess yourself. You wonder his opportunities. But it’s a long season. Scoring comes and goes. You why it’s not going in and all that type of stuff. When you finally get one, get hot sometimes. You get cold sometimes. sometimes that’s all it takes and it’s like a flick of a switch and then it’s “Even the best players get cold at times.” going your way again.

Temperatures can change. Rapidly. Anyone in Calgary knows that. “Streaks come and go, I know you guys have seen it more than I have. When he gets hot, he gets hot.” Ahead of Saturday’s game against the L.A. Kings (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet, Sportsnet 960 The Fan), there are signs of progress. PURPLE COMEBACK

Since a closed-door meeting in St. Louis, they have collected points in It’s a new season and the Flames have been sporting some new-look five consecutive contests and, since interim head coach Geoff Ward took line combinations. over, the team has won three straight, including Thursday’s 4-3 win over But Sean Monahan, and Johnny Gaudreau went back to the Buffalo Sabres. The Flames appear to be embracing Ward’s old faithful on Thursday. philosophies. Yes — purple Gatorade made a comeback during the team’s offensive There are signs, too, that Gaudreau is feeling more like himself. outburst. Against the Sabres — starting on the team’s de facto third line with Milan The tradition started last season when Gaudreau would give his Lucic on the left side and Derek Ryan up the middle — Gaudreau linemates a quick squirt out of their water bottle after a goal. So, when snapped a 10 game goalless streak. Gaudreau scored on the powerplay in the first period, they went back to Split up with his normal trio — Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan — an old habit. It was the first time this season that they’ve hydrated in this Gaudreau had his best game in weeks. He went cross-bar, glove-side on manner. Buffalo netminder Linus Ullmark on a first-period man-advantage. It was While it’s been a struggle for the trio this season, having been split up on his first goal since the Flames hosted New Jersey on Nov. 7. occasion and — most recently, during Thursday’s game after a week of “Obviously, if I’m not playing well, I’m going to take it to heart,” Gaudreau practising with the new-look lines — Monahan said it couldn’t hurt to said. “I’m very happy when our team wins a game, but you have to look switch things up. at yourself in the mirror and if you’re not playing better, you have to get “We needed a spark,” said Monahan with a grin after Thursday’s better. It’s hard to mix those feelings sometimes. But if you’re not playing practice. “We needed a change. I went back to my old stick. The purple at your best, you have to get through it.” Gatorade came back. Criticism has come left, right and centre at Gaudreau this year. The “We were having fun, laughing. That’s what hockey’s all about.” offence runs through him and other teams know it. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164952 Calgary Flames Uh, really? Rasmus swears his side prevailed in overtime. Peter laughs at that. “Oh, I think we won,” he countered. “You see, we both want to win. Never admit a loss.”

‘He’s probably one of the cockiest guys on the ice’: On Rasmus It turns out that father, 1983 fourth-round pick of the New York Rangers, Andersson’s bold path to becoming an NHL regular and son, 2015 second-round pick of the Flames, are wired not so differently.

Rasmus has heard stories about his dad’s heyday, 22 professional By Scott Cruickshank Dec 6, 2019 seasons, a span which included 47 NHL games. “He played a little on the edge, on the line,” said the 23-year-old, “so I think I got it from my dad.”

Peter agrees. “He likes to compete and I know he likes to win — he’s a For Peter Andersson, well connected in the world of Swedish hockey, bad loser,” he said over the phone from Malmo, where he’s in his fourth this moment is easily anticipated. season as head coach of the Redhawks. “He’s ready to pay a high price Knowing that Malmo’s pro team has been cranked a couple of days for winning — that’s maybe something from his dad. I was a little bit the earlier, knowing that his son Rasmus is thriving with the club’s juniors, same. You hate to lose more than you love to win. That’s (a knowing a thing or two about the business, he figures a promotion is characteristic) from home, I think.” going to happen. Also fair, according to Dad, is Rasmus’s assertion that even though he And it does. plays like the old man, he got his outgoing personality from his mother, Maritha. “I like to hear that,” said Peter, “because then he knows himself Peter, laughing, gives an account of the phone call from his boy, who, in pretty good.” mid-October of 2012, is still a few weeks shy of his 16th birthday. Flames followers are also getting to know the rearguard, now in his Rasmus: “Hey, you know what?” second full season with the team.

Peter (innocently): “No. What’s going on?” Scruffy and steady, pushy and yappy, Andersson is not going anywhere.

Rasmus: “Dad, I’m coming. Watch out.” Except perhaps to the top pairing for a decade or so.

The catch? Peter happens to be head coach of Orebro, the squad that His game — free of panic, full of confidence — is serving him and his Rasmus will be facing in his pro debut. employers well. And there is little that’s dainty about No. 4.

Nearly as intriguing? Because Rasmus and Andre Burakovsky, his best Ryan Huska, who coached Andersson in AHL Stockton and now handles friend and fellow call-up, have travelled to Orebro ahead of Malmo’s pro the defencemen in Calgary, has witnessed plenty of shenanigans. There outfit, they are in desperate need of ice time the day before the game. is no mute button.

Solution? Participating in Orebro’s session. “Kind of weird,” said “He gets on people’s nerves with some of the comments,” Huska said. Burakovsky, “practising with the team that you’re going to play.” “He’s always in your face, so it’s, ‘This guy again?’ But he’s not afraid to back it up. He continually puts himself out there. If there’s a scrum on the Near the end of the workout, Peter pulls aside Rasmus for a coach-to- ice, he’s usually the first guy into it. He’s there for his teammates. player type of chat. “He gave him tips — ‘Think about these things. Don’t do this. Just be patient,'” said Burakovsky. “Stuff like that.” “You like the energy and compete that he brings to the game each and every night.” That night, the kids stay at Peter’s place. And Rasmus, well, he’s champing at the bit. Familiar with his dad’s roster, he devises a plan to That appetite showed itself early. make an impact. “He said, ‘That guy and that guy, I might hit them hard,'” recalled Peter. “I said, ‘Don’t do that.'” It’s no surprise that Andersson — son of a pro player, little brother to a superb player, Calle — dug into the game. He says he was probably His son’s moxie being no secret, he cackles at the memory. But Peter banging around the house in Calle’s rollerblades before he could walk. “It grows serious when he talks about the actual game, which, for him, is a was one of those things — it was always set in stone that I wanted to be challenge. a hockey player.”

“That was emotionally tough for me as a dad to be on the other side and His first taste of organized hockey was in Switzerland during Peter’s four- to see your son on the opponents’ team because you want to have one year term as captain of HC Lugano. The boy’s initial inclination? To go in eye on him and see how he’s doing, how he’s taking care of himself,” net. “I wanted to be a goalie,” he recalled, “but the coach’s son was the said Peter. “And all my players, of course, know that that’s the coach’s goalie.” But Calle’s team would often play after his own games and son. It was weird.” Andersson would dress as the backup. Eventually, he settled onto the blue line, just like his dad and big brother. More awkward still is the sight of Rasmus — wearing No. 75 and, because of his status as an underage player, a cage — mixing it up with By the time the family members returned to their native Sweden, one of Orebro’s top forwards, as promised. Andersson’s competitive juice was evident.

But only one coach experiences mixed feelings. “He’s never been shy,” Peter said. “On the ice, he’s always had some kind of an attitude. He likes to talk, he likes to provoke. When he was Malmo’s skipper at the time, Ulf Taavola, owned a reputation as a hard- younger, if it was a quiet game, you knew he was going to do something. ass. Following the contest, he approaches the baby-faced newcomer. That was how he behaved when he was a kid.” “And he gave Rasmus a big hug,” said Burakovsky, still sounding surprised. “I’d never seen that from him before.” Once, seeing Andersson, aged nine or 10, berate the officials, Peter was compelled to take a rare step — actually walking out onto the playing All of which caps an unforgettable weekend for the teenager — self- surface to physically remove his son. assuredly introducing himself to pro hockey and getting to share the moment with his father and his childhood chum. “That was embarrassing for him and for everybody else in our family,” said Peter. “I kind of carried him off the ice. I had enough.” Rasmus, now, calls everything about the occasion “pretty cool.” No doubt. It is a unique story. That wasn’t the end of the episode, either. Dad decided that his son needed to “know the feeling” so he volunteered the kid’s services as a “It’s something I think back on and I’m pretty proud of,” the Calgary referee. It worked. “I remember he came home once and he was like, Flames defender said the other day at the Saddledome. “When they ask ‘Dad, the coaches were screaming at me.’ I said, ‘Good — now you’re me about my greatest hockey memory, that’s probably it.” learning.'” Dad’s takeaway remains vivid, too. Playing the game, though, came easy for Andersson. “Actually, Rasmus played really well,” said Peter, “but I won the game.” Not tall, but very strong. Not speedy, but really heady. And always playing up an age group or two. Excelling, he was no scouting secret. This is a nightly contributor for the Flames. And, last month, Andersson skated in his 100th contest. “You’ve got to play good to be in this league, In fact, Andersson was snapped up by three teams in three years: right?” he said. “It goes by really quick. You’ve got to really enjoy it.”

48th overall in the 2013 KHL draft by Lev Praha But, watching him perform, you’d never sense that joy.

37th overall in the 2014 CHL draft by Barrie First into a crease-side gathering for a shove or a face-wash. First to the 53rd overall in the 2015 NHL draft by Calgary enemy’s ear hole for a grumpy utterance. First to confront a rival meanie after Oliver Kylington is pasted. First into a scrum, even if it means Andersson didn’t flinch when he was picked to play in the Russian tussling with Ryan Reaves. league. “I read about it a week later,” he said. “I guess I was the first Swede to get selected. I got drafted to Prague, but they don’t even have “If you’re not really feeling it, it’s a way to get into the game, in my a team anymore, so I don’t know if anyone has my rights.” opinion, to get under someone’s skin,” Andersson said. “You know you have them when they start to chirp you back. If they get frustrated at you, But the call from OHL Barrie got his — and his family’s — attention. you know you have them. And I can handle whatever they say to me. I don’t get too much offended by it. I’ve heard all of it so many times, so I The kid was sold on a North American (hockey) education. And don’t really care. Burakovsky, who’d skated the previous winter with OHL Erie, raved about his own experience. “It’s a fun way to get into it. It gets me engaged.”

“I told Rasmus that it was really good, that I really enjoyed it, that it was a But there are times to keep his tongue tethered. He knows it’s better to really good learning process,” said Burakovsky, a Stanley Cup winner in let stars, such as Jamie Benn, slumber instead of inciting them. And he Washington and, nowadays, a winger for the Colorado Avalanche. “I told knows — now — that a net-front exchange with may include him that you’re going to play a lot — it’s going to be a good run to make a severe stick-lift to the crotch. the NHL.” For a team with a reputation of being not too hard to play against, However, Dad knew what he wanted — for his son to remain in Sweden Andersson is a find. and attend the Hockey Gymnasium, a highly regarded school blending athletics and academics. At last season’s trade deadline, Flames boss Brad Treliving noted that there had been considerable interest in two of his young blueliners — But Andersson, ever strong-willed, had made up his teenaged mind. He Juuso Valimaki and Andersson. Presumably neither was close to being would play in the OHL. dealt. Some observers see them — left-handed Finn and right-handed Swede — as the go-to tandem of the future. “I wasn’t too happy,” said Peter. “He said, ‘I don’t care what you say. I’m going.’ And he went. Today, I’m happy … because he decided his own What Andersson already offers is a steady-pulsed game between the path by himself pretty much. He was convinced that it was good for him. whistles. He has the poise to pass through forecheckers. This, no doubt, After a while we supported him. I’m really happy today he went.” is the influence of his dad, who promotes a fast brand of hockey — which is accomplished by distributing the puck rather than rushing it. Not that his introduction to Canada came off without a hitch. “Rasmus is kind of playing the same way he’s always played — pretty Andersson landed in Toronto and barely escaped the airport, where he solid and pretty safe,” said Peter. “His puck management is pretty good. could produce no paperwork for customs officers. “They were going to He tries to make smart plays.” send me back to Sweden,” he said. The Colts emailed the necessary details. One thing, Andersson is never left guessing what the old man is thinking. Father and son engage in earnest give-and-takes after each game. But any awkwardness from the snafu didn’t follow him to the rink. “He wants to hear my opinion,” said Peter. “I’ll send him a text and say, At the Barrie Molson Centre, Andersson proved he was no wallflower. ‘Hey, you played this way or that way.’ Most of the time we have the When the team’s veterans needled the newcomer about his Swedish same feeling about the game. He wants my honesty about what I see. roots, he took no guff, zinging right back. And I want him, too, to be honest about how he felt.” “That’s what was so great about him,” said Mackenzie Blackwood, Not that Andersson needs much encouragement in that department. netminder of the Colts in those days. “He wasn’t shy at all, he came in, From him, you’re always going to get that — unvarnished truth — showed his true colours right away. That’s why we loved him. Because whether you’re a family member or a teammate or a reporter. he was so outgoing and personable. “He doesn’t really care what other people think — he’s just going to do “He was a ball of energy from the start.” his own thing,” said Burakovsky. “He’s the kind of guy, if he doesn’t like Told how his son’s demeanour allowed him to immerse himself in the someone, he will let you know. He’s tough with people he doesn’t like — Colts’ culture, Peter laughs. “That’s a really good description of how he he shows it. But when it’s people he loves, he’s really the best guy.” is,” he said. “He’s an easygoing guy to get along with. I actually think he’s Entrenched then in the bad books is Rikard Gronborg, at the helm of a really good team guy. He cares about his teammates, he cares about Sweden’s entries in the world junior tournaments. Twice, he snubbed his team. A high care level.” Andersson. The lack of like is mutual. “But, really, when I think back, I’m Andersson, asked about unleashing that bold personality everywhere he totally fine with it,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me. Because I knew if it was goes, even in a roomful of English-speaking strangers, shrugs. “You any other coach? I would have played.” don’t want to sit there and not talk to anyone, right? That’s my personal And if that sounds like overriding confidence in the face of rejection, well, opinion,” he said. “We did a lot of things off the ice. (With Andrew why not? Mangiapane and Kevin Labanc) we got a pretty close group pretty quick.” Self-belief has carried the young man this far. He laughs. “A lot of fun together. A lot of stupid stuff.” As a hotshot prospect. As a first-time pro (in Sweden). As a junior in And a lot of solid hockey — 124 points in 131 outings — before Canada. As a first-time pro (in North America). As a rookie in the NHL. graduating to pro, where, before embarking on an NHL career, he required only scant seasoning. And, now, as a regular in the NHL.

Although Andersson admits that his AHL rookie campaign, 2016-17, Andersson never doubts himself. turned into a grind. “I kept hearing in my ear all the time, ‘Get in better shape,’ so that was a long year.” But the following season in Stockton, he “He’s really good at new environments,” Burakovsky said. “He’s not a shy was fitter — and a force, earning an invitation to the AHL all-star game. guy — like you’ve probably seen. He’s probably one of the cockiest guys on the ice. “It felt like a step in the right direction … like being in the mix for a regular NHL spot,” said Andersson. “I think I set myself up pretty good.” “He’s kind of following his own mindset, and it’s definitely helping him be as successful as he is.” Hard to argue. Gone is the prospect label. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164953 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes to move into new practice rink in 2020 and leave Raleigh Center Ice

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

DECEMBER 06, 2019 10:56 AM

The Carolina Hurricanes will have a new practice rink in 2020. No more Raleigh Center Ice, nee The RecZone.

The Canes announced Friday they will be partners in the ice-skating facility being constructed at the Wake Competition Center, the burgeoning athletic complex located between Aviation Parkway and Airport Parkway. The Canes will use it as their permanent practice facility, with a locker room, weight-lifting area and coaches’ offices as part of their leased 12,000 square feet.

The 120,000-square-foot facility will have two NHL-sized sheets of ice, other locker room areas and can seat about 2,000 spectators. It will host youth and local college hockey teams and will be open to the public for skate rentals.

Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon and president and general manager Don Waddell joined Jeff Ammons, president of Ammons Building Corp., in making Friday’s partnership announcement. Ammons, who also owns RCI, said the new facility will cost $30 million and Waddell said the Hurricanes would “spend millions” in their financial commitment without giving a ballpark figure.

“This project has been on our plate for a long time,” Waddell said. “We owe a lot to Tom Dundon. When Tom came in (as owner) he said let’s make it happen. We’re excited about it. It’s going to be a state-of-the-art training facility.

“It’s going to be a recruiting opportunity for us also as we bring players (free agents) into town. This is something we’ll be very proud of. This will be a major upgrade for us. This will be a big thing for us as we attract players.”

Ammons developed the Wake Competition Center, which has gymnastics, volleyball and soccer facilities. The Raleigh Orthopaedic Performance Center and the Athletic Lab also are located at WCC.

The Canes began practicing at Raleigh Center Ice in the 2001-02 season and upfitted their locker room and weight room in the summer of 2003, spending $300,000. Ammons, who acquired RCI in May 2016, has said he will raze the facility, citing maintenance costs.

Ammons said the new facility project received $3 million from the local hotels/motels and prepared foods tourism tax allocation.

“Otherwise it’s pretty much privately funded,” Ammons said. “With the Hurricanes we have a leasing arrangement. They’re paying rent as we go and we have some partnership agreements on advertising and other things going forward.”

Ammons said the facility should open in May or June and be ready for the Canes when they begin training camp for the 2020-21 season.

“We’re going to really push from a hockey standpoint to try and get state and national tournaments,” Waddell said. “There’s never been this kind of facility in this region. We’ll work together on this.”

Canes captain expressed some mock surprise Friday when asked about the new facility.

“It’s happening? Are you sure?” he said, smiling.

Told the announcement was made Friday, that construction was underway in Morrisville, Staal said, “It will be very nice to have. It will just make our brand and this team that much better. It’s a really good thing.”

News Observer LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164954 Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes host the Wild following shootout victory

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DECEMBER 06, 2019 03:26 AM

Minnesota Wild (14-11-4, fifth in the Central Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (17-11-1, fourth in the Metropolitan Division)

Raleigh, North Carolina; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Carolina hosts the Minnesota Wild after the Hurricanes took down San Jose 3-2 in a shootout.

The Hurricanes are 9-5-0 on their home ice. Carolina has given up 15 power-play goals, killing 85% of opponent chances.

The Wild are 7-10-2 on the road. Minnesota is seventh in the NHL shooting 10.4% and averaging 3.0 goals on 29.0 shots per game.

In their last matchup on Nov. 16, Carolina won 4-3.

TOP PERFORMERS: Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 13 goals, adding nine assists and collecting 22 points. Andrei Svechnikov has four goals and six assists over the last 10 games for Carolina.

Ryan Suter leads the Wild with 14 total assists and has collected 17 points. Mats Zuccarello has totaled six assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 7-0-3, averaging 3.7 goals, 5.9 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game with a .919 save percentage.

Hurricanes: 6-4-0, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game with a .920 save percentage.

Hurricanes Injuries: Martin Necas: day to day (lower body).

Wild Injuries: Mikko Koivu: day to day (lower body).

News Observer LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164955 Carolina Hurricanes Is Rod Brind’Amour excited? “I don’t know, I mean I’ve been here for 20 years,” he told The Athletic,

chuckling. “Nobody remembers when we first got here — we used to New practice facility will be a source of pride for the Hurricanes — and a shower then walk through the lobby in our robes, so (RCI) is a huge potential tournament destination upgrade here, already. I like it here, it’s been good to us. But obviously getting a new facility is going to be special.”

Of course Brind’Amour likes Raleigh Center Ice. By Sara Civian Dec 6, 2019 The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Hurricanes President and GM Don Waddell is not one to mince his words. His trademark bluntness was refreshing at the construction site of the Hurricanes’ new practice facility at Wake Competition Center on Friday.

“It’s interesting, when I came here in 2014 I kept asking our players what we could do for them and they kept telling me ‘We need a new practice facility because (Raleigh Center Ice) is … not very good,'” Waddell said. “So this project has been on our plate for a long time, and we owe a lot to Tom Dundon here, because when Tom came in he said ‘Let’s make it happen,’ and that brings us to today. We’re excited about it. It’s going to be a state-of-the-art training facility.”

The projected completion date is mid-summer, and Jeff Ammons, owner of Ammons Building Corporation, is confident everything will be ready to go when Hurricanes training camp kicks off in August. The area is more of a sports complex than a single building — a “hub of activity” according to Ammons — with a volleyball center, a gymnastics center, soccer fields, Raleigh orthopedic, and track fields Olympians have used to name a few of the Hurricanes’ future neighbors.

“I know the Hurricanes have been looking to build a better practice facility for a while now,” said Ammons, who has been in talks with the Canes about it for four-or-so years. “I can say that, ’cause I own the other one. I’m not proud of that one, but we did the best we could.”

Listen, good ole RCI is charmingly gritty, but it wasn’t going to cut it for a respectable National Hockey League team much longer — not if Carolina wants to woo big free agents, something Dundon has proved willing to do in his tenure.

“It’s going to be a recruiting opportunity for us as we bring players into town,” Waddell said. “Right now, we take them to PNC Arena and we tell them we don’t really have a practice rink, ’cause we don’t really want to take them to RCI. So this will be something we’ll be very proud of…as we all know, we’re five minutes from the airport here, and what will be really important for us is visiting teams. Visiting teams right now, that’s where players get to see what you’re all about, like Minnesota is here today practicing at RCI, players leave there with the impression, like, ‘This is where they practice?’ Now next year visiting teams will say ‘Wow, this is a nice facility.’… all these little things (are actually) big things as we try to bring in players.”

I will honestly miss RCI. (Sara Civian / The Athletic)

First of all, can you blame Waddell for not giving potential future Hurricanes the grand tour?

Second, the fact that the team doesn’t really practice at RCI is hardly a fib. It generally doesn’t unless conflicts at PNC Arena forces it to, whereas other teams with modern practice rinks like the Bruins and the Penguins use theirs almost daily by choice. That’s going to change for the Hurricanes next season — practices will remain free and open to the public, but they’ll be held in Morrisville’s 12,000-square-foot facility every day except game day.

To be clear, the facility in its entirety is about 120,000 square feet, with two sheets of ice and 2,000 total seats. The whole thing adds up to about $30 million — $3 million of that is a grant, the rest is privately funded. The Canes are going to lease out the facility and pay rent.

Michigan man Waddell is extremely connected with USA Hockey — he said he’s already thrown out the idea of hosting some tournaments. It’s exciting to think about not only what the facility will do for the Hurricanes, but for growing the game of hockey in North Carolina. Ammons said he envisions local club college hockey teams like UNC and N.C. State using the facility.

There will be a restaurant and a pro shop for the public, then a full kitchen for the players, a “huge” weight room, an indoor track, lounges and coaches’ offices among other things RCI just couldn’t provide. 1164956 Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Kirby Dach convert in the shootout as the Blackhawks top the Devils 2-1 for their 2nd straight win

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

DEC 06, 2019 | 9:03 PM

Any team will tell you it’s important not to look ahead at the schedule.

Well, it’s also important not to look back either.

With the thrill of a huge road victory against the powerful Bruins a night earlier still dancing in their heads, the Blackhawks headed to the Prudential Center on Friday night to face the Devils, one of the league’s worst teams.

An easy two points? No such thing for the Hawks, who never led until Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Kirby Dach converted in the shootout to beat the Devils 2-1 for their second straight win and a sweep of their brief two-game trip.

Corey Crawford stopped Jack Hughes, the No. 1 pick in the June draft, on the Devils’ final shootout attempt to secure the victory.

The Hawks were again missing Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw, who were placed on injured reserve earlier in the day, and Olli Maatta, who missed his second straight game with an illness.

The Hawks got off to a slow start, taking three penalties in the first period and giving up a power-play goal on the last one when Taylor Hall fired a wrist shot past Crawford from just beyond the right faceoff circle.

Alex DeBrincat had a great chance midway through the second when he stole an errant pass at the Devils blue line. He raced in and fired a shot that Mackenzie Blackwood steered away with his blocker.

But the Hawks got their first power play shortly afterward, and DeBrincat scored his second goal in as many games, backhanding in a rebound that slipped through the crease under Blackwood’s leg to tie the game at 1.

The second period ended with the game still tied, but not before Hughes sent a 100-foot pass to Miles Wood, but Crawford stopped his breakaway attempt.

Brandon Saad had a breakaway in each of the first two periods, including one while short-handed early in the first, but Blackwood stonewalled him both times.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164957 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019

Zack Smith believes fighting has a place in hockey — but that doesn’t mean the Blackhawks forward wants to hurt anybody: ‘It’s not a good feeling’

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

DEC 06, 2019 | 7:51 PM

Moments after Blackhawks forward Zack Smith and Bruins defenseman John Moore dropped their gloves during the third period Thursday night in Boston, the fight was over.

The first punch Smith threw leveled Moore, who crumbled to the ice and then abruptly skated off for medical attention.

Thankfully, it looked worse than it was. Moore, who grew up in Winnetka, returned to the game. Smith was relieved but not surprised Moore was uninjured.

"I threw the punch so I knew it wasn't that hard," Smith said.

Still, the quickness with which the fight ended and the immediacy with which Moore left the ice made it a frightening moment for those watching. Moore was playing in his first game since undergoing left shoulder surgery.

But what about the guy throwing the punch? How does it feel to hit a player and watch him skate away with a possible serious injury?

“It’s not a good feeling,” Smith said. “Especially (since) that was his first game in seven months or whatever. That sucked, but it’s part of the game.”

As much as fighting has scaled back in recent years, there doesn’t seem to be much appetite for it to be banned. Hawks defenseman Dennis Gilbert and the Devils’ Wayne Simmonds got into a long and spirited fight early in the first period of Friday night’s game.

Smith has been in more than 40 fights in his 12-season NHL career and is willing to drop the gloves in the right situations. After delivering a strong hit to Bruins star David Pastrnak along the boards Thursday, Smith understood why Moore confronted him.

“I’m fine with somebody challenges me after a hit like that on Pastrnak,” Smith said. "Protect your skaters. I thought that was a clean hit but I don’t mind guys stepping up like that. You never want to see anybody get hurt. The vast majority of the guys would say that. Anyone who has ever hurt someone feels like (expletive).

“I mean, there are exceptions to that rule as you can tell by the way some guys play. But you never want to see that happen. I was glad when I saw him come back.”

Smith is glad the days of “planned” fights are nearly extinct. But he believes there’s a place for fighting in hockey and always should be.

“If it’s a hit from behind or a dirty hit, then all the incentive for the other guy is a penalty or maybe it gets reviewed and he gets a fine or suspension,” Smith said. "It’s important that guys think about that stuff in the back of their head when they’re out there. (Having to fight) is another consequence too.

“I’ve been in a lot of fights over my career, and fear is always involved in it. At the end of the fight, it’s never that bad. But you can’t get over the next time. So I think people always think of that. Next time we go against Boston, I know that if I bump Pastrnak then probably (6-foot-9 Zdeno) Chara is going to be the guy skating over to me.”

And what did Smith’s mom, who was at the game for the biennial mom’s trip, think about seeing her son fight?

“I was fine, so she’s OK with it,” Smith said. "If I was missing some teeth or something she might be a little upset. She paid for braces for me as a kid. It was kind of funny, the first one of the year and it’s on the mom’s trip.

“But she’s fine with it. She’s been watching me do it since junior hockey.” 1164958 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks’ Zack Smith wants assistant coach Marc Crawford to stay with the team: ‘Hopefully it’s not just making an example out of someone’

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

DEC 06, 2019 | 6:25 PM

Nobody on the Blackhawks has spent more time around embattled assistant coach Marc Crawford than Zack Smith.

The two spent three seasons together with the Senators before joining the Hawks last summer. Crawford — who is on leave while the Hawks investigate allegations he physically and verbally abused former players with other teams — was an assistant coach and interim head coach in Ottawa, and Smith was a player.

While Smith said Crawford could be “intense” and sometimes yelled, he said he didn’t experience anything during their time together that resembled the allegations made by former NHL players Sean Avery, Brent Sopel and Patrick O’Sullivan.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing for Marc over my career,” Smith said. "I haven’t seen issues and I haven’t had issues with him. He’s been a great coach. He’s an intense guy and he wants to get the most out of guys. Sometimes he yells, but that’s part of it.

“I might be a little old school in that thinking, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a coach that yells.”

The allegations against Crawford aren’t just that he yelled. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Avery said Crawford kicked him so hard it left a mark when they were with the Kings. Sopel alleged during a podcast last year that Crawford “kicked me, he choked me” while both were with the Canucks.

O’Sullivan wrote in a 2016 autobiography that Crawford was verbally and physically abusive toward him and others — allegedly using homophobic slurs — while they were with the Kings.

Smith was unequivocal that he wants Crawford to return to the Hawks and indicated the rest of the team feels the same way.

“I think everyone’s on the same page with that,” Smith said. “I don’t want to speak for everyone, but for myself, hopefully this gets resolved. Hopefully it’s not just making an example out of someone. That would be very unfortunate.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164959 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks place Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw on injured reserve

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

DEC 06, 2019 | 1:43 PM

The Blackhawks placed Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw on injured reserve Friday, which opens up roster spots — although no players were immediately called up to replace them.

Keith has been out since leaving a game against the Avalanche on Nov. 29 with a groin injury. Shaw, who last played on Nov. 30, is in the NHL’s concussion protocol.

The minimum amount of time a player must spend on IR is seven days, which means Keith and Shaw will be eligible to return after Friday’s game against the Devils.

While the Hawks are eligible to call up players to replace them, they don’t have enough salary-cap space to do so. IR does not free up any cap space and, according to capfriendly.com, the Hawks are $240,030 away from the cap ceiling.

The next question the Hawks face is whether Keith and Shaw will be placed on long-term injured reserve. Doing so would require Keith and Shaw to remain on LTIR for at least 10 games and 24 days, but it would allow the Hawks to exceed the salary cap.

If Keith or Shaw ends up on LTIR, neither would be eligible to return until Dec. 27 against the Islanders.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164960 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks edge Devils as Alex DeBrincat’s long-awaited awakening takes second step

By Ben Pope Dec 6, 2019, 9:35pm CST

NEWARK, N.J. — The Blackhawks beat the Devils 2-1 in a shootout Friday to earn a sweep of back-to-back road games.

That’s very important in the short term.

Alex DeBrincat scored on both nights, snapping a 12-game goal drought and increased his season goal pace from 15 to 20 literally overnight. He remains well shy of last year’s 41-goal breakout, but the on-ice results are finally trending in the right direction for the Hawks’ newest core member.

And that’s very important for the long term.

“The chances were there, it just wasn’t going in for him,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “And he’s the type of player that can go on a run, so it would be great for our team if he did. But the important thing that I want to see is, ‘Can you continue to play well away from the puck and continue to generate chances?’ ”

On Thursday in Boston, DeBrincat beat Tuukka Rask cleanly with a perfectly placed wrist shot early in the third period, the kind of snipe that not every NHL player can execute and that makes DeBrincat such a star when not snakebitten.

On Friday, DeBrincat’s goal was far uglier: an awkward backhand of a Patrick Kane rebound, which barely dribbled past P.K. Subban and Jonathan Toews into the net.

“Just bounced out to me, got a backhander on it and tried to put it in the net,” DeBrincat said. “And it went in. Sometimes those go in, sometimes they don’t.”

Those are the goals that weren’t remembered but still counted towards DeBrincat’s lofty totals over his first two seasons, and they’ll again count just the same this year.

It had also proved to have a huge impact on the game’s result.

After an undisciplined first period in which the Hawks committed three minor penalties and surrendered a goal on the third one, the visitors finally drew their own power play midway through the second period, and DeBrincat made it count.

That 1-1 score held up the rest of the way, with Corey Crawford (29 saves) and Mackenzie Blackwood (28 saves) both turning in excellent outings, until Kirby Dach scored a fifth-round winner in his first career shootout attempt — a poised, smooth move to the backhand and a shot lofted over Blackwood’s pad.

“I have three moves in my head and whatever one the goalie bites on, I move to that side of my body, whether it’s forehand or backhand,” Dach said. “I’ve had a couple shootouts in junior and it worked, so I went back to that and it went in.”

Colliton credited the back-to-back sweep to the Hawks’ entourage of player mothers, who traveled with the team on the road trip. Colliton smiled when saying “it’s tough not be in a good mood around your mom.”

Regardless of the formula, though, these volatile Hawks return home with two victories by the narrowest of margins and a renewed sense of optimism, at least for now.

Those margins easily could’ve flipped against them if not for DeBrincat’s long-awaited awakening. As the team seeks to climb back into the playoff picture, a lengthy hot streak from their finally un-cursed star would be hugely beneficial.

“Anytime you’re around the net and you get a chance, it’s got a good chance to go in,” DeBrincat said. “If I can find those areas a little bit more, I can hopefully bang some home.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164961 Chicago Blackhawks Shaw hasn’t spoken with reporters since his concussion diagnosis was announced Monday — again, two days after his most recent game. But even if he did, he likely wouldn’t have a clue about when his symptoms will fade and he’ll be able to resume skating. As Blackhawks endure concussion plague, ‘symptom nonlinearity’ creates an extra challenge That’s the reality of this type of injury, which has proved fairly elusive to science — and often to players who don’t know they’re hurt. Strome and Caggiula said it took several days for them to even realize themselves what they were dealing with, despite consciously prioritizing their mental By Ben Pope health. CST Dec 6, 2019, 6:55am CST “There’s other symptoms that other people feel, so you just talk to [the doctors], you tell them what you’re feeling, they ask you some questions, you answer them, they let you know what they think,” Strome said. “It’s BOSTON — Drake Caggiula got back to his feet, played the rest of a mostly based on how you feel, to be honest.” Sunday night game last month, enjoyed a day off Monday, then practiced Tuesday morning. He felt completely fine. Caggiula has noticed that exercise and other activities that increase heart rate can trigger his symptoms. Alland confirmed that checks out Then he boarded the Blackhawks’ flight to Las Vegas that Tuesday medically. afternoon and everything went downhill. “[While a player is recovering], you put them through these return-to-play “Little bit of depression, anxiety, headaches, and then just feeling like not steps . . . just to see if it brings back symptoms,” he said. “The same myself,” he said. concept would be if [the symptoms are] minor, and you return to play or you fly on a plane or you don’t get good sleep one night, and then all of a Caggiula told team doctors and was soon diagnosed with a concussion, sudden they’re more severe, more prominent.” even though his symptoms were nothing like those he’d experienced with previous concussions — “vision issues and headaches, fogginess, Caggiula and Strome will at least make full recoveries, despite their forgetfulness,” he said — and didn’t arise until two days after the initial rough Novembers. Caggiula’s depression didn’t stick around; Strome’s hit. headaches have faded away.

As the Hawks suffer through a scourge of concussions, with forwards There has been progress toward understanding concussions. But there’s Dylan Strome and Andrew Shaw also enduring head injuries in the nearly clearly still much to learn. four weeks Caggiula has been out, diagnosing and treating them is especially difficult, given their unpredictability. “It’s not easy — you obviously want to battle for your teammates and get out there,” Strome said. “But a head’s a pretty serious thing.” Yet that “symptom nonlinearity” — the official term used by Dr. Jeremy Alland, a sports medicine professor at Rush University — is nothing Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.07.2019 unusual.

“It’s actually not as infrequent as you may think,” Alland said. “When you think about injuring your ankle, a lot of times the injury happens, and then it follows a very linear timetable. You can usually tell people how long it’s going to take. . . . A lot of times with concussions, it can fluctuate and come on later, or it can feel like it’s gone and all of a sudden the symptoms come back.”

Despite the two seemingly fine days immediately after he was hit, Caggiula still isn’t fully back to normal. He was eligible to return from long-term injured reserve Thursday against the Bruins but wasn’t activated — although he’s expected to return soon.

Strome, too, experienced late-onset symptoms. After taking a hit against the Lightning on Nov. 21, he played Nov. 23 in Dallas, then took the morning skate back in Chicago on Nov. 26 before entering concussion protocol.

“I was having some headaches,” he said. “Wasn’t having too many other symptoms, so I was just trying to see if it would go away, but it started to get worse. So I just tried to get through it and took a few days off the ice.”

The similarities and differences between Caggiula’s and Strome’s experiences point to two other difficult aspects of concussions. First, many symptoms — like Strome’s headaches and Caggiula’s anxiety — are common in everyday life and don’t necessarily indicate a concussion.

“There’s no great diagnostic test,” Alland said. “I can’t just MRI a brain and say, ‘Look, it’s a concussion.’ We have all these forms . . . to be aids in trying to unmask symptoms that maybe the athlete isn’t able to speak about. But a lot of times, it’s a very subjective thing: You rely on the athletes communicating to you that they’re having symptoms that they don’t usually have.”

Secondly, the timing of when symptoms begin to show largely has no correlation with recovery time.

“There’s a lot of factors that go into whether it’s going to be a longer concussion, and the delayed onset would be not as high on the list as things like prior concussions, how long it’s taken in the past [and] how severe the symptoms are,” Alland said.

Caggiula’s and Strome’s cases exemplify this. Whereas Caggiula sat out his 11th consecutive game Thursday, Strome returned after missing just four, slotting back into his old spot between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane and scoring a goal in the first period. 1164962 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago hosts Arizona after shootout victory

By Associated Press

Posted12/7/2019 7:00 AM

Arizona Coyotes (17-10-4, second in the Pacific Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (12-12-5, seventh in the Central Division)

Chicago; Sunday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago hosts the Arizona Coyotes after the Blackhawks beat New Jersey 2-1 in a shootout.

The Blackhawks are 7-6-4 in conference games. Chicago has converted on 14.9% of power-play opportunities, scoring 13 power-play goals.

The Coyotes are 10-4-4 in conference games. Arizona serves 6.4 penalty minutes per game, the least in the NHL. Barrett Hayton leads them averaging 0.9.

The matchup Sunday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Strome leads the Blackhawks with a plus-10 in 25 games played this season. Patrick Kane has four goals and six assists over the last 10 games for Chicago.

Conor Garland leads the Coyotes with 11 goals and has 16 points. Christian Dvorak has totaled two goals and seven assists over the last 10 games for Arizona.

LAST 10 GAMES: Coyotes: 5-3-2, averaging 2.3 goals, four assists, 2.5 penalties and 5.2 penalty minutes while allowing 1.9 goals per game with a .943 save percentage.

Blackhawks: 4-5-1, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.6 assists, 3.8 penalties and 9.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game with a .914 save percentage.

Blackhawks Injuries: Olli Maatta: day to day (illness).

Coyotes Injuries: None listed.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164963 Chicago Blackhawks Both had some outstanding saves. Blackwood stopped breakaways by Brandon Saad in the first and second periods, while Crawford came up big on a breakaway by Miles Wood late in the second.

Dach scores shootout winner, Blackhawks beat Devils 2-1 NOTES: DeBrincat has goals in two straight after going 12 without one. ... Devils F Wayne Simmonds and Blackhawks D Dennis Gilbert entertained the crowd with good fight in the first period. ... Teams play again on Dec. 23 in Chicago. ... Blackhawks put D Duncan Keith and F By TOM CANAVAN Andrew Shaw on injured reserve Friday. Their spots on the roster were Associated Press not immediately fill. ... Chicago D Olli Maatta missed his second straight game with an illness. Posted12/7/2019 7:00 AM NEXT

Blackhawks: Host Arizona Sunday before heading back on road for three NEWARK, N.J. -- Kirby Dach was a young man with a plan before his games. first NHL shootout attempt. Devils: At Nashville to start four-game road trip. The third overall pick in this year's draft roofed a shot in the fifth round to lift the Chicago Blackhawks over the New Jersey Devils 2-1 Friday night. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.07.2019

'œI had three moves in my head," the 18-year-old said. 'œWhatever the goalie bites on, I move to that side. I've had a couple of shootouts in junior, and it worked there so I just went back to that. It went it. That was nice."

Dach didn't know he was going to participate in the shootout until the coaching staff sent him out to face Mackenzie Blackwood, who had stopped Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome in the third and fourth rounds.

'œYou get to see what he's opening up to," Dach said of watching the others. 'œI got to see both goals and stopped shots, so that helps me a lot. At the same time, it's a whole different ballgame once you step out there. It kind of goes out of your head and you're just focused on scoring.'•

Chicago, which beat Boston in overtime Thursday, won its second game in two nights and its first shootout in four attempts this season.

'œTraditionally this group has been outstanding in shootouts," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. 'œTo be 0-3 was probably untreaded territory for them..'•

The coach also liked Dach's attitude.

'œHe wants the ball. He wants the goals," Colliton said. 'œThose are the type of guys you want to use in those situations because they want to be in that spot, and they are confident and that's what you need to score. He came through for the team and that was big.'•

Corey Crawford preserved the victory by stopping Jack Hughes on the final shootout attempt to cap a night where he won his 250th game. He had 29 saves.

DeBrincat scored in the second period for Chicago, and Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane also connected in the shootout.

Taylor Hall scored for the Devils, who are 0-2 under interim coach Alain Nasreddine. Blackwood had 28 saves, but he was defenseless when Dach went high on his shootout attempt. Nikita Gusev and Jesper Boqvist scored for New Jersey in the shootout, while Kyle Palmieri and Hall were stopped in addition to Hughes.

Nasreddine like the performance.

'œWe're looking for it taking a step in the right direction," he said. 'œOverall I thought the first period was good for us. We played the right way and second period, early on OK, but the game got away from us and third was 50-50. I'll take the effort, but would have been nice to get the two points."

Hughes, the top pick in this year's draft, returned to the lineup after missing three games with a lower body injury. Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, missed the game with an illness.

The teams were tied at 1 after two periods with both getting power-play goals.

Hall opened the scoring at 13:31 of the first with the Devils on their third power play. He took a pass from Sami Vatanen at the top of the right circle and rifled a shot past a screened Crawford for his fifth goal.

DeBrincat tied it at 9:35 of the second with the Blackhawks their first power play. Blackwood stopped a shot from low in the right circle by Kane, but the rebound came out the other side of the crease and DeBrincat backhanded his seventh of the season into an empty net. 1164964 Chicago Blackhawks

Crawford comes up big for 250th win

By Scott King December 06, 2019 10:32 PM

Corey Crawford captured a coveted goalie milestone with another solid performance in a 2-1 shootout victory for the Blackhawks on Friday in New Jersey. The Hawks (12-12-5) beat the Atlantic division-leading Bruins 4-3 in overtime in Boston with Robin Lehner in net on Thursday before playing the Devils, last in the Metropolitan, Friday with Crawford starting.

"It's important to try to climb back up in the standings," Crawford said following the game. "We had a few tough games, it seems like it's been pretty streaky the first quarter of the season, but when we're playing well I think we're pretty tough to beat. We just got to try to find that game as much as possible.

"But that was obviously a big win to start it and against one of the best teams in the league (the Bruins) and having a big lead too, going late into the third period, and then a team that's a little bit lower in the standings (the Devils), but you still have to come out hard and play, no games are easy. It was pretty competitive out there but it's nice to find a way to win."

The two-time Stanley Cup champ saved 29 of 30 shots through overtime, including a Miles Wood breakaway with 11 seconds remaining in the second period and the game tied 1-1. He also stopped three of five New Jersey Devils shooters including Taylor Hall and 2019 No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes in the shootout.

Crawford became the 59th goalie in NHL history to record 250 wins. The 34-year-old is one of 13 active NHL goalies and just the third Hawks netminder to reach the milestone.

Crawford is 250-149-52 in 464 games with the Blackhawks and has 26 shutouts.

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5 Takeaways: Blackhawks win 2-1 in shootout vs. Devils

By Scott King December 06, 2019 5:15 PM

The Blackhawks won 2-1 against the New Jersey Devils in a shootout on Friday. Here are five takeaways:

Top to bottom

The Hawks were looking to establish some momentum in Jersey following a big win Thursday in Boston. Jonathan Toews scored in overtime and Alex DeBrincat ended a 12-game goal drought to help the Hawks to a 4-3 OT win over the Bruins, ending the Blackhawks' 3-game losing streak in which they were outscored 16-5.

Going from facing the first place team in the Atlantic division (second in the NHL) on Thursday to the last place team in the Metropolitan division (second to last in the league) on Friday proved to be tougher than imagined.

Alex DeBrincat scored the lone regulation goal for Chicago and Kirby Dach, the No. 3 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, scored the final goal of the shootout and set up No. 1 pick Jack Hughes to get stopped by Corey Crawford for the 2-1 final score. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane also scored in the shootout for the Blackhawks.

Crow 250

Corey Crawford won his 250th NHL game on Friday. The two-time Stanley Cup champ is the 59th goalie in NHL history to reach the milestone and one of 13 active netminders to do so. The 34-year-old is the third goalie to reach 250 wins with the Blackhawks.

Crawford saved 29 of 30 New Jersey shots ahead of the shootout.

Cat on the prowl

DeBrincat scored his second goal in two games after not lighting the lamp in his previous 12. This is a good sign for the forward, who is known to score in bunches.

Gilbert getting noticed

Dennis Gilbert skated in his second straight game with the Hawks with Olli Maatta (flu-like symptoms) missing both contents on the road trip. Gilbert had a solid game in Boston Thursday and improved his case Friday, putting a big hit on Hughes then having a decent showing after answering the bell with Wayne Simmonds.

Kane watch

Kane tied Andy Bathgate for 93rd on the NHL career points list (973), assisting on DeBrincat's second period goal.

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Valeri Nichushkin resurrecting his NHL career with Avalanche

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 4:37 pm | UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 5:40 PM

BOSTON — Valeri Nichushkin continues to produce results in all three zones for the Avalanche, which took an $850,000 chance on the big Russian winger in August.

The 24-year-old Nichushkin, a 2010 draft lottery pick of the , has three goals and four points in the Avs’ last six games. He snapped a 91-game goal drought Nov. 23 against Toronto and has steadily seen his ice time and confidence increase during Colorado’s five-game winning streak while playing on the power play and penalty kill.

Nishushkin, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, declined to comment after his shorthanded goal Wednesday was the game-winner in a 3-1 triumph at Toronto, but as promised, he spoke about his NHL comeback season Thursday following a 3-2 win at Montreal.

“I’m so happy to be here and I love hockey more and more right now,” Nischuskin said.

The Avs offered him a one-year guaranteed contract less than two months after Dallas bought out the remaining two years of his deal worth $5.9 million. He had zero goals in 57 games for the Stars last season.

“When I scored first, I feel (lighter), no pressure on me anymore,” Nishushkin said. “Of course, I get energy from first goal, too, and I get a little bit more ice time. That helps a lot.”

Nichushkin logged a season-high 17:48 on Nov. 30 against Chicago and played 17:38 the game before at Chicago and the game after Wednesday against the Maple Leafs. He began his first season with Colorado logging 10-12 minutes and was a healthy scratch for four games in October.

At that time, Nichushkin felt like the bust that made Dallas buy him out of the final two years of his contract worth $5.9 million.

His last two goals have come on breakaways, including Wednesday when he capitalized on Jason Spezza’s broken stick at the Leafs’ offensive blue line.

“I was a little lucky. They had funny moment on the blue line — one guy loses his stick,” Nishushkin said. “But it was fun to score and help the team.”

The Avs traveled to Boston late Thursday night and had Friday off to enjoy the city. They will have a morning skate at the TD Garden before facing the mighty Bruins (20-3-6) for the second time this season. Colorado (18-8-2) beat Boston 4-2 on Oct. 10 in Denver when Nichushkin logged 11:39 on the fourth line.

Nichushkin has been playing on the second and third lines recently, partly because of all the injuries to forwards. On Thursday he was the left winger with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Matt Calvert.

Footnote. An update on center will be made Saturday after the morning skate. Kadri missed his first game of the season with a lower-body injury Thursday.

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The red hot Avalanche look to extend winning streak in Boston

By Aarif Deen - December 6, 2019

Coming off the heels of a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, the Avalanche are suddenly riding a five-game winning streak.

Colorado (18-8-2) improved to 3-2 on the second leg of a back-to-back this season, defeating Toronto the previous night.

Colorado jumped out to a 3-0 lead, scoring the third goal while shorthanded before the Habs answered back with two goals. It was the second consecutive night that a shorthanded goal held up as the game- winning goal for the Avs.

Goaltender Pavel Francouz recorded 40 saves, 16 of which came in the third period with Colorado clinging onto a one-goal lead.

Takeaways

Landeskog scores in his return. Playing in his first game back after missing 16 games, Avs captain Gabe Landeskog scored in the first period. His fourth of the season put the Avalanche up 2-0. Landeskog was paired with his usual linemates, joining forwards Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon on the Avalanche’s top line. The return pushed Joonas Donskoi down to the second line, alongside winger Andre Burakovsky, who also returned, and J.T. Compher at center. Compher was elevated to the second line, replacing Nazem Kadri, who sat with a lower-body injury.

Ryan Graves scores; continues to have a solid season. His goal in the first period was his fourth of the season and second in four games. Graves currently has a +18 rating, which leads the Western Conference. On Thursday, Graves led the Avalanche with five blocked shots, adding three shots on goal in 18:08.

Francouz, the perfect backup. Francouz improved to 6-2 on Thursday, winning his last four starts overall. He leads the Avs with a .927 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average. Francouz has provided Colorado with a great second option to starter Philipp Grubauer.

Preview

Colorado looks to extend its winning streak to six games on Saturday, traveling to Boston to take on the Bruins and close out its three-game road trip at 5 p.m. MST. The Avalanche defeated the Bruins in October at the Pepsi Center.

The Bruins enter the match after falling to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. It was Bruin’s fifth loss at home, all of which have come in overtime. Boston is the only team without a regulation loss on home ice this season.

MacKinnon and Bruins forward Brad Marchand are currently tied for third in the NHL scoring race with 44 points, each. Boston’s David Pastrnak trails one point behind. milehighsports.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164969 Colorado Avalanche Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- 13 6 5 11 4 5

Newhook might be on the outside looking in but just the fact that he has Avalanche Prospect Portfolio: WJC looms been invited to the pre-camp shows how much his game has come along in the last few weeks. Points in six of his last seven games and four of those have been multi-point nights. Team Canada is stacked down the BY NATHAN RUDOLPH DECEMBER 6, 2019 9 MINS READ middle and BC has made it painfully clear that Newhook is at his best when playing center. He may find his way onto the team and get himself

a chance to do something but missing out isn’t the end of the world as he December is here and that means WJC selection camps are starting up will be eligible for next year as well. around the world. The Avs are certain to have a handful of prospects at Sampo Ranta – LW (Minnesota) round 3, pick 78, 2018 the tournament this year and it’s shaping up to be an exciting and important look at them on the national stage. Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/-

Prospect of the Week: 16 6 10 6 2 2

Conor Timmins – D (Colorado Eagles) round 2, pick 32, 2017 As one of the final cuts from team Finland last year, Ranta is fully expected to be on the squad this year. While his numbers aren’t all that Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- gaudy he has already equaled his goal total from last year in less than 19 3 10 3 20 6 half as many games. As he continues to find consistency a dive into an always competitive Finnish team could see him take on more of a depth Timmins is long overdue for the prospect of the week honors. Timmins is role but at a minimum, it should be a fantastic opportunity for him to play not only the top prospect on the Eagles, but he’s also the best against the best of his peers. defenseman on the team even when you include the veterans. He might just be the best player on the team as only two players have a higher Daniil Zhuravlyov – D (Ak Bars Kazan) round 5, pick 146, 2018 point total on the season. He has excelled with every opportunity given to Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- him at the AHL level and the Avs will not be able to keep him out of the NHL for much longer. 28 0 7 7 8 8

Pro Standouts: Another shoo-in here, Zhuravlyov will be attending the WJC for the second time in his career. Given his relative success in the KHL, you Sheldon Dries – C (Colorado Eagles) Free agent signing have to think Russia will have a big role lined up for him on that blue line. Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- While Zhuravlyov is someone a lot of hardcore prospect watchers have kept their eye on, a good tournament would accelerate the process for 20 9 7 16 24 -1 him significantly.

While I am not sure if I consider Dries a real prospect at this point, he has KHL: been a key contributor for the Eagles while they have been missing multiple pieces due to all of the Avs callups. He is more or less a known Nikolai Kovalenko – RW () round 6, pick 171, 2018 quantity at the NHL level but with still the majority of the forward callups Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- failing to produce he may still get an NHL game or two this year. 32 7 5 12 6 8 WJC camp invites: Halfway through November Kovalenko found the scoring touch that Justus Annunen – G (Oulun Kärpät) round 3, pick 64, 2018 everyone has been waiting to see at the KHL level. His role has been Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % expanded to a middle-six or even second-line one and he is feasting GAA while continuing to bring a physical, hard-working presence. What’s not to love here? 13 11 0 2 0 94.67 1.26 NCAA: Annunen has still yet to record a loss in the this year. Given his past success with team Finland in tournaments like the U18’s and his absurd Nate Clurman – D (Notre Dame) round 6, pick 161, 2016 stat lines as a 19-year-old in the Liiga, he has to have the inside line to Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- the starter job for Suomi. If the tournament goes well for him you can expect the hype to break out of the Avalanche bubble. 14 0 5 5 2 8

Bowen Byram – D () round 1, pick 4, 2019 Notre Dame lost three straight in the back half of November and Clurman has felt the struggle. His point production has disappeared and he finds Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- himself catching a lot of minuses on the back end as a shutdown 25 3 14 17 47 5 defenseman. The lack of scoring is not particularly surprising but he has to be more consistent on the other side of the puck. Byram is a virtual lock to make team Canada’s WJC team this year and he will almost certainly be in their top four if not on the top pairing. His Nicky Leivermann – D (Notre Dame) round 7, pick 187, 2017 WHL scoring has been fairly inconsistent through the last month or so but Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- don’t put much stock in that as he continues to work on his game with an NHL focus. Big things are going to be expected of him at WJCs, let’s see 14 3 6 9 6 1 if he can live up to the hype. Leivermann continues to prove he is an antipode to the Notre Dame way Drew Helleson – D (Boston College) round 2, pick 47, 2019 of playing hockey as he has found consistent offense while the team struggles around him. He leads the defense in scoring and is showing Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- flashes of the player we saw in the BCHL two years ago. There might just 13 1 3 4 10 6 be something here to keep tabs on.

This one is probably a long shot but team USA has not announced it’s Cam Morrison – LW (Notre Dame) round 2, pick 40, 2016 expanded camp roster yet and at the very least Helleson should be in the Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- conversation. If a shutdown defensive type is something in demand he could make the team but with all of the talent coming out of the NTDP 14 3 10 13 0 8 over the last couple years it would be a bit of tall ask. Next year is likely a more realistic target for Helleson. As a senior Morrison continues to show the consistency you would expect of an upperclassman. I don’t have much to say here; the Alex Newhook – C (Boston College) round 1, pick 16, 2019 expectation is still that he will receive a contract at the end of his season How good is Luka Burzan? I struggle with that question. He is clearly and what he looks like at the professional level will be the jumping-off quite talented, managing over a point per game in the WHL is point. impressive, but he’s not dominant. He doesn’t take over games, he just kind of chugs along doing his thing playing smooth and effective. A Denis Smirnov – LW (Penn State) round 6, pick 156, 2017 change of scenery may or may not help him but it would certainly help Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- viewers get a better grasp of what he is.

14 5 8 13 4 5 Trent Miner – G (Vancouver Giants) round 7, pick 202, 2019

The good news is Smirnov rattled off a six-game point streak in Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % November. The bad news is most of those were single point games in GAA blowout wins. I just don’t think there is much chance of him receiving a 14 5 5 1 1 89.6 3.04 contract offer at this point. Miner seemed like he was finding his game at the start of November but Matthew Stienburg – C (Cornell) round 3, pick 63, 2019 he lost again in the second half. The Giants as a whole are still on the Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- struggle bus a bit and some decisions need to be made about what the organization’s plan is pretty soon, but Miner posting multiple sub .900 9 0 1 1 10 6 sv% games is still underwhelming.

The lack of offense at the next level was the biggest fear with Stienburg Sasha Mutala – RW (Tri-City Americans) round 5, pick 140, 2019 and so far it’s been an issue. Not having point production is one thing but he is struggling to even get involved in the offense regularly going full Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- games without registering a shot. Cornell is a perfect 9 – 0 with a good 24 8 20 28 24 -5 number of blowout wins as well and Stienburg just can’t find the action. Comparing Mutala and Burzan has turned into an incredibly interesting Tyler Weiss – LW (Nebraska Omaha) round 4, pick 109, 2018 case study. Burzan the skilled, smooth, finesse player that does his thing. Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- Mutala the maniacal worker who refuses to be denied while still possessing the talent to be incredibly effective. Mutala drives the entirety 11 2 7 9 15 2 of the Tri-City offense most nights and when he is on it is a sight to behold. I do wonder if he can maintain keeping a bad team relevant for UNO’s schedule is a bit of an oddity. They haven’t played a game since the entire season. The Americans would be in the basement without him. November 23rd but will be one of the few NCAA teams to actually play through December and the holiday break. More updates on him once BSN DENVER LOADED: 12.07.2019 they get back on the ice.

QMJHL:

Alex Beaucage – RW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) round 3, pick 78, 2019

Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/-

30 21 15 36 18 14

Beaucage sits just shy of a 50-goal pace which would be a nice little milestone for him to hit if he can keep it up. By now everyone knows he has a shot good enough for the pro level, but the inconsistencies are still cropping up. He hasn’t been able to rattle off a long point streak because he seems to disappear every third game or so.

Extraliga (Czechia):

Petr Kvaca – G (HC Oceláři Třinec) round 4, pick 114, 2017

Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % GAA

17 9 6 1 1 92.44 2.21

Kvaca continues to put in a solid performance night in and night out in the Extraliga but the reality is unless he is doing something special he has taken a back seat to Annunen and Werner.

USHL:

Shamil Shmakov – G (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) round 7, pick 202, 2018

Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % GAA

8 4 3 0 0 .901 3.03

Sometimes I forget Shmakov exists, and with good reason. He only played two games in November and both came in the second half of it. The assumption here is of course that he was hurt in some way but that information is not readily available from the USHL. Everything about Shmakov and his situation remains peculiar.

WHL:

Luka Burzan – RW (Brandon Wheat Kings) round 6, pick 171, 2019

Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/-

29 13 17 30 18 -5 1164970 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Cannon Fodder podcast: Talking Bread, Bob, and difficultly scoring

Brian Hedger Michael Arace

Dec 6, 2019 at 5:13 PM

Columbus Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Blue Jackets beat reporter Brian Hedger to recap last night’s 3-2 loss against the New York Rangers, talks about what Rangers player Artemi Panarin said after the game, and discuss the mixture of boos and cheers that occurred in . Next we preview the upcoming road game against the Florida Panthers, talk about what Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky said in a recent interview, and provide updates regarding injury updates on Blue Jacket players. Finally, we discuss how Andrew Peeke made his NHL debut against the Rangers, break down the current NHL standings in the Metropolitan Division, and speculate if the Blue Jackets will make a trade.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164971 Columbus Blue Jackets “To me it's just maturing and understanding, 'OK, that happens, move past it,'” he said. “It's not like it gave you that 2-0 cushion or what. It's back to 0-0 so come out with that same energy we had in the first and go back to work.” angers 3, Blue Jackets 2 | 3-2-1 breakdown Shooting woes continue

Any casual observer could have pointed out in the first period that the Jacob Myers The Columbus Dispatch score should have been more than 1-0 before Lemieux's goal. Then that same person might have just laughed in disbelief at the score after the Dec 6, 2019 at 5:31 AM Jackets outshot the Rangers 18-2 in the third period.

The Jackets entered the game with the league's worst shooting By the time the final horn sounded inside Nationwide Arena on Thursday percentage at 7.6%, and it was worse after Thursday. There were shots night, the cannon didn't blast the eardrums of those in attendance for a from in tight and at angles with open nets as well as chances in front that third time when it truly could have went off half a dozen times with the missed the net entirely. Blue Jackets amassing 47 shot attempts to 19 shots for the New York Jackets right wing Emil Bemstrom was practically touching the crease Rangers. with his skate when he missed the net on a shot with 4:53 left in the first The Jackets losing 3-2 with a second-period goal by Artemi Panarin period created from a stunning backhand, cross-ice pass by Sonny being the difference was as predictable an outcome as it was improbable Milano. that somehow they ended up with just two goals on so many good looks Oliver Bjorkstrand tied a Blue Jackets record with 10 shots on goal and at the net. 17 shot attempts with the first great chance coming less than a minute On Thursday's game, the Jackets' (11-13-4) third straight loss, was the after Bemstrom's missed shot that Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev extreme case in how this team just hasn't been able to buy a goal for saved with his left foot as he moved across the crease. most of the 28 games so far this season. Bemstrom and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov each hit a post. Foligno “I know obviously we can keep talking about not scoring goals and we're had a shot in front of the net on a power play. Anderson had at least getting the chances,” Jackets winger Cam Atkinson said, “but ultimately three chances in the low slot. Bemstrom had another similar opportunity we need to score some goals.” with six minutes to go that he put over the crossbar, and Bjorkstrand was robbed again by Georgiev on the power-play with 1:46 remaining. There was significant buildup to this game with Artemi Panarin's return to Columbus since he left for New York for less money in free agency. He “If we would've came in here with a win I would've said, 'We got what we spoke to The Dispatch after the game about his welcome-back reception. deserved,'” Foligno said. “That's the road we're down right now with just the room for error and we're just going to have to just continue go about Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella answered questions about Panarin us.” leading up to the game and left it at that, saying this game was about getting points and finding their way. So this will focus strictly on the Little moments hurt Jackets' play here. It's easy to say “just score,” when a team has 47 shots on just two goals Here is the 3-2-1 breakdown of the Jackets' loss to the Rangers — three to score for it. The Jackets have begun to say basically just that when takeaways, two questions and one more thing to know: talking about what needs to improve. Still, there are errors the Jackets are making and being punished every time. THREE TAKEAWAYS Until they find a remedy for their offense, these mistakes continue to cut Late goals hurts Jackets deep.

The Blue Jackets couldn't have drawn up a better start to a game with an "When you're not scoring, you can't give free ones,” Tortorella said. “Two energized environment. They dominated possession in the offensive guys diving into the bench on Panarin's goal. Just an awful change by zone and had three times the amount of the shots the Rangers had, 18- (Alexander Wennberg) and (Riley Nash) and a last minute goal where it 6. should be handled.”

With eight seconds to play, Brendan Lemieux was in front of the net and When Wennberg and Nash went to the bench and Pierre-Luc Dubois and buried a shot past Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to tie the game Gustav Nyquist were coming onto the ice, they didn't have a chance to at one, putting a harsh blemish on an otherwise dominant first period. get in the play before Tony DeAngelo and Panarin joined the rush and connected on the goal. It was the Jackets second goal allowed in the final minute of a period in as many games and their 10th such goal allowed in 28 games this It was that one moment, a couple mistakes in the final 30 seconds of the season. Stretching back to under two minutes to go in a period, the first period and an unfortunate bounce off Jones' blade that resulted in Jackets have allowed 14 goals this season. enough for the Rangers to leave Nationwide Arena with two points.

Defenseman Seth Jones and Nick Foligno each said it didn't affect them "For 55 minutes we played pretty good hockey,” Jones said. “That five going into the next period, though those shouldn't be happening as minutes just ends up in the back of our net a couple times on some frequently as they have been. mental mistakes and that's just the way it's going.”

“It's on all of us and I'm on the ice for that one,” Jones said. “Just a TWO QUESTIONS couple of bad mistakes and we don't get the puck out and next thing you know their skill players are making plays around the net and it's in.” Can the Jackets remake their identity?

The Rangers were clearly the better team in the second period with two Right now, the Jackets identity is an inconsistent team that struggles to goals that practically put the game away heading into the second score three goals a game. They have the third-fewest goals in the NHL intermission, but those late goals are unquestionably important in terms and don't seem to have any answer for becoming a better offensive of momentum heading into the break. team.

They've happened too often this season, and who knows how that Yes, they can't really ask for better chances than they had Thursday, so second period might look had the Jackets held onto a one-goal lead after maybe something is working. But the flip side of that is at some point the 20 minutes. team just has to do anything to score consistently.

Tortorella said he didn't know if there was a common thread as to why his Maybe it's drastic changes, small changes or sticking with the status quo team continues to falter late in periods. Foligno said there's no way that that will change the Jackets fortunes. Currently, they're not the team they should deflate them heading into a period because they just have to play want to be despite quality minutes. as if it's scoreless. Can Atkinson build off his goal? Atkinson's first-period goal through Georgiev's legs was his first since Nov. 21 and only his second goal since Oct. 24.

Last year's team leader with 41 goals has five goals and 11 assists. Tortorella said Atkinson played OK. Jackets fans can only hope this was the spark he needed.

“Enough's been talked about him,” Foligno said. “He's working hard and he takes a lot of pride in his game and when he gets in those spots nine times out of 10 those are going in.”

ONE MORE THING TO KNOW

The Jackets made tribute videos for Panarin and former president of hockey operations John Davidson, who is now with the Rangers in the same role.

Panarin received a mix of boos and cheers while Davidson had an overwhelming number of cheers from the 15,785 people in attendance. Panarin waved to the crowd when they showed him on the video board and Davidson did the same while appearing to hold back tears.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164972 Columbus Blue Jackets “No matter where you are, you have to work your ass off every day to show the organization that you deserve to be called up.”

For much of the past two seasons, Saarela has been playing left wing but Aleksi Saarela gets fresh start with Panthers as Bobrovsky returns to says he is a natural center. face Blue Jackets When Springfield coach Geordie Kinnear asked if he could go back to centering a line, he jumped at the chance.

By George Richards Dec 6, 2019 After a few games, Saarela said he felt great back at his old spot and was paired mostly with 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett in Springfield.

“He has been making some plays,” Quenneville said, “and has a terrific CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Sasha Barkov says after all of these years, he shot. I look forward to seeing that as we go along here.” is happy to finally have Aleksi Saarela as a teammate. In 17 games with the Thunderbirds, Saarela has four goals and 10 points It did not happen in their native Finland, but now has with the Florida — after getting just one assist in five games for Chicago’s AHL team Panthers. before the trade.

“When I was in junior, all I heard about was how he scored in every Two games ago, Saarela had a goal with two assists in a victory over game, had an assist every game, was breaking all the records” Barkov Laval. said of Saarela, a well-traveled but talented forward who was officially called up by the Panthers from AHL Springfield on Friday. “Center is where I played growing up and it took a couple of games to adjust, but after that, it was the ‘Old Saarela from Finland’ you could say. “I am really happy for him to get this chance. He has enough skill to play It all came back,” Saarela said. here; he can make plays, can shoot the puck. He has always been good. He has the skill to play at this level. He has always been the main guy on “My first year in Charlotte, it was probably 50-50 between center and his team.” wing, but last year I was a winger. I started on left wing with Springfield but then Geordie asked me to play center and the first two games were Saarela, 22, will make his NHL regular-season debut with the Panthers me re-learning it. But I know my game is back now.” on Saturday night against visiting Columbus, centering a remade third line with Frank Vatrano and Noel Acciari on his wings. Forward Aleksi Saarela skates during warmups during the Carolina Hurricanes’ game against Edmonton in 2017. (Perry Nelson / USA A third-round draft pick of the Rangers in 2015, Saarela has bounced Today) around the past few years. Bringing Saarela up means a move to wing for Acciari, who had been Less than a year after being drafted, the Rangers sent him to Carolina centering Florida’s fourth line, for the most part, since training camp. along with two draft picks for at the 2016 deadline. Acciari said he is very comfortable on the wing as that is where he played Saarela played parts of five seasons in the top Finnish pro league (he a lot for Boston over the past couple of seasons. made his Liiga debut in 2013 against Barkov and his Tampere team) before joining Carolina’s AHL team in Charlotte in 2017. “We were feeling really good as a line and the chemistry really jumped out,” Acciari said. “Wing or center doesn’t matter to me, but this should After two-plus seasons with the Checkers, Saarela was called up by the be interesting. When he had the puck, you could see his hands and his Hurricanes during the playoffs because of injuries and he made his NHL shot. He looks good down the middle.” debut in Game 5 against the Capitals in the opening round of last year’s postseason. Before Saturday, it was the only NHL game he has played. Since Saarela was in Chicago’s camp, Friday meant making introductions. Although it was his first practice with his new teammates, Despite Saarela scoring 55 goals with 97 points in two full AHL seasons Vatrano said he likes the way Saarela moves the puck around the ice. — and helping lead Charlotte to the AHL championship in 2019 with seven goals in 17 postseason games — Carolina traded him to Chicago Vatrano scored a career-high 24 goals for the Panthers last season but at the draft last summer. has six in 27 games this year. Vatrano is also reunited with Acciari, whom he played with during his time with the Bruins organization. In the offseason, he told a Finnish newspaper he was happy to be out of Carolina as he was not pleased with the opportunity afforded by that “It was only one practice and it can take some time to get used to a organization. different center but I think he fits in well,” Vatrano said of Saarela.

After failing to make the Blackhawks out of camp, Saarela was sent to “The more you watch a player, I think you can tell he can make plays. Chicago’s AHL team and reportedly asked for a trade. On Oct. 22, the That ability comes with confidence and hopefully, he is here for a while.” Blackhawks sent Saarela to the Panthers for 2013 second-round pick Ian Bob returns to face old friends McCoshen. After watching the past two games from the end of the Florida bench, Saarela’s talent has been evident over the years, with Barkov recalling goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will be back in net for the Panthers on Saturday how word around Finland was that Saarela “was the next big thing.” night against the Blue Jackets. When the Panthers traded for him in October, the move was seen as one It will continue a reunion week of sorts for Columbus, which played host in which they had given up on McCoshen as a viable defenseman after to Artemi Panarin and the Rangers on Thursday night. four seasons and 60 NHL games and were going to gamble on Saarela’s upside. Saturday, Columbus will face Bobrovsky for the first time since he left the Blue Jackets after seven seasons to sign a seven-year, $70 million deal “He has an opportunity,” Florida coach Joel Quenneville said of Saarela. with the Panthers. “He has skills, has some pace to his game and is earning an opportunity based on how well he has played. … Bobrovsky, who watched Thursday’s game from South Florida, said he has paid some attention to what his former team has done this season “It is definitely a fresh slate and a new opportunity as well. At the end of but “I’m busy here with the adjustments and stuff like that.” the day, the player always makes (a decision) for us. It has taken a while for him to … get this chance.” The Rangers won 3-2 on Thursday as Panarin scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the second period. Bobrovsky returns to Saarela says he is ready to show the Panthers what he’s got — starting Nationwide Arena for his first game back in Columbus on New Year’s against the Blue Jackets on Saturday night. Eve. “Obviously, this is a big honor for me and I have to try my best to help the The Jackets have won their past seven against the Panthers but come guys out and hope they help me, too,” Saarela said after his first practice into Saturday with losses in four of their past five as they sit in seventh with the Panthers at the IceDen on Friday morning. place in the Metropolitan Division. In the past, Bobrovsky has done well against his old team as he has dominated Philadelphia (which traded him to Columbus in 2012) by going 15-3-1 against the Flyers with a .928 save percentage and a 2.13 GAA.

“It will be a weird feeling to play against your guys,” said Bobrovsky, who was 10-0-2 against the Panthers since 2013 with a .948 save percentage. Bobrovsky gave up just 21 goals in his past 12 games against Florida.

“We spent seven years together, so it will be interesting. I know how hard they work, so it will not be an easy game.”

Quenneville said he thinks Bobrovsky used his unexpected time off wisely, saying his “attitude has been good and his focus in the right place.”

The Panthers opted for backup Chris Driedger to start against Nashville last Saturday night and after he posted a shutout in his first NHL start, went back to him Tuesday in what turned into a 4-2 loss against Minnesota.

Quenneville stressed the Panthers aren’t too concerned with Bobrovsky’s way-below-average stat line (.884 save percentage/3.48 GAA/minus- 14.42 GSAA) through the first two months of the season.

“Bob has had some real solid games where his numbers at the end of the night came with two points,” Quenneville said.

“The numbers don’t look that good, but he has been key in some key games, making some big saves for us and I think that might get overlooked.”

Driedger is expected to start against visiting San Jose on Sunday as the Panthers play three games (Saturday, Sunday and against Tampa Bay on Tuesday) in the next four days.

With Saarela in, Malgin is out

Denis Malgin got Quenneville’s attention earlier this season by scoring three goals with eight points in 11 games during October.

Quenneville repeatedly praised Malgin for his speed and his versatility in the lineup, but lately, Malgin has been finding less time on the ice.

Since getting an assist on Nov. 2 against Detroit, Malgin has failed to record a point in his past 13 games. On Friday, Malgin was running as Florida’s spare forward and he is expected to be scratched Saturday against Columbus.

“Like any player, when you’re playing well you have the puck and are doing good things with it,” Quenneville said. “You are checking, playing the system well and are involved more. When you’re not playing, you have to do everything you can to get that opportunity again.”

By calling up Saarela, the Panthers are now carrying a full 23-man roster with an extra defenseman and two forwards.

Jayce Hawryluk counts as one of those forwards. He has been out since Oct. 30 with a shoulder injury but has been practicing on his own the past few days.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164973 Columbus Blue Jackets Chart via Corey Sznajder “Z is such a smart player and so highly-skilled,” Atkinson said. “He can

go end to end, he can get the puck out by himself, win those battles, Filling a Zach Werenski-shaped hole in the Blue Jackets lineup make a play, maybe put you on a breakaway, a two-on-one.”

Watch here as Werenski launches Sonny Milano who then works low and below the net before passing to Boone Jenner for the score. By Alison Lukan Dec 6, 2019 This is also a huge part of the Blue Jackets’ penalty kill. Using tracking data from 14 games and 42 penalty kills, no Columbus player has gotten the puck out of the zone more than Werenski (24 exits) which equates to Zach Werenski has likely always been considered irreplaceable, but now just under 18-percent of all of the Blue Jackets’ exits when playing a man with the talented defenseman projected to miss four weeks due to a down. shoulder injury, an already struggling Blue Jackets squad now has to find a way to compensate for Werenski’s absence on the ice. “Everyone knows (Werenski) is one of the top D-men in the league,” Joonas Korpisalo said. “You can see his hockey sense not only in the Ask anyone around the Blue Jackets and they agree — no one player offensive side of the game but defensive side too. The positioning he can replace Werenski. He’s a special player who combines defensively has, the stick work he has, it’s really, really good. That’s why we have responsible play with tremendous offensive instinct. A few years ago, him in the penalty kill all the time.” head coach John Tortorella even stopped referring to Werenski as a defenseman and labeled him a “rover.” So who can step up with Werenski out? When it comes to five-on-five play, the good news is that Jones and David Savard have been strong at Overall, Werenski has been part of the wave of players that included clearing the zone this season. And Dean Kukan, who has stepped into Seth Jones and Markus Nutivaara (among others) who motivated head Werenski’s role alongside Jones on the top pairing is there, in part, due coach John Tortorella to drive the Blue Jackets attack from the defensive to his puck-moving skills. corps, calling them the team’s engine. “(Kukan’s) feet find a lot of solutions for him on the ice,” assistant coach So how do the Blue Jackets fill in the holes of their game while Werenski said. “He’s got great vision. He’s definitely more offensively recovers? Let’s look at the elements of the player’s game and what focused than the average defenseman. He’s the closest match to Z.” Columbus will need to try to do to keep from taking significant steps back. According to Sznajder’s data, while Kukan has played fewer minutes, his exit rate per 60 (21.99) is comparable to Werenski’s (24.35) as is his exit Get on the scoreboard rate with possession (11.26 for Kukan vs 12.58 for Werenski). Both rank The most obvious element to consider is Werenski’s stat line. With 16 in the top four within the team in each category. points, the blueliner is tied with Jones and Cam Atkinson for the second- As for the penalty kill, Jones’ new partner in the early going has been most on the team and his six goals are tied with Oliver Bjorkstrand for the Ryan Murray. Murray has 11 exists on the penalty kills we tracked but third-most scored by any Blue Jacket player. that number is obviously influenced by ice time when comparing it to The chart below from Chartinghockey.ca shows how many goals every Werenski’s total. Overall, whoever plays on the left side of Jones on that Blue Jackets player has scored compared to how many they were side of special teams will need to be as effective as possible at getting expected to score based on shot quality. Only Pierre-Luc Dubois has the puck out of the zone. done more to exceed offensive expectations this season than Werenski Battle hard has. (click chart to enlarge) Last season, Tortorella demanded Werenski develop an elevated focus “(Losing Werenski to injury) is a big loss for us,” Tortorella said. “Z on defense. And now, with the player out, new questions arise in terms of controls the tempo of the game. He’s had a really good start to the year winning one-on-one battles and gaining possession of the puck off as far as roving. When we had no offense, I told him and Jonesy ‘let’s get opponents. going here.’ Z said ‘ok, we’re going to go.’” “We’re always focusing on closing defensively,” Jones said. “Not allowing Not only does Werenski score himself, he sets up his teammates to guys to play out of the corners whether it’s giving guys little cross-check score. Through 14 games tracked by Corey Sznajder, Werenski leads in shots or pinning them against the wall or having a better stick. The less five-on-five shots and overall shot contributions which means if he is not time we spend in our D-zone, the better for everybody.” shooting, he’s getting the puck to teammates so they can get a shot off. (click chart to enlarge) Winning those battles is an area of Kukan’s game that the coaches want to see improve. And when the entire defensive corps isn’t firing on all Chart via Corey Sznajder cylinders, it can burn them. “(Werenski’s) offensive instinct to see when a play is developing “I want (Kukan) to learn how to compete one-on-one too,” Tortorella said. offensively is one of the best I’ve seen,” Jones said. “It seems like the “Because a lot of times in the D-zone you are involved in a lot of one-on- puck just comes to him in the offensive zone because he’s got the one battles, not allowing the opposing team to play out of the corners by instinct of always being in that position. Puck possession is a big part of being stiff in the corner. That’s something he needs to work on.” Zach’s game.” Endure Now, an already struggling offense has to find ways to produce even more. With Kukan currently taking on Werenski’s role in five-on-five play, it’s not just more work, it’s more work over more time. Only Jones (18:06), and There are flashes. Dean Kukan put the puck in the net for the first time Savard (16:52) play more minutes per game than Werenski (16:27) in this season earlier this week and Thursday, Jones scored off an even-strength play, and when you add in special teams, Werenski takes individual effort late in the game and Atkinson had his first goal in seven over the second-overall spot with 22:41 per game. games. But the mantra of “find a way to put the puck in the net” only rings louder now for Blue Jackets. As of today, Kukan’s average is 15:21 in all situations.

Put the puck where it needs to be Not just for Kukan, but for the other defensemen who may see new roles and more minutes, managing energy and stamina while sustaining a A team can only score if they are in a position to do so and this is why consistent level of play has become even more important. transitional play is so important. Getting the puck out of the defensive zone via successful exits not only moves the puck closer to the offensive And while the second pairing of Savard and Murray has continued in zone but it also means that opponents are not in as good of a position to Werenski’s absence, there is the issue of who now makes up the third attack offensively. pair with both Scott Harrington and Andrew Peeke seeing one game thus far alongside Vladislav Gavrikov. This is an area where Werenski excels. Again using Sznajder’s data we see only Jones has more exits than Werenski and Werenski leads the Overall team in exits with possession. It’s a tenuous time for the Blue Jackets who are fighting and scrapping to get back to and above .500, Werenski’s injury adds one more obstacle to overcome. The good news is the team is somewhat optimistic Werenski may be able to return sooner than the anticipated four weeks, and there are pieces within the team who can provide support in the many ways Werenski contributes.

“I think for our D corps, you can’t replace (Werenski),” Jones said. “But Kuks comes in and has a great offensive game, carrying the puck like Zach does and trying to be more offensive like Zach does. (Replacing Werenski) is obviously on a lot of guys shoulders.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164974 Columbus Blue Jackets 3. Criminal The season is barely one-third of the way over and it already sounds like

a broken record: The Blue Jackets lost, but, man, did they have chances. Portzline: Artemi Panarin’s triumphant return, and other observations The Blue Jackets lost, but, man, did they have chances. The Blue from the Blue Jackets’ loss to the Rangers Jackets lost, but, man, did they have chances.

Not only did that apply again on Thursday, but Thursday’s game may stand as the most difficult loss to digest. By Aaron Portzline Dec 6, 2019 “This one feels like … if we came in here (the dressing room) with a win, I would have said we got what we deserved,” Foligno said.

COLUMBUS, — Ten observations from the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 loss The Blue Jackets generated a season-high 47 shots on goal. There were to the New York Rangers on Thursday in Nationwide Arena: at least two other shots that drew iron behind Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and at least two instances where the Blue Jackets 1. Bread’s night managed to miss wide-open nets. Artemi Panarin had the game-winning goal in a triumphant return to For all we know, Oliver Bjorkstrand is still pumping wristers from above Nationwide Arena, scoring from the left dot at 15:32 of the second period the right dot. to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead. The Blue Jackets had more shots on goal (47) than the Rangers had It was an easy goal, helped by a lousy Blue Jackets’ line change that shot attempts (39). That just doesn’t happen often in the NHL for a losing created chaos in the defensive zone. It’s also the kind of goal Panarin team. makes look easy because he’s so adept at sniffing the opposition’s vulnerability and putting himself in position to score. “We certainly had opportunities,” Tortorella said during an abbreviated postgame media chat. Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo held the puck just long enough through the slot to draw the attention of Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas He’s said that many times already this season. Korpisalo, then put it on a tee for a Panarin one-timer. He doesn’t miss those. 4. Coming up empty

It’s the kind of scoring chance the Blue Jackets would have somehow Bjorkstrand tied a franchise record — set 10 times previously — by muffed on this night. (Much more on that later.) totaling 10 shots on goal. Four of them came in the final period, two during a game-ending power play. Panarin finished with five shots on goal in 19:40 of playing time. He played well, but he didn’t take over the game like he’s capable of doing It’s hard to fathom, but Bjorkstrand had 17 shot attempts (that’s shots on some nights. goal, shot’s off-target and shots that are blocked), or almost half of what the Rangers’ created. The Blue Jackets welcomed Panarin back with a short video tribute at 8:16 of the first period during the first TV timeout. There were boos when “He’s a guy who usually buries three or four of those,” Foligno said. “It the video started, but they faded to mostly cheers as it continued and was one of those games.” turned into boos and cheers after the video ended and Panarin was Bjorkstrand should have been one of the game’s three stars, despite not shown in a live shot on the big screen. registering a point or playing for the winning club. He also suckered New Panarin, who left Columbus as a free agent last July 1, was booed every York’s Brendan Lemieux into a roughing penalty late in the first period. time he touched the puck, but never louder than when he scored and Pretty wild that in 1,470 games as an organization, only seven players when he was announced as the game’s second star. (on 10 occasions) have generated double-digit shots on goal. The Athletic New York’s Rick Carpiniello was in town and spoke with Rick Nash had 10 shots on goal three times, and Ray Whitney did it Panarin after the game. twice. Others who have hit double-digits: Jason Chimera, Brandon 2. Defending Panarin Dubinsky, Sergei Fedorov, , and Zach Werenski, who’s the only defenseman on the list. For the first time since 2016-17, the Blue Jackets had to defend against Panarin. Bjorkstrand’s 10 shots are tied for the third-most shots in the NHL this season. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon had a 12-shot game, and “He’s always noticeable with the way he can make plays,” Nick Foligno Vancouver’s Tanner Pearson had an 11-shot game. said. “We knew if we had the puck it’d be hard for him to make many plays and do what he does best. Of course, this is true: Bjorkstrand’s the only player this season to generate 10-plus shots on goal without having a point. “I thought we controlled play a lot. We didn’t allow him to really get to his game, but then he finds those open areas to get a goal.” 5. Mistakes magnified

The Blue Jackets had defenseman Seth Jones out on the ice against It’s easy to curse the Blue Jackets’ luck or blame the hockey gods. But Panarin’s line as much as possible, but Tortorella didn’t really chase a they continue to make costly errors at crucial points of the game, and matchup against the Rangers. they have no margin for error.

Early in the game, Alexander Wennberg — now playing on the wing — The Blue Jackets dominated the first period, spending all but three or was out against Panarin’s line on almost every shift, but that matchup four shifts in the Rangers’ zone. But with the final seconds ticking away, faded over time. the Blue Jackets botched two chances to clear the puck and ended up scrambling in their defensive zone. “I thought we played hard against him,” Jones said. “I spent a lot of time with him tonight. He’s obviously a tricky player. I did the best I could, I With eight seconds left, Lemieux scored on a bang-bang play in front of guess.” Korpisalo to make it 1-1.

It should be reiterated: the Blue Jackets’ players don’t have any beef with That’s a deflating goal. The Jackets outshot the Rangers 18-6 in the first Panarin. Sure, they wish he’d stayed — and they’re really struggling period and absolutely dominated. Then they skated off with nothing to without him — but, as players, they recognize and celebrate the rights of show for it, a 1-1 tie score. free agents. It’s the 11th time this season the Jackets have allowed a goal in the final Foligno said he and Panarin communicated via FaceTime earlier in the minute. day on Thursday. “It’s one little mistake and boom, it happens,” Foligno said. “Last minute, “It was good to see his face, but I told him I was going to try to kill him out we should be ultra-focused and understanding of the situation.” there,” Foligno said. “Slippery little bugger. Now I know why everybody hated him when he played for us.” The Rangers’ second goal, a power-play goal by Jacob Trouba from the 9. A rookie bumps Wennberg … again left circle, deflected off Jones’ skate before it shot past Korpisalo to make it 2-1 at 5:46 of the second. Not much you can do there. In 2017-18, rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois was moved from wing to center, due in part to injuries, but also because of the struggles of the Blue But the Rangers’ third goal can’t happen. Jackets’ down the middle. He bumped Wennberg off the No. 1 line and found a home with Panarin and Cam Atkinson. THX TO @FOXSPORTSOH FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE SLOW LINE CHANGE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR Three seasons later, it’s happened again. The Blue Jackets earlier this PANARIN’S SCORE. #CBJ PIC.TWITTER.COM/OZPUFSLNWS week decided that the time to develop Texier as a center has arrived, that there’s no use waiting any longer. — ALISON (@ALISONL) DECEMBER 6, 2019 The player he bumped? Wennberg, who has played the last two games Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash made a late change, hanging on the wing. Jones out to dry defensively in the sequence that led to Panarin’s 3-1 goal. For those two players, that’s problematic. Texier played 11:32 on Thursday and generated zero shots on goal. He was 0 for 4 on faceoffs. Yes, this is going to be a work in progress, with Wennberg is back in Tortorella’s doghouse. “Can’t find ’em,” Tortorella growing pains. said of Wennberg earlier this week upon moving him from wing to center so that rookie Alexandre Texier can play in the middle. Wennberg played 10:08, fought the puck all night, had zero shots on goal and lost his only faceoff. Nash hasn’t been in the doghouse, necessarily, but he’s been a healthy scratch in recent games. 10. Leftovers

“When you’re not scoring, you can’t give free ones,” Tortorella said. “Two Riley Nash played in his 500th NHL game on Thursday. … Foligno’s guys diving into the bench on Panarin’s goal. It’s just an awful change by assist on Atkinson’s first-period goal was his 300th point (129-171-300) Wenny and Nasher, and there’s a last-minute goal that should be with the Blue Jackets. … In addition to Bjorkstrand’s rapid-rifle shooting, handled. Josh Anderson and Jones each had seven shots on goal. At one point in the third period, Anderson had three chances from between the hash “We don’t have any room for error.” marks, but he couldn’t score. … Anderson hasn’t scored in 17 games. … 6. Do-it-yourself The Blue Jackets were set to practice at noon on Friday, they travel to Florida in advance of Saturday’s match-up with the Panthers and The Blue Jackets outshot the Rangers 18-2 in the third period. The goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Rangers had maybe two sustained shifts in the Blue Jackets’ zone all period. Alison Lukan’s analytics

Still, the only goal the Jackets scored happened when Jones decided to The Athletic’s Alison Lukan provided these insights into the Blue Jackets’ take matters into his own hands. loss:

Jones took the puck high in the zone, then spun away Rangers forward • The theory goes that in hockey, if you shoot more, you’re more likely to Pavel Buchnevich and pulled away as he skated along the left wall. He win the game. And if you have better shots, you’re also more likely to cut hard to the middle, dangled his way toward the slot and scored on a win. That thinking makes tonight’s loss particularly tough. In five-on-five wrister that beat Georgiev. play, the Blue Jackets took 62.92-percent of all shot attempts in Thursday’s game (the second-best advantage this season), and earned It was Jones’ fourth goal of the season, and one of the best goals he’s 73.47-percent of expected goals (the best advantage this season). In all ever scored. He spun and pumped his left fist after he score. situations, the Blue Jackets were expected to win by a score of 5.11- 1.84. Money Pucks’ ‘deserve to win o’meter’ had Columbus winning the He also had one of his better games this season, with seven shots on game 90.2-percent of the time. goal in 24:16 of ice time. • There is one caveat. The sheer volume of shots Columbus took, of 7. Davidson returns course, adds to the expected goal total, but it masks that there have Thursday’s game also marked the return of John Davidson, the Blue been nine games this season where the Blue Jackets have had more Jackets former president of hockey operations who went back to the chances from the most dangerous areas than they had against the Rangers this summer to fill a similar capacity. Davidson has now been a Rangers (15). The team can still get to the dangerous areas more. player, a broadcaster and an executive with the Rangers. • Alexander Georgiev faced 72 unblocked shots and stopped all but two. While Panarin’s welcome included boos and cheers, the crowd had only He saved three more goals than expected. cheers for Davidson, who joined the franchise during some lean years in • The Blue Jackets turned just one of their twenty best chances into goals 2013 and helped steer the organization to three consecutive playoffs (Seth Jones’ score). The Rangers scored on two of their top five attempts berths. and three of their best eight. 8. Peeke makes his NHL debut • Andrew Peeke had a solid NHL debut. Playing primarily with Vladislav When the Blue Jackets recalled defenseman Andrew Peeke earlier this Gavrikov, Peeke played the least of any Blue Jackets’ defenseman week, you knew he wouldn’t be sitting long. Peeke went into the lineup (11:37), but he tilted the ice in his team’s favor quite well. Columbus was on Thursday for his NHL debut, a quick rise for a player who was skating plus-17 in shots and plus-7 in scoring chances when he was on the ice, for Notre Dame at this time last season. all with just one offensive zone start.

On Monday, he called his family to let them know he’d been recalled for • Oliver Bjorkstrand wasn’t on the score sheet but he remains consistent the first time, although he was technically with the Blue Jackets late last in doing all the things he needs to be doing to put the puck in the net. season after signing his entry-level deal. Thursday he led all skaters (on both teams) in shot attempts (17), individual scoring chances (10) and high-danger attempts (4). His On Wednesday, he made the phone call home that every kid dreams individual expected goal total was 1.16. about, telling his parents and family he was going to make his NHL debut. The Blue Jackets told him in advance so his parents could make it • The top performers according to game score: Gavrikov (2.43), Josh to town. Anderson (2.03), Ryan Murray (1.90), Oliver Bjorkstrand (1.87), Seth Jones (1.77). “They were pretty excited,” Peeke said. “There were a couple of screams. Just … joy.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019

Peeke played on the right side of the third pair with fellow rookie Vladislav Gavrikov, logging 11:55 of ice time, totaling four shot attempts (one on goal) and three hits.

He’ll likely stay in the lineup on Saturday against the Florida Panthers, a game with special meaning to him. Peeke is from nearby Parkland, Fla. 1164975 Detroit Red Wings assists in 20 games this season) the way Bertuzzi did in 2016-17, which prompted the Wings to trade Tomas Tatar to open a spot for Bertuzzi.

[ Red Wings' 30-game start is one of the worst in NHL history ] Filip Zadina is back with the Detroit Red Wings. Here's how long he might As long as Zadina is a part of scoring chances and his confidence stay doesn’t suffer, he is likely to stay with the Wings at least until Mantha's return is on the horizon. Mantha appeared to injure a knee during a game Nov. 23 and has yet to join practice. Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 3:55 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 | Updated 4:10 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 Zadina’s improvement provides a measure of optimism during the Wings' 10-game losing streak.

“I think the important thing to recognize is he is making strides forward,” Filip Zadina doesn’t know how long he’ll stay with the Detroit Red Wings Blashill said. “He is a better player today than when he was a year ago at this time, but he has a nice roof over his head thanks to a teammate and this time. That is the biggest key for us.” a chance to earn the right to stick around. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.07.2019 Zadina is slated to make his sixth appearance of the season when the Wings host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena. The Wings sent him to Grand Rapids earlier in the week so he could fit in a game with the Griffins during a four-day break in the NHL schedule.

Based on Friday’s practice, Zadina will start on a line with Frans Nielsen and . Zadina was called up five games ago after leading goal scorer Anthony Mantha was injured. Mantha had been on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi, but coach isn’t keen to slot Zadina in that spot right away because Larkin’s line draws the toughest defensive assignments — against the Penguins, it’ll be Evgeni Malkin’s line — and Robby Fabbri has been a good fit in Mantha’s place.

“I can’t sit here and say to you Zadina has outplayed Fabs,” Blashill said. “You have to make sure you do it on merit and if he’s outplayed him, great. That is not what has happened so far. I think Filip has come in and done a nice job. He has played solid hockey. If he is in a position where he is dominating and says he is better than the wingers that are up there, that’s awesome. Then he wins a spot. We’d all be excited about that.

“Certainly there’s also the defensive matchups that you have to be concerned about. Do I want him, in his what, 15th NHL game, playing head-to-head against Malkin all night? That’s a hard position to put a young guy in. I think it’s real important as coaches that we put people in positions to succeed, and sometimes that means you have to feed them a little more at a time and not just throw them right in there.”

The Wings are feeding Zadina power-play time on the top unit with Larkin, Bertuzzi, Fabbri and Dennis Cholowski. That was how Zadina earned his assist Monday in the 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders: Cholowski fed him the puck, Zadina threw it on net, and Larkin scored.

That play was an encouraging sign. He’s potentially a huge building block for the Wings, drafted sixth overall in 2018 under the Ken Holland administration. Zadina was up for a limited engagement with the Wings last season (nine games meant his entry-level contract did not kick in) and had one goal and two assists. One of his struggles last season, his first in pro hockey, and during this past exhibition season was making plays with the puck. Against the Islanders, he put it on net before a defender could thwart him.

“One of the biggest adjustments that any guy coming into pro hockey is the difference in time and space,” Blashill said. “You have to find ways to create time and space. And it’s easier for the really fast guys because they’re still really fast, or if you’re a really big guy because you’re still really big. When you’re neither of those, you have to really learn to use your brain to either create time and space or take advantage of your time and space.

"One of those ways is to know what you are doing with the puck before you get it. If you know what you are going to do with the puck before you get it, you are a way faster player, and I think he is definitely learning the time and space part of it at the professional level.”

Zadina, who turned 20 on Nov. 27, said an offseason working on his strength has made a significant difference. It also helps to be used on man advantages.

“It’s coming with time and coming with experience,” he said. “I was glad for the time with the first PP unit. Hopefully we will keep going.”

Zadina is staying at the home of defenseman Filip Hronek, a fellow Czech. Neither Zadina nor Blashill has said anything about the length of this stay. Zadina isn’t dominating yet at the AHL level (seven goals, six 1164976 Detroit Red Wings Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.07.2019

Chris Chelios says he drank beer on bench after Mike Babcock benched him at Winter Classic

Chris Thomas, Detroit Free PressPublished 12:32 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 | Updated 7:55 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019

Lace up the skates and crack open a few beers.

It's a rite of passage when a player gets benched in front of his hometown friends and family during an outdoor NHL game.

Wait, what?

That's exactly what ex-Detroit Red Wings star Chris Chelios claims happened during the 2009 Winter Classic, after being benched by ever- abrasive coach Mike Babcock at Wrigley Field in Chelios' hometown of Chicago.

"He tried to healthy scratch me in the outdoor game in Wrigley Field against Chicago because he knew it was my hometown," Chelios, who played 26 seasons in the NHL, including 10 in Detroit, said Monday on Barstool Sports' Spittin' Chiclets podcast. "Just things that were so unnecessary just to show that he's the boss."

Chelios, who last played in 2009-10, played five shifts and received just 1:57 of ice time before being benched, according to the box score of the game.

And then he said he started pounding beers.

"Again, and you know it’s funny," Chelios continued. "I’m sitting there. Second period and my two sons were about 40 feet, you know, sitting on the boards and they’re looking at me going, 'What’s going on?'

"And I look at them. I tip my glass like you know my cup, to get me a beer. So my two boys were handing me beers the whole game. And then (Brad) McCrimmon tried to get me to go out there with a minute left to kill a penalty. I said, 'Not a chance.' "

The Free Press was not immediately able to verify Chelios' claim, but the story seems unlikely. For one, there's no video of the incident. In addition, the ice at the 2009 Winter Classic was positioned in the middle of Wrigley Field, far from spectators. Chelios has two sons. His oldest son, Dean, was born in 1989. His youngest, Jake, was born in 1991. Which means neither of them would have been 21 years old while handing their father beers in 2009.

An email seeking comment from the Red Wings was not returned.

Still, the moral of the story centers on Babcock, who coached the Red Wings from 2005 to 2015, and his purported manipulative coaching tactics.

On Monday, former Red Wings forward Johan Franzen, in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Expressen, called Babcock "the worst" person he had ever met and a "bully" after Chelios summarized a heated exchange between Babcock and Franzen during the 2012 playoffs in Nashville.

"He blatantly verbally assaulted him during the game on the bench,” Chelios said on Spittin' Chiclets. “It got to the point where poor Johan, no one really knowing he was suffering with the concussion thing and the depression thing, he just broke down and had a nervous breakdown, not only on the bench but after the game in one of the rooms in Nashville."

Franzen, who was forced to retire in 2015 after repeated head injuries caused him to suffer from post-concussion syndrome, said: "From 2011 on, I was terrified of being at the rink."

Babcock's tactics didn't stop in Detroit, where he won a Stanley Cup.

In Toronto, he admitted he asked Mitch Marner, at the time a rookie, to rank the players on the team from hardest-working to biggest slacker. Marner obliged, according to the Toronto Sun, before Babcock took the list and showed it to the players ranked at the bottom.

Babcock was the Maple Leafs coach from 2015 to Nov. 20, when he was fired after a 9-10-4 start to the season. 1164977 Detroit Red Wings At this point, you’d settle for compelling at Ford Field or Little Caesars Arena — just forget about Comerica Park for a while.

Perhaps the best way to survive this season of discontent is to remember Detroit sports are terrible. But one day, it will make winning that much that the '70s begat the '80s, which led to the '90s, which led to the 2000s. sweeter It may be hard to remember — especially if you weren’t alive — but imagining Isiah Thomas and Steve Yzerman and Barry Sanders and Cecil Fielder showing up to save our sports was difficult.

Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free PressPublished 10:21 a.m. ET Dec. 6, Pistons forward Blake Griffin walks off the court after he fouled out during 2019 | Updated 1:19 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the playoff series against Bucks at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Monday, April 22, 2019.

Pistons forward Blake Griffin walks off the court after he fouled out during How's this for a Detroit misery index: The Lions stink, the Red Wings and the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the playoff series against Bucks at Little Tigers are the worst in their sports, and the Pistons already are sinking in Caesars Arena in Detroit, Monday, April 22, 2019. (Photo: Junfu Han, the NBA playoff chase. Detroit Free Press) "What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it It’s hard to see past misery when you’re in it. sweetness." —John Steinbeck But then they came, and the stories changed, and the teams started It’s bleak. Winter bleak. And it’s not even winter. Not for a couple of playing for titles. Except for the Lions, though watching Sanders run was weeks. its own kind of adrenaline rush. Though it has felt like winter around here for a long, long time. Certainly We may never witness another Sanders. Yet in time, someone will drop since the summer. And probably the summer or two before that. in and melt the snow and usher in the sunshine. And what is summer, anyway, when your baseball team is out of the That is hard to see these days. That’s also not such a bad thing. playoff picture before spring training begins? Spring and summer mean more when you have forgotten what green Last month, a fellow who tweets out sports stats tried to put the sporting grass feels like underfoot. Think back to the Wings’ title run and parade scene misery in context. Of the 12 states who enjoy (tolerate?) at least in 1997 and how that felt different from the title run and parade 11 years one MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA team, only is without a team later. above .500. The '97 run served as a kind of cleansing. The 2008 Cup served as Toss in Michigan State’s football record (6-6) and Michigan’s eighth simply fun. straight loss to Ohio State and ... well, damn. Think of your current melancholia as akin to sweat equity. And that all of Not that you needed Max Goldstein — @MaxSportsStudio — to tell you this losing is supposed to be endured — and stored — for release when how desolate our sporting landscape is now. All it takes is a glance at the one of these teams bolts from its slumber and takes you for a ride. headlines. You will think back to these dreary days, and that will only increase the Matthew Stafford is hurt after playing the best football of his career. Blake euphoria. That’s how sports works. For most teams in most cities — to Griffin was hurt after playing the best basketball of his career, only now heck with you, Boston — the end always ends in loss. he’s back and not quite where he was. So, yes, winter doesn’t officially begin until Dec. 21, and that feels The Red Wings started hot, then faded. And we learned that Mike particularly cruel in this moment. But this is where we are supposed to Babcock, the team’s former Stanley Cup winning coach, could be a bit be. of a brute. Remember that, the next time there is a parade. The Pistons started slowly and remain in purgatory. The Tigers never started, but several of their former pitchers have won World Series, so Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.07.2019 that’s nice.

And the Lions?

Oh, the Lions. What else is there to say?

That the pain is familiar?

Sure. Why not? Let’s go with that.

You have to go back to the 1970s to find an era when all four pro teams were this far from competing for a championship. But at least back then, U-M could beat Ohio State and Magic Johnson showed up at Michigan State.

U-M and MSU basketball could help with another interminable winter. Despite three early-season losses, the Spartans have talent, a Hall of Fame coach and a penchant for finding themselves when the streets turn to icy sludge.

Andreas Athanasiou of the Detroit Red Wings reacts in the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 16, 2019 in Philadelphia.

As for the Wolverines?

Juwan Howard has them playing loose and spirited basketball. He danced with the team after winning a tournament in the Bahamas, beating North Carolina and Gonzaga along the way.

The Crisler Center and the Breslin Center should offer a warm respite. Even if neither team ends up making an NCAA tournament run this spring, their stories probably will remain compelling. 1164978 Detroit Red Wings “You want to be in there with the guys, you want to be out there and help, so that’s the tough part, for sure.”

Blashill was hesitant about confirming Abdelkader was in the lineup. Red Wings' Filip Zadina: There's pressure to win, not perform individually Abdelkader was rotating in with Brendan Perlini on the fourth line.

Defenseman Trevor Daley (lower body), who hasn’t played since Nov. 2, also joined practice for the first time since then. Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 4:25 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 “It was good to see Trevor,” Blashill said. “He said he’s doing real well but was very cautious, because the last time he started pushing it he went backwards. But so far, it’s been good, he’s making real progress.” Detroit – Filip Zadina was back in a Red Wings uniform Friday after a quick trip on I-96 to Grand Rapids. There is no time-frame for a return for Daley.

Zadina was in the Griffins’ lineup Wednesday – a 5-2 loss to Chicago, Penguins at Red Wings while the Wings had four days off between games – but was recalled and practiced Friday and will be in Saturday’s lineup against Pittsburgh. Faceoff: 7 p.m. Saturday, Little Caesars Arena

Already this season, and you can see it on the ice, Zadina is feeling TV/radio: FSD/97.1 FM different from the nine-game look-see he had last season with the Wings. Outlook: The Penguins (15-9-4) have been decimated with injuries, but “The game is still the same, it’s just that right now I’m stronger,” said are clinging to a wild-card position despite the barrage of injuries. … Zadina, who has two assists in five games with the Red Wings. “That’s They’re without C (lower body), but C Evgeni Malkin (22 why I stayed in Detroit (last summer) and it’s the reason I feel better points in 17 games) and LW Jake Guentzel (15 goals) have picked up because I got stronger and I’m more confident.” the slack.

With Anthony Mantha (lower body) out for the immediate future, the Detroit News LOADED: 12.07.2019 Wings have a good opportunity to have Zadina on their roster, reward Zadina for a good start in Grand Rapids this season, and give the former first-round draft pick further NHL experience.

There’s no timeframe as to how long Zadina will stay with the Wings. As long as Zadina is playing meaningful minutes or isn’t overwhelmed, he’ll stay in the NHL.

“It wasn’t like he had played his way out of the American League and dominated – that’s important to recognize,” coach Jeff Blashill said.

Zadina has 13 points (seven goals) in 20 games with Grand Rapids with a minus-9 rating.

“He’s had a nice start to the year but it’s not like it was easy to go down and say he is too good for that league, that’s not the case,” added Blashill. “In terms of what’s best for his development, as long as he’s getting an opportunity here and he’s doing a good job, it’s good for his development.”

While he’s been under the spotlight since he was drafted by the Wings, largely because of being a high first-round pick, Zadina says that hasn’t created any additional pressure.

In Zadina’s mind, there is pressure to end the Wings’ 10-game winless streak (0-8-2) that has squashed any immediate hopes for respectability.

“There’s pressure every game, especially on this team, this town, everyone wants to win,” Zadina said. “It’s Hockeytown, right? So there’s pressure for everyone. We just have to keep playing our game.”

Blashill had Zadina on a line with Darren Helm and Frans Nielsen Friday, and on the No. 1 power-play unit, with Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri and Dennis Cholowski.

With Fabbri continuing to play well since being acquired in a trade last month, Blashill is in no rush to give Zadina a spot on the top line.

“Fabs has played pretty good; I can’t stand here and say Zadina has outplayed Fabbri,” Blashill said. “You have to make sure you do it on merit. If he’s outplayed them, great, but that’s not what has happened.

“Filip has come in and done a good job. He’s played solid hockey. If he’s in a position where he’s dominating and says I’m better than the wingers that are up here, that’s awesome, he wins the spot and we’d all be excited about that.”

Abdelkader’s status

Justin Abdelkader (lower body) participated in Friday’s practice with no apparent restrictions, and is likely to return to face the Penguins.

Abdelkader has been out injuring his hand Nov. 10 against Vegas.

“It’s good to get a couple of practices with the guys,” Abdelkader said. “It’s always tough to watch (games), especially with what we’ve been going through. 1164979 Detroit Red Wings

Eric Tangradi, key player in Griffins’ 2017 Calder Cup title, rejoins the team

Updated 7:30 PM;Today 7:29 PM

By Peter J. Wallner

Eric Tangradi, who helped the Grand Rapids Griffins to the Calder Cup Trophy in 2017, signed to one-year contract with the team Friday.

Tangradi, 30, had been with playing for Astana Barys of the Kontinental Hockey League this season with nine points (5-4-9) and 24 penalty minutes in 22 games.

He was active for the Griffins’ home game Friday.

Signed to a one-year contract earlier today, Eric Tangradi is playing in his first Griffins game since Game 4 of the 2018 Central Division Semifinals against on April 26

A 6-foot-4, 230-pound winger, Tangradi logged 200 regular-season games with the Griffins from 2015-18 and ranks among the club’s all-time leaders with 164 points (9th), 76 goals (6th), 21 power play goals (10th) and 14 game-winning goals (4th).

He led Grand Rapids in goals during two of his three seasons, posting 28 in 2015-16 and 31 – which tied for fourth in the AHL – in 2017-18.

Tangradi set a franchise record for most assists in a single postseason with 17 as the Griffins won their second Calder Cup in 2017.

His 22 playoff assists are third in the team’s record book while his 28 points tie for eighth in 30 appearances.

A native of Philadelphia, Tangradi has 340 points (160-180-340), a plus- 39 rating and 489 PIM in 467 regular season AHL games since 2009-10 between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2009-13), Hamilton (2014-15), Grand Rapids (2015-18) and Binghamton (2018-19).

In 44 Calder Cup Playoff contests, he shows 39 points (11-28—39), a plus-16 rating and 40 PIM.

The Griffins embark on a season-high six-game road trip next week.

Michigan Live LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164980 Detroit Red Wings or take advantage of your time and space. If you know what you’re doing with the puck before you get it, you’re a way faster player.”

Zadina is living with teammate Filip Hronek while in Detroit. Blashill said Why Filip Zadina isn’t playing on Red Wings’ top line Zadina is up on a game-by-game basis.

“We’ll see how it goes. No timeframe whatsoever,” Blashill said. “We wanted to get him down and play a game in a week where we didn’t have Updated Dec 06, 2019;Posted Dec 06, 2019 much going in terms of games. We could have left him there for tonight’s game, but I wanted him for today’s practice to give him the best chance By Ansar Khan to be successful for tomorrow’s game.”

Abdelkader close to returning DETROIT – Filip Zadina was back practicing with the Detroit Red Wings , out since Nov. 10 with a hand injury, might return Friday, back on the third line. Saturday. Which leads to the question: Why not give the talented, young prospect Trevor Daley, out since Nov. 2 with a lower-body injury, returned to an opportunity on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi while practice Friday. Anthony Mantha remains out with a knee injury? Michigan Live LOADED: 12.07.2019 Coach Jeff Blashill addressed it earlier in the week and reiterated his reasoning on Friday.

“Right now, I got (Robby Fabbri) there; Fabbs has played pretty good,” Blashill said. “I can’t say Zadina has outplayed Fabbri. I think you got to make sure you do it on merit. If he’s outplayed him, great. But that’s not what’s happened so far.

“I think Filip’s come in and done a nice job. He’s played solid hockey. If he is in a position where he’s dominating and says that I’m better than the wingers that are up there, then that’s awesome, then he wins the spot. I think we’d all be excited about that.”

The Red Wings, with four days off, sent Zadina to Grand Rapids to play Wednesday and then recalled him Friday. He’ll be in the lineup Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), when the Red Wings will try to end an eight-game regulation losing streak and 10-game winless skid (0-8-2).

Blashill also does not want Zadina playing against Evgeni Malkin’s line (Sidney Crosby is out due to a groin injury). Zadina will start the game on a line with Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm.

“There’s also defensive matchups that you’ve got to be concerned about,” Blashill said. “Do I want him, in his 15th NHL game, playing head- to-head against Malkin all night? That’s a hard position to put a young guy in. I think it’s real important as coaches that we put people in positions to succeed and sometimes that means you have to kind of feed him a little more at a time and not just throw him right in there.”

Zadina, who turned 20 on Nov. 27, has played in five games with the Red Wings this season, picking up an assist in each of the past two games.

“It cements home that he’s playing good hockey, you want to get rewarded for that,” Blashill said. “I think he has a better understanding of what it’s going to take for him to be successful. I think he understands he can’t do it all by himself, he’ll probably never be big enough or fast enough to be that, so he has to be a give-and-go type player and I think he’s learned that and he’s a way better give-and-go player than he was a year ago. I think having those assists makes you feel better about yourself.”

Zadina remains on the top power-play unit with Larkin, Bertuzzi, Fabbri and Dennis Cholowski.

Zadina believes he is a better player than he was during his late-season nine-game stint in Detroit (one goal, two assists). He wasn’t dominating in the AHL, but he has showed progress (seven goals, 13 points in 20 games).

“Right now, about myself it’s to get stronger and quicker,” Zadina said. “That’s what I think I did when I stayed here in Detroit (in the offseason). I think the reason I’m feeling better is that I got stronger and quicker on the ice. It’s probably getting me more confident.”

Zadina said he’s more confident handling the puck and is focused on getting his shot off quicker, noting the lack of time and space in the NHL compared to the AHL.

“You have to be able to find ways to create time and space,” Blashill said. “It’s easier for the really fast guys because they’re still fast, or for the really big guys because they’re still really big. When you’re neither of those you have to learn to use your brain to either create time and space 1164981 Detroit Red Wings

Chris Chelios spent 2009 Winter Classic game drinking beer on the bench because of Mike Babcock

Updated Dec 06, 2019;Posted Dec 06, 2019

By Matt Durr

Hall of Fame defenseman and former Detroit Red Wing Chris Chelios says he drank beer on the bench during the 2009 Winter Classic game in Chicago because then head coach Mike Babcock essentially benched him. During an appearance on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, Chelios said he had his sons bring him beers during the game as a response to Babcock’s decision.

“He tried to healthy scratch me in the outdoor game in Wrigley Field against Chicago because he knew it was my hometown. Just things that were so unnecessary to show he’s the boss,” Chelios said.

However upper management including former general manger Ken Holland and Jim Nill pressure Babcock to play the Chicago native. Babcock chose to dress seven defensemen for the game and played Chelios on the first shift before relegating Chelios to the bench for the rest of the game.

“I’m sitting there. Second period and my two sons were about 40 feet, you know, sitting on the boards and they’re looking at me going, what’s going on?” Chelios said. “And I look at them. I tip my glass like you know my cup, to get me a beer. So my two boys were handing me beers the whole game. And then (Brad) McCrimmon tried to get me to go out there with a minute left to kill a penalty, ‘I said not a chance.'”

Chelios went on to say that during the game McCrimmon eventually told him Babcock instructed him not to play Chelios. The revelation came during the same podcast where Chelios said Babcock verbally assaulted former Red Wing Johan Franzen. He also said the relationship between he and Babcock was “no good right from the start.”

Chelios left the wings following the 2008-09 season and eventually retired from hockey following the 2009-10 season.

You can listen to the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast here and hear the full comments from Chelios on Babcock starting at the one hour and 17 minute mark.

Michigan Live LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164982 Edmonton Oilers Dynamic Duo that became the first set of teammates in the NHL to post 50-plus points in fewer than 30 games since 1995-96.

It was the first time Tippett started the same goaltender for three straight JONES: Oilers bounce back with win over the Kings games and Mikko Koskinen rewarded him with a one-goal-against game at a time that the team’s goals against had appeared to be escalating.

Koskinen, who is now 11-3-2 for the season, had been given the hook Terry Jones after giving up two softies against the Senators, but kept a clean sheet, stopping all 23 shots in the first two periods and ending up with 35 saves Published:December 6, 2019 on the night. Updated:December 6, 2019 9:53 PM MST He wasn’t perfect. That much-maligned frying pan catching glove cost him a shutout two thirds of the way through the third period.

WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could return, Hart's at And, yes, the Oilers did win a coach’s offside video review wiping out a home and a new ... goal it did get a little wild going down to the wire.

One day, when GM Ken Holland is able to make the Edmonton Oilers a The Oilers didn’t play much of the final two periods in the other end, but a more compete team, when their players mature more and further develop win at home is a win at home. their chemistry and identity, there will be more games like the one you Until they become that more compete team, when their players mature watched against the Los Angeles Kings Friday night. more and further develop their chemistry and identity, they’re going to That, of course, is opposed to the one you watched two nights earlier have to get used to winning some of them this way. against the Ottawa Senators. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.07.2019 At the moment, Dave Tippett’s hockey team is going through an awkward phase of their development from being a bottom feeder to a top-of-the- table team that has trouble battling against bottom feeders.

Wednesday, the Oilers, thanks to imploding against the floundering Senators and losing 5-2, fell out of first place in the Pacific Division that they’d very much earned, particularly with their player inspired refuse-to- lose more than two in a row attitude.

The team once again managed to get the fickle fan out-of-sight uptight with yet another empty effort at home against a team at the bottom end of the standings, interestingly losing the final game of a 10-game segment by three goals for the third time.

Stand down again, Edmonton.

The sky is not falling. Repeat. The sky is not falling.

The Oilers played yet another bounce-back game and bounced back into first place in the Pacific Division.

The Arizona Coyotes lost in Pittsburgh. And the Mighty Oil, No. 1 on the power play and No. 2 on the penalty kill going against No. 30 on the power play and No. 28 on the penalty kill, did what you’d expect them to do if they were at the point of their existence where they didn’t have another one of their ghastly games against struggling squads.

This night that No. 1 power play featuring Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, going against that No. 28 penalty kill, produced predictable results in two first period appearances that staked Edmonton to a 2-0 lead.

If it wasn’t for the loss to Ottawa 48 hours earlier, the earlier meltdowns against Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit and a 5-1 loss in Los Angeles, this would have been a game you’d have expected the Oilers to prevail in a no-event, no contest.

It wasn’t that. But it was a win.

Unlike Ottawa, who left town with a hard-to-explain six-game winning streak in Edmonton, the Kings left Rogers Place with five consecutive losses in the building and a 1-8 record in their last nine visits.

It was, other than going two-for-two for those power play goals by Draisaitl and Alex Chiasson (assisted by Draisaitl) a boring first two frames, exactly like Tippett would have wanted in the final two periods against Ottawa — especially with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and out of the line-up with injuries.

Edmonton effectively played the away game that has produced a 10-6-1 road record.

The Oilers only managed three shots on goal in the second period with McDavid and Draisaitl centering separate lines, but the scoreboard said 2-0 Edmonton from start to finish.

And at the end of the night, Draisaitl moved back into the NHL scoring lead with his two point night and McDavid made it 14 of his last 16 games in which he produced a point. So people who paid the price to watch the 1164983 Edmonton Oilers “Starting in December and going through the holidays, teams kind of separate themselves from the pack and I think that was the message for us. Obviously our goals against has to get better,” said Chiasson, who also had an assist on Draisaitl’s goal. Oilers powerplay gets job done against Los Angeles Kings “Being part of something special in this league is what you want, so this group is growing and we’re in a good position. Now it’s on us to take it to the next level and see where it takes us,” he said. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal The Kings are 9-6-1 at Staples Center but now 2-11-1 behind enemy Published:December 6, 2019 lines. “Starts on road not real good and special teams not good,” said Los Updated:December 6, 2019 11:16 PM MST Angeles coach Todd McLellan, whose team last won in another rink on Oct. 22 in Winnipeg. Their other road win was Oct. 8 in Calgary.

THOSE COACHES’ CHALLENGES WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could return, Hart's at home and a new ... Tippett got word from video coach Jeremy Coupal that Blake Lizotte might have been a hair offside six seconds before Lizotte put back Adrian It was a game that looked better on radio as somebody cracked wise in Kempe’s fine move to tie it 1-1, and they won it. The Oilers have the press box, but the Edmonton Oilers wanted two points, not style challenged two offside goals this season and won both, the first vs points, so mission accomplished against the Los Angeles Kings, who Winnipeg Oct. 20. haven’t won a road game since before Halloween. “This was all J.C….video coaches have all the pressure,” said Tippett, The Oilers won this one 2-1 on the backs of their league-leading power who has Coupal hooked up to assistant coach Glen Gulutzan on the play, scoring on their first two before the game was 15 minutes old and it bench. “He thought we should maybe challenge. He has about five was all they would need against the Kings, who have two road wins in 14 different views he’s looking at and he gets that to us on the TV (at the games and have dropped 10 in a row. bench). It was a very close (to being offside) but we were confident.”

Leon Draisaitl, and then Alex Chiasson off a hard 60-foot cross-ice feed SKATE OF SHAME to Connor McDavid, who sent an even crisper 40-footer to the winger, got the Oilers 28th and 29th PP goals in their 31st game. Kempe took a needless holding infraction on Kris Russell 175 feet from his net in the first period and while he was in the box, Draisaitl’s sling- “Ugly, ping-pong hockey but we got the two points,” said Oilers coach shotted a 30-footer off Drew Doughty’s left skate and past Quick. Dave Tippett. CLOCKING HOW MUCH THEY’RE OUT THERE “It wasn’t pretty but at the end of the day nobody’s going to ask if it was pretty,” said Draisaitl, reinforcing his coach’s analysis of a win’s a win. Oscar Klefbom came into the game leading in NHL ice-time at 25:50 but for the first time all season he played fewer than 20 minutes (19:15) in Goalie Mikko Koskinen was terrific and had a shutout going until Mike part because he only got 2:55 in three PPs and he was partered with Joel Amodio’s goalmouth rebound with six minutes left, getting the start for Persson. Adam Larsson played his most minutes, over 22, and Kris the third straight game — the first time that’s happened to an Oiler goalie Russell and Darnell Nurse both played more than 20. “We went with this season. players in grind mode. Adam, Kris played hard minutes,” said Tippett.

“We were looking for a bounce back,” said Tippett, who pulled Koskinen Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.07.2019 after three goals on 12 shots against Ottawa but may also have been looking at changing things up after his club had given up five in each of their earlier games against the Kings.

“Of course I was happy to get this game,” said Koskinen. “It shows that the coaches are trusting me and giving me a chance to go back there after one bad game. So always good to shake that right away.”

Koskinen showed his first cracks as a starter against the Senators but was rock-solid in a response game.

“I’m a big believer in giving guys another chance. It’s too easy to say, ‘You didn’t play well tonight so you’re not playing next game,’ ” said Tippett. “I think that’s a motivating factor for a goalie, any player. If they don’t think they played well, they want to avenge that next game.”

Until Friday, neither Koskinen nor Mike Smith had started more than two in a row. Now that’s changed, and we’ll see who plays Sunday against Buffalo.

“Smitty’s been nicked up a bit, came back and played some last game and we said, ‘Let’s give Koskinen a chance to redeem himself because we’ve done it for Smitty a few times. Koskinen played a heckuva game for us.” said Tippett.

Koskinen was far busier than Jonathan Quick in the other net (36-20) on a night when the Oilers wanted to stop the bleeding defensively. They only had 10 shots over the last 40 minutes but only needed two because Koskinen was very good, making a dandy glove grab on a Jeff Carter tip with five seconds left to push his record to 11-3-2.

“We’re giving up too many goals right now … that has to be the key,” said Tippett after the morning skate.

Indeed, they had given up four or more goals in five of their previous 10 games.

But, that wasn’t happening as the Oilers moved past Arizona Coyotes. With the win and Arizona falling 2-0 in Pittsburgh, Oilers have 39 points, one point north of the Coyotes. 1164984 Edmonton Oilers

Drew Doughty would jump at chance to team up with Connor McDavid on an Olympic squad

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal

Published:December 6, 2019

Updated:December 6, 2019 5:10 PM MST

"I think I could just pass it to him and he’d go end to end and I’d get an assist every night"

A Drew Doughty scrum on a game day is always worth the price of admission — no cliches, no throwaway quotes about the opposing players, never an “I would rather not talk about that.”

The star Los Angeles Kings defenceman is always waiting in his stall, actually liking the whole media/player back-and-forth. He talks about how he relishes playing against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl because he’s a challenge guy, and he applauds what both bring to the NHL table.

When you ask the former Norris Trophy winner about McDavid and Draisaitl, his eyes light up. There’s no “well, they’re both good players and we have to take their time and space away.” He’ll always elaborate and elucidate.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old Doughty — his birthday is on Sunday — loves playing against McDavid, but he’d rather play with him. Like on the Canadian Olympic team with him if NHLers get to go to Beijing in 2022.

“Oh, man that would be sweet,” he said. “That would be cool. I would be looking for him all the time like I am with Kopy (Kings captain Anze Kopitar) because we have such good chemistry. A little different dynamic with Connor’s speed. I think I could just pass it to him and he’d go end to end and I’d get an assist every night. I’ve played with him in an all-star game, but that’s nothing. Not a real game.”

Doughty is almost always on the ice against McDavid and Draisaitl if they are on the same line. It wasn’t that way to start the game Friday with Draisaitl centring the No. 2 line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins still out with a hand ailment. But Doughty still loves the challenge.

“Kopy and I take great pride in playing against them, looking at the defensive side of the game,” he said. “We’ll sacrifice our points to shut them down. We both love doing it.”

Doughty and Kopitar seem to have a system to if not control the NHL’s top two scorers, then they’ve been able to contain them to a degree.

“We’ve tried to take Connor’s speed away in the neutral zone and be hard on Draisaitl down low,” said Doughty. “Those are their biggest strengths, but if you give them room, they’ll dominate. Connor gets his speed up in the neutral zone and I’m yelling at one of our forwards, just follow him around. I would rather that so he doesn’t get the puck then sit back and Connor goes through five guys.”

“I would rather Connor never get the puck … I mean, it’s an obvious system with every team. Nobody wants him to get the puck. Kopitar is such a great player, he realizes he can drop off and follow Connor.”

Doughty has a good thing in with the Oilers and Flames rivalry, especially with his running battle with Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, but he has a preference. Edmonton over Calgary.

“I like coming to Edmonton because it’s a good game against those two guys (McDavid and Draisaitl),” he said. “I’m ready for that game, and I’m excited to play against Connor as much as he’s way better than me. If I do win that matchup, I get a lot of pride from that.”

“Calgary’s different. I don’t care to talk to their media or be there at all, to be honest. But I do enjoy winning there, for sure.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164985 Edmonton Oilers the message to us (from the coaches). Now it’s on us to take the next level and see where we can take this.”

Their recent slide is small in comparison to slumps they experienced Edmonton Oilers loving increased pressure from Western rivals during the lean years, but it should also serve as a reality check. Thirty games does not make a season.

“There are certain parts of our game that we need to tighten up,” said Robert Tychkowski Neal. “We can’t keep counting on our bounce-back games; we need to grab a hold of things. Published:December 6, 2019 “It’s going to be tight till the end of the year, that’s just the way the NHL Updated:December 6, 2019 4:43 PM MST is. We got off to a good start, but we need to continue to build on that. Focusing on ourselves is the big thing. Control what you can control, and that’s us going out and playing good hockey and getting better. As long The Edmonton Oilers woke up in second place instead of first Friday as we do that, we’ll be in good shape. morning and were wise to consider it a warning shot from the rest of the Western Conference: Keep pace or get out of the way. “The team is in a good spot right now, we just need to continue to build and to get better. And I think we will.” The Oilers have played themselves into a very good season so far, but with the standings tighter than Marc Crawford’s collar, they are finding Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.07.2019 out that the margin for error is ridiculously small.

With just five points separating second place and 11th place Friday morning, there is zero breathing room. Ideally, that forces a team to sharpen its focus, knowing that one or two losses can drop them down an elevator shaft.

“We know where we’re at in the standings,” said Leon Draisaitl, admitting it kind of stung to wake up in second. “We want to get that top spot back. We need to show what we’re capable of.”

Which Oilers team will show up against the Kings?

Kings always give Oilers trouble

It’s somewhat strange to have one eye on the standings this early, and lately, it might feel like a python is tightening its grip around their neck, but for a team that is normally out of it by Christmas, being in the thick of a race is exciting. It’s what they play hockey for.

“We’re more upbeat in the locker room, just the atmosphere,” said Alex Chiasson. “Being part of something special is what you want. This group is growing and we’re in a good position.”

It’s also an unusual position for the Oilers, being a team with a target on its chest. With the top two scoring leaders and so much time spent atop the Pacific Division, everyone is getting fired up to play Edmonton. It’s a much different atmosphere than when teams came in here thinking ‘let’s put in a period or two, get our win and get out.’

“They’re coming for you,” said Draisaitl. “They want your spot. They want to beat the best team in the division. We have to get used to that and try to find ways to still be productive and win.”

Winger James Neal has been on a lot of winning teams in recent years and says the nightly challenges are similar to the ones he faced in Nashville, Vegas and Calgary.

“When you’re at the top, you have to recognize that teams are coming in here and looking to beat us,” he said. “It might be a little bit different than in years past (in Edmonton), but we’ve gotten a little bit better at it as the season’s gone on, and we’ll continue to grow.

“I like where we are now, but we definitely have room for improvement, we know that. We just have to bring a little more consistency in our game.”

Being part of something special is what you want. This group is growing and we’re in a good position.

ALEX CHIASSON

Basically, the Oilers are learning that it’s a lot harder to be a good team than it is to be a bad one. Bad teams can take nights off and it doesn’t matter, they’re missing the playoffs anyway. Good teams don’t have that luxury. Good teams go 5-4-1 and fall from first place to second, with three through 11 hot on their tail.

It’s more stress than they’re used to, but the Oilers appear to be embracing it because while winning is harder than losing, it’s also a lot more fun.

“We’re seeing an evolution of our team since training camp,” said Chiasson. “With that being said, we have to take the next step. Teams start to separate themselves from the pack at this time of year. That was 1164986 Edmonton Oilers your group and today’s not the right day to do it. Those are all feels for the coaches that the staff has to have, not just myself, but both (assistant coaches) on special teams and (Dustin Schwartz) with the goaltenders.”

Dave Tippett rewarded for his bets on the resilience of Mikko Koskinen, If it’s a long year for the players, it’s also a long year for the coaches. If Oilers any game was going to prompt anger, that loss to the Senators was it. The standings, Ottawa’s fatigue and the first period all suggested the Oilers were set for a lopsided victory. Instead, they imploded.

By Jonathan Willis Dec 6, 2019 “Coaches can get emotional or mad or watch a video, and it’s always way easier on video,” Tippett said. “Coaches can go ‘why did you go

here, why did you go here?’ It’s different when you’re a player. You can Mikko Koskinen starred for the Oilers against the Kings on Friday night, get too critical and get your team too down. I’ve seen instances where no allowing one goal on 36 shots against. The 2-1 win came just 48 hours matter what you did it doesn’t seem like it was good enough. after he was pulled in a contest against the bottom-feeding Senators, a “There are times when you’ve got to manage your team’s mental psyche game in which two soft goals he allowed did much to contribute to a loss. as well as the structure and how you play. Those things are always in the It was a bounce-back performance, and that was the idea. back of our mind.” “We need him to bounce back,” coach Dave Tippett said in his pregame On his most visible resilience bets, Tippett has been rewarded. Against availability. “We’ve had a couple of games where (Mike Smith)’s been the Kings, Koskinen was the Oilers’ best player. Many of his 35 saves down and we’ve given him an opportunity to bounce back. Kosk is going were of the highlight-reel variety. Los Angeles clawed to within one late in to have a bounce-back game tonight. That’s why we went with him.” the third period and had multiple chances with their net empty, as the It was Koskinen’s third consecutive start, a high for a season in which Oilers missed multiple opportunities to put the game away and then later Tippett has rotated work between his two goalies. Koskinen’s overall on even to clear the defensive zone. performance has been superior, so the start could have been taken as an Yet the image that sticks isn’t of the Kings scoring the tying goal. It is of indication that Tippett was leaning toward increasing his share of the Koskinen, with 4.6 seconds remaining, snatching a puck away from Jeff games. Smith is coming off an injury, which was also a factor. Carter and holding it high. Former player Jim Fox, now the television analyst for the Kings on Fox It is perhaps easy to have confidence in Koskinen, given the season he’s Sports, noted that Tippett’s stated rationale has its own appeal. had. He entered the night 10-3-2 with a .917 save percentage. He’s done “There’s a coach who is in your corner,” Fox said, after quoting Tippett. good work for the Oilers and earned the right to shake off a poor start. “Everyone realizes the last game was not good, but you’re giving him a The real test case is Smith, who has been less impressive on the year. chance to bounce back tonight.” Smith’s overall numbers (7-7-1, .905 save percentage) are mediocre and It’s a bad idea to separate the goaltending decision from the larger team are only that good because of Edmonton’s brilliant penalty kill. At five-on- context. The Oilers’ loss to Ottawa on Wednesday was perhaps their five, Smith’s .900 save percentage is actually six points worse than it was worst game of the year: They were great for most of the first, then came last year, when he ranked 49th of the 53 goalies to play more than 25 apart over two periods against one of the worst teams in the league, a games. team which had been thumped by Vancouver one night before. Three times this season Smith has had a sub-.800 save percentage. Edmonton is sensitive to the resiliency of its hockey team. This is a Twice he’s started the next game, and the other occasion he got one half natural response to more than a decade of watching poor teams, teams of a back-to-back set immediately following. His save percentage in that struggled to stop bad situations from getting worse. Last year’s 6-17- those contests was .958, .939 and .926. 3 swoon that got Peter Chiarelli fired might come to mind. “It’s too easy to say, ‘you didn’t play very good, you shouldn’t play next (A pair of games in 2017-18 always stand out to me as the best example game,'” Tippett said after Friday’s win. “I think that’s a motivating factor of the type. After getting blown out 5-0 at by Winnipeg at the end of for a player, any player. Goaltender, anybody. If they don’t think they December, the Oilers came out completely flat in their next game two played well, they’re going to show up and avenge themselves the next days later, getting stomped by the same 5-0 score, this time by the game.” Kings. Todd McLellan lasted most of another calendar year, but one of That Smith has been a credible tandem goalie for the Oilers despite the the reasons for the shakeup to his staff in the summer of 2018 was a kind of five-on-five numbers that would make an AHL call-up blush is the perception that negativity was being allowed to linger for too long.) product of several factors. Smith’s ability to rebound from bad starts, the This year’s version of the Oilers has deserved good marks. The home- penalty kill, and the coach’s willingness to go back to him are all parts of and-home with Vancouver last weekend was a good example of coming the whole. out flat in one game, then coming back strong the next. A 5-1 loss to this It is easy to overstate the coach’s role in cultivating a quality like same Kings team on a November road trip is another, followed as it was resiliency. It’s also possible to mistake cause for effect. As longtime NHL by a great weekend against Vegas and Arizona. forward Pat Flatley told reporter Bruce Dowbiggin for his book “Of Ice We might also add the Oilers’ ability to weather injuries to the list. Adam and Men,” “Team chemistry is a product, not a cause of success.” Larsson missing seven weeks at the outset could have crippled the team. If we’re looking for reasons the Oilers have been better able to take a It didn’t; in fact, Edmonton thrived. The current absences of Ryan punch, there are plenty of tangible ones on offer. Resiliency is easier Nugent-Hopkins and Zack Kassian have been a test, one the Oilers have when the goaltending is going strong, the power play is producing and so far passed, albeit not by a wide margin. the penalty kill is a success. None of those things were consistently true A lot of people deserve credit. Ethan Bear stepping into a massive role for Edmonton teams of the recent past. on the right side is somewhere near the top of the list. Forwards like Still, there’s something to be said for coaches who demonstrate they trust Markus Granlund, Jujhar Khaira and Sam Gagner have delivered much- their players. That’s something else the Oilers haven’t always had the needed offence in the absence of Nugent-Hopkins and Kassian. past few years. More than one young player has found a semi-permanent The list doesn’t end with the players. It includes the coaches. Starting seat in the pressbox and more than one backup goalie has found himself Koskinen again after facing Ottawa, or Smith after he allowed six goals rarely used despite the struggles of the starter. against the Sharks, is one way of showing trust and keeping players With the Oilers down multiple important players, coming off a tough dialled in. It isn’t the only way. contest and beginning to spring holes defensively, Friday’s game against “I think I’ve got a pretty good feel of when you have to push with some the Kings was played in survival mode. Edmonton survived. video, when you have to push with some teaching, when you have to “With our lineup where it is right now, we’re trying to grind out some back off a little bit,” Tippett said pregame. “It’s a long season. Everyone points,” Tippett said. “That’s what we did tonight.” goes through it. We try to manage that as best we can. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 “Everything we do is geared around results. One day you might say, ‘Hey, I’ve got 10 things we’ve got to pound on today,’ and then you see 1164987 Edmonton Oilers take care of Molly. Aberg’s ex-girlfriend, and Molly’s mother, currently lives and works in Spain.

The arrangement — which is agreed upon on a year-by-year basis — ‘She makes me happy’: With call-up to Maple Leafs, Pontus Aberg has presented its share of logistical challenges. becomes one of NHL’s rare single fathers Aberg’s 2017-18 season started in Nashville. At the 2018 trade deadline, he was shipped to Edmonton, which meant his family would have to spend some time living in a hotel. By Joshua Kloke Dec 6, 2019 Ahead of the 2018-19 season, the Anaheim Ducks claimed him off waivers. It was another new team and another new city.

It is early in the afternoon at the in , “Every time I think I’m going to settle somewhere,” Aberg said, “I get and Pontus Aberg is in a rush. A morning practice has ended and the traded or put on waivers. It’s not ideal to have your family in hotel rooms ’ leading scorer has a matinee date to see the recently- for four or five months.” released Frozen 2. He thought he had started well in Anaheim last season, scoring 19 points An odd movie choice for a 26-year-old? Not when you consider his date: in 37 games. But in January, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild. his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Molly, who is obsessed with all things Disney. The trade came as a “shock.” He put up three points in his first five games, but he was hurt in February and things unraveled from there. His “She has every dress from the Disney store,” Aberg said. “She knows all ice time and production fell. He had averaged 15:37 per game in the songs.” Anaheim but only 12:52 with Minnesota.

And can Aberg chime in? “That’s the business,” said Aberg, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s the best league in the world. But you have to find a way.” “I know a couple, yeah,” he said with a smile. Despite his lack of success with the Wild, one person had noticed a Afternoons spent watching Disney movies are not unusual for Pontus difference in him: Evason, who was now an assistant coach with and Molly, who share a strong bond. Minnesota. To Evason, Aberg was more poised and focused on the task Aberg is a single father, one who is trying to balance raising his daughter at hand: staying in the NHL. with his goal of playing in the NHL. “Any time you get in a situation like that, you grow up in a hurry,” said Ask any two-parent household and they will tell you that raising a young Evason. “His hockey has benefited because of it. In a lot of ways, it can child can be hectic at the best of times. Now, with Aberg having earned go sideways. But he’s embraced it, and it’s allowed him to have his first callup to the Leafs on Friday morning, he’ll continue to juggle a success.” career that demands odd working hours, a heavy physical and emotional Aberg is willing to go a step further, saying he believes he would not be toll and frequent travel with raising his daughter. the player he is today without Molly in his life. But Aberg is ready for what’s ahead, as he has made sacrifices of his “I’ve matured more than I would have had I not had a daughter,” he said. own. He is, after all, now playing for someone besides himself. “Even though I can be a little childish sometimes, I’ve improved with that. Dean Evason doesn’t have to search long for a word to describe Pontus I always have to stay positive and she makes me happy.” Aberg. Evason was so impressed by Aberg’s new-found maturity that he sought “Misunderstood.” out Aberg’s mother to tell her just how much he thought her son had changed. Aberg’s dealings with the media can be dry and brief. The knock on him early in his career was that he lacked maturity and a strong work ethic. “Any learning experiences and adversity you face, if you face them head- on you can use them as a positive,” said Evason. “He’s turned a situation Evason was Aberg’s first professional coach in North America, when a that is obviously wonderful, but can be challenging for a hockey player… 21-year-old Aberg arrived in Milwaukee after being drafted in the second he’s used it as a positive for him and his family.” round, 37th overall, by the Nashville Predators in 2012. Aberg was signed by the Leafs as a free agent this summer to a one- Aberg confided in Evason as he bounced back and forth between the year deal. It’s the shortest contract of his career. This could be a make or Predators and their AHL affiliate, . He was, and break season for Aberg in the NHL. remains, a skilled and offensively-inclined winger who can drive play. His 34 points in 69 games in his first AHL season in 2014-15 were a solid His abilities immediately impressed Toronto’s coaching staff, but Aberg start, but Aberg still had room to grow. didn’t have a strong training camp and he was demoted to the Marlies.

“No question – he had to mature,” said Evason. Back in October, then Marlies head coach, and now Maple Leafs coach described Aberg’s game at the time this way: Molly arrived the following season. She came as a surprise to Aberg and his then-girlfriend. “High-end skill.”

“It just kind of happened,” said Aberg. “I was 22, just living the life there.” But…

Every cliché about becoming a new parent, from shifting priorities and “I can see at times he gets disengaged.” generally having your life tossed upside-down, rung true. Keefe added that the organization has a responsibility to create an “I didn’t know what to expect when I became a dad,” said Aberg. environment that helps Aberg feel plugged in to what’s happening with the team. Aberg and his then-girlfriend tried to make it work together in Milwaukee. But after a year, they both agreed their relationship wasn’t working. “We need to make him feel important,” said Keefe back in October. “We need to make him feel like he’s cared about. That we’re here for him.” “We just decided (splitting up was) for the best,” said Aberg. “We didn’t get along.” When Aberg arrived in Toronto, the Leafs organization helped him quickly find an apartment so his family didn’t have to begin their stay in His relationship with Molly was a different, much happier, story. Her the city living out of another hotel. presence had minimized the off-ice distractions that had previously affected his play. So Aberg made his case: He wanted to keep her in his Playing with the Marlies earlier this year still required long trips away life. from home. But regardless of what time of the day he returns, even if it’s in the middle of the night, Molly will run to greet her father. Aberg didn’t want his daughter under the care of a “random” nanny, so he sought the help of his mother, Annethe. She agreed to quit her job as During Marlies home games, Molly Aberg could frequently be found a massage therapist in Stockholm and move to the United States to help running around the Coca-Cola Coliseum. “She loves climbing the stairs,” said Aberg. And even though the beginning of his season didn’t go as he had hoped, Aberg’s responsibility helped him avoid the feelings of anger that come There are not many fathers on the Marlies. Those who got to know with not cracking an NHL squad out of training camp. Aberg’s life as a single father before his promotion were in awe. On Thursday night, Aberg took Molly skating for just her second time at “My wife does so much. I can’t even imagine,” said goaltender Michael Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre when he received a call from Leafs Hutchinson, who has an eight-month-old daughter. assistant GM Laurence Gilman. He was a Maple Leaf.

“As a hockey player, the way you live is very selfish,” said Hutchinson. No time to celebrate, though. “On game days, it’s focused completely on yourself, your routine, and getting ready for the game. When you have a kid, it brings more self- “I had to take the little one home,” said Aberg. awareness. You have someone else to look after.” He will try to make the most of his new opportunity. But whatever Typical practice days in Toronto mean Aberg leaves his home before happens, Aberg knows there is more to his life than hockey. Molly wakes up. From a young age, she began sleeping from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. “She’s helped me,” said Aberg, pausing to look past the reporter in front of him, “stay happier.” “She’s like a teenager,” said Aberg, laughing. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 With Molly not in regular daycare, her grandmother will take her to nearby child-care centres for drop-in programs, which allows Molly to meet children her own age. At home, the family speaks Swedish, so while Molly understands English, she can’t yet speak it.

She is also learning to love the water. Their condo building has a hot tub, which they’ll frequent together.

When Aberg returns home, the two will head to the park or play together. Long gone are the days of spontaneous dinners and nights out with teammates.

“You’ve got to prepare your life differently,” said Aberg. “You can’t just do stuff as it comes up. You have to plan your life a bit more. Dinner with teammates you have to cancel.”

In its place are dinners of French fries and chicken nuggets, always accompanied by a large glass of milk, or chocolate milk if a treat is in order. Of late, Molly has become a picky eater.

“She’s in that age now when she likes to say no to a lot of things,” said Aberg.

After dinner, Aberg will pull out his phone, and together they’ll look through old photos of the two of them together.

“She likes to see herself when she was younger,” said Aberg, smiling. “She thinks she’s so big and old now.”

The irony is not lost on Aberg, who had a lot of growing up to do himself, and fast, with the birth of Molly. He’s aware of temptations that surround young athletes making NHL wages. At first, taking care of Molly meant he didn’t have time to indulge.

“I feel like she helps me stay focused on hockey more. Not focused on the life around (hockey),” said Aberg.

Yet as Aberg has grown into a role so few professional athletes have, being a single father has driven him to become a better, more responsible person. He has something more to play for and is playing some of the best hockey of his life with 24 points in 22 AHL games.

That’s what earned him Friday’s call-up.

“When he’s moving his feet and he’s working to combine with that skill, he’s too much to handle for a lot of people in (the AHL),” said Keefe.

There can be points in the life of every young parent when they look back on their life before parenthood with a sense of longing. Aberg is asked if he has any regrets about his decision to raise Molly largely on his own.

“Not at all,” he said before the question finishes.

He does not wonder what might have been. Prior to this season, there was another discussion with his ex about where Molly would spend the next season. It was a short one.

“We made a choice to (leave her with me) because I had such a good year last year,” said Aberg.

Aberg marvels at just how intertwined his hockey life has become with his life as a father. He points to a cut above his right cheek.

“As soon as I came home with this, she ran to put a band-aid on it,” said Aberg. “When I hurt my foot last year, she played doctor.” 1164988 Edmonton Oilers Looking to this year, if we ask ourselves “how many Oilers with contracts under $2 million this season can be considered value deals?” what is the answer? I count four.

Lowetide: How many value contracts do the Oilers have and are any Ethan Bear is having a home run rookie season, the best by an Oilers more on the way? defenceman since Oscar Klefbom in 2014-15. Puck IQ tells us Bear spends 36 percent of his 5-on-5 time against elites and is performing very well relative to his fellow defensive partners. As a rookie. Bear and Darnell Nurse are playing the most against the best opposition and are By Allan Mitchell Dec 6, 2019 delivering — especially important during the period where coach Dave Tippett is trying to find a quality partner for Klefbom on the other feature pairing. On Dec. 11, 2018, the Oilers defeated the Avalanche 6-4. When all NHL action ended that evening the Oilers were seventh in the Western Bear is earning $720,000 in the final year of his contract and the Oilers Conference. It was an uneasy position, though, just one point ahead of will have to decide the term of his second contract, but there is zero the Stars (who held a game in hand) and the Golden Knights (who had doubt he’ll be an important part of the 2020-21 Oilers. Jonathan Willis played one more game than Edmonton). The team’s record through 31 drilled down on Bear’s next contract for The Athletic and found value in a games was 17-12-2, good for 36 points. long-term deal; Holland will make his decision in the months to come.

That same night both Oscar Klefbom and Kris Russell were injured and Zack Kassian’s contract is $1.95 million and it is expiring. He is on a 25- the Oilers would free fall for much of the time each defenceman was out goal pace and an unrestricted free agent come summer and will receive with injury. Russell would miss 10 games, during which the team would a major increase in salary no matter where he signs. go 2-7-1. Klefbom would miss 21 games, with the Oilers going 6-12-3. By Jujhar Khaira has six goals and is part of the penalty killing rotation, the time both returned, Edmonton was outside the playoffs and could not along with being a big winger who brings a physical element. He has one finish with enough wins to make the postseason. Edmonton’s year left after this one ($1.2 million AAV), meaning he should be a value replacements for Klefbom and Russell were veteran Jason Garrison and deal in 2020-21. rookie Caleb Jones. Then-GM Peter Chiarelli traded for Brandon Manning and Alexander Petrovic at the end of December 2018 in an Matt Benning is earning $1.9 million in the final season of his current effort to shore up the position, but to no avail. deal. He is quality as a third pairing defenceman and his career 5-on-5 goal differential (149-120) includes a stellar 14-7 this season. Although Chiarelli added pieces that were expensive, both in asset cost to acquire he has been injured a couple of times this season, Benning delivers and in cap dollars. This season, general manager Ken Holland pursued value when in the lineup. value solutions from all possible areas. Europeans Gaetan Haas, Joakim Nygard and Joel Persson were joined by NHL free agents like Markus Bear and Kassian play feature roles, so their value is extreme compared Granlund and Josh Archibald. Meanwhile, the AHL Bakersfield Condors to the money spent. The general manager employs and the coach sent a few players north year over year. How many of these men are deploys, with Holland and Tippett currently using several players making value contracts now? under $2 million this season. How many could emerge as value deals in the final 50 games? Same time this year Possible value deals This season, the Oilers entered December on top of the Pacific, but the power teams in the division have figured themselves out and are now Patrick Russell might be a surprise name to choose as a value firing on all pistons. Observers expect a strong surge from the Golden candidate, but he’s a useful forward making $700,000 a season. Knights and Sharks, while the Coyotes haven’t faded at all. Although he has just four assists so far, all came in the most recent 10 games. He is getting a large number of chances on the No. 4 line, can There are a number of issues facing the Oilers through December, forecheck effectively and is a regular on the penalty kill. If Russell can included a series of recent injuries that have impacted centre Ryan post some offence over the last 50 games this season, he could be a Nugent-Hopkins, winger Zack Kassian and defenceman Matt Benning. value deal. So far this season, Holland has slow-played trades and preferred using Joel Persson has been inconsistent so far this season but can outlet extra roster players and recalls to fill roles. The club is looking for value pass and has impressed at times over his first 11 games. He’s a righty deals. Example: Edmonton took a different approach to the opening night and the Oilers have a need in this area. Should Persson find the range in injury to Adam Larsson this season than Chiarelli did to the Klefbom- the coming weeks, he could qualify. Russell problem a year ago. It paid off with the emergence of Ethan Bear. Caleb Jones was just sent to Bakersfield but is a value deal in waiting. Like Bear, his entry-level contract expires at the end of this season. Progress is more than wins and losses Unlike Bear, Jones has yet to blossom in the NHL. The organization has Entering this season, Oilers fans knew that several players (Connor to walk something of a tightrope for the rest of the year, giving him NHL McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, James Neal, Oscar audition time to prove himself while also hoping he doesn’t spike too Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, Adam Larsson, Kris Russell, Mikko Koskinen, soon. Jones would be an ideal value contract for next season based on Mike Smith) were both substantial cap hits and expected to carry much of current resume and likely salary based on performance. the load in 2019-20. That’s 10 players, about half the roster, and almost What does it all mean? 70 percent of the cap, without counting names like Sam Gagner, Brandon Manning and Alex Chiasson. The Oilers are going to need at least six players who make less than $2 million next season while also delivering numbers that exceed their For me, the gold standard for value contracts came in 2005-06, when the salary. Evan Bouchard leads the group from the minors that also includes Oilers deployed six men who were on value deals under $1 million Tyler Benson, Kailer Yamamoto, William Lagesson and Shane Starrett. dollars. So far this season, the club has four legit value deals, two of whom (Bear Right winger Ales Hemsky ($901,740) scored 77 points, centre Shawn and Kassian) are top flight because those players occupy important Horcoff ($1 million) delivered quality across the board and emerged as a roster spots. I think a player like Persson could emerge in the season’s major roster player. Centre Jarret Stoll ($501,600) delivered impressive second half, giving the organization an impressive haul from this season. offence, using his monster shot from the point to score 11 power play goals. Winger Fernando Pisani ($611,800) scored well during the season Making the playoffs is the most important part of this season, but adding and emerged as an Oilers icon with a dream playoff run. Winger Raffi useful players at attractive cap numbers is an important game inside the Torres ($875,000) was a surprisingly effective offensive player while also game. The Oilers are doing well in the season’s first half, but there are playing at the edge of (and sometimes beyond) the rules. Defenceman many miles to go. Marc-Andre Bergeron ($931,000), was a chaos defender who moved the puck consistently. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019

Value deals 2019-20 1164989 Florida Panthers “Obviously, this is a big honor for me and I have to try my best to help the guys out and hope they help me, too,” Saarela said after his first practice with the Panthers at the IceDen on Friday morning.

Aleksi Saarela gets fresh start with Panthers as Bobrovsky returns to “No matter where you are, you have to work your ass off every day to face Blue Jackets show the organization that you deserve to be called up.”

For much of the past two seasons, Saarela has been playing left wing but says he is a natural center. By George Richards Dec 6, 2019 When Springfield coach Geordie Kinnear asked if he could go back to centering a line, he jumped at the chance.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Sasha Barkov says after all of these years, he After a few games, Saarela said he felt great back at his old spot and is happy to finally have Aleksi Saarela as a teammate. was paired mostly with 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett in Springfield.

It did not happen in their native Finland, but now has with the Florida “He has been making some plays,” Quenneville said, “and has a terrific Panthers. shot. I look forward to seeing that as we go along here.”

“When I was in junior, all I heard about was how he scored in every In 17 games with the Thunderbirds, Saarela has four goals and 10 points game, had an assist every game, was breaking all the records” Barkov — after getting just one assist in five games for Chicago’s AHL team said of Saarela, a well-traveled but talented forward who was officially before the trade. called up by the Panthers from AHL Springfield on Friday. Two games ago, Saarela had a goal with two assists in a victory over “I am really happy for him to get this chance. He has enough skill to play Laval. here; he can make plays, can shoot the puck. He has always been good. He has the skill to play at this level. He has always been the main guy on “Center is where I played growing up and it took a couple of games to his team.” adjust, but after that, it was the ‘Old Saarela from Finland’ you could say. It all came back,” Saarela said. Saarela, 22, will make his NHL regular-season debut with the Panthers on Saturday night against visiting Columbus, centering a remade third “My first year in Charlotte, it was probably 50-50 between center and line with Frank Vatrano and Noel Acciari on his wings. wing, but last year I was a winger. I started on left wing with Springfield but then Geordie asked me to play center and the first two games were A third-round draft pick of the Rangers in 2015, Saarela has bounced me re-learning it. But I know my game is back now.” around the past few years. Forward Aleksi Saarela skates during warmups during the Carolina Less than a year after being drafted, the Rangers sent him to Carolina Hurricanes’ game against Edmonton in 2017. (Perry Nelson / USA along with two draft picks for Eric Staal at the 2016 deadline. Today)

Saarela played parts of five seasons in the top Finnish pro league (he Bringing Saarela up means a move to wing for Acciari, who had been made his Liiga debut in 2013 against Barkov and his Tampere team) centering Florida’s fourth line, for the most part, since training camp. before joining Carolina’s AHL team in Charlotte in 2017. Acciari said he is very comfortable on the wing as that is where he played After two-plus seasons with the Checkers, Saarela was called up by the a lot for Boston over the past couple of seasons. Hurricanes during the playoffs because of injuries and he made his NHL debut in Game 5 against the Capitals in the opening round of last year’s “We were feeling really good as a line and the chemistry really jumped postseason. Before Saturday, it was the only NHL game he has played. out,” Acciari said. “Wing or center doesn’t matter to me, but this should be interesting. When he had the puck, you could see his hands and his Despite Saarela scoring 55 goals with 97 points in two full AHL seasons shot. He looks good down the middle.” — and helping lead Charlotte to the AHL championship in 2019 with seven goals in 17 postseason games — Carolina traded him to Chicago Since Saarela was in Chicago’s camp, Friday meant making at the draft last summer. introductions. Although it was his first practice with his new teammates, Vatrano said he likes the way Saarela moves the puck around the ice. In the offseason, he told a Finnish newspaper he was happy to be out of Carolina as he was not pleased with the opportunity afforded by that Vatrano scored a career-high 24 goals for the Panthers last season but organization. has six in 27 games this year. Vatrano is also reunited with Acciari, whom he played with during his time with the Bruins organization. After failing to make the Blackhawks out of camp, Saarela was sent to Chicago’s AHL team and reportedly asked for a trade. On Oct. 22, the “It was only one practice and it can take some time to get used to a Blackhawks sent Saarela to the Panthers for 2013 second-round pick Ian different center but I think he fits in well,” Vatrano said of Saarela. McCoshen. “The more you watch a player, I think you can tell he can make plays. “Getting traded is part of the business,” Saarela said. “You have to live That ability comes with confidence and hopefully, he is here for a while.” with that.” Bob returns to face old friends Saarela’s talent has been evident over the years, with Barkov recalling After watching the past two games from the end of the Florida bench, how word around Finland was that Saarela “was the next big thing.” goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will be back in net for the Panthers on Saturday When the Panthers traded for him in October, the move was seen as one night against the Blue Jackets. in which they had given up on McCoshen as a viable defenseman after It will continue a reunion week of sorts for Columbus, which played host four seasons and 60 NHL games and were going to gamble on Saarela’s to Artemi Panarin and the Rangers on Thursday night. upside. Saturday, Columbus will face Bobrovsky for the first time since he left the “He has an opportunity,” Florida coach Joel Quenneville said of Saarela. Blue Jackets after seven seasons to sign a seven-year, $70 million deal “He has skills, has some pace to his game and is earning an opportunity with the Panthers. based on how well he has played. … Bobrovsky, who watched Thursday’s game from South Florida, said he “It is definitely a fresh slate and a new opportunity as well. At the end of has paid some attention to what his former team has done this season the day, the player always makes (a decision) for us. It has taken a while but “I’m busy here with the adjustments and stuff like that.” for him to … get this chance.” The Rangers won 3-2 on Thursday as Panarin scored what turned out to Saarela says he is ready to show the Panthers what he’s got — starting be the winning goal in the second period. Bobrovsky returns to against the Blue Jackets on Saturday night. Nationwide Arena for his first game back in Columbus on New Year’s Eve. The Jackets have won their past seven against the Panthers but come into Saturday with losses in four of their past five as they sit in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division.

In the past, Bobrovsky has done well against his old team as he has dominated Philadelphia (which traded him to Columbus in 2012) by going 15-3-1 against the Flyers with a .928 save percentage and a 2.13 GAA.

“It will be a weird feeling to play against your guys,” said Bobrovsky, who was 10-0-2 against the Panthers since 2013 with a .948 save percentage. Bobrovsky gave up just 21 goals in his past 12 games against Florida.

“We spent seven years together, so it will be interesting. I know how hard they work, so it will not be an easy game.”

Quenneville said he thinks Bobrovsky used his unexpected time off wisely, saying his “attitude has been good and his focus in the right place.”

The Panthers opted for backup Chris Driedger to start against Nashville last Saturday night and after he posted a shutout in his first NHL start, went back to him Tuesday in what turned into a 4-2 loss against Minnesota.

Quenneville stressed the Panthers aren’t too concerned with Bobrovsky’s way-below-average stat line (.884 save percentage/3.48 GAA/minus- 14.42 GSAA) through the first two months of the season.

“Bob has had some real solid games where his numbers at the end of the night came with two points,” Quenneville said.

“The numbers don’t look that good, but he has been key in some key games, making some big saves for us and I think that might get overlooked.”

Driedger is expected to start against visiting San Jose on Sunday as the Panthers play three games (Saturday, Sunday and against Tampa Bay on Tuesday) in the next four days.

With Saarela in, Malgin is out

Denis Malgin got Quenneville’s attention earlier this season by scoring three goals with eight points in 11 games during October.

Quenneville repeatedly praised Malgin for his speed and his versatility in the lineup, but lately, Malgin has been finding less time on the ice.

Since getting an assist on Nov. 2 against Detroit, Malgin has failed to record a point in his past 13 games. On Friday, Malgin was running as Florida’s spare forward and he is expected to be scratched Saturday against Columbus.

“Like any player, when you’re playing well you have the puck and are doing good things with it,” Quenneville said. “You are checking, playing the system well and are involved more. When you’re not playing, you have to do everything you can to get that opportunity again.”

By calling up Saarela, the Panthers are now carrying a full 23-man roster with an extra defenseman and two forwards.

Jayce Hawryluk counts as one of those forwards. He has been out since Oct. 30 with a shoulder injury but has been practicing on his own the past few days.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164990 Los Angeles Kings It’s the attitude McLellan wants to see, the type of resolve the Kings will need to solve a road slump that is in danger of derailing their season.

“It’s our job to keep the bad habits out, and it’s our job to keep the morale Kings cannot overcome slow start in loss to Oilers up,” McLellan said. “They’re not, by any means, down right now. I think they understand they’re playing a pretty good game. We talked about it between periods, stick with the program.

By JACK HARRIS “I think we’re getting better in losing. The whole purpose of our approach this year was to get some structure in place, move the needle, and get DEC. 6, 2019 10:02 PM better. We’re doing that right now. We’re not winning enough games, but we are getting better. It will pay off at some point.”

EDMONTON, Canada — An army of trench coats and beanies LA Times: LOADED: 12.07.2019 marched from the Kings’ locker room to the Rogers Place bus entrance Friday morning. Outside, snowfall from a recent winter storm still caked the streets. Up above, ominous clouds hung low in the sub-freezing air, promising another downpour in the not-so-distant future.

Thus, Kings players dressed accordingly. It will be their unofficial off-ice uniform for a while.

Friday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, a 2-1 loss in which the Kings once again fell behind early and failed to catch up, kicked off a brutal upcoming schedule that could potentially define their season.

In their next 30 games, the Kings will play 21 away from home. After this weekend’s back-to-back set in Edmonton and Calgary, there is a five - game Eastern Conference trip later this month, a back-to-back in San Jose and Vancouver after Christmas, and a five-game swing through the southeast before the All-Star break in January, and a four-game trek to the northeast corridor weeks later.

A four-game homestand around New Year’s represents the Kings’ only consecutive home games from now until late February. And if they can’t keep from repeating the type of road performance they produced Friday, which dropped the already last-place squad to a league-worst 2-11-1 mark away from Staples Center (where they are 9-6-1), they could find themselves miles adrift in the standings long before then.

“It’s been all over the map,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said of his team’s road struggles. “Earlier in the season, we would start well and then we would give things up late. The last four or five games, we take a bunch of punches, we fall to the mat, then we pick ourselves up and start swinging ourselves.

“Once we fall behind, we’re a hard team to play against. But the starts haven’t been real good.”

That was again the case Friday, as the Kings trailed 2-0 after the first following a pair of Oilers power-play goals sandwiched around a potential equalizer from Blake Lizotte that was overturned by an offside video review.

“I knew it was close,” Lizotte said. “When you drag your foot, you’re not sure where the line is exactly. I knew it was going to be close. Even when I scored, I was [thinking] a little bit, ‘All right, they’re going to review it.’ Sure enough, it was a centimeter or two.”

Michael Amadio knocked in a rebound with 6:28 remaining in the third to get the Kings on the board. But once again — despite a last-minute barrage with an extra skater — their third-period comeback bid fell short. The Kings are 0-15-1 when trailing after two.

“We come in after the game and we sit there and we look at each other, and we keep telling the same story over and over again,” McLellan said. “Close. Work hard. Don’t quit. Pretty good structure. Just a goal short.”

Friday’s loss, the Kings’ 10th in a row away from home, had all the frustrating hallmarks of their recent road struggles. They outshot Edmonton 36-20, and according to captain Anze Kopitar “were probably the better team, creating more chances,” during five-on-five play.

“But,” Kopitar continued, “the game consists of the special teams, and special teams nowadays are a huge part of the game. We lost it tonight.”

It’s fair to wonder how many more of these narrow defeats the Kings can take before frustration boils over. In the locker room postgame, Kopitar and his teammates showed more annoyance than apathy, trying to understand why their apparent improvements aren’t adding up to more wins.

“We’ve got to figure it out,” Kopitar said. “How not to get behind. To get the first goal and play with the lead.” 1164991 Los Angeles Kings Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.07.2019

Oilers hand Kings their 10th straight road loss

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 9:04 pm | UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 11:22 PM

EDMONTON, Alberta — Few things are going right for the Kings lately, especially on the road.

Leon Draisaitl and Alex Chiasson each had a goal and an assist in the opening period as the Edmonton Oilers moved back into first place in the Pacific Division with a 2-1 victory over the last-place Kings on Friday night.

Michael Amadio scored for the Kings (11-17-2), who have lost three straight overall and 10 in a row on the road.

“It’s frustrating to lose this game,” Kings forward Blake Lizotte said. “I thought we were good basically all three periods and they scored two power-play goals, which they’ve done all year.

“We have chances, we put pucks to the net and unfortunately they didn’t fall for us. That’s been the case lately.”

With all their high-end talent, the Oilers’ latest win was hardly the sort of flashy exhibition they’ve been putting on display lately.

And that was just fine with them.

“Mucky, ugly, chip-it, ping-pong hockey. But, we got the two points, so we move on,” Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. “With our lineup the way it is right now (due to injuries), we’re trying to grind out some points and that is what we did tonight.

“We knew we needed a tight, hard-checking game just to get us back set in the right direction.”

Mikko Koskinen made 35 saves for the Oilers (18-10-3), who improved to 8-4-2 at home.

Koskinen was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots in a 5-2 loss to Ottawa the previous game and was happy about the opportunity to redeem himself.

“It shows that the coaches are trusting me and giving me a chance to go back there after one bad game,” he said. “It’s always good to shake that off right away.”

Edmonton’s top-ranked power play got the Oilers on the board 11 minutes into the first period as Draisaitl’s attempt to pass through traffic deflected off defender Drew Doughty’s leg and past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. It was Draisaitl’s 19th goal of the season.

The Kings appeared to tie the score with six minutes left in the opening period on a goal by Lizotte, but it was disallowed on an offside call following a video review.

The Oilers got another power-play goal a minute after that when Connor McDavid made a great feed through to Chiasson, who had an easy tap-in into a wide-open net.

After a scoreless second period and several big saves by Koskinen, the Kings got back into the game with 6:28 to play in the third when a puck was loose in the crease before Amadio jammed it in to make it 2-1.

There was some frantic play in the final minutes, but Edmonton hung on.

NOTES

It was the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The last one is Feb. 23 at Staples Center. … Koskinen made his third consecutive start, the first time this season an Oilers goalie got the nod three games in a row. … Out injured for the Oilers were Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Zack Kassian (back) and Matt Benning (head), while the Kings were without Derek Forbort (back) and Alec Martinez (wrist).

UP NEXT

The Kings play at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. 1164992 Los Angeles Kings Brian Burke, who didn’t bring Babcock back to the Ducks because he felt Babcock was too nice, calls them “Greenpeace coaches.” Canadian streets are full of cabs driven by such ex-coaches.

Whicker: The fall of Mike Babcock might be too steep for another rise Now the players are richer and more powerful. They scare young executives. They know they can get coaches fired. The line has moved. How do you find it?

By MARK WHICKER | PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 12:25 pm | “The line between right and wrong is pretty clear,” said Todd McLellan, UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 12:25 PM the Kings’ coach. “Sometimes feelings are hurt when you’re pushing a player to get more out of their toolbox, so to speak. I care a lot more

about the players respecting me than liking me. It’s easy to be liked, but Mike Babcock has coached a Stanley Cup champion, reached the Final you have to earn their respect. They have to know you care about them, three times, and took Team Canada to one World Championship and two and not just whether they win or lose. Olympic golds. “But we all take stock of situations we’ve been in. You feel good about He also will have a difficult time coaching in the National Hockey League some. Others, you wish you had a do-over.” again without several hours of mea culpas and maybe a confessional Mike Babcock’s career is long past rewinding. It also might be salvaged if book. humiliation changes him as profoundly as success did. The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Babcock when he was not quite halfway Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.07.2019 through the fifth year of an eight-year deal that made him by far the richest coach in NHL history. Maybe he was victimized by injuries and the analytics disciples in the front office. In other ways, he was victimized by the man in the mirror. He was no longer the jocular, relentlessly positive fellow in Anaheim who made a surprise visit to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2003, a year after Bryan Murray hired him as a rookie NHL coach.

Babcock has been called out spectacularly on social media. Johan “The Mule” Franzen, a component of Detroit’s 2008 championship team, called Babcock a “terrible person, the worst I ever met, a bully who was attacking people. … They were verbal attacks, horrible things. I was terrified to be at the rink.”

Hall of Famer Chris Chelios said Franzen suffered a nervous breakdown in a Nashville locker room after one of Babcock’s outbursts. At the time, Franzen was already dealing with concussions and depression. Franzen called that incident “the tip of the iceberg.”

Chelios also said he spent most of a Winter Classic game at Chicago drinking beer on the bench because Babcock had refused to play him in his hometown. Jason Spezza, a former Ottawa leader now playing for minimum salary in Toronto, was gratuitously scratched for the season opener against the Senators. Mike Modano, another Hall of Famer, had to settle for 1,499 career games because Babcock scratched him for the final three of the season.

These needless, personal slaps are dumbfounding enough. But Babcock topped, or bottomed, himself when he asked Mitch Marner, a rookie in 2016-17, to rate the veteran Leafs in terms of their effort. Then Babcock showed Marner’s ratings to the veterans themselves.

Ten years ago, none of these incidents would have seen daylight. Now, players and ex-players piled on with gusto.

Said Jeff O’Neill on TSN, “I’ve had a lot of coaches who pushed me and then in later years we’d have a beer and laugh about it. Have you ever heard anyone say that about Babcock? No. He’s a bad guy and everyone knows it.”

Meanwhile, Bill Peters left the Calgary Flames after it was learned he kicked Michal Jordan from behind his bench at Carolina, and that he used a racial slur toward Akim Aliu 10 years ago in Rockford.

This is a drastic shift in the coach-player dynamic. Coaching humanitarians are a rarity in hockey. Marc Crawford, Randy Carlyle, Darryl Sutter and John Tortorella spread the sulfur on a daily basis. Mike Keenan’s nickname in Philadelphia was “Hitler.”

They all won Stanley Cups, although not as many as Scotty Bowman, the greatest winner in any North American sport and the most despised.

Steve Shutt famously said the Canadiens hated Bowman 364 days a year. “On the 365th day, we got our rings,” he added.

In Detroit, Bowman forced Tomas Holmstrom to wear No. 96 because “that’s the year you’re going back to Sweden.” That was in ’95. Holmstrom played through 2012.

Hockey is a game defined by nonstop and often fruitless effort. It lives on discomfort. A coach insists that you invest in that discomfort. It is not a request. 1164993 Los Angeles Kings His last appearance in the lineup was Nov. 9 in a 3-2 loss at Montreal. Days later, the Kings told him he would be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, according to a report by respected hockey insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Kings repeat the same story, lose another close game on the road He has continued to practice, continued to travel with the team and sits with the other healthy scratches in the pressbox, and of course, continued to draw a substantial paycheck. By Lisa Dillman Dec 7, 2019 McLellan was asked about the unusual circumstance.

“The situation with Kovy is a tough one for everybody,” McLellan said. “I EDMONTON — There’s getting to be a Groundhog Day-type feel to what can tell you that he’s been outstanding. Kovy’s situation has nothing to is going on with the Kings, especially on the road, this season. do with him as a person or his work ethic or anything like that. He’s In fact, Kings coach Todd McLellan pretty much said just that without outstanding. He works as hard as anybody right now. having to say it after the Edmonton Oilers scored twice on the power play “It’s a tough situation, but we’ll get through it.” in the first period to defeat the Kings, 2-1, on Friday night at Rogers Place. Mr. Fix-It

“We come in after the game and we sit there and we look at each other,” With the Kings, it almost felt like McLellan’s primary assignment upon McLellan said. “Telling the same story over and over again. Close, work arriving in Los Angeles was fixing — or trying to fix — the most critical hard, don’t quit, pretty good structure. Just a goal short. But getting problems and then moving on to the next ones on the list. better. There are tangible differences between last season and this one, for “And there’s not much for us to complain about as a coaching staff. sure. Practice habits, for starters, are vastly improved. The mental part of Happy with the effort. Disappointed with the result.” the game is another challenge.

The Kings haven’t won a road game since prevailing at Winnipeg against “It’s our job to keep the bad habits out,” McLellan said. “And it’s our job to the Jets on Oct. 22. Since then, they’ve gone 0-9-1, the lone point keep the morale up. They’re not, by any means, down right now. I think coming in an overtime loss at Ottawa. they understand that they’re playing a pretty good game. We talked about it again between periods. Stick with the program. They are 2-11-1 on the road, worst in the NHL, and even the last-place Detroit Red Wings have one more road win (3-10-2). Some of the Kings’ “The whole purpose of our approach this year was to get some structure deficiencies have been masked by a recent home-heavy schedule — in place and to move the needle and get better and we’re doing that right sprinkled with signs of progress, wins at Staples Center against the likes now. We’re not winning enough games but we are getting better and it of Winnipeg, the New York Islanders and the Vegas Golden Knights and, will pay off at some point. yes, the Oilers. “I don’t think anybody in there is really down when it comes to effort or Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said their struggles on the road had commitment and all those stupid words that coaches use. been a point of emphasis in meetings, including addressing that issue on Thursday. “They’re a little bit down that they’re not winning. But we can fix that. If we play this game 10 times in a row, we’ll win at least five of them. We’ll “I don’t know if we can really put our finger on it,” he said Friday morning. be fine.” “Our starts, a lot of times, we’re trailing right off the bat on the road. That’s a huge thing. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019

“If we can get that first goal, kind of take the team’s crowd out of it. You’ve got to want to disappoint the other team’s home crowd.

“I think that’s the best thing about playing, winning on the road — silencing the crowd. It’s the best feeling. I don’t know if we’re not as comfortable or because of the matchups.”

Their continuing road woes are a major concern because the Kings have only three more home games before the calendar flips over to 2020.

First, however, is another offering of what is one of hockey’s best feuds — Doughty versus Matthew Tkachuk, in Calgary on Saturday night.

“I don’t care to be there, to be honest,” Doughty said of Calgary. “But I do enjoy winning there, that’s for sure. That’s fun, winning in Calgary.”

A few other quick-hit observations from this quick trip to Western Canada … before Doughty and Tkachuk take center stage:

The turning point

The Kings were down 1-0 when it looked like center Blake Lizotte tied it, converting a rebound of an Adrian Kempe shot at 14:05 of the first period. But the Oilers challenged and it was determined Lizotte had been offside earlier. The Oilers took a 2-0 lead less than a minute after their successful challenge.

“It’s just a game of centimeters,” Lizotte said. “It’s frustrating when you put one in and it gets taken back. Especially in this league, it’s not easy to score goals. It’s part of the game.

“I knew it was close. When you drag your foot, you’re not sure where the line is exactly.”

The waiting game

Kings forward Ilya Kovalchuk remains in hockey limbo, having established residence almost a month ago. 1164994 Los Angeles Kings make me feel good coming through the door John, how did you pull that one off? [Reporter: It was a tag-team effort] Dools always makes me feel good, I always feel better about myself when I look at Dools.

SAN JOSE 9, ONTARIO 2 – JONNY BRODZINSKI & STOTHERS On what he can do before tomorrow to make changes and try to get a different response

We’ve usually responded pretty well after a stinker, so I don’t know…you ZACH DOOLEYDECEMBER 6, 2019 just hope that they find a way to put it behind them, and that’s all you can do. You can sit here and dwell on it, you can sit here and look at the

video, you can break it down, we weren’t very good. There’s only one ONTARIO REIGNPOSTGAME NOTESPOSTGAME QUOTES way to go and that’s up, that’s to be a little bit better. I don’t know, I have no answer for it, I’m just as perplexed as you guys. In a 9-2 game, the scorelines speaks for itself – It was not a memorable night for the Ontario Reign. A 9-2 defeat on home ice, their second time On if it’s good to have no time to dwell on it, with a rematch in less than in three games conceding 8+ goals, as Ontario fell below the .500 mark 24 hours on the season. Well, yeah. They just put three field goals up against us, so I guess There wasn’t much to report on a positive note for the Reign. Martin Frk maybe we shouldn’t be so excited to see them tomorrow. I’m excited for and Ryan Stanton scored, as Frk collected multiple points for the second tomorrow, it’s why you get up in the morning, to see how we respond. I’m time in as many games, while Stanton’s tally was his first in a Reign anxious to see, just the same as you are. jersey. On his philosophy after a loss like that, and if he likes to stick with the On a former Reign note, forward Jonny Brodzinski collected two points in same group or make changes the San Jose victory, in his first game back at Toyota Arena in a different You take it as it is. There’s not many ways you can change the lineup, uniform. Brodzinski scored on a breakaway in the second period, and you only have certain players at your disposal, so basically what you saw added an assist on a goal in the third. Hear more from Brodzinski below. tonight is what you’re going to see tomorrow. I mean, yeah line Ontario Reign Head Coach Mike Stothers’ words below tell the tale of combinations maybe, a body in and a body out, but sometimes you look tonight’s defeat, described simply in a few non-printed expletives, at it and you go okay, let’s just go with the same group and see how they descried in a bit more detail in what followed. The Reign can only go up respond, put it back on them. It’s easier, I actually find it easier to make from tonight’s performance, and will get another shot tomorrow evening, changes when you’re winning, that’s my preferred method of making as they once again host San Jose at Toyota Arena, with puck drop slated lineup changes. [Reporter: Because everyone’s confidence is high and for 6:00 p.m. things are rolling?] Well, it just looks like you’re changing things because you’re trying to change things if you’re losing. It keeps everybody on their It was a lot of fun. I love playing in this building, there’s something about toes a little bit more if you change it when you’re winning. Listen, there’s it coming from my first American League year. A lot of great memories in been times where we’ve won games and I haven’t been very happy with this building, and then the performance that we had tonight, that helped it our team, because I know we can play better. Tonight, we couldn’t play a lot. [Reporter: Did it feel a little weird, going into the visitors locker room any worse, so there’s no sense going in there and….we weren’t very for the first time?] Yeah, for sure. It’s a little different being on the other good. Like I said, tomorrow, we’ve got to better. Unless we give up a side, but that’s the business. touchdown and a field goal, that would be worse.

On if it was good to have already played against the Reign on the road, LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.07.2019 so that the first time playing his former teammates wasn’t in this building?

Yes and no. Really, you just think about it as another game. I think there’s probably only three or four of these guys on the team that I actually played with, so that’s pretty much a brand new roster, for me at least. A lot of the guys I played with are with the Kings now, or gone. It was good.

On if he had talked with Mike Stothers prior to the game

Yeah, I always like to get in there and give him a hard time, he’s my favorite coach of all time. He’s a great coach, he’s helped me through a lot and I owe a lot of what I’ve got today to him.

On what it is about Stothers’ approach, that makes him so respected and loved by players

I just think it’s the tough love that guys like from him. I know for me personally, he pushed me harder than any coach that has ever pushed me and that helped me a lot to grow as a player and mature, especially the defensive side. I came in and really didn’t know anything defensively and he kind of nurtured me through that. He ended up sitting me one game, because I didn’t have a goal in about 18 games, so he sat me and played me the next game and I ended up scoring my first American League goal, so just little stuff like that you notice throughout your career.

On his relationship with Jonny Brodzinski

How many points did he have tonight? [Reporter: 2] Well, if there’s something to take away from it, then that makes me very happy to hear, because I really have a lot of respect for Brods and the way he played, he played hard for us. I appreciate hearing that, it takes a little bit of the sting out of the game tonight, that’s for sure.

On teaching Brodzinski on certain aspects of the game

That’s a while ago…..you know what, he struggled a long time to score a goal. We sat him out, he scored in Charlotte, didn’t he, and then he never looked back. It’s great to reminisce, I love him as a person, I love him as a player, we wish him nothing but success…but we’ve got to fix what’s going on here, that’s just unacceptable tonight. You guys did actually 1164995 Los Angeles Kings Yeah, that’s been the story lately, so we’ve got to figure out how not to fall behind and essentially get the first goal and play with the lead. It’s a lot more fun, it’s way better and we’re going to have to figure it out.

DECEMBER 6 RAPID REACTION: OILERS 2, KINGS 1 Kopitar, on how difficult it has been to lose but be happy with their effort:

I mean, the efforts are there. I think if you look at the five-on-five game tonight, we were probably the better team, creating more chances. But JON ROSENDECEMBER 6, 2019 the game consists of the special teams, and special teams nowadays are huge parts of the game, and we lost it tonight.

Kopitar, on the team’s disallowed goal, followed quickly by Edmonton’s Postgame Quotes second goal: Todd McLellan, on the strong performance despite the loss: Well, it didn’t affect us at all because we came back and we were playing Yeah, for the people here in Edmonton, we’ve been playing like that a lot. a very good game after that. But it’s obviously not great. You think you tie We come in after the game, we sit there and we look at each other, and up a game, and especially the starts that we’ve had, you think you get we just keep telling the same story over and over again. Close, work one early and kind of get back into the game, and then a minute later you hard, don’t quite, pretty good structure. Just a goal short, but we’re go down two, so it’s definitely not ideal. But I thought after that we battled getting better and there’s not much for us to complain about as a well. It just wasn’t enough. coaching staff. They get a lucky one off a foot on the power play, and Adrian Kempe, on his ability to attack and pressure their opponents: then they pick us apart for one, too, so give ‘em that one. But after that, we kept a team to 15 even strength shots. A lot of it was from the All the things you said. Forecheck, for sure. I think we create a lot of outside, so we’re happy with the effort and we’re disappointed in the turnovers off that. I think tonight we broke the puck up well and had some result. good rushes against their team. When they had the puck, it kept turning over in our favor and we had some really good chances and looks. McLellan, on how to keep frustration or bad habits from setting with so Unfortunately, we couldn’t score – we scored one, they took it away. It many narrow losses: was a tough loss, but I think overall our team played pretty well five-on- It’s our job to keep the bad habits out, and it’s our job to try to keep the five throughout the game and deserved more than this. morale up. Not by any means are they down right now. I think they Kempe, on whether chasing games is taxing: understand that they’re playing a pretty good game, and we talked about it again between periods. Stick with the program. I think we’re getting Obviously, you don’t want to chase games, for sure, but I think we’ve better at losing, and the whole purpose of our approach this year was to been doing a good job coming back in games. We’ve been playing solid get some structure in place and to move the needle and get better and D, we didn’t let up a lot of shots tonight, which was a good thing, and it we’re doing that right now. We’re not winning enough games but we are just kind of came down to special teams tonight. We knew before that getting better, and it will pay off at some point. I don’t think anybody in they had a really good power play. Obviously I think it was a steap in the there is really down when it comes to effort or commitment and all those right direction for sure, but it’s tough losing, especially on the road. I think stupid words that coaches use. Nobody’s there, but they’re a little bit we’ve just got to bounce back, keep our heads up and play hard down that we’re not winning, and we can fix that. We play this game 10 tomorrow. times in a row, we’ll win at least five of ‘em, so we’ll be fine. Kempe, on getting penalized by grabbing at Kris Russell: McLellan, on the disallowed goal, followed quickly by Edmonton’s second goal: Yeah, I think that’s what he called – holding. I think that happens not just once in a game, it happens quite often. But I mean certainly he had the Yeah, the swing of momentum goes against you really fast on the road, puck, and the ref saw it and he called it. It was tough, but you’ve just got and you don’t want that to happen. The call didn’t go our way. That’s to keep going. going to happen, and we have a turnover, take a penalty and it’s in our net. That was fata or could’ve proven to be really fatal for us had we let it Blake Lizotte, on the frustration of losing another close game: go, but we’re not that type of group right now. We said we’d play through Yeah, it’s frustrating to lose this game just like that. I thought we were it and pick ourselves up off the mat and we keep going. good basically all three periods. They scored two power play goals, McLellan, on his impression of Paul LaDue: which they’ve done all year. Look at their umbers – their power play’s top-five in the league, I’m pretty sure. Again, that’s on us for giving them Tough assignment for him. He hasn’t played an abundance of NHL two goals, but we were right in that game. All game long we had chances games lately, and he comes in and he plays against two of the more to put pucks into the net and they didn’t fall for us. Unfortunately, that’s gifted and faster players in the league on the road, and we don’t get last been the case lately. change, so he had a tough assignment. I thought he did a pretty admirable job. Lizotte, on whether he thought he had remained on-side on his disallowed goal: McLellan, on whether Kyle Clifford could play tomorrow: I knew it was close, yeah. When you drag your foot, you’re not sure I don’t know. We’ll see how he’s feeling. [Reporter: Is that something that where the line is exactly. I knew it was going to be close, so even when I just came up this morning?] Yeah. scored, I was a little bit, ‘all right, they’re going to review it probably,’ and sure enough, it was a centimeter or two. It was really close. McLellan, on carrying the strong play into Saturday’s game: Lizotte, on keys to his line’s attacking play: We’re back-to-back games and I think we’re playing eight-in-13 tomorrow night, so we need everybody on board. We can’t have any spare parts Just kind of what the factor for our line has been the last five games – resting or taking time off, and we’ve been getting that for the most part. I forecheck. Turning pucks over with our energy and the speed. I thought don’t know if we’ll make some lineup changes. We’ve got to see who’s we were good tonight. Created lots of chances off the forecheck. A lot of healthy and who isn’t sick and then go from there, but keep the belief zone time. They just didn’t fall for us tonight. system up as high as we can, and duplicate this game and we’ll take our chances. Postgame Notes

Anze Kopitar, on whether the team had better energy at the start: — With the loss, Los Angeles fell to 87-89-39 all-time against Edmonton, a record that includes a road mark of 39-52-18. They are 1-8-0 all-time at Yeah, the energy was fine. Everything was fine. I mean, we started off Rogers Place, having lost five straight road games in the series. One well, and you give up two. We knew obviously that they’re a very good game in the season series remains: February 23 at Staples Center. team on the power play and they made us pay for the mistakes we made. — With the loss, the Kings fell to 9-12-1 against the Western Conference, Kopitar, on whether the string of similar, narrow losses can wear on the 4-9-1 against the Pacific Division, 6-4-2 in one-goal games, 2-14-1 when team mentally: their opponent scores first, 0-13-1 when trailing after one period, 0-15-1 when trailing after two periods and 9-14-1 when outshooting their opponent.

— 11 of Los Angeles’ 15 games in December will be played on the road. They are 0-2-0 in those games (2-4 L @ ANA; 1-2 L @ EDM; 12/7 @ CGY; 12/12 @ ANA; 12/14 @ PIT; 12/15 @ DET; 12/17 @ BOS; 12/19 @ CBJ; 12/21 @ BUF; 12/27 @ SJS; 12/28 @ VAN), having been outscored 6-3. Goal scorers in the road games have been Kurtis MacDermid, Nikolai Prokhorkin and Michael Amadio.

— Jonathan Quick has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his last 10 starts.

— Since recording six goals and 16 points over a 13-game stretch, Anze Kopitar has been held scoreless and limited to three shots on goal over the last five games. With 915 career points, he is three points behind Wayne Gretzky (918) for fourth place on the franchise’s all-time scoring registry.

— The Kings attempted 65 shots (36 on goal, 15 blocked, 14 missed). The Oilers attempted 43 shots (20 on goal, 9 blocked, 14 missed). Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter tied with a game-high six shots on goal. Both players have been held to one road goal this season. Brown’s was the first goal scored by the team this season, October 5 at Edmonton.

— Los Angeles won 32-of-54 faceoffs (59%). Michael Amadio won 1-of- 3, Anze Kopitar won 16-of-23, Alex Iafallo won 1-of-2, Trevor lewis won 0-of-1, Blake Lizotte won 8-of-12, Nikolai Prokhorkin won 1-of-7 and Jeff Carter won 5-of-6.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164996 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 30: LOS ANGELES AT EDMONTON

JON ROSENDECEMBER 6, 2019

GAME THREADS

Edmonton Oilers 2, Los Angeles Kings 1

Final

Preview

Box Score

Ice Tracker

Fox Sports Live Stream (requires subscription)

SOG: LAK – 36; EDM – 20

PP: LAK – 0/2; EDM – 2/3

First Period

1) EDM PPG – Leon Draisaitl (19) (Alex Chiasson, James Neal), 11:02

2) EDM PPG – Alex Chiasson (3) (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl), 14:46

Second Period

No scoring

Third Period

3) LAK – Michael Amadio (5) (Blake Lizotte, Joakim Ryan), 13:32

Los Angeles Kings (11-16-2) at Edmonton Oilers (17-10-3)

Friday, December 6, 2019, 7:00 p.m. MT

Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB

Referees: #29 Ian Walsh, #36 Dean Morton

Linesmen: #60 Libor Suchanek, #78 Brian Mach

Fox Sports West, FOX Sports GO, LA Kings Audio Network

LAK starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Joakim Ryan, D Matt Roy, LW Alex Iafallo, C Anze Kopitar, RW Dustin Brown

LAK scratches: F Kyle Clifford, F Ilya Kovalchuk, D Kurtis MacDermid

EDM starters: G Mikko Koskinen, D Kris Russell, D Adam Larsson, LW Joakim Nygard, C Riley Sheahan, RW Patrick Russell

EDM scratches: F Colby Cave, D Brandon Manning, F Zack Kassian

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164997 Los Angeles Kings and “who was who as players.” Their game plan doesn’t change if McDavid and Draisaitl are on different lines; both will still have an impact.

— I’m not really sure if this is a news story – if you NEED that multi- DECEMBER 6: PROJECTED LINEUPS; KEMPE STRONG ON THE sentence update on Kovalchuk RIGHT NOW, scroll down – but in casual PUCK; IMPROVING STARTS observations, Adrian Kempe’s shown a good aptitude to stay strong on the puck. Again, not really news. When his game is going well, regardless of whether he’s skating at center or wing, he has the ability to remain strong on the puck. JON ROSENDECEMBER 6, 2019 But he’s demonstrated the added strength well along the wing, where his

ability to compete and extend battles for pucks have served him well, MORNING SKATE NOTESMORNING SKATE QUOTES even as he’s gone five straight games without a point after an early spike upon the shift left. His ability to hold onto the puck when exiting or INSIDERS. Well, this certainly looks like a lot of words. The LA Kings entering a zone has appeared to improve, even as he’s taken on some held an optional morning skate at Rogers Place, and though there were unfavorable numbers. Is this something that’s more anecdotal? Is it no clear indications of the lineup Todd McLellan will use against derived from any difference in his responsibilities? Edmonton (6:00 p.m. PT / FOX Sports West / FOX Sports GO / LA Kings Audio Network), there are enough clues to make an educated projection. “I’m seeing those types of improvements in his game,” McLellan said. “I Let’s get started. don’t know if it has anything to do with physical strength. I think it’s mental strength. “He feels good about himself right now. He’s much more Notes! confident now than he was three weeks ago. Nothing that we’ve done – everything that he’s done. He’s applied himself and played a much — The vitals: It’s Jonathan Quick, who’s 23-8-5 in his career against the stronger game, and he’s earned the right to be confident, so I think that’s Oilers with a 2.05 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and where it lies.” three shutouts. 1990 winner Billy Ranford subbed in for the 2012 winner at the skate, as he has frequently done this He’s up to 201 pounds, roughly 15 more than when he made the season. This happened in Edmonton, so it obviously drew attention. Here permanent jump across the Atlantic Ocean. His bulk and conditioning are he is, still in his gear, answering questions for TV. There’s no way this apparent in speaking with him at the rink, they’re clear when watching doesn’t end up on TV in Edmonton. The Kings holding a Legends Night him extend his battles, they’re clear from looking at the statistics for Craig Muni is more likely than this not ending up on TV in Edmonton indicating that his slightly abbreviated shift length, previously spotlighted, when there are cameras nearby. (And why this is the best pure hockey has improved three full seconds on average per game over last year. city in the entire league.) A good sport, and team player, Billy Ranford. “I think you try to be strong on the puck, you try to create space for No skaters really lingered on the ice. Jack Campbell stayed on with Ilya yourself and then obviously I try to use my speed as much as possible, Kovalchuk; I’m not expecting either to play tonight. Kurtis MacDermid both ways,” Kempe said of his neutral zone puck management. “I try, was also one of the stragglers, whereas Paul LaDue came off relatively sometimes drag the D-man to me and then create space for myself when early, so it’s very possible there could be a change on the back end. I’m I get the puck and stuff like that. There’s a lot of things, when it comes wondering aloud whether the final forward decision will come down to down to it, but being strong on the puck and on the walls are some of the Austin Wagner versus Matt Luff; Luff came off first, but Wagner didn’t things I wanted to get better on. If I use that with my speed, I feel like it dither. If you’re inclined to wager, this template could be pretty accurate: goes pretty good together.” Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown, Carter/Prokhorkin-Toffoli, Kempe/Lizotte-Luff and Clifford-Amadio-Lewis up front. If LaDue enters in, your guess is as good It’s been shared here ad nauseam, but Kempe is a coachable player who as mine. Who knows. Maybe it’s Walker-Doughty, Hutton-Roy and Ryan- has a good account of himself. Darryl Sutter doesn’t always take to 20- LaDue. Maybe it’s Watters-McSorley, Zhitnik-Blake, Huddy-Watters. Wait year-olds, but he certainly did with Kempe at training camp in 2016 when for the song. he praised him not just for his physical attributes but also for his “Hockey IQ.” It shouldn’t be surprising that Kempe’s self-policing led to an “We have some progress. We’ve laid some foundation down as a hockey assessment that he wanted to improve his play on the puck and club,” McLellan said when asked to reflect on the task to date. “We’re perimeter play. “I think I was just onto myself from the beginning, you beginning to understand how we want to play systematically. It’s starting know?” he said. to happen more naturally than mechanically, and that’s a good thing. We’ve figured each others’ personalities out. The players, ours as a “First of all, going back to the wing, I was thinking that I obviously have to coaching staff, and us, theirs. Practices are becoming more efficient be really good on the wall, in both the D-zone and O-zone and there are because they understand the pace and the type of tempo that we want. a lot more wall battles when I’m playing winger. After I started playing Familiarity with drills. So, it sounds like we’ve made a lot of progress, but wing, I just tried to look at myself in the game, what I did well on the wall, we have a lot more to work on and we’ll just continue doing it. No what I can do better. I think it’s getting better and better on the wall and complaints about the players showing up and being honest most days. it’s just easier to play like that when you try to learn new stuff.” They apply themselves the way we expect them to. They’re open to new — McLellan on Kovalchuk: “The situation with Kovy is a tough one for ideas and new ways. For the most part it’s been pretty good. There are everybody. I can tell you that he’s been outstanding. Kovy’s situation has always going to be a couple games that get away on you and you’re not nothing to do with him as a person or his work ethic or anything like that. happy, and we’d like to win a few more than we have, but for the most He’s outstanding. He works as hard as anybody right now, and it’s a part it’s been a pretty good experience.” tough situation, but we’ll get through it.” — Their vitals: It’s Six Meters of Koskinen, former teammate of Nikolai — McLellan on how to improve in the first 20 minutes: “We’ve had some Prokhorkin and Kovalchuk with SKA-St. Petersburg. Mikko has saved at of the best starts that I’ve witnessed in my 15 years with this team. It’s least 92% of his shots faced in nine of his 17 appearances this season just inconsistently happening. We’ve had Calgary, Winnipeg, even some and is 2-1-0 in his career against Los Angeles with a 3.79 GAA and an games at home where we just overwhelm teams. We don’t get it from our .885 Sv%. Via Jamie Umbach of EdmontonOilers.com, Edmonton could team as often enough as we need. I don’t know if it’s realistic to expect line up with groups of Neal-McDavid-Archibald, Khaira-Draisaitl-Gagner, that every night. There are some exceptional nights. But playing a Granlund-Haas-Chiasson and Nygard-Sheahan-Russell up front with straightforward game, winning faceoffs and having the puck is huge. defensive pairs of Nurse-Bear, Klefbom-Persson and Russell-Larsson. Staying ahead in line changes, not falling behind and getting tired and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (IR/hand) will probably need a few more days slowing the pace down. I think individual preparation and presentation to before he’s able to return, though Zack Kassian (back) is day-to-day and the staff and the teammates is important right now for our team, so come close. Matt Benning (IR/head) is out. ready and let’s see what you have.” The Kings have scored 10 goals in two games against the Oilers, who — I’ll probably save these for tomorrow, because it’s getting late and I’ve are looking to tighten up and cut down on chances and goals against got a Rosen Report to prepare for. (Check out my World Juniors notes after losing 5-2 to Ottawa in their last outing. There’s not really any during LA Kings Live pre-game and during the first intermission.) But correlation between the two previous games, McLellan explained, there’s some pretty good stuff from Drew Doughty, who this morning was because in the first game everyone was still “trying to figure out our way” asked about his time on ice. It’s down nearly a minute this season, even though he ranks second in the league with an average of 25:45. (Edmonton’s Oscar Klefbom is the league’s leader with a per-game average five seconds longer.)

Doughty’s sole focus is to win. He’s not as concerned with what his personal usage rates are. Or, at least, he isn’t as concerned as he used to be. “There used to be a bonus for that stat when I was in my first three years, so I used to care then,” he said.

“I do feel like when I play more, we do win more games, but it’s whatever the coaches need to do, and I understand we’ve got to get the young guys out there and see what they can do. I don’t care – whatever I play, I play.”

— Tonight’s officials are referees Ian Walsh and Dean Morton and linesmen Libor Suchanek and Brian Mach. Thank you for reading, Insiders. Let’s talk soon.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1164998 Los Angeles Kings Letunov, who has collected 15 points (5-10-15) from 18 games played. San Jose also features forward Jonny Brodzinski, a member of the Kings organization from 2015-19, who has six points (3-3-6) from nine games played. PREVIEW – ONTARIO VS. SAN JOSE, 12/6 LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.07.2019

ZACH DOOLEYDECEMBER 6, 2019

GAME PREVIEWONTARIO REIGN

WHO: Ontario Reign (10-10-2-0) vs. San Jose Barracuda (7-11-0-1)

WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME

WHEN: Friday, December 6, 2019 – 7:00 PM

WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA

HOW TO FOLLOW: Video: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Reign return back to Toyota Arena, to begin a stretch of five consecutive games on home ice. Ontario is in the midst of a 3-in-4, which began with a 3-2 win over Stockton on Wednesday evening.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: As Ontario returns back home, following an off- day yesterday, line combinations for tonight are unclear. Forwards Jacob Doty and Drake Rymsha, along with defenseman Austin Strand, were on the ice late this morning, working with goaltender Matthew Villalta. Cal Petersen was off first this morning, expect him to make the start again tonight for Ontario.

DIFFERENTIAL DIFFERENCES: The San Jose Barracuda enter tonight’s action at the bottom of the Pacific Division standings, but rank fourth in the league in shot differential (+4.00) on a per-game basis. San Jose is one of two teams, along with Rochester, to rank inside the AHL’s top 6 in both shots for and against per game. Ontario, on the other hand, ranks last in the AHL in shot differential per game (-8.50), though it currently sits in a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

FIRST TIMER: Ontario forward Gabriel Vilardi scored the first goal of his professional career on Wednesday evening, which also went down as the game-winning goal. Vilardi also added an assist, on teammate Martin Frk’s tally, as he collected his first multi-point game as a member of the Reign. Vilardi has now collected three points (1-2-3) from four games with Ontario this season, and has four points (1-3-4) from eight career AHL games.

ASTON MARTIN: Reign forward Martin Frk scored his team-leading tenth goal of the season on Wednesday, a first-period tally. Frk also added an assist on Vilardi’s goal, his fourth multi-point effort of the season, and leads all Reign players with 15 points (10-5-15). With 10 goals scored, Frk is the first Ontario skater to reach double figures and is tied for third among all Pacific Division skaters in goals.

DRIVE FOR FIVE: Reign forward Lance Bouma scored for the third straight game with the game-opening goal on Wednesday in Stockton. Bouma’s midweek tally gives him points in five straight games, spanning back in November, which sets his longest career scoring streak in the AHL. Bouma has now totaled ten points (6-4-10) on the season, which ranks him second on the team in goals and tied for third in points.

BREAKNG JAD: Reign forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan became the first Reign rookie to reach double-figures in points this season, with an assist on Bouma’s goal on Wednesday evening in Stockton. Anderson-Dolan has now tallied 10 points (4-6-10) on the season thus far, which leads first-year Reign players in points, is tied for the lead in assists and ranks second behind Rasmus Kupari (5) in goals.

TALE OF TWO SPECIAL TEAMS: The Ontario Reign penalty kill was a perfect 5-of-5 on Wednesday. On the season, the Reign are tied for the most times shorthanded on the road (71) and in total (115), but rank 11th in the AHL in road penalty killing at 84.5%, just 0.1% out of the league’s top ten. In contrast, the Reign power play was 0-for-3 in that game, which drops it to 4-of-54 away from home this season, which ranks 28th in the league at 7.4%.

SCOUTING THE BARRACUDA: San Jose brings a balanced offensive attack into tonight’s action, with its eight leading scorers sitting between 11 and 15 points this season. The Barracuda are led by forward Maxim 1164999 Minnesota Wild

Gameday preview: Wild at Carolina

DECEMBER 6, 2019 — 8:56PM

Sarah McLellan

6 p.m. at Carolina • PNC Arena • FSN, 100.3 FM

Wild puts Koivu, Pateryn on IR

Preview: The Wild concludes a three-game road trip vs. the Hurricanes after extending its point streak to 11 games Thursday with a 5-4 win over the Lightning, the team’s fifth straight victory. This 8-0-3 run is the second-longest point streak in franchise history. A 4-3 overtime loss to Carolina was the second game of this streak. Before the rematch, the Wild recalled C Nico Sturm and D Greg Pateryn from the American Hockey League but shifted Pateryn and C Mikko Koivu to injured reserve with lower-body injuries.

Players to WATCH: Hurricanes RW Andrei Svechnikov has a team-high 31 points. C Sebastian Aho boasts a 15.5 shooting percentage. … Wild RW Mats Zuccarello has scored in back-to-back games and has nine points in his past nine games. C Victor Rask, who was traded from Carolina to the Wild last season, has two points on this trip.

Numbers: Carolina is 6-3 vs. the Western Conference. The Hurricanes’ penalty kill (85%) is among the best in the NHL. … The Wild is 8-1-2 when tied after two periods. D Jonas Brodin became the sixth Wild defenseman to tally 100 career assists after he helped set up two goals Thursday.

Injuries: Hurricanes LW Erik Haula (knee) and C Martin Necas (lower body) are out. … Wild G Devan Dubnyk (family illness) and D Jared Spurgeon (hand) are out. C Koivu (lower body) is day-to-day, and D Pateryn (core muscle surgery) was sent to AHL Iowa on a conditioning assignment Monday.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165000 Minnesota Wild

Wild recalls Nico Sturm; moves Mikko Koivu and Greg Pateryn to injured reserve

By Sarah McLellan DECEMBER 6, 2019 — 2:26PM

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Wild didn’t practice Friday in Raleigh ahead of its final test on a three-game trip Saturday against the Hurricanes, but the team was still busy shuffling its roster.

After recalling Woodbury defenseman Brennan Menell Thursday with Jared Spurgeon on injured reserve with a hand injury, the Wild again added from the minors by bringing up center Nico Sturm and defenseman Greg Pateryn while also moving captain Mikko Koivu and Pateryn to injured reserve.

Koivu, who suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday in the 4-2 win over the Panthers, has been considered day-to-day and didn’t play Thursday when the Wild held off the Lightning 5-4 in Tampa. He's been sent home from the trip.

The earliest he'd be eligible to return to action is next Thursday when the Wild hosts the Oilers, but the team will still recognize Koivu during a pregame ceremony Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center for recently playing in his 1,000th regular-season game.

Pateryn was on a conditioning stint with Iowa in the American Hockey League, as he continued to work his way back from core muscle surgery. He played Wednesday against San Antonio and the plan was for him to also suit up Friday, but he was recalled then placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

As for Sturm, he has six goals and 11 points in 23 games with Iowa this season after a solid showing at training camp where he was among the final cuts; the Wild ultimately wanted him to gain regular reps in the minors instead of playing a limited role in the NHL, and Sturm seems to have capitalized on that opportunity with Iowa.

In his last four games, he has two goals and two assists and leads team rookies in scoring.

Sturm, 24, was signed as a free agent by the Wild at the end of last season, making his NHL debut April 4 against the Bruins.

It’s possible he plays Saturday, even though the Wild was able to ice a lineup without Koivu Thursday. Inserting Sturm could enable the team to move Luke Kunin from center back to right wing and potentially reunite the line of Kunin, winger Jordan Greenway and center Joel Eriksson Ek – which was broken up Thursday to make up for Koivu’s absence.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165001 Minnesota Wild Andrew Heydt, director of team operations and player relations, had to line up hotel rooms in the event the snowstorm rocking the Twin Cities would strand the Wild in Newark, but the team made it out — only to get diverted to Detroit once Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was With 20 of first 30 away from the X, the Wild turned into road warriors shut down.

The team landed at 6 a.m. the next day.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune DECEMBER 6, 2019 — 8:57PM “Their memory is short,” Heydt said. “Once we were home, once we won a couple games, it’s in the past.”

The three-game homestand that begins Tuesday is the Wild’s longest to RALEIGH, N.C. – Wild goalie Alex Stalock has kept his suitcase cracked date, and after another three-game trip in mid-December, the Wild has open on the floor of his closet this season, emptying out the contents to just four road games over its next 22. wash them before dumping them right back in once they’re clean. Considering it’s 7-1-2 at Xcel Energy Center, the Wild could continue to “The hardest part I think is the packing and getting on that initial, first climb — perhaps boosted by a quirky schedule that previously looked like plane ride,” Stalock said. “You’re like, ‘Really? Are we doing this again?’ ” it could be a trap. After wrapping up a three-game trip Saturday at Carolina, the Wild will “It’s hard to trust your game when we were where we were at,” Stalock have completed nearly half of its road schedule in the first week of said. December by rattling off 20 away appearances in the team’s first 30 games. “It wasn’t like we got two weeks at home where we’re going to get practices in and we’re going to have time to work on stuff. We didn’t Only one other team (the Blackhawks in 2005-06) has played 20 of the really have that. We just had to play and work our way through it. first 30 on the road, according to NHL Stats. “We had nights where we’d play good, and we wouldn’t get a win or a And before this season, the most road games the Wild had logged in its bounce here and it didn’t work out. Slowly it came. first 30 was 17 in 2005-06 and 2009-10. “I was like, ‘Wow, we played really good tonight. We just didn’t win.’ And “It’s been a lot, for sure,” winger Kevin Fiala said. “We’re excited to go then you’d get one and then you’d get two, and you’re like, ‘OK, let’s go home.” now.’ ” Center Victor Rask (49), who celebrated his goal against Tampa Bay on Star Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 Thursday, is among a lot of players contributing to the Wild’s recent surge.

While this stretch has been unique, a mashup of 28 flights and 30 nights in a hotel over 39 days, it didn’t ultimately wreck the Wild.

Instead, after overcoming a miserable start, the Wild has surged into a playoff spot amid the second-longest point streak in franchise history (8- 0-3) — improvement that gives the team a terrific chance to hold on to a berth now that the schedule will begin to balance out.

“We’re working our way back,” center Eric Staal said. “It’s taken a lot of work, but we’ll just keep trying to get better.”

Once the 2018-19 season ended, the Wild began to collaborate with the league on this season’s schedule and it told the NHL it’d accept a road- heavy start.

Not only was the team coming off a poor 16-18-7 performance in St. Paul, but fewer home games in October when the Vikings, Gophers football and potentially the Twins are in action means more time at Xcel Energy Center later in the season when fewer local teams are playing.

But 20 road games out of 30 was more than the organization would have liked.

“After the first seven games or so, I wasn’t feeling very good about this approach,” team President Matt Majka said.

At 1-6, the Wild made the worst debut in franchise history — a sticky rut that extended to 4-9 after back-to-back setbacks that included the squad imploding for its most dramatic collapse of the season, blowing a three- goal lead to fall 6-3 on Oct. 29 in Dallas. And yet that’s the turning point in coach ’s mind.

“We were mad,” he said.

Since November, the Wild has lost just twice in regulation and this run has showcased its chemistry, cohesiveness and camaraderie.

Fiala described the group as more like a family, which he said is different from last season’s vibe.

And this opportunity to bond is why then-General Manager Paul Fenton (who was involved in the scheduling process) wanted to be on the road early.

“I’ve probably at some point this year been out to dinner with every single guy on the team,” offseason addition Ryan Hartman said.

Players were even together on a few occasions when they weren’t supposed to be, getting delayed out of Winnipeg on Oct. 10 by 2½ hours because of weather and again last week when leaving New Jersey. 1165002 Minnesota Wild

Wild and playoffs? Suddenly, the notion isn't so far-fetched

By Randy Johnson DECEMBER 6, 2019 — 9:14AM

After the Wild’s 1-6 start to the season and only four wins in the first 14 games, that national broadcaster who this summer ticked off coach Bruce Boudreau by suggesting Minnesota would finish 32nd in the 31- team NHL was looking downright Nostradamus-like. The team was reeling, veterans weren’t scoring and the use of the words “Wild’’ and “playoffs’’ in the same sentence produced laughter.

However, a funny thing happened on the way to the Wild’s sprint toward the bottom of the NHL standings. Those who have a say in it – Minnesota’s players, especially – decided enough was enough.

“At the beginning it ticked them off, and we certainly heard a lot of rumblings when we were 1-6,’’ Boudreau told reporters in Tampa, following the Wild’s gritty, 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. “They’re all proud athletes and dug deep and started playing for each other.’’

That certainly was on display against the talent-laden Lightning, a team that posted a 62-16-4 record in 2018-19. Time and time again, when Tampa Bay scored, the Wild would answer, and often quickly. Three goals in a team-record-tying span of 1:41 in the first period gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead after the Lightning scored in the game’s first two minutes. When Victor Hedman tied it 3-3 late in the second period, Victor Rask put the Wild back up 4-3 only 36 seconds later. And when Alex Killorn knotted it 4-4 at 4:00 of the third, Mats Zuccarello needed just eight seconds to respond with the winner.

“Instead of saying, ‘Oh, woe is me,’ like we would talk about at the beginning of the year, they’re saying, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get these guys right away,’ ’’ Boudreau said.

The result gave Minnesota its fifth consecutive victory and extended its point-gaining streak to 11 games. Since that 4-9-1 start, the Wild is 10-2- 3 and has moved into the last wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference with 32 points. Yep, there’s “Wild’’ and “playoffs’’ in the same sentence with not nearly as much laughter as we heard in October.

Three weeks ago, General Manager Bill Guerin said he still was evaluating the team but indicated that long-term success takes precedence over short-term satisfaction.

“We have to do what’s right for the organization as a whole, not grasp at straws,” he said. “We don’t want to talk ourselves into something that we don’t really want to do or think we’re something that we’re not.’’

Guerin’s evaluation of this team might have taken an interesting twist with the Wild’s active hot streak. A season that looked to be one of development and rebuilding now has the potential of a playoff appearance. Can the new GM build for the future while not completely sacrificing the present? The run up to the Feb. 24 NHL trade deadline suddenly is more intriguing in Minnesota.

After Saturday’s game at Carolina, the Wild will have played 20 of its 41 road games this season. When your factor in a four-game trip that ends the season, the Wild has an opportunity to do some damage at home because 31 of its next 49 games will be at Xcel Energy Center, where it has a 7-1-2 record. The team’s road-heavy schedule through early December dealt a blow, but it hasn’t proven to be a fatal one in terms of playoff hopes.

Boudreau didn’t want to rock the boat after Thursday’s triumph.

“Everybody keep saying what they’re saying,’’ he told reporters. “We’re doing it with smoke and mirrors.’’

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165003 Minnesota Wild

Wild place Mikko Koivu on IR, recall Nico Sturm from the minors

By DANE MIZUTANI PUBLISHED: December 6, 2019 at 1:54 pm | UPDATED: December 6, 2019 at 2:01 PM

Wild captain Mikko Koivu is going to be out a little longer than expected.

After being listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury earlier this week, the Wild placed Koivu on injured reserve Friday. He is required to sit out for a minimum of seven days from the date of the initial injury, which means he will be eligible to return to the lineup for Tuesday’s home game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Coincidentally, that’s the game in which Koivu is supposed to be honored for reaching 1,000 career games. It will be interesting to see if he’s able to suit up.

Likely the biggest reason Koivu was placed on injured reserve is so the Wild have some insurance heading into Saturday’s road game against the Carolina Hurricanes. They recalled center Nico Sturm from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League on Friday to serve as an extra forward. They also recently recalled Woodbury native Brennan Menell to serve as an extra defenseman.

While it’s still unclear whether Sturm will draw into the lineup, he made a good impression on coach Bruce Boudreau during training camp, and has 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 23 games in the minors.

A native of Augsburg, Germany, the 24-year-old Sturm was a coveted college free agent after an illustrious career at Clarkson University. He signed with the Wild on April 1 and made his NHL debut on April 4 against the Boston Bruins.

Greg Pateryn also was recalled from the minors and immediately placed on injured reserve. He has missed the entire season to this point after undergoing sports hernia surgery was was on a conditioning stint in the minors.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165004 Minnesota Wild to be pissed off at you or not,’ you know what I mean? It’s great, it’s awesome.”

Alex Stalock’s gotten several up-close-and-personal views of Eriksson What the Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek does to make opponents want to rip his Ek’s persistent goalmouth scrums. head off The goalie thinks he knows why opponents despise Eriksson Ek.

“It’s the fact that they get no reaction,” Stalock said. “He is that annoying By Michael Russo Dec 6, 2019 little guy. Like I see stuff where the scrum’s done and he gives that last whack quick. Like the guy’s skating away, and he’ll just slap the guy’s stick or jab him in the back, you know, little stuff like that.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Matt Dumba adores Joel Eriksson Ek, but man, did “He’s like the annoying younger brother that always gets the last lick in the Wild defenseman want to plunk the center across the melon during on the older brother, and then it’s the older brother who gets in trouble. an afternoon practice at Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Wednesday and then It’s almost like that where the scrum happens, and then he’ll do use that, as one person quipped, “goofy, dopey,” almost expressionless something really minor, and the guy looks back over his shoulder and is face like a punching bag the way Eriksson Ek’s opponents do on a like, ‘Him again?’ And then they get in Ekker’s face and he just doesn’t nightly basis. do shit. They just get no reaction. He just kind of stares at them, which pisses them off even more.” “You just want to slash him across the head,” Dumba said, shaking his head. “He just plays hard. He’s strong. He’s physically imposing, and that “I think the biggest thing, too,” teammate Marcus Foligno added, “is I just annoys the heck out of you. This guy’s just always over you, I feel. In don’t think he knows how to chirp. He hits the guy and he doesn’t really practice sometimes, it’s like, ‘Come on, just leave me alone already.’” say much after. The guy wants to get into a verbal feud match, and it doesn’t really work out that way because Ekker doesn’t say a thing from On Wednesday, just 15 hours after Eriksson Ek suffocated a couple the get-go. Florida Panthers into losing their absolute minds, all Dumba and the rest of the Wild’s two power-play units wanted to do was zip the puck around “That just frustrates a lot of guys because they want to see him get really, the offensive zone and feel good about themselves. really angry, but he really doesn’t. You saw it against (Jack) Eichel (last month) in Buffalo. Ekker handled him in the corner and then Eichel gets They wanted to simply breeze through practice, gear down and get out of frustrated and just jumps him. It’s amazing. Ekker just stays on his feet, is the rink so they could enjoy Florida’s sunny, refreshing weather. always getting punched at, yet he takes it and he goes with it and even Was that too much to ask? gives you the slightest smile as you’re punching him. And that just frustrates these guys even more.” It was for Eriksson Ek, who wasn’t having it. Plus, after Eriksson Ek chipped a couple bottom front teeth last week After all, practice wasn’t just a time to gain confidence on the power play. courtesy of a high-stick on the last homestand, “He looks like Lloyd Christmas,” said Foligno, comparing Eriksson Ek to the “Dumb and It was a time to fine-tune the penalty kill, too, so the 22-year-old buzzed Dumber” character, “so now it’s even worse when he smiles at you.” around the defensive zone like a gnat and disrupted passes, got in shooting lanes, poked pucks out of the end zone with a jutting stick and It’s not just opponents. Eriksson Ek also takes a lot of grief amongst his smothered the exasperated power-play pointmen. teammates.

“It’s a strength to piss off your opponent, and nobody pisses off Boudreau just drools over the player, especially the fact that Eriksson Ek opponents like Ekker,” teammate and usual linemate Luke Kunin said. traditionally comes into training camp in the best shape of any Wild “It’s just how hard he plays. He’s just a pest out there. That’s why you player. love playing with him out there. He gets under the opponent’s skin and is always doing the right things, and it’s almost funny to watch because “It seems like every year Ekker’s been at camp, Bruce just guys hate him.” looooooooooves his testing numbers,” Stalock, a former -Duluth standout, said exaggeratedly. “That’s all we hear Nobody on the Wild draws the ire of opponents quite like Eriksson Ek. about. You know how in college there’s always that one guy that runs away with the testing? That’s Ekker. He’s unbelievable. He beats “To be honest with you, I’ve got no clue why,” Eriksson Ek said. “I just try everybody in that Airdyne (bicycle) test by like 30 seconds. And he does to go into hard areas and try to battle for the puck. If I don’t have the great with all the tests. puck, I want to get it back as soon as possible. Be tight to guys, don’t give them a lot of space and try to be a pain to play against.” “Bruce is always like, ‘Ekker, Ekker, Ekker, Ekker, Ekker,’ because he crushes all the testing, the skate tests, his body fat is nothing and all that Eriksson Ek plays a subtly heavy game, and, “he outworks everybody,” stuff.” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “People don’t realize that he’s 215 pounds, and he’s in tremendous shape. And as much respect as Ekker has for his “He just kills training camp, he kills all the workouts,” linemate Jordan opponents, he doesn’t respect them on the ice. In other words, he’ll hit a Greenway said, grinning. third- or fourth-liner just as hard as he’ll hit Patrick Kane or Aleksander Barkov or or Taylor Hall. So Wild teammates came up with the perfect nickname: “Mr. September.” “So that automatically gets under everybody’s skin.” “Every year he comes in and dominates all the tests. Dominates the What’s so funny is the quiet, unassuming player always looks and seems preseason,” Parise said, laughing. “So, the nickname came easy. Mr. so, so innocent. September.”

Yet there’s got to be something he’s doing on the ice because every Before the season, Stalock, Parise and a few other Wild players were single game, it’s just a matter of time before some opposing player — or down at Target Field for “Wild Night” and they saw how different Twins five opposing players — will turn around and just snap. players had personalized T-shirts. The local Minnesota company, SotaStick, designed those shirts, so a light bulb illuminated over the Joel Eriksson Ek heads of Stalock and Parise. What could it possibly be? “It was a group effort. I don’t want to take all the credit for it,” Parise said, “It’s that face,” said before roaring with the type of laughter chuckling. that triggered his side of the Tampa Bay visitors’ locker room to break “Oh, you don’t want to take all the credit?” eavesdropping teammate down laughing as well. “It’s just that look on his face. I think it drives Jason Zucker cracked. players crazy. He just looks at you with that face, you know, kind of like a blank stare and a slight grin. “Well, I’ll take a lot of it,” Parise said.

“He’s just got that look, like after he knocks the puck away from you, he They’d make Mr. September shirts. kind of gives you that look, and opponents are like, ‘I don’t know whether Stalock was big on the design part. He sent different pictures of Eriksson Ek to SotaStick and its team came Eriksson Ek may always be considered a miss by some in the draft up with a hilarious design of a blank-faced Eriksson Ek sitting on one of because the Wild took him at 20th overall in 2015 over hometown kid those bikes he sprinted two miles on in less than four minutes during this Brock Boeser, who has scored 52 more goals than Eriksson’s Ek’s 18 September’s training camp. and 94 more points than Eriksson Ek’s 48 in five fewer games than Eriksson Ek’s 174. The caption is all caps: MR. SEPTEMBER. But Eriksson Ek should be able to play a long time the way he plays. Stalock and Parise then had T-shirts made for every single Wild player and locker-room staffer. He’ll probably never score like Koivu, the Wild’s all-time leading scorer, but he’s certainly going to be as tenacious as Koivu and check as tightly “I went back and forth with the guys there sending Images and that’s as him. what they came up with,” Stalock said, proudly. “We brought them down to the rink one day, passed them around to everybody, everybody put “I get to skate with him on a line every game, so I see how hard a game them on. he plays,” Greenway said. “He always forechecks hard, he’s bumping into guys, he plays physical, and he’s very fast. There’s a lot that you can “Ekker walks into the room and had no clue. It was so great.” get frustrated at when it comes to his game, and he plays an honest Eriksson Ek smiles when asked about the T-shirts. game.

“It’s funny,” he said. “He’s not dirty. He doesn’t cheat. He just plays a 200-foot game, so you get frustrated when you always have a guy in your face doing the right Boudreau understands the T-shirts are a bit of a shot, particularly at him things. It’s annoying.” because he gushes so much about Eriksson Ek. It’s taken Eriksson Ek awhile to find his role on the team. He may be But the coach is unapologetic, saying bluntly, “He’s in so much better young, but this is Year 4 for him on the Wild. shape than everybody.” “But let’s also understand that he’s always had, since I’ve been here, “A lot of guys think those tests are BS, that it’s what you do on the ice Koivu and (Eric) Staal in front of him,” Boudreau said. “Matt Cullen. that matters, but the strength coaches love ‘em and so does Bruce,” Charlie Coyle. Erik Haula. Even Martin Hanzal. Foligno said. “So, Ekker’s Mr. September because he’s the best in September. “He hasn’t had the opportunity quite frankly. But starting two years ago, Cully was scheduled to be the third-line center, but I would start to use “Simple.” Ek in that spot and Matt would be more the fourth.

This season, after a slow start to his career, Eriksson Ek has really come “That continued into last year where he became the third-line center and in to his own and been at his best in September, October, November and now he’s a bona fide, what I’d call third-line center who can check. And now December. he makes some pretty good plays.”

“It’s hard when you’re coming over from Sweden,” he said. “It’s so If he could only score on a more consistent basis. different. And how many games there? Eighty-two here to probably 50 in the regular season there, plus all the travel and your life outside hockey, “And who knows if that’ll ever happen,” Boudreau said. “I still would think too. I had to get comfortable with speaking, too. I feel I’ve come a long that every coach would love to have a guy like Ekker on his team. I rave way. about him a lot because there is a lot to rave about.

“I found my role right now and try to play my best every night and help “He is a really decent player and one that you can rely on, and I love the team to win games.” watching him play because I think he’s just a hockey player. You’re not going to say offensive or defensive. Eriksson Ek has developed into the Wild’s shutdown center on their third line usually between Greenway and Kunin. Thursday in a win over the “He’s just a hockey player.” Lightning, Eriksson Ek scored his second goal of the season and 11th The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 point in 26 games. He’s a mainstay on the penalty kill, but it’s driving opposing top lines bonkers on a nightly basis that’s his specialty.

“I don’t think guys realize how big he is, too, and how strong he is,” Foligno said. “I think that’s the thing, guys go to hit him and they almost get rocked sometimes. They get stood up and they get pissed off about that sometimes. That’s why you see against Dallas, Jamie Benn goes after him all night.

“Jamie Benn’s just frustrated with Ekker; always getting shots or cross- checks in the back. I think that’s a player that you want on your team because in the playoffs, that’s where it matters. And like I said, Benn’s infuriated, and then Ek doesn’t say anything back. I would be mad, too. I would hate to get in a confrontation and the guy just stares at you, kind of just smiles a little bit, and that’s what he does.”

Parise said it’s uncanny the way Eriksson Ek just pastes himself to opponents.

“He’s really good positionally. He’s annoying to play against,” Parise said. “He’s strong. So, you think you’ve got him beat, or you think you can outmuscle him in the corner, and then you just bounce off him or he puts you against the boards or separates you from the puck.

“I’ve even noticed this against him in practice. He’s tough. He’s tough to knock off the puck, he’s tough to fend off, and he’s pretty relentless on that puck. I can’t imagine playing against a guy like him all night. It can get frustrating.”

Especially when most opponents have no clue who he is.

When you’re a top player going against the Wild, you know you’re going to have to go to war that night with a guy like Mikko Koivu.

But Eriksson Ek? Nobody knows who the heck he is. 1165005 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019

In the Habs' Room: Line juggle pays off for Julien with late winner against Rangers

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: December 6, 2019

NEW YORK — A third-period juggling act paid dividends for the Canadiens on Friday as Nate Thompson scored the winning goal with 1:07 to play to give the Canadiens a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Midway through the period, Claude Julien shortened his bench and he moved Thompson from the fourth line into the middle of a line with Nick Cousins on left wing and Nick Suzuki on the right side.

They were playing their third shift together when Suzuki and Cousins combined to clog a Rangers rush up the middle and the Canadiens were off on a counter-attack that produced the winning goal.

“It was great for (Cousins) and Zuke to stop that play in the middle, and we just took off,” Thompson said. “I got on my horse and went to the back of the net and he made a good play, and the puck went right to me and I slammed it home.”

Julien said he was concerned about puck possession when he put the line together.

“You’re late in the game, I put a centreman (Thompson) that’s very reliable who’s a lefty and you’ve got Suzuki, who slides to the right who can take faceoffs, who was good on the faceoff circle, too, tonight, especially on his strong side,” Julien said when asked about the rationale for the change.

“So you just want to make sure that if there’s an icing or something late in the game, you’re not caught with the wrong guys out there on the ice,” he said. ” And there’s no doubt there’s the experience of Cousins there with those two guys, and it was just a line I put together to make sure I had the right people on at that time.”

Thompson described the change as a reunion.

“We had some chemistry when we played together before and we were excited to be together again,” Thompson said. “We were joking that we were reunited and we said ‘lets make something happen’ and we did.”

It was only the second win in the last 11 games for the Canadiens, who have a 2-6-3 record in that span, but they are back in second place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points. They are one point ahead of Florida and Buffalo, although both teams hold games in hand.

“This win was big,” Thompson said. “I think the last little while, our compete level has been good. There’s been a little bit of puck luck that’s not gone our way. But we wanted to stick to it and I think we did that tonight, we played a full 60 minutes.”

This was a classic goaltending duel, with Carey Price stopping 29 of 30 shots, while Alexandar Georgiev made 32 saves. It was far different from the Nov. 23 meeting at the Bell Centre, which saw the Rangers rally from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Canadiens 6-5.

“I don’t think either team was happy with the goals against the last round,” Price said. “So back-to-back games, guys were definitely being on the more safe side of things tonight.

“We did a good job on our side of the puck, especially since we were in a back-to-back situation,” Price said. “We did a good job of back-checking, which is not fun.”

The Canadiens also did a good job of killing two penalties, and a lot of that success was due to Price, who faced seven shots while playing shorthanded.

“That was a big game-changer for us, a momentum changer,” Price said.

The Canadiens are still 29th in the league in penalty-killing, but they have allowed only one power-play goal in the past five games.

“It takes a lot of perfect games to get that percentage up, but the important thing is that we’re starting to do the right things,” Price said. 1165006 Montreal Canadiens

Nate Thompson's last-minute winner puts Canadiens over Rangers

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: December 6, 2019

NEW YORK — Nate Thompson scored on the rebound of a shot by Nick Cousins with 1:07 to play in regulation to give the Canadiens a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

It was only the second win in the past 11 games for the Canadiens but, despite their miserable record, they are back in second place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points for a one-point edge over Florida and Buffalo.

The game was a departure from the Nov. 23 meeting between these teams at the Bell Centre. That was a free-wheeling affair that the Rangers won 6-5. Both teams played Thursday night and there should have been signs of fatigue, but the contest was played at a quick pace. The difference this around was both teams made fewer mistakes and Carey Price and Alexandar Georgiev were both sharp.

An injury to Jesperi Kotkaniemi boosted the number of Canadiens on the injured reserve list to four and presented a new challenge to the team’s depth.

Coach Claude Julien juggled his forward lines and, with the Canadiens playing their second game in as many nights, he tried to use four lines and balance the playing time.

The biggest change was the return of Nick Suzuki to centre. He was on the third line with Cousins and Jordan Weal. Joel Armia and Artturi Lehkonen, who had been playing with Kotkaniemi, moved up to the No. 2 line with Max Domi at centre.

The only line that remained unchanged was the top line centred by Phil Danault, and it gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead after one period. The Canadiens took advantage of a turnover to create a 2-on-1 opportunity and Brendan Gallagher redirected a pass from Danault for his 13th goal of the season. Gallagher has scored in each of the Canadiens’ last three games.

Otto Leskinen received a passing grade for his work in a limited role in his NHL debut Thursday, but the Rangers tied the game early in the second period after the Finn turned the puck over and provided Brendan Smith with a breakaway. Smith is a fourth-liner who has also played defence, but he showed some top-end skill when he faked a shot and then continued to the net, where he beat Carey Price with a backhander.

The Montreal penalty-kill continues to show improvement. The Rangers had two power plays and, while they fired seven shots on goal, they didn’t score. Over the past five games, Montreal has killed 12 of 13 power plays. The Canadiens drew only one penalty and managed only one shot with the extra man.

Prior to the game, coach Claude Julien confirmed Kotkaniemi suffered a concussion when he was upended by Nikita Zadorov early in the first period of the 3-2 loss to Colorado on Thursday.

The Canadiens have a rare Saturday night off. They don’t play again until Tuesday when they travel to Pittsburgh in the first half of a back-to-back. They are home to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165007 Montreal Canadiens

Nick Suzuki moves back to centre to replace concussed Kotkaniemi

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: December 6, 2019

NEW YORK — Nick Suzuki will be back at centre against the New York Rangers on Friday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) as coach Claude Julien juggles his lines following the loss of Jesperi Kotkaniemi to a concussion.

Suzuki will centre one of the bottom two lines, but Julien wasn’t forthcoming about who will be on his wings.

“The bottom two lines will sort them themselves out and you’ll see it come together pretty quickly,” Julien said.

Nick Cousins is likely to be with Suzuki, but the third member of the trio is a tossup.

Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia, who had been playing with Kotkaniemi, will join Max Domi on the No. 2 line.

Julien confirmed Kotkaniemi suffered a concussion when he was checked by Nikita Zadorov in the first period of Thursday’s 3-2 loss to Colorado.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165008 Montreal Canadiens Why does this Canadiens team have zero toughness? Why isn’t there a big and aggressive player on the team who can lay on a little frontier justice when their star guys — whether it be Kotkaniemi or Price — are manhandled by the opposition? What the Puck: Harsh reality sets in for Canadiens Lastly, Bergevin’s defenders spent a year pointing to Max Domi as proof Bergevin was a great GM. How’s Domi looking these days? He pouted for a week when Julien moved him to the wing and has looked just as BRENDAN KELLY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: December 6, 2019 ineffective since his sulk campaign worked and the coach put him back at centre. He took a butt end to the face from Mikko Rantanen and basically stopped playing to sulk — again — leaving Gabriel Landeskog to sail in The Habs’ crisis is still in full swing. and score a beauty.

When the Canadiens squeaked out a 4-2 win against the New York Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 Islanders Tuesday, the rose-coloured-glasses crowd immediately proclaimed that the worst of the crisis was over. That ended an eight- game losing streak. Then Thursday rolled around and the Habs lost 3-2 to a much better Colorado Avalanche team. So the first losing streak is over, but the harsh reality that some don’t like to face is your Canadiens have won one game in their last 10.

The even harsher reality is that, given this losing skid, it is unlikely that they’ll make the playoffs this year. It’s possible mathematically, but it’s not likely. The reason you know that is because you watched that game Thursday and you realized for the 29th time this season that the Canadiens’ defence is simply not good enough for the National Hockey League.

Worse, there are zero reinforcements on their minor-league team. For all you Marc Bergevin supporters, explain to me why, more than seven years into his tenure as general manager, there is still nothing on the farm team. First the big team calls up Gustav Olofsson to stop the bleeding on the blue line and — surprise — he gets played for a fool by David Pastrnak, among other things, and it’s immediately clear head coach Claude Julien doesn’t trust him.

So they send Olofsson back to Laval and bring in Otto Leskinen to replace him. He played just over seven minutes Thursday against the Avs and guess what that means? Julien doesn’t trust him, either. Meanwhile Shea Weber and Ben Chiarot are playing ridiculous minutes. Weber, 34, has logged over 25 minutes in each of his last five games. On Tuesday, he played 29:49. Chiarot has been playing similar amounts of time in those five games. It’s actually insane. Both of them will be burned out by mid-January and Julien knows that. Did you see Cale Makar burn past Weber in the first period leading to the first Avs goal? Even a non- burned-out Weber can’t keep up with today’s star skaters. Also Jeff Petry has been a disaster for a few weeks. He is minus-14 during the past ten games.

Then there’s the goaltending mess. The two priorities during the summer should’ve been getting help on D and a reliable backup for Carey Price in order to ease his workload. Bergevin failed on both counts. It turns out that Keith Kinkaid was just about as bad as his numbers from last season suggested.

That’s why he is back in the minors. This is not a surprise to anyone except Bergevin. Then the GM compounded his errors by bringing in Cayden Primeau to fill the void. After a shaky start, Primeau found his game Thursday and he looked very good in the second half.

But it is simply crazy to bring in a 20-year-old with precisely 12 games of American Hockey League experience and throw him in front of the best offensive squad in the NHL. Bergevin’s priority as GM should be developing star prospects in the best possible manner. But it’s clear that he has one priority and that’s making the playoffs this season, or at least coming very close, so he’s not fired in April.

This is management by improvisation with gusts up to management by panic.

On the subject of mismanaging the youth movement, it’s time for the coaching staff to think long and hard about the best path for Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Avalanche’s monster D-man, Nikita Zadorov, demolished the 20-year-old Finn along the boards early in the game and Kotkaniemi is on the sidelines because of it.

Montreal Canadiens’ Joel Armia comes in to help Jesperi Kotkaniemi after a heavy check during first period in Montreal on Dec. 5, 2019.

Julien said the league should suspend Zadorov, but it really wasn’t a clear slew-foot. It looked like a ferocious hit that ended with No. 15 falling badly. It’s debatable. It should be a top priority to work with the young centre to make him as ready as humanly possible for that type of hit. 1165009 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens at New York Rangers: Five things you should know

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: December 6, 2019

Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden on Friday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio).

The matchup: This is the second of three meetings between these teams and the Canadiens are hoping to erase the memory of the Nov. 23 game at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens took a 4-0 lead early in the second period, but the Rangers stormed back to win 6-5. This will be the second game of a back-to-back set for both teams. The Canadiens played the Colorado Avalanche at home Thursday, while the Rangers were in Columbus to play the Blue Jackets. The Canadiens are 1-1-2 in the second game of back-to-backs this session.

Price to get start on the road: Coaches like to spread the workload for their goaltenders in back-to-back situations and the No. 1 goalie usually gets the game at home. But rookie Cayden Primeau made his NHL debut against Colorado on Thursday and Carey Price is scheduled to start this game. Julien said he decided to go with Price in New York because it’s a game against a divisional rival. Price has enjoyed some success against the Rangers, with a career record of 18-8-1, a 2.21 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.

Defensive workhorses: With Victor Mete on the injured-reserve list, Julien is asking his three top defencemen to play more minutes. Jeff Petry is the team leader in average ice time (23:54) but Shea Weber is only five seconds behind. Ben Chiarot, who had a slow start to the season as he adapted to a new system, is third at 22:49, but he has seen his ice time soar during the past week. In the three games prior to Thursday, he averaged nearly 29 minutes a game with a season-high 30:47 in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Islanders.

Special-teams update: The good news is the Canadiens’ penalty-killing unit, which ranks 30th in the NHL, is showing signs of improvement. The Canadiens killed all three of the Islanders’ power plays Tuesday and have limited the opposition to one goal on 11 opportunities. The bad news is the power play, which has been ranked in the top 10 for most of the season, had slipped to 17th. The last time the Canadiens played the Rangers, they were 0-for-5 with the extra man and they have scored only one power play goal since that game.

Is Panarin earning his keep? Artemi Panarin’s nickname is the Bread Man and he’s rolling in dough after signing a seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of US$11,642,857. He leads the Rangers in points (33), goals (12), assists (21) and power-play goals (five), but there’s a continuing debate in New York over whether his production matches his salary. He’s a dependable player who has reached the 30-goal mark in two of his four NHL seasons, but the Rangers might have overpaid in free agency. He has the second-highest cap hit in the league, but he’s tied for eighth in the NHL scoring race and in assists.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165010 Montreal Canadiens “Even as coaches we say, we don’t have a choice,” Julien said. “We’ve got to give this guy the opportunity to step in there and do the job, show some confidence. Because it wasn’t that we didn’t show confidence, he was the one that really second-guessed and wasn’t really as confident as How Brett Kulak broke the circle of self-doubt and found his game when we’d seen him in the past. But you put him in a position where you say, the Canadiens needed him ‘You’ve got to do the job.’ He’s stepped up, and he’s doing it so far.”

That was four games ago and Kulak has shown improvement in each one since, culminating in what had to be his best game of the season in a By Arpon Basu Dec 6, 2019 2-1 win against the New York Rangers on Friday night. He set a season high with 21:34 of ice time, and his most frequent opponent was Artemi Panarin. The Rangers were credited by Natural Stat Trick with one high- NEW YORK – Few people are able to understand how the mind of a danger scoring chance at five-on-five when Panarin and Kulak were on professional athlete works. the ice together.

The best of them have supreme confidence at all times, they are “I feel like the last number of games I’ve just taken a deep breath and just stubbornly self-assured, believing in themselves when they have no trusted myself out there,” Kulak said. “I just went shift by shift and just business doing so. An elite basketball player will take – and often make – played the game, you know what I mean? I just stayed in the moment, the last shot of the game even if he shot 2-for-21 that night. An elite not thinking, ‘Oh, I need to do this or do that.’ I’m just staying in the baseball player wants to be at the plate or on the mound with the game moment and reading and reacting to plays.” on the line no matter how deep the slump they are battling at the time. How do you go back to doing that, just playing the game, when you feel But not all athletes are the very best at what they do. In fact, few are. For walls are crumbling around you? When everything you built the season the other ones, for the ones whose spots in the lineup are not assured, prior seems to be going for naught? It can’t be easy to snap that vicious who are fighting to make it, confidence can ebb and flow. It can wane circle, and Kulak is not quite sure how he did it. with a bad game or two and snowball, that self-doubt embedding itself in their minds and becoming crippling. The simplest plays are difficult, the But he appears to have done it. most obvious decisions overlooked. “I don’t know if it’s just mentally maybe, and then once you start flowing Once that happens, coaches lose trust in you, playing time is taken away in that it becomes easier and easier and everything else kind of gets and self-confidence is further eroded, thereby preventing you from blocked out,” Kulak said. “And the minutes have been up, so that helps earning back that playing time. It can be a swift downward spiral if you too because you don’t sit on the bench for a while just thinking about don’t know how to get your mind around it and halt it in its tracks. what happened the last shift.”

Brett Kulak had every reason to enter this season feeling as confident as This is where Kulak becomes vitally important to the Canadiens, that last he ever has in the NHL. He had become a top-four defenceman for the part about the minutes going up. Because if his minutes go up, that first time the season prior and was going to be an important player for the means Chiarot’s minutes can go down. After playing close to or more Canadiens, or so everyone thought. than 30 minutes three games in a row, Chiarot played a far more manageable 23:45 against the Rangers. But the Canadiens also acquired Ben Chiarot as a free agent in the offseason, meaning Kulak would have to compete with Victor Mete to Julien had said after Chiarot played 30:47 against the New York remain in the top four, which was going to be a heavy task with Mete Islanders on Tuesday that it couldn’t continue, that it was a byproduct of paired with Shea Weber. Maybe that perceived step back, that challenge the Canadiens desperately needing their first win in nine games that that he might not have expected when last season ended, played in his night. But for that to stop, Julien needed a viable alternative for those mind a bit too much. minutes just after losing Mete.

The season did not begin the way he wanted, and by the third game of He found it, somewhat out of nowhere, in Kulak. the season, Kulak was a healthy scratch. Then he was scratched again “Obviously, the timing couldn’t be better,” Julien said. “We need him right in the fourth game. And then he didn’t play from Oct. 26 to Nov. 9, six now.” games in a row. And maybe that’s what clicked for Kulak. Maybe he needed to feel Just like that, everything he thought he had built last season was gone. needed because he most definitely is right now. But the trick will be for Poof. him to continue playing this way when Mete returns, which could be as That is not an easy thing to wrap your head around for a professional soon as next week. The way Kulak can do that is to build up enough athlete who has spent his entire career on the fringes, trying to get that confidence in his game now, while he is needed most, that it won’t be foothold on a defined role in the NHL and coming up just a bit short each affected by a slight dip in minutes or a change of role upon Mete’s return. time. Then just when you think you have it, you don’t again, and things Because having Kulak playing like he is now makes the Canadiens start turning in your head. defence, when fully healthy, much less of a weakness as a unit.

It had reached a point where it wasn’t clear if Kulak would be a factor this “I think it’s important that I’m ready for the team,” Kulak said. “Right now, season at all. In fact, it was looking pretty unlikely. I have a big role, playing more minutes, playing against better players, top players on the other team. That’s a big role, and I take pride in it. But then Mete got injured against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 30 and the Canadiens were heading to Boston the next night to face the Bruins, “I’m just looking to keep things going, and I’m happy to be getting my who had pasted their archrivals 8-1 just five days earlier. It was an game back.” opportunity for Kulak that Claude Julien acknowledges he didn’t really The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 have much of a choice but to offer him.

“I knew coming back in the game in Boston, when they said I was going to play with Webs, I was like, ‘All right, this is the chance. We’re probably going to be playing against good players. It’s time to play the game and play it the right way and respect it,’” Kulak said. “I came in and started building off good shifts and started feeling better and letting the game come to me a little more.

“I’ve just been rolling with that.”

That night, on Dec. 1, Kulak did play with Weber, and though he did not face the Bruins’ big line with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand all that often, he wasn’t exactly hidden from them, either. He played a regular shift for a season-high 19:36 of ice time and kept his head well above water, a marked difference from the sinking he had exhibited in many games earlier in the season. 1165011 Montreal Canadiens The learning curve in the NHL is an unforgiving process that looks a lot more like a Richter scale than anything resembling a steady progression.

But sometimes, rookie mistakes have a lot less to do with the players Video Review: Nate Thompson plays the hero with a late game-winner lacking skill than lacking knowledge that is only gained after a year or two against the Rangers in the league.

For example, Otto Leskinen probably wasn’t aware that the ice at Madison Square Garden is bumpier than a Baie-Comeau backroad, and By Marc Dumont Dec 6, 2019 thus it’s hard to point the finger at him for the bouncing puck that skipped over his stick and led to the only Rangers goal of the game.

But thanks to the reaction from his teammates, he is aware they’re not With the injury bug hitting the Canadiens organization at full force in the blaming him for the mistake, which surely went a long way in maintaining NHL and AHL, the depth is starting to wear a little thin, and by thin, I his confidence at a time when it was most likely wavering. mean it’s been more or less depleted to the point of exhaustion. Considering the bouncing puck could have happened to anyone, it’s only Jesperi Kotakniemi’s concussion meant Max Domi and Nick Suzuki fair to mention Leskinen looked much more comfortable in his second would play at centre against the New York Rangers at Madison Square NHL game than he did in his first outing. Garden, with the former flanked by Joel Armia and Artturi Lehkonen and the latter with Jordan Weal and Nick Cousins. And while there’s no Hold the line denying the Canadiens have lost a few important players, most notably Jonathan Drouin and Victor Mete, every team goes through injury woes. The Canadiens struggled early on in their game against the Avalanche It’s a normal, if not expected part of the game, that happens to be when it came to defending the rush. But as the game went on they got a coinciding with one of the Canadiens’ worst runs in recent franchise lot more comfortable and did a much better job defending the blue line. history. They picked up exactly where they left off, stymying the Rangers on several occasions as they attempted to break out of their defensive zone. Don’t ever let them tell you the hockey gods are missing a wicked sense of humour. Everybody loves Nate

Cayden Primeau did not manage to earn a win in his NHL debut on There are some players who endear themselves to fans and teammates Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche, but he played well alike, and despite his lack of production this season, Nate Thompson enough to give Carey Price the evening off, increasing the odds that the definitely qualifies as one of those affable characters. But good character Canadiens could steal two points on the road, a rare feat in the NHL can only go so far. Eventually, you need to produce. when you’re playing the second game of a back-to-back that included Thompson’s goal against the Rangers wasn’t just perfect timing, though travel. scoring with a little over a minute left in the third period is definitely what But win they did, securing a 2-1 victory due to solid play from their you would call a clutch goal, but it also gave more evidence that when goaltender and late-game heroics from their loveable grinder. the Canadiens play as cohesive unit, one that focuses on defensive positioning first and foremost, they will inevitably generate offence. A nice reliant automobile Just to give you an idea of how well-liked Thompson is among the For the most part, the Canadiens’ defensive and offensive chemistry was Canadiens players, take a look at the bench reaction. thrown into disarray with the recent string of injuries, but Claude Julien can almost always count on his first line to get things done in all three Then take another look and focus on No. 11. zones. Final word Brendan Gallagher, who scored just three goals in November, scored his Though I didn’t mention any particular save by Price, he was definitely a third goal in the past three games by doing something he almost never crucial part of the Canadiens’ win, making 29 saves, none of which will does: going to the net. show up on the nightly highlight reel. The goal was the perfect example of how the line generates so many But it’s almost always a good thing when Price makes that many saves quality scoring chances. and you can’t remember more than a handful. It’s a sign he’s on top of Beyond the speed through the neutral zone and quick passing in the his game, that he’s feeling comfortable. offensive zone, the forwards dropped down low to support their And when Price feels comfortable, the wins tend to start flowing. The defencemen, which gave Brett Kulak a fighting chance to retrieve the Canadiens will need a lot more from Price, from their first line, their puck and shuffle it to Phillip Danault, who made a fantastic breakout pass scoring depth and their defence if they’re to string together a winning to Tomas Tatar. streak, but at the very least, they’ve shown everyone in the past week or They weren’t the only lines doing a good job supporting the defence on so they still have the ability to dictate the play on any given night. Friday night. The same can be said about the second and third lines. It They just have to do it consistently, as they did on Friday night in New didn’t lead to an overabundance of high-danger chances, but it did York. restore some of my faith in the Canadiens’ transition game. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 The more speed, the better.

Domi and Lehkonen found some instant chemistry, with Lehkonen acting as the main threat on the forecheck, giving Domi a little more space to work within the offensive zone.

Guess who?

At his best, Jeff Petry can be a game-breaker. At his worst, Petry can be a game-breaker, but not necessarily for the Canadiens. It might not be a coincidence (it’s not), but the Canadiens’ poor results have mirrored Petry’s struggles this season.

Against the Rangers, we saw the Petry of old, and on that note, Kulak also returned to form. If the two can get back to the type of consistent efforts they put forth last season, it’ll go a very long way in solving the Canadiens’ defensive woes and stabilizing the defensive pairings.

My name is Otto, I love to get Blotto 1165012 Nashville Predators "It's a hot topic right now," Laviolette said. "I couldn't even pretend to comment on any situation I've not been a part of. The reason why I'm commenting on these is because I know myself and I know how I handled myself for almost 20 years as a coach." Peter Laviolette denies allegations he bullied, abused players while coaching Flyers Tennessean LOADED: 12.07.2019

Paul Skrbina, Nashville TennesseanPublished 3:51 p.m. CT Dec. 6, 2019 | Updated 6:00 p.m. CT Dec. 6, 2019

Peter Laviolette on Friday denied suggestions that he sent his players out to fight and that he punched a player in the head while he was the coach of the Flyers.

One of Laviolette's former players, Daniel Carcillo, who played for Laviolette for two-plus seasons in Philadelphia, told 104.5-FM earlier this week that the now-Predators coach "was one of the guys that likes to be a 'rah-rah' guy, send you out to fight when you know that he never fought."

"First was a suggestion by (Carcillo) that I used my position of power inside of a locker room to bully or ... challenge players to go out there and fight," Laviolette said. "That couldn't be further from the truth."

Laviolette said he encourages his teams to play hard and understands that fighting is part of the game but denied ever challenging a player to drop his gloves on the ice.

On Friday, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski published a story about another incident, which took place in 2011, during which Laviolette appeared to punch then-Flyers player Ville Leino in the head during a game. The moment has lived on thanks to social media and has made the rounds of late in wake of abuse allegations made against recently fired Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, suspended Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford and the Sutter family, among others.

"In the scope of where we are right now, with regard to coaches, I can tell you that physical abuse for me is the furthest thing from the truth," Laviolette said.

Last night, we talked the #Preds recent slump, Kyle Turris getting back to the lineup, gave out a Kobyashi Maru, and spoke to @CarBombBoom13 in-detail about the abuse issues coming to light around hockey and more (starts at 16:05).

LISTEN: https://t.co/z8PoTIuMTq

— The Neutral Zone (@NeutralZone1045) December 5, 2019

"That Ville Leino video clip and the GIF that shows me nicking his helmet and his helmet bobbing up and down over and over gets played back. You can interpret it a whole bunch of different ways.

"I had called a timeout. I was trying to get my team motivated and I went to punch my fist into my hand. I nicked the back of his helmet. By no means was it meant as any physical abuse nor have I ever had any physical abuse with a player. ... If people really thought I was punching somebody in the back of the head, then that would have come forward a long time ago."

Leino told ESPN he didn't feel Laviolette purposely punched him, and that Laviolette later apologized.

"There are a lot of emotions in the game. Coaches get fired up and thing happen," Leino told ESPN. "I don't think Peter tried to hit me, and it looks worse than it was."

Predators forward Austin Watson has been in 29 fights while playing for Laviolette during the last four-plus seasons. Not once, Watson said, did Laviolette ever hint that he should do it.

"Not one of those times have I ever felt pressured or urged or told that's something I have to do," Watson said. "When you play the way I do, to have to be successful, to have to answer the bell ... in no way, shape or form was an ask or a task from (Laviolette). ... I would say 100 times over that's not his M.O. to me and I've never seen that."

Laviolette said he wanted to "get in front" of Carcillo's comments and the Leino video because he didn't want to be "lumped in with what's going on." 1165013 Nashville Predators On the ice, Subban (two goals, three assists going into Friday) and the Devils have struggled. He hadn't recorded a point in his last 15 games. His team is last in the Metropolitan Division and has the second-fewest points in the league. Predators' Roman Josi on PK Subban's return to Nashville: Expect 'some chirping for sure' But for one night, at least, Subban will feel somewhat at home.

Tennessean LOADED: 12.07.2019

Paul Skrbina, Published 2:13 p.m. CT Dec. 6, 2019 | Updated 3:35 p.m. CT Dec. 6, 2019

Roman Josi let his fingers do the walking a few hours after P.K. Subban was traded from the Predators to the Devils in June.

He left most of the talking to Subban during that phone call.

Josi doesn't expect that to change Saturday night when Subban visits Bridgestone Arena and plays his former team for the first time since that trade.

"We'll be (trash) talking for sure," Josi said with a grin. "The way I know him, he's going to start it. There's probably going to be some chirping for sure."

Will Predators fans cheer the player who helped them to three of their most successful seasons?

Or will the Nashville faithful bring the boos for the 30-year-old defenseman?

Subban told reporters after practice Thursday he was looking forward to the trip either way.

"It’ll definitely be exciting,” Subban said. “It’s different ... probably a little less emotional than Montreal, but definitely it’s going to be great to see some of my old teammates."

The Predators reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, Subban's first season with the team after he was acquired from Montreal for Shea Weber.

They won their first Central Division title a year later and added another last season when Subban's production dipped in part thanks to injury in what he described as a not-so-great season.

After last season, Subban said he wanted to stay with the Predators but said he understood there was a possibility he might be dealt.

"The three years he's been with us probably exceeded any of the best three seasons we've had in our history," general manager David Poile said after trading Subban in June. "He was a big part of that.

"He was great on the ice and equally, if not more importantly, he was fabulous off the ice. He's a magnet for attention for selling the game. His charitable work is second to none."

Subban has continued his Blue Line Buddies program with the Devils, but the Predators also have kept it going in his absence.

He told reporters Thursday he was "excited to get back there and play" and added he was looking forward to seeing some friends after the game.

The feeling is mutual, said Josi, whose locker stall was next to Subban's.

"He was always funny and had some good jokes," Josi said. "There's a lot of things we went through those three years, a lot of funny things. ... I have some in my back pocket."

Subban's defensive partner last season, Mattias Ekholm, echoed Josi's sentiments. He also dispelled any notion that Subban and his larger- than-life personality were a distraction in the dressing room.

"I can just talk for myself," Ekholm said. "I didn't mind a guy like that. It's a lot of fun. ... It's so important to have those guys that cheer you up and are always positive. .. Yeah, he took up a lot of space in the room but I think he did it in a great way. I had no problems at all with it."

Subban's move to New Jersey has come with some changes. For one, he became engaged to girlfriend Lindsey Vonn since leaving Nashville. For another, he began his own YouTube channel, further allowing fans a glimpse into his everyday life. 1165014 Nashville Predators were things that were said in morning skates, and he’d get in your face and challenge you. It was cool for like six months, but then it goes in one ear and out the other when it happens every day. … Those were kind of some of the things that annoyed me, and eventually, you just shut down Peter Laviolette addresses Ville Leino incident, denies he bullied players and you stop listening, and then you don’t get played. It was a lot of head games with that guy. There’s a lot of things that I don’t agree with, but it

is what it is.” By Adam Vingan Dec 6, 2019 Ex-Flyers forwards Daniel Briere and Scott Hartnell played in the game in which the incident with Leino took place, and both told The Athletic that they didn’t believe there was malicious intent on Laviolette’s part. With the sport of hockey mired in a crisis because of accusations of abusive conduct by its coaches, Predators coach Peter Laviolette “I didn’t even see it live,” Briere said. “I had no idea. I remember seeing it stepped out of his office after practice Friday to address two allegations. later that night I think on a clip on social media. To be honest, it’s been so long. From what I remember, I thought he was kind of yelling at the On Wednesday, Daniel Carcillo, who played for Laviolette with the whole team and kind of hit (Leino) by accident. I never felt that there was Philadelphia Flyers from 2009-11, appeared on a local radio show and any intent to try to hurt him or that it was directed at Ville. The whole time said, “There were a lot of things that annoyed me about him. He was one that I played for Peter, I never saw him and I don’t remember seeing him of the guys that liked to be the ‘rah-rah’ guy, send you out to fight when ever attack physically or verbally someone directly. To me, that was very you know that he never fought. There’s a lot of stuff that I don’t agree out of the ordinary, so that’s why I never thought twice about it.” with what he did, his coaching methods.” “It definitely wasn’t a punch to the head,” Hartnell said. “It was a timeout. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski spoke to retired forward Ville Leino, whom He was frustrated. He was trying to get us fired up to get back in the Laviolette struck in the head during a February 2011 game when they game. He’s intense. He’s an emotional leader. I don’t consider that a hit were with the Flyers. Clips of the incident resurfaced on social media to the head. It was a pump-up speech that he was trying to smack his after an incident between Mike Babcock and Mitch Marner became hand. It hit one-eighth of a guy’s helmet, and it looked like he punched public, and Bill Peters resigned after players said he physically and him in the head. It was something that’s maybe being blown a little bit of verbally abused them. proportion right now, obviously, but I’ve got nothing but respect for (Laviolette). There was no sort of abuse, nothing emotionally, physically, “There are lot of emotions in the game,” Leino told ESPN. “Coaches get verbally.” fired up and things happen. I don’t think Peter tried to hit me, and it looks worse in the video than it was. Peter was a very passionate and Hartnell, who fought 67 times during his career, including 34 times with emotional coach. That made him good, but sometimes stuff like this the Flyers, said Laviolette never coerced him to do so. happened. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t happen.” “I never felt at all pressured by (Laviolette) or any coach, be that (John) Laviolette refuted Carcillo’s claim and provided context for the Leino Tortorella, John Stevens, Barry Trotz,” Hartnell said. “I never heard Peter situation. Laviolette say to any one of Jody Shelley, Riley Cote, anybody like that when we were playing for Philly to go out there and make things happen “First was a suggestion that I used my position of power inside of a locker to change the swing of the game. I would say that’s false.” room to bully or ask players or challenge players to go out there and fight,” Laviolette said. “That couldn’t be anything further from the truth. Do Predators forward Austin Watson echoed Hartnell’s sentiments. I want my teams to play hard? Yes. Do I want them to be physical? Yes. Is there fighting in the game? Yes. But there’s an insinuation that I would “I can’t speak for anybody else’s experience or how events might have challenge players to go out there and do that. That is not true. been interpreted,” he said. “I can say that over the last four or five years of playing here, I think I’ve fought 26 times, around that, and not one of “Secondly, there’s an article that came out (Friday) that was brought to those instances have I ever felt pressured or told to go out there and my attention about punching Ville Leino in the head. In the scope of fight. In my experience with (Laviolette), that’s not his nature. … In no where we are right now in today’s world with regard to coaches, I can tell way, shape or form have I ever felt pressured by (Laviolette) or told to you that physical abuse from me is the furthest thing from the truth. That (fight) or felt like he used any sort of influence over me to go fight Ville Leino video clip and the GIF that shows me nicking his helmet and anybody. his helmet bobbing up and down over and over again, you can interpret it a whole bunch of different ways. For me, I had called a timeout. I was “I can say that over the last two years, and even before that, I have been trying to get my team motivated, and I went to punch my fist into my dealing with my fair share of off-ice issues. I can say that on any given hand. I nicked the back of his helmet, and by no means was it meant as day, I feel comfortable going into that coaching office and having a any physical abuse, nor have I ever had any physical abuse with the conversation with (Laviolette). He is a fiery coach. I’d go through a wall players. for him. He’s a great motivator, and he has a passion for the game. When it comes to those sorts of things, it is left open to interpretation, I “For the longest time, I thought it was funny watching the GIF play over guess. You can’t take anything away from each individual player’s and over again, knowing that it couldn’t be the furthest thing from the personality or mental health issues or anything like that. I have them. I truth. Now that I’ve heard that there’s an article that’s talked about it, and have plenty of them. It is a sensitive time right now, but when it comes to it’s kind of been lumped in with what’s going on, I just wanted to get (Laviolette), I’ve never experienced a situation where he’s ever crossed ahead of that. Ville Leino said that I apologized to him. I can’t even the line for me. For someone that battles depression, anxiety, alcoholism, remember addressing it. If I did, that’s great, because it was something all those sorts of things, at no point has any of that triggered me.” that was accidental at the time where I missed my hand and nicked his helmet. But I just wanted to get in front of these things, because I think The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 both statements are incorrect.

“It’s obviously a really hot topic right now, and I can’t even pretend to comment on any situation that I’ve not been a part of. The reason why I’m commenting on these ones is because I know myself and I know how I’ve handled myself for almost 20 years as a coach. I would rather just get in front of it. … If people really thought that I was punching somebody in the head, then that would’ve come forward a long time ago.”

Reached for comment Friday, Carcillo said Laviolette misrepresented what he said.

“That’s what coaches do,” he told The Athletic, pointing out that Laviolette’s left hand didn’t leave his side when he hit Leino. “Even though they might not ask directly, when you’re not known for your defense, if he pulls a winger off in the defensive zone, and we have the last change because we’re on home ice, and it happens to be lining up against their tough guy, that tells you that it’s time for you to fight. There 1165015 Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette has decided to play him, according to Micah Blake McCurdy.

“The difference between this year and last year, there’s a big difference,” ‘This is the player I am. This is the person I am’: Kyle Turris’ confidence Turris’ wife, Julie, said on a recent episode of her podcast. “Last year, he is overpowering his frustration had a hard time in his mind and his body. It was hard for him last year. … This year, he hasn’t been in his head at all. His confidence is there. He’s having a lot of fun. He goes to the rink and has a lot of fun.”

By Adam Vingan Dec 6, 2019 There has been enough commentary on the uneasy relationship between Turris and the Predators, which continues to have the feeling of a forced

marriage. But if his return to the lineup Tuesday proved anything, it’s that A smile crept across Kyle Turris’ face, if only for a moment. It was more a confident Turris, though not a perfect player, is still a valuable asset. of a smirk, really. “I’m not going to lose that,” he said. Turris has never been demonstrative, but in a way, his muted goal The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 celebration Tuesday when he scored on the power play against the Tampa Bay Lightning felt like a middle finger to the Predators’ powers that be for scratching him in seven consecutive games, as if to say, “See what happens when you put me in position to succeed?”

Of course, even if that were the case, Turris would never admit it publicly.

“I felt great,” Turris said Tuesday evening. “I felt like I played the exact same game I would’ve played if I didn’t sit seven straight games.”

Understandably, that quote, with its hint of shade, made the rounds after the game Tuesday, but something else Turris said was perhaps more enlightening.

“I’m playing hockey, and I’m playing my game,” Turris said. “That’s all I’m going to do. I learned a lot from last year. I’m not going to second-guess myself anymore. I’m done with that. I’m confident in the player I am and how I know I can contribute. I’m just going to keep doing that, keep doing my thing.”

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Turris has made similar statements in the past several months.

“Obviously, I want to be out there playing and helping the team,” Turris said last season when he was scratched for two games. “I think I can be doing that. I just have to be able to play my game to do that.”

“I just have to play my game,” he said in April before leaving Nashville for the summer. “That’s what it comes down to, being confident and playing the game I know I can play. I’ve just got to get back to it.”

“I’m making plays and not second-guessing anything and just playing the game I’ve played my whole life,” he said in May during a productive run at the IIHF World Championships.

There’s an obvious theme to Turris’ comments, but he’s been reticent to expand on them until he gave it a shot Wednesday.

“It’s hard to explain,” Turris said when asked exactly how he second- guessed himself last season. “When you have the puck and you see something, it’s just instinctual to make the play. But then you second- guess whether or not you should, and (in) the fraction of a second that time goes by and you’re second-guessing it, the play goes by, because it just happens so quick. And then you end up making a bad play or something that doesn’t work out.”

It was something Turris never previously experienced, and based on his below-replacement value last season, among other things, it was evident that he wasn’t himself.

“I mean, you get into slumps, where you’re not scoring or things aren’t going your way, and you get frustrated,” said Turris, who struggled to reach 23 points in 55 games during an injury-shortened season. “But last year was the first time I actually really lost confidence and started second-guessing things.”

The turning point, according to Turris, was his two-week stint as captain of the Canadian national team at the World Championships, where he had 10 points in 10 games and resembled the dynamic player he has proven to be throughout most of his NHL career.

“It just brought me back to, ‘This is the player I am. This is the person I am,’” Turris said. “That’s something that’s stuck with me now and cemented in me.”

No longer saddled with self-doubt, Turris hasn’t let the frustration over his situation consume him as it might have last season. He is producing at a first-line rate at five-on-five despite his fourth-line usage when Predators 1165016 New Jersey Devils

Devils drop 5-round shootout to Blackhawks for 4th straight loss

Today 9:46 PM

By Chris Ryan

Alain Nasreddine’s first victory as interim head coach will have to wait at least one more game.

Kirby Dach scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of a shootout to hand the Chicago Blackhawks a 2-1 victory over the Devils on Friday at Prudential Center in Newark.

Jonathan Toews and Nikita Gusev both scored in the first round of the shootout, then Patrick Kane and Jesper Boqvist both did so in the second round. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped Alex Debrincat in the third round, but Hawks goalie Corey Crawford then stopped Kyle Palmieri.

Blackwood denied Dylan Strome in the fourth round before Taylor Hall was stopped. Devils center Jack Hughes was turned away after Dach scored.

Both teams struck for one power-play goal in regulation.

The Devils got three first-period power plays, and on the third chance, they finally cashed in to open the scoring. Hall took a pass from Sami Vatanen in the right circle before snapping a shot over Corey Crawford’s right pad and inside the far post at 13:31 of the first period.

The Blackhawks tied the game at 1-1 on their first power play chance of the night, which came in the second period. A long possession in the Devils’ defensive zone ended with Patrick Kane taking a sharp shot from the right circle. Blackwood made the save before the rebound popped to the left of the net, allowing Alex Debrincat to bury the rebound at 9:35.

The Blackhawks had two other golden chances prior to the tying goal, but Blackwood stopped a pair of Brandon Saad breakaways.

Hischier out

Forward Jack Hughes returned to the lineup on Friday after missing the past three games with an injury from a blocked shot, but the Devils ended up missing their other young center.

Nico Hischier was a late scratch prior to warmups due to illness. His status for Saturday is unknown.

Next up

The Devils will be right back at it on Saturday for the start of a four-game Western Conference road trip.

They will visit the Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The trip will also include stops to play the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and the Arizona Coyotes next Saturday.

Star Ledger LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165017 New Jersey Devils

No, Devils’ Jack Hughes won’t go play in World Junior Championships

Updated Dec 06, 2019;Posted Dec 06, 2019

By Chris Ryan

Jack Hughes isn’t going to for Team USA in the 2019-20 World Junior Championships, and the Devils have given zero consideration to the idea.

The fact this idea even needs to be explored is silly, but it’s been floated on the vast wilderness that is the internet, so here we are.

To do so, the Devils would need to loan Hughes to the U20 National Team for about three weeks at the end of December and in early January, meaning he would miss NHL games while playing in the tournament.

No chance.

“It was shut down right away. We have no intention on sending him there,” Devils interim head coach Alain Nasreddine said. “He’s on the team, he’s a big part of this team, so it’s not something where we want to lose him for three weeks. Yeah, he’s not going there.”

Hughes played in part of the tournament last year prior to being draft No. 1 overall in June’s NHL Draft, though he missed some games in that tournament due to an injury.

The 18-year-old center also hasn’t given any thought even to the possibility of leaving the Devils for part of the season.

“I mean I haven’t thought about that,” Hughes said. “I’m here for a reason, so I’m not planning on leaving.”

The Devils will get Hughes back in their NHL lineup on Friday after the center missed the past three games due to a lower body injury suffered on a blocked shot.

Hughes returned to practice on Thursday for the first time, and while the final decision came down to coaches and team trainers, Hughes made it pretty clear he was ready to play.

“He made sure that I knew that yesterday,” Nasreddine said. “That’s what’s great about him. He’s young, he wants to play, he wants to play every game, wants to compete, so he’s ready to go.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165018 New Jersey Devils Patrick Kane (3G-4A) led his Chicago squad with seven points in the 2018-19 regular season series.

Corey Crawford is a career 3-4-1 against New Jersey, allowing 22 goals Devils’ lines, pairings vs. Blackhawks (12/6/19) | Jack Hughes returns; against while posting a 3.49 GAA. Robin Lehner suited up for one Connor Carrick on AHL loan contests against the Devils last season where he allowed one goal in the victory.

The Devils are 3-0-1 at Prudential Center and 5-1-2 overall against the Updated Dec 06, 2019;Posted Dec 06, 2019 Blackhawks since the 2015-16 season. The Devils last regulation loss at home versus Chicago was Jan. 3, 2014. New Jersey will matchup with By Chris Ryan Chicago for the second and final time, Dec. 23 at United Center.

Star Ledger LOADED: 12.07.2019 The Devils will play their second game under Alain Nasreddine on Friday, and they will get one injured player back for the contest.

Center Jack Hughes will return after missing the past three games with a lower body injury from a blocked shot when the Devils host the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. at Prudential Center in Newark.

Defenseman Connor Carrick will get game action on Friday, but not in the NHL. He will play with the Binghamton Devils on an AHL conditioning load. It will be his first game action since breaking his right pinky on Oct. 24. The Devils recalled defenseman Colton White to take the team’s open roster spot but he will be a healthy scratch on Friday.

Here’s how the Devils will line up against the Blackhawks:

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FORWARDS

Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri

Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Nikita Gusev

Jesper Boqvist - Pavel Zacha - Jesper Bratt

Miles Wood - Jack Hughes - Wayne Simmonds

DEFENSEMEN

Andy Greene - P.K. Subban

Damon Severson - Sami Vatanen

Will Butcher - Mirco Mueller

GOALIES

Starter: Mackenzie Blackwood

Backup: Louis Domingue

SCRATCHES

F: John Hayden, Kevin Rooney

D: Colton White

On IR: D Matt Tennyson (upper body); D Connor Carrick (broken pinky, on conditioning load in AHL)

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Here are game notes from the Devils:

Tonight marks the first of two regular season contests between New Jersey and Chicago. The Devils split the 2018-19 regular season series with the Blackhawks, 1-1-0; 2PTS. New Jersey was 3-5 on the man advantage, and 6-7 on the penalty kill in the two contests. The Devils outshot the Golden Knight, 84-68. The club looks to improve their 1-1-1 (0-1-1 home) record against Central Division opponents.

Tonight’s contest opens New Jersey’s eighth of 16 sets of back-to-back play. The club looks to improve their 1-4-2 record in first games. The Devils head to Nashville to face-off against the Predators on Saturday night.

Travis Zajac (2G-2A) led the club in points, tallying four in the regular season series against Chicago. Jesper Bratt led the club in assists, tallying 3 in the two games played.

Mackenzie Blackwood suited up for one game against Chicago last season, allowing five goals in the clubs lone win against the Blackhawks. Louis Domingue has played in six games against the Blackhawks, allowing 22 goals on 190 shots posting a 3.85 GAA in his career. 1165019 New Jersey Devils

What Devils’ interim coach Alain Nasreddine changed in 1st practice

Updated Dec 06, 2019;Posted Dec 06, 2019

By Chris Ryan

Wednesday was an off day for Devils players following back-to-back games. It was not a day off for Alain Nasreddine.

The Devils interim head coach spent the day meeting and planning with his coaching staff and team management, finally able to sit down after a whirlwind 24 hours where he was promoted following the dismissal of John Hynes and Nasreddine’s first game as coach.

“We had the game but everything happened so fast that, I got in, got my message in, but it was pretty short," Nasreddine said. "(Thursday) was the big day where it was the first time addressing the team really as the head coach, so I wanted to make sure I was ready for that. I wanted to make sure the practice was going to reflect how we want to play and moving forward what to expect.”

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During practice, the Devils huddled at the white board near the bench after nearly every drill for two reasons: Nasreddine had some new drills to run, and he wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page entering each one. As he runs more practices, he expects the pace to increase without as many stoppages.

Along with the general team meeting and practice on Thursday, Nasreddine had a lot of individual meetings with players, with the goal of sitting down with each player on the team to get each skater heading in the right direction. After Devils general manager Ray Shero said each player had underachieved over the first two months of the season, Nasreddine wants to help them improve their play.

“I’m the same guy in a different position, but it goes back to what I said the first day. I see this more as a partnership where it’s meeting that way but doing this together with the players, and that’s what I want to make sure they understand, and I care about every single player,” Nasreddine said. "I’m here to make every single player better. And that will benefit the team in the end.”

The Devils won’t hold a full morning skate on Friday ahead of the first game of another back-to-back when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center in Newark. They will also visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Friday will be the first game with the Devils fully integrated under Nasreddine, and it should give a better glimpse at how the new coach wants the team to play.

“He’s had a strong emphasis on using our speed and skating, and obviously that’s a strength of mine as well, so that plays into my game," forward Blake Coleman said. "Sometimes it’s a good reminder just to get up and down the sheet like that, and need to make sure you’re going in practice.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165020 New Jersey Devils He saw flashes of that Tuesday against the Golden Knights. “I thought P.K. had a really strong game,” Nasreddine said. “He moved

well, he was engaged, I think he made things happen. And that's what we NJ Devils' P.K. Subban returns to Nashville amid struggles expect from P.K., but it's not just P.K., I think it's everyone on the team. Everyone has to elevate and get to the next level.”

The Predators themselves are also trying to find their game. They’re 3-5- Abbey Mastracco, NHL writerPublished 12:35 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 2 in their last 10 and much like in New Jersey, the fans have grown tired of coach Peter Laviolette.

It’s a different rodeo for everyone in Nashville this weekend. NEWARK — This isn’t P.K. Subban’s first rodeo. “It's definitely a different setting them in Nashville. Different team, It was March 2, 2017, when Subban returned to Montreal and played his different system,” Subban said. “But it's about winning games. I don't first game at Bell Centre as a visitor. The team that drafted him and the care whether we win a game 1-0 or 5-0, whether I get points or don't get place where he won a Norris Trophy was no longer the team he played points. I want to win hockey games. And that's my focus.” for or the city he called home. The gregarious defenseman embraced his new team and his new city by donning cowboy hats and blasting shots Bergen Record LOADED: 12.07.2019 from the point.

He’s sort of a chameleon and can fit in anywhere with any team.

But right now, it’s tough to tell if anyone is really fitting into New Jersey. The Devils, Subban’s new team, got off to a start so atrocious it cost coach John Hynes his job. Subban has only two points through 28 games and hasn’t had a point in his last 15.

P.K. Subban #76 of the New Jersey Devils takes a shot in the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center on Nov. 1, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey.

“Well listen, would we have liked to be in a better position? Sure,” he said Thursday after practice after Prudential Center. “We’re not the only team in this position. But you look at the standings and I mean, we string together a couple wins in our back in the mix. So, you know, for us, we just got to focus on what's in front of us.”

When Subban returned to Montreal that day in March of 2017, it was under far different circumstances. The Predators were one of the top teams in the Western Conference, had won four straight games and Subban had points in two of them.

Now, he’ll return to Nashville on Saturday trying to figure out his own game as the Devils try and figure out theirs.

“It's different. Probably a little less emotional than Montreal,” Subban said. “But definitely, it's going to be great to see some of my old teammates and I kept in touch with a lot of them.”

Subban’s struggles have been magnified because, well, that’s just what happens when you’re a player of his status. He was brought to New Jersey to make an impact. The Devils are paying every penny of his $9 million salary this year and for the next two. The highest-paid player on the team should produce and so far, he hasn’t.

The 30-year-old has yet to produce a power play point and he was demoted to the second unit and then taken off the power play altogether. He’s playing against top lines every night and adjusting to that role but this far into the season he should be well-adjusted.

“But we've generated chances,” he said. “You try to focus on not trying to do too much and just do your job. And that's all I'm trying to do out there is just do my job and help the team anywhere that I can.”

It’s not like Subban is the only one struggling. Everyone on this Devils’ squad is struggling. Taylor Hall has only four goals and a career-low shooting percentage. Nico Hischier only has four as well. Travis Zajac’s shot attempts are down.

The Devils have a $6 million goalie in the American Hockey League, so if that doesn’t tell you how things are going then I don’t know what will.

“P.K. came in, there's a certain way we want to play and I think everyone will tell you that everyone in the room has been underachieving,” Nasreddine said. “I don't think anyone's happy with their game. And I'm certain that P.K. would tell you the same thing. I think everyone has more to give, including P.K.”

Maybe this shakeup will be beneficial fo Subban. Nasreddine told his group to use their speed and skating to their advantage in his first game as the head guy behind the bench and that’s something he wants to see moving forward. A former defenseman himself, he thinks he can better utilize Subban’s offensive prowess by having him jump into plays more and be a bigger part of the Devils’ offense. 1165021 New Jersey Devils

NJ Devils projected lineup: Jack Hughes returns to action vs. Blackhawks

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writerPublished 11:44 a.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 | Updated 12:07 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019

NEWARK — Jack Hughes will return to the New Jersey Devils’ lineup Friday night when they host the Chicago Blackhawks, and that’s exactly where he will stay.

There has been no shortage of news coming out of Newark lately with coach John Hynes being dismissed Tuesday and Alain Nasreddine taking over in the interim, but a story in The Hockey News caused quite a stir earlier in the week. A writer suggested the Devils should loan Hughes to Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships, but there will be no news on that front as the club will not be sending their rookie center to the Czech Republic.

He’s staying in New Jersey, in the NHL, where they think he belongs.

Nov 26, 2019; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) takes a face-off during the first period of their game against the Minnesota Wild at Prudential Center.

“That was shut down right away,” Nasreddine said after the team’s optional morning skate at Prudential Center. “He’s a big part of this team so it’s something where we want to lose him for three weeks. So he’s not going there.”

The game's top junior tournament hasn't even crossed Hughes’ radar.

“I hadn’t even thought about that,” he said. “I’m here for a reason so I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

Hughes will center a line with Miles Wood and Wayne Simmonds on Friday night, returning after sitting out the last two games with a lower- body injury suffered during the team’s Thanksgiving win in Montreal.

Connor Carrick was loaned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League for a conditioning stint and defenseman Colton White was called up to replace the injured Matt Tennyson. White will be a healthy scratch Friday and Mirco Mueller will draw back into the lineup.

The Devils had an optional morning skate with most players choosing not to skate. Here is the projected lineup.

Nov 23, 2019; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) skates with the puck while being defended by Detroit Red Wings center Robby Fabbri (14) during the second period at Prudential Center.

Devils (9-14-4, 22 points)

Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri

Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Nikita Gusev

Jesper Boqvist - Pavel Zacha - Jesper Bratt

Mikes Wood - Jack Hughes - Wayne Simmonds

Andy Greene - Damon Severson

Sami Vatanen - P.K. Subban

Will Butcher - Mirco Mueller

Mackenzie Blackwood

Louis Domingue

Injured: Connor Carrick (right pinky surgery, IR), Matt Tennyson (upper- body, IR)

Scratched: Colton White, Kevin Rooney, John Hayden

Bergen Record LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165022 New Jersey Devils

Devils fall in shootout as interim coach remains winless

By Associated PressDecember 6, 2019 | 10:41pm | Updated

This isn’t the start interim coach Alain Nasreddine was hoping for.

Kirby Dach, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, scored in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Blackhawks over the Devils 2-1 Friday at Prudential Center in Newark.

“I had three moves in my head,” the 18-year-old said. “Whatever the goalie bites on, I move to that side. I’ve had a couple of shootouts in junior, and it worked there so I just went back to that. It went it. That was nice.”

Taylor Hall scored for the Devils, who are 0-2 under Nasreddine since he took over the reins when John Hynes was fired Tuesday.

Mackenzie Blackwood had 28 saves, but he was defenseless when Dach roofed his shootout attempt. Nikita Gusev and Jesper Boqvist scored for the Devils in the shootout.

Chicago won its second game in two nights. Corey Crawford preserved the victory by stopping Jack Hughes on the final shootout attempt to cap a night where he won his 250th game. He had 29 saves.

Alex DeBrincat scored in the second period for Chicago, and Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane also connected in the shootout.

Despite the loss, Nasreddine said he has happy with his teams’ performance.

“We’re looking for it taking a step in the right direction,” he said. “Overall I thought the first period was good for us. We played the right way and second period, early on OK, but the game got away from us and third was 50-50. I’ll take the effort, but would have been nice to get the two points.”

Hughes, the top pick in this year’s draft, returned to the lineup after missing three games with a lower body injury. Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, missed the game with an illness.

The teams were tied at 1 after the first two periods with both getting power-play goals.

Hall opened the scoring at 13:31 of the first with the Devils on their third power play. DeBrincat tied it at 9:35 of the second with the Blackhawks’ first power play. Blackwood stopped a shot from low in the right circle by Kane, but the rebound came out the other side of the crease and DeBrincat backhanded his seventh of the season into an empty net.

Both goaltenders had some outstanding saves. Blackwood stopped breakaways by Brandon Saad in the first and second periods, while Crawford came up big on a breakaway by Miles Wood late in the second.

New York Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165023 New Jersey Devils going to positively effect Newark, which could use some love. His devotion to charity is awesome.

But at this juncture, Subban is hardly a NHL defenseman, let alone an Devils’ P.K. Subban is marketing everything except his own game elite one. All the while, he does remain an elite spokesman — just not for the Devils.

Get it in writing By Brett CyrgalisDecember 6, 2019 | 4:11PM Wait, the NHL didn’t have a written Code of Conduct? How is that possible. At least now, with all of the allegations coming out about coaches abusing players, that might stop. COLUMBUS, Ohio — P.K. Subban should be embarrassed. And I wholeheartedly agree with the thoughtful Robin Lehner when he The Devils invested a lot in the bombastic defenseman, and he has railed against “cancel culture” in a fascinating diatribe. So many of these become an absolute shell of himself on the ice. Imagine, after this situations are nuanced, and to jump to conclusions and end somebody’s debacle of a season in New Jersey where his insipid play surely helped career for something they may or may not have done 20 years ago is a to get a good man and good coach in John Hynes fired, Subban is on the stretch. And like Lehner said, people also deserve second chances, like books for an annual $9 million for the next two years. the one he got and is taking full advantage of. Good for him to continue Players fade. Subban is 30 years old, and that happens. to speak out, and help bring about change in a sport that can often be stuck in the past. But what should be embarrassing is that during this time of organizational upheaval, he is out and about almost every day with another promotion. Comfy Kevin On Wednesday, a day after Hynes was fired following desultory efforts in Good to see Kevin Hayes getting comfortable in Philadelphia, huh? He a 4-0 loss to the Rangers at home and a 7-1 thumping up in Buffalo, was honest about the pressure of his $50 million contract, and how he’s Subban was at Bryant Park doing an appearance for Red Bull. The press now just trying to play hockey. release said he was “2103 James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.” On Thursday night, he was at the He’s so comfortable, in fact, that they’re putting a mic on him. Not Adidas flagship store in Manhattan. What a great way to get ready for a recommended viewing if you’re averse to wicked Boston accents and big back-to-back under new coach Alain Nasreddine, Friday night at hockey-speak nonsense — “Go warmy”? Give me a break. home against the Blackhawks and then Subban’s big return to Nashville on Saturday night. Should be a barnburner (or tape burner?). New York Post LOADED: 12.07.2019

The league has bought in, too. Opening up the All-Star game to fan voting again — remember how that worked out the first time? — it is pledging $25,000 to the players who get the most retweets on Twitter and the most likes on Instagram using their hashtag, #NHLAllStar. Just give it to Subban now.

It is amazing that he has time to practice and play games with all the time he spends posting on social media. They must let him keep his phone on the bench.

Which really wouldn’t be all that surprising, considering how much Devils managing partner Josh Harris has gushed about Subban and his personality. Every time Harris has talked, he can’t help himself by bringing up Subban’s fiancee, Lindsey Vonn, who is now making a living as a celebrity following an illustrious Olympic skiing career.

“Let’s face it — P.K., and we’re lucky enough to adopt Lindsey also, they’re major stars,” Harris said during the laughable circus that was Subban summer press conference. “I think it elevates our organization. I’m very excited about it. I think it’s a win-win on all sides, and we’re lucky enough to have someone who’s very good at it, embraces it and connects with fans.

“We’re trying, as much as we can, to roll that out in an effective way.”

Know where you’ve heard the phrase “roll out” before? In marketing pitches.

Everyone knew that marketing was a big part of the trade, but this is at the expense of the on-ice product. People around the league have been quick to jump on Subban for years to say he couldn’t play anymore, but it seemed like jealousy towards an outgoing personality in a sport that prides itself on stoicism. But when Nashville traded him for two middling prospects and two second-round picks, what did that say about his worth? (And how do you think Montreal feels, with captain Shea Weber healthy and playing like The Mountain Man again?)

Subban’s over-the-top arrival in Newark back on July 26 would have made you think he was a returning war hero. At least, better than Damon Severson. The Devils made their bed with that pomp and circumstance, and now they’re laying in it.

If Subban’s poor play is weighing on him, it sure doesn’t show. He hasn’t even had the wherewithal to say, “I need to be better.” Maybe he doesn’t think that.

It should be crystal clear that this has nothing to do with Subban’s charitable work. His $10 million donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital is still breathtaking, and his visit when he was up there on Thanksgiving was heartwarming. His work continued in Nashville by bringing inner-city kids and police officers together. And surely he is 1165025 New York Islanders to do it. I think that’s certainly the case with our group. There’s plenty of guys that step up to protect a teammate. That sort of thing is contagious to the room.”

Bad behavior of some NHL coaches has created fallout for all, including Picked from the pod good guys such as Barry Trotz Minnesotan Brock Nelson’s middle name is Christian. As in uncle Dave Christian, who played for Herb Brooks’ squad that won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Or grandfather Bill Christian Updated December 7, 2019 3:34 AM and great-uncle Roger Christian, who played for Team USA as it won gold in 1960. Or great-uncle Gordon Christian, who won a silver medal By Andrew Gross for Team USA in 1956.

Nelson was a guest on Episode 10 of Island Ice, Newsday’s Islanders Let’s start here with Barry Trotz so nothing can be misunderstood about podcast. He discussed growing up in such a famous hockey family. the intent of this column: “It’s pretty special because, growing up, you probably didn’t realize it at The Islanders’ coach, headed for the Hall of Fame shortly after his career the time,” Nelson said. “You’re in love with the game of hockey and ends, has an impeccable reputation for a reason. He earns and deserves you’re playing all the time. But you didn’t realize the importance of the respect — from his players, his bosses, the media and within the Miracle on Ice and that even my grandpa and my great-uncle, going back community — because he treats others with the utmost respect. to ’60 and winning the gold and now growing up and seeing that only two teams have been able to pull off that accomplishment. It’s pretty special Flat out, Trotz is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the nasty to have that in the family and they’re just two guys that I looked up to as allegations of verbal and physical abuse directed at colleagues Bill a kid as role models. Not as hockey players but just as people. So it Peters, Mike Babcock and Marc Crawford. means a lot for the family.”

And yet Trotz surely will be affected by the fallout of what’s hung over the Bill and Roger Christian also helped found the Christian Brothers hockey NHL like a cloud since Nov. 25, when former player Akim Aliu accused stick manufacturing company. Peters of using racist language. “I remember running around the factory after school for hours and playing Peters was forced to resign as the Flames’ coach. The Maple Leafs with any stick or any blade I could get my hand on,” Nelson said. already had fired Babcock for performance-related issues when the story came out that he had asked then-rookie Mitch Marner to rank his Back to back? teammates in terms of their effort level, then broke Marner’s confidence The Islanders had allowed the fewest goals in the NHL through Friday’s by revealing the list to the team. Former player Sean Avery, no choirboy, play with 65 after their 196 goals against led the league last season. The said Crawford kicked him on the bench. Crawford, for now a Blackhawks same team leading the NHL in that category in consecutive seasons has assistant coach, was placed on leave. been done four times by only two organizations since the NHL-WHA There have been calls for the NHL to adopt a written code of conduct. merger in 1979 expanded the league to 21 teams: Even without one going forward, everybody will be under the microscope. Canadiens — 1980-81 (232 goals against) and 1981-82 (223) Trotz understandably was very careful about his comments when he was Canadiens — 1986-87 (241), 1987-88 (238) and 1988-89 (218) privately approached by Newsday and asked what kind of scrutiny he expects all coaches to be under now. Devils — 1996-97 (182) and 1997-98 (166)

“I’m not answering that,” Trotz said at first. “Let the general managers Devils — 2002-03 (166 — tie with Flyers) and 2003-04 (164) figure that out.” Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.07.2019 Trotz did relent somewhat, explaining his philosophy about his working relationships with players.

He added that he believes “they’re going to put things in place” when it comes to guidelines.

“You just go about doing what you do, do it as correctly as you can and that’s what we can do,” Trotz said. “We’re in a partnership with the players as coaches and we’ve got to make them better. The thing that I like to do is try to find out as much about the players and their families.”

Again, Trotz has an impeccable reputation because he does things the right way.

But he and all other coaches will face more scrutiny now because others didn’t.

Remember when

Fighting has steadily decreased in the NHL over the decades, and teams no longer feel the need to dress an enforcer — or enforcers — to act as a deterrent. The Islanders took six fighting majors in their first 27 games, three for hulking Ross Johnston, two for Casey Cizikas and one for defenseman Scott Mayfield.

Josh Bailey has fought five times in 12 NHL seasons, according to hockeyfights.com, and one of his two bouts last season was brought up to him before Monday night’s 4-1 win in Detroit.

He had dropped the gloves with the Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin during the Islanders’ previous visit to Little Caesars Arena on Dec. 12, 2018, in response to defenseman ’s crushing hit on captain Anders Lee.

“It’s not just me, I think we’ve got a lot of confidence in this room,” Bailey said. “You don’t always want it to be Johnner or Marty [Martin], and it seems like Z has had a few. You want to know that other guys are willing 1165026 New York Islanders

Jordan Eberle believes Islanders' approach is same on road as at home

By Denis P. Gorman

Updated December 6, 2019 10:53 PM

Essentially, Jordan Eberle disagrees with one of Bill Parcells’ most famous tropes.

The right wing doesn’t believe the Islanders are what their road record says they are.

“By no means do I think we’re a bad road team,” Eberle said after practice Friday at Northwell Health Ice Center in preparation for a three- game trip that takes them to Dallas Saturday night, Tampa Bay Monday and Florida Thursday.

While no official announcement was made regarding who would start in goal against the Stars, Semyon Varlamov was the first goalie off the ice, which could mean the free agent signee is in line to snap the franchise- record 27 game stretch of netminders alternating games.

Regardless of who starts in goal, the Islanders find themselves 7-4-1 away from Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center, which ranks as the 11th best road record in the league. Their 12-2-1 home mark is behind only Boston for the league’s best. Additionally the Islanders have outscored opponents 50-34 at home compared with 33-28 on the road.

Collectively, the sample sizes are significant, which prompts a question: Is there something about playing away from Long Island which affects the Islanders’ style of play?

The answer is no, according to Eberle.

“We play four lines,” Eberle said. “We play simple, a structure game. That’s just the identity we’ve had all year. So as long as we’re doing that, it doesn’t matter if it’s home or road.”

The roughest stretch of the season was the pre-Thanksgiving trip to California in which the Islanders lost to the Sharks, Ducks and Kings by an aggregate 9-2. Eberle was quick to point out those losses had nothing to do with the venue they played in. Instead, the results were becaise of how they played.

“We went to [California] and played some tough teams,” Eberle said. “And really weren’t on our game and had it handed to us a bit. We got a similar road trip in that we [have] three hard teams and we have to have a better one this time around.

“I think it was three games that we really didn’t play and it could have been home or away and we would have lost ...If we were to play like the way we did on the road at home it would have been the same story. So I don’t think it would have made a difference. We have a group here that [has played] a lot of man games and guys who have played a lot of hockey, [so] I don’t think the road should really dictate how we play.”

Notes & quotes: Before practice, the Islanders announced that Otto Koivula was sent down to AHL Bridgeport. In six games this season, Koivula had two shots on goal while averaging 7:21 of ice time. “He’s a young man, 20 years old. He’s a big load. Those guys take awhile but getting some practice time with us, getting to see the NHL was a good experience for him,” coach Barry Trotz said. “This is the message, ‘You didn’t fail.’ Some guys try all their life to get to this point to play in a NHL game. It’s just the first step of a process.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165027 New York Islanders guessing game. I could see Colorado dealing a future first-rounder for Hall, because they believe they’ll be a playoff team for years to come – and thus won’t be in the lottery for the next couple of years. I could also see them surrendering an A-minus or a B-plus prospect in a possible Duhatschek Notebook: Taylor Hall’s worth as a deadline rental and how deal. But A-plus prospects? For a rental? For me and for the way the the Islanders created a winning culture game is trending ever younger, it just does not compute.

The evolution of a winning culture

By Eric Duhatschek Dec 6, 2019 Hall’s former teammate in Edmonton, Jordan Eberle, scored his first two goals of the season this past week, which may surprise anyone that

doesn’t follow the New York Islanders too closely. Taylor Hall’s name has dominated the hockey chatter this week and why Eberle started the season with three assists in five games, missed 10 wouldn’t it? It’s December, meaning there’s starting to be a separation in games because of injury and then took a further 10 games to finally hit the standings, and Hall’s New Jersey Devils are so badly underachieving the back of the net. That can happen sometimes when a player this season’s perhaps too lofty expectations that they fired coach John essentially misses a month – it takes time to properly get back up to Hynes this week. Moreover, Hall is a sexy trade candidate, a former MVP speed. who is unsigned after this season and is going to ask for a pile of cash from whichever team happens to land him. Long term, he’s also going to But it wasn’t just Eberle not scoring goals at their usual pace. Up until a want to go to a team with a chance to win the Stanley Cup because at few days ago, Anders Lee – the Islanders’ captain, a 40-goal scorer just the age of 28, and coming off a season in which injuries limited him to two seasons ago, had only five goals on the season. Lee’s totals broke just 33 games, Hall isn’t getting any younger. down this way: Five goals in the first 12 games; none in the next 11; and then goals in back-to-back games to end the slump. The mitigating See the problem, right? circumstance in both of their cases was that the Islanders were winning – Most teams with a shot at winning the Stanley Cup either don’t have the and in the NHL, winning mitigates every other circumstance and takes salary-cap space to add a long-term contract in the $10-million annual the pressure off the individual to produce, just so long as things are going range now or won’t have the salary-cap space in the near future as their well for the collective whole. own top young players require new deals. This is an easy concept to frame, but harder to actually put into actual By contrast, most teams with the cap space to do that contract are practice. probably years away from contending. And if all you’re doing is adding The idea that in a sport where the individual moving parts are so tightly Hall as a pure rental, then the chances of New Jersey landing a king’s interconnected to the whole, if you can get everything moving together in ransom in talent and draft choices to make that deal drop precipitously. sync, it takes the pressure off of the individual players. The scrutiny that Both Scott Burnside and Jonathan Willis tackled the pros and cons of a Eberle or Lee might have faced had the team been losing would have possible Hall deal. been far greater.

To those pieces, I would only add that when casually dropping Hall’s But it wasn’t. name into the conversation with a few movers and shakers around the Trying to create that sort of collective winning culture is the objective for league, one general observation surfaced more any other: every team in every team sport, but few succeed to the extent that the That while Hall might be this year’s answer to Mark Stone in terms of Islanders have, this year and last. availability, they like Stone’s all-around versatility and skill set more when How are they managing it? According to Eberle, it starts with the it comes to trying to push a team over the top – which is the whole point organizational leadership – general manager Lou Lamoriello and coach of adding a rental between now and the Feb. 24 trade deadline. A Barry Trotz. Before joining the Islanders, both enjoyed some successes handful of teams were negotiating hard with the Ottawa Senators on in their previous NHL stops, Lamoriello primarily with the New Jersey Stone last year before the Vegas Golden Knights won the bidding. Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs, Trotz with the Nashville Predators and Ultimately, the Golden Knights gave up the assets they did (which Washington Capitals. included Erik Brannstrom, a top defensive prospect) only because they then immediately signed Stone to a contract extension and essentially “Obviously, once Barry and Lou came in, they’re known for developing a locked him up for the rest of his career. culture of winning,” Eberle explained. “I think the biggest thing they preached to us is about details. You can look at the big picture, but it all Vegas’s confidence in what they were getting stemmed in part from the comes down to doing the right thing most of the time – and try to do it relationship that then-assistant GM, now the GM, Kelly McCrimmon, had every single time, whether it’s faceoffs, or power play, penalty kill, with Stone in junior while with Brandon. McCrimmon knew Stone well different situations in the game, it’s about details. If you’re the most enough as a player to make that bold commitment – of dollars and assets detailed team in the league and not cheating for offense, you’re going to that went Ottawa’s way. Vegas, in turn, thought Stone could be an have success. absolute difference-maker when it matters the most, in the playoffs. And while it did take Stone time to find his regular-season scoring touch (only “With us, with this team we have here, three things. 11 points in 18 games after the trade), he had a monstrously effective playoff on their behalf – and Vegas was unlucky not to advance out of the “One. We play as a team. If you look at the way we play games, we’re opening round. rolling four lines, and nobody is playing an excess of minutes throughout the lineup. Is there a team in the NHL that would be as certain of what they were getting in Hall as Vegas was with Stone? “Two. I think we’re one of the most detailed teams in the league. We do the right thing pretty much all the time; that’s why we have success. Unlikely. “Three is just the chemistry we have in the locker room. We all get along. It probably won’t change the fact that some team will eventually pay a We all like playing for each other. There really isn’t any ego. We win by boatload of dollars to sign Hall as an unrestricted free agent, which is committee. For me, I haven’t had a lot of success winning throughout my where it appears to be heading. career, so it’s nice to be a part of this.”

What’s less certain is how high any team is willing to ante up to add Hall Players such as Eberle, Lee and even Mathew Barzal have all had as a rental. identities as scorers throughout their careers. Surely that must be the most difficult concept for someone such as Eberle to digest, the value of For example, I see speculation that the Colorado Avalanche might adopting a new identity in pursuit of the greater goal of winning. include the fourth overall choice in last June’s entry draft, Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants in a deal for Hall. Because when you review the overall Islanders’ roster and consider only skaters, it’s difficult to answer the question: Who is their second-best Sorry, but I just can’t imagine any scenario in which that happens. Not all player after Barzal? first-round draft choices are created equal and first-rounders chosen in the top five are far more valuable than the ones selected in the second half of the opening round, where it becomes more of a gamble and Is it Brock Nelson, who is second on the team in scoring, with 21 points, In this era, players are almost always going to always say the right things three behind Barzal’s team-leading 24? Is it defenceman Ryan Pulock, in a controlled postgame or post-practice media environment. It’s why I who leads the team in ice time with 21:45 per night? Or Adam Pelech, always put far more stock into body language – visceral rather than who is second in TOI at 21:01 and is the only player other than Pulock to measured responses. average more than 20 minutes per night? Calgary is 4-0-1 in its last five and undefeated in three games under Some nights, their second-best player might be Lee. Some nights, Josh interim coach Geoff Ward. Ward started Lucic on a line with Derek Ryan Bailey. Barzal had 85 points as a rookie in the 2017-18 season on an and Johnny Gaudreau on Thursday night, but eventually, moved Dube Islanders’ team that also included John Tavares but ultimately finished back onto the unit and then shifted Gaudreau to a line with Mikael out of the playoffs and seventh out of eight teams in the Metropolitan Backlund and Sean Monahan, two natural centers playing together for Division. the first time.

The next year, Barzal produced 62 points but the Islanders finished For the Flames, last year’s Western Division champions, the season is second in the Metro and won a playoff round. It’s a very Steve Yzerman- not salvaged by any means. But for the first time in a long time, it looks ish development and speaks to what the Islanders are prepared to as if it’s headed in the right direction. sacrifice to win. Ralph Krueger’s homecoming “If you look at everyone’s numbers last year, everyone went down but we had more success,” Eberle said. “That’s just attributed to focusing more If Trotz is the primary agent of change with the Islanders, then that task on the defensive side of the puck. Playing good detailed hockey. Not in Buffalo has fallen to Ralph Krueger, the first-year head coach of the cheating for offense. If you have guys in the locker room, like we have Sabres who is in the midst of a homecoming week of sorts. On Thursday, here, willing to give up personal stats to have success, you’re going to the Sabres faced the Flames in Calgary, where Krueger played a season win hockey games. And that’s what we’re doing.” of major junior with the 1978-79 Wranglers (and was a pretty good player too, with 83 points in 62 games). NHL history suggests there are a lot of teams that can surge from one year to the next, but then inevitably fall back, reverting to the mean. From there, after a stop in Vancouver to play a Saturday afternoon game against the Canucks, the Sabres moved on to Edmonton, where Krueger In many ways, the most impressive thing about the Islanders is that previously spent one (lockout-shortened) season as the head coach of they’re doing it two years in a row. Some of us, probably starting with me, the Oilers. are going to have to stop oohing and aaahing in amazement. Following Thursday’s OT win over Vegas, the Islanders are 19-6-2 on the season. Krueger was reminiscing about that single season in Calgary this week, Nowadays, most NHL teams have analytics departments, in which they noting there weren’t many people around who remember him from those comb through all the available data to maximize performance. It’ll be days. (Just one person actually). Krueger noted how as a player, there interesting to see if there is something in the Islanders’ balanced were a lot of things he didn’t do well. “I couldn’t skate very well, I couldn’t approach to team-building that other teams can co-opt. As Eberle noted, shoot very well and I couldn’t play defense very well. So, all the things I they are going against the grain of the increasingly attack-oriented NHL. tried to learn as a coach.”

“I honestly think it’s because we have a formula here that we live by and The one thing he did do well was score, which helped him forge a 12- play by,” Eberle said. “It’s not flashy by any means. We’re not going to year playing career in Europe, which in turn led him into coaching. have guys winning league trophies, unless it’s the Jennings, but we’re Krueger detoured into the world of association football for five years, as committed to playing a style that is winning hockey games. In my opinion, chairman of Southampton F.C. of the English Premier League, before it’s playoff hockey and the way you need to play to win in the playoffs. returning this year to coach the Sabres. Maybe it’s not pretty to look at for the average fan, but we’re getting the The term renaissance man tends to be thrown around a fair bit, but job done.” Krueger might be one person currently employed in the NHL that it Milan Lucic on the board accurately describes. He is a published author and a respected motivational speaker. Eberle wasn’t the only slumping player to finally get on the scoresheet this week. In his 28th game of the season, after producing just four The ability to reach young players these days, says Krueger, is the most assists in the first 27 games, Milan Lucic scored his first goal as a crucial part of what they’re trying to accomplish in Buffalo – in the hopes member of the Calgary Flames. This is noteworthy for a few reasons, of turning around a franchise that has missed the playoffs in eight including the fact that the player he was traded for, James Neal, had consecutive years and 10 of the past 12. In that span, the Sabres seven goals in his first four games in an Edmonton Oilers’ uniform – and managed to get to the 100-point plateau just once (2009-10). So, a lot of so, rehashing the controversial offseason trade between the two Alberta work to do still. provincial rivals became voracious social media fodder during the first Just because it’s been more than 40 years since our paths first crossed, I month of the season. asked Krueger: When he looks in the mirror today, does he see the 20- What’s been interesting is to monitor the psychology of the Calgary fan year-old version of himself staring back? base, as it relates to Lucic, where the response has been far more “No, when I look in the mirror, I’m 60,” he answered, with a smile, “but my positive than the vitriol you see on Twitter. Normally, a player who makes brain is definitely not. Hanging out with the young players is one of the the kind of money Lucic does ($6-million per season) and endures the beautiful things of coaching. It keeps you young. So, my eyes and my sort of lengthy scoring slump he did, would be a merciless target of the mind are working like a 25-year-old actually, because it’s the 25-year- boo-birds. In Calgary, for whatever reason, it was just the opposite. Fans olds, on average, that I need to get to – not the 60-year-olds. That’s why (in the building anyway) have been largely supportive of Lucic, cheering actually I have trouble hanging out with groups of my age – they’re all the big hits and the fights and now the first goal. talking about death and dying, which is a reality of life in my age group. Puzzling maybe, but it’s also worth asking the question: Why was he But generally, I would say it’s a beautiful opportunity to be with 25-year- exempt? Presumably, because the fans collectively liked his physical olds and try to make them, not only better hockey players, but better play, understood that in a bottom-six role Lucic was a chemistry upgrade people. That’s what we’re working on, the culture of that, in Buffalo every over Neal for this particular team at this particular time; and that even if day.” he only contributes a handful more goals this year, he can make a The challenge naturally is balancing the long-term goal – of changing a contribution to the sort of collective goals that Eberle was framing above. culture, which doesn’t happen overnight – with the short-term pressure of This requires a certain nuanced understanding of what goes on in a trying to win games, night after night in the NHL. team’s dressing room; nuance is usually lost on collective crowd How does one go about doing that? behavior. Outside of Calgary, the Lucic haters will continue to pile on, no matter what. Internally, you only had to observe the response of his “By keeping the picture small,” Kruger answered. “The single most teammates to Lucic’s goal to see how they really felt. Dillon Dube, who important thing we can do, in this large phase of growth, is take care of earned an assist on the goal, probably jumped a foot in the air to what we can take care of today – and try to improve on the details that celebrate. Later, goaltender David Rittich skated to the bench and gave need to come together before you’re a playoff team in the National Lucic an affectionate rub of the old noggin during a stoppage in play. Hockey League. That takes a lot of work and a lot of time. But we have a simple plan and we’re sticking with it. And within that plan, we just work on growth every day.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165028 New York Islanders internal option to fill the void on the top two lines. The conversations from late last season and into training camp this season between coach and player centered around consistent effort from shift to shift regardless of offensive outcomes. ‘It’s a mindset’: What’s behind Anthony Beauvillier’s breakout with the Islanders “Forechecking has always been a part of my game and this year I wanted to improve a little bit,” Beauvillier said. “Every time I was having some not really good games last year, Trotzy and I talked about fixing my battles. I feel like I’m a lot better player on the walls and I feel like if I’m not By Arthur Staple Dec 6, 2019 forechecking, I’m not going to have a good game.”

He’s on pace for 27 goals and 54 points, numbers that would put the 22- The mental side of being an NHL player has been the biggest challenge year-old Beauvillier into a different class of young player. With another for Anthony Beauvillier. Through his first three seasons — playing for season left at a $2.1 million cap hit, he won’t be a bank-breaker like his three different coaches — he never quite developed the consistency buddy Barzal. But that third contract would be something very different needed for any of those coaches to give him regular minutes in the top for a guy picked 28th overall in the historic 2015 draft, with the 10th most six or on special teams. He produced, but usually in bursts followed by goals in the draft class. stretches of zeroes on the score sheet. “He’s just churning the legs, playing hard, executing,” Trotz said. “You Beauvillier hasn’t gotten noticeably bigger, stronger or faster; he’s can tell he’s raising his game to a real good level.” solidified his mental approach. And the results have been quite good. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 He’s one of just three Islander forwards who play regularly in all situations (Beauvillier, Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson average more than a minute of penalty-kill time per game along with two minutes of power- play time per game), and Beauvillier’s ice time is up over three minutes per game from 2018-19.

“It’s a mindset,” Beauvillier said. “You’re going out there not hoping to score a goal, wanting to score a goal, wanting to shoot the puck, to win battles, make plays. Just the mindset, instead of just hoping to get some playing time and hoping to get a goal, it’s more going out and having a good game, feel good about myself.”

There’s a lot to feel good about. Outside of Casey Cizikas, Beauvillier might be the Islanders’ most tenacious forechecker. The second Islander goal in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win over the Golden Knights was peak Beau. Nelson, his linemate for the entire season, tipped a Scott Mayfield dump-in and Beauvillier raced to the back of the Vegas net, bumping William Karlsson off the puck.

He then swept a pass out to Nelson, who snapped a shot home with four Golden Knights in good defensive position.

“He sees that play even before I get to where I need to be,” Nelson said. “Just throws it back short side to a spot. I’m trying to find space to get a shot off if he can win the puck. I’m betting on Beau there.”

Beauvillier was the surprise teenager to stick with the Islanders in his post-draft year; it was supposed to be his Canadian World Junior teammate, Mathew Barzal, selected 12 picks ahead of him in the 2015 draft. But Beauvillier, just 19 but with the mature physique of a much more veteran player, displayed the sort of all-around attributes that Garth Snow and Jack Capuano felt the Islanders needed heading into 2016-17.

He had his moments that rookie season, as he did in the two subsequent seasons under Doug Weight and then Trotz. Beauvillier’s 21 goals in 2017-18 marked just the second time an Islanders player aged 20 or younger broke the 20-goal plateau in the previous 32 years. Yet, within that respectable season was a three-game demotion to Bridgeport in January, while the Islanders were on their five-day break. He returned from the demotion to score eight goals in his next seven games.

A season ago he tied for fifth on the team with 18 goals, but he still was primarily a third-liner and who got little time outside of five-on-five. Beauvillier’s most regular linemates a season ago were veterans Valtteri Filppula and , productive players for Trotz last season but not the sort of regular scorers Beauvillier might have needed to boost his totals beyond 28 points.

Along with his sturdier mental game, Beauvillier has shown Trotz he can trust him with Nelson and in heavy PP and PK rotation.

“I think a lot of it is about finding a role,” Barzal said. “He obviously has the ability, he’s had it since he was in junior. You get that opportunity and you run with it, that really makes you feel confident.”

“Being able to go out and play free, feeling like he’s a part of the team,” Nelson said. “I think everyone goes through that. He’s taken it full steam right now. Nice to see a guy who went through a couple tough stretches, now he’s believing in himself and having fun.”

It’s been a crucial jump, too. When the Islanders struck out on adding a winger to their top six, Trotz understood that Beauvillier was his best 1165029 New York Rangers his game. He’s got the ability to get us out of our end when he’s sharp. We’re pretty young back there, so we certainly embrace getting a guy with his experience and his stature — and certainly the way our guys respect him — it’s good to have him back.” Despite better all-around effort, Rangers lose on late goal New York Daily News LOADED: 12.07.2019

By VINCENT Z. MERCOGLIANO

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE |DEC 06, 2019 | 10:49 PM

Hockey can be a funny game at times.

By all accounts — including their own — the Rangers were outplayed by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. Yet, thanks to some great goaltending and a few timely goals, they escaped with a surprising win.

Then came Friday at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Rangers were much more in control, putting forth a better all-around effort in pretty much every facet of the game — yet a backbreaking goal from Nate Thompson with just over a minute to play resulted in a 2-1 loss.

The Rangers’ goal came from an unexpected source.

Early in the second period, veteran Brendan Smith capitalized on a Montreal turnover and finished a breakaway with a nifty backhand for his third goal of the season.

It’s been six games since Mika Zibanejad returned from his upper-body injury, and the Rangers have begun each of them with a different combination of lines.

That streak continued Friday, but the lines that began the game together were broken up by the second period.

Clearly, coach David Quinn is still searching for the right blend. But the most interesting revelation as the game went on involved Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko playing together for the first time.

Zibanejad began the game with Kakko and Brendan Lemieux, while Panarin was alongside and Jesper Fast. But by the mid- point of the second period, Zibanejad and Panarin — without question the Rangers’ two most dynamic forwards — were playing on the same line with the coveted rookie Kakko.

Zibanejad and Panarin started the season together on the top line with Pavel Buchnevich, but that combination only lasted seven games. They were separated for game No. 8 — a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 24 — and with Zibanejad getting hurt in the following game against the Boston Bruins, they hadn’t played together since.

Canadiens center Nick Cousins, c, controls the puck skating ahead of Rangers right wing Pavel Buchnevich, r.

After being outshot 47-19 in Columbus on Thursday night — and amazingly escaping with a 3-2 win, thanks in no small part to 45 saves from Alexandar Georgiev — the Rangers put forth a much better effort in terms of defending their own zone and controlling the puck in the other.

A mistimed line change in the first period led to an easy opportunity for Montreal, which Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher converted into a goal at the 10:37 mark. But overall, the Rangers were more efficient in limiting the scoring chances for the Canadiens and not bleeding shot attempts.

“We’ve got to learn from (Thursday) night,” Quinn said before the game. “It wasn’t pretty. It was probably the quietest bus I’ve ever been on after a win. But the good news is we get to play tonight and we’re not going to be thinking much about what happened in Columbus.”

The Rangers also had defenseman Marc Staal rejoin the lineup for the first time in a month. He replaced rookie Libor Hájek, who the team announced will be out for three-to-four weeks with a knee sprain.

Staal’s play had been shaky earlier in the season, which earned him a three-game benching for one stretch, but Quinn seemed happy to have him back.

“He gives us such a different dimension with the makeup of our D,” he said. “He’s a big guy who’s got a lot of experience in this league. He’s got the ability to lean on people and have a little bit of a physical element to 1165030 New York Rangers like is the lull in our game right now that we get when we allow a team to hang around and get a couple on us."

In the third period, Jones pulled Columbus within one on a nice individual Artemi Panarin leads Rangers to victory over Blue Jackets in return to effort for his fourth at 3:33. He spun past Pavel Columbus Buchnevich at the blue line and eluded two more Rangers in front before scoring.

By ROBERT DENHARD [More Sports] Henrik Lundqvist moves into 5th on NHL career wins list after Rangers top Wild in overtime » ASSOCIATED PRESS |DEC 06, 2019 | 1:05 AM The Rangers closed it out short-handed with Brady Skjei in the penalty box for tripping Gustav Nyquist with 2:10 to play. Once again it was Georgiev holding his ground. He turned aside a long shot by Pierre-Luc COLUMBUS, Ohio — Artemi Panarin dazzled once again in Columbus. Dubois through traffic, then stopped Oliver Bjorkstrand with a glove save This time he was playing for the New York Rangers. on the rebound finishing the period with 18 saves. Panarin scored the decisive goal in his return to Ohio, leading the "In a situation like that, you're thinking nothing more than kill this and win Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night. the game," Zibanejad said. "He's a big-game player regardless of what's going on," Rangers coach NOTES: New York president John Davidson, who joined the Rangers in David Quinn said of Panarin, whose goal was his team leading 13th, and the offseason from Columbus, received a video tribute during the first 34th point overall. "He usually delivers statistically and he delivered the period. He served as the Blue Jackets' president of hockey operations for big one tonight." seven seasons. ... Panarin signed a seven-year, $81 million contract with Panarin left Columbus after signing a lucrative free-agent contract in the the Rangers. In two seasons with Columbus, he registered 169 points offseason with New York and heard it from the somewhat jilted pro Blue (55 goals, 114 assists) in 160 games. He recorded the two highest Jackets crowd. single-season assists and points totals in franchise history (59 assists in 2018-19 and 55 assists in 2017-19; 87 points in 2018-19 and 82 points in "It was a great few years for me with the team and in the city. I enjoy," 2017-18). ... Blue Jackets D Andrew Peeke, drafted 34th overall in 2016, Panarin said. "But real angry (anger) in the game from the fans, but that's made his NHL debut. ... Nick Foligno recorded his 300th career point on okay." Atkinson's goal. ... Columbus C Riley Nash played his 500th career game. ... Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella coached his 1,485th game, Serenaded with boos nearly every time he touched the puck, Panarin tying Darryl Sutter for 14th all-time in the NHL. ... Rangers D Libor Hajek was cheered during a first-period video tribute that acknowledged his injured his knee in the first period and did not return. contributions during two seasons in Columbus, a gesture from fans that he told reporters that he appreciated. During his tenure, Panarin was UP NEXT: often electric in making plays and putting the puck in the net, twice setting the franchise record for points in a season, including 87 last Columbus: At the Florida Panthers against former netminder Sergei season. Bobrovksy on Saturday.

Brendan Lemieux and Jacob Trouba also scored for New York. The Rangers: Host the Montreal on Friday. Rangers improved to 5-1-1 over their past seven games. Backup goalie New York Daily News LOADED: 12.07.2019 Alexander Georgiev was impressive in making a season-high 45 saves, bailing out a shaky defensive performance in front of him.

"If we're going to have any success, we've got to be committed to playing defense and we weren't committed in that area at all tonight," Quinn said.

Cam Atkinson and Seth Jones scored for Columbus, which struggled offensively in a third straight loss. Joonas Korpisalo made 16 saves.

So far this season, Columbus has missed Panarin's offensive spark. The Blue Jackets entered play next-to-last in the NHL in goals scored.

Early on, it seemed as if the Blue Jackets were primed for a breakout. They hit a few posts and Georgiev was sharp. The Rangers were outshot 18-6, but escaped the first period tied 1-1.

"It was all about Georgie tonight, that's for sure," Quinn said.

A linemate of Panarin's during a career-best 41-goal outburst but struggling this season, Atkinson started the scoring. Gliding into the zone, he let go a shot from between the circles, beating Georgiev between the legs at 12:43 for his fifth goal, and second in 18 games.

At the tail end of the period, Lemieux snapped a shot past Korpisalo on a centering pass from behind the net from Mika Zibanejad for his fifth at 19:52.

"Give up a goal in the last minute," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "We just don't have any room for error."

In the second period with the Rangers on the power play, Panarin nearly scored on a one-timer from the off wing, but Korpisalo stretched his right pad for the stop. Seconds later, Trouba, from nearly the same spot, scored at 5:46, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead on only nine shots.

New York made it 3-1 at 15:32 after a defensive breakdown on a missed Rangers shot left Panarin alone in front for an easy score into an open net.

"We had plenty of opportunities to score goals, we just didn't bury them," Columbus captain Nick Foligno said. "I like seeing that. The thing I don't 1165031 New York Rangers

David Quinn gives Marc Staal high marks in Rangers return

By Greg JoyceDecember 7, 2019 | 3:16am

Ready or not, Marc Staal returned to the Rangers lineup Friday night.

Almost exactly a month after undergoing ankle surgery to treat an infection, Staal was back for a 2-1 loss to the Canadiens at the Garden. He took the spot of Libor Hajek, who sprained his knee in Thursday’s win over the Blue Jackets and is expected to miss three to four weeks.

The 32-year-old Staal blocked three shots in 16:00 while getting paired with Tony DeAngelo.

“I thought Staalsy was solid,” coach David Quinn said. “I liked his game.”

Staal missed 13 games and only had two full practices under his belt before being forced into action Friday night.

“[I felt] OK, better as the game went on,” said Staal, who last played Nov. 7. “I felt a little more comfortable. Being off that long, you gotta just play and get reps and get your legs under you. Looking forward to the next game and continuing to build and get better.”

Just over a week before his surgery, Staal had been a healthy scratch for the first time in his 13-year career for three straight games. Now, with Hajek out and the Rangers not expecting to call up another defenseman for their upcoming road trip, Staal will get a chance to get back in a groove.

“I think he gives us such a different dimension with the makeup of our D,” Quinn said. “He’s a big guy, he’s got a lot of experience in this league. He’s got the ability to lean on people and have a little bit of physical element to his game. He’s got the ability to get us out of our end when he’s sharp. We’re pretty young back there, so we certainly embrace getting a guy with his experience and his stature and certainly the way our guys respect him, it’s good to have him back.”

Quinn mixed up his forward lines to start the game and ended it with even more combinations as he tried to find a spark.

The top line turned into Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Kaapo Kakko, a trio that may get another chance to play together.

“I’d like to give them a little bit more of an opportunity,” Quinn said. “I thought they were OK. I didn’t think they had as many chances as we would have liked, but neither did either team or either line. It was kind of one of those nights.”

Chris Kreider joined Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast on the second line, Brendan Smith got bumped up to the third line with Brendan Lemieux and Filip Chytil while Pavel Buchnevich dropped to the fourth line with Greg McKegg and Brett Howden.

With McKegg returning from a lower-body injury that cost him six games, the Rangers assigned forward Boo Nieves to AHL Hartford.

New York Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165032 New York Rangers “That was a tough start, obviously, but I tried to do the same thing that I always do, and that is to forget about happened before and play in the moment,” Georgiev said. “I always try my best not to allow a [previous] goal to affect the way I play. Rangers are winning with every Alexandar Georgiev minute “I did not think about the [Lightning] game. I never thought about it once it was done. That game was over.”

By Larry BrooksDecember 7, 2019 | 1:35am The Rangers will have themselves a mighty tough call here. But the more Georgiev plays, the more management will know. And the more other

teams such as the Maple Leafs will know, too. The start was supposed to go to Henrik Lundqvist, but after the King That is a good thing. came up a bit gimpy on Thursday when he was scheduled to back up Alexandar Georgiev at Columbus, coach David Quinn went back-to-back New York Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 with No. 40 for Friday’s match at the Garden against the Canadiens.

“It was a great feeling to play two in a row,” Georgiev said following the Blueshirts’ 2-1 loss on Nate Thompson’s unstoppable chip-in from the right porch at 18:53 of the third period, following an unfortunate turnover on an unadvised stretch pass through the neutral zone by Ryan Lindgren. “It’s not often I get to do that.”

It was, in fact, the fourth time in the 23-year-old’s young, 51-start NHL career that he has gone back-to-back. And if Georgiev was not as spectacular as he was in the 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets in which he stopped 45 shots because his team was far better in front of him, he surely was good enough again in this 31-save effort.

“I felt good physically,” he said. “I tried to push myself harder and get into a rhythm.”

And though the circumstances were unwelcome, for no one wishes Lundqvist ill, the King’s relatively minor ailment was serendipitous for the Blueshirts, who are on a need-to-know basis regarding Georgiev. So the more games, the more starts, the more challenges thrown the Bulgarian- born netminder’s way can only benefit management and the franchise.

The more information the Rangers have, the more educated their conclusion will be when finally forced to confront the Lundqvist-Georgiev- Igor Shesterkin organizational troika in nets. The more exposure Georgiev gets, the greater his value to the franchise as either Lundqvist’s partner and heir or as a chip on the trade market if the decision-makers in the executive suite commit to Shesterkin as their goaltender of the future.

Who knows what the Maple Leafs, desperate for a back-up to , might be willing to surrender in exchange for Georgiev?

The Rangers tightened up and played a more structured game than they had the previous night, but were unable to generate much at all against Carey Price and a Montreal team that had gone 1-6-3 in its previous 10 contests. Quinn juggled his lines to start the game and juggled them again during the match, most notably moving Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko onto Mika Zibanejad’s flanks and demoting Pavel Buchnevich to the fourth unit.

Those moves may have ramifications — Kakko had previously played 6:58 of five-on-five with Panarin and Zibanejad before this one, and Buchnevich was dropped to the fourth line in an exchange with Brendan Smith, who recorded his team’s lone tally by beating Price up top on a backhand off a breakaway — but rest assured, the conundrum regarding the goaltending scenario and Georgiev’s place in it is perhaps the most critical decision management will face in shaping this team.

Georgiev has started 12 of 28 games for the Rangers (14-11-3). He has, for the most part, played pretty darn well, but most impressive is the way he has been able to rebound from what appeared to be twin shellackings at Tampa Bay and Montreal, respectively, on Nov. 14 and Nov. 23, in which he allowed nine goals on 46 shots in 49:33 by the 2:51 mark of the second period of that game against the Canadiens.

For when Shea Weber scored to give the Habs a 4-0 lead at that point of the second period on Nov. 23, Georgiev’s stay on Broadway seemed imperiled. Summoning Shesterkin from the AHL Wolf Pack seemed all but etched in stone.

But …

But, after Weber scored, Georgiev steadied. The Rangers roared back to win, 6-5. And since that Weber goal, Georgiev has allowed five goals on 136 shots in 218:51 for a .963 save percentage and 1.37 goals-against average. Quick, technically sound and generally square to the shooter, you can add mental toughness to the goaltender’s list of attributes. 1165033 New York Rangers

Rangers give up late goal in tough loss to Canadiens

By Greg JoyceDecember 6, 2019 | 9:54pm | Updated

The Rangers felt as if they stole two points Thursday at Columbus.

Friday, in the second half of the back-to-back, they got the other end of the stick.

Despite a defensive effort better than the one they mustered the night before, the Rangers were left without any points after the Canadiens broke a tie with 1:07 left in the third period to take a 2-1 win at the Garden.

Alexandar Georgiev had made a few big saves in the final minutes before Nate Thompson tucked home the winner off a rush created by a Ryan Lindgren turnover in the neutral zone.

“This one stings,” Mika Zibanejad said. “I thought we played more disciplined. I thought we played hard in our own zone. We had a lot of zone time, didn’t really get to the good opportunities enough. It’s one of those bounces in the neutral zone, they go the other way and they score. It sucks that it’s just one minute left and we don’t get anything out of the game.”

The Rangers (14-11-3) were coming off a 3-2 win against the Blue Jackets, with Georgiev making 45 saves in a game in which they were outshot 47-19. The win earned Georgiev the start again Friday — despite Henrik Lundqvist originally being scheduled to make it — and the 23- year-old came back with 31 saves against the Canadiens (13-11-6).

The Rangers played better in front of him, keeping the shots in check Friday night — getting outshot 33-30 — but lacked the end result.

“I certainly liked our intentions much better,” coach David Quinn said. “We were night-and-day from a defensive standpoint, our intentions, our support, structure, all those things. It’s just disappointing. It’s two teams that looked like they played [Thursday] night and unfortunately we were the first team to blink, with a minute to go. Disappointing.”

When the teams met last month in Montreal, the Rangers fell behind 4-0 before coming back to win 6-5. They spared the crowd the full drama in the rematch, but entered the third period knotted up 1-1.

An ill-advised line change by the Rangers led to the Canadiens taking the lead in the first period. Defensemen Marc Staal and Tony DeAngelo got little help in their own zone and the Canadiens turned it into a two-on- one. DeAngelo was left alone in front of the net and could not stop a pass from Tomas Tatar to Brendan Gallagher, who finished off a one-timer that beat Georgiev at 10:37 of the first period.

The Canadiens gift-wrapped the Rangers a scoring chance early in the second period and Brendan Smith didn’t miss. After a Habs pass leaked out of their own zone, Smith chased after the puck and walked in on a breakaway, dekeing Carey Price before tucking a backhander into the back of the net to tie it 1-1 at 2:30.

But the Rangers failed to find that finishing touch the rest of the night despite controlling the puck and creating their share of chances. They let a pair of second-period power plays go to waste while also killing off a penalty earlier in the period, with Zibanejad nearly giving them the lead on a shorthanded two-on-one.

Now, the Rangers head West, with a four-game road trip beginning Sunday in Las Vegas. Until then, they’ll be left lamenting the one that got away.

“It just comes down to a turnover and they get a chance and that’s it,” Staal said. “So it’s a lesson learned that moment in the game. Just gotta get pucks in and out of both blue lines.

“It’s a funny game sometimes. I thought we deserved better tonight.”

New York Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165034 New York Rangers

Rangers give up winning goal with 1:07 left in third period, fall to Canadiens

By Laura Albanese

Updated December 7, 2019 12:26 AM

It was a game that required the Rangers to remind themselves of the fundamentals: pace and spacing and structure.

No, not Friday night’s loss to the Canadiens — though, to be sure, that stung plenty. The game David Quinn was referring to was on Thursday, in Columbus, when the Rangers won.

But that’s how things go in the NHL. Sometimes you win games you should lose, and sometimes a goal in the final minute of play means you lose a game you very well could have won.

That occurred Friday night, when a much livelier Rangers crew bounced back from a lackluster performance the night before . . . only to lose to the Canadiens, 2-1, on Nate Thompson’s goal with 1:07 left in regulation at Madison Square Garden.

“I certainly liked our intentions much better. Night and day from a defensive standpoint,” Quinn said. “That was disappointing. Two teams that looked like they played last night and unfortunately, we were the first team to blink.”

That happened when Nick Cousins barreled in on goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. His shot was deflected, Georgiev tried to slide to stop it and Thompson cleaned it up for the winner.

“I have to look at the replay,” said Georgiev, who otherwise had his second strong night in a row, making 31 saves. “Maybe I should have gotten up on my feet and had a better chance of stopping it.”

Georgiev played in part because of his game-anchoring performance Thursday and in part because Henrik Lundqvist was sick (though not ill enough to be unavailable if he had been needed). Friday also heralded the return of Marc Staal (out 13 games) and Greg McKegg (out six).

“It’s tough,” Staal said. “It’s a funny game sometimes. I thought we deserved better tonight. You know, it’s one of those things where we play again in a few days and we’ve just got to have a short memory — grow from it, learn from it.”

The Rangers had 29 shots on Carey Price, who looked to be in peak form, especially during a late-period flurry in the second period, when he made five saves in the final 1:35.

The Canadiens got on board first, with their top line pushing seamlessly out of their own zone and taking it all the way up the ice, culminating in two tidy connections: Tomas Tatar fed Phillip Danault and Danault cut down the slot to find Brendan Gallagher, sidled up near the net. Gallagher’s wrist flick beat Georgiev on the glove side as the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead at 10:37 of the first period.

The Rangers got even 2:30 into the second period, courtesy of an unlikely source. The puck skittered past Canadiens defenseman Otto Leskinen near center ice, giving Brendan Smith a breakaway opportunity. His backhand to the top shelf over Price was his third goal of the season.

Price shut it down after that, and by the final buzzer, the Rangers found themselves doing hockey’s version of penance for their sloppy play the night before.

“You don’t justify this game by the way we played and the way we got two points yesterday,” Mika Zibanejad said. “I don’t think that’s how that stuff works. Obviously, it stinks. I thought we were better than last night . . . This one stings.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165035 New York Rangers

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal returns to lineup after missing 13 games

By Laura Albanese

Updated December 7, 2019 12:28 AM

Defenseman Marc Staal returned to the Rangers’ lineup Friday night after a 13-game absence, a stroke of fortuitous timing after coach David Quinn said rookie Libor Hajek likely will be out at least three weeks with a knee sprain.

Staal headlined a number of tweaks as the Rangers got set to take on the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. Gregg McKegg, who missed six games with a lower-body injury, returned to the fourth line alongside Brett Howden and Brendan Smith. Alexandar Georgiev played his second straight game in goal, in part because Henrik Lundqvist was battling an illness (Quinn said Lundqvist was well enough to play if needed).

Staal had surgery on his right ankle on Nov. 8 and traveled with the Rangers to Columbus on Thursday before being held out of the game. Though he hasn’t contributed much in terms of point production in the last few seasons, the 32-year-old is a steady presence.

“I think he gives us such a different dimension with the makeup of our D,” Quinn said. “He’s a big guy, he’s got a lot of experience in this league. He has the ability to lean on people and that little bit of physical element to his game. He’s got the ability to get us out of our end when he’s sharp. We’re pretty young back there, so we certainly embrace getting a guy with his experience and his stature.”

Staal’s return wasn’t under the most ideal of circumstances. “Ideally, you’d like to give him more practice time, more time to get his feet under him, but it’s the National Hockey League,” Quinn said. “We don’t have time for that.”

Blue notes

Boo Nieves was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack to make room for the two returnees. He played in four games with the Rangers.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165036 New York Rangers But if the effort in his team’s own zone has been inconsistent, one thing that has been consistent is that the Rangers keep getting offense from their defensemen. When Jacob Trouba scored on the power play Thursday, it was his fourth goal of the season and the 24th goal scored Former Newsday beat writer Steve Zipay writes book on Rangers' history by a defenseman in 27 games. That led the league entering Friday night's play.

The total includes two goals scored by Brendan Smith, who plays forward Updated December 7, 2019 3:21 AM at even strength and defense on the penalty kill, but even subtracting the By Colin Stephenson goal Smith scored while playing forward, the Rangers still would have the most goals (23) by defensemen in the league.

Tony DeAngelo led the blueliners with seven goals entering Friday’s Former Newsday Rangers beat writer Steve Zipay has written a new game against Montreal, followed by Adam Fox, the rookie from Jericho, book on the Rangers titled “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that who had five. Trouba and his current partner on defense, Brady Skjei, Made the New York Rangers.’’ each had four.

The book is a collection of the 50 most significant players and moments Among the eight defensemen on the roster (including Smith), only rookie in the franchise’s 94-year history, as rated by Zipay. It tells well- Libor Hajek has failed to score a goal this season. Even defense-first researched and fascinating stories from the franchise’s entire history, veteran Marc Staal and rookie Ryan Lindgren have scored. Staal, in fact, including features on most of the key players from the 1994 Stanley Cup scored the first goal of the season. championship team. It also highlights players and key figures from all eras of the franchise, including the 1930s and 1940s, the Emile Francis Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.07.2019 years and the post-’94 years, starring Henrik Lundqvist.

“There's been tons of stuff written on the Rangers over the years,’’ Zipay said over lunch a few weeks ago. “A lot of it stops at ’94. It was a momentous occasion, so you have to include that. That is one of the greatest moments in the franchise's 90-something-year history, right? But what I told the publisher, and we agreed, is that the Rangers had a great run starting from 2005. And there were moments and players that were just as significant.’’

The book has a foreword by former Ranger Pete Stemkowski, and each player, or moment, gets his/its own chapter (Stemkowski gets his own, in addition to the foreword). Mark Messier, who helped deliver the ’94 title that ended a 54-year drought, gets the first chapter, and Brian Leetch — who wore jersey No. 2 — gets chapter No. 2.

But it’s not just about Cup winners. There’s a lot written about Francis, the general manager who built the late 1960s Rangers that were so good and came so close, and the stars of those teams: Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Eddie Giacomin.

And there’s a chapter on Frank Boucher, the Hall of Famer who played on the 1928 and 1933 Stanley Cup champions and then coached the 1940 team to the championship.

The book is published by Triumph Books and is 288 pages. It’s a quick read, with each chapter being three to five pages long. It’s easy to read for a while, put down for a while and then pick up again and learn about another era.

“It's not like a social media thing, where you pick the 10 greatest left wings,’’ Zipay said. “These are more about moments. And again, it's essays of what I saw, and that decade — or more than a decade — when they were in the playoffs, 11 out of the 12 years [from 2006 to 2017]; the one run to the Cup Finals [in 2014], the one run to just missing [in 2015].

“They were great moments and great characters. There's [Mats] Zuccarello; there's [Jaromir] Jagr. There is Lundqvist, of course. So I have about 25% of the essays are about that era from 2005 to the current day, because they were great, you know?’’

The book is available at all major bookstores in the tri-state area and is available online through amazon.com and triumphbooks.com.

Offensive defense

The Rangers have been wildly up and down this season, which is to be expected with a team as young as they are. And mostly, when they are bad, it is their inadequate defense that bothers coach David Quinn the most. He’s complained about his team’s lack of commitment to playing defense on more than one occasion this season, as he did after Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets in Columbus, Ohio. The Rangers were outshot 47-19 and managed to win because goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was positively heroic.

“We just were not committed to playing defense and we were not committed to supporting each other coming out of our end,’’ Quinn said that night. 1165037 New York Rangers who looked like they played (the night before), and unfortunately, we were the first team to blink.”

“I think we cleaned it up pretty well,” Mika Zibanejad said. “Sure, they got Some wins you steal, while others escape: Rangers suffer through their chances, but every team is going to get their chances throughout expected growing pains the game. But I thought we played more disciplined. I thought we played hard in our own zone. We had a lot of zone time. We didn’t really get to good opportunities enough. It’s one of those bounces in the neutral zone. They come the other way and they score. And it sucks that it’s just one By Rick Carpiniello Dec 6, 2019 minute left and we don’t get anything out of the game.”

Quinn met with the team Friday — no time for a practice or a morning NEW YORK — The youth. We’ve been talking about it for a while with skate — for some reminders about what happened Thursday and what the Rangers. How there are going to be bumps, how there have been needed to change. bumps. “Sometimes you have to hit the reset button, recap what we need to do The Rangers’ season, zig-zagging like an EKG through 28 games now, structurally, systematically, that we’re going to need throughout the has been about tough losses and tough lessons, and also about growth season,” he said. “If we’re going to have a chance to do what our ultimate and some, ahem, surprising victories — like the one they swiped in goal is we certainly cannot play like that, with that little structure and Columbus on Thursday night. passion.

Well, on Friday they cleaned it up against really struggling Montreal, then “We’ve talked about — we’ve had six or seven of them, which is way, paid a lesson for their youth. Really, truly, it hasn’t happened a lot this way, way too many. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to focus on season, but the kids coughed one up. where we’re at. You know, we’ve won 14 games, and I would say 12 of them we deserved to win, and two we didn’t — the one in Carolina and And, look, one play in a 60-minute game shouldn’t define anything. But (Columbus) were two games that we stole. But at the end of the day, one play in the 59th minute of a 1-1 game sure sticks out like a sore big we’re in a situation where we’re hovering around a playoff spot, we’re toe. where we want to be, we’ve got some games in hand. … We’ve got to learn from (Thursday). It wasn’t pretty.” Young goalie Alexandar Georgiev, coming off a spectacular stolen win (45 saves) over the Blue Jackets the night before, wasn’t nearly as busy Thoughts but was just as good. He made two terrific saves — on Jeff Petry in behind Ryan Strome, and on Nick Cousins from the high slot — to keep it 1. Quinn gave a portion of the fan base what it’s been craving — a line of 1-1 late in the third. Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko. That trio started the first home preseason game together for show, but hasn’t since. Zibanejad But with 1:07 left, 21-year-old defenseman Ryan Lindgren made a risky and Panarin were lighting it up with Pavel Buchnevich early in the pass up the middle for Brendan Lemieux, 23, near the offensive blue line. season, then separated, then Zibanejad missed 13 games with an injury. Lemieux tried to handle it and perhaps make a cute one-touch pass over Now they were back together, with the 18-year-old trying to find his way. to Filip Chytil, 20. Or perhaps it was just a pass he couldn’t handle, or maybe one he should have just chipped into the offensive zone. Instead, “I thought Panarin had a great first period, and I thought I’d give Mika — it was picked off by Nick Suzuki, who sent Cousins in against Adam Fox, Mika’s four or five games into (a comeback from injury) here — and they 21. Cousins’ shot/pass hit Fox’s shinpad and bounced right back to were clicking pretty good early. Strome’s under the weather, so I put Cousins, but it sucked in Lindgren, who tried to poke it free. That allowed those three together,” the coach said. “We hadn’t done that all year yet Nate Thompson, who had one goal this season, to get behind Lindgren — in an exhibition game (they did). for an uncontested redirection past Georgiev. Game over. “I tried to light a spark under us a little bit. With Mika out as long as he In a 1-6-2 funk, Montreal — think Giants, Jets and Knicks, only up there was, we’re just trying to find the right combinations.” it’s really the Yankees — got a win it really needed. The Rangers got Zibanejad wasn’t interested in talking about that too much, while saying nothing. that this loss “stings.” So the two nights went much like the Rangers’ season — a win they “I thought we created some good chances,” he said of the new line. “A didn’t deserve and a loss in which they probably deserved better. little bit more time … it’s hard to kind of adjust throughout the game, but A game as loose as hell, with no commitment, goes into the win column hopefully (there’s) something there that we can work on. It’s nothing I Thursday. A much better overall performance, played hard by two tired think about too much right now.” teams, becomes a late L on Friday because of a single play on which an Quinn wasn’t making any hasty judgments, either. older player might have known better. “Yeah, I’d like to give them a little bit more of an opportunity,” he said. “I And let’s not lay this all on Lindgren or anybody, because the Rangers’ thought they were OK. They didn’t have as many chances as we would veteran players have done that and much worse at times this season. have liked, but neither did either team or either line.” That’s why I wrote “might have.” 2. Henrik Lundqvist, who was ill and likely couldn’t have played in But it was a risky play that should have been a safe play, and then likely Columbus (the Blue Jackets summoned an emergency goalie just in a point for each team and an overtime. Maybe a shootout. case), was good enough to go Friday, but he backed up Georgiev. “I think that’s a big piece of it,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “They’re Coming off a shutout of the Devils last weekend, and the win in a little more seasoned and have a little more experience than we have. Columbus, Georgiev has now stopped 131 of the past 136 shots he’s When we have that type of time, we don’t want to try to force a play, faced (.963 save percentage). One more thing: This was Georgiev’s 56th which has been kind of a problem for us. That’s kind of what happened at NHL game. Once he gets to 60, he loses his waiver exemption. In other the end there. words, he can’t be sent to Hartford if/when the Rangers want to give Igor Shesterkin a shot (other than in case of an injury). Or, if Shesterkin “But these guys are also in their early 20s or late teens, playing close to comes up after Georgiev gets to 60, the Rangers are probably going to 30 games in this short period of time, it might be catching up to some of have three goalies around for a while. them. But that’s the ebbs and flows of a hockey season for young players.” 3. Marc Staal returned, probably a game or so earlier than expected, from surgery to relieve an infection in his ankle. He was forced to play This one, you live with. You chalk it up as another lesson. The one the because Libor Hajek is out three to four weeks after spraining his right night before, despite the victory, you don’t live with. In fact, Quinn said knee Thursday. Greg McKegg also came back from a lower-body injury, the bus on the way to the airport in Columbus was as quiet a bus as he replacing Boo Nieves, who was sent to Hartford. can remember after a win. 4. And by the way, Staal was out for some of the Rangers’ most hideous “I certainly liked our intentions much better,” Quinn said. “It was night and games (the 9-3 loss in Tampa, and Thursday’s lopsided game in day from a defensive standpoint, our intentions, our support, our Columbus, plus another against Ottawa), and when he returned, the structure, all those things. It’s just disappointing. Those are two teams Rangers played a decent enough defensive game. Now I’ll duck. “I think he gives us such a different dimension with the makeup of our D,” Brendan Smith. Quinn said. “He’s a big guy who’s got a lot of experience in this league. He’s got the ability to lean on people and have a little bit of physical Jacob Trouba. element to his game. He’s got the ability to get us out of our end when The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 he’s sharp. We’re pretty young back there, so we certainly embrace getting a guy with his experience and his stature. Certainly, with the way our guys respect him, it’s good to have him back.”

5. Mid-first, Staal stepped up to the defensive blue line to stop a rush during a bad line change. Jesper Fast couldn’t react quickly enough on the backcheck, leaving Phillip Danault with a down-low two-on-one against Tony DeAngelo. Danault’s pass went right through DeAngelo, and Brendan Gallagher redirected it past Georgiev. 1-0. Very similar finish to that play as the winning goal.

6. Minutes later, DeAngelo made a pass to Brett Howden in the defensive zone, and Howden blew a tire. Charles Hudon picked up the loose puck and ripped it off the crossbar. At this point, the Rangers were in an even game but being out-attempted simply because they forced at least three, if not more, fancy passes when they had chances to shoot … all of which failed. And when they did shoot it — Pavel Buchnevich and Brady Skjei, for example — they didn’t come close to hitting the net.

7. Then Fox was caught on a pinch and Danault and Gallagher had another two-on-one. Lindgren stayed on his skates and broke it up with his stick. No fuss, no muss.

8. Daily Bread: Gallagher took a run at Panarin, who had the puck and sidestepped Gallagher enough to send him to the ice. Panarin then set up Skjei for a shot on goal, and rebound chances for Strome and Fast. Which is why Quinn wants his guys to shoot the darn thing.

10. Lemieux took an early slash across the arms from Shea Weber, and late in the period, took a faceoff against Max Domi. Before the puck dropped, they were hacking away at each other, remindful of the glory days when their dads did brutal, hateful battle. Brings a tear to the eye. They grow up so fast.

11. More mind-numbing defense to open the second period. Domi and Skjei in the corner, Domi spins away from him and Skjei escorts Domi to the net, where Georgiev has to glove a backhander.

12. But … Habs defenseman Otto Leskinen whiffed on a puck at the blue line, and Brendan Smith, of all people, was off on a breakaway. Not only that, but Smith just undressed Carey Price, one of the best in the biz, with a freezing fake shot on one leg, a la Mark Messier, and a roofed backhander, a la Jeff Beukeboom once upon a time coming out of the box like a runaway bus in Philly. 1-1. And the Rangers bench seemed to take a little extra joy in that type of goal coming from Smith. Some of the Rangers’ other forwards might have looked to pass it.

12. By the way, Smith’s brother Reilly scored on a breakaway at the Garden, for Vegas, against Lundqvist, on Monday.

13. First half of the game, zero penalties. Quite a few committed, but none called. Heck, Gallagher had three on his first shift. Then, past the midway point of the second, Matthew Peca flat-out tackled Staal chasing a puck in the Rangers end. Play on! Peca then lost his footing in a hockey battle on the wall against Chytil … and that somehow became the first penalty of the game. Holy shishkebab. On the kill, Zibanejad had a shorthanded two-on-one with Jacob Trouba, was forced to take it himself and was stopped by Price from close range.

14. Lemieux, the master, drew a penalty to Ben Chiarot, and the Rangers got their first power play with 6:07 left in the second. They did nothing with it. The Rangers had a much, much better power play late in the period, when Kakko drew a penalty to Chiarot. Kreider had the best chance but tipped one wide from Panarin, and Price had to come up with a couple of big saves. Price actually got his nemesis, Kreider, a couple of times during the game.

15. Kakko-Meter: I’ll say this. The young man is getting a lot of lessons about long shifts after icings. Early third, Panarin toasted Gallagher in the neutral zone and sent Kakko in on the right wing. Kakko forced a pass back to Panarin, which didn’t get through.

16. Quinn Bin: With Smith earning a promotion, Buchnevich ended up with the demotion to the fourth line. He played three shifts in the third, none in the last 9:01.

My Three Rangers Stars

Alexandar Georgiev. 1165038 New York Rangers save because of how easily the defense allows their opponent to get in close and try to capitalize on a rebound.

“Hank’s inability to fully get his glove on this one is something we’d What we can learn from some of the Rangers’ worst defensive probably like to see not happen in a perfect world, but his recovery to breakdowns stretch out and still cover the bottom of the net there is fantastic. He remains so spatially aware, even when he’s not playing a smooth, flawless game,” Silverman explained.

By Shayna Goldman Dec 6, 2019 Puck watching

There’s more to that Hathaway chance, and that’s the defense pair of Trouba and Libor Hajek puck watching, instead of being as aware of The New York Rangers concede more than they create. Defensive other incoming players. breakdowns have become a part of their identify over the years, even with support between the pipes to mask as many deficiencies as Puck watching also led to the sixth-highest value chance the Rangers’ possible. allowed.

Adding pieces such as first pair defender Jacob Trouba and rookie Adam Here, focusing on the puck and not being positionally aware left “zero Fox gave the blue line a boost, but personnel tweaks can only help so visibility around the net.” Silverman said. much when many of the Rangers’ issues are systems-based — stemming from the actual tactics to how they attempt to execute them. With four Rangers below the hashmarks on the same side of the ice to Those weaknesses are why the Rangers are at the bottom of the track down the puck, the Canucks had the space to move the puck back rankings in both shots against and quality chances. to the point for Alexander Edler to shoot it, which generated second chance opportunities. And while the Rangers were clustered by the After exploring what we can learn from the Rangers’ best offensive crease instead of covering Vancouver man-to-man, the Canucks were opportunities, let’s look at the other end of the ice. With help from The able to get right to the scoring areas for a close opportunity. Athletic’s Alison Lukan in data collection, we can take a closer investigation into some of the worst chances the Rangers have allowed Leaving the crease vulnerable using expected goals. A common theme developing already is that these higher quality chances Expected goal models assign a value to all unblocked shot attempts are being taken from in close. The Rangers generally, both this season based on the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal. That probability is and in years past, haven’t provided their netminders with enough based on a number of factors, including shot location, if it was a rebound protection in front of the blue paint. or second chance effort, and whether it was a rush attempt. Using In the below video created by Micah Blake McCurdy of HockeyViz, red expected goals adds another layer that statistics like Corsi (shot represents shots allowed above league average, while blue represents attempts) and Fenwick (unblocked shot attempts) are missing; while areas were fewer shots are taken. Through much of this season, there’s those are related to puck possession, xG gives a better look at shot red right in front of the net. quality. We’ll be using the expected goal model of Evolving-Hockey.com that was developed by Josh and Luke Younggren. So, let’s look at a chance that contributed to that red in front of the net.

While the Rangers allow the highest rate of shot attempts, unblocked The Ottawa Senators actually appear eight times on the Rangers’ top 20 shots, and expected goals in the league, the top 20 worst chances they shot against list, and this tip in from Brady Tkachuk ranks eighth on the allow actually totals to the eighth lowest expected goals against, as list. discovered in Lukan’s piece on the chances the Blue Jackets allow. The Rangers’ worst chances may not have the highest total expected goal Tony DeAngelo starts out with the right defensive decision — pushing his value, they just consistently allow high quality chances against, which is man out of the passing lane and away from the centering deflection, why they rank so poorly in the league. which Silverman explains allows Georgiev to see an unimpeded shot. But Marc Staal lost the player he’s supposed to be manning and he “skates We can also see a breakdown of the outcome of those top 20 chances behind DeAngelo and parks himself where he’s perfectly screening against thanks to Lukan’s work; the majority of those chances (14) Georgiev’s blocker side.” resulted in saves, which is a testament to their strength in net. Both of their goaltenders have stopped more shots than expected when At this point, DeAngelo has two options, “[he] can either go make the considering the shot quality of their workloads. screen even worse trying to get this guy out of the way or he can keep trying to man his own opponent, who Staal then decides to push into the Chart by The Athletic’s Alison Lukan crease anyway,” Silverman continued.

Let’s take a deeper look at those top 20 scoring chances against. And “Georgiev does his best and gets immense credit for staying collected in since so many of those chances resulted in saves, with the help of his stance, but the defense in front couldn’t have left the front of the goaltending expert Catherine Silverman, we can also dive into how the crease more vulnerable.” Rangers’ netminders responded to them. This isn’t the only instance of the goaltenders being left vulnerable to Conceding the blue line incoming players.

Before a team can even set up in the offensive zone, they first have to Rocco Grimaldi cut through Ryan Lindgren and Artemi Panarin to jump enter. The Rangers, unfortunately, can make that easy for their on a loose puck right in front of the crease. While he doesn’t get to the opponents. puck, Michael Granlund does seconds later. Luckily for the Rangers, Georgiev is able to see the shot after Lindgren impeded his sight just The Rangers can give up the blue line and allow entries against as a part before that. of their system in an effort to keep opponents to the perimeter. But when a team speeds through the neutral zone without much resistance and is “I think [Georgiev], once again, plays this so well,” Silverman noted. able to just enter, especially with possession, it can quickly put the “Stays on his feet, recovers from his knees quickly when he needs to, Rangers at a disadvantage. Their opponent doesn’t have to try to regain and tracks the puck well without trying to get too aggressive.” the puck and get situated, they can just start attacking offensively — just like the Washington Capitals did in October for a play that resulted in a Getting pinned in the defensive zone shot with a high xG value against. As if stopping one quality shot isn’t a challenge, the Rangers often find Since the Capitals entered the zone with possession, Garnet Hathaway themselves stuck in their own zone, with their goaltender getting doesn’t have to battle for the puck — he can get right into position, and in peppered in chances. The longer they’re pinned, the more tired legs that this case, that’s by skating right into the slot. are out there, which only makes the netminder’s job that much more challenging. What saves the Rangers is that Lundqvist handled the play “as patiently as he can,” Silverman said — even if it’s that much more challenging of a The chance with the 13th highest xG value against the Rangers starts with the Winnipeg Jets entering the zone with speed and possession and Lundqvist stopping a shot by a rushing Kyle Connor. About 15 seconds later, Libor Hajek attempts to get the puck out of his own end, but loses control. That turnover forces Fox to defend against Nikolaj Ehlers and .

Though a quality shot, Lundqvist makes the save.

“Hank’s recovery on this one is a microcosm of the entire season. He does a fantastic job of maintaining his depth and pushing the rebound out to the side, not the front, but he ends up facing the initial shooter and has to spin himself around to get a piece of the second shot against — which comes on that sharp-angle shot just above the goal line,” Silverman said.

Another example of the team failing to exit the zone and facing a dangerous shot as a result came against the Capitals in October.

To the Rangers’ credit, they were short-handed against a skilled Capitals’ power play, but Trouba and Mika Zibanejad couldn’t force the Capitals back out of the zone, nor could they intercept Alex Ovechkin’s pass to Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom sent the puck to T.J. Oshie who took numerous shots to get the puck past Lundqvist.

“Lundqvist does his best to try to keep the puck out of the net,” Silverman explained. “But the initial passer is given a clean opportunity to go behind the net and receive a pass after the third rebound. That gives Oshie a chance to get set up for his ultimate shot.”

The Rangers’ netminders have to be accustomed to containing chaos — Lundqvist in particular. While their worst chances against in terms of expected goals may not at the bottom of the league ranking, they are still incredibly problematic in that they occur at such a frequent rate. The goaltenders are backstopping the Rangers to keep them in every game possible, but the same question has to be asked each year — how sustainable is that through the full 82-game season?

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019

1165039 Ottawa Senators NOVEMBERS TO REMEMBER: Since Oct. 31, the Senators have been home a mere 10 days. While the Senators posted a decent 8-8 mark during their 16 games in November, the Flyers went 11-2-3. That after starting the season in Europe. “It’s one of the most challenging schedules WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could return, Hart's at I’ve ever had,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. … Once upon a time, home and a new Flyers recipe the Broad Street Bullies intimidated teams at the Spectrum by punching and clawing and hitting their opponents. Now, the intimidation comes

because of their speed and skill. Defenceman Matt Niskanen currently Ken Warren leads the Flyers with 57 hits in 29 games, 67th on the NHL’s hit list. The Senators’ Mark Borowiecki (115 hits) and Brady Tkachuk (106) rank December 6, 2019 second and fifth, respectively.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 PHILADELPHIA — For Ottawa Senators fans anxiously waiting to see what Artem Anisimov can deliver on a consistent basis, keep this in mind: During the 2017-18 season, he led the Chicago Blackhawks with 11 power-play goals.

After scoring his first power-play goal with the Senators in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, perhaps there’s some hope he can fill a desperately needed void as a big body in front of the net.

“Scoring goals is always fun and, after getting that first one on the power play, too, we’ve got to keep it going,” Anisimov said following Friday’s workout here in advance of Saturday’s matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It was a big shift by (Connor Brown) and we capitalized. We’re playing good defence, but we just need to capitalize on the chances we have.”

THE PAIN IN THE GROIN: Anisimov, acquired in the summer trade for Zack Smith, has had a limited impact — three goals in 11 games — while in and out of the lineup as he has tried to play through groin problems.

In the best of times, it’s tough for the 6-4, 200-pound Anisimov to keep up with the pace of the game, but when he was trying to play through the groin problems he was another step or two behind.

“It’s hard,” he said. “You have to take the time to heal completely. Now I can push 100 per cent.”

PAUL POSSIBLE AGAINST FLYERS: Final decisions on the Senators’ lineup won’t be made until Saturday morning, but there’s a chance Nick Paul could be back.

When Paul originally left Wednesday’s game against Edmonton with a neck strain, there was some concern it could be a long-term setback, but after he worked out Friday in a non-contact jersey, Senators coach D.J. Smith said there was encouraging news.

“He’s certainly better than we thought, so we’ll make that decision (on whether he returns) in the morning,” he said.

Paul has been effective while spending most of the season on a two-way line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Connor Brown.

THE JUGGLING ACT: Pageau, however, has at least temporarily taken Logan Brown’s former spot as a centre for left-winger Brady Tkachuk. At Friday’s practice, Connor Brown was playing with Pageau and Tkachuk.

WHAT ABOUT DAVIDSSON? Anticipating that Paul wouldn’t be ready to play Saturday, the Senators recalled Jonathan Davidsson from Belleville. In Davidsson’s two previous games, he showed some spark and picked up an assist before being sidelined after taking a puck off the knee. “Every time (you get called up), it’s a little bit of a surprise,” Davidsson said. “I thought I played really well and fans got to know me as a person and a player.” … As for whether he finds a spot in the lineup Saturday, Smith said, “Davidsson can really fly and I would like to get him into a game.”

YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE HART: Flyers goaltender Carter Hart has been red lights out at the Wells Fargo Center, but mediocre everywhere else. At home, he has a record of 7-1-2, with a 1.48 goals against average and .944 save percentage. Away from Philadelphia, he’s 2-4-1, with a 3.78 average and .849 save percentage. “You prepare the same way at home or on the road, it doesn’t really matter what environment you’re in,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It doesn’t matter if I’m in Slovakia or Canada, or wherever I am. I prepare the same.” … Just a thought: If Hart eventually delivers on the road as well as at home, becomes a dominant No. 1 goaltender and is in the running for the league MVP title, isn’t there already a trophy with his name on it? 1165040 Ottawa Senators

LOGAN'S RUN: Brown may be in jeopardy of demotion after playing five minutes against Oilers

Ken Warren

December 6, 2019 6:57 PM EST

PHILADELPHIA — Logan Brown is 6-6 and 220 pounds, but the growing pains continue in his bid to become a consistent full-time NHL player.

Brown was skating on a fourth line Friday afternoon at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Arena — with J.C. Beaudin and Belleville call-up Jonathan Davidsson — in preparation for Saturday’s matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers.

That’s subject to change, of course, but pressure has certainly returned to Brown’s shoulders after he played only 5:28 in Wednesday’s come- from-behind 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Brown was also a healthy scratch in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Nov. 30.

“He’s had good games and he’s had OK games,” Senators head coach D.J. Smith said of the 21-year-old Brown, who has scored once and added five assists goals in 14 games since being recalled from Belleville. “We want to make sure he’s playing. And if you’re not playing a lot of minutes … it’s not a good situation for him. I didn’t play him a lot last game.”

Smith stressed that Brown will once again be given the opportunity to use his playmaking ability in scoring situations against the Flyers.

“He’s on the power play, where he has a chance to excel, and we look for him to keep going,” Smith said. “He’s going to have up-and-down games, but that’s all part of breaking into the NHL.”

It’s all part of the big picture, which also helps explain why 20-year-old defenceman Erik Brannstrom was assigned to Belleville on Thursday.

There will be bumps along the road in the bid to turn the club’s top prospects into better players in the future.

Smith says Brannstrom will be given every chance to showcase the offensive side of his game — he had only two assists in 23 games with Ottawa — while regaining his touch in the American Hockey League.

“For his development, he needs to run a power play, run the top (along the blue line),” Smith said. “He needs to play 20-odd minutes per night. He needs to be down there right now, playing a ton of minutes.”

Playing against a steady diet of physical teams, Smith says the Senators are currently better served by having veterans, such as Mark Borowiecki, Dylan DeMelo and Ron Hainsey, playing additional minutes at the NHL level.

As of Friday afternoon, the Senators were toying with using either Max Lajoie or Cody Goloubef — just back from a lower body injury — against the Flyers.

Down the road, Smith says, Brannstrom will benefit from the latest move.

“He’s going to be a really good player,” he said. “This is a process for everybody.”

Goaltender Craig Anderson, who was sharp early in Wednesday’s win over Edmonton, will get the start against Philadelphia. The Flyers lost 3-1 to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, only their second regulation loss this season at the Wells Fargo Center.

“Edmonton came out of the gates flying, the shots were 10-1 at one point,” Anderson said. “But we kept ourselves in it and the guys believed we could still compete, and we weathered the storm.

“This game is all about momentum swings. There are going to be four or five of them every game and it’s just a matter of what you do with it when you have it.”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165041 Ottawa Senators Goaltending Craig Anderson

Anders Nilsson GAME DAY: Senators at Flyers Sick Bay: , Christian Wolanin, Nick Paul

FLYERS’ LINES Ken Warren Claude Giroux-Morgan Frost-Travis Konecny December 6, 2019 5:46 PM EST Oskar Lindblom-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek

Scott Laughton-Kevin Hayes-Joel Farabee WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could return, Hart's at home and a new ... James Van Riemskyk-Tyler Pitlick-Robert Hagg

The Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers face off at the Wells Defence Fargo Center on Saturday at 1 p.m. Ivan Provorov-Matt Niskanen Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers, Wells Fargo Center, Saturday, 1 p.m. TV: TSN5, TVAS. Radio: TSN-1200, 94,5, Unique-FM Travis Sanheim-Justin Braun

THE KEY MATCHUP Shayne Gostisbehere-Philippe Myers

Craig Anderson versus Carter Hart: Call it the Old Man versus the Kid. Goaltending

Anderson, the Senators’ 38-year-old goaltender, proved he still has Carter Hart something left while keeping the Senators alive early in Wednesday’s 5-2 Brian Elliott win over the Edmonton Oilers. Without his strong first-period performance, a comeback wouldn’t have been possible. Sick Bay: Nolan Patrick, Michael Raffl

The 21-year-old Hart, meanwhile, has saved his best for fans in Philly. In Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 home games, he has gone 7-1-2 with a 1.48 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Next week, Hart will celebrate the first anniversary of his first NHL start.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1-Fighting to the end: After originally leaving Ottawa on Nov. 28, the road trip finally comes to an end. With a victory Saturday, the Senators would come home with a 2-3 record after a miserable start to the trek.

2-Loosening the stick grip: After a few lengthy goal-scoring droughts ended in Edmonton — hello, Connor Brown and Artem Anisimov — some pressure has been removed from forwards who were expected to produce offensively.

3-Young and Restless: After a strong stretch in late November, rookie centre Logan Brown is feeling the heat again. Brown played only 5:28 against the Oilers and if he doesn’t showcase a solid two-way game he’s in danger of joining Erik Brannstrom by being re-assigned to Belleville of the AHL.

4-Energy of Philly fans: The Flyers have lost at home in regulation only twice this season, including a 3-1 defeat to Arizona on Thursday, and Philly fans certainly love a winning team. Meanwhile, the Senators need to avoid the slow starts they displayed in Edmonton on Wednesday and Vancouver on Tuesday to keep the fans from getting into the spirit.

5-Remembering the past: The Flyers lost only twice in regulation in November — their 24 points in the month tied a franchise record — but one of the defeats was a 2-1 decision to the Senators at the on Nov. 15. That victory was all about goaltending and penalty killing.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ottawa: PP 9.9 (31st) PK 82.1 (14th)

Philadelphia: PP 18.6 (17th) PK 84.1 (10th)

SENATORS’ LINES

Brady Tkachuk-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Connor Brown

Vladislav Namestnikov-Chris Tierney-Tyler Ennis

Anthony Duclair-Artem Anisimov-Colin White

J.C. Beaudin-Logan Brown-Jonathan Davidsson

Defence

Thomas Chabot-Ron Hainsey

Mark Borowiecki-Nikita Zaitsev

Max Lajoie-Dylan DeMelo 1165042 Ottawa Senators While Ceci had taken plenty of criticism for the Senators’ defensive breakdowns over the past several years, Zaitsev also took his fair share of heat from Maple Leafs fans.

Sens defenceman Nikita Zaitsev not talking after accusations he took Zaitsev, who rarely talks not publicly, did take issue with what he children from ex-wife in Russia considered unfair commentary from Don Cherry. In an interview with a Russian publication in June — before the trade to the Senators — he opened up about the criticisms.

Ken Warren “I’m amused that clowns like Cherry have a very big influence in this country as real experts,” he said. “(What he says) will immediately be on December 6, 2019 5:15 PM EST the websites, as if this is a serious person of some kind.”

Zaitsev signed his current seven-year, $31.5 million contract in 2017. The PHILADELPHIA — Ottawa Senators defenceman Nikita Zaitsev was not deal carries a salary cap hit of $4.5 million, but his 2019-20 salary is $1.5 talking publicly Friday about allegations that he took his daughters from million. his ex-wife, Margo Gotovtseva, while in Russia last month. During his Toronto days, Zaitsev played for current Senators head coach An Instagram video, posted Friday by Gotovtseva, shows several men, D.J. Smith, a former assistant with the Maple Leafs. one of them allegedly Zaitsev, taking two children from a car and running Since joining the Senators, the soft-spoken Zaitsev has taken on a through a parking lot while a woman yells at them. At one point a man relatively low-profile. restrains a woman running after the children. He has been a steadying influence on defence, an important part of the Gotovtseva’s post accompanying the video says the children were taken club’s improved penalty killing units, but has has registered no goals and 12 days ago and she doesn’t know where they are or who they are with. seven assists in 28 games. “I hear their screams and cries repeating ‘mama, mama, I don’t want to, In 251 career NHL games, Zaitsev has scored 12 goals and 58 assists. help’,” the post says in Russian. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 Gotovtseva wrote she felt “powerlessness” against three grown men and said one of the men grabbed her as they ran.

“Moral men don’t do something like this, adults don’t do this. This is a nightmare,” she wrote.

However, Zaitsev’s agent, Dan Milstein, says Gotovtseva’s Instagram post is false.

“Nikita’s children are safe and with his parents, at his parents’ home in Moscow, where they normally reside,” Milstein said in a tweet issued early Friday afternoon. “Nikita’s ex-wife knows where the children are and that they are safe. Law enforcement considers this to be a private matter and we ask that you please respect the family’s privacy.”

Gotovtseva fired back after she was contacted by this newspaper.

The comment from Milstein is “completely false,” she wrote in a follow-up post, in English.

“I tried to resolve this matter privately and he was not responsive. I was allowing weekend visitations for my kids to see their in-laws but I never approved of them living with them all the time,” she said.

“I have not heard or seen my children in 12 days. No one has contacted me. I am open to handling this matter privately and arranging visitations that work for us but not knowing or seeing my kids is heart breaking.

“My children were taken from my arms screaming for me to help them!”

Zaitsev was on the ice for the Senators late morning practice in Philadelphia Friday, but the Senators denied Postmedia’s request to speak with him.

Later Friday afternoon, the Senators organization issued this statement:

“The Ottawa Senators will not comment on the private, family matters of our players. In this specific case, the only thing we can say now is that the player has spoken to Senators management and has advised us the children are safe in Russia. We have been in contact with the NHL regarding this matter and will work to ensure all proper measures are taken.”

Zaitsev had left the Senators for Russia due to undisclosed “personal reasons,” missing a Nov. 22 game against the New York Rangers. He returned for a Nov. 25 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and has been in the lineup since, playing throughout the current five-game road trip, which began on Nov. 29.

Statement regarding Nikita Zaitsev. pic.twitter.com/moxCQcDbVL

— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) December 6, 2019

Zaitsev, 28, was originally acquired by the Senators from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a summer trade for fellow defenceman Cody Ceci.

It was a deal that, in many ways, solved problems for both organizations. 1165043 Ottawa Senators and 45 points in his first NHL season — a stellar freshman campaign for a 19-year-old one year removed from the collegiate level.

And perhaps his best game during that rookie season came at Embiid’s Senators’ Brady Tkachuk, a Joel Embiid super fan, can’t quit ‘Trust the house — a two-goal, one-assist performance on Nov. 27 versus the Process’ Flyers in Philadelphia. Tkachuk did his best “Embiid in the fourth quarter” impression that night, scoring twice in the third period to help the Senators erase a 3-1 deficit and storm back for an unlikely victory. True to form, the forward found a way to slip in a not-so-subtle nod to his Charlie O'Connor favorite basketball player just minutes after the win. Dec 6, 2019 “We knew it was going to go our way,” Tkachuk said that night. “We believed in it, we trust the process and it was a big win for us.”

Brady Tkachuk is a lot of things: son of NHL legend Keith Tkachuk; In case confirmation was necessary, that reference was intentional. brother of Calgary Flames star Matthew Tkachuk; fourth overall selection “Yeah, might as well give kudos to Embiid for coming up with it,” he said in the 2018 draft; 20-year-old top-line winger for the Ottawa Senators and while chuckling Friday when reminded of the postgame comments. “I one of the best young American forwards in the game today. guess, (being) here (in Philadelphia), it’s just funny to bring it up.” What isn’t as well known? He’s also a big Joel Embiid fan and a not-so- Brady Tkachuk scores a goal during the Senators’ 4-3 win over the secret devotee of the “Trust the Process” mindset. Flyers last November. (Eric Hartline / USA Today) “(It was) purely just seeing ‘Trust the Process,’ and I’ve just kind of loved Now that Tkachuk is in the NHL, however, the “trust the process” him ever since,” Tkachuk said after Senators practice on Friday at the mentality goes far beyond locker room jokes about pregame pep talks Class of 1923 Arena rink on the University of Pennsylvania campus, from coaches. The Senators might not be going full “tank” in the way that about a 15-minute ride from the Wells Fargo Center, where Embiid plays the Sixers did during the era of general manager Sam Hinkie, but it his home games. appears Ottawa is years away from contention. Starting with the trade of “I mean, I don’t consider myself a 76ers fan. I’m just more of a Joel superstar Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks in September 2018, the Embiid fan,” said Tkachuk, who’s in town with the Senators for a game Senators cleaned house of their high-end veteran talent last season, against the Flyers on Saturday afternoon. swapping Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel at the trade deadline for future assets and turning the page on an entire era of Tkachuk’s appreciation of Embiid goes far beyond that of a typical out-of- Ottawa hockey. town fan. In fact, on draft night in Dallas last June — the biggest moment of his career to that point — the Scottsdale, Ariz.-born, St. Louis-raised As a result, the 2019-20 Senators are a team largely built around high- Tkachuk had three words embroidered on the inside of his suit, along upside youngsters, like Tkachuk and defenseman Thomas Chabot, who with his own name. have yet to reach their ceilings, aging veterans such as Bobby Ryan and Craig Anderson trying to squeeze a bit more out of their careers, and Trust the Process. lottery ticket mid-career players like Anthony Duclair, Tyler Ennis and Nikita Zaitsev, who are pushing to prove they’re better than league-wide BRADY TKACHUK HAS “TRUST THE PROCESS” EMBROIDERED perception holds. INTO HIS SUIT. In other words, it’s not tough to draw rough parallels between these YOU HAVE TO TRADE BACK INTO THE TOP 5 NOW Senators and those Process-era Sixers teams that were ultimately pulled @BUFFALOSABRES PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZWCCUTML2P into championship contention in large part through the progression of — THE CHARGING BUFFALO (@THECHARGINGBUF) JUNE 22, 2018 Tkachuk’s hero, Embiid, into superstar status.

For Tkachuk, the Embiid connection goes back to 2016-17, when the star “Yeah, I mean, they had a bunch of high-end draft picks and a bunch of big man was playing in his first NBA season and Tkachuk played for the top young players,” Tkachuk said. “So, I guess — it’s the first time I’ve under-18 national team in the U.S. development program. For Tkachuk really been asked that. It’s pretty interesting, the parallels in different and his friends on the team — including budding Vancouver Canucks sports. It’s all about trusting the process and knowing it’s going to work star Quinn Hughes, along with Senators prospect Josh Norris, Chicago out in the end.” Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt, and college players Philip Kemp, There are those three words again. Tkachuk’s fanhood isn’t flagging as Nathan Knoepke, Sean Dhooghe and Adam Scheel — Embiid’s zany he gets older, and even though early in his career, he’s made the Flyers antics and stellar on-court play that season became an integral part of his personal plaything — four goals and six points in four games — their group’s inside jokes, in and out of the locker room. perhaps shared appreciation of maybe the city’s best athlete might keep “We were always talking about just ‘trusting the process’ and stuff like him from becoming a true villain in Philadelphia. that, and say that as a joke after the coach’s speech before the game,” “I got a jersey, and hopefully one day I can maybe get it signed,” he said. Tkachuk reminisced. “It was some good laughs.” “I’ve just always looked up to him. Tkachuk was willing to take the gag even further, putting it on his custom “I guess (Philadelphia fans and I) share a connection with Joel Embiid suit for draft night, which should come as little surprise: Out of the group, and how everybody loves him, and I love him, too.” he probably was the most invested in the Embiid worship, he acknowledged. The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 “Yeah, (I was) a little bit of the ringleader,” he said, laughing. “I got carried away with it sometimes.”

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that Tkachuk would have an affinity for Embiid as a player and a person. After all, Tkachuk’s style of play combines offensive skill, brute force and a knack for getting under the skin of opponents. Sound familiar, Sixers fans?

“With Joel Embiid, I love the way he plays,” Tkachuk said. “He’s always stirring the pot, and he’s getting the crowd going, too. It’s great to see.

“He’s an unbelievable player, first off. And he’s got such a personality. It seems like the whole city of Philadelphia loves him.”

Justifiably, Tkachuk is earning the love of his adopted city of Ottawa as well, even as the Senators find themselves in the midst of what’s likely to be a long rebuild. Three months after being drafted, Tkachuk earned his way onto Ottawa’s final roster to open 2018-19, and he scored 22 goals 1165044 Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.07.2019

Flyers look to revive a power play that has foundered despite team’s hot streak

Erin McCarthy,

Flyers look to revive a power play that has foundered despite team’s hot streak

James van Riemsdyk can’t put his finger on what exactly has caused the Flyers’ once-dangerous power play to fizzle.

“I don’t know, to be honest. It hasn’t looked good for most of the year," the veteran winger said Friday. “Even earlier in the year, I feel like we were getting some goals on kind of a more non-traditional-structure [for] power-play goals, like off the rush. That’s nice to get every once in a while, but it’s not necessarily sustainable."

It certainly hasn’t yielded results recently. The Flyers were 0-for-3 on the power play in Thursday’s loss to Arizona and are 4-for-33 in the last 11 games.

For years, the team’s power play was lethal. Last year, however, it ranked 22nd of 31 NHL teams.

Entering this season, new coach Alain Vigneault made some changes to the unit, and at first found success. In late October, the power play was thriving, ranking sixth in the league at 25.8%.

Observers credited the productivity to assistant Michel Therrien, who’s in charge of the unit, and players’ buying into the new coach’s aggressive system.

Both Vigneault and Therrien said at the time that they thought of the team as having two No. 1 power-play units, with the first group usually consisting of Claude Giroux, van Riemsdyk, Jake Voracek, Joel Farabee, and Shayne Gostisbehere; and the second often made up of Sean Couturier, Oskar Lindblom, Travis Konecny, Ivan Provorov, and Matt Niskanen.

In November, the Flyers’ fourth 10-win month in the last decade, the power play tied for 18th in the NHL, converting on only 16.7% of its opportunities. In the recent five-game win streak, which ended Thursday, the power play was 2-for-14.

At practice Friday, as the Flyers prepared to face the Ottawa Senators at 1 p.m. Saturday, Vigneault tinkered with a few different power-play units. But, the coach said, personnel might not be the crux of the problem.

“We tried this morning a couple different looks on some units there,” he said. “Obviously, execution is a big part of the power play. ... We’re not getting a lot of opportunities, but we’re getting two or three a game, so if you can make some of those count, it makes a big difference.”

Experienced players and newcomers have some ideas for how the power play could be revived.

“To be honest, I think just have a little simpler approach," van Riemsdyk said. “It sounds cliched, but shooting more pucks, recovering more pucks, just have a more aggressive mindset at the net. I think we’re maybe trying to make a perfect play too often."

Rookie Morgan Frost said his addition on power plays could be “messing with the chemistry a bit," but the 20-year-old doesn’t think the team should shake things up too drastically.

“I feel like in a season you’re going to have ups and downs,” he said. “I think maybe you can make little changes, but be confident in your ability and your structure, and I think things will turn around."

Breakaways

Vigneault said there’s “a good chance” the Flyers will return to playing six defensemen against Ottawa on Saturday after using all seven Thursday against the Coyotes. He said he has yet to decide which six. Forward Misha Vorobyev — who was once again recalled from the Phantoms this week, this time to replace injured Michael Raffl — might play on the fourth line. ... Young goaltender Carter Hart will start and get a chance to add another win to his impressive 7-1-2 home record. 1165045 Philadelphia Flyers “Obviously, when you’re winning and having success the way we are, everything is rosy and hunky-dory,” he said. “We will be challenged as a group, but I think we’re building a foundation to be able to respond to the different challenges that we’re going to have.” New-look Flyers: The team that laughs together wins together | Sam Carchidi Does winning create a cohesive group of players, or does a tight-knit team help create winning?

“Probably a little of both,” Laughton said. “I think winning definitely helps Sam Carchidi, out, but I think we’ve had a pretty close group ever since I’ve been here. I think G [captain Claude Giroux] does a really good job and so do the

other guys of welcoming in the younger guys, and the guys we’ve Despite using eight goalies, having an upheaval in their front office and brought in here have fit in really well and so have the young guys. the coaching staff, and missing the playoffs, the Flyers’ players stuck "It’s a really, really close group we have, and I think that translates a little together and seemed to have a close-knit group last season. to the ice and confidence and trust into each other.” This year’s team seems even closer. More relaxed. More than ready to The Flyers have four rookies on the team: Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, poke fun at one another. Phil Myers, and the recently promoted Misha Vorobyev, and they have Maybe it’s the addition of Kevin Hayes, who is giving Travis Konecny and added veterans Hayes, Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun, Tyler Pitlick, and Michael Raffl a run for their money as the team’s unofficial class clown. Chris Stewart.

Maybe it’s, quite simply, the winning, which has caused lots of singing, Being on the road for most of the season’s first month — the team clapping, and even some occasional dancing as “Two Times” by Ann Lee traveled to Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and all over Western is played in the locker room after victories. Canada — “definitely helped” bring everyone together, Laughton said. “You go to team dinners and you do all this stuff together and it bonds Or maybe the relaxed environment comes from having a new coach, you in a certain way. You get a fresh start, and everyone gets to know Alain Vigneault, with such an impressive resume. each other.”

Whatever the reason, the Flyers are thoroughly enjoying themselves as Having that bond "helps you manage the highs and lows,” veteran left they have emerged as one of the league’s surprise teams in the season’s winger said. “When things aren’t going as well and first two-plus months. you’re a tight-knit group, it’s easier to manage those lows. Any winning team is going to go through some tough spots in a season that you have “There’s a lot of characters in this room, guys who like to have fun,” to fight through … and be honest with one another.” Konecny said. And hope there’s not a long time between playing “Two Times” in the There’s also a fair share of quiet players who are deep thinkers. locker room. “There’s just a good balance in here,” Konecny said, noting many of the Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.07.2019 players hang out when not around the rink, “and it kind of brings everyone together.”

‘Easy to follow’

“Everyone has a lot of faith in each other. It’s probably the tightest team I’ve ever played with,” said Hayes, 27, now in his seventh NHL season and his first year with the Flyers after stops with the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.

“Our leaders lead from the front, and it’s easy to follow. It’s a lot of fun to be on the ice, a lot of fun to go to battle every night. Even if the other team scores, we’re not really panicked, and it shows.”

Has @KevinPHayes12 lightened up this locker room or what?! https://t.co/3RlCU9tket

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) December 5, 2019

Scott Laughton agreed.

“The biggest thing is we’re having fun coming to the rink,” said Laughton, who traveled to Austria with his girlfriend to spend time with Raffl in his hometown this summer. “Everyone is pretty close off the ice, and I think that’s a big factor and it translates onto the ice. But we’re only [29] games in, we’re not done yet and we still have a long ways to go, but it’s a good spot to be in and we have to keep rolling.”

Vigneault, whose team is on a 6-1-1 run entering Saturday’s game against Ottawa, says he sees “trust between teammates building. That’s real important. You have to have that trust to have success. The other thing, I feel, is accountability. Guys are understanding the accountability factor that you need to have in the locker room to have success. That has to continue to grow. I think we’re just in the starting points of that.”

"Guys are understanding the accountability factor that you need to have in the locker room to have success," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.

"Guys are understanding the accountability factor that you need to have in the locker room to have success," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.

Inevitable challenges

There will be bumpy roads along the way, Vigneault knows, and that’s when the team will be tested. 1165046 Philadelphia Flyers “I think we had a lot of chances. I don’t think this game was anything we need to to worry about,” rookie right winger Joel Farabee said. “I thought we actually played pretty well for a full 60 [minutes]. ... Credit to their goalie. He’s one of the hottest goalies in the league right now.” Flyers’ 5-game winning streak comes to an end as goalie Darcy Kuemper shines for Coyotes “After winning so much, you expect to,” Elliott said. “It’s easy to get down on yourself after a loss, but I think we’ve got to take a lot of the positives and just move on. There’s going to be games you deserve to win and you don’t.” Sam Carchidi, Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.07.2019

Several Flyers streaks came to an end Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center, where they ran into a sizzling goaltender and lost to Arizona, 3-1.

The Flyers had won five in a row, had points in seven straight games (6- 0-1), and had collected points in 11 consecutive home games (7-0-4).

Darcy Kuemper put an end to all of that. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound goalie made 28 saves to key the win, giving the Coyotes points in six of their last seven games (4-1-2).

The Flyers, who went 0-for-3 on their struggling power play, outshot Arizona, 29-18.

“We just went on a pretty good run, and we’ll move past this one and try to start another one,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “... You can’t overanalyze it just because we lost one.”

After scoring a combined 16 goals in their previous three games, the Flyers were blanked until Niskanen’s point drive deflected off Arizona’s Conor Garland and past Kuemper with 4 minutes, 43 seconds left in regulation. That cut the deficit to 2-1, but a cross-checking penalty on Kevin Hayes with 2:13 to go hurt the Flyers, and Phil Kessel (two goals) iced the win with an empty-netter with 63 seconds remaining.

It was just the Flyers’ second regulation loss at home all season. They are now 9-2-4 at the Wells Fargo Center.

“You can’t win them all. I think the effort was there,” right winger Jake Voracek said. “We have to win Saturday [against Ottawa]. Start a new streak.”

Garland scored on a rebound with 7:03 remaining, putting Arizona ahead, 2-0 lead. Brian Elliott had made a great stop on him earlier in the period.

The Flyers dominated the second period, outshooting Rick Tocchet’s Coyotes, 13-4, and creating several quality chances.

But Kuemper had all the answers, showing why he entered the night leading the NHL in goals-against average (1.97) and save percentage (.936) -- and keeping Arizona ahead, 1-0.

Among his second-period stops: saves on Travis Sanheim and Oskar Lindblom from the doorstep. Rookie center Morgan Frost, who is pointless in his last seven games, had the Flyers’ best two chances in the second but missed the net on both slot shots.

“I have to bear down and put those in the net, but it’s encouraging I’m getting those chances,” said Frost, who had six shot attempts but none on goal.

Two early penalties on Claude Giroux (slashing, tripping) threw the Flyers out of their rhythm – and helped Arizona strike first.

Just 21 seconds after Giroux’s first penalty, the Coyotes cashed in as Kessel tipped in Clayton Keller’s saucer pass to finish a two-on-one with 17:45 left in the opening period. Elliott got a piece of the shot, but not enough to keep it out of the net. It was just Kessel’s fifth goal in 30 games and second in his last 17 contests.

“I have to come up with a save there,” Elliott said.

Kessel had limped off the ice after blocking Justin Braun’s shot on his previous shift. The right winger was acquired in the offseason from the Penguins, and he will play in Pittsburgh on Friday.

The Flyers had just five shots and few scoring quality chances in the first period. Kuemper, the NHL’s best goalie in the first two months, made his best save when he denied Hayes’ backhander after he took a two-on-one pass from Scott Laughton while the Flyers were shorthanded with 12:31 to go in the first.

The Flyers finished with a 66-37 domination in shot attempts. 1165047 Philadelphia Flyers November, like we did, we can still have more energy. We have the right loads, so we have more energy.”

That held true Thursday night against Phoenix as well in a 3-1 loss. The Alain Vigneault has kept the surging Flyers fresh. Will it pay off in the Flyers dominated play and outshot the Coyotes, 24-13, in the second and playoffs? | Marcus Hayes third periods, but Brian Elliott gave up a soft goal in the first and another off a scramble late in the third, and Coyotes goaltender Darcy Keumper was brilliant, and even the best-rested team won’t trump a hot goalie on a first-place team, which is where the Coyotes now find themselves in the Marcus Hayes Pacific Division.

Considering the Flyers’ first 29 games — Switzerland for the final Work smarter. Sleep longer. Win more games. preseason game, the season-opener in the Czech Republic, three early West Coast games, and then their autumn marathon — it’s astonishing That is the foundation of the program new coach Alain Vigneault that a team that missed the playoffs last season still has 37 points and instituted when he began Flyers training camp this summer. stands fourth in the Eastern Conference.

“Training-camp practices that would have been an hour and 15 minutes “Going to Europe, to going out West, to 16 games in the month of were 50 minutes. We didn’t have water breaks. All drills were explained November — it’s one of the most challenging schedules I’ve ever had,” before practice. It’s boom-boom-boom and go. You don’t have time to said Vigneault, who, remember, coached in Vancouver. “So far, it’s paid catch your breath!” said winger Jake Voracek. " It’s the biggest reason off.” we’ve been so successful, and why have been skating well throughout the games." He shrugged.

How well? "It’s science. I use it.”

So well that they tied their record for points in November, with 24. They They love it. won 11 times, and they either came back or broke a tie in the third period It’s a far cry from how things ran in the three-plus seasons under Dave or won in overtime in seven of those games. Hakstol, a legend at North Dakota who brought many of his college-level The Flyers are minus-3 in their first periods this season, but plus-13 in regimens to the NHL. the second and third, and plus-11 in the third period alone. If that paints a “That approach with that coaching staff — Hak was obviously very picture of a club with modest skating talent, very good goaltending, and successful with that, where he was coaching before with his teams in but superior conditioning — well, that’s about right. college,” said Konecny. “That style wasn’t working. The change in staff is They continued their late-game proficiency Tuesday, when Travis working for our group.” Konecny found Claude Giroux for the game-winner, the first of five goals Chip Kelly made the same mistakes. College hockey and football players they scored in the last 10 minutes in a 6-1 romp. After a sluggish first generally don’t have to worry about 3 a.m. feedings and carpools. period it looked as if the Flyers skated circles around the Maple Leafs. That’s because they did. “There’s a lot of studies about how the body works and what can be done to make you better as athletes. We stayed in Chicago for a reason," said “I think it has a lot to do with the practicing that we do,” said Konecny, Voracek, who has a 3-year-old son. “Every time you get to bed at 3:30 in who leads the team with 27 points. “And you know, it’s game-like. You the morning — I mean, instead of waking up with the kids and driving hear, ‘Practice like you play.’ ” them to school, or whatever you do as a normal function in life, we Or, play like you don’t practice — or something like that. Innovative rest stayed in bed, flew out at 11 a.m. Those extra hours make a huge has been Vigneault’s other secret weapon. difference.”

The Flyers began their game at Chicago on Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Will they make a difference in the spring? The Flyers lost 11 of 17 late in time, which would have meant a 2:30 a.m. touchdown in Philadelphia, the 2017-18 season and got rolled out of the playoffs by the Penguins, which meant the players wouldn’t be asleep until 4 a.m. That meant no then finished last season 3-10. more than five hours of sleep, and they’d be the lucky ones. Players with Voracek, who turned 30 in August, thinks it will help. kids might sleep for two or three hours. “Usually the first 20 games every team is full of energy, but I think it’s The team was beginning a stretch of six games in 10 nights, with two going to show even more down the road, at the end of the season, than back-to-backs, the first of them beginning against Columbus two days the beginning of the year,” he said. later, so every minute of rest was precious. ' His Flyers haven’t won a playoff series since he was 22: That’s why Vigneault had them stay overnight in Chicago. Most got seven solid hours of sleep, and landed in Philly around midday Oct. 25. “I hope it does." The next night, a well-rested Flyers team scored the last five goals, all in the last 10 minutes, to erase a 4-2 deficit in a 7-4 win over the Blue Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.07.2019 Jackets.

OK, neither condensed practices nor rest emphasis is exactly a secret. Still, Vigneault was an early adopter.

The Canucks, the NHL’s most distant outpost, began monitoring players’ sleep habits in 2008, Vigneault’s third year as coach, when Mike Gillis was hired as general manager.

“Mike hired a sleep company because of our travel in the west. They would analyze our schedule and tell us where we needed to sleep over, where we could fly back, because of the time we’d get back, and what our energy would be. They would look at our schedule and break it down," he said, and shrugged. “When I came out east I brought it.”

He came east in 2013 to coach the Rangers, where he began to pay attention to the Joel Embiid metric: load management. He was delighted to learn that the Flyers had incorporated a tracking device for their players years ago.

“Depending on the number of games, I know how long I can go in practice and the load I give them so we have energy for the game,” Vigneault said. “Energy-wise, even if we have a tough month of 1165048 Philadelphia Flyers a start in the National Hockey League,” Primeau said. “Especially for that position, I’d be interested to even see how many players have ever managed that feat.”

From 199 to the NHL: Voorhees' Cayden Primeau makes debut for The Dallas Stars took goalie Dylan Ferguson five picks earlier than Montreal Canadiens Montreal selected Primeau and was quickly flipped to the Vegas Golden Knights and called into action for one game the next season on an emergency basis. Outside of that anomaly, no goalie selected in the seventh round has made the NHL this quickly since Anders Lindback, Dave Isaac whom Nashville selected in 2008 and played in October of 2010. 3:13 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2019 That made it a special night for the Primeau family as well as Chris Kanaly, who has been Cayden’s goalie coach since his pee wee days, lives in Southampton, runs the EHL’s Philadelphia Revolution and has a Keith Primeau waited behind the home net of the Montreal Canadiens goalie camp every summer. Thursday night, where his son Cayden was about to stand between the pipes in his NHL debut, and was hit by a flood of memories from the It’s unclear what the immediate future holds for Cayden Primeau, but “early days.” Thursday’s first impression was a good one.

Cayden is only 20 so the “early days” weren’t that long ago. Thirty “I think as a family we’ve all known how talented he is but what does that months prior, Montreal selected him with a seventh-round draft pick that mean? It doesn’t always mean it translates into an opportunity,” Keith initially belonged to the Flyers. It was a beautiful irony that the pick was said. “We’ve always been very humble about his ability and just really initially Philadelphia’s, where Keith played when Cayden was born. pleased that everybody else is getting to see that talent as well now.”

“It just happened so fast,” the proud father said after his return flight back Courier-Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 to South Jersey. “He’s only 20 years old and it feels like yesterday he was asking to put the pads on and wanting to be a goalie to playing in his first selects tournament playing AAA hockey to international competitions and getting drafted and now getting a start in the National Hockey League. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work and determination by him to put himself in this position. We’re happy for him and super proud.”

Only four years ago, Cayden was a sophomore at Bishop Eustace in Pennsauken, where his dad helped coach for 10 years, playing his second season for the Crusaders before his fast rise in the hockey world. The last two seasons he was playing for Northeastern University and won the Mike Richter Award last season as the NCAA’s best goalie.

Now he’s in the NHL and stood tall making 32 saves against the league’s most potent offense, the Colorado Avalanche.

“It was good to get the first one under the belt. Super motivated,” he told reporters in Montreal after a 3-2 loss. “It’s good to see this level during the regular season. There’s a lot of things to take away from this game.”

It was no surprise to Joel Farabee that the Canadiens decided to go to Primeau so early. Earlier this week the Habs waived Keith Kinkaid and sent him to the minors for more action, then recalled Primeau from the AHL’s .

Last season Farabee and Primeau were teammates at the World Junior Championships.

“I just think the best part of his game is how calm he is,” Farabee said. “We played in the semifinal against Russia and we went up 2-0 and they scored and then a couple minutes left we had a guy grab it on the goalline before it went in. He was still just calm as can be. I felt bad because we were so much better than Finland in the gold medal game. We should have won that game. He’s unbelievable. I’m happy for him.

“He was so good for Northeastern last year. He was most of the reason why we couldn’t beat them (when Farabee was with Boston University). He’s an unbelievable goalie and such a good guy. I know he does a lot of charity like cleaning up beaches and stuff. I’m happy for him and he’s gonna have a really long career.”

It will also be a motivated career.

The elder Primeau remembers the nerves of the 2017 draft and trying to prepare his son for the possibility he wouldn’t get drafted at all despite a lot of hype leading up to the event.

“When you go to the draft, teams are looking for different things,” Keith Primeau said. “Goaltenders are a position that you’re not drafting three, four goaltenders a year. Teams are taking maybe one. Not every team is drafting a goaltender. That narrows the opportunity to get picked as well; it’s what someone likes. Is it a motivating factor? It will always be something that he takes pride in, the fact that 199 was his draft number. It has meaning for him. That’s his badge of honor.”

It’s been a quick two years, which is especially fast for a goalie.

“I think that’s probably the only thing that I am surprised by, with him being a seventh-round pick to a little bit more than two years later getting 1165049 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins secured the victory at 19:58 of the third when forward Brandon Tanev collected an empty net goal thanks to a considerably generous pass by forward Teddy Blueger.

Empty Thoughts: Penguins 2, Coyotes 0 (Video courtesy of NHL.)

Statistically speaking

SETH RORABAUGH • The Coyotes commanded shots, 33-26.

Saturday, December 7, 2019 2:45 a.m. • Coyotes forward Clayton Keller led the game with five shots.

• Defenseman Kris Letang and Tanev each led the Penguins with three shots. Observations from the Penguins’ 2-0 win against the Coyotes. • Defensemen Jack Johnson and John Marino were the only Penguins Tristan Jarry was at it again. He stopped all 33 of the shots he faced on skaters who failed to record a shot on net. Friday and came away with his second shutout in as many games. • Letang led the game with 25:54 of ice time on 28 shifts. He just looks locked in right now. He’s in total command of his crease eating up rebounds and not overplaying the rebounds he is allowing. • Ekman-Larsson led the Coyotes with 25:39 of ice time on 29 shifts. When he moves through the blue paint, he’s not springing himself out of • The Coyotes dominated faceoffs, 32-19 (63 percent). the play as he would in the past. • Coyotes forward was 13 for 18 (72 percent). In 2019, Tristan Jarry looks very much like the goaltender the Penguins hoped for when they drafted him in 2013. • Blueger was 9 for 19 (47 percent).

But focusing on the immediate concerns of the team, his success has, • Marino as well as Coyotes defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Jordan not coincidentally, come with greater resiliency from the penalty kill. Oesterle each led the game with three blocked shots.

On Friday, the Penguins stopped all five of the Coyotes’ power-play Historically speaking opportunities. And in Wednesday’s 3-0 home win against the St. Louis Blues, they denied all four opposing power-play chances. • Penguins’ last shutout against the Coyotes was a 4-0 win at PPG Paints Arena on Nov. 10, 2018. Goaltender Casey DeSmith made 39 saves in That comes in great contrast to their previous six games in which they the victory. allowed an opposing power-play goal. Over that span, the penalty kill was a paltry 14 for 22 (63.6 percent). • The last Penguins goaltender to record shutouts in consecutive regular season games was Marc-Andre Fleury. He made 22 saves in a 2-0 road It’s curious that it has improved over the past two games, especially win against the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 4, 2015 and 21 saves in a 4-0 given the absence of injured defensive stalwart . road win against the Calgary Flames on Feb. 6, 2015.

It’s not really a Tristan Jarry-vs.-Matt Murray thing either. Jarry was in net • Murray was the last goaltender to pull off back-to-back shutouts in any for four of those six games in which the penalty kill struggled. game. They just happened to be Games 5 and 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. He made 24 saves against the Nashville Predators in a 6-0 home Coach Mike Sullivan explained why he thinks the penalty kill has win on June 8, 2017 then made 27 saves in a 2-0 road win in Game 6. stiffened up as of late but is still concerned over how often it needs to be deployed. • Guentzel (185 points) surpassed forward James Neal (184) for 44th place on the franchise’s career scoring list. “We’ve got better in certain areas,” Sullivan said. ” Tonight, we gave up some chances. Tristan was definitely our best penalty killer tonight. But I Randomly speaking do think our penalty kill has improved in some of the areas that we’re trying to clean up. • The Penguins are now 11-3-1 against Western Conference foes this season. “I still think we’re taking too many penalties. We’re just simply taking too many penalties and we can’t do that night in and night out. The ones in • The Penguins were 0 for 2 on the power play with most of that coming the offensive zone are tough to swallow. We’ve got to do a better job. on a five-on-three sequence which lasted 1:49. They have failed to We’ve got to be responsible with our sticks. We’ve got to stay on the right convert on the two five-on-three power-play chances they have been side of the puck. We’ve got to check with our legs and not our sticks. We gifted with. This isn’t a new problem either. They were 0 for 7 with such can’t reach, we can’t hook, we can’t hold. We’ve got to make sure we use chances last season. our legs and get on the right side of (opponents). I do think that has a lot • The Penguins’ best chance to score ont he power play came at 3:50 of to do with it. When we’re asking our (penalty) killers to kill four or five a the second period. After Letang boomed a one-timer from the left point, game, that’s a tall task for any penalty killing unit. So we’ve got to be Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta made a save then robbed Penguins more disciplined in that regard.” forward Bryan Rust of a fantastic opportunity on the rebound:

What happened (Video courtesy of NHL.)

After scoreless first and second period, the Penguins claimed the first • Tanev’s goal was the Penguins’ fifth short-handed score of the season. lead at 7:13 of the third period. Off a faceoff win in Arizona’s left circle by They are second in the NHL in that statistic. Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin against Coyotes forward Derek Stepan, Penguins forward Jake Guentzel snapped off a wrister. The shot was • Defenseman Justin Schultz returned to the lineup after missing seven blocked by Coyotes forward Christan Fischer and the rebound deflected games due to a suspected groin injury. He logged 18:43 of ice time on 21 to the end boards to the left of the crease, then glanced gently off the shifts and had one shot on two attempts. skate of Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta. Malkin darted off the left dot towards the puck and jabbed it under Raanta’s right leg. Guentzel had • Rust returned to the lineup after missing three games due to an the lone assist. undisclosed injury. He logged 20:56 of ice time on 25 shifts and had one shot on three attempts. as well as one blocked shot. (Video courtesy of NHL.) • Coyotes forward Phil Kessel was recognized with a roaring and At 12:22, the Coyotes had a glorious chance to tie the game. Working on prolonged standing ovation following a video presentation in the first a power play, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson chopped a television stoppage in the first period: one-timer from center point that Jarry kicked out to the right of the crease. Coyotes forward Clayton Keller was sitting there and lifted the • Kessel played his first game against the Penguins since Nov. 26, 2014. rebound on a wide-open net. Jarry’s reflexes sprung him to his left, and As a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was held without a point in his left skate kicked the puck into the netting behind his crease. a 4-3 road loss.

(Video courtesy of NHL.) • Kessel now has a five-game pointless streak against the Penguins. Publicly speaking

• Does Sullivan need to rethink how he divides the goaltending duties given Jarry’s excellent play?

“For sure. He’s played extremely well. We’re trying to make decisions to win games in the short run but also trying to have the big picture in mind. (Jarry’s) last handful of starts, we feel as though he’s been really good. He’s deserving of some of the starts that we’ve given him and that’s why we chose to go with him (Friday).”

• Jarry described his save on Keller:

“The puck was coming towards me. There was nothing I could really do on the second one but just try to sprawl out and luckily, it hit me in the foot. It’s just reaction.”

• Sullivan was asked what is clicking for Jarry:

“He’s seeing it pretty well. He’s tracking it. He swallows pucks really well. There aren’t a lot of rebounds. It sure makes it a lot easier for the defensemen at the net front that are trying to defend. Sometimes, the hardest play to defend is that rebound. He swallows a lot of pucks and it ends up with a whistle and a faceoffs. It really makes it a lot easier, a lot cleaner in front of that net. He’s playing extremely well right now. I’m sure his confidence is high because usually success breeds confidence.”

• Having served a four-year apprenticeship in the AHL with Wilkes- Barre/Scranton, Jarry is fully aware that an NHL gig is hardly guaranteed:

“It’s not something that I’m expecting. I’m just making sure I’m trying to do the best I can in practice. If I’m called upon, I try to be ready for it.”

• Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet, who was an assistant with the Penguins for three seasons, offered an interesting assessment of Jarry’s development:

“A lot more quieter in the net. A couple of years, I remember, he was still a good goalie, but side to side, he kind of got of control. He just seems now, when he’s going side to side (now), he’s locked in. He’s there for the second shot. (Some) goalies, they make that first save then they’re out of the net. But he makes the second and the third.”

• Kessel on his return:

“Obviously, it’s strange. I had some good years here and some good memories. The fans gave me a warm welcome. I love the city, I love them. They treated me great here. It was nice. … They were very nice to me tonight. I appreciate that. I loved my time here. I love them. I’ve got nothing but good memories.”

• Sullivan, who regularly butted heads with Kessel during his time in Pittsburgh, was diplomatic when asked if Kessel had extra jump during Friday’s game:

“I don’t see him enough to make an assessment. He’s obviously a really good player. He was noticeable on their power play. That’s one of the strengths of his game as it was when he was here with us. He’s just a real good player.”

• Jarry was asked what’s been better with the penalty kill as of late:

“Just getting in front of pucks. You see how many big blocks we’re getting, and timely blocks. And it helps when we’re getting the puck (cleared) 200 feet. It gives our guys a break and it gets fresh guys on the ice for us.”

• Tocchet lauded Malkin’s tactics on his goal:

“It just came down to (Malkin) just doing a veteran move. He kind of cheated on the draw and got in on us.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165050 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Pierre-Olivier Joseph scores first goal with Penguins in loss

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, December 7, 2019 1:09 a.m.

Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored his first goal of the season and recorded an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-3 loss to the Texas Stars in Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Part of the return on a trade which sent forward Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes, Joseph has been limited to 12 games in his first professional season primarily due to a bout of mononucleosis.

Forwards Andrew Agozzino and Andreas Martinsen also scored for the Penguins (13-7-1-2). Martinsen’s goal was his first since being acquired in a deal which sent defenseman Erik Gudbranson to the Anaheim Ducks in November.

Goaltender Casey DeSmith made 22 saves in the defeat which snapped a three-game winning streak for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Highlights:

The Penguins host the Stars again on Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

—-

A hat trick by forward Brandon Hawkins led the Wheeling Nailers to a 6-2 win against the Kalamazoo Wings at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling on Friday.

Forward Myles Powell added a goal and two assists for the Nailers (9-8- 4-0) while forward Jan Drozg, a fifth-round pick by the Penguins in 2017, also scored a goal. Goaltender Jordan Ruby made 27 saves in the victory which snapped a five-game losing streak for Wheeling.

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165051 Pittsburgh Penguins

Phil Kessel appreciated a warm welcome back from the Penguins

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, December 7, 2019 12:26 a.m.

Phil Kessel made his initial return in front of thousands of fans dressed in black and yellow.

They cried his name and got excited when he took the ice.

But things were very different almost exactly one decade earlier.

When Kessel played in Boston’s on Dec. 5, 2009, Bruins fans taunted him with sing-song “Keeeeesss-eeeeelllll …. Keeeeesss-eeeeelllll…..” chants and booed him relentlessly during his first game in TD Garden after an impasse in contract talks led to him being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ten years and a day later, his reception at PPG Paints Arena was just as passionate but certainly far more convivial.

After the first television stoppage during the first period, a carefully crafted presentation was displayed on the video board which showed several of Kessel’s highlights during his successful four-year stretch with the Penguins. It even displayed some of his endearing imperfections which fans seemingly embraced more than this proclivity for scoring spectacular goals.

Kessel tried to stifle a smile, but, much like his team’s 2-0 setback at PPG Paints Arena, he came up short in that battle.

“It’s different obviously,” said Kessel, who was also booed in his first game at Toronto’s on Oct. 31, 2015. “This place is very special to me. We had a couple of great years. I have a lot of good memories. I have nothing but good things to say.”

Several of his teammates tried to keep Kessel on the ice as he attempted to retreat to the relative seclusion of the bench.

“Everyone wanted him to stay out and enjoy the moment,” said Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet, a member of three of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup teams either as a player or an assistant coach.

“Yeah, yeah,” Kessel said. “You know me. I’m not the biggest for that. It was nice of them to do that. I appreciated it.”

Despite being shut out, Kessel had a pretty noticeable effort in his return. Logging 21:43 of ice time on 22 shifts, he had three shots on six attempts.

Perhaps his best opportunity came at 16:30 of the first period. After Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz turned the puck over in his own zone, Kessel had a chance from the slot. With goaltender Tristan Jarry leaning a bit to the left, Kessel ripped a sizzling wrister to the opposite direction but just missed wide of the cage. The Coyotes were able to generate a handful of subsequent chances off the rebound but couldn’t beat Jarry.

(Video courtesy of NHL)

“I had some chances tonight,” Kessel said. “I had a lot actually. It didn’t work out. I’ll just keep battling. I like our game. I like how we played tonight. If we keep playing like that, we’ll win a lot of games.”

“It’s tough,” said Schultz, who defended Kessel outside of the realm of a practice for the first time since 2015. “Obviously, his shot is one of the best in the league and he can let it go in a split second. So, you always have to be aware of him.”

Based on the amount of Kessel jerseys, signs and cheers in PPG Paints Arena on Friday, quite a few people appear to remain aware of what he meant to this franchise.

“Obviously, it’s strange,” Kessel said. “I had some good years here and some good memories. The fans gave me a warm welcome. I love the city, I love them. They treated me great here. It was nice.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165052 Pittsburgh Penguins Barre/Scranton Penguins, Jarry is fully aware a full-time gig in the NHL is never guaranteed.

“It’s not something that I’m expecting,” Jarry said. “I’m just making sure Tristan Jarry, Penguins record second straight shutout against Coyotes I’m trying to do the best I can in practice.

“If I’m called upon, I try to be ready for it.”

SETH RORABAUGH Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019

Friday, December 6, 2019 9:43 p.m.

The Penguins welcomed Phil Kessel, now of the Arizona Coyotes, back to Pittsburgh on Friday at PPG Paints Arena.

During the first television stoppage of play of the first period, an elaborate presentation was displayed on the video board that highlighted Kessel’s contributions to the team’s success as a Stanley Cup champion in 2016 and ‘17.

Even Kessel’s idiosyncrasies, such as his seemingly perpetual dour mien or his occasionally irascible outbursts on the bench, were warmly recognized by a roaring and prolonged standing ovation.

On the bench, Kessel fought a losing battle in trying to stifle a broad smile.

It was a fitting way to honor a vital member of those championship squads upon his return.

It might be fair to wonder when another indispensable component of that success, Matt Murray, will return to the ice for the Penguins.

Backup goaltender Tristan Jarry made 33 saves for the Penguins in a 2-0 victory for his second consecutive shutout. On Wednesday, Jarry made 28 stops to blank the St. Louis Blues, 2-0.

With a road game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena, will the Penguins stick with a tuned-in Jarry or go with the struggling Murray?

Over his past six games, Jarry had a 5-1-0 record, 1.67 goals-against average, .946 save percentage and two shutouts.

Murray’s numbers over his past six games are … contradistinctive. Over that span, his record is 0-3-2 with a 3.99 goals-against average and .852 save percentage.

Coach Mike Sullivan didn’t shed any light on who will start Saturday but did acknowledge Jarry’s success has forced management to consider taking a different approach to how the workload is divided between the goaltenders.

“For sure,” Sullivan said. “He’s played extremely well. We’re trying to make decisions to win games in the short run but also trying to have the big picture in mind. (Jarry’s) last handful of starts, we feel as though he’s been really good. He’s deserving of some of the starts that we’ve given him, and that’s why we chose to go with him (Friday).”

During Friday’s game, the Penguins and Coyotes got into a bit of a staring contest and held each other scoreless until midway through the third period when Evgeni Malkin scored off a rebound from a blocked shot. He jabbed a puck under the right leg of Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta at the 7-minute, 13-second mark.

Just over five minutes later, Jarry came through with a vital save off a rebound.

Working on a power play, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson chopped a one-timer from center point that Jarry kicked out to the right of the crease. Coyotes forward Clayton Keller was sitting there and lifted the rebound on a wide-open net. Jarry’s reflexes sprung him to his left, and his left skate kicked the puck into the netting behind his crease.

“The puck was coming towards me,” Jarry said. “There was nothing I could really do on the second one but just try to sprawl out, and luckily, it hit me in the foot. It’s just reaction.”

An empty-netter by Brandon Tanev with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation secured the victory.

Despite his recent string of high-caliber play, Jarry isn’t assuming he has a regular spot in the lineup secured. Having served a four-year apprenticeship in the American Hockey League with the Wilkes- 1165053 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins to start Tristan Jarry against Coyotes

SETH RORABAUGH

Friday, December 6, 2019 5:53 p.m.

The Penguins will start goaltender Tristan Jarry for Friday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes and forward Phil Kessel at PPG Paints Arena according to coach Mike Sullivan.

Jarry has appeared in 10 games this season with a 6-4-0 record, a 2.02 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and one shutout. He made 28 saves in a 3-0 home win against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

With a road game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, presumably Matt Murray will start that contest. Murray has struggled as of late. In his past six games, Murray has a 0-3-2 record along with a 3.99 goals against average and an .852 save percentage.

Notes:

• Coach Mike Sullivan said forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Justin Schultz will play. Rust has missed the past three games due to an undisclosed injury while Schultz has missed the past seven games due to a suspected groin ailment.

• Sullivan described defenseman Jack Johnson as “fine.” Johnson missed Wednesday’s game as well as Thursday’s practice while recovering from an illness.

• Rookie defenseman John Marino, a right-handed shot, primarily played on Wednesday’s game in a top pairing with all-star Kris Letang, another righty, and sporadically moved to the left side throughout the contest.

“(Letang) played it more than John did but they’re both somewhat interchangeable, both being right-handed shots,” Sullivan said. “Both of those guys are mobile guys. They’ve got pretty good puck skills. They’re probably two of the more capable guys that we have laying the off side. For a group that, really, we don’t have anybody that’s overly comfortable playing the offside. Jusso (Riikola) has played it a little bit for us. But obviously, there was an abundance of right-hand shots in the lineup the last game.”

Marino joked he only moved to the left side “whenever ‘Tanger’ told me to.” Much of that dynamic was dictated by the occasions Letang joined the offensive attack.

“If he’s stepping up in the offensive zone, he ends up on the right side,” Marino said. “I’m not going to stay on the right side. I’ll just take the left. It makes it a lot easier too. You just switch like that and not even have to worry about it.”

“Most players feel a little bit more comfortable on their strong side,” Marino said. There’s pros and cons to both. So you kind of just take what the game gives you.”

Letang’s experience – he is in his 14th NHL season – grants him a bit more freedom direct traffic within the confines of the Penguins’ on-ice schematics.

“We certainly give them some latitude for sure because we want them to take ownership for what’s going on out there,” Sullivan said. “We do give them some latitude when it comes to that kind of stuff. But it’s more about communication than it is anything, especially with those two guys. (Letang) is a veteran guy, he has a lot of experience. He talks to the young players a lot, whether he’s playing or he isn’t. In that particularly instance, we would certainly give (Letang) the ownership to make the call there.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165054 Pittsburgh Penguins “It may just look like a minutes thing on the outside,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “But if you’re playing more minutes, it usually means you are playing against some of our opponents’ better players more often. Some minutes are harder than others. When you’re put into more significant Penguins’ remaining defensemen are embracing bigger minutes situations, that’s how the minutes climb. For some guys, it’s within their comfort zone. With other guys, it might not be at that point.”

In Marino’s case Wednesday, that involved playing his off side. SETH RORABAUGH “I guess the angles, you play the angles a little bit differently,” Marino Friday, December 6, 2019 5:20 p.m. said. “You’re on your backhand in the offensive zone. So you’ve got to be careful about that. But as long as you communicate and things like that, it’s not too much of a difference. During Wednesday’s 3-0 home victory against the St. Louis Blues, rookie defenseman John Marino played on the team’s top pairing with veteran “Most players feel a little bit more comfortable on their strong side. Kris Letang. There’s pros and cons to both. So you kind of just take what the game gives you.” The duo offers plenty of intrigue between the dynamic skills of a five-time all-star such as Letang and the remarkably steady poise of the ephebic For most defensemen, they gladly will accept more ice time regardless of Marino. the circumstances.

But who would play the left side? Both are right-handers. “You play smart. You change when you can, not when you have to,” Johnson said. “But you do that regardless of how many minutes you’re The solution was simple: They shifted side-to-side throughout the game. playing. But that’s across the board. I don’t think there’s too much thinking involved in that.” But when? Said Sullivan: “These guys are just embracing the challenge. Whatever “Whenever ‘Tanger’ told me to,” said Marino. the team needs, they’re up for. Their attitude has really helped us have Fair enough. some of the success that we’ve had to this point.”

Marino and virtually all of the other defensemen have been put into Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 different scenarios over the past few weeks because of various injuries to their most established members of the blue line.

While Justin Schultz is expected to return to the lineup Friday against the Arizona Coyotes after a seven-game absence because of a suspected groin injury, Brian Dumoulin will be sidelined until at least late January after surgery on his left ankle. Additionally, defenseman Jack Johnson was scratched Wednesday (illness), and Letang is less than two weeks removed from an undisclosed injury that sidelined him for eight games.

That has meant an increase in minutes for the remaining able-bodied defensemen.

What changes when you go from, say, an average of 15 minutes per game to 19?

The answers vary for each player on the blue line.

“As a defenseman, it’s a little bit more of flow when you go from 15 to 19,” Marcus Pettersson said. “After a game, you can feel like you played more than you actually did, or your can feel like you played less than you actually did depending on how much you played in the beginning (of a game). Some periods, you can kind of sit for a while, and it feels like, ‘Oh, I didn’t play any,’ but you actually played 21. It feels a little bit different depending on how much you played at the end of the game or how the flow of the game was, stuff like that.”

Said Schultz: “Honestly, you don’t really feel it. If you’re going from 16 to (20), that’s a big jump. That’s usually due to special teams. Honestly, for me, I come off after games, and I have no idea of my time on ice.”

Perhaps the biggest difference comes with decision-making. Sound habits that are demanded by coaches under ideal circumstances are stressed even more with a banged-up blue line.

“Maybe in the back of your mind, you’re trying to conserve energy and not jump into the play when it’s not a good time,” Schultz said. “You’re not creating an odd-man rush. Just being smart. But I think you can do that all the time, being smart on when you’re going and when you’re not. Especially back-to-back games. You want to, obviously, play hard and do all the right things. But you’ve got to be smart about when you’re jumping up.”

Added Marino: “Just be a little bit more smart about jumping up in a play and kind of reserving your energy and being smart on when you’re using it. Obviously, if you’re getting a little bit more ice time, you want to be ready to go in the third period. As opposed to when you’re at 13 minutes, you’re not out there as much.”

Even beyond the physical demands required of four, five, six or more minutes per game, the duties of those specific extra minutes might be what are most daunting. 1165055 Pittsburgh Penguins Perhaps splitting time with Jarry for a bit would help Murray. Murray was never better than was when he was being pushed by Marc-Andre Fleury. (But Jarry isn’t Fleury.)

Mark Madden: There’s no goalie controversy; Matt Murray is the Perhaps giving Murray a long run of games would get him some rhythm Penguins’ No. 1 and consistency.

I don’t see Jarry as a potential No. 1. I doubt Penguins management does, either. MARK MADDEN So, barring Murray playing worse and/or acrimony developing between Friday, December 6, 2019 4:17 p.m. him and the franchise, he will be the Penguins’ goalie for the long run. It’s a matter of what he gets, how long he gets it for, and how he plays after

he gets it. The Penguins don’t have a goalie controversy. Not yet. That’s unless Murray and his representation draw a hard line on getting a Backup Tristan Jarry has played well: He’s 5-1 with a 1.86 goals-against Vasilevskiy-type deal. Then, all bets are off. average and .941 save percentage in his last six games. He made 28 Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 saves as a Penguins team missing seven regular players blanked Stanley Cup champion St. Louis, 3-0, on Wednesday.

No. 1 goalie Matt Murray hasn’t sparkled. His numbers (2.84 goals- against average, .897 save percentage) are subpar. He’s leaked in some bad goals. He hasn’t stolen games. The Penguins could use that occasionally given their injury situation.

But Jarry hasn’t performed well enough, long enough to become the starter. (But perhaps he should get more games.)

Murray hasn’t been bad enough, long enough to be relegated to the bench. (He is shielded for the time being by his excellent resume.)

But Murray is in the last year of his contract. He’s a restricted free agent at season’s end.

The Penguins may be hesitant to give Murray the kind of deal he wants. The fact that Murray is in his current pact’s final season and an extension isn’t agreed upon or even being negotiated speaks volumes.

Murray’s free agency, as noted, would be restricted. That minimizes his leverage. RFAs almost never sign elsewhere. He won’t be unrestricted until after the 2020-21 season.

There aren’t many franchise-level goalies. Even if Murray doesn’t find elite form anytime soon, the Penguins basically have to keep him.

That’s why Matt Stafford has been Detroit’s quarterback for 11 years and is on a five-year deal worth $135 million. He’s mediocre, but who do you get to replace him?

Murray has been much better than mediocre. Two Stanley Cup rings attest.

But what does he want, and will the Penguins give it to him?

Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa Bay set the bar for goaltenders when he got an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million per. Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck’s contract seems to be at the bottom of the top. He’s getting $6.17 million per over six years.

Murray’s new contract will fall somewhere between the two. Would the Penguins give Murray an eight-year pact worth $8 million per?

Not right now. The Penguins almost certainly don’t feel Murray’s recent performance merits that kind of commitment.

Murray is a legit No. 1 goalie. But his brilliance of ’16 and ’17 gets smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror. The stats verify. The eye test confirms. Right now, he’s worthy of a Hellebuyck-level contract, but no better.

GM Jim Rutherford might not even feel that Murray merits that.

Rutherford might be spooked by his experience with Cam Ward. Rutherford was Carolina’s GM in 2005-06 when Ward, a rookie, won that franchise’s only Stanley Cup with inspired play between the pipes. But Ward, despite playing 14 NHL seasons, arguably never played that well again.

When you’re in a contract year, you’ve got to play better than Murray is. (See Dupree, Alvin.)

Murray will. He’s a top talent. 1165056 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins activate Justin Schultz from IR, assign Zach Trotman to AHL

SETH RORABAUGH

Friday, December 6, 2019 12:31 p.m.

The Penguins activated defenseman Justin Schultz from injured reserve on Friday and assigned defenseman Zach Trotman to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Schultz has missed the past seven games because of a suspected groin injury. He was in the lineup for Friday night’s game against the Coyotes.

Initially recalled on Nov. 21, Trotman has appeared in five games this season and has no points.

Forward Patric Hornqvist, who has missed one game with a suspected right knee injury, was placed on injured reserve. In 20 games, Hornqvist has 11 points (six goals, five assists).

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165057 Pittsburgh Penguins

Kessel Comeback: Phil Kessel returns to Pittsburgh with 1st-place Coyotes

TIM BENZ

Friday, December 6, 2019 6:52 a.m.

The “Kessel Comeback” is upon us!

Friday night marks the return of Phil Kessel to PPG Paints Arena. The two-time Penguins Stanley Cup champion takes to Pittsburgh ice for the first time since leaving for the Arizona Coyotes in a summer trade.

Before Thursday night, Kessel had been struggling. The winger has just four goals and 15 points in 29 games with the Coyotes. He had scored just one goal since Nov. 2.

However, against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, he scored two power play goals en route to a 3-1 win.

Putting the Phil in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/fZVJfccGW3

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 6, 2019

Overall, the Coyotes are good this year. After the victory in Philadelphia, they have 38 points. That’s good for first place in the Pacific Division.

In our weekly Penguins chat with TribLIVE beat writer Seth Rorabaugh, we look at the game Friday and how Kessel will be received by the crowd. He had a tremendous run in Pittsburgh, but it ended poorly.

I don’t think that’ll matter to the fans. Let’s see what Seth believes.

We also get into some specific Penguins-related matters such as Dominik Simon’s blown scoring chances, the Tristan Jarry-Matt Murray debate, Murray’s looming contractual concerns and how newcomer Stefan Noesen fits on the roster.

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165058 Pittsburgh Penguins prowess with hilarious clips of him playing Harry in the Penguins’ Home Alone parody, Ryan Reaves scaring him badly in a hotel and Kessel turning beet red at the White House. As the video concluded, with Kessel seated on the bench, the camera caught his ear-to-ear smile, his Phil Kessel on Pittsburgh: 'I love this city' appreciation for the ovation obvious.

Kessel admitted Friday this felt different than other return games he experienced in Boston and Toronto. The two Stanley Cup titles are Staff Writer obviously a big part. Ditto for the fans and their relentless support. DEC 7, 2019 4:58 AM “Obviously, this place is very special to me,” Kessel said. “We had a couple great years. I have a lot of good memories and nothing but good things to say.” Fans and critics can describe Phil Kessel any number of ways. Nice guy, tries hard, loves the game. That’s his Twitter bio and something of an Post Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 inside/running joke in the hockey world.

Maybe you’re not a Kessel fan and think he’s enigmatic, lazy or careless with the puck. Might be some sliver of truth there, but so what?

For those who’ve played with Kessel, you’ll hear likable, funny, deadly shot and natural goal-scorer, that sort of stuff.

Friday, another label applied to Kessel, one he likely would equate to jogging through six lanes of traffic or juggling cacti — center of attention.

On the night Phil Kessel returned, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry stole the show

Playing his first game at PPG Paints Arena since the June 29 trade that sent the two-time Stanley Cup champion and fan favorite to the Arizona Coyotes, Kessel was feted with a video tribute during the first TV timeout. And while the video was typically terrific, Kessel’s Coyotes teammates got into the action by keeping him on the ice, forcing him to soak up the attention.

“You know me, I’m not the biggest for that,” Kessel said after the Penguins’ 2-0 win. “But it was nice of them. I appreciate it.”

That’s the same way Kessel, who produced 20 goals and 56 points during 65 playoffs games with the Penguins, feels about Pittsburgh — he appreciates his time here. Although Kessel is hardly one to opine on anything, he left no doubt on his admiration for the Penguins, their fans, the city of Pittsburgh and his four magical years here.

“I love this city,” Kessel said. “I love [the fans]. They treated me great.”

Much of Kessel’s game looked the same, aside from occasionally stomping out of frustration or the exasperated looks at the end of the bench, the result of near misses for Kessel and his teammates.

There’s a certain beauty to Kessel’s game, too, either on the power play or five-on-five. Sometimes hockey players, especially young ones, can be inordinately timid to try a play, fearful it might backfire and end their night early.

Kessel couldn’t care less. He takes chances. He gets chances. And during what was actually a fairly tight-checking game, played by two well- coached and well-built teams, Kessel had plenty — attempting six shots, putting three on net.

Bryan Rust, Justin Schultz, Jack Johnson return to Penguins lineup

“I had some chances,” Kessel said. “I had a lot actually. It didn’t work out. We’ll just keep battling. I like how we played. If we keep playing like that, we’ll win a lot of games.”

This new version of Kessel has an “A” stitched on his sweater because coach Rick Tocchet brought Kessel to Arizona to be something his Coyotes lacked — a veteran presence, an established star, someone who could lighten the mood yet instill a sense of urgency. Arizona’s 17- 10-4 record strongly suggests the experiment has worked.

“He’s really good with the young guys,” Tocchet said. “Different personality in the room. Like he did in Pittsburgh, he comes to the rink and has a smile on his face every day. He’s been happy. It’s good.”

All eyes were on Kessel since he scored twice in Philadelphia Thursday. After the game, Kessel put an animal pelt on his head — you read that correctly — and talked about wanting to get a win in Pittsburgh.

“That would be nice, eh?” Kessel told his teammates.

Tristan Jarry made sure that didn’t happen, but Kessel still had his Marc- Andre Fleury moment, punctuated by Evgeni Malkin’s fist-bump. As for the tribute video, it struck the perfect tone, blending Kessel’s goal-scoring 1165059 Pittsburgh Penguins we feel he’s been really good. He’s deserving some of the starts we’ve given him.”

In a defensive-minded game when Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta made 24 On the night Phil Kessel returned, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry stole the of 25 saves, the trouble for the Penguins through the first 45 minutes was show they had a hard time taking advantage of that great goaltending. Against a structured Western Conference team, chances were sometimes hard to come by.

Staff Writer Some of the Penguins’ best opportunities came in the second period on a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:49. Malkin banged one off the side of the DEC 7, 2019 4:58 AM net. Then, Bryan Rust had a point-blank attempt that Raanta stoned.

The ice was tilted heavily in the Penguins’ favor in the third. Jake Friday night at PPG Paints Arena was billed as Phil Kessel’s coming- Guentzel fed the puck to Malkin, who dished to Dominik Simon on a tick- home party. tack-toe play. But Simon couldn’t finish.

And in many ways, it was. Fans scattered throughout the stands wore Moments later, Rust set up Malkin in front. But the bouncing puck their No. 81 Penguins jerseys. Plenty of others made signs to thank hopped over his stick. In the same shift, Rust had another point-blank Kessel for his four years and two Stanley Cup titles in Pittsburgh. Heck, chance that was steered wide. one even suggested that he run for president in 2020. But the Penguins finally cracked through 7:13 into the third period. Malkin The most poignant moment came midway through the first period, when won a faceoff between his legs. Guentzel ripped a shot that deflected off a video tribute played. Kessel received a standing ovation and saluted the boards behind the net. Malkin raced to the net, showing his speed the crowd, looking as if he was touched by the response. and instincts to grab the loose puck and bat it in for what became the game-winner. But on what was supposed to be Kessel’s night, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry stole the show. “He’s a difference-maker,” Sullivan said of Malkin. “He has the ability to change outcomes. That’s what he does year-in and year-out. Tonight, In the Penguins’ 2-0 victory against the visiting Arizona Coyotes, Jarry was a huge goal for us.” made 33 saves for his second consecutive shutout, Evgeni Malkin scored an instinctive goal midway through the third and Brandon Tanev tacked The Coyotes threatened with about eight minutes later on the power play. on the empty-netter to help the Penguins improve to 16-9-4 this season. Jarry slid from his left to right to make a brilliant kick save. Then, Tanev tacked on the empty-netter to seal it. “Unbelievable,” Penguins forward Bryan Rust said of Jarry’s performance. “You can see him in there reading the play so well, playing The Penguins are back in action Saturday night, when they travel to with a lot of confidence. He’s making some big saves for us.” Detroit to face the Red Wings in the second half of a back-to-back.

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has long believed that Jarry Post Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 has the potential to one day become a No. 1 goalie for an NHL team. With every game he continues to perform like this, Jarry is beginning to prove that assessment right — and, maybe, begin to even make the case that the time is now.

After shutting out the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues Wednesday night, Jarry made his second start in a row and sixth appearance in the past seven games. He was sharp yet again, blanking a team that entered the night in first place in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. His rebound control and ability to play the puck especially stands out in games that Jarry shines.

By the time the game was over, it was Jarry — not Kessel — who stepped onto the ice to be saluted by the home crowd as the game’s first star for the second game in a row.

It’s easy to forget now. But there was a time earlier this season when Jarry’s role, at least on game nights, could best be defined as the guy sitting on the bench in a ball cap opening the door as the lines changed.

The backup goalie was kind of like the “break-in-case of emergency” goalie. Through the first 19 games of the season, he started three, all on the second half of back-to-backs when most teams have no choice but to start the second goalie. Meanwhile, at the same time, Matt Murray was on pace to start 69 games, more than any other goalie started a season ago.

How quickly things change.

Over the past month, there’s been a confluence of events that reshaped the Penguins goalie situation. More back-to-backs meant more opportunities for Jarry. He took advantage, and his numbers surged. He became one of the league leaders in goals-against average and save percentage. At the same time, Murray hit a November lull.

“Whenever I’m called upon, it’s not something I’m expecting,” Jarry said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can in practice and, if I’m called upon, just be ready for it”

After the game, Sullivan was asked if Jarry’s performance of late has made him reconsider the division of labor with his goaltenders.

“For sure,” Sullivan said. “He’s played extremely well. We’re trying to make decisions with all of our positions to win games in the short run, but also trying to have the big-picture in mind. Tristan’s last handful of starts, 1165060 Pittsburgh Penguins before his senior season. Meanwhile, Jeanna pursued a graduate degree at Boston University. As Jeanna began her career in Minnesota, Zach worked his way to the NHL club in Boston.

Nearly 400 miles apart, Zach Trotman and his wife make 'crazy' marriage While distance means they are often states apart, Jeanna said her work husband always has her back.

“He’s my hype guy,” Jeanna said. “If I ever have a big show or a big story or a bad day or anything like that, he’s the first person in my corner.” Staff Writer Despite the challenges, they’ve found a way to enjoy their biggest DEC 6, 2019 7:41 PM moments together. One of the highlights came on April 2, 2015. Zach was playing in his first game at Joe Louis Arena, the same venue where

Jeanna’s passion for sports was born. When they arrived at FedEx in a wedding dress and tuxedo on July 1, Jeanna’s family had to finagle a way for her 91-year-old grandmother to 2017, Zach Trotman and his wife, Jeanna, did more than sign an NHL attend the game in a wheel chair. With just over two minutes remaining contract. They also signed up for days like Friday, when Trotman was and the score tied, the woman Jeanna lovingly described as “a crazy old reassigned less than 48 hours before he was supposed to see his wife Polish, catholic lady,” grabbed her hand and pulled out a rosary. It must for the first time in weeks in Detroit. have worked. Hockey marriages can be crazy and unpredictable by their very nature, Within 30 seconds, Zach, a Novi, Michigan native, scored his first NHL with trades, promotions, reassignments and injuries. But for Zach and goal to help the Bruins beat the Red Wings, 3-2. Jeanna, there’s an extra layer of complexity. “The stuff we’ve gone through,” Jeanna said. “The crazy life. And the Over the past decade that they’ve been dating and married, they’ve months without seeing each other. The ups and downs. The injuries. I’ve pursued somewhat similar passions in sports — but on opposite ends of had my fair share of challenges with my job. There are just little moments a microphone. While Zach has climbed the ladder to play nearly 90 NHL like that, that make it worth it.” games over the last six seasons for the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, Jeanna built a successful career in broadcast journalism. Jeanna said she thought at the time that was the best day of her life. Then came her wedding day. The jobs are similar in the sense that athletes and reporters don’t often get to choose where their next paycheck will come from. To work your W/ @WBSPenguins & @penguins in playoffs, #TBT to the moment we way to the top in these competitive fields, you typically have to go where found out @Ztrotman4 was becoming a Penguin. On our wedding day, the opportunity is. 20 mins after we left the altar, signed the contract w/ our wedding party, & announced our new team as we entered the reception. #BESTdayever For Zach, that’s Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the Penguins #Literally pic.twitter.com/3UjoecwJrV organization. For Jeanna, it’s as the sports director for an NBC affiliate in Flint, Mich., almost 400 miles away. — Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) April 19, 2018

“It’s very similar. She’s usually on a two- or three-year contract; mine are When the couple initially selected the date, they chose July 1 because it usually more one or two,” Zach said with a laugh. “We support each fit between the narrow window after the Stanley Cup final and before other. I would never ask her to give up her job and what she’s passionate training ramps up in August. But, as it turned out, July 1 at noon, as they about just so I could do mine. Obviously, she is the same way.” walked to the alter, the first day of free agency officially began.

We are definitely still feeling the wrath of Memorial Day #Murph- 1 mile Just moments after the ceremony, on the party bus to the reception, run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, 1 mile run. Zach got the call from Pittsburgh. They rerouted to FedEx to finalize the #TrotsAreMovingSlow @Ztrotman4 pic.twitter.com/mvFq0UFsBp contract. Zach signed first. Jeanna served as the witness. As she signed “Jeanna Trotman” for the first time, the couple officially began another — Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) May 30, 2018 chapter in their unpredictable hockey relationship. For a fleeting moment, it looked like the stars had aligned over the past “It’s just been so enjoyable for both of us,” Jeanna said. “I don’t think couple weeks. Zach was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as the either of us would change anything... maybe more goals.” Penguins dealt with a number of injuries on their blue line. Saturday, when the Penguins travel to Detroit to play the Red Wings, Jeanna Post Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 thought she’d have the chance to see her husband play in Detroit, the same hockey-crazy city where her sports passion was born.

Plans changed. On Friday, Pittsburgh announced defenseman Justin Schultz had been activated from injured reserve. In a corresponding move to settle the team’s defensive logjam, Trotman was reassigned to the club’s AHL affiliate.

Over the years, the couple has learned to take moments like this in stride, working together even when apart. So on Friday night, Jeanna booked a flight to Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton.

“We’ve just gotten good at it,” Zach said. “The beginning of the season seems to be the hardest because you’ve got the longest stretch before Christmas break and a lot of stuff is uncertain about when you’ll get to see each other again.”

The journey began about a decade ago at Lake State Superior University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Jeanna — a sports fanatic who grew up rooting for the Red Wings and said her first words were “pull the goalie” — played volleyball in school. During the NCAA rules meeting before Jeanna’s sophomore year, she spotted a tall, freshman hockey player.

“When we met, he said, ‘I want to go into the NHL,’” Jeanna remembers. “I said, ‘I want to go into broadcast journalism.’ We kind of set ourselves up for this crazy life right off the bat.”

Driven by their careers and competitive personalities, their paths have diverged and come together. Zach was drafted by the Boston Bruins after his freshman year and made the jump to the AHL club in Providence 1165061 Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust, Justin Schultz, Jack Johnson return to Penguins lineup

Staff Writer

DEC 7, 2019 12:16 AM

The Penguins got some reinforcements for their injury-ravaged lineup Friday night.

Defenseman Justin Schultz and forward Bryan Rust both returned from lower-body ailments to play against the Arizona Coyotes at PPG Paints Arena, giving the Penguins a top-four defenseman and one of their most productive offensive players on a per-game basis.

Jack Johnson, who missed Wednesday’s game and Thursday’s practice with an illness, was also back in action.

With Schultz back, the Penguins reassigned right-handed defenseman Zach Trotman to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barres/ Scranton.

Defense shuffle

Schultz had not appeared in a game since he left practice Nov. 20 with a lower-body injury. Sullivan said at the time that it was difficult to pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred, suggesting that it was more of a chronic ailment that developed over time rather than something that happened suddenly.

Before his injury, Schultz skated on the second pairing with Marcus Pettersson. With the Penguins’ top left-handed defenseman, Brian Dumoulin, out of the lineup for at least a few more weeks after undergoing ankle surgery last weekend, the Penguins shuffled their pairings..

Rookie John Marino moved up to the top pairing, bumping Kris Letang to his off side. Johnson played alongside Schultz, and Pettersson played next to righthander Chad Ruhwedel.

The Penguins currently have just three healthy left-handed defensemen: Johnson, Pettersson and Juuso Riikola. By scratching Riikola, the Penguins matched up two righthanders on the top pairing.

Re-uniting the top line

Rust was injured when he slipped into the boards during a game-day skate in Columbus last Friday, but he stepped right back onto the top line, playing with center Evgeni Malkin and left wing Jake Guentzel.

Before his injury, Rust had produced 17 points in 14 games. He was also a major spark on the top line, providing speed, a defensive conscience and scrappiness in the corners to compliment the other two offensive weapons. With Rust back, center Joseph Blandisi was bumped into the press box as a healthy scratch. Hollidaysburg native Sam Lafferty moved from wing to center a line with left wing Alex Galchenyuk and right wing Dominik Simon.

In other injury news

The Penguins are still dealing with several injuries as forwards Sidney Crosby (sports hernia surgery), Nick Bjugstad (core muscle injury), and Patric Hornqvist (lower body) are expected to be out longer term.

Post Gazette LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165062 Pittsburgh Penguins “You know me,” Kessel said. “I’m not the biggest for that, but it was nice of them to do that, and I appreciate it.”

He was speaking in the visiting locker room. Ninety percent of the bodies Penguins fans love Phil Kessel — and they’ll love him forever in it were Pittsburgh reporters, there to speak to him and not for much else. He’d played well, earning a pair of prime chances — including one shortly after the tribute — and hitting the side of the net once. The Coyotes out-attempted the Penguins 16-4 with him on the ice but couldn’t Sean Gentille score. Tristan Jarry was too good. For the season, Kessel has scored all Dec 6, 2019 but one of his six goals on the power play while shooting an uncharacteristically low 8.1 percent. In that way, it was a standard night. Except for — well, you know.

If you were outside PPG Paints Arena on Friday night, you’d have seen a The last question Kessel fielded spoke to that. Is this, he was asked, lot of Phil Kessel jerseys waiting to make their way through the turnstiles. different than heading back to, say Boston? He started his career there There were white jerseys. Black jerseys. Pittsburgh gold jerseys. Stadium and scored a bunch of goals, but it was — well, you know. Series jerseys. “Yeah, it’s different,” he said. “Obviously, this place, you know, it’s very It would’ve been clean and easy to say, all told, that there were more No. special to me. And we had a great couple years, and I have a lot of good 81s in attendance than usual. After all, Kessel was back in town for the memories and nothing but good things to say.” first time since the Penguins’ summer decision to ship him to Arizona, and a video tribute was planned. Why not dust off his sweater for the And that was that. On the way back to the media level, a screen replayed evening, then mothball it for good? the game-winning goal Evgeni Malkin — his former linemate and foil — scored 7:13 into the third period. Malkin had won a draw and knocked a Once you made your way in the building, though — dozens of handmade loose puck past Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta. After the goal, he looped signs and a full-on ovation during the tribute — you’d have realized just around the right circle and celebrated, back to the glass, with his how off the table that proposition seems to be. People here love Phil teammates. Directly behind him in the front row, fans celebrated, too. Kessel. They will always love Phil Kessel. It’s one of those fan-player relationships that’ll last forever. It’s also reciprocal. Two of them were wearing Kessel jerseys. No. 81 doesn’t play here anymore. That doesn’t mean he’s gone. “I love the city,” Kessel said after the Penguins’ 2-0 win. “I love them.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 Understanding why, exactly, this is the case is a trap for journalists; it’s easy to overthink. Kessel is a great hockey player, and the Penguins would be stuck on one Crosby-and-Malkin-era Stanley Cup without him. On a normal day, he was the second-best forward on two Cup teams, and he probably deserved the Conn Smythe award over Crosby in 2016.

He also has an endearing, oddball sort of anti-charisma that made him an easy target in previous stops, and probably an unfair one. Those are the bits that fans latch onto. Nice guy. Tries hard. Loves the game. Scores goals. Win Cups. Freaks out at scary Halloween masks. Drops great Twitter one-liners. Slumps over on the bench. Dresses up as Harry from the Wet Bandits. If you’re rooting for a team, what’s not to love?

He’s not a great postgame quote. Never was, never will be. That’s not important. It was closer to being important in Toronto, maybe — he was a more front-facing player in a more rabid market on a much worse team, so the job requirements were a little different, and his treatment was a lot more unfair — but it certainly wasn’t here. I can say this pretty definitively: whatever he did or didn’t say on a daily basis didn’t matter much to any media folk. Was that the case in Toronto? Nope. But here, folks generally — outside of normal criticism that athletes face when they’re underperforming, and eventually on less-than-great terms with their head coach — let Phil be Phil.

What it could do, though, was make it easier to forget, and a little tougher to understand, just how much Penguins fans love him. And then, if you’re someone with a job like this, you’d have to remind yourself of all that stuff — the goals and the Cups and the goofy moments and his past life as a Toronto punching bag. Of course, fans here love Phil Kessel. What’s not to love?

So, that was all wrapped up in the first-period tribute, which came a little less than nine minutes into a 0-0 game.

THANKS FOR THE CUPS, THE LAUGHS, AND THE THRILLS.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU, TWO-TIME STANLEY CUP CHAMPION @PKESSEL81. PIC.TWITTER.COM/POZRJMVU8I

— PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (@PENGUINS) DECEMBER 7, 2019

THE PHIL TRIBUTE, AND REACTION. #PENS #YOTES PIC.TWITTER.COM/KEORRVVADK

— WES CROSBY (@OTHERNHLCROSBY) DECEMBER 7, 2019

Kessel showed as much emotion (non-post-Cup lap division) as you’ll see from him. His current head coach let his secret slip.

“Yeah — Phil got a little teary-eyed,” Rick Tocchet said, adding that the rest of the Coyotes tried to get him to stay on the ice and luxuriate a little longer. This doesn’t happen for most guys. Odds are, it won’t happen for Kessel again. Might as well sit with it for a bit — but not too long. 1165063 Pittsburgh Penguins turned in a performance that was, by-and-large, above average despite the number of odd-man breaks he faced.

With that in mind, let’s jump into some data that can provide additional Marshall: A closer look at the Penguins’ goaltending situation context for the performances of both goalies so far this season.

(All data provided by Evolving-Hockey)

Jesse Marshall This helps to explain Sullivan’s decision to give the net to Jarry in recent games. Murray’s performance has been below average and expectation Dec 6, 2019 so far this year.

An interesting way to digest this data is to consider the potential impact it has on the standings. Thanks to the work of Eric Tulsky, we know that Before we dive into any analysis of the Penguins’ goaltending situation, three goals equate roughly to a point in the standings and six goals let me be clear: I don’t think there is a goaltending controversy in equate to a win. Since we’re looking at this data in terms of raw goals Pittsburgh. above or below expectation, that means that Murray’s minus-9.79 goals Rather, I think the Penguins find themselves in the common situation of allowed versus expectation have cost the Penguins more than three having one goaltender playing really well while the other one struggles a points in the standings. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s the bit. difference between fifth place and third in the Metropolitan Division at the time of this article. If there’s one thing we know about hockey in a traditional and mathematical sense, it’s that players (and teams) have ups and downs One question that often comes from looking at these numbers is with over the course of an 82-game season. We can see this variance in the regard to workload. As we mentioned earlier, environment and context data and on the ice. Shooters go cold for weeks at a time. Goaltenders are key. Courtesy of Sean Tierney at Charting Hockey, we can get a go on superhuman runs that seem like they’ll last forever only to crash glimpse of Murray’s and Jarry’s performances so far and how they fit and burn, creating a new trend that spirals their save percentages back within the context of their workload. to normalcy. Meanwhile, that previously cold shooter scores 14 goals in The Penguins are arguably the best defensive team in hockey, so neither six games making everyone forget about the cold streak. of these players has faced a particularly volatile environment. In fact, This ebb and flow are what hockey is all about. Shooters and goalies both are among the league leaders in terms of their expected goals alike fight against it, and right now Matt Murray is feeling the effects of it. against per 60 minutes of even-strength ice time. That’s a testament to It’s why coaches and analysts preach about process over results. the performance of the Pittsburgh blue line.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is acutely aware of how this ebb and flow The difference lies in what Murray and Jarry have done with these works and where Murray finds himself within it. minutes. While Murray’s workload is slightly more difficult than Jarry’s, it’s not enough to account for the difference in performance. “I think you could probably say that about a lot of goaltenders that go through the course of their careers, or players, for that matter,” Sullivan This recent performance from Jarry is the culmination of a lot of faith and said. “I just think this is the human element associated with playing hard work. Remember, when the Penguins selected Jarry in the 2013 sports. Every player goes through ebbs and flows of a season. Inevitably, NHL entry draft, he was not a starter. He only played 27 games for the there’s always going to be bits of adversity or challenges during the Edmonton Oil Kings, backing up Laurent Brossoit for the majority of the course of a year, whether it’s as an individual or as a group. You have to year. Even in those limited minutes, Jarry’s ability was on display enough try to find ways to minimize the damages and fight through those for the Penguins to be comfortable selecting him with the 44th overall challenges to get your very best.” pick. He finished his draft-eligible season with six shutouts, a 1.61 goals- against average and a 93.6 save percentage, and he was the starter We’re going to look beyond the traditional buckets of goals-against during the Oil Kings’ run the following season. For the average and save percentage, neither of which tells us much about a Penguins, the patience they’ve exhibited with Jarry is starting to pay goaltender’s environment or workload. dividends.

Let’s say we have two goaltenders: Goalie Alpha and Goalie Beta. Both This recent stretch from Murray is more the exception than the rule. of these goalies ended their respective seasons with a 92.5 save Given his past performances, there’s no reason to assume he has just percentage and a 2.12 goals-against average. The assumption would be forgotten how to play the position, but he’s obviously in a bit of a rut right that both goalies performed at the same level, right? What those now. With the Penguins in the midst of an injury crisis, they do not have numbers wouldn’t tell us, though, is that every shot Goalie Alpha faced the point cushion to let Murray play through this rough patch. This is the was from an army of Sidney Crosby clones, while every shot Goalie Beta dictionary definition of a “play the hot hand” situation: let Jarry earn as faced was from your 59-year-old Uncle Ralph using a plastic Mylec stick. many points as he can in the interim, and have faith that Murray All of a sudden, the performances don’t seem so similar, do they? eventually will figure it out.

In that same spirit, we’re going to take a look at a few statistics that go The coaching staff is trusting the process behind the current approach, beyond the traditional goaltending metrics to provide additional context and Sullivan sees the situation as an opportunity for growth. around environment and performance. “As a coaching staff, we’re trying to help all of our guys find their way Goals Saved Above Average tells us the number of goals a netminder through challenges,” Sullivan said. “In my mind, that’s one of the more has saved above or below a league-average goaltender facing the same rewarding parts of coaching, trying to help the group as a whole or workload. Goals Saved Above Expectation tells us the number of goals a individuals find their best game. Sometimes there’s no easy answers. It goaltender allowed or prevented versus what’s expected of them given boils down to hard work, belief in oneself and the group as a whole.” their environment. With Fenwick save percentages, we’re expanding the traditional view of save percentage and including unblocked shot The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 attempts, again positioning it against expected performance given the environment.

A lot of the data we’ll look at here paints Murray in a pretty bad light, especially when juxtaposed with the success of his counterpart, Tristan Jarry, who recently inherited the net from him. I don’t think any of this is a death knell to Murray’s career, nor do I think the Penguins should reconsider their investment plans with him based on this run of form.

In fact, 2018-19 saw Murray finish on the plus side with regard to his Goals Saved Above Average and he also outperformed his expected save percentage. The Penguins were a volatile team defensively, and Murray endured in spite of that. While he wasn’t a world-beater, he 1165064 San Jose Sharks At the Hurricanes practice facility, an unknown person painted a body outline of Mrazek laying on the ice with the No. 34 painted in the middle of the upper body.

San Jose Sharks search for ways to fix anemic power play So the @Canes did this today during practice 

(: @corylav) pic.twitter.com/VWH93WLX2R

CURTIS PASHELKA — (@hockeynight) December 6, 2019

December 6, 2019 at 2:19 PM In the second period of Thursday’s game, Mrazek had frozen the puck after it was redirected on net. Thornton skated by and jabbed at the puck

and Mrazek responded by swinging his stick at the Sharks’ center. TAMPA, Fla. — The Sharks were able win games throughout most of Thornton responded with a sharp right hand that flattened Mrazek, who November without much production from their power play. Now at the remained face up on the ice for a few moments. Thornton and Mrazek start of a tough month of December, the Sharks’ lack of success with the were both given slashing penalties and Thornton was given an extra two man advantage has started to cost them points. minutes for roughing. The Sharks went 0 for 2 and had three shots on goal with the man Two or fewer streak ends advantage — and had five other shot attempts blocked — in what became a 3-2 shootout loss Thursday to the Carolina Hurricanes. One of The Sharks’ NHL record 45-game winning streak when allowing two or those power play tries came early in the third period when the game was fewer goals through regulation and overtime came to an end with tied. Thursday’s loss.

Going into Saturday’s date with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sharks are The last time the Sharks lost a game in that fashion was March 10, 2018 stuck in an 0 for 19 slump on the power play in their last nine games, when they were beaten 2-0 by the Washington Capitals. They then won their longest such stretch since the second half of the 2017-2018 season. four consecutive games when they allowed two or less to finish the 2017- 2018 season, 32 straight the following season and nine games that way The Sharks entered Friday with the NHL’s 21st-ranked power play at this year. 16.9 percent. down from 24.4 percent at the start of November when they were ranked ninth. They are 4 for 44 with the man advantage since Nov. Eight of those victories came in overtimes or shootouts. Hurricanes 1. forward Andrei Svechnikov was the only player to score in three shootout rounds Thursday. “Our power play’s gone cold,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said before Thursday’s game. “I talked at the beginning of the year. It was cold, then San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.07.2019 it got hot, then it gets cold. You go through the season, you’re going to get some of that.

“It’s been cold for longer than we like. We found ways to win despite that, so that’s a good sign. I know it’s going to get going again. It’s been too good historically not to. Just keep working through it.”

The Sharks switched up their personnel on their first and second units for Thursday’s game. They had both Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson on the top unit and Logan Couture was moved to the second unit.

The Sharks created one quality chance on their first power play try in the opening period, as Karlsson fed Burns for a one-timer near the faceoff circle. The second unit, which also featured Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Timo Meier and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, had one shot on the Sharks’ third period opportunity.

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The Sharks did not skate Friday, so there was no indication as to whether they’ll stick with same players on the first and second units. Cashing in against the Lightning may not be easy either way. While Tampa Bay entered Friday ranked 20th overall on the penalty kill at 78.4 percent, it is also eighth-best at home at 86.5 percent.

Simply creating more opportunities wouldn’t hurt, either, as the Sharks have had two or fewer chances in seven of their last nine games.

The last time they went this long without a power play goal was from Feb. 10 to March 4, 2018, a span of 12 games when they were 0 for 28.

“We just have to work. That’s how you get power plays,” said Sharks forward Evander Kane, who has seven of the Sharks’ 15 power play goals this season. “Work through things, put the onus on the refs to make the call when they see them. And when we get those opportunities, just make the play. Trust your instincts, work and crash to the net.

“Simplifying things, using some common sense out there. Once we get that first one, they’re going to come in bunches.”

Scene of the crime?

The Hurricanes had some fun Friday with the incident that involved their goalie, Petr Mrazek, and Joe Thornton. 1165065 San Jose Sharks

Hurricanes poke fun at Petr Mrazek after fighting Sharks' Joe Thornton

Alex Didion

December 06, 2019 2:07 PM

Thursday night’s matchup between the Sharks and the Carolina Hurricanes featured quite a ruckus, which began when Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek slashed Sharks veteran Joe Thornton after a play, prompting Thornton to put Mrazek on his back with a vicious forearm shiver.

During Friday morning’s practice, the Hurricanes decided to have some fun with their goalie by drawing an outline of where their net-minder gracefully hit the ice.

Fun times at RCI. pic.twitter.com/1njfOwFN15

— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) December 6, 2019

Mrazek remained on his back for several minutes after the blow but remained in the game.

The Sharks and Thornton may have won the fight, but the Hurricanes won the game 3-2 in a wild shootout.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165066 St Louis Blues “I have to clean up after Blaiser,” Dunn said. “He’s pretty messy sometimes.”

Sammy Blais is Dunn’s roommate. Not sure if Dunn was kidding about Talent, toughness, tightness make the Blues road warriors Blais’ tidiness, or lack thereof.

In any event, the Blues hang out together on the road. It’s even more pronounced during the playoffs when players tend to hibernate in their Jim Thomas hotel room, playing cards. During the regular season, they get out more.

Dunn says it’s routine on the road for the team to gather for lunch or dinner as a group. It somehow got lost in the shuffle but Blues coach Craig Berube uttered one of his classics the other day, just before the team left for its mini-trip “Everyone’s always invited,” Dunn said. “It’s never like groups and stuff. to Chicago and Pittsburgh. Obviously guys have like their pregame rituals, so dinners are kind of left alone (on game day) and kind of left to everybody to decide on their own. The subject was the team’s impressive success on the road. Berube talked about the Blues being comfortable on the road. How their heavy, “But we usually try to get together as a team, especially on off days. Just grinding style is well-suited for the road. And that the prospect of playing a lunch spot, just kinda hang out and talk about life. Not really thinking in hostile buildings doesn’t bother them. about hockey. Just kinda relax and take your mind off the game a little bit.” He summed it all up with this gem: “It’s like we’re not intimidated by nothing.” On the occasions when players are going off in small groups, there doesn’t appear to be cliques. There might be four or five players together We’re not intimidated by nothing. who you’d never think would be part of the same group. OK, it’s not quite in the class of Pat Maroon’s — “You guys are Pietrangelo says that’s been part of the team culture for years. It seems (bleeped)” — from last season’s Stanley Cup run. especially pronounced now. But it’s still the kind of stuff you put on a T-shirt. “This group really cares about each other,” he said. “We like each other, Wednesday night’s loss in Pittsburgh notwithstanding, the Blues have and when it translates onto the ice like it is now in the locker room, it’s become a formidable bunch on the road. You can’t win ‘em all, as the fun to watch.” shutout setback at PPG Paints Arena showed. But the Blues are winning Pietrangelo and other team leaders try to reach out to different players almost all of them. and make sure they’re incorporated into the group, especially newer Sandwiched between that 3-0 loss to the Penguins and a 3-0 loss in players or younger players. Boston on Oct. 26, the Blues went 8-0-2 on the road, just one game shy “I guess try and find some common ground with these young guys,” of the franchise record for consecutive games with at least one road point Pietrangelo said. “I always laugh about that. — set in the 1999-2000 season. “Walking into our locker room being a new guy, you can see how close Only the Washington Capitals (13-2-1) have a better road record than the everybody is. It’s obviously not easy because you don’t have the same Blues (10-3-3) in the NHL this season. relationships. So it’s important for me to reach out to those guys and “Everybody knows when you get on the road, you’re probably not make sure that they feel comfortable. Because when you do it’s fun necessarily getting the matchups that you always want,” captain Alex coming to the rink every day.” Pietrangelo said. But at the end of the day, no matter how close you are, it helps if you can (Because the home team gets the last line change.) play the game. One of the reasons why the Blues play so well on the road is simply they’re a good team. “So you gotta simplify your game,” Pietrangelo said. “You almost have to play everybody in every situation. And when you have depth like we do, Strong goaltending, one of the league’s best defensive corps, and depth when you’re playing four lines for the most part throughout games, you up front all travel well. Combine that with mental toughness, a strong can get some momentum. work ethic and a feistiness that emanate from the coach, and as Berube says: You’re not going to be intimidated by nothing. “Everybody’s into the game and we can establish the game we want to play. And that’s how we have success.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.07.2019

It started down the stretch of last season’s playoff run. Eight of the franchise-record 11 consecutive victories from Jan. 23 through Feb. 19 came on the road. In the playoffs, on the big stage, they went 10-3 on the road, tying the NHL record for most road wins in one postseason.

“Last year certainly helped the cause, I think, especially for the young guys,” Pietrangelo said. “When you play on that stage, not much will faze you after going through what we went through.”

There’s something to be said for going through pressurized situations, and succeeding, at the highest level of your profession. It breeds confidence. The Blues don’t scare easily on the road.

It helps that by all appearances, they’re a tight-knit bunch. And being on the road together, with nothing but hockey on the agenda, can tighten that bond.

“It’s fun when we’re on the road,” Vince Dunn said. “Everyone’s bonding. Everyone’s having fun. There’s never a hesitation when we have to go on long road trips or play against difficult teams. I think we all feel comfortable.

“For me personally, it’s nice hanging out in the hotel room and not having to do like cleaning in your house, things like that. It’s kinda nice to sit back and relax and just worry about hockey.”

So Dunn engages in household chores? 1165067 St Louis Blues some time with our families, and have a chance to kinda rest up and get ready.”

For the next stretch of hockey. Blues notebook: Turns out the party wasn't over as Berube accepts Pietrangelo didn’t think the Blues were aggressive enough defensively another award against the Penguins.

"A team like (Pittsburgh) that wants to play with possession, you can’t let Jim Thomas them hang onto the puck,” he said. “We’re usually more aggressive. So I think it basically stemmed from our defensive play.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.07.2019 When he left the White House with the rest of the Blues on Oct. 15, following a Rose Garden ceremony honoring the Stanley Cup championship, Craig Berube thought the hoopla had ended.

Wrong. There was another round of celebration Thursday when the Blues coach was named the St. Louis Sports Personality of the Year at the 50th Jack Buck Awards at the Missouri Athletic Club.

Among the other award winners were Blues icon Bobby Plager (Legends Award), WNBA rookie of the year Napheesa Collier (Hometown Hero Award), Cardinals president John Mozeliak (Musial Award), and the #MLS4TheLou soccer ownership group (Jack Buck Award).

But the star of the night was Berube, who coached the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and joined the ranks of Yadier Molina, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Albert Pujols, Whitey Herzog, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Hale Irwin and others among the MAC’s sports personalities of the year.

While thanking general manager Doug Armstrong, who presented him, and Blues chairman Tom Stillman, who was in attendance, Berube gave credit where due — to the players.

“You win because of players,” he said. “Our players bought into the team- first mindset and work ethic mindset. That’s what our team is based upon. Hard work and team. They bought into that and they’re Stanley Cup champs because of that.”

Berube had never been to the MAC before, and not surprisingly, his remarks were brief.

“To you fans and the city of St. Louis, you’re unbelievable,” he said. “Great sports town, great fans. That parade is something I’ll never forget in my life along with winning that Cup.”

He closed by thanking his girlfriend, Dominique Pino.

“She deals with me,” he said. “I’m not a very happy guy when we lose. I’m just OK when we win. I’m pretty damn happy when we win the Stanley Cup.”

Believe it or not, Berube has one more stop on the banquet circuit. On Jan. 20 in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia, he will accept an award by the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association. In the town where the Blues’ victory song “Gloria” came to be, the Blues are being honored as the association’s Team of the Year.

Reset mode

After playing nine games in 16 days, including five of their last six on the road, the Blues can finally catch their breath.

As disappointing as Wednesday’s 3-0 loss was in Pittsburgh, the big picture remains bright. Namely a Western Conference-leading 18-6-6 record.

“Big picture, we’re in a good spot,” defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. “I think we’d all love to win 82 games. I don’t think any of us in this room are satisfied the way we played (Wednesday). But we’ll take these next couple days and get ready for Saturday. We’ve played a lot of hockey, so we’ve gotta make sure we regroup and get ready.”

Five of the Blues’ next six games are at Enterprise Center, starting with Saturday’s contest with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After a late night/early morning return from Pittsburgh, the Blues took Thursday off and return to practice Friday at Centene Community Ice Center. It’s the first time since Nov. 17-18 that they have had two days between games.

“And two days again after (Toronto),” Pietrangelo said. “We spent a lot of days on the road here. I think we’re all excited to kind of get home, spend 1165068 St Louis Blues

Blues updates: Sundqvist, Steen nearing return, but not Saturday

Tom Timmermann

The Blues had a rarity for them, a practice, on Friday at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, to get ready for Saturday's game with Toronto at Enterprise Center.

The team won't have a morning skate on Saturday, so this was the only chance to work on things before the game, only the second one at home for the team in two weeks.

Prior to practice, three injured Blues, Oskar Sundqvist, Alexander Steen and Sammy Blais skated. None of them will play Saturday but Sundqvist and Steen are getting close. Sundqvist is eligible to come off injured reserve at any time and could play at Buffalo on Tuesday or at home against Vegas on Thursday.

The Blues said on Nov. 10 that Steen would re-evaluated in four weeks, which is Sunday, so he's also should be on the brink of a return. Blais shouldn't be back till late January/early February, but since his injury is to his wrist, he can get back on the ice and skate.

No changes in the Blues lines on Friday:

Forwards

Schwartz-Schenn-Walker

Sanford-O'Reilly-Perron

Barbashev-Bozak-Thomas

MacEachern-de la Rose-Brouwer

Defensemen

Parayko-Pietrangelo

Bouwmeester-Faulk

Dunn-Bortuzzo

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165069 St Louis Blues B) A veteran two-way center with a history of 60-point seasons and Selke-worthy defensive work who spent last year playing valuable top-six minutes with the Sabres, which is close enough.

DGB Grab Bag: Is your terrible NHL team secretly the next Blues? Take C) A ready-made “Hey we could totally be the next Blues” excuse. the quiz and find out How did you do? Based on discussions with NHL GMs around the league, here’s how to interpret your results:

Sean McIndoe Mostly A: Congratulations, your team is definitely the next Blues.

Dec 6, 2019 90 Mostly B: Congratulations, your team is definitely the next Blues.

Mostly C: Congratulations, your team is definitely the next Blues.

The NHL celebrated an important anniversary recently, marking one year The week’s three stars of comedy since the St. Louis Blues hired Craig Berube to begin what would be a The third star: BoroCop – You knew it was coming, but the story is so long climb out of the league’s basement and toward an eventual weird that we’ll allow it. Besides, the poor guy deserves something else championship. to come up when you Google “Mark Borowiecki video.” You may remember watching the Blues’ story unfold. But even if you "YOUR MOVE, CREEP." didn’t, you certainly heard it, because every other team in the NHL can’t PIC.TWITTER.COM/SN7NTURLDX shut up about it. Ever since the Blues pulled off their miracle, every underachieving team has been pointing in the general direction of St. — OTTAWA SENATORS (@SENATORS) DECEMBER 3, 2019 Louis and insisting “we’re just like them.” The second star: Nikita Gusev is dialed in – Enjoy it, this may be the last But are they? The story of the 2018-19 Blues isn’t just “bad team that time all year we see somebody actually wanting to watch the Devils. randomly became good.” There was a little bit more to it than that. So before your favorite team goes and declares themselves the next Blues, THIS KILLS ME. PIC.TWITTER.COM/LG2RWIWFJU they should make sure they’re actually on the right track by taking this — SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) NOVEMBER 29, handy quiz. 2019

If you had to describe your head coach using four words, they would be: The first star: A bad break for Tyler Ennis – This story is so dumb and so A) Respected former tough guy. embarrassing and I love it so much.

B) Experienced NHL coaching veteran. LAST DECEMBER, TYLER ENNIS RECEIVED A GRIM DIAGNOSIS FROM A DOCTOR ABOUT HIS BROKEN ANKLE. TURNS OUT, THEY C) Already fired in November. CONFUSED HIS X-RAY WITH TYLER ENNIS THE BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC LEG INJURY. Your organization’s fourth-string goaltender is currently: I SPOKE TO BOTH TYLER ENNISES ABOUT THE A) An underrated prospect who could surprise the experts if ever given MISTAKE.HTTPS://T.CO/9K3P6TGZGI an opportunity at the NHL level. PIC.TWITTER.COM/RQWMFBZUWE B) An unflappable kid whose icy calm demeanor might help steady the — IAN MENDES (@IAN_MENDES) DECEMBER 2, 2019 ship. Debating the issues C) A person whose name you certainly know, you mumble, while Googling furiously. This week’s debate: The Canucks celebrated Alex Burrows this week, inducting him into the team’s Ring of Honor. But given his relatively Your team’s best player: meagre career stats, including fewer than 200 goals and 400 points as a A) Is a dynamic winger with the elite offensive skills to put up 40-goal Canuck, should the team have higher standards for these kinds of seasons. honors?

B) Is a Norris-caliber defenseman who can be trusted with 25 tough In favor: They probably should. Teams have different ways of honoring minutes a night. former players, and the Canucks didn’t actually retire Burrows’ number. But it’s still weird to see a guy recognized when he was never really a C) Just set his no-trade clause on fire at center ice during the ceremonial star in the league, let alone some sort of Hall of Fame talent. Other faceoff, which is subtle but might be a bad sign. teams don’t do this sort of thing. Shouldn’t the Canucks hold themselves to a higher standard? As his team struggles, your general manager spent last month: Opposed: No. This is dumb. A) Furiously working the phones in an attempt to use every tool at his disposal to get better right now. In favor: Come on, this is the sort of thing fans are supposed to debate. It’s fun. B) Preaching patience, based on the experience that comes with a long and Hall of Fame-worthy career. Opposed: I used to think so too, but I’m out.

C) Lounging around at the GMs meeting, wondering why it’s been weeks In favor: Out of what? The debate? since anyone tinkered with how offensive zone faceoffs work. Opposed: Yep. In fact, let’s continue this discussion down in the next It’s possible that your team is better than their record indicates, because: section …

A) You’ve played fewer games than most other teams, so by points Be It Resolved percentage you’re not doing as poorly as it appears So yeah, when it comes to retired numbers and rings of honors and B) You have a talented core that features several all-star caliber players. everything else, be it resolved: Teams can do whatever they want, and if you’re not a fan of that specific team, your opinion doesn’t matter. C) Every other team in the league has an unfair advantage because they get several free points a year by playing you. Like I said in the debate section, I used to get into this sort of thing. The Canucks also honored Mattias Ohlund? They retired Markus Naslund’s Your front office’s most important offseason acquisition was: number? The Rangers, an Original Six team with almost a century of A) A veteran two-way center with a history of 60-point seasons and history, retired Adam Graves? Yvon Labre in Washington? Adam Foote? Selke-worthy defensive work who spent last year playing valuable top-six Ken Daneyko? I have opinions! minutes with an NHL playoff contender. But I can’t do it anymore. I don’t care. Or more specifically, nobody The Flyers have been pretty good this year. They’ve been on an should care if I care. Granted, that’s probably a good rule of thumb for a impressive win streak, and have a firm grip on a playoff spot. In fact, you lot of subjects, but it’s especially true for this one. Teams honoring could say that all signs are pointing to this being the Flyers’ year. players is not the Hall of Fame. It’s not awards voting. It’s not something that needs some sort of leaguewide standard. Teams should do Hey, speaking of all the signs … whatever they want. As long as their fans are happy, the rest of us So it’s the 1977 playoffs, and the Flyers are facing the Maple Leafs in the should be too. quarterfinal round. The Flyers are two years removed from back-to-back And Canucks fans seem happy about the Burrows deal, as far as I can Cup wins, and are coming off a 112-point season. The Maple Leafs are tell. Did any other fan base like him, or even respect him? Not really. But the Maple Leafs. I’ll let you try to piece together how this series plays out. that doesn’t matter. He was a key part of the best team in franchise We’re watching Philadelphia’s WTAF-TV Channel 29, home of the brutal history, and fans have a lot of positive memories of him. That should be bench-clearing brawl Flyers. Legendary broadcaster Don Earle is our enough. There’s no higher standard. host. And we have a special guest: Dave Leonardi. Or, as he’s far better Wendel Clark wasn’t a Hall of Famer, but anyone who doesn’t think his known, the Sign Man. number should be retired in Toronto fundamentally doesn’t understand The Sign Man is kind of hard to explain, but I’ll give it a shot. He’s a man how sports fans work. Same with Graves, and Daneyko, and Trevor who goes to Flyers games, and he brings signs. Huh. OK, that was Linden and Dale Hunter and Mike Richter and Jere Lehtinen and actually easier than I thought it was going to be. whatever other player you think is borderline. You have the right to think that. It just doesn’t need to come out of your head in the direction of a fan Also, since I know you’re trying to figure out where you’ve seen this dude who’s trying to enjoy a cool moment for a player they loved. before, let me help you: It’s from here.

So that’s the rule, with two and only two exceptions. First of all, we can So Leonardi has already been doing this for a few years by now, but all agree that the Canadiens should get over the whole Hall of Fame back in the 1970s things didn’t go from brand new to overdone to ancient requirement and just retire Saku Koivu’s number already, because come history in six minutes flat like they do today. Dave’s still got the new sign on. And second, if you do something goofy like retire a number for your smell, so he’s here to walk us through his artistic process. owner (Panthers) or your fans (Wild) or you hang a banner for Taylor In case you’re wondering, and I know that you are: the Parachute Man Swift or Bon Jovi or whoever, we all get to make fun of you. referenced in the opening seconds of this clip is sky-diver Pat Mulhern, Other than that, teams should do whatever their fans want, and their fans who had made an appearance at the Phillies home opener a few days are the only ones who should get a say. For the rest of us, it’s not a topic before. That landing went smoothly. A few years later, not so much. worth debating. Back to Sign Man. He starts off by explaining that he’s just having fun Obscure former player of the week and finding a way to enjoy the game with his fellow fans. Then he compares himself to a character in a Damon Runyon novel which … The Devils fired John Hynes this week, the day after a humiliating 7-1 sure. I guess it takes one great writer to know another. loss to the Sabres that has to rank as one of the worst losses in franchise history. In fact, as my Puck Soup pal (and noted Devils fan) Greg We find out that Sign Man is becoming popular in Toronto, probably Wyshysnki said this week, this may be as bad as things have been for because it’s the Harold Ballard years and he’s the era’s only example of the Devils since the infamous Mickey Mouse game back in 1983-84. a signing that will have any success. But enough with the chit chat; Don wants to see some signs. And as luck would have, Dave has brought If you don’t know that story, it involves a terrible Devils team getting some. Let’s see what kind of rare wit you have to possess to become a wiped out 13-4 by the powerhouse Oilers. (We broke down the highlights professional Sign Man. from that game in the YouTube section a few years ago.) Afterwards, Wayne Gretzky called the Devils a “Mickey Mouse organization”, His first sign references Flyers winger Don “Big Bird” Saleski. Dave has something he later apologized for. come up with a sign that says … “Bird”. Huh. But then he flips it over to reveal that the other side, uh, also says Bird. OK. Guess we’re off to a That 1983-84 Devils team was kind of fascinating. They were very bad, flying start. but in hindsight not quite bad enough, because they narrowly missed out on the first overall pick that was Mario Lemieux. They had a bunch of Dave shows off a “Next Goalie” sign, which the Flyers apparently liked so future NHL head coaches on the roster, including Ron Low, Mike much that they adopted it as an organizational philosophy for the next 40 Kitchen, , John MacLean and Dave Cameron. And they also years. Then it’s a tribute to Rick MacLeish that reads “Tricky Rick.” After had several players with famous brothers, including Bryan Trottier’s big a brief commercial break, we get to the big stuff. Literally. These are the brother Rocky and Grant Mulvey, whose pacifist tough-guy brother Paul signs that are slightly bigger. His new MacLeish sign manages to break you met last week. But this week, let’s bestow obscure player honors on the three-word barrier with “Rick The Quick!” My favorite part of the clip is another brother, one who scored a goal in that infamous Mickey Mouse when he says that he’s thinking of covering up the “QU” in “Quick” with game: winger Jeff Larmer. other letters, just because I know that all of your minds are going to go somewhere dirty. Larmer was picked in the seventh round of the 1981 draft by the Colorado Rockies, going one pick after Greg Stefan and a few spots “I try to economize as much as possible with the space.” Look, don’t act ahead of a guy who’d be very important to the Devils one day, Tom like you could do better, this stuff is harder than it looks. Kurvers. Larmer made his NHL debut that season, scoring once in eight We close with a peek behind the curtain, as Sign Man explains how he’s games in Colorado, but spent most of the year in junior and set a record able to always have the right sign ready to go at just the right moment. It by scoring 16 points in that year’s Memorial Cup, playing for a Kitchener turns out he uses little tabs to keep everything organized, which is Rangers team that features Al MacInnis and . Larmer actually kind of brilliant. We find out that he has about 80 signs ready to would settle into full-time NHL duty the following year after the franchise go. I wonder if it’s like Twitter, and every time he has a good one some moved to New Jersey and became the Devils. dude is immediately like “Ooh, how long have you been saving that one?” He had a decent rookie year, scoring 21 goals. It would be his only full By the way, there are like four comments on this YouTube video, and season in New Jersey. He stuck around long enough in 1983 to score the one of them is from somebody claiming that his mom tried to fight Sign Devils’ third goal in that Oilers’ blowout (assisted by Bob Lorimer, which Man for getting lippy with him in the ’70s. I love Philadelphia sports fans. sounds like a discount knockoff brand version of Jeff Larmer). But a few weeks later he was traded to Chicago, where he’d get a chance to play And that’s it for our clip. Sign Man remains a Flyers mainstay to this day; with older brother Steve. Jeff would finish the year with 15 goals, but he was recently inducted into their ticket holder Hall of Fame. You can never played another full season in the NHL. He’d bounce around the learn more about him in this TV piece from 2010, or in this NHL.com minors and Europe and got nine more games with the Hawks over the profile that includes his 10 favorite signs. next few years, but that was pretty much it. In all, he played five NHL seasons, scoring 37 goals. But only one that helped make Wayne The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 Gretzky apologize for being mean.

Classic YouTube clip breakdown 1165070 St Louis Blues On the horizontal axis here is xGA60, the same stat we just examined to show the rate of quality that each team allows against. The Blues are just a little worse than average on the season. The vertical axis shows team save percentage at 5v5. And that, for the Blues, has been the key piece. Blues’ defense-first mentality helps, but netminders Jordan Binnington Between their pair of goaltenders, the team has posted a save and Jake Allen are carrying this team percentage above 93 percent, good for fifth-best in the NHL.

That can cover a lot of sins.

Sean Tierney Last season, Binnington seized the starter’s role away from Jake Allen, and his excellent performance was a key component in the team’s Dec 6, 2019 outstanding ability to prevent goals. While Binnington has maintained his level of superb performance, a very encouraging story has emerged in St. Louis this season … In his time as head coach for the St. Louis Blues, Craig Berube has developed a reputation as a defense-first bench boss. After he took over This chart shows two things: On the x-axis, we see GSAx/60 — this last November, a big part of the Blues’ incredible turnaround last January stands for goals saved above expectation per 60 minutes. To get this was due to the Blues’ months-long run of strong defense, eventually measure, every shot a goalie faces is weighted by the quality of that shot finishing with the NHL’s third-lowest rate of quality shots allowed (data to determine how many goals a given netminder should have allowed via evolving-hockey.com). This buoyed Jordan Binnington’s performance based on his workload. A goalie that stops all the shots they should and as the team’s new starter and translated to tremendous postseason allows goals on the shots that any goalie would allow a goal will finish success. with a GSAx/60 of zero; they allowed only the goals that an average goalie facing their workload would allow. This measure is great for This season, the team’s results suggest that Berube’s Blues are back at leveling the field for netminders across the league who face different it again. rates of quality shots based on the defenses in front of them.

The team has surrendered only 75 goals in 30 games, the sixth-lowest On the y-axis is the rate of quality shots that each goalie faces, a stat total in the NHL. Relative to the league, the Blues routinely rate out as a we’ve touched on in this piece already. “dull” team, posting below-average rates of shots both for and against. Binnington, to no one’s surprise, has a plus score in this measure. He Though the story seems the same, and while the end results are similar, saves about 0.2 goals per 60 minutes more than an average starter something has shifted, though. Do Berube’s Blues still deserve their would in his place. That may not sound like much, but only the likes of reputation as a defensive stalwart? Or has the magic of last season’s run Tuukka Rask, Frederik Andersen, Darcy Kuemper and Connor worn off? And how do the goaltenders factor into the team’s low rate of Hellebuyck have bested Binnington’s rate of goals saved above goals allowed? expectation. All told, Binnington has the 14th-best rate of GSAx/60 in the league. Binnington and Allen bailing out the Blues The more encouraging data point here is Allen. Deposed as the starter The 30-game mark of the season is typically seen as a reasonable point last year, Allen devolved into an unreliable liability, even as a backup. to start drawing conclusions about the statistical makeup of NHL teams. This season, Allen has rediscovered his form. Playing fewer minutes as As such, let’s start with a “broad strokes” look at the Blues’ defensive the team’s backup, Allen has managed a 0.6 GSAx/60, good for the work at 5-on-5 so far this year. second-highest rate of goals saved in the league, trailing only The horizontal axis shows the rate of shots that each team allows. The Hellebuyck, the Jets’ Vezina-bound starter. Rangers are the NHL’s worst, allowing an average of 66 shots per 60 We can look at this same data in another way: minutes of even-strength play. The Penguins are best in the league, allowing only 49 shots per 60. The Blues, for their part, are third-best in This chart shows only NHL starters (that is, goalies who have played 670 the league by this measure, allowing about 51 shots per 60. This lines up minutes at 5v5 or more), ranked by their total goals saved above with the team’s reputation as a defense-oriented group. expectation. If ranked, Allen would be seventh, wedged in between Rask and Lundqvist and keeping company with some of the game’s elite The vertical axis shows the quality of shots each team allows as a rate starting goalies. (for more on how shot quality is calculated, feel free to look back to this piece). Basically, every shot is assigned a value based on how likely that This chart is just like the prior chart but is reserved for backups (or shot is to become a goal (based on distance, shot type, angle and other goalies that work in a tandem with their partner starter). Among goalies details). These values are added up to show how many goals a team with less than 670 minutes of TOI at even-strength, Allen has the NHL’s should have scored or should have allowed. So far this season, the best rate of goals saved, ahead of notable backups like the Bruins’ Blues’ performance by quality allowed is much less impressive. They’ve Jaroslav Halak, the Stars’ Anton Khudobin and the Blackhawks’ Robin straddled the league-average mark of just under 2.4 expected goals Lehner. For Berube and the Blues, Allen’s performance as a highly allowed per 60 minutes, 5v5. Just 13 teams have allowed more than this, capable backup is key for giving Binnington rest, spelling the youngster leaving the Blues as a middle-of-the-pack group. on back-to-backs, and gives the team the confidence that they can win regardless of who is in goal. So how can the Blues be so good at limiting quantity but much more mediocre at preventing quality? It’s a difference-maker.

This data points to the types of chances that the Blues allow. While One last pair of views while we’re talking about the Blues’ stellar tandem. opponents don’t manage many attempts on goal when facing off against Berube’s group, the types of shots that they do get are high in quality. This shot map shows all of the shots that Binnington has faced this season, including shots on the power play. All told, he has been Here’s how the team’s defensive performance has looked over time: peppered with 907 shots and a total of 57 xG. In his situation, we’d expect an average starter to allow 57 goals in total, or about 2.6 goals This chart shows the team’s performance over time as a rolling average. per game. That means that each point on the graph represents an average of the team’s prior five games (which helps to smooth out the points on the The small line graph in the bottom right of this visualization shows graph and give a better sense of a team’s trend). Aside from a couple of Binnington’s trend en route to allowing only 51 goals so far. The 26-year- decent (and short) stretches, the Blues have regularly allowed more xG old starter has routinely saved goals above expectation, night in and against than the NHL average, including a troubling spike in high-danger night out, as shown by his line above the break-even marker. In short, he chances for their opponents since the end of November. has continued to be outstanding.

Despite these apparent holes in the team’s overall defensive structure, Perhaps more surprising is Allen’s remarkable bounce-back. He has results have remained very positive. How has this happened? faced about 22 expected goals worth of shots so far on 334 total attempts. But he has allowed only 19 goals, fueled by his recent surge in Though the Blues’ defensive prowess has lacked, their goaltending has performance. The Blues have allowed almost 2.8 xG against when not. they’ve turned to Allen to start, but their backup has allowed only 2.4 goals per game. His strong, steadily improving play has helped cover for the Blues’ pedestrian defense and allowed Berube to turn to their backup with confidence so far this season.

Conclusion

Though the Blues rode a wave of strong defense into the playoffs last year, the team’s rate of quality shots against has been no better than average this season. Despite this, their results have been stellar to the tune of the third-lowest goal total allowed in the league. Binnington has done his part, routinely beating expectation with strong play. But the surprise story so far is the tremendous effort of Jake Allen, who has settled into rhythm as the NHL’s best backup goalie through 30 games.

In an era of load management across sports, Berube now enjoys the luxury of having two goaltenders he can turn to any given night and expect strong performances. If the Blues have their eyes on another long run this season, Allen’s ability to give Binnington the night off will pay dividends as the season wears on.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165071 Tampa Bay Lightning These three teams aren’t especially similar in how they play that they tripped up the Lightning.

Swimming with the Sharks Lightning not panicking but need to find ‘killer instinct’ San Jose is in town for their first game against the Lightning, Saturday They believe they’re playing well but their lapses have been costly. night at Amalie Arena. Here’s what you should know about the Sharks:

• They are similarly not off to a great start. After finishing second in the Pacific Division last year and advancing to the second round of the Diana C. Nearhos playoffs, San Jose is currently fifth in the division and out of playoff standing.

• The Sharks have one of the league’s worst goal differentials. San Jose TAMPA — There’s no panic in the Lightning dressing room. What there is minus-13, 26th in the league entering Friday. The Lightning was 11th is, however, is a sincere acknowledgement of the need to do better. at plus-9. The Lightning know they let a winnable game slip away against the Wild • Logan Couture leads the Sharks with 29 points and has 12 points in 13 on Thursday. They believe they’ve been playing well but their lapses career games against the Lightning. Evander Kane leads San Jose 13 have been costly. goals and has scored nine in 30 games against Tampa Bay. “We’ve given ourselves a chance to win a lot of these games,” Alex • Patrick Marleau’s iron-man streak is at 814 consecutive-games played. Killorn said. “It’s about finding that killer instinct. Winning teams find a (The league ruled that the few games he missed to start this season way to win games, and we haven’t done that recently.” because he was not under contract with a team don’t count as missed for Victor Hedman said they don’t let the word “frustration” into their dressing the purpose of his streak.) Brent Burns’ streak is at 501 games. room. • Joe Thornton punched Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek in the throat The emotion is harder to keep out than the word, though, particularly during their game Thursday after Mrazek wacked Thornton for trying to when good efforts have been incomplete and end in a loss. The Lightning dig out a covered puck. is combating that by focusing on the assessment of their play rather than Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.07.2019 the result.

The problem with that is sports is a results-based business. But the Lightning believe their focus on process will get them where they want to be.

“If you keep playing well and doing the right things,” Killorn said, “you might lose a game you deserved to win and win a game you deserved to lose, but in the long run, you’ll win more than you lose.”

Coach Jon Cooper would rather have a strong effort for 50 minutes with a lapse than sneak out a win in 10 minutes after 50 of poor play. But — and this is a big but — the Lightning need to fix those 10-minute lapses in the former.

Few teams can honestly say they play well for the full 60 minutes every game, Cooper said. But not every team’s short stretches of unfocused play burn them the way the Lightning’s has this season. That’s what this team needs to manage.

“We’ve found ways to lose some games here that we don’t think, when you look at the game as a whole, we should have lost,” Cooper said. “But we did.”

The Lightning believe that fix needs to start at the beginning of games.

Though Erik Cernak scored less than two minutes into Thursday’s game to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead, they didn’t have the start they wanted. That goal was almost more of an anomaly than an example of strong play from the start.

“We’re starting the wrong way in a few games,” Yanni Gourde said. “In our (defensive) zone, there are little things that we can get better at. They’re small details, but those details are costing us the game.”

Three challenges

Last season, when everything seemed to go so smoothly for the Lightning, three opponents were bumps in the road. St. Louis, Nashville and Minnesota were the only teams to beat Tampa Bay twice.

Those teams just came up in quick succession this year, and they were still no cupcakes.

The Blues have already beaten the Lightning twice this year, both times last month. The first game was a poor showing in St. Louis by Tampa Bay, and the second was a good-not-great game last week at Amalie Arena.

The Lightning split this season’s series with the Predators, losing in overtime in October and winning Tuesday in overtime in a well-played game.

The Wild have a chance at a sweep after Thursday’s win. The teams play next in January. 1165072 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning celebrate their 29th birthday with 90’s Night

The few players who remember the 90′s shared their favorite parts of the decade

Diana C. Nearhos

TAMPA — It’s safe to say Kevin Shattenkirk is a fan of the 90’s.

Last year, while playing for New York, he and his wife found a couple of Rangers Starter jackets on e-bay. Remember the puffy quarter-zips with the pocket on the stomach? Of course they bought the jackets.

When he learned Thursday was 90’s Night at Amalie Arena, Shattenkirk said he might have to look for a Lightning jacket.

It was Dec. 5, 1990 that the NHL awarded Tampa Bay a franchise. How better to celebrate the organization’s 29th birthday than with the highlights from that last decade of the millennium.

The Lightning made a new goal video for the occasion. It started with “G•O•A•L” and featured The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You” so you can probably guess where this is going. The best part was the clip of Gourde’s chop celebration to the clapping.

There was more to the video on the first goal (like Gourde’s chop for the clapping) but here is this version of the F•R•I•E•N•D•S goal video pic.twitter.com/VGkei01TK0

— Diana C. Nearhos (@dianacnearhos) December 6, 2019

In-arena host Greg Wolfe donned an Adidas zip-up with a velour bucket hat and big glasses. The intermission tricycle race became a Mario Kart race, complete with a banana peel to slip on and Yoshi throwing shells (proudly sponsored by the Times, by the way).

Only seven of the Lightning were born before the 90’s. But the rest are 90’s babies, so that counts for something (the youngest Lightning, Mikhail Sergachev was born in 1998).

Ryan McDonagh remembers when Caller ID first became a thing. He and his friends would call each other just to see the names pop up on the screen. And yes, this was on landlines. Remember those?

Shattenkirk, born Jan. 29, 1989, a big music fan, describes himself as a “90’s hip-hop guy.” Notorious B.I.G and Tupac stand above all else, but there were also Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Jay-Z and Puff Daddy (pre-the Diddy years).

Pat Maroon (April 23, 1988) also threw out nods to Biggie and Tupac, but his favorite band of all time is Hootie and the Blowfish. No, he doesn’t have a favorite song. He’d like to suggest all of them.

Luke Schenn (Nov. 2, 1989) agrees on 90’s music, but differs on the genre. He’s a country fan and throws it back to Garth Brooks and Shania Twain. Curtis McElhinney (May 23, 1983) goes for rock, like Weezer, Guns N’ Roses and Green Day.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165073 Tampa Bay Lightning leaving two Minnesota players open in front. Joel Eriksson Ek scored to tie it.

MINNESOTA SCORES THREE STRAIGHT GOALS TO TAKE A 3-1 Why the Lightning’s ‘unacceptable’ pride in D-zone against the Wild was LEAD. HERE'S THE FIRST WILD GOAL concerning PIC.TWITTER.COM/0U6VCXXQGQ

— JEREMY HOUGHTALING (@JGHOUGHTALING) DECEMBER 6, 2019 Joe Smith On the second one? Tyler Johnson loses a battle along the boards. Dec 6, 2019 Captain Steven Stamkos, likely thinking Tampa Bay is going to be off on a rush, turns towards the blueline, but gets beaten to the slot by Jason

Zucker. Here comes a 2-on-1 for the Wild and tic-tac-toe passing makes TAMPA, Fla. — The shift after a team scores a tying goal is an important it 2-1. one, a revealing one. Is the message not getting through? You battle so hard to claw back — in the Lightning’s case Thursday “There’s only so much you can do to get the guys focused,” Cooper said. night, from a two-goal deficit — and then now a group’s mental “They have to go out there and perform. Not saying they’re not trying, but toughness, its determination, its urgency, is tested. Coach Jon Cooper it’s just mental lapses. We got burned tonight.” said a simple message is left with players as they leave the bench in situations like this. It’s time for the Lightning room to take over. Cooper can deliver as many stern postgame comments or speeches as he wants. He’ll likely run the “Biggest shift of the game.” team through a hell practice Friday at noon at the Ice Sports Forum in But on two occasions Thursday, the Lightning committed an ultimate sin Brandon. But it’s up to the veterans — the leaders — to keep them on — giving up a goal the shift after tying the score. The first one came just track. Set a tone. 36 seconds after Victor Hedman tied it 3-3 late in the second. The next Stamkos was a minus-3 Thursday. Anthony Cirelli — whom Cooper one Tampa Bay wouldn’t recover from, with Mats Zuccarello scoring believes will be in the “Selke conversation” someday — had a rare off eight seconds after Alex Killorn’s tying tally to seal the Wild’s 5-4 victory. night as a minus-3. Johnson was a minus-3. And yes, even goalie Andrei It was brutal. I know it was “90s Night,” at Amalie Arena, but there was no Vasilevskiy has to be better. need for the Lightning to revert to some of their expansion-years Vasilevskiy said earlier this week in our lengthy chat that he believes he execution. is executing his game plan and feels good. But Vasilevskiy’s .903 save “The pride we’re taking in our D-zone is unacceptable right now,” Cooper percentage is not up to the Vezina Trophy winner’s standards. Neither is said. “We’ve thrown some good games together as of late where we his 3.01 goals-against average. It’s not all on him, of course, and neither played pretty well. But giving up goals like this, in this league, you’ve got was Thursday’s loss. Vasilevskiy has lamented some “shitty bounces” no chance. No chance.” and he had a few more Thursday, including the Wild’s third goal.

You could tell Cooper was ticked after this one. And he should be. Fans HARD WORK, GOOD RESULTS: PERPETUAL GUY YOU'RE NOT should be, too. The Lightning (13-10-3) had been making progress, SUPPOSED TO WORRY ABOUT CURTIS MCELHINNEY including a 3-2 overtime win in Nashville Tuesday. Tampa Bay’s season- EASY WORK, BAD RESULTS: TBL'S STARTER…FOR NOW? long effort to be more disciplined defensively, blending high-skill with less PIC.TWITTER.COM/OCFTBHUCBK high risk, was coming together more. Lord knows, I’ve watched enough 70- to 90-minute, back-to-basics, battle-drill filled practices where — SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) DECEMBER 4, 2019 coaches try to hammer it home. And with a few games in hand, the Lightning were a couple more home wins from getting back into playoff …AND HERE'S THE THIRD WILD GOAL position. PIC.TWITTER.COM/3TIHWRVARA

QUANTITY VS QUALITY (AGAINST) — JEREMY HOUGHTALING (@JGHOUGHTALING) DECEMBER 6, 2019 PIT, BOS, NSH, TBL, BUF, EVEN MTL AND VGK LIMIT QUANTITY AND QUALITY AGAINST VERY WELL. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO LIMIT But Vasilevskiy, who bailed out the Lightning so many times last season, GOAL-SCORING AGAINST AND, WITH A LITTLE OFFENSE OF YOUR needed to do the same on Thursday. The Rask goal, which came right OWN, IS A GREAT WAY TO WIN LOTS. after Hedman’s tying goal, was a bit fluky, with a shot from the point PIC.TWITTER.COM/HAA77BHBJK bouncing off Erik Cernak at the side of the net, laying near the crease before Rask tipped it in. — SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) DECEMBER 5, 2019 Neither Vasilevskiy, nor anyone else, could get there in time. That’s why this loss felt like a step back. It wasn’t that Tampa Bay lost, as the Wild came in red-hot and have now pointed in 11 straight games (8- …BUT THE WILD RETAKE THE LEAD, 4-3 0-3). But it’s how. The big-time mental lapses and lazy play in the PIC.TWITTER.COM/C1VOUHSIWT defensive zone were unacceptable. Giving up a goal on the shift after — JEREMY HOUGHTALING (@JGHOUGHTALING) DECEMBER 6, tying it — twice? 2019 I had never seen it. Apparently, I wasn’t alone. Zuccarrello, who had dinner with Hedman, McDonagh and former “That’s something I haven’t seen from this team,” said defenseman Victor Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi Wednesday night, feasted on Tampa Hedman, in his 10th season, “and I hope not to see for a long time Bay with his second goal of the game. again.” “I knew (Zucker) has a lot of speed, and I tried to make sure he didn’t He’d better not. The Lightning, in a 1-3-1 stretch, are still just two points have a breakaway,” McDonagh said. “He made a good play to out of third place in the Atlantic with two games in hand over Buffalo. But (Zuccarello). It was almost like a 2-on-1. They expected pretty well.” Tampa Bay’s next stretch will be coming against teams such as San And the Lightning didn’t, especially in their own end. Tampa Bay is Jose (Saturday), the Islanders (Monday), followed by Boston (Dec. 12) allowing 3.31 goals per game, sixth-most in the league, and more than a and the Capitals (Dec. 14). “There has to be a little bit of urgency here goal higher than the class of the Eastern Conference, Boston (2.24). about defending and not trying to score your way to wins,” Cooper said. “Because you’re not going to make it playing that way.” You want to see pride and textbook D-zone execution? A team playing as a unit of five? Just watch the Bruins, fittingly broken down by former The problem is, the Lightning coaching staff have been preaching that for Lightning wing Ryan Callahan. a while now, that the key is how many goals you keep out as opposed to how many you score. Yet you watch on the Wild’s first goal, where four Lightning defenders are watching — not really covering anyone — WHAT'S BEEN THE  TO THE @NHLBRUINS 8-GAME WIN There’s the two elite snipers and 40-goal scorers — Nikita Kucherov and STREAK?@THEREALCALLY24 BREAKS IT DOWN. #NHLNOW Steven Stamkos — on each flank. But Hedman creates so much space, PIC.TWITTER.COM/KLQR9TAHJI and rebounds, with his boom of a shot. And on Thursday, Hedman was a difference-maker, his slap shot from the point blasting right through — NHL NETWORK (@NHLNETWORK) DECEMBER 5, 2019 goalie Alex Stalock.

“We’ve got to do a better job in front of (Vasilevskiy),” McDonagh said. It was Hedman’s sixth goal of the season, and 100th of his career. That “There are pucks bouncing and finding a way, bouncing off us and hitting made Hedman the first Lightning defenseman to ever hit the century skates. But at the end of the day, it starts 200 feet away from our net with mark. our decision making. It’s puck management and making sure we do the best job we can (at) taking away from the middle and not give up this  FOR HEDDY! PIC.TWITTER.COM/WFW09ZG0EC many odd-man rushes. There’s no doubt we can do a better job.” — TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (@TBLIGHTNING) DECEMBER 6, 2019 It starts with pride. The Lightning have plenty of it. They’ve just got to show it. “It kind of gets lost (in the loss), it’s tough to feel that excitement after a game where you come up with nothing,” Hedman said. “It means a lot to Cirelli robbed again get all (of the goals) in this uniform. It’s really cool.”

For the second time in a week, Anthony Cirelli got a goal taken away The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 from him because of goaltender interference — on himself.

Late in the second period Thursday, Cirelli took the puck around the Wild blueline and made an aggressive move toward the net. With Ryan Hartman grabbing at him, Cirelli deked goaltender Alex Stalock before pulling the puck on his backhand to score what appeared to be the tying goal.

But Cirelli was called for interference, Hartman was called for hooking and the Lightning were given a power play (eventually scoring the tying goal on Hedman’s blast). Still, it was a tough break that Cirelli had a goal taken away. Sure, there was contact on Cirelli’s part. Hartman’s hook had something to do with it. It says in the NHL rulebook under 69.7 that: “If however, in the opinion of the referee, the attacking player was pushed or otherwise fouled by a defending player causing the goaltender to be pushed into the net together with the puck, the goal can be permitted.”

Cooper said with the referees not calling Cirelli’s shot a goal on the ice, it made it tougher to overturn. And if Cooper risked a challenge and lost, it would have nullified the ensuing Tampa Bay power play (on which Hedman scored).

CIRELLI DRIVES TO THE NET AND SCORES, BUT THE GOAL IS WAVED OFF. PIC.TWITTER.COM/3XBJEPKGBS

— JEREMY HOUGHTALING (@JGHOUGHTALING) DECEMBER 6, 2019

Cirelli still has six goals on the season. I boldly predicted before the year he could score 25 with some power play time, which Cirelli has recently received. But more importantly, Cirelli has carved out an integral role on this team, arguably its best two-way forward. Cooper said it wouldn’t surprise him if Cirelli ends up in the “Selke conversation.”

I think Cirelli will win the award — given to the league’s best defensive forward — one day. He was on my ballot last year.

Cernak’s confidence

Cernak was probably fortunate to be playing in Thursday’s game.

When Cernak delivered a hit to the head of the Predators’ Daniel Carr in Tuesday’s win, some thought the Lightning defenseman could receive supplemental discipline from NHL Department of Player Safety. After all, Cernak had just returned from a two-game suspension after an elbow to the head of Rasmus Dahlin.

But Cernak dodged a bullet, not even receiving a hearing from the Carr hit. And on Thursday, Cernak came through. He made a great play joining a 4-on-3 rush early in the first period and finished it off with a wrist shot from the high slot. It was just the second goal of the season for Cernak, and it might just give him some more confidence in jumping in the play.

CERNAK OPENS THE SCORING FOR THE LIGHTNING PIC.TWITTER.COM/2WD6UQYL7V

— JEREMY HOUGHTALING (@JGHOUGHTALING) DECEMBER 6, 2019

Hedman hits century mark

The Lightning’s power play is always more potent when Victor Hedman is a threat up top. 1165074 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto is fifth among eight teams in the Atlantic Division, but only two points separate second from sixth.

Dubas said Nylander has been excellent thus far, and he will likely have Confident William Nylander regains his scoring touch, and his Maple Leaf to be there for the team to reach the postseason. He scored three times teammates couldn’t be happier in four games recently.

“This is what I paid for,” Dubas said earlier in the week. “I’m excited for him because I think last year was difficult for him. I wish we could have MARTY KLINKENBERG found a conclusion earlier and I put that entirely on myself. I didn’t set him up for success at all.” DECEMBER 6, 2019 Nylander is a Swedish-Canadian who was born in Calgary, while his

father, Michael, played for the Flames. Clearly, William and his brother, William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs swoops behind the net with Alexander, inherited dad’s genes. Toronto chose William in the first Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights in hot pursuit during a game round, eighth over all, in the 2014 NHL draft. in November. The Maple Leafs, who have struggled with injuries, suffered another blow On the ice, William Nylander has his swagger back. Off the ice, the when Andreas Johnsson hurt a leg against Colorado on Wednesday Maple Leafs style maven never lost it. night. The forward was placed on long-term injured reserve on Friday and Nic Petan and Pontus Aberg were recalled from the AHL Marlies. “He loves to do his own thing," teammate said as he sat at his dressing stall after an extended practice session on Friday. “He Nylander has a point in 18 of 30 games. is an interesting character." “You can see that confidence of his returning,” Kapanen said. “I don’t The 23-year-old son of a former NHL player and brother to another blame him for what happened last year. It’s tough to come in so late. He occasionally pops up with his hair in corn rows or brushed back like a never could get into a groove.” flowing lion’s mane. When he is really feeling it, he busts out a slim-fit Of course, he looks good now. Not a hair out of place. More important, double-breasted suit, shaded spectacles and wraps his neck in a scarf. he is playing better. He looks like US$41.8-million, which is how much Toronto ponied up a Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.07.2019 year ago to sign him for six years.

What is more important is that he looks more and more like the same slick forward who accumulated 42 goals and 122 points in back-to-back seasons not so long ago.

“He is back to being Willy again,” said Zach Hyman, an off-and-on linemate over four-plus seasons.

Nylander has 11 goals and 11 assists through the Maple Leafs’ first 30 games, and has recently been among their most effective players. It is what everyone expected after he held out for big money, but it didn’t happen as quickly as expected.

Instead, Nylander scuffled terribly last season and finished with career lows of seven goals and 27 points in 54 games. Fans were so outraged over his large contract and poor production that they called for him to be traded.

Fortunately, , Toronto’s general manager, resisted such an urge if there ever was one. Dubas blamed himself for the drawn-out contract negotiations that caused Nylander to miss one-third of the season. After months of discussions, they came to an agreement only minutes before the league’s Dec. 1 deadline to sign restricted free agents.

Nylander never practised with the team, was rushed into the lineup a few days later, started poorly and never was able to climb out of the funk.

“It was a long, hard process,” he said. “I feel that I lost the ability to have much impact as I missed more and more time."

He enters Saturday night’s meeting against the Blues in St. Louis with eight goals and 13 points in Toronto’s past 15 games. His renewed scoring touch is one of the few positives on a team that has played so erratically that it finds itself out of a playoff position.

“He has played in full two months of games, had a training camp and had a whole summer to prepare for it,” Hyman said. “That has helped him feel more comfortable. It is different for him from last year.

“I really don’t think he played that poorly, but he didn’t get many bounces and when that happens, it leans on you a little bit.”

The Maple Leafs have won only 13 times in 30 chances as they head off on a four-game trip that begins against the Stanley Cup champions. Each of the four opponents has a winning record, so it will not be easy.

A good showing could prove to be a springboard to success. A bad one could turn visits to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton into a voyage of the damned.

“I think it is a really crucial trip,” Auston Matthews said. “It is a chance for us to separate ourselves from where we are in the pack.” 1165075 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs place Andreas Johnsson on long-term injury list

Staff Writer

DECEMBER 6, 2019

COMMENTS

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Andreas Johnsson has been placed on long-term injury reserve with a leg injury.

Johnsson underwent a CT scan Thursday after suffering the injury on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Swedish forward will be out at least 10 games or 24 days, and the Leafs say he will be reassessed after the Christmas break.

Johnsson has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 30 games with the Leafs this season.

The Leafs also announced they have recalled forward Nic Petan and Pontus Aberg and defenceman Martin Marincin from the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

Aberg skated on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander at Friday’s practice before the team left for St. Louis to begin a four-game road swing Saturday against the Blues.

The 26-year-old Swede has 17 goals and 43 points in 127 career games with Nashville, Edmonton, Anaheim and Minnesota. Aberg added two goals and three assists in 18 playoff contests, with 16 of those coming as a member of the Predators during Nashville’s run to the Stanley Cup final in 2016.

“It feels good,” Aberg said. “Worked hard (with the Marlies). I’m finally getting a chance. I’m ready to work.”

Aberg made a good first impression on Matthews.

“He’s really good. He’s skilled. I saw a little bit of him in training camp, played with him on the same team,” Matthews said. “He’s pretty shifty. I think him and Willie have a good relationship, so hopefully we can mesh well and create some offence.”

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe feels Aberg’s NHL experience will come in handy.

“The biggest thing is he’s played in the league, he’s had success in the league, he’s scored in the league before, he’s played with good players before,” Keefe said. “Me coaching in the (AHL), I’ve seen what he’s capable of doing at that level when he’s playing at his best. We’re going to give him an opportunity here to show that he can belong.”

Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165076 Toronto Maple Leafs “Being a dad keeps me busy,” Aberg said. “When I have a bad game, I come home and I have to be happy around my daughter. But she brings me joy and that’s huge for me.”

Aberg hopes his A-game translates after surprise call-up from Leafs with Toronto Star LOADED: 12.07.2019 Johnsson down

Mark Zwolinski

Fri., Dec. 6, 2019

Pontus Aberg will have to put further skating lessons for his daughter Molly on hold for now.

Just recalled by the Maple Leafs from the AHL’s Marlies ahead of a four- game road trip, Aberg will make the jump from skating with his daughter on an off-day to skating on the Auston Matthews line in the National Hockey League.

He was helping his daughter with her balance — skating on the ice sheet at Harbourfront on Thursday — when Marlies GM, and Leafs assistant GM, Laurence Gilman called to give him the news.

“It was a good call,” said the soft-spoken Aberg, a veteran of five NHL teams and the Marlies’ leading scorer this season with 10 goals and 14 assists.

The 26-year-old from Stockholm was plugged right into the Matthews line with William Nylander at practice on Friday. With winger Andreas Johnsson placed on long-term injured reserve with a leg injury, the need for a skilled winger to fill in was urgent. The Leafs said Johnsson will be reassessed by medical staff after the Christmas break.

“The biggest thing is, he’s played in this league, he’s had success in this league and he’s scored in this league,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said of Aberg, drafted 37th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2012. He went on to play a total of 127 games with the Predators, Wild, Oilers and Ducks, scoring 17 goals and 26 assists.

“Obviously, coaching him in the AHL (with the Marlies) I’ve seen him and what he can do when he’s at his best. So we’re giving him an opportunity.”

That’s what Aberg wanted when he signed a one-year, $700,000 (U.S.) deal in July. He’d split 2018-19 between the Ducks and Wild, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists, before catching on with the Leafs on a deal that allowed him to make NHL-level money if he was assigned to the Marlies.

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Aberg said training camp under Leafs coach Mike Babcock in September “didn’t go well.” While the forward may not have performed up to expectations, he was also confronted with a situation where he didn’t fit into the coach’s plans at that time. He may have been looking at an entire season in the AHL until the Leafs made a coaching change, promoting Keefe.

“Training camp wasn’t that great, but I got into it more — new systems — so it’s been better,” Aberg said.

He’s a single dad, and being traded from sunny Anaheim to Minnesota last season presented challenges as he raised his daughter.

Aberg’s mother Annethe lent a hand as he balanced hockey and fatherhood. They’ve all adjusted to Toronto, he says, with his mom taking care of things at home while the Leafs are on the road for more than a week — starting Saturday night in St. Louis.

“(Molly) is pretty much my life, her and hockey,” Aberg said.

The Leaf smiles when he talks about his daughter and her request for skating lessons.

“She doesn’t have her balance yet, but we had a day off and she’s been asking me to teach her more,” Aberg said.

After starting the season in the minors, he wasn’t sure he would see the NHL again, even when he was leading the Marlies in scoring. He says family support made it easier to stay positive. 1165077 Toronto Maple Leafs cramp lapses guaranteed to cue the Nylander-haters, he’s so visibly at ease, breathing, being Willy as long advertised.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... The Leafs have talent to burn in a season that could go up in flames — To some extent, the criticism levelled at Nylander arises from how he but don’t blame Nylander looks on the ice, especially without the puck. There’s a languidness to his style, likely a consequence of his smoothing skating ability. He often doesn’t look like he’s working hard. And frankly, in the past that’s been a Rosie DiManno legitimate assessment. “I guess sometimes it looks like I’m not involved, but I am. I can’t tell you why some people think I’m lazy.” He shrugs. “I Fri., Dec. 6, 2019 don’t listen to any of that stuff. It’s what my teammates think that’s important, my linemates and my coach.’’

Follow the bread crumbs backwards — crumbs all the Maple Leafs have A new linemate for the foreseeable future in fellow Swede Pontus Aberg, left — and the team’s financial woes lead directly to William Nylander. summoned from the Marlies to replace the injured Andreas Johnsson — minors to top Leafs line in one fell swoop. Another abrupt adjustment to Six years and $41.77 million (all dollars U.S.), carrying an average $6.9- be absorbed by Keefe, who put the team through a nearly 90-minute million hit annually against the salary cap. practice on Friday with a full complement of skills instructors.

Whence, in the concentric circles radiating outwards, came $58.7 million Throughout his career, Nylander has enjoyed the benefit of nearly always for Auston Matthews (five years) and $65.35 million (six years) for Mitch skating alongside stud Matthews. They’ve polished their sense of each Marner. other, an awareness of where one another is or will be. Except Matthews has been in a bit of a funk the last couple of games. Just don’t expect Nylander to tug at his forelock penitently for it. Why should he? Nylander seized what the club dangled, GM Kyle Dubas “I don’t think he’s necessarily in a slump,’’ Nylander objects. “Sometimes exceedingly generous with franchise riches, keen to get his flashy you just go through these little stretches without scoring. It’s important for forward’s signature on a deal almost exactly a year ago. And a no-trade us to keep playing the same way. Sometimes we can get caught on the avowal to boot, although that man-to-man troth is not writ in stone, or fine outside so we have to find a way to get to the net. That last game against print. Colorado, we didn’t really have much going for us, I know.’’

“It probably affected the entire league, not just our team,” observes Matthews had a few thoughts about that. “I had three, four, five grade-A Nylander, as indeed his contract established a high-water mark for NHL chances. The puck’s just not going in. For myself, just want to keep brethren who didn’t hold out, play hardball, while away from the tense shooting. Make sure that we’re good defensively so we can have the negotiation for weeks overseas. puck and try to challenge the middle of the ice a little more and just keep shooting. For me, the puck’s eventually gonna go in. When it does, “Obviously, we have really young players that are top players in the hopefully just keep it rolling.” league. So they’re deserving of what they get. It’s just because our team is that good, that’s why we have these problems.” The team’s not exactly starting from scratch. But it’s no easy-peasy thing, turning the page so dramatically, rewriting the playbook that had been Well, that’s one way of looking at it. Except the Leafs, for all their to- drilled into their heads — if forlornly — by Mike Babcock. “It just doesn’t drool-for marquee assets, are nevertheless fifth in the Atlantic Division, happen overnight when we’re making these big changes,’’ notes out of a wild-card spot and on an 82-point pace as they embark on a Matthews. “You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to get caught nine-day Western road swing — stopping in at four cities, starting with out there thinking a little bit, because you’ve been so used to one thing the reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. and now it’s different. So, it’s tough. However, it would be fair to say that Nylander is now, finally, holding up “But we’ve got to adjust, like a bit of a mini training camp the last two his end of the deal. And maybe, just maybe, that contract so widely weeks. We’re trying to improve so that you’re not thinking as much and condemned by number crunchers will actually turn out to be something of it’s just engraved in your brain.” a bargain. A steep mountain to climb, undoing the mess the Leafs have got YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... themselves into with a meh 13-13-4 record in a hardscrabble division. Last season was a bust, of course, Nylander never catching up with his Hard to imagine these Leafs going on a muscular winning streak when fiscal value, managing a mere seven goals in 54 games. In 30 games they haven’t been able to cobble together more than three consecutive this season, he’s already surpassed that — 11 goals, 11 assists, second Ws this season. Matthews and Nylander will absolutely have to ignite that behind linemate Matthews in points production. charge, with Freddie Andersen providing yeoman ballast between the pipes. The deeper stats are even more telling: second in shots with 86; 12.8 shooting percentage, again behind only Matthews; 50.6 per cent No prob, assures Nylander. possession (tops on the team); 108 shot attempts; and 62 per cent of his “We did a really good job defensively, without the puck, against shots actually find the net, best among Toronto’s top six forwards. That Colorado. Got to keep building off of that. The defensive and then the he’s shooting so much more has been key, and doing it from high-danger offensive — once we get those two parts flowing, I think we’ll be pretty areas rather than on the periphery. A year ago he shot just over five per dangerous. cent, which surely was directly tied to his shrivelling self-confidence. “We’re pretty calm in here. We know what we have to do.” God love him, Nylander is analytics-averse. “Don’t pay any attention to it. Don’t think about those stats.” Although a grin splits his lovely face when Toronto Star LOADED: 12.07.2019 the data is presented.

For Nylander, it’s more about how he’s feeling on the ice, especially since Sheldon Keefe took over the coaching reins, albeit he wasn’t among the underperformers in the previous regime either. It was expected the 23-year-old would thrive in Keefe’s puck-possession reset and he has. “We’re playing more with the puck, trying to hold on to it. That’s helping us in every part of our game, holding on to the puck in the O-zone, getting a lot of offensive zone chances. It’s opened things up.”

Puck support, cracking open passing lanes, five-man units in motion through the neutral zone — all aspects that have played into Nylander’s wheelhouse. He’s always been an elite puck carrier, smart with it and a creative playmaker, with an active stick to deftly strip the puck from opposing puck carriers. But these days, if still with occasional brain- 1165078 Toronto Maple Leafs

Saturday NHL preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Louis Blues

Kevin McGran

Fri., Dec. 6, 2019

ENTERPRISE CENTER

FACEOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: CBC/Sportsnet

RADIO: TSN 1050

NEED TO KNOW

Blues clues: The reigning Stanley Cup champions lead the Western Conference with an 18-6-6 record. They’ve had a few days off since finishing a run of nine games in 16 days with a 3-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Five of their next six games are at Enterprise Center, starting with Saturday’s contest with the Maple Leafs. “Big picture, we’re in a good spot,” defenceman Alex Pietrangelo told the St. Louis Post- Dispatch. “I think we’d all love to win 82 games. I don’t think any of us in this room are satisfied the way we played (Wednesday). … we’ve played a lot of hockey, so we’ve gotta make sure we regroup and get ready.”

Special effort: The Blues have made surviving injuries look easy, with Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder), Alex Steen (ankle) and Oskar Sundqvist (lower body) among those out long term. The short-handed Blues have the league’s sixth-best power play (23.6 per cent) and fifth-best penalty kill (85 per cent). They are 11-3-4 in games when they’ve been outshot.

On the rebound: Goalie Jordan Binnington has been terrific after being called just “OK” by GM Doug Armstrong earlier this season. He’s 7-3-1 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .932 save mark since Nov. 1. Overall, the Blues have allowed 2.5 goals per game, fifth-best in the league.

UP NEXT

Tuesday at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Toronto Star LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165079 Toronto Maple Leafs Pierre Engvall-Jason Spezza-Dmytro Timashov Defence pairs

Morgan Rielly-Cody Ceci Game Day: Maple Leafs at Blues Jake Muzzin-

Travis Dermott-Tyson Barrie Terry Koshan Goaltenders December 7, 2019 12:05 AM EST Frederik Andersen

Michael Hutchinson TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (13-13-4) at ST. LOUIS BLUES (18-6-6) BLUES LINES Saturday, 7 p.m., Enterprise Center, LW-C-RW TV: CBC, , Radio: 1050 AM Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Nathan Walker THE BIG MATCHUP Zach Sanford-Ryan O’Reilly- Auston Matthews vs. Brayden Schenn Ivan Barbashev--Robert Thomas Mired in his longest goal-scoring slump of the season (five games), Matthews would love to get back on track, but don’t necessarily bet on it. Mackenzie MacEachern-Jacob de la Rose-Troy Brouwer Matthews has one goal in seven career games against the Blues and has just three goals in 15 road games this season. It’s probable that Defence pairs Matthews will line up against Schenn, who brings the kind of jam that Colton Parayko-Alex Pietrangelo Leafs fans would love to see in No. 34. -Justin Faulk FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Vince Dunn-Robert Bortuzzo Strike early Goaltenders Not a fun way for the Maple Leafs to kick off a four-game trip that also winds through Western Canada — the Blues have had no Stanley Cup Jordan Binnington hangover as they sit in third place in the NHL with 42 points. In 14 home games, St. Louis has just three losses in regulation. A good start always Jake Allen is paramount, but even more for Toronto: The Blues are the lone NHL INJURIES club (12-0-4) without a regulation loss when it takes a 1-0 lead. Blues — RW Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder), LW Alex Steen (ankle), RW Clues vs. Blues Sammy Blais (wrist), RW Oskar Sundqvist (lower body).

The writing was on the wall for Mike Babcock, or so it appears in Maple Leafs — LW Andreas Johnsson (leg), W Trevor Moore (shoulder). hindsight, when Kyle Dubas spoke to reporters on Nov. 14 and pointed to one game, on Oct. 7, that personified the Leafs team he envisioned. It SPECIAL TEAMS happened to be against the Blues on a night the Leafs were persistent and consistent, outplaying the Blues for large chunks of the game but Power play eventually falling 3-2. A similar approach has to be in order. Blues: 23.6% (6th)

Line them up Maple Leafs: 19.0% (16th)

With Andreas Johnsson out for a while with a leg injury, the Leafs will get Penalty kill their first look at Pontus Aberg, and it will be crucial for the 26-year-old to find instant chemistry with Auston Matthews and William Nylander. We Blues: 85.0% (5th) like, too, that coach Sheldon Keefe has put Zach Hyman back with Maple Leafs: 75.5% (27th) captain John Tavares and Mitch Marner. The success that the trio has enjoyed in the past should be at its fingertips. Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 View to a better kill

Led by Brayden Schenn’s six power-play goals, the Blues are one of the top teams in then NHL with a man advantage — and they spread the offence around, as six of them have at least two power-play goals. Thanks to being a little more aggressive when down a man, the Leafs have been better on the penalty kill since Keefe took over, going 14-for- 16 for a success rate of 87.5%. That trend must continue.

Peering at Perron

While David Perron has been a threat at times in an NHL career that recently eclipsed 800 games, the 31-year-old has had a resurgence and is on pace for a career-high 77 points. Perron had 16 points in 26 playoff games last spring as the Blues won their first Cup, and though he currently leads the team in scoring, he brings into focus the Blues’ depth. Oddly enough, the Leafs, as well as Vegas, are one of two NHL teams Perron has not scored against in his career.

MAPLE LEAFS LINES

LW-C-RW

Pontus Aberg-Auston Matthews-William Nylander

Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Mitch Marner

Ilya Mikheyev-Alex Kerfoot-Kasperi Kapanen 1165080 Toronto Maple Leafs it sounded like the players had selected some new-age tunes, they left the ice for their trip to Bruce Springsteen’s Hungry Heart and a gritty version of I Won’t Back Down, by Tom Petty via Johnny Cash … Now you see ‘em, now you don’t. The Leafs switched rinks en masse three Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keith says Auston Matthews doing his best times on Friday after breaking glass on both their regular pad at a blueline exit gate and the Marlies pad behind the net. New farm team

coach stood guard by the hole in the wall on the main rink as Lance Hornby players weaved past.

December 6, 2019 9:16 PM EST Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019

Some critics grumble that Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is flim- flamming, but the film department says otherwise, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe.

Asked what’s bugging the star, who has one point during the past five games after most thought the firing of Mike Babcock would stoke a fire, Keefe would not go down the more aggressive road his predecessor might have taken with Matthews at this stage.

“A lot of attention is being put on the fact he hasn’t produced to the level you would expect or that he would expect,” Keefe said Friday after the team’s practice. “I’m not so focused on that. I go back and watch all the scoring chances he’s had in every game. For me, I mean the puck goes half an inch one way or another, doesn’t hit the goalie’s shoulder, doesn’t tip the edge of his pad, then all of a sudden the narrative is completely different.

“He’s in on the scoring chances, he’s around the net and he’s shooting from dangerous areas. We like that and we’d like to find ways to help him have more. The chances are there. We just want to make sure, much like the rest of our team, we’re good in all the other areas.”

Matthews, who listed himself with “three, four, five Grade A chances” in the Maple Leafs’ 3-1 loss to Colorado, said there is still a period of adapting to Keefe’s playbook from Babcock’s that he and other Leafs are dealing with.

“It just doesn’t happen overnight, making these big changes. You’re going to make mistakes, be caught out there thinking a little bit because you’ve been so used to one thing.

“But we have to adjust. Before, we kind of had the guys on the hash marks to try and close them down, now we’re trying to take care of the middle ice a little more to keep then to the outside, to the perimeter as much as possible.

“It has been like a mini-training camp the past couple of weeks. For myself the puck will eventually go in.”

LINES, THEY ARE A CHANGIN’

While Keefe hopes inserting left wing Pontus Aberg into the injured Andreas Johnsson’s spot on the line with Matthews and William Nylander won’t disrupt the alchemy, he’s going back to the reliable line of Zach Hyman, John Tavares and Mitch Marner. When the latter returned from his high ankle sprain injury on Wednesday, Hyman had been moved to juice up a third line with Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen.

“(That line) wasn’t very good in the first game (6-1 loss in Philadelphia), but I thought it was our best against Colorado. As we look ahead to the road trip, we wanted Hyman back with Tavares and Marner — now that we have that sense Hyman with Kerfoot can work well. I got what I wanted out of that.”

OPEN MIKE

While Keefe indicated Michael Hutchinson would get one start on the road trip, it wasn’t going to be Saturday against the defending Cup champion Blues. And with Frederik Andersen pumped to play against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers next Saturday, that leaves Tuesday in Vancouver or Thursday in Calgary for the winless (0-5-1) Hutchinson. Much will depend on how Andersen fares against the Blues.

LOOSE LEAFS

Tavares took another personal day on Friday and missed practice, but was going to St. Louis … Aberg will wear No. 46 and of nearly 1,000 men to have played for the Toronto Blueshirts, Arenas, St. Patricks and Leafs in the NHL since 1917, will be elevated to second alphabetically behind Spencer Abbott … Keefe has brought his Marlies custom of having recorded music play during the offensive drill portion of practice. Though 1165081 Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs did say Johnsson will be re-assessed after Christmas. In a painful way, the club was able to get some salary cap breathing room because of the Johnsson injury, which came on a shot block Wednesday night in the 3-1 loss to Colorado. The Leafs were set to meet the Blues Leafs recall Pontus Aberg as an A-1 sub for injured Johnsson on Saturday night with no reserve players, after Mitch Marner’s re- activated contract pushed them right to the $81.5 million US ceiling.

Freeing up Johnsson’s $3.4 million provided room for Aberg and the Lance Hornby recall of the two players demoted Wednesday to make room for Marner — winger Nic Petan and defenceman Martin Marincin. December 6, 2019 4:26 PM EST After St. Louis, the trip winds through Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, three teams Aberg is familiar with from his days in the Western Conference. WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could return, Hart's at home and a new ... THINK RINK

On the same Marlies practice rink where he’s toiled in anonymity for two Aberg received the good news about his NHL recall while giving skating months, Pontus Aberg found himself on left wing with Auston Matthews lessons. and William Nylander and about to get on a big jet for a week-long western trip with the Maple Leafs. He fulfilled a promise to his young daughter Molly that as soon as the Marlies had a day off from their busy schedule, he’d take her to the But the leading scorer on the farm team certainly earned the the first look outdoor family rink at Harbourfront. That was Monday evening, just when after Andreas Johnsson was moved to long-term reserve earlier on Marlies GM Laurence Gilman phoned. Friday with an undisclosed leg injury. “I missed his first call and then (realized) it was something urgent,” Aberg “I worked hard down there and I’m finally getting a chance,” Aberg said. said. “That was a good call.” “I’ve got the production going, and even though it’s in the minors, it’s been my best year. I’m happy to get the call. I hope I can take Molly’s ice time will have to wait, but Aberg is encouraged at her advantage.” progress.

The bonus for Aberg was that his strong start down the road at the Coca- “She doesn’t have the balance yet, but now I have to buy her a pair of Cola Coliseum — 24 points in 22 games — had lots to do with Sheldon skates for Christmas.” Keefe, who was brought to the Leafs seven games ago after Mike Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 Babcock was fired.

“He was positive towards me since I got down there and he had a smile when I walked in here today,” Aberg said. “A great coach and a great human being.

“Training camp wasn’t that great for me, but I got into new systems more and more. I was able to play my game, a lot of minutes and power-play, too.

“Those are two players (Matthews and Nylander) you want to play with. If you can’t get the puck, you can’t score.”

On a team needing better offensive results after disappointing back-to- back losses and the upcoming challenge of a long trip, Keefe didn’t hesitate asking general manager Kyle Dubas to get Aberg up and put him right with two forwards who’ve had their dry spells, even when the plucky Johnsson was around.

“The biggest thing, he’s played in the league, he’s scored in the league, he’s had success in the league,” Keefe said of Aberg’s 43 points in 127 games with Nashville, Anaheim, Edmonton and Minnesota. “He’s been with good players and coaching him in the AHL, I’ve seen what he’s capable of when playing at his best. We’re going to give him an opportunity here to show he can belong.”

Aberg, a second-round pick of the Predators in 2012, thrived with the Marlies as a scorer and playmaker, often with Pierre Engvall who is also with the Leafs at present. The 6-foot, 194-pounder is adept at eluding bigger opponents who try to squash him, and possesses a big one-timer on the man advantage from the circle.

“He’s got a great skill set and ability to carry the puck, make a play, shoot and score,” Keefe added. “But he can also skate very well. And some of our best defensive clips, in terms of earning the puck back when I was with the Marlies, he was the guy leading the way.

“He won’t play for us as much as with the Marlies, but he’ll have to find a way to impact the game. He’ll get a chance with good players.”

Matthews, with no goals and one point in five games, is enthused.

“We saw him a little bit in camp, I played with him on the same (scrimmage) team,” he said. “You get the sense he’s pretty shifty. He and Willy have a relationship (both are Swedes, Aberg from Stockholm), so hopefully we can mesh well and create some offence.

“Andreas is tenacious, he makes plays, he’s small, but not afraid to go in (high traffic) areas and come out with the puck. But injuries happen and we have to move on until he recovers.” 1165082 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs place Andreas Johnsson on IR, recall three

Lance Hornby

December 6, 2019 11:20 AM EST

The Maple Leafs have alleviated their salary cap problem, but in a most painful way.

The club announced Friday that a CT scan on left winger Andreas Johnsson revealed a leg issue that will keep him out until at least after Christmas. Johnsson blocked a shot in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Colorado. His cap hit is US$3.4 million this year.

Putting him on long term injured reserve does open up salary space to recall hot Marlie winger Pontus Aberg, who has 24 points in 22 games, and bring back winger Nic Petan and defenceman Martin Marincin, both demoted when Mitch Marner ended his stint on IR Wednesday morning.

Toronto faced the possibility of going out on a four-game road trip that starts Saturday in St. Louis without any reserve players, a consequence of the big Marner signing in September on top of expensive deals for Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Nylander. Johnsson will be reassessed after Christmas.

Johnsson has 16 points in 30 games, mostly with Matthews and Nylander. Aberg, a former second round pick of Nashville, is 26, with 127 NHL games with the Predators, Oilers, Ducks and Wild. He was one of the many Leafs signed this summer to minimum wage contracts and assigned to the Marlies.

The Leafs resume practice Friday after back-to-back losses brought their record under new coach Sheldon Keefe to 4-3.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165083 Toronto Maple Leafs Aberg didn’t want his daughter under the care of a “random” nanny, so he sought the help of his mother, Annethe. She agreed to quit her job as a massage therapist in Stockholm and move to the United States to help take care of Molly. Aberg’s ex-girlfriend, and Molly’s mother, currently ‘She makes me happy’: With call-up to Maple Leafs, Pontus Aberg lives and works in Spain. becomes one of NHL’s rare single fathers VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM

Joshua Kloke PRINSESSAN ÄR HÄR ❤️ Dec 6, 2019 A POST SHARED BY PONTUS ÅBERG (@PONTUSABERG) ON SEP 19, 2019 AT 1:50PM PDT

It is early in the afternoon at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, The arrangement — which is agreed upon on a year-by-year basis — and Pontus Aberg is in a rush. A morning practice has ended and the has presented its share of logistical challenges. Toronto Marlies’ leading scorer has a matinee date to see the recently- released Frozen 2. Aberg’s 2017-18 season started in Nashville. At the 2018 trade deadline, he was shipped to Edmonton, which meant his family would have to An odd movie choice for a 26-year-old? Not when you consider his date: spend some time living in a hotel. his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Molly, who is obsessed with all things Disney. Ahead of the 2018-19 season, the Anaheim Ducks claimed him off waivers. It was another new team and another new city. “She has every dress from the Disney store,” Aberg said. “She knows all the songs.” “Every time I think I’m going to settle somewhere,” Aberg said, “I get traded or put on waivers. It’s not ideal to have your family in hotel rooms And can Aberg chime in? for four or five months.”

“I know a couple, yeah,” he said with a smile. He thought he had started well in Anaheim last season, scoring 19 points Afternoons spent watching Disney movies are not unusual for Pontus in 37 games. But in January, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild. and Molly, who share a strong bond. The trade came as a “shock.” He put up three points in his first five Aberg is a single father, one who is trying to balance raising his daughter games, but he was hurt in February and things unraveled from there. His with his goal of playing in the NHL. ice time and production fell. He had averaged 15:37 per game in Anaheim but only 12:52 with Minnesota. Ask any two-parent household and they will tell you that raising a young child can be hectic at the best of times. Now, with Aberg having earned “That’s the business,” said Aberg, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s the best his first callup to the Leafs on Friday morning, he’ll continue to juggle a league in the world. But you have to find a way.” career that demands odd working hours, a heavy physical and emotional Despite his lack of success with the Wild, one person had noticed a toll and frequent travel with raising his daughter. difference in him: Evason, who was now an assistant coach with But Aberg is ready for what’s ahead, as he has made sacrifices of his Minnesota. To Evason, Aberg was more poised and focused on the task own. He is, after all, now playing for someone besides himself. at hand: staying in the NHL.

Dean Evason doesn’t have to search long for a word to describe Pontus “Any time you get in a situation like that, you grow up in a hurry,” said Aberg. Evason. “His hockey has benefited because of it. In a lot of ways, it can go sideways. But he’s embraced it, and it’s allowed him to have “Misunderstood.” success.”

Aberg’s dealings with the media can be dry and brief. The knock on him Aberg is willing to go a step further, saying he believes he would not be early in his career was that he lacked maturity and a strong work ethic. the player he is today without Molly in his life.

Evason was Aberg’s first professional coach in North America, when a “I’ve matured more than I would have had I not had a daughter,” he said. 21-year-old Aberg arrived in Milwaukee after being drafted in the second “Even though I can be a little childish sometimes, I’ve improved with that. round, 37th overall, by the Nashville Predators in 2012. I always have to stay positive and she makes me happy.”

Aberg confided in Evason as he bounced back and forth between the Evason was so impressed by Aberg’s new-found maturity that he sought Predators and their AHL affiliate, Milwaukee Admirals. He was, and out Aberg’s mother to tell her just how much he thought her son had remains, a skilled and offensively-inclined winger who can drive play. His changed. 34 points in 69 games in his first AHL season in 2014-15 were a solid start, but Aberg still had room to grow. “Any learning experiences and adversity you face, if you face them head- on you can use them as a positive,” said Evason. “He’s turned a situation “No question – he had to mature,” said Evason. that is obviously wonderful, but can be challenging for a hockey player… he’s used it as a positive for him and his family.” Molly arrived the following season. She came as a surprise to Aberg and his then-girlfriend. Aberg was signed by the Leafs as a free agent this summer to a one- year deal. It’s the shortest contract of his career. This could be a make or “It just kind of happened,” said Aberg. “I was 22, just living the life there.” break season for Aberg in the NHL.

Every cliché about becoming a new parent, from shifting priorities and His abilities immediately impressed Toronto’s coaching staff, but Aberg generally having your life tossed upside-down, rung true. didn’t have a strong training camp and he was demoted to the Marlies.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I became a dad,” said Aberg. Back in October, then Marlies head coach, and now Maple Leafs coach Aberg and his then-girlfriend tried to make it work together in Milwaukee. Sheldon Keefe described Aberg’s game at the time this way: But after a year, they both agreed their relationship wasn’t working. “High-end skill.”

“We just decided (splitting up was) for the best,” said Aberg. “We didn’t But… get along.” “I can see at times he gets disengaged.” His relationship with Molly was a different, much happier, story. Her presence had minimized the off-ice distractions that had previously Keefe added that the organization has a responsibility to create an affected his play. So Aberg made his case: He wanted to keep her in his environment that helps Aberg feel plugged in to what’s happening with life. the team. “We need to make him feel important,” said Keefe back in October. “We That’s what earned him Friday’s call-up. need to make him feel like he’s cared about. That we’re here for him.” “When he’s moving his feet and he’s working to combine with that skill, When Aberg arrived in Toronto, the Leafs organization helped him he’s too much to handle for a lot of people in (the AHL),” said Keefe. quickly find an apartment so his family didn’t have to begin their stay in the city living out of another hotel. There can be points in the life of every young parent when they look back on their life before parenthood with a sense of longing. Aberg is asked if Playing with the Marlies earlier this year still required long trips away he has any regrets about his decision to raise Molly largely on his own. from home. But regardless of what time of the day he returns, even if it’s in the middle of the night, Molly will run to greet her father. “Not at all,” he said before the question finishes.

“She brings joy,” said Aberg. “She’s always happy whether we win or He does not wonder what might have been. Prior to this season, there lose.” was another discussion with his ex about where Molly would spend the next season. It was a short one. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM “We made a choice to (leave her with me) because I had such a good year last year,” said Aberg.

MOLLY FICK FÖLJA MED PAPPA TILL JOBBET I SOMRAS ❤️ : Aberg marvels at just how intertwined his hockey life has become with @SJOBERGH1 his life as a father. He points to a cut above his right cheek.

A POST SHARED BY PONTUS ÅBERG (@PONTUSABERG) ON SEP “As soon as I came home with this, she ran to put a band-aid on it,” said 24, 2018 AT 7:17PM PDT Aberg. “When I hurt my foot last year, she played doctor.”

During Marlies home games, Molly Aberg could frequently be found And even though the beginning of his season didn’t go as he had hoped, running around the Coca-Cola Coliseum. Aberg’s responsibility helped him avoid the feelings of anger that come with not cracking an NHL squad out of training camp. “She loves climbing the stairs,” said Aberg. On Thursday night, Aberg took Molly skating for just her second time at There are not many fathers on the Marlies. Those who got to know Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre when he received a call from Leafs Aberg’s life as a single father before his promotion were in awe. assistant GM Laurence Gilman. He was a Maple Leaf.

“My wife does so much. I can’t even imagine,” said goaltender Michael No time to celebrate, though. Hutchinson, who has an eight-month-old daughter. “I had to take the little one home,” said Aberg. “As a hockey player, the way you live is very selfish,” said Hutchinson. “On game days, it’s focused completely on yourself, your routine, and He will try to make the most of his new opportunity. But whatever getting ready for the game. When you have a kid, it brings more self- happens, Aberg knows there is more to his life than hockey. awareness. You have someone else to look after.” “She’s helped me,” said Aberg, pausing to look past the reporter in front Typical practice days in Toronto mean Aberg leaves his home before of him, “stay happier.” Molly wakes up. From a young age, she began sleeping from 9 p.m. to 9 The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 a.m.

“She’s like a teenager,” said Aberg, laughing.

With Molly not in regular daycare, her grandmother will take her to nearby child-care centres for drop-in programs, which allows Molly to meet children her own age. At home, the family speaks Swedish, so while Molly understands English, she can’t yet speak it.

She is also learning to love the water. Their condo building has a hot tub, which they’ll frequent together.

When Aberg returns home, the two will head to the park or play together. Long gone are the days of spontaneous dinners and nights out with teammates.

“You’ve got to prepare your life differently,” said Aberg. “You can’t just do stuff as it comes up. You have to plan your life a bit more. Dinner with teammates you have to cancel.”

In its place are dinners of French fries and chicken nuggets, always accompanied by a large glass of milk, or chocolate milk if a treat is in order. Of late, Molly has become a picky eater.

“She’s in that age now when she likes to say no to a lot of things,” said Aberg.

After dinner, Aberg will pull out his phone, and together they’ll look through old photos of the two of them together.

“She likes to see herself when she was younger,” said Aberg, smiling. “She thinks she’s so big and old now.”

The irony is not lost on Aberg, who had a lot of growing up to do himself, and fast, with the birth of Molly. He’s aware of temptations that surround young athletes making NHL wages. At first, taking care of Molly meant he didn’t have time to indulge.

“I feel like she helps me stay focused on hockey more. Not focused on the life around (hockey),” said Aberg.

Yet as Aberg has grown into a role so few professional athletes have, being a single father has driven him to become a better, more responsible person. He has something more to play for and is playing some of the best hockey of his life with 24 points in 22 AHL games. 1165084 Toronto Maple Leafs might be playing a little desperate and uncomfortable himself – rushed out at him. So, Carlson stepped by, found room, and with confidence just slid it around him.

Bourne: The luxury of ‘getting comfortable’ and the challenge ahead for a I’ve often noted how much I believe a season snowballs for teams, which team like the Maple Leafs is naturally my cue to loop in the Toronto Maple Leafs here, a team with some great players on the roster, who’ve been decidedly ungreat so far this season. Goddamn, do they look uncomfortable, just about every night. Justin Bourne Comfort comes from a number of places, but success – individual and Dec 6, 2019 otherwise – contributes to finding it. When you win, you’re more comfortable, you play less panicked, and you win more as a result. The tone around the rink is just calmer, and you can spend less mental Hockey can be reasonably described as frenetic. From the eyes of a energy worrying about every fine detail, and just playing. You can do player, there’s nine other skaters to concern yourself with before you your metaphorical hair while metaphorically driving and have your even think of the opposing goalie. There’s bluelines and centre lines on metaphorical bouffant come out looking legitimately brilliant. the ice to consider, team systems to stay within, line changes to worry about, personal battles vs. opponents, and just a whole lot to take into Comfort comes from consistency. From knowing that, even if the power consideration at any given moment. And the situation you’re worried play has a few bad games – whether by luck or otherwise – the same about can change entirely in a half-second. group is going back out there the next night to get things right. From knowing one bad game doesn’t mean you’re going to be punted from the Fortunately, human brains are wired to streamline certain rote but lineup. From knowing your role, and heading out to execute just that necessary tasks. You don’t take time to consider whether to blink or not, each night. you just kinda do it. On a less anatomical level, our brains allow us to do certain things in autopilot while we focus on more pressing, complex There is a line, of course, where people get “too comfortable,” but I’m things. Terrible but common examples come in the form of “things we do really talking about the comfort here to just play, and not play while driving.” How many times have you checked your hair in the desperately. I mentioned the Leafs, because by factors both internal and rearview mirror, or spent time finding a radio station, or just got lost in external, they constantly seem to be spinning their wheels at the starting thought before asking yourself “Man. How long has it been since I line, unable to get up to cruise control-worthy speed. thought about driving?” They overturned half their roster in the offseason, which is a lot to think As we get more comfortable within certain circumstances, our brains are about for players on the ice. How does this guy play, and that other guy, able to set certain tasks – even fairly complex ones – to “auto” to take and how do we play together? Do I need to cover more defensively than them off our plates to focus on other things. You may not feel like the job I’m used to with these guys? Does that guy pass a ton, or is he shoot you do at work is overly complex, but it’s likely that if you were to explain first? it to someone, you’d realize you have to explain how to do minute, basic They had some injuries, and lines have had to be shuffled. They’ve had things that barely cross your mind on a daily basis. some players – like Tyson Barrie! – put in very different situations with a Hockey is no different. I assure you, Connor McDavid is not concerned lot to consider and learn with every shift. about the toe flexion in his stride while he’s turning your defence into Seven games ago, they got a new coach, and have been tasked with charred rubble. Nor is Leon Draisaitl distracted during the play because playing a different way. he’s trying to find a way off the rink at the end of a long shift, nor is Marc- André Fleury worried about technique when he’s leaping back to stop a These are not insurmountable circumstances, by any stretch. At the end puck that surely looked to be going across the goal line. of the day “it’s just hockey,” as they say. But what it looks like to me is a bunch of guys constantly thinking instead of being able to comfortably But y’know who is having issues? The guys who are processing the play. Nothing looks like it’s on autopilot. Some nights it looks like blinking details. The goalies who’ve started slow and are focusing on their is taking some thinking. reverse VH on a play out from behind the goal line, rather than just doing it and staying in the moment. The player testing out an ankle injury may It’s not just the Leafs who have to deal with the type of things that make actually have toe flexion cross their mind mid-game. The fourth-liner players think, which voids that as being a full-on pass. Two other teams who’s toggled in and out of the lineup may be mentally out of the play as have changed coaches in the past few weeks, and one of them, the he looks for a way to the bench before getting in trouble for taking too Flames, has won their first three games under new leadership. The long of a shift. Penguins have been decimated by injuries, but all they do is – to quote DJ Khaled – win, win, win, no matter what. Teams shuffle lines all the Where I’m going with all this is that the players that are going to win the time, all around the league. major awards this year, the players who are going to have the most success, are the guys who are able to play in a way that’s allowed them But there’s no doubt that just being able to focus on the hockey being to get comfortable. Not lazy. But mentally comfortable, with so many of played on any given shift – without making your brain traffic in minutia – the detailed tasks being automated by executive function because they is a huge advantage for the top lines in places like Boston and know almost exactly what to expect from everyone and everything Washington. There’s no doubt that minimal turnover and the same around them. Even with players at the highest level, in a game as coaches helps a team like St. Louis. There’s no doubt that having less frenzied and seemingly high stress, certain guys can find hockey’s media noise helps players focus on the game on the rink. version of zen. At this time of year, teams should by-and-large be settled. We’re far When you’re comfortable, and just playing, you look like John Carlson. enough removed from the start of the season, and far enough away from He is the word zen in human form on the rink right now. I thought his trade deadline, that this is “show me whatcha got” time. The comfortable second goal on Wednesday was a great example of how, when things teams are rolling. For teams that’ve made changes, or are struggling to are going well, things continue to go well (or even get better) for players. fix early season slides, what may be autopilot for some is still stuck on manual. And if those teams can’t change that soon, the whole season What strikes me as comfort here is a guy who got a pass in a dangerous can end up a wreck in the ditch before they get close to their desired area, but didn’t just jam it into the goalie because he’s in a “dangerous destinations. area.” If there’s nothing there, there’s nothing there, and he’s not so desperate and pressing as to bother forcing it. He’s able to hang on to The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 the puck until there’s another look for him, where or whenever that may come. He’s not worried he’s going to lose his spot on the power play for not shooting in what’s perceived to be a scoring area. He’s not in some goal drought where you just “put it on the net and hope.”

He just hangs on, and with that patience, an opening appears to him. It often does when the puck hitting your stick doesn’t elicit panic. He didn’t even make a fake here, and Jonathan Quick – a player you could argue 1165085 Toronto Maple Leafs Scott MacArthur took over the morning show, with co-host Ashley Docking and former NHL forward Mike Zigomanis. Two shows were positioned to share part of the afternoon drive, with Jeff Blair, Stephen Brunt and Richard Deitsch (who also writes for The Athletic) on the air With former Leafs defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo aboard, TSN 1050 sees from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro. (The radio ratings gains in Toronto latter two were not available for comment.)

“Obviously, we’re happy whenever the numbers reflect positive growth,” MacDonald said. “But the traditional ratings are just one of many Sean Fitz-Gerald measurements that we look at on a monthly basis to determine the health Dec 6, 2019 of the station.”

He said TSN Radio recorded 900,000 connections to its live streams in November alone, which placed it second among the more than 100 Jeff MacDonald, the program director at TSN 1050 radio, was speaking stations in the Bell Media stable. in broad terms during a spring meeting with Carlo Colaiacovo, the retired former Maple Leafs defenceman. He was thinking of giving Colaiacovo For Colaiacovo, who played in six different cities over his final six an audition during the station’s lunchtime slot, but mentioned another slot professional seasons, working in radio has provided a measure of off-handedly. stability in his life. The mornings are early, but his days are often open after 10 a.m., which allows him more time at home with his wife and two They had an opening in the morning. young children.

Colaiacovo perked up and said he was interested. “When I’m out in public, people have changed their tune to me and say, ‘hey Carlo, love you on the radio,’ instead of, ‘hey Carlo, you played for “I almost choked on my coffee,” MacDonald said. the Leafs,’” he said. “It’s crazy.” The morning slot, with co-host Michael Landsberg, would require the The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 alarm to sound at 4:30 a.m. every weekday. It would mean being in the station’s Toronto office by 5:30 a.m., and spending four hours live on the air as the rest of the city was still waking up, getting ready for the day.

“Carlo’s a unicorn,” MacDonald said with a chuckle. “I’ve worked with a lot of ex-athletes, and I don’t know any of them that want to get up at four in the morning to talk sports.”

Colaiacovo has been on the air for a little more than a year and, on Thursday, it was revealed the morning show received one of TSN radio’s two significant ratings bumps. Over the 13-week fall ratings period, the show drew a share percentage of 2.3 among men aged 25-54, which is a year-over-year increase of 57 percent.

OverDrive, the network’s afternoon drive show, drew a 4.5 share in the same demographic, which was a 68 percent increase. Sportsnet 590 The Fan won both time slots despite major personnel moves, but also lost ground to its once-distant rival.

The drive programs are key in radio. They are where sales teams focus their efforts, and they are where media buying agencies are usually most interested. TSN Radio has enlisted a former Leafs player in both shows, with Colaiacovo in the morning, and retired forward Jeff O’Neill in the afternoon.

“That has a huge role, and they’re in their positions not by accident,” MacDonald said. “We committed to the idea of trying to be authoritative on hockey because that’s a strength of TSN in general, and we wanted to reflect that.”

Colaiacovo appeared in 470 regular-season NHL games, spending roughly a quarter of those games in a Leafs jersey. He spent the last two seasons of his professional career in Europe before retiring last year, in Germany.

He had never planned to become a morning sports radio host in retirement. And he did not really know Landsberg before the two started spending four hours together every day during the week. Now, he can see himself making a second career in media.

“Radio allows you to show more of your personality, because you have four hours to do it,” Colaiacovo said. “I love having fun conversations. I love talking about sports.”

“He’s a known guy, he’s a well-liked guy, he’s always in a good mood,” said Bryan Hayes, who hosts OverDrive with O’Neill and retired NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan. “And I think in morning radio, that type of attitude resonates with people.”

During the time Colaiacovo has spent on the job, the competition has undergone wholesale changes to its roster. Sportsnet removed long-time afternoon drive host Bob McCown in June, when it was thought he still had a year-and-a-half left on his contract.

Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean and John Shannon were all one-time radio contributors, and they were also set free over the summer. Morning host Greg Brady presided over his final show in September. A comprehensive reorganizing followed, with the station announcing a “refreshed” lineup. 1165086 Toronto Maple Leafs We’ve got a full complement of forwards, a group that is almost identical to today’s team. But we also have just five defencemen, with two of those being rookies and only one goalie.

Mirtle: Should the Maple Leafs pursue Alex Pietrangelo to fix their blue In all, it’s 17 skaters signed and roughly $2.6-million left in cap space, if line, now or in the summer? the limit rises to roughly $84-million, as rumoured.

Realistically, this group needs at least one more top-four defenceman, an extra forward and a backup that isn’t a league-minimum deal. (Lesson James Mirtle learned from this year.)

Dec 6, 2019 That’s going to cost $6-million or more, meaning that, no, we cannot fit Pietrangelo in.

Unless there’s a trade. Oh hey, here come the defending Stanley Cup champs, on the road, just in time to catch a struggling Maple Leafs club that’s won four of its last 13 The Leafs are currently on pace to finish in the league’s bottom 10. If that games. remains the case, the roster is undoubtedly going to need a significant shakeup and perhaps one of the big contracts gets moved. We are a Good timing? Definitely. long way from that point, but looking at these projections, that’s probably In that, however, there’s an opportunity to ponder one potential solution the only way they can add a massive contract for a defenceman. to what ails the Leafs. 3. Will he leave St. Louis? The biggest pressing question for this season and beyond continues to Very fair question. be the right side of their blue line. The combination of Cody Ceci, Tyson Barrie and Justin Holl has not gotten it done. I believe it’s highly unlikely he goes anywhere during the season. Pietrangelo has a full no-trade clause, he loves it in St. Louis and the In St. Louis, meanwhile, the biggest pressing question continues to be Blues are one of the best teams in the NHL. what will happen with captain Alex Pietrangelo, who is in the final year of his contract and is going to be able to command top dollar and term in It makes a lot of sense for him to try and repeat with the only team he’s free agency in July. ever known before worrying about the contractual situation.

The natural question from that is: Can he help the Leafs? That said, negotiations with the Blues have basically been nonexistent. They didn’t go anywhere in the offseason and they haven’t continued Let’s go about this in an orderly fashion, answering some of the pressing during the year. And Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston has reported that GM questions before drawing any conclusions. Doug Armstrong and his staff have been sniffing around Leafs games of 1. Will Alex Pietrangelo still be good for another six or seven years? late.

Aging curves are vitally important to consider in the NHL these days. I don’t think he’s working on a Tyler Bozak trade. There are so many examples of free-agent busts who were signed as Given the contract extensions recently handed out to Roman Josi they approached the wrong side of 30, only to struggle to perform up to ($9.059-million a season) and Jared Spurgeon ($7.575-million), it’s clear their deals almost immediately. Pietrangelo is in a great bargaining position. He’s the only elite RD Alex Pietrangelo turns 30 on Jan. 18. scheduled to hit the market, clearly better than the next four minute leaders at the position who are pending UFAs: Sami Vatanen, Ceci, Mike What we know for sure is that he is currently an elite defenceman, likely Green and Barrie. one of the top 10 or 15 in the game. He’s finished in the top 10 in Norris voting three times, peaking at fourth back in 2012. If the Leafs want to fill their biggest hole via free agency, he makes the most sense. Since 2010-11, he is eighth in points among defencemen and fourth in minutes played. He’s big, strong, has won a Cup, is a leader on his team As for the Blues, losing Pietrangelo would be huge. Yes, they have and is even a GTA local, having grown up in nearby King City. Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk (recently signed to a big deal), who are both RD. But Jay Bouwmeester is third on that blue line in ice time and is His aging curve also doesn’t look that devastating, given he is starting 36 years old. They don’t play their depth D that much, and it’s unlikely from such a strong position as one of the best D in the game. Courtesy of someone like Vince Dunn would be ready to move up into top-four duties, our wonderful stats guru Dom Luszczyszyn: if they went that direction.

Dom’s model loves Pietrangelo. Even though he’s on the cusp of hitting If they’re not keeping Pietrangelo, they’d have to sign someone else to fill 30, he still projects to be a top 15 defenceman for another two years a hole on the back end. beyond this one and a top pair defenceman for another six. It’s possible he could be the Leafs best defenceman for the first four years of his next St. Louis’ cap picture for next season isn’t simple, either. With their RFAs contract, which is an enticing idea. signed, they’re likely not going to be able to fit in a $9-million deal for Pietrangelo without shedding salary elsewhere. Maybe they can move On a seven-year deal that started this season, he would be worth roughly someone like Jake Allen, who’s having a strong campaign as a backup, $9.2-million a season on the cap. and maybe there’s a buyout candidate there, but otherwise, they’ll have to get creative to make that money work. On a six-year deal beginning next summer, he would be closer to $9- million. Which is partly why there’s that contract stalemate right now.

Which is a good thing, given that’s likely about the ballpark of what he It’s not completely outrageous to suggest the Blues have less cap would cost. More on that in a bit. flexibility than the Leafs, given how many UFAs Toronto is set to let walk, which will free up a good chunk of money. Subtracting Muzzin, Barrie 2. Can the Leafs make a big contract work under the cap? and Ceci alone opens more than $11-million, with Muzzin seemingly the Yes, I hear the objections. only significant loss.

“The Leafs are capped out! They can’t afford a $9-million defenceman … St. Louis has some very good prospects like Jordan Kyrou coming, which Mirtle has lost his marbles.” will give them more options if they want to move someone else out, but they’ll have to rejig their roster to keep their captain. Perhaps. But before you fill the comments with love letters, let’s do the math here on Capmageddon 2020. This won’t be an easy contract for the defending champs to absorb. And I’m sure they’re looking at division rivals like Chicago and worrying about If we give the Leafs pending restricted free agents cheap bridge deals committing too many dollars to aging pieces of their core. (Mikheyev, Dermott, Engvall and Goat) and let all of the UFAs go elsewhere, here is what Pietrangelo (or another very expensive high-end It’s no slam dunk this deal gets done. Pietrangelo very well could leave defenceman) would look like in Toronto’s salary picture: for a big payday elsewhere. 4. Should the Leafs do this?

Let’s assume the Blues decide they don’t want to pay Pietrangelo.

And let’s assume he wants to come home to Toronto, to try and fix the mess on their back end.

Should the Leafs pursue this?

Honestly, going into this piece, I was very tempted to rule it out right away. He’s older and that’s an enormous contract. But what gives me pause is the gaping hole the Leafs have on right defence, one that is a big part of what’s threatening their season right now.

Kyle Dubas has been trying to trade for a top right-shot D basically since he was named GM a year and a half ago. That he ended up with Ceci and Barrie is proof of how difficult that market can be to mine for gold.

If you can get Pietrangelo as a free agent, without giving up assets to acquire him, I think you at least have to look at it. A big part of the equation will be what you have to trade to make room for him under the cap and if it can help you elsewhere.

The benefit of not needing to make a deal to acquire a top-pair RD is you can move that asset, presumably a high-priced forward, for something else, like, say a quality backup goalie and another solid defenceman. You can balance out your roster.

The reality is that the critics of the Leafs, like Brian Burke, who have said their salary imbalance is a huge problem, are looking pretty prescient right now. And it appears more and more as though part of the solution in Toronto is going to involve spending more on the back end by subtracting cap dollars from the forward group.

This would be one way to do that.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019

1165087 Vegas Golden Knights

Nate Schmidt impresses in OT shift against Islanders’ Mathew Barzal

By David Schoen

December 6, 2019 - 7:51 am

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Unofficially, New York Islanders dynamo Mathew Barzal had the puck on his stick for 54 consecutive seconds in overtime.

To Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt, it seemed much longer.

“It felt like an eternity,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt turned in a remarkable shift against the speedy Barzal in overtime of the Knights’ eventual 3-2 loss to New York on Thursday.

He chased and hounded and pestered and didn’t give an inch as the Islanders’ leading scorer probed for an opening that wasn’t there during 3-on-3 play.

“That is very satisfying as a defenseman, especially since that’s your matchup, right?” Schmidt said. “He’s an excellent player. He’s got a lot of moves to his game. He’s very shifty. He’s seen corkscrewing guys into the ice many times, and for me, at the end of it, it felt like it was five minutes long.”

Barzal gained possession a little more than 30 seconds into the overtime and went to work, patiently stickhandling near the blue line. His first two attempts to drive to the net were cut off by Schmidt, and Barzal retreated back to center ice.

After building up a head of steam, Barzal carried the puck back into the zone and was forced to circle the net by Schmidt. He hit the brakes but couldn’t ditch Schmidt and regrouped in the neutral zone for the second time.

Barzal eventually gave up trying to get around Schmidt and released the puck to Josh Bailey with about 3:30 remaining before heading to the bench. The scene was reminiscent of Schmidt’s work against Winnipeg’s during the 2018 Western Conference Final.

“It was two good skaters,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “Barzal’s a talented hockey player, and when Nate plays his best hockey, he can skate with anybody.”

Schmidt remained on the ice and blocked a shot by New York’s Derick Brassard, which led to a scoring chance for Mark Stone at the other end. Schmidt did his best to join the rush but his legs wouldn’t allow it.

“The extra jump at the end when I tried to catch up with Stoney, I think I might have roasted my boosters for the next couple minutes,” Schmidt said. “It’s fun, though. That’s what you like.”

In all, Schmidt’s shift lasted 1:21, though he didn’t play the rest of the overtime. And without Schmidt defending, Barzal’s wizardry with the puck eventually wore down the Knights.

Forward Jonathan Marchessault couldn’t stay with Barzal on his next shift and took a tripping penalty with 1:50 remaining in overtime.

The Islanders scored the winner 10 seconds later when the Knights’ penalty killers all were caught in the corner and New York defenseman Ryan Pulock waltzed down the slot before beating goaltender Malcolm Subban from point-blank range.

“He’s a nice player,” Schmidt said of Barzal. “For me, I love that, because that’s what you want. You want that matchup. You want to be able go out and test yourself against one of the best players one-on-one in the league.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165088 Washington Capitals Following Hathaway into the box minutes later was Radko Gudas, who fought Nicolas Deslauriers midway through the second frame. Deslauriers is 6-foot-1, 221 pounds. Gudas is 6 feet, 204 pounds.

Caps keep grinding, finish four-game road trip with four wins “Today, when Radko had to fight a pretty big guy, that means a lot to the group, and, you know, he got a lot of respect in our locker room — and after that, ever more,” Kuznetsov said.

Samantha Pell In a frantic sequence, the Ducks had a power-play goal wiped away with 8:45 left in the second period that was challenged by Washington for December 7, 2019 at 1:10 AM EST offsides. However, the Ducks came right back at 2:57, with Ryan •Getzlaf tallying the scramble in front of the net. Getzlaf’s goal gave Anaheim momentum headed into the early frame, but after both teams traded ANAHEIM — If the Capitals were to complete a four-game road trip with goals in the third, the Ducks could get no closer. four wins, the Anaheim Ducks were going to make them earn it Friday night at Honda Center. “When you play a team like this when they are as fired up as they were tonight, not many teams can handle that but our team can and that is one The Capitals did just that, scrapping out a 3-2 win on the home ice of a of our big strengths,” Holtby said. Ducks team they had brawled with less than a month earlier. The 4-0-0 showing marked the most successful road trip for the Capitals since In a game full of back-and-forth play, Washington did come away with 1993. positive areas on the ice, including Boyd’s opening goal came with 11 minutes left in the first. Tight to the goal line, Boyd was able to find a The door to the Washington Capitals’ penalty box was plenty active small angle to sneak the puck off goaltender ’s skate and into Friday night. Less than three weeks ago, the teams engaged in a melee the back of the net. It was Boyd’s eighth point of the season (two goals, at Capital One Arena in which the Capitals’ Garnet Hathaway spit on Erik six assists) through 16 games. Gudbranson, resulting in a three-game suspension for the Capitals’ fourth-line winger. With Nicklas Backstrom missing his eighth straight game with an upper body injury, Boyd has been given an extended opportunity to showcase The bad blood took about a period to reach a boil. After the Capitals his skill set. Earlier in the team’s road trip, when was eligible played a disciplined game in the first period and led 1-0 after Travis to be activated off long-term injured reserve, the team made a salary Boyd’s goal, the teams let loose, combining for 64 penalty minutes that cap-related move to trade away Chandler Stephenson to the Vegas included four fighting majors in the final two periods. Golden Knights. The move signaled the team’s trust in Boyd as the extra forward over Stephenson — and so far, Boyd has made the most of the Despite the scrappy play and both teams trading goals in both the opportunity. second and third periods, the Capitals (22-4-5) fended off a hungry Ducks team to improve to an astonishing 14-2-1 on the road. Washington “Quite a relief,” Boyd said of when he heard he wasn’t the player getting is on a six-game win streak, with a sweep against the league’s three moved. “Obviously happy to hear that. It’s been a tough start to the year, California teams. a mental grind. . . . Happy to be here and part of this team.”

“All three totally different ways to try to win and get the outcome we Washington Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 wanted,” Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said. “Tonight kind of sums it up for me. That is what we are right now. We’ve been able to kind of get this special connection from training camp on, really. Guys are standing up for each other, whether it is fighting, not fighting, everyone is always together in any scrums.”

Evgeny Kuznetsov doubled the Capitals’ lead early in the second period before Ryan Getzlaf cut it to 2-1 entering the third. It was Kuznetsov’s 12th goal of the season.

Anaheim equalized just 45 seconds into the final period, but the Capitals were not to be denied. Less than a minute later, Jakub Vrana capitalized off an Anaheim turnover that ended up right on his stick, as he punched in his own rebound for a score that held up as the winner. It was Vrana’s 15th goal of the season, all at even strength.

“You could see, that was the one and it ended up right on my tape so I just tried to finish it up,” Vrana said.

Goaltender Braden Holtby made a handful of key stops late in the frantic third period from both teams and improved to 15-2-4 on the season. He finished with 36 saves.

“Obviously we played some pretty good hockey, and then this game was more you just have to find a way to grind out a win, and guys did just that,” Holtby said. “Obviously it wasn’t our prettiest game of the year, but sometimes you need to have those.”

Friday’s contest started rather tame, before Hathaway and Gudbranson were involved in two tussles — the first was an uneventful scrap 4:54 into the second, before both traded punches in the third. The latter resulted in dueling five-minute fighting majors.

The pair’s first scrap proved to be most beneficial for the Capitals. After both players were assessed 10-minute misconducts, Gudbranson was assessed an extra two-minute unsportsmanlike penalty.

Washington scored only 16 seconds into its ensuing power-play chance with Kuznetsov’s wrister getting past goaltender Ryan Miller for a 2-0 lead at 5:10 in the middle frame. It was Kuznetsov’s 12th goal. John Carlson tallied the primary assist, bumping his point total to 43 (11 goals, 32 assists). 1165089 Washington Capitals been that way for a long time, since I’ve been here. . . . [We have] good chemistry up and down the lineup.”

Last time out: John Carlson scores twice as Capitals keep rolling on the As Capitals thrive, the bond strengthens between T.J. Oshie and Jakub road Vrana With the entire team clicking and on a five-game winning streak headed into Friday’s game against Anaheim, Oshie and Vrana will look to continue to build on their growing bond. And so far, the two can’t stop Samantha Pell talking about each other. After the San Jose game, Vrana went on and on about Oshie — his grit, his battles behind the net, his “sick” offensive December 6, 2019 at 1:12 PM EST abilities.

“You see him there behind the net, battling, [expletive] great battles, ANAHEIM, Calif. — Washington Capitals forwards T.J. Oshie and Jakub man. . . . Really happy playing with him,” Vrana said. “Just winning lots of Vrana exchanged looks as Vrana skated to the bench early in the team’s battles, and then he’s sick offensively. He can score goals — lots of California road trip. A goofy grin was plastered on the young winger’s goals.” face before he engulfed Oshie in a sideways hug. Washington Post LOADED: 12.07.2019 The pair continued a brief exchange before Vrana tilted his head and pressed the lid of his helmet against Oshie’s, completing the heartfelt moment. Their growing chemistry is apparent, and the team’s dynamic second line is benefiting — as evidenced by Vrana’s two-goal game during that win at San Jose.

Oshie and Vrana began playing together during the team’s 2018 Stanley Cup run.

“It’s been a great combination,” Oshie said after Wednesday’s 3-1 win at the Los Angeles Kings. “It’s always been great playing with him. He always has a smile on his face, and so it has been great. Especially this year — I mean, we played together for most of the Cup run, but especially this year, we’ve formed more of a bond and really enjoy playing with each ­other.”

Through 30 games, when Oshie and Vrana have been on the ice together, the Capitals have scored nine goals and allowed seven with both players on the ice at even strength, according to Natural Stat Trick. They feed off each other: Oshie likes to get in the corners and dig pucks out to create offense; Vrana uses his speed on the rush to create space for himself or whoever is filling the middle.

Forget the Norris Trophy. John Carlson deserves to be the NHL’s MVP.

For the past seven games, the line has been centered by Lars Eller with Nicklas Backstrom out with an upper-body injury. The Swede is medically cleared to play but has yet to return. With Eller centering the line, the team has produced seven goals at even strength while allowing only three.

Capitals Coach Todd Reirden gave a lot of credit to Eller and his ability to help open up the ice for Oshie and Vrana. Knowing how well Oshie had played with the Danish center in the past, Reirden wasn’t worried about Eller moving up temporarily to the second line.

But regardless of who is occupying the center position, Vrana and Oshie continue to feed off each other.

“You can see how dynamic of a player he can be because of his speed,” Oshie said of Vrana. “These last couple years, he’s really upped his defensive game, and he’s really rounding himself out as a player, as a good 200-foot player.”

Oshie’s feel for the game is such that he can flourish without being the fastest player on the ice — or the one with the best shot. Vrana has benefited from that hockey IQ by, as Reirden said, “understanding how to play the game properly every night, not just offensively, but defensively and complete game.”

“It really does work well,” Reirden said of the Vrana-Oshie duo. “They go out there with the idea that they will do something good every shift right now and, sometimes, it doesn’t always turn into a goal. Sometimes it’s a shift where they spend time in the offensive zone and they hit a post or something happens.”

Vrana has 25 points (14 goals and 11 assists) and is on pace for 38 goals and 68 points, a year after posting a career-high 47 points. Oshie has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists). They are two of six Capitals players with at least 10 goals, the most in the NHL.

“We’re pretty lucky in this room,” forward Tom Wilson said. “We got so many players that are talented and get the job done. No matter who you are playing with on any given night, there is a lot of firepower, and it’s 1165090 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin jokes he'll retire if he passes Wayne Gretzky on all-time scoring list

By Mike DePrisco December 06, 2019 4:08 PM

While Capitals fans may never want to see the day when Alex Ovechkin officially calls it a career, we may have gotten a small peek into what would be the driving force behind his retirement.

In an excerpt from an interview with ESPN's Linda Cohn, Ovechkin was asked what would happen if he overtook Wayne Gretzky and became hockey's all-time leading scorer.

"You're probably never going to see me on the ice again," Ovechkin joked.

Ovechkin is currently 12th on the all-time goals list with 678 career scores. He's seven goals away from passing Teemu Selanne for 11th all- time and could realistically crack the top 10 by the end of the season.

To pass Gretzky? He'll need 217 more.

What would happen if @ovi8 made @NHL history by catching Gretzky’s scoring record? @JohnCarlson74 @Capitals @CapitalsPR Extensive Interview tonight on + #InTheCrease pic.twitter.com/PVCFSxIbcv

— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) December 6, 2019

If Ovechkin has any hopes of catching Gretzky on the all-time points list, he may not get close.

With 1,242 career points, Ovechkin is 38th on the all-time list and is 1,615 behind Gretzky. Yes, Ovechkin trails Gretzky by more points than he's accumulated over a 15-year career.

Ovechkin may never come close to Gretzky on the points list, but he'll always be an elite goal scorer and as long as he stays healthy, there's no reason for him not to threaten "The Great One" for the all-time goals crown.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165091 Washington Capitals

4 things to know for Caps-Ducks: Is there any bad blood?

By J.J. Regan December 06, 2019 3:00 PM

The Capitals (21-4-5) will look for its first ever California sweep as they take on the Anaheim Ducks (12-12-4) on Friday. Check out all the action on NBC Sports Washington Plus starting with Caps FaceOff Live at 9 p.m. and Caps Pregame Live at 9:30 p.m. bringing you up to the 10 p.m. puck drop. Stick with NBC Sports Washington Plus after the game for postgame coverage on Caps Postgame Live.

Here's what you need to know for Friday's game.

Things got heated the last time they played

The Caps and Ducks last played on Nov. 18 in a game the Caps won 5- 2, but no one remembers that. What people do remember is the wild brawl that broke out in the second period. Brendan Leipsic had had enough of the Ducks so he crushed Derek Grant with an open-ice, clean hit at the goal line that immediately erupted into a line brawl. There was a total of 55 penalty minutes doled out from that sequence alone. Most notably, Garnet Hathaway was ejected and given a match penalty for spitting on Erik Gudbranson.

You think these teams remember that game?

Sometimes in games like these, the media can build it up and then the puck drops and...nothing happens. That's especially true when it's two teams from different conferences. The bad blood just does not carry over for too long when it comes to a team you barely see. In this case, however, this game was not that long ago and the spitting incident is something that I can guarantee you neither team has forgotten. This should be fun to watch.

Still no Backstrom

Based on the morning skate it appears Nicklas Backstrom will not play in Anaheim. This will mark the eighth straight game he has missed.

Here are the lines from the morning skate:

Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson

Jakub Vrana - Lars Eller - T.J. Oshie

Carl Hagelin - Travis Boyd - Richard Panik

Brendan Leipsic - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Michal Kempny - John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov - Nick Jensen

Jonas Siegenthaler - Radko Gudas

The Caps have a massive power play advantage

If there are a lot of fisticuffs in this one, that would seem to benefit the Caps more than Anaheim. Washington boasts the fifth-best power play in the NHL at 24.2-percent. The Ducks' power play is, in a word, terrible, clicking at only 11.3-percent (29th in the NHL). The Caps are a team that tends to take far too many penalties on a good night and this one...may not be a good night. But if both teams keep heading to the box Washington is far more likely to take advantage of its power play opportunities than Anaheim.

With wins in San Jose and Los Angeles already, the Caps will be looking for their first-ever California sweep. Washington has never beaten all three teams on the road in a season in franchise history. If you tack on that first game in Detroit as well, a win on Friday would also mark just the second time the Caps have ever swept a four-game road trip.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165092 Washington Capitals come by. Geisser had only gotten into seven games this season. The official I reached out to thought this move may have happened sooner if not for some earlier injuries to Lucas Johansen, Bobby Nardella and Colby Williams. Capitals Prospect Report: 3 Caps prospects earn invites to national junior team camps The held their annual Teddy Bear Toss and broke their own world record with 45,650 stuffed animals thrown onto the ice. Christian Djoos scored the goal that launched the teddys.

By J.J. Regan December 06, 2019 11:22 AM Brett Leason scored his first professional goal, notching the overtime winner in the Teddy Bear Toss game. He was set up by a great pass

from Djoos that got him in behind the defense. His initial shot was Capitals prospects Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas and Martin Hugo stopped, but he hit in the rebound for the goal and his third point of the Has each earned invites to the Canadian, Belarussian and Czech night. The game was also his first professional multi-point game. Republic national junior team camps respectively in preparation for the Kody Clark made his professional debut with Hershey on Nov. 24. He World Junior Championship that will begin on Dec. 26. earned his first professional point, an assist, on Nov. 30. McMichael currently leads the OHL in points with 56 while Protas is tied Philippe Maillet's two-point night on Nov. 27 earned him 100 career AHL for the league lead in the WHL with 42. points. The Caps desperately needed to restock its forward prospects with high- Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.07.2019 end talent and if their junior seasons are any indication, it appears that the team has done so.

"Our guys really liked Protas and thought there was a lot of upside there so we traded up to get the opportunity to draft him," general manager Brian MacLellan said. "We knew his skating was an issue, so I don't know that when we drafted him we thought the progression would be that good. But when we had him in camp, almost on a daily basis you could see his skating get better and him get more confident. So I think leaving camp we had a really good feeling about him that he was going to have a good year- not to extent that he'd be leading the in scoring, but we were excited about the prospect.

"We're excited to have these guys. There's a long way to go from where they're at to get to the NHL, development-wise. But when you have two players doing what they're doing, it's exciting to have those forward prospects in your organization."

Has, the Caps' lone defensive prospect from the 2019 draft, is currently playing in Finland. Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News asked him about his weaknesses and strengths as a player: “Probably the physical game and being more mean on the ice. The plusses are shooting and overall competitiveness.”

Other prospect notes

McMichael had a conversation with Junior Hockey Magazine. Check it out here.

MacLellan had some high praise for Martin Fehervary as well and wants to get him more NHL games this season."I think Fehervary is really close. I'd like to see him in games here at some point if we get an opportunity. He had a great camp. He's played well down in Hershey. He looks like he's pretty close to being able to play." Coming into this season I would have thought Alex Alexeyev was the closest to making the jump to the NHL. I think that has changed and Fehervary is the next man up.

Prospect expert Corey Pronman released a story on the prospects he was wrong about. Fehervary made the list of players he was too low on.

Pronman also declared Protas one of the biggest risers from the 2019 draft.

In the wake of players coming out and describing how they were treated by Bill Peters and Mike Babcock, former player Daniel Carcillo made allegations of abuse and hazing against the Sutter family including who owns and coaches the . Alexeyev, who played three seasons in Red Deer, came to the defense of his former coach on Twitter.

Speaking of Alexeyev, Ben Sumner of the Washington Post wrote about how his first season in Hershey is going (spoiler: Really well). You can read the article here.

Beck Malenstyn was reassigned to Hershey on Dec. 1. He played in three games with the Caps. Check out a prospect profile on him from Chocolate Hockey here.

Tobias Geisser was loaned to EV Zug in Switzerland on Thursday. According to a team official, the move was made because it was determined this would be best for his development. There are just too many bodies on the blue line in Hershey. Even without Geisser, there are still nine defensemen currently on the roster so playing time was hard to 1165093 Washington Capitals season, Reirden said the young sniper has to fine-tune some areas of his game and, as a result, needed to be bumped down for a spell.

“I wasn’t all that pleased with the start of Vrana’s season and moved him Caps’ Jakub Vrana is impossible to ignore right now: ‘I know my to the third line,” Reirden explained. “If he’s not going to play the way we potential’ think he can, then it’s important for the coach to hold him accountable. You go back to that move right there, I think that was a key one for him to understand that things aren’t going to be handed to him and he’s got to put the work in. And when he does, he’s going to get rewarded. He’s By Tarik El-Bashir Dec 6, 2019 going to get more ice time. He’s going to get more opportunity. It’s a two- way street and he’s taken advantage of it, especially lately.”

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – There are efficient goal scorers. Something else that’s been noticeable? Instead of being satisfied with a single goal in a game, Vrana appears to get even hungrier for a second And then there’s Capitals winger Jakub Vrana, whose 14 goals in 30 and third goal. In fact, after his two-goal performance in San Jose, he contests are the most among players skating less than 15 minutes per now has three multi-goal games, including a hat trick, after producing game. three multi-goal games all of last season.

Making it even more impressive? He’s done it without racking up tallies “He’s getting a taste of it and he’s like, ‘Ah, I kinda like this,'” Reirden on the power play. said, smiling.

“For that ice time,” Vrana told The Athletic this week, “I think I’ve been Vrana would like more ice time, of course. But he also recognizes the creating a lot. If you look at my stats, and you look at my goals 5-on-5, reality of skating on a star-laden team that, when fully healthy, can roll it’s there. I know what I capable to do. I know my potential. I just try to out Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie as the prove to everybody here that I can do even more, and that I can be a top forwards on its power play. player. The organization is seeing it now.” “We have a lot of great players,” Vrana said. But efficiency doesn’t tell the whole story of Vrana’s impressive start to his third full NHL season. Not only is he on pace to shatter the career Oshie said it’s been fun to watch Vrana’s game blossom at both ends of highs that he established last season, the 23-year-old Czech has the rink. Oshie also said that he and his younger linemate are good become a key contributor for the NHL’s top team. complements for one another as the bookends on the second line.

Consider: “You can see how dynamic of a player he can be because of his speed,” Oshie said. “These last couple of years, he’s really upped his defensive Vrana is on pace for 38 goals. If he gets there, he’d be the first Capital game. He’s really rounding himself out as a good 200-foot player. We not named Alex Ovechkin to reach that total since Alex Semin posted 40 feed off each other really well, I think. I like to get in the corners and dig goals in 2009-10. Last season, Vrana scored his 14th goal on Jan. 8. pucks out and create offense that way. He uses his speed on rushes to create offense and to create space for me and whoever’s playing in the Vrana has 25 points, putting him on pace for 68. He amassed 47 a year middle. It’s been a great combination. It’s been great playing with him. He ago. This season’s point total, accumulated while averaging just 14:44 of always has a smile on his face, so it’s been great. We played together for ice time per game, ranks fourth on the Caps behind John Carlson (42 most of the Cup run but especially this year, we’ve formed more of a points/25:04 time on ice), Ovechkin (31/20:59) and Evgeny Kuznetsov bond and are really enjoying playing with each other.” (28/18:21). Back in early September, Vrana was hesitant to say – publicly, anyway – Vrana is also on pace for 243 shots on goal after finishing with 161 last how many goals he hoped to score this season. “I will get what I season. If he gets to 243, he’d be just the first Capitals player, excluding deserve,” he said back then. Ovechkin, to do that since Semin launched 278 shots in 2009-10 and only the 11th player in franchise history to do it. Now, though, he acknowledges that it might be time to adjust his expectations upward. All of Vrana’s goals this season have come at even strength. Only Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Boston’s Brad Marchand have more, with “I try to get the most from every season,” he said. “If I can score 30 or 40, each producing 15 (entering Thursday’s games). I’m going to try and push as much as I can. I’m a goal scorer; I like to score goals. If I score 40, for me, it’s not surprising because I know I Eight of Vrana’s goals this season have come in the first period. Six of have that potential. I know I’m a good player. I’ve been confident since I them have marked the Caps’ first of the game. was little kid scoring goals. For me now, it’s just to prove it and to prove it While John Carlson’s historic start, Ovechkin’s pursuit of another 50-goal every game. I hope I can do it and show why they drafted me here.” season and the Caps’ place atop the standings have dominated the The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 headlines the first two months, Vrana’s impact is becoming harder and harder to overlook.

Coach Todd Reirden said the uptick in production is a combination of experience, confidence and Vrana’s realization that he’s at his best when using his speed effectively and peppering opposing goalies with his shot, which he unleashes with a lethal release.

“He just continues to grow and get better and utilize his assets,” Reirden said. “A lot of times, guys that can skate like he can, sometimes their speed almost puts them into traffic, puts them into trouble. He’s maturing. He’s done a better job of knowing when to use his speed to create separation, when to come late occasionally and when to use his speed to explode away from an opponent. That’s been good for him.

“And he’s also realized the importance of utilizing his shot. He’s shooting more than he has in the past. Speed and his shot are two attributes that are difference makers for him. He’s now able to make both of those things very apparent every night.”

Said Vrana: “Todd’s right. I’ve been using my speed better. I’m a really fast player and when I use my speed, I can have three or four Grade A’s a game. I can have more shots on goal, too.”

Vrana’s improvement, while significant, hasn’t always followed a straight line. Although Vrana scored goals in each of the first two games of the 1165094 Winnipeg Jets situation right now. He needed that reset, basically. His mind right now is all about hockey and helping his team win."

And how does Danil stack up against his pops? Antropov forever tied to Jets 2.0 "He’s definitely a better skater than me. That’s 100 per cent."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.07.2019 Taylor AllenBy: Taylor Allen

Posted: 12/6/2019 10:23 PM

Mention Nik Antropov’s name to a Winnipeg Jets fan and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is Oct. 9, 2011.

The 6-6 centre from Kazakhstan scored the first goal in Jets 2.0 history, knocking a loose puck past Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price in front of a hockey-starved Winnipeg crowd. The end result of their first game back wasn’t pretty, with the Canadiens prevailing 5-1, but it was still an incredible moment to be a part of.

"It was awesome. It feels like yesterday," said Antropov, who was one of 13 NHL alumni in Winnipeg on Friday for the Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament at Seven Oaks Arena.

"I remember it was three or four days before (the game) and I was talking to my family and saying how badly I wanted to score that goal. When it actually happened, it was a surreal feeling. It was obviously too bad we lost that game, but it was unbelievable. The city came together as one. It was something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life."

Antropov suited up in 788 games during his 13-year NHL career. Drafted 10th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1998, Antropov spent nine seasons in the white and blue before being traded to the New York Rangers for the last half of the 2008-09 season. In the summer, Antropov signed a four-year, US$16.25-million deal with the , leading to him spending the final two years of his NHL career with the Jets.

"It was unbelievable. I have nothing bad to say about this city. I loved every minute that I spent here," said Antropov, who had 21 goals and 32 assists in 109 games with the Jets.

After two seasons in the KHL for Barys Astana, Antropov retired in 2015.

He now lives in Toronto and works for the Maple Leafs organization in a skills development role. He helps young eastern European players, mostly on the Toronto Marlies, who are trying to adjust to the North American lifestyle while figuring our their professional hockey careers.

"It definitely brought me back to my first three or four years in the NHL. I knew maybe five words in English. Trying to communicate with the guys or even basic things like getting groceries and stuff like that, it’s really hard," said Antropov, who represented Kazakhstan at several international events, including the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

"For me, I think we had four or five Russian guys on the team, so it was a little bit easier. Those guys coming over right now, most of them try to learn English now because they know they’re going to come over. But some of them, they don’t. So, you try to help them adjust as fast as possible. All I want them to do is focus on hockey and the rest will take care of itself."

Antropov said it was a "no-brainer" to accept the job offer. It was close to home and he always envisioned he’d do something to help players once his playing days were over.

"I think I have a lot to give. Since I was four years old, all I’ve known is hockey, right? I obviously can help some guys and if I can, it would be great. You can already see some progress from some of the guys I’ve worked with a little bit here and there. Hockey is what I have known all my life. I think I can give a couple of tips here and there."

The most important young hockey player in Antropov’s life is his son, Danil. The Oshawa Generals selected Danil sixth overall in the 2016 draft. Danil spent 31/2 seasons in Oshawa before the team traded him to the Saginaw Spirit last week for draft picks. Danil, who has 13 points in 23 games this season, went undrafted in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

"He spent a pretty good three seasons in Oshawa. It was close to home. As a 15-year-old, I think that’s really important. Now, he’ll be 19 in two weeks, so he can go wherever and take care of himself. He’s in a good 1165095 Winnipeg Jets "The cancer has shrunk in certain areas. In a couple areas it's gone, which is good. The chemo seemed to have a good effect. So now there's the opportunity to operate, which was the best plan all along," he said.

Far from Ducky, but determined The former Jets captain is scheduled for surgery Jan. 6 to remove his entire stomach.

"Just get the disease out. They're just too worried about re-occurrence," By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 12/6/2019 7:00 PM he said.

"They basically attach the esophagus to the small intestine. You eat more often, smaller meals, but I'm doing that now anyways because the cancer He is known simply as "Ducky" around here, a member of hockey royalty was a pretty good size in my stomach. It got to a point where I couldn't whose greatest years in his hall of fame career came as the proud leader even hardly eat. I've read up on different people talking about the trials of the Winnipeg Jets. and tribulations of having the stomach removed. For the most part, it's an And now, as he's locked in the toughest battle of his life, Dale Hawerchuk adjustment in your life a little bit, but you can still lead a pretty good life." says it's the bonds he formed along the way that are helping him get And that, of course, is the ultimate goal, one his supporters believe he's through some dark, scary times. going to accomplish. Yes, stomach cancer is taking a hell of a physical toll on the 56 year old. "Watching Dale go through this, it definitely gives you a new appreciation But Hawerchuk wants everyone to know his will to fight remains strong. for life. I try to put myself in his shoes and I’m not sure I’d be as able to "People reaching out... I actually get pretty emotional." handle it as well as him," his son Eric told me Friday.

- Jets legend Dale Hawerchuk "He’s very focused and trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. We have all learned a lot. I’m very confident he’s going to beat this thing." "The support in the hockey world, friends, family, fans in Winnipeg... it's been incredible," Hawerchuk told me this week in a telephone chat from Hawerchuk said some of the lessons learned along the way in becoming his Ontario home, his voice cracking as he struggled to find the words to one of the best to lace up the blades are helping him now. The first- express his gratitude. overall pick in the 1981 NHL draft played nine full seasons in Winnipeg before he was traded to Buffalo, finishing up his 16-year career with "People reaching out... I actually get pretty emotional." stops in St. Louis and Philadelphia. He had 1,409 points in 1,188 regular- season games (518 goals, 891 assists). Dale Hawerchuk is optimistic after chemotherapy has reduced his tumour size enough to allow doctors to operate. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free "There's so many times when you feel like you're down and out and Press files) trying to make it — whether it's minor hockey, junior, the pros, and once you're in the pros trying to stay at the level you want to be at all the time," Dale Hawerchuk is optimistic after chemotherapy has reduced his tumour Hawerchuk said. size enough to allow doctors to operate. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files) "So there's a strong discipline. To beat cancer you've got to be disciplined. And you know there's going to be pain, and you've got to be Hawerchuk first began to suspect something was wrong last June, as he able to keep the discipline through all of that." battled acid reflux for the first time in his life. An eventual visit to a doctor and an initial CT scan both came up empty. He thought it might just be One of his recent highlights was skating at IG Field in the alumni game an ulcer. as part of the 2016 Heritage Classic festivities between the Jets and Edmonton Oilers. His current condition meant he had to miss the event in "But then the problem wouldn't go away. I started getting worried, late-October when the Jets took on the Calgary Flames in Regina. because I couldn't eat well. I was losing weight. I needed to lose a few pounds, but didn't want to do it that way, that's for sure. When I got Hawerchuk leads the Jets alumni onto the ice at the 2016 NHL Heritage scoped, that's when they saw the cancer," Hawerchuk said of the Classic. His cancer meant he was unable to return when the Jets played diagnosis in late-August. outside in Regina in October. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) "When you wake up from the scope and the doctor's looking at you at the end of the bed telling you, 'Sorry, I've got bad news for you... you've got Hawerchuk leads the Jets alumni onto the ice at the 2016 NHL Heritage cancer,' you think you're in a bad dream, right? And then you deal with it, Classic. His cancer meant he was unable to return when the Jets played It's like life though, you know. Everybody's got issues, things happen, but outside in Regina in October. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press once you know what it is you make a plan to deal with it and do the best files) with it." Hawerchuk was top of mind for many in attendance, including former For Hawerchuk, that meant dramatic changes. He took a leave of teammates such as Dave Ellett and Thomas Steen, and ex-rivals such as absence as head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey Jamie Macoun and Lanny McDonald. All offered up words of praise and League, a necessary but painful move for the hockey lifer who has support, along with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Jets co-owner helped shape the lives of many NHLers, including Jets top centre Mark and chairman Mark Chipman. Scheifele, since stepping behind the bench in 2010. "I hope I get healthy to be able to do the next Heritage Classic," "I kinda knew when I was losing weight and I couldn't eat, I knew I was Hawerchuk said. going to be in trouble to stay on as coach. This kind of cancer— I've got a feeding tube to help me supplement my nutrition — so I just knew there Chipman has been in constant touch over the last few months along with was no way I could do it," he said. other members of the franchise, including Scheifele.

Then came the debilitating chemotherapy. Each session tested his "Mark's a pretty special person. Not only is he a good hockey player, but resolve in a way he never imagined, while also shredding his immune he's got a work ethic. I think anybody that comes around Mark, they're system. impressed right away, like I was when I first met him. When I saw what he brought to the rink every day, it was like, 'This kid's going to make it.' Hawerchuk was drafted first overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and He's got a desire. They always say good things happen to good people, played nine seasons for the Jets. and he's definitely good people," Hawerchuk said.

Hawerchuk was drafted first overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and Then Jets general manager John Ferguson and Hawerchuk celebrate his played nine seasons for the Jets. signing at — where else? — Portage and Main.

"Really bottomed you out, then you have to recover and do it all over Jim Wiley / Winnipeg Free Press again in two weeks. It's a tough thing to go through," he said. august 13 1981 Fortunately, it appears to have paid off. A light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, revealed recently after his fourth and final session. Then Jets general manager John Ferguson and Hawerchuk celebrate his signing at — where else? — Portage and Main. Jim Wiley / Winnipeg Free Press august 13 1981

He can't completely stay away from the rink, admitting he often checks in on his beloved Barrie Colts by showing up at practices and games when his health allows it.

"So many of my other guys have gone on to play university hockey, get a college degree, move into the business world. It's always nice to hear from those guys. You try to bring them up and make them good people. They all have the dream of playing in the NHL," he said.

"We know it's not going to be there for everyone. If we can help them out and get them on their way to the rest of their life in the world, just try to help them in that regard, that's an important part of what you do in junior hockey."

"Everybody's got issues, things happen, but once you know what it is you make a plan to deal with it and do the best with it."

- Hawerchuk

Now it's Hawerchuk who needs their help. And he's been getting it in spades, along with the enduring love and support from his wife Crystal and their three children, Eric, Alexis and Ben.

"My wife, she was a nurse in Winnipeg, she's been incredible. She's pretty much saving my life. The kids have all been great. Everybody's helped out where they can, friends and family. Even like some days, hopping in the car, going downtown Toronto or whatever, back up to Barrie, for appointments, there's days you just feel like you can't do it. But you need the support. They've just been terrific," he said.

"I can't imagine trying to do this alone."

Thanks to a loving family and a wide network of friends and fans in the hockey community, he doesn't have to. Hawerchuk has one hell of a team helping him take on this miserable opponent.

"People in the Jets organization have been really good. Incredible. And fans, somehow they find out a way to reach you. The support from all over the world has been incredible. I can't thank people enough. It's important, you know, when you're going through this. It helps you fight through it," he said.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.07.2019 1165096 Winnipeg Jets He's been a bit of a journeyman blue-liner since he was selected 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011 NHL Draft, but is proving to be a valuable commodity in his second season in Jets blue and white. Rarely flashy, he's a more-than competent defender who plays physical Solid penalty killing opens door for Jets' scrappy third-period rally and isn't afraid to block shots.

"There's a physical strength with him, competitive. Nathan's been a part of a penalty-killing group that's really coming together and has played Jason Bell quite well," Maurice said before Thursday's game. It takes some minutes Posted: 12/6/2019 11:42 AM off (Neal) Pionk and (Josh) Morrissey, which is what we'd like to do in that PK role."

Beaulieu wouldn't divulge the severity of the damage to his hand, only Rarely flashy, Nathan Beaulieu's a more-than competent defender who that he experienced much more than just mild discomfort. Just one of the plays physical and isn't afraid to block shots. (Daniel Crump / Free Press hazards of the job, he said. files)

'You just gotta (block shots). You have to forget about it. Say you block Rarely flashy, Nathan Beaulieu's a more-than competent defender who 200 shots, a lot of them are gonna hurt but a lot of them don't break plays physical and isn't afraid to block shots. (Daniel Crump / Free Press bones and you just gotta think that way. If you do shy away from it, that's files) when you get injured, so just be confident in it," said Beaulieu, who played the right side on a third pairing with Anthony Bitetto DALLAS — The penalty-killing unit hasn't been the strongest of motivating forces for the Winnipeg Jets this season but gets a shiny gold "In this league, there's so little room (between wins and losses), star for its conduct Thursday. especially on the PK you try to get in lanes as much as possible. There's no art to it, you just try and get in front of it. Some bumps and bruises The game summary clearly highlights the Dallas Stars' lucrative power happen but you gotta be willing to do it." play, which accounted for two goals on five opportunities — Jamie Benn's game-opener late in the first period and Joe Pavelski's winner With a healthy Beaulieu, the Jets sent blue-liner Cameron Schilling back 2:02 into overtime. to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League Friday morning.

But the final statistics don't tell the entire story about the work of Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.07.2019 Winnipeg's much-maligned penalty kill.

The Stars earned the full two points to improve to 16-11-3 and draw to within a point of the third-place Jets, now 17-10-2, in the wildly cutthroat Central Division.

Blake Wheeler, with his seventh goal, and Mark Scheifele, with his 11th, tied the game in the final frame for the Jets, who outshot the Stars 13-3 in the period. Scheifele’s equalizer came with just 44.6 seconds left in regulation and goalie Connor Hellebuyck lifted for a sixth skater.

But the resurgence began much earlier, even before the teams retired to their locker rooms for the second intermission, with the hosts up 2-0. With 6:23 left in the second period, Scheifele was tagged with a hooking penalty and then crossed a line in one official's mind with some yapping afterward to earn an additional two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

But the penalty killers, led by a Hellebuyck, the strong work of Adam Lowry at the faceoff dot and the shot-blocking of Luca Sbisa, survived four minutes of duress — and gave the squad a major shot in the arm. The Jets then earned a power-play chance of their own, didn't connect despite some good puck movement, but carried the momentum into the third.

"That kill was outstanding. And we got action on our power play, so we didn't come back to the bench frustrated. We felt we were right there," Winnipeg head coach said after the game. "The game changes... we ended up in the box more than our team ever is. But we got some good kills there, five-on-four, and gave ourselves a chance to have the third that we did. So, I was real happy with that."

Overall, Winnipeg is working at a rather unflattering 75.7 per cent efficiency rating when shorthanded, lower than all but six teams in the NHL. To gain some perspective, the San Jose Sharks are running at a remarkable 91.4 per cent, while 17 others are all north of 80.

That's the bad news. The good news is the Jets' performance on the penalty kill away from Bell MTS Place, now at 81.1 per cent (13th). At home, it's a ghastly 69.7 per cent, far and away the league's lowest. Indeed, it requires vast improvements during the stretch toward the holiday season, as they play seven of their next nine contests on Portage Avenue, beginning Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Anaheim Ducks.

A healthy Nathan Beaulieu might be a catalyst.

The 27-year-old defenceman suffered an undisclosed injury in the third period of the final pre-season game against the Minnesota Wild and missed 15 games. He returned to the lineup for nine games and, with his participation, the penalty-killing numbers rose from 70.9 to 82.6 per cent.

Then he took a blast to the hand during a home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and was forced to the press box for another four games before getting the green light in Dallas Thursday. 1165097 Winnipeg Jets They’ve learned plain-looking goals count the same as fancily-wrapped ones. That two points in the standings are far more satisfying than two points in the individual scoring race.

Grunt work has Jets sitting pretty At least, that’s what it seems like.

There’s still plenty of time for things to unravel like a cheap Christmas sweater. Paul Friesen But there’s also room for it to get even better. Published:December 6, 2019 “Not one guy on this team quits,” Ehlers said after the Jets on Thursday Updated:December 6, 2019 9:44 PM CST nearly pulled out a league-high sixth win when trailing through two periods. “That’s how you grow as a family, as a team.”

The man in charge of fostering that growth mostly likes what he sees. WARREN'S PIECE: Anisimov leaves a mark, Paul could return, Hart's at home and a new ... “This team’s proud of its effort,” Coach Paul Maurice said. “They compete hard. How to assess your game is one of the most important things a A surprise passenger walked down the aisle looking for his seat on Delta team does. So that means not getting too high when you’re winning or Flight 783 from Dallas to the Twin Cities on Friday morning. too low. Even down a few goals going into the third, you don’t have to It was Kevin Cheveldayoff, the man who generally manages the wear this game for 60. You can go out in the last 20 and see if you can Winnipeg Jets. get a couple of points out of it.”

“They won’t let me on the team flight,” Cheveldayoff joked, making his The way they do it is by sticking to the grunt work. way to the back half of the plane. “It doesn’t take a lot to score,” is how Scheifele put it. “It just takes doing At least he had an aisle seat. the right thing over and over.”

It turns out the GM was on his way to scout a college game in Minnesota. If they keep doing it, they’ll put themselves in the playoffs, and their GM So instead of being on the charter flight home with the team right after in a position to take the glamour shot again at the trade deadline. Thursday’s game, Cheveldayoff had to rough it with the rest of us and But none of it happens without rolling up their sleeves and getting their spend an extra day on the road. hands dirty. Later that night he’d be doing some of the grunt work his job still entails, Jets hope to find ‘juice’ at home the stuff that’s usually left to scouts who traipse from rink to rink across the continent. Looking at the Winnipeg Jets’ December schedule, it looks like it’s time to make some hay while the holiday lights shine. Which got me thinking of Cheveldayoff’s hockey team. With five of their next six at home, and seven of their next 10, the The Jets are where they are – a rather surprising 17-10-2 and sitting in a Christmas shopping haul should include plenty of points in the standings. playoff spot in the Central Division – largely because their young, high- end players have learned to do the grunt work. Opportunity ringing like a sleigh bell, right?

Nik Ehlers no longer looks like he’s doing a solo fancy-skate routine on “No,” head coach Paul Maurice said, his Grinch face in place. “I see our some shifts, trading in his triple-axel for a triple-threat of straight-ahead next game as a chance to compete. I know you put up five against Dallas speed, play-making and a heavy shot. the other night (a 5-1 win) and you feel good about yourself, but we’re in a grinder every night and just being at home isn’t gonna change that one Patrik Laine no longer sits in his office waiting for the one-timer to call, bit.” and getting down when it doesn’t. Then why the hell was home-ice advantage ever invented? He’d just as soon be digging the puck out of a corner and setting up somebody else, like he did Mark Scheifele for the last-minute goal that Not that the Jets have consistently taken advantage of it (7-5-1) this forced overtime and salvaged a point against the Stars, Thursday. season.

As we head towards Christmas you’ll find Kyle Connor dashing through Perhaps they need to bottle whatever spirits they’ve been drinking on the the slot for a dirty deflection as often as he’ll dash around the perimeter road (10-5-1), put ’em in a duty-free bag and bring ’em home. on a rush. “We approach every single game the same way,” Nik Ehlers insisted. And that’s just the half of it. “There’s no difference in road and home games. Maybe the matchups are a little different, but the mindset of the guys is the same.” The Jets’ young talent is doing some heavy lifting when it doesn’t have the puck, too. Maybe the Jets have simply been victims of their schedule.

Skating hard to be on the right side of an attacker, coming back to negate Since Oct. 25, when they left for the outdoor game in Regina, they’ve had a potential odd-man rush, taking a hit to make the right play – that’s the just one home stand of more than a single game. game’s real grunt work. “We just gotta get these guys off an airplane,” Maurice said. “They’ve It’s a habit most high-end draft picks need a few years to form. A hard- been on an airplane for six, five weeks, now. We get home and get some scrabble task that doesn’t get rewarded on the personal stats sheet or at rest and get our juice back.” contract time. Raise a glass to December. But it wins. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.07.2019 And if winning is what a team wants to do above all else, all its players have to get down in that trench, get a hand on that same rope and yank in that same direction.

Last season, this team had people pulling different ways, and it showed, from the downward spiral of the second half to the early playoff exit to the off-season griping about linemates and contracts.

The Jets seem to have come into this season more connected, as the signs posted in their dressing room remind them to be.

They’ve learned to get the most of a thin and made-over blue line by playing as units. 1165098 Winnipeg Jets But that can be a fine line to balance for a player who also considers himself a pretty good passer and is playing with guys who also like to shoot the puck in Jack Roslovic and Wheeler.

‘He’s skating like a shooter’: How Nikolaj Ehlers has grown into the Jets’ “You’ve got to be confident in yourself,” said Ehlers. “When you make the top goal scorer decision to shoot, you want to put it in. It can be 50-50 sometimes whether you shoot it or you pass it. So, it’s a matter of what you see in the moment because the game is fast. It’s not like you skate down the ice and you know exactly what’s going on or know exactly what you’re going By Ken Wiebe Dec 6, 2019 to do. You never know. Sometimes you just read the game a little different – and that makes you shoot it or pass it.”

DALLAS — Having enough talent has never been an issue for Nikolaj Playing on a line with Wheeler has helped Ehlers’ production – and the Ehlers. same can be said for Roslovic – but it stretches beyond that.

From the time he was chosen ninth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Ehlers is rounding out his game and has figured out that he needs to go Winnipeg Jets, the flash and dash were on display for all to see. to the difficult areas in order to pad his totals.

Ehlers was rarely short on confidence, and not in a bad way. He simply “The real part of it though is that it’s all about battle. He’s battling believed in his abilities and expected to succeed. incredibly hard and he has been all year,” said Wheeler. “A year or two ago, (Ehlers) is not scoring a rebound goal in front of the net. There’s a Of course, he knew there were going to be some bumps in the road, lot of growth on his part. That all comes from within and he’s getting that’s normal for any skilled player breaking into the NHL. rewarded for it right now.”

Now in his fifth full season, Ehlers has found another gear, especially Ehlers chuckles when the subject of going to the tough areas around the when it comes to goal scoring. blue paint is brought up in conversation.

Ehlers always had potential to be a 30-goal guy – he had a career high “Yeah, I’ve scored a couple of goals in front of the net, which is not 29 in 2017-18 before dipping to 21 in 62 games last season – but with 13 something I used to do a lot – and that feels good,” said Ehlers, who through 29 games, the Danish winger is on pace to shatter his personal piled up plenty of points during two seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads bests. of the QMJHL. “I’m not afraid to get in there. During my whole junior career, I never went there. That was just the way it was. But that’s where “It’s because he’s playing with me,” quipped Jets captain Blake Wheeler, most of the goals are scored (in the NHL). So if you want to score goals, before getting serious. “He was a kid that came in as raw as you can get you have to go in there.” – just flat-out talent. He was just a ball of clay that you had to mold into an everyday, impact player to be in your top six. And he’s bought into This isn’t just about the numbers for Ehlers, he’s raised the bar when it that. comes to expectations for his all-around game and it’s easy to notice him even when his name isn’t sprinkled all over the scoresheet. “His game is light-years from where it was 24 months ago – or even 12 months ago. There isn’t as much mystery to his game. When you play “I’m playing with two guys that can skate. We always want to use our with him, there’s a little bit more read and react and you can expect what speed as much as we can,” said Ehlers. “Whether it’s going on an odd- he’s going to do.” man rush, moving the puck out of the zone or getting back into the zone and all of that. It makes it easier for me to not slow the game down. Just Ehlers was frustrated by his inability to score in the first round of the take the puck and go. (Wheeler and Roslovic) are doing the same. That’s playoffs against the St. Louis Blues last spring. Compounding matters something that I didn’t always do. I used to slow down a lot. But that’s was that Ehlers didn’t record a goal during the entire 2018 Stanley Cup going in the right direction. If you kind of glide into the D-zone, you watch playoff run to the Western Conference final. the game a little more than actually playing it. For me, using my speed in He was determined to do something about it. the D-zone doesn’t necessarily run around and skate to wherever the puck goes. It’s getting pucks out on the wall, taking a hit and then going Although the sample size was still relatively small, some folks were (up the ice).” starting to wonder if Ehlers’ game wasn’t built for playoff hockey. Consistency is something all young players try to get a handle on and Nobody was more disappointed in his playoff performance than Ehlers Ehlers is no different. himself. On that front, he has taken great strides during the first 30 games. He expressed his frustration in his meeting with reporters following his exit interview last April. “On the simplest explanation, he is now thinking like a shooter every time that he touches the puck,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “That’s Then he spent a good chunk of his summer working on getting better and when all of the other things work for him. He’s playing at a higher pace, watching every one of his shifts from last season. he’s looking for a hole and he’s looking for a way to get the puck to the As it turns out, Ehlers has been able to apply a lot of what he learned and net, which makes him a threat. If he gets any edge on any one defender that’s been a critical component to his impressive start. and he looks like he might shoot the puck, someone else starts to cover over, somebody tries to help, which will open up the other plays. For me, “On the defensive side of things, I’ve been a lot better,” said Ehlers. “I still he’s skating like a shooter and that is the driver. watch our games (from this season) and I’ve improved on those small details.” “He’s also maturing. He’s more physically engaged on pucks right now. His backcheck is better, his play along the wall has gotten better. He’s Ehlers entered the season as a man on a mission, chipping in three becoming a defensive contributor.” assists in the season opener as he started the campaign on the top line with Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery has noticed something different about Ehlers in watching him live on four occasions this season Ehlers scored his first goal in the fourth game and it proved to be the and viewing other games on their pre-scout. game-winner. “He seems to have the puck a lot more, he seems to be possessing it a Fast forward a couple of months and Ehlers is up to 13 goals, which lot more,” said Montgomery, who is back for a second season as the leaves him two up on Kyle Connor, and 23 points. Stars bench boss. “And he’s supporting pucks better because he has the puck more. I don’t really focus on the other teams, but we notice him a lot “I’ve definitely gotten better at shooting the puck and finding the holes, more with the puck against us.” but there have been some ones where I’m in the right spot and doing the right thing,” said Ehlers, when asked if his finishing ability has improved. Can Ehlers keep up the pace or hold off the other snipers on his own “I feel like I’m shooting the puck, but also not over-shooting it. All of that team? comes from skating at a high level, using my speed as much as I can to create those holes and shooting lanes. If I connect those two (things), That remains to be seen. that’s when I play my best.” He realizes there could be some cold stretches ahead, but he’s better equipped to deal with them.

“I’m feeling good with my game right now and we’re playing well as a team,” said Ehlers. “I’ve had my stretch of bad games with no points and not playing well. It’s going to come again at some point, but I think that in those games, I’ve still found a way to contribute to the team in other ways.

“Earlier (in his career), when I’ve had a bad game, I don’t think I came with much. I didn’t help the team much and that’s something I’ve done a lot better at.”

And while the team goals are always more important than the individual ones, having a little healthy competition among friends is rarely a bad thing.

“He would probably prefer to have more assists than goals, like he’s always said – and I’m kind of the same way, I would love to have more goals than apples, but that’s just the way it is right now,” said Jets forward Patrik Laine. “He’s playing really well. He’s using his feet and he’s one of the fastest guys in the league. That’s how he creates his offence. He has a really good shot and he has the instinct of a goal scorer. He’s scored a lot of big goals for our club, so hopefully he’s going to keep doing that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165099 Vancouver Canucks “This is an amazing opportunity for them to actually to be with a Canuck and play street hockey. They’ve dreamed about this before. They never really thought it would happen,” UGM’s Jeremy Hunka told CTV Vancouver. Canucks could have more bark for Buffalo as Beagle, Ferland might play “It would be easy for kids and families on the Downtown Eastside to feel overwhelmed … but having people like Jay come — whether you’re in Kits or East Van, it’s great.” Patrick Johnston Having Beagle show up helped to reinforce the UGM message that no Published:December 6, 2019 matter where you’re from, you can set goals and achieve them. Updated:December 6, 2019 5:34 PM PST “Him showing up really helps to reinforce that,” said Hunka.

Goodnight Goldy? The Canucks face the Sabres on Saturday at Rogers Arena and could He was a popular figure in many corners of the fan base, but you have to see a couple faces returning to the lineup after missing time injured. wonder if fans have seen the last of Nikolay Goldobin? The happy-go- No one said “yes, 100 per cent,” but between coach and players, it’s lucky Russian winger was sent back to the Utica Comets on Friday. sounding like Micheal Ferland and Jay Beagle will play Saturday He played in one game last week for the Canucks, starting on Elias afternoon when the Vancouver Canucks host the Buffalo Sabres. Pettersson’s left wing against the Penguins in Pittsburgh, but by the end “One, two, maybe three new guys,” Canucks coach Travis Green said of the second period he was basically stapled to the bench. He only had Friday about lineup changes following practice at Burnaby 8 Rinks. one shift in the third period.

Ferland, Beagle and all took part in practice and will be A slick passer, he nonetheless came in for regular criticism from his evaluated before the afternoon game at Rogers Arena, he explained. coaches for poor decision-making in other aspects of his game.

Beagle returned to his customary spot on the fourth line, while Ferland Motte still not skating was swapping in on his right wing with Zack MacEwen. Sutter, who Tyler Motte has shed the knee walker he was using for the past month seems the least likely of the three to play, was swapping in and out on after undergoing a procedure on his broken foot, but he was still spotted right wing with Jake Virtanen on the third line. in a walking boot after Tuesday’s game. Ferland’s not going to change … much Nonetheless, Green said the checking winger is expected to begin “I think there’s a good possibility I’ll get back in (Saturday),” Ferland told skating “relatively soon.” the assembled reporters Friday, working hard to hold back a grin. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.07.2019 The big winger suffered a concussion in a fight more than a month ago with Kyle Clifford of the Los Angeles Kings. He took a punch on the back of the head and another on his jaw and while neither seemed all that heavy, he said he thought both may have contributed to his injury.

This is the second fight in a year that’s sidelined him with a concussion. While he admitted that may mean less fighting for him in the future, Ferland insisted he’s not going to change as a player.

“Until the doc tells me there’s a way I can’t play anymore, then I’ll stop playing the way I need to play. But until then I’m just gonna keep playing the way, you know, I know I can play,” he said.

He learned a lot about the science of concussions last year and knowing how to understand the symptoms and judge how he was feeling this time around helped a great deal, he explained.

He and Clifford battled to try and inject some energy into the game, the kind of fight that’s rarely seen in the modern NHL. And he wondered if he’d pursue that kind of fight again.

“Gonna be a little bit more smarter now picking and choosing when to fight. You know, the game is definitely changed now, you don’t need to necessarily fight that early in the game,” he said. “For sure got to be more smarter picking and choosing when to fight.”

Beagle gets a bounce from street hockey session

On top of taking a regular turn in practice on Friday, Beagle joined a group of kids from an youth program on Thursday to play some ball hockey.

“The kids taught me a lot. It was more them dominating me,” he joked. He put on the pads and played goalie for a spell, too.

“I put on my best Marky (Jacob Markstrom) impression,” he said, claiming to have conceded only one goal. “I had a blast.”

The weekly game in McLean Park is organized by the Union Gospel Mission. He also received a tour of the UGM’s facility on the Downtown Eastside.

“It truly was an eye opener just to see how much they do for the community, especially in East Van,” Beagle said. “It’s incredible to be a part of it, just for that little bit and I want to do more with them. I look forward to working with them more.” 1165100 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks: Naslund isn't a fan of getting back at coaches, but understands Sopel

PATRICK JOHNSTON

Published:December 6, 2019

Updated:December 6, 2019 3:59 PM PST

Markus Naslund says he’s glad the issue of how coaches treat players is being discussed publicly.

Speaking from his home in Sweden, the former Canucks captain acknowledged he’s heard some of the allegations that have been levelled in recent days about Marc Crawford, who was his head coach for a large portion of his time in Vancouver.

Crawford was hired this summer as an assistant coach by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks announced Tuesday he has been placed on leave while they investigate allegations of verbal and physical abuse levelled against him by players he coached in Vancouver and on the Los Angeles Kings.

“That they’re looking into how coaches are treating their players is a good thing,” Naslund said. “I’m not much for guys getting back at coaches after their career is over. I find it’s easy to take a cheap shot.”

A year ago on the Spitting Chiclets podcast, Brent Sopel spoke of the strong language Crawford directed toward him as a player in Vancouver and Los Angeles. He also said the coach hit and kicked him on the bench.

On Thursday, Sopel released a statement clarifying his thoughts about Crawford.

“It was not my intent to make any allegations against anyone or any organization,” Sopel said. “I was only speaking to how coach Crawford affected me. I cannot speak for how others were affected by him.

“He found ways to motivate me and make me a better player. He molded (sic) me into a player who went on to win a Stanley Cup in Chicago.

“I recognize and respect that different coaching tactics affect people in different ways. Just as I prefer others not speak on my behalf about my life experiences, I will not comment on coach Crawford’s impact on other players. Those are not my stories to tell.”

Harold Druken, Patrick O’Sullivan and Sean Avery have all alleged that Crawford hit, kicked or directed negative language toward them. Avery said that Crawford was one of the best coaches he ever had, while both Druken and O’Sullivan said they were pleased that Crawford had come under the microscope.

Former Canuck Alex Burrows, who played for Crawford at the beginning and end of his career, said this week his experience with the coach was positive.

“My personal experience with Crow is really good. I think he really helped me to understand what it took to play in the NHL,” Burrows said. “He’s always been so good to me, but at the same time I can’t speak for anybody else.”

Naslund declined to get into Druken’s case or another allegations, but said he understood Sopel’s position.

“I understand that people find Marc tough and difficult at times. He’s an emotional person. And I’m sure if you ask Marc there’s things that he’s said that he would like to take back.

“I thought that Marc was a good coach. I don’t really want to get into details. I understand’s Brent’s side of it too, because Marc was hard on Brent. There’s no doubt about it. But it’s not my place to comment.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165101 Vancouver Canucks Vancouver plays high-event hockey across the board. They generate a lot and they permit a lot. With Hughes on the ice, though, the Canucks have surrendered 11 fewer shot attempts against per hour this season — a rate that gives Hughes the fourth-greatest relative defensive impact on Why Quinn Hughes will emerge as the Calder front-runner — surpassing attempts among all NHL defenders to log at least 150 minutes this Cale Makar season.

It’s counterintuitive, perhaps, that Hughes’ impact is more keenly felt in the defensive end. It’s not what was expected prior to the season. By Thomas Drance Dec 6, 2019 Because of how Hughes breaks the puck out and holds possession on

in-zone play in the offensive end, teams just don’t have much opportunity Cale Makar’s insane, glimmering start to the season has muted any to get set up and pepper Vancouver with shot or attempts when Hughes Quinn Hughes Calder Trophy buzz. is on the ice at even strength. Whatever data point you prefer — xG, shots, scoring chances — Hughes’ impact on his club’s play at even For now, anyway. strength is high end and greater than Makar’s is at this juncture.

The Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s “most proficient” Ultimately though, while Hughes’ two-way profile is immense, it’s unlikely first-year player under the age of 25, is voted on by the Professional to move the PHWA members who actually stuff the ballot box and decide Hockey Writers Association. Two months into the 2019-20 campaign, the Calder winner in early April. For two players who play the majority of Makar has emerged as the clear frontrunner. He won rookie of the month their games in an inconvenient time zone (from the perspective of the honours for November, and when NHL.com asked their writers to name a eastern voting block), a lot of this is going to hinge on the boxcar Calder winner based on the first quarter of the season, Makar was the statistics. unanimous pick, receiving 20 out of 20 first place votes. Clearly Makar has the edge there, but it’s an edge that’s probably going Makar is a special player who is authoring an incredible rookie year. A to tighten up. mobile defenceman with an advanced two-way game and a wrist shot that’s a wholly unique weapon, Makar has eight goals and 27 points in 27 It’s amazing that at just 21, Makar is currently third among all NHL games going into Thursday night’s slate of games. defenders in total points, trailing only Washington Capitals blueliner John Carlson — who already has 42 points and is well on his way to a historic It’s a big if with so much road left to run, but if Makar can keep up that offensive season — and Carolina Hurricanes defender . level of production, he has a chance to best Larry Murphy’s almost 40- Hughes’ 23 points, meanwhile, rank him seventh. year-old all-time record for points by a rookie defenceman (76). While Hughes is unlikely to catch Makar in goals scored, his overall Hughes, meanwhile, has two goals and 23 total points in 28 games. offensive profile is built on more sustainable ground. Heady stuff that ranks him in the top 10 among all NHL defencemen, but a far cry from Makar’s record-setting pace. Or at least from the Makar is shooting over 17 percent at 5-on-5, for example, a conversion perspective of NHL.com voters. rate four times what Hughes has managed so far. Makar is clearly the better shooter, but even Steven Stamkos doesn’t sustainably convert 17 The fundamentals underpinning Hughes’ production and two-way impact percent of his even strength shots. suggest that this is a race that’s going to tighten. It’s a conversation that may well shift over the next weeks and months. Makar’s on-ice shooting clip is similarly overheated, at 12.5 percent. Hughes is carrying an elevated on-ice shooting clip too, a tick over 10 In fact, Hughes is already besting Makar, who is one year his senior, in percent, but the Vancouver blueliner has benefitted significantly less from terms of his two-way value to his club. That there’s a real chance Hughes favourable bounces in both ends of the rink. can surpass Makar’s points total over the balance of the campaign is a significant factor here too. Over the course of 82 games, those bounces will likely even up. When they do, don’t be shocked if Hughes catches or even surpasses Makar’s Before we delve further into the comparison, let’s stop and recognize points total, depending on how the club’s respective power plays produce how incredible it is, the way both players have performed at such a goals over the ensuing months. young age at the NHL level. The other factor to bear in mind here is team performance. The You have to go back to 1996-97 to find the last time a defenceman Avalanche are clearly the superior club at this point in their team building finished in the top two in rookie scoring () and back to 1988- cycle, but the fact that less is expected out of Vancouver could work in 89 to find the last time a defenceman won the rookie scoring race (Brian Hughes’ favour. If Vancouver is able to surprise and qualify for a playoff Leetch). You have to go back to 1931-32 to find the last time two NHL spot and their power play success — or Hughes’ play in the absence of defencemen finished first and second in rookie scoring, something Makar Alex Edler in the month of December — is widely seen as a significant and Hughes could realistically accomplish this year. reason for the club’s performance relative to expectations, that could bolster Hughes’ case and give the Hughes campaign some narrative Obviously Makar and Hughes are both absurdly talented. In an evolving heft. league where fourth-man’s ice is seized on nearly every rush, they have an opportunity to shape a new paradigm for how and what NHL There really isn’t much to choose from between these two high-end defenders can accomplish. young defenders, aside from the goal totals and Hughes’ superior two- way impact. Obviously the goals are more heavily weighted by the And while they’ll battle over the Calder this season, they have the electorate, but where Makar is the Calder Trophy frontrunner from potential to be regular Norris nominees in the decade to come. today’s vantage point, the underlying profile of both players suggests that To this point, Makar and Hughes are both playing an eerily similar Hughes impacts the game to a greater degree at 5-on-5 and, anyway, we second pair role. They’re deployed similarly — neither is really sheltered, might reasonably expect their point totals to tighten in the weeks and but both see a heavier dose of offensive zone faceoffs than defensive months ahead. zone faceoffs — both play on the first power-play unit for their respective As it does, expect the conversation to change. Perhaps significantly. clubs and they both rank third on their own team in even strength ice time per game among defenders. Makar and Hughes are separated in ice If Hughes can stay healthy, keep up the level he’s shown through two time per game by a measly 11 seconds. months and help a Canucks team keep pace in the West, he could yet genuinely interfere with the logic of Makar as the consensus pick for the Where Makar and Hughes diverge is their two-way impact at even Calder. strength. Makar is already advanced and solid, but the Avalanche generate and permit shots and shot attempts at a similar rate whether The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 he’s on the ice or not at even strength. He has a bigger impact on scoring chances, but Makar isn’t a player who really moves the river at this early juncture of his career.

Hughes is different. He changes the gravity of the game, tilting the ice away from Vancouver’s end of the rink like few other NHL players can. 1165102 Websites against their tough guy, that tells you that it’s time for you to fight. There were things that were said in morning skates, and he’d get in your face and challenge you. It was cool for like six months, but then it goes in one ear and out the other when it happens every day. … Those were kind of The Athletic / Peter Laviolette addresses Ville Leino incident, denies he some of the things that annoyed me, and eventually, you just shut down bullied players and you stop listening, and then you don’t get played. It was a lot of head games with that guy. There’s a lot of things that I don’t agree with, but it

is what it is.” By Adam Vingan Dec 6, 2019 Ex-Flyers forwards Daniel Briere and Scott Hartnell played in the game in which the incident with Leino took place, and both told The Athletic that they didn’t believe there was malicious intent on Laviolette’s part. With the sport of hockey mired in a crisis because of accusations of abusive conduct by its coaches, Predators coach Peter Laviolette “I didn’t even see it live,” Briere said. “I had no idea. I remember seeing it stepped out of his office after practice Friday to address two allegations. later that night I think on a clip on social media. To be honest, it’s been so long. From what I remember, I thought he was kind of yelling at the On Wednesday, Daniel Carcillo, who played for Laviolette with the whole team and kind of hit (Leino) by accident. I never felt that there was Philadelphia Flyers from 2009-11, appeared on a local radio show and any intent to try to hurt him or that it was directed at Ville. The whole time said, “There were a lot of things that annoyed me about him. He was one that I played for Peter, I never saw him and I don’t remember seeing him of the guys that liked to be the ‘rah-rah’ guy, send you out to fight when ever attack physically or verbally someone directly. To me, that was very you know that he never fought. There’s a lot of stuff that I don’t agree out of the ordinary, so that’s why I never thought twice about it.” with what he did, his coaching methods.” “It definitely wasn’t a punch to the head,” Hartnell said. “It was a timeout. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski spoke to retired forward Ville Leino, whom He was frustrated. He was trying to get us fired up to get back in the Laviolette struck in the head during a February 2011 game when they game. He’s intense. He’s an emotional leader. I don’t consider that a hit were with the Flyers. Clips of the incident resurfaced on social media to the head. It was a pump-up speech that he was trying to smack his after an incident between Mike Babcock and Mitch Marner became hand. It hit one-eighth of a guy’s helmet, and it looked like he punched public, and Bill Peters resigned after players said he physically and him in the head. It was something that’s maybe being blown a little bit of verbally abused them. proportion right now, obviously, but I’ve got nothing but respect for (Laviolette). There was no sort of abuse, nothing emotionally, physically, “There are lot of emotions in the game,” Leino told ESPN. “Coaches get verbally.” fired up and things happen. I don’t think Peter tried to hit me, and it looks worse in the video than it was. Peter was a very passionate and Hartnell, who fought 67 times during his career, including 34 times with emotional coach. That made him good, but sometimes stuff like this the Flyers, said Laviolette never coerced him to do so. happened. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t happen.” “I never felt at all pressured by (Laviolette) or any coach, be that (John) Laviolette refuted Carcillo’s claim and provided context for the Leino Tortorella, John Stevens, Barry Trotz,” Hartnell said. “I never heard Peter situation. Laviolette say to any one of Jody Shelley, Riley Cote, anybody like that when we were playing for Philly to go out there and make things happen “First was a suggestion that I used my position of power inside of a locker to change the swing of the game. I would say that’s false.” room to bully or ask players or challenge players to go out there and fight,” Laviolette said. “That couldn’t be anything further from the truth. Do Predators forward Austin Watson echoed Hartnell’s sentiments. I want my teams to play hard? Yes. Do I want them to be physical? Yes. Is there fighting in the game? Yes. But there’s an insinuation that I would “I can’t speak for anybody else’s experience or how events might have challenge players to go out there and do that. That is not true. been interpreted,” he said. “I can say that over the last four or five years of playing here, I think I’ve fought 26 times, around that, and not one of “Secondly, there’s an article that came out (Friday) that was brought to those instances have I ever felt pressured or told to go out there and my attention about punching Ville Leino in the head. In the scope of fight. In my experience with (Laviolette), that’s not his nature. … In no where we are right now in today’s world with regard to coaches, I can tell way, shape or form have I ever felt pressured by (Laviolette) or told to you that physical abuse from me is the furthest thing from the truth. That (fight) or felt like he used any sort of influence over me to go fight Ville Leino video clip and the GIF that shows me nicking his helmet and anybody. his helmet bobbing up and down over and over again, you can interpret it a whole bunch of different ways. For me, I had called a timeout. I was “I can say that over the last two years, and even before that, I have been trying to get my team motivated, and I went to punch my fist into my dealing with my fair share of off-ice issues. I can say that on any given hand. I nicked the back of his helmet, and by no means was it meant as day, I feel comfortable going into that coaching office and having a any physical abuse, nor have I ever had any physical abuse with the conversation with (Laviolette). He is a fiery coach. I’d go through a wall players. for him. He’s a great motivator, and he has a passion for the game. When it comes to those sorts of things, it is left open to interpretation, I “For the longest time, I thought it was funny watching the GIF play over guess. You can’t take anything away from each individual player’s and over again, knowing that it couldn’t be the furthest thing from the personality or mental health issues or anything like that. I have them. I truth. Now that I’ve heard that there’s an article that’s talked about it, and have plenty of them. It is a sensitive time right now, but when it comes to it’s kind of been lumped in with what’s going on, I just wanted to get (Laviolette), I’ve never experienced a situation where he’s ever crossed ahead of that. Ville Leino said that I apologized to him. I can’t even the line for me. For someone that battles depression, anxiety, alcoholism, remember addressing it. If I did, that’s great, because it was something all those sorts of things, at no point has any of that triggered me.” that was accidental at the time where I missed my hand and nicked his helmet. But I just wanted to get in front of these things, because I think The Athletic LOADED: 12.07.2019 both statements are incorrect.

“It’s obviously a really hot topic right now, and I can’t even pretend to comment on any situation that I’ve not been a part of. The reason why I’m commenting on these ones is because I know myself and I know how I’ve handled myself for almost 20 years as a coach. I would rather just get in front of it. … If people really thought that I was punching somebody in the head, then that would’ve come forward a long time ago.”

Reached for comment Friday, Carcillo said Laviolette misrepresented what he said.

“That’s what coaches do,” he told The Athletic, pointing out that Laviolette’s left hand didn’t leave his side when he hit Leino. “Even though they might not ask directly, when you’re not known for your defense, if he pulls a winger off in the defensive zone, and we have the last change because we’re on home ice, and it happens to be lining up 1165103 Websites But on Friday, you could definitively say Price made the difference. "To put on a show like he did tonight — especially at times when we’re

running around in our own zone — they’re finding the back door and Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Carey Price continues to show poor November Carey’s already over there," said Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot. was anomaly "He’s fun to watch."

Price admitted several times in November that he felt he could make the difference but just didn’t manage to. It’s no secret he struggled and as Eric Engels | December 6, 2019, 11:38 PM the team deviated from its system and the chances piled up it just didn’t seem like he was being given a chance to find his best game.

"I thought that when he was going through some tough times, we didn’t NEW YORK — It was awkward, really. help out at all," said Canadiens coach Claude Julien. "If anything, we On Thursday night at the Bell Centre, with November under wraps, Carey exposed him and we needed to be better in front of him. Price was presented with the , which is awarded at the end of "We’re better in front of him (now) so now he’s got the confidence in the each month to the Montreal Canadiens player who earns the most three- group in front of him and all he has to do is worry about his job. I think at star nominations in games. one point he was trying hard to cover up for all the mistakes, and we all Not that it was so strange to see Price given the honour. He’s won the know that doesn’t help a goaltender." trophy so many times over his 12 seasons and change that they should The Canadiens are still making mistakes, just as every team in the NHL rename it the Carey Price Cup. It’s just that he was a few days removed makes them. But the number of devastating mistakes have been fewer of from having closed out the month with a fourth straight loss, one in which late and they’ve been less magnified with every confidence-building save he allowed five goals to the hapless New Jersey Devils to sink his save Price has mustered. percentage to .883 and spike his goals-against average to 3.77 in 11 November appearances. It’s probably helped that Price has only started three of Montreal’s last five games. That he’s gotten some rest after starting 22 of Montreal’s first It’s no wonder Bell Centre master of ceremonies Michel Lacroix 27 games can’t hurt. announced Price as the winner of the Molson Cup by citing the fact that early in the month of November the 32-year-old had become the first "It’s always good to take a step back, or rest a bit, or get a good workload goaltender in the NHL to reach 10 starts on the season. in in practice to kind of reset," Price said.

"Some month," Price joked following his 29-save performance in Obviously, that’s not all of it. Montreal’s 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday. "As an athlete, you’re always trying to perform your best," he added. "And whether that’s because of rest, or it just happens to be (working) Boy, it sure felt like he was leaving November in the dust with every save that night, or… (there’s) lots of variables also involved in this, so…" he made in this game. So, it’s probably a combination of everything. Price started with a sprawling stick-save on Jacob Trouba early in the first period. As the night wore on he made a couple of 10-bellers on Mika Whatever you want to pick as the main reason for Price climbing his way Zibanejad, he shut the door on Artemi Panarin, made saves from in close back towards the level of performance expected of him, it’s an essential look easy on two Jesper Fast shots, stretched out to stop three quality development for this Canadiens team, which is currently without a top- chances on Filip Chytil and he kicked aside Brady Skjei’s three point four defenceman in Victor Mete and three top-nine forwards in Jonathan shots like they were nothing. Drouin, Paul Byron and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. They needed him against the Rangers and they need him now more than ever. But Price’s best stop of the night? It came in the 12th minute of the second period with the scored tied at 1-1. "We know Pricey’s a big leader for us and he’s been working so hard for so many years," said Phillip Danault, who registered an assist on Zibanejad stripped Max Domi of the puck while the Rangers were killing Brendan Gallagher’s game-opening goal in the 11th minute of the first a penalty and charged down the length of the ice on a 2-on-1. The righty period. "He’s saved our ass a couple times. Sorry for the word, but he did hit the top of the left faceoff circle, faked pass and snapped a shot a lot of times and he was big for us tonight. Like I said, he’s been working earmarked for the top-right corner of the net. That’s when Price lifted his hard and (the team’s November slide) wasn’t his fault. " glove up and pushed the puck out of harm’s way. If Price keeps up this level of play through December, he might be able to The Canadiens shut the game down after that. They pressed when they lift the Canadiens out of these troubled waters. There’s no doubt if he could but peeled off when it was advantage New York and buckled down keeps it up, he’ll also be lifting that Molson Cup again by month’s end. in their own zone, keeping everything to the outside. In the third period, they registered eight of their 18 blocks in the game. But this time for the right reason.

It was in retreat that Nick Suzuki picked off Ryan Lindgren’s pass to start Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 the play that sent Nick Cousins and Nate Thompson in on the rush — a play that was finished by Thompson to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead with 1:07 left.

In the room afterwards, Thompson and the rest of the Canadiens were very pleased with the outcome. It was just their second win in their last 11 games and a critical one earned against a Rangers team that had won six of their last nine — including one that saw them erase 4-0 and 5- 3 deficits to beat the Canadiens on Nov. 23.

Price was in the net for that 6-5 loss, but he looked completely different in Friday’s game than he did in that one.

It took time for his game to come apart — Price started with a respectable .914 save percentage through 10 October games despite the Canadiens leaking quality scoring chances on the regular — and it took time for it to come back together. You could see it coming on Dec. 1 in Boston when Price made 31 saves in a 3-1 loss to the powerhouse Bruins.

At home against the New York Islanders two nights later, Price wasn’t tested often but he was challenged by some high-quality shots and he stopped 23 of 25 to help the Canadiens win 4-2. 1165104 Websites Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers win over Kings shows team can win with defence Playing well defensively — despite having one Kings goal disallowed on too a video review for offside — will quell the issues with five-on-five offence, which was almost nil Friday. Beating a team well below them in the standings was another box that needed to get checked in this town.

Mark Spector December 7, 2019, 1:21 AM "So far this year we’ve done a pretty good job of rising to the challenge of big games," said Alex Chiasson, who had one of the two Oilers

powerplay goals. "But at the same time, this league’s too hard, teams are EDMONTON — Sometimes it takes an ugly game like this one to get out too good. It doesn’t matter where (an opponent) is in the standings, this of a slump. group has to learn that we may not feel our best as a team or personally, but we have to find ways to keep the game in front of us. Keep the game "Mucky, ugly, chip-it, ping pong hockey," was how Edmonton Oilers head close." coach Dave Tippett described a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings Friday. "But, we got the two points, so we move on. That’s all I can say Close. Dull. about it." Tight. Boring. They could have let people into the rink for free Friday, and made more They all meant the same thing for Edmonton on Friday: two points. money charging them an exit fee. After watching the Arizona Coyotes pass them for first place in the Pacific, the Oilers outdid hockey’s most Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 boring team with a 20-shot night that reclaimed the division lead.

"We got away from things the last few games," said winger Josh Archibald, who skated next to Connor McDavid with Zack Kassian injured. "We wanted to get back to our identity: playing as five, up and down the ice. It was a good win for us."

If the Oilers, who lost 5-2 on Wednesday to the 29th place Ottawa Senators, hadn’t found a way to pry a victory out of this snooze-fest on Friday, a nice, cool Edmonton weekend would have been spent in crisis. The Oilers had lost three of four heading into the night.

They’ve developed a reputation as a team that plays well against the top clubs and falls asleep against basement teams like Detroit, Ottawa and L.A. They’ve also watched their goals against rise steadily since their 7-1 start, and only the night before Edmonton lost its first-place perch in the Pacific, a roost they had held since the first couple days of the season.

"After last game we talked a lot about defending first," said Adam Larsson, who always plays a lot (22:52) in tight games like this one. "When we defend first, we’re creating a lot more offence too. This team started in the right end today, with the defending mindset. It won us the game."

OK, we get the part about the stout defensive play. But the bit about creating more offence? We’re going to take Larsson to task on that a bit.

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Edmonton scored both their goals on the powerplay and managed just 20 shots on goal on the night — 10 in the final 20 minutes. The Oilers managed just 15 even strength shots on goal all evening long.

"They get a lucky one off (Drew Doughty’s) foot on the power play," lamented Kings coach Todd McLellan, "and then they pick us apart for one too. But after that, we kept that team to 15 even-strength shots, and a lot of it was from the outside.

"So we’re happy with the effort, we’re disappointed in the result."

McLellan is already getting used to that refrain. He’s got his team playing hard, but there just isn’t enough talent here to win on most nights. They’re now 2-11-1 on the road and just opened a stretch of eight of nine away from SoCal.

This game was exactly what the doctor ordered for Edmonton, a night where they could grind out a close win, just to prove to themselves that they can rely on their defensive play when times get tough. Missing top- six forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kassian, it wasn’t a night to paint a Monet, but rather to chip two points out of a block of granite.

"With our lineup the way it is right now, we’re trying to grind out some points," Tippett said. "We gave some people some minutes who are more grind mode and who dig in. You look at Larsson or Kris Russell’s minutes or Riley Sheahan — we knew we needed a tight hard-checking game just to get us back set in the right direction and we got that tonight." 1165105 Websites career would suggest there’s little guarantee he’d end up panning out as an upgrade on Hutchinson.

Christopher Gibson, NY Islanders Sportsnet.ca / 10 potential backup goalie targets for the Maple Leafs With Semyon Varlamov signed through 2022-23 and Thomas Greiss near the league lead in save percentage, the Islanders would only have use for Gibson in case of injury. The 26-year-old is also up for UFA Rory Boylen | December 6, 2019, 11:32 AM status this summer and his .918 AHL save percentage this season is tied with Lyon.

Gibson has gotten into 14 NHL games spread across three of the past You might say the second game of back-to-backs has been the Toronto four seasons and has a credible .904 save percentage and 3-4-3 record Maple Leafs‘ arch nemesis this season. to show for it. He may actually be a decent bet to help Toronto in their Even Frederik Andersen couldn’t save them in Toronto’s most recent area of need — but do you think Isles GM Lou Lamoriello is keen to help two-games-in-two-days stretch, starting both halves for the first time out his former employer? since 2017. The Leafs still haven’t won the second game of these back- Troy Grosenick, Nashville Predators to-back situations yet this season. At 30 years old, Grosenick has only played two NHL games in his career Outside of Wednesday’s game against Colorado, this has entirely fallen and both came all the way back in 2014-15 — a 45-save shutout against on the backups. Michael Hutchinson is 0-5-1 with an .876 save Carolina and a 4-1 loss to Buffalo two days later where he faced only 13 percentage, while Kasimir Kaskisuo’s lone start resulted in a 6-1 loss to shots. Pittsburgh. It’s no secret this is Toronto’s primary weakness right now, not only because of the hole it puts the team in for the back-to-backs, but But Grosenick was the AHL’s goalie of the year three years ago, had the also because the play from the backups so far inspires no confidence at third-best AHL save percentage last season and he’s tied for 11th right all they can be trusted for other starts just to give Andersen a rest. now. He’s splitting starts with 22-year-old Connor Ingram right now and, again, would not cost a significant asset. The Leafs can’t go on like this. Andersen can’t be leaned on to play in the neighbourhood of 65 games and carry the team through four playoff , Vegas Golden Knights rounds. Another 26-year-old goalie who is heading towards unrestricted free The Maple Leafs must be in the market for a backup goalie and, at this agency this off-season, but Sparks actually has a history with the Leafs, point, may have to pay a premium to do it. Dubas and Sheldon Keefe. He was the backup goalie in Toronto just last season, though Hutchinson posted better numbers in a quarter of the “It’s beyond price. You’re going to have to overpay. And I would do that games played. — and if Kyle does that I will not criticize him,” Brian Burke told Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Good Show. “If he has to give up a second-round pick or Still, Sparks posted an .897 save percentage in 37 games across two a good kid to solve this issue… because this is their Achilles heel. This is seasons with the Leafs, which obviously isn’t great but nonetheless a fatal flaw for this team making the playoffs, if they don’t address this.” represents a big enough improvement over the current situation. With Vegas, Sparks is splitting starts in the AHL and has a top-six save What seems like it should be desperation mode to fix this issue — or at percentage — tied with Kaskisuo. The Knights would value the goalie least to try something different — is what made last weekend’s trade of depth they have given Marc-Andre Fleury’s age, so the trade price to Eric Comrie so curious. And perhaps highlights how Toronto isn’t feeling land Sparks may be higher than you think. the same urgency the fan base is. Arizona moved the 24-year-old netminder who posted a .917 AHL save percentage last season, to THE SUB-$1 MILLION CAP HITS FROM THE NHL Detroit for Vili Saarijarvi, a 2015 third-round pick who had 16 AHL points last season. Comrie’s limited NHL exposure — just five games — has not Alexandar Georgiev, NY Rangers been good so there’s no guarantee he would have fixed anything. But he The 23-year-old Bulgarian has been a solid backup to Henrik Lundqvist was cheap enough that the Leafs wouldn’t have had to make another for 55 games across three seasons now, posting a .916 save percentage roster move to accommodate him and, hey, anything is better than what with a 25-21-6 record. So why would the Rangers, with 37-year-old Toronto has gotten so far, right? Henrik Lundqvist nearing the end, even entertain the idea of moving a Part of the Leafs’ thinking for pushing forward with Hutchinson is that he player like that? has a .905 career NHL save percentage, so odds would indicate a “I’ve wondered about Georgiev because they’ve got a prospect in the bounce back towards that number is due. But Toronto is today outside of American Hockey League (Igor) Shesterkin who looks dynamite and he’s a playoff spot, with the league’s 25th-ranked points percentage and with going to play a bit. And I believe Georgiev is five games away from being Andersen on pace for a career-high workload. Eventually, the GM must waiver eligible so the Rangers are going to have to do something there,” strike to make the bleeding stop, before it’s too late. Elliotte Friedman said on Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Lead Off on Friday. But there will be no easy answer here. An obvious fix is unlikely to fall However, Friedman also noted that he “can’t sense that the Maple Leafs into their lap through waivers in time and no one is going to give the have looked at him.” needy Leafs an upgrade at discount. With Toronto stuck up against the Given Georgiev’s cap hit is below $800,000 (scheduled to be an RFA this salary cap they’ve already lost Nick Shore to waivers in the crunch, so summer), he’s performed well and is still so young, this would not be a bringing in a goalie with a cap hit higher than $700,000 would present cheap trade to make. But all those factors is what would also make other roster complications down the road. Andreas Johnsson was put on Georgiev one of the safer bets to fix Toronto’s backup problem, if they LTIR Friday morning, so at least for the time being that cap crunch has choose to pursue him. been alleviated again. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins With all that in mind, we’re taking a look around the league at some potential targets for Toronto’s back up job, though acquiring some of Another, more expensive, Penguins goalie who is buried in the minors these names would mean other areas of the roster would be impacted. appears below but the fact is Pittsburgh has three NHL calibre netminders in the organization. Of course, they are shaping up to be in THE SUB-$1 MILLION CAP HITS FROM THE AHL the same playoff race Toronto is, so they may not want to help out a rival Alex Lyon, Philadelphia Flyers — especially not for a price that’s easy to swallow. Pittsburgh may rather keep Jarry given he has a .936 save percentage this season and his The 26-year-old was given two starts by the Flyers last season and 11 $675,000 cap hit is a beautiful thing. However, he is RFA eligible this the season before, but all together has posted an .894 save percentage summer and will demand a raise — plus the Pens already signed the at the NHL level. other backup they have to a three-year extension in January.

Still, he has a top-15 save rate in the AHL this season and was top-10 in Pinder & Steinberg 2018-19, so might be worth taking that shot on. His age and contract situation (a UFA at season’s end) mean the price of acquisition will likely Jack Campbell, Los Angeles Kings not be all that high. But while he’s been solid in the AHL, his brief NHL For this season, Campbell has a $675,000 cap hit the Leafs could absorb under their crunch. After that, he was extended for two years with a $1.65 million cap hit so Toronto would have to manage that ahead of 2020-21. But Campbell, the 11th overall pick all the way back in the 2010 draft, finally arrived in the NHL last season, playing 31 games for the lowly Kings and posting a .928 save percentage — though this season hasn’t been as hot (.894). With Jonathan Quick still struggling and the Kings in rebuild mode, all trade options outside of Doughty-Kopitar have to be on the table. And Los Angeles has 25-year-old Cal Petersen crushing it in the AHL and deserving of an NHL promotion.

THE LARGER NHL CAP HITS

Ryan Miller, Anaheim Ducks

This one may be more of a long shot not only because of Miller’s $1.125 million cap hit, but also because the reason he went to Anaheim from Vancouver a couple years ago was so his wife, actress Noureen DeWulf, could be closer to a place that fits her career as well.

At 39, Miller is not the goalie he once was, but he’s still managed a .906 save percentage behind another bad Ducks team this season. Miller has a partial no-trade clause in which he can submit a list of six teams he would accept a trade to, so obviously Toronto would have to be on that. If they are, perhaps he’d be open to a move closer to the trade deadline in February — if the Ducks remain out of the playoffs — to help along one more playoff push.

But that’s an awful lot of time for the Leafs to wait to fix this problem.

Casey DeSmith, Pittsburgh Penguins

At 28 years old and coming off a 2018-19 NHL season in which he played 36 games and posted a .916 save percentage for the Penguins, DeSmith would be the best option here for this season and beyond. But that also makes him by far the most expensive to acquire via trade.

DeSmith signed a three-year extension with the Penguins in January for a $1.25-million cap hit, but he’s been relegated to the AHL this season, where he has a top-10 save rate. DeSmith is the Penguins’ safety net behind Matt Murray and the younger Jarry in case injury hits, so GM Jim Rutherford may not want to sacrifice that security in the middle of a season while he continues to do his best to push for another Cup with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. And Toronto would have to deal with other roster issues if they took on the full cap.

Collin Delia, Chicago Blackhawks

There was a time last season when Delia looked to have a chance to stick with the Hawks, posting a .939 save percentage in his first five starts. But that number dropped as he went along, finishing with a .908 save percentage and a 6-4-3 record in 16 appearances.

This year, the 25-year-old is behind Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford and playing in the AHL. Since both of those NHL netminders are UFA- eligible next summer, the Hawks may have a plan for him to get back to the big leagues next season, but he has not followed up with the same form in 2019-20, posting an .877 AHL save percentage. His NHL cap hit would be $1 million, so bringing Delia to Toronto would lead to other roster moves and Dubas may not want to put his team in that situation with someone who himself is still a bit of a question mark.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165106 Websites Doughty: “I like coming (to Edmonton) — I’m always excited to play against Connor, as much as he’s way better than me. It’s still a lot of fun playing against him, and if I ever do win that matchup, I’ll have a lot of pride from it. Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Kings' Drew Doughty on defending against McDavid and Draisaitl “Calgary’s not the same. I don’t care to talk to their media. I don’t care to be there, to be honest. I do enjoy winning there — that’s for sure. It’s fun, winning in Calgary.”

Mark Spector December 6, 2019, 4:51 PM SN: Why do the Kings traditionally play so well against Edmonton?

Doughty: “We’ve got a good matchup against their two top players. They put me and Kopy out there against them, and I’m not saying we’re the Welcome to Drew Doughty’s media scrum, where B.S. goes to die. best in the league at it, but we take a lot of pride in (checking them). There is no more honest, straight-from-the-heart take in the National More pride than a lot of other top players take in the defensive side of the Hockey League today than the one that emits from the stall of the Los game. We’ll sacrifice getting any points for trying to shut those two down. Angeles Kings — and Team Canada — defenceman. We love doing it, and most of their scoring comes from those two guys. If you can keep them off special teams and keep those two off the board, It’s straight up and old school. But it’s an opinion that comes from a there’s a good chance you’ll win.” career spent as one of the game’s top-three defencemen, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion. He’s legit, and has spent Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey 881 games walking the walk. world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. On Friday, with a game against the Edmonton Oilers on tap, we asked him about all things McDavid, Draisaitl, how to cage today’s NHL SN: Do you get better at shutting down 97 and 29, the more you do it? superstar, and whatever happened to the days when Doughty used to Doughty: “If you can take away Connor’s speed in the neutral zone, and join the rush? be hard on Draisaitl down low, those are two of their best strengths. If Home of the Oilers you give them both ice they’re just going to take it and dominate you. In the neutral zone … if we can just put a forward on Connor, I’m yellin’ Stream all 82 Oilers games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over from the back end, ‘Just follow Connor!’ If you sit back he’ll go through 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all five guys. I’d rather he just never gets the puck. It’s an obvious system.” outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. SN: Do you watch much hockey at home in L.A.? Here’s what Doughty had to say: Doughty: No, never. I don’t watch hockey ever. I’ll watch basketball, Sportsnet: Are you being asked to dictate the play a little bit more this soccer, football… I will never watch a hockey game until the playoffs roll year? around. Usually if I’m out of the playoffs, I’ve got nothing else to do. That’s kind of been the regime we’ve got goin’ on here.” Doughty: “I think that’s always been my job, to control the game. I think I do a pretty good job at it. I can slow it down when I need to slow it down, SN: Would you like to play on a Olympic team with McDavid? I can speed it up when I need to speed it up. Now, I can’t remember once when I’ve been the fourth man in the rush. I’ve got to try to look for that, Doughty: Oh, man that would be sweet, yeah. Yeah, that would be cool. I and improve on that.” would just find him all the time, kinda like I do with Kopy. With Kopy, we have such great chemistry. But with McDavid, I feel like I could just pass SN: Is that because the coach doesn’t want you to be that guy? it to him and he’s going to go end to end and get me assists all night. It would be amazing to play with him, for sure.” Doughty: “No, no. It’s because … other teams are keying on me. They don’t want me to make a play and get speed out (of the zone). I get SN: Does McDavid get frustrated by good checking? finished, and when I’m level with a guy I’m usually not going to beat him up the ice. It’s been tough to be the fourth man (on the rush), but it’s not Doughty: “What top player doesn’t get frustrated by good checking? If because the coach doesn’t want me to. He wants every D-man to be the you stay above him, give him no time with the puck, make him move it fourth man in. That’s part of our system.” early… I mean, who wouldn’t get frustrated? I don’t notice it any more with him than other guys.” SN: Why are the Kings 9-6-1 at home, but just 2-10-1 on the road? SN: What is the telltale sign of the frustrated superstar? Doughty: “We addressed that (Thursday). You’ve got to want to disappoint the other team’s home crowd. That’s the best thing about Doughty: “Standard things. Slapping a stick… I’m paying attention to winning on the road: silencing the crowd. It’s the best feeling. We have a body language all the time. Sometimes I have s**t body language out lot of road games coming up here, and we need to start tonight with a there. Some guys get frustrated and go into a hole, don’t pay well. Other win.” guys play better. Both Connor and Draisaitl, when they get frustrated they play better. Kinda like I do.” Hockey Day in Canada in Yellowknife, NT Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 Celebrating Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada’s 20th anniversary, Sportsnet and Scotiabank unite to bring a 4-day hockey festival to Yellowknife, NT and a 12-hour NHL broadcast to Canadian fans coast-to- coast-to-coast.

SN: That brings us to Edmonton. What’s the biggest difference between Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, from you where you stand?

Doughty: “A massive difference. They both have very good vision, good shots, good hands… One guy’s all speed, and shifty, and the other guy is more of a strong guy on the puck. He’s shifty too, but not with the speed that Connor has. They’re both extremely difficult to play against, both great players. It would be a lot of fun to play with them.”

SN: Does Draisaitl remind you of Anze Kopitar?

Doughty: “Yes, for sure. I think Kopy is a little more defensive-minded, although Draisaitl is their PK guy. He takes the faceoffs. Yes, he definitely reminds me of Kopitar. No doubt.”

SN: You’ve got a good thing going in Alberta, between McDavid in Edmonton and Matt Tkachuk in Calgary…? 1165107 Websites That combination lasted two regular-season games before Canucks coach Travis Green dropped Ferland to the third line and reduced his ice time. After finishing last season with 17 goals and 40 points in 71 games in Carolina, Ferland scored just once (and had no assists) in his first nine Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Ferland: 'Got to be smarter' after fight leads to games for Vancouver. concussion Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. Iain MacIntyre | December 6, 2019, 8:49 PM But he started to play more effectively shortly before his injury. Two days

before that Kings game, Ferland registered two assists, three hits and VANCOUVER – Since Vancouver Canucks winger Micheal Ferland tried logged 12:15 of ice time, the most since his demotion, in a 7-2 win to rouse his team Oct. 30 in Los Angeles by fighting the Kings’ Kyle against the Florida Panthers. The game before that, Ferland had an Clifford from a faceoff early in the first period — and instead suffered assist and a season-high four shots on net during a 6-5 shootout loss to another concussion — there have been 38 fights in the National Hockey the Washington Capitals. League. The Canucks ended up beating the Kings 5-3, but lost eight of their next Only three of them were "staged" fights from a faceoff, according to the 10 games without Ferland, whose absence was compounded by several fight log on hockeyfights.com. other injuries among Vancouver’s bottom six forwards. Centres Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle also practised Friday and could return against the Thankfully, the era of heavyweights agreeing to pummel one another Sabres or Leafs. because both needed a job in the NHL is all but over. Ferland needs to play physically, but that doesn’t necessarily mean With hockey’s changing culture, the premeditated fight is increasingly fighting. And if he does fight, there’s a huge difference between coming unnecessary. And with what we know about brain injuries and the risk of to the aid of teammates and trying to wake them up. volunteering to take punches to the head, it is also spectacularly reckless. "It’s not my first time I’ve been through this," he said. "The biggest thing for me, if I get in (Saturday), is just get into it physically. Be solid on the After missing 17 games and five-and-a-half weeks with his second defensive side of pucks, get pucks in and just be physical and just try to concussion in as many seasons, Ferland may return to the lineup for the get back into the game that way. I’m not going to try to look to do too Canucks’ matinee game Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. If not that much." game, then Ferland will play Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. We think — because you never know with head injuries. On his concussion, he said: "Yeah, it sucks. (But) until the doc tells me there’s a (style) I can’t play anymore… I’m just going to keep playing the Whenever Ferland plays, don’t expect the 27-year-old winger to come way I know I can." out swinging. • A cavalry charge back from the injured list will force the Canucks to do Able to skate, hit and score goals, Ferland doesn’t need to stage fights to some roster and salary-cap gymnastics. Minor-league callup Nikolay stay in the NHL. He does, however, have to stay healthy. Goldobin was returned Friday to the Utica Comets and winger Zack MacEwen could soon follow him back to the American League. "For sure going to be a little bit smarter now, picking and choosing when to fight," Ferland told reporters after fully practising Friday in Burnaby, • Another callup, 23-year-old Adam Gaudette, has 13 points in 19 games B.C. "The game is definitely changed now where you don’t necessarily and is no longer waiver-exempt after playing his 80th NHL game in need to fight that early in the game. Tuesday’s 5-2 win against the Ottawa Senators. So, the return of Ferland, Beagle and Sutter could force the Canucks to dump $36-million- "Clifford has been around the league a long time. It was kind of a stale man Loui Eriksson in the minors. game… and we just kind of wanted to spark each other. The times where you square up like that? I don’t even know how many times that’s Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 happened throughout the year. Definitely got to be smarter picking and choosing when to fight."

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The Canucks were trailing the Kings 1-0 early at Staples Center when Ferland and Clifford agreed before a faceoff in the Kings’ zone to fight as soon as the puck was dropped.

Neither player absorbed a "big" punch. But Clifford landed a glancing blow on Ferland’s chin and a shot to the back of his head after the Canuck lost his helmet. It really didn’t look like anything, but Ferland hasn’t played since.

He is in the first season of the four-year, $12-million contract he signed in July.

"It was tough to watch the video to see where I got the concussion," Ferland said. "I remember in the fight there, the exact time I got hit, it’s tough to see but I definitely felt it. You definitely know the symptoms a lot more when you’ve been through couple (of concussions), and the symptoms seem to be the exact same ones I had the last couple of times, so I can measure where I’m at and, I guess, know where I’m at physically.

"The big one was the one on the back of the head. It doesn’t look like much on the video, but definitely in the fight you could feel it."

The Canucks looked into Ferland’s medical history with the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames before signing the unrestricted free agent on July 10 as a first-line partner and bodyguard for young stars Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. 1165108 Websites “Small sample or not, how much have the Maple Leafs changed since Sheldon Keefe took over behind the bench? Is this the same frustrating team?”

Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: How have the Maple Leafs changed Oh, things have changed a little bit. under Keefe? Under Mike Babcock for 23 games this season, the Leafs produced the 26th-most inner slot shots on net in the league with 97. Under Sheldon Keefe for seven games they have produced a league-high 51. Andrew Berkshire The Leafs were 11th in completed passes to the slot with 222 before the coaching change, and since then they lead the league with 102. Across the board Toronto has improved in differentials by almost every metric, Early in his career, Jack Eichel put up some strong offensive numbers, but the takeaway I’m seeing so far is their per-game inner slot shots have but his impact on how well the Sabres dominated the opposition wasn’t risen by nearly 73 per cent, and their slot pass completions have risen by too great. Naturally, this led to some analytically inclined people to think nearly 51 per cent. that maybe he was going to be a glass cannon type of star player, in a similar vein to Phil Kessel. They’ve dropped in two notable areas under Keefe: overall shot attempt differential and control of forechecking chances. To me, this shows that People who wanted to give Eichel the benefit of the doubt would point to shot quality is the goal now. how weak the Buffalo Sabres’ roster was, while those who didn’t want to be kind would point to Ryan O’Reilly’s shot differential dominance when The Leafs have been a great offensive team in the past and, for whatever he was with the team and say if Eichel was so great, he’d be right there reason, had lost it this season. But they’re getting it back in a big way with O’Reilly. under Keefe. There have been some frustrating moments or momentary lapses that have burned them and they’re still not a perfect team, but While the shot dominance wasn’t there early on Eichel has been one of they’re leaning into what makes them good again. the league’s better transition players ever since he broke in, so there were signs that eventually he would figure it out and push play due to his The exciting Leafs are back and it seems like October Andersen is gone shot creation and moving the puck up the ice. as well, so watch out for Toronto.

Coincidentally or not, as soon as O’Reilly was out of the picture, Eichel Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it seemed to shift into another gear. And this year he seems to have done 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, so again. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. Heading into the weekend, Eichel is seventh in the NHL with 39 points in 29 games played, which puts him on pace for his first 100-point season BUY OR SELL — 110 to be exact. While it’s tempting to focus entirely on his offence, let’s circle back to what Eichel has been criticized for in the past: driving • If you had to guess which team took the lowest percentage of their play. shots from the slot, who would you pick? If you guessed that it would be the same team as last season, you’d be right. The Los Angeles Kings At first glance, you might wonder why Eichel is below team average from have been outside the bottom three in scoring chances just once since the inner slot, but there’s something weird going on there. Among Sabres 2015-16. They need a rebuild, but they also need to admit that the way forwards who have played 200 or more minutes, Eichel has the third- they play doesn’t work. highest inner slot shot differential, but there are a bunch of Sabres who have played limited roles and wound up with good differentials, so • The Oilers’ dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl play a Eichel’s been driven down the list because of that. lot of minutes and play them well, but it’s still somewhat shocking that those two players account for 33.2 per cent of the Oilers’ total scoring The interesting wrinkle is that Eichel’s play leads to more control of the chances this season. That’s not a percentage of chances they’ve high slot, so you have to expand the sample of shots you’re looking at to created, but of how many of those types of shots they’ve actually taken. see his value. Eichel is fourth among Sabres forwards at preventing inner slot shots against, but his line doesn’t generate as many because he • The next biggest duo that takes the lion’s share of their team’s prefers puck movement to prime shooting location. dangerous shots are Brendan Gallagher and Joel Armia in Montreal at 32.3 per cent. That becomes even more evident when you look at the area where Eichel stands out the most compared to the rest of his team: controlling • Alex Ovechkin alone accounts for 22.7 per cent of all the Capitals’ shot slot passes. Without Eichel on the ice, the Sabres control a dismal 39.5 attempts from the slot. He remains completely absurd and unique. per cent of slot passes at 5-on-5, but while he’s on, they get close to • The Leafs are really pushing the play in the inner slot, but you know breaking even. who leads the team in shots from that spot on the ice? Perimeter player Looking at the play behind his offensive explosion, Eichel ranks 15th in William Nylander with 36, the fifth-highest mark in the NHL. Nylander has the NHL in scoring chance generating plays at 5-on-5 this season. That’s a reputation for missing the net, but he’s put 84 per cent of his shot even more impressive than it sounds considering the Sabres are 19th in attempts from the most dangerous area on the ice on net. He’s one of the the NHL in that area and the next-closest Sabres rank 34th and 152nd in more accurate guys in the league. the league — and neither of them are Eichel’s linemates. • Where Nylander does miss a lot is from the high slot. Only 40 per cent Separated from Jeff Skinner — who Eichel had all that offensive of his shot attempts from there have hit the net, which might be why he’s chemistry with last season — for all but 40 minutes of play this year, shooting from closer than ever this year. Eichel has been doing almost all of this himself. He’s creating all the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 offence and completing 24.3 successful transition plays every 20 minutes of ice time, which is the third-highest mark in the league after Nikolaj Ehlers and Brayden Point.

Among forwards, only Mathew Barzal and Artemi Panarin have the puck on their sticks more often than Eichel. He’s at 1:35 for every 20 minutes of play, which shows you just how heavily the Sabres rely on him. Eichel has truly blossomed into the star the Sabres envisioned when they drafted him second overall in 2015.

THE QUESTION

After a nice rush of adrenaline from the coaching change, things have seemingly got tough again for Steve Dangle’s beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, so he asks… 1165109 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Pontus Aberg finding balance between parenthood, hockey

Chris Johnston December 6, 2019, 3:16 PM

On the working end of the work-life balance, Aberg has shown intriguing glimpses during his previous NHL stints. He played a regular role during Nashville’s trip to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and scored 11 goals in 37 games for Anaheim last season, and is now stepping into a tremendous opportunity with the Leafs.

This recall came with Andreas Johnsson being placed on long-term injured reserve because of an undisclosed leg injury and Aberg will step directly into Johnsson’s place on the top line beside Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

That’s a testament to how well he’s performed in the AHL, where he first caught Sheldon Keefe’s eye before his own promotion to the Leafs job. Keefe said Aberg always showed up well in the Marlies’ defensive video clips because of how tenacious he was in earning the puck back in situations where they lost it.

His NHL bonafides bring an added layer of trust, too.

“The biggest thing is just that he’s played in the league, he’s had success in the league, he’s scored in the league before and he’s played with good players before,” said Keefe. “Obviously me coaching him in the American League, I’ve seen what he’s capable of doing at that level when he’s playing at his best, so we’re going to give him an opportunity here to show that he can belong.”

The Leafs are sputtering and won’t have Johnsson back until Dec. 31 at the earliest, so the door is clearly open for Aberg to make an impact.

While he wasn’t pleased with his training camp performance, he says he feels more comfortable now with the systems the organization is playing. Fatherhood has also brought a new perspective on things — one that doesn’t see him dwell so much on the day-to-day ups and downs that come with being a pro athlete.

“When I have a bad game or the team’s playing bad, I don’t have to get down on myself or anything,” said Aberg. “I have to be happy around my daughter and she brings joy. She’s always happy, even [if] we lose or win, so that’s been huge for me the past two years.”

Molly is even showing a budding interest in the family business. Thursday was just her second time on the ice following a Christmas skate with the Ducks last year, but she’s proving to be an enthusiastic pupil.

“She doesn’t have the balance yet, but she’s been asking for two weeks to go skating,” said Aberg. “She knows that I can skate because she’s at every game. She’s asking me to teach her, so that’s what I’m trying to do.

“We have to buy her a pair of skates for Christmas.”

As for Aberg, his own present arrived a couple weeks early with those calls from the Leafs.

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Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi resting at home with concussion

Sportsnet Staff | December 6, 2019, 6:10 PM

Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi suffered a concussion in Thursday’s game against Colorado Avalanche, head coach Claude Julien confirmed Friday.

Julien added that Kotkaniemi has been released from hospital and is resting at home.

Kotkaniemi was injured after a hit from Colorado Avalanche defenceman Nikita Zadorov early in the game. The 19-year-old hit his head on the ice, was slow to get up and had to be helped to the dressing room. He didn’t return to the game.

Zadorov wasn’t given a penalty on the play and Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reported that there would be no supplemental discipline for the hit.

Kotkaniemi has five points in 22 games this season, his second with the Canadiens. Charles Hudon will replace him in the lineup in Friday’s game in New York against the Rangers.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.07.2019 1165111 Websites 10 games or 24 days of action. Johnsson will be reevaluated by the medical staff after the Christmas break and could return at the earliest on Dec. 31 in Minnesota.

TSN.CA / Auston Matthews: 'The puck's just not going in...' In response, Toronto recalled Nic Petan, Pontus Aberg and Martin Marincin from the American Hockey League’s Marlies on Friday. Aberg is the Marlies’ current leading scorer with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 22 games, and this will be his first shot on NHL ice this season, sliding Kristen Shilton onto a line with Matthews and William Nylander at practice.

“It feels good,” Aberg said. “I worked hard down there and I’m finally TSN Toronto reporter Kristen Shilton checks in daily with news and notes getting a chance. I got to play my game [with the Marlies], a lot of on the Maple Leafs, who held an 11:30 a.m. practice at Ford minutes, played power play too which helped. It’s my best producing year Performance Centre on Friday before departing for St. Louis for in the minors so I’m happy to get the call.” Saturday’s game against the Blues, the first stop on their four-game road Aberg signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with Toronto over the trip. summer as a free agent, but didn’t impress enough in training camp to It’s been a frustrating stretch offensively for Maple Leafs centre Auston earn a longer look at the NHL level. Before joining the Leafs, Aberg Matthews, who finds himself mired in a five-game streak with just one skated in 127 NHL contests between 2015-19, amassing 43 career assist. But it’s not just the lack of production that’s bothering Matthews, points for Nashville, Edmonton, Anaheim and Minnesota. it’s the opportunities he generates that aren’t finding the back of the net. Last season with the Ducks, Aberg appeared in 37 games and set “I thought last game [in a 3-1 loss to Colorado on Wednesday], I had career-highs in goals (11), assists (8) and points (19), before being dealt three, four or five Grade-A chances,” Matthews lamented after the Leafs’ to the Wild. Aberg said he was ice skating with his family when Marlies practice on Friday. “The puck's just not going in. So for myself, I just want general manager Laurence Gilman called him Thursday night with word to keep shooting and make sure that we're good defensively so we can he’d finally be heading back to the NHL. get the puck and try to challenge the middle of the ice a little bit more and “I played pretty much all last year up here,” Aberg acknowledged. “Didn’t just keep shooting. I think for myself, the puck is eventually going to go in work out at the beginning of this year, but finally getting a chance and I and when it does, hopefully I just keep it rolling.” hope I can take it.” To get there sooner rather than later, Matthews will have to find his Based on what he saw earlier this season from Aberg while still behind scoring touch on the road, as the Leafs set off on a four-game trip the Marlies’ bench, Keefe is confident the 26-year-old has plenty to offer beginning Saturday through St. Louis and Western Canada. The 22-year- the Leafs. old has struggled to put points up away from Toronto all season, registering just three of his 16 goals in opposing rinks. “He's got a great skill set, he's really good with the puck, both in his ability to carry it and make a play, shoot and score,” Keefe said. “But then Two of those three markers came in the first two games under Leafs also he can skate very well, and some of our best defensive clips in head coach Sheldon Keefe on Nov. 21 and 23 and both were on the terms of earning the puck back when I was with the Marlies, he was the road. Matthews hasn’t lit the lamp since, and while Keefe understands guy leading the way in that sense. We need to do it every shift. He's the concern over Matthews’ lack of recent production, he too is confident going to have to find a way to impact the game and he's going to get a in the opportunities created. chance to do it with good players.” “I go back and watch all the scoring chances that he's had in every game Along with inserting Aberg into the lineup, Keefe juggled some of his and for me, [if] the puck goes half an inch one way, half an inch another, other forward units during the Leafs’ hour-long practice session on doesn't hit the goalie's shoulder, doesn't tip the edge of his pad, it goes in Friday. the net and then all of a sudden the narrative seems completely different,” Keefe said. “I don't get too focused on that. He's in on the Captain John Tavares was absent for the day attending to a personal scoring chances and he's around the net, he's shooting from dangerous matter (he'll still be travelling with the Leafs on their upcoming trip), so areas so we like that.” Keefe had Frederik Gauthier with Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman. Keefe had previously moved Hyman off Toronto’s top line and to its third line Matthews also doesn’t deny there’s been a learning curve under Keefe, with Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen for two games, but felt it best especially in what he’s trying to do defensively. Those growing pains now that Hyman re-join his old group. have led Matthews to a minus-7 rating in his last five games, and he knows there’s work to do in improving his play there as well. “[That Kerfoot line with Hyman] wasn't very good in its first game [against Philadelphia on Tuesday]; then I thought it was our best line against “It just doesn't happen overnight, so when you're making these big Colorado,” Keefe explained. “I thought it was excellent and really showed changes, you're gonna make mistakes, you're gonna get caught out that the three of them can work well together. So that's very positive for there kind of thinking a little bit,” he explained. “Because you've been so us. We wanted to put Hyman back with Tavares and Marner, and see used to one thing and now it's different. It's tough, but we have to adjust. what we can get with that line now that we [know if we] want to go with It's been kind of like a bit of a mini-training camp last two weeks, but Hyman and Kerfoot, that can work really well for us at any time. Those we're just looking to improve so you're not thinking as much; it's just kind three have confidence in each other so I sort of got what I wanted out of of engraved in your brain [when you’re out there].” that.” Shoring up defensively is what Keefe most wants to see from Matthews The decision pushes Ilya Mikheyev back with Kerfoot and Kapanen, and his teammates as the club gets set to tackle a crucial road swing. while the Leafs’ fourth line remains centred by Jason Spezza between After going 3-0-0 to start Keefe's tenure as head coach, Toronto is 1-3-0 Pierre Engvall and a rotating Petan and Dymtro Timashov. Keefe in its last four and sits fifth in the Atlantic Division. confirmed Frederik Andersen will be back in the net for Toronto against “The chances are there [for Matthews] and that's fine,” Keefe said. “We St. Louis on Saturday. just want to make sure, much like with the rest of our team, that we're Maple Leafs lines at practice: good in all the other areas of the game that you can manage shift-to-shift and whether the puck is going in the net or not, it doesn't change how Aberg-Matthews-Nylander you play in the other areas.” Hyman-Gauthier*-Marner Johnson: Matthews needs to be better Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Kapanen Leafs Lunch discuss Auston Matthews’ rough game against the Flyers, how much criticism he should be taking for his recent slump, and why his Engvall-Spezza-Timashov defensive game is still an area of concern. Petan, Moore (red sweater) The Leafs announced early Friday morning that forward Andreas Rielly-Barrie Johnsson suffered a fractured leg in Wednesday’s loss and would be moved to Long Term Injured Reserve, which dictates he will miss at least Muzzin-Holl Dermott-Ceci

Marincin

Andersen

Hutchinson

Leafs’ power play units:

Barrie

Marner-Nylander*-Matthews

Timashov

Rielly

Kapanen-Petan*-Spezza

Aberg

*Expected to be adjusted by Tavares’ return

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USA TODAY / Carolina Hurricanes put Petr Mrazek body outline on ice at practice after goalie was punched by Joe Thornton

Mike Brehm

The Carolina Hurricanes are a fun bunch.

After all, last season, they turned a wild, fan-friendly postgame celebration called the Storm Surge into their first playoff appearance since 2009 and embraced the "Bunch of Jerks" label given to them by then-Hockey Night in Canada analyst Don Cherry.

Thursday night, there was an interesting exchange between San Jose center Joe Thornton and Petr Mrazek, in which the Hurricanes goalie dropped like a shot after one punch from the Sharks star. Mrazek got up after the ensuing scrum, stayed in the game and won 3-2 in a shootout.

So how did the Hurricanes respond Friday at their Raleigh Center Ice practice facility?

With the equivalent of a chalk outline — nice.

Here's the on-ice exchange. It began when Thornton poked at a puck that was covered by Mrazek's glove and the goalie swung his stick at Thornton but missed. When he turned to confront the center, he was felled by a punch to the mask.

Mrazek told reporters that the punch helped motivate him.

"You feel like you're in the game and you want to make saves for the guys and get the win," he said.

No word on how he reacted to Friday's prank.

USA TODAY LOADED: 12.07.2019