SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/5/2020 1172084 Rickard Rakell delivers Ducks victory over Avalanche in 1172114 Flames 3, Blue Jackets 2, OT| The 3-2-1 breakdown final seconds of overtime 1172115 Blue Jackets sign high-scoring defenseman Jake 1172085 Rickard Rakell with 1.2 seconds left in OT gives Christiansen Ducks victory over Avalanche 1172116 Blue Jackets’ Josh Anderson done for the season after 1172086 Why the NHL will suit Max Comtois better than the AHL shoulder surgery 1172117 Seth Jones hopes injury issues don’t get any worse for Blue Jackets 1172087 Arizona Coyotes turn raucous third period into road win 1172119 Jackets let another slip away, other observations after a over 3-2 OT loss in Calgary 1172088 Coyotes pick up huge win in Vancouver, stay afloat in 1172120 The answer to Ryan Murray’s chronic back issues playoff race 1172121 Stars reassign Jake Oettinger to AHL affiliate 1172089 Bruins not overlooking Panthers with rematch vs. Texas Lightning on Saturday 1172122 Droughts have hit Stars’ top forwards this season, but 1172090 Bruins giving new David Krejci line time to click Alexander Radulov’s goalless streak is different 1172091 Bruins back atop NHL Power Rankings in Week 24 1172123 Chain, keep us together: Confirming Rumours of Stars’ 1172092 Bruins power play struggled vs. Lightning, but that's not a new game-winning artifact bad thing 1172093 Bruins fans might be surprised where Tuukka Rask ranks in career save percentage 1172124 Detroit Red Wings wary of coronavirus but say they 'don't 1172094 'Persistent' Jake DeBrusk snaps 10-game slump with live in fear' game-winner vs. Tampa 1172125 Jonathan Bernier quietly thriving during difficult Red Wings' season 1172126 Red Wings taking precautions with coronavirus but 1172095 Amerks open big week with a loss to the Comets business as usual 1172096 , Ralph Krueger hope NHL participates in 2022 1172127 The Palace deserved much better than demise before its Winter Olympics time 1172097 Dave Schofield's picture-perfect shot captured iconic moment in Sabres history Oilers 1172098 How the performances of Sabres defensemen have 1172128 continue to find ways to win this season changed under Ralph Krueger 1172129 Athanasiou penalties ended up no harm, no foul to Oilers 1172130 JONES: So far, 2020 Oilers drawing historical club comparisons 1172099 Flames flip home script on visiting Blue Jackets 1172100 Flames Notebook: 300 NHL games ... and counting for Derek Ryan 1172131 LeBrun: Cap projects to rise, displeasure with bye weeks 1172101 Game Day: Flames vs. Blue Jackets — The homestand and coronavirus update begins 1172132 Talk is cheap: Florida Panthers have 16 games in final 1172102 Goalie trafficker, talent miner, travel agent: AGM Brad month to get things right Pascall wears many hats 1172133 Could coronavirus fears force Southern California games 1172103 A day in the life of Hurricanes star Andrei Svechnikov to be held without fans? 1172134 Kings take on Maple Leafs to kick off 9-game homestand 1172135 EMOTIONS RESURFACE, BUT IT’S “BUSINESS LIKE 1172104 Blackhawks donate a portion of their ‘Split the Pot’ raffle to USUAL” FOR CLIFFORD, MUZZIN, CAMPBELL tornado relief efforts in 1172136 ANDERSEN TO START VS KINGS; DOUGHTY DISHES 1172105 A big test awaits against the Oilers, but Dylan Strome ON HIS EX-TEAMMATES rediscovering his form is promising. 3 takeaways from t 1172106 Dylan Strome snaps long skid with big night as Blackhawks rout Ducks 1172137 Gameday preview: Wild at San Jose 1172107 Robin Lehner posts photo of chest imprint from slap shot 1172138 Goalie Alex Stalock steps in to lead Wild playoff quest 1172108 Blackhawks are down but not out: ‘They’re not going to 1172139 ’s emphasis on ‘predictable’ is working quit’ wonders with Wild Canadiens 1172109 Avalanche loses to Anaheim in OT to end seven-game 1172140 Stu Cowan: Paul Byron's knee injury was a painful one for winning streak Canadiens 1172110 Mikko Rantanen hits ice, but the Avalanche still highly 1172141 Canadiens Notebook: Islanders' Johnny Boychuk needs banged up 90 stitches 1172111 Avalanche has 9 straight road wins. No NHL team has 1172142 In confirming Claude Julien’s return, Marc Bergevin makes done that and won the Stanley Cup. a courageous decision 1172112 Last second overtime goal ends Avalanche’s winning streak at seven games 1172113 Rakell scores late in OT, Ducks beat Avalanche 4-3 1172143 NHL taking coronavirus ‘day-to-day’ as business travel ban goes into effect 1172144 Status of every Devils conditional draft pick from this season’s trades 1172145 16 reasons to watch the Devils through the last 16 games Islanders 1172146 Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk takes skate to 1172179 Sports leagues should take lead on coronavirus eye, is somehow fine prevention. Here’s why they won’t. 1172147 Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk needed 90 stitches after taking 1172180 Sharks’ Boughner staying with hot hand in net vs. Wild skate to face 1172181 Sharks 5, Maple Leafs 2: The ‘S’ word that no one wants 1172148 Johnny Boychuk of Islanders needs 90 stitches to close to say out loud gash on eyelid 1172182 How Patrick Marleau leaving Sharks before helps Penguins transition 1172183 ‘The guys needed a wake-up call’: What’s behind the 1172149 The Rangers must finally unleash Kappo Kakko Sharks’ recent success? 1172150 Chris Kreider out four to six weeks with broken foot, Rangers GM Jeff Gorton says St Louis Blues 1172151 Rangers face their biggest game of year vs. Capitals 1172184 When the Blues start streaking, it's their stars that lead them Senators 1172185 Blues make it eight in a row 1172152 SNAPSHOTS: The Senators are open to the idea of 1172186 Blues beat Rangers 3-1 for 8th straight victory bringing back Ron Hainsey next season 1172153 After being moved to Long Island, Jean-Gabriel Pageau returns to face the Senators 1172187 The Lightning are finally expecting new sticks held up by 1172154 Game Day: Islanders at Senators coronavirus 1172155 Jim Little says he was dismissed as CEO of Ottawa 1172188 The Lightning’s added physicality was on display against Senators after 'heated argument' Boston 1172156 Senators CEO Jim Little out after blowup with Eugene 1172189 NHL limits travel by league employees over coronavirus Melnyk 1172190 No Stamkos, no offense, no warm fuzzies for the Lightning against Boston 1172191 Lightning’s Yanni Gourde proved it again: He doesn’t back 1172157 Observations as Kevin Hayes, Ivan Provorov lead Flyers down from fights to 5-2 win over the Capitals 1172158 Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Sean Couturier getting Maple Leafs some help with the Flyers’ offense 1172193 It’s awfully late in the race for the Maple Leafs to be 1172159 Thanks to Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen, Flyers fumbling for the gear shift defense trying to make history | On the Fly 1172194 Game Day: Maple Leafs at Kings 1172160 Flyers beat Capitals, 5-2, but lose James van Riemsdyk to 1172195 Andersen returns to Leafs crease on Thursday versus broken right hand Kings 1172161 Home-ice advantage not on the mind of Flyers coach Alain 1172196 Ex-Kings Clifford, Muzzin making an impact as Leafs Vigneault — yet continue to grow 1172162 Flyers carry confidence into showdown with Washington 1172197 LeBrun: Q&A with Kyle Dubas on the Leafs’ turbulent Capitals season, EBUGs and more 1172163 Steadily improving Flyers confident for another Capital test 1172198 Mirtle: Things I think about the Leafs, Vol. 4: Defence, 1172164 James van Riemsdyk suffers broken hand in Flyers- depth and desperation Capitals game 1172199 Leafs Report Cards: Late-night dud won’t leave fans 1172165 Flyers roll Capitals once again, look more and more like a feeling good in the morning 1st-place team 1172200 Maple Leafs player poll: The best and worst dressed, 1172166 Nate Thompson drops the gloves against Tom Wilson for loudest, smartest, more! his first fight with Flyers 1172167 Dear Flyers bandwagon fans, welcome aboard Vancouver Canucks 1172168 James van Riemsdyk breaks hand, Joel Farabee to 1172216 Coyotes 4, Canucks 2: The bounces keep going the other replace him way 1172169 With comfortable win over Caps, Flyers state their case for 1172217 Canucks Game Day: ‘Banged-up’ defence to be tested by Metro superiority prowling Coyotes 1172218 The Dayal Files: The Travis Green debate, truth about Tyler Myers’ value and more 1172170 Minor league report: Nailers lose fourth straight 1172171 Playing with a rare lead helped the Penguins snap their losing streak 1172201 NHL keeps close tabs on coronavirus outbreak 1172172 Penguins forward Nick Bjugstad closing in on return 1172202 Golden Knights’ William Karlsson hits 100-goal milestone 1172173 Mark Madden: Tristan Jarry should be winner of Penguins goalie competition 1172174 Kevin Gorman: For Penguins, March playoff push not as 1172203 Capitals can’t outmuscle Flyers as Metropolitan race simple as snapping losing streak tightens 1172175 Nick Bjugstad poised to join a Penguins bottom-six that 1172204 Michal Kempny out against Flyers, healthy scratch for the needs a spark first time this season 1172176 on PPG Paints Arena crowd: 'It makes you 1172205 Flyers beat Capitals to draw within one in division feel appreciated' race 1172177 How did Patrick Marleau land Sidney Crosby’s spot as 1172206 Penalties derail strong start for Capitals in critical division second-to-last on the ice? loss to Flyers 1172178 Bryan Rust’s history-making ways help the Penguins bust 1172207 Lars Eller says 'we need more from everybody' after ugly out of a slump loss to Flyers Capitals Continued 1172208 Caps' Tom Wilson drops the gloves twice against the Flyers in his first fights since December 1172209 Here are the celebration songs you will hear when Ilya Kovalchuk, Brenden Dillon score 1172210 T.J. Oshie breaks down his pregame handshake rituals with his Capitals teammates 1172211 Caps vs. Flyers: Kempny scratched in key matchup between Washington and Philadelphia 1172212 From San Jose to Washington: Brenden Dillon adjusts to life on the East Coast 1172213 ‘These guys got a lot of handshakes’ – How Brenden Dillon got into Caps’ routine Websites 1172219 The Athletic / LeBrun: Cap projects to rise, displeasure with bye weeks and coronavirus update 1172220 The Athletic / Which players pose the biggest threat to Leon Draisaitl winning the Hart Trophy? 1172221 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Debating the fourth-best Canadian hockey moment 1172222 .ca / 31 Thoughts: How Marc Bergevin sees Canadiens' present, future 1172223 Sportsnet.ca / Sportsnet’s 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: March 1172224 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' McDavid, Draisaitl recapturing magic of peak Toews-Kane 1172225 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' newcomers unfazed by slide as fans see shades of past failures 1172226 Sportsnet.ca / How NHL is taking precautions around spread of coronavirus 1172227 Sportsnet.ca / Is a goaltender controversy brewing with the Calgary Flames? 1172228 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Jack Campbell returns to city where career was rebuilt 1172229 TSN.CA / Up-and-down Maple Leafs aim for higher level of competitiveness 1172230 TSN.CA / GMs Notebook: NHL hopes for set schedule on future salary cap numbers 1172231 TSN.CA / Jim Little lasts just 54 days as CEO Jets 1172214 Jets GM about to shed austerity manacles, do some talent shopping 1172215 Jets' history suggests they won't be big spenders in summer SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1172084 Anaheim Ducks

Rickard Rakell delivers Ducks victory over Avalanche in final seconds of overtime

DENVER — Rickard Rakell scored with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots and the Anaheim Ducks snapped the Colorado Avalanche’s seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Wednesday night.

Rakell’s shot appeared to deflect off the stick of Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard and past goaltender Pavel Francouz. It was Rakell’s first goal since Jan. 31.

Sam Steel, Andrew Agozzino and Brendan Guhle also added goals to accomplish a rare feat these days — finding space between the pads of Francouz, who’s been one of the top in the league.

Despite losing 6-2 in Chicago the night earlier, Anaheim kept up with the speedy Avalanche. The 39-year-old Miller earned career NHL win No. 386 to move into sole possession of 15th place. Next on the all-time wins list is Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, who finished with 389.

Girard had a breakaway in overtime, only to be stopped by Miller. It wasn’t a happy 25th birthday for Valeri Nichushkin, who clanged two shots off the post, including one in OT.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his first goal in eight games on a laser shot to tie it at 3 with 12:41 remaining.

Vladislav Namestnikov and captain Gabriel Landeskog, who wore a bandage on his broken nose, had goals for an Avalanche team that picked up a point to pull to within two points of St. Louis for the top seed in the Western Conference. Landeskog also added two assists.

It was terse third period with two fights resulting in four roughing penalties.

On Monday, Francouz was named the NHL’s third star for the week after going 3-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average. The week prior, he was first star for his stellar play, which included a 1-0 win over the Ducks on Feb. 21.

The opening period featured four goals and some fisticuffs.

On the goal front, Agozzino, who was claimed on waivers by Anaheim last month, knocked in his second career score. His other tally was on Feb. 18, 2019, against Vegas when he was with Colorado.

Coronavirus in Italy, Napoli - 03 Mar 2020

The fight was a weight-division mismatch as the 219-pound Nicolas Deslauriers squared off against the 198-pound Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Both landed a few punches before being separated. Bellemare retreated to the dressing room with what appeared to be a cut. They were each given 5-minute majors for fighting.

The Avalanche amassed their winning streak despite missing Matt Calvert, Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

They’re also currently without defenseman Cale Makar and forward Andre Burakovsky.

Colorado will play 16 games in March, which matches a franchise record for most contests in a particular month. Landeskog appreciates the hectic schedule.

“You get in a rhythm of playing every other night and in between games it’s a recovery day and get what you need,” Landeskog explained.

Up next

Ducks: Host Toronto on Friday.

Avalanche: Start a three-game trip Friday in Vancouver.

LA Times: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172085 Anaheim Ducks Avalanche: Start a three-game trip Friday in Vancouver.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.05.2020

Rickard Rakell goal with 1.2 seconds left in OT gives Ducks victory over Avalanche

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |

DENVER – Rickard Rakell scored with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots and the Ducks snapped the Colorado Avalanche’s seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Wednesday night.

Rakell’s shot appeared to deflect off the stick of Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard and past goaltender Pavel Francouz. It was Rakell’s first goal since Jan. 31.

Sam Steel, Andrew Agozzino and Brendan Guhle also added goals to accomplish a rare feat these days — finding space between the pads of Francouz, who’s been one of the top goaltenders in the league.

Despite losing 6-2 in Chicago the night earlier, Anaheim kept up with the speedy Avalanche. The 39-year-old Miller earned career NHL win No. 386 to move into sole possession of 15th place. Next on the all-time wins list is Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, who finished with 389.

Girard had a breakaway in overtime, only to be stopped by Miller. It wasn’t a happy 25th birthday for Valeri Nichushkin, who clanged two shots off the post, including one in OT.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his first goal in eight games on a laser shot to tie it at 3 with 12:41 remaining.

Vladislav Namestnikov and captain Gabriel Landeskog, who wore a bandage on his broken nose, had goals for an Avalanche team that picked up a point to pull to within two points of St. Louis for the top seed in the Western Conference. Landeskog also added two assists.

It was terse third period with two fights resulting in four roughing penalties.

On Monday, Francouz was named the NHL’s third star for the week after going 3-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average. The week prior, he was first star for his stellar play, which included a 1-0 win over the Ducks on Feb. 21.

The opening period featured four goals and some fisticuffs.

On the goal front, Agozzino, who was claimed on waivers by Anaheim last month, knocked in his second career score. His other tally was on Feb. 18, 2019, against Vegas when he was with Colorado.

The fight was a weight-division mismatch as the 219-pound Nicolas Deslauriers squared off against the 198-pound Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Both landed a few punches before being separated. Bellemare retreated to the dressing room with what appeared to be a cut. They were each given 5-minute majors for fighting.

The Avalanche amassed their winning streak despite missing Matt Calvert, Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

They’re also currently without defenseman Cale Makar and forward Andre Burakovsky.

Colorado will play 16 games in March, which matches a franchise record for most contests in a particular month. Landeskog appreciates the hectic schedule.

“You get in a rhythm of playing every other night and in between games it’s a recovery day and get what you need,” Landeskog explained.

NOTES

Anaheim D Jani Hakanpaa made his NHL debut. … D Hampus Lindholm missed his fourth straight game with an upper-upper-body injury. D Cam Fowler was out an eighth game with a lower-body ailment. … Rantanen skated in a red non-contact jersey Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Host Toronto on Friday. 1172086 Anaheim Ducks that plays right into what coach wants in Anaheim for transition play.

This first clip of Comtois executing in a breakout situation against the Why the NHL will suit Max Comtois better than the AHL Tucson Roadrunners really captures Comtois’ attention to detail while also highlighting the overall “feel” he has for the game in a crucial area of the ice. By Jordan Samuels-Thomas Mar 4, 2020 7 It starts with Comtois doing a head check toward the middle of the ice to survey his time and space. Doing so allows him to not only see how much time he has to make a play but also scan through the best options If there was a phrase that comes to mind in regards to Max Comtois’ first for advancing the puck. professional season, it would be “up and down.” It has more to do with his steady stream of recalls and reassignments between the Anaheim From there, Comtois knows his options. He decides to make the correct Ducks and San Diego Gulls, but the phrase can also be attributed (to a play in throwing the puck cross-ice into space where Sam Carrick is lesser extent) to his production on the ice. waiting. Usually, a cross-ice pass in your own defensive zone is a no-no, especially on your backhand, but here we see Comtois’ puck skills come The 21-year old has been going through the type of growing pains that to the forefront in the form of a B-minus cross-ice saucer pass from his many offensively gifted forwards have to work through during their rookie backhand. seasons when finding consistency in scoring. Both the NHL and AHL are several rungs above when it comes to difficulty and the overall general Plays like this from his defensive zone have been a common occurrence caliber of talent. There’s a reason why the players in these leagues are for Comtois during his time in San Diego. paid to play hockey. Here is another example of Comtois — this time on his weak side — Despite a few slumping spells in production, Comtois has shown enough handling a puck that was rimmed along the boards. Again, he cleanly to be rewarded with significant playing opportunity with the big club in handles the puck off the boards and makes a strong play north — up ice Anaheim. He possesses so many other great attributes that translate to — in transition for offense. today’s NHL — size, skating ability and physicality — that, even when he is not scoring, he can make a positive impact. While these plays may seem like little plays, they’re huge in aiding any team in their offense. Before the season, I discussed what it means to However, Comtois has been in San Diego since mid-January. The feisty play fast and why playing this way is so important for the Ducks and the winger scored 12 points in his first 18 games with the Gulls this season, NHL as a whole. You don’t have to look back too far last season when registering just one goal. He has been hot of late, scoring eight goals in the Ducks were caught for long stretches in their own zone without being his last eight games and taking his production to 23 points in 27 games. able to successfully get the puck with possession or speed. He was named the AHL’s player of the week on Feb. 24. These little plays that Comtois has been a natural in making can serve as Since landing in Heilbronn, Germany last week — it doesn’t matter where an invaluable piece of the overall Anaheim team puzzle. I’m playing; there’s a way to watch hockey — I’ve viewed the entirety of Comtois’ offensive-zone shifts at the AHL level and a good chunk at the While I’ve focused primarily on his play in the AHL this season, Comtois’ NHL level. It appears that Comtois’ offensive game is better suited for the dependable breakout ability has already made a difference in the NHL NHL even with his recent surge of production in San Diego. this season as well. Below is a clip of a big-time play he makes in the defensive zone against the Arizona Coyotes earlier this season. That may not make sense to the average fan, but among NHL players who have also played in the AHL, the general consensus cites Comtois gets under the stick of a Coyotes forechecker and wins the differences in structure, timing and general higher level of skill as battle for the puck. He then takes the hit from the pinching defender to reasons why playing in the NHL is more comfortable. In the NHL, make a play. And he again shows his skill by using his backhand to pass everyone is where they should be. Players are slotted in proper roles for through the legs of the player who is about to hit him, resulting in a 2-on- success. The correct play is made with and without the puck more often 1 chance and goal for the Ducks. than not. Predictability is a key component to comfort on the ice, and the While the goals have not come easy for Comtois this season, his growth AHL as a developmental league can be chaotic at times. and development as an overall player have. It’s easy to look at his That was a long-winded way of saying Comtois looks more comfortable production totals in the NHL and be underwhelmed, but the most on offense with the Ducks than he has with the Gulls. important thing to focus on is his development, which has been positive.

Maybe he was gripping his stick too tight with expectation. (This is a goal As with all of Anaheim’s prospects, patience is key. These are 21-year- for Comtois more times than not.) old to 24-year-old players who are still developing in an organization that is in transition. There are a lot of moving parts in this business, Or he was battling to keep his confidence. (This is a high-percentage particularly for a team in the Ducks’ position, and that makes it shot via slot-line pass.) particularly challenging for first- and second-year players to find their way. For whatever reason, Comtois wasn’t able to find his goal-scoring touch in the AHL despite generating high-percentage chances and playing with Comtois has made the most of a rookie season spent familiarizing some of the Gulls’ top players. I’ve always been confident in his scoring himself with the California freeway going back and forth. While his touch. He’s still only a year removed from scoring five goals in five season has come with some adversity, he’s doing all the right things to games during the 2019 world juniors and scoring 31 goals in 25 games become a reliable and productive NHL player for a long time. for Drummondville in the QMJHL. The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 At the very least, his 2.9 percent shooting percentage through his first 18 games had to correct itself closer to an average shooting percentage — around nine percent — and his goal-scoring efforts these last few games have done just that. Everything he has touched lately has gone in.

Yet, Comtois’ overall game really shines at the American League level and leaves a lot to be excited about regarding his future in the NHL. It’s safe to assume playing meaningful and important minutes is a big reason why the Quebec native was assigned to San Diego rather than having less ice time in Anaheim. His work along the wall in the defensive zone has been stellar, and it could be the reason why Comtois has a lengthy NHL career whether he develops into a 30-goal scorer or not.

Not only has his play in the defensive zone helped thwart the attacks of the opposition, but it’s also translated into offense for the Gulls. The rookie has looked like a 10-year veteran in the defensive-zone breakout and transition. Comtois plays controlled but fast in these situations, and 1172087 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes turn raucous third period into road win over Vancouver Canucks

The Associated PressPublished 11:14 p.m. MT March 4, 2020 | Updated 1:04 a.m. MT March 5, 2020

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Lawson Crouse scored a tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and the Arizona Coyotes tightened the playoff race in the Western Conference with a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

The teams combined for five goals and two lead changes in a wild third period.

Crouse and Nick Schmaltz scored goals 2:29 apart for Arizona. Carl Soderberg had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who have won two in a row and three out of four. Oliver Ekman-Larsson added an empty-net goal and an assist.

Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson scored less than three minutes apart for the Canucks, who lost their fourth consecutive game.

The win moves the Coyotes into a three-way tie with Vancouver and Winnipeg in points (74) for the two wild-card playoff spots in the Western Conference.

Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper made 36 saves. Vancouver goaltender Thatcher Demko, making his fourth start for the injured Jacob Markstrom, stopped 36 shots.

Toffoli tied the game 1-1 at 3:19 on a power play. He took a pass at the side of the net from J.T. Miller and lifted a shot into a tight space over Kuemper's shoulder for his 23rd goal of the season.

Pearson made it 2-1 when he knocked in the rebound of a Jake Virtanen shot at 6:16.

Schmaltz tied the game for Arizona at 10:10. He tipped a shot that Demko stopped, but slipped in the rebound.

Crouse put the Coyotes ahead at 12:29 by tipping in an Ekman-Larsson point shot.

The Coyotes led 1-0 after 40 minutes on the strength of a strange first- period goal.

With the Coyotes on a power play, Soderberg ran into Canuck defenseman Oscar Fantenberg behind the net. The puck flipped into the air and over Demko's shoulder into the net at 7:27.

Demko later made a big leg save on a Taylor Hall shot and stopped Phil Kessel on a partial breakaway.

Kuemper had a busy second period, stopping Virtanen on a breakaway, blocking a Toffoli drive from the face-off circle, and stopping a tip on a power play.

There were also some anxious moments when Demko ventured out of his net and was knocked down in a collision with Hall and Canuck defenseman Chris Tanev. Demko looked to be in pain but stayed in the game after the training staff examined his left leg.

Note

Coyote defenseman Jakob Chychrun is listed as day-to-day with a lower- body injury but could join the team later on their three-game trip.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172088 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes pick up huge win in Vancouver, stay afloat in playoff race

BY KELLAN OLSON

With their struggles coming out of the All-Star break, the Arizona Coyotes haven’t left themselves much wiggle room in a crowded wild card race for a playoff spot.

Prior to Wednesday’s action across the league, they were at 72 points, three points out from the Calgary Flames (75 points) for the last spot in the Pacific Division and two away from the Vancouver Canucks (74) and (74) for the two wild card positions in the Western Conference.

There’s also the Minnesota Wild (73) and (72) still involved, and the fact that the Coyotes now after Wednesday have two more games played than Vancouver, Minnesota and Nashville is also an issue.

This is a long way of saying that they absolutely need to take advantage of any extra opportunities presented their way to control their own fate, like when they play against these teams. So when they bounced back in Vancouver on Wednesday after giving up two goals in the third to trail 2-1 and scored three unanswered, it was a monumental 4-2 victory.

The way the Coyotes scored their first two felt like the hockey gods intervening as if to say that Arizona’s season shouldn’t be done yet.

A bizarre sequence of a puck behind the net bouncing off Carl Soderberg’s stick resulted in it going off the back of Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko and going in the net.

A big goal from Big Carl. pic.twitter.com/vpkqtp7zVp

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 5, 2020

A scoreless second period brought on a third that had five total goals.

Vancouver scored those two aforementioned goals through Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, leaving the Coyotes on their way to a disastrous loss. But instead, an even bigger disaster ensued for the opposition, as a turnover by the Canucks in some buildup play from the back left Nick Schmaltz in front of the net with the puck for Arizona and he buried his ninth goal of the season to tie the game.

This was so gr8. pic.twitter.com/Nq9TDdMGLw

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 5, 2020

Less than three minutes later, Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot from the blue line was just slightly deflected by Lawson Crouse and made its way past Demko to close out a wild 10 minutes of two back-to-back goals by each team and ended in a 3-2 Coyotes lead.

They held the line from there, and Ekman-Larsson’s heave from the other side of the ice on an empty net went in to lock up the win.

Arizona gets two pockets of games against these teams, and this win is the start of the first one and why it was so important.

Here's an updated look at the standings. Still five teams all right in the thick of it in the Wild Card. Chicago is right behind, too. pic.twitter.com/wAg3H62eP1

— Matt Layman (@mattjlayman) March 5, 2020

Their next three are against Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver when they must also get results. They also close the season with three of their last five games against the Predators, Canucks and Jets, the second patch against this group.

On a night when Calgary also won, Wednesday’s victory represented how the Coyotes must keep up (and then some) while also making up ground if they want to bring playoff hockey back to the Valley.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172089 Boston Bruins “Just a scrum and I saw he dropped his gloves,” Nordstrom said. “I dropped them too. I don’t think he’s a big scrapper, but neither am I. It was a good battle.”

Bruins not overlooking Panthers with rematch vs. Lightning on Saturday Wagner liked it.

“It was great,” he said. “Especially against that team. I feel like By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated March 4, 2020, 5:49 p.m. something’s going to happen.”

Nordstrom, a healthy scratch four straight games late last month, hasn’t scored since Dec. 31. But he has been good in his typical CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — A few extra blows of the conch horn after a checking/ killing role the last two games, and Cassidy said he has short-and-sweet Bruins practice in sunny South Florida: been pleased with his Sean Kuraly-Par Lindholm-Nordstrom fourth line.

▪ It’s too late in the season, and the Bruins are a veteran club that will not “I’m strong on pucks lately,” Nordstrom said. “Hoping for a bounce here.” overlook the Panthers entirely. But given the standings, and their recent history, this feels like a respite in a two-game Boston-Tampa Bay series. ▪ The Bruins are happy for Noel Acciari, who has a stunning 20 goals in If the NHL-best Bruins and third-place Lightning keep this up, Saturday his first year as a Panther. What’s the scouting report on No. 55 in red? won’t be the only rematch between these teams. “Don’t let him shoot,” Wagner said of the Johnston, R.I., and Providence “We obviously match up pretty well,” Brad Marchand said after Tuesday’s product, who played with Wagner on the South Shore Kings junior team 2-1 win in Tampa, a highly competitive, hotly contested affair. “Both two and the Bruins last year. “What’s his shooting percentage, 40? I’m sure if of the top teams in the league. The egos sort of come out in those you asked him, he still can’t believe it. Don’t let him get in the offensive situations. It’s always a fun game being down here and playing against zone.” them.” Acciari is shooting 19.2 percent, which as of Wednesday was tied for The Bruins (42-13-12) have a few areas they’d like to clean up before sixth among players with 100 or more shots. Most of his goals have visiting the Panthers (33-26-7), who have fallen 5 points out of a second come near the blue paint: tips, rebounds and short strokes. wild-card spot. Two teams going in different directions, here. The Bruins Would Wagner ever drop the gloves with Acciari, his teammate as far are 13-3-0 since their late-January bye break. The Panthers are 5-10-2, back as elementary school? “I can’t imagine,” Wagner said. Then again, and in danger of a disappointing playoff miss after signing $10 million he added, “I know he’s a lefty.” netminder Sergei Bobrovsky and several other veterans. ▪ Another beloved ex-Bruin, Johnny Boychuk, was on the minds of his With a few high-intensity, short-area scrimmages at Wednesday’s former teammates. Marchand was among several Bruins who reacted, practice, the Bruins addressed a power play that wasn’t as crisp as mouth agape, to the news the Islanders defenseman took a skate to the they’d like in Tampa (0 for 3). They also worked on breakouts, which face from Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen on Tuesday. Boychuk weren’t always successful amid the Lightning’s third-period push. needed 90 small stitches to close a wound around his eye (the eye was “Today was more about getting guys on the ice for about 20 minutes, let not damaged). It’s unclear when he will return, but he was in them enjoy some sunshine,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, before departing characteristically good spirits afterward. “Thank you to everyone for the for an afternoon tee time at a local golf course. “I think it’s good for the positive messages and thoughts!” Boychuk tweeted Wednesday. “I am body and soul.” extremely grateful. Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid. Sorry for the late response...facial Florida is fifth in goals per game (3.39) and defensemen Aaron Ekblad recognition wasn’t working... thank you again my friends. Johnny B.” and Keith Yandle love to join the rush, but it can be a bit of a mess defensively (third-most goals allowed, 3.39 per game). If the Bruins can Boston Globe LOADED: 03.05.2020 hem the Panthers in their zone, they could find tired defenders making poor decisions.

Tampa, as we saw Tuesday, is a different story.

▪ Marchand felt better after a bout with food poisoning, Cassidy said, but he didn’t practice. He is expected to face the Panthers, and Anders Bjork (who rode in his spot Wednesday) is likely to take his third healthy scratch in a row. Jaroslav Halak will start in goal.

▪ Cassidy wants more finish and pace from the second line, featuring David Krejci and his two ex-Duck wingers, Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase.

Ritchie is not the typical new-age Bruins winger — flying down the wall — but Cassidy doesn’t think he’s out of place. He sees a player making short-area plays and sacrificing his body to block shots.

“I feel like we’re getting there,” Krejci said. “They ask questions on the bench. Ritchie’s a good thinker, they want to be part of it, they want to learn it quick. The faster they learn, the better it is for them and the team. They’re asking questions and I feel like it’s going well.”

Ritchie’s ex-teammate on the Ducks, Chris Wagner, said Ritchie was “probably thinking a little too much,” adding that he knows the feeling.

Wagner said he did the same when he was traded to the Islanders at the 2018 deadline; it was hard to get out of his own way. When he came to Boston last year, he found himself standing at the blue line waiting to tip passes into the offensive zone, and then go get the puck. The Bruins don’t play that way. They prefer wingers to stay closer to the defensive zone, and attack as a unit.

“We play a faster game,” Wagner said, “so that takes a while to adjust to.”

▪ What preceded Joakim Nordstrom’s fight with Lightning pest Yanni Gourde? Not much, according to Nordstrom, other than two players defending their turf in a heated game. 1172090 Boston Bruins So we’re going to not necessarily change how fast he is, but how fast we play to bring up his pace, if that makes any sense. Just getting moving a little more, play north a little more, getting pucks to areas and playing Bruins giving new David Krejci line time to click straight line. And that might take a while.”

Odds and ends

By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald Brad Marchand, who battled through food poisoning in Tuesday’s win, took a maintenance day on Wednesday. …

Addressing Joakim Nordstrom‘s return to the lineup the last couple of CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The chemistry that is developing on the new games, Cassidy said he’s going to tweak his coaching methods in light of David Krejci line with former Ducks Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase may the Swede’s bout with Tampa’s Yanni Gourde. not be jumping out at you right now. But with each passing game, the new unit seems to be more of a presence. “Well, I’m not yelling at him anymore because he’ll beat the tar out of me. I didn’t know he had that in him,” cracked Cassidy. … Eventually, the trio will need to show some results but, right now, coach Bruce Cassidy believes the line is progressing in the right direction while The Panthers are 1-4-1 in their last six and have dropped five points Krejci is intrigued about this new opportunity after the chemistry between behind both the Maple Leafs for the final Atlantic Division playoff spot Jake DeBrusk and him — over two years in the making — has and the Blue Jackets and Islanders for a wild-card spot. inexplicably fizzled out this season. Boston Herald LOADED: 03.05.2020 That’s enough to give this experiment a longer look.

“I am” seeing chemistry, said Cassidy. “They’re not finishing much right now. I think their pace has to pick up a little bit and that might come with time. David’s going to drive that line. The centerman typically does. I think when he’s on his game, making plays, playing with pace, that line will look a lot better. I thought they had some opportunities around the front of the net (in Tampa). Kase had a nice chance early, typical of him, an energy guy recovering a puck, drawing a penalty. If that puck doesn’t jump over Ritchie’s stick, it’s a different night in terms of their stat line. I thought they had a couple of looks on the power play. Krech from behind the net from Ritchie. Ritchie’s making little area plays, not wide-open plays, but I think they’re coming. I really do … (The plays) are there, they’re just not connecting.”

Krejci tied a career high in points (73) last year with DeBrusk, who scored 27 goals in 2018-19. DeBrusk, who notched his 19th of the year on Tuesday, will be hard pressed to get back to that mark in the final 15 games while Krejci, who has missed nine games this year due to various injuries, is at 41 points.

It seems like the Krejci-DeBrusk pairing has run its course, at least for now.

“It’s no secret that me and JD didn’t really connect like we did last year. So, yeah, it’s some new blood, new linemates. It’s exciting,” said Krejci.

Ritchie has shown surprisingly good hands, especially on a couple of plays from behind the net. Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stoned Krejci in the second period when he had a chance off a deft pass from Ritchie.

“He’s a good player,” said Krejci. “The East Coast hadn’t seen him much because we only played them the one time at home. But we all know what everyone can do in the NHL. We watch games, we watch highlights. I knew he was a good player. He’s good on the forecheck, he’s strong. When he gets going, he’s hard to stop. He’s got a really good shot, too.”

Ritchie and Kase played together and had some success in Anaheim. That familiarity is surely making the transition a bit easier but still, Krejci said, they have to learn the B’s system.

“I feel like they’re getting there,” said Krejci. “They ask questions on the bench, which is a good thing. They want to be part of it, they want to learn quick. The faster you learn, the better it is for them and for the team. “

No, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Ritchie is not the fastest player. Playing with some of the Bruins’ speedboats, he can look like an oil tanker. But the club knew it wasn’t getting Andreas Athanasiou when they traded Danton Heinen for him. They had a need for size and physicality and Ritchie fills the bill. But Cassidy would still like to see him pick it up a little bit. It wasn’t a shock to see Ritchie doing some extra skating with the regular scratches at the end of the B’s very short practice at the Panthers’ practice facility on Wednesday.

“His pace has to pick up to play the way we want to, but we know what he is,” said Cassidy. “We have guys who can fly down the wing … We brought him in to be a different look, a guy that can get to the front of the net. He’s gone to the top of the crease. Every opportunity it’s been there, he’s been there. That’s what we want him to do, finish checks. He did a good job blocking shots (in Tampa), buying into the full 200-foot game. 1172091 Boston Bruins 22. Chicago Blackhawks: They’re a confusing team, but the reality is they’re not going anywhere

23. Nashville Predators: Their loss to the Oilers on Monday night was a Bruins back atop NHL Power Rankings in Week 24 rough one but they enter Tuesday night still in a playoff spot — for now.

24. Buffalo Sabres: Will never understand the point of trading for Wayne By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald Simmonds. They’re not going to make the playoffs and it’s not close anymore.

25. Los Angeles Kings: They’ve played well lately but it doesn’t matter. We’re in the home stretch and learning more about these teams every day. With just a few games left in the regular season, teams are making 26. : They have no prayer of the postseason but moves and dropping out, and every game and point matters. going to continue to applaud them for getting a third round pick out of nothing with Kovalchuk. 1. Boston Bruins: This might be their biggest week of the season with two games against the Lightning including entering Tuesday night with a 27. New Jersey Devils: At least it appears Cory Schneider is making a seven-point lead. comeback.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning: It sure feels like these teams are going to be 1A 28. San Jose Sharks: Probably the biggest disappointment in the league and 1B until we’re through. this season. If they were healthy maybe they’d fight a little bit in a weird West. 3. St. Louis Blues: The defending champs have won seven in a row after a five-game losing streak. That’s an excellent response at the most 29. Ottawa Senators: Bobby Ryan’s hat trick in his return might have important time of the year. been the best story in hockey this season.

4. Colorado Avalanche: Are the Avs back to being the most dangerous 30. Anaheim Ducks: Danton Heinen scored his first goal there. The team in the West? It’s starting to feel like it. Ducks care far more about their future right now than this season.

5. Washington Capitals: Let’s see how this Ilya Kovalchuk experiment 31. Detroit Red Wings: Perhaps the worst non-expansion club of the goes for them. modern era.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: It’s time to embrace that the Flyers are, indeed, Boston Herald LOADED: 03.05.2020 good, and perhaps one of the most dangerous teams in hockey right now.

7. Vegas Golden Knights: When it comes down to it the Knights are the most talented team in the West and they’re starting to distance themselves in the Pacific finally.

8. Dallas Stars: That goaltending in the postseason should terrify everyone.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Pens are slumping but that’s bad news for everyone. Imagine a team like the Bruins or Lightning having to deal with the Penguins as a first round opponent?

10. Edmonton Oilers: Leon Draisaitl is separating as the leading Hart candidate and the Oilers can outright score.

11. : Saturday against the Bruins wasn’t their best showing but they still have what should be elite goaltending and defense.

12. : Zamboni driver loss aside, the Leafs have actually played pretty well. Maybe not the team to overlook so much heading into the postseason.

13. New York Rangers: Losing Chris Kreider for the year probably takes them out of the playoff conversation realistically but good on them for making this a race.

14. Carolina Hurricanes: If Dougie Hamilton or Brett Pesce were healthy they might be a semi-interesting sleeper, but they probably don’t have enough, especially without goalies.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Losing three in a row in a division where the Knights are riding high isn’t the way to get a boost in the standings.

16. Columbus Blue Jackets: If every player in the state of Ohio wasn’t injured, the Blue Jackets might be the best story in the league. Instead, they’re a feisty club that’ll likely fizzle out.

17. Minnesota Wild: If Minnesota makes the playoffs, that would truly be wild.

18. Calgary Flames: A true conundrum. They could not make the playoffs or be hosting games.

19. Florida Panthers: A disappointing last third of the season after such a hopeful start is very on-brand for the Florida Panthers.

20. Arizona Coyotes: Everyone else it seems has games in hand and the Yotes picked the worst time of the year to start slumping themselves out of the race.

21. Winnipeg Jets: They probably just aren’t good enough to do much damage. 1172092 Boston Bruins “We did that in Edmonton where we weren’t very good [on the power play] and we ended up winning the game in overtime,” said Bruce Cassidy. “We just didn’t execute well enough on it. On some of our Bruins power play struggled vs. Lightning, but that's not a bad thing entries. our guys were out of position and they were aggressive enough where we needed to be a little cleaner. We had a couple looks, but typically we’re able to generate more.

By Joe Haggerty March 04, 2020 4:24 PM “I think as a coach it’s good to see that against a good team. [It’s not good] that your power play isn’t sharp, but where if it doesn’t come

through, then you could still win the game.” TAMPA, Fla. — The good news is that the Bruins took down the Tampa One would expect that the Bruins will be back to normal on special teams Bay Lightning for the first time this season, and in doing so opened up a when the puck is dropped in Florida on Thursday night, and that the B’s nine-point lead on the Bolts that’s going to be near-impossible to fritter will go back to their routine formula for winning games. away in the Atlantic Division. But the Bruins showing that they can lock down victories in different ways Even more encouraging in the news development department, the Bruins down the stretch isn’t a bad thing at all, even considering how dreadful were able to take home the 2-1 win over the Lightning at Amalie Arena their power play looked in Tampa. without any help from their vaunted, high-wattage power play. SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 Generally, it speaks to how well they are playing in most other phases of the game right now while going 13-3-0 out of the NHL All-Star break. But it also speaks to an increasing ability for the Bruins to win games outright while playing even strength hockey, and that’s something that ultimately has tripped them up in the playoffs over the last few years.

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So while the power play flopping with an 0-for-3 performance against the Lightning isn’t anything to get pumped up about, there is a silver lining to the special teams struggle.

“The power play has been so important for us all year and it’s won us hockey games,” said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug of a B’s PP group that ranks second in the NHL with a 25.1 percent success rate this season. “Now we win a hockey game [on Tuesday] against a very good team without a goal in our three times [on the PP]. It just proves that it’s another way we can win a game and we are going to need that in the playoffs at some point. It’s definitely a step in a good direction.”

The Bruins managed just two shots on net during those three power plays and didn’t generate a single scoring chance while being handed chances to bust the game wide open.

It was this very Tampa Bay team that snuffed out the Bruins two postseasons ago when they were able to shut down the Perfection Line during 5-on-5 play. That allowed the Bolts to dispatch the Bruins in five games and expose them as a team that needed some work during even strength play.

Haggerty: Persistence finally pays off for DeBrusk

Last June it was the Blues that did very much the same while turning Boston into a team reliant on the power play for offense, and totally shutting down Boston’s Perfection Line during 5-on-5 play.

While special teams play does take on a significant role in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a hockey club that’s unable to play good, solid 5-on-5 hockey against quality opponents isn’t going to fare very well when the refs put the whistles away in the postseason.

Everybody knows that’s a more common occurrence during the postseason than it is during the regular season. It most definitely happened against St. Louis last season and Boston doesn’t want history to repeat itself in this spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs with such high hopes going into the tourney this time around. It’s part of the challenge of building a team that can excel in both the regular season and postseason, and it seems that the additions of Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase have helped in that category.

Kase did a nice job of creating some scoring chances for himself throughout Tuesday's game, and it was third liner DeBrusk who ended up notching the game-winner for the Bruins. It’s exactly the kind of second and third line offensive threats that the Bruins didn’t consistently have when it mattered most last postseason.

Where Rask ranks in career save percentage might surprise you

All that being said, the Bruins don’t want to see too many repeats of Tuesday night’s sloppy-looking power play that was unable to do much of anything on the ice in Tampa. 1172093 Boston Bruins

Bruins fans might be surprised where Tuukka Rask ranks in career save percentage

By Nick Goss March 04, 2020 12:17 PM

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask made another statement in his case for the Vezina Trophy on Tuesday night with a strong performance in a 2-1 road win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Rask made 20 saves on 21 shots, bringing his save percentage on the season to .928 through 39 games. The last time his save percentage reached this level was 2013-14 when he won the first and only Vezina Trophy of his NHL career.

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Rask is tied for second among all goalies in save percentage -- he's .001 behind three netminders. His 2.13 goals against average leads the league.

You might be surprised to learn Rask's career save percentage is tied for the best in league history. Rask enters Wednesday with a .922 career save percentage, tied with Dominik Hasek and Johnny Bower. The Bruins goaltender also is fourth all time in GAA, as our friend Boston Sports Info illustrates in the following chart:

Tuukka Rask

Rask is having a phenomenal season and ranks among the top three Bruins MVPs. He has a sparkling 25-7-6 record, and only one of his regulation losses has come at TD Garden. If the Bruins are able to return to the Stanley Cup Final after last season's heartbreak, you can bet Rask will play a major role in that success.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172094 Boston Bruins

'Persistent' Jake DeBrusk snaps 10-game slump with game-winner vs. Tampa

By Joe Haggerty March 04, 2020 11:10 AM

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Jake DeBrusk was in the midst of 10 games without a single point headed into Tuesday night’s big showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

There was nary an empty net goal or secondary assist in almost the entire month of February and to make matters worse, the top-6 winger was a minus-6 during that stretch of futility as well. So he wasn’t really getting the job done at either end of the ice.

But DeBrusk showed he can still come up big in important spots by stepping up and scoring the game-winning goal in Boston’s 2-1 win over the Lightning at Amalie Arena.

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The score snapped his 10-game slump and energized his game while adopting a third line left wing role alongside Charlie Coyle since the NHL trade deadline brought in both Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase from the Anaheim Ducks.

The goal also improved the Bruins' regular-season record when DeBrusk scores to an incredible 48-5-1. Boston has won 11 straight games — and 15 of the last 16 — when DeBrusk lights the lamp (H/T @bostonsportsinf & #TheStatsCorner).

More importantly, his coach thought he was doing the things the right way, an indicator his overall game is headed to a good place for the foreseeable future.

“I thought he was good. It was nice to see [him score] when you play the right way and you’re on pucks and chipping behind them, and not getting ridden out of the play easily. He was persistent,” said Bruce Cassidy. “Even that [scoring play] on another night he goes down and doesn’t get up. On some nights we’ve seen Jake get frustrated. He stuck with it and he got rewarded in the end. I thought that line was excellent and [Chris Wagner] did a nice job.

“They were making some plays and stayed out of trouble in their own end. At his age, scoring matters and I’m glad he got it playing the right way.”

Haggerty: DeBrusk came up big when B's needed it most

It was a bit of a broken play where DeBrusk showed his skating speed by beating Zach Bogosian to the puck, and then displayed some needed tenacity by fighting through Bogosian earning a delayed penalty while attempting to slow down him before the B’s winger ultimately lifted home the breakaway goal.

DeBrusk looked like he had the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders postgame as it was clear the frustration of going scoreless was getting to him.

“When it goes in the net it’s always a nice feeling. I hadn’t seen that in a while, so my play was kind of nice [against Tampa] overall. That’s the way I want to be with speed and effort, and it was nice to contribute in that time of the game against that team,” said DeBrusk. “Hopefully I get hot at the right time. That’s one of the main things. Overall mentally it’s a matter of sticking with it and grinding it out and understanding that these things do happen. It’s just a matter of limiting [the cold stretches] obviously.”

DeBrusk has shown in the past that he can keep his play elevated for long periods of time once he gets it up there after a prolonged slump. The Bruins hope this is one of those times as they could certainly use DeBrusk playing the right way and scoring in bunches from his role as one of the secondary offense guys on the Black and Gold.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172095 Buffalo Sabres

Amerks open big week with a loss to the Comets

By Staff

A big week for the got off to a rough start Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena.

Facing their two closest rivals in the North Division of the in three games this week, the second-place Amerks fell to the third-place Utica Comets, 3-1. Utica is now only two points behind the Amerks.

Rochester has two games ahead at first-place Belleville on Friday and Saturday.

Sven Baertschi’s 13th goal of the season snapped a 1-1 tie at 14:58 of the third period and sent the Comets on to victory. Carter Camper and Ashton Sautner assisted.

Williamsville native Justin Bailey, a former Buffalo Sabre and Amerk, assisted on Tyler Graovac’s empty-net goal with a minute left in regulation that sealed the victory.

Utica scored in the opening period with Stefan LeBlanc getting his second of the season at 15:53 with John Stevens assisting.

Taylor Leier’s ninth of the season tied it for on the power play at 5:43 of the second period. Jean-Sebastien Dea had his 22nd assist and Jacob Bryson his 20th on Leier’s goal.

Rochester outshot the Comets, 37-27, for the game including a 17-8 margin in the second period.

Michael DiPietro had 36 saves in goal for Utica. Andrew Hammond had 24 for

Rochester.

The Amerks are 3-3 with an overtime loss against Utica this season.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172096 Buffalo Sabres for us to go back over there because it’s going to help grow our game and you want to see a best-on-best tournament."

The NHL does not plan to schedule preseason games in China next Jack Eichel, Ralph Krueger hope NHL participates in 2022 Winter season because of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Additionally, the Olympics health crisis caused the IIHF to cancel six world championship tournaments scheduled for this month and April.

By Lance Lysowski Its top annual events – the men's world championship scheduled for May in and women's world championship in Canada next month – have not been affected.

Jack Eichel treasures every moment that he's represented the United Switzerland's top professional league has postponed its playoffs after its States on the international stage. final regular-season qualifying rounds were held in empty arenas. It's likely too soon for the coronavirus outbreak to have an impact on the The Buffalo Sabres' 23-year-old captain competed in the USA Hockey NHL's potential participation at the 2022 Winter Olympics. National Team Development Program, won a gold medal at the Under- 18s, captained the country at the Under-20 world juniors and has Michael Frolik was only 10 years old when the NHL first participated in competed in three world championships. the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, yet the Sabres winger recently recalled in vivid detail how 70,000 people gathered in Prague's Eichel, however, has yet to realize his dream of competing in the Winter Old Town Square to watch former Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek lead the Olympics. to a gold medal. The remains reluctant to have its athletes Frolik, who later earned the nickname "Baby Jagr" because he grew up compete in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, despite receiving verbal in the same Czech town as Jaromir Jagr, idolized players and was assurances from the International Federation that address inspired by their magical run that included a championship win over some of the issues that prevented the league from participating in 2018. Russia. During his news conference with reporters at the NHL All-Star Game in Frolik represented the Czech Republic at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, St. Louis, Commissioner Gary Bettman called the event "extraordinarily when they lost in the quarterfinals. disruptive" because the league must shut down for two weeks every four years. While he and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly have expressed "To be able to be there with all the athletes in the same area, you can pessimism, players around the league are hoping for a solution. meet them, it was a very cool experience," said Frolik, now 32. "Growing up, I was obviously watching Nagano when we won. It was something "I would love to," Eichel said. "Obviously, not going in 2018, but I take a special. It’s a big deal back home. For me, I would definitely like to play in lot of pride in playing for the United States and representing the country. that tournament. Hopefully they figure out a way to do that." It’s the only stage I haven’t represented the United States and USA Hockey on. Frolik, though, acknowledged the challenges that come with an extended NHL break, even for those who compete in the Olympic Games. "It’s a dream of mine. I’m sure it’s a dream of anybody’s who has a lot of pride in where they’re from. I think it would be great." Sabres coach Ralph Krueger brings a different perspective. He participated in four Olympic Games, three as coach of Switzlerand and According to the Associated Press, the NHL and its players' association one as a consultant for Canada in Sochi. Success at those tournaments attended a January meeting in New York where IIHF president Rene helped grow the game at a grassroots level in Switzerland, which did not Fasel addressed a number of concerns, including players' travel and have a player in the NHL when Krueger became its coach in 1997. insurance costs. Krueger said it is important to have the world's best players at the event, While the verbal concessions appeared to be a significant step toward a despite the obstacles. solution, the NHL's scheduling concerns remain. "First and foremost, anything that develops the game internationally, for The NHL participated in five consecutive Olympic Games until 2018, me, is a win," Krueger said. "The game of hockey has come so far in the when owners opposed having their players go to PyeongChang because last decade that it would be nice to show the world. Because you get so of the 17-day break and injury risk. An average of 141 players attended many eyes on you that you’ll never get outside of the Olympic Games. ... the previous events. John Tavares, Aleksander Barkov and Henrik It’s amazing to be a part of that and to see what’s possible through the Zetterberg suffered significant injuries at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. vehicle of sports and how people can work together no matter The International Olympic Committee also informed the NHL it would no backgrounds and all of that enriches and deepens the way a player longer pay for the league's participation costs associated with travel, approaches. insurance and accommodations for the players and their guests. "Would I love to see our top players there? Of course, because I know it’s Though Fasel insisted the IIHF would cover those costs in 2018, Bettman a great experience. But I know there are business decisions to be made, balked at the idea because that could take funds away from important too, and it’s going to fall with everything being weighed. I’m weighing grassroots programs. more the sports and the emotional side of it, where I see nothing but wins." The Beijing Olympics present the league with an opportunity to grow the game's popularity in China. Buffalo News LOADED: 03.05.2020

Last April, the NHL opened a satellite office in Beijing as it works to expand its presence in the country, and the league held two preseason games in the country over each of the previous two seasons. Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin was dispatched to the country in August to serve as an ambassador for the league.

"I don’t think there’s a better opportunity to market this game internationally than that stage," Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, the team's NHLPA representative, said. "It’s obviously a tough thing. I do understand where the owners are coming from, not wanting your players going over there midseason, but we always talk about growing the game.

"I do get it. I don’t want Jack going over there getting hurt, so for our team, you are selfish that you don’t want your best players going over there and possibly having an injury. But on a global scale – and I’m sure Jack would say this – if you can play in the Olympics, you’re going to play in the Olympics. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. ... I am definitely rooting 1172097 Buffalo Sabres Dryden brothers trading sticks in the handshake line after Ken Dryden’s Montreal Canadiens eliminated Dave Dryden’s Sabres in the 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Dave Schofield's picture-perfect shot captured iconic moment in Sabres Schofield credits Wieland with opening a door to his career. Wieland, history who went on to teach journalism at St. Bonaventure, is known for a generous spirit and for giving young people a start in the sports biz.

By Erik Brady “Look, I’m no hero here,” Wieland says. “I’m a visual guy. I understand good composition. And I could see right away that Dave had the eye.”

As it happens, Schofield also had an eye for a student at D’Youville Dave Schofield remembers the precise moment. Photographers always College. He met Pat – now his wife of 48 years – at the Armory tavern on do. the day the Miracle Mets won the 1969 World Series. They moved in the mid-1970s to the Jersey Shore, where he taught English and coached He was standing where the Buffalo Sabres would come out of their locker soccer at St. Rose High School in Belmar, while still shooting photos on room at the Aud in the early 1970s when he spotted a small boy in a the side. Sabres uniform standing inside the players’ gate. Just then, Sabres captain Gerry Meehan emerged from the locker room and walked over to Schofield was a frequent visitor to Buffalo over the decades as the color the boy. Meehan said a quick hello, then headed off to the ice. commentator on radio broadcasts of Canisius men’s basketball games. The drive to Buffalo was 400 miles – and 10 miles to conference rival “I shot two frames,” Schofield says, “and right away I thought I had Monmouth – and he figures he pounded two Toyotas and a pair of something.” Hondas into submission while he patrolled the Metro Atlantic Athletic Yes, he did. The Sabres now are in the midst of their 50th season, and Conference for 25 years. Schofield’s photo remains among the most famous in franchise history. On Saturday, Canisius honored Schofield and his brother, Jim, who lives “That delights me,” he says, “but always surprises me.” in Syracuse and rarely misses Canisius men’s basketball games in Buffalo. The brothers were dual recipients of the Rev. Paul J. Dugan Schofield, who’s 72, couldn’t be sure he had something until the next Award, which is given to individuals who aren’t eligible for the college’s day. He worked the game that night for the Sabres and then drove to the Sports Hall of Fame, but whose efforts have significantly benefited darkroom at to develop the negatives. Canisius athletics.

“I left them to dry and went home. The next day I came back to do the “Doesn’t qualify for the Sports Hall of Fame – that’s me in a nutshell,” contact sheets. I looked at what I had and thought, ‘Hey, that’s pretty Schofield says. cool. I like that.’ ” Ah, but he does qualify for the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame, His photograph resonates across half a century because it captures which is housed in Foley’s Pub in midtown Manhattan, across the street something universal about the mythic pull of heroes. from the Empire State Building. He is that hall’s official photographer – and in 2014 was inducted as a member of the class that included David Who is this little Sabres fan? Is it you? Cone, who once pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees. The boy looks wonderingly up. The captain looks benevolently down. Dave Schofield once snapped a perfect photo. And chances are it will still And a security officer – the late Art Starks as a one-man Greek chorus, be remembered 50 years from now, when the Sabres celebrate their standing in for all of us – smiles serenely behind them. centennial season. Coke would later sell pop with a similar scenario. Mean Joe Greene sees Buffalo News LOADED: 03.05.2020 a kid in the tunnel on the way to the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room. “Hey, kid ... catch,” Greene says as he tosses the kid his jersey. The ad remains a classic 40 years later.

People often tell Schofield his photo reminds them of that commercial.

“I’ve heard it a million times,” he says, laughing. “Maybe I’m owed royalties.”

The Meehan photo was taken during the 1972-73 season and appears in the Sabres’ 1973-74 media guide. Schofield was in his first full season shooting freelance photos for the Sabres during that 1972-73 season. He had started shooting games a year earlier, when he was still a student at Canisius College. And how a college kid ended up shooting Sabres games is a feel-good story from an era when the Braves and Sabres were expansion babies.

Schofield played soccer at Canisius and injured his knee. The newborn Braves were practicing at the Koessler Athletic Center, and their trainer, Ray Melchiorre, saw Schofield limping. Melchiorre invited him downtown for treatment. When Schofield got to the Aud, he took his Nikon FTn inside with him because he didn’t want to leave a new camera in his car.

By the time Schofield’s treatment was done, he realized the Sabres were playing. So he stopped to watch from a perch behind the red seats and decided to shoot the three rolls of film he had in his bag. The next day, he dropped them off for Paul Wieland, the Sabres’ director of public relations, with a note asking if he would critique the photos.

Wieland called back a few days later. He wanted to buy five photos at $20 a pop, and he invited Schofield to work with Bob Shaver, the legendary photographer, who also shot for the Sabres.

“I could not have asked for anything in the world better than that,” Schofield says. “Bob Shaver is the best there ever was, and he took me under his wing.”

The Hockey Hall of Fame holds 100,000 of Shaver’s photos in its collection. Schofield had one hanging in the Hall for a while. It is of the 1172098 Buffalo Sabres Lawrence Pilut

53.2

How the performances of Sabres defensemen have changed under 42.1 Ralph Krueger Zach Bogosian

48.9 By Joe Yerdon Mar 4, 2020 14 45.8

Marco Scandella When we looked at the Sabres before the season started, the defense was a major concern. Even with an overload of defensemen, how they 46.4 would handle things in another new system under another new coach 52.9 was a worry. Poor defensive play and stacked up chances against were an earmark of the Sabres the past few seasons. What sticks out hardest is how much Pilut and Brandon Montour have struggled to be on the right side of the shot attempt counter. Pilut has If there is one area where this year’s team has done particularly well at 5- been tasked with more defensive zone starts and Montour has played a on-5, it is in limiting opportunities against. Via NaturalStatTrick.com, the lot of games on the left-hand side (he’s a righty shot). It would be Sabres are ninth in the NHL in high-danger chances against. The other distressing about Ristolainen’s numbers except he’s often counted upon side of that, however, is that they’ve allowed 80 high-danger goals to help defend leads late. Still, a two percent drop is alarming. against, which ties them with Vegas for 20th place. Their high-danger save percentage is fifth-worst in the NHL. The defense has mostly done Even though he’s often a fan pariah, McCabe has improved a bit on the its job, while goaltending has not. We saw plenty of that during their 0-4-0 shot differential, although part of that is thanks to Jokiharju’s arrival. disaster of a four-game road trip that ended with a 3-1 loss in Winnipeg That’s also a reason for Scandella’s improvement year to year, although Tuesday. he’s continued on that road with Montreal and now St. Louis. We all know how tough the beginning of the season was for Dahlin, but the fact he’s It may seem hard to believe at times, but the defense has been better, over 50 percent and earning more ice time as the season goes says particularly compared to last season under . whatever was causing him to struggle early is for the most part gone.

Let’s take a look at shot attempts-for (CorsiFor percentage), expected Expected goals goals-for percentage (xGF%), high-danger chances against (HDCA) and high-danger goals against (HDGA) per 60 minutes. I’m using these I get that this is a stat that seems philosophical in nature. “If a goal is because the numbers will paint a picture of the individual play in their expected, why doesn’t it go in, genius,” you might ask. Goalies still play a own end and how it helps contribute (or doesn’t) to team success. It also part, as does dumb and bad luck, but basically it’s a measure of the (mostly) helps alleviate average time on-ice disparities, although quality of chances. The better the chances – which in this case also Lawrence Pilut’s body of work this season hasn’t been much. factor in shot quality and distance to the net – the higher the expectation of a goal. I know advanced stats may turn you some of you off and make you want to scream “Watch the game, dork!” at me. Trust me, I’m watching the Sabres Expected GoalsFor Percentage games same as you are, but taking a deeper look at what makes a team Rasmus Ristolainen function (or malfunction) is part of the forensics needed to see what the hell is going on here. If you’re unfamiliar, our Charlie O’Connor has an 48.1 excellent primer to check out. 45.3 Since I’m looking at who has (or hasn’t) improved, we’ll stick to the players who have been here both seasons. That means you won’t see Rasmus Dahlin Henri Jokiharju and Colin Miller on here or Nathan Beaulieu. Zach 51.1 Bogosian and Marco Scandella will be part of this even though they’ve since moved on. 46.6

Shots Jake McCabe

Shot attempts while the player on ice helps show who is staying busy 48.5 controlling the puck in their end. After all, the best way to play defense is make sure the opponent doesn’t have it. If your team is firing more shots 50.3 at the opponent when you’re out there, that would indicate you’re helping Brandon Montour do your part to make it happen. One thing that definitely happened under Phil Housley was the team shot the puck more. The CF% shows that. 52.6

Sabres CorsiFor Percentage 45.7

Rasmus Ristolainen Lawrence Pilut

47.9 52.5

45.9 39.9

Rasmus Dahlin Zach Bogosian

51.9 47.6

50.4 42.8

Jake McCabe Marco Scandella

48.9 41.3

50.6 53.6

Brandon Montour Much like with shots, expected goals results have mostly been a bit worse off. Dahlin and Pilut, for example, are on ice for better 54.5 opportunities against them compared to the shot attempts. The Sabres 47.6 haven’t created a lot of offense this season as a whole and that bears out in how the defense starts things up. Once again, it’s McCabe standing out as one of the guys who has improved in areas under Krueger. That's 0.71 interesting because Housley leaned on McCabe due to their history dating back to the World Junior Championships. Zach Bogosian

High danger chances and goals 1.5

Goaltending plays a major part in this in respect to goals, but the Sabres 1.56 defense under Housley always seemed to be under fire and often in Marco Scandella disarray thanks to the man-to-man and zone hybrid Housley employed. Krueger’s concepts have calmed things down: 1.58

Sabres HD Chances Against per 60 minutes 1.5

Rasmus Ristolainen Everyone but Dahlin and Pilut had issues keeping the goals down per-60 last season, but this year it’s McCabe standing out poorly. Comparing 11.2 that with the few chances allowed is a fascinating difference and 10.6 probably a good reason why fans get the knives out for him quickly. Same could’ve been said for Scandella this season as well, but he’s Rasmus Dahlin gone and likely forgotten.

10.5 How Ristolainen’s numbers have improved in regards to goals against helps lean into the belief he’s tough to deal with down low. It’d be curious 10.6 to see how these numbers would shake out differently if the goaltending Jake McCabe in these situations hasn’t been so poor, but I digress.

10.5 Summary

9.4 It’s wild to see how different things are compared to last year and there are so many asterisks (read: excuses) to be thrown around. Players Brandon Montour learning yet another new system, injuries, lack of consistent pairings, players not playing their strong side, etc. But if there’s a strong take from 10 this it’s that the defense is improving in the actual defense part of the job. 10.6 The sacrifices to the offense are clear, but that becomes an argument over whether that’s because of the lack of scoring talent up front or not. Lawrence Pilut The Sabres' season motto has been to “play connected” and when they 8.64 are connected things click well. But once something is disjointed…well, we’ve seen plenty of that. The defensemen you can work with do stick 7.4 out and the ones that struggle do as well. Addressing those areas will be Zach Bogosian vital in the offseason.

11.3 The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020

10.4

Marco Scandella

12.4

9.1

The high-danger chances are down for nearly every returning player. We’ve gotten a big sample of Montour’s work this season but it’s a good question whether playing off his strong side has had more of an effect on that. Pilut’s numbers are affected by the fewer games and minutes so take those with the proper grain of salt. It’s in this area where McCabe and Scandella stand out. When they’ve been on the ice, chances in the high-danger areas have been fewer. But when it comes to goals, things get funky:

Sabres HD Goals-Against per 60 minutes

Rasmus Ristolainen

1.56

1.33

Rasmus Dahlin

1.32

1.35

Jake McCabe

1.49

1.62

Brandon Montour

1.61

1.32

Lawrence Pilut

1.35 1172099 Calgary Flames But, instead, they improved to 15-12-4 at the Saddledome — a place where they have only recorded two wins in eight chances since the NHL all-star break. Their last victory was on Feb. 17 an eventual 6-4 win over Flames flip home script on visiting Blue Jackets the Anaheim Ducks which saw them down 3-1 going into the third period.

“They were really composed,” Ward continued. “They weren’t frustrated, they weren’t down. They were working for their next shift. And that’s Kristen Anderson, Postmedia what’s needed at this time of the year. We’ve really got to have a present focus. If you’re worried about what happened the last couple shifts,

you’re probably not where you need to be. If you are looking ahead too Since the Calgary Flames arrived back in the city, it had been a sore far, you’re probably not where you need to be. subject. “I thought the guys did a good job of staying focused on the bench and When brought up or questioned for the umpteenth time, it was finding solutions for each other and staying with the process.” immediately dismissed because, don’t you already know? The answers One home game down, only 10 more to go. are obvious. With the victory, the Flames improved to 35-26-7 overall with 77 points, The Flames on the road? Dominant. sitting firmly planted third in the Pacific Division behind the Edmonton The Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome? Not so dominant. Oilers and ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.

Yes. They know. They get it already. “We’re desperate right now,” said Flames captain Mark Giordano. “We know where we are in the standings … The effort was there all night. I That’s what made Wednesday’s 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the think sometimes it doesn’t look as good from up top, because the other Columbus Blue Jackets — their first of a five-game homestand — so team is doing a pretty good job out there too. much better. “I thought they were really good with their details, their sticks, turning “I think there has been such an emphasis being talked about how we pucks over in the neutral zone.” can’t play at home,” interim head coach Geoff Ward said when asked of the impact of picking up a dub-ya in their own building. “How we suck at Tkachuk, by the way, had absorbed a shot from Zach Werenski on the home. How terrible we are at home. That’s all we’ve been hearing around inside of his right knee during the first period. It looked problematic as home for a while now … ” Tkachuk hobbled to the boards and down the tunnel briefly. But he missed very little game action and played the remainder of the game, And from the onset, it looked like history was going to repeat itself. albeit skating gingerly at times.

Instead, Matthew Tkachuk struck with 1:43 remaining in the third period “We’re finding different ways to win,” Tkachuk said. “We’re playing with a with an extra attacker on the ice to knot the score 2-2 when he tipped lead or we’re coming from behind and played some good hockey on that Mark Giordano’s shot. That added to the late surge by the Flames which road trip. Our confidence, it’s not sky-high, it never should be, I mean, had been ignited by Elias Lindholm’s 29th goal of the season. you should be confident but you can’t be just expecting to play any type of game and win. Then, against the limping Blue Jackets, the unexplainable happened. “You have to go in there and expect that if you play your game you’re and Sean Monahan worked the puck during overtime, going to win, I think we’re confident and if we play the way we want to tuckering out their opponents and netminder Joonas Korpisalo just play that we’re going to come out with victories more often than not.” enough for TJ Brodie to capitalize on a loose puck and score the winner. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.05.2020 “Yeah, well, it’s big,” Tkachuk said. “We haven’t been too good at home, so it’s important for us to get that first win and to come back after a tough road trip where we got some wins. It’s important for us to come and take care of business at home, which we haven’t done as-of-late, but hopefully we can turn it around.

“This is a big month with a lot of home games.”

Eleven of their remaining 15 games are at home, in fact.

So, forgive us for starting to write the same story when the Blue Jackets scored on the first shot they sent towards Flames starter Cam Talbot, a blooper that slipped through his right pad and Devin Shore’s first goal with his new squad.

A few minutes later, a pass by Mikael Backlund at centre ice was intercepted by Pierre-Luc Dubois and sent the puck back into Calgary’s zone. That created a two-on-oh situation between Nick Foligno and Gustav Nyquist. Talbot played the passer and couldn’t get across the net fast enough to stop Nyquist.

All of a sudden, the Blue Jackets had a two-goal lead with 11:20 elapsed in the game. That meant there was 48:40 left to mount a comeback.

It didn’t look possible until Lindholm flipped the script and the momentum turned completely. Then, Talbot left his net with 2:25 remaining and, seconds later, the Flames found themselves with an offensive zone face- off with an extra attacker. Shortly after that, the Flames made a game out of it when Tkachuk scored.

Interesting, because until that point they showed signs of the same old, same old.

Their numbers were fascinating up until then as they’d trailed in takeaways, hits, and blocked shots and were leading in giveaways. Hardly the direct style of game Ward had preached about earlier in the week during their first practice back after a successful five-game road trip that saw them claim seven of a possible 10 points. 1172100 Calgary Flames Lucic had mentioned Boychuk’s injury to Ward earlier in the day, as Ward was on the Bruins’ coaching staff back then.

“Johnny has a (good) sense of humour … he bounces back,” Ward said. Flames Notebook: 300 NHL games ... and counting for Derek Ryan “He’s a tough competitor. He’s a tough player and thank goodness the skate didn’t hit his eye.”

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia HAMONIC MAKING PROGRESS

Travis Hamonic took another step in the right direction of his recovery, skating for the first time with the rest of the team. There are days when Derek Ryan has to pinch himself. Decked out in a yellow no-contact jersey (and yellow socks), the Flames That the 33-year-old married father of two remembers he gets to play defender was moving around without visible signs of an upper-body hockey for a living. injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 8.

That he is skating in the best league in the world after a winding journey “The next thing for him will be a full practice,” Ward said. “We’ll see how that has led him from Spokane in the to he gets through that and then we can move on from there. To have him Kalamazoo, to the University of Alberta, to Europe, to Charlotte in the back with our team is good not only from a player-standpoint, but he’s an American Hockey League. important part of our leadership group and a veteran presence.”

To the Carolina Hurricanes. ICE CHIPS

To the Calgary Flames. Wednesday was newcomers Derek Forbort and Erik Gustafsson’s first home game at Scotiabank Saddledome … Flames scratched D Michael Wednesday — Ryan’s 300th NHL game — was one of those days, Stone, D Oliver Kylington, and C Zac Rinaldo … The Flames held a although he explained that it felt like any other. moment of silence before Wednesday’s game in support of the “It’s a nice milestone, for sure,” Ryan said. “Something we can cherish, devastating tornado that ripped through Nashville. my family and I … this is a dream I worked really hard at and longer than Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.05.2020 most to get to. I was just cruising on Facebook and it was the anniversary of when I scored my first goal in my first game. I had those videos and comments popping up.

“It’s just moments like that which make you realize, ‘Wow, here I am. This is pretty cool.’”

Heading into his 300th contest, the centre had scored 51 goals and 85 assists since breaking into the NHL at age 29 back during the 2015-16 campaign.

Every stop along the way is meaningful, including the most unique of his stops — Szekeshfehervar Alba Volan HC.

But for Ryan, his longevity is impressive.

“Especially with how late he arrived on the NHL scene after biding his time in Europe and University hockey,” pointed out Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward. “The path he’s had and how he’s been able to have success this long, it’s great.”

Ryan is grateful for every step of the way.

“That’s his character,” Ward said. “He understands what he needs to do to stay here (in the NHL). He’s a guy that’s extremely prepared, he’s a pro, he’s a team guy-first. He knows where he fits in on our team and he’ll do whatever he has to to help the team win. You win with guys like him.

“He’s been an important part of our team for a couple years now.”

CONCERN FOR FRIEND

As soon as Milan Lucic found out, he sent Johnny Boychuk a message.

The two are extremely close, having won a Stanley Cup together with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and to see that one of his best friends had nearly lost his eye after Artturi Lehkonen’s skate blade clipped him in the face Tuesday during their 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

To Lucic’s surprise, Boychuk texted him back immediately.

“I said, ‘How ya doing?’” Lucic said. “He wrote back, ‘Jack Sparrow.’ If you know Johnny, that’s Johnny.”

Truth be told, Lucic was ensuring his friend didn’t suffer any serious damage to his eye.

“His initial response to me was that he was OK and that he could see and all that type of stuff, it was a relief for me,” Lucic said. “It was a relief for his family, I’m sure, his wife and his kids, that it wasn’t more serious than it is. Now, it’s just resting and letting it all heal up.”

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters Wednesday that Boychuk would make a recovery and needed 90 small stitches. 1172101 Calgary Flames THIS N’ THAT

The last time these teams met? Back on Nov. 2 at Columbus when Rittich made 43 saves in a 3-0 Flames victory. Sean Monahan, Sam Game Day: Flames vs. Blue Jackets — The homestand begins Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk recorded the goals … The Flames are on a three-game win streak against the Blue Jackets, having out-scored them 16-8 in that span, dating back to last year’s wild 9-6 road victory on Kristen Anderson, Postmedia Dec. 4. They also beat them 4-2 at home on March 19 … RW Lindholm notched his 200th career assist in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Florida

Panthers … Wednesday is Derek Ryan’s 300th NHL game … G Cam WEDNESDAY Talbot has started 289 NHL contests.

Calgary Flames (34-27-7) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-21-14) FLAMES’ PROJECTED LINEUP

6:30 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, /Sportsnet Forwards West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm THE BIG MATCHUP Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Matthew Tkachuk Flames G vs. Himself Milan Lucic – Derek Ryan – Dillon Dube We’re speculating here, considering Flames interim head coach Geoff Sam Bennett – Mark Jankowski – Tobias Rieder Ward had not confirmed his goaltender for Wednesday’s game. But David Rittich was in the starter’s net during Tuesday’s practice, which is Defence a pretty good indicator of the No. 1 guy. And while Cam Talbot was unbelievable in Sunday’s 3-0 victory at Florida, his second shutout of the Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie season, and has arguably deserved another start, there are good Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson reasons to put Rittich in to kick off the Flames’ five-game homestand. Rittich needs to regain his confidence at Scotiabank Saddledome, having Derek Forbort – Erik Gustafsson not recorded a victory since Dec. 12. They’ll need him to show composure and find some of his early-season consistency on home ice if Goaltenders the Flames want to be a playoff team. Cam Talbot

FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME David Rittich

THEY’RE BAAAACK BLUE JACKETS’ PROJECTED LINEUP

The Flames return to Calgary after a five-game road trip and are on Forwards home ice for five straight. And they better get used to it because 11 of their last 15 regular-season games are at Scotiabank Saddledome. It’s Gustav Nyquist – Boone Jenner – Nick Foligno no secret their home record has been suboptimal this season, going 14- Alexander Wennberg – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Emil Bemstrom 12-4 with one win in their last seven home games. The road to the National Hockey League post-season will, most definitely, have to go Eric Robinson – Riley Nash – Kevin Stenlund through Calgary and if they want a long spring, they’ll have to figure out how to keep it simple in their own rink. Jakob Lilja – Devin Shore – Stefan Matteau

LINEUP NOTES Defence

RW Elias Lindholm missed practice Tuesday for a maintenance day Zach Werenski – Ryan Murray although Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward indicated it was nothing Vladislav Gavrikov – David Savard to be concerned about … Forward Sam Bennett skated in his place while winger Zac Rinaldo took Bennett’s position on the fourth line … The Scott Harrington – Andrew Peeke Flames lineup, otherwise, was unchanged from their 3-0 win over the Panthers on Sunday … G David Rittich was in the starter’s net during Goaltenders Tuesday’s practice — a sure sign that he could be Wednesday’s starter. Joonas Korpisalo Ward, however, wouldn’t confirm but it would be a logical assumption that Rittich would start, in an effort to have him gain more confidence on Matiss Kivlenieks home ice. His last victory at the Saddledome? Dec. 12 when the Flames beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 … making it six straight losses at home INJURIES for Rittich and one game which saw him yanked in an eventual 8-4 loss Blue Jackets — G Elvis Merzlikins (concussion), C Nathan Gerbe (groin), to the Chicago Blackhawks. RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (ankle surgery), RW Cam Atkinson (ankle), RW HAMONIC CLOSE? Josh Anderson (shoulder surgery), D Seth Jones (fractured ankle), C Brandon Dubinsky (wrist), D Dean Kukan (knee), LW Alexandre Texier Travis Hamonic took an important step in the return from an upper-body (back). injury. The 29-year-old Flames rearguard has been out of the lineup since Feb. 8 when he awkwardly went into the boards during the team’s Flames — D Travis Hamonic (upper body), D Juuso Valimaki (knee) 6-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks. According to Ward, Hamonic SPECIAL TEAMS began skating on his own since the Flames departed for their five-game road trip. “Right now, I would say he’s getting closer to practising with the Power play (prior to Monday’s action) team,” said Ward. “He’s still a ways away but he’s close.” Blue Jackets: 16.9% (25th, 31-for-183) ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS Flames: 20.9% (14th, 39-of-187) Wednesday’s game is the start of a three-game Western Canadian road trip that also sees the Blue Jackets stop in Edmonton on Saturday and Penalty kill (prior to Saturday’s action) Vancouver Sunday … Their final game will be a rematch of a 5-3 come- Blue Jackets: 81.1% (13th) from-behind win on March 1 which saw the Blue Jackets down two goals in the third period at Nationwide Arena … Sunday saw the return of Ryan Flames: 82.2% (7th) Murray, who missed 34 games due to a back injury and hadn’t seen game action since Dec. 14 … It was their first regulation win since Feb. 7 Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.05.2020 … C Ryan MacInnis, son of former Flames blueliner Al, was recalled from Cleveland to fill in for injured Nathan Gerbe. 1172102 Calgary Flames This year, all six goalies have mostly been healthy, which means two in Calgary, two in Stockton and two in Kansas City, with everybody splitting starts.

Goalie trafficker, talent miner, travel agent: AGM Brad Pascall wears “The year we had 13, it was just a comedy of errors. One after the other many hats after the other. We were in a situation where we needed goalies at all levels. It was incredible. We were pulling goalies from everywhere,” Pascall recalled. “This year, we’re in a good place — knock on wood — By Darren Haynes Mar 4, 2020 that we have six goalies under NHL contracts.” No accessing of the EBUG list has been needed.

Goaltender trafficker, miner, chaser, that’s just one of the many duties of Will play goal for pizza. a minor league general manager. It sounds like the punchline to a “You know you’re a hockey player” joke, In his sixth season as the Flames assistant general manager, Pascall yet occasionally in the minor leagues, that’s literally how you get paid. took some time to chat about other aspects of his job responsibilities. Say David Rittich goes down during the morning skate with an injury and Constant roster juggling Calgary immediately calls up Jon Gillies from the American Hockey League. But Stockton is only carrying two goalies. What if the Heat play “Hey, anytime you’re in the American League, you’re always trying to that night and there’s not enough time to fly in an under-contract guy like manage rosters. You want to have extra players, but you don’t want to Nick Schneider or Tyler Parsons from the ECHL? have too many. If you’re playing back-to-back games, you want to make sure that if there’s a call-up and an injury that you don’t get embarrassed That’s when you tap into the EBUG list, which by now you know — and get stuck with nine or 10 forwards, so it’s a balancing act.” thanks to Zamboni driver David Ayers’ brush with fame — is short for emergency backup goaltender. In the AHL, it’s a universal list maintained A couple of times throughout a season, the press releases will come out primarily by the goaltender coaches. stating that Stockton has signed a player, or two, or three to a tryout.

“It’s goalies you may need in case of a pinch,” Flames assistant general “You’re in a situation where you’re going to be playing your young guys, manager Brad Pascall explains, who oversees operations of Calgary’s your own guys, your contract guys, but you always need players to fill in, AHL affiliate. whether there are players sick or hurt or called-up. You don’t have a 100 players under contract. You always need players to fill in. You need to “So like a guy that is an accountant in San Jose, who is willing to drive to rely on your ECHL affiliate. In our case, Kansas City, helping sign players Stockton. You have a list of those types of guys. There’s a smattering of for them. Helping recruit players that you want and will need at some them throughout California, guys in different professions, who played point during the year and know that they can help you.” goalie at one point, who you could bring in.” How small of a roster has he ever gone into a game with? The catch is if they’re not playing pro hockey, there are guidelines to how you compensate them. “One goalie, for sure. I haven’t been stuck with zero goalies yet which is a positive sign,” Pascall says with a chuckle. “I’d say six defencemen and “If they’re deemed an amateur, they’re signed to an American League 10 forwards would be the lowest we’ve ever gone. But, my job is to amateur tryout (ATO), so essentially it’s per diem and a slice of pizza,” manage that. You always have to ensure that you have the proper Pascall said with a chuckle. personnel there. Primarily it’s our personnel, but you need other guys Well, hopefully it’s at least two slices and the pie is meat lovers or the that are going to wear the jersey for you and compete for you. house special, because seriously, who is strapping on the pads for a The ongoing search for hidden gems slice of plain cheese? “There’s an art form to finding depth players and looking at depth players “Those guys are doing us a favour, so you’re picking up their gas money and have guys that you eventually either sign to an American League so they have a few bucks in their jeans for the effort. You always try to contract, or you’re always looking for guys out there that eventually may take care of them.” turn into an NHL contract for you and be one of your top prospects If they’re journeymen already playing pro somewhere, typically in the through this process. And those players come along. We had Rob ECHL, but are not on an NHL or AHL deal, then they would be signed to Hamilton, a guy playing in the ECHL. We brought him in on a PTO and a pro tryout (PTO) and earn a pro-rated salary. It might be just for one signed him to a two-year American League deal and he continues to play day and be a nominal amount, but at least it’s actual dollars. That list well. There are guys that come up and play a weekend and then there maintained by the Flames is updated each year by Stockton’s goaltender are guys like Rob who come up and play for almost two years for you on coach, which currently is Thomas Speer, who joined the club last a full-time basis and in a top role.” summer. A frequenter of all the arenas on the AHL circuit, Pascall enjoys the thrill Speer on the right during rookie camp. (Candice Ward / Calgary Flames) of the chase.

Speaking of Speer, the backup to the backup plan is the goaltender “My job is to go out and watch other American League games, whether coach straps on the gear. That guy was Scott Gouthro until 2015, Colin it’s out east or in the Midwest and really know the American League. So Zulianello through 2019, now it’s Speer. Making that contingency plan when it comes time where you’re signing guys in free agency or you’re that much more a last resort compared to past years is that according to looking to make a trade at the NHL level that might include some other Pascall, Speer hasn’t strapped on the pads for five or six years. The team’s prospects, it’s important to have a handle on those.” other guys at least played intermittently, be it in a men’s league or staff Being good in his job is really no different than being successful in many hockey. jobs — it’s all about networking. “We travel all over with their equipment with us. And if we ever got into a “It’s a great experience to really know players, know the names of pinch, I would quickly sign them to a professional tryout agreement and players, know the background of players, you contact all kinds of they would backup. There were a couple of times where Colin Zulianello coaches throughout the year. I talk to the Kansas City guys daily, you talk was out there in warmup, taking shots, and the players were loving it,” to other coaches in the ECHL. You really spread your wings in the way of Pascall said. “When he backed up during the game, I didn’t put him on knowing who’s out there and getting a pulse of who’s playing well, who’s the bench, I kept him in the dressing room, but we knew that god forbid if a young guy, a rookie that’s on a team in Kansas City or Tulsa or we had to put him in there, that he was available.” Wichita, that at some given time, you might have interest in and you think Of course, there’s a heavy dose of Murphy’s Law to Pascall’s job. he might turn into some sort of prospect for the organization.”

Back in 2015-16 when the club started the season with just Jonas Hiller, How quickly the wheels turn when there’s an injury in Calgary Karri Ramo, Joni Ortio and Gillies on NHL contracts, injuries in Calgary “Typically, within 5-10 minutes if we know it’s going to be any kind of and Stockton resulted in the organization churning through a lengthy list significance, I’ll get a text from Tree and/or our medical staff with an of stop-gap solutions between the pipes such as Kevin Poulin, Kent Simpson and Eric Hartzell. update. ‘Hey, be aware, I’ll call you after the period, but we might have to coach that follows up and says, you’re going to be playing tonight, be grab somebody.'” ready to go, or hey, you’re not playing, but you’re taking warmup. You want to give all the information to players as much as we can.” As an example, Flames defenceman Travis Hamonic got injured on Feb. 8 during a Saturday night game in Vancouver. Part-time travel agent

“We were in Iowa playing and I was watching when Hammer got hurt in “One thing about being in this job is you’re always aware of flight the second period,” Pascall recounted. “When something happens, Tree schedules everywhere. If we’re in San Diego playing, in case there’s a will get a report or will go down to the dressing room and he will either call-up or a send-down, you’re like what flights are there available to talk to me or shoot me a text. In this case, he knew I was down with the Calgary, same with Kansas City to Stockton or vice versa.” team. He alerted me that hey, looks like Hamonic may not return here. He’s getting evaluated. Just confirming what’s your schedule there. Same thing when the Flames are away from home. What’s happening? Everybody’s healthy? Just re-confirming that type of “When Calgary’s on the road, you always know where they are, what thing with me. their schedule is and know what commercial flights in and out of there “I told him I was watching, I saw the hit. No problem, this is where we’re that might match up with a call-up or a send-down. So you are a little bit at. So, we finished the game there and immediately started looking at of a travel agent.” flights.” Being prepared in that way means one less thing to worry about should In this case, Calgary was off the next day, playing next in San Jose on there be a situation. Monday, so there wasn’t quite the same level urgency. Although things “So if we’re playing back-to-back games and if somebody gets hurt, you still unfolded quickly the next morning to get the call-up on an afternoon always have that in the back of your mind, so you don’t have to scramble flight to San Francisco. last minute.”

“The next day (in which they played Iowa again in an afternoon game) we When are those San Francisco to Calgary morning flights? On queue, didn’t have a morning skate, we just had a meeting at the hotel. So I Pascall responds without hesitation. reconfirmed with Tree in the morning that yes, we’re going to bring up (Alexander) Yelesin.” “It changes seasonally and it changes per day, but sometimes there’s a 7:20 and at other times, there’s an 8 or an 8:10. So that’s typically what it Then it was time to deliver the good news. is, and once in a while, they don’t have the early morning one and they “At the meeting, I pulled him aside with Cail MacLean, our head coach, have just the 10:20.” and just let him now that he’s going up and this is why. For me, it’s He adds that there’s also a flight out of San Francisco at around 8 or 8:30 always: (a) celebrated, hey, good job, congrats, you’re going up. (b) Just pm that gets into Calgary just after midnight. But for injuries that happen confirming what’s the situation. In that case, Hamonic got hurt. Not sure during a game, it’s obviously too late for a call-up to catch that flight. of the severity, but Flames are off today and then play tomorrow and we need you there and be prepared to play.” When catching that first flight out, players will stay at the airport hotel, avoiding the need to navigate morning rush hour that turns the Stockton The behind-the-scene logistics of a call-up to San Francisco drive into a three-hour grind.

“After talking to Tree, it’s determining what player we’re going to bring up, Being a part-time meteorologist also comes with the territory. hanging up the phone, calling that player. Then talking to our team services manager, talking to our equipment manager. Our equipment “Weather is something else you look at, too, when we’re looking at manager goes to the rink, gets his equipment organized, his sticks all flights,” Pascall explained. “Should we put this guy through Chicago, or wrapped up. Team services manager books a car service. Gets him put them through Denver? What does the weather look like? So not only usually within an hour or two, and gets him going to San Francisco that are you a little bit of a travel agent, you’re a little bit of a weatherman, too. night and be in a hotel room there to take the first flight out in the Trying to predict the weather and see if the flight actually is going to be morning.” delayed or not, to make sure he gets to the destination if he’s getting called-up, whether it be to Calgary or called-up to Stockton.” Of course, reaching the player isn’t always easy as you might think. Passport: Don’t leave home without it “There are always occasions where it’s one of two things — the guy’s having a nap, or he’s at a movie and he turns his phone off. You’re trying “The other thing we always stress with our guys. Hey, no matter where to urgently get a hold of him, but when you get to the movie theater, it’s we’re going. Even if we’re going an hour bus ride to San Jose, you please turn your phone off and sometimes, unfortunately, our guys abide always have to have your passport with you. You never know when you by that,” Pascall said with a laugh. “You call his roommate, who is usually might have to jump on a plane and go to Canada.” at the movie with him, then you call a couple of other guys. Oh, he’s at Sure enough, that exact situation nearly cost a prospect a call-up once. the movies. Sometimes you just have to wait.” “Back in Adirondack, we had one guy that forgot his passport. So we had One of the times Rasmus Andersson was called up, he had just started to get one of the guys in the office to grab it and drive it to the airport and doing his laundry. He had to pull all his clothes out of the washer and put meet us. We had to go through hoops and barrels to get it there.” them in a garbage bag and then hang them up to dry when he got to the airport hotel. It’s a story that no-doubt is often shared with first-year pros as an example of what not to do. Upon a player’s arrival in Calgary, there are various ways he will find his way to the Saddledome. “Simple things like that, you have to have your passport. We always tell them hey, if it’s your time to get the call and you don’t have your passport “Sometimes he jumps in a cab, sometimes Mike Burke (Director, Hockey and you can’t go, we’ll just shrug our shoulders and go to the next guy. Administration) or Sean O’Brien (Director, Team Operations) will pick him So make sure you have your passport. So they have their passports with up. It really all depends on where the team is and what the situation is them all the time, which is important for them and us.” and what time he arrives. Of course, it depends a little bit on who it is, too. If it’s somebody on their eighth call-up, they know the drill and it’s While the days can be long, the travel non-stop and the work endless, easiest for everybody if they just jump in an Uber or a taxi.” Pascall enjoys the challenge.

And if the call-up happens on the road? “I love it. It’s something I really enjoy and have a passion in. Part of my role is player development, overseeing our development, the investment “If they arrive in Newark, New Jersey, or Dallas, or Columbus, for the that we put into Stockton and investing in players is paramount. These most part, the easiest thing is when they land, we use an app for all of are players who are going to come up and play and hopefully start for the our players so once they get called up and they get transferred over to Calgary Flames. It’s an important job for our coaches and everybody that team, they immediately have everybody’s phone numbers, the involved in the development process.” schedule, exactly what hotel they’re at. Everybody uses the app, so they’ll know exactly where we are. Sean O’Brien will call and text him In his six years on the job, having taken over this role immediately upon ahead of time to say hey, when you land, you’re going to this hotel, being hired in 2014, the Flames have graduated several impact players here’s your schedule, here’s what you have to do. From there, we have a from the minor leagues to the NHL club, too. Seeing guys like Andersson, Andrew Mangiapane, Rittich and Dillon Dube all thriving in Calgary right now is a nice reward.

“Anytime a player gets called-up to the National Hockey League and has an impact, I know how excited they are for themselves and their friends and family, but I can tell you, where I sit in my chair and everybody in Stockton, whether it’s the guys in the front office, or the equipment managers or the coaching staff, they’re just as excited and just as proud.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172103 Carolina Hurricanes It’s far better to eat here than at his townhouse.

“I don’t even know if he knows how to cook,” Foegele said.

A day in the life of Hurricanes star Andrei Svechnikov Early in the season the guys in the complex – Joel Edmundson, Teuvo Teravainen, Hamilton and Foegele – would get together, sometimes at Foegele’s for video game competitions. Occasionally for dinners. But By Scott Burnside Mar 4, 2020 33 more often than not it’s Svechnikov who is calling to see if someone wants to go out to eat.

This dynamic is about to change, though, as Svechnikov is looking RALEIGH, N.C. – Andrei Svechnikov pulls up in his black Mercedes forward to picking up his mother, Elena, from the airport. She’s coming alongside a group of fans looking for autographs and pictures outside from Russia and is expected to stay the rest of the season with a PNC Arena. possible visit mixed in with older brother, Evgeny, who is playing in the AHL for the Detroit Red Wings organization. He apologizes to his passenger as he slows and rolls down the window, although no apology is needed. “When my mom is here she’s doing all the cooking,” Svechnikov admitted with a laugh. For a few minutes the Carolina Hurricanes’ talented sophomore poses for pictures and answers questions, including a rather pointed one about his But, he added, it’s more than food and helping to keep his place tidy – of Duke hat – Are you really a Duke fan? course she’s going to help with that, too – it’s just nice to have someone to talk to when you get home from a trip, a game or a practice. There are queries about the Hurricanes’ road trip and the collection of furry stitches under Svechnikov’s chin. The breakfast tables gradually fill with players as they filter in. Then they move to the main dressing room area to meet with Dr. Bradley Hack, a Ah, the stitches. sports psychologist in his second season working with the team on There are eight, serving as a reminder of the team’s Feb. 11 game performance psychology. against Dallas. They also illustrate in many ways Svechnikov’s personae, Hack works with the team both as a group and individually, and covers all his approach to the game and to life. areas of mental wellness. Several times in the first period of that game in Dallas, Svechnikov felt he On this morning, they talk about strategies for dealing with the anxiety was being targeted by Stars center Tyler Seguin. So Svechnikov figured that accompanies the pressure of a stretch run, as the Hurricanes are in to even the score late in the frame. The 19-year-old lined up Seguin, but a pitched battle for a spot in the top eight in the Eastern Conference. at the last second Seguin performed a nifty matador move stepping to the side before impact and Svechnikov face-planted into the boards near “It takes a toll on the player both mentally and physically,” Hack said. the team benches, his chin catching the edge of the boards, splitting him open. There is give and take among the group on what strategies can be employed to rise above the adversity that presents itself during this Ouch. critical period.

As the players retreated to their respective benches, both Svechnikov “They all want to play better,” Hack explained. “And they know that the and Seguin leaned forward to look at each other, both smiling in spite of mental side of things is so important.” the damage. After the meeting, head strength and conditioning coach Bill Burniston Even in the retelling of the incident Svechnikov can’t help but smile, his dims the lights and puts on quiet music as the players, most of whom are fingers lightly touching the stitches. And, he pointed out, if you’re going to wearing heart monitors, find comfortable spots on the floor or against the get stitches, that is the best place to get them. wall to relax with a series of deep belly breathing exercises.

Svechnikov arrives at PNC Arena shortly after 9 a.m., and while the During this period their resting heart rates will be monitored, recorded speed limit might have been tested along the way, the drive was and compared to previous sessions. It’s part of the team’s strategy for completed without incident, something teammates jokingly say is not a monitoring players’ rate of recovery and identifying potential problems given. before they become more serious. There is also a daily 15-second wellness survey that charts how players are feeling, sleep patterns and Warren Foegele explains it well: “He wants to win on the road, too.” general physical well-being. Foegele is one of a handful of younger Hurricanes who live in the same The quiet time is followed by an up-tempo workout with more up-tempo condo complex as Svechnikov and, along with defenseman Dougie music to increase the heart rate and prepare the players for their on-ice Hamilton, has frequently carpooled with Svechnikov. workout. During these brief, energetic exercises Svechnikov is often at “Dougie and I are skeptical about his driving,” Foegele admitted. the fore, cheering and raising the excitement level in anticipation of hitting the ice. Svechnikov takes it all in stride. At lunch hours later he plays along with the narrative, noting that once again his passenger has arrived at his The notion that a player is first on and last off the ice is a well-worn trope destination safely. As though it might be a cause for celebration, or at the in the world of hockey that helps illustrate commitment and drive. very least relief. Sometimes it’s more smoke than fire.

Svechnikov is following up a stellar rookie season in which he finished Svechnikov is that guy. But he’s not trying to earn points with his tied for third among first-year scorers with 20 goals – all at even-strength, teammates. He seems too guileless for that. Instead he is most often the tops in the league among rookies – with another great season, posting last guy on the ice because he likes to be out there. He’s curious about 24 goals and 58 points through 64 games. getting better.

“He’s taken over games,” GM Don Waddell said. “We played a game in “First of all he’s an easy kid to work with because he wants to work. He Arizona, we were down 2-0 (on Feb. 6) and he took the game over and wants to learn. He wants to get better. So it makes our job easier,” said we won the game because of him. … When he gets his shot off, and he assistant coach Jeff Daniels, whom Svechnikov has developed a close shoots the puck as well as anybody, he can beat goalies. There’s very relationship. few guys that can beat goalies. used to beat goalies. He can “He always wants to do something after practice. Whether he has drills or beat goalies.” I can put him through drills, he just wants to keep getting better and that The dressing room is quiet as Svechnikov changes and takes a seat at comes with the video also. He wants to make sure if there’s a mistake one of two rectangular tables pushed together in the team’s lounge. The that he’s made during the game that we talk about it, we show a video top of the glossy tables are laid out like a hockey rink with a Hurricanes clip on it. He wants to be one of the great players, and after two years logo at center ice. he’s definitely headed in the right direction.”

Svechnikov gathers a meal for himself: eggs, potatoes, bacon, water and chocolate milk. Sometimes if Daniels hasn’t cornered Svechnikov in a day or so, it’ll be Svechnikov arrives in a fresh t-shirt and shorts, clapping his hands Svechnikov who seeks out the former player and minor pro head coach – happily. hey coach, got some video we can look at? That joyfulness at being here is obvious in the same way that the elite Around the corner from the dressing room, near the area where the team skill is obvious. eats its meals at PNC Arena and where coach Rod Brind’Amour holds his special teams meetings, is a shooting area. It extends to all kinds of areas of his life, whether it’s stopping for an interaction with a group of fans, his driving or his penchant for teaching Svechnikov often sequesters himself there after practice, working on a himself magic tricks. shot that has become one of the more dangerous in the NHL. He began by watching tricks on YouTube, and then practiced them over “It’s hard but I’ve learned a lot,” Svechnikov said of his first two seasons and over. He got to the point where he would share his tricks with his as an NHL player. teammates on the team charter.

How to get enough sleep, how to eat properly, how to move on from one “It’s pretty cool how he does it,” Foegele said. game to the next regardless of the outcome or of his personal performance. Magic is a word that could be used for what he does in hockey. Hone in on a particular skill or element of the game, work on it, work on it some “How to make yourself ready for the next game,” he said. more, practice, practice, practice. And voila, you have a magic trick.

He quotes Brind’Amour in explaining his mindset: “It’s all about “Exactly,” Svechnikov said with a smile. preparing.” Juxtaposed against this exuberance is an earnestness that suggests “I try to be calm always,” he added. “I try not to think about the bad there is something more than just a young man who likes to come to the games.” rink and never wants to leave, a notion that there is a strong undercurrent of single-minded purpose behind all this. Year over year the strides taken by the young man are undeniable. “Athletes today are spoiled,” Waddell said. “Too many things come too He has taken a demonstrably leap forward this season and for much of easy for players. And I think he’s had a more difficult road to get to where the past few weeks has been playing on one of the league’s most he got, and I think that’s helped in his progression. dangerous lines with Sebastian Aho and Teravainen. “All players say they want to be a hockey player. Some people say it With a quarter of a season to play, Svechnikov is just off a point-a-game better than what they do it, he does it.” pace and has already seen his assist mark double year over year. He leads the entire 2018 draft class in goals and points, and all before his During the team’s mandated bye week early this calendar year, the 20th birthday, which is on March 26. Since the start of the 2010 season, Hurricanes were to return for practice on a Thursday at 2 p.m. Svechnikov has the fifth-most points among teenage NHLers and is third in goals scored by teens in that period. “He came back on Monday so he could start working out again,” Waddell said. “To me it’s just his skating. A lot of times off the rush you think, not a chance he’s going to get the puck, and then all of a sudden he drops his A lot of this is tied up in family. Maybe all of it. shoulder and all of a sudden he’s right on top of the goalie making a Svechnikov was born in Barnaul, Russia, a large city in the southern part play,” Daniels said. of western Siberia. The family spent some time in Moscow before moving “Last year we used him on the power play but more kind of down low. to Kazan, home of the high profile KHL franchise Ak-Bars Kazan. Now his next step is he’s running the half-wall and he’s got that great Four years separate the two brothers and from the outset, as Evgeny shot off the half-wall. Again he wants it. Everybody wants to score the went so, too, did Andrei. goals, but he wants it and he gets mad when he doesn’t. We can put him in those pressure situations because he wants to be out there and he’s Andrei’s first hockey memory is weeping when Evgeny was going onto not going to get fazed to any situation. I mean a 20-year-old kid that the ice to practice and the younger brother was not able to join him. wants that responsibility and it doesn’t faze him, so it’s fun to watch.” “I just followed him everywhere he went,” Andrei said. “And I was crying Brind’Amour isn’t surprised by Svechnikov’s progression; pleased, yes, because I wanted to skate too.” but not surprised. Soon after, Evgeny’s coach allowed Andrei to join the workouts. “He was coming from junior hockey where he dominated. Really, I don’t Evgeny recalls the team doing laps at the end of workouts and his coach think he was taught a lot because he didn’t have to be. It was just go would razz the older boys if little Andrei beat them, which he often would. play. Now you get to an NHL level where there’s just a lot more goes into it, so he learned I think how to play and is still learning,” Brind’Amour Sometimes the boys would skip school to go to the rink and skate. said. “I think there’s still another level that he can get to. It’s pretty hard to get much better. When he goes he’s pretty dominant but just “He was a kind of hero to me,” Andrei said. “He’s still my hero.” understanding the game; I think once he really feels comfortable and Evgeny was a first-round pick, 19th overall in 2015, but there have been everywhere he’s supposed to be and how things are supposed to go, I setbacks, including a knee injury suffered in Detroit’s preseason finale think he’ll take it to another level.” last season that cost him all of the 2018-19 season. The one byproduct Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov (Nikki Stoudt / Carolina Hurricanes) of that rehabilitation was that Evgeny got to spend time with Andrei during the Canes’ playoff run. Svechnikov and rookie Martin Necas are among the last two players to enter the dressing room after practice. Reporters have come and gone. “It was very tough for him last year,” Andrei said of his brother. “But he Interviews have been had with players and Brind’Amour, and soon the handled it very well. He’s a strong man.” dressing room is emptying and it feels as it did when Svechnikov first They talk almost daily. It has been so since Andrei came to North arrived some five hours earlier – quiet. America as a teenager before the start of the 2016 season when he Well, not completely quiet. Svechnikov is flitting about and at one point joined the of the USHL. can be seen chasing and being chased by Necas in the corridor near the Evgeny had come to North America two years earlier and at the time coaches’ office and shower area, as though they might be two teenagers wasn’t too far down the road in Grand Rapids. Andrei’s billet, John at summer camp. The two engaging youngsters are often paired together Sumners, would often transport Andrei to see his brother or make room for community relations outings and are a hit with local kids. in his Muskegon home for Evgeny to visit when their respective Svechnikov, James Reimer, Justin Williams and Teravainen are the last schedules allowed. of the group to stretch, and they chat in the area of the dressing room Along the way, Sumners would quiz Andrei on the meaning of various covered by indoor-outdoor carpeting underneath a mural marked by the signs as a way of helping him improve his English. words “Win the Day, 1-0,” which essentially means win every day. “It was great. And he can eat like a machine. He and Evgeny,” Sumners said. As for the brothers, well, close doesn’t really cover it. “No, I actually want to always come here,” he said. “How do they say it, I love this, you know? I love hockey so I just want to always come here “They have a love for each other that’s indescribable,” Sumners said. and try to just skate or shoot some pucks. I think that’s great and yeah, I Evgeny pauses when asked to describe what exists between the two. mean I’ve never had like that feeling where I don’t come to the rink or something. And especially like when you come and around you like all “It’s hard to describe our relationship. It’s more than just brothers,” he the great people and they always want to have fun too so it’s pretty cool said. “He’s just a piece of me. Everything I do, everything he does we stuff.” kind of do together. It’s all together.” The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 Andrei dreams of one day playing against his brother in the NHL, maybe as soon as this season if Evgeny’s late-season uptick in production earns him a call-up to the Red Wings.

“I think he’s an NHL player already,” Andrei said.

He imagines expressing his feelings toward his brother in a way that hockey players intuitively understand: by decking him.

“Good luck to him,” Evgeny said with a laugh when the idea is raised.

What binds these two brothers, though, is more than blood, more than a game, but the shared experience of having persevered with so little for so long.

In fact, “having little” might be overstating it, Evgeny said. What the family often had was less than little. Wondering every day where food or clothes would come from, that was their life, he said.

“We didn’t have nothing,” Evgeny said. “That’s what I would say. We had a tough life. Really tough life.”

Elena worked during the day managing the rink where they played and at night she cleaned floors. Every night.

Among the many jobs held by their father, he ran a small kiosk sharpening skates and selling bits of hockey equipment.

To grow up with little money and much uncertainty sharpened both boy’s appreciation for what was sacrificed along the way. It also sharpened the idea that they dare not waste their opportunities.

“I’m very thankful for my parents. We had a very tough life,” Andrei said. “We didn’t have a lot. And you kind of fight through that and try to make your best life.”

Maybe that’s why the boys’ combined successes are colored by the ability to help make their parents’ lives better.

“They can do whatever they want right now,” Andrei said.

Embracing the path they have traveled led to the brothers’ determination to set up a summer hockey camp in Kazan.

“We have to make something for the kids,” Andrei explained. “A lot of people don’t have much money there.”

Last summer, Evgeny spent time at Dylan Larkin’s hockey camp, helping out and also making note of how an enterprise like that comes together.

The two also work out during the summer in Jaroslavl with a small group of players that includes Philadelphia defenseman Ivan Provorov.

“You meet the kid, he’s good, he wants to learn, works hard. I mean that’s all you want right? A talented kid who works hard, you’ve got it all there. Not satisfied being good. Wants to be great. The whole thing.”

Certainly it would have been understandable if Andrei had taken last summer to relax in Carolina or a tropical location or even live it up in Moscow.

“But what he did for training. I talked to Provorov about it when he was here and I think there are five or six things they do where it’s on-ice, sprinting, cycling, boxing,” longtime Hurricanes analyst Tripp Tracy said. “Provorov said to me it’s torture. It’s pushing you to the brink. It sounds like it’s like something out of Rocky IV. It says a lot about him that he would do that because you could take a breath after such a good rookie year.”

The Hurricanes’ practice rink is filled with youth players from all over the South, part of a long weekend tournament, and they ring the boards during the Carolina practice, the excitement of seeing real, live NHLers a few feet away is palpable. Outside there is a large crowd hoping to snag autographs and pictures as the players leave the rink.

Does he grow weary of the grind?

Andrei laughs at the notion. 1172104 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks donate a portion of their ‘Split the Pot’ raffle to tornado relief efforts in Tennessee

By CHICAGO TRIBUNE STAFF

The Blackhawks announced they will donate a portion of the “Split the Pot” raffle from their Tuesday night game against the Ducks at the United Center to tornado relief efforts in Tennessee.

The Hawks hold the raffle at each home game, with half the proceeds going to a single winner and half to their charitable foundations. Some of the proceeds from Tuesday’s raffle went to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which activated a response fund to support the communities and nonprofits helping victims.

At least one tornado ripped across the Nashville, Tenn., area early Tuesday, killing at least 24 people and injuring scores more while leveling homes and businesses. Dozens of residents still are missing.

A portion of tonight's Split the Pot proceeds will benefit tornado relief efforts in Tennessee.

Enter the #CHIvsANA 50/50 raffle whether you're in the UC or at home: https://t.co/PaoGTGa9DMhttps://t.co/4FGayETHnZ | @PredsNHL | #NashvilleStrong pic.twitter.com/nnM8CJvi11

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 3, 2020

The Hawks and Predators are fierce Central Division rivals. The teams met in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs three times in an eight- year stretch, with the Hawks winning in 2010 and 2015 — they won the Cup both seasons — and the Predators sweeping the series in 2017. The Hawks haven’t been back to the playoffs.

In 2013, the Predators began a “Keep the Red Out” campaign, limiting tickets to Hawks fans for games in Nashville, especially for playoff series in 2015 and ’17. Still, the Predators thanked the Hawks for their gesture Tuesday, tweeting in response: “THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Hockey is an incredible thing. We could not be more grateful.”

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Hockey is an incredible thing. We could not be more grateful. https://t.co/bC8Hts1Wtu

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 3, 2020

The Wild, who played host to the Predators on Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn., and owners Craig and Helen Leipold donated $25,000 each to the relief efforts. Craig Leipold was the Predators’ owner until selling the team 2007.

In turn, the NHL announced it would match those donations by giving $50,000 to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172105 Chicago Blackhawks [Most read in Sports] After the Bulls lose 115-108 to the Timberwolves, coach Jim Boylen challenges his team to be tougher: ‘I didn’t think we were tough enough tonight and I didn’t like it’ »

A big test awaits against the Oilers, but Dylan Strome rediscovering his That chemistry has been built through practices and shows up form is promising. 3 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 6-2 win against the intermittently in games. Ducks. “Everybody wants the puck, we all want to play the puck too, so we work really well together...” Nylander said. “Just need to keep going to the net By PHIL THOMPSON when Kaner has it and he finds me and Stromer in the open places.”

Before Nylander’s goal, his ninth of the season, Adam Boqvist disrupted Danton Heinen before he could get a shot off. The Blackhawks looked like a playoff team in a tune-up against a struggling team in Tuesday night’s 6-2 win against the Ducks, but they “Boqqie made a great play to lift the guy’s stick and the puck just squirted did not gain ground in the wild-card standings. up there,” Strome said.

The Jets also won Tuesday to hold onto the second wild-card slot, Heinen regained the puck but overshot his pass to Sonny Milano — right though the Canucks have lost three in a row and play wild-card hopeful to Nylander. Nylander had a 2-on-1 going with Jonathan Toews but Arizona on Wednesday. goaltender John Gibson faded toward Toews, creating an open lane for Nylander. For the Hawks, however, Tuesday night’s win at the United Center — marked by a phenomenal performance by the second line of Alex [Most read in Sports] LiAngelo Ball offered G League contract with Nylander, Dylan Strome and Patrick Kane — gave them their third Oklahoma City Blue » straight win and justified holding out hope of still making the playoffs. “Just fake the shot a little bit and go backhand,” Nylander said of his goal. “They’re not going to quit,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “They’re never “He was coming out a little bit, waiting for the shot obviously because it going to give up. There’s been multiple times through the year where was a 2-on-1, but it was nice to get that one.” people could have said and probably did say this group is dead and After Nylander’s 15 seconds, coach Jeremy Colliton sat his line with buried. Kane and Strome, and “Kaner’s like, why are you taking us off?” Colliton “But there’s lots of games left, lots of home games left, and we’ve shown said. we’re resilient.” “I’m like, well two goals on one shift, what are you going to do?”

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Dylan Strome was the star of the night with 3 points, racking up two goals If the Blackhawks have any hopes of beating the odds to clinch a wild- and an assist, all in the second period. card spot, they can’t afford to lapse into complacency like coach Jeremy Colliton saw for a stretch in the first period against the Ducks. He was due. Strome hadn’t scored a goal since Jan. 5 against the Red Wings. He suffered a right ankle sprain the next game and went on [Most read in Sports] NFL draft profile: Bears target Jake Fromm of injured reserve until Feb. 1 against the Coyotes. He showed signs of Georgia » warming up with assists in back-to-back games against the Blues and “First 10 minutes, I thought we were aggressive and did a lot of good Lightning last week. things. The second 10, didn’t love as much,” he said. “I thought we “It was a long time,” he said. “Obviously, scoring right before I was turned the puck over and gave them some free chances.” injured and then getting injured and missing a bunch of games and then The Hawks have been searching for consistency all season, and Dylan playing a bunch and I hadn’t scored since, like, early January, or Strome said alternating between long stretches home and on the road something.” might have something to do with it.

He added, “I appreciate you guys not asking about it all the time. That “I feel like we’re a pretty streaky team,” he said. “When we win one or two was nice, actually. I knew, obviously. It’s nice to get off the schneid in a row we feel like we go on a little bit of a run and we’re playing some tonight and it felt pretty good.” good hockey. Obviously, the counter to that is that we’ve lost four or five Strome scored his first goal when Duncan Keith’s shot from the blue line in a row at points. … It’s been a little bit of an odd season but lots of time bounced off the end wall and back to Strome. Patrick Kane found him left.” streaking to the net on his second goal. Alex Nylander saw reasons for optimism from Tuesday night’s game.

Coach Jeremy Colliton said it’s Strome’s work in the defensive zone and “We’re playing more together in the D-zone, we’re helping each other away from the puck that sets up scoring opportunities. out, talking more, getting more clean plays out of the D-zone, which “He’s been getting better and better over the last few weeks, more and leads to better offense,” he said. “We’re getting the pucks to the net, more active away from the puck,” Colliton said. “I think playing center, more guys are coming to the net, and we’re playing an overall solid he’s been really good I think in D-zone. … It’s obviously been a point of game.” emphasis for him to really be good down there, so he can get out of there [Most read in Sports] As 2016 gets further away, Anthony Rizzo still is and play in the offensive zone.” enjoying the ride — no matter where it ends: ‘I can’t ever see myself 2. Alex Nylander had his 15 seconds of fame. playing somewhere else’ »

Alex Nylander has had his dry spells, but when the rookie gets hot he The Blackhawks battered Ducks goaltender John Gibson with four goals gets out. Nylander scored with less than two minutes to go in the second in the second period — two of them 15 seconds apart — and coasted to and assisted to Patrick Kane 15 seconds later, showing the benefits of a 6-2 win Tuesday at the United Center. playing on a line with Kane and Dylan Strome. Backup goaltender Malcolm Subban made a brief debut for the Hawks in “Of course, I’ve got another level, but it was also nice to get those goals the third period after Corey Crawford took a knee to the head from Ryan and playing with the line today,” he said. “We just need to build off that Getzlaf. Crawford returned about a minute later. and obviously we can get better.” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said there was some miscommunication about whether it was mandatory for Crawford to leave the game and be checked out for a possible concussion. “He felt fine,” Colliton said. “He didn’t feel anything in his head.”

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Crawford missed substantial time in each of the previous two seasons because of concussions.

“Yeah, I think it was trainer’s discretion,” Crawford said. “It was more my neck than anything. It was one of those ones where you feel it for a few seconds and it was fine after.”

The Hawks flashed some of their young talent with two goals by Dylan Strome and one apiece by Drake Caggiula and Alex Nylander.

Colliton has preached consistency and getting off to fast starts, and the Hawks took advantage of a slightly younger Ducks team.

“Last time they were here, it was a tricky game,” Colliton said before the game about the Hawks’ 4-2 win Jan. 11. “We (didn’t have) a great start, we got better as the game went on (and) took over in the second period.”

[Most read in Sports] Senior forward Josh Preston scores 22 points as Geneva avoids another loss to Metea Valley to advance to a Class 4A regional final: ‘This was definitely a revenge game.’ »

On Tuesday he wanted to see the Hawks look “real sharp off the bat but have a 60-minute game in mind where we’re going to wear them down.”

This time the Hawks got sharp play from the outset and a dominant second period, led by their youth movement.

About two minutes into the game, Caggiula tipped in a goal set up by 19- year-old rookies Adam Boqvist and Kirby Dach.

Dach weaved in front of the Ducks’ Christian Djoos as Caggiula circled behind him and dropped down to the net. Dach passed to Boqvist at the top of the circle, and he made a nice pass through traffic to find Caggiula for an easy tip-in to Gibson’s stick side.

Strome led off the second-period barrage with a bit of good fortune. Duncan Keith’s shot bounced off the boards to Strome, who flipped it in. The Ducks answered with a goal by Danton Heinen, but Strome scored his second goal shortly after starting a shift when Patrick Kane found him streaking to the net.

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Kane helped put the game away when he scored his 29th goal of the season 15 seconds after Nylander’s unassisted goal.

Ryan Miller replaced Gibson to start the third period and gave up the Hawks’ final goal to David Kampf.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172106 Chicago Blackhawks

Dylan Strome snaps long skid with big night as Blackhawks rout Ducks

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST Mar 3, 2020, 10:07pm CST

Dylan Strome scored twice as the Blackhawks routed the Ducks on Tuesday.

Dylan Strome’s season heading into a crucial contract negotiation period hasn’t gone as planned.

But the 22-year-old center — he’ll turn 23 on Sunday — might have earned a few extra thousand Tuesday night, scoring twice and adding an assist in the Blackhawks’ explosive 6-2 win over the visiting Ducks.

Strome hadn’t scored a goal since Jan. 5, dealing with a high-ankle sprain and a slow recovery in the meantime.

“He’s been getting better and better over the last few weeks,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “More and more active away from the puck. Playing center, he’s been really good in [the defensive] zone. . . . It’s obviously been a point of emphasis for him to really be good down there, so he can get out of there and play in the offensive zone.”

The goals were just Strome’s 11th and 12th of the season. If he stays healthy for the final month, he’s on pace to finish with 47 points in 70 appearances, a much lower rate than his 51 points in 58 games with the Hawks last year.

But while he has admitted the weakness in his ankle will likely nag him until the offseason, he demonstrated Tuesday the play-making, vision and opportunism that can make him a solid top-six center.

His line with Alex Nylander and Patrick Kane was dominant, outshooting the opposing line 19-11 with a 13-8 edge in scoring chances and collectively scoring four goals. The win was the Hawks’ third in a row, slightly reopening the door for a playoff push. If they eventually make that push, a late-season surge by Strome could be quite helpful.

“We’re a pretty streaky team,” Strome said. “When we win one or two in a row, we feel like we go on a little bit of a run, and we’re playing some good hockey. Obviously, the counter to that is that we’ve lost four or five in a row at points.”

Perhaps most interesting will be this summer. Strome’s entry-level contract is expiring; he’ll be a restricted free agent. And his play during his three-year entry-level deal with the Coyotes and Hawks has been all over the board, painting an inconclusive picture of his value.

Strome’s older brother, Ryan, scored 96 points over his first three NHL seasons, then signed a two-year deal with a $2.5 million cap hit with the Islanders in 2016. Dylan is on pace for 114 points over his first three seasons and has shown more star potential than Ryan did, so he’ll almost certainly get more than that. Exactly how much is tough to determine now.

Hawks’ ticket values dropping

Standing-room tickets for Tuesday’s game at the United Center were available on the resale market around midday for under $10, a startlingly cheap price.

Many empty seats were also noticeable during the game, even though the Hawks’ sellout streak technically continued with an announced crowd of 21,345.

Hawks tickets are the ninth-most in-demand in the NHL this season, according to Vivid Seats. That’s still in the upper third but well below where the Hawks sat for much of the last decade.

The average Hawks resale ticket price so far this season has been $91, also per Vivid Seats, exceeding the $77 average for the Bulls.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172107 Chicago Blackhawks

Robin Lehner posts photo of chest imprint from slap shot

By Scott King March 04, 2020 1:57 PM

Wednesday afternoon former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner posted a photo on Twitter with a cross imprint on his chest from his gold chain.

When you take a slap shot to the chest... worth it tho. god is good. pic.twitter.com/3jrW6IDOyN

— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) March 4, 2020

Lehner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Vegas had the day off on Wednesday, so it's most likely the former Hawk took the slap shot he's referring to in Tuesday's 3-0 shutout victory against the New Jersey Devils.

The 2019 Vezina Trophy finalist saved all 27 shots he faced on Tuesday and is 2-0-0 with a 3.01 goals-against average, a .967 save percentage and one shutout in two starts for the Golden Knights.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172108 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks are down but not out: ‘They’re not going to quit’

By Charlie Roumeliotis March 04, 2020 10:45 AM

The Blackhawks have been a streaky team all season long.

As soon as you start to buy in, they drop several in a row and it feels like a gut punch. On the flip side, just when you're ready to write them off, they string together a run and have fans peeking at the standings again.

The odds are still stacked heavily against them, but if there's one thing we've learned about this Blackhawks team?

“They're not going to quit,” head coach Jeremy Colliton said following a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. “They're never going to give up. There's been multiple times through the year where people could have said — and probably did say — this group is dead and buried. But there's lots of games left, lots of home games left, and we've shown we're resilient. Ultimately, it's just finding that consistency in our game."

The Blackhawks have lost at least three games in a row six times this season and have won at least three straight four times. It's been an emotionally exhausting rollercoaster for Chicago fans.

But since Jan. 11, the Blackhawks have played in 21 games and they're 11-8-2 over that span. Four of those regulations losses were one-goal games. Another was decided by two goals thanks to an empty netter with three seconds left.

The compete level hasn't been a question for the Blackhawks. This group has character. And they might be down, but they’re not out.

"Yeah, I feel like we’re a pretty streaky team," Dylan Strome said. "When we win one or two in a row we feel like we go on a little bit of a run and we’re playing some good hockey. Obviously, the counter to that is that we’ve lost four or five in a row at points. It’s been a little bit of an odd season but lots of time left."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172109 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche loses to Anaheim in OT to end seven-game winning streak

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

In a chippy game between teams at the opposite ends of the Western Conference standings Wednesday night, the playoff-bound Avalanche rallied to force overtime before Anaheim’s Rickard Rakell scored with 1.2 seconds remaining in the Ducks’ 4-3 victory at the Pepsi Center.

“We could have used a little puck luck,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said after his team saw its seven-game winning streak end.

Rakell used a long wrist shot from the right circle to beat goalie Pavel Francouz, who lost for the first time in seven starts. The Avs had seven shots and plenty of chances to win it in OT, with Valeri Nichushkin firing his second shot off the post in a game when Colorado had at least four shots clang off iron beside 39-year-old goalie Ryan Miller.

“I thought we were the better team tonight and should have won,” said Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, who had a goal in his first game playing with a broken nose. “But you let them hang around and you don’t capitalize on your chances — and we had plenty of them — you end up with one point.”

In addition to its winning streak, Colorado (40-18-7, 88 points) saw its NHL record-tying six consecutive one-goal victories come to an end. Anaheim (27-32-8, 62 points), which lost 6-2 at Chicago on Tuesday, snapped a two-game losing skid.

“I liked what we were creating and I liked what we were giving up, too, through the first two periods. But we needed to capitalize on all those chances, even in overtime,” Bednar said. “But sometimes that’s the way it goes. I think Miller played real well for them. They end up getting two (points). We’ll take the one and turn the page.”

Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon tied the score at 3-3 at 7:19 of the third period, snapping his seven-game goals drought with a wicked wrister off the rush from the left circle. Minutes earlier, MacKinnon had a shot clang off iron.

MacKinnon had been in a scoring rut, with just four assists during his goals drought, but he was still playing like the superstar that he is. He just wasn’t getting the results.

Newcomer Vladislav Namestnikov and Landeskog (power play) scored first-period goals for the Avs, while the Ducks got one apiece from former Avs forward Andrew Agozzino and defenseman Brendan Guhle.

Landeskog was playing with a broken nose, suffered from a high stick in Monday in a 2-1 win at Detroit.

Anaheim’s Sam Steel got the only goal of the second period, marking the first time Colorado had allowed more than two goals in an eight-game stretch. That streak began Feb. 18 against the New York Rangers, followed by a 1-0 win at Anaheim.

The injury-depleted Avs played their second consecutive game without top-pairing defenseman Cale Makar and third straight without top-six forward Andre Burakovsky. They recently joined a long injury list that includes key forwards Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri and Matt Calvert and goalie Philipp Grubauer, who are each out through mid-March or longer.

Rantanen, however, skated on his own in a red, noncontact sweater at Wednesday’s morning skate. He will not accompany the team on a three- game Pacific Coast trip that begins Friday at Vancouver.

Footnotes. Anaheim also was missing several key players to injury, including defensemen Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm. … Ducks first-line right winger Danton Heinen starred at the University of Denver from 2014-16. He was acquired before the trade deadline from Boston. Former DU star Troy Terry, who played two seasons with Heinen, has played in 47 games with Anaheim but was recently reassigned to the minors in San Diego.

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172110 Colorado Avalanche

Mikko Rantanen hits ice, but the Avalanche still highly banged up

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

Right winger Mikko Rantanen skated on his own in a red non-contact sweater before Wednesday’s morning skate, but that’s the extent of the Avalanche’s good news on the injury front.

Colorado, which was on a seven-game winning streak and had an NHL- best 15-3-1 since Jan. 16, again played without Rantanen and five other key players in Wednesday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at Pepsi Center.

Rantanen, who went down Feb. 17 against Tampa Bay with an apparent shoulder injury, missed his straight game. The Avs also continued on without forwards Nazem Kadri (12th game out), Matt Calvert (ninth) and Andre Burakovsky (third), defenseman Cale Makar (second) and goalie Philipp Grubauer (ninth).

Makar is day-to-day, coach Jared Bednar said, but the others are out to mid-March or longer.

Makar, a rookie who is among the favorites for the Calder Trophy, was surprisingly scratched before Monday’s 2-1 win at Detroit after participating in the morning skate. The team said Makar had an upper- body injury, and that’s now significant enough to keep him out of the lineup for the second-straight game.

Colorado continued to ride red-hot goalie Pavel Francouz, who made started for the seventh time in an eight-game stretch. Francouz took a six-game winning streak into Wednesday.

NHL record. The Avs entered Wednesday are on a season-high seven- game winning streak and had won their last six by one goal to tie an NHL record. The other teams to have won six straight games by a single goal: Buffalo, in 2005 and 2018; Phoenix (now Arizona) in 2011; Vancouver in 2007.

“It’s been low-scoring for both teams and I think that’s good — it’s good we can play any style of game,” Avs star center Nathan MacKinnon said Wednesday. “We’re comfortable, obviously, in a high-offensive style and being (tight) defensively. That’s a pretty good combination. Obviously, with a ton of guys out we’re not going to score as many goals. It’s all about winning. We all get paid to get some wins, help the team get wins, and that’s what we’re doing. And it feels good to be on this streak.”

Footnotes. MacKinnon needed one point Wednesday to surpass Alex Tanguay for fourth in all-time Avalanche scoring. MacKinnon and Tanguay both have 488 points with the Avs. Joe Sakic leads with a club- record 1,015 points, followed by Milan Hejduk (805) and Peter Forsberg (705). … How important is penalty killing? The Avs entered Wednesday having not allowed a power-play goal in their previous nine games. They are a perfect 22 for 22 on the PK, including 4 for 4 Monday at Detroit.

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172111 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche has 9 straight road wins. No NHL team has done that and won the Stanley Cup.

By JOE NGUYEN | [email protected] and JEFF BAILEY | [email protected] | The Denver Post

The Avalanche made history Monday, beating the Detroit Red Wings to earn its ninth straight road win — a franchise record. It’s the second time a team has accomplished the feat this season — the Rangers’ streak ended last Thursday — and just the 15th time it has happened in NHL history.

If Colorado wins its next three road games, it will tie the NHL record of 12, shared by the 2005-06 Red Wings and 2014-15 Minnesota Wild.

But there are two things that the 13 teams prior to this season share: They all went to the playoffs, but none won the Stanley Cup that year.

That’s right, none of those 13 teams were able to take it all. Four lost in the first round, four in the second, three in the conference final and two in the Stanley Cup Final — both of which the series went to a decisive seventh game. Here’s a look at how they fared:

2005-06 Red Wings (12) — lost first round to Oilers, 4-2

2014-15 Wild (12) — lost second round to Blackhawks, 4-0

1983-84 Sabres (10) — lost first round to Nordiques, 3-0

1999-00 Blues (10) — lost first round to Sharks, 4-3

2000-01 Devils (10) — lost Stanley Cup Final to Avs, 4-3

2006-07 Sabres (10) — lost ECF to Senators, 4-1

2005-06 Sabres (10) — lost in ECF to Hurricanes, 4-3

2007-08 Sharks (9) — lost in second round to Stars, 4-2

2009-10 Devils (9) — lost in first round to Flyers, 4-1

2009-10 Sharks (9) — lost in WCF to Blackhawks, 4-2

2010-11 Canucks (9) — lost in Stanley Cup Final to Bruins, 4-3

2013-14 Bruins (9) — lost in second round to Canadiens, 4-3

2017-18 Predators (9) — lost in second round to Jets, 4-3

Sources: NHL.com, hockey-reference.com

According to Bovada, the Avs have the third-best odds to win the Stanley Cup — improving from 8/1 on Sunday to 7/1 as of Tuesday.

On the other end of the spectrum, this year’s Rangers squad could have the dubious honor of being the first team to not make the playoffs. Entering Tuesday, they were second to last in the Metropolis Division.

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172112 Colorado Avalanche Anaheim’s Nicolas Deslauriers. … Avalanche forward Joonas Donskoi was hit hard into the boards late in the first period and skated gingerly to the locker room. He returned for the second period and played 15:15. … Last second overtime goal ends Avalanche’s winning streak at seven Colorado was without defenseman Cale Makar for the second games consecutive game and Andre Burakovsky for the third straight. Neither of them will join the Avs on their three-game road trip. … MacKinnon passed Alex Tanguay for points in an Avs sweater with 489. The centerman now ranks fourth in Avs history behind Joe Sakic, Milan By Aarif Deen - March 5, 2020 Hejduk and Peter Forsberg.

Three Stars With just 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, the Avalanche saw their Rickard Rakell: Scored the game-winning goal and finished with two seven-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Anaheim points. Ducks, falling 4-3 in a hard-fought battle. Gabe Landeskog: Recorded three points to extend his point streak to six Rickard Rackell picked up a loose puck in the defensive zone with 12 games (three goals, eight points). seconds remaining in overtime and calmly skated into the Avalanche’s end and fired a wrist shot past goalie Pavel Francouz. What looked like a Ryan Miller: Made 32 saves, including seven in the overtime period. routine save for Francouz came directly after Avs forward Tyson Jost had Stopped Sam Girard on the breakaway and MacKinnon from point-blank a breakaway at the other end but was unable to get a shot off with the range. game on his stick. Next up “It was a pretty competitive game,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said, as his team pulled to within two points of first place in the Western Conference. Colorado begins its three-game road trip against the Vancouver Canucks “I thought we could’ve used a little puck luck.” on Friday.

Colorado (40-18-8) improved to 7-0-2 in its past nine games but saw its Girard streak of six straight one-goal victories come to an end. An Avalanche We missed some big chances. I need to capitalize on that. But that’s victory in overtime would’ve set the NHL record with seven consecutive overtime it can go both ways. At least we got one point today. We’re just one-goal victories. going to have to refocus for next game.

“We wanted two points,” Jost said, recording two assists in the loss. “We This point is important for us for the race. We’re going to have to refocus did do a good job of battling back. I don’t think we gave them a lot of before the next game in Vancouver. scoring chances. We hit a couple of posts, had two breakaways there in overtime. We just couldn’t get the puck to settle down and then they go milehighsports.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 down and score with one second left. It’s frustrating, really tough to swallow.”

Colorado had to battle back on multiple occasions. Trailing 3-2 heading into the third period, the Avalanche got a much-needed power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon to even the score. The All-Star center, who had not scored in his previous seven games, fired a wrist shot past Anaheim goaltender Ryan Miller to push Colorado to 2-for-3 on the power play.

MacKinnon was paired with captain Gabe Landeskog and trade deadline acquisition Vladislav Namestnikov for the second consecutive game. And the trio combined for three goals and six points. Each of the three forwards had a goal. For Namestnikov, it was his second tally in as many games.

“He’s got a good skill set, a very competitive guy,” Bednar said. “He’s been rewarded two games in a row for going to the net, staying at the net and hanging around the net. To produce offense you have to be in those areas and I’m seeing that from him. He’s earning my trust and he’s earning the teams trust.”

The Ducks, who trailed 1-0 before scoring three of the next four goals, got their goals from newcomer Andrew Agozzino, defenseman Brendan Guhle and forward Sam Steele.

“It was a tight-checking game,” Landeskog said. “I don’t think it was anything crazy, but they obviously have a lot of pride to play for and a lot of young guys, a lot of new guys trying to impress a new team. I thought we responded pretty good.”

In addition to a near-perfect performance on the man-advantage, the Avalanche also went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Anaheim’s third goal came just as a minor penalty to Landeskog had expired. Colorado has now gone 10 straight games without allowing a powerplay goal (24-for- 24).

“The power play has been working hard, “Bednar said. “Lots of meetings, lots of input and conversations. We needed them to get rewarded. We scored two a handful of games ago then we ran into some games that were good where we didn’t get rewarded. And tonight we come out with two on three chances. And the penalty kill, since the break, has been outstanding. It’s one of the reasons why our goals against are down.”

Footnotes

The Avalanche had seven shots in the overtime period, the most they’ve had in over four years. … The chippy back-and-forth battle included a fight in the first period between Avs center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and 1172113 Colorado Avalanche The Avalanche amassed their winning streak despite missing Matt Calvert, Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

Rakell scores late in OT, Ducks beat Avalanche 4-3 They’re also currently without defenseman Cale Makar and forward Andre Burakovsky. by: PAT GRAHAM, Associated Press Colorado will play 16 games in March, which matches a franchise record for most contests in a particular month. Landeskog appreciates the hectic schedule.

DENVER (AP) — Rickard Rakell didn’t need a clock to tell him how much “You get in a rhythm of playing every other night and in between games time remained as he skated up the ice. it’s a recovery day and get what you need,” Landeskog explained.

He had his Anaheim teammates on the bench counting down the NOTES: Anaheim D Jani Hakanpaa made his NHL debut. … D Hampus seconds. Lindholm missed his fourth straight game with an upper-upper-body injury. D Cam Fowler was out an eighth game with a lower-body ailment. Rakell scored with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, Ryan Miller … Rantanen skated in a red non-contact jersey Wednesday. stopped 32 shots and the Ducks snapped the Colorado Avalanche’s seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. UP NEXT

“The whole bench was literally an orchestra of ‘6 … 5 …’ they were Ducks: Host Toronto on Friday. counting it down for him, ”Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “The communication there obviously helped. But with Raks, he’s a smart Avalanche: Start a three-game trip Friday in Vancouver. shooter. He’s going to get that D-man close to him.” LOADED: 03.05.2020 Rakell’s shot appeared to deflect off the stick of Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard and past goaltender Pavel Francouz. It was Rakell’s first goal since Jan. 31.

“I just tried to do something quick there and get a shot off,” Rakell explained. “It was nice to see it go in.”

Sam Steel, Andrew Agozzino and Brendan Guhle also added goals to accomplish a rare feat these days — finding space between the pads of Francouz, who’s been one of the top goaltenders in the league.

Despite losing 6-2 in Chicago the night earlier, Anaheim kept up with the speedy Avalanche. The 39-year-old Miller earned career NHL win No. 386 to move by Mike Vernon and into sole possession of 15th place. Miller also matched Tom Barrasso (777) for second place on the NHL’s all-time games played list among U.S.-born goaltenders, the team said.

In addition, Miller eclipsed Barrasso (755) for second on the league’s all- time games started list for U.S.-born goalies.

“A great night for him, for our team,” Eakins said. “He’s just been a wonder to have with our group. He brings such leadership and a calmness. He’s almost like a second coach.”

Girard had a breakaway in overtime, only to be stopped by Miller. It wasn’t a happy 25th birthday for Valeri Nichushkin, who clanged two shots off the post, including one in OT.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his first goal in eight games on a laser shot to tie it at 3 with 12:41 remaining.

Vladislav Namestnikov and captain Gabriel Landeskog, who wore a bandage on his broken nose, had goals for an Avalanche team that picked up a point to pull to within two points of St. Louis for the top seed in the Western Conference. Landeskog also added two assists.

“I thought we should have won this one, but you let them hang around and you don’t capitalize on your chances you end up with one point,” Landeskog said.

It was terse third period with two fights resulting in four roughing penalties.

On Monday, Francouz was named the NHL’s third star for the week after going 3-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average. The week prior, he was first star for his stellar play, which included a 1-0 win over the Ducks on Feb. 21.

The opening period featured four goals and some fisticuffs.

On the goal front, Agozzino, who was claimed on waivers by Anaheim last month, knocked in his second career score. His other tally was on Feb. 18, 2019, against Vegas when he was with Colorado.

The fight was a weight-division mismatch as the 219-pound Nicolas Deslauriers squared off against the 198-pound Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Both landed a few punches before being separated. Bellemare retreated to the dressing room with what appeared to be a cut. They were each given 5-minute majors for fighting. 1172114 Columbus Blue Jackets Korpisalo’s play stood out so much because he was forced to make way too many saves in a game that started out exactly the way the Blue Jackets wanted to play. They took a 2-0 lead on the goals by Shore and Flames 3, Blue Jackets 2, OT| The 3-2-1 breakdown Nyquist, limited the Flames’ scoring chances while outshooting them 9-8 and looked like the team that went 19-2-5 despite a spate of injuries in a two-month.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch That changed in the second period and the Jackets never really got back on the attack outside of a few odd-man rushes off turnovers in the

second, third and overtime. They were outshot 29-13 after the first period CALGARY, Alberta – They made a concerted effort to use their sticks and 37-22 overall, which isn’t a recipe for success in the NHL. and bodies as defensive tools, intent on making life difficult for the The defense looked a lot better, with quick sticks making it difficult for the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Saddledome. Flames to get through the neutral zone, but the offensive side was again The good news for the Blue Jackets is they accomplished their goal in a struggle. Not having injured defenseman Seth Jones or injured that way, frustrating the Flames for about 50 minutes with stellar defense forwards Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand and John Anderson didn’t and goaltending by Joonas Korpisalo (34 saves). The bad news is they help in that regard, but Tortorella isn’t accepting excuses. got stuck in their own end too much, were outshot 37-22, allowed two "Don’t even start talking about injuries," he said. "This has nothing to do goals in the third period and lost 3-2 in overtime on a rebound goal by with injuries. We’ve been doing this for three (expletive) months and we defenseman T.J. Brodie with 10.4 seconds left. have found our way to win games. We need to continue to stay with it … "We did some really good things in the neutral zone, as far as getting it’s just playing the proper way in the neutral zone, but we need to get pucks to go back the other way," coach John Tortorella said. "We just some guys that I think can bring more offense to do that more didn’t sustain a forecheck. We blocked shots. We did a lot of that stuff, consistently, without sacrificing some of the things that we need to do but we need to sustain some offense too, and we have the people that above the puck." can do that. And we’ve done it before. We’ve found ways to win games." Murray felt the same. They have 14 games left to find enough points for a fourth straight playoff "We had some chances," he said. "We developed some odd-man rushes, appearance, so time and patience are running thin with the injury- but just too much time in our own zone." plagued Blue Jackets. They had a victory and two points swiped from their mitts Wednesday night and it stung, knowing it could’ve been a 3) Another OTL different outcome had they sustained more time in the offensive zone. Overtime used to be a time when the Blue Jackets tacked on extra points "Are we going to be winning games 5-1? No, I don’t expect that," with one of the most dangerous 3-on-3 units in the NHL, capable of Tortorella said. "But we need to win these types of games. We need to ending games on the first shift beyond regulation with regularity. close this game out when we’re up 2-0 going into the third." They went a combined 17-6 in games that ended in 3-on-3 OT the past Here’s a 3-2-1 postgame breakdown from Scotiabank Saddledome … two seasons, but Artemi Panarin wore a Blue Jackets uniform in those three takeaways, two questions and one more thing: games and Sergei Bobrovsky, a seasoned goalie, was around to protect the net. Three Takeaways The Blue Jackets have gotten some outstanding goaltending from 1) Korpisalo was excellent Korpisalo and rookie Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks, but the The result wasn’t a win and the Blue Jackets blew a two-goal lead in the goalies can only do so much in a 3-on-3 format. They’re going to allow third, so words weren’t exactly flowing from Joonas Korpisalo’s mouth in goals, eventually, if the Jackets can’t end it themselves at the other end his postgame interview. The way he angrily stomped off the ice and of the ice … which is a lot harder to do without guys like Jones, Atkinson slammed his stick on the bench after Brodie’s goal, however, spoke and Bjorkstrand available. volumes. This was the Jackets’ 15th loss beyond regulation (8-15) and 11th non- Korpisalo and the Blue Jackets knew how big getting the second point shootout loss (8-11). would’ve been, so this one stung knowing how close they came. Two Questions "It (stinks), obviously," Korpisalo said. "Had a chance to win today. 1) What’s next for the Jackets? Couldn’t. So, you know, it does (stink) leading a game 2-0 and losing 3-2. It can’t happen right now." A little team bonding in the Canadian Rockies. The Jackets have another two-day span between games, so after the game they bused over to Despite allowing all three goals, Korpisalo did his part to make sure it Banff, Alberta, a ski-resort area that’s about a 90-minute drive from didn’t. Calgary and has some of the best natural scenery in North America. He didn’t have much chance to stop any of them, yet still came inches After getting a day off Thursday, the Blue Jackets will practice Friday at from gloving Brodie’s wrist shot that ended it. That was the fourth shot the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre before flying to Edmonton for a the Flames had sent at him in 11 seconds near the end of OT and he game against the Oilers on Saturday at Rogers Place. didn’t have his goal stick after losing it while making three straight saves against Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. 2) Who is Jake Christiansen?

"I was laying down there (after the saves on Monahan), so I was trying to The Blue Jackets signed Christiansen on Wednesday to a three-year battle with the three other guys there," Korpisalo said. "Kept it out for a entry-level contract that starts next season. The 20-year old defenseman while, then I turn my head and see the puck and it’s right in front of me, currently plays for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League and it hits my glove and goes in." and is having an outstanding final junior season.

It was a rotten way to end an outstanding 34-save performance, which Christiansen is listed at 6-feet-1, 190 pounds and is a left-handed shot. included Korpisalo stopping the first 25 shots he faced and making a He leads all WHL defensemen with 20 goals and has added 27 assists number of highlight-worthy stops to protect the lead. for 47 points. After starting the season on a professional tryout offer (PTO) and playing nine games with the , the Flames’ Arguably his two best were back-to-back stops against Gaudreau and affiliate in the American Hockey League, Christiansen excelled upon his Lindholm a second apart with 1:06 left in the second, when he had to return to Everett. quickly push back to his right on his surgically-repaired knee to deny the second shot off a rebound that landed in the low slot. It’s a solid signing that adds defensive depth to the organization next season outside of the NHL draft, which the Blue Jackets also did a "He was really good," defenseman Ryan Murray said. "A lot of saves, he couple years ago by signing undrafted college forward Eric Robinson probably shouldn’t have made but he did. He really kept us in it." following his senior season at Princeton. 2) Not enough attack "Our guys from out West, (amateur scout) Troy Dumville and (pro scout) Rich Sutter had both identified him and watched him," said Basil McRae, Blue Jackets assistant general manager. "From my understanding, he’s what you’d call a vintage ‘late bloomer.’ He was a small kid and now he’s grown. He’s bigger and stronger, and he’s always had the skill. We watched a lot of tape on him. We’re excited to have him. You can never have enough skill."

One More Thing

Nyquist’s goal was his 14th of the season, putting the Blue Jackets up 2- 0 at 11:20 of the first period with a one-timer off a nice saucer pass from captain Nick Foligno on a 2-on-1 rush.

It was also Nyquist’s first even-strength goal since Nov. 29, when his second career hat trick paced the Jackets in a 5-2 victory against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Nyquist’s third goal in that game was scored into an empty net, which started a trend for the veteran forward.

Nyquist leads the team with six empty-net goals, which is tied for the league lead had scored six empty-netters in his previous seven goals dating back to that game in Pittsburgh.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172115 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets sign high-scoring defenseman Jake Christiansen

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

CALGARY, Alberta Keeping with the adage that you can never have too many defensemen, the Blue Jackets have added to their organizational depth on the blue line.

The team signed Jake Christiansen on Wednesday. He’s an undrafted 20-year-old who plays for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. Christiansen, who leads all WHL defensemen with 20 goals, agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract that will start next season.

Christiansen also has 27 assists for 47 points in just 35 games. He is playing his fourth season with the Silvertips after beginning the year playing nine games for the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames’ affiliate in the American Hockey League.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172116 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ Josh Anderson done for the season after shoulder surgery

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

CALGARY, Alberta — The initial plan was to rest, rehab and have Josh Anderson return this season for the Blue Jackets.

It would have been like adding a key piece at the trade deadline, only without giving up anything in return. When healthy, Anderson’s combination of size, speed, skill and toughness is a rare find in the NHL and could have been a big boost for a lineup decimated by injuries.

Imagine, for instance, how nice it would be for coach John Tortorella to have Anderson available for a difficult matchup Wednesday night at the Calgary Flames. That’s off the table now, because Plan A didn’t pan out.

Rather than missing four to six weeks after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder in a fight Dec. 14 at Ottawa, Anderson missed almost three months before having season-ending surgery Monday in Vail, Colorado.

"When Josh suffered the injury, the options were to have it surgically repaired and miss the rest of the season or rest and rehabilitate with a chance to return to the lineup," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a release.

"Unfortunately, the injury has not responded as any of us had hoped and the decision was made to have the surgery now so that Josh will be fully healthy and ready to go next season."

Next season.

Those are words the Blue Jackets didn’t want to hear, because Anderson is such an uncommon player. Despite missing training camp and the preseason during a contentious contract negotiation two years ago, he has taken giant steps since then.

After agreeing to a contract, Anderson nearly reached 20 goals during the 2017-18 season. He finished with 19, along with 11 assists, and might have pushed for 25 had a knee injury in the final month not limited him to 63 games.

Last season, Anderson stayed healthy for all 82 games and set career highs with 27 goals and 20 assists. He had a rating of plus-25 and worked his way into regular roles on both special-team units.

His plight this season, however, began at the end of last season. Anderson finished the Jackets’ 10-game playoff run with a goal and two assists, plus a different shoulder injury than the one that was just repaired. He hurt it in Game 2 of a second round series against the Boston Bruins and wasn’t the same the rest of the series.

Anderson said on the first day of training camp this season that his right shoulder felt "really close" but not 100%. Then an undisclosed upper- body injury in the second game kept him out of six games, and his struggles started upon his return.

The day Anderson suffered his torn labrum fighting Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki, he had just one goal and three assists in 26 games. His shooting percentage was a frigid 1.6%, well below his career average of 10.5%.

Anderson became one of the first to form the Jackets’ mountain of injuries since mid-December. Full recovery from the surgery is expected to take four to six months, and it’s not a stretch to wonder what his future with the team will hold.

Anderson can become a restricted free agent July 1, this time with arbitration rights, and another tough negotiation may be ahead.

Rather than go through contentious talks again, would Kekalainen rather see what he can get for Anderson on the trade market? Would Anderson prefer that route? And how feasible is it to trade a player who could still have rehab time left?

These are the kinds of questions both sides will face this summer, and there are no easy answers.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172117 Columbus Blue Jackets It was Bjorkstrand’s pass to Jones in the neutral zone that started that fateful rush to the net, so it’s almost fitting that both are now out long term.

Seth Jones hopes injury issues don’t get any worse for Blue Jackets “It’s almost laughable at a certain point,” said Jones, who is three weeks into his own prognosis of eight to 10 weeks. “It just seems like a never- ending nightmare.” Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch The road to recovery

Jones’ nightmare has now turned into a goal. CALGARY, Alberta ― One lesson the Blue Jackets can cull from this injury-filled season is that a common thought about it is often wrong. “I’m hoping that maybe I’m a week ahead of schedule,” he said last week. “That’s where my mind is right now, so you know, that would put Yes, it can get worse. me at maybe playing the last couple games of the season, hopefully. If not, there’s no doubt in my mind, I don’t think anyone could stop me from “It’s just something we’ve dealt with all year,” said Seth Jones, whose playing in the first round (of the playoffs). That’s the plan.” surgically repaired right ankle is the reason for the crutches he can’t wait to ditch, along with the walking boot on his foot. “Every time you say, ‘It It’s backed by a surgical procedure called “tightrope fixation,” which is can’t get any worse,’ it does. It can always get worse. … It can always becoming more common among elite athletes with high-ankle sprains. get worse.” One notable recent example is Tua Tagovailoa, the former Alabama quarterback expected to be a high pick in this year’s NFL draft. In his case, it got a lot worse Feb. 8 against the Colorado Avalanche. During an ill-fated rush to the net in the first period at Nationwide Arena, Tagovailoa had it done in each ankle and returned within two to four Jones suffered two ankle injuries that made the Jackets’ injury plight weeks each time. Jones’ fracture adds time, but it’s still a shorter immeasurably worse. estimate than without the surgery, in which the tibia and fibula are pulled together at the ankle joint by a stabilizing “cord” inserted through each After losing an edge while cutting around Avalanche defenseman Erik bone. Johnson, Jones slid a quick backhanded shot at goalie Philipp Grubauer before crashing into the side of the net. His right foot twisted awkwardly Holding the bones together allows ligaments to heal faster, which is and the pain was immediate. where Jones’ optimism is rooted. Bjorkstrand, whose fracture isn’t believed to be as severe, had the same procedure Monday at Orthopedic Jones grabbed for his right ankle, scrambled to one knee behind the net One in Columbus. and stayed in that position, with the puck resting next to him. Jones’ surgery was done there, too, by the same two doctors: Scott Van Play continued, including Johnson scooping the puck and Nazem Kadri Aman, a foot and ankle specialist, and Greg Bellisari, a former NFL squeezing between Jones and the net, but eventually the Blue Jackets’ linebacker who played at Ohio State. four-time All-Star defenseman skated slowly to the bench. “At the end of the day, I obviously have to work with the docs,” said Something was definitely wrong, but it took a full day to completely figure Jones, who missed his 12th game Wednesday when the Blue Jackets it out. Initial on-site X-rays didn’t show any fractures, so Jones returned played at the Calgary Flames. “We have to let the bone heal, so you to the game with his ankle heavily taped. But an MRI the next day know that’s six weeks, and then from there it’s just a feel thing. I have to showed a hairline fracture and a high-ankle sprain. be able to skate before I can just go play, so it’s a process.” “It’s so hard, because most X-rays, you don’t see hairline fractures,” It’s one that also ends a certain way in his mind. Jones said. “So we didn’t see a fracture on the X-ray. We thought it was a sprain, high ankle, so we taped it up real good and I went back out.” “Hopefully, I’m playing,” Jones said. “In a perfect world, I would play in the last couple games of the season, if we’re still playing for a (playoff) Jones scored the Jackets’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss, capping a power play spot. If not the last game, then we make the playoffs and I play in the in the second period with a blast from the right point. Shooting the puck, playoffs.” however, caused him so much pain he could barely celebrate. That’s assuming, of course, things don’t get worse. “That was actually worse than when the injury occurred,” Jones said. “I dragged my toes against the ice, and I think that’s the sign of a high- Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 ankle (sprain). I kind of knew that going into it, but I wasn’t really thinking at that point, right?”

The aftermath

Jones has gotten plenty of time to think ever since, not to mention watching his teammates struggle.

The loss to Colorado ended a 10-game point streak (9-0-1) for the Jackets, who then started a 1-5-5 spin that briefly knocked them out of a playoff spot. It would’ve been 1-6-5 in 12 games had they not shocked the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday with four goals in the final 7:21 for a 5-3 victory at Nationwide Arena.

“Obviously, when we lose it’s not very fun to watch,” said Jones, who is also bummed to miss a game against his younger brother, Caleb Jones, on Saturday at Edmonton. “It’s just frustrating that you can’t be out there with them. Losing together or winning together, it all brings you closer. That’s really the thing that I miss the most.”

Jones’ injury wasn’t the end of the Jackets’ misery, either. It can always get worse, remember?

Cam Atkinson also reinjured his ankle against Colorado, Oliver Bjorkstrand suffered the same injuries as Jones after crashing into the end boards Feb. 20 against Philadelphia and two more, Riley Nash and goalie Elvis Merzlikins, left with upper-body injuries in a 4-3 overtime win Feb. 24 against the Ottawa Senators.

Nash only missed one game and Merzlikins has missed three, but Bjorkstrand is now out eight to 10 more weeks after undergoing the same surgical procedure Monday that Jones had Feb. 11 in Columbus. 1172118 Columbus Blue Jackets Korpisalo’s play stood out so much because he was forced to make way too many saves in a game that started out exactly the way the Blue Jackets wanted to play. They took a 2-0 lead on the goals by Shore and Flames 3, Blue Jackets 2, OT| The 3-2-1 breakdown Nyquist, limited the Flames’ scoring chances while outshooting them 9-8 and looked like the team that went 19-2-5 despite a spate of injuries in a two-month.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch That changed in the second period and the Jackets never really got back on the attack outside of a few odd-man rushes off turnovers in the

second, third and overtime. They were outshot 29-13 after the first period CALGARY, Alberta – They made a concerted effort to use their sticks and 37-22 overall, which isn’t a recipe for success in the NHL. and bodies as defensive tools, intent on making life difficult for the The defense looked a lot better, with quick sticks making it difficult for the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Saddledome. Flames to get through the neutral zone, but the offensive side was again The good news for the Blue Jackets is they accomplished their goal in a struggle. Not having injured defenseman Seth Jones or injured that way, frustrating the Flames for about 50 minutes with stellar defense forwards Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand and John Anderson didn’t and goaltending by Joonas Korpisalo (34 saves). The bad news is they help in that regard, but Tortorella isn’t accepting excuses. got stuck in their own end too much, were outshot 37-22, allowed two "Don’t even start talking about injuries," he said. "This has nothing to do goals in the third period and lost 3-2 in overtime on a rebound goal by with injuries. We’ve been doing this for three (expletive) months and we defenseman T.J. Brodie with 10.4 seconds left. have found our way to win games. We need to continue to stay with it … "We did some really good things in the neutral zone, as far as getting it’s just playing the proper way in the neutral zone, but we need to get pucks to go back the other way," coach John Tortorella said. "We just some guys that I think can bring more offense to do that more didn’t sustain a forecheck. We blocked shots. We did a lot of that stuff, consistently, without sacrificing some of the things that we need to do but we need to sustain some offense too, and we have the people that above the puck." can do that. And we’ve done it before. We’ve found ways to win games." Murray felt the same. They have 14 games left to find enough points for a fourth straight playoff "We had some chances," he said. "We developed some odd-man rushes, appearance, so time and patience are running thin with the injury- but just too much time in our own zone." plagued Blue Jackets. They had a victory and two points swiped from their mitts Wednesday night and it stung, knowing it could’ve been a 3) Another OTL different outcome had they sustained more time in the offensive zone. Overtime used to be a time when the Blue Jackets tacked on extra points "Are we going to be winning games 5-1? No, I don’t expect that," with one of the most dangerous 3-on-3 units in the NHL, capable of Tortorella said. "But we need to win these types of games. We need to ending games on the first shift beyond regulation with regularity. close this game out when we’re up 2-0 going into the third." They went a combined 17-6 in games that ended in 3-on-3 OT the past Here’s a 3-2-1 postgame breakdown from Scotiabank Saddledome … two seasons, but Artemi Panarin wore a Blue Jackets uniform in those three takeaways, two questions and one more thing: games and Sergei Bobrovsky, a seasoned goalie, was around to protect the net. Three Takeaways The Blue Jackets have gotten some outstanding goaltending from 1) Korpisalo was excellent Korpisalo and rookie Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks, but the The result wasn’t a win and the Blue Jackets blew a two-goal lead in the goalies can only do so much in a 3-on-3 format. They’re going to allow third, so words weren’t exactly flowing from Joonas Korpisalo’s mouth in goals, eventually, if the Jackets can’t end it themselves at the other end his postgame interview. The way he angrily stomped off the ice and of the ice … which is a lot harder to do without guys like Jones, Atkinson slammed his stick on the bench after Brodie’s goal, however, spoke and Bjorkstrand available. volumes. This was the Jackets’ 15th loss beyond regulation (8-15) and 11th non- Korpisalo and the Blue Jackets knew how big getting the second point shootout loss (8-11). would’ve been, so this one stung knowing how close they came. Two Questions "It (stinks), obviously," Korpisalo said. "Had a chance to win today. 1) What’s next for the Jackets? Couldn’t. So, you know, it does (stink) leading a game 2-0 and losing 3-2. It can’t happen right now." A little team bonding in the Canadian Rockies. The Jackets have another two-day span between games, so after the game they bused over to Despite allowing all three goals, Korpisalo did his part to make sure it Banff, Alberta, a ski-resort area that’s about a 90-minute drive from didn’t. Calgary and has some of the best natural scenery in North America. He didn’t have much chance to stop any of them, yet still came inches After getting a day off Thursday, the Blue Jackets will practice Friday at from gloving Brodie’s wrist shot that ended it. That was the fourth shot the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre before flying to Edmonton for a the Flames had sent at him in 11 seconds near the end of OT and he game against the Oilers on Saturday at Rogers Place. didn’t have his goal stick after losing it while making three straight saves against Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. 2) Who is Jake Christiansen?

"I was laying down there (after the saves on Monahan), so I was trying to The Blue Jackets signed Christiansen on Wednesday to a three-year battle with the three other guys there," Korpisalo said. "Kept it out for a entry-level contract that starts next season. The 20-year old defenseman while, then I turn my head and see the puck and it’s right in front of me, currently plays for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League and it hits my glove and goes in." and is having an outstanding final junior season.

It was a rotten way to end an outstanding 34-save performance, which Christiansen is listed at 6-feet-1, 190 pounds and is a left-handed shot. included Korpisalo stopping the first 25 shots he faced and making a He leads all WHL defensemen with 20 goals and has added 27 assists number of highlight-worthy stops to protect the lead. for 47 points. After starting the season on a professional tryout offer (PTO) and playing nine games with the Stockton Heat, the Flames’ Arguably his two best were back-to-back stops against Gaudreau and affiliate in the American Hockey League, Christiansen excelled upon his Lindholm a second apart with 1:06 left in the second, when he had to return to Everett. quickly push back to his right on his surgically-repaired knee to deny the second shot off a rebound that landed in the low slot. It’s a solid signing that adds defensive depth to the organization next season outside of the NHL draft, which the Blue Jackets also did a "He was really good," defenseman Ryan Murray said. "A lot of saves, he couple years ago by signing undrafted college forward Eric Robinson probably shouldn’t have made but he did. He really kept us in it." following his senior season at Princeton. 2) Not enough attack "Our guys from out West, (amateur scout) Troy Dumville and (pro scout) Rich Sutter had both identified him and watched him," said Basil McRae, Blue Jackets assistant general manager. "From my understanding, he’s what you’d call a vintage ‘late bloomer.’ He was a small kid and now he’s grown. He’s bigger and stronger, and he’s always had the skill. We watched a lot of tape on him. We’re excited to have him. You can never have enough skill."

One More Thing

Nyquist’s goal was his 14th of the season, putting the Blue Jackets up 2- 0 at 11:20 of the first period with a one-timer off a nice saucer pass from captain Nick Foligno on a 2-on-1 rush.

It was also Nyquist’s first even-strength goal since Nov. 29, when his second career hat trick paced the Jackets in a 5-2 victory against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Nyquist’s third goal in that game was scored into an empty net, which started a trend for the veteran forward.

Nyquist leads the team with six empty-net goals, which is tied for the league lead had scored six empty-netters in his previous seven goals dating back to that game in Pittsburgh.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172119 Columbus Blue Jackets The OT goal was chaotic. Korpisalo stopped an initial Flames’ attempt, but lost his stick as he scrambled and rolled on the ice to cover as much surface as possible.

Jackets let another slip away, other observations after a 3-2 OT loss in He sprung back to his skates when the puck went behind the Jackets’ Calgary net, but was essentially naked — no stick — when the puck was centered again.

By Aaron Portzline Mar 5, 2020 Korpisalo got a piece of his glove on T.J. Brodie’s game-winner with 10.4 seconds remaining, but it still found the back of the net.

#FLAMES WIN 3-2 CALGARY, Alberta — Ten observations from the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday in Saddledome: A FLURRY OF SHOTS, AND BRODIE’S FINALLY CONNECTS. #CBJ PIC.TWITTER.COM/3RK7KAXOPD 1. Gut punch, No. 15 — ALISON (@ALISONL) MARCH 5, 2020 If the Blue Jackets end up missing the playoffs by a single point, they’ll likely look back on … well, they’ll have a long list of games they can’t “I was laying down there, so I was trying to battle with the three other point to, and it now includes Wednesday’s heartbreaker in Calgary. (Blue Jackets’ guys),” Korpisalo said. “We kept (the puck) out for a while. Then I turn my head and see the puck is right in front of me. It hits my The Blue Jackets played one of their sharpest defensive games in quite a glove and goes in.” while for roughly 50 minutes … enough defenders “above the puck” to negate odd-man rushes, extremely active sticks to help make the neutral 3. Korpisalo burns hot zone and passing lanes a quagmire, etc. Korpisalo had allowed eight goals on 69 shots in his first three When there were breakdowns, or just quality offensive plays by the appearances after surgery, an .884 save percentage. He was pulled from Flames, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was there to make strong saves, his first start, a 5-0 loss to Minnesota on Friday, but played better in some of them rather astounding. Sunday’s comeback win over Vancouver.

The Blue Jackets were up 2-0 midway through the third period and On Wednesday, he had 34 saves and looked to be back at peak looking in control … until they weren’t. performance.

“It sucks, obviously,” Korpisalo said. “We had a chance to win today. It’s “He was terrific,” Tortorella said, then repeating himself for emphasis. “He leading 2-0 and losing 3-2. It can’t happen right now.” was terrific tonight.”

Seconds after the Blue Jackets failed to clear the zone, Zach Werenski Korpisalo is one of the most amiable players in the dressing room and a was pushed off the puck behind his own net with 8:46 to play, leading to soft-spoken lad. But nobody is more competitive or has a shorter fuse on a net-front goal by Calgary’s Elias Lindholm to make it 2-1. the ice.

2-1 #FLAMES GET ONE BACK OFF A FAILED #CBJ BREAKOUT Remember earlier this season when Korpisalo drew Tortorella’s ire PIC.TWITTER.COM/WNS1NJ5OQK (twice) by smashing his stick over the crossbar after tough goals?

— ALISON (@ALISONL) MARCH 5, 2020 On Wednesday, Korpisalo made it to the Blue Jackets’ bench before taking out his frustration on his stick. “You go 2-0 in the third period, you’d like to come out with a win,” Tortorella said. “I don’t think we were playing bad in the third, we just turn KORPISALO NOT PLEASED WITH THE FINAL OUTCOME. #CBJ one over for them to score the first goal. It was kind of a freebie for PIC.TWITTER.COM/JF0AT3IPB6 them.” — ALISON (@ALISONL) MARCH 5, 2020

Now you could feel the ice tilt. 4. Closing in on two records

The Flames scored an extra-attacker goal to tie the score at 2 with 1:40 A whopping 23 of the Blue Jackets’ 68 games have gone beyond remaining, a goal that appeared to carom off Werenski’s stick blade in regulation, more than one-third of their games. The Jackets are 8-15 front of the Columbus bet. (A rough end of the night for No. 8.) overall in those games, or 0-4 in shootouts and 8-11 in games decided “Those are tough plays that happen sometimes,” Blue Jackets by overtime, including Wednesday’s. defenseman Ryan Murray said of Werenski’s turnover and puck If that sounds like an absurd number, well, it is. redirection. “But, at the same time, (the Flames) were kind of all over us for a lot (of time) in that third period. Since the NHL started using shootouts to settle games in 2005-06, only two clubs have played in more games that were settled in overtime than “We spent way too much time in our own zone in that third. When you the Blue Jackets (19) have this season, according to the Elias Sports spend that much time in there, it’s bound to happen.” Bureau.

2. Korpisalo deserved better The 2016-17 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-19 Chicago Blackhawks each Korpisalo has struggled at times, as expected, in his return from knee had 20 games decided after regulation and before the shootout. surgery. But he was in mid-December form on Wednesday, making every Meanwhile, only four teams have lost more overtime games (again, since save he should have made and three or four more that deserved 2005-06) than the Blue Jackets’ 11 losses this season. highlight reels. That same 2016-17 Red Wings team lost 13 games in OT, while He made a bang-bang save on Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Colorado (2018-19), Detroit (2017-18) and Nashville (2015-16) each lost Lindholm late in the second period, recovering quickly from his stop on 12 OT games. Gaudreau to deflect Lindholm’s follow-up with his right shoulder and arm, he said. With 14 games left in the Blue Jackets’ season, they are a strong candidate to challenge both of those marks. ANOTHER LOOK AT KORPISALO’S WORK #CBJ #FLAMES PIC.TWITTER.COM/XONTPSKWG7 5. Tilted ice

— ALISON (@ALISONL) MARCH 5, 2020 The Blue Jackets spent most of Tuesday’s practice on defensive awareness and being more active with their sticks. The first period was a And there was this left toe-pad beauty off a deflected puck by Calgary’s master class in how they want to play. Devin Shore used the word Sean Monahan to protect the 2-1 lead. “impeccable,” which is a bit of a $10 word for a proud fourth-liner.

HTTPS://T.CO/UFDWBWKQK9 PIC.TWITTER.COM/LDOBLGQG0U In that first period, the Blue Jackets played like the club that went 19-2-5 — ALISON (@ALISONL) MARCH 5, 2020 from Dec. 8 to Feb. 8. Shore’s first goal with the Blue Jackets (8:56) and Gustav Nyquist’s goal (11:20) off a two-on-one with Nick Foligno made it 2-0, and they allowed Calgary to generate very little until the last few At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he’s regarded as an excellent skater and a minutes. power-play capable defenseman.

EXTRA MARINARA SAUCE WITH THIS FEED FROM There were several clubs, including Calgary, interested in signing him, @NICKFOLIGNO. #WNH but the Blue Jackets’ lack of prospects on the blue line may have affected this signing in both directions. The Blue Jackets wanted : HTTPS://T.CO/BLW0CSP4LZ @NHLONNBCSPORTS Christiansen, and Christiansen sees an opportunity. PIC.TWITTER.COM/SJMNDV2HDS The Blue Jackets’ best defensive prospects outside the NHL are Tim — NHL (@NHL) MARCH 5, 2020 Berni, currently playing for Zurich SC in Switzerland, and Eric Hjorth, currently playing with the Sarnia Sting of the Hockey League. But the shots on goal, by period, tell a tale of how their sharpness faded over time: 9, 6, 4 and 3 in the overtime. The Jackets were outshot 29-13 The contract signed with Columbus doesn’t begin until next season. after the first period. 9. Ride those barkers “The bottom line is, we did a lot of good things, but we need to develop more forechecking and offense,” Tortorella said. The Blue Jackets bused from Calgary to Banff, Alberta, after Wednesday’s game, about a 90-minute drive. “I thought at the beginning of the third we were dead-on, but we need to turn that into having the puck more and forechecking and just developing With no practice scheduled on Thursday, the Jackets will have an off day some offense. We can’t spend that much time — in what I thought was a in one of North America’s most picturesque areas. At least a few players pretty good defensive game — just stuck in our end zone. are planning to travel a short way out of town to go dog-sledding … with a guide, one presumes. “We’re not wearing them down, because we just didn’t spend enough time in their zone.” With two days off between games, Tortorella wanted to do something to break up the monotony of a typical road trip. 6. Don’t even say it On Friday, the Jackets will skate late morning skate at Fenlands Banff An obvious conclusion to the Blue Jackets’ scoring woes, of course, is Recreation Center, then fly to Edmonton in advance of Saturday’s game. that their most talented players are currently on the shelf with injuries. 10. Pure Alberta Beef It sure would help to have Josh Anderson (shoulder surgery) Cam Atkinson (high-ankle sprain), Oliver Bjorkstrand (ankle surgery) and Seth The Blue Jackets are still carrying three goaltenders. Matiss Kivlenieks Jones (ankle surgery), among others, on the ice for the stretch drive. served as Korpisalo’s back-up on Wednesday, but Elvis Merzlikins (concussion) is on the trip and has been practicing and taking pucks, The Jackets played again on Wednesday with eight players out of the suggesting he’s close to returning. The plan appears to be for Korpisalo lineup, nine if you count center Brandon Dubinsky, who’s been to start on Saturday in Edmonton, then bring Merzlikins back on Sunday incapacitated (wrist) all season. in Vancouver. … Foligno was held without a shot attempt in Wednesday’s game. … Ryan Murray, in his second game back after a But Tortorella won’t hear the excuses. 34-game absence with a back injury, played on the right side of the first “We’ve been doing this for three goddamn months and we have found pairing with Werenski. Meanwhile, Scott Harrington went back into the our way to win games,” Tortorella said. lineup and Markus Nutivaara was made a healthy scratch.

The Blue Jackets still have enough firepower to score goals, Tortorella Alison Lukan’s analytics insisted. But their best players simply have to deliver down the stretch. The Athletic’s Alison Lukan provided these insights into the Blue Jackets’ Pierre-Luc Dubois has one goal in his last 15 games. Boone Jenner has loss: one goal in his last 10 games. Nyquist has scored in two straight, but • There are both a glass-half-full option and a glass-half-empty option in went 13 games without a goal before that. Alexander Wennberg doesn’t evaluating this game. Going into the matchup, the Blue Jackets were have a point in seven, though he also missed games during that streak predicted to have a 41.2-percent chance to win the game according to with an injury. Money Puck, and the team earned just 47.95 percent of five-on-five “We need to get some guys, who I think can bring more offense, to do adjusted shot attempts. Money Puck’s “deserve to win o’meter” had the that more consistently without sacrificing the things we need to do above Blue Jackets winning the game 31.6 percent of the time. So to come out the puck,” Tortorella said. with a point is an achievement.

“We have the people who can do that. We’ve done it before, we’ve found • On the other hand, the team had 55.19 percent of expected goals and ways to win games. Are we going to be winning games 5-1? No. I don’t squandered a 2-0 lead to lose in overtime. expect that. But we need to win these types of games and we need to • What this information tells us is that Columbus wasn’t playing the right close this game out when we’re up 2-0 going into the third.” way consistently enough to earn the win straight out. And in overtime, 7. Borrowed time? Calgary owned both shot share (66.67 percent) and shot quality (81.48 percent). After a win over Detroit on Feb. 7, the Blue Jackets were third in the , trailing only first-place Washington (by eight points) • John Tortorella wanted his team to produce more offensively and that and second-place Pittsburgh (two). shows if we look at the line by line matchups. Only Pierre-Luc Dubois’ line had an advantage in terms of shot share (+1), and Riley Nash’s line Since then, the Blue Jackets have just two wins in 13 games (2-5-6), but was the only trio to beat the Flames in terms of shot quality (79 percent). they’ve slid only one spot in the standings (to the first wild-card in the The other two lines were not net positive in shot volume or quality. Eastern Conference), thanks to mediocre play by teams around them. • Korpisalo was solid in net. He performed as he should preventing .12 Since Feb. 8, Florida (4-8-1), Washington (4-7-1), Carolina (4-4-2), the more goals than expected, while Cam Talbot stopped .75 more goals New York Islanders (4-7-2) and Pittsburgh (5-6-1) have plateaued, than it was predicted he should, based on the quality faced. allowing the Blue Jackets to survive despite a late-season lull. • The top Columbus skaters according to game score: Gustav Nyquist 8. A new prospect (2.11); David Savard (1.60); Vladislav Gavrikov (1.58); Nick Foligno With Vladislav Gavrikov and Andrew Peeke now ensconced in NHL jobs, (1.56); Devin Shore (1.37). the Blue Jackets’ prospect pool on the blue line was starting to get thin. • The top Calgary skaters by the same measure: Elias Lindholm (2.56); That’s why Wednesday’s signing of Jake Christiansen made so much Mark Giordano (1.21); Johnny Gaudreau (1.17); Sean Monahan (.67); TJ sense. Brodie (.66).

Christiansen, 20, was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract after a The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 breakout overage season with Everett of the Western Hockey League. In only 35 games, Christiansen has 20-27-47 and a +27 rating. 1172120 Columbus Blue Jackets “The game is so fast that first games back from an injury are always hard. You’re trying to get your feet wet, but the game doesn’t wait for that. And I’m sure there was some emotion with him, it being so long The answer to Ryan Murray’s chronic back issues since he played.”

By now, Murray said, he knows what it’s like to return from long injury layoffs. That first game back can be a blur, but lean into it, he said. If you By Aaron Portzline Mar 4, 2020 36 play it safe, the adjustment period is longer. It’s better to play your game and push through the early mistakes.

Murray was on the ice for all three first-period goals by Vancouver on CALGARY, Alberta — Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray has been Sunday. He was, in hockey parlance, “fighting the puck.” dealing with an injured disk in his lower back for a few seasons now, a vicious cycle that forced him out of the lineup for long stretches and “You’re not playing against anyone for the longest time,” Murray said, strained the relationship between the player and club. “and then you’re stepping right in against competition.

Two seasons ago, he missed nearly two months in the middle of the “You try and do what you can. You trust your gut. Those instincts are season. In 2018-19, he didn’t play again after Feb. 18, missing the Blue there for a reason. Even though I was trying to make plays and I was Jackets’ epic first-round playoff sweep of Tampa Bay and a second- turning it over, I was still like, ‘That’s the right play.’ I know it’s the right round series versus Boston. play, it’s the execution that was missing.

But when Murray’s lower back turned wonky again this December, he “And then the second period hits and you feel like you can play, like went looking for new answers to what had become a frustrating problem. you’re back.”

“We dealt with it differently this time,” Murray said. Murray, as fate would have it, played a big role in the Blue Jackets’ wild third-period comeback against the Canucks. The Jackets were down 3-1 Murray and Blue Jackets head athletic trainer Mike Vogt traveled to see a before rallying in the final 7:21 of regulation, winning 5-3. doctor in Canada, one who specializes in the body’s core muscles and has studied extensively the interconnected mechanics of the back. The 3-2 goal was kept alive by a great play along the wall by Werenski, but it was Murray’s pass to a wide-open Riley Nash that led directly to the After he examined Murray and studied his long history of injury, there goal that started the comeback. was good news and bad news. Not only did Murray recognize that Nash was skating along through the The bad news: Murray’s back will need to be a daily priority — repeated right circle — in fairness, most NHL defensemen should see a player exercise and stretches, proper moving and lifting techniques, etc. — for who’s that wide open — but his pass was right on Nash’s blade. the rest of his life, not just for the rest of his playing career. At 26 years old, he has the back of a much older man. Nash didn’t have to gather the puck, adjust and look for a shooting target on Vancouver’s Louis Domingue. By then Domingue would have been The good news: Doctors don’t see any reason why Murray, if he keeps square to the shooter. By putting the puck right on Nash’s stick, it allowed up with the daily exercises, shouldn’t be able to play regularly and the shot to be off that much quicker. sustain a long career. “It’s a great pass to Nash for a big goal to give us energy and get us Murray won’t be doing some of the same strenuous workouts as the rest within one,” John Tortorella said. of the Blue Jackets, but he’s spent the last two months doing daily workouts to build up his core muscles and to help relieve stress on the But there was a non-scoring play by Murray that caught Tortorella’s eye lower back area where the affected disk resides. even more than his assist on Nash’s goal. “I showed it (during Tuesday’s film session),” he said. In the morning, when he’s just out of bed. In the afternoon, say, after practice. In his hotel room on the road. Each night before bed. Without Murray and Seth Jones (fractured ankle) on the blue line, the Blue Jackets have struggled, at times, to move the puck deftly out of the “It’s going to be constant. You have to keep up with your body,” Murray zone. Tortorella doesn’t like to see a lot of “D-to-D” passes. He wants the said. “It’s an everyday thing now, and you have to take care of it. For me, puck pushed up the ice. it’s thinking about the rest of my life, too, not just hockey. “We tend to throw the puck along the wall now; we’re missing some “(The specialist) evaluated everything. The big thing is the daily exercises people back there,” Tortorella said. “Murr comes in, he makes a little 5- and stretches. Two a day at least, but you can always do more if you foot play to the guy in the middle of the ice — to (Ryan) MacInnis — and want. And it’s littlest things, too, like picking something up off the floor. we attack offensively. Getting out of bed. Learning how to do things the perfect and proper way so you don’t hurt anything.” “(Murray’s) a confusing one to me, because he is one of the best passers … in the league, when he’s on. It’s an important time for him to come Asked whether he feels like he’s finally found a way to stay in the lineup, back to this team and help us out with that.” Murray looked for wood to rap with his knuckles. Murray, who skated on the third pairing Sunday with Markus Nutivaara, “I hope so,” he said. “I don’t know, but I hope so. I am pretty optimistic played 20:28, had two assists, a plus-1 rating and three blocked shots. about it.” He drew ice time, as per usual, on the power play and penalty kill. The new approach required the Blue Jackets’ approval. While other A bigger role appears to be in store Wednesday when the Blue Jackets players are in the gym lifting heavy weights to strengthen their core, play Calgary in Saddledome. Murray ran practice drills Tuesday on the Murray had to find ways to strengthen the area without stressing the disk, right side of Werenski, suggesting a new top pair is in the works. a delicate balance. “It took him a little time (Sunday), but you could tell he was seeing plays,” Murray was expected to return to the lineup when the Blue Jackets came Tortorella said. “And he has enough balls to make the plays, too. back from their long break in late January but he experienced a mild setback. A few weeks later, after extensive work to strengthen his core, “You get (rookie Andrew) Peeke in there, a young guy trying to find their Murray started cranking up his skating workouts with assistant coaches way, it’s going to take a while to have that type of strut about their game. Kenny McCudden and Jared Boll, getting his lungs and legs ready. Murr has that strut. He has it.”

About 10 days ago, he started to feel like he could play again. On The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 Sunday, he played a game for the first time since Dec. 14, having missed 34 games.

“It’s been a tough stretch of injuries for him … before I got here, since I’ve been here,” Zach Werenski said. “You never want to see a guy go through that, because of course he wants to be out there playing. 1172121 Dallas Stars

Stars reassign goaltender Jake Oettinger to AHL affiliate Texas

By Matthew DeFranks

The Stars returned goaltender Jake Oettinger to AHL affiliate Texas on Wednesday morning, one day after his emergency recall due to an injured Ben Bishop.

Oettinger backed up Anton Khudobin on Tuesday during a 2-1 overtime loss to the Oilers when Bishop was ruled out due to a lower-body injury. Oettinger was recalled on an emergency basis, so it did not count as one of the four post-trade deadline recalls teams are permitted.

Oettinger’s reassignment to Texas could mean two things. One, that Bishop is healthy again to either play or back up for Thursday’s game in Nashville. Or two, that Oettinger can play Wednesday night in Cedar Park before being recalled again Thursday morning for the game against the Predators.

Bishop missed practice Monday but was on the ice Tuesday morning during an optional skate. It was the first game Bishop has missed due to injury all season after he missed 17 last year. It was also Oettinger’s first career NHL recall.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172122 Dallas Stars players, which has happened. We’ve talked enough about it. But he gets so wrapped up in the game, he forgets how long he’s been on the ice. Just so intense.”

Droughts have hit Stars’ top forwards this season, but Alexander Bowness pointed to Radulov’s shot-blocking in the defensive zone and Radulov’s goalless streak is different involvement on the power play as positives in his game. Radulov ranks fifth among Stars forwards with 41 shot blocks, and he ranks second on the team with seven power-play goals. Dallas’ power play has climbed to By Matthew DeFranks No. 9 in the NHL.

“As long as he’s creating offensive opportunities and spending time in the offensive zone, then he’s helping the team win,” Bowness said. Alexander Radulov may own the two most iconic goals of this Stars season. Briefly: The Stars did not practice Wednesday before traveling to Nashville for Thursday’s game against the Predators. There was the desperation dive at the end of the second period Oct. 29, a goal that sparked a three-goal comeback against Minnesota and Dallas Morning News LOADED: 03.05.2020 helped turn around Dallas’ season after a miserable start. And there was the one-timer on the power play Jan. 1, a goal that gave the Stars a lead in the Winter Classic against Nashville and detonated a celebration of 85,000 fans at the Cotton Bowl.

But it’s been tough otherwise for Radulov, the 33-year-old winger with a $6.25 million cap hit, who’s goalless in his last 12 games. Radulov’s goalless streak is his longest since a 19-game drought in 2006-07, when he was a 20-year-old rookie in Nashville, although Radulov was out of the NHL for seven of those seasons.

“We all know he’s at his best when he has that puck below the tops of the circles, and working,” interim head coach Rick Bowness said. “No one competes as hard as Rads does. In that offensive zone when he has the puck, he hasn’t gotten any breaks offensively. But if keeps putting pucks to the net and stays with it, then those goals are going to come.”

On Tuesday against Edmonton, Radulov finished with three shots on goal, a cross-checking penalty against and a hooking penalty drawn. He was creative on the power play, setting up teammates for opportunities. But he was also denied on a golden chance in the first period after an Oilers turnover resulted in a Radulov backhand in tight.

The problem recently with Radulov is that he hasn’t been getting pucks on net. He has not had a game with at least four shots on goal since Dec. 16, a stretch of 25 straight games. (For comparison, even through a 17- game goal drought, Tyler Seguin had nine games with four-plus shots.)

This season, as Stars forwards have rotated through scoring slumps, the coaching staff could understandably point to puck luck as a problem. The players (such as Seguin and Jamie Benn earlier during a 15-game outage) were getting chances and generating shots, but they simply weren’t going in.

That’s not the case with Radulov, who has 11 games with zero shots on goal. Last year, he had only two. Through a team spokesperson, Radulov declined comment Tuesday morning.

“Had a good talk with Rads yesterday, and he’s in the right frame of mind,” Bowness said. “Regardless if you’re scoring, it’s like that whole thing we went through with Tyler. ‘He’s not scoring, he’s not scoring.’ Yeah, but he’s doing a lot of things to help us win games, and those are the most important points. Rads is part of this team, and he’s doing good things to help us where we are in the standings.”

Radulov has 15 goals and 19 assists, and with 16 games remaining is on pace to finish with about 19 goals and 24 assists. That would be the lowest since he signed a five-year contract with the Stars in the summer of 2017.

Per 60 minutes of 5 on 5, he’s on pace for career lows in shots, shot attempts and scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. His high- danger chances per 60 minutes of 5 on 5 would be the second-fewest in his career.

Recently, his lack of production has been reflected in his playing time.

Of Radulov’s eight games with the fewest shifts, seven came in February, when Radulov was taken off a line with Benn and Seguin and played mostly with Mattias Janmark and Joe Pavelski.

Radulov’s shift length has also resurfaced as a problem. Against the Blues on Saturday, Radulov averaged 1:08 per shift. In Carolina last week, he averaged 1:11 per shift. The Stars ask players to limit shifts to 40 seconds.

“He just wants it so bad that he overextends himself,” Bowness said. “You love that part of him, but you also realize it’s cutting into ice of other 1172123 Dallas Stars knows why, but multiple players said traveling with the cowboy hat and it’s custom box was a bit of a hassle.

The chain showed up because of Stars interim coach Rick Bowness, who Chain, keep us together: Confirming Rumours of Stars’ new game- has placed greater emphasis on visual symbols and cues as tools to winning artifact motivate players. Bowness added a standings board back into the locker room at both the American Airlines Center and the practice facility in Frisco. He introduced the chain to the team as way to honor each other, By Sean Shapiro Mar 4, 2020 15 and when the Stars travel they hang a rope in the locker room as a reminder “that everyone pulls the same rope,” according to Ben Bishop.

“It’s a really long season, and I think you have to keep some guys DALLAS — There was a chain in Jason Dickinson’s hockey bag when engaged and keep the whole group engaged, because it’s tough playing the Dallas Stars left for Nashville on Wednesday morning. however many games that we played in February and staying on top of If things go well on Thursday for the Stars against the Predators, the your game,” Stephen Johns said. “I feel like this group has that focus in chain will be heading back to Dallas in someone else’s bag. here, and the coaching staff has instilled that in this group. Obviously there has been a lot of stuff that’s happened this year that wasn’t Introduced in early February, there’s been a new protocol for the Stars expected, and we all come together after that. The little things we do as a after victory as the chain, about two feet long, is presented to the player team, I think it helps with that focus.” of the game by the prior player of the game who picks the new recipient. Bowness isn’t interested in sharing much more about the chain or the Dickinson has carried the chain to Boston and St. Louis and now rope. Nashville after the Stars lost their third straight game on Tuesday to the Edmonton Oilers. He’s looking forward to passing it on, even if it comes “Those are internal things, really,” Bowness said. “Just for the players with the pressure of picking one teammate out of a group and giving a and I. Keep it internally. But you are very observant, good for you.” minor speech. The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 “It’s a lot of stress, actually,” Dickinson said. “Usually our goalies are the ones that get it. And they should get it — or could get it — every game. And you also can’t look at points; you can get points and play an awful game. So it’s more than that.”

“More than that” can mean a number of things, but in most cases, the player adorned with the chain after a game is one who has embodied the hard-grinding mentality the Stars have adopted this season.

Andrew Cogliano wasn’t on the scoresheet when the Stars beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on Feb. 23, but he did block a shot at the buzzer and was a central figure in a perfect penalty kill. Add in the fact he was honored for playing 1,000 NHL games earlier that night, and it was a no-brainer to give him the chain.

“Those are the things that guys recognize, and that’s something that’s important to this team that we feel should be recognized,” Dickinson said.

This is when the chain first popped onto our radar. It was the rare occasion where pictures were allowed in the locker room, and if you look in Cogliano’s stall you’ll notice the chain hanging right behind his jock strap.

Dickinson got the chain from Cogliano after the next game in Carolina, a 4-1 Stars win in which Dickinson had a goal and an assist.

“I think it’s something that recognizes guys that play well and play hard,” Cogliano said. “I don’t think it’s a thing given out for guys that score, necessarily, or maybe get three or four points. It’s more about someone that brings something to that game that needs to be done to win. (Dickinson) fittingly deserved it after that game in Carolina. I think a couple guys could have had it and their line played great, but I felt like when I gave it to him, he was the centerman of the line and he made their line go.”

The current holder of the chain will give a brief speech about his selection, and then the recipient will follow suit. The chain then stays with that player’s equipment in their stall until the next Stars win.

“I think you are always trying to build team chemistry,” Cogliano said. “You want guys to be vocal, and you wants guys to make decisions like that, your younger guys especially. It sometimes gets guys out of their comfort zone, which is good to see, and when you have younger guys have it and they have to make a speech and say things before giving it to someone else, it only helps build a team.”

A Player of the Game trinket that travels from player to player is common in the NHL. The Minnesota Wild pass around a whitewater rafting helmet; the Toronto Maple Leafs pass a basketball gifted to them by the ; a trucker hat with a fake mullet is used in Nashville. Swords (Montreal), Coyote pelts (Arizona), a replica Civil War ‘kepi’ hat (Columbus) and Infinity Gauntlets (Florida) are also honorific items.

Dallas didn’t have an item for most of this season. There was a cowboy hat that traveled with the team during the 2018-19 campaign, but it was phased out before this season. No one has a good answer or really 1172124 Detroit Red Wings “It’s the same thing with normal cold or influenza,” Nemeth said. “We have hand sanitizer on the plane and I try to use it when I see it. To me, it doesn’t change much how I approach things, for now, anyways.”

Detroit Red Wings wary of coronavirus but say they 'don't live in fear' More on Wings: Team feels evaluating them: 'He watches everything'

Forward Robby Fabbri said he washes his hands as quickly as possible Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 4:04 p.m. ET March 4, after signing an autograph, but doesn’t carry around hand sanitizer. 2020 | Updated 6:34 p.m. ET March 4, 2020 The CDC website advises the virus is thought to spread mainly through person-to-person contact — specifically between people within six feet of one another, and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected A couple of days after mingling at a season-ticket holder event, Detroit person coughs or sneezes. An advisory notes a person may possibly Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin fell ill. contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on It turned out he had influenza. The virus made the rounds in the locker it, and then touching their mouth or nose, but that this is not thought to be room, infecting one teammate after another. the main way the virus spreads.

The Wings try to take precautions against infectious diseases, and have “I watch the news on a daily basis,” defenseman Alex Biega said. “I grown increasingly vigilant in light of the spread of coronavirus. Players follow the latest current events and what’s going on and it’s scary, are used to fans coming within a few feet of them to request autographs especially when you have three kids. You just want to be up to date." and photographs, and say they have to be smart about handling such “At the end of the day, it’s important to recognize the fact that the flu kills situations. more people than coronavirus has. Ultimately, we play every second day “People enjoy a handshake and a photo, but maybe if it’s a first bump, in front of 15,000 people or more. You have to continue living your lives. hopefully they’ll understand the seriousness and the scare out there,” We wash our hands thoroughly, we have hand sanitizer, but you have to Larkin said Wednesday. “You have to be careful. You do have to be continue living your lives. You have to have the belief that our health cautious whenever you’re out in public.” care system is going to do everything they can and that there are some sophisticated people in there that will make sure that it is gone, or at least Larkin said he follows news about the virus “but I don’t live my life in make sure that it is not going to spread significantly.” fear.” On Wednesday, the Chicago State University canceled games for both According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of March 4 there were its men’s and women’s basketball teams, citing the spread of 80 cases of COVID-19 in the United States, nine of them resulting in coronavirus. Globally, Switzerland, Italy and Iran are among countries fatalities. that have postponed soccer games because of the virus.

“It’s a scary situation,” forward Sam Gagner said. “You have to be aware Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, center, celebrates his goal with Patrik of it. You have to make sure you’re washing your hands, using hand Nemeth, left, and Brendan Perlini, right, in the first period against the sanitizer, covering your mouth, making sure you’re not shaking too many Calgary Flames on Feb. 23, 2020, in Detroit. hands. Numerous Wings players, including Larkin, have traveled overseas the “Hopefully, we can keep guys in here from getting infected.” past several springs to participate in the annual world championships. The 2020 event is scheduled to take place in May in Switzerland. Blashill Coach Jeff Blashill said the Wings’ medical staff has been in contact with said he believes the event’s governing body, the International Ice Hockey the NHL, but that for now, the emphasis is on basic precautions including Federation, “would do whatever it could to maintain” the competition. hand washing and using hand sanitizer. The NBA released a memo Sunday advising players to forgo high-fives for fist bumps and carrying Players have heard local reports of people raiding stores for bottled their own pens for signing autographs. water, toilet paper and hand sanitizer, but aren’t joining the rush.

“We always try to be real smart about that, washing our hands all the “I saw on the news today that you have to pay, like, I think it was $89 for time,” Blashill said. “If someone is sick, we’ve tried to have them stay at two big things of sterilizer,” Biega said. “I won’t be one of those people. I home. We’ve done that with the flu. Our locker room gets cleaned every will not be getting extra cleaning supplies.” day. Larkin laughed and said should there be a shortage, “I think I might have “You certainly pay attention to it and see where it goes from here. It to go to my parents. I don’t have a whole lot at my house.” hasn’t had an immediate impact on my life, yet, I don’t think it has had an immediate impact on any of our lives, yet. So we’ll just take it day by day Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.05.2020 and make sure we stay on top of it.”

[ Detroit Tigers pitcher from Taiwan has not been quarantined over fears of coronavirus ]

States that have reported cases of COVID-19 to the CDC include Florida, Arizona and Massachusetts, where the Wings have games this month. There are also confirmed cases in Canada, where the Wings play their last road game of the season, April 2 in Toronto.

More on Wings: Team has 'never seen anything like it' as losses mount

“It’s a weird topic, a little scary, for sure,” defenseman Madison Bowey said. “Hand sanitizer and washing your hands is really important. That’s definitely what we’re focused on a lot here in the room. You can’t be too safe right now.”

Defenseman Patrik Nemeth keeps up to date by reading online reports coming out of his native Sweden and isn’t overly concerned.

The Detroit Red Wings leave the ice and head into the tunnel after their 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena.

The Detroit Red Wings leave the ice and head into the tunnel after their 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press) 1172125 Detroit Red Wings “If someone is sick, we’ve tried to have them stay at home. That hasn’t happened yet, but we’ve done that with the flu. It’s real similar, so far, as to what you’d expect at this time of year.”

Jonathan Bernier quietly thriving during difficult Red Wings' season Players are taking precautions, but aren’t letting the virus impact their lives.

“You just have to be careful,” forward Dylan Larkin said. “I know people Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 5:09 p.m. ET March 4, 2020 | enjoy a handshake, or photo, but maybe if it’s a fist bump, they’ll Updated 5:18 p.m. ET March 4, 2020 understand, with the seriousness and the scare out there. You do have to be cautious when you’re out there in public.

“I follow it, you know about it on the news, but I don’t live my life in fear.” Detroit — During a season in which there’s been little going right for the Red Wings, goaltender Jonathan Bernier has definitely been one Detroit News LOADED: 03.05.2020 positive.

Since gradually becoming the regular goalie around late December, Bernier has gotten the bulk of games and provided the Wings with quality work.

Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier owns a 13-21-3 record, 2.92 goals-against average and .907 save percentage so far this season.

Bernier’s 13-21-3 record, 2.92 goals-against average and .907 save percentage arguably don’t provide an entirely accurate description of how well he’s played this season.

“You want to win every game and obviously we’re not,” Bernier said. “You want to be making a difference. Every game you don’t win, you look at it and try to get better and change things to be on the winning side.”

This will be the first time since the 2014-15 season in Toronto that Bernier has blown by the 40-games played mark (he’s at 43), and been the clear-cut No. 1 goalie on a team.

The increased workload since the New Year, plus confidence coach Jeff Blashill has shown in Bernier, has helped.

“I’ve been playing more since that time, and it’s probably had a big effect on my game, knowing you’re playing,” Bernier said. “We’re human and sometimes when you don’t play a lot, sometimes you’re a little more pressure on yourself to win and show that you can be the guy.

“It’s definitely not the way to approach it. But once you know it’s your net, for me, it’s easier to go out there and do my job.”

With Jimmy Howard getting the lion’s share of playing time early last season, Bernier was reduced to maybe getting one start a week or 10 days, and that seemed to adversely affect Bernier.

“I didn’t play much at all and, obviously, Howie was playing well,” said Bernier, who signed as a free agent with the Wings the summer of 2018. “After Christmas, or the New Year, I was playing more and I also started to feel more comfortable around the room and on the ice, and it made a big difference.”

Bernier’s statistics with the Wings haven’t always been a true indication of how well he’s played. He allowed eight goals to Boston in his second game with Detroit in October 2018, then had to work hard to slice those numbers down to respectability.

Likewise, this season, the Wings haven’t always made life easy for Bernier and Howard.

“There’s probably been games this season where I probably felt better than game where my stats weren’t as good,” Bernier said. “As a goalie you can look around the league, and the teams that aren’t playing the way they should in front of you, it’s kind of predictable that any goalie in this league will have a tough time (in that situation).”

No concern yet

The coronavirus has had an impact around the world, and even some sports leagues.

But it’s still business as usual around the NHL and with the Wings, daily life hasn’t been impacted, either.

“It’s kind of the normal, universal precautions you go through at this time of year, with the flu and those types of things,” Blashill said. “You try to be smart about it, washing hands all the time, making sure you’re covering your mouth when you’re coughing. 1172126 Detroit Red Wings Championship in Plymouth and Ann Arbor (April 16-26). But that is premature.

“I think anything is a consideration, but I think the IIHF would do whatever Red Wings taking precautions with coronavirus but business as usual it could to maintain those World Championships,” Blashill said. “I was (in Plymouth) yesterday and they’re certainly full speed ahead, ready to host the tournament. The World Championship is in Switzerland, it’s had some minor number of cases but there is a growing concern. By Ansar Khan | [email protected] “I would just say it would take something major to have the cancellation

of the men’s worlds or the U-18s, so we’ll see.” DETROIT – They might forgo a handshake for a fist bump. They’re PREVENTION TIPS washing their hands more frequently. Their dressing room is being disinfected more often than before. Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC. Other than that, concern about the coronavirus hasn’t altered the Detroit Red Wings’ day-to-day routine. The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching It is scary, they said, and they’re monitoring the situation. But for now, it’s your mouth or face unless your hands are clean. business as usual. Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and “It’s kind of the normal, universal precautions you go through at this time surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as of year with the flu and those types of things,” coach Jeff Blashill said. shopping-cart handles when out in public. “You always try to be real smart about that, washing our hands all the time, making sure you’re covering your mouth when you’re coughing. If Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers someone’s sick we’ve tried to have them stay at home. That hasn’t as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will happened yet, but we’ve done that with the flu.” likely work fine, too.

The NHL has been in contact with teams’ medical and training staffs. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.05.2020 “(Commissioner) Gary Bettman said yesterday it’s business as usual with those universal precautions,” Blashill said. “Our locker room gets cleaned every day. Right now, there’s no travel restrictions in the U.S. We’ll just take it day by day and make sure we stay on top of it, as an organization, as a hockey team and as a league.

“I don’t think it’s had an immediate impact on any of our lives yet. Certainly, we want to make sure we’re being as good as we can about those simple but effective methods to try to stem the spread of any kind of illness.”

The NHL Players Association issued a memo with advice on what measures to take.

“They’re looking into every possible way to make sure we’re safe and the buildings are safe and the different areas,” Dylan Larkin said. “There hasn’t been too much talk (in the room), but it is something everyone in the world is dealing with.”

Larkin recalled getting the flu a couple of days after a recent season ticketholder autograph signing and how quickly it spread through the team.

“You just have to be careful,” he said. “I know people enjoy a handshake and a photo, but maybe if it’s a fist bump, hopefully they’ll understand, with the seriousness and the scare out there.”

Justin Abdelkader said his biggest fear is how contagious it is.

“People that are healthy for the most part are getting through it,” Abdelkader said. “Still, you don’t want to get it, but you don’t want to spread it to family members or others. I think we’re at a point as a country where we’re trying to learn as much as we can and take measures as we find out how bad it starts spreading.”

Abdelkader said it does no good to be obsessively cautious, however.

“You can’t live in a bubble either,” he said. “We’re fortunate that as a group, a lot of guys are healthy and take care of themselves. You just worry about the elderly and your parents, those sorts of people, whether they have some kind of lung disease or are trying to fight something off and have a weakened immune system. Those are the ones that are really in danger and that’s why we’re just trying to keep it contained as much as possible.”

Jonathan Bernier noted other health scares that seemingly materialized out of nowhere, like the mumps outbreak in the NHL in late 2014.

“To be honest, there’s been more dangerous viruses out there than this one,” Bernier said. “It’s like a flu virus. Obviously, you want to be careful, especially if you have kids. You just do the normal stuff you do every day (to avoid) getting a flu virus or anything like this.”

There have been suggestions about possibly canceling the World Championship in Switzerland (May 8-25) or the World Under-18 1172127 Detroit Red Wings It wasn’t blown up like a giant balloon such as the Silverdome. It wasn't thrown up on a whim to prevent a team from moving out of town

like Joe Louis Arena. The Palace deserved much better than demise before its time The Palace was calculated to be savored, admired and enjoyed on every level, and in every way, for eons.

By Pat Caputo [email protected]; @patcaputo98 on The fact it existed for just a little more than three decades just doesn’t Twitter Mar 4, 2020 Updated 43 min ago Comments seem right, like the architectural version of a brilliant person dying way too young.

I can’t help but think the legacy of The Palace deserved better. We’ve said good bye to stadiums and arenas before. It was a classic. It was adored. It will be missed. The final game is nostalgic and a celebration. When gutted and destroyed, it’s sad. Macomb Daily LOADED: 03.05.2020

Who didn’t shed a tear when Tiger Stadium came down?

If anything, they waited too long to implode the Silverdome, which refused to go down without a fight, remaining erect until a second charge finally brought its long overdue collapse.

Since the Red Wings’ played their last game at Joe Louis Arena, it’s almost as if no attention has been given to the site. Just a part of its frame remains. Did you know that?

The Palace of Auburn Hills, on which the demolition process recently began, is and was very different.

You could see how Tiger Stadium was holding back the franchise’s ability to compete on a level field.

The Silverdome was out-of-date by the 1980s, emblematic of how quickly the world moved on after its mid-1970s opening.

The only thing wonderful about Joe Louis Arena was the hockey team and other fantastic events. Any charm the building had was mostly tied to the Red Wings and their Stanley Cup championships.

None of that pertains to The Palace. The structure, to the very day the Pistons moved to Little Caesars Arena in 2017, was viable. The suites were good. The sight lines excellent. It remained clean and fresh, especially after a relatively inexpensive updating ($40 million) by Pistons’ owner Tom Gores.

It was the blue print other arenas follow to this very day. The fact it wasn’t in Downtown Detroit, ultimately, was its only flaw - and you can find many folks who’d be willing to debate that issue.

Little Caesars Arena is excellent for basketball, but The Palace was just as good.

It was a basketball mecca, not only because the Pistons won three NBA championships there and presented many stars and thrills, but it had significant college-related moments, including being part of Michigan State’s run to the 2000 NCAA championship.

There were the concerts, too. The Vipers. The Shock. Ice shows. It was terrific.

It was Oakland County’s own, and close to Macomb County, basically along the viable, mostly prosperous and heavily-populated M-59 corridor.

But the real beauty of The Palace was how it was funded - privately by late Pistons’ owner William Davidson. It cost $5 million in public money - all for infrastructure surrounding the venue for ingress and egress. That was it.

Davidson was very matter-of-fact, the definition of no-nonsense, and a truly brilliant businessman. He made money, sure, but he won, too - and big. As a result, we all did, as well.

I must admit, I laughed when I first heard the name “The Palace.”

But it fit - genuinely.

What makes it such a kick to the gut is trying to justify why such a structure, still so functional for its intent, is being razed so long before its time.

The Palace, the structure, should have been one of those classic buildings 100 years from now being marveled at because of its dignity and being ahead of its time.

It wasn’t slapped together in layers like Tiger Stadium. 1172128 Edmonton Oilers “We have so much confidence in both guys,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Our game doesn’t change when one guy or the other’s in. We obviously don’t want to give up that many chances against.

Edmonton Oilers continue to find ways to win this season “He (Koskinen) was outstanding from the first period on. He held us in there when we probably weren’t playing our best. Back-to-back against a team like that, you need your goalie to step up and he definitely did that.”

Derek Van Diest The victory in Dallas extended the Oilers’ winning streak to three games. They expect to put in a much better effort against the Blackhawks having

had a day to recover from what has been a tough stretch. CHICAGO — The Edmonton Oilers can sweep a three-game road trip Edmonton has played eight of its last 11 games on the road with three when they face the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. separate three-games-in-four-night road trips. The opportunity presented itself after the Oilers pulled out a surprising 2- When they return from Chicago, the Oilers will have 10 of their final 14 1 win against the Dallas Stars in the second game of the trip Tuesday, on games at Rogers Place. the heels of an 8-3 win against the Nashville Predators the night before. “That’s a tough win (Tuesday), coming off a back-to-back against a team But perhaps it should not be surprising the Oilers found a way to beat that took St. Louis to seven games last year, they’re deep in the lineup,” Dallas when they were clearly the second-best team on the ice, and Chiasson said. “Gutsy effort for us.” required an outstanding goaltending performance from Mikko Koskinen, who had been growing cobwebs on the bench in the new year with Mike Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.05.2020 Smith on a hot streak.

“You like the points, that’s what I told the guys, we’ll take the points all day, but there is some real learning stuff we can take out of this game and how hard it’s going to be the rest of the way,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said following the contest. “We came out of that (Nashville) game feeling good about the win; you score five goals in the third period you say let’s go, but Dallas came in with a purpose. They came in with a hard purpose to check and put pucks behind us and come after us and we didn’t handle it very well.”

The Oilers were outshot 43-27 in the game and had to kill off five of six minor penalties to get it into overtime. That included a late high-sticking call to defenceman Adam Larsson in regulation.

In the extra three-on-three session, Alex Chiasson scored the winner on the power play and the Oilers quickly got out of town and made their way to Chicago, where they took the day off Wednesday.

“You do what you have to do to get points whether you’re playing well or you’re not playing well. It speaks volumes for the goaltender and special teams, but five-on-five, we weren’t nearly as good as we needed to be,” Tippett said. “Some of that is a tired team coming in and they (Dallas) were playing well. But that being said, there are some things we can do to help our game out and those are things we’ll address moving forward.”

The win put some distance between the Oilers and the Calgary Flames for second place in the Pacific Division standings and kept the pressure on the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers are two points back of the Golden Knights with a game in hand, while five up on the Flames.

“We just grinded it out for 60 minutes,” said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent- Hopkins, who scored the opening goal against the Stars. “We maybe weren’t our best in the first period, but we kept coming and didn’t get down on ourselves. Mikko obviously held us in. We kept pushing and didn’t deflate as a team.”

The win against Dallas was a complete reversal of the victory in Nashville the night before. Against the Predators, the Oilers were in control for most of the game and let their opponents hang around before blowing the game open with five goals in the third period.

Against the Stars, it was the Oilers were who hanging on trying to get the game into overtime and then looking to steal the extra point.

“We’ve gotta be able to win games like this,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “As the rest of the year goes on, we can look back at this game; it was a hard-fought game all the way through 60. It was a playoff atmosphere in (Dallas). The fact that we can get it done is definitely good for the team.”

The Oilers have been managing to win games this year they would have undoubtedly lost in the past. A big part of that is goaltending, with the tandem of Smith and Koskinen giving the Oilers a chance to win every night.

Currently, Smith is holding the hot goal stick and is likely to get the start against the Blackhawks with a 12-1-4 record in the new year. Koskinen is also playing well, but isn’t getting the offensive support of his counterpart and is 3-5-0 since Jan. 1. 1172129 Edmonton Oilers

Athanasiou penalties ended up no harm, no foul to Oilers

Derek Van Diest

CHICAGO — After a strong debut with the Edmonton Oilers coming over from the Detroit Red Wings just prior to the NHL trade deadline, forward Andreas Athanasiou is struggling somewhat.

Athanasiou was dropped from Connor McDavid’s wing against the Nashville Predators and took a pair of ill-advised penalties against the Dallas Stars.

The Oilers managed to kill the hooking penalty Athanasiou took in the second period on his way to the bench and the tripping penalty early in the third.

“One was a poor call, a soft call, the other one was … a call,” said Oilers head coach Dave Tippett. “That’s the thing, the penalties themselves bother me because you’re in a back-to-back and you know a team is coming hard and every penalty you take is putting you under duress again. We took a few there.”

The Oilers took six minors in the game and were able to kill off five of them. Athanasiou nearly made up for his second penalty, getting a partial breakaway out of the box, but was unable to convert.

“The problem with the penalties — that last one with (Adam) Larsson — is we had the puck two or three times in our zone and we don’t clear it and then you end up battling and he takes a penalty battling. If you make a good puck play then you never get to that battle, so there is some of that we can clean up.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172130 Edmonton Oilers The 24-year-old, who was tagged with nicknames Neon Leon, Deutchland Dangler, Dr. Drai and The Germanator in one tweet by the Two Guys & a Goalie podcast this week, left the ice in Dallas leading the league by 13 points for the scoring title and the Art Ross Trophy that JONES: So far, 2020 Oilers drawing historical club comparisons goes with it.

McDavid sits second with 95 points.

Terry Jones It’s too bad it doesn’t work like horse racing, where you could bet the Dynamic Duo as an entry for the Hart Trophy.

McDavid, when he hits 100 points, will make it four consecutive seasons The Edmonton Oilers were The Team of the Eighties. Is it too early to with triple digits, which means two or three games from now, the start thinking Edmonton may be watching them take first steps of The Dynamic Duo, will be the first Oilers to reach 100-points in consecutive Team of the Twenties? seasons since Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in 1986-87 and 1987- Of course it is. That’s silly. It’s only 65 days into the decade. They’ve 88. done nothing yet except get on a bit of a roll for a few games here and Draisaitl was held to a single point in Dallas, but when it comes to fun there. with figures, that extended this one: The Oilers are 36-14-5 when But how long might it take for Edmonton’s long frustrated fans to at least Draisaitl produces a point and 0-9-3 when he doesn’t. start dreaming of what might happen here with general manager Ken Now, Nugent-Hopkins has very much entered the equation. The Nuge, Holland and head coach Dave Tippett showing up to officially open the who scored and set-up the two goals in Dallas after a three-assist night in Connor McDavid Window and the Leon Draisaitl Window? Nashville, has 12 goals, 22 assists and 34 points since Jan. 1. One thing that is becoming clear is that Edmonton is only days away Both Nugent-Hopkins’ points came off the power play in Dallas to from putting the Decade of Darkness in the rearview mirror for good. improve the Oilers’ to 29.9 per cent on the power play, which is getting It’s a new decade. And it’s becoming a significant statistic. In 2020, the up there to 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens’ record 31.9 per cent territory. Oilers are now 15-6-4. Very much a part of the story, of course, is 21-year-old Yamamoto. He’s And that doesn’t count the win on New Year’s Eve that welcomed in the been the key. Since his call-up from Bakersfield for the New Year’s Eve new decade with them calling up Kailer Yamamoto to play with Draisaitl game and the creation of the line, Yamamoto has been a point-per-game and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, which allowed Tippett to break-up the player with 23 of them in 23 games, including 10 goals, with the Oilers Dynamic Duo of Draisaitl and McDavid. going 15-5-3 with him in the lineup.

Let’s have some fun in this space today. You get the idea. In each of those separate stats there’s a story. But put them all together and, so far, the Edmonton Oilers of the ‘20s are writing They’re not the 1984-90 Edmonton Oilers. It is my belief that no team will one whale of a story. ever be. But take it from a guy who was there, covering them is getting sort of similar when it comes to the statistics. You can’t have much more Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.05.2020 fun with figures than this.

It’s getting to the point where it’s kind of hard to keep track of them all. I mean, consider the numbers that are out there right now, with 15 games to go in the regular season.

Tuesday, the Oilers won a game against a good team playing good hockey when they didn’t play particularly well. They beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime because they’re getting good goaltending, because they have the best power play and because they have the second-best penalty kill in the league.

And when they get it going, like they did in the third period Monday in Nashville, they win 8-3 and you have to fight off all urges to make comparisons to the ‘80s Oilers.

The story of what appears to be happening here is in the stats.

How do you explain Edmonton now having a 7-1 record in the second of back-to-back games?

No other team in the league has a stat like that.

No other team has a combination like McDavid, Draisaitl and, as of Tuesday, you can also add Nugent-Hopkins.

Since Dec. 31, Draisaitl has been averaging 1.81 points per game, McDavid 1.60 and Nugent-Hopkins 1.46.

They’re 1-2-3 in the entire 31-team league since the start of the third decade of the new millennium.

The NHL’s of the ‘20s are all Oilers. And that doesn’t count goalies.

Add goaltender Mike Smith’s revival from a dreadful December. He’s now 12-1-4 in 2020.

In Nashville, McDavid and Draisaitl became the first Oilers teammates to record five points on multiple occasions in the same season since 1985- 86.

Draisaitl, who had 50 goals and 105 points last year, with his first-ever four-goal night of his career Monday, heads in the final game of the road trip Thursday in Chicago with 43 goals and on pace to hit 50 again with 15 games remaining in the regular season. 1172131 Florida Panthers “One of the things we might consider is if there’s a multi-year determination that gives us a least a guide if not an absolute number so that there’s more predictability,’’ commissioner Gary Bettman said.

LeBrun: Cap projects to rise, displeasure with bye weeks and Bye-week blues coronavirus update It’s an absolute fact that GMs are not fans of the bye week and its impact on their schedules. Panthers GM Dale Tallon asked for it to be put on the agenda this week and it was discussed on Wednesday. By Pierre LeBrun Mar 4, 2020 60 “We discussed it and we’re going to try to fix it as best we can,’’ Tallon said. “The 11 teams that played teams that had already played, there was a dismal record. It’s not really a fair thing. But we’re going fix it. At BOCA RATON, Florida — The news was positive on Wednesday for so least everybody is aware of it and we’re trying to do the best we can with many NHL teams absolutely jammed up against this year’s $81.5-million the format. We’ve got to make sure that it’s a fair schedule as far as who salary cap. you play when you come out of that break. Because it was inconsistent. As the three-day meetings wrapped up, the league informed the But we’ve addressed it.’’ assembled GMs that the cap was projected to rise to anywhere from $84 The Panthers came out of their long break and got waxed by a Montreal million to $88.2 million. Canadiens team that had already played a few games. Tallon correctly That’s a healthy boost even if it’s on the lower end. Then again, teams feels that isn’t fair. will guard against planning too aggressively after the cap didn’t quite go But the larger impact of the long All-Star break/bye week — teams had up as high as originally forecasted a year ago. about 8 to 10 days off — is the jammed-packed nature of the schedule in “It’s still in generalities and ranges,’’ Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin February in March. Just look at all the injuries around the league over the Cheveldayoff said. “I don’t think anyone is betting on it — given what’s past month. transpired over the last couple of years where you have to guess where “It’s fucking brutal,’’ one GM said, who wished to remain anonymous. the final number comes in. The mechanism that sets the cap is revenue, so once all the revenues get in and then the second mechanism is the Tallon — who was not the GM quoted above — says the condensed potential use of the escalator or not. So until all those decisions are schedule is an issue. made, it’s still a very light pencil mark.’’ “Four in six, four in six, we come back from a long road trip and we play The Jets were one of those teams last summer that didn’t catch a break four in six, three in four at home, back-to-back day games. My concern is when the cap had originally been projected for $83 million but ended up about the longevity of the player,’’ Tallon said. “Every time I look at the at $81.5 million. The Jets had high-profile contracts to sign with Patrik paper the next day, I say ‘who got hurt last night?’ So we have to be Laine and Kyle Connor and had to part ways with the likes of Jacob careful of that as well.’’ Trouba, Ben Chiarot and Tyler Myers because of the team’s cap crunch. But, as both Daly and Bettman pointed out to the GMs and later to the There are so many teams hoping that the league’s projected numbers for media, the bye weeks were negotiated with the NHLPA as part of the 3- next season become a reality. It certainly won’t be $88.2 million because on-3, All-Star format and it’s a staggered agreement meaning because that’s only if the NHL Players’ Association wanted to include the full five they used the All-Star format this year in St. Louis, the bye weeks are percent escalator/growth factor and there’s no chance that’s happening guaranteed to be back next season. with the escrow concern. Last June, the NHLPA and NHL agreed to just a one percent escalator. “It’s not our invention,’’ Daly began before Bettman interjected, “It’s not our preference,’’ the commissioner said. But even if it’s $85 million for next season, that’s huge for cap-challenged teams like Vancouver, Toronto, Washington, Pittsburgh … well, you can “It’s something the Players’ Association has asked for,’’ Daly continued. name a lot of teams that need every spare dime for the summer. “And it’s part and parcel with a broader agreement we have with them. So I told the managers, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon or at One player agent who reached me via text message on Wednesday after minimum for next season. What we can do, and what we are trying to do, seeing the projected range the league announced wasn’t buying it. is kind of mitigate any concerns with respect to how we schedule.’’

“This is reminiscent of last year’s GMs meeting where we heard Added Bettman: “The managers as a group would prefer that the break predictions of a significant bump in the cap, only to see it rise by only $2 go away, and we concur, particularly from a scheduling standpoint. But it million,” the agent said. “It appears that HRR (hockey-related revenues) is what it is and that’s something we have to reason together with the growth will be between two to three percent. Where is the significant Players’ Association. But what’s what is in place for next year.’’ bump in HRR justifying a corresponding increase in the upper limit? It’s not there. It looks like the league is using the five percent escalator in The problem with the compressed schedule in the second half isn’t just these projections. For the last two seasons, the NHLPA only invoked the the bye week but also the number of U.S.-based teams who desire a escalator to approx 1.3 percent. We’ll most likely see an upper limit for lighter schedule in October and November when they tend to not draw as next season around $83.5 million.” well. That adds to this problem as well.

The league, by the way, firmly sticks by its projection delivered on Coronavirus Wednesday. Colleague Craig Custance chronicled the NHL’s current game plan for A rather interesting revelation was also made by NHL Deputy the coronavirus on Monday, but I would add that on Wednesday Bettman Commissioner Bill Daly regarding the salary cap moving forward, at least and Daly detailed the league’s measured concern and its ongoing efforts potentially. to stay informed on the matter.

“I also reported (to the GMs) that part of our discussions with the Players’ Bettman also said the league has banned league staff travel to affected Association on the CBA front has been to see if we can come up with a areas in Europe and that any league employee who returns from a formula that can provide a little bit more predictability to the clubs on a current trip in those countries affected would be quarantined for 14 days. more advanced basis than currently is the case,’’ Daly said. “So typically But Bettman also said that for now, the league is letting all 31 teams over the last several years, really probably since we initiated this CBA, make their own decisions on protocol. we haven’t been able to give them a cap number until late June in and The bottom line is that it’s hard to say for sure how the virus will around the time of the draft. Hopefully, at some point in the future, we’ll ultimately affect the NHL, but one of the many discussions that took have a mechanism that again allows them to have that information place was the possibility of playoff games being played in empty arenas. sooner.’’ I’m not saying that’s going to happen for sure, I just know it’s the kind of For example, maybe the league and NHLPA negotiate a formula for three conversation happening right now behind the scenes to make sure all years out, giving teams and players knowledge of the cap number for scenarios are being covered off. I would say this is unchartered territory three seasons. That would be gigantic for clubs on the planning side of for the NHL but that’s not factual. The 1919 Stanley Cup was not things. awarded because the final was canceled over the Spanish flu. Coyotes investigation

Daly confirmed that the league is investigating the Arizona Coyotes over alleged illegal testing of draft prospects. And that the investigation is ongoing. Otherwise, the league doesn’t want to comment much further.

As for whatever penalty the organization might face, it could be one of many different things and perhaps not just one thing. It could be loss of draft picks, or significant fines, or someone getting fired, or the Coyotes being denied access to an event; it’s all on the table or at least that’s my impression right now.

And I would also say that taking the temperature around pro sports and the ongoing saga with the Houston Astros and the cheating scandal in baseball, the timing couldn’t be worse for the Coyotes if indeed they are found to have done wrong. I think Bettman will come down hard if the league’s investigation finds wrongdoing because it will be important for the league to send a message.

Other teams are livid about these allegations. This isn’t being swept under the carpet.

Social media

A couple of GMs told me one of the more enlightening presentations this week came on Tuesday when Heidi Browning delivered a report on social media.

The essence of her message is that while the NHL is doing a better job, hockey still lags compared to other sports as far as the social media footprint. Hockey players by nature are generally quieter dudes and don’t seek out the spotlight on social media like some other athletes. But Browning’s message to a pretty conservative group of GMs was to have an open mind and encourage team staff and players to share more of their personality on social media and have fun with it.

One GM said the presentation really made an impression on him and he was going to make make a point of talking about it with his staff when he got home.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172132 Florida Panthers Not only did the Panthers have the upper hand on teams like the Leafs, but they had a good mix of games against contenders and teams already looking toward an early summer.

Talk is cheap: Florida Panthers have 16 games in final month to get Now, with 16 games remaining, there are not too many gimmes, things right especially when you look back and see some of the teams Florida has already lost to during this recent run.

Florida has two left against the Bruins, two against the defending Cup- By George Richards Mar 4, 2020 11 champion Blues and one each against playoff contenders Toronto, Winnipeg, Dallas and the Rangers.

The Panthers close their season against the Capitals and have to hope CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The Panthers may not be the NHL’s top- that game still has some meaning. Among teams currently out of the scoring team anymore, but they may lead the league in team meetings. race, Florida also has games remaining against Montreal (2), Buffalo, On Tuesday, Florida’s practice was delayed by nearly an hour as the Ottawa and Detroit. struggling team brought its coaches and players together to clear the air The Canadiens, who started Florida’s dive with a 4-0 win on Feb. 1, sit in an attempt to jumpstart a playoff campaign they say is not yet dead. four points back of the Panthers. With 16 games remaining and the Panthers needing help from a variety Panthers defenseman Riley Stillman (bottom) collides with teammate of places, it’s time to either put up or shut up. Frank Vatrano during the second period of their loss to the Flames on If Florida does not get its act together and string a bunch of wins Sunday. (Steve Mitchell / USA Today) together, it is going to be yet another long offseason for a franchise that “This season, we have had some real good stretches and some poor also leads the league in that undesirable category. stretches and some in between,’’ Vatrano said. Since Feb. 1, the Panthers have been in a free fall. The team has won “With the games we have remaining, the clock is ticking. But with the just five of its last 17 games and tied a franchise record going back to games left, we know we can do something here. We can’t look at the 2003 with seven consecutive home losses (0-6-1) since its last win in bigger picture although we want to make the playoffs, make an impact, Sunrise on Jan. 16. but we have to chip away at this. We’re all pulling for each other. It starts Florida has dropped out of a playoff spot and is now chasing a number of with Boston on Thursday.” teams, including Toronto, for third in the Atlantic (five points back going On Tuesday, however, the discussion was not about what the Panthers into the Leafs’ game Tuesday in San Jose) as well as wild-card have to do in their final 16 games or where this team has to be in a week. challengers like the Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Islanders and Rangers. Those topics should be off-limits for a team with a fragile psyche. https://twitter.com/georgerichards/status/1234873627155279872?s=21 The focus, Keith Yandle said, has to be on the immediate: win a faceoff, Saying the right thing is something the Panthers have been good at over win a shift, win a period, win a game. Then start the cycle over again. the past month. Putting that into action has been another story. They “The ball is in our court with 16 games left, and we have to win the acknowledge that as well. majority of them,” Yandle said. “We should be excited about this and not “You can talk all you want, say what you want, but your play has to speak be denied. We cannot look ahead to anything. Just take care of business for itself,” Frank Vatrano said. when it is your time to go and not worry about the future.

“Guys in here are tough on ourselves, and we have the right guys in this “We know we can’t keep playing like this, and the feeling around here is room. We have the skill here, the heart to make it there. Getting there is we’re excited to go out and do this. Not getting it done is not an option.” the biggest thing. But we won’t talk our way into it. We have to do it on Boyle practices, Bob day-to-day the ice.” The first player to hit the ice Tuesday (and one of the last to leave) was The Panthers have the games left to make this interesting again — injured center Brian Boyle, who has been out since playing the entirety of starting with Thursday’s game against Atlantic-leading Boston. the 4-0 loss at Montreal on Feb. 1. But they wasted any equity their good start brought and now can only The Panthers have said Boyle has been dealing with an “upper-body” afford a handful of losses if they hope to reach the postseason. injury but have given no other details. “We all know the situation we’re in, and we put ourselves in this position,’’ Tuesday, he skated in a yellow jersey and took part in some drills but Noel Acciari said. “This team wants to win, wants to make the playoffs, was away from the team during others as he works on his conditioning. and we’ll do whatever it takes internally to figure out a way to start winning again. Boyle, 35, had been centering the fourth line before his injury. On Tuesday, Acciari was back in that spot. “We hit on some topics as a team, and we need to buy into it and make a run over these last 16 games. We’re not out of it. We have to believe we “He looked good, I was surprised at how well he was skating. He did can do it. We have the players, the scoring, the goaltenders. We can do well,” Quenneville said of Boyle. “It is nice to have him back on the ice, this. It starts this week.” back in the mix. He brings a real good attitude and I think we have missed his presence here as well. Good to see the big guy back.” To hit 97 points — which has been the postseason cutoff in recent years — Florida would need the equivalent of 12 wins in its final 16 games. On the goalie front, Florida had Sam Montembeault and a third, fill-in netminder on the ice for Tuesday’s practice. Some players talked of playing angry or simply tightening up. But the wins have to start now. The Panthers have one month left to figure it all Tuesday afternoon, Chris Driedger was officially recalled from AHL out. Springfield and should be at practice Wednesday.

“I think accentuating the importance of where we’re at and the urgency Sergei Bobrovsky was scheduled to start Sunday against Calgary, but he that is necessary is what we’re looking at,” coach Joel Quenneville said. tweaked something in warmups and was pulled from the lineup. Quenneville said he remains day-to-day. “We lost a lot of good positioning that we had. It has eroded here and we need to recapture the feeling of a win. … Whether it is tenacity, If Bobrovsky is good to go Thursday, Montembeault would likely be sent relentlessness, urgency — there are different terms, but we have to be back to the minors in the coming days. Montembeault has been up since tough to play against, be strong on the puck and get to the net. Not being Driedger was hurt Jan. 16 against the Kings. too friendly is what we’re talking about.” Driedger had been practicing with the Panthers for much of February and When the team’s 10-day break around All-Star weekend ended, Florida was sent to Springfield on a conditioning stint last week. He made one had one of the easiest schedules among playoff hopefuls. start for the Thunderbirds on Friday, giving up five goals on 33 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In nine games with the Panthers, Driedger is 5-2-0 with a 2.35 GAA and a save percentage of .932.

“He played one game and that’s a big step to take,” Quenneville said. “He saw pucks and we’ll get to see him back here knowing he had that experience, and we’ll sort things out.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172133 Los Angeles Kings The NHL has banned league personnel from traveling outside of North America, but left it up to the 31 teams to determine whether they would continue to take scouting trips to Europe. More than a century ago, the NHL didn’t award the Stanley Cup because of the Spanish Flu epidemic Could coronavirus fears force Southern California games to be held in 1918-19. without fans? Hockey’s international governing body, the IIHF, has canceled four men’s age-group world championship tournaments and two women’s events scheduled to be played in Europe. In Switzerland, the top hockey league By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register has postponed its playoffs until the middle of March.

The Under-18 World Championship, the last significant event for NHL Could there be Lakers, Clippers and Kings games played without fans in scouts evaluating talent for the league’s annual draft at season’s end, attendance at Staples Center? Or a Dodgers game played in an empty remains on the schedule for April 16-26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Dodger Stadium? Or could some games actually be canceled altogether Michigan, however. because of fears of the spread of the coronavirus? “After a thorough review of the guidelines the health organizations have Los Angeles County health officials declared a health emergency suggested, there are no planned schedule changes at this time,” the Wednesday as the number of coronavirus cases continued to grow in Ducks said in a statement. “The Ducks … will follow NHL suggested Southern California. Discussions reportedly have been held about guidelines. The health of everyone associated with all of our events, banning spectators at games in order to prevent the spread of the virus, including fans, staff, and players/performers, has and will continue to be known as COVID-19. our number one priority.”

It would be a dramatic step, but one that’s already been taken in Italy, as In Major League Soccer, both local teams, the LAFC and the Galaxy will worldwide deaths have climbed past 3,000 this week. All sporting events play at home in front of sellout crowds this weekend and it should in Italy, including soccer games in the top domestic league, will be held business as usual. LAFC hosts the Philadelphia Union on Sunday and without fans in attendance until April 3, the Italian government the Galaxy hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. announced. MLS recently formed a task force, which includes MLS Chief Medical Staples Center, the busiest sports venue in Southern California with the Officer Dr. Margot Putukian. In a statement, the league said it “is in direct NBA’s Lakers and Clippers and the NHL’s Kings calling it home, is contact with the relevant governmental agencies including the Centers working with local, national and worldwide health organizations to stay for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health Agency of Canada abreast of the situation, according to a statement released by the facility. and is also coordinating with other sporting organizations.”

As of Wednesday, there were no discussions of playing any games The Los Angeles Marathon will go on as scheduled Sunday and its 26.2- without fans, however. mile route from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica will be unchanged, organizers said in a statement that also read, “our operations team has “As a result of the latest briefing update from the Los Angeles County been in consistent dialogue with local authorities.” Public Health Department, we have posted messaging through our venue reminding fans to engage in safe hygiene practices and to stay home if Race officials said it would contact entrants and volunteers via email and they feel unwell,” the statement read. social media should circumstances change in the days leading up to the race, which they said is expected to draw 27,000 runners from all 50 “We also have increased access to hand sanitizers through the building. states and 78 countries. We will continue to update our policies and procedures based on new recommendations from the public health department, CDC (the Centers At USC, there are no plans to cancel athletic events or ban fans from for Disease Control) or WHO (World Health Organization).” attending, the university said in a statement. The school said it would continue to monitor recommendations from the county’s health Staples Center will host the NCAA men’s Division I West Regional March authorities as well as the CDC and it is also in contact with the Pac-12. 26 and 28. “USC athletics will continue to take direction from the university’s The NBA has instructed players to stop high-fives with fans and use fist- Emergency Operations Center team that meets daily to assess the bumps instead, and it also has asked them to discontinue taking items to COVID-19 situation and its effect on our campus and community,” the sign for autographs. Fans often crowd near the tunnels that lead from school’s statement read. locker rooms to the court, hoping to high-five players or get an autograph. The NFL season is farther off, with the first exhibition games to be played in August. Any changes in plans for games would probably come from “The health and safety of our fans, players, teams and employees is the NFL office, not individual teams. There has been communication paramount,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “We are coordinating with between the Rams and the NFL office about whether there will be our teams and consulting with the CDC and infectious disease specialists changes in plans for the upcoming league meetings (March 29-Aprll 1 in on the coronavirus and continue to monitor the situation closely.” Palm Beach) and draft (April 23-25 in Las Vegas). So far there are no changes in plans for those gatherings. The Dodgers’ opening day is March 26, when they play host to the San Francisco Giants. But they return to Dodger Stadium three days earlier to “We continue to take the lead from the NFL and federal and local face the Angels for the final two games of the Freeway Series, the annual authorities,” said Joanna Hunter, the Rams senior director of corporate spring training wrap-up for the Southern California clubs. communications.

“Obviously, everyone is aware of it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.05.2020 said. “It’s not scary, I guess, until it is, and you’ve got to be mindful of it. So, I know that we’re going to bring one of our doctors in and educate our players on sanitation and washing hands and just being mindful of that.

“But it is scary.”

Stan Kasten, the Dodgers’ president and chief executive officer, said, “Since last week we’ve had guidance from MLB and from the L.A. Public Health Department, both of whom are consulting with the CDC and the WHO. So, we’re operating with the same information. None of it is great news, but they have stressed also this is not a time to be panicking.

“We’re in the process of finalizing what kind of procedures we do going forward.” 1172134 Los Angeles Kings

Kings take on Maple Leafs to kick off 9-game homestand

By ANDREW KNOLL |

With new faces and fresh legs in the lineup, the Kings have been thriving of late, winning six of their past nine games as they prepare to play nine consecutive games at Staples Center.

Most recently, they knocked off the Vegas Golden Knights, who had won eight in a row before the Kings handed them a 4-1 loss Sunday in Vegas. It was the Kings’ third consecutive victory, tying their season-high streak. It was also the first time the Kings won both ends of a back-to-back set this season.

The Kings kick off their prolonged homestand Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Nine games at home is a long, long time. It’s not something that I think is healthy, but we’re going to try and do our best to be better coming out the back end of it,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said, adding that he’d like to see a more balanced split between home and road games over the course of the 82-game schedule.

McLellan also said the team was working to elevate the tempo of its game and solidify all facets of its special-teams play.

“It feels a little bit like early in the season right now, where there’s a lot of different faces in that they are familiar with the system and with the structure and how we want to play,” McLellan said. “But it needs to get polished up and they need to get used to working with each other.”

One familiar figure who remains sidelined is veteran forward Jeff Carter, whose lower-body injury has lingered and leaves his status in serious doubt for Thursday. Two more who will be in the building are left wing Kyle Clifford and goalie Jack Campbell, whom the Kings dealt to Toronto last month. The Kings just faced longtime Kings defenseman Alec Martinez, who has been rejuvenated of late, for the first time since he was traded to Vegas.

Clifford has three points in 13 games and Campbell has posted a 3-1-1 record in five decisions since they arrived in Toronto.

The Leafs have been offensive minded, taking risks and trading chances all the way to the top of the league in goals-per-game this season. They have also ranked fourth in terms of most goals-against – the worst mark of any team currently in a playoff spot – though they have given up fewer shots after giving up the fourth-most shots in the NHL over the previous two campaigns combined.

Spearheading their offense are center Auston Matthews, who ranks second in the NHL with 46 goals and leads the Leafs in points with 79, and wing Mitch Marner, who has produced 49 assists and 65 points in 56 games. Center John Tavares has notched 58 points and wing William Nylander has picked up 57, giving the Leafs a four-headed monster up front.

The Leafs acquired defenseman Tyson Barrie from Colorado over the summer. He has struggled at times, especially on defense, despite leading their rearguards in scoring with 39 points.

Toronto at Kings

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Staples Center

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West/iHeartRadio

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172135 Los Angeles Kings No, I had no idea. It just kind of caught me off guard. As a professional hockey player you know it’s a part of the business and you try to prepare for it because it can happen. If Gretzky can get traded, anybody can get traded. Yeah, it caught me off-guard a little bit, but at the same time I’ve EMOTIONS RESURFACE, BUT IT’S “BUSINESS LIKE USUAL” FOR really enjoyed my opportunity with the Leafs. It’s fun being in games CLIFFORD, MUZZIN, CAMPBELL every night and competing for a playoff spot. I think we all know from the time in LA, it doesn’t really matter about where you land in the playoff

seeding, it’s just a matter of getting in. We’ve got a special group here. JON ROSENMARCH 4, 20200 COMMENTSALUMNIPRACTICE Jake Muzzin, on what stands out from Los Angeles’ winning culture and QUOTES Stanley Cup runs:

The bond that you create and have for the best of your life when you go Kyle Clifford, once again an Ontario resident, arrived at Toyota Sports all the way and win is something that’s really special, and no one can Performance Center in shorts and a T-shirt. Jack Campbell wore long take that away from us. So, even when you see guys that you haven’t pants, but his shirt was short-sleeved. Only Jake Muzzin, who regained seen in two or three years or what-have-you, you still have that banner his Ontario residency one year earlier, wore long sleeves. up there and your name on the Cup together, and that’s a special thing that not too many people get to do. As the rest of the Maple Leafs trickled out of the Kings’ practice facility and into the team bus and Ubers, all were dressed similarly. Never mind Muzzin, on wanting to bring that same culture to the Maple Leafs: that a cool ocean breeze kept the temperature mild in El Segundo; at Yeah, we’re trying. We want to get to that level. We believe in that group their last home game, the temperatures didn’t reach 20 degrees in there, it’s just getting there. It’s tough. [Reporter: What have you seen Fahrenheit in downtown Toronto. in the last couple weeks? This team has had games where you’ve seen This, of course, not a vacation. There are some unfamiliar feelings – “a the upper end, and then you have games where it isn’t there, which is I lot of emotions,” as Jack Campbell said – that add theatre and pageantry guess something we’ve talked about throughout the season.] Yeah, I to the Leafs’ annual Staples Center visit, given the teams’ recent trading probably touched on it earlier – it’s tough to be on the top of your game histories. But come puck drop, if the extraneous emotions become a consistently night-in and night-out. The teams that find a way to do that factor, that’s not necessarily a good thing for the visitors. This is a work the most are at the top of the league and get themselves to win a Cup. trip, not a cathartic send-off. It’s a battle throughout the season to continually bring your game and your emotion and your compete level and all that kind of stuff, and we’re “I can’t imagine what Cliff’s going [through] here, being here for a working to get to that level. decade, Muzz, too,” Campbell continued. “It’s nice to see a lot of friends and familiar faces, but obviously we have a big hockey game tomorrow, Muzzin, on his reaction to knowing Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell so I’m just trying to keep it business. But you’re not human if you don’t would be his teammates again: feel the emotions.” Well I kind of had some inside info on that, so I kind of knew it was There actually isn’t a surplus of familiar faces – for Muzzin, at least. coming a little bit. Definitely excited. Two very good people coming into Clifford and Campbell were preseason or regular season teammates with our dressing room. Good character guys that work hard every day, and all LA Kings other than Trevor Moore, who formed the package in their you know what you’re going to get when those two guys are in the lineup return, Gabriel Vilardi and Mikey Anderson. There are nine current LA or at practice or in the gym or what-have-you. They’re going to do it the Kings who never played with Muzzin. right way, and it’s contagious when you have guys doing that night-in and night-out even in practice, so it’s nice to have. “It’s tough – I was looking at the lineup the other day, and I didn’t really know too many people, and I got a little bit sad, actually, because what Muzzin, on Clifford and Campbell’s assimilation: we had there was special, and I guess that’s just the part of sports and They’re quickly growing in the room. Going through it myself last year, it’s business where change, it just comes,” Muzzin said. “It’s a transition tough to get traded into a new group and really be yourself and feel period for them. They have some great young players coming up, and comfortable. But we have a good group of guys in there that allowed me you have some old veterans there that are leading the way and showing to do that easily, a nd it’s the same thing this year with Cliff and Soup. them how it’s done. It’s a part of any sport.” The guys, they’re right at home now. Clifford is the only member of the three slated to play Thursday. Jack Campbell, on buying Drew Doughty a Gucci tie as a thank-you: Campbell is projected to back up Frederik Andersen, while Jake Muzzin remains out with a broken knuckle and won’t play on this trip. Speaking Oh, boy. This is going to blow up. He’s just the man. I just thought it was with reporters after Toronto’s practice, Clifford, Muzzin and Campbell all like him. It’s funny, that’s like his go-to tie. It looks good on him. It’s funny reflected on their Los Angeles tenures and the impact of those they he brought that up, but I love that guy, he’s awesome. [Reporter: How shared the room with. RELATED: Doughty on Clifford, Muzzin, Campbell good was the afterparty?] It was a good time. Drew’s a great guy to hang out with. We always had a great time at the rink or away from the rink, Mark Blinch/NHLI and those are memories I’ll always have. Kyle Clifford, on his transition to Toronto: Campbell, on what he learned from Los Angeles’ culture after the Stanley I felt like the guys have been very welcoming. We’ve gelled really well. Cups: Soupy and I, obviously we have a lot of familiar faces here with Muzz and I just remembered getting traded here into LA, and I just remember other guys that are in the staff, so I thought the transition was really easy. walking into the room and feeling that winning presence. Even though the Just looking to continue to build off it. last couple years have been tough, there are still so many guys in that Clifford, on returning to Los Angeles: dressing room who not only know how to win but can still win. Obviously, the results are disappointing, and that’s why Muzz, Cliff and I are gone, It was different. It’s just different being on the visitors sides of things, but but that dressing room has so many incredible leaders and players on t it’s business like usual. You go out and you put your best foot forward in heir team, and it’s really disappoi9nting to leave it because it was a really practice to prepare for the next game. special group. Obviously I’m super excited about the group we have here in Toronto and I love every second of it, but I’ll always appreciate what I Clifford, on what he misses most about his Los Angels tenure: learned here in LA. You know what? I had a lot of good years there. I have no regrets from Campbell, on how he’d describe his three and a half years in the L.A. my time in LA. A lot of good teammates, obviously a lot of really good organization: friendships and bonds formed throughout those Cup years. I just have nothing but great things to say about the coaches I’ve had, the general The word I think of with L.A. is just how grateful I am. Obviously the managers and the players I was privileged to play with. Dallas days didn’t work for me and it was a really dark time, and L.A. believed in me and brought me in and made the trade and put in all the Clifford, on whether he was expecting to be traded the night he was: effort they could to help me as a player and person, and I think the results I had here spoke for themselves. That’s just for the people that helped me, so it’s incredible being a part of this organization.

Campbell, on whether he “cut the cord” immediately, or whether there’s still some residue:

I mean, the emotional attachment of your some of your best friends in life, saying good bye to them, that’s the hard part. But the moment Cliff and I got the call, I mean, you hear ‘Toronto Maple Leafs’ and your name in the same sentence, if that doesn’t put a fire in your belly to do well, I don’t know what does. So, we were both super excited to get going with the Leafs. This time of year, you have no time to really think. You don’t overthink anything. It’s just game time and you’ve got to perform. We both are really enjoying Toronto, but obviously we’ll always love L.A. and all of our friends and family here.

Campbell, on the players in Los Angeles he appreciated:

I mean, I just appreciate guys like – I don’t even want to say specific guys, because if I leave someone out, I’ll feel bad. Like, so many of the older guys that took me under their wings, helped me believe in myself as a player and turn the page and become a full-time NHL goalie. I don’t know. As sad as it is, I’m also so excited to be a Leaf. I don’t think ‘sad’ is the right word, it was more I just appreciate the friendships I had there, and I love being in Toronto now and it’ll be good to see these guys whenever we can.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172136 Los Angeles Kings he was here, and obviously we grew up playing against each other. Over the summer and stuff like that we were always golfing and having fun together, our wives got along together well. I just miss everything about having him here, really. ANDERSEN TO START VS KINGS; DOUGHTY DISHES ON HIS EX- TEAMMATES Doughty, on the pride in Muzzin becoming a team leader in Toronto:

Yeah, when he was here, he helped me a ton in the room. When he got traded, we lost a little bit in the room there. He’s very good at analyzing JON ROSENMARCH 4, 20200 COMMENTSALUMNIPRACTICE the game, seeing things that we need to do differently period-by-period to NOTESPRACTICE QUOTES try to get better, and he was a good motivator to help the young guys, a good role model. Always up in the gym, working on his craft. I know from

what I’ve heard, he’s one of the bigger voices obviously in the Leafs’ Insiders! A good afternoon to you. Thanks for your patience both Kings locker room, so they’re going to miss him, for sure. and Maple Leafs quotes were gathered. More to come from Todd Doughty, on the importance of Muzzin’s bluntness: McLellan, Jake Muzzin, Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell. It’s important. Me and Muzz, we grew up together a little younger here in Drew Doughty will be relieved to know that Muzzin is, in fact, on the the LA Kings organization. We watched two guys in Jarret Stoll and Matt Maple Leafs’ trip. (Sorry for the lousy info Sunday night, Drew – hopefully Greene do it for years, and we learned a lot from them. After they were you guys didn’t cancel your dinner plans.) gone, me and him tried to emulate the things they were doing, and we Muzzin won’t play on the trip because of a broken knuckle sustained kind of took it forward, but Muzz ain’t going to talk to the media or blocking a shot last week, but he’s with the team and took the ice briefly anything like that – he stays to himself. You guys won’t realize how much for a light skate after Toronto’s practice, and his presence will be of he means to the team unless you’re in the room. assistance to a team with pretty good playoff footing but just 7-7-1 in their Doughty, on Los Angeles’ 6-2-1 stretch: last 14 and coming off a 5-2 loss in San Jose Tuesday night. Honestly, yeah, we’re whatever the record you just said was, but the Campbell isn’t scheduled to play Thursday, either. Coach Sheldon Keefe goalies stood on their head for probably three or four of them. Especially confirmed Wednesday that Frederik Anderson – 8-1-2 in his career like last game, yeah, we won three or four-one, but it could’ve been a tied against los Angeles with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .930 save game going into overtime if not them having the lead. So, I don’t think percentage – will draw the nod at Staples Center, which means the Kings we’re necessarily doing too much different, but we’re playing the system will face the ex-Duck and the Ducks, presumably, will face the ex-King. better. But our goaltending has been really good in this stretch. “The biggest thought process for us, first of all, was we wanted to get Doughty, on any sense the team is “turning the corner”: Jack in two out of three games this week. That was the first thing, so that to me trumps anything in terms of him playing against his former team or I mean, yeah, because we’ve got a lot of picks, I guess. Happy to see all anything like that,” Keefe said. “And, also, Fred’s our starting goaltender, that – we’ve got some prospects. I mean, I guess a little bit, but we’ve and it just makes sense for him coming off [last night’s loss]. He didn’t had flashes of skating better and then we go into a hole and get worse play last night, he gets a full practice today, and he comes on and plays a for a little bit, so we need to stay consistent with it and keep running with game rather than having him play on our back-to-back.” it.

So! Kyle Clifford is the lone ex-King scheduled to play Thursday. There Doughty, on how long it took before the Kings were playing improved will be a first period tribute video honoring all three. More to come on the hockey under Darryl Sutter: alums. Pretty early. Darryl was pretty adamant on what the wanted right off the Clifford, Muzzin reconnect with #LAKings staff bat, and it was just we had the same coach for three years before that, pic.twitter.com/Ay01u5mO8d and it was just nice to have a new face in there. He was much different than our previous coach. He was more of a motivator and stuff like that — Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) March 4, 2020 rather than a numbers-and-positional guy, and that’s what we needed at Drew Doughty, on how badly he wants to win on Thursday: that time – we needed a kick in the but and he gave us it. So, kind of right when we got Darryl, you could see things changing right away. Nothing extra. Just want to beat them, obviously, especially now that those three guys are on that team, I want to beat them even more. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.05.2020 Having bragging rights over the summer and whatnot – yeah, looking for another win.

Doughty, on getting tangled up with Kyle Clifford:

I know what he’s all about. I’ve played with him for so long. I know what he’s going to do out there, so I think we’re just going to have fun with it. Obviously, you see him as a big, tough guy, a guy that’s going to rock other guys, so I’ll try to hit him.

Doughty, on Jack Campbell’s positivity:

He’s like over-the-top positive and over-the-top doing things for people. He’s a great guy and we miss having those three guys around on our team. They’re great people off the ice and great teammates. We had Jack – Jack will do anything for anyone. It almost gets to the point that you’re going up to him, like, “hey, just stop doing [stuff].”

Doughty, on some of his favorite Campbell stories:

Yeah, I had an afterparty at my house one time, so he came over. The next morning, he was like, ‘Dewey, thank you so much for having me over at the house,’ and he bought me a Gucci tie just because I had the afterparty. So, a Gucci tie, I don’t know how much they cost, but pretty expensive. So, yeah, just for having him over for a few beers after the bar, he got me a Gucci tie.

Doughty, on what he misses about Jake Muzzin:

Going golfing with him, playing cards with him, he was a great guy to have in the room and he was one of my better buddies on the team when 1172137 Minnesota Wild

Gameday preview: Wild at San Jose

9:30 p.m. at San Jose • SAP Center • FSN, 100.3-FM

Playoff quest hitting the road for next 3 games

Preview: The Wild, which trails Winnipeg by one point for the final Western Conference playoff spot but has two games in hand on the Jets, will try to keep its playoff push going in the opener of a three-game California trip. Games at Los Angeles (Saturday) and Anaheim (Sunday) follow. San Jose has Minnesota’s number this season, winning 6-5 on Nov. 7 in San Jose and 2-0 on Feb. 15 in St. Paul. The Wild has won four of its past five and is 6-3 since Dean Evason took over as interim coach. San Jose beat Toronto 5-2 on Tuesday, extending its win streak to three games.

Players to WATCH: Is there anybody playing better than the Wild’s Kevin Fiala right now? The reigning NHL First Star of the Week scored a jaw- dropping goal and added an assist in a 3-1 win over Nashville on Tuesday, giving him a team-record five consecutive multipoint games. Fiala is helping linemate Zach Parise heat up, too, as Parise has three goals and three assists in his past four games. … C Logan Couture, back from a broken ankle, leads the Sharks with 22 points in 30 career games vs. the Wild. Sharks G Martin Jones is 2-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average against the Wild this season.

Numbers: Wild G Alex Stalock is 10-3-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .926 save percentage in his past 14 starts. Parise has 17 points in his past 21 games. … Sharks F Evander Kane scored two goals against Toronto, extending his point streak to three games (3-3-6).

Injuries: Wild D Carson Soucy (upper body) is out. … Sharks D Erik Karlsson (thumb) and C Tomas Hertl (knee) are out for the season. D Jacob Middleton (lower leg) and D Dalton Prout (concussion) are out.

Randy Johnson

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172138 Minnesota Wild Stalock added. “It’s just the way it’s going right now, and we’re winning games.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.05.2020 Goalie Alex Stalock steps in to lead Wild playoff quest

By Randy Johnson Star Tribune MARCH 5, 2020 — 12:04AM

Dean Evason has a simple theory when it comes to choosing his starting goalie.

“If a guy plays well, he’s going to play,” the Wild’s interim coach said. “It’s no different from a centerman or a winger or a defenseman.”

Since Evason replaced Bruce Boudreau behind the bench on Feb. 14, the goalie he has selected to play most often is Alex Stalock, who began the season as the backup to Devan Dubnyk. Stalock has started seven of the Wild’s nine games since the coaching change, posting a 5-2 record and helping the team bolster its playoff chances.

Stalock’s latest contribution came Tuesday night at in a game with playoff implications. Trailing the Nashville Predators by one point for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, the Wild emerged with a 3-1 victory as Stalock made 37 saves.

He was especially sharp in the final two periods, stopping 30 of 31 shots and slamming the door when Nashville tried to get back in the game with its goalie pulled for an extra attacker in the final 2:18. During a two- second flurry at the 18-minute mark, Stalock denied point-blank shots by Craig Smith, Mikael Granlund and Ryan Ellis to preserve the two-goal lead.

“He’s playing awesome — seeing the puck really well,” veteran forward Zach Parise said. “A few of those tonight on the 6-on-4, his ability to fight through traffic and get over there and get square to the one-timers, he’s playing really well for us.”

The result enabled the Wild to leap a point ahead of both the Predators and Arizona in the wild-card race. Minnesota trails Winnipeg by point for that second wild-card spot but has two games in hand on the Jets. And it’s been Stalock helping to fuel the Wild’s recent surge. In his past 14 starts, the former South St. Paul and Minnesota Duluth standout is 10-3- 1 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.

“Obviously, the way we’re playing it feels great, but it starts with the group, it’s contagious,” said Stalock, deflecting attention away from himself as quickly as he roams away from the crease to clear the puck from the defensive zone. “The lightness we have in the room, we’re not tight, we’re not gripping our sticks, we’re going out and having fun, and I think it goes a long way.”

What also goes a long way toward making the playoffs is a resilient goalie, and Stalock has shown he can fill that role. His strong game Tuesday came two days after the Wild fell 4-3 to the Washington Capitals in a game that carried a playoff-like atmosphere at Xcel Energy Center.

“Last game wasn’t like it was a letdown,” he said. “I thought we played a good hockey game and just didn’t get the outcome. We played against a Stanley Cup champion, and they know how to win games. That’s something we’re learning right now. We played another solid game tonight, and we talk about consistency and playing the same way every night, win or loss, and we’ll see what happens.”

The Wild’s route to a playoff spot resumes Thursday at San Jose in the opener of a three-game California trip. Expect to see Stalock in net again against the team that drafted him in 2005 as Evason rides the hot hand.

“Alex is real committed, really sound, and isn’t trying to do too much,” Evason said. “He has a very calming effect for our group for a guy that can get very excitable. He’s obviously done a great job.”

For his part, Stalock isn’t demanding the cage, but he’s taking his opportunity and making the most of it.

“These are the games you want to play in as any competitor, and I love situations like this,” he said after Tuesday’s game. “To be able to come in and the playoff spot is on the line. Your number is called.

“Whoever it may be the rest of the year, I know when Duby gets his chance, he’s going to come in and give this team a great chance,” 1172139 Minnesota Wild

Dean Evason’s emphasis on ‘predictable’ is working wonders with Wild

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

Since taking over behind the bench a couple of weeks ago, interim coach Dean Evason constantly has hammered home the importance of the Wild being predictable on the ice.

He has used the word “predictable” so many times, in fact, that players have started parroting him in the Wild locker room after games.

“We know Dean preaches being predictable,” winger Marcus Foligno said after Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. “That’s got to be every night.”

If the use of word here seems strange, it is because it usually carries a negative connotation in the sports world.

Most teams aim to be unpredictable, or difficult to scheme against, so the fact the Wild want to be predictable doesn’t exactly compute.

Evason says it has nothing to do with a game plan — and everything to do with effort.

“We want to be predictable as far as that’s how we play every night,” Evason said. “Hopefully, teams will expect that from us and we will expect it from ourselves.”

It has become the new norm for the Wild as of late.

Though Evason hasn’t had enough time in charge for a complete overhaul of the system, there have been subtle tweaks, like blueliners pinching up more often, and everyone has been more aggressive on the penalty kill.

It has translated to success: The Wild are 6-3-0 since Evason took over, and after Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, are carrying themselves with a noticeable sense of swagger.

That confidence could loom large as the Wild embark on their final West Coast road trip of the season with games against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

If they manage to sweep the West Coast trip, they would put themselves in great position heading to secure a playoff spot. They currently 33-26-7 with 73 points, one point out of the final playoff position with 16 games to play.

“We felt always we could do it,” winger Kevin Fiala said. “And right now we are actually so close.”

To get over the hump in the gridlocked Western Conference, the Wild need to continue to be predictable night in and night out.

“It has to be the way we play,” Evason said. “That’s not just, ‘OK. We are just not going to change anything.’ It’s predictable with our work ethic every night. We have been doing that, and hopefully we continue.”

Luckily for the Wild, that predictability seems to be breeding confidence.

“You play with confidence, and it goes a long way,” goaltender Alex Stalock added. “We talk about consistency, playing the same way every night, win or loss, so we’ll see what happens.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172140 Montreal Canadiens seven games before I got hurt I know I was getting there, I know my game was turning around. I was picking up my timing back. I remember the game against Boston (a 5-4 win over the Bruins), I remember our team how hard we played against Washington (the 5-2 win in the game Stu Cowan: Paul Byron's knee injury was a painful one for Canadiens he was injured). That was a big week for our team. The (slow) start was what it is, but it’s a long year and that stuff happens.”

Injuries also happen and they have definitely hurt the Canadiens this STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: March 4, 2020 season. Byron is showing now why his might have been the most painful with the team seven points out of a playoff spot.

TAMPA, Fla. — It was last Dec. 12 and the Canadiens were making their Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.05.2020 annual Christmas visit to the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Paul Byron was wearing a Santa hat and was helping put smiles on a lot of sick kids’ faces. Byron and his wife, Sarah, have two young children of their own and he’s always great with the kids on the team’s holiday hospital visit.

On this day, Byron was hoping for an early Christmas gift himself — a return to the Canadiens’ lineup. Byron had already missed 13 games after injuring his knee during a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Nov. 15 and had surgery four days later.

Byron had been skating for a few days already before the hospital visit and when asked if he would be able to make the Canadiens’ Western Canada road trip, which would begin on Dec. 17, he said: “I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.”

The next morning, Byron took part in his first full practice with the Canadiens since being injured and it did not go well. He wasn’t going to get an early Christmas gift.

In fact, Byron would miss another 29 games before finally returning to the lineup on Feb. 18.

“Honestly, it was an accumulation of three, four days before that,” Byron said after Tuesday night’s 6-2 win over the Islanders in New York when asked what happened at practice the day after the Christmas visit. “I knew something was off and then that day it was just a lot of swelling came in the knee … a lot more than the days before. It wasn’t a good sign. I knew just by skating that day that something was wrong, something was off. When I talked to the doctors, everything was: ‘Your knee’s going to be good, you got to fight through a little bit of swelling. Everything’s going to be taking some time to get back to it.’ For whatever reason, what happened wasn’t good and I needed the rest and the time I needed to let things heal. It’s probably the best thing that happened for my knee.”

Byron scored one of the goals against the Islanders Tuesday night and now has 3-3-6 totals in seven games since returning to the lineup. The Canadiens have a 4-2-1 record in those games and Max Domi, who has been playing centre on Byron’s line, has 4-3-7 totals during that span. Jordan Weal, the third member of the line, has 2-3-5 totals in the six games he has played since Byron’s return.

“That line’s been really good and (Byron) deserves a big part of that credit,” coach Claude Julien said after Tuesday’s morning skate in New York. “His skating … not just that, his backchecking, back pressure. His speed just gives that line even more options. Max is a guy who plays with a lot of intensity and Jordan Weal is one of those guys that with the puck can be very creative. So those three together have seemed to mesh.”

Domi loves playing with Byron.

“I think playing with Paulie is just something that it doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re playing with a guy with that speed you’re forced to play with pace and, obviously, that’s the strength for both of our games,” Domi said. “Sometimes when you don’t have that you let that slide a little bit. So playing with a guy like that doesn’t allow you to slide at all on any shift. You got to be flying. So when we’re both flying, it’s a lot of fun.”

Byron got off to a slow start this season with 1-3-4 totals in 19 games before injuring his knee. He says he was healthy and that he wasn’t suffering any lingering effects from a concussion he suffered during a fight near the end of last season with the Florida Panthers’ MacKenzie Weegar.

“People ask all the time: ‘Were you healthy, do you have a head injury?’ ” Byron said. “To the point where I was starting to doubt myself. I know I had no injury, I know I was fine. I just was in a funk. It was a hard time getting out of it. I was working with the coaches, I was working with Dom (Ducharme), I was working with Claude. We were doing video. Five, six, 1172141 Montreal Canadiens they had a special thing going and they just didn’t really have room for him. But, honestly, everywhere else he’s been he’s thrived. He’s a consistent player for a reason. He understands the game really well and I think wherever you put him he’s going to be pretty good.” Canadiens Notebook: Islanders' Johnny Boychuk needs 90 stitches When it was mentioned that Canadiens fans have fallen in love with Tatar, Gallagher smiled and said: “They should. He does a lot for our team. You produce the way he does, obviously fans are going to like STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: March 4, 2020 him.”

Canadiens call up Vejdemo TAMPA, Fla. — There was a very scary scene during the third period of In a sign that Tatar might not be able to play against the Lightning, the Thursday night’s game in New York when the skate of Canadiens Canadiens called up forward Lukas Vejdemo from the AHL’s Laval forward Artturi Lehkonen came up and caught Islanders defenceman Rocket on an emergency basis Wednesday and he will be in Tampa for Johnny Boychuk in the face. Thursday’s game. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello announced Wednesday that Vejdemo made his NHL debut earlier this season and was pointless in Boychuk needed 90 stitches to close the cut on his eyelid. four games with the Canadiens. In 46 games with the Rocket, Vejdemo “Johnny Boychuk is OK,” Lamoriello said. “There’s been no damage to has 9-10-19 totals. The Canadiens selected him in the third round (87th his eye but he had quite a night. He felt the skate blade get his eye, but overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. fortunately it just got the eyelid. It took 90 stitches to fix but the plastic Byron praises training staff surgeon took care of it. He’ll be fine, it’s just a matter of time with the eye opening up and him feeling good.” The Canadiens’ Paul Byron has 3-3-6 totals in seven games since returning to the lineup after November knee surgery. After scoring Boychuk was struck in the face by Lehkonen’s right skate after the against the Islanders Tuesday night, Byron thanked the Canadiens’ Canadiens forward appeared to trip on the stick of Islanders goalie training staff for getting him back on the ice in top shape. Semyon Varlamov and was falling face-first to the ice. After getting hit with the skate, Boychuk fell to the ice with his hands to his face before “I worked extremely hard with the training staff, Byron said. “I can’t talk getting up and skating quickly to the locker room. Lehkonen’s skate came about how much time Pat Delisle-Houde (the strength and conditioning up under Boychuk’s visor. co-ordinator) and Matt Ramano (assistant athletic therapist) and Donald Balmforth (head physiotherapist) and all these guys in the treatment Canadiens coach Claude Julien coached Boychuk when they were both room put into me making sure I was in great shape cardio-wise, with the Boston Bruins and expressed concern for the player after the conditioning, physically. The knee felt good and those guys deserve a game, which the Canadiens won 6-2. little bit of the credit there, too. They worked extremely hard and to come “It was real scary,” Julien said. “I’ve reached out and I’ve texted Barry in and get the opportunity to play with Max (Domi) and he’s playing so (Trotz, the Islanders coach) to hopefully get some news on him. He’s a well right now it’s been an easy transformation for me, that’s for sure.” guy I’ve coached for a lot of years and he’s liked by everybody. He’s a When asked why he has had good chemistry with Domi, Byron said: “I great person. Any time you see a skate go up to somebody’s face … and think just the pace of our game. We’re such north-south skaters, we I think it was close to his eye. So we’re not sure. But myself as well as skate so well. We can transition well. He’s so smart, it’s easy to read off most of the players in that room right now are asking that same question. him. With the way I can skate and back-track, it takes the pressure of him So hopefully, keep our fingers crossed that it’s not too dangerous.” maybe with some of that responsibility of playing centre. I think (having) The Canadiens flew to Tampa after Tuesday night’s game and had a the centre background, we work really well together. He reads off me and practice scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Amalie Arena, but Julien I read off of him. So far (Jordan Weal’s) been a good complement to us, decided to cancel it and give his players the day off. It was 28C and too. He’s a good player.” sunny in Tampa, where the Canadiens will play the Lightning Thursday Domi needs new contract night (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). Domi is in the final season of a two-year, US$6.3-million contract and can Thank you to everyone for the positive messages and thoughts! I am become a restricted free agent on July 1. extremely grateful. Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid. Sorry for the late response…facial After Tuesday’s morning skate in New York, Domi said he’d like to stay in recognition wasn’t working… thank you again my friends. Johnny B— Montreal. Johnny Boychuk (@joboych) March 4, 2020 “Again, that’s still aways away,” he said. “We have 15-16 games left and No update on Tatar that’s all we’re going to focus on. We’ll figure that out after the year. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but we’ll address that. I’ll address that The Canadiens’ Tomas Tatar suffered an upper-body early in the first with my agent and my agent will address that with Berg (GM Marc period Tuesday night and did not return to the game. Bergevin) after the season and we’ll go from there.” After the game, Julien said Tatar was kept out for precautionary reasons. What’s next? “I don’t think it seems to be a long-term thing, but it’s something that was The Canadiens will fly to Fort Lauderdale after Thursday’s game and important for us to leave him behind there after that little injury and have a day off scheduled there on Friday before facing the Florida hopefully he’s good for next game,” the coach said. Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m., CBC, SN, SN360, TVA Sports, TSN 690 The Canadiens didn’t have any media availability on Wednesday so Radio, 98.5 FM). there was no update on Tatar’s condition. The Canadiens have a The Canadiens will fly home on Sunday and have two home games next morning skate scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Amalie Arena. week at the Bell Centre against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday (7 Tatar leads the Canadiens in scoring with 22-39-61 totals, breaking the p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) and the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday career high for points he set last season when he had 25-33-58 totals. (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) before flying to California This is the sixth straight season that Tatar has hit the 20-goal mark and on Friday to start a four-game road trip with games against the Anaheim his career high is 29, set in 2014-15 with the Detroit Red Wings. Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche.

“He’s just been consistent throughout his career,” Brendan Gallagher Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.05.2020 said about Tatar. “Since he’s been here, he’s obviously been a great linemate, somebody who understands the game really well. The three of us (along with Phillip Danault) work really well together and he’s a big part of that, for sure.

“I think good players just find a way to be good players,” Gallagher added about Tatar. “He went to Vegas and didn’t really get a chance because 1172142 Montreal Canadiens But when you think back to last week’s home loss to the New York Rangers, Julien’s fate was starting to look uncertain. His level of frustration with his players was somewhat unprecedented. That he said not once, but twice that the coaching staff can’t put on the skates and In confirming Claude Julien’s return, Marc Bergevin makes a courageous play for them was reminiscent of the final days of Guy Carbonneau. And decision whenever a coach admits he has no idea what is wrong with his team, it is hard not to sense a regime change coming on the horizon.

Except what is said in public is just a small part of the equation. Bergevin By Marc Antoine Godin Mar 4, 2020 52 is better placed to take the pulse of his players and make sure their connection with the coach is still there, which is far more important.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Barry Trotz is often used as an example of a coach “I don’t think anyone would be surprised, to be honest, I don’t think who gets the most out of his players and develops his teams – some anyone was thinking about that,” Paul Byron said. “We’re all pushing loaded with talent, others not so much – within a framework those hard, we’re all trying to do what we can to finish here the right way. He’s players believe in. He has universal respect across the hockey world. a great coach, we all like him in the room and it’s good for the organization to give a vote of confidence. However, Trotz’s New York Islanders lost for the eighth time in 10 games Tuesday night at home and they are clinging to a playoff spot by their “I think things could have been a little different for us this year had a fingernails. In losing in regulation time for the first time this season at couple of things gone our way, and that’s the focus right now. Just keep Barclays Center (7-1-3), the Islanders looked lifeless against the playing hard, keep playing the right way each game, and if we can get Canadiens. The timing for a slump like this couldn’t be worse, and their the mentality of doing that every single night, it’s going to make next year fans let them know. The game was played in Brooklyn, but the cheers in a lot better for our team.” the stands sounded like they were coming from the Bronx. Julien would have been an easy victim if Bergevin wanted to find a Now, imagine this same situation in Montreal. Imagine a team scapegoat for this season. Instead, he made the more courageous continuously failing to answer the bell at this critical juncture of the decision to stand behind him. It is also a way for him to admit that neither season. It would be fertile ground for calls to have the coach fired. But he nor the Canadiens’ drafting and development provided Julien with a last we checked, no one is demanding that from the Islanders. much better team than he had last season.

Claude Julien has been through worse this season, starting with two Thinking back, however, this team appeared better on paper in October. eight-game winless streaks that torpedoed the Canadiens’ season and Despite the loss of Andrew Shaw, a healthy Canadiens team had enough fueled speculation about his job security. But despite the white noise depth to begin the season with Paul Byron on the fourth line. Ben Chiarot constantly surrounding the team, general manager Marc Bergevin didn’t was an upgrade on Jordie Benn on defence. And the arrival of rookie succumb to that pressure. Nick Suzuki added an intriguing ingredient up front.

Julien now has as good a chance of being fired as Trotz. The injuries to significant players, Jesperi Kotkaniemi taking a step backward, the roller coaster season of Max Domi and a host of other For the Canadiens, whose stated goal between now and the end of the factors largely mitigated the positive impact of those marginal season is to find ways to improve, the game in Brooklyn was a good step improvements. The backup goaltending was not properly addressed, toward that end. Games like this have been rare, games where they again, and as soon as the injuries hit, the replacements coming from suffocate their opponent and impose their will from beginning to end. The Laval were the same faces we had seen before. None of these things Canadiens haven’t seen a lead too large to give away this season, so in can be pinned on the coach. light of that, being able to play the same way for 60 minutes represents a brick in the house they are trying to build. But Julien has his faults. He has not had a great season.

But games like this are an outlier. The Canadiens’ system at 5-on-5 was the source of their surprising results last season. But as we’ve seen, using the same recipe does not Bergevin clumsily supported his coach last week during his trade guarantee success because, for one, other teams modified their ways of deadline news conference, and didn’t do much better in a subsequent attacking that system this season. As early as the end of October, Julien interview with La Presse when he used the example of the Columbus was saying their opponents were mimicking their own quick transition Blue Jackets, who have had a surprising degree of success thanks to game. Teams were also countering some of the Canadiens’ most highly detailed and structured play, buying everything coach John effective strategies, for example the centre’s role in exiting the defensive Tortorella is selling. zone. Did the Canadiens adjust quickly enough?

What was left unsaid in making that parallel was not exactly a ringing The two special teams units have also never worked at peak potential at endorsement for Julien, but the same things Bergevin admired about the same time. Before Christmas, the Canadiens power play was ranked Tortorella’s team could have easily been applied to Julien last season. eighth in the NHL and the penalty kill was 27th. Since Christmas, the power play is 28th and the penalty kill is 10th. Trotz and Julien are similar in the sense that the way they had their teams play last season allowed them to get the most out of the imperfect If the team is looking for a sacrificial lamb, maybe it will turn to Kirk teams they were given. Trotz won the Jack Adams Award by proving the Muller, who runs a power play that has been dysfunctional for a second critics wrong and leading the Islanders to the playoffs. Julien came up season in a row. It goes without saying that there is already a potential just short in Montreal, but anyone who watched them objectively last successor behind the Canadiens’ bench in Dominique Ducharme. season could see the coach did everything he could with the group he had. Finally, the Canadiens lost 10 games (including overtime and shootout losses) when leading after two periods, the most in the NHL this season. But better than expected results often lead to an adjustment in those That is not a good look for the coaching staff, but that didn’t stop Julien expectations, and both Julien and Trotz are in many ways victims of their from commending his players Tuesday night for never giving up in a (relative) success of a season ago. game.

Bergevin’s third attempt at supporting his coach finally made contact, “It’s pretty impressive,” he said. “When you look at where this team is with him stating very clearly at the general manager’s meetings in Florida right now, they come out and play hard all the time. I was telling the guys, on Tuesday that Julien would be back behind the bench next season. it’s hard to find a game where you felt our team was lazy or just totally dominated by the other team. Give them credit for their attitude, their “When your GM shows his confidence in you publicly, that’s definitely approach and everything else. We’re not a perfect team, but I think we’ve encouraging,” Julien said after Montreal’s 6-2 win. “But for me, the job got the right things going in the right direction.” remains the same, and that’s to improve this team.” That last bit is interesting because it sounds like it is reflective of the Brendan Gallagher maintained that even if this was news outside the overall evaluation the organization is making of this team. This season Canadiens dressing room, it wasn’t to the players. The opposite, he said, was a step back, but the impression of the last week and a half is that the would have been surprising. team feels it is taking one step back to take two steps forward. In any case, both Bergevin and Julien have no choice but to view things this way. They are committed to this plan, for better or worse.

The Canadiens will miss the playoffs for a third season in a row under Julien, which will make it six playoff games coached in six seasons for him personally.

But does that mean Julien is most responsible for the Canadiens’ lack of success this season? No, and that is why Bergevin confirmed his return.

It is only normal for people to demand someone be sacrificed to lift a curse. It is as old as time itself. The ancient Egyptians did it. The Romans and Aztecs as well. If it isn’t the GM’s fault, or the coach, or Trevor Timmins or the players, then who takes the fall for this? And more importantly, how can anyone reasonably expect things to change if no one does? These are legitimate questions.

But as long as the organization, starting right at the top, considers the process to be the right one in spite of a lack of results, sending the coach to the guillotine serves little purpose.

Because he is not first in line.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172143 New Jersey Devils

NHL taking coronavirus ‘day-to-day’ as business travel ban goes into effect

By Mike Rosenstein

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday the league is monitoring the spreading coronavirus outbreak “day-to-day,” according to Canadian Press.

Speaking at the NHL’s general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., Bettman refused to speculate on postponing the Stanley Cup Playoffs next month. He also did not discuss the idea of having the games played in empty arenas.

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Per the report, Bettman said the NHL is “aware of and focused on all possibilities” and is “in communication with both the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and Health Canada on the widening crisis.”

The NBA and MLB provided guidelines to teams this week about interacting with fans, urging athletes to refrain from giving high-fives and to avoid taking items for autographs. The Canadian Press reports Bettman did not issue a similar directive for the 31 NHL teams.

However Bettman did put restrictions in place, saying “the NHL has banned business travel outside North America for its employees, but it currently remains up to individual clubs to make individual determinations.”

According to the Canadian Press, “Switzerland’s top hockey league has postponed its playoffs until the middle of March, while a number of sporting events around the world have been cancelled as countries struggle to contain the virus.”

The NCAA, Big East and Atlantic 10 are “monitoring” the coronavirus outbreak, as March Madness gets underway with conference tournaments beginning this week.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday Major League Baseball is not planning to cancel or postpone any spring training games or Opening Day.

On Wednesday, Kean University suspended travel for all of its sports teams in response to the coronavirus outbreak, with the decision being made “out of an abundance of caution.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172144 New Jersey Devils good run down the stretch should allow them to reach the postseason, which will make it easier for Vatanen to play the required games.

Sabres’ 2022 fifth-round pick (acquired in Wayne Simmonds trade to Status of every Devils conditional draft pick from this season’s trades Buffalo)

Condition: Pick moves to a 2022 fourth-round pick if the Sabres make the playoffs By Chris Ryan Since acquiring Simmonds, the Sabres are 0-4-0. They are currently two points ahead of the Devils in the standings. Barring a miraculous run by the Sabres, the pick will remain a fifth rounder in 2022. The NHL season will end in exactly one month, and while the Devils aren’t playing for much in the standings, the results from the final weeks Devils’ 2021 seventh round pick (traded to Lightning in Louis Domingue of the season will dictate several of the Devils’ draft picks in June. deal)

Conditions were tied to four draft picks the Devils acquired in trades this Condition: Pick will be moved if Domingue plays seven NHL games or is season, and the status of every one of them remains up in the air. Here’s traded prior to the 2020 NHL Draft. a look at how each of them is shaking out for the home stretch of the regular season. Domingue played in more than seven games with the Devils before he was traded to the Canucks in February. So the Lightning will get the Canucks’ 2020 first-round pick (acquired in Blake Coleman trade to Devils’ seventh-round pick in 2021. Tampa Bay Lightning) Star Ledger LOADED: 03.05.2020 Condition: Pick moves to 2021 if the Canucks miss the playoffs

The biggest haul for the Devils at the trade deadline came when they surprisingly sent Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning for top prospect Nolan Foote and the Vancouver Canucks’ 2020 first-round pick, which was owned by Tampa.

At this point, it’s far from a lock that Vancouver will make the postseason. They currently hold the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, and they’ve struggled of late. They lost their past three games and went 4-5-1 in their past 10, putting them just one point ahead of the ninth-place team in the West. They’ve also been without starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, who has been sidelined by an injury since the end of February.

The good news for the Canucks (and the Devils): Vancouver has at least one game in hand on every team below it in the standings, and the Canucks have three games in hand on the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the second wild card. They have some extra games to make up some points.

Coyotes’ 2020 first-round pick, 2021 third-round pick (acquired in Taylor Hall trade to Arizona)

Condition: First-round pick moves to 2021 if the pick is in the top three of the draft; 2021 third-round pick moves to a second rounder if the Coyotes win a playoff series or Hall re-signs in Arizona. It becomes a 2021 first- round pick if both happen.

When the Devils sent Taylor Hall to Arizona in December, the condition on the draft pick didn’t seem to matter much, with the Coyotes firmly in the postseason picture. But now, Arizona has fallen back in the standings, fighting to get back into a playoff spot. The Coyotes are two points out of the second wild-card, but they’re also 11th overall in the Western Conference.

If the season ended today, the Coyotes would have the 10th-best draft lottery odds. It’s unlikely they would jump into the top three in the lottery, but there’s always a possibility. But if things stay the way they are and Arizona doesn’t get the benefit of some lucky lottery ball bounces, the Devils could be looking at a second top-10 pick in June.

And if the Coyotes do miss the playoffs, it eliminates the chances of the Devils getting a second first-round pick in 2021. It would also hurt Hall’s chances of re-signing in Arizona, so the Devils would likely be looking at the 2021 pick remaining in the third round.

Conditions: The Devils get a 2020 fourth-round pick if Vatanen plays five regular-season games. They get a 2020 third-round pick if Vatanen plays 12 regular-season games or 70% of Carolina’s playoff games. If none of those conditions are met, the Devils don’t get a pick.

The conditions on the draft pick were all tied to Vatanen’s health, since he hasn’t played since Feb. 1 due to a bruise from blocking a shot. Vatanen still hasn’t suited up for the Hurricanes, but he has resumed skating on his own, which is a good sign a return could come in the near future.

Carolina still has 18 regular-season games left, so there’s time for Vatanen to meet either criteria for regular-season games. The Hurricanes are three points out of a playoff spot, though they have three games in hand on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the second wild card. A 1172145 New Jersey Devils The Devils (64 points) are actually closer to the Blackhawks (68), in 24th place, than they are to the Kings (56), in 30th. Detroit is running away with last place and the best lottery odds, but New Jersey may end up in the mix with all three California teams and Ottawa for 30th, which 16 reasons to watch the Devils through the last 16 games guarantees a top-five pick even if three other teams slide into the lottery spots.

After four games on this trip against teams below them in the NHL By Corey Masisak Mar 4, 2020 21 standings, the Devils’ schedule is about to get much tougher. The Devils only play one team in the final 16 games (Buffalo) that is essentially out of the playoff chase and among the bottom 11 teams in the league. LAS VEGAS — Despite the listless conclusion on Tuesday night, the Devils head home after completing their second-most successful road Given the way the goaltenders and depleted roster continue to compete, trip of the season. the Devils are likely to steal more games. Then again, hard-fought losses that provide younger players with experience in close games aren’t an New Jersey went 2-1-2 on this West Coast swing, with a layover in entirely negative outcome. Detroit to kick things off. A 3-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights was a sour end, but the Devils collected six points in five games. The result 4. Blackwood chasing Martin Brodeur matched that of a five-game trip through North Carolina and Western Brodeur owns approximately 372 New Jersey goaltending records, but Canada earlier in the season, though they went 3-2 and faced much Blackwood could grab one of them. Brodeur’s 27 wins as a rookie in better competition on that one. 1993-94 are the most in club history. Blackwood has 21, which is third The Devils have 16 games left — nine at home, with four one-game road behind Brodeur and Sean Burke’s 22 in 1988-89. trips and one trek to South Florida, Tampa and Toronto. The club will Blackwood’s rise has been an important development in an otherwise miss the postseason for the seventh time in eight years and a critical lost season for the franchise. The Devils have been keen to give him offseason awaits. How will the Devils return to being an elite team and more rest in recent weeks after he shouldered a large percentage of the who will be the ones, both on and off the ice, to lead them there? games earlier in the year. They have three back-to-backs left, and he’ll Here are 16 things to watch in the coming weeks and months, a period likely sit out of a few others. If Blackwood collects a few wins and edges that could turn the tide of the franchise: closer to Brodeur’s mark, the Devils might be incentivized to to give him a chance at the record. 1. A general manager search has begun 5. Progress for Jack Hughes This is the first step toward, well, everything this offseason. Interim GM Tom Fitzgerald earned plenty of praise for his work at the trade deadline, Hughes did not have a big impact against Vegas, but there was one spinning off a quartet of pending unrestricted free agents for future sequence in which he shrugged off Brandon Pirri to get open, collected a assets and netting Nolan Foote and a first-round pick for Blake Coleman. pass during a Devils rush and drew a slashing penalty after he warded off Pirri’s legal attempts to defend him. It was notable for Hughes’ ability The managing partners won’t decide who should form the next great New to use his body and shake off an older, bigger player in transition. Jersey team based solely on a few transactions before the trade deadline. Fitzgerald’s plan, and the way he has handled the day-to-day The goals and points won’t be a focus (well, unless Hughes finishing with operations since replacing Ray Shero, will matter more. more than Kaapo Kakko and Kirby Dach among the top 2019 prospects matters to anyone). Hughes has spent the past couple of weeks playing Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Devils have interviewed former on the wing with Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri. It’s allowed him to play Canucks general manager Mike Gillis for the position. Owner Josh Harris with better players and find more space to create offensive chances. said it was going to be an extensive search and multiple NHL sources have said they expect the Devils to interview a variety of candidates. Will The Devils are watching for whether he can pick up the right defensive any of them impress Harris and his partners enough to replace assignments, compete in the high-traffic areas and create offense for Fitzgerald? himself and others. A flurry of production might send him into the offseason feeling better, but the more important development for Hughes It’s tough to predict what the rest of the offseason will look like until there is to cement habits he can use to his advantage as he grows into his is a full-time GM in place. body.

2. A coaching search will follow 6. Did the Devils find a line to keep together?

Once there is a GM in place, the next step will be to hire a coach. Alain Nikita Gusev found his way in the NHL once former coach John Hynes Nasreddine has kept the Devils competitive despite trading Taylor Hall put him with Coleman and Travis Zajac, and that line stuck until Coleman early in his tenure and having a depleted post-deadline roster. Mackenzie was traded. Gusev has since landed on another line and continued to Blackwood’s play is largely responsible for several of the wins, but produce. Pavel Zacha centering Jesper Bratt and Gusev has been the players and multiple sources outside the team have credited Nasreddine team’s most productive trio since the deadline, teaming up for goals at for the team’s work rate, especially in a situation where effort on a nightly even strength and on the team’s second power-play unit. basis could have become a problem. Would the Devils consider keeping the trio together beyond this season? Keeping a non-playoff team from falling apart is not enough of a case for Beyond the top line, that rarely happens (R.I.P. “Travis and The Nasreddine to stay. He’ll need to convince the next GM, even if it’s Texans”), but the three of them have clearly worked well together. Fitzgerald, that his plan to improve the team’s on-ice performance will work with an offseason and training camp of preparation. Like with the If you line the forwards up on the depth chart, Bratt and Gusev are two of GM search, the Devils will likely interview several external candidates. the team’s top three wings, which intuitively means putting them on one of the top two lines. But leaving them on Zacha’s flanks seems like the 3. It’s not a tank, so … a Humvee? best way for the Devils to have a more balanced attack next season. That might mean finding better options to play next to Hughes, with Every year, teams near the bottom of the standings are caught between Hischier and Palmieri anchoring one of the other top-two lines. wanting to win games in the present and knowing that losing may help the future. The players and coaches will always try to win. Usually, it’s up 7. Sustained improvement from the power play? to the management team to help their lottery odds. The Devils are sixth in the NHL since Feb. 1 on the power play, Spiraling at the end of this season won’t help the interim GM nor the converting at a 25.4 percent clip. They have 14 power-play goals in 16 interim coach, so the Devils are in a different place than they were a year games in that span, with nine different players scoring at least one. The ago. New Jersey currently has the sixth-worst record in the league. If the team’s second power-play unit did not score a goal in the first half of the Devils finish 26th overall, they’ll have a 23.3 percent chance of landing in season, but it has surged of late, due in large part to the Bratt, Gusev the top three picks through the draft lottery, a 16.3 percent chance of and Zacha trio. picking sixth and a 58.3 percent chance of sliding back to seventh or eighth. The Devils are at 17.5 percent this season and up to 24th place after lingering near the bottom for much of the campaign. If the top unit can find consistency, with Hughes and Hischier getting an extended look The 2020 is guaranteed, health permitting, to have one top together on the man advantage, that would be another positive to take Devils prospect involved. Kelowna is hosting the tournament, so Foote away from this season. will be there. He might not be alone.

8. A playoff push for Binghamton Xavier Bernard, a 2018 fourth-round pick, plays for the Sherbrooke Phoenix, who have dominated the QMJHL and are the top-ranked junior The Binghamton Devils have won 21 of their past 28 games to storm team in the country. Bernard joined Sherbrooke in a midseason trade back into playoff contention. Binghamton is one point back of Syracuse, and has 16 points in 27 games. with a game in hard for fourth place and the last playoff spot in the North Division. The B-Devils are also just three points back of Utica for third The second-ranked CHL team is the Ottawa 67s, who sit atop the OHL place, which would mean avoiding the loaded in the standings. Ottawa has four Devils prospects on the roster, including first round. Kevin Bahl (who was part of the Hall trade), 2019 picks Nikita Okhotyuk and Graeme Clarke and 2018 selection Mitchell Hoelscher. It’s been an incredible second half for the club, even as New Jersey plucks players to fill roster holes. These games provide valuable Two other Devils prospects, Ty Smith (Spokane) and Michael Vukojevic experience, and even just one round of Calder Cup Playoff games would (Kitchener), are on playoff teams but need help to win their leagues and help. The Devils would send six players currently on the roster back to reach the Memorial Cup. help the B-Devils if they do secure a playoff bid: Joey Anderson, Jesper Boqvist, Michael McLeod, Josh Jacobs, Dakota Mermis, Fredrik 13. Is a coronavirus problem looming? Claesson. Some sports leagues in Europe have postponed games or played them 9. Can Joey Anderson, Jesper Boqvist or Michael McLeod lock down a in empty arenas/stadiums because of the coronavirus, and a big decision spot? that could affect the 2020 draft looms. The IIHF has already cancelled several March tournaments and a decision could be made in the next Anderson, Boqvist and McLeod were Corey Pronman’s top three forward couple weeks about the U-18 world championships. prospects in the system two years ago, and Boqvist/McLeod were the top two after Hughes this past offseason. They have combined to play 115 That tournament is scheduled for April 16-26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, games for the Devils the last two years, but their production (11 goals, 21 Mich. It is a marquee scouting event, with many first-round draft points between them) has largely been underwhelming. prospects participating every year. Given that the NHL moved the draft lottery to before the tournament starts, Devils fans got their first chance Anderson has been a better all-around player this season (three goals, to watch Hughes star on an international stage, knowing he was one of five points in 15 games) after starting the year with Binghamton. Boqvist two options for their pick at No. 1. had eight points in 15 AHL games (with seven coming in one three-game stretch) before returning to the big club during this road trip. The Devils The virus could also affect the IIHF men’s world championship, which is would benefit from at least one of them becoming a consistent and scheduled to start May 8 in Switzerland. It would be a chance for Hischier productive top-nine forward next season. and Mirco Mueller to play for their country at home and for a couple of the top 2020 draft picks to play against men, like Hughes and Kaapo McLeod’s path to a regular roster spot next season would be on the Kakko did last year in Slovakia. fourth line, though Hischier, Hughes, Zacha and Travis Zajac are slotted in as the four centers unless the Devils make an offseason move. 14. Anyone else getting an NHL look? Despite the uncertainty at GM and coach, all three players could use a The Devils have to balance the benefit of giving Binghamton a chance to strong stretch run as a building block for next season and beyond. make the playoffs and the opportunity to get a look at prospects at the 10. Could the Devils have two top-10 picks in Montreal? NHL level. Nick Merkley played well in his brief New Jersey audition and could return if there’s an injury. The newest addition, Janne Kuokkanen, The Devils have a vested interest in the Western Conference playoff is also a call-up option. He has four points in three games for the B- picture. While immediate reviews of the Hall trade were mixed, the Devils since arriving in the Sami Vatanen deal. Coyotes have slipped out of the top eight in the West; if the season ended Tuesday, the Devils would have picks No. 6 and 10 in the 2020 15. What to make of Cory Schneider? draft, pending the lottery results. Schneider struggled at the start of last season, spent some time on Arizona gets to keep the pick if the Coyotes move into the top three, injured reserve and with Binghamton before closing the campaign with a meaning New Jersey would get a 2021 unprotected first-rounder. The .927 save percentage in his final 14 appearances. He and Blackwood Coyotes are 11th in the West, but only two points behind both wild-card turned one of the club’s biggest problems, goaltending, into its biggest teams. If they do qualify for the playoffs and advance past the first round, strength. the second pick in the Hall return package could upgrade from a third to Fast forward a year and Schneider was demoted to the AHL again — a second-round selection in 2021. twice — because of his poor play for New Jersey. Now, he might be in There’s still time to determine the Devils’ best-case scenario from the the midst of another late-season revival. Schneider is 2-0-1 and has Hall trade, but for now, the Coyotes missing the playoffs and New Jersey stopped 88 of 92 shots in the three games he’s played since returning to collecting a pick in the 9-15 range for the upcoming draft is most likely. the parent club. Those games came against Detroit, San Jose and Anaheim — three of the five worst teams in the league. 11. Speaking of the West … What happens if he plays well the rest of the season? He could get 6-8 New Jersey will receive Vancouver’s first-round pick in the 2020 draft if more games, if Nasreddine’s recent goaltending workload plan the Canucks make the playoffs. If they don’t, it converts to an continues, and all against better teams. unprotected 2021 pick. The Canucks are currently the first wild-card team, but there are four teams within two points of them and starting Schneider has two more seasons left on his contract at $6 million per. goaltender Jacob Markstrom will be out for a while longer. Upon his demotion, a buyout this summer seemed likely. If that happens, and it’s certainly still a possibility, the Devils would have a $2 million cap While an unprotected pick next season could be a great outcome (see: hit for the next four seasons instead of $6 million for the next two. Ottawa owning San Jose’s pick this year), the Canucks have one of the best young cores in the league and are more likely to be better, not It might make the most financial sense for the Devils to hold onto worse, next season. What the Devils can hope for is that the Canucks Schneider and avoid the cap hits from a buyout in 2022 and 2023, when make the playoffs as one of the two wild-card teams and then lose in the they should be in win-now mode. That could mean adding another NHL first two rounds. That would likely net the Devils pick No. 16 or 17 in the goaltender this offseason as insurance. 2020 draft. 16. A milestone for Travis Zajac

Two unprotected 2021 first-round picks would be useful ammunition for Zajac is on pace to play his 1,000th game for the Devils near the end of the club this offseason, but three top-20 selections in this draft would this season. He has consumed tough matchups and minutes for the help the new GM immediately. Devils for years and centered the team’s most productive line this season 12. Will it be a Devils-heavy Memorial Cup? between Coleman and Gusev. With Andy Greene off to Long Island before the trade deadline, Zajac is the last remaining member of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final team. In an otherwise disappointing season, celebrating a player who has personified Devils hockey for more than a decade will be a welcome respite.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172146 New York Islanders

Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk takes skate to eye, is somehow fine

By DENNIS YOUNG

Johnny Boychuk took a skate to the face Tuesday night when Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen stumbled forward and kicked him in the face.

The Islanders defenseman rushed off the ice after taking a blade to the face and nose.

(Warning: The below video shows Lehkonen’s skate going into Boychuk’s face.)

Johnny Boychuk rushes off the ice after taking Artturi Lehkonen's skate to the face. Very scary. pic.twitter.com/NwpIQAzznP

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 4, 2020

The bladed did catch Boychuk in the eye, but missed his eyeball and only cut the lid, the Islanders said Wednesday.

“Johnny Boychuk is OK,” Islanders president Lou Lamoriello said. “Fortunately the skate blade just got the eyelid. It took 90 stitches for a plastic surgeon to fix. But he’ll be fine.”

The Islanders lost the game to the Canadiens, 6-2.

Boychuk put out a statement Wednesday afternoon. “Thank you to everyone for the positive messages and thoughts! I am extremely grateful,” he tweeted. “Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172147 New York Islanders

Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk needed 90 stitches after taking skate to face

By Greg JoyceMarch 4, 2020 | 1:27pm | Updated

Islanders legend now has perfect view of his retired No. 91

Ninety stitches later, Johnny Boychuk still got lucky.

The Islanders defenseman took a skate blade to the eyelid Tuesday night at Barclays Center in a 6-2 loss to the Canadiens, but avoided a more serious injury, team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said Wednesday.

“Johnny Boychuk is OK,” Lamoriello told reporters. “There’s been no damage to his eye. He had quite a night. First of all, you don’t know what happens. He felt the skate blade get his eye. But fortunately it just got the eyelid. It took 90 stitches to fix. A plastic surgeon took care of it.”

Boychuk was battling with Artturi Lehkonen in front of the Islanders net in the third period when Lehkonen fell forward and his skate came up high, clipping Boychuk in the face. Boychuk fell to the ice, grabbing at his left eye and squirming briefly before racing straight to the locker room.

Johnny Boychuk rushes off the ice after taking Artturi Lehkonen's skate to the face. Very scary. pic.twitter.com/NwpIQAzznP

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 4, 2020

“Thank you to everyone for the positive messages and thoughts!” Boychuk wrote on Twitter Wednesday. “I am extremely grateful. Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid. Sorry for the late response…facial recognition wasn’t working… thank you again my friends.”

The scary injury will sideline Boychuk, at least until his eye opens up again.

“He’ll be fine,” Lamoriello said. “It’s just a matter of time with the eye opening up and him feeling good.”

Last year, a skate blade cut Boychuk in the neck and again he avoided serious damage.

Boychuk is also the third Islander to get cut by a skate blade this season. Winger Cal Clutterbuck got cut on the wrist and center Casey Cizikas suffered a lacerated leg.

New York Post LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172148 New York Islanders Notes & quotes: Pageau, an Ottawa native who was acquired from the Senators on Feb. 24, will make his return to Ottawa Thursday night. “It’s going to be a lot of emotion,” the center said.

Johnny Boychuk of Islanders needs 90 stitches to close gash on eyelid Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.05.2020

By Brian Heyman

Artturi Lehkonen went down in front of the Islanders’ net Tuesday night at Barclays Center, and the Montreal left wing’s right skate blade came up and sliced Johnny Boychuk in the area of the left eye. It had the unsettling look of a possible horrific injury.

But Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello announced Wednesday that Boychuk’s eye was unscathed. The 36-year-old defenseman still needed 90 stitches to repair a cut to the eyelid that happened in the third period of the Islanders' 6-2 loss. In a sense, though, he got lucky.

“Johnny Boychuk is OK,” Lamoriello said at the team’s practice facility in East Meadow. “There’s been no damage to his eye.

"He had quite a night. First of all, you don’t know what happened. He felt the skate blade get his eye. But fortunately it just got the eyelid . . . A plastic surgeon took care of it. I don’t want to exaggerate with the stitches because they do very small stitches, but there were 90. He’ll be fine.”

The Islanders have 17 regular-season games left, and they’re in a tight fight to make the playoffs. Lamoriello didn’t have an estimate of how long Boychuk will be out.

“His eye is closed certainly because of the stitches,” Lamoriello said. “But there’s no damage to the eye, so there’s no time frame of something healing. It’s just when his eye opens up and he feels comfortable. He has no headaches or anything.”

Boychuk came to the practice facility Wednesday morning, but he didn’t address the media.

“We were all happy to see him . . . and see that his eyeball seemed OK,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said.

Boychuk wrote a message on his verified Twitter account later in the day.

Thank you to everyone for the positive messages and thoughts! I am extremely grateful. Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid. Sorry for the late response...facial recognition wasn’t working... thank you again my friends. Johnny B

— Johnny Boychuk (@joboych) Mar 64, 2020

"Thank you to everyone for the positive messages and thoughts!" Boychuk said. "I am extremely grateful. Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid. Sorry for the late response ... facial recognition wasn’t working ... thank you again my friends. Johnny B."

Josh Bailey called Boychuk “a close friend of all of ours.”

“When something like that happens, we’re all human,” Bailey said. “To keep playing after that, you’re worried about him. We kind of heard some news — it looked like he was going to be OK — on the bench.

“And then after the game, he sent a nice text to all of us. We have a team chat we all talk in. I think he knew we were all worried about him.”

Lamoriello said rookie Noah Dobson will replace Boychuk, and that defenseman Thomas Hickey might be called up from Bridgeport on an emergency basis because “a couple of other defensemen are banged up.”

Like Boychuk, valuable fourth-line center Casey Cizikas was lost to an errant skate blade. He suffered a leg laceration on Feb. 11. Since then, the Islanders are 2-6-2. Lamoriello said Cizikas is “at least another couple of weeks away.”

“I have total confidence in this group,” Lamoriello said. “I don’t think we would’ve made any transactions [before the trade deadline] if we didn’t have belief in the group that we have here and giving them some support.” 1172149 New York Rangers The second-overall draft choice has been yearning to do great things this season. A résumé of eight goals and 12 assists in 62 games does not meet that standard. The Rangers need some greatness down the stretch. It is time for Quinn to see if the 19-year-old has it in him in the most The Rangers must finally unleash Kappo Kakko difficult, most challenging and most important time of the year.

Time for Kakko.

By Larry BrooksMarch 4, 2020 | 7:54pm | Updated At the general managers’ meetings in Florida, Blueshirts GM Jeff Gorton reiterated that a realistic timetable for Kreider’s return from the injury he

sustained on Feb. 28 is “4-6 weeks.” The season ends four weeks from Look, it has been a long, disappointing year filled with growing pains for Saturday. Kreider, of course, has vowed to be back sooner than that. Kaapo Kakko, whose across-the-board numbers are so bad that you Igor Shesterkin continues to progress recovering from the broken rib he might want to check out first-overall Joe Thornton’s 1997-98 rookie sustained in the Feb. 23 car crash in Brooklyn. It is possible that the season with the Bruins (three goals, four assists, 8:05 per primarily on netminder could be cleared to accompany the Blueshirts on their three- the fourth line and two dozen healthy scratches playing for Pat Burns) for game trip to Dallas, Colorado and Arizona that includes a back-to-back solace. Tuesday and Wednesday against the Stars and Avalanche, respectively. I believe Kakko has been used appropriately by David Quinn as a third- New York Post LOADED: 03.05.2020 line winger who somehow has maintained his spot on the second power- play unit despite having scored two goals in 46 games since Nov. 20. You have to earn top-six time on any team, and certainly on this one that has been carried all season by its top two formidable units on which Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome have distinguished themselves. No. 24 had not earned that time.

Kakko has been partnered almost exclusively with Filip Chytil since the middle of December — with a rotation of Brett Howden, Brendan Lemieux and Phil DiGiuseppe on the other side. Regardless of the identity of the left wing, the unit has been far less than the sum of its parts. Chytil and Kakko both project as linchpins, but in 276:30 of five-on- five play this season, the youths have been hammered in shot attempts, shot share and xGF while on the ice for five goals for and 16 against. (Thanks, naturalhattrick.com.)

When the top six was rolling offensively, the team could withstand the third-line concoction. But now, with Kreider down with a broken foot and the Rangers having gone two games without scoring an even-strength goal in No. 20’s absence, Quinn needs to change things up beginning with Thursday’s Garden match against the Capitals.

Kappo KakkoCharles Wenzelberg/New York Post

It is time, for the first time since Dec. 10 in L.A., for Kakko to move up onto Zibanejad’s unit. Time for Kakko to return to prime time, even as the challenge has never been mightier and the pressure never greater, given the stakes and the pace of the game. But after properly shielding the teenager most of the year, it is time for the coach to give the young thoroughbred his lead.

DiGiuseppe does bring a dash of Kreider’s straight-line edge to the unit with Zibanejad in the middle and Pavel Buchnevich on the right, and has worked the walls and the corners diligently in two games subbing for No. 20, but the 26-year-old just doesn’t have the skill set to play top-six minutes.

Kakko does.

And Kakko has the mentality — all right, ego — to take this and run, or at least give it a creditable try. We’ve been waiting since October for the Finn to step up. We know from his rather consistent commentary throughout the year that Kakko himself believes he merits the chance.

Now it’s time.

SEE ALSO

Chris Kreider's injury exposes Rangers' youth problem

The drawback, of course, is that the matchups would become more challenging. Instead of facing third lines and third pairs, he’d be on against top-six forwards and top-four defensemen. That not only presents a test offensively, but even more so on the defensive side of the puck. If a move were made for this next match, Kakko could find himself opposite Alex Ovechkin for 10-12 minutes of five-on-five play.

Fun?

Kakko battled well in the one-on-ones and went to the dirty areas against the Blues in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat, in which he also had an encouraging late shift after Quinn limited the winger to one turn worth 22 seconds from 8:55 to 16:42 of the third period. That’s when the coach double-shifted his top two units even as they came up empty. 1172150 New York Rangers

Chris Kreider out four to six weeks with broken foot, Rangers GM Jeff Gorton says

By Colin Stephenson

Speaking to NHL Network from the GM meetings in Florida, Rangers GM Jeff Gorton said Wednesday that left wing Chris Kreider, who suffered a broken left ankle blocking a shot in a loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia on Friday, will likely be out 4-6 weeks.

“We’re obviously hopeful sooner than later,’’ Gorton said. “But I think with these things, it’s weight-bearing when you break your foot. I think if you look over time, some of the people who have had the same type of injury, you’re looking at 4-6 weeks as probably realistic.’’

The timetable means there is a chance Kreider, who signed a seven- year, $45.5 million contract extension on Feb. 24, hours before the trade deadline, will miss the remainder of the regular season, which ends April 4. That would be five weeks from the injury date.

Kreider is rehabbing and trying to shorten the timeline for his return. Coach David Quinn, when asked Monday when Kreider might return, had quipped, “He thinks he’s going to come back next week, so, we’ll see.’’

Kreider’s left foot is in a protective boot, Quinn said, and the coach said how quickly Kreider returns will simply be based on how quickly he heals.

“I know that Chris is looking at it as if he is going to be back sooner,’’ Gorton told NHL Network. “If you see what kind of condition he is in, his work ethic, it’s hard to bet against him. So, hopefully, sooner than that, and we’ll take one game at a time without him.’’

Without Kreider, who has 24 goals and 21 assists in 63 games this season, the Rangers are 0-2. Plus, they lost the game in which he was injured. The Rangers were leading 1-0 against the Flyers when a shot by Philadelphia defenseman Phillipe Myers hit Kreider in the left skate with a little more than seven minutes remaining in the first period.

Kreider hobbled to the bench and tried to come back on his next shift, but could not. He left the game at that point and the Rangers went on to lose, 5-2.

They also lost, 5-2, in a rematch with the Flyers at the Garden on Sunday afternoon, and lost, 2-1, Tuesday to the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.

The Rangers (35-27-4) are four points out of a playoff spot with 16 games remaining. They host the Capitals on Thursday night.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172151 New York Rangers

Rangers face their biggest game of year vs. Capitals

By Colin Stephenson

There’s no time right now for the Rangers to dwell on any result, good or bad. The games don’t stop coming, and in a playoff race, the most important game always is the next one. So moments after Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues at the Garden, the only thing the Rangers could do was spin things ahead to Thursday’s game at home against the Washington Capitals.

This, now, becomes the biggest game of the year for the Blueshirts.

“These guys know – I don’t even have to say it,’’ coach David Quinn said after Tuesday’s game. “We’ve got to be ready to play Washington.’’

“It obviously hurts more, the position that we’re in, this time of year, to lose a game like that,’’ defenseman and alternate captain Marc Staal said Tuesday. “We played well. But it’s going to happen. We’ve just got to get by it and keep moving on here.

“That’s all you can do. Step back and get ready for Washington.’’

The Rangers suddenly have lost three in a row after having won nine of 10 to pull themselves into the thick of the playoff hunt. The loss to St. Louis cost them an opportunity to gain ground in the race, but it wasn’t fatal. At 35-27-4 with 74 points, the Rangers are four points out of a playoff spot with 16 games remaining.

With four games this week, Quinn opted to give the team the day off on Wednesday, so there was no opportunity to ask whether he will go back to Alexandar Georgiev in net Thursday. Georgiev gave up a bad goal with 10:04 left in regulation Tuesday that ended up being the game- winner for the Blues, but the 24-year-old Russian (16-14-1, 2.98 goals- against average, .912 save percentage) still seems a better option in a must-have game than Henrik Lundqvist (10-12-3, 3.19, .904). Igor Shesterkin still is out with a broken rib but is making progress, according to Quinn, and is skating and taking shots. He’s still most likely out until, at best, next week, however.

Washington, which plays Wednesday night against the streaking Philadelphia Flyers, leads the Metropolitan Division, but they’ve only been OK lately. They were 3-1 going into Wednesday’s game, but that came after a 2-6-1 stretch. Overall, they're 7-8-1 since the All-Star break, going into Wednesday.

Alexander Ovechkin got his 700th goal Feb. 22 against the Devils. He has three goals in the four games since and is up to 45 for the season, approaching 50 for what would be the ninth time in his 15-year career.

For the Rangers, none of it matters. Whoever they play, they have to beat. That’s the nature of playoff races.

“At this time of the season, where we're at, we've got to continue to focus on our game, the things we have to do in order to give ourselves a chance,’’ Quinn said before the game against the Blues. “We've got to be dialed in about our game and what we need to do, and have faith in each other and have faith in the way we've been playing.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172152 Ottawa Senators THE LAST WORDS With Anisimov out, the expectation is the Senators will have winger

Anthony Duclair back from his leg injury. He’s missed four games after SNAPSHOTS: The Senators are open to the idea of bringing back Ron blocking a shot against Columbus on Feb. 24. … Goaltender Marcus Hainsey next season Hogberg, who returned to Sweden on personal leave earlier this week, won’t be back to face the Isles and there’s no timetable for his return. Smith is waiting to hear what’s next and the club wants to give him as much time as he needs, but there is a chance he may be back in time to Bruce Garrioch be with the Senators on Saturday when they face the Sharks in San Jose to start a five-game Western road swing. “I haven’t heard (Wednesday). We were hopeful he’d be back for the California swing,” said Smith. He Don’t rule out the return of Ron Hainsey to the Ottawa Senators next didn’t reveal who will start against the Isles, but the expectation is it will season. be veteran Craig Anderson. Smith told reporters Monday that Filip Gustavsson was brought up from Belleville to dress as the backup. … An unrestricted free agent on July 1, Hainsey, 38, wasn’t dealt at the The Islanders will be without defenceman Johnny Boychuk. He received deadline and it sure sounds like the door may be open for him to return to 90 stitches after taking Artturi Lehkonen’s skate in the face in the loss to the Senators in 2020-21 if he wants to play another year. He has been a the Habs on Tuesday. Boychuk was fortunate the skate caught his eyelid regular partner with top defenceman Thomas Chabot and coach D.J.. because the damage could have been much worse. “Johnny Boychuk is Smith has been pleased with the job Hainsey has done here after signing OK,” GM Lou Lamoriello told the club’s website Wednesday. “There has with the club last summer. been no damage to his eye. Fortunately, it was just the eyelid that took Smith said keeping Hainsey is something he’ll discuss with GM Pierre 90 stitches to fix. A plastic surgeon took care of it. I don’t want to Dorion because there is an opening on the blueline if the Senators want exaggerate with the stitches because they do very small stitches, but to keep him. Hainsey is plus-10 in the 60 games he’s suited up for this there were 90 of them. He’ll be fine. It’s just a matter of time with the eye season. opening up and him feeling good.”

“If you’re just dealing with the today and the now, he leads the Ottawa Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020 Senators in plus/minus,” Smith said following the club’s skate Wednesday at the . “On a daily basis, he deals with (Chabot) and he’s got him playing really well. He’s teaching these guys and that’s like having an extra coach.

“That’s something we’ll discuss with Pierre, but in saying that he’s done a phenomenal job and he’s done exactly what we brought him here to do, to provide some leadership, some stability and help Chabot grow, and I think he’s done that.”

Dorion has also indicated he plans to sit down with veteran defenceman Mark Borowiecki to get him signed to an extension before he becomes a UFA.

GETTING A CHANCE

With centre Artem Anisimov sidelined with an upper-body injury after leaving the club’s 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night only two minutes into the game after Bobby Ryan inadvertently knocked Evgeni Malkin into him, Colin White will be getting a good opportunity for the next little while.

He was between Brady Tkachuk and Ryan on the top line during Wednesday’s skate, and that’s likely where White will start against the New York Islanders on Thursday night at home. This hasn’t been an easy year for him because he hasn’t lived up to the expectations of the six-year deal worth $4.75 million per season that he signed in the summer.

With 15 games left, White has the chance to finish strong and try to make something out of this season. He isn’t going to get a much better spot to play than the one he has at the moment. He was moved there in the first period against Pittsburgh because the Senators were down to 11 forwards.

“He skated well, I think he had two points, and it’s good for him because we need him to get confidence here at the end of the year and we need him to get some minutes,” said Smith. “It’s not ideal that you get a centre hurt on the first shift, but the process all year has been the development of these kids and White got to play extra minutes.

“We got to see a little bit more of (Matthew) Peca and guys got a little bit more ice, so we don’t like the result (Tuesday) but, if there was a bright spot, I thought it was that Whitey was good.”

White has six goals and 19 points in 57 games so a strong finish would be helpful.

“It’s all about the end product and us making the playoffs and when that’s going to happen and White’s going to help us get there,” said Smith. “If he continues to get better and gets confidence that’s going to help. It’s not so much about the stats, it’s nice he got a couple of points and it’s good for his personal confidence, but it’s his strength and skating.

“As that continues to come, it’s going to make us a better team.” 1172153 Ottawa Senators the end of the day, it ends there and I’ve got to worry about the Ottawa Senators and not the former players.

“The guys that I’m worried about are the guys that are in my locker room After being moved to Long Island, Jean-Gabriel Pageau returns to face that want to be in the locker room and want to help turn this thing around. the Senators Those are the guys I’ve got to put my time into.”

This night will allow Pageau to turn the page on his career with the Senators. Bruce Garrioch Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020

Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be back in one his old haunts Thursday night.

But it’s not like he’s been gone long.

Only 10 days after being moved to the New York Islanders at the NHL trade deadline, the 27-year-old Pageau, who grew up in Gatineau, will face his former Ottawa Senators teammates for the first time since being moved, and this one is likely going to be a little bit strange for both sides.

You have to think he’ll be welcomed back with open arms by the people of Ottawa and there’ll be a nice ovation for him. It will be nice to see him back facing the organization that helped him establish himself as an NHLer and the players are looking forward to seeing Pageau.

“It’ll be fun for sure. It’s going to be an exciting night,” said defenceman Thomas Chabot following the club’s skate Wednesday at home. “(Pageau) was a big part of the organization. He did great things here. The fans love him. It’s going to be emotional and it’s going to be fun.”

Selected by the Senators in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft, Pageau wasn’t just a homegrown talent for the franchise, he had as big a role on the ice as he did off the ice for the franchise. Named an alternate captain this season under coach D.J. Smith, he embraced the role and was making the most of his opportunity as the club’s No. 1 centre.

But when push came to shove in contract negotiations taking place in the final hours before the trade deadline, the Senators made the decision to trade Pageau after the club tabled a five-year deal worth more than $20 million, but had it turned down. Pageau accepted a six-year, $30-million contract with the Isles only hours after the trade.

If Pageau wasn’t going to stay here, general manager wanted to get assets in return and, as a result, the Senators were able to get a first-round pick in 2020 (that’s lottery-protected), a second-round pick in 2021 and a conditional third-round selection. As a result, the Senators now have three picks in the first round of the NHL draft in June, but the Islanders have yet to lock up a playoff spot.

While they’re sitting in the first wild-card spot in the East, the club has lost four straight since Pageau was dealt there. He had a tough time in the club’s 6-2 loss to the Montreal on Tuesday — a team he’s had success against in the past — by finishing minus-5 with just over 16 minutes of ice time. Pageau is a better player than that and one of the best attributes of his game is consistency.

Speaking to reporters in Long Island following the club’s skate Wednesday, Pageau is trying to stay on an even keel as he prepares for this one.

“There’s going to be a lot of emotions,” Pageau said. “My main focus will be on what we have to do as a team here to be better, to come out and play hard and win all of our battles. Going back to your hometown to play and dressing on the other side is going to be different, but it’s a new chapter now. My main focus is with this team and I want to win.”

The Senators are pleased for Pageau that he’s going to get the opportunity to win this spring and they don’t have any hard feelings that he made the decision to move on.

“He was attached to this team, he’s a hometown guy and he’s from here, but I think it’s going to be good for him to be with a team that’s trying to make the playoffs now and trying to win now,” Chabot said. “It was a little bit emotional at first. It’s part of the game we’re playing, it’s the business side of it, and he’s moved on there and he’s going to be fine.”

Sure, it will be nice to see Pageau, but both sides have turned the page and moved on. The Senators are coming off a 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday on the road and have to be better.

“At the end of the day, my focus has to be on our team and making the Ottawa Senators better,” Smith said. “I wish anyone that leaves here, that gave everything they had, which he did, I wish them all success, but, at 1172154 Ottawa Senators Andreas Englund-Christian Jaros Goaltending

Craig Anderson Game Day: Islanders at Senators Filip Gustavsson

Sick Bay Ken Warren G Anders Nilsson, D Mark Borowiecki, G Marcus Hogberg (personal), F

Artem Anisimov NEW YORK ISLANDERS at OTTAWA SENATORS ISLANDERS Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre Forwards TV: TSN5, RDS2. Radio: TSN 1200 AM, 94,5-Unique FM Anders Lee-Mathew Barzal-Jordan Eberle THE BIG MATCHUP Michael Dal Colle-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey Jean-Gabriel Pageau vs. his former teammates Anthony Beauvillier-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Leo Komarov It’s yet another night for a popular former Senator to return home to Matt Martin-Derick Brassard-Cal Clutterbuck where his career started. In the case of Pageau, who will no doubt be greeted with the infamous “Pageau” chants throughout, it’s also a return Defence to his Ottawa-Gatineau roots. So far, Pageau has experienced mixed results with the Islanders. He has scored twice in four games, but sports Andy Greene-Ryan Pulock a minus 5 and the Islanders have yet to win with him in the lineup (0-2-2). Devon Toews-Scott Mayfield As for the Senators, they will need to block out the various and sundry Pageau distractions and make amends for their sloppy performance Nick Leddy-Johnny Boychuk Tuesday against the Penguins. Goaltending FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Thomas Greiss Putting the Penguins behind them Semyon Varlamov The Senators started and finished poorly in their 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, far too casual with the puck against a talent-laden squad. The Sick Bay Senators have, however, rebounded well this season from poor F Casey Cizikas, D Adam Pelech performances. Special Teams Asking too much of Chabot Ottawa: PP 15.0 (28th), PK 77.0 (25th) Star defenceman Thomas Chabot has been tasked with leading his young team, but he’s prone to impatience with increased ice time, trying NYIslanders: PP 17.7 (23rd), PK 80.7 (15th) to do too much in dangerous areas of the ice. Is it time to decrease his ice time? Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020

Giving pressure to the Islanders

While the Senators don’t have all that much to lose, the pressure is mounting on the Islanders, winless in four games and clinging to a wild card spot in the East. It’s a test for coach Barry Trotz to keep his team focussed.

Establishing effective special teams

The Senators allowed another power play goal to the Penguins on Tuesday and have lost their edge penalty killing since Jean-Gabriel Pageau was traded away. They have given up at least one power play goal per game in each of their past four games. The likely return of Duclair from his ankle injury should add some necessary spark to a power play that has struggled recently.

Anderson again

Veteran Senators goaltender Craig Anderson was left alone time and again in yielding seven goals to the Penguins on Tuesday, but coach D.J. Smith doesn’t have any options here with Marcus Hogberg in Sweden for personal reasons. Belleville call-up Filip Gustavsson is expected to stay on the bench as a backup.

SENATORS

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk-Chris Tierney-Connor Brown

Mikkel Boedker-Colin White-Bobby Ryan

Anthony Duclair-Nick Paul-Jayce Hawryluk

Rudolfs Balcers-Matthew Peca-Scott Sabourin

Defence

Thomas Chabot-Ron Hainsey

Mike Reilly-Nikita Zaitsev 1172155 Ottawa Senators Previously he held senior executive roles at Royal Bank of Canada, Bell Canada, and Bombardier Aerospace.

Senior management has assumed the duties of the CEO and an Jim Little says he was dismissed as CEO of Ottawa Senators after executive search firm has already begun work on identifying appropriate 'heated argument' candidates. A new CEO is expected to be announced in a few weeks.

Asked about the decision following the club’s skate at the Canadian Tire Centre Wednsday, Coach D.J. Smith and the players were tight-lipped. Staff Reporter “I don’t know a whole lot about that side,” said alternate captain Thomas Chabot. “It’s the business side. I don’t think I really have anything to say about it to be honest. Less than two months after hiring Jim Little to help rebuild the Ottawa Senators’ business off the ice, the team announced this morning that the “We’re players, all we have to do is focus on what we do on the ice and 55-year-old has been “released from his duties as chief executive the business side of things is out of our hands. All we do is go out there officer,” effective immediately. for practice, go out there for games and show up and be professionals the best we can every day.” The club said the decision was made as a result of conduct inconsistent with the core values of the Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey Smith noted this wasn’t area he’s consulted on. League. “I just deal with the hockey side,” said Smith. “My boss is (GM) Pierre The Senators have not released details of incidents or circumstances (Dorion) and I just deal with him so I’ll let him answer on that. I didn’t deal leading to their decision, but a source with knowledge of the situation told with (Little) at all.” Postmedia the Senators have been in close contact with the NHL regarding Little’s release, and how it relates to recent policy changes He isn’t concerned with off-ice issues affecting the team’s performance. within the league. “The players deal with myself and Pierre on a daily basis and that’s who ONE-ON-ONE: Ottawa Senators CEO Jim Little trying to restore faith in they deal with,” Smith said. “We worry about our team inside that room the organization and I think the guys are pretty good at just doing their job.”

Little said his dismissal was sparked by a heated argument he had last — With files from Adrian Humphreys, Michael Traikos and Bruce month with the one person higher than him on the Senators’ roster: Garrioch Melnyk. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020 “The statement made today by the team contained some language that deserves some clarification,” he said in a statement. “On Valentine’s Day, the owner and I had a personal disagreement over the approach that I had been pursuing. I am a strong-willed person and the disagreement included me using some very strong language with him over the phone, including swearing, which he did not appreciate and for which I later apologized.”

“It was these events, to my knowledge, which led to my dismissal. Any other inference from the statement is wrong,“ Little said. He also wished the team well.

A source with knowledge of the situation from the Senators’ perspective did not deny the two men had a recent face off, but said that dispute was not the sole reason for the dismissal or the league’s involvement.

“It was a pattern of behaviour, not just one incident, among other things,” the source said.

At the conclusion of the GM meetings in Florida on Wednesday, Bettman would not say why exactly the Ottawa Senators fired Little. But the NHL commissioner made clear that it wasn’t for the type of inappropriate conduct that prompted the league into unveiling a four-point plan in December to combat verbal, physical and emotional abuse.

“It’s not what you think. Or what’s been suggested,” Bettman said. “It relates more to — while I generally don’t normally comment on club personnel decisions, it’s not one of the things we had been discussing at the board meetings in December.

“It has to do more with internal operations. If you want more, you have to talk to the Senators.”

When asked if he is growing tired of the constant barrage of negative news coming out of Ottawa, Bettman seemed unfazed.

“ has been an owner in good standard for 15 years at least — maybe 20 — and teams sometimes go through cycles for a variety of reasons,” he said. “But I am not one who overreacts or is concerned when a team’s performance is less than what the people of that community would like to see.

“I know that Eugene is passionate about that team, passionate about the game. And it wasn’t that long ago that the team was a game away from the Stanley Cup final. In sports, it’s really easy to criticize and second- guess.”

Before being hired by the Senators, Little had left Shaw Communications, a Calgary-based telecommunications company, where he was executive vice president and chief marketing and culture officer. 1172156 Ottawa Senators Melnyk had been keeping a low profile this season which had shifted the focus to the promise of the rebuild, constructed around forward Brady Tkachuk and defenceman Thomas Chabot.

Senators CEO Jim Little out after blowup with Eugene Melnyk This latest news once again shifted the focus back to the familiarity of the Senators front office instability.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 By Hailey Salvian and Chris Stevenson Mar 4, 2020

A season of relative calm in the Ottawa Senators’ front office ended Wednesday with the surprising dismissal of CEO Jim Little, who had been on the job for 54 days.

According to a press release from the organization, the team’s board of directors made the the decision, “as a result of conduct inconsistent with the core values of the Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey League.”

Team sources told The Athletic there were points of conflict between Little and owner and governor Eugene Melnyk, and other executives and subordinates within the organization.

On Wednesday afternoon, Little released a statement saying in part, “On Valentine’s Day, the owner and I had a personal disagreement over the approach that I had been pursuing. I am a strong-willed person, and the disagreement included me using some strong language with him over the phone, including some swearing, which he did not appreciate and for which I later apologized. It was these events, to my knowledge, which led to my dismissal. Any other inference from the statement is wrong.”

When asked to comment on the situation at the GM meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tried to keep people from jumping to conclusions.

“It’s not what you think,” Bettman said. “I generally don’t comment on club personnel decisions — it has to do more with internal operations.”

Little did not return emails requesting comment. The Senators’ senior vice president of communications also did not respond to requests.

This leaves the Senators without CEO once again. The team said an executive search firm has already started identifying appropriate candidates with a replacement expected to be announced “in a few weeks”. In the past, Melnyk has also served as interim CEO.

Even by the Senators’ often dysfunctional standards, the situation with Little is unique. He was hired on Jan. 10 with much enthusiasm and optimism. He had worked with major Canadian companies and had a track record of identifying struggling properties with the potential to make improvements.

At the time of his hiring, Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet said, “Has there ever been a more well-liked person in the corporate golf world? Jim’s the best and he’s going to kill it in Ottawa just like he did at Bell, RBC and Shaw.”

Little’s firing continues the turmoil in the Senators C-suites. He is the fourth executive to part ways with the franchise in three years.

Popular long-time president and Senators co-founder Cyril Leeder was fired on Jan. 25, 2017, sending the revolving door spinning. It spit out Tom Anselmi (CEO, Jan. 2017 – Feb. 2018) and Nicolas Ruzkowski (COO, June 2018 – May 2019), along with chief marketing officer Aimee Deziel.

So, after almost two years of turmoil, this season had been (by Senators standards) relatively quiet when it came to controversial news. Melnyk’s comments on the eve of the NHL100 Outdoor Classic in December 2017 about potentially moving the team started a run of bad publicity which alienated many fans and corporate partners.

It was followed by Anselmi leaving the team, the decision in February 2018 to embark on a full rebuild, accusations of cyber-bullying involving the partners of two players, the trading of forward Mike Hoffman, the controversial resignation of an assistant GM, and the unpopular decision to trade captain and two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson on the eve of training camp in 2018.

Last season saw the departure of Ruszkowski and the unpopular trading of star forward Mark Stone. 1172157 Philadelphia Flyers Players in 2015 draft with 800 GPs (in order): Anze Kopitar, Marc- Edouard Vlasic, Andrew Cogliano, Sidney Crosby, Keith Yandle, Matt Niskanen, Paul Stastny, Jack Johnson, Marc Staal, Kris Russell, Bobby Ryan, James Neal, Anton Stralman, Kris Letang, T.J. Oshie. Observations as Kevin Hayes, Ivan Provorov lead Flyers to 5-2 win over the Capitals The Flyers picks from the 2005 draft:

♦ Steve Downie, RW, 29th overall, 434 games, 89 with Flyers by Ed Barkowitz ♦ Oskars Bartulis, D, 91st overall, 66 games (all with Flyers)

♦ Jeremy Duchesne, G, 119th overall, 1 game (with Flyers)

WASHINGTON — Sudden thoughts and second thoughts as the Flyers ♦ Josh Beaulieu, RW, 152nd overall, 0 NHL games won their seventh in a row. ♦ John Flatters, D, 174th overall, 0 NHL games The headline. The Flyers are one point out of first place in the Metro ♦ Matt Clackson, LW, 215th overall, 0 NHL games Division. About eight weeks ago, they were 15 points out and fighting for their playoff lives. Drafts with most players to reach 800 games since 1990:

J.V. Arrrrgh. There was some bad news. Winger James van Riemsdyk 1993 -- 25 players. Three notables: Chris Pronger, , Paul left with a broken right hand after blocking a shot halfway through the first Kariya. period. Flyers’ coach Alain Vigneault wasn’t immediately sure how long he’ll be out, but Joel Farabee will be called up and put into the lineup for 2003 -- 24 players. Three notables: Jeff Carter, Eric Staal, Ryan Getzlaf. Thursday’s game against Carolina. Note: Current Flyer Nate Thompson has played in 764.

Play of the game. Derek Grant’s redirection of Nick Aube-Kubel’s pass to 1998 -- 21 players. Three notables: Pavel Datsyuk, Simon Gagne, Vinny Kevin Hayes for the Flyers’ second goal. Lecavalier.

Unreal redirect by Grant with his skate. Easy goal for Hayes 1990 -- 20 players. Three notables: Jaromir Jagr, Martin Brodeur, Keith pic.twitter.com/f86VUuPqZK Primeau.

— Brandon Murphy (@2Murphy8) March 5, 2020 1991 -- 20 players. Three notables: Scott Niedermayer, Alex Kovalev, Mike Knuble. Note: Eric Lindros (760) and Peter Forsberg (708) did not Brian’s song. There was some question as to whether Carter Hart should reach 800. have started in net, but Brian Elliott did just fine. Moose stopped 25 shots, and admitted afterward it was nice to get back in there after not Source: Inquirer research, Hockey-Reference.com paying since Feb. 20. “It’s big. You want to be part of things,” said the 34- Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 year-old netminder. “You want to be part of big games. It’s what you play hockey for. It’s what gets the blood going.”

Yo, ref. Capitals thumper Tom Wilson should have gotten an instigator penalty for his first-period fight with Nate Thompson. He was given an extra two minutes, but it was for roughing. The instigator would have carried a 10-minute misconduct. Refs also missed a high-stick by Robert Hagg on Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Even the nerds fought. The Flyers Twitter account lauded Robert Hagg for jumping in and fighting Wilson after Claude Giroux was run at by Wilson late in the second period. They showed a gif of Hagg getting two early lefts in on Wilson. Caps’ Twitter responded by showing the rest of the bout, which was decidedly in Wilson’s favor.

You missed the rest of it tho https://t.co/x6S1S0gyVd pic.twitter.com/oPDEowPTU1

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 5, 2020

Hollywood’s night. Kevin Hayes had a goal, an assist and was a monster throughout. The Flyers are 19-0-1 when he scores a goal.

Kill switch. The Flyers gave the Caps 17 power-plays in four games this season. They killed 16 of them.

O no. In four games this season, Alex Ovechkin did not register a point against the Flyers, was denied on all 10 of his shots on goal and was -4. He came into the season with 59 points in 53 games in his career against the Flyers.

First off. The last 11 Flyers games had gone over 1.5 goals in the first period until Wednesday night. The teams combined for 14 shots on goal, but the Capitals scored the only goal.

2005 Draft success — So what’s it mean?

Washington’s T.J. Oshie on Wednesday became the 15th player taken in the 2005 draft to play 800 NHL games. It’s a laudable statistic, especially since the 2012-13 season was trimmed to 48 games because of a lockout. It also figures to grow next season with Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patric Hornqvist and Justin Abdelkader having at least 737. But how does it compare?

Since 1990, nine other classes had more than 15 draftees reach 800 games. Here’s some numbers to chew on while waiting to see whether the Flyers can make it eight wins in a row on Thursday. 1172158 Philadelphia Flyers When Vigneault coached in New York from 2013-18, the Flyers were 9- 10-2 against New York. The Rangers also beat the Flyers in a seven- game playoff series in 2014.

Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Sean Couturier getting some help with the “Both teams will play with bite, play with an edge,” the coach said. "It’s Flyers’ offense going to be great for the fans here. It’s going to be great for the fans in New York.”

Ice cubes by Ed Barkowitz, Center Kevin Hayes and defenseman Matt Niskanen each had a maintenance day on Thursday. Nolan Patrick took Hayes’ place, while filled in for Niskanen during the practice. Vigneault The Flyers’ offense is leading the team’s playoff push, and the expects Hayes and Niskanen in the lineup Friday. ... The Flyers hosted contributions are coming from all precincts, which has taken some heat 15-year-old cancer patient Blake Steigauf on Thursday in conjunction off the top unit. with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Steigauf signed a one-day contract Coach Alain Vigneault’s squad has more goals than the Pittsburgh after he skated with the team. He then had lunch with the players, which Penguins and the same number (205) as the St. Louis Blues. Didn’t see led general manager Chuck Fletcher to quip, “That’s the signing bonus.” that coming in September. ... Annalise Schultz, the granddaughter of Flyers’ alum Dave Schultz, passed away Wednesday after battling brain cancer. She was 9. Following the Flyers unsightly 5-0 loss to the Devils on Feb. 6, Vigneault put Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek alongside Sean Couturier. Blake Steigauf, a 15-year-old Flyers fan, signs a one-day contract with GM Chuck Fletcher. Steigauf, who is battling cancer, was given the full The Flyers are 7-2 since, outscoring opponents 40-23. The first line has pro treatment through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Good stuff. 11 of those goals. The rest of the roster has the other 29. pic.twitter.com/XDpqTWxJia

As James van Riemsdyk pointed out on Thursday, they have no scorers — ed barkowitz (@edbarkowitz) February 27, 2020 among the league’s top-25. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 “That allows us to be tough matchups for different teams,” said van Riemsdyk, who has as many points since Feb. 6 (nine) as Couturier, “and on different nights you’re going to have a number of guys being able to contribute. That’s been one of our strengths, for sure.”

Travis Konecny has been the Flyers’ leading scorer over the last nine games. His 13 points since Feb. 6 have moved him into a tie for 30th league-wide.

The Islanders and Columbus are the only other teams in the East playoff chase without a top-30 scorer, but they don’t have nearly the offensive prowess as the Flyers. The Islanders have scored 29 fewer goals, and the Blue Jackets have scored 35 fewer.

“So many times [this year], me, G [Giroux], or Coots [Couturier] didn’t have any points, and we’d still find a way to score four or five goals,” Voracek said. “Let’s be honest. That didn’t happen very often in the past. We are extremely deep. It feels like every time somebody’s off scoring- wise, somebody else is picking it up. That’s what good teams do. That’s what good teams have.”

"Let’s be honest. That didn’t happen very often in the past. We are extremely deep. It feels like every time somebody’s off scoring-wise, somebody else is picking it up. That’s what good teams do. That’s what good teams have.”

- Jake Voracek

The Rangers are the next challenge. They went into Montreal on Thursday having won eight of their last nine and were riding an eight- game road winning streak. Philadelphia hosts New York on Friday. When the Flyers play at on Sunday, it’ll be the Rangers third game in less than four days.

The Flyers depth could come in handy, especially if trade-deadline centers Derek Grant and Nate Thompson get up to speed.

“Right now, it gives us balance on four lines," Vigneault said. But "we cannot win if Coots’ line is not going. We’re no different than any other team. You need your top players to perform. But on some nights when they are getting checked a little more and it is a little challenging, you need some guys to step to the forefront. And with our record ... we have that depth and contributions from different people.”

Bring on the Blueshirts

The Flyers beat New York, 5-1, at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 23, and will play the Rangers twice in three days. Goaltender Carter Hart has Friday’s game (7 p.m., NBCSP). Vigneault declined to name a starter for Sunday (noon, NBC10), though the money here is on Brian Elliott. Sunday will be the 10th day since Elliott last played.

“The Rangers are one of our biggest rivals,” Vigneault said. “Both teams are battling real hard to get into the playoffs. They’re the best games. They’re the games you look forward to it." 1172159 Philadelphia Flyers canceling out shots taken by opponents. They’re simply not permitting them.

Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, and Jake Voracek are the familiar faces Thanks to Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen, Flyers defense trying to who get the attention, but the retooled defense is pulling a Zamboni’s- make history | On the Fly worth of its weight, as well. The playoffs can’t get here soon enough for Therien, who made three deep postseason runs with the Flyers and likes what he’s seeing. The Flyers will take a season-best six-game winning streak into Washington on Wednesday. by Ed Barkowitz, “This is as good as I’ve seen this core group play in a long time," Therien

said. “I wish there were [only] three or four games left.” The defensive numbers tell a large part of the story of why the Flyers are Ivan Provorov leads the Flyers with 11 goals this season, including seven chasing a division title and not making golf reservations. on the power play, which is tops among all defensemen. The goaltending has been better, but so have the coverage and Take these to the taproom discipline in front of Carter Hart and Brian Elliott. But there’s another contribution that the Flyers’ defensemen are making. One that not many Some NHL trivia (since 1967-68): people could have foreseen. * Most goals by any NHL team’s defensemen: 94, 1992-93 Capitals You’re signed up to get this newsletter in your inbox twice a week during (Kevin Hatcher 34, Al Iafrate 25, Sylvain Cote 21 were the leaders). the Flyers season. If you like what you’re reading, tell some friends it’s Flyers broadcaster , a winger on that team, had 12 goals that free to sign up here. We want to know what you think, what we should year. add, and what you want to read, so send feedback by email or on Twitter (@EdBarkowitz or @broadstbull). Thank you for reading. * Most goals by a Flyers defense in a single season: 59 in 1991-92 (Steve Duchesne 18, Kerry Huffman 14, Mark Howe 7, Terry Carkner 4, — Ed Barkowitz ([email protected]) Kjell Samuelsson 4, Garry Galley 3, Corey Foster 3, Brian Benning 2, 2, Dan Kordic 1, Jiri Latal 1.) Can’t say I remember Corey Inside the numbers: Flyers have never led the NHL in these categories ... Foster. until now * Most goals in a season by a defenseman: 48, Paul Coffey in 1985-86. The Flyers have been leading the league all year in fewest shots allowed. Coffey (twice), Bobby Orr and Dit Clapper are the only defensemen with It was 28.5 per game entering the week. It’s a stat the Flyers have never 40 in a season. Dit happens. led the league in. Been second a few times, but never first. * Most goals in a season by a Flyers defenseman: 24, Mark Howe in They’re also leading the league in goals scored by their defensemen. 1985-86. Bob Dailey (21 in 1977-78) and Howe (20 in 1982-83) round out Thought this might just be a quirk, so we enlisted the expertise of Chris the top 3. “Bundy” Therien, the NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst who spent 11 years playing the position. Bundy knows defense. * Most goals in a career by a defenseman: 410, Ray Bourque. He’s followed by Paul Coffey (396), Al MacInnis (340), Phil Housley (338), and “It’s not a fluke," Therien said. “Every team wants their defensemen to Denis Potvin (310). get up the ice, and the Flyers have those guys. Even guys like Justin Braun and Robert Hagg [can contribute]. It’s like getting scoring from a * Most goals in a career by a Flyers defenseman: 138, Mark Howe. He’s third or fourth line.” followed by Eric Desjardins (93), Tom Bladon (67), Behn Wilson (59), Bob Dailey (56), and Shayne Gostisbehere (51). The Flyers have gotten 42 goals from their blueliners, including 11 from Ivan Provorov and eight each from Matt Niskanen and Travis Sanheim. Things to know

Provorov’s seven power-play goals lead NHL defensemen. But while the Division-leading Capitals up next for Flyers. PP is the easiest place to pick up goals, it’s notable that Flyers defensemen have scored 28 of their 42 goals at even strength, with Carter Hart has been fantastic since returning from injury. Niskanen picking up a shorthanded tally a month ago in Detroit. Mike Sielski: Flyers goaltending might be their greatest edge. “I didn’t exactly know what to expect” from the defense, first-year coach Wells Fargo Center renovations cause season-ticket holders to be Alain Vigneault said. “Provy, he’s a young D. Travis, same thing. [Phil] relocated. Myers also. But Nisky, I knew what we were going to get. I knew we were going to get second power-play minutes.” Compelling: Local product Johnny Gaudreau scored a goal for Calgary on Sunday and thought of his grandfather, who had passed away the day Niskanen scored his fourth power-play goal of the season on Sunday, a before. (Mentions at 1:10 and 1:46.) modest number that set a career high for the 13-year veteran. NHL standings Just like fewest shots allowed, the Flyers have never led the league in total goals by their defensemen. They were second twice, the last time in Flyers’ next five 1991-92 when the immortal Steve Duchesne pumped in 18. Tomorrow: at Washington, 7 p.m. (NBCSN). “Those are two really good things to be leading the league in at this time of the year,” Therien said. Thursday: vs. Carolina, 7 p.m. (NBCSP). 'Canes have lost three straight (one in overtime) since the Zamboni driver beat Toronto. This year’s defense is on pace for 53 goals, which would be just the second time in the last 25 years the Flyers have gotten 50 out of their Saturday: vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m. (NBCSP). The Sabres also have lost three blueliners. The other was two years ago when Provorov had a career- in a row and are a $20 cab ride away from the playoffs. best 17 and Shayne Gostisbehere 13. Gostisbehere, his season plagued Tuesday, March 10: vs. Boston, 7 p.m. (NBCSP). Let’s see what the by a knee injury, has five goals in 41 games. Both are career lows. Bruins do in their two games this week against Tampa Bay before The NHL’s shots-allowed database goes back to 1997-98. According to handing them the No. 1 seed in the East. it, only two teams have led the league in both goals by defensemen and Thursday, March 12: at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. (NBCSP). The Flyers have fewest shots allowed in the same season. The 2015-16 Predators hung with the Lightning, but have lost both meetings. reached the second round of the playoffs. The 2009-10 Blackhawks beat the Flyers to win the Stanley Cup. Capitals’ next five

“You’ve seen teams’ [defensemen] score a ton of goals,” Therien said. Tomorrow: vs. Flyers, 7 p.m. (NBCSN). Will be looking for revenge after “But what are they giving up on the other end?” the Flyers took 'em to the woodshed in their last meeting.

One final variable to the shots-allowed statistic is that the Flyers are in Thursday: at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Split their first two meetings, but the bottom three in blocked shots. It’s not as if the defensemen are haven’t played since November. Saturday: at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. (NHLN). For those at the Flower Show, the Field House at 12th & Filbert is a decent spot to sneak away for an update. Chrysanthemums and cross checks. Sounds like a perfect Saturday to me.

Monday: at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Hammered the Sabres, 6-1, back in November, their only meeting thus far.

Thursday, March 12: at Detroit, 7 p.m. This should be another layup.

From the mailbag

Today’s question was sent through Twitter to colleague Sam Carchidi by @reischy46.

Question: Sam, who do you see playing [goalie] on Wednesday. Big game, but do you want to play Hart that often coming back from injury?

Answer: Hart. He’s healthy and it will be the third night between games. Since returning from an abdominal strain, Hart is 7-1 with a 2.14 GAA and .923 save percentage.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172160 Philadelphia Flyers The Capitals, following a Laughton turnover, cut the deficit to 3-2 as Garnet Hathaway scored on a two-on-one down low with 1:28 remaining in the second.

Flyers beat Capitals, 5-2, but lose James van Riemsdyk to broken right Washington built a 1-0 lead in a chippy, evenly played first period. It was hand a playoff-style period, with not much space for either team and a total of just 14 shots, seven for each side.

A sensational behind-the-back pass by Richard Panik set up the Caps’ by Sam Carchidi, first-period goal on a two-on-two rush. Panik was on the line only because Ilya Kovalchuk had just had a power-play shift and went off the

ice. WASHINGTON — In early January, the Flyers were out of a playoff spot, Lars Eller was the benefactor of Panik’s feed. With 5:51 left in the first, he 15 points out of first place, and sitting sixth in the crowded Metropolitan got behind center Grant and beat Elliott from in close. Defenseman Justin Division. Braun got caught up ice on the play. Now, thanks to a blistering 17-5-1 run, they are challenging for the Metro No matter. The Flyers regrouped and took control in the second period, title. when they outshot the Caps, 18-8. Defenseman Ivan Provorov and center Kevin Hayes each had a goal and “Every time we play them, it’s a battle,” said Provorov after the physical an assist as the second-place Flyers won their seventh straight, moving matchup,. “We seem to get up for those games and be at the top of our to within one point of division-leading Washington with a 5-2 win over the game.” Caps on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena “Obviously we haven’t accomplished anything yet," coach Alain Vigneault “We’re climbing,” Hayes said. “That’s our main goal -- to keep climbing said, “but tonight was a big game.” up the standings.” And a critical win. “The boys are rolling. We’re all playing for each other," Provorov said. “Everyone’s giving 100 percent out there every time they go out for a shift “Everyone’s buying into the system and we’re putting together good 60- and it’s been paying off.” minute efforts,” Hayes said. “It’s been fun, honestly. ... It’s fun to come to the rink every day.” The Flyers’ penalty kill went 5-for-5, making them 16-for-17 in four games against the Caps this season. The Flyers won the season series, 3-0-1, Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 and held superstar Alex Ovechkin without a point in the four games.

“We’re staying aggressive and not letting them get set up,” Provorov said about the penalty kill.

“When you have guys taking away lanes and pressuring the other team on [its] power play, it really swings the momentum in your favor," goalie Brian Elliott said.

Elliott made 25 saves and played solidly as the Flyers overcame a 1-0 deficit and continued to roll.

Provorov, the trailer on the play, sped past Ovechkin, took a sweet feed from Jake Voracek (seven assists in the last three games), and scored from the left circle with 13:24 left in regulation, padding the Flyers’ lead to 4-2. It was the 43rd goal this season for a Flyers defenseman, tops in the NHL.

Scott Laughton made it 5-2 with 5:45 to go, firing a pass that deflected off the skate of Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov and into the net.

The Flyers dominated the second period and got goals from Travis Konecny, Hayes, and Tyler Pitlick as they built a 3-2 lead.

Konecny scored on a power-play rebound to knot the score at 1-1 with 12:54 left in the second. The goal was scored 71 seconds after Konecny’s power-play goal was nullified when the Toronto war room ruled there was inconclusive evidence that the puck had crossed the goal line. (It had been ruled “no goal” on the ice, but goalie Braden Holtby appeared to have the puck under him while he was in the net.)

The score that counted – a rebound off Provorov’s shot – gave Konecny 24 goals, equaling his career high. It also gave him 13 points in his last seven games.

“It was kind of a lucky bounce,” Konecny said. “The puck hit me in the stomach area and dropped right down on my stick and I had an easy spot to put it in.”

With 5:12 to go in the second, Hayes’ 23rd goal – and sixth in the last seven games – gave the Flyers their first lead, 2-1. Derek Grant (two assists), on the left side of the net, deftly passed the puck to Hayes with his right skate. Hayes, alone on the right side, swatted the puck into a wide-open net.

A little over two minutes later, Tyler Pitlick increased the lead to 3-1, taking a drop pass from Michael Raffl and finishing a four-on-two break.

Raffl was on that line because James van Riemsdyk suffered a broken right hand blocking a first-period shot and did not return. Joel Farabee will be recalled from the Phantoms. 1172161 Philadelphia Flyers

Home-ice advantage not on the mind of Flyers coach Alain Vigneault — yet

by Sam Carchidi

WASHINGTON –- The Flyers have been dominant at the Wells Fargo Center this season (23-5-4) and so-so on the road, so they obviously want to finish first or second in the Metropolitan Division and assure themselves of the home-ice advantage in at least the opening playoff round.

“A team that has it will say it’s really important,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “A team that doesn’t have it will say it’s not that big of a deal.”

The Flyers are in second place in the Metropolitan Division.

“I think all teams – Washington is no different than we are – are working to get that check mark by their name,” Vigneault said before the Flyers faced the host Capitals on Wednesday.

By a check mark, he meant teams were more worried about qualifying for the playoffs than the home-ice advantage.

“That’s the first goal every team has, and then obviously if you can get the home-ice advantage, you work for it," he said. "We’re going to get the check mark; we’re not there yet.”

The Flyers took a 15-15-3 road record into Wednesday.

Hurricanes in town

The Flyers will finish one of their five remaining sets of back-to-back games when they host Carolina on Thursday.

The Flyers are 2-0-1 against the Hurricanes this season, beating them 4- 1 and 5-3, and losing in overtime, 5-4.

Goalie Carter Hart will get the call Thursday. He defeated the Canes, 4-1, and stopped 33 of 34 shots on Nov. 5.

Hart is 18-2-2 at home with a 1.67 GAA and .941 save percentage this season.

The Hurricanes are three points out of a playoff spot and they have 18 games remaining, including four (four!) against Pittsburgh. Carolina has a difficult schedule as 12 of its games are against teams currently in a playoff spot.

Keeping the focus

Vigneault has emerged as a strong candidate for the Jack Adams Award, given to the league’s coach of the year. He won the award with Vancouver in 2006-07.

Asked Wednesday what winning that award meant as far as establishing credibility in his career, Vigneault declined to answer.

“At this time, I’m not going to spend any moment of my time worrying about my own legacy,” he said. “My present, my moment, is the Flyers. It’s the Flyers tonight against Washington and that’s where I’m concentrating on.”

Breakaways

In his first three games with the Flyers, recently acquired center Derek Grant won 64.5% of his faceoffs. … Entering Wednesday, the Flyers had a six-game winning streak, during which Travis Konecny had 12 points (four goals, eight assists), including five on the power play, and Kevin Hayes had five goals, all at even strength.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172162 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers carry confidence into showdown with Washington Capitals

by Sam Carchidi

WASHINGTON — As they get ready to play the host Washington Capitals in a critical matchup Wednesday night, the Flyers’ confidence level has never been higher.

And with good reason. They have won a season-high six straight, all four lines are contributing, and the defense and goaltending have been excellent.

Oh, and since they returned from a 1-4-1 road trip after Christmas, they have been one of the NHL’s best teams and have statements wins against Washington (twice), Boston, St. Louis, Colorado, and Pittsburgh.

“We’ve been playing great as a team,” center Kevin Hayes said. “I think the guys in this locker room believe we can play against anyone, and [the Capitals] are one of the best teams in the league, so it’s a good game to see where we are.”

Left winger Scott Laughton said the Flyers “can’t look back on what we’ve done and all the success we’ve had in the last few weeks. We have to focus on this game. We’ve taken it one game at a time, and we have to continue to do that.”

The Flyers are three points behind the first-place Caps in the Metro race. Is this the Flyers’ most important game of the season?

“It’s a big game for both teams,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “Both teams are fighting to get into the playoffs — and nobody’s got a check mark [signifying they have clinched a spot] right now. So there are two points to grab, and we’re going to do everything we can to grab them.”

The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) getting checked by the Flyers' Tyler Pitlick during the third period at Capital One Arena on Feb. 8. The Flyers won the game, 7-2.

Goalie matchup

Brian Elliott will face the Capitals’ Braden Holtby in a goalie rematch of a Feb. 8 game, won by the visiting Flyers, 7-2, in Washington.

Elliott, 34, is 15-7-4 with a 2.90 goals-against average and .899 save percentage. Holtby, 30, is 24-13-5 with a 3.12 GAA and .898 save percentage.

In his career against the Flyers, Holtby is 13-6-8 with a 2.60 GAA and .912 save percentage. Elliott is 9-7 with a 3.16 GAA and .893 save percentage against Washington.

Breakaways

Since Feb. 1, the Flyers are 11-3, while the Caps are 5-7-1. … Both teams have been dominating in the third period this season. The Flyers have outscored opponents, 81-59, in that stanza, and Washington has an 89-68 advantage in the third. … The Caps’ T.J. Oshie will play in his 800th game Wednesday. … The Flyers have scored four goals or more during each game in their six-game winning streak. … Alex Ovechkin needs six goals to pass Mike Gartner (708 goals) for the seventh most in NHL history. … With an average weight of 205 pounds, the Caps are the league’s third-heaviest team, behind the Islanders (205.9 pounds) and Dallas (205.2). The Flyers have an average weight of 200.2 pounds.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172163 Philadelphia Flyers What's really been fun for the Flyers is following the way those winds of change have altered the late-winter landscape. The Capitals semi-righted themselves with a 4-3 win in Minnesota Sunday, but over the 10 previous games to that they had gone 3-7 to come back a bit to the pack. Steadily improving Flyers confident for another Capital test Then there's the long-time runnersup Penguins, who had what should be a pleasure visit Tuesday night by the awful Ottawa Senators. Of course, the Pens couldn't be taking anything for granted, since they were By Rob Parent entering that Sens game with a six-game losing streak.

For the Flyers, suffice to say the timing of that Pittsburgh losing streak VOORHEES, N.J. — Both teams have 17 games remaining, with three and Washington pull-back couldn't have been better timed. Not only are paltry points separating them. Certainly the Flyers, no matter how much the Flyers starting to taste playoff hockey ... it's starting to get easier to they'd have denied it, wouldn't have predicted they would be in this picture them as a real playoff contender. position just ahead of a scheduled game against those presumed At least that's what the guys in Vegas have been saying. No, not the Metropolitan Division runaway winners, the Washington Capitals. Golden Knights, but some of those odd oddsmakers out there. Nor would the Flyers have considered anything but the odds being Something called Money Puck has set the Flyers as having a 12.7 stacked against them for this Wednesday game in Washington ... if only percent chance to win the Cup, which is apparently higher than any other because it is being played in Washington. But the winds of change came NHL team. early in this division, and though the Capitals are indeed atop the Yes, consider the source. division, the Flyers have that wind squarely at their backs. And no ... no one was considering even gabbing about such trivial (and Since Jan. 7, when the Flyers concluded a relatively disastrous holiday damn intriguing) topics such as that just a month or two ago. cross country tour with their fifth loss in six games, they have spun their fortunes on an axis. "Just looking at the points and the standings, we still want to climb and put ourselves in the best position possible and try to cement ourselves in "It's been better, really, since our West Coast trip," Matt Niskanen said. the playoffs," James van Riemsdyk said. "Ultimately, we're close to first, "That was a tough trip. Didn't go so well for us. I think guys approached it but again, there are teams trying to chase us down, too. So the job isn't the right way. They had the right attitude about it. We weren't happy with done, and we just have to keep rolling." the way we were playing and it kind of snapped into focus, I think. We've really gotten some good efforts for almost a month now, really playing Delaware County Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 well.

"We're getting on the same page of how we really want to play, what it looks like and guys are buying into it."

While Niskanen described a different Flyers team over the past month, the improved run of results have actually traced back nearly two months.

In their first back game back off that awful road trip – Jan. 8, since the NHL's nice schedule guys figured this team didn't even need a day off after all that travel – the Flyers had the dis-pleasure of hosting the Capitals at Wells Fargo Center. Against all odds, and after many fans and pundits were almost counting them out for the playoffs, they rallied behind a determined Carter Hart and skated off with a 3-2 victory.

It might have felt like a moral victory, and probably was a sign of relief to the previously struggling, 21-year-old goalie. But little did the Flyers realize how that would alter their status update.

From that win over the Capitals at home to this upcoming game in D.C. Wednesday night, the Flyers have gone 16-5-1, a run highlighted by their current six-game winning streak.

Niskanen points out that his teammates didn't want to forget all about that ugly trip to the West and back ... instead, they've used it as motivation.

"We had a few chats," said Niskanen, a nemesis in recent seasons with the Capitals and Penguins until he came over from Washington in a trade for Radko Gudas last summer. "There was some individual stuff going on and collectively too, where we just needed to play better. Credit to the guys; we've snapped it into focus and put forth some good performances and good efforts."

What's more, and what's probably more significant, the Flyers haven't been squeaking by over lesser competitors. They're beating the better regarded Stanley Cup challengers. Following that road trip to remember, they beat the Capitals, lost by a goal to a hot Tampa Bay team, then rebounded with wins over Boston and Pittsburgh.

They went back on the road and lost in overtime in tough Pitt, but rebounded again with four wins in five games, including a stunning 7-2 win over the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Feb. 8.

Now they get set to return to the scene of that thrilling crime, with a chance to pull to within one point of the division lead.

"I think it'll be a big challenge," said backup goalie Brian Elliott, who oversaw that rout of the Capitals when the Flyers last visited Capital One, and is scheduled to start in net for this Washington rematch. "We both know what happened the last game we played there. They're going to be gunning to get us back and we have to answer that. It'll be a fun atmosphere. It's a couple of big teams playing a big game." 1172164 Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk suffers broken hand in Flyers-Capitals game

By Jordan Hall March 04, 2020 9:15 PM

INSIDE THE TURNAROUND

An inside look at how Flyers have built 2019-20 turnaround

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

Updated: 10:25 p.m.

The Flyers haven't lost a lot lately.

They suffered a big loss Wednesday night during their game against the Capitals at Capital One Arena.

James van Riemsdyk exited in the first period and did not return after taking a Jonas Siegenthaler shot off his right hand.

During an in-game interview with analyst on the NBC Sports Network broadcast, head coach Alain Vigneault said it didn't look real good after van Riemsdyk underwent an X-ray on his hand.

In hockey, a broken finger alone can cost a player a month. A broken hand is obviously worse. After the Flyers' 5-2 win, Vigneault told reporters at Capital One Arena that van Riemsdyk did in fact break his hand and how long the 30-year-old will be out was still uncertain.

AV confirms a break for JvR. Said severity/length of absence still yet to be determined.

— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) March 5, 2020

Vigneault said he won’t know the severity until tomorrow but Joel Farabee is indeed coming up for tomorrow’s game.

— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) March 5, 2020

Farabee will be recalled, AV says. No timetable on JVR.

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 5, 2020

Losing van Riemsdyk for any period of time is costly. The goal-scoring winger has 19 markers, 40 points and was playing on the team's third line. He had been a presence on the power play and the Flyers are 22-5- 0 when he records a point.

With van Riemsdyk set to miss time, 20-year-old rookie winger Joel Farabee was the top candidate to be his replacement.

Per Coach Vigneault, Flyers will recall forward Joel Farabee from Lehigh Valley. pic.twitter.com/a5ZjIdRtY9

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 5, 2020

The Flyers have 16 games remaining in the regular season. The second- place club is 17-5-1 since Jan. 8.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172165 Philadelphia Flyers Over his 15-year career, it's the first time the Flyers have held him scoreless in one season.

• For the second straight game, 10 different Flyers recorded at least a Flyers roll Capitals once again, look more and more like a 1st-place team point and five scored goals.

Kevin Hayes (one goal, one assist), Ivan Provorov (one goal, one assist) and Grant (two assists) had multi-point efforts, while Travis Konecny, By Jordan Hall March 04, 2020 11:05 PM Tyler Pitlick and Scott Laughton also netted goals.

Konecny matched his career high of 24 goals, Laughton set a new career high of 13 and the Flyers improved to 19-0-1 when Hayes registers a An inside look at how Flyers have built 2019-20 turnaround marker. With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside • Vigneault elected to go with backup Brian Elliott against the Capitals, look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan saving Carter Hart for Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Hall The decision worked out well as Elliott made 25 saves and earned both The Flyers are looking like a first-place team. road victories over Washington. They sure looked like one Wednesday night when they beat the Capitals, The Flyers have put up 12 goals in two road games against the Capitals. 5-2, at Capital One Arena to notch their season-best seventh straight win. Washington has allowed more than 12 goals total to only two teams this season. In fact, the Flyers looked like a top club all season against Washington. They went 3-0-1 in four matchups with the Capitals and won both road — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 5, 2020 games by a combined score of 12-4. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby allowed 16 goals in four games against the Now, the Flyers (39-20-7) are only one point back of first-place Flyers. Washington with 16 games left in the regular season for both teams. • Tom Wilson fought two Flyers (see story). Anybody surprised? Alain Vigneault's group is on a 17-5-1 run since Jan. 8, a stretch in which it owns wins over the Capitals (three), Bruins, Blues, Avalanche and • In the midst of their 13th back-to-back set out of 17, the Flyers host the Penguins — all top-seven clubs. Hurricanes Thursday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

As the Flyers are right back in action Thursday night, so are the Capitals The Flyers are 10 points up on Carolina in the Metropolitan Division and (40-20-6), who visit the Rangers. 2-0-1 against the Hurricanes this season.

Flyers extend season-best win streak to 7 games. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020

They are 1 point behind the first-place Capitals.

Since Jan. 8, they're 17-5-1 with an NHL-high 87 goals and no team has more points. Flyers 35, Bruins 35, Avalanche with 33 and play tonight.

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 5, 2020

The NHL's best teams since Nov. 1:

1. Bruins — 76 points

2. Flyers — 74 points

3. Lightning — 73 points

3. Blues — 73 points

5. Stars — 71 points

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 5, 2020

• Washington manhandled the Flyers during 2018-19, winning all four matchups in regulation by a combined score of 18-9.

The Flyers are not the same team in 2019-20 and their regular-season series against the Capitals is case in point. The Flyers outscored Washington 16-8 and earned a point in all four meetings.

After going 10-16-2 within the division last season, the Flyers are 15-4-4 against Metropolitan foes this season.

That is awfully impressive.

• General manager Chuck Fletcher acquired forwards Derek Grant and Nate Thompson ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline for many reasons.

Depth and potential injuries were two of the biggest.

"We have been carrying 12 forwards for a while," Fletcher said Feb. 24. "They’ve played well but you always worry with 20 games to go if hockey happens, injuries and things like that. You just want to make sure you’ve covered everything off."

During the first period Wednesday night, James van Riemsdyk suffered a broken hand. Here's what it means for the Flyers moving forward (see story).

• Alex Ovechkin had no points through four games against the Flyers. 1172166 Philadelphia Flyers

Nate Thompson drops the gloves against Tom Wilson for his first fight with Flyers

By Jordan Hall March 04, 2020 8:12 PM

Well, Nate Thompson is officially a Flyer.

In his fourth game with his new club, Thompson fought Tom Wilson during the first period of the Flyers-Capitals contest Wednesday night at Capital One Arena.

Not a bad way to get Flyers fans on your side. Wilson isn't the most liked player by opposing fan bases.

Thompson got in there and went toe to toe with Wilson. Good for him. The fight was no cheapie, either, as you can watch in the video above.

Wilson delivered a hit on Michael Raffl. Thompson then delivered a hit of his own on Nick Jensen before dropping the gloves.

Thompson, a 35-year-old veteran, was acquired by the Flyers at the NHL trade deadline. He now has his first fight with the Flyers out of the way.

Wilson then fought some more as Robert Hagg defended captain Claude Giroux later in the game.

Robert Hagg defends his captain.

Tom Wilson will head back to the box. pic.twitter.com/Q9tYNJRZYZ

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) March 5, 2020

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172167 Philadelphia Flyers A Flyers fan who is lucky enough to cover her favorite team and just wants everyone to have a good time

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 Dear Flyers bandwagon fans, welcome aboard

By Brooke Destra March 04, 2020 2:55 PM

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

Dear Flyers bandwagon fans,

I’ve been expecting your arrival for quite some time and am honestly surprised it has taken you this late into the season to finally get here.

Yes, I understand the past decade of Flyers hockey has been a roller coaster of mediocrity and off-and-on playoff appearances … but that looks like it is now a thing of the past. The cautious optimism has transformed into excitement and everyone around here is loving it.

The rebuilding phase has ended; the gears have shifted to win-mode. Late-season discussions about possible lottery and draft picks have morphed into who the team may face in the first round of the playoffs and even Cup odds. Honestly, what an exciting time to join the fun … it hasn’t always been this way.

This has been a long time coming and I don’t blame you for getting excited and wanting to show your support. If anything, it’s made me even happier knowing hockey in general is getting so much attention in Philadelphia.

For the time being, I suggest ignoring those saying you aren’t allowed to enjoy the team — they’re still shaking off this past decade. They’ll come around eventually, don’t worry.

Whether you are a new fan or an old one returning: welcome. If I could send welcome bundles filled with Gritty plushies, a jersey, signed pucks and an "I’m an official fan pin" … I would. But that’s a completely made up thing I just thought of so, sorry about that.

However, if you are new to the Philadelphia hockey scene, here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Respect thy captain, Claude Giroux.

2. You must support Gritty. (Rule approved by president of the Gritty Committee a.k.a me.)

3. Carter Hart is the future. Let him grow and root for him along the way. Goalies = good.

4. Understand the rivals. See a Penguin? Boo a Penguin. Even if you’re at the aquarium.

5. Kevin Hayes used to ref. You won’t be able to get anything slick past him.

6. If you’re blocked by Jakub Voracek on Twitter (I am), that’s actually a fun running joke with fans.

7. If you’re blocked by Scott Laughton on Twitter (I’m not!) … can’t really help you there.

8. The chirpier the player, the better. This is why Travis Konecny is having his best season yet.

9. Refrain from throwing things on the ice at home games … this isn’t a frat, you won’t be initiated into the fandom if you do so. I promise. You’ll be shunned.

10. If you catch Alain Vigneault at the bar, make sure to buy him a martini. Trust me on this.

Hope to catch you at the Wells Fargo Center sporting the orange and black soon! And hey, if everyone happens to wind up on Broad Street in June celebrating a certain win? I can guarantee no one will be wondering if you’re a bandwagon fan. They’ve been waiting 45 years for that feeling.

Sincerely, 1172168 Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk breaks hand, Joel Farabee to replace him

Dave Isaac, NHL Writer Published 8:45 p.m. ET March 4, 2020 | Updated 10:26 p.m. ET March 4, 2020

WASHINGTON — Joel Farabee, come on back.

The rookie winger wasn’t bound to be in the minors for long, as Flyers general manager and president Chuck Fletcher predicted a couple weeks ago. What he didn’t predict was why.

James van Riemsdyk blocked a shot with his right hand in Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Capitals and Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said it broke a bone in some fashion.

“I’m not sure the severity of it,” Vigneault said after the Flyers beat the Capitals 5-2. “There are different breaks but he took that shot right on the tip there. I’ll find out tomorrow for how long.”

At 10:42 of the first period, van Riemsdyk took a Jonas Siegenthaler wrist shot to a knuckle on his right hand. He immediately knew he was in trouble and headed over to the bench where Flyers director of medicine Jim McCrossin looked at his hand and sent him to the locker room.

“It's tough to see JvR go out of the game like that, but that just gives us an opportunity to step up for him and reward him for a big block there for us,” said Travis Konecny, who had one of the goals. “It's one of those things it hits him the wrong way, but you never know if it got through (if it would have gone in for Washington). It's something you've got to do and it maybe helped us win the game tonight.”

“He's an elite player in this league,” added Kevin Hayes, another goal scorer. “There's a reason why he scores 25-plus every year. He brings a lot to this team, but we have guys in the minors that have played a lot of games this year that have contributed, and I'm expecting the same thing.”

Farabee will be in the lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night and, since the Flyers had the bare minimum of forwards, it would be an emergency recall.

Farabee played in only one game for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms since the Flyers sent him down on the day of the trade deadline, Feb. 24. They recalled him for Sunday’s game in New York in case Sean Couturier couldn’t play through an illness, but the Flyers’ top center powered through.

In the NHL this season Farabee has seven goals and 20 points in 49 games.

“Joel’s been a real big part of our team this year and he's even a much bigger part of our future so sometimes I just like to have these players find environment where they can be more successful, particularly offensively, but again we're carrying 12 forwards,” Fletcher said when he sent Farabee down. “Joel's another one of those versatile guys I mentioned. He can play either wing. He's played first line, second line, third line, fourth line. So I have no doubt he'll be back with us and help us again at some point bur right now let's take it day-to-day.”

In the case of van Riemsdyk’s hand, it seems to be a longer range now.

Courier-Post LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172169 Philadelphia Flyers Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise at all, then, that the Flyers — by virtue of their victory Wednesday night — have cut the Capitals’ division lead to a single point with 16 games remaining for both clubs. Perhaps the Flyers haven’t been taking apart Washington this year because they With comfortable win over Caps, Flyers state their case for Metro “have their number,” or because they artificially elevate their game to superiority prove themselves against the best team in the division. Perhaps they’ve just been playing their normal, every-night caliber of hockey against them

and the Capitals haven’t been able to hang. By Charlie O'Connor Mar 4, 2020 “We stay humble; we don’t care who we’re playing against,” Konecny said. “We play the same way. We play with confidence, with speed. We play those guys the same way we play everybody else.” Hours before puck drop, Philadelphia Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault made it clear that he had positioned Wednesday night’s marquee To truly be recognized as superior, of course, the Flyers will have to matchup against the Washington Capitals to his players as a measuring- knock the Capitals from their comfy perch atop the Metropolitan Division stick game, a barometer of where his streaking club stood, especially in standings, and they’ve yet to achieve that goal. And no one expects comparison to the four-time defending Metropolitan Division champions. Washington to relinquish its crown without a fight — the respect from Flyers players toward their vanquished foe was obvious in the dressing “This is one of the top teams in the league, so for us to have an room after the victory. It takes more than four games or even 66 games opportunity to measure ourselves against them, we’re looking forward to to force the king to abdicate. Many will even argue that 82 games aren’t it,” he noted. enough, that the Flyers won’t truly “pass” the Capitals until they either knock them off in a playoff series or earn a Stanley Cup of their own to But after yet another battle between the teams that saw the Flyers come match the Capitals’ title from 2018. away with a win in comfortable fashion, this time by a 5-2 final score, the question is no longer whether Philadelphia measures up to the longtime But as far as where the Flyers stand in the here and now, no more Metro juggernaut. It’s whether the Capitals measure up to the Flyers. measuring-stick games are necessary to prove they belong in their lofty spot in the standings. They’ve made their case loud and clear to the What if the 2019-20 Philadelphia Flyers, now winners of seven Capitals and the league at large, simply by playing to the best of their consecutive games, simply are a better hockey team than this ability and watching the desired results pour in. incarnation of the Washington Capitals? “(I don’t know) whether it’s ‘message sending’ or just showing that we’re The four-game season series hints, at the very least, that the Flyers are a a really good hockey team and we’re going to compete right down to the stylistic nightmare for Washington, and a club the Caps would love to final hit,” Derek Grant stated in the wake of the huge win. avoid come the first or second round of the playoffs. Philadelphia won three out of the four scheduled matchups this year, with the only loss It can be both. coming in a shootout. The Flyers outscored the Caps by a 16-7 margin. They outplayed them by five-on-five shot and chance metrics in all three Nine more observations of their victories. They killed 16 of 17 Washington power plays. And in • Well, it’s been a few weeks since the injury bug hit the Flyers, but it perhaps the most mind-boggling stat from the season series, they held finally made its unwelcome reappearance Wednesday, in the form of a Alexander Ovechkin off the scoresheet entirely. Not even a single assist broken hand for James van Riemsdyk. JvR might not be scoring goals at for the future Hall of Famer. his usual rate, but his playmaking has never been better and the Flyers Yet after the game, Flyers players and coaches alike were skeptical that have controlled the expected goals battle (56.67 percent) and actual they serve as matchup kryptonite for the Capitals. goals battle (56.34 percent) by stellar rates with him on the ice at even strength this season. He’ll be missed during his absence, the length of “Tough to say,” Vigneault said when posed the question. “They’ve been which Vigneault noted wouldn’t be known until Thursday at the earliest. some hard-fought games here. These are (games) for men, and guys are Joel Farabee will be the replacement. He’s a downgrade, to be sure, but battling hard on both sides. Not a lot of friendship going on on the ice. not many teams have a player of Farabee’s caliber to slide into the top We’ve played hard against them, and we were able to come out on the nine in case of injury. The loss of JvR hurts, but the organization’s right side.” enviable depth means it shouldn’t be a season-crushing blow for Philadelphia. Travis Konecny argued the opposite, saying that if anything, the Capitals’ style of play takes the Flyers out of their comfort zone to a degree. • In the wake of a trade deadline that saw Chuck Fletcher avoid making purchases at the top of the market, the Flyers general manager made a “The way they play, we prefer not to match up like that,” he conceded. statement that sure seems prescient right now. “Usually, it’s the moves “They play kind of a trading-chances type of game. But we stay in you least expect to have a big impact that have a big impact,” he said in position and we know they’re going to try to turn back and create offense, his post-deadline news conference. Grant didn’t cost much (just a fourth- so we just stay in our spots and just wait for it.” round pick and a minor-leaguer), but he now has four points in his first Four games, to be sure, isn’t a particularly large sample. The Flyers four games with the team and he’s showing far more skill than anyone appearing superior to the Capitals for a little over 240 minutes of play imagined — first fooling the great Henrik Lundqvist via a smooth deke doesn’t mean they’re destined to run them over in a playoff battle, nor is Sunday, then setting up Kevin Hayes for a huge goal Wednesday night it especially compelling evidence that Philadelphia is simply a superior via a slick kick pass. “He tells me he’s going to tie up sticks and try to club on the whole. kick it to the open ice; it’s a great play,” Hayes marveled after the win.

A 66-game sample, on the other hand, is compelling. And don’t look now, • Grant’s appearance on the power play in the wake of van Riemsdyk’s but the Flyers’ overall statistical profile to this point in 2019-20 might just injury wasn’t a major shock; after all, he was used in that role a bit on the be the better one. Anaheim Ducks, first in early December, and after returning from a shoulder injury as well. He brings the same size (6-foot-3) and Philadelphia has the better goal differential, outscoring opponents by 33 handedness (left) to the table as JvR while having only two fewer power- goals to Washington’s 24. They have a slightly better resume by even- play goals this season compared to his more accomplished teammate. strength play-driving metrics, essentially tying the Capitals by raw shot Grant might not be as skilled as JvR — though he’s certainly showing he differential (51.87 percent for Washington, 51.76 percent for the Flyers) has more offensive ability than his reputation may have implied — but if but holding a clear edge by Evolving-Hockey’s expected goals model the goal is to replicate van Riemsdyk’s skill set on PP2, he’s probably the (Flyers: 51.43 percent, Capitals: 50.27 percent). They have a better best option. penalties taken/drawn differential (+13 for Philly, -9 for the Caps). Their starting goalie, Carter Hart, is even having a better season than the • After the Flyers’ first underwhelming third period in quite a while on Caps’ mainstay in net, Braden Holtby. Sunday, they were back to their old “just keep piling it on” tricks against the Capitals. Entering the final stanza with a 3-2 edge, Philadelphia Oh, and if you trust Dom Luszczyszyn’s statistical model here at The erupted for two more goals, putting the game out of reach. A particularly Athletic, the Flyers have been the superior on-paper team for weeks now, telling stat from the third period? Washington was forced to ice the puck entering Wednesday with an expected win percentage of 55.9 percent to five times over the final 20 minutes due to the Flyers’ lingering pressure, Washington’s 54.7 percent. with the final one leading directly to Scott Laughton’s game-sealing fifth goal.

• Ivan Provorov’s snipe of a goal in the third period will get the headlines — and he continues to possess one of the league’s most underrated wrist shots — but the patience shown by Jakub Voracek is what made it possible. At times, Voracek can force passes, in part because he’s such a talented playmaker that he can fall into the trap of thinking he can thread the needle through any window, no matter how small. But this was a confident passer at work, one who trusted that the trailer would beat his man and was willing to create chaos due to his unexpected pause at the top of the zone. It was a stellar maneuver.

• After jumping out of the penalty box just seconds into the second period, Hayes was a man on a mission. He used his high-end puck protection ability to immediately draw a penalty, nearly scored on a backhand on the ensuing power play and went through the entire Capitals team on a late-period rush. Oh, and he also scored the goal that gave the Flyers their first lead of the game. “Yeah, it’s nice when you have the puck,” he modestly noted when asked about his third-period dominance, immediately changing the subject to how well his linemates played.

• Konecny’s second period “no-goal” almost certainly did end up going past the goal line. But the current rulebook requires conclusive video evidence of the puck over the line to overturn a call on the ice, and due to circumstance — and Holtby’s veteran “hiding” of the puck under him — there was no way a video view was going to prove what common sense made obvious. Luckily for the Flyers, Konecny quickly responded with a “real” goal just 71 seconds later, one that served as a hockey version of “ball don’t lie” — when a basketball player misses free throws in the wake of a questionable foul call. “That was my thought process once they called it back,” Konecny acknowledged, wanting to immediately light the lamp to make up for the should-have-been goal and restore justice to the timeline.

• Tom Wilson was in playoff form last night, for better or worse. He was trying to inject energy and physicality in the game from the start, taking a run at Justin Braun and dropping the gloves with Nate Thompson and Robert Hägg. That also meant, however, that he was off the ice for 12 minutes (two fights, plus the semi-instigator penalty he received due to the Thompson bout) as a result. Thompson and Hägg are depth pieces; Wilson has (to his credit) turned himself into an impact forward who, as a direct result of those penalty minutes, saw the ice for just 12:19. Wilson might have won the battles, but the Flyers won the war by getting him off the ice for extended stretches.

• Lars Eller had a very strong game for the Capitals, scoring their first goal, driving play and holding his own head-to-head against Sean Couturier. If Philly and Washington end up meeting at some point in the playoffs, don’t forget about him as a potential X-factor.

— All statistics courtesy of Evolving-Hockey or Natural Stat Trick.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172170 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Nailers lose fourth straight

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, March 4, 2020 11:29 p.m.

Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 26 saves for the in a 3-2 road loss to the at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Wednesday.

Forwards Jan Drozg, a fifth-round pick of the Penguins in 2017, and Renars Krastenbergs scored goals for the Nailers (24-27-5-0) who have lost four consecutive games.

Highlights:

The Nailers’ next game is on the road against the Indy Fuel at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis on Thursday, 7:05 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172171 Pittsburgh Penguins But for a team that barely experienced one over the span of two weeks, attaining an early advantage offered a pretty vivid refresher on the benefits.

Playing with a rare lead helped the Penguins snap their losing streak “I thought it was important in that game last night that we were able to get the first goal,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “To score in the first couple of minutes like we did was a huge boost for our team. It helped our overall confidence. It’s amazing the jolt of energy that you get when you score SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, March 4, 2020 4:38 p.m. like that, especially early in a game. Given the circumstance that we were in, I thought it was important in that particular game.”

Bryan Rust did something Tuesday he hadn’t experienced in a while. Tribune Review LOADED: 03.05.2020

Sure, he had a hat trick, his first nearly 15 months. But there was far more relevant sensation Rust felt that evening.

He played with a lead.

During Tuesday’s 7-3 home win against the Ottawa Senators, the Pittsburgh Penguins went out in front 48 seconds into the game and held the lead the rest of the way.

Over the previous two weeks, when they were mired in a miserable six- game losing streak, the Penguins experienced a lead for a mere 6:03 of a possible 360 minutes. That brief sequence occurred Feb. 23 during a back-and-forth 5-3 road loss to the rival Washington Capitals.

“When you go such a long stretch without having a lead really and you’re always trying to fight your way back in games, it’s nice to get that lead,” Rust said. “I don’t know if it’s a sense of comfort, but it might add to the confidence a bit.”

Ultimately, the most important time to have a lead is when the game ends. But playing with a lead, especially as early as the Penguins established one Tuesday, can make life much easier.

“Oh yeah, it’s different,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “We want to be better at that, too. Whenever we have a lead, keep attacking. We’re at our best when we’re attacking the game and we’re playing aggressive and we’re skating all over the ice. We really want to play with the lead and keep attacking.

“Whenever we had the lead in the (6:03), we’ve kind of tried to play on it a little bit. We’re not as good as we are when we stick back and try to protect anything. That’s not our identity, and that’s not when we’re at our best. We want to attack the game, and I think that’s what we did (Tuesday). That allowed us to play with the lead for a long time.”

Added captain Sidney Crosby: “You’re probably less likely to take chances and force plays and press on certain opportunities. That’s a big part of it. It’s a combination of how you play and how the other team plays, too. There’s a certain level of comfort that they have (when in the lead) and take less chances. All those things combined, it’s always beneficial to have the lead. When you’ve lost a few in a row, that gives you a big boost when you get the lead early.”

The energy a team expends when trailing is different than with a lead or even a tied score.

“It’s an uphill battle,” said Crosby, who scored the winning goal Tuesday. “You’re probably using less of the bench. It’s a little bit more of a grind, for sure. The game is a little bit tighter because the team you’re playing against probably isn’t opening up a ton. So you’ve got to work harder for opportunities. Taking a penalty becomes even greater because if they score on the power play, they add to their lead. It’s a small margin for error.”

The benefits of playing with a larger number on the scoreboard than the opposition almost appear to offer a larger boost emotionally than physically.

“It’s a lot more mental, too, because you want to create so much,” Pettersson said. “You kind of tense up. You kind of hold your stick a little bit too tight. When you have a lead, we want to play aggressive. You can kind of let loose and keep skating. Whenever we’re skating well, we always seem to be in an attacking mode.”

Added forward Teddy Blueger: “Once you lose a couple in a row and you’re behind the next game, it’s harder to maintain your composure. You’re more prone to take risks and get more aggressive.”

A working knowledge of Boolean algebra isn’t required to understand why it is good to have a lead at any time in a game. 1172172 Pittsburgh Penguins to utilize it during the regular season because of injuries to all three players.

“Jared’s a great player,” said Bjugstad, who scored nine goals in 32 Penguins forward Nick Bjugstad closing in on return games with the Penguins during 2018-19 following a trade from the Florida Panthers. “He can play wing and center. So that’s beneficial for both him and I. If it’s me, him and Hornqvist tomorrow, we all know how we play. We’ll just see how that pans out. Jared, I know what he does. SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, March 4, 2020 2:24 p.m. He’s a skilled player. It’s not an unknown for me tomorrow if I do play.”

Notes: Little has gone right for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bjugstad in • Forwards Anthony Angello, Brandon Tanev and defenseman Jack 2019-20. Johnson were absent from practice. Almost from the start, his season was derailed. • Angello suffered an undisclosed injury during the third period of In the second game of the campaign, a 7-2 home win against the Tuesday’s 7-3 home win against the Ottawa Senators. Sullivan labeled Columbus Blue Jackets, Bjugstad forced Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc his recovery as “week-to-week.” In eight games this season, Angello has Dubois into a neutral-zone turnover with a determined backcheck and felt one goal. a twinge. • Tanev is dealing with an illness which sidelined him for Tuesday’s He missed the next nine games with a core muscle injury and returned to game. He is expected to travel with the team for Thursday’s road game the lineup Oct. 26 only partially healed. against the Buffalo Sabres. Sullivan said he is “feeling much better.”

Battling through the ailment over the next eight games in unremarkable • Johnson left Tuesday’s game during the second intermission to attend fashion, Bjugstad left the lineup once again after crashing into the boards to the birth of a child. He is expected to travel with the team to Buffalo, as awkwardly during a 2-1 road loss to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 15. well.

A handful of days later, he underwent surgery and largely has been living • Forward Zach Aston-Reese, sidelined for the past eight games because in exile, so to speak, while his teammates traveled, played and went on of an undisclosed injury, skated before practice with skills coach Ty with their business without his company. Hennes.

That could change Thursday when the Penguins face the Buffalo Sabres • The Penguins’ lines and pairs in practice were: at KeyBank Center. Jason Zucker – Sidney Crosby – Conor Sheary Barring setbacks, Bjugstad appears to be a safe bet to return to the Patrick Marleau – Evgeni Malkin – Bryan Rust lineup. During Wednesday’s practice in Cranberry, Bjugstad centered a third line with Jared McCann at left wing and Patric Hornqvist manning Jared McCann – Nick Bjugstad – Patric Hornqvist the right wing. Evan Rodrigues – Teddy Blueger – Sam Lafferty Stopping short of outright saying he definitely will play Thursday, Bjugstad spoke like a man pretty sure he’ll appear his first NHL game in Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang more than three months. Marcus Pettersson – John Marino “It’s been the most lengthy injury of my career,” said Bjugstad, who has Chad Ruhwedel – Justin Schultz been limited to 10 games and one goal this season. “I don’t know what to expect. I do know coming back from injuries, you can’t try to do too Defenseman Juuso Riikola worked with Ruhwedel, as well. much. You’ve got to try to get in the rhythm. Just play simple for me. Try to use my body a little bit and see where it goes from there. But try not to • The top power-play unit was switched up as Schultz and Rust joined overdo things. That’s the biggest part. Crosby, Malkin and Zucker.

“It started at the beginning of the year. It’s been the same area that’s • Hornqvist and Letang were moved to the second unit joining Marino, been bugging me. It definitely needed to be addressed. The strength staff Marleau and McCann. and the medical staff, we’ve really tried to make it better. Down the Tribune Review LOADED: 03.05.2020 stretch here, this is the fun hockey. When you’re fighting for spots and competing with conference (foes), it’s really fun. I’ll definitely have to be moving here because it doesn’t slow down at the end of the season. The pace only gets faster.”

Even Bjugstad’s recovery got sidetracked at times. After skating prior to some practices in mid-January, he was not seen on the ice for several weeks until late February.

“There were a few times where I thought I was close,” Bjugstad said. “Then there were a few tweaks here or there that happened that set me back. That’s probably the toughest when you think you’re getting there, and you regress a little bit. That’s probably been the toughest.”

Bjugstad said he was wary of potentially aggravating the injury in his first few instances back on the ice but feels confident he is past that hesitation.

“I’d see guys … when they get the core muscle surgery, I thought it was literally in the core,” Bjugstad said. “But it involves the groin, as well. That’s the most touchy area. After having these first few practices, that’s the biggest reassurance being able to do that. That’s why I got a few practices under my belt to feel comfortable. It’s pretty game-like scenarios out there. I won’t think too much about it (Thursday). These last few practices, I’ve been thinking a little bit about it but not too much. I’ve been skating a lot. There’s been plenty of times to try, so I won’t be thinking about it in the game.”

A potential line with McCann and Hornqvist would represent a reunion for Bjugstad. Coaches grouped that trio during the preseason but rarely got 1172173 Pittsburgh Penguins It just feels like Sullivan will start Murray in the playoffs, almost no matter what. Sullivan couldn’t be faulted for that.

Murray has a postseason resume that is slightly checkered but mostly Mark Madden: Tristan Jarry should be winner of Penguins goalie impressive. He has proven he can handle the grind of playing so competition frequently in a high-pressure situation.

I didn’t like the third goal Murray conceded Tuesday night at home against Ottawa. But at least the Penguins won. MARK MADDEN | Wednesday, March 4, 2020 1:58 p.m. The rotation accomplished one thing noteworthy: Sullivan knows he has two legit goalies who both can be trusted. (Nobody thought that about Jarry before this season.) The Penguins have been rotating goalies for a month, affecting a competition of sorts between Tristan Jarry and . No date is It would be odd if the playoffs begin and the Penguins’ top goalie set for that competition’s conclusion. A decision must be made by the statistically is on the bench. It would be more unusual still if Jarry is playoffs, likely shortly before. among the NHL’s stat leaders, as he has been for much of the season.

But, right now, Jarry is the clear-cut winner. It also might work.

Jarry’s goals-against average (2.31) ranks sixth in the NHL. His save But if whoever starts the playoffs struggles, Sullivan has to know when to percentage (.924) is fifth. Murray’s numbers — 2.85, .899 — are inferior. use the hook. At worst, he has to get the decision right the second time around. Murray has played 35 games, Jarry 32. Each has had ample opportunity. If the stats aren’t the standard at this point, what is? Tribune Review LOADED: 03.05.2020 Jarry also is superior to Murray in the puckhandling department. Jarry’s ability in that regard saves the defense corps many steps, not to mention ample wear and tear.

This isn’t an anti-Murray screed. Murray hasn’t been awful.

Since Jan. 1, Murray’s numbers have improved. His goals-against average in that time frame is 2.65, Jarry’s 2.84. Murray’s save percentage for that period is .908, Jarry’s .907.

Murray is known for coming on strong late in a given campaign: His save percentage in March and April of the 2018-19 regular season was .930.

Since this is about who plays in the playoffs, Murray’s postseason record can’t be ignored. He was great in 2016 and ’17, as two Stanley Cup championships indicate. But Murray’s playoff stats dropped significantly in ’18 and ’19. His goals-against ballooned to 3.08 in last season’s opening-round sweep against the New York Islanders.

Jarry has never played an NHL playoff game.

But if postseason experience and accomplishment is to be tightly clung to, well, that wasn’t the case in ’16.

Marc-Andre Fleury had won a Cup in ’09 but was hurt when the ’16 playoffs began. Murray got hot and, save one start for Fleury in the Eastern Conference finals vs. Tampa Bay, the net belonged to Murray. Murray had never played in the NHL playoffs.

In ’17, Murray got injured. Fleury got hot. He eliminated Washington. But when Murray healed, he went back in.

Coach Mike Sullivan and his staff have no blueprint when it comes to managing the goaltending. Their instincts have served the Penguins well.

What criteria are being used now? When will the decision be made? How long of a leash will be afforded the starter?

A playoff starter needs to be picked at least a couple of weeks out. Whoever it is needs to play several games in a row before the first round.

The leash question is tricky. An ineffective starter can’t be allowed to sabotage his team’s chances too long, but it’s not wise to keep jerking goalies in and out, either.

As for what criteria will be used, I have no idea.

If Jarry started and struggled, Murray would be less likely to come in and sparkle than if the situation were reversed. Jarry would keep focused as the backup. Murray would be discouraged. That’s an odd argument in favor of Murray starting, but a logical one.

I would start Jarry. He’s been better over a long sample size. Any statistical argument on Murray’s behalf involves fragmentation of said stats or going too far back.

I’m a big believer Jarry’s puckhandling could contribute mightily, especially against a team with a fast, heavy forecheck like Washington. (If matchups play a role in deciding who plays goal, it would only apply in the first round. If a goaltender wins the first-round series, the second- round matchup wouldn’t get him yanked.) 1172174 Pittsburgh Penguins team that has too much offensive talent — and defensive playmakers — not to score. Sullivan suggested the Penguins too often were looking for “that next play,” and it never materialized.

Kevin Gorman: For Penguins, March playoff push not as simple as The return of Dumoulin and Marino eases the burden of Jack Johnson snapping losing streak and Justin Schultz playing on top-four defense pairings. But the Penguins still have to decide on a go-to goalie between Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray and figure out how to fix a power play that went 1 for 4 against Ottawa and ranks in the middle of the league. KEVIN GORMAN | Wednesday, March 4, 2020 6:01 a.m. Now, the Penguins have to build off this victory and bounce back into

position for home ice in the playoffs after slipping from first place in the Searching for answers to snap a six-game losing streak, Mike Sullivan’s Metropolitan Division to fifth in the Eastern Conference in a span of 10 pregame talk to the Pittsburgh Penguins was about simplifying the game days. by shooting the puck. If only it were as simple as shooting the puck. It took only 99 seconds for that message to sink in as the Penguins Tribune Review LOADED: 03.05.2020 turned a quick, two-goal lead into a runaway 7-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

Yes, the same Penguins who produced only eight goals in the previous six games scored seven times in 60 minutes.

Well, maybe not the same Penguins.

There were the usual suspects: Evgeni Malkin had four assists, Sidney Crosby scored three points — including his 800th career assist — and leading goal scorer Bryan Rust added a hat trick.

The Penguins' Bryan Rust scores a hat trick during their game against Ottawa on March 3, 2020. #LetsGoPens @TribLIVE https://t.co/MMpTe74dPY pic.twitter.com/drlZ970vUt

— Nate Smallwood (@nsmallwoodphoto) March 4, 2020

There was the dramatic return of the defensemen: John Marino, out since Feb. 6, scored the first goal 48 seconds into the game; and Brian Dumoulin, out since Nov. 30, assisted on the second goal at 1:39 of the first period.

And there were the noisy newcomers, who made memorable first impressions at PPG Paints Arena: Connor Sheary, re-acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline, scored his first goal in a Penguins uniform since April 5, 2018; Patrick Marleau, also added at the deadline from San Jose, earned his first assist in a Penguins uniform. And Jason Zucker, acquired from Minnesota early last month, had a goal and an assist.

“I thought there was a lot of collective, cooperative effort out there, and the guys finished,” Sullivan said. “You’ve got to give the players credit. I think they were determined to get the result, and so we were able to capitalize on a fair amount of chances but they worked hard to get them.”

Perhaps no one works harder to get them than Rust, who has a career- high 27 goals. He had his fourth multiple-goal game of the season and his second career hat trick against the Senators.

Rust set a screen on Senators goalie Craig Anderson on Marino’s opening goal, made it 3-1 on a wrister from the high slot with 45 seconds left in the first period, then scored on a rebound and a wrister from the right circle in the third.

“It was definitely nice to see some pucks go in the net,” Rust said. “We’ve hit some posts, missed a lot of open nets and had some chances here recently. It does a lot for guys’ confidence and the team confidence when you see pucks go in.”

Just like that, Rust is on the verge of becoming a 30-goal scorer. How unexpected was that? Consider he scored 31 goals combined over the past two seasons, including a career-high 18 goals last season. Rust has become a dangerous and dependable forward, whether skating on the right wing of Crosby or Malkin.

After notching 22 goals and 45 points in his first 37 games this season, Rust endured a dry spell. He had only two goals and five points in his previous 13 games. So a three-goal game was welcome and allowed Rust to relax and smile.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and he’s playing some of the best hockey that I’ve seen him play,” Dumoulin said. “I always knew he was this type of caliber of player. It’s good to see him healthy and playing well right now. He’s such a good teammate and such a good player that it’s good to see him rewarded.”

Sullivan said the same about the Penguins having something to show for the collective effort. A seven-goal game should be a shot in the arm for a 1172175 Pittsburgh Penguins be somebody that the coach can trust. That’s where we’re going to get our chances.”

Bjugstad, perhaps in part because of the nagging injury, had a slow start Nick Bjugstad poised to join a Penguins bottom-six that needs a spark to the season. He tallied just one goal in the 10 games he played before surgery. So there’s no guarantee he’ll provide any kind of instant offense.

But, finally, he'll at least he's back. MIKE DEFABO Pittsburgh Post-Gazette MAR 4, 2020 9:26 PM “It’s been the most lengthy injury of my career,” Bjugstad said. “I don’t really know what to expect. I do know coming back from injuries you can’t try to do too much. You’ve got to try to get into the rhythm. I think just For Nick Bjugstad, the road to recovery has been anything but linear. play simple for me. Try to use my body a little bit and see where it goes Just days into the season, on Oct. 8, he went on injured reserve when a from there.” core muscle injury began to flare up. He returned briefly but soon Post Gazette LOADED: 03.05.2020 underwent surgery and a long rehab process that has kept him out since Nov. 15.

The Penguins initially gave a rough estimate of at least eight weeks before Bjugstad could return to the lineup. It’s now been almost 16 weeks.

“There were a few times when I thought I was close,” Bjugstad said. “Then there were tweaks here or there that set me back, obviously. That’s probably the toughest, when you think you’re getting there and then you [regress] a little bit.”

Finally, for a player who last suited up almost four months ago, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Bjugstad has two full-contact practices under his belt. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said he’ll be a “game-time decision” on Thursday night in Buffalo, which is typically a strong indication a player will be in the lineup at puck drop. At Wednesday’s practice, Bjugstad skated on the third line, playing next to center Jared McCann and right wing Patric Hornqvist.

“He’s had a tough start obviously with all the injuries and everything going on,” said McCann, who came over from Florida with Bjugstad in a trade on Feb. 1, 2019. “But he’s been a complete professional through everything. That just goes to show the character he has and the type of person he is. He’s always been positive.”

When Bjugstad does return, he’ll join a bottom-six that needs some type of spark.

The Penguins (38-21-6, 82 points) were haunted by a number of issues during a recent six-game skid that ended against the lowly Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. The power play was a dismal 1-for-18 during the slump. Bryan Rust changed that with a first-period goal. Sidney Crosby was critical of his own performance during the lull. He tallied three points, including a goal.

The defense was suspect. John Marino and Brian Dumoulin almost instantly made a difference, with Marino scoring one goal just 48 seconds into the game and Dumoulin notching the primary assist on a Conor Sheary goal less than a minute later.

But one of the areas that Wednesday’s win didn’t solve? Secondary scoring.

The third or fourth line hasn’t found the back of the net since Teddy Blueger’s second-period goal against Toronto on Feb. 18 — a span of seven games. While scoring isn’t necessarily the primary job responsibility for a third or fourth-liner, it wouldn’t hurt to have someone outside of the top six making a difference on the scoreboard.

“I think they’re reflective of our team,” Sullivan said. “They’ve had moments when they’ve been real good and there have been others where we haven’t.”

On the NHL’s deadline day, the Penguins acquired three new forwards. Patrick Marleau came over from San Jose, while Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues joined the club from Buffalo. General manager Jim Rutherford said at the time that bolstering the forward depth was one of the main objectives when he was making his moves, acknowledging the top lines were overtaxed.

With those additions, plus Jason Zucker, Sullivan has begun to get back to his identity as a coach who rolls through four lines. Finding a scoring punch would add an extra shot in the arm, if or when it comes.

“Personally, I think it starts on defense for us,” McCann said. “Especially the third and fourth lines. We’ve got to be solid defensively. We’ve got to 1172176 Pittsburgh Penguins Zach Aston-Reese, meanwhile, is nearing a return to action, too. Sullivan said the winger skated on an individual basis before Wednesday’s practice in Cranberry. Aston-Reese has been sidelined since Feb. 16 due to a lower-body injury. Conor Sheary on PPG Paints Arena crowd: 'It makes you feel appreciated' Sid gives up his spot

Crosby, who you may have heard is a tad bit suspicious, raised eyebrows before Tuesday’s game when Patrick Marleau followed him out MATT VENSEL of the tunnel.

Since Evgeni Malkin arrived in Pittsburgh in 2006, Crosby has typically been the penultimate Penguin on the ice, with Malkin the last one out. Conor Sheary had a memorable night at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, But Crosby gave his spot in line to Marleau, the 40-year-old winger his first game back in the Burgh after he was reacquired by the Penguins. acquired last week. In a 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, the speedy winger got his first two “He’s played 1,700-plus games. I just asked him where he usually went points since returning to the Penguins before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. and he usually went somewhere back there. So I tried that spot,” Crosby The ovation Sheary received at PPG Paints Arena when he was said. announced as a starter was almost as loud as the one he got after his He added with a sly grin: “We got the win, so we may see that for now.” first-period goal. Post Gazette LOADED: 03.05.2020 “It was awesome. I got a warm welcome. I was so grateful for that. It makes you feel appreciated and that was a good thing,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. “And obviously with the performance we put on, it was a fun night overall.”

Each member of the team’s top line scored a goal and put up multiple points in the blowout win. Sidney Crosby finished with three points and a plus-3 rating. Jason Zucker got his sixth goal in 11 games with the Penguins. Sheary buried his first in black and gold since the final week of the 2017-18 regular season.

“We were a little snake-bitten on the California trip,” Sheary said. “I think we were actually playing pretty well but just couldn’t finish on any of our chances. [Tuesday], we were scoring in bunches. I think we’ve just been creating chemistry since we’ve been together and hopefully that will grow moving forward.”

Now, Sheary is gearing up for another reunion, this one with his former team in Buffalo. The Penguins on Thursday will visit the Sabres, who dealt him back here after he scored just 23 goals and 53 points in a season and a half in Buffalo.

Sheary said he thinks it’s a good thing he will get it out of the way so soon.

“Obviously, it will be a little different, seeing a lot of friends over there and a lot of guys I grew pretty close to,” Sheary said. “It should be a fun game.”

Tanev, Johnson to travel

Brandon Tanev, who missed Tuesday’s win due to an illness, was still not feeling well enough Wednesday to practice with the team. But coach Mike Sullivan said that there is a chance the pesky winger could be ready to play the Sabres.

“Tans is feeling much better,” Sullivan said. “He hasn’t had a lot of food in him so we chose to keep him off the ice [Wednesday]. But he will travel with us.”

Tanev, who leads all Penguins players in hits and is tops among their forwards in blocked shots, had been one of a few Penguins to appear in every game. After Tuesday, the ones still standing are Teddy Blueger and Marcus Pettersson.

Jack Johnson will travel to Buffalo, too. The defenseman left PPG Paints Arena after the second period Tuesday because his wife was in labor. Johnson was excused from practice Wednesday after the birth of his third child, a boy.

Angello week-to-week

With Tanev sick and unable to play against the Senators, the Penguins on Tuesday recalled rookie forward Anthony Angello from the American Hockey League on an emergency basis. Angello ended up getting injured during the third period of the win. Sullivan said Angello is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

In other injury news, Nick Bjugstad, who hasn’t played since having core muscle surgery in November, could return to the lineup against the Sabres. 1172177 Pittsburgh Penguins can. But it’s definitely great to be with a group that always has that goal. They know what they’re looking for and playing for here in Pittsburgh. It was kind of tough being on the outside looking in (at the playoff chase) for so many nights. It wasn’t something I was used to. That chase is How did Patrick Marleau land Sidney Crosby’s spot as second-to-last on obviously important to me. the ice? It’s somewhat strange that the franchise you’ve joined to try and finally win that elusive Stanley Cup is also the franchise that kept you from winning it on your closest chances with the Sharks. Or isn’t it? By Rob Rossi Mar 4, 2020 Yeah, it is.

Do you think the Penguins owe you one since they won that Cup final in Patrick Marleau has played in almost as many NHL games as Sidney 2016? Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined. I was talking to my wife after the game (Tuesday night) about walking Some perks come with ranking fifth on the all-time games played list. around the arena and seeing all the Cup pictures. It was, like, “Oh, For example, none of his new teammates would complain if Marleau got there’s the one that could have been.” There’s something tough about to choose the music during individual training sessions such as those seeing that. But that’s in the past. Now I’m on this side. scheduled for Penguins players after practice Wednesday. And if Couldn’t you ask Crosby and Malkin to have the Penguins take down the Marleau felt strongly the Penguins, who have in recent weeks brought in 2016 pictures, at least for a few months? four forwards to a tight-knit group, would benefit from an outing for some of Buffalo’s finest chicken wings ahead of Thursday’s game in Western (Laughs) No, they earned those. And like I said, I’m not here to screw New York, not even general manager Jim Rutherford would step in to anything up. shut down that plan in the name of clean living. The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 He might not have ever won the Stanley Cup. He might not have been with the Penguins long enough to be one of the guys.

Marleau is revered, though.

That became obvious Tuesday night when he was the filling between a Crosby-Malkin sandwich at the end of a line of players stepping onto the ice at PPG Paints Arena. Marleau replacing Crosby as the second-to-last player out of the dressing room was as surprising a development as had been the Penguins’ six-game losing streak.

How did he pull off supplanting Sid as the guy to go out just before Geno? Marleau answered that questions (and others) from The Athletic.

Most people around here know the story of how Malkin, not Crosby, ended up being the last guy out. But they’ve always been the last two Penguins players out. How did you end up with Crosby’s spot?

That was just because we lost some games. Sid kind of said, “Do you want to switch things up.” At first, I said, “Nah, that’s all right.” That was, like, in LA and Anaheim. So when we were in San Jose, he asked again. We lost that game and afterward, I said, “Uh, I’ll do whatever you want me to do. I’m not here to screw anything up.” So this last game, when he asked again, I said, “Sure, let’s switch it up.” We won the game, and now maybe we’ll stick with it. Who knows?

(Note: Crosby confirmed those details. Shaking his head in mock disbelieve, he also added: “He finally gave in. I was putting on the full- court press.”)

You know how important those types of traditions, or routines, are for veterans. Did Crosby urging you to be between him and Malkin show you this would be an easy group to join?

For those two guys to do that, it’s great. But like I said, I keep telling them “I’m not here to screw anything up.” I’m just trying to fit in. They’ve been doing well here over the years, right? They’ve been fine without me.

It’s tough to become one of the guys if even guys like Crosby and Malkin are reverential to you — is that it?

Something like that. I’m just trying to come in and help.

How much easier was the transition to joining a new team after having already left Sharks once in your career?

I think what it really helped was with that anxiety or nervousness when you first come to a new team. You try to get over that really quickly. You know it’s eventually gonna work out. So, I think doing it before helped me a little bit fit into this room.

You’ve seen it before where a veteran comes to a Cup contender at the trade deadline. How does having been a leader who welcomed players to similar situations in San Jose help you be on the other end of it in Pittsburgh?

What helps is these guys are really good. But you know it’s important to be in a good position going into the playoffs. That’s where the focus has to be. Coming in, I’m just trying to do my thing and help as much as I 1172178 Pittsburgh Penguins Kovalev — each during the 2000-01 season — would have been better as wingers for the Penguins in this century.

Yes, that is historical context for what Rust is doing this season. Bryan Rust’s history-making ways help the Penguins bust out of a slump Something truly special is happening right before your eyes.

Penguins 7, Senators 3: Observations

By Rob Rossi Mar 4, 2020 • The Penguins finished plus-9 in scoring chances and with 60.5 percent of the scoring chances for, as charted by the Natural Stat Trick website. They did what they should to a lesser opponent, basically. Doesn’t mean they were perfect. But they were in desperate need of something positive Sometimes what’s right in front of you is the easiest thing to miss. Such what with having failed to earn a point in six consecutive games. This win as arguably the greatest goal-scoring season by a Penguins winger since was more akin to a bandage than stitches, but a bleeding patient isn’t in the days of Jaromir Jagr. the position of complaining when help arrives. Really, Bryan Rust has been that great this season. • Help took the form of a couple of defensemen whose impact had His hat trick Tuesday night served as a symbolic end to the Penguins’ become increasingly obvious in recent weeks. And, wow, was it a sight six-game losing streak. It also moved him to within three goals of his first for coach Mike Sullivan’s eyes to see Brian Dumoulin paired with Kris 30-goal season. Letang and John Marino partnered with Marcus Pettersson. Dumoulin’s surgically repaired ankle was tested on the first shift as he had to retrieve THE TRICK IS THE TREAT. a puck that had been sent deep into the Penguins’ zone off the opening faceoff. About a minute later, he set up a goal credited to winger Conor BRYAN RUST NETS HIS THIRD CAREER HAT TRICK. Sheary. In between those plays, Marino scored his sixth goal by doing PIC.TWITTER.COM/YV4TRBSETW what he has done so often as a rookie: make the right decision. Taking a — PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (@PENGUINS) MARCH 4, 2020 pass from Malkin, Marino spied a shooting lane and opted to quickly wrist a shot toward the net. It went in, and the Penguins had a lead 48 Now, it’s likely that 30-goal seasons are less appreciated in Pittsburgh seconds into a must-win game. than most spots on the hockey map. As a franchise, the Penguins are synonymous with scoring goals. They are literally owned by Mario • Oh, by the way: the Penguins held a lead for 59:12 in this game. They Lemieux, who scored 690, and captained by Sidney Crosby, who is at had been ahead for only 6:03 of the losing streak. 460 and counting. Then there was Jagr, who tallied 439 of his 766 career • Justin Schultz sure doesn’t look like himself. This was addressed in a goals while with the Penguins. And, well, Evgeni Malkin might not be the recent mailbag, but is probably again worth noting. On the Senators’ first dominant goal-scorer he was in his younger days, but 21 this season goal, Schultz can be seen sliding on the ice. This video from the have him at 412 deep into a 14th season. Senators’ Twitter account shows the end of that slide. Those four players cast a large shadow — one big enough to cast in HAWRYLUK GETS THE #SENS ON THE BOARD. darkness some other fairly notable goal scorers (not limited to, but including): GOAL: HAWRYLUK (2)

Kevin Stevens, who scored 190 goals over four seasons in the early ASSISTS: REILLY (14), WHITE (12) 1990s; PIC.TWITTER.COM/QDTHBZSRNM

Ron Francis, who quietly averaged 23 goals in each of his seven full — OTTAWA SENATORS (@SENATORS) MARCH 4, 2020 seasons, also in the 1990s; • In and of itself, the slide by Schultz is not a problem. He was trying to Alex Kovalev, who scored 149 goals in parts of five seasons beginning in make a play. Still, sliding to defend is not exactly Schultz at his best in the late 1990s. the defensive zone. What that looks like is Schultz making use of his excellent skating and usually reliable stick. If he’s going down to defend, There are others, but since each of those former Penguins has ties to the something’s gone wrong. And while on this play the wrong wasn’t done 1990s, and considering Rust’s hat trick Tuesday happened on 90s Night by Schultz, his willingness to slide perhaps indicates the degree to which at PPG Paints Arena, let’s raise a glass to perfect timing. his confidence has been shaken. Sure, it’s one play and not a bad one by If the Penguins’ 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators sparks the beginning Schultz. But it’s one that points to a real concern for the Penguins of a late-season return to the Stanley Cup-caliber form they flashed from between now and the postseason. They need a version of Schultz closer Halloween until New Year’s Day, Rust also deserves to have some to the one from the opening weeks of the season, if not from a couple of toasts made in his honor. seasons ago. That player is an offensive catalyst for a team in which its best defense remains possession of the puck. What the Penguins have As Crosby noted Tuesday night, “Scoring 30 is hard in this league.” Rare currently is a lot more like the Schultz whom they acquired from since he joined the Penguins, too. Edmonton at the trade deadline in 2016 — a good defenseman who can’t Rust, who is on pace for 36 goals, would become only the seventh player seem to figure out what’s gone wrong. of the Crosby/Malkin era — and just the fifth winger — to score at least • No clue how many bushels would be needed to hold 800 apples. Not 30 goals in a season. sure it’s all that important, either. Crosby’s orchard will be 1,000 strong There are worse groups to join. That one includes the most productive (at least) before all is said and done. However, his 800th assist should do wingers to play regularly with Crosby and Malkin. Rust has done most of well to quiet the noise about him not being keen on Jason Zucker as a his damage this season while taking shifts with Malkin, who has assisted linemate. No truth to that nonsense, at least from what people in the on 19 of Rust’s goals. Eleven of those have been primary helpers. know have said.

Again, the greatness of the Penguins’ greatest players threatens to • Speaking of Crosby… if it wasn’t already, it should be clear how high in overshadow a great season from a teammate. regard he holds Patrick Marleau, who for his first game with the Penguins in Pittsburgh found himself as the filling between Crosby and Malkin So, let’s keep the focus as much as possible on Rust. He probably when taking the ice. This looked weird from the Mike Lange Media Level should be — but won’t (because: Malkin) — be named team MVP at the and doesn’t seem any less strange on video. Maybe it was just a end of the season. superstitious Crosby’s way of trying anything to change the Penguins’ luck? Instead, Rust might have to settle for providing the Crosby/Malkin era with its best goal-scoring season by a winger. Though, he would be PROOF: HTTPS://T.CO/1O05IPTWWW accomplishing a lot more than becoming the standard against which that PIC.TWITTER.COM/DGC30QE6DG era’s wingers are measured in Pittsburgh. — PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (@PENGUINS) MARCH 4, 2020 If he maintains his current .530 goals-per-game pace over the next 17 games, Rust would finish with 36 goals. More impressive, only Jagr and The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172179 San Jose Sharks But remember, it will be governments who enact those rules. We’re not there yet. I hope we never reach that point.

Now, unlike the non-faux professional sports leagues, the NCAA could Sports leagues should take lead on coronavirus prevention. Here’s why handle empty arenas for its upcoming basketball tournaments. The they won’t. NCAA receives almost all of its revenue from television deals. It would make sense for NCAA officials to get ahead of this, especially with a men’s regional happening in Washington state, where the death toll is 10. By DIETER KURTENBACH | [email protected] | But when has the NCAA ever turned down money or done the right Bay Area News Group thing? PUBLISHED: March 4, 2020 at 3:27 p.m. | UPDATED: March 4, 2020 at Right now, it’s on sports fans to stay diligent. Sadly, it’s every man and 5:18 p.m. woman for themselves out there. So much has changed since the deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final in 1919 was canceled because of the Spanish Flu. But if things start to escalate, I’d expect leagues and The coronavirus — specifically COVID-19 — is here and it doesn’t teams to push the limit of how long they can keep their doors open. appear to be going away anytime soon. And if we’re all eventually going to be cooped up in our homes — And the big business of sports has a role to play in stopping it in its separated from society outside of our normal ways of separating tracks. All leagues — big and small — should be proactive and consider ourselves — I should note that sports will be a welcome reprieve. reschedulings, closed-door games, and cancellations in the near future. Something to watch every night while we wait this out. Sadly, I don’t expect the leagues or teams here in the Bay Area or across Hey, maybe this is what will finally improve the NBA’s ratings. the United States to do much. Seriously, though: be safe folks. And if you need a recipe for homemade And I won’t blame them for that — just as I won’t blame the local movie sanitizer hit me up. theater or corner bar for not shutting down amid the outbreak. Capitalism trumps caution. These sports teams are billion-dollar San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.05.2020 businesses, after all. Now, I’m no doctor. I am a germaphobe — a real one — who has legitimately been preparing for a moment like this my entire adult life. I’m a person who can tell you that airlines clean their airplanes only once every 20 hours, but that larger jets have hospital-grade HEPA filters for their air circulation system (this, in addition to my 6-foot-8 frame, is why I don’t fly on regional jets). I wipe down tray tables (and everything else in my vicinity) as if my life depends on it. I clean my house with bleach, 99 percent alcohol spay, and hydrogen peroxide. I’m the type who has an extreme and often physical reaction to someone sneezing directly into their hand, or not covering it up at all. I have confrontations with strangers about this roughly once a quarter. It’s all a projection of my phobia. Needless to say, I’m a big fan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Right now, the CDC is recommending that everyone adopt “social distancing” in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing means staying away from congregations of people and ideally maintaining a distance of six feet from everyone. In the Bay Area, where a studio apartment goes for $4,000, I don’t think we’re all going to be allotted six feet of space. And I don’t think that the local sports teams will be leading the way when it comes to social distancing. Again, blame the system. For now, every team in the area has or will soon have a statement that will include these lines or something like it: “We care about our employees and fans and their health.” “We are monitoring the situation.” “We are consulting with the league office, local, and CDC officials. If anything changes, we’ll let you know.” That’s all these teams will say at the moment. And don’t expect them to do anything more. Not without government intervention, that is. When people take sports too seriously, I like to remind everyone that the games — at least on the professional level — are merely elaborate reality TV shows with a live studio audience. If American professional sports lose those audiences, though, many will go into the red. That is far more motivating than having an abundance of caution. In other places around the world, the outbreak of COVID-19 is such that there’s no choice to be made anymore. In Italy — where over 100 people have died and more than 3,000 are confirmed to be infected — all sporting events will take place behind closed doors — aka with no fans — until April 3. In Switzerland, it’s illegal to have gatherings of more than 1,000 people. France has a threshold of 5,000 and that is likely to drop soon. 1172180 San Jose Sharks Boughner gave defenseman Brandon Davidson a passing grade in his first game with the Sharks on Tuesday.

Paired mainly with Tim Heed, Davidson, in his first game since Feb. 15, Sharks’ Boughner staying with hot hand in net vs. Wild had one shot on goal and was credited with two hits in 11 minutes and 34 seconds of ice time against the Leafs.

From all appearances, Davidson will be back in the lineup for Thursday’s By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay game. Area News Group “I thought he handled himself pretty well for not playing for a while,” PUBLISHED: March 4, 2020 at 1:28 p.m. | UPDATED: March 4, 2020 at Boughner said. “He even got out there a couple of shifts when we iced 2:47 p.m. the puck, and (the Leafs) jumped us with the big line. A thought he did pretty well.”

SAN JOSE — Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner is sticking with the hot hand, as goalie Martin Jones will start Thursday’s game with the San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.05.2020 Minnesota Wild. Jones has played some of his best hockey of the season on this homestand, stopping 76 of 80 shots to lead the Sharks to victories over New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Toronto. His .950 save percentage in that time leads all NHL goalies, as he and the Sharks are riding their first three-game win streaks since late November. “We’re playing really well together,” Jones said after Tuesday’s 5-2 Sharks win over the Maple Leafs. “I think the biggest difference is we’ve been playing for 60 minutes and not having a good 20 minutes and then letting off and giving teams free offense. “When we defend hard like that for 60 minutes, we’re just a way better hockey team.” Against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Jones made 25 saves, including 14 in the first period. In six games since the middle of February, Jones has raised his save percentage from .889 to .898 and has shrunk his goals against average from 3.25 to 2.97. “You saw it last year and you’ve seen it this year, especially the last couple of games, when he’s on the top of his game like he has been these last three, we’re a real hard team to beat,” Sharks winger Evander Kane said of Jones after Tuesday’s game. “We’re going to make mistakes and we need him to bail us out, and we need to give him some run support, too, which we haven’t done of a good job of this year. We’re a top team in the league. We just haven’t shown it this year or consistently enough.” The Sharks wrap up their homestand with games against Ottawa on Saturday and Colorado on Sunday. Boughner said Aaron Dell will start one of those games, and has mentioned previously he thinks it’ll be a healthy competition between Jones and Dell for playing time, with winners keeping the crease for the next game. Dell started 11 of 14 games from Jan. 2 to Feb. 14. Now, Jones is getting his chance to keep the net for a while. “The way that his attitude is, he’s stayed positive. He’s been a great teammate,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said Wednesday. “He’s the type of guy you really cheer for. … A lot of those games (at the start of the year), we didn’t give him much chance. I’m sure if you asked him, he let in a few goals he would like back, too. “Now, we’re playing better defensively, and he’s rewarding us with how we’re playing.”: Forward Noah Gregor was back on the Sharks’ top line with Kane and Logan Couture for Wednesday’s practice. Gregor had been on that line throughout the homestand but was moved down to the fourth line with Antti Suomela and Stefan Noesen for the third period Tuesday. Melker Karlsson was brought up to the top line, and the Sharks scored three goals — including ones by Noesen and Kane — in the final 20 minutes to earn the win. Gregor took two penalties in the first two periods and his line was on the ice for Auston Matthews’ second period goal that tied the game 1-1. Couture’s line usually matches up with the opposition’s top line. “I thought he was real physical for those few games on that line and I thought maybe (Tuesday) night, he wasn’t as engaged as he was before,” Boughner said. “I just thought that (Matthews) line was going off, (so I decided) make that switch to put a little more defensive-minded guy up there in Melker. “I thought that really quieted things down, and no fault to Noah. Sometimes that’s a tough task against those players. He’s back on there today. I think he complements (Kane and Couture) well.” 1172181 San Jose Sharks “We wouldn’t be in this spot if we had put together a better October or December. I don’t look at it that way. I look at it as us trying to win every hockey game.” Sharks 5, Maple Leafs 2: The ‘S’ word that no one wants to say out loud Takeaways from Tuesday. 1. Kane stays hot: There’s no question Kane has turned it up a notch on this homestand. His two goals Tuesday gave him three goals and six By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay points in the last three games. Area News Group Part of it is a result of having Logan Couture as his centerman. But Kane PUBLISHED: March 4, 2020 at 5:02 a.m. | UPDATED: March 4, 2020 at has clearly found a rhythm again after he was benched for the third 5:13 a.m. period of the Sharks’ Feb. 22 game with the New York Rangers. “He’s another guy that’s bought in,” Boughner said of Kane. “He’s taking pride (playing) against top lines and being good defensively, and I think SAN JOSE — Evander Kane mentioned how the Sharks want to be as that’s helped his offensive game.” “disruptive” as possible to other teams still fighting for a playoff spot over the final month of the regular season. 2. Jones stays hot: Martin Jones made 25 saves, including 14 in the first period, against the Leafs as he won his third straight start on this The word “spoiler,” though, hasn’t been brought up. homestand. “I don’t think we’ve really said that out loud, but I think it’s kind of a The game followed a month of February that saw Jones go 3-2-0 with given,” said winger Stefan Noesen, who had a goal and an assist in the two shutouts, and post a .951 save percentage and a 1.40 goals against Sharks’ 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. average. “We know what the situation is, and I don’t think anybody in here wants Jones made a few standout saves against Toronto. One that stood out to be this exact situation. But we’ve got to find a way to have fun every was his stop on Zach Hyman midway through the second period. With day when we come to the rink and rally around something. Right now, I the Sharks up 2-1, Jones stopped Mitch Marner’s shot after a spin-o- think that’s something we could rally around as a team and build off this.” rama, then stuck out his leg to stop Hyman on the rebound. Six of the Sharks’ next seven games — including two of the next three on “He looks like a confident goaltender in there,” Boughner said. “There this homestand — are against teams that are either still fighting for a were a few chances. The game could have been very, very different. The playoff spot or jockeying for the most ideal position. momentum could have shifted to Toronto’s favor if it wasn’t for Jonesy The Sharks (29-33-4) on Thursday host the Minnesota Wild (33-26-7). As making a couple big saves.” of Wednesday morning, the Wild were just a point behind both the 3. Suomela’s impact: Antti Suomela has drawn into the lineup the last Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets for the two Western Conference two games. He played a solid, two-way game against the Penguins, and wild card spots. followed that up with a goal and an assist against the Maple Leafs in just After facing the Ottawa Senators, who are in 15th place in the Eastern eight minutes of ice time. Conference, on Saturday, the Sharks face the Colorado Avalanche on Suomela replaced Alexander True in the lineup for the game against the Sunday. They then hit the road for games against Chicago, St. Louis, Penguins, and will no doubt get more opportunities to play going forward. Dallas and the Avalanche.

As of Wednesday morning, the Blackhawks, desperate for every point, were six points back of a playoff spot. But the other three Central Division San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.05.2020 teams are still seeking home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs and beyond. The Sharks, despite three straight wins, are 12 points back of a playoff spot with 16 games to go. They’d almost have to run the table to have a chance at the playoffs. Even then, with their 13th place standing in the west, they might need some help. So, if it helps get the juices flowing in an otherwise lost season, why not try to put a dent in some other team’s chances? “It’s unfortunate these games don’t really matter too, too much,” Noesen said. “But we have a lot of pride in this locker room. If we’re not going to make it, we might as well ruin some other people’s chances.” “I think we’ve kind of made up our mind as a group, as players, that we want to ruin some seasons for some teams,” Kane said, “and be as disruptive as we possibly can down the stretch.” The biggest thing interim coach Bob Boughner wants to see over the final month, though, is getting the Sharks used to playing a certain way — smart and sound. They’ve done that for eight straight periods now. After stinker of a first period against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 27, the Sharks have outscored their opponents 13-2. They beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0 on Saturday, and simply outworked the Maple Leafs for large portions of Tuesday’s game. “Obviously, we wish we were closer to a playoff spot right now. But for me, I don’t consider it being a spoiler role,” Boughner said. “I’m really concerned about getting our team playing at a certain level that we could finish the season on a positive note, and knowing what we need to do in the summer and coming back and picking up where that left off.” Besides, as Marc-Edouard Vlasic pointed out, these games the Sharks will be playing against playoff contenders are only worth two points each. One game is not going to make or break any team — yet. “I don’t think about it, and it has zero effect on playing spoiler,” Vlasic said earlier this week. “There’s 82 games and you can’t spoil a season on one game. 1172182 San Jose Sharks

How Patrick Marleau leaving Sharks before helps Penguins transition

By Marcus White March 04, 2020 3:46 PM

Patrick Marleau had already done the emotional goodbye before he left the Sharks at the trade deadline. Marleau signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2017, signing a three-year contract with the "Original Six" club to leave San Jose, the only NHL city he'd ever known. When he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of this year's trade deadline, Marleau found adjusting to a new locker room much easier the second time around. "I think what it really helped was with that anxiety or nervousness when you first come to a new team," Marleau told The Athletic's Rob Rossi on Wednesday. "You try to get over that really quickly. You know it’s eventually gonna work out. So, I think doing it before helped me a little bit fit into this room." The 40-year-old was unsigned at the start of the regular season after an offseason trade to -- and subsequent buyout by -- the Carolina Hurricanes. Marleau officially signed with the Sharks on Oct. 8, scoring a pair of goals in his first game back with San Jose. He added eight more -- and 10 assists -- in 57 additional games with the Sharks, serving as a solid depth forward for a struggling team largely devoid of them. The Sharks, facing the steepest of uphill climbs into an unlikely playoff berth, traded Marleau to the Penguins so he could pursue his first Stanley Cup ring. Marleau has an assist in his first four games with Penguins, and Pittsburgh picked up its first win with him Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Though Marleau had previously left San Jose, he'd never joined a team midseason before his trade last month. The 22-year NHL veteran said joining a group led by three-time Stanley Cup winners Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin made the transition even smoother. "What helps is these guys are really good," Marleau said. "But you know it’s important to be in a good position going into the playoffs. That’s where the focus has to be. Coming in, I’m just trying to do my thing and help as much as I can. But it’s definitely great to be with a group that always has that goal. They know what they’re looking for and playing for here in Pittsburgh. It was kind of tough being on the outside looking in (at the playoff chase) for so many nights. It wasn’t something I was used to. That chase is obviously important to me." Marleau's hope this season was to win a Cup with the Sharks, but now he gets a chance with the Penguins. He told reporters in San Jose last week that he thought "maybe the door is open for me to come back" to the Sharks for another season. That transition shouldn't be difficult, either, as Marleau already has done the emotional return, too.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172183 San Jose Sharks In the first period against the Devils last Thursday, that lackluster play from the top six continued. That’s what really seemed to upset the coach and precipitated the blowup. ‘The guys needed a wake-up call’: What’s behind the Sharks’ recent “That’s what was so disappointing about the first period against Jersey, success? because we talked about it that morning,” Boughner continued. “We said, ‘How did that road trip go? Here’s where we’re at. Here’s what happened. We need more from our top-line guys.’ I understand we went through a lot of stuff with the trade deadline and whatever, but we had veterans in By Kevin Kurz this room that needed to step up. Mar 4, 2020 “Ever since then, I thought that a lot of guys led by example. (Couture started) feeling better against Jersey, after that game in Philly. Kaner finally finding his game, (getting it) back to where it needs to be. Timo The circumstances were far from ideal. (Meier), and guys like that, that were jumping up and contributing. … We finally responded and I think the last few games guys have obviously The Sharks played the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 25, the day seen that there are some good things happening here.” after an emotional trade deadline in which a couple of popular, respected players departed and one disappointed one remained. They spent the Kane scored two goals on Tuesday against Toronto and was probably night in Philadelphia after that game, took a six-hour flight home on Feb. the Sharks’ best player in the win. He has six points (3g, 3a) in his last 26, and hosted the Devils at SAP Center on Feb. 27. three games. It was somewhat predictable that they might come out flat against New “We obviously haven’t had the type of success we wanted this year, for Jersey that night, all things considered. Interim head coach Bob whatever reason,” Kane said. “Even with some of the guys that are gone, Boughner knew all that, of course, but he was still seething after a first we’re a pretty darned good team on paper. We just have to put it period that saw the flat-footed, listless Sharks get behind 2-0. together. We’ve had a lot of success over the years here. We just want to finish the year off on a strong note and put a little reminder out there that And he let the players know about it. we’re still the San Jose Sharks. We’re going to be tough to beat.” “As a coach, the one thing is you’ve got to pick and choose when you’re And then there’s the goaltending, or more specifically, Martin Jones. going to go in there and, I guess you could say, snap and send a message,” Boughner recalled on Wednesday. “If you do it too often, the The much-maligned 30-year-old netminder is in the midst of his best effect wears off. That was a time where I thought that the guys needed a stretch of the season, going 4-2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average, wake-up call and they needed to see some kind of emotion from me or .947 save percentage and two shutouts in his last six games. It began on my staff. Feb. 15 in Minnesota with a 39-save blanking of the Wild at Xcel Energy Center. “To come back and start off a homestand like that, I thought that was just unacceptable. And I’ll give the guys credit, they responded. Since that Jones will face the Wild again on Thursday at SAP Center in what will be second period against Jersey, we’ve found our game.” his fourth consecutive start. That night against the Devils, Logan Couture was playing in his second Couture has been with Jones for five seasons and saw his teammate game back after returning from a fractured ankle that kept him out for remain positive throughout the past few months when he was mostly seven weeks. serving as the backup to Aaron Dell. Couture even pointed out that he hadn’t known how heavy Jones’ workload was over the last four seasons “That was a tough period,” said the captain. “We flew the day before, we until (shameless plug alert!) reading about it here. got back and didn’t have any legs. Boogie gave it to us pretty good. I think as a group we decided that we’ve got 18 or 19 games left at that “I actually didn’t realize how much he’s played until I saw that article,” he point, we’ve got to go out and play hard and play with some pride. Since said. “It’s a lot of hockey. That’s a lot of hockey for a goalie in a short then, I think we’ve had eight really good periods of good hockey.” span — a guy that came over and wasn’t a starter before. The Sharks outplayed the Devils after that first-period dressing down, “I think the break has been very good. With the way that his attitude is, eventually winning 3-2 courtesy of a Couture overtime winner. What he’s stayed positive. He’s been a great teammate. He’s a type of guy that followed was probably their best back-to-back 60-minute efforts of the you really cheer for and you want to play well in front of. I don’t think we 2019-20 season so far, a 5-0 win over the Penguins on Saturday and a did a lot of that at the start of the year, a lot of those games we didn’t give 5-2 defeat of the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. him much chance. And I’m sure if you asked him, he let in a few goals that he would like back, too. Now we’re playing better defensively and Against the Penguins, the Sharks displayed the kind of attitude and edge he’s rewarding us with how we’re playing.” that has been missing for much of this lost season, finishing their hits, winning battles and protecting the front of the net before and after the All of it adds up to a team that’s been showcasing the kind of identity its whistle. coach has been stressing for the better part of the last three months. Perhaps it just took one uncomfortable intermission for the message to “That is probably the closest you’ll see to the identity that I’m looking for finally get through. as a coach,” Boughner said on Monday. “If there’s someone that’s got to scream or yell or be negative, or make a It continued on Tuesday. There were moments in the game against point or hold someone accountable, that comes from me,” Boughner Toronto in which the Sharks from just a couple weeks ago might have said. packed it in, including after Mitch Marner’s dazzling between-the-legs goal tied the game at 2-2 in the second period. Instead, the Sharks came out in the third period and kept working harder than an opponent that’s in the middle of a fight for playoff position. The Sharks got goals from The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 Stefan Noesen and Evander Kane and Radim Simek’s empty-netter, allowing them to cruise to the victory. Where the heck has this kind of game, and effort, been this season? “We’ve played to our system, we defended well, our goaltending has been good. That’s a recipe for success,” Couture said. “Special teams has gotten better, we scored a power-play goal (Tuesday) night. I wish we could have been playing like this two months ago, and a month ago, but we weren’t. We’ve had some injuries. Happy that we’re playing like this now, though.” Throughout the Sharks’ four-game road trip leading into that game against the Devils — four regulation losses to the Devils, Rangers, Islanders and Flyers — Boughner mentioned that while he was pleased with the effort he was getting from his bottom-six forwards, he wasn’t getting enough from the top guys. The low point came at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 22, when Kane was benched for the third period. 1172184 St Louis Blues “I think sometimes you play with certain players over the course of the season and a change is good sometimes,” Berube said. “It brings a little new life to your line, or to a teammate, and that’s basically what it is. Just a different look.” When the Blues start streaking, it's their stars that lead them “The three of us have created some chemistry,” Schenn said. “Both of those guys have worked extremely hard. They both forecheck real hard, they’re able to make plays, see the ice real well. They’re fun to play with.” Tom Timmermann Parayko’s sudden burst — seven goals since the start of February — has been key, and that’s a product of another move Berube made, making NEW YORK — There have been 12 winning streaks in the NHL this Parayko a regular on the second unit of the power play at the start of season of seven or more games and three of them have been by the February. Three of those seven goals have come on the power play. It’s Blues. No other team has had that many, and only Tampa Bay has also not only taking more shots for Parayko that has fueled this, but being done it more than once. more accurate with them. He’s averaging 5.6 shots per game since the start of February and 65 percent of them have been on goal. On When the Blues get hot, they stay hot. Tuesday, four of his six shot attempts were on the net. The Blues are 40-17-10 for 90 points after their 3-1 win over the Rangers “I’m playing confident,” he said, “finding spots and taking advantage of on Tuesday night gave them their second eight-game win streak of the my opportunities.” season. Twenty-three of those wins have come during the team’s three long win streaks: two eight-game streaks and one seven-game streak. On the Blues, it’s not just him doing that. There have been all sorts of contributors in this streak. It started with a game where Ivan Barbashev scored two of the team’s three goals. The St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 streak might have been over at four if not for a shot that was going wide by Justin Faulk that hit a Chicago defender’s skate and banked into the net and tied the game. But that’s how these things work. “I think the thing is we don’t rely on one or two guys up front or one or two guys on the back end,” forward Brayden Schenn said. “We rely on a team to get the job done every night. Some nights you’re not going to have it, it’s just the reality of it, and that’s when other guys step up and guys do a good job of filling in for one another. That’s how we’re winning hockey games.” But, for all the contributions by others, when the Blues have gotten hot, it’s usually been their top players who have taken them there. In the team’s current streak, Schenn has five goals (he has pulled even with David Perron for the team lead with 25) and three assists, and linemate Jaden Schwartz has three goals and six assists. Colton Parayko has three goals and five assists. Goalie Jordan Binnington has a 1.49 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage in his six games. (In the other two games, Jake Allen has a 1.92 GAA, a .920 save percentage and stopped all three shots he faced in a shootout.) It’s of numbers like that that winning streaks are made. “We just keep building,” Binnington said. “We keep building every day and it all adds up in the end so we’re going to stay focused and keep working and keep coming together as a team and rally just tightening up our game and keep moving forward.” In the 23 wins that comprise the three streaks, Schwartz and Ryan O’Reilly lead the team with 26 points each, followed by Perron at 24 and Schenn at 22. Perron and Alex Pietrangelo played big roles in the first two streaks — Perron had 20 points in the first two and Pietrangelo had 19 — but have been less of a factor, at least in scoring, in the current streak. While coach Craig Berube talks about needing to win games in different ways, most of the wins in this streak have been textbook Blues hockey. In six of the eight wins, the Blues have allowed two goals or less. In the string immediately preceding that, where the team went 2-7-3, they allowed three goals or more 11 times. The only time they didn’t was the last game of that stretch, a 2-1 loss at Nashville that serves as the transition point from one streak to the other. “When we went through that stretch when we weren’t playing very good hockey,” Schenn said, “it was almost a good thing for us. It gets us back to be in the race again, playing tighter hockey, playing playoff hockey and earning our points every given night. Right now we’re in the race and Colorado and Dallas are good hockey teams and it’s going to be a fight to the finish.” The Blues are back to their hard-hitting, forechecking game, limiting opponents chances, breaking up plays, getting excellent goaltending when needed, while seizing on their own chances. In the last four games, they have allowed just six goals at five-on-five. The power play has gone four for nine over the past four games, though the penalty kill has allowed at least one goal in each of the last three games where it’s had a penalty to kill. The start of the streak coincided with Berube rearranging his offense, putting O’Reilly between Schwartz and Schenn. That line has scored a goal in every game since then, and Schenn has a goal in five straight games. If he scores against New Jersey on Friday, that will tie him for the longest in the league this season. 1172185 St Louis Blues Schenn certainly should be. Midway through the third, he came from behind the net and tried to pass across the crease to Ryan O’Reilly at the far post, only to have Georgiev’s pad get in the way. Blues make it eight in a row “I was trying to hit him backdoor,” Schenn said. “I saw him going to the net, I don’t even know what it hit, a defenseman’s skate or whatever it was and got a lucky bounce. You have to take those once in a while. It’s 82 games, you’re going to go through some ups and downs, you’re going Tom Timmermann to get some bounces, and hopefully they keep coming.” Mar 4, 2020 That bounce gave Schenn 25 goals on the season and from there, the Blues just had to hold on. There was a late flurry in front of the net which ended with Binnington freezing the puck with 16.4 seconds to play and NEW YORK — The Blues’ late-season charge, whose latest when O’Reilly won the ensuing faceoff, that simplified things. manifestation was a 3-1 win over the Rangers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden that gave the team an eight-game win streak, has been “There’s so many different things,” Parayko said. “We win games by helped along by a lot of things, one of which is the fact that the team right dominating teams, we’ve won games where we had to come back, we behind them, the Colorado Avalanche, has a seven-game win streak. won a couple maybe shouldn’t have. We’re finding ways to win games, The Blues have had little choice but to keep winning if they want to hold that’s the beauty of our team.” on to the top spot in the Central Division. So has Colorado’s pursuit helped push them on? St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.05.2020 “I don’t think that helps us out,” goalie Jordan Binnington said. True. All things considered, the Blues would just as soon not have the Avalanche matching them win for win, but that they’ve certainly made the best of a tough situation. In the staredown that has become the Central Division, the onus is now on the Avalanche to not blink after the Blues pushed their lead back to three points. “It’s competitive and we’re in a tough division,” Binnington said, “and we know we have to keep on top of ourselves and just keep building our game.” That’s not all they’re building. The Blues have won eight in a row for the second time this season, with another seven-game win streak for good measure. It was their fourth straight win in what was essentially a one- goal game — Jaden Schwartz’s late empty-net goal changed that — and their fourth straight win in which they have trailed at some point. None of this seems to faze the Blues. Luck is the residue of design, Branch Rickey once said, and if the Blues have played a string of games that could have gone the other way with a different bounce or two, they keep doing all the things that swing things back in their favor. “It was a battle,” coach Craig Berube said, “but we battled and found a way to win.” The keys to this win were another big game by Binnington, who stopped 25 of 26 shots he faced, some from extremely close range, another goal by Brayden Schenn, who has scored in five straight games and got the game-winner on Tuesday by having a pass attempt bank off goalie Alexandar Georgiev’s pads and in to the net midway through the third period, and Colton Parayko rising from his sick bed to score a power-play goal early in the second period to get the Blues even and stoke their recovery. Parayko missed practice on Monday and the morning skate Tuesday. “I wasn’t sure this morning,” Parayko said. “I was not feeling too good but as the day went on it got better and better. So I just kind of went with the flow and got some rest this afternoon and felt good.” Parayko wasn’t the only one making a comeback. The Blues have trailed at some point in each of the past four games: 3-1 to Chicago, 2-0 to the Islanders, 1-0 to Dallas, and this time, they trailed 1-0 after the first period and had a power play to kill. They killed it, turned the momentum of the game, tied it up and then bided their time until Schenn put them ahead. “Just finding different ways to win,” Berube said. “I think you have to do that. You’re not always going to have your best game but we find ways to win and we battle and compete. I think our competitiveness and battle are there every night, which is important. You have to have that at this time of year or else if you don’t, you’re not going to win for sure. That’s there for us right now. That’s a big part of the eight-game win streak for sure. “You’ve got to (come back) in this league. You’re going to get down in games at times and I think our team went through that a lot last year and found ways to win and come from behind and now it’s carried over. We’re a confident team. We get down a goal or two goals and we knew we can come back. We’ve just got to stay with it and we do. I don’t think we stray from the team game, I think we stay with the team game and that’s what leads to us coming back. We don’t turn into individuals, we don’t get too frustrated with things, we just stay with it.” “You try to play with the lead as much as possible, but we’re confident in this room,” Schenn said. 1172186 St Louis Blues The Blues improved to 7-1-4 against Metropolitan Division opponents and 13-6-4 overall against Eastern Conference teams this season. They have outscored opponents 28-13 during their winning streak. Blues beat Rangers 3-1 for 8th straight victory “We’re just keeping it simple,’‘ said Parayko, who scored for the second time in three games. ”I like these close games. Our biggest thing is staying together as a group.” By ALLAN KREDA Associated Press March 03, 2020 10:34 PM Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 03.05.2020

NEW YORK The St. Louis Blues are working hard to defend their Stanley Cup crown and forging the type of win they did in a fast-paced game against the New York Rangers proved that point. Brayden Schenn scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and Jordan Binnington made 25 saves as the Blues won their eighth straight with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Jaden Schwartz and defenseman Colton Parayko each had a goal and an assist for St. Louis. Schenn scored for the fifth consecutive game when his wraparound banked off the skate of goalie Alexandar Georgiev at 9:56. Schwartz and Parayko got assists on Schenn’s 25th of the season. Schwartz sealed it with an empty-net goal, his 21st, at 19:54 as the Rangers lost their third straight. “We got some bounces and Binnington has been rock solid,’‘ said the 28- year-old Schenn, who has meshed well with linemates Schwartz and Ryan O’Reilly, all of whom contributed on the Blues’ third goal. “We’re playing playoff hockey now and we’re earning our points every night.” Binnington won his sixth in a row for the defending champion Blues (40- 17-10), who have the best record in the Western Conference and previously had winning streaks of seven and eight games this season. “We did a good job,’‘ Binnington said. ”I’m happy we got the win tonight. We have to keep building.” Only the Boston Bruins, whom St. Louis defeated in Game 7 of the Finals last year, have more points. The Blues are just the second defending champions in NHL history to have three separate winning streaks of seven-plus games the following season, matching the 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens. “We battled,’‘ said coach Craig Berube, who took over behind the bench just more than a month into last season and led the Blues to their first championship in franchise history. “That was playoff hockey with not a lot of room. We capitalized on our chances.” Mika Zibanejad opened the scoring for the Rangers with a power-play goal at 12:26 of the first period, whipping the puck past Binnington for his 33rd goal while Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo was off for tripping. Zibanejad has goals in eight of the Rangers’ last nine games and 12 of the past 15 to take over the team lead from Artemi Panarin, who has 32 goals and 90 points. The 26-year-old Zibanejad has played in just 53 games this season and has 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in his last 19. The Blues tied it on an unassisted goal at 2:35 of the second by Parayko, who beat Georgiev for his ninth of the season. Georgiev started for the fourth time in five games after veteran Henrik Lundqvist allowed five goals in Sunday’s 5-3 loss to Philadelphia, his first start since Feb. 3. Georgiev made 19 saves in his 30th start of the season. “That was a really good team we were facing — a really good defensive game on both ends,” Georgiev said. “We have to keep playing the right way like that.” The Rangers were coming off back-to-back losses to the Flyers after winning five games in a row and nine of 10 to surge into the Eastern Conference playoff race. They are four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders, who currently hold the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference. “I liked our effort. The loss hurts more this time of year because of the position we are in,’‘ Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said. ”That’s a team that knows how to win. They don’t give you anything for free.” The Rangers have a tough road ahead with Washington visiting on Thursday, then New Jersey on Saturday followed by a trip to Dallas, Colorado and Arizona. 1172187 Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are finally expecting new sticks held up by coronavirus

By Diana C. Nearhos Published Yesterday Updated Earlier today

TAMPA — Coronavirus reached the Tampa Bay area this week, but the Lightning received good news with respect to the COVID-19 outbreak. They’re finally getting new sticks. The disease originated in China and shut down factories where both Bauer and CCM produce the highly-custom sticks professional players use. The Lightning’s stick supply has been dwindling. Many players use a new stick every game. They have at least three prepped and ready to go every time they step on the ice. Teams don’t order a season’s worth of sticks at once — it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes players decide to change things. Typically, it takes a week or two to order a new batch, so it isn’t a concern. The Lightning’s equipment staff could have made it work if they had to. There’s a large stash of sticks in Brandon that aren’t game quality by players’ standards — they may have lost their “pop,” so to speak — but could still be used. But everyone would rather use fresh sticks. As of now, the sticks are scheduled to ship March 7. In the meantime, the equipment staff has been managing the stick supply. As for the players themselves, the Lightning’s medical staff is managing the risk of the virus similar to the ways they have been the risk of flu this season. The league recommended a lot of hand washing, as has been the advice given to non-athletes as well. The team has not reached a point that it needs contingency plans around how to stage games but will continue to monitor the virus’ spread and if that becomes necessary.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172188 Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning’s added physicality was on display against Boston

By Mari Faiello Published Yesterday Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — The Lightning identified a need and went out and addressed it. They signed Pat Maroon over the summer, then added Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow at the trade deadline. It’s for games like Tampa Bay’s 2-1 loss to Boston on Tuesday: an intense game with heightened emotion. Tensions ran hot throughout the night. It wasn’t a surprise the officials stepped into things as quickly as they did a couple of times trying to stop a scrum, even if it meant escorting a player over to the boards to ensure nothing happened. The Lightning knew they needed more grit. Sure, players like Cedric Paquette and Yanni Gourde won’t step down from a challenge, but it hasn’t been enough in the past. The addition of Maroon, Coleman and Goodrow has put more oomph in the hits, more aggression on the rush. Players like them aren’t afraid to stir up the pot, even if it means spending some time in the box. They’re the energizers, the go-getters and the ones you don’t normally want to face on the other side of a fight. “They’re character players,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said after Tuesday’s loss. “They were (characters) on their (old) teams and that’s kind of what they’ve brought to our room, as well.” Hedman added that Zach Bogosian also adds that kind of game. They need a big-bodied game against teams like Boston, and will need it in the weeks to come. “We know what kind of team they are,” Hedman said. “When we get in on the forecheck we’re a tough team to play against.” Gourde was also one of those players on Tuesday night as he drew in a scrum with Boston’s Joakim Nordstrom. The Lightning forward didn’t necessarily “win” the fight in the second period — although he did end up on top after Nordstrom lost his footing — but it gave his team a boost of energy, even though there were only four seconds left in the frame. And scrums like this are going to come more frequently. “I think that just comes with it being this time of the season,” Goodrow said. The Lightning forward knows plenty about that, too. Goodrow sent Boston’s Brandon Carlo into Tampa Bay’s bench in the first period. And later on, Goodrow dodged a potential check from Boston’s Charlie McAvoy, sending McAvoy almost over the boards and into his own bench. The move gave Goodrow an edge as he skated a few steps ahead of the Boston defenseman.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172189 Tampa Bay Lightning

NHL limits travel by league employees over coronavirus

By Associated Press Published Earlier today

BOCA RATON — The NHL is not allowing its employees to make work- related trips outside North America in response to the global fears over the coronavirus, and if any of those employees go on their own to a country where the virus has been found, they will be quarantined before being able to return to work. Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday the league has told its 31 teams they were free to adopt a similar policy, though he stopped short of saying it would be a mandate as concerns of the virus continue to grow. “We barred all travel outside of North America for business purposes,” Bettman said on the final day of general managers meetings. “People at a personal level or people in their households are still free to do what they want to do. If you go to a place that’s on the list of countries that have an issue or while you’re there the country comes on the list, then when you come back, we want you quarantined … for two weeks until we can see if symptoms develop.” That applies even to those who work for the central scouting service: Scouts who are in Europe are staying in Europe, and if they return to North America, they will be quarantined. Bettman said the NHL is in regular communication with the other three major North American pro sports leagues, as well as health experts in the United States and Canada. The NHL hasn’t gone as far as the NBA did this week. The NBA sent a memo to teams Sunday suggesting that players limit high fives with fans and be hesitant to touch markers and items in autograph situations. Some NBA players have said they won’t give autographs for the time being, and others are carrying their own markers to group-signing scrums. The NHL isn’t at the point of calling off games with the playoffs scheduled to start next month, Bettman said. “We’re aware of and focused on all possibilities,” he said. The Staples Center in Los Angeles will continue hosting NHL and NBA games, even after Los Angeles county officials declared a coronavirus- related public health emergency Wednesday. The arena will add more hand sanitizers, officials said in a statement. In other GM meeting topics: • The salary cap is projected to be between $84 million and $88.2 million for next season. • Bettman insisted that the new puck to be used in the new player- and puck-tracking plans beginning with the playoffs is not going to change the way the game is played and that the puck will perform exactly as the current one does.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172190 Tampa Bay Lightning big, confrontational players such as Goodrow, Blake Coleman and free agent Zach Bogosian.

But there are still moments when you wonder if they don’t slip too easily No Stamkos, no offense, no warm fuzzies for the Lightning against back into bad habits. Boston They take too many penalties. They occasionally get careless with the puck. And there are too many big moments when their top line goes missing for absurdly long stretches. By John Romano Granted, there are legitimate reasons for the Lightning’s recent struggles. Published Yesterday McDonagh and Jan Rutta missed much of the past month with injuries. And McDonagh’s absence has been particularly painful on the penalty kill. TAMPA — You looked for a clue. You got a clunker. The loss of Stamkos to surgery on Monday is another test that the Oh, the score was respectable. And the game was in doubt until the very Lightning now must overcome. end. “It shouldn’t affect our mind-set, it shouldn’t affect the amount of penalties But if you were hoping for some encouragement amid the gloom of the we take, it shouldn’t affect the turnovers,’’ Cooper said at Monday’s past 10 days for the Lightning, this was not the night you envisioned. practice. “We’ve got to keep playing the same way and that’s the sign of Boston did not simply beat the Lightning 2-1 Tuesday night. The Atlantic a good team to just continue on when you hit adversity like this. And so Division-leading Bruins seemed to manhandle Tampa Bay for most of the that’s what I’m looking for. For us not to change our mind-set in how we first 40 minutes. play and how we have to win. We still have to defend, we still have to be good on special teams, we still have to do all of these things. That’s Granted, as we move further into this post-Stamkos world you cannot going to be the sign for me.’’ expect the Lightning to continue winning at the crazy pace that made January and February look so magical around here. Truthfully, the Boston game did not look like a good sign. And you have to acknowledge that Boston has been the class of the Eastern Conference for much of the regular season, so Tuesday’s game Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 would not have been easy even if Steven Stamkos wasn’t recuperating from surgery. So the scoreboard itself was not the major problem. It was more the feeling that the Lightning’s stellar offense disappeared on a fairly big night. How ineffective were Tampa Bay’s top lines? Well, through two periods Lightning defensemen had more shots on goal than the forwards. The major problem was Boston’s defense prevented the Lightning from getting a foothold in front of the net. Essentially, the Bruins pushed everyone aside and forced low-percentage shots. “They do a good job of keeping you to the outside,’’ said forward Barclay Goodrow. The fear is that this didn’t feel like a fluke or an aberration. The Bruins did not win because of their excellent power-play unit. And they didn’t win because Tampa Bay played a mistake-filled game. They won because they were simply better for a longer period of time. Through all of the Lightning’s ups and downs this season, the one constant has been 5-on-5 play. Tampa Bay’s power-play unit has gone missing the past two months and the penalty kill has had problems since Ryan McDonagh went down with an injury, but 5-on-5 the Lightning have been as good as any team in the NHL. And yet in their last two games against the Bruins, they have been outscored 4-2 on evenhanded goals. “When we got a little more gritty in our game, things went a little better for us,’’ Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. That’s true. But it still wasn’t enough. And this isn’t about the scoreboard. That’s practically irrelevant in this conversation. By almost any measure, the Lightning have already done the heavy lifting necessary during every regular season. They have endured a slow start, a late slump and a handful of injuries along the way. Their record and playoff seed are merely the final details of March. The more pressing question is what kind of team has Tampa Bay become? This was always going to be the issue for the Lightning. No one doubted their talent. Not with Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilevskiy on the roster. And the salary cap was manipulated enough to ensure that depth would not be a major factor either. The real debate was how Tampa Bay would respond to last April’s disappointment, and whether a team brimming with stars could make the necessary adjustments to be more than a regular-season phenomenon. And, truthfully, that answer remains elusive. Tampa Bay has remade itself into a team that plays with greater structure and more attention to detail on defense. The trading deadline brought 1172191 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Yanni Gourde proved it again: He doesn’t back down from fights

By Mari Faiello Published Yesterday Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Yanni Gourde was one of the most physical players on the ice Tuesday against Boston. Gourde didn’t necessarily “win” his fight with Boston’s Joakim Nordstrom in the second period — although he did end up on top after Nordstrom lost his footing. But the 5-foot-9, 170-pound forward did give Tampa Bay an energy boost. And even though there were only four seconds left in the frame, that energy carried into the third period. “He’s not afraid of anyone,” Lightning forward Alex Killorn said. “More with Gordo, it’s just his work ethic. That’s just kind of infectious I think. It’s hard to pick out a shift or a time in his season where he hasn’t been at least giving it his all or working his hardest.” Said coach Jon Cooper, “The one thing about Yanni in this league is if he’s picking a fight, he’s going to be the smallest guy in it. But he’ll have the biggest heart and that’s what he showed yesterday.” Gourde said Wednesday afternoon that the fight was initiated after Nordstrom cross-checked him as the Lightning forward went for a loose puck and tried to score. “Fighting is part of the game,” he said. “I think at the time it felt right to bring some energy to my team and I thought it was the right thing.”

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The Lightning are finally expecting new sticks held up by coronavirus

By Diana C. Nearhos Published Yesterday Updated Earlier today

TAMPA — Coronavirus reached the Tampa Bay area this week, but the Lightning received good news with respect to the COVID-19 outbreak. They’re finally getting new sticks. The disease originated in China and shut down factories where both Bauer and CCM produce the highly-custom sticks professional players use. The Lightning’s stick supply has been dwindling. Many players use a new stick every game. They have at least three prepped and ready to go every time they step on the ice. Teams don’t order a season’s worth of sticks at once — it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes players decide to change things. Typically, it takes a week or two to order a new batch, so it isn’t a concern. Every player has his own custom-designed stick. The Lightning have a bunch of players who all shoot lefty with the same curve, but the flex on the stick is different. (Notice the bend in the stick on a high-quality photo? That comes from the shaft’s flex.) So sharing isn’t ideal. The Lightning’s equipment staff could have made it work if they had to. There’s a large stash of sticks in Brandon that aren’t game quality by players’ standards — they may have lost their “pop,” so to speak — but could still be used. But everyone would rather use fresh sticks. As of now, the sticks are scheduled to ship March 7. In the meantime, the equipment staff has been managing the stick supply. As for the players themselves, the Lightning’s medical staff is managing the risk of the virus similar to the ways they have been the risk of flu this season. The league recommended a lot of hand washing, as has been the advice given to non-athletes as well. The team has not reached a point that it needs contingency plans around how to stage games but will continue to monitor the virus’ spread and if that becomes necessary.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172193 Toronto Maple Leafs Something to fall back on may be the key phrase there. It’s not just that this Leafs team isn’t an A-plus every night. Who is? It’s that when things go wrong, they too often implode. The second period against San Jose; the second period against Carolina a week and a half ago; the whole It’s awfully late in the race for the Maple Leafs to be fumbling for the gear game in their first of two meetings with the Penguins. This team can be shift far too combustible. Habits can cut both ways. “You know, when we’re off, we’re off,” said Muzzin. “Like, (backup goaltender Jack Campbell) had to stand on his head last night in the By Bruce Arthur Sports Columnist second period and even then he puts the blame on himself. But yeah, we Wed., March 4, 2020 tried to touch on some things today about that and, you know, not let our game slip like that … we tried to touch on some things today in the room, and kind of figure out why.” LOS ANGELES—Jake Muzzin stood in front of the bamboo stand behind It’s a hell of a question to be asking yourself after Game 67, if you think his old practice arena with his broken knuckle wrapped up, and he about it. reminisced about his time with the Los Angeles Kings — about the bond that is formed when you win a Cup together, how it never gets taken “It probably seems that we’re far away …with the way our season’s away. He was asked if he and the other Cup-winning King, Kyle Clifford, gone,” said captain John Tavares. “But I would think that we’re a lot could bring some of that to the Toronto Maple Leafs. closer than maybe even we realize, or the public may realize. It’s a very fine line, I think, between winning and losing in this league.” “Yeah, we’re trying,” said Muzzin, who won with a seventh-seeded Kings team in 2014. “You know, we want to get to that level. We believe in the It’s the only truly optimistic place left to occupy, really: that they are group in there. It’s just getting there. It’s tough.” actually close, that health and goaltending will come, that the pratfalls haven’t created a self-fulfilling fragility. Fifteen games, and maybe more, There are 15 games left in this ricocheting Leafs season, and so much is to find out. still hanging in the air. Muzzin, like winger Ilya Mikheyev, is expected back toward the end of the regular season; fellow defencemen Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci next week. The Leafs aren’t definitely in, but the Toronto Star LOADED: 03.05.2020 Panthers are fading like a Florida retiree at sunset. But more significantly, Toronto is still trying to figure out the simplest hard thing: be your best as often as you can. They aren’t there yet. Tuesday night in San Jose, the Leafs were presented with an upper gear they couldn’t match and fell 5-2. That happens over 82 games, especially with two of your top three defencemen hurt. But the story that the Leafs have been able to tell themselves as this team yo-yoed was that the high gear was there, and it is accessible. Is it? “The recipe for us is right there in terms of preparation and the urgency that we need to have on every shift, no matter who we’re playing against,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe, before a back-to-back against Los Angeles and Anaheim. “Without a doubt, it gives us confidence, for sure. And perhaps it could be a bit of a crutch for us to just say: Hey, you know, once we get to the playoffs, we’re going to do that. But we’re not in the playoffs here yet. We’ve got to earn our way there. “And we also want to make sure while we’re focusing on trying to make the playoffs and what’s happening in the standings, we want to get our game to a level where that’s just the standard, and that’s what we’re capable of. We don’t want to be responding to anything that’s happening. We want to be dictating it. And we want to be confident when we come to the arena every day about what we’re going to be, and what we’re going to bring that particular day. So we think we’re going to get there.” Every team has lulls. As veteran Jason Spezza says, “When we play teams that are lower than us in the standings, with us it’s probably a mindset thing.” But it may in fact be slightly disquieting that the two contenders Toronto toppled in the past two weeks, between fart-cushion embarrassments, have since faded themselves: Tampa has lost five of six overall, and Pittsburgh dropped its next five games after losing to Toronto before getting partial credit for drilling the Ottawa Senators. Maybe those Toronto wins weren’t just about the Leafs. But how much can anybody trust a team that is still trying to locate the gear shift at this late stage of the race? At this point, it’s not even about winning a Cup, per se. The first question is whether Toronto can deliver four games good enough to beat a Tampa or a Boston, out of seven. “It’s tough to be at the top of your game consistently, night in and night out, and the teams that find a way to do that the most are at the top of the league and give themselves a chance to win a Cup,” said Muzzin. “And we’re working to get to that level.” “Well, we’ve shown we can beat any of the best teams,” said Spezza. “Have we been able to do it long enough? No, and that’s the part that’s concerning for us, but I think the signs are there that we can beat anyone. “We have 15 games to create good habits and to feel good about our habits, and it’s important that we understand that. You know, you don’t want to overstate it, like you’ve got to win every game going into the playoffs … but you do want to create good habits, good feelings, something to fall back on.” 1172194 Toronto Maple Leafs

Game Day: Maple Leafs at Kings

Terry Koshan March 5, 2020 12:01 AM EST

THE BIG MATCHUP Kyle Clifford vs Drew Doughty Considering Doughty is on the ice for the Kings seemingly every other shift (he was fourth in ice time in the NHL at 25 minutes 48 seconds before Wednesday), he is bound to bump into the rugged Clifford, his former teammate, at some point. “You see him as the big, tough guy who is going to rock other guys,” Doughty said of the Leafs winger, “so I’ll try to get him. I know what he’s going to do, so I’m going to have fun with it. I know what he’s all about, I played with him for so long.” FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Fred on track There won’t be any excuse Frederik Andersen will have for not being sharp, considering he has not played in a game since Saturday. The Leafs’ No. 1 goalie has owned the Kings in his career, going 8-1-2 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average in 12 games. It’s on Andersen to prove to the staff that load management is the right way to go. A strong performance would do that. 2. Conquering Kings Sheldon Keefe mentioned after the loss in San Jose that the Kings are playing as “good as anyone on this trip.” The Kings are ahead of only Detroit in the overall NHL standings, but have gone 6-2-1 in their past nine games and have won three in a row. “We could either roll over or we could buckle up and compete (after the trade deadline),” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “Our team has done a good job.” 3. Second that The Leafs were terrible in the second period versus the Sharks but managed to score a couple of goals. The Leafs speak of being consistent, yet spreading scoring out has been a challenge. By period in goals, they’re minus-2 in the first, plus-19 in the second and minus-5 in the third. Working in the Leafs’ favour, perhaps, is the Kings’ overall inability to score. Only Anze Kopitar has 20 goals, and the Kings are second-last overall with 164 goals. 4. Moore pumped As much as forward Trevor Moore was thrilled to be going home when the Leafs traded him to the Kings on Feb. 5, he was disappointed to leave a Toronto club with potential. Part of the rebuild now in L.A., Moore was anticipating trying to make life difficult for his ex-teammates in facing them for the first time. “The challenge of trying to shut them down is a tall task, but I’m looking forward to it,” Moore said. 5. Shuffling along Keefe had an interesting look among his forward lines at practice on Wednesday, using Ilya Mikheyev, who is not close to returning, on the wing with John Tavares and William Nylander. Keefe said he and his assistants were “having discussions” about what to do with the forward group, though we like the idea of having Alex Kerfoot back at centre on the third line. No matter what Keefe decides, there must be better structure than there was in San Jose.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172195 Toronto Maple Leafs

Andersen returns to Leafs crease on Thursday versus Kings

Terry Koshan March 4, 2020 10:43 PM EST

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Sheldon Keefe’s head triumphed over his heart. Rather than give goaltender Jack Campbell a start on Thursday against his former club, the Los Angeles Kings, Keefe will turn to Frederik Andersen after Campbell was sharp against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Campbell will start on Friday in Anaheim against the Ducks, giving Andersen another rest. “The biggest thought process for us is we wanted to get Jack in two out of three games this week,” Keefe said. “That trumps anything in terms of him playing against his former team. “Also, Fred’s our starting goaltender. It makes sense for him coming off (the fact) he didn’t play (Tuesday) night, had a full practice day (Wednesday) and he goes in and plays a game. He deserves that. At this time of year especially, you have to make those right decisions.” Keefe has spoken of load management regarding Andersen, without using those words specifically. Andersen has made 50 starts this season, tying him for third-most in the NHL prior to games on Wednesday. Campbell gives the Leafs a legitimate, don’t-need-to-worry backup, and we assume Campbell will be used more in the final month of the regular season. Defenceman Rasmus Sandin will be back in the lineup after sitting in San Jose, with Calle Rosen likely to be scratched.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172196 Toronto Maple Leafs “Sometimes coaches, media, fans, we live in this fantasy world that we’re just going to run over teams and take advantage no matter how we are built,” McLellan said. “The parity in the league is immense and they’re human beings. They’re going to have off-nights.” Ex-Kings Clifford, Muzzin making an impact as Leafs continue to grow

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.05.2020 Terry Koshan March 4, 2020 10:39 PM EST

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — As much as Kyle Clifford, and Jake Muzzin, can bring a winning pedigree to the Maple Leafs, the man coaching their former club sees their potential impact a little differently. “I think that sometimes the winner tag is overrated,” Los Angeles Kings coach Todd McLellan said on Wednesday. “I think it’s the ability to fit in — the chemistry tag should be the one that is addressed more than the winner tag.” The Leafs have been getting that symmetry with Muzzin, who signed a four-year extension with Toronto last week, for more than a year after acquiring Muzzin from the Kings in January 2019. The experience of having Clifford, and goalie Jack Campbell, as an influence on the group will hit one month on Thursday following the trade with the Kings on Feb. 5 that brought both to Toronto. Clifford and Muzzin hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Kings, though as McLellan indicated, that’s only part of the package. While Muzzin has taken on the status of a spectator after breaking a knuckle on his right hand last week against Tampa Bay — Muzzin said on Wednesday he would like to be back before the original prognosis of four weeks’ absence is up, but only if it “makes sense” — Clifford continues to take on a greater role, off the ice as much as on. “He has really been terrific,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said following practice at the Kings’ facility near the Los Angeles International Airport. “His perspective that he has, the experiences he has, also the type of personality he has to be able to talk to anyone on the team. “He is a competitor and he brings it every day. Those types of things rub off on the rest of your team.” The Leafs could have used Muzzin’s guidance and presence on the ice on Tuesday night in San Jose, when there was general disorganization in the defensive zone during a 5-2 loss against the Sharks. While Muzzin and the rest of the injured Leafs might not have liked what they witnessed, the defenceman had some perspective a day later. “It’s tough to be at the top of your game consistently night in and night out,” Muzzin said. “The teams that find a way to do that the most are at the top of the league and get themselves to win a Cup. “It’s a battle throughout the season to continually bring your emotion and compete level. We’re working to get to that. “We believe in the group in there. It’s just that getting there is tough.” The Leafs, who take on the Kings on Thursday night at the Staples Center, won their previous three games and four in five before the Sharks attacked. Veterans such as Muzzin, Clifford, Jason Spezza and captain John Tavares, whether they have won the Cup, are a positive influence, but with the emphasis in Toronto on a younger core of players, the learning curve will have bumps. “We don’t want to be responding to anything that is happening,” Keefe said. “We want to be dictating it and we want to be confident when we come to the arena every day.” So the work continues to try to be, as Muzzin said, as close to consistent every night as possible. “We don’t want to say ‘Hey, we put together three pretty good games last week and that was just a one-off,’” Keefe said of the San Jose loss. “There have been other times where we have looked like that. “One of the bigger issues is that when we have looked bad, we have been really bad. We’re not going to have great nights every night and we’re not going to win every night. But we’re capable of putting together a level of competitiveness and work ethic and structure every day to make sure it doesn’t go south to that degree.” The Leafs will be better once Muzzin returns. Clifford is making in-roads. We come back to something else McLellan said, which applies to the NHL as a whole. 1172197 Toronto Maple Leafs capable of. They know what their potential is. I think now we’ve come to our part of the evolution where we know that it’s going to be hard. Not to say that we aren’t going to have more hard nights and hard weeks and hard months, but I think they realize how hard it’s going to be and at that LeBrun: Q&A with Kyle Dubas on the Leafs’ turbulent season, EBUGs stage, you just see whether the team is going to embrace it and go and more through it or whether they’re going to go meekly. Last week I thought was a great start to a response, but we still have a long way to go here. But it was a very, very encouraging week. We’re hopeful and we’re working By Pierre LeBrun towards just continuing on this week. Mar 4, 2020 It’s interesting the perception that some people have had of you about things that matter to you in building a team and so on. And I think what’s come across in a lot of your commentary this year is how much you also value the intangibles and the human side of it, too. It’s not just about BOCA RATON, Fla. — Kyle Dubas has pretty much seen it all this numbers for you? season, at the helm of a Toronto Maple Leafs team that seems playoff- bound but not without some dramatic ups and downs. No. Yeah, I know that kind of became an uncontrollable thing that I stopped trying to control years ago probably even going back to the Soo. It has tested even his normally calm and zen-like demeanour. He People have this perception that it’s analytics-driven only and that’s what wouldn’t be human if it didn’t. But you also get the sense from the Leafs we’re going to do. It wasn’t really my background coming up. We used it GM that he feels this crazy journey has a purpose, that his young core of as a tool there (in the Soo) because of our budget constraints, we talented but inconsistent players will grow from fighting through the needed to find an advantage that was going to allow us to compete. And adversity. you find value in it, you use it, you incorporate it into the way that you run We sat down on Tuesday afternoon at the GM meetings for the latest in whatever program that you’re with. But in the end, as leaders of the my series of Q&A interviews with NHL GMs. organization, Shanny, myself and Sheldon, we’re trying to inspire these people to be at their best every day. And there’s no algorithm and there’s I know you’re an avid reader. I can’t help but ask you, if there’s a book on no computer program that can make you build an environment where this year’s Leafs, what’s the title? you’re able to bring out the best in people. We’re not even close to there yet. But we recognize it and that’s really what we’re trying to create as an Oh geez. That’s a deep question right off the hop (smiles). I don’t know, I organization, is that environment and culture — which is a term that gets don’t think the book is written yet. “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” by used for successful teams. If you’re really successful or you’re really, Doris Kearns Goodwin, would probably be a good one. We hope to add really bad, it’s either a bad culture or a great culture and in between, our own chapter to it because you usually come out on the other side you’re trying to get to the good side of the spectrum. That’s where we are better. But it just mostly speaks to the job the players themselves have at and we’re still trying to build towards that now. done as different things have happened that have caused turbulence, to steady it. John (Tavares), Jake Muzzin, even Mo (Morgan Rielly) even There’s no easy path to get to where you want to go in the sense of though he’s been out, just his presence when he’s been around the which team you’re going to play in the first round, either way. But I also room, and Auston and Mitch. And the way you’ve seen other guys step think that’s just how the league is now. What’s an easy first-round up, like a Jason Spezza. matchup anymore in today’s NHL? I know he’s got great experience but the way he’s stepped up with our Well, last year is a great example. I mean, the teams are so good, even young players and especially over the last couple of weeks has been the teams that you would say are out of it now, they’re well-prepared, outstanding. This year has really provided us a window into the type of they’re well-coached and those young players on those teams are leadership that we have within the group, and though it’s still developing, playing for something. They’re playing for their career in a lot of cases, it’s been a lot of fun to watch them and the way that they’ve operated as the ability to be on the team next year, to play in the league next year, things haven’t always gone our way. catch the eye of a different team depending on where their organization is going; so there are no real easy nights. It sounds cliché but when there are rock bottom moments and you come out of it, there’s a growth factor that comes out of that, right? When it comes to the playoffs, I think there’s a lot of talk about it, but I think it’s also a great thing in the long run for us, the type of competitors It’s what you always hope. When you get to that low point, you always that are in our division. Obviously Tampa and Boston, but now Florida … have your doubts. But at the same time, when you’re at the high point, I remember sitting at this meeting last year and we were sort of locked you never feel like anything is ever going to go wrong again. But it into that third spot. And we didn’t play well down the stretch. Montreal certainly has been fun to see how the guys have responded when things really pushed, they pushed us which I thought was a really good thing for haven’t been very fun, and when things have gone poorly for us. Sheldon us. Now, even going back a few weeks, every game has been important, (Keefe) and I are trying to help best we can, but if we’re going to really we were out of it at the All-Star break, it’s something our players really reach our utmost potential as a group, it’s going to be the players. It’s haven’t been through. Three years ago we made the playoffs when we always going to be that way. And so it has been really rewarding to see weren’t really expected to. And then the next two years we’ve just kind of them, not just in one instance or two instances, but when we haven’t been in our spot in third. been at our best and the way they’ve been able to pull themselves out of it. And now it’s been more scratching and clawing and more desperation deeper into the schedule. The negative for us is that Boston has been And I know sometimes people get frustrated because we’ll have a bad great all year, they really haven’t had any stretches, even the stretches night, then we’ll follow it up with a great night and then we’ll have a really where they lost games, they were still collecting points. And Tampa has bad night. I think they want to see great all the time. For better or for really caught on back to where they were last season and the pace they worse, it just doesn’t happen that way. And what you want to see is when were on. The point that I take from it, and our players, is that we really things don’t go great, they’re able to pull themselves back not only to the have to match that same mindset and intensity the whole season if we’re level they expect, but continue to improve. I’ve always thought going to challenge in the regular season. throughout this season that going through this is the best thing for our group in the long term even though people don’t love to hear that. They You had a quiet trade deadline. Although I would consider the deal with want success right away. There’s just so few teams in sports that have the Kings as part of the deadline period. But on deadline day you were that very short runway before liftoff. We’re getting there, but it’s going to quiet. Let’s just call it for what it is, if you were going to do something of continue to take patience and perseverance as things don’t go right. impact, it was going to be on the blue line but I know that’s hard to do during the season. In particular, there was a recent stretch that came after the loss to Carolina, big wins over Tampa and Florida and Vancouver, and I thought Yeah. The balance was, it’s a long-term need for us. We just didn’t see a you showed some emotion at your news conference on deadline day, long-term solution that fit what we were looking for there. On the left side, maybe revealed a bit more of yourself than you had before as Leafs GM. by and large, we’ve got it fairly set for a number of years. We’ve got Morgan and Jake, we’ve got Travis Dermott, Rasmus Sandin. On the Sure. right side, we’ll have (Cody) Ceci and (Tyson) Barrie that we’ll have decisions on as UFAs. You have (Justin) Holl who we obviously like, he’s But that was the emotion of the moment, you seemed frustrated. You had an excellent year. We’re very happy for him. And then you have didn’t hide that. And then your team goes out and has a tremendous Dermott who can play there and (Timothy) Liljegren. So maybe this (the response with those three wins. injuries to Rielly and Muzzin) was a blessing in disguise, now we get a I don’t think the press conference had anything to do with it. I think the chance to see what these players can do in increased roles. guys have their own sense of pride in themselves and in the program. And they don’t want to have nights like that. They know what they’re So far so good with Travis and Justin paired together, whether it’s been they were negative; I said, “When we get good, it’ll change.” We became Martin Marincin or Rasmus with Tyson Barrie, they’ve played well; and a good team, it was still … it was probably even worse. So you kind of now we’ve got Calle Rosen back in the fold as well. Our depth there, we become used to it. And that experience, growing up and working for the feel it’s been good, and it’s obviously been tested with the three guys out. team, being GM there at a young age, really allowed me to develop sort But there are teams in the league that deal with far worse than us in of a thick skin and just know what to expect when things aren’t going injuries — Columbus and Pittsburgh, who we’re competing with, most well. notably. So for us, it’s a great chance to test our depth and really get a stronger measure of where we’re going to be at come the draft. It’s obviously a whole different ball game in Toronto. For me, I only have my personal space. That’s all I can really have to gauge it. When we’re I know it’s on the GMs meeting agenda for Wednesday, some form of going well and things are positive, I don’t go and seek to read how great salary cap update or projection from the league. How keen are you going we are; and when things are going negative, I don’t seek that anyway. to be listening to that? (Leafs PR director) Steve Keogh does a great job of just keeping me informed on the players and coaches who are feeling some pressure so (Smiles). Brandon Pridham (Leafs AGM and salary-cap guru) more so that I can adjust. But, I think it’s the business that we’ve chosen. When than I. He just tries to make it all work somehow. He’s able to do so. But I things are going well, people are going to say, “Yeah, they might be think we try to take as conservative a view of it as possible, especially going well but they’re not good enough and here’s why.” Or they might this far out. And not try to dream that it’s going to be anything say, “They’re on the right path.” And when things aren’t going well, they’ll extravagant in terms of an increase. Whatever happens, happens and say, “This is where you’ve gone wrong and why the team is here.” It’s all we’ll have to adapt. We’ve made our bet on where we’re going to part of it. It’s part of what makes it great. Because you can never let your attribute the vast majority of our dollars. And so the way that we look at it foot off the gas. is that we have to be creative, we have to be innovative and we really have to do a good job at development on the remaining allotment that we have to be at our best. And that’s the path we’ll be on for a while. The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 Are you more comfortable at these meetings now? You’re not the new guy anymore. The more veteran, older GMs have been great. Just in terms of encouraging you to speak up. When I first came on, it was sort of like you don’t say anything for the first number of them. But Doug Armstrong last year at this meeting, we were in a smaller group meeting together, and he and Lou (Lamoriello) and others have always been great with trying to make sure that you’re contributing whatever you have or getting your thoughts out there. Don’t stay silent on stuff. It’s a great group and it’s humbling to be a part of. Just fortunate to be in the same room as a lot of those guys who have had great experience and success in hockey. What’s it like to have the EBUG discussion on Monday, for you and Don Waddell, you guys lived it. Yeah, interesting. I think in that game, we lost the game before he came in. We didn’t play well. David comes in, and you know him, on the one hand you’re happy for him, on the other hand you’re really disappointed in your own team and you got all different types of emotion and frustration. Especially with the deadline looming, I think it added to it, it created a confluence of things that can obviously boil into frustration. But we looked at it (EBUG issue), there have been two times since they made the rule changes where guys have come in, Scott Foster and David Ayres, obviously David got some great publicity; I think hockey got some really good publicity off of it as well. If you look at the two teams who have faced the emergency goalie, I think it’s a combined 38 minutes, and the teams that have had the emergency goalie have allowed 12 shots total in 38 minutes. It’s like a natural (reaction), “We really have to buckle down here.” And Carolina put on a clinic against us … I think that night was a strong reflection on the Hurricanes and where they were at; not a strong reflection on us that night. But a great moment for us to move ahead. We’ve talked about your team growing this year, but what about yourself as a GM? Pretty much everything has been thrown at you this year. And when you make that coaching change, it does bring the spotlight on you, right? Yeah. For me, I’m happier if the heat comes to me than if it goes to Sheldon or the players. I think in making the coaching change, a lot of people who I trust and lean on for advice either with our team or outside, they said: “If you make this change, all that heat is going to go to you.” If it goes well, it’ll all be great. But if you have bad stretches and if you look at teams that have made these moves within the year, they all have uneven times. And rightfully so at that point, the heat comes to the manager. It was something I was aware of. And when it wasn’t going well, I knew that the heat would increase. But frankly, it might be strange to say, but it’s one of the more enjoyable parts of the job for me, especially in our market there’s a lot of people that have been in media for a long time, they’ve seen a lot, and the fans are so passionate, if those people want to invest the time — even if it’s to be critical of me and what’s happening and how we were playing — I think the criticism was deserved. I don’t shy away from that or fear it in any way. The one part that fortunately set me up well for this, and it’s tough to explain to people because it gets easily scoffed at, but being from Sault Ste. Marie and I had my whole family there, and just the amount of attention on the team there and the amount of scrutiny on the team and the media there, people there can be negative at times; it was much more personal there. A smaller place, everybody knows everybody. Every place I went out, they were all over you all the time about the team. And when I first got there and we weren’t a good team, 1172198 Toronto Maple Leafs There aren’t a lot of NHL teams that could have their top two defencemen — and three of their top six — in the press box and win consistently. A lot of what we saw against the Sharks was emblematic of a D core where so many players are being asked to play over their Mirtle: Things I think about the Leafs, Vol. 4: Defence, depth and heads. desperation Justin Holl struggled, badly, here as he probably misses Muzzin more than anyone. Martin Marincin had a tough night. Timothy Liljegren continues to be a concern, as he’s now the owner of an impossibly low By James Mirtle expected goals share of just 37.5 percent after 10 games in the NHL. Mar 4, 2020 (Liljegren and partner Calle Rosen were both under 20 percent on the night in San Jose.)

I feel like Travis Dermott has stepped up reasonably well with so many SAN JOSE — The score flattered the Maple Leafs here Tuesday night. others out of the lineup — he’s second on the team in even strength ice time after Tyson Barrie — and his underlying numbers are very strong as There’s a reasonable argument to be made this was one of Toronto’s a result. A lot of the rest of the group are sagging, however. worst games of the season. It certainly was statistically, given a brutal second period where the Leafs were out shot 16-3 by a bottom-five It’s great news that both Rielly and Ceci could be back as early as the Sharks team. start of next week, which is a lot quicker than I’d expected. The Leafs are down to 15 games left in their season, meaning they could get those two This was, for example, the Leafs worst possession game based on both into a dozen-ish regular-season contests before the playoffs. That should Fenwick and shot share at even strength, where they had only 35.9 and be more than enough runway to get back up to speed. 36.1 percent of the attempts. The return of Rielly would mean you can bump Marincin to only third-pair So it was almost comical when Jack Campbell came out postgame and duty (or even into the press box) and dial back Dermott’s minutes to a talked to the media about how the loss was on him, given that was about more reasonable level. The return of Ceci means you can send Liljegren as far from the truth as possible. If not for him holding the line through back to the minors and let him continue to develop there. That leaves you that lopsided middle frame, Toronto could have been blown out by a with a top six of: Western Conference bottom feeder — and you can imagine the headlines the next day if that was the case. Rielly – Barrie The final was 4-2 with an empty netter added late; it could have 7-2 or 8- Dermott – Holl 2, had a few more of those Sharks chances gone in. Sandin – Ceci “They dominated us,” Mitch Marner said. “They did what they wanted to, and we didn’t win enough puck battles. The only reason we really had a Then you hope and pray that that’s enough until Muzzin can come back chance going into that third period was because of Jack.” with a few games left in the season. All true. It’s tough to know what version of Rielly you’re going to be getting, given how many injuries he’s battled this season and how much time he’s It’s funny — this California trip, where they always cram three games into missed. But the Leafs badly need to find a way to ease the strain on four days, has long been a losing one for Toronto. For the longest time, some of their less experienced defencemen. Even if you’re getting Rielly that was because the Leafs were a crappy team and the gauntlet of San at 80 percent for a few games, that’s an upgrade. Jose, LA and Anaheim meant facing three of the best teams in the league in short order, in another time zone, and in their home arenas. It wasn’t exactly a secret that the Leafs roster wasn’t well-equipped to deal with three significant absences on the blueline this season. What’s In the cap era, the Leafs have only 12 wins in 28 games in California. come as more of a surprise is how hard it has been for them to weather a They’ve played at a 73-point pace in these three buildings, which is couple of injuries up front. downright awful. The Leafs looked like a one-line team in San Jose, as only Hyman- Now, all three of the California clubs are among the five worst teams in Matthews-Marner was able to generate much consistently. (They the NHL. It’s simply not the same level of challenge — or at least it unsurprisingly generated both goals.) shouldn’t be. And for a Leafs team that should still be desperate right now to solidify their playoff position by putting more distance between With Mikheyev and Andreas Johnsson out long term, that’s two big themselves and the flailing Panthers, these games represent three of the absences on LW that have created a bit of a jumbled mess on other few remaining that aren’t against top competition. lines, a riddle that Keefe hasn’t exactly been able to solve the past few weeks. After they get back from this trip, for example, it’s going to be Tampa, Nashville and Boston — bang, bang, bang. They need to bank some You look at Toronto’s depth lines and generating offence out of them has points here, against teams in the midst of lost seasons that are playing been a huge problem of late. out the string. They failed miserably in San Jose, for reasons we’ll get Pierre Engvall has one point in his last 18 games! And he’s still playing into a little more below. about 12 minutes a game. And coach Sheldon Keefe’s concern level is elevated back to, let’s say, Newcomer Kyle Clifford had a big chance in tight on the Sharks, but he moderate after three strong wins last week changed the narrative around hasn’t produced much offence since the trade, with only three points in the Leafs. 13 games. Add in another new winger in Denis Malgin, who is pointless “This trip is not an easy one for us,” Keefe said. “And we’re off to a tough and has only one shot on goal after five games, plus The Goat, who has start.” two points in his last 15 games, and zeros for a lot of the others they’ve tried on the fourth line who are now gone (Timashov, Moore, Aberg etc), The Penguins just came through this trip and were blanked 3-zip, failing and there’s an issue brewing. to get a single point out of the week. That can’t happen here. Because Keefe can’t exactly trust his depth lines defensively, either, he But these California teams aren’t just going to roll over, either. often has to turn to John Tavares’ unit. With William Nylander and Alex Kerfoot on his wings, that doesn’t always work out great on the road The Sharks rink has this quirky little press box that’s basically in the against stronger teams. rafters, well above the jumbotron. I’m starting to wonder if part of the solution here will be to better distribute It feels like they threw it in as an afterthought. this team’s talent out, especially in games like this where they’re getting I spent the game sitting with Bay Area colleague Kevin Kurz, as my matched hard and struggling to maintain zone time. As good as designated seat had such an obstructed view that one of the nets wasn’t Matthews and Marner have been together — one of the strongest duos in visible. the NHL — their production has slowed a bit of late at even strength. Sitting directly to our right? Half of the Leafs defence core, wearing suits: It may make sense to kick start the second line by getting Marner some Jake Muzzin, Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci, who watched the game looks there, alongside Tavares, and the third line some by giving alongside Ilya Mikheyev. It was the physical embodiment of the Leafs Kapanen someone like Kerfoot to play with more frequently. injured reserve unit right now. They can’t continue to get almost zero offensive production from their bottom five forwards, either. There’s not exactly a wealth of options for Toronto to recall from the Marlies, although it does make one wonder whether getting Kenny Agostino — who has a point a game down there — a chance could shake things up. I thought Adam Brooks was interesting in his seven-game audition, too. Figuring out a better arrangement at 3C and on the fourth line is going to have to be a priority in the offseason, as the Leafs have looked disjointed there much of the year. It feels like that leaves them vulnerable to being shutdown by good teams like Tampa and Boston in the playoffs, especially if they only really have one line going at 5-on-5. I was surprised Campbell got the nod in San Jose, as with back-to-back games coming up on Thursday and Friday, it’s obvious he’ll have to play one of those as well. That’ll mean just one start for Frederik Andersen in nine days here, after it looked like he was starting to find his groove in those wins over Tampa, Florida and Vancouver. Keefe said it was about making sure Andersen’s getting enough rest for when they get to the playoffs, but I wonder. Maybe he is a bit banged up or fatigued, after seven straight starts? Maybe the sports science team saw something in his bio-metrics the past couple days? Maybe they simply don’t want him to play 65 games again, given that hasn’t worked the past few Aprils. In any event, it wouldn’t have really mattered which goalie went in against the Sharks, given the way the team played in front of Campbell. But how they split starts the rest of the way will be interesting, given how well the affable new backup has played in his five appearances so far, quickly endearing himself to his teammates. This week offered a hint that he may well play more than just the back-to- backs down the stretch.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172199 Toronto Maple Leafs Zach Hyman (LW, #11) — I’ve got a piece coming out soon about Hyman, which should be fun because he’s someone whose hard work doesn’t always show up in the box score. This game is a perfect example. Matthews and Marner both got on the scoresheet, while Hyman Leafs Report Cards: Late-night dud won’t leave fans feeling good in the was making some nice plays defensively to win back the puck, working morning the corners in the offensive zone, and making some underrated passes to get the puck back to Toronto’s superstars. I’m still not sure how he didn’t score on this rebound, but sometimes the pucks just don’t want to By Ian Tulloch Mar 4, 2020 100 go in. I know what you’re thinking: When is this guy going to catch a break in the shooting-percentage department? If you stayed up to watch the full game, I don’t know what else to say — that sucks. These 10:30 p.m. start times aren’t fun for anyone, but they’re Martin Marincin (LD, #52) — To start the game, it looked like he was much more painful when you watch your favourite team get significantly feeling some of that mojo from his stellar third period against Vancouver. outplayed en route to a regulation loss. Marincin was making some nice plays with the puck in the first period. He was jumping up in the play to keep pucks alive, completing stretch It’s worth remembering that every team in the league goes through nights passes up the ice, and he even picked up a primary assist on the like these. For example, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost 5-0 to San Jose on Matthews goal. Now, the poor guy was whiffing on pucks every so often, Saturday. That doesn’t change the fact that the Penguins have been one but he also damn near scored the game-tying goal in the third period. of the most dominant teams in the NHL this season. The Leafs obviously don’t have that same track record, which is why I think it’s fair to be a bit Right after that chance, I’m not quite sure what he was doing. Neither did more critical of them right now, but let’s try to keep things in perspective Toronto’s forwards, which led to some confusion as to which player before we freak out about Toronto’s dud of a performance after winning should have been covering the point. Guess what happened next: a two- three straight games with Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly out of the on-one goal for Evander Kane. The Mar-Mar giveth and the Mar-Mar lineup. taketh away. Then again, the whole point of these report cards is to evaluate one- Tyson Barrie (RD, #94) — I often find myself yelling at the TV when game samples — and Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Sharks wasn’t pretty. Barrie is on the ice, but I didn’t mind him in this game. I’m not quite sure We’ll try our best to break it down by diving into the individual player what that means, but for a guy who played 26:37, we need to give him grades. Let’s get to it. some credit for handling his business out there. Player reports Denis Malgin (RW, #62) — I didn’t notice him in the first 40 minutes of the game, but he started the third period with a couple of really strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐ shifts. I liked that he was finishing his checks on every play, carrying the puck up the ice in transition, and looking to get his shot off in the Game Ball : Jack Campbell (G, #36) — It’s so easy to look at the box offensive zone — it led to a quality chance for Frederik Gauthier on a score, see that Campbell stopped 33 of 37 (.897 save percentage) and rebound. conclude the Leafs needed an extra couple of saves, but you won’t hear that from anyone who watched the game closely. Three of those goals Coaching staff — Before the game, Sheldon Keefe was talking about the were a product of weird bounces, which is the unfortunate nature of this Leafs’ defence improving with respect to preventing odd-man rushes, game sometimes. That isn’t to say the Leafs deserved to win on Tuesday which is something I’d written about earlier this season. It’s worth noting night; they got absolutely outclassed in the second period, with the this is an area they’ve continued to improve lately. Now, there are some Sharks generating 16 shots from the slot compared to only three for the lineup decisions that continue to frustrate me, most notably Kerfoot at Leafs. A lot of those were Grade-A scoring opportunities. second-line right wing instead of third-line centre, but for the most part, I think it’s fair to say he’s done a solid job so far. The hard part is getting If it weren’t for Campbell’s strong play, this game easily could’ve gotten through to a team that often doesn’t seem interested in playing without out of hand in the second period. the puck. Mitch Marner (RW, #16) — Toronto actually outscored San Jose in that His reaction looks similar to what we’ve seen on Leafs Twitter — “come period, thanks in large part to this highlight-reel goal by Marner. on guys!”

The part about this move that really gets me is when you slow it down. ⭐⭐ He handles the puck behind his body on the forehand, tucks it between Alexander Kerfoot (RW, #15) — His line was a disaster Tuesday, but I his legs on the backhand, then finds a way to put it through Martin Jones’ actually thought Kerfoot played pretty decently. He made a few great five-hole on the finish. If you ever got the chance to watch Marner in passes earlier in the game, getting Tavares and Nylander into open junior, he was making moves like these all the time for the London space off the rush. Again, I still think he’s at his best when he’s centring Knights. It’s still pretty ridiculous that he’s able to pull them off at the NHL the Kapanen line. I also think Tavares and Nylander are at their best level. That, my friends, is what we call game-breaking talent. when they play with Engvall on the wing — at least until Ilya Mikheyev returns to the lineup. None of this is new, but I’m going to keep bringing it ⭐⭐⭐ up until they change it. Auston Matthews (C, #34) — In my postgame poll, I saw a lot of people Travis Dermott (LD, #23) — His partner had a pretty rough night. arguing that Matthews was Toronto’s most impressive player on Tuesday Whenever that happens, I always wonder how much of that is on the night. Maybe it’s just because I hold him to a high standard, but I thought individual — Justin Holl — and how much of it is a lack of communication he could have made a bigger impact on the game. The fact that he can or “synergy” between two defence partners. Personally, I thought put up a goal and a primary assist on an “off night” is what makes him Dermott played all right in this game. He was making some nice plays out such a special player. of the corner in his own end, looked solid on the penalty kill, and even broke up a two-on-one by taking away the backdoor pass. Now, Dermott He’s on pace for 57 goals this season. I say he does it. did look a bit shaky at times, especially when he was carrying the puck Kyle Clifford (LW, #73) — In that dreaded second period, Clifford was the up the ice. At one point he was on a three-on-two, but drifted to the side only Leafs player who appeared to be playing with any energy. He was with the puck and let the opposing defenceman break up the rush instead finishing his checks, applying pressure in the defensive zone, and of making a pass to an open teammate. making some smart decisions with the puck. Earlier in the game, he pulled off a slick toe drag that led to a quality scoring chance in tight. Timothy Liljegren (RD, #37) — Even though his on-ice numbers were terrible in this game, I thought he looked alright. Liljegren was winning The big man has some nice nifty mitts. Now if only he would stop some battles along the wall in his own end, which is definitely something shooting from the boards off the rush. the coaching staff is going to appreciate. He was also playing a tight gap in the neutral zone defensively, stepping up on opposing forwards before Jason Spezza (C, #19) — I’m not sure what else to say about Spezza’s they could enter the zone. passing at this point. It’s just such a joy to watch him thread the needle on plays that no one’s expecting, including the recipient of the pass Frederik Gauthier (C, #1933 — This was one of those forgettable games sometimes. His foot speed can be a bit of an issue, which is why the from Gauthier. He did get that nice chance on a Malgin rebound that we Leafs need to shelter him at even strength, but his skill helps the team mentioned but was otherwise pretty quiet on Tuesday night. advance the puck up the ice. Calle Rosen (LD, #48) — It was interesting to see him quarterbacking PP2 instead of Sandin. Frankly, I didn’t love him there, but he was able to make a few nice passes under pressure. At even strength, he had a few rough moments on the breakout, which probably helps explain why his pairing spent most of its time in its own end.

⭐ John Tavares (C, #91) and William Nylander (LW, #88) — Neither player made much of an impact at even strength. Nylander did have a few great chances from in tight on the power play, but the two of them got completely hemmed in at five-on-five. You’d like to see a better effort than that from two of your best players. (RW, #24) — Nothing seemed to be going right for Kapanen in this game. He was turning over pucks along the wall in his own end and failing to complete passes in the offensive zone. Heck, even when he got a partial breakaway on the penalty kill, he missed the net by a couple of feet and it led to a chance the other way for San Jose. Kapanen finished the night with zero shot attempts at even strength. Justin Holl (RD, #3) — Maybe Tuesday wasn’t the night to be praising Justin Holl on the broadcast. I’ve been a big fan of his play this season, but he really struggled in this one. It’s not like him to willingly concede puck possession, which is why I found it so strange that he kept dumping the puck in. They weren’t designed passes off the end-boards like we’ve seen Kerfoot or Spezza pull off when the neutral zone gets clogged — they were essentially giveaways. Holl also took a bad penalty off a defensive zone faceoff, which was mostly bad luck. The same can’t be said for the goal against where he got beat to the back post. Pierre Engvall (LW, #47) — For the record, I’ve been quite the Pierre Engvall apologist lately. Whenever I hear people complain about his “turnbacks” in the neutral zone, I’ll always argue that I’d rather my forward reload the breakout than dump it in on a one-on-four situation. That said, Engvall made a few rough decisions in transition against San Jose. He turned over the puck at centre ice right as the Leafs were making a long change in the second period, which resulted in a two-on- one the other way. Campbell bailed him out with a big save on Logan Couture, but you can’t be making those mistakes. I also noticed Engvall losing a lot of puck battles along the wall, which is frustrating for someone with his size. Much like Frederik Gauthier, I’d like to see Engvall play like he’s 6-5 more often; it’s OK to use your physical advantage … to your advantage! Game score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a single game. It’s not perfect, but it can help give us a decent idea of how well players performed in a particular game based on their numbers — although I’d always recommend combining stats with video, since single-game numbers can be wonky. Trending up or down? This is where we break down the latest trends in my Leafs Report Cards courtesy of Mark Norman. You can play around with the data at his tableau page if you’re interested.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172200 Toronto Maple Leafs “He’s got an interesting personality. He has strong opinions and he’s not afraid to say what he wants to say. He’s engaging, and would have good answers,” said Kerfoot. Maple Leafs player poll: The best and worst dressed, loudest, smartest, Travis Dermott voted for himself, admitting that it’s something he might more! consider down the road. Muzzin offered another reason why Dermott might enjoy a job in media:

“He seems like he likes the camera a lot,” said Muzzin. By Joshua Kloke 3. Smartest Teammate Mar 3, 2020 53 “Mr. Harvard.”

That’s who I heard most often about with this question. On the heels of The Athletic’s NHL-wide player poll and other team- specific polls, The Athletic Toronto is ready to share the results of our Kerfoot graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics. Toronto Maple Leafs player poll. “For most people, the workload is manageable. It’s just, getting good The questions ranged from the lighthearted to the informative. They also grades is so hard. You’re competing against the best students in the provided a fine opportunity for the players to rip on each other. country,” Kerfoot said about his time at Harvard in a Q&A earlier this season. In total, 17 Maple Leafs players were surveyed. When the final votes were tallied, I shared the news with him. Some players declined to answer certain questions. Some also wanted to vote for two, or sometimes four teammates for a single question. In such “I think that I have that reputation because I went to Harvard, but I don’t cases, I counted their votes as 0.5 or 0.25, as other team surveys have think it’s completely accurate,” said Kerfoot. done, hence some of the wonky percentages. Seated nearby, poll runner-up Zach Hyman chimed in. In all, we learned that despite a turbulent season in Toronto in which the “See, that’s what a smart person would say.” Leafs have alternated between world-beaters one night and an embarrassment the next, this young team always has a lot to say. Muzzin split his vote between Hyman and Kerfoot. I mentioned that these Thanks to Dom Luszczyszyn for providing the graphics. two were also gaining steam in the voting for “Worst dressed.” Now, let’s get to the results: “There’s a correlation,” said Muzzin, laughing. 1. Most likely to become a coach/GM Hyman’s side hustle as a children’s book author was noted by Andreas Johnsson. This was an interesting question as it got players thinking about their post-hockey careers. It isn’t something most players generally give much “I like that he does stuff outside hockey,” said Johnsson. thought to. Other Leafs wanted to have some fun with the question. It makes sense that Jason Spezza came out on top here. The 36-year- old constantly professes his love of hockey and has amassed a wealth of “I can tell you definitely not William (Nylander),” cracked Rasmus Sandin. knowledge about the game during his 17 NHL seasons. Others saw the answer in the mirror. “He’ll do something in hockey. You can see how he plays for the love of “That’s me,” said Holl. “That’s just a fact.” the game. It’s contagious. It’s nice to have. But he definitely loves hockey a lot,” said Jake Muzzin. 4. Funniest teammate “Something will fall into his lap,” added Justin Holl. This one was fairly spread out. Perhaps not surprisingly, Spezza sees it too. “We’ve got a lot of characters,” explained Muzzin. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. They bring energy. Whether it’s stupidity or actually good “I’d like to be involved in management,” he said. “I just like the team lines, it’s entertaining.” dynamics. I enjoy the competitiveness of the game. I live hockey and put a lot of thought into it and I’d like to stay in the game if I can when I’m Though Barrie voted for Holl, he did offer some insight into his own sense done.” of humour, which the majority of his teammates enjoy. Hyman finished in second place, with some of his teammates arguing “I think the key to humour is just not being afraid to make fun of yourself. he’d be a coach and not a GM. You’ve got to cross the line a little bit, but if you can do it with good delivery, then it makes it all that much better,” he said. “He knows the systems. He’s good with other things. He just knows a lot. If you need to know something, he’s a good guy to go to,” said Pierre “I think he’s hilarious,” Gauthier said of Barrie. “He’s sarcastic, but he Engvall. makes it seem it’s all normal.” “He likes to be around the boys,” said Frederik Gauthier. The typically laid back Muzzin garnered a vote from Kasperi Kapanen. The lone vote cast for Justin Holl as a future GM came from Martin “He cracks me up the most,” said Kapanen. “Movie quotes and whatnot.” Marincin. Hyman voted for Johnsson and what sounds to be his daft sense of “He plays baseball on Nintendo Switch, and he makes his own team,” humour. joked Marincin. “Mango is hilarious,” said Hyman. “He just cracks me up every time. He’s 2. Most likely to work in media just hilarious. He doesn’t know he’s funny, but he’s hilarious.” If it wasn’t already clear, let this poll serve as a reminder: In his first Johnsson voted for Holl. season as a Leaf, Tyson Barrie has become one of the more beloved members of the team. “He has good comments. When he talks, he’s very ironic. But if you don’t know he’s ironic, or sarcastic, you would think he’s serious. I think that’s It’s part of the reason why Barrie was voted most likely to work in media. so funny.” He even voted for himself. 5. Loudest teammate “I always enjoy talking to you guys,” said Barrie. “It’s a good part of the game.” This category generally produced the quickest response, usually just “Mitchy,” with very little explanation. “He’s got a very live personality,” said Adam Brooks. “He’d be a ‘Jay and Dan’ type of personality.” “He’s loud. He’s non-stop,” said Hyman of Mitch Marner. Alex Kerfoot, who has spent the past three seasons as a teammate of Sure enough, when I approached Nylander to answer the poll questions, Barrie’s, also voted for him. Marner, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but chime in. Marner laughed loudly at some of Nylander’s answers. And before NHL fights to his name, does come out on top — albeit in a tie with Nylander had a chance to answer the question about the worst poker Muzzin — there were a few surprises. player on the team, Marner offered his take, loudly. “I’d go anyone on this team,” said Barrie, before relenting and voting for “Kappy’s the worst,” he said. Engvall. “He’s just so strong.” “He’s always got energy, he’s always saying something and stirring the We should also probably address the vote for Marner. That was pot,” said Kerfoot of Marner. submitted by former Leaf goalie Michael Hutchinson, prior to his trade to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 24. Some of the team’s veterans also scored some votes. “You’d have everything to lose when you’d fight him,” said Hutchinson, of Muzzin voted for himself. “Sometimes I get a little crazy.” the 6-foot, 175-pound Marner. “If you fight The Goat and he beats the Engvall voted for Spezza. wheels off you, that’s expected. But if Marner beats the wheels off you, that’s a tough one to live down.” “Good guy. Funny guy,” said Engvall. 9. Best poker player 6. Teammate who most often puts money on the board The results are a little more cut and dry here as not every Leaf polled It was hard to get an accurate read on this one. It’s possible recency bias takes part. played into some responses, as some players recounted events ahead of recent games. But among those who do, a strong majority cast at least half of a vote Kerfoot’s way. Others argued that no single Leaf stands out. But some, like Johnsson, said this season he’s seen money put up on the board, “more than I’ve Kerfoot’s secret? Practice makes perfect. been used to.” “We travel a good amount and the more you travel, the more you play, And yet, Barrie still walked away as the player who puts money on the the more you learn about it,” he explained. “It’s something a lot of us board, the most often. For those unfamiliar with the process, our Max have started to enjoy. We’re watching videos. And the more you play, the Bultman put together a great primer on the NHL tradition here. better you get.” Barrie voted for himself. He explains he’s had plenty of reasons this And he’s had his fair share of practice. season to pull out his wallet ahead of a contest. “In Colorado, we had Carl Soderberg on our team. And he was a very “I got traded, so my first game,” said Barrie. “We’ve played the Avs twice. good player. I learned a lot from him,” said Kerfoot. My 500th game. My dad played for a lot of teams.” 10. Worst poker player His teammates appreciate the gestures. Look, I like Kapanen as a player and I’ve always enjoyed my interactions “He loves throwing it around, which is great,” said Muzzin. with him. Interestingly, current Marlie Adam Brooks received a vote. He played just But this was a runaway, with Kapanen’s teammates all too happy to seven games for the Leafs this season before being sent back down to skewer him. the AHL. So what makes Kapanen such a bad poker player? “Four out of seven games,” Brooks said of how often he put money on “Because he’s got a lot of fire inside,” said Muzzin. “So when he doesn’t the board, nodding his head with a sense of accomplishment. get the cards, he goes on tilt. He’s not thinking, he’s gambling.” The Winnipeg-born forward put up money for his first NHL game (Dec. Kerfoot: “Kapanen is the worst. He gets on tilt really easily. He doesn’t 28), then again a few days later in Winnipeg (Jan. 2); against the Jets in always recognize the proper situation.” Toronto (Jan. 8) and finally on Jan. 6 against the Edmonton Oilers after he was scratched for a Jan. 4 game against the New York Islanders. Barrie: “Kappy just always seems to be reeling.” 7. Most underrated teammate Former Leaf Trevor Moore, who took part in the survey prior to his Feb. 5 trade to the Kings, said Kapanen has been caught “walking around the If there’s one thing we’ve learned in this unpredictable Leafs season, it’s plane in disbelief.” that Hyman might very well be a bonafide first-line NHL player. I had to go to Kapanen himself to set the record straight. After missing the beginning of the season to recover from a torn ACL, Hyman has since stormed to prominence. He’s scored 21 goals in 47 “I’ve just been getting bad luck,” said Kapanen. “That’s all it is.” games, matching his career-best for goals in a season, in 24 fewer games. He’s proven that there might be more to his game that just 11. Best dressed teammate dogged determination on the forecheck. This question drew some of the most detailed answers. Perhaps it’s Kapanen: “I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he brings to the because the young team as a whole has more of an eye for fashion than team.” most other NHL clubs. Muzzin: “He’s a really effective player. He’s a sandpaper guy that goes Matthews gained attention for his GQ photoshoot and his slick fashion unnoticed with all the talent we have here.” sense. Some teammates are on board with fashion sense. Others are not. Johnsson: “He has such good awareness on the ice and in front of the net. He has that scoring touch. He times it so well.” “He brings his own style,” said Sandin. With the exception of Engvall (13 percent), the remaining votes were Kerfoot: “I wouldn’t necessarily wear what he’s wearing, but he’s got his mostly split with one vote apiece. own style and you’ve got to respect that.” Ilya Mikheyev received some love from Barrie. Ultimately, it was Nylander who edged out Matthews. “He was a big surprise,” said Barrie. “I just like to wear different stuff,” said Nylander. And Kerfoot, perhaps to be expected, offered a more nuanced take on Holl: “I don’t love the whole man purse thing right now. But whatever, the question when he voted for Nylander. that’s what (Nylander) does.” “I think there are guys that are underpaid, but maybe not underrated,” “It’s really subjective,” Barrie said of the question, before ultimately said Kerfoot. “Everyone knows how good people are. But there are voting for Nylander. “He’s just… out there.” certain players that are worth more, or are underpaid or overpaid. A lot of When posed this question, Muzzin shook his head before offering this the big guys on our team get a lot of recognition. He’s getting more now assessment. for sure. I think that he’s always getting criticized more than other people.” “Well, we’ve got a lot of young dudes who think they’re fashion icons here,” he said. “There’s a lot of questionable outfits that are being put on. 8. Teammate you wouldn’t want to fight I look at them and I’m like, ‘What the fuck?’ (laughs) But I’m old school, I went into this question believing the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Kyle Clifford so I don’t know the fashion anymore.” would run away with the votes. And while Clifford, with 82 regular-season Muzzin voted for Matthews and Nylander, adding they’re usually the ones home (to Woodstock), it’s only an hour and a half max. It’s a great guilty of wearing the aforementioned questionable outfits. location.” “But then the odd time they come out with a nice one too,” Muzzin “I can walk to the rink if I was really feeling it,” said Dermott of his conceded. “So it’s hit or miss. But you’ve got to give them credit; they put proximity to Ford Performance Center, the Leafs practice rink in themselves out on the line and they go out there wearing some funny Etobicoke. “But I drive every day. I don’t have to guess how long it takes shit.” me every day.” 12. Worst dressed teammate A slightly larger Leafs contingent (18 percent), live in Yorkville, Toronto’s small, but posh neighbourhood. While three players share the title of “worst dressed Leaf,” the detailed responses from teammates, and Hyman’s own reaction, could serve as a “It’s its own little town,” said Kapanen. “It has a European vibe, which I tiebreaker. like. The restaurants are really good. Good shopping. It’s a bit more quiet than downtown.” Upon overhearing a nearby teammate nominate him, Hyman spoke up loudly. “I love it,” said Hyman. “I’m away from downtown but close enough. I can go north and visit the family. It’s not too far from Scotiabank. I usually “I’m not the worst dressed. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” he drive. I’ve taken the TTC before, but I like the routine of getting in the car, said. “If I get worst dressed that’s a farce.” usually know how long it takes.” One element of Hyman’s wardrobe came up time and again with his teammates: A pair of comfortable brown shoes Hyman often wears on the road. The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 “They were the first dress shoes ever invented. And Hyman still wears them,” cracked Kerfoot. Muzzin: “Those old shoes, they’ve seen better days.” But Hyman is steadfast in his belief that he not only does have style, but that his teammates aren’t seeing his best gear. “I just wear these brown loafers,” said Hyman, shaking his head. “I don’t wear Gucci, whatever. I like to wear comfortable things. They’re just literally dark brown loafers. They’re just older shoes. They look good on the road. They’re comfy. I save the good stuff for at home.” Meanwhile, Gauthier and Holl didn’t escape their teammates’ wrath, either. “Hollsy might have two suits to his name,” said Dermott. Weeks after the poll began, Holl himself approached me to say that he wished he’d voted for himself in this category. With this young Leafs squad, when it comes to style, variety is important. “Just the same things all the time,” said Kapanen of Gauthier’s poor fashion sense. “He doesn’t like to switch things up.” “It’s terrible,” offered Martin Marincin of Gauthier’s style. 13. What Toronto neighbourhood do you live in? No surprise here. When it comes to where to live, players generally either opt for being close to the , or the entertainment options in one the city’s liveliest areas: Queen West/King West. I suppose if we’re getting technical, we could have included Queen West/King West as well as the Waterfront in downtown Toronto, but many players wanted to make it known that they, in fact, did not live downtown. “I just like how convenient it is,” said Kerfoot of living on King West. “It’s within walking distance to everything. There’s a ton of traffic in this city, so it’s nice to be able to walk anywhere you want to go in this city to get food.” “There’s a lot of energy there,” said Holl of King West. Those who live on the water like the respite from the energy of downtown, even if it is brief. “It’s still kind of quiet there,” said Johnsson. “But you just go one or two streets up and you’re downtown. That’s what I like about it. You can go by the water, and there’s parks.” Adds Marincin: “There’s trees, and when you go outside it feels like you are actually outside. It’s not just buildings.” The reasons for living downtown were fairly uniform: Everything desired is within close reach. “I just like that it’s so close to everything,” said Engvall. “Most of the guys live around there.” Interestingly, it was the players who live in Etobicoke who offered the most detailed explanations of why they choose to live in a more remote, quieter part of the city. “I like that it’s just a normal neighbourhood. I’m not a big city guy,” said Muzzin. “We have a nice, big backyard for the dogs and a nice place to stay when we’re here. Close to the airport and the practice rink. To get 1172201 Vegas Golden Knights Chris Davidson-Adams, the team’s head equipment manager, said last month he was able to stock up on sticks before the Chinese New Year holiday and has yet to see the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. NHL keeps close tabs on coronavirus outbreak “That’s the least of the world’s problems right now is me getting my sticks,” Pirri said. “It wasn’t the trainers’ fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It is unfortunate, but anyone that complains is ignorant because there’s a lot bigger issues going on right now.” By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

March 4, 2020 - 6:30 am LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.05.2020

The NHL already felt the effects of the coronavirus through a shortage of hockey sticks, and the league is keeping a close watch on the worldwide outbreak. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly spoke about the issue at the general managers’ meeting this week in Boca Raton, Florida, updating clubs on any possible precautions that could be put in place. “Always have to consider all contingencies — and we are — but we certainly are not anticipating having to cancel or move games at this point,” Daly wrote in an email to the Review-Journal on Tuesday. The NHL remains in contact with the Center for Disease Control and Health Canada and has been in regular communication with clubs regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) since January. A memo was sent to GMs and Board of Governors on Friday indicating the league is not considering canceling or postponing games, The Athletic reported. The NBA reportedly sent a memo to teams that offered 10 recommendations to decrease risks of contracting the coronavirus, including using fist-bumps instead of high-fives and not taking items from autograph seekers. “I talked to George (McPhee) yesterday about it, and I think Kelly (McCrimmon) at the GM meetings is getting an update,” Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer said Tuesday. “I know the NHL’s on top of it. I know there’s been some dialogue, but I think it’s preliminary. I think we’re due for more information going forward here. I know there is and will be a plan, but I don’t know what that is. It hasn’t filtered down to me yet.” The coronavirus outbreak has impacted scouting, as the International Ice Hockey Federation on Monday canceled six events over concerns surrounding the illness, including four under-18 men’s tournaments. The under-18 World Championship, one of the biggest events each year ahead of the NHL draft, is scheduled for April 16 to 26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Michigan. The women’s World Championship, set for March 31 to April 10 in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, remains on the schedule, as does the World Championship from May 8 to 24 in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland. “The IIHF Competition and Coordination Committee is also reviewing the sportive impact of the tournament cancellations and will present recommendations to the IIHF Council during its March meeting,” the IIHF said in a statement. “In the meantime, the IIHF Office continues to monitor the development of the coronavirus and will re-evaluate daily the capability of tournament organizers to host IIHF championships in April. Based on the developments of the coming weeks, the IIHF Council will be presented with a series of scenarios during its March meeting before deciding on the next course of action.” The IIHF’s cancellations came on the heels of Switzerland’s top two leagues postponing their playoffs because of the outbreak after the Swiss government banned all public and private events involving more than 1,000 people. The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association’s Dream Gap Tour in Tokyo, which was supposed to run Wednesday through Saturday, also was canceled. The NHL played preseason games in China in 2017 and 2018, and Daly told NHL.com last month the outbreak could impact the league’s decision to return in 2020. Meanwhile, the coronavirus affected the production of hockey sticks. Two of the most prominent manufacturers, Bauer and CCM, temporarily shuttered factories in China because of the outbreak. Knights forward Brandon Pirri said he ran out of sticks while playing for the team’s affiliate in the American Hockey League and was using a different model. He was able to use his preferred stick when he was called up Saturday. 1172202 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ William Karlsson hits 100-goal milestone

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal March 4, 2020 - 6:13 am

William Karlsson doesn’t have exciting plans for the puck he scored his 100th goal with. He might just put it in his locker stall. The center said he didn’t even know he hit the milestone in the third period of the Golden Knights’ 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday until a linesman came over with the puck. It was typical Karlsson. Flashy play, unflashy attitude. But the milestone was a deserved reward for one of the faces of the Knights’ franchise. He’s played great hockey lately and was spectacular Tuesday. “Who would have thought after coming here in the expansion draft that I would reach 100?” Karlsson said. “But here I am.” Karlsson had 18 goals in 183 games before joining the Knights. He’s not wrong to say the odds were low on him hitting 100. He got there in 224 more games though after unlocking his potential as a two-way, down-the-middle force in Las Vegas. His evolution was on full display against the Devils. He set up the Knights’ first goal with an incredible pass to left wing Max Pacioretty. Karlsson fired a no-look, backhand feed from the neutral zone that hit Pacioretty in stride and allowed him to skate in on goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood with speed. Then Karlsson scored his milestone goal off a give-and-go with rookie forward Nicolas Roy. Karlsson slipped behind the defense, Roy found him at the bottom of the right circle and Karlsson slammed the puck into the net for his 15th goal of the year and 100th overall. “I get to look forward to getting more goals and not think about it too much, but maybe after I’m done (I will),” Karlsson said. “It’s a nice milestone.” It took a run of great play to get him there. Karlsson has seven points in his last five games and has looked great since being placed on a line with Pacioretty and, before his lower-body injury, right Mark Stone. Their chemistry got Karlsson’s hot streak started with a hat trick Feb. 23 against the Anaheim Ducks. Since then he’s been on a roll, which put him within striking distance of 100 even if he didn’t realize it. “It’s a little easier to play now that I don’t have that goal drought hanging over my shoulder,” Karlsson said. “It’s nice to get a couple goals here and just play and have fun.” The Knights’ scouting report on the Devils encouraged players to shoot glove-side on Blackwood. Pacioretty decided to ignore that. Pacioretty scored the game-winning goal in the second period by beating Blackwood blocker-side on a tight angle. He saw an opening and took it for his 31st goal. “I just kind of trust my instincts,” Pacioretty said. “Go down and see what you see and shoot your shot.” Spoken with the confidence of an All-Star and a six-time 30-goal scorer. Right wing Ryan Reaves had an eventful game Tuesday. He scored his eighth goal in the third period in honor of his son Kane’s birthday. He forgot to grab the puck for a present, however. “I always forget to do that when it’s a good day like that,” Reaves said. The bruiser also affectionately laid his shoulder into Lehner after the win. A little initiation for the trade acquisition, perhaps? “Well, he thinks he can body me all the time so I’m just making sure he knows who the alpha male is,” Reaves said.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172203 Washington Capitals After a strong start, Washington slipped in a wild second period. Minor penalties let the Flyers back in the game. Travis Konecny tied the score at 1 with a power-play goal on a rebound 7:06 into the period. Capitals can’t outmuscle Flyers as Metropolitan race tightens The tying goal changed the momentum and the Flyers rode it through the end of the period, scoring again just seconds after their power play expired after the Capitals’ fourth minor penalty of the period. Kevin Hayes punched in the goal at 14:48 after a nifty kick pass from Derek Grant at By Samantha Pell the front of the net. March 4, 2020 at 10:30 PM EST The Flyers extended their lead to 3-1 at 17:05 when Tyler Pitlick beat Holtby on an odd-man rush. Lars Eller met the assembled reporters after Washington’s 5-2 loss to the “[On that play] we get beat up, we get beat back, by their fourth guy,” Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night with blunt honesty: The Capitals Eller said. “Their D jumps up, and we’re not there. I think there’s two are not playing to their own expectations, they haven’t for a few weeks, rushes, actually, we get beat. It’s five guys playing offense and five guys and players up and down the lineup need to step up their play. playing defense, and right now we’re not getting that.” The defeat at Capital One Arena left Washington at 14-14-1 since Dec. Hathaway pulled the Capitals back within one goal, scoring on a nice 23. The Capitals are equal-opportunity underachievers, losing high- feed from Wilson with 1:28 left in the period. It was as artistic as the stakes games such as Wednesday’s to the surging Flyers with hosts’ first goal, but it was the last time they would light the lamp. Metropolitan Division ramifications, and falling to also-rans such as the The Capitals’ opening goal came on a perfectly executed sequence from New Jersey Devils late last month. start to finish. It started with Holtby’s quick outlet pass to Carl Hagelin on The common thread, a few players noted after the most recent loss, is a the left wing. The winger pushed the puck ahead to Richard Panik near lack of execution. The Capitals barely resemble the team that ripped the slot, where Panik found a trailing Eller, who beat Brian Elliott 5:51 into through the early part of the season looking like a threat to win the the game. Presidents’ Trophy. It was Eller’s 16th goal and 38th point, tying the career high in points he “It’s disappointing that we don’t manage to find that game,” Eller said. recorded during the 2017-18 season. “The only game I can think in the last couple weeks that we’ve played like Aside from Eller’s goal, the Capitals’ first period was rather tame until that is maybe Pittsburgh at home where we won. Other than that, I don’t Wilson’s first fight against Flyers center Nate Thompson. Wilson was really think we’ve really played up to the level that we’re capable of in a displeased with Thompson’s hit on Nick Jensen along the boards and while.” took it upon himself to settle the score. The pushing and shoving only Michal Kempny a healthy scratch for first time this season vs. Flyers lingered throughout the night, boiling over again in the second period when Wilson fought Flyers defenseman Robert Hagg, but it gave the The loss left the Capitals (40-20-6, 86 points) just one point clear of the Capitals little life. Flyers (39-20-7) in the Metropolitan. The Penguins (38-21-6) are four points back with a game in hand. “It’s frustrating. . . . We were playing pretty well,” Holtby said. “They just pushed harder. We didn’t commit to the right areas and didn’t give The defeat also marked the ninth consecutive game the Capitals have ourselves a chance to win.” allowed at least three goals. Meanwhile, the Flyers scored four or more goals for the seventh straight game, all wins, the first time they have accomplished that in more than 27 years. Washington Post LOADED: 03.05.2020 “Just a change in effort and mentality, I think,” Eller said of what needs to be altered down the stretch. “We’ve played some brilliant hockey in the first couple months of the season, so we have it within this room. We’ve just got to want it more, I think. It’s a matter of effort and mentality. Go out there and do it right now, because we’re a lot better team than we’ve showed lately.” The Capitals opened with a flourish Wednesday, putting their bottom-six scoring on display and flexing their muscles with chippiness and physical play early. But after a penalty-filled second period, they entered the third period down 3-2. Ilya Kovalchuk, Brenden Dillon finding their way in Washington together The Capitals were booked for five penalties and were shorthanded four times in the middle frame, which started with them leading by a goal. Although only one infraction resulted in a goal, the Flyers outshot the hosts 18-8 in the period and utterly changed the momentum of the game. “If we keep doing that, there is not going to be a future for us,” Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway said. “We got to figure some stuff out. . . . We have to get better, and we have to play better hockey.” Hopes of a comeback fell flat in the third, when Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov beat Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby with a snipe 6:36 into the period before center Scott Laughton sealed the game when his shot deflected off defenseman Dmitry Orlov’s skate with 5:45 remaining. In a night dominated by special-teams play, the Capitals were unable to take advantage of their opportunities and failed to minimize the Flyers’ chances. The teams combined for 14 penalties and 40 penalty minutes, and the Flyers converted one of their five power plays; the Capitals came up empty on their five chances with the man advantage, mustering just three shots on goal. Capitals leaning on veteran experience in increasingly lighthearted room Tom Wilson picked up two fighting majors, one late in the first period and the other late in the second. While the scuffles may have energized the home crowd, they couldn’t prevent the on-ice miscues. “It is a point of strategy, but that was a situation tonight that he’s someone that’s important to our team,” Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said of Wilson’s two trips to the penalty box. “There’s a fine line there.” 1172204 Washington Capitals

Michal Kempny out against Flyers, healthy scratch for the first time this season

By Samantha Pell March 4, 2020 at 3:29 PM EST

Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season Wednesday night, when the team faces the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena. “I just think it’s the right thing to do right now, is to have a reset for him and use this as a chance for us to move forward, get him back on top of his game,” Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said of the recent struggles of the 29-year-old defenseman. “He is going to put some work in here after today and get his game back to where it has been in the past.” Michal Kempny looks to find his game as he navigates a rough stretch With Kempny out, Dmitry Orlov and Nick Jensen will comprise the second defensive pairing, and Jonas Siegenthaler and Radko Gudas will be the third. Orlov will revert to playing on his natural side, instead of being forced to play on his offside when paired with Kempny in the team’s 4-3 win against the Minnesota Wild. Orlov, while “comfortable” on his right side, having played it in Russia until he came to North America, is considered more sound on his left. “Wherever they think, we’re soldiers, you know, we’re going to go and do it,” Orlov said about playing on his offside. “So it doesn’t matter. They want team and everybody play for each other and it make us good team. It’s why we have a success in a long time on this team.” After the acquisition of Brenden Dillon, Siegenthaler had been scratched four times, Gudas twice and now Kempny. Kempny has missed 10 games this season because of injury or illness. He missed the first eight games of the season recovering from a torn hamstring suffered last March. The next two regular season games he missed were Dec. 27 and 28 because of the flu. Ilya Kovalchuk, Brenden Dillon finding their way in Washington together Since then, he has played in every game for the Capitals, but admitted last week before the team’s win in Minnesota that he has struggled. He felt strongly that his one-on-one conversation he had with Reirden before the team’s 3-0 loss to Winnipeg last week would help him get back on track, but he had miscues yet again Sunday night. His late game interference penalty in the third period led to a power-play goal that cut the Capitals’ lead to 4-3. He also was on the ice for the Wild’s first two goals. Kempny hasn’t been the only problem for a Washington team that continues to suffer defensive breakdowns. “We need to be aware and see who’s on the ice, like don’t lose our guy behind [us], don’t leave him,” Orlov said. “It’s big help [for] your partner if he’s involved in offense and we should all look around and see what’s going on. I think it’s big thing and it’s gonna make games, less mistakes you’re gonna make and the better you’re gonna play and the more chances you can use. We’re working on all things in three zones.”

Washington Post LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172205 Washington Capitals the New York Rangers, then visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon.

“We’ve played some brilliant hockey in the first couple months of the Flyers beat Capitals to draw within one point in division race season, so we have it within this room,” Eller said. “We’ve just got to want it more, I think. It’s a matter of effort and mentality. Go out there and do it right now because we’re a lot better team than we’ve showed lately.” By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Washington Times LOADED: 03.05.2020

At the top of the toughest division in the NHL, the margin for error for the Washington Capitals just got much thinner. The Philadelphia Flyers extended their winning streak to seven games and closed within one standings point of the Capitals by beating them 5-2 Wednesday night at Capital One Arena. The Capitals (40-20-6, 86 points) had a chance to create some breathing room for themselves in the Metropolitan Division, but couldn’t stymie the red-hot Flyers (39-20-7, 85 points). Philadelphia finished the season series 3-0-1 against Washington. Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway scored and Braden Holtby made 24 saves for Washington, which finished 0-for-5 on the power play. Penalties dictated the choppy rhythm of the game. Tom Wilson earned himself two five-minute fighting majors, forcing Capitals coach Todd Reirden to shuffle the forward lines while he was off. The Capitals lead the NHL in minor penalties — and they took four in the second period alone, everything from a too-many-men call to a roughing after the whistle. “Definitely at home against a Metro team, that’s not what we’re looking for, that’s for sure,” Reirden said. “Liked our start, liked some physicality at the beginning of the game, and we lost some momentum from some special teams situations.” The Capitals‘ penalty kill ranks fourth in the league, but it finally caved and allowed Travis Konecny to convert a power-play goal — after another one of his shots was ruled “no goal” on inconclusive evidence that the puck crossed the line. Nic Dowd agreed that it was difficult to defend Philadelphia’s power-play unit when the penalties came in bunches in the second. “Same as our guys,” Dowd said. “If you put our top five guys on the ice that many times and they get the feel of the puck, they’re going to make plays. That’s why they’re out there.” But on Wednesday, that wasn’t the case for Alex Ovechkin and company. The Capitals have tried the recently-acquired Ilya Kovalchuk on the second power-play unit, but he’s only managed one point in four games with Washington as the power-play drought extended to 3-for-25 since Feb. 15. The Capitals controlled the period by drawing three Philadelphia penalties, but rather than score on a power play, their opening goal 14 minutes into the game came at even strength. Carl Hagelin chipped a pass ahead to an advancing Richard Panik in the offensive zone, and Panik shoveled a behind-the-back pass to Eller trailing to his right. Eller easily finished for his 16th goal of the year. But all momentum got away from Washington in the second. Even when the Capitals killed penalties, the net wasn’t safe. Shortly after a power- play expired, Derek Grant kicked a pass behind him to set Kevin Hayes up for a back-door goal. Travis Pitlick soon scored to make it three Flyers goals in a 10-minute span. The Capitals struck back before the end of the second. Hathaway drew double-coverage on a rush, so he moved the puck to Tom Wilson, who fed him right back for his second goal in the last four games. “I don’t know who came to hit me, but they went out of position and left Tom open and Tom made a good pass,” Hathaway said. The Flyers lead the NHL in most goals scored by defensemen, and Ivan Provorov added to that total in the third period with a snipe right past Holtby’s glove. The Capitals couldn’t find an answer, and the Flyers‘ Scott Laughton eventually added the cherry on top. It wasn’t all good news for the Flyers, who lost forward James van Riemsdyk to a broken right hand, according to coach Alain Vigneault. He left the game in the first period after taking Jonas Siegenthaler’s shot off his hand and did not return. Much remains at stake for the Capitals this week, with two more Metro games in the next three days. They finish their back-to-back Thursday at 1172206 Washington Capitals Jakub Voracek carried the puck into the offensive zone, pulled up and set up Provorov right when he entered the offensive zone. The backcheck from Alex Ovechkin was late and Provorov had plenty of time to place his shot and beat Holtby glove-side. Penalties derail strong start for Capitals in critical division loss to Flyers Scott Laughton would add an insurance tally later in the third to finish off the 5-2 win. By J.J. Regan March 04, 2020 10:27 PM Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020

WASHINGTON -- The Capitals came ready to play on Wednesday, but the Philadelphia Flyers were ready to finish. A strong start for Washington was derailed by too many penalties in the second period and the Flyers took advantage in a 5-2 win. The win is the seventh straight for Philadelphia and pulls the Flyers to within one point of the Caps for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Here is how Washington lost. The power play Washington drew three penalties in a dominant opening frame, but walked away with only a 1-0 lead as they failed to score on any of their power plays. For the game, Washington had five opportunities and failed to score on any of them. Too many penalties in the 2nd Washington got off to a great start and dominated the first period. It was the best period of hockey from this team in quite some time with the Caps drawing three penalties and taking a 1-0 lead into the locker room. That all went away in the second period as the team was completely derailed by penalties. Evgeny Kuznetsov was called for slashing 77 seconds into the period. Less than 30 seconds after Washington killed that penalty, it was given a very questionable too-many-men penalty. Garnet Hathaway was called for high-sticking to give Philadelphia 12 seconds of a two-man advantage. While the Flyers would not score on the 5-on-3, they finally beat Braden Holtby during the Hathaway penalty kill to get on the board, and the momentum completely shifted. Brenden Dillon made it four penalties in the period with a hit on Scott Laughton well after the whistle, and the Flyers would score just six seconds after that penalty expired. Konecny would not be denied Travis Konecny thought he had the Flyers on the board on the power play when he shot the puck at an open net with Holtby pushed behind the goal line, and into his the goal, because of Tom Wilson's push on Sean Couturier. The puck went underneath Holtby and...disappeared. That's not really an exaggeration. As soon as the puck reached Holtby, it disappeared completely from view and there was no camera angle that could find it. Because of that, it was called no goal. Just seconds later, however, Konecny planted himself next to Holtby, the rebound came to him and he left no doubt about this one, making it 1-1 with the power-play goal. A beautiful kick You have to tip your hat to Derek Grant on this one. Nicolas Aube-Kubel pushed a backhand pass to the front of the net and Grant deftly kicked it off the back of his ankle to Kevin Hayes, who was ready for the slam dunk at the back post. A quick counter The Caps' second line got caught deep in the offensive zone as a centering pass from Jakub Vrana was picked off in front sparking the counter-attack from Philadelphia. The turnover saw the Caps' divided in half as all five Flyers moved up on Jonas Siegenthaler and Radko Gudas with all three forwards caught trailing. Philadelphia drew the defense to one side, with Grant on the wall. His pass to Michael Raffl took Siegenthaler out of the play. Gudas dove to cut off the passing lane, but Raffl curled around him and passed back to the trailing Tyler Pitlick who was wide-open because the backcheck was nowhere close to him. Pitlick scored to make it 3-1. Provorov's knockout Garnet Hathaway scored late in the second to pull within one and the crowd was pumped by both that goal and Wilson's second fight of the game. Whatever momentum the team hoped to have coming into the third period was extinguished by Ivan Provorov's goal to make it 4-2. 1172207 Washington Capitals Todd Reirden shuffling the seven players he has available to him is going to solve this defense. The same can be said about the power play which continues to fizzle in important moments. Lars Eller says 'we need more from everybody' after ugly loss to Flyers "You have to make adjustments with players that are playing at the top of their game and others that aren't and you've got to make sure that if there's not, that they're held accountable and not used in those situations," Reirden said. "That's something we'll continue to do, and I By J.J. Regan think that's still the best way to get players to play at a higher level." March 04, 2020 11:00 PM Considering how well the team played through the first half of the season, you know they are better than how they are playing. They are not as good as they started and not as bad as they are now. It always Lars Eller had some strong words for the Capitals after a disappointing 5- lies somewhere in the middle. With every passing day, however, it is 2 loss the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. beginning to feel more and more like they are much closer to the low-end of that spectrum than the high-end. This game turned completely in the second period with all the penalties the Caps took. I saw the reaction on Twitter that people were upset with Turning point the refs. Garnet Hathaway was as well. The first period was one of the best periods the Caps have played in “I can’t decide what the ref calls and what they don’t," Hathaway said. "I several weeks. They dominated drawing three penalties and taking a 1-0 thought we were physical tonight and I thought guys had a lot of clean lead into the locker room. hits.” That all went away in the second period as the team was completely Nope, I'm not buying it. derailed by penalties. The too-many-men call on the Caps was egregiously terrible. Otherwise, Evgeny Kuznetsov was called for slashing 77 seconds into the period. those were all good calls. That was a slash by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Less than 30 seconds after Washington killed that penalty, it was given a that was a high-stick by Hathaway. Brenden Dillon's hit on Scott very questionable too-many-men penalty. Garnet Hathaway was called Laughton was egregiously late, as in several seconds after the whistle for high-sticking to give Philadelphia 12 seconds of a two-man was blown late. You can't have that. advantage. While the Flyers would not score on the 5-on-3, they finally beat Braden Holtby during the Hathaway penalty kill to get on the board, OK, but where were the calls on the Flyers? My answer to that is would it and the momentum completely shifted. have mattered? Both teams had the same number of power plays. Philadelphia had five power plays and scored once, plus another right Play of the game after Dillon's penalty expired. Washington had five power plays and did not score on any of them. There was great puck movement all around on Lars Eller's goal, but Richard Panik set it up with this beautiful behind-the-back pass. You can't take those penalties and you have to actually take advantage on the power play. The start of this game was brilliant for Washington, but they walked away with one goal because they could not score on any Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.05.2020 of their three power plays. That's on the team, not the refs. A bad matchup If you were putting together a list of the worst playoff matches for the Caps, you can probably put Philadelphia at the top of that list. Washington has lost the last two games against the Flyers by a combined score of 12-4, and both of those games were at Capital One Arena. Just about everything the Caps are really struggling with right now are the things Philadelphia does well. Net-front presence? Check. Special teams? Yep. Quick counter attacks? You betcha. Washington isn't going to beat anyone if they don't play better than they are now, but especially the Flyers. Now what? Guys, it's time to be concerned. We have gone well beyond the point where we can continue calling this just a simple slump. They are 14-14-1 since Dec. 23. That's over a quarter of the season. During that time, Washington ranks 22nd in points, 13th in goals per game, 27th in goals against per game, 21st on the power play and 16th on the penalty kill. When asked what specifically the team needed to improve on, Lars Eller had a laundry list of items. "Net-front battles. Execution of passes. There's a lot of passes we don't execute that turns into chances. There's a lot of rushes. Today we get beat up, we get beat back by their fourth guy. Their D jumps up and we're not there. I think there's two rushes, actually, we get beat. It's five guys playing offense and five guys playing defense, and right now we're not getting that. And also, before that happens, we're turning over pucks in the offensive zone, neutral zone, making poor decisions. So poor decisions lead to just not stacking the deck in our favor and then you're going to lose games." To make matters worse, there is no combination on defense that has proven itself to be up to snuff. Michal Kempny was the healthy scratch on Wednesday and it is was not as if the defense performed any better. John Carlson continues to struggle, Nick Jensen -- who had been playing well recently -- completely fell apart towards the end of the game, Radko Gudas keeps making poor decisions with the puck and Jonas Siegenthaler keeps giving up inside positioning. It does not appear that 1172208 Washington Capitals

Caps' Tom Wilson drops the gloves twice against the Flyers in his first fights since December

By Eric Myers March 04, 2020 7:50 PM

For years, Tom Wilson has served as the undisputed enforcer on the Capitals. It used to be his primary role. But since expanding his offensive game and becoming a key cog in the Capitals' goal-scoring production, Wilson has been wiser about picking his battles. Wilson hadn't dropped the gloves since Dec. 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but that changed in Wednesday's rivalry game against the Philadelphia Flyers with two fights. After Philadelphia's Nate Thompson drove Wilson into the boards during a chase for the puck, the Capitals forward sprung to his feet ready to scrap. The officials tried to intervene, but Wilson and Thompson weren't deterred and dropped the gloves. The two exchanged right-handed jabs while fighting for leverage. Wilson landed the majority of the swings exchanged before Thompson brought Wilson to the ice to diffuse the fight. During the closing stages of the second period, Wilson and Robert Hagg exchanged blows in an even scrum before the Capitals' enforcer brought the Flyers defenseman to the ice. Hagg came to the defense of his team's captain, Claude Giroux, after Wilson delivered a hit on the forward. There's always intensity when these two longtime rivals square off. But this game carried an added weight with the playoff implications attached, as the Capitals entered Wednesday night with a three-point lead over the Flyers for the metropolitan division lead. With the heightened intensity of the game, Wilson didn't shy away from setting the tone in the first period and second periods. Wednesday's two-fight game was the first time Wilson has had more than one scrap in a regular-season game in his NHL career — though he did have a multi-fight game against Boston in the preseason before the 2015-16 season, according to Hockey Fights. The third fight from the same player in a single game results in an ejection. It was Wilson's first two fights since the calendar switched to 2020 — and just his fourth of the season — as the Capitals rely on his goal-scoring production. The right-winger has a career-high 42 points on 21 goals and 21 assists in 65 games this season. Before becoming a consistent contributor on the offensive end, the seven-year pro's fight totals hovered around and above double-digits in a season.

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Here are the celebration songs you will hear when Ilya Kovalchuk, Brenden Dillon score

By Mike DePrisco March 04, 2020 6:22 PM

Now that the NHL trade deadline has passed and the Capitals can settle in with new additions Brenden Dillon and Ilya Kovalchuk, the team released a new goal song playlist Wednesday. Before you panic, Caps fans, the staples haven't changed. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson's songs will all stay the same. The only changes include Michal Kempny, Jakub Vrana, Tom Wilson and Dmitry Orlov, while Dillon and Kovalchuk have officially made their selections for their new home arena. In six games with the Caps after he was acquired from the Sharks via trade, Dillon hasn't scored or notched any points, though he's already won over the hearts of fans by getting involved in a few scruffs with opposing players. Kovalchuk hasn't scored either in his first three games with Washington, but that shouldn't hold for long. The Capitals acquired the 36-year-old winger for his ability to provide a needed level of scoring depth.

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T.J. Oshie breaks down his pregame handshake rituals with his Capitals teammates

By Matt Weyrich March 04, 2020 6:15 PM

Athletes are commonly known to be very superstitious, often devising pregame rituals and sticking to strict routines that they believe help them as a player during games or matches. Capitals forward T.J. Oshie is no different. When he was traded to Washington in 2015, he brought an energetic personality to a team that had just suffered yet another devastating playoff loss—this one in overtime of Game 7 in the second round. As he grew into one of the team’s leaders over the years, one of the things Oshie started in the locker room was pregame handshakes. He created individual routines with several of his teammates and would run through each of them in the tunnel prior to puck drop. In an interview with Roger Bennett on a special hockey edition of the Men in Blazers show, Oshie walked Bennett through each of the handshakes. First up is always Evgeny Kuznetsov. “Kuzy is the first guy that I handshake,” Oshie said. “We go to each other and lock each other’s elbows, almost like you were dancing.” John Carlson? “Little hop at the start and then a high high five, into the elbows.” Nicklas Backstrom? “I don’t think this one’s appropriate for TV,” he said as he leaned over laughing. And of course, Alex Ovechkin. “Three hard high fives, until my shoulder almost breaks,” Oshie said. “And then a really hard elbow. And then a chest bump. And then we say, ‘Let’s F-ing go.’” Are there ramifications for screaming into each other’s faces like that? “You get spit on a little bit, depending on when the guy drank his Gatorade last.” Out on the ice, Oshie has yet another ritual—this one with forward Tom Wilson. They take turns using their sticks to hit each other in some, well, sensitive areas. It’s taken very seriously. “We’ve got some different things going,” Oshie said. “Depending on if we lost the last game, if we won we’ll do the same thing. So there’s a little bit of superstition there depending on what we tap, how hard we tap it and how we do it.” But as fun as all these handshakes and body shots are, Oshie does them for a reason. “When you do it one or two times, it’s just a little handshake and you’re just having fun,” Oshie said. “I think when you do it for a full season, you get to the playoffs and you’re going out for a third period and you really need to be on top of your game, and you stick to your routine, it really becomes a bond. “Some people say that you need a little hatred on a team or sometimes you’ve got to play with guys that you dislike. I’m not that way. I think you have to care about the person that’s next to you, and that’s a way to build that bond and that care.”

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Caps vs. Flyers: Kempny scratched in key matchup between Washington and Philadelphia

By J.J. Regan March 04, 2020 10:45 AM

The Capitals (40-19-6) host the Philadelphia Flyers (38-20-7) on Wednesday in a key Metropolitan Division clash. Catch the game on NBCSN with pregame coverage on NBC Sports Washington and postgame coverage on NBC Sports Washington Plus. Tune in to NBC Sports Washington for pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. with Caps FaceOff Live followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30 p.m. Head over to NBCSN for the game, then tune in to NBC Sports Washington Plus for postgame coverage with Caps Postgame Live and Caps Overtime Live. Here is what you need to know for Wednesday's game. Standings watch Washington enters this game with a three-point lead atop the Metro Division. Philadelphia, however, is hot on the Caps' heels in second place after winning six straight. None of those six wins have come against teams in the top three in their division, however, so Wednesday's game is a big one for Philadelphia as well to prove they are a serious contender and not just hot. A win for the Caps will helpt the team further its claim as the top dog in the division, while a regulation loss will pull the Flyers to within one point. And while these two teams battle on Wednesday, don't forget about the Pittsburgh Penguins who snapped a six-game losing streak on Tuesday to pull within one point of Philadelphia for second place. When last we met The Caps and Flyers last met on Feb. 8 in Washington. The game was a complete debacle for the Caps who lost 7-2 in a game that was probably even worse than the score indicated. Alex Ovechkin had pulled to within two goals of reaching 700 in the game prior, but his celebration was put on hold as he was held off the scoresheet completely by Philadelphia. Braden Holtby was pulled in the third period after giving up all seven goals. The defense, which has been a weakness for much of the season looked at its absolute worst as both Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux tallied three points. Here is the recap from that game. Wednesday's game will be the fourth and final meeting between these two teams this season. The Caps hold a 1-2-0 record against the Flyers. With Washington starting a stretch of three games in four days, including a back-to-back on Wednesday against the Flyers and the New York Rangers on Thursday, the goalies will split the goaltending duties. Per Todd Reirden, Braden Holtby will get the start on Wednesday looking to overcome the seven-goal debacle from February. Ilya Samsonov, meanwhile, will get the start on Thursday in New York. Watch those faceoffs Claude Giroux (59.3) and Sean Couturier (59.2) rank No. 1 and 2 in the NHL in faceoff win percentage for all players with at least 500 faceoffs taken this season. Boy have they had a field day against the Caps. In each of the last two meetings, Washington failed to win 30-percent of the draws. Even if you do not put much stock into faceoffs as a stat, less than 30-percent is a bit extreme.

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From San Jose to Washington: Brenden Dillon adjusts to life on the East Coast

By J.J. Regan March 04, 2020 6:00 AM

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Brenden Dillon learned quickly that he wasn't in San Jose anymore. On his first night in the Washington area after getting traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Washington Capitals, Dillon was not exactly dressed for the cold. "Shorts and sandals," he said after his first skate with the team. "I had my California backpack with me so yeah it wasn't too bad, just walking around the area here. Yeah, definitely not in San Jose but at the same time, it was great weather in my opinion. I'm a Canadian boy so not too bad at all." Just in terms of hockey, Dillon lucked out at the trade deadline. He went from a Sharks team that was well out of playoff contention to the Capitals who currently lead the Metropolitan Division and who are just two years removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup. Off the ice, however, Dillon traded the sunny skies of California for the grayer and colder February in Washington, D.C. Weather, however, is just one aspect of Dillon's new life that will require some getting used to. The transition to a new team and a new city can often be a difficult one for players, especially at the trade deadline with little time left in the season to adjust. There are a lot of aspects to a player making that transition, more than just switching from shorts to pants. “Time zone is probably the biggest thing," Dillon said after practice on Tuesday. "Getting used to 7:00 is 10:00 now and so on and overall it has been great. Both areas are great cities to live in. I mean the fan base has been unbelievable since day one when I got here and again I’ve been spending most of my time here around the guys here around the rink … everyone has been very welcoming, which makes the transition a lot easier.” Dillon is currently staying in a hotel by himself. His girlfriend is back in San Jose, but is planning on coming later in the season. While living out of a hotel may not sound all that appealing, Dillon plans on remaining there for the rest of the season. "It’s a great set up there, it’s nice and close," he said. "Great restaurants, great stuff to do around here and a lot of guys live in the area if you need a ride.” Dillon has been positive on just about every aspect of the move from west to east while also acknowledging the difficulties involved. To help with that transition, Dillon has found an unexpected ally. In addition to Dillon, Washington also acquired forward Ilya Kovalchuk before the trade deadline as well. Kovalchuk knows several of the team's Russian players and is good friends with Ovechkin. Despite that, Kovalchuk is also living out of the hotel and has spent a fair amount of time with Dillon since coming to Washington. "When the guys come back home they have kids and families," Kovalchuk said, "And I don’t want be another kid in their house.” "Pretty much every day [Kovalchuk's] been inviting me for dinner," Dillon said, "And we’ve been getting to know one another and chatting about life. He’s obviously a little different than me." Having another player going through the same struggles as he is has helped Dillon through this process. "Feels like you are not just in a hotel," he said. "Feels like you are at least some familiarity and with guys who are going through the same stuff you are and for the both of us, learn the systems in the area, I think there are some common kind of venturing out we can do together." A successful transition off the ice should hopefully aid in his transition with the team and that's important considering Dillon has stepped into a first-pair role right away. Having Kovalchuk to aid him will help, but first, he needs to get some pants.

1172213 Washington Capitals switched it to his choice, which was the dab. And we’ve been winning. So we’ve found what works for us.”

If there’s a leader of the pregame wackiness, it’s Oshie, the team’s ‘These guys got a lot of handshakes’ – How Brenden Dillon got into resident spark plug. Caps’ routine In fact, Oshie initiates the loudest moment in the tunnel. First Oshie hurls himself into Ovechkin, who’s got him by three inches and about 40 pounds, then the two players scream, “Let’s fucking go!” at the top of By Tarik El-Bashir their lungs, just inches from each other’s face. Mar 4, 2020 “The first time I saw that was just thinking, these guys are ready to go!” Dillon said. “When you’ve got your big boys fired up like that, it’s pretty contagious and everyone gets going. That was kind of my ‘Welcome to ARLINGTON, Va. – Anyone who’s watched a Capitals game on the Washington Capitals’ moment.” television in recent years has no doubt taken note of the team’s hilarious Oshie added: “We got it going with Dilly now. He fits in so well here. He pump-up routine in the tunnel. already seems like one of the guys. It’s been a great fit.” The chest bumps. The intricate handshakes. The Chewbacca sounds. When Dillon’s friends and family saw the video of him interacting with his The, um, cup check. new teammates, they expressed surprise at how quickly he’d assimilated It’s as big a part of the Caps’ pregame as dumping a few dozen pucks on into the Caps’ culture. the ice and firing wrist shots at the goalie. “I got quite a few messages after that (video) saying, ‘Jeez, you’ve only But it can also be an intimidating place for a player who shows up been there for a week,'” he said. midseason, especially that first time he witnesses the weirdness up “But, like I’ve been trying to tell as many people as I can, the guys here close. have been awesome. They really make you feel part of the group. They Just ask Brenden Dillon. don’t want anyone feeling left out.” Or better yet, just watch Brenden Dillon: The secret handshakes, however, aren’t for everyone; some players are good with a simple tap of the gloves. That was prior to Dillon’s debut with the Capitals on Feb. 20. But there’s no judging; it’s whatever works for each individual. “I was kinda like, ‘These guys got a lot of handshakes. I might need to get ready a couple of minutes early to get out on time,'” he said of his For Dillon, it was clear from the beginning which option he’d chose. initial impression. “It was just crazy to see how close the guys are on the “I wanted to be part of the group,” he said. “So, whatever I’ve got to do to team and how much fun they are having. But the thing is (despite) how fit in. You tie your skates, put your helmet on and get the handshakes much fun they have, once the puck is dropped, they flipped that switch. ” going. It’s part of the routine now.” Dillon wanted in on the craziness, and the Caps were happy to have him. “At first you’re just kinda handshaking everyone that comes by, or just fist The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 bumps,” he said of his first couple of games in Washington. “Then it was kinda like, ‘Hey, we need something here. This is too bland.’ Then it was, ‘How about you do some homework tonight? Go home, YouTube, whatever, find something.'” Dillon brought some ideas back to the room. His teammates did, too. “It turned from fist bumps to Osh (T.J. Oshie) saying, ‘Hey, how about we do this?’ Then it was Hags (Carl Hagelin) saying, ‘How about we do this?’ Then it was Willy (Tom Wilson), ‘How about we do this?’ And then O (Alex Ovechkin), ‘How about we do this?'” Dillon said. Fast forward five games, and now he’s a fully initiated member of the madness. Yes, he and Hagelin take turns tucking their flowing locks behind their ears. “It’s almost like we’re looking in the mirror at each another,” Dillon cracked. “Just one had darker hair and one had blonde hair. So we figured the hair thing worked.” Dillon greets similarly rugged Garnet Hathaway with an aggressive bump, then both do a bicep flex. He chest-bumps Nic Dowd. He fist-pounds Wilson, making sure they tap the backside of their wrists twice. “It’s like one of those handshakes like from ‘The Mighty Ducks,'” Dillon explained with a smile. He and Radko Gudas do a fist bump, then blow it up. Dillon’s interaction with Ovechkin is the most involved one of them all: They square up, raise their sticks, tap the blades twice and yell, ‘Dilly, Dilly.” “The first time, O said, ‘Dilly, Dilly,” Dillon recounted. “After that, I just figured I’d join him.” When Dillon sees Oshie in the tunnel, first they high-five, then they dab. But that wasn’t always their routine, Oshie explained. “There was nothing at first and then we did the salute from ‘The Last Castle,’ where they would salute and then put their hand behind their head,” Oshie said. “Then we lost a couple games in a row, so we 1172214 Winnipeg Jets I'd also consider getting UFA Nathan Beaulieu back in the fold, provided the price is right for a bottom-pairing defender. He's not only a solid depth option, but oozes character and is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good, whether it's a painful shot block or a well-timed scrap. Jets GM about to shed austerity manacles, do some talent shopping Wheeler has called him one of the best teammates he's ever had. Beyond that, it would be wise to scour the market for some additional help that would be improvements over other UFA defencemen, including By: Mike McIntyre Kulikov, Luca Sbisa and Anthony Bitetto. Posted: 03/4/2020 5:22 PM Some intriguing options around the league include Calgary's Travis Hamonic, the pride of St. Malo, who is a physically imposing presence the Jets could surely use. Same with Brandon's Joel Edmundson, You may not like their championship odds this spring, but hold off on currently patrolling the blue line for Carolina. Brendan Dillon, acquired by writing the obituary for the Winnipeg Jets. Any reports of the death of the Washington at the trade deadline from San Jose, would also check off team's Stanley Cup aspirations are greatly exaggerated. many of the required boxes to get bigger and tougher on the back end. With a strong core from the draft-and-develop model locked in to long- Of course, the need for outside help could be mitigated if prospects Ville term deals and the organization vowing to be a salary-cap team while Heinola and Dylan Samberg push for full-time work with the big club next their window of opportunity remains open, general manager Kevin year. The smooth-skating Heinola impressed in his eight-game audition Cheveldayoff is about to have plenty of freedom to reload his roster for earlier this season before returning to Finland for another year, while the several more deep runs, regardless of how the current season plays out. rugged Samberg is in his final college season with two-time defending champion Minnesota-Duluth and still needs to be signed by the Jets. No, you won't find any photos of Cheveldayoff overlooking the Las Vegas strip while holding a makeshift money phone in his hands. Unlike one of As a result, the state of the defence looks a lot more promising these his former players, that's not his style, but there's no question he will days. have stacks of cash to play with this summer, both internally and externally. Up front, the Jets have a number of depth players slated to walk this summer, including Cody Eakin, Nick Shore, Gabriel Bourque, Mark Even more so than initially forecast, in fact, with the NHL revealing Letestu and Logan Shaw. Little's status will impact how desperate the Wednesday that next year's salary cap ceiling is predicted to come in need is at forward. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit is also a pending UFA, between US$84 million and $88.2 million, a sharp rise from the current so if he doesn't re-sign, a new backup will need to be found. US$81.5-million maximum. Fortunately, the Jets' newfound financial flexibility will make it a lot easier That should be raising plenty of eyebrows around these parts, and, to fix some of these holes on the fly, unlike last year when salary-cap perhaps, season-ticket prices for years to come. constraints led to Trouba, Tyler Myers, Ben Chiarot and Brandon Tanev all finding new homes. As of today, the Jets have 14 current roster players under contract for next year with a combined cap hit of US$65.9 million: forwards Blake As Evander Kane showed us a few years ago — and as Cheveldayoff is Wheeler, Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little, Nikolaj about to experience this summer — money can indeed talk. Ehlers, Mathieu Perreault, Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp; defencemen Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Tucker Poolman and Carl Dahlstrom; and Now it's up to the GM to make sure he uses it wisely. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The list doesn't include suspended defenceman Dustin Byfuglien and his Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 03.05.2020 US$7.6-million cap hit. The soon-to-be 35-year-old is expected to reach a contract termination with the Jets in the near future, wiping his money off the books. Add it all up and there could be more than US$22 million for nine more players to fill out next year's 23-man roster. That number could go up if Little's season-ending head-ear injury isn't fully healed and he's unable to resume playing, moving him to long-term injured reserve and clearing further cap space. Four of those spots are essentially spoken for. Forwards Jack Roslovic, Mason Appleton and Jansen Harkins, and defenceman Sami Niku are pending restricted free agents who need new deals. They currently make a combined US$3.2 million on their entry level contracts. None will be commanding a ransom at this point in their careers, the way previous RFAs such as Laine and Connor did last summer. Their pay hikes will be modest. That will still leave a pile of dough for July 1 free agency and/or trades in which salary gets added. Cheveldayoff can cast a wide net, and he shouldn't have to look far to find at least one solution. Defenceman Dylan DeMelo has come as advertised since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators days before last month's trade deadline. The 26-year-old pending UFA is smooth, smart and seems to make all the right reads and decisions, which is what his underlying metrics suggested. He also boosts the play of those around him. I'd argue the blue-line pairings rolled out by coach in Tuesday night's 3-1 win over Buffalo were the best we've seen all year, with DeMelo and Morrissey matched together for the first time. Kulikov- Pionk and Beaulieu-Poolman were the others. Cheveldayoff should be on the phone with DeMelo's agent daily finding out what it will take to get his name on a multi-year extension. The Ontario product, who grew up playing minor hockey with Scheifele, is a great fit for the Jets. DeMelo should ultimately help Morrissey's game settle after an up-and-down year that included the loss of longtime partner Jacob Trouba and a rotating cast of skaters to his right, which only enhances his value. Keeping him around beyond this season should be a top priority. 1172215 Winnipeg Jets What really sets the Jets’ schedule apart is the number of games against fellow Western Conference playoff hopefuls.

Seven of their remaining games are against Calgary (twice), Vancouver, Jets' history suggests they won't be big spenders in summer Minnesota, Nashville and Arizona (twice), who were all within two points of the Jets, in either direction, going into Wednesday night.

That should make for one mad scramble to the finish. Paul Friesen More than once, Jets captain Blake Wheeler has pointed to the last half March 4, 2020 8:54 PM CST of the game in Washington, Feb. 25, as a turning point for the team. Most recently, he did it after Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Buffalo. That giant exhale you heard on Wednesday was the sound of some of “We turned the page a little bit in Washington,” Wheeler said. “We got our the freer-spending NHL general managers breathing sighs of relief at the pace right. We saw what a Stanley Cup-contending team looked like and salary cap projections for next season. how they play the game. They don’t make a whole lot of plays in the neutral zone trying to create offence. They just got pucks in with a ton of Word out of Florida, where the GM’s huddled to address everything from speed and forechecked the heck out of us. That’s a pretty effective way emergency backup goalies to the coronavirus, has the spending limit for to play the game.” each team increasing by at least $2.5 million, and by as much as $6.7 million, for 2020-21. It wears the opponent out, Wheeler added. That means Winnipeg Jets brass will go into the summer with even fatter So the Jets adopted the same approach. wallets than they thought they’d have. “We’ve stopped trying to look for manufacturing offence out of nothing,” With the salaries of Dustin Byfuglien ($7.6 million cap hit) and Dmitry he said. Kulikov ($4.3 million) coming off the books — yes, the Byfuglien mess should be behind the Jets by then — Winnipeg’s Kevin Cheveldayoff will The Jets have picked up at least a point in three of four games since, and be Mr. Money Bags as he hits the aisles of hockey’s free-agent including, that game. supermarket. The last half of the Washington game also marked the reunion of the Some $18 million in cap room, at least, will be stuffed into the man’s Wheeler-Scheifele-Connor line, which has been on fire since, scoring suitcase, keeping in mind he needs to set a small pile aside for restricted seven times. free agent Jack Roslovic and probably another in case unrestricted free But it’s also made the Jets a bit of a one-trick pony. agent Dylan DeMelo wants to return. Since they were put back together, a member of that top trio has scored But for Jets fans dreaming of all-star acquisitions that will instantly make or assisted on nine of Winnipeg’s 11 goals. this team a Stanley Cup contender again, there’s probably no reason to get excited. Only Ehlers’ goal in that Washington game (assisted by Cody Eakin) and fourth-liner Logan Shaw’s in Edmonton, Saturday (Nick Shore), came Because if the last nine summers have taught us anything, it’s that with the top line on the bench. Cheveldayoff barely stops to glance at the luxury items on display at the front of the store, let alone put them in his shopping cart. We can’t see that continuing if the Jets want to reach the promised land. Nope, it’s straight to the hardware department for a useful part or two that won’t break the bank. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 03.05.2020 Cheveldayoff’s most significant free-agent signing from previous summers is probably forward Mathieu Perreault. Last year the best Cheveldayoff could do/afford was defencemen Nathan Beaulieu and Anthony Bitetto. Other years have brought the occasional pricey item, like Kulikov, goalie Steve Mason and forward Olli Jokinen, but all that proves is that early July is the month to overpay for things. Cheveldayoff usually goes for more cost-effective purchases in free agency, like goalie Laurent Brossoit, forward Shawn Matthias and defenceman Adam Pardy. Keep in mind, too, we’re talking about Winnipeg here. Not exactly the NHL’s top free-agent destination. You have to overpay, and then add a tip. Being fully aware of that, the Jets have built their foundation through the draft. The enticement of playing with up-and-coming offensive talents like Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine and Nik Ehlers certainly can’t hurt in trying to lure, say, a blue-chip defenceman to Manitoba. Waving some extra green in his face can’t hurt, either. But it’s much more likely the Jets will continue to shop in the blue-collar aisle, regardless of how many bills Cheveldayoff has in his sack of cash. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH … Tuesday’s win over the also-running Buffalo Sabres under their belts, the Jets are in for stiffer tests from here on and will have earned their playoff spot, if they get it. Of their remaining 14 games, starting with visiting Vegas on Friday, all but one are against teams either in a playoff spot or within two points of one going into Wednesday’s schedule. The only team with fading hope left on Winnipeg’s agenda is Florida, and even the Panthers were just five points out of the post-season mix in the Eastern Conference. 1172216 Vancouver Canucks The Soderberg goal was absurd. Other than the goal that bounced in off Dan Cloutier’s back in their 2003

Game 7 meltdown against the Minnesota Wild, there may not be a Coyotes 4, Canucks 2: The bounces keep going the other way stranger goal in Canucks history. To recap, since you may still not believe it happened: Oscar Fantenberg fired the puck around the boards from behind the Canucks goal. The PATRICK JOHNSTON flying disc deflected off Soderberg’s stick and flipped up in the air, over the net and bounced into the goal off Demko’s shoulder. March 4, 2020 11:43 PM PST Sometimes the hockey gods seem to be in need of a laugh.

“Kind of lost it for a second. Saw it was coming towards the back of my When it rains, it pours. head there, so just tried to seal the post as quickly as I could, but it After the Canucks played a fantastic 50 minutes in Columbus on Sunday, ended up hitting me in the back of the head and it found its way in,” they couldn’t close the deal and found themselves on the losing end to Demko said. the Blue Jackets. A bounce like that It wasn’t quite the same story Wednesday at , but the Schmaltz’s goal was nearly as bizarre, coming after a crazy bounce off Canucks, despite fighting back in the third to take the lead, still found the end boards and Troy Stecher foot before landing on Soderberg’s themselves looking to the heavens after a pair of cruel bounces proved to stick. be the difference in a 4-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Soderberg quickly flipped the puck to the alert Schmaltz, who took the Despite falling behind in the first period on one of the strangest goals puck and lofted it over the scrambling Demko. you’ll ever see, the Canucks controlled much of the play and seemed to be pouring it on in the third period. The Tocchet defence There were a pair of hard-fought, hard-won goals off the sticks of Tyler If there’s one thing we’ve come to learn about Arizona coach Rick Toffoli and Tanner Pearson. Tocchet’s preferred style of hockey, it’s the heavy emphasis on defence. And then there was another bad bounce, leading to the tying goal by the So when his team went up 1-0 on the ludicrous Soderberg goal, you Coyotes. knew it was likely to be an even tougher task for the Canucks’ attackers to get inside for quality shots. A bad vibe then hung in the air. For all this hard work, surely things couldn’t go badly again. Even with all the possession the Canucks had, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Coyotes limited the Canucks to just five high-danger chances And then they did. in the second and third periods. The Canucks have now played well in three-straight games but have Post-game, Tocchet was openly proud of his team’s resolve and effort to nothing to show for their efforts. find the win late. “I liked our game again tonight. And some people might not like me “I thought the first period, we had a really good first… we had 16 shots. I saying that, but man, that was a hockey game. Felt like a playoff game,” liked our game and then the second, I think that’s when the Canucks coach Travis Green said. “I thought both teams played well. They got two started to come. They were hitting the weak side with their speed. We lucky bounces and that’s what it came down to.” were backing in a little bit too much, obviously Kuemper was there, he “I’d imagine the guys are frustrated. I know as coaches we are a little bit,” made some great stops for us. But they’re dangerous, the Canucks, he went on. “We’ve played three good hockey games in a row. But that’s they’ve got some high end forwards over there. So just to give them two the way the game goes sometimes. All you can do is get ready to play goals, yeah that’s a nice thing for us.” the next game. This one will sting for a while … and that’s all right.” Hughes played, but gingerly The Canucks’ goals were scored by Toffoli and Pearson, while Carl Quinn Hughes was deemed day-to-day on Tuesday. So was Tyler Myers. Soderberg “scored” the first goal for Arizona and Nick Schmaltz added Both were “banged up,” coach Travis Green said. the second. Lawson Crouse scored the winner, tipping home a point shot shortly after Schmaltz’s tally. The duo of Guillaume Brisebois and Jalen Chatfield, who have both played the role of seventh defenceman for the Canucks this season but Here’s what we learned… have both yet to play a game, got called up. Toffoli can snipe Hughes didn’t skate on Wednesday morning, but Myers did. Given his reputation, it’s come as no surprise that Toffoli can score in a But Hughes played and Myers didn’t. The rookie defenceman had multitude of ways. flashes of his usual self, but on the whole looked stiff. He even took an Wednesday’s tally was one that had not yet been seen from the former early tripping penalty when Phil Kessel eluded him on a Coyotes rush. Los Angeles King in Vancouver. Toffoli picked the top corner over the Post-game he admitted a hit by the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Alexander right shoulder of Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper, from a standing position Wennberg on Sunday had tweaked something, leaving him stiff at the toughest of angles. afterwards. He has five goals in seven games for the Canucks, giving him 23 goals “I don’t think there was any doubt,” he said of whether he was going to on the season. That ties him for the third-highest total of his career. play. “We’ve got 16 games left so like no matter the injury, I would have He scored 23 goals in 2014-15 and 31 a year later. He had 24 goals in played the amount of severity, we’re trying to make a playoff push.” 2017-18. Pearson did two things to get his goal. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.05.2020 First, when Jake Virtanen was springing himself loose on a rush down the left wing, Pearson fought hard to get himself in position to either take a pass from his teammate or find the loose puck on top of Kuemper’s crease. The second was simply driving to the net, looking for loose change. He found it. “I knew Pearse always drives the net,” Virtanen said of the sequence. “Obviously you want to shoot and score and then he drives the net, does the hard work and rewards himself with a goal.” A goal like that 1172217 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Game Day: ‘Banged-up’ defence to be tested by prowling Coyotes

PATRICK JOHNSTON March 4, 2020 5:00 AM PST

The Arizona Coyotes are fighting for their playoff lives. Winger Taylor Hall was brought in to shore up the Desert Dogs’ offence. The former MVP has just one goal in the past nine games — the ‘Yotes need more. Hall will likely be up against Quinn Hughes — if the latter plays. The rookie defenceman didn’t practise with his teammates on Tuesday, but did skate on his own afterwards. Head coach Travis Green said Hughes could still play Wednesday. FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Saves It’s been a shaky week for Canucks backup Thatcher Demko. He has played better. He knows he can be better. He’s confident he’ll be better against the Coyotes. 2. Defence health Hughes wasn’t the only defenceman absent from practice on Tuesday; Tyler Myers was also out. Both are “banged up,” Green said. Consider them day-to-day, he said. The Canucks called up both Guillaume Brisebois and Jalen Chatfield from Utica (AHL) to cover for the duo. Brisebois hasn’t suited up for the Canucks this season, but did skate in eight games last year. Chatfield has yet to make his NHL debut. 3. Home cooking Rogers Arena remains a fortress for the Canucks; their record at home is 20-7-4. They’ve been masters of the last change and situational matchups at home. The last time they played here was the record-setting 9-3 win over the Bruins. That game defined everything that’s gone right for the Canucks at home this season. 4. Potent power play The Canucks’ power play is suddenly humming again. It’s back up to third in the league. They’ve scored 11 power-play goals over their last 11 games. While there was some worry for a time from the outside that their man advantage, which on paper looks as potent as it’s proved to be in real life, that worry is gone. When it was in a mini swoon a month ago, a defiant Hughes said he wasn’t sweating it. “I get this question every three weeks when the PP’s not doing well,” he said. “I say the same thing every time: that’s just the way it goes.” 5. Healthy goalie We know very well what it means to lose your No. 1 netminder. The Coyotes lived that nightmare all too well in recent weeks with Darcy Kuemper on the shelf. He’s now back. They need him as they fight to grab a playoff spot.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172218 Vancouver Canucks A valid criticism of this team is that they’re porous defensively and reliant on their goaltending. But when you break down those issues, a lot of them such as the controlled entries against is an indictment on the blue line rather than any systems issue that Green would actually have control The Dayal Files: The Travis Green debate, truth about Tyler Myers’ value over. The fact that Loui Eriksson has lasted so long on a shutdown line and more says all you need to know about the lack of quality two-way forwards on the team and the defence corps isn’t much better in that department.

In my opinion, there’s not a lot of extra juice that Green could realistically By Harman Dayal squeeze from his existing personnel. There’s not anything he can do Mar 4, 2020 about the fact that his bottom six still features a lot of liabilities or that his blue line lacks high-end talent after Hughes.

That isn’t to say Green has been perfect by any stretch of the imagination Travis Green is a polarizing figure in the Vancouver market. — Eriksson, for example, has overstayed his second-line spot. But I also don’t think another coach would come in and get anything more than That much became obvious in late December when the panic button was marginal improvement out of this group. activated and campaigns calling for Green’s job gained traction right before the team went on a 14-3-0 heater. Whether they make the playoffs or not, the Canucks are currently a bubble team and that’s exactly what kind of result one should have As the Canucks teeter on the edge of collapse with their season on the expected from a roster of this calibre. line again, it goes without saying that the pressure is back on. The shutdown pair is quietly struggling There’s a lot of angry noise around Green’s name again and that chatter will only amplify if the Canucks can’t navigate their way around a If you breakdown the Canucks’ last 20 games or so, a peculiar trend that challenging stretch that will determine their playoff fate. emerges is that Hughes and Chris Tanev haven’t been as effective lately in slowing down the opposition’s best players. Together, they’re Regardless of how the team responds to this latest dose of adversity, controlling just 46 percent of shot attempts and 44.8 percent of scoring good or bad, there’s a clear division when it comes to Green. chances. In looking at what’s gone wrong, it’s evident that they’re The core of any argument for or against the third-year Canucks coach is allowing a lot defensively. predicated on what you think this roster’s true talent level is and how The Hughes/Tanev pair has permitted 35.2 shots on goal per 60 minutes much they should realistically achieve. There are three lenses through and when you account for the quality of the chances they’ve allowed, the which we can view this and I think all provide a sober perspective. pair’s expected goals against rate is a whopping 3.18 per 60 minutes. The graph above is from colleague Dom Luszczyszyn’s preseason They’re making up for a lot of it thanks to how much they generate projection article for the Canucks. His model saw the team garner 85 offensively (only outscored 13-12), but they’ve been less than break even points on average with 25 percent playoff odds, non-Vancouver fans that by virtually every measure over the last 20 games. were polled saw them right around 85 points as well and Canucks Part of it is certainly due to the fact that Hughes hasn’t been at his best in supporters had them on the cusp of 90 points. his own zone over the last little bit. He’s been dynamite and electric There’s certainly variation within the market, but I think it’s fair to say that offensively, but the strong defensive impact he’s had for most of the coming into the season, most people thought the Canucks would be a season has started to wane, which shouldn’t come as a huge surprise bubble team likely slotting between 85 to 90 points in the standings. I given that he’s gone from a light NCAA schedule to No. 1 defenceman in thought this was a team that would flirt but ultimately fall short of a playoff the NHL in one year. spot. By that same token, I’d argue that Tanev just isn’t the same player that Fast forward five months later, and if anything, the Canucks have he was in his prime. He’s a savvy penalty killer, strong in his own zone exceeded expectations — they’re third in the Pacific Division by points and complements Hughes’ aggressive game well, but his skating took a percentage and are on track for 93 points. step back last year which has muted the excellent transition value (both defending carry-ins and moving the puck) he used to offer. A coach’s job is to get the best out of his players and if you break things down individually, I’d argue that most of the players are performing to We can see some of that manifest in Tanev’s on-ice data. Over the last their full potential. 20 games, he owns the highest rate of scoring chances against and his expected goals against rate of 3.08 is the worst of all Vancouver Between J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Jake Virtanen, Adam Gaudette and defencemen. This has translated into actual goals as opponents have Tanner Pearson, the Canucks have five top nine forwards on pace for netted 3.3 goals per hour at 5-on-5 during this stretch (only Benn has career-high seasons. This comes as Vancouver is on pace to be the been on the ice for a higher rate of goals against). most improved offensive team in the NHL. The point of this is to say that Tanev is more of a No. 4/5 on a contending The emergence of Gaudette and Virtanen, in particular, speak to how team which is still a very useful player, but he’s just not the elite play- well Green has managed and developed young players. driving, defensive defenceman he was during his peak. I think that in conjunction with Hughes’ sliding defensive form is why that pairing is More than anything, I’d say he’s shown a progressive approach to their starting to feel a little pressure under the arduous workload they’ve been deployment. Green’s given these offensively talented young guns a tasked with. chance to grow into bigger roles when more conservative coaches around the league might show more hesitance. Quinn Hughes is the In any case, they’ll need to be better and play as they did earlier in the obvious example as Green took the shackles off within two months and season if the Canucks want to make the playoffs. gave him the reins to play the most minutes in a matchup role against the other team’s best players. He stuck with Gaudette who was one of the What is Tyler Myers’ true value? NHL’s worst defensive forwards last season and has allowed him to grow There’s a ton of division about Tyler Myers and what he’s actually into the third-line centre role over Brandon Sutter, despite the eye test brought to the table. There have certainly been highs and lows to his and numbers both showing that he still has two-way warts. A year ago season — from October when he was driving solid first-pair results Green gave Pettersson the chance to play centre when most coaches against top competition alongside Alex Edler, to recent times when his would have started him at wing because that’s pretty much all he played defensive flaws have been brutally exposed on occasion. the year prior in the SHL. Let’s get the obvious out of the way — he’s a No. 4 defenceman being These may sound like fairly obvious decisions from the outside, but these paid top-pair money and at 30-years-old with another four years of term are the things that other coaches would often take a lot longer with. left, his contract is likely to age poorly. Remember when Bo Horvat started his sophomore season on the fourth line under Willie Desjardins despite being the team’s best player in the In having said that, I think he’s been the Canucks’ best right-shot 2015 playoffs? defenceman this season. Now, I think that reflects more on Vancouver’s need for a top-flight right-handed blueliner than it does about Myers, but All told, Green has unlocked the best out of almost all his players that are he’s unquestionably an impactful contributor in the here and now. playing prominent roles. When you look up and down the roster, how many skaters can you point to and say they have significantly SKATR via Bill Comeau underperformed expectations? Myers’ underlying profile shows that he’s decisively tilted the ice in the Jordie Benn would be one. Antoine Roussel would be another, although Canucks’ favour when he’s stepped over the boards — the team is doing coming back from a major ACL injury midseason is always challenging. a much better job of controlling play and out-chancing the opposition with him. His current defence partner, Oscar Fantenberg on the other hand, has been one of the NHL’s worst defencemen in driving play if you look at the data in the chart above. I’ve criticized how the Fantenberg/Myers pairing has performed together and why I don’t think they’re a great fit, but Fantenberg is by far the primary culprit. We also know this to be true because Myers has very strong results whenever he’s played alongside Edler or Hughes. It also bears mentioning that Myers isn’t being deployed as a third pair defenceman as I’ve often seen him referred by others as. He leads Canucks defenders in even-strength minutes per game (partly because Green likes to load him up with Hughes when the team is trailing) and is third in time-on-ice in all situations. A big reason Myers is so divisive is that he makes very “loud” mistakes. It’s kind of similar to Jake Gardiner in years past with Toronto where he would drive play well on the whole but had his reputation tainted for making mistakes that catch the eye. Myers absolutely makes defensive gaffes and just flat out isn’t very good away from the puck, but at the end of the day, he’s second on the back end after Hughes in controlling both shot attempts and scoring chances. Shot Metrics for Canucks Defencemen Quinn Hughes 52.5% 50.8% Tyler Myers 50.0% 48.9% Alex Edler 49.5% 48.4% Troy Stecher 48.3% 47.5% Chris Tanev 46.4% 44.6% Jordie Benn 43.5% 43.6% Oscar Fantenberg 43.1% 40.3% The pros outweigh the cons and it reflects in the actual goal share as well where Myers is right in the middle of the pack of the team's defence group. He isn't the type of defenceman that can carry a weaker link like Fantenberg (we also saw evidence of that in Winnipeg when he was with Dmitry Kulikov), but with a competent partner, his puck-moving and offensive ability really does help push play in the right direction. Myers' contract still looks like a potential issue two or three years down the line, but he's certainly helping for the time being.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172219 Websites Bye-week blues It’s an absolute fact that GMs are not fans of the bye week and its impact

on their schedules. Panthers GM Dale Tallon asked for it to be put on the The Athletic / LeBrun: Cap projects to rise, displeasure with bye weeks agenda this week and it was discussed on Wednesday. and coronavirus update “We discussed it and we’re going to try to fix it as best we can,’’ Tallon said. “The 11 teams that played teams that had already played, there was a dismal record. It’s not really a fair thing. But we’re going fix it. At By Pierre LeBrun least everybody is aware of it and we’re trying to do the best we can with the format. We’ve got to make sure that it’s a fair schedule as far as who Mar 4, 2020 you play when you come out of that break. Because it was inconsistent. But we’ve addressed it.’’ BOCA RATON, Florida — The news was positive on Wednesday for so The Panthers came out of their long break and got waxed by a Montreal many NHL teams absolutely jammed up against this year’s $81.5-million Canadiens team that had already played a few games. Tallon correctly salary cap. feels that isn’t fair. As the three-day meetings wrapped up, the league informed the But the larger impact of the long All-Star break/bye week — teams had assembled GMs that the cap was projected to rise to anywhere from $84 about 8 to 10 days off — is the jammed-packed nature of the schedule in million to $88.2 million. February in March. Just look at all the injuries around the league over the past month. That’s a healthy boost even if it’s on the lower end. Then again, teams will guard against planning too aggressively after the cap didn’t quite go “It’s fucking brutal,’’ one GM said, who wished to remain anonymous. up as high as originally forecasted a year ago. Tallon — who was not the GM quoted above — says the condensed “It’s still in generalities and ranges,’’ Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin schedule is an issue. Cheveldayoff said. “I don’t think anyone is betting on it — given what’s “Four in six, four in six, we come back from a long road trip and we play transpired over the last couple of years where you have to guess where four in six, three in four at home, back-to-back day games. My concern is the final number comes in. The mechanism that sets the cap is revenue, about the longevity of the player,’’ Tallon said. “Every time I look at the so once all the revenues get in and then the second mechanism is the paper the next day, I say ‘who got hurt last night?’ So we have to be potential use of the escalator or not. So until all those decisions are careful of that as well.’’ made, it’s still a very light pencil mark.’’ But, as both Daly and Bettman pointed out to the GMs and later to the The Jets were one of those teams last summer that didn’t catch a break media, the bye weeks were negotiated with the NHLPA as part of the 3- when the cap had originally been projected for $83 million but ended up on-3, All-Star format and it’s a staggered agreement meaning because at $81.5 million. The Jets had high-profile contracts to sign with Patrik they used the All-Star format this year in St. Louis, the bye weeks are Laine and Kyle Connor and had to part ways with the likes of Jacob guaranteed to be back next season. Trouba, Ben Chiarot and Tyler Myers because of the team’s cap crunch. “It’s not our invention,’’ Daly began before Bettman interjected, “It’s not There are so many teams hoping that the league’s projected numbers for our preference,’’ the commissioner said. next season become a reality. It certainly won’t be $88.2 million because that’s only if the NHL Players’ Association wanted to include the full five “It’s something the Players’ Association has asked for,’’ Daly continued. percent escalator/growth factor and there’s no chance that’s happening “And it’s part and parcel with a broader agreement we have with them. with the escrow concern. Last June, the NHLPA and NHL agreed to just So I told the managers, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon or at a one percent escalator. minimum for next season. What we can do, and what we are trying to do, is kind of mitigate any concerns with respect to how we schedule.’’ But even if it’s $85 million for next season, that’s huge for cap-challenged teams like Vancouver, Toronto, Washington, Pittsburgh … well, you can Added Bettman: “The managers as a group would prefer that the break name a lot of teams that need every spare dime for the summer. go away, and we concur, particularly from a scheduling standpoint. But it is what it is and that’s something we have to reason together with the One player agent who reached me via text message on Wednesday after Players’ Association. But what’s what is in place for next year.’’ seeing the projected range the league announced wasn’t buying it. The problem with the compressed schedule in the second half isn’t just “This is reminiscent of last year’s GMs meeting where we heard the bye week but also the number of U.S.-based teams who desire a predictions of a significant bump in the cap, only to see it rise by only $2 lighter schedule in October and November when they tend to not draw as million,” the agent said. “It appears that HRR (hockey-related revenues) well. That adds to this problem as well. growth will be between two to three percent. Where is the significant bump in HRR justifying a corresponding increase in the upper limit? It’s Coronavirus not there. It looks like the league is using the five percent escalator in these projections. For the last two seasons, the NHLPA only invoked the Colleague Craig Custance chronicled the NHL’s current game plan for escalator to approx 1.3 percent. We’ll most likely see an upper limit for the coronavirus on Monday, but I would add that on Wednesday Bettman next season around $83.5 million.” and Daly detailed the league’s measured concern and its ongoing efforts to stay informed on the matter. The league, by the way, firmly sticks by its projection delivered on Wednesday. Bettman also said the league has banned league staff travel to affected areas in Europe and that any league employee who returns from a A rather interesting revelation was also made by NHL Deputy current trip in those countries affected would be quarantined for 14 days. Commissioner Bill Daly regarding the salary cap moving forward, at least But Bettman also said that for now, the league is letting all 31 teams potentially. make their own decisions on protocol. “I also reported (to the GMs) that part of our discussions with the Players’ The bottom line is that it’s hard to say for sure how the virus will Association on the CBA front has been to see if we can come up with a ultimately affect the NHL, but one of the many discussions that took formula that can provide a little bit more predictability to the clubs on a place was the possibility of playoff games being played in empty arenas. more advanced basis than currently is the case,’’ Daly said. “So typically I’m not saying that’s going to happen for sure, I just know it’s the kind of over the last several years, really probably since we initiated this CBA, conversation happening right now behind the scenes to make sure all we haven’t been able to give them a cap number until late June in and scenarios are being covered off. I would say this is unchartered territory around the time of the draft. Hopefully, at some point in the future, we’ll for the NHL but that’s not factual. The 1919 Stanley Cup was not have a mechanism that again allows them to have that information awarded because the final was canceled over the Spanish flu. sooner.’’ Daly confirmed that the league is investigating the Arizona Coyotes over For example, maybe the league and NHLPA negotiate a formula for three alleged illegal testing of draft prospects. And that the investigation is years out, giving teams and players knowledge of the cap number for ongoing. Otherwise, the league doesn’t want to comment much further. three seasons. That would be gigantic for clubs on the planning side of things. As for whatever penalty the organization might face, it could be one of many different things and perhaps not just one thing. It could be loss of “One of the things we might consider is if there’s a multi-year draft picks, or significant fines, or someone getting fired, or the Coyotes determination that gives us a least a guide if not an absolute number so being denied access to an event; it’s all on the table or at least that’s my that there’s more predictability,’’ commissioner Gary Bettman said. impression right now. And I would also say that taking the temperature around pro sports and the ongoing saga with the Houston Astros and the cheating scandal in baseball, the timing couldn’t be worse for the Coyotes if indeed they are found to have done wrong. I think Bettman will come down hard if the league’s investigation finds wrongdoing because it will be important for the league to send a message. Other teams are livid about these allegations. This isn’t being swept under the carpet. The essence of her message is that while the NHL is doing a better job, hockey still lags compared to other sports as far as the social media footprint. Hockey players by nature are generally quieter dudes and don’t seek out the spotlight on social media like some other athletes. But Browning’s message to a pretty conservative group of GMs was to have an open mind and encourage team staff and players to share more of their personality on social media and have fun with it. One GM said the presentation really made an impression on him and he was going to make make a point of talking about it with his staff when he got home.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172220 Websites Draisaitl was a sneaky good bet early in the year because he and McDavid were neck-and-neck in scoring and if McDavid got hurt he’d suddenly be the front-runner. McDavid’s candidacy rests on much the same foundation now: if Draisaitl gets injured or hits a cold snap, he’s The Athletic / Which players pose the biggest threat to Leon Draisaitl suddenly going to become very attractive. winning the Hart Trophy? The ridiculous thing about McDavid’s case is that outside of Draisaitl, he hasn’t had much luck in the way of linemates. He’s played more than an hour at 5-on-5 this season with Zack Kassian, James Neal, Josh By Jonathan Willis Archibald, Alex Chiasson and Sam Gagner. In those non-Draisaitl Mar 4, 2020 minutes, the Oilers have a 52 percent shot share, a 52 percent expected goal share and outscore the opposition by a 26-19 margin.

As it stands, it won’t matter. Only one Edmonton player can garner With the trade deadline in the rear-view mirror and roughly 80 percent of serious Hart attention and Draisaitl has been so good over the last 25 the NHL season along with it, the year-end awards race is beginning to games that he has a lock on consideration barring an injury or a nasty take shape. slump. On Monday, gambling company Bet Online updated its numbers for a Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche series of league awards, including the crown jewel: the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL MVP. There’s been some significant movement, with Odds: 3/1 (previously 2/1) Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl climbing into the front-runner position after When Ryan S. Clark wrote about Colorado’s seven-game winning streak spending most of the year as an afterthought behind teammate Connor on Monday night, he mentioned that MacKinnon hadn’t scored a goal. McDavid. Another interesting statistic: the Avs had outscored the opposition 5-0 at It’s a reasonable projection. In the salary cap era, the league’s leading 5-on-5 when he was on the ice over those seven games. scorer has also been voted MVP on nine of 14 occasions. The It’s a stretch in which he’s improved his on-ice numbers and gave exceptions to this include three cases where the points race was close Colorado a good chance to win while at the same time reducing his (with the winner having more goals), one time when the scoring leader likelihood of winning the Hart. The Avs had 11 days off at the end of had an ordinary season (Jamie Benn, 87 points, 2014-15) and once January and since that point, MacKinnon has scored just three times on when the points leader missed the playoffs (Connor McDavid, 2017-18). 74 shots, after previously recording 30 goals on 229 shots. None of those scenarios apply to Draisaitl, who has a healthy lead in the scoring race, a ton of goals and appears playoff-bound. His case remains reasonably strong. He’s one of the league’s top 5-on-5 scorers, though just back of most of the other candidates on this list. He Is he the right choice? That’s debatable. Let’s wander through the drives a ton of goal differential for the Avalanche with a strong puck arguments for and against the oddsmaker’s leading candidates. possession game, although Colorado’s power play is disappointingly Leon Draisaitl, Oilers average and that’s one area where a superstar can drive results personally. Odds: 2/1 (previously off the board) MacKinnon has a good chance of hitting career-best point totals after The people who vote for the Hart are professional storytellers, and finishing sixth and second, respectively, in Hart voting the past two years. Draisaitl’s story has the virtue of simplicity. He’s leading the league in The problem is that the field is tougher this season than it has been the scoring by a hefty margin, he played the leading role in keeping the previous two. Oilers alive during McDavid’s absence, and anyone looking to March games to make their decision will find him playing his best hockey of the David Pastrnak, Bruins year. Odds: 4/1 (unchanged) The counterarguments tend to be “he plays with McDavid” and “he’s a Boston’s duo of Hart candidates get less attention than Edmonton’s but minus player.” there are similarities. Pastrnak has an eight-point lead on Brad Marchand The problem with the McDavid argument is twofold. First, most of the top in the point-scoring race and his 47 goals lead the league, so he’s the candidates have elite help: Boston’s first line is a beast, Nathan more likely of the two to attract voter attention. MacKinnon’s most common linemates are Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko On a per-minute rate, Pastrnak is one of just four players in hockey to be Rantanen, etc. Second, Draisaitl gets McDavid on the power play but has scoring more than three points per hour at 5-on-5: he trails Artemi played his best hockey of the season with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Panarin, Evgeni Malkin and (narrowly) Marchand. His line with Marchand Kailer Yamamoto, and although both are fine players, neither especially and perennial Selke winner Patrice Bergeron might be the single-best stands out in comparison to other NHL first lines. forward trio in the NHL, rocking an almost unbelievable goal differential While plus/minus remains a badly calculated statistic and using it for any and the kind of glorious underlying numbers that have followed Bergeron kind of serious assessment is a little like using a sledgehammer to adjust around throughout his distinguished career. As a unit, they’re outscoring a pair of glasses. Nevertheless, the “he’s a minus player” argument at the opposition at an almost 2:1 clip. least fumbles around the edges of the debate. They’re also lethal with the man advantage. Pastrnak is averaging a The best argument against Draisaitl’s candidacy is a brutal five-week whopping eight points per hour — more than half of those are goals — in stretch starting in late-November in which his game came apart. 5-on-4 situations. He’s the best power play goal-scorer in the NHL and in terms of points, trails only McDavid and Draisaitl. He was very good before and has been dominant since, but for 17 games, starting on Nov. 24, the Oilers were outscored by a whopping 26- Pastrnak is a compelling candidate, especially if he wins the league’s 4 margin when he was on the ice at 5-on-5. He picked up just two 5-on-5 goal-scoring race, but the funny thing is that most of the factors that points over this span. When analytics people talk about his less-than-elite might cause a voter to look past McDavid and Draisaitl might also lead numbers on the year as a whole, they’re not talking about a season of them to overlook Pastrnak. He’s getting elite help, he’s cashing a ton of meh underlying metrics; they’re talking about two very good 25-game points on the power play and there’s a decent argument that he isn’t stretches on either side of a 17-game implosion and when balanced even the best player on his own team. together, come out to a good but not great season. Artemi Panarin, Rangers There are thus simple (playing with McDavid and plus/minus) and more Odds: 8/1 (previously 33/1) nuanced (does a truly miserable month undermine what would otherwise be a Hart-worthy campaign) discussions around Draisaitl’s candidacy. There’s a decent chance that the Rangers miss the playoffs, and if that Cynically, I’d expect that none of this matters, because of points. happens an even better chance that Panarin’s excellent argument as league MVP doesn’t get a fair hearing from NHL writers. It’s a frustrating Connor McDavid, Oilers convention, and one that has robbed worthy candidates before this year, Odds: 2/1 (previously 5/4) but it’s one that enough writers are committed to for it to stick. Draisaitl has a 13 point lead on McDavid in the NHL scoring race, largely In truth, Panarin might have difficulty winning votes anyway, given that by virtue of having played six more games. By points-per-game, he’s 18 points back of Draisaitl in the NHL scoring race. Yet his Draisaitl’s 1.61 narrowly edges out McDavid’s 1.56. performance has been exceptional and the story around it should prove compelling. Consider this: Panarin leads the NHL in 5-on-5 points-per-hour, and he’s doing it for a team barely in playoff contention while mostly playing with Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast, a duo which combined for 55 points last season. While he’s on the ice, the Rangers have a 52 percent shot share, a 53 percent expected goal share and have outscored the opposition by a 2:1 margin. Nobody else on this list can claim to be having a better season at even- strength, or doing so under more challenging circumstances. Brad Marchand Odds: 10/1 (previously 8/1) In addition to running up Herculean numbers at even-strength and on the power play, numbers which personal goal-scoring aside are arguably even a hair better than Pastrnak’s, Marchand is an integral part of the fourth-best penalty kill in the NHL. Among the forwards, it’s a distinction he shares with Draisaitl, with the significant difference that Marchand gets a lot more use. Still, we’ve seen this movie before. Marchand’s numbers this season are marching in lock-step with last years’ 100-point performance, a showing which earned him some All-Star love (second-team left wing) and a fifth- place finish in the Hart balloting. Barring a late-season surge, there’s little reason to think this year will be different, and if anything, he’s likely to cede votes to his teammate Pastrnak. John Carlson Odds: 25/1 (previously off the board) The Hart almost always goes to a forward, and Carlson’s inclusion is a testament to a truly amazing offensive season. His 1.12 point-per-game pace is the best number recorded by a defenseman since Paul Coffey put up 58 points in 45 games in a lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. He’s just the sixth defenseman in the cap era to top the point-per-game mark while appearing in at least 41 contests. The last guy to come close was another Washington power-play quarterback, Mike Green, in 2008-09. Green finished the year with 31 goals and 73 points in 68 games. He was the runner-up for the Norris and finished 13th in Hart voting. Carlson has some advantages on Green: he has a less one-dimensional reputation, he’s probably going to play more games this year than Green did in 2008-09, but it remains a rare thing for a defenseman to win this trophy. Also working against Carlson are middle-of-the-pack underlying metrics on a strong Washington team. In terms of on-ice shot share, goal differential and expected goal differential he’s had good results but not the kind of dominance that his incredible point totals would suggest. Nikita Kucherov Odds: 33/1 (previously 50:1) A lot would have to go right for Kucherov to defend his crown. He won the award last year when he led the league with 128 points, and he’s up near the top of the leaderboard again with 80 in 64 games this year, but that’s 28 back of Draisaitl and there are a lot of names in between, mostly the ones we’ve just looked at. In terms of point production, this season more closely resembles 2017-18, when he finished sixth in year-end voting. What gives Kucherov a chance is the second-half surge the Lightning seem to be on. Since Jan. 1, he ranks second in the NHL in 5-on-5 points-per-hour. Steven Stamkos, his now injured teammate, is the only player who had been more productive. Thirty-nine of his 80 points have come in the last 27 games, a run which included a 19-game scoring streak which finally came to an end on Tuesday. He’s probably too far back at this point to gain the necessary ground to appeal to voters.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172221 Websites The game: Canada and Russia renewed international hockey’s greatest rivalry at the 2009 world juniors in Ottawa. Canada had won four straight golds, but the Russians held a one-goal lead late in the game. The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Debating the fourth-best Canadian The moment: With the goalie pulled and Canada pressing in the final hockey moment minute of the third, Ryan Ellis made a play at the blue line to keep the puck in the Russian zone. After an extended scrum along the sideboards, the puck squirted free to Jordan Eberle in front of the net. By Sean McIndoe Why it’s in the running: There may not be a goal in Canadian hockey history that came out of nowhere quite like this one. One second, the Mar 4, 2020 puck was by the boards as the game ticked away; the very next, Eberle was somehow all alone in front of the Russian net. The whole thing played out almost too quickly for a fan’s brain to process in real time, Last Friday was the 10th anniversary of Sidney Crosby’s golden goal, the which made it one of the great “Did I actually just see that?” moments overtime winner against the United States that delivered Olympic gold in ever. front of a delirious Vancouver crowd. The case against: Memory is a funny thing. You know Canada went on to It was a remarkable goal that still holds up as a “where were you” win the game, but do you even remember who scored the winner in moment to this day, and the anniversary spurred a rush of pride and overtime? Nobody did because the game was decided in a shootout, patriotism among Canadian hockey fans. But it also prompted something which is kind of lame. Another piece you may not remember, with shades else, something far more rare and wonderful: a good tweet. of the Miracle on Ice: This wasn’t the gold medal game. It was the semifinal. Specifically, a tweet by user @thupka1982 asking a seemingly simple question: What’s the Mount Rushmore of Team Canada goals? In other Bottom line: The fact that a goal that didn’t end a game or a tournament words, which four stand above the others as the best and/or most is still remembered to this day just drives home how insane the moment memorable in Canadian international hockey history? was for those that watched it live. I’m going to take the liberty of expanding the question to not just goals, Eric Lindros crushes Ulf Samuelsson but moments. The beauty of the question is that the first three are obvious. Just about everyone would give you the same list: Crosby’s The game: The 1991 Canada Cup was kind of weird. It was the follow-up Golden Goal, Paul Henderson’s winner in 1972 and Wayne Gretzky and to the legendary 1987 tournament, but the Soviet team was in disarray teaming up to beat the Soviets in 1987. You can’t get and didn’t even make the medal round. It produced the first-ever hockey fans to agree on anything, but I can’t imagine anyone who Canada/USA matchup in a best-on-best final, but Canada swept it rather wouldn’t have those three moments on their list. easily. Decades later, the tournament might best be remembered for Gary Suter injuring Gretzky. Other than that, it was Team Canada in a But what’s No. 4? That’s where it gets interesting. Today, with permission walk. from our pal @thupka1982, let’s break down some of the candidates. But what it lacked in suspense, it made up for in the curiosity factor of Darryl Sittler’s fake shot seeing 18-year-old Eric Lindros in action. He’d just gone first overall in the NHL Draft but was refusing to play for the Nordiques, so this was our The game: The inaugural Canada Cup in 1976 was meant to expand on only chance to see him against the best in the world. the success of the 1972 Summit Series, with the expectation that we’d get a rematch between Team Canada and the Soviets. Instead, Canada The moment: It turned out that Lindros was everything advertised, as he ended up facing an underdog Czechoslovakian team in the final. proved he belonged by scoring three goals in the tournament. More memorably, he was a wrecking ball, taking Martin Rucinsky out of the The moment: Canada won the first game of the best-of-three in a 6-0 tournament with a big hit. But the real highlight came when he took aim blowout. But they had a tougher time in Game 2, needing a late goal to at one of hockey’s biggest villains. send the game to overtime. That’s when this happened: Why it’s in the running: I mean, it’s Canadian hockey – there’s no reason Why it’s in the running: It was the first great international moment to why all the highlights should have to be goals, right? A crushing hit happen in sudden death, and it’s an absolute beauty of a goal. (Side seems to fit right in with the national identity, especially back then. And note: Don Cherry has tried to claim the credit for the move, which may or seeing the future of Canadian hockey decimate one of the most hated may not factor into where you rank it.) players in the NHL was a genuine high-five-the-guy-next-to-you moment. The case against: Not having it come against the Soviets hurts the case The case against: Admit it, watching it today, the hit isn’t nearly as big as a bit, as does the fact that it wasn’t a must-win game for Canada. you remember it. It’s also kind of dirty, even by early-90s standards. Bottom line: It’s definitely in the conversation, although I’m not sure Bottom line: I don’t think this one holds up especially well now. But back there’s room on our Mount Rushmore for two games from the 1970s. then, we kind of loved it. John Slaney plays the hero on home ice Paul Coffey’s pokecheck The game: Heading into the 1991 World Junior Championship, Canada The game: The 1984 Canada Cup represented a chance for Canadian was the defending champs. But they’d never won back-to-back redemption after they were blown out by the Soviets in 1981. We didn’t tournaments and had never won the tournament on home ice. They had get a gold medal rematch, but the two nations faced off in a one-game a chance to make history on both fronts when they faced the Soviets in semifinal that went to overtime. their final game of the tournament, with the winner taking gold. The moment: This was essentially the first-ever meaningful overtime The moment: Late in a 2-2 tie, a draw in the Soviet zone ended up with between Canada and the Soviets, with all the heart-in-throat angst that the puck sliding back to Canadian defenseman John Slaney, who had suggests. Midway through the first overtime, the Soviets broke in on a 2- time to step into the shot of his life. on-1, and every Canadian’s heart sank when they realized the last man Why it’s in the running: It’s not the greatest goal on the list, although it back was Paul Coffey, an offensive juggernaut with a reputation for being might challenge for the best celebration. But this moment, along with the useless in his own end. crowd reaction and TSN’s coverage of it all, may have been the one that Except … elevated the world juniors from a vaguely important tournament to a Canadian institution. Why it’s in the running: The defensive play is fantastic, and if you let the clip run for a minute you see what it leads to. I’m not sure there’s ever The case against: In terms of big names to score a crucial goal, Slaney been a Team Canada moment that went from “We’re screwed” to “We doesn’t exactly rank up there with Crosby or Lemieux or Sittler. Then won” that quickly. again, when it comes to the world juniors, that might be part of the appeal. The case against: With all due respect to Mike Bossy’s deflection, this moment would have been even better if Coffey had got credit for the Bottom line: It’s probably hard to explain to younger fans, but this one goal. really was a huge moment back in the day and set the stage for other great WJC moments to come. Like this one … Bottom line: This was pretty awesome. Sure, it suffers a little from being upstaged three years later. But at the time, this was Canada reclaiming Jordan Eberle’s buzzer-beater its crown. Honorable mentions The game: NHL players were allowed at the Olympics for the first time in 1998, and it didn’t go well for Canada. But that was the warmup – 2002 in Before we take it home, let’s throw out a few moments that didn’t make Salt Lake was the main event, with the one-game showdown between the cut, but still deserve a mention. Canada and Team USA that everyone in North America wanted to see. The Punch-Up in Piestany – Was the infamous 1987 WJC brawl a great With the largest audience to ever watch a live hockey broadcast, the moment? Not really. Was it memorable? It was certainly that. pressure on Team Canada to end a 50-year gold medal drought was enormous. The 1994 World Championship shootout – The World Championships aren’t best-on-best, and nobody really cares all that much about them The moment: The game was a gut-wrenching experience for Canadian these days. But back in 1994, Canada hadn’t won in over 30 years, and it fans. Team USA opened the scoring early before Canada pushed back was becoming a thing. That changed in a shootout, leading to Paul to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Team USA tied it up at 2-2, Romanuk’s memorable “It. Is. Over.” call. but Canada scored two more to take a 4-2 lead late in the third. That should have felt like a comfortable lead, but it didn’t – remember, this Crosby’s breakaway goal in the 2014 gold medal game – It gave Canada was back in an era where Canada hadn’t won a best-on-best tournament a two-goal lead, which for that team might as well have been ten. in over a decade, and there were legitimate questions about whether we’d been passed by other nations. Everyone was waiting for the Team That line brawl in the 1996 World Cup – Admit it, seeing a line brawl in a USA goal that would put the result back in doubt … right up until Joe best-on-best tournament was cool as hell, even if it meant you had to Sakic took over. cheer for Claude Lemieux. Also, this caused the rest of the tournament to be immediately canceled so there was no winner that year. (It’s blocked from appearing here; everything from 2002 is. Click over to see it, it’s worth it.) The New Year’s Eve tie between the Canadiens and Red Army – It’s not technically a Team Canada game, but back in 1975 it pretty much was, Why it’s in the running: Because it was 18 years ago and I just re- and it’s often mentioned among the greatest games ever played. watched the clip and I want to go bench-press my car. Matt Halischuk’s OT winner at the 2008 WJC – Not the prettiest goal, but In hindsight, it might be kind of weird that this is the goal we all remember it got the job done. from this game, as opposed to Sakic’s second-period goal that held up as the winner, or Jarome Iginla’s late insurance marker. But none of us Anson Carter’s disputed goal to win the 2003 Worlds – Yep, it was in. remember those goals because the game was excruciating and we all Plus the review meant everyone got to celebrate twice. had blood shooting out of our eyeballs. This was the moment when you could exhale. You knew they were finally winning gold. Brad Marchand wins it – His last-minute short-handed goal won the 2016 World Cup. Or, as it’s known now, the last best-on-best tournament the The case against: I’m not sure there is one. But if you want a counter- NHL wants us to ever see. argument, you could point to the fact that there actually is one other moment from this game that’s burned in many of our brains: Mario Wayne Gretzky’s shootout goal at the 1998 Olympics – Weird, I can’t find Lemieux letting a Chris Pronger pass go through his legs so this one online anywhere. could put it into an empty net. Some fans might even prefer that moment OK, let’s take it home with a few more candidates … to the Sakic goal. The Jonathan Toews shootout If a game produced two classic moments, you might argue, can one of them actually be legendary? To which I reply: Shut up, this game ruled. The game: At the 2007 world juniors, Canada met the USA in the semifinals. The game was tied 1-1 after regulation and an overtime Bottom line: As a wise man once said, surely that’s got to be it. period, so we headed to a three-round shootout. So there you have it – eight strong candidates, plus a few more The moment: Well, it was supposed to be a three-round shootout. But honorable mentions. We’ve covered all the country’s greatest hockey things remained even after three rounds, so the contest moved to sudden moments. death, where that weird international rule kicks in that allows teams to Except that we haven’t because there’s a flaw in this approach that I’m start re-using the same players. After a Bryan Little miss and a dramatic guessing most of you have figured that out by now. We’re listing all of the stop by Carey Price against Patrick Kane (that had to be confirmed by greatest moments in the history of Team Canada’s various men’s review), it turned into the Jonathan Toews show. He scored three times national teams. But that’s not what the question asked. We’re looking for in a seven-round shootout, and eventually it was enough for the win. Team Canada moments, period, and that means the women are in the Why it’s in the running: The drama was undeniable, especially between running too. two teams that genuinely didn’t like each other. It holds up well in They’ve provided plenty of great moments over the years, including ten hindsight, given that Toews, Price and Kane all became major stars. And world championships, four Olympic golds and Hayley Wickenheiser’s of course, the fact that Canada went on to win gold is a key factor. “and now I want to know if they want us to sign it?” postgame rant that The case against: It’s a shootout. Shootouts suck. still stands as the greatest heel promo in sports history. But as good as those are, there’s one game that stands above all the others: Bottom line: This was huge at the time, and maybe even the biggest WJC moment of the post-Slaney era, although my gut says it’s since The 2014 gold medal game been surpassed by the Eberle goal. The game: By the 2014 Olympics, Team Canada vs. Team USA in Mario Lemieux in 1987. No, the other one. women’s hockey had been firmly established as the greatest rivalry in the sport. You knew they were going to meet in the gold medal game, and The game: The iconic Gretzky-to-Lemieux goal to win the 1987 Canada they did. You knew it was going to be memorable, and… well, it was Cup came in the deciding Game 3. But to get there, Canada had to win honestly the craziest hockey game I’ve ever seen to this day. game two after dropping the opener. And after the Soviets scored late in regulation to tie the game, Team Canada would need double overtime to The moment: I’m not even sure which one you pick. A linesman tripping do it. up a Canadian player to set up Team USA’s rink-long clinching goal into the empty net that veered at the last second and hit the post instead? The moment: Midway through the second overtime, with the teams Marie-Philip Poulin’s tying goal seconds later? A legitimately crazy playing 4-on-4, Canadian pressure resulted in a goalmouth scramble and overtime filled with weird calls? You could make the case for all of the a loose puck on Lemieux’s stick. You knew how that would end. above, but I think you have to go with the winner. Why it’s in the running: There’s nothing quite like an overtime goal, Why it’s in the running: If you somehow weren’t watching this game live, especially with elimination hanging over a team’s head. It sets off an it’s almost impossible to express what a roller coaster it was. The best amazing reaction, from the Copps Coliseum fans exploding to Mario’s way to understand is to watch Poulin’s reaction to the winner. She’s just weird celebration dance. And since it prominently features Gretzky and scored one of the biggest goals in the history of the sport, and she barely Larry Murphy, it serves as a nice bit of foreshadowing for what’s coming even celebrates. She looks like she just wants to throw up. I think we all in 48 hours. did. The case against: I mean, it’s not even the most famous goal Lemieux The case against: The only possible argument I could see it that it’s a would score that week. It would seem weird to let him double up. little too recent to really fit into a larger historical context. I didn’t say it was a good argument. Bottom line: This is a seriously underrated goal in Canadian hockey history, but I don’t think it can make the cut for our top four. Bottom line: I think this is your winner. There’s a strong case to be made for Sakic, and Sittler and Eberle are at least in the running. But I’ve never Juh-Yoe Sakic seen a game quite like the 2014 gold medal showdown, which is why I think we have to carve Poulin’s face alongside Henderson, Lemieux and Crosby.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172222 Websites were held) who says, ‘On July 1, do yourself and your organization a favour and put your phone away.’”

One of their biggest challenges is getting players to Montreal — whether Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: How Marc Bergevin sees Canadiens' it is pressure or taxes or whatever. One recent Canadien said he badly present, future wanted to make it work there, but didn’t enjoy the experience and isn’t alone in that. When things are going great, the rewards are enormous. When they aren’t, you better have a thick skin. Elliotte Friedman | @FriedgeHNIC “It’s not for everybody — that’s fair to say,” Bergevin. “It doesn’t mean the player isn’t strong mentally. Some players are more sensitive than March 4, 2020, 6:12 PM others. And, as we know, it’s almost impossible to be on top of your game for 82 games in a market where there’s more pressure to perform, (especially) if you’re more sensitive and you pay attention to it. There was a rumour going around a few weeks ago that Marc Bergevin was thinking of stepping down as GM of the Montreal Canadiens. That “I can see how difficult it is. Like, I’m 54 years old. I have more tools, he’d had enough, that it was time. more experience to deal with it. But I can imagine as a 20- or 25-year- old, it could be difficult. But some guys love it. Some guys, it doesn’t “I love my job,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “Every GM has different bother one bit. Everybody’s different.” challenges. Montreal, it is the expectations. It’s hard to fast-track a team, and as well as you can explain it, sometimes it’s frustrating because you How different will the Canadiens look next season? know what (the fans) want, you want to get it done, but it’s not possible. “It’s hard to tell in March,” he replied. “And I know I’m going to sound And especially, you go through a period where there’s a lot of things — crazy, but I like our team. When our team is playing to their optimum like, we got injured a lot, we start not playing well, and we couldn’t win a level and we’re healthy, I believe our team is a playoff team. We’ll look to game, we’re losing leads and… I’m involved emotionally. I care. I take it see if we can make changes to improve. But to make a change because personally. Sleepless nights, and usually I sleep pretty well. But then you we’re in a market where they want to make a change… and not get take a step back and you talk to people around you and then (you’re better, I will not do that.” saying), ‘All right, I’m doing it now. I’ll be okay.’ Bergevin is excited about defenceman Alexander Romanov, who is “So, quit? No, but there’s times it was tough.” expected to arrive from Russia. The GM said there will be an adjustment We talked for 25 minutes, his final interview on a busy afternoon of period for the 20-year-old, but told the player when they met in December television and podcast appearances. Let’s do the quick hitters first. that no matter what happened this season, the Canadiens believe in him. He’s very happy with Petry, Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber. As every As you’ve heard by now, Bergevin announced Claude Julien will return Montreal fan knows, this is where an add could come — on the left side. as head coach. He was surprised anyone thought otherwise. “Centre was an issue,” Bergevin continued. “Now with Nick (Suzuki), the “It’s clear to me it’s not a coaching issue,” the GM said. way he has played, we feel comfortable he is a really good centre. We feel (Phillip) Danault is a really good centre. I think Domi is a good Why not? centreman. We’ve got (Jesperi) Kotkaniemi and (Ryan) Poehling. “Well, the message that Claude had last year, I know we didn’t make the Obviously, they’re not at the top end where they will be, but they’re going playoffs, but I thought…. We had 96 points, we had a really good season. in the right direction. I think that position is a strength.” The message hasn’t changed. Where we are today, some comes on my He also praised Jonathan Drouin. shoulders. I’m not saying the coaches are free of anything going on their shoulders, but it also comes on the players’ shoulders. There’s plenty of “Jo had a really good start,” the GM said, adding that he felt Drouin was — not blame — but adjustment that needs to be made for next year.” adding another level before injuries derailed his season. “That’s the Jo we got when we made the trade.” Post-season exit meetings obviously haven’t occurred, but I did ask if he consulted the players before making this decision. Bergevin has two years remaining on his contract. We talked about GMs who, under pressure, made trades they knew were overly risky. “No,” he answered. “Because I didn’t think these questions were coming. There’s times you have to make a coaching change, I get it. [But you “If I was going to be let go tomorrow morning, of course we didn’t bring don’t want your players to think,] ‘Okay, that was the reason (we were the team where we wanted to be, because everyone wants to win a struggling). We’re good now.’ So, to me, we all need to be better. Starting Stanley Cup. But overall, I’m proud of what we’ve done. I believe that the with me, then the coaching staff, and the players.” organization is in good shape. Cap wise, prospect wise, draft-pick wise and young players. To make a move hoping to save my job, and put the Did you come anywhere close to trading Jeff Petry or Tomas Tatar at the Montreal Canadiens at risk — I will never do that. I have too much pride deadline? and too much respect for the Canadiens. And for (owner) Geoff Molson. “Not even close.” “Every deal you make is a risk. But if I feel it’s (a greater chance) that it’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey not going to work, but it will buy peace? I won’t do it. I don’t believe in world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what buying peace. I love my job, and if it costs me my job, so be it. Because I they think about it. want my boss to go to bed at night knowing his organization is in good hands.” Bergevin said he received calls on both players, but never initiated conversations about either. 31 THOUGHTS Will he try to extend Petry when the defenceman is eligible on July 1? 1. Bergevin talked a bit about player development — that span between (That suggestion’s been out there.) when someone is drafted and they join your organization. How important it is and how much (or how little) control the NHL team really has. The “I have guys in mind I need to do that with, yes, but I can’t tell you that timing was interesting. The league’s agreement with the Canadian because they will use it against me.” Hockey League expires soon, and, once again, there is a conversation about sending players to the AHL. It’s not unusual for this to be a debate. I tried to trick him by guessing jersey numbers and asking if a key This time, however, there appears to be momentum. We’ll see where it player’s name rhymed with “Schmallagher,” but those didn’t work. goes. Does he anticipate difficulty in getting Max Domi extended? 2. Hearing that referee Tim Peel will make his return to the NHL on Thursday night in Ottawa. That is a massive comeback from a fractured “No.” fibula. He was supposed to be out for the year. There was another rumour — when agent Gerry Johanssen visited Price 3. In case you missed it, Jim Little — fired as Ottawa CEO after just 54 in January — that Price was unhappy and might want out. days — released a statement. There is always more to these than meets “Never, never, never,” the GM emphatically answered. He didn’t even the eye, but the Senators calling his conduct “inconsistent with the core wait for me to finish the question. values” of the team and the league, followed by Commissioner Gary Bettman saying, “It’s not what you think or what’s been suggested” left Do you expect to be busy in free agency? Little no choice to but state something. “We’re always going to look around. There’s another GM with a lot of 4. The cap estimate being between $84 and $88.2 million is great news experience in there (Bergevin pointed to the room where the meetings for the teams. They’ll have more than expected to spend, which is great news for the players. Because next season could have been a 14. Like Bergevin, Los Angeles GM Rob Blake said it’s unlikely the Kings lockout/strike year, there was less cash in the system and a hope that will be busy in free agency because of cap concerns. Depending on how players would use their escalator closer to its maximum five per cent. (It things go, July 2021 could be a different story. I thought he did a good has been significantly lower in recent years, with escrow concerns.) The job of getting as many prospects/picks as he could, although Blake said it NHL and NHLPA have continued discussions on setting the ceiling for was bittersweet seeing some big parts of Stanley Cup champions move multiple seasons, likely through expansion Seattle’s first NHL year. on. Blake added it was important to “stagger” the assets they received. “We didn’t want only draft picks, because they can’t help you for a few 5. One exec used the word “spooked” to describe how teams and the years. We needed some players who were closer than that.” league are reacting to the coronavirus, while others said they are trying not to jump to any conclusions. There is a team that cancelled a scouting 15. Asked about young players who took important steps this year, Blake trip to Russia, although another said he still planned to go because this is said he is excited with the group at AHL Ontario, and liked the such a huge draft for their organization. Commissioner Gary Bettman development of Matt Roy and Sean Walker on the right side behind Drew said Wednesday the NHL banned business travel outside of North Doughty. “Blake Lizotte hit a wall because he’s never played this many America for employees. The Swiss League has delayed playoffs, the games before,” but the Kings are really happy with where his game is IIHF cancelled events and there were reports of teams in the Italian going. Finally, Blake mentioned Gabe Vilardi. “Earlier in the year, we playoffs practising/taking morning skates elsewhere and just going to couldn’t know that he’d put himself in position to play NHL games this certain cities for the games. year. His development this season is very good for us.” 6. When NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika asked Dale Tallon how the Florida 16. Heard this after I spoke to Blake, but I think Pittsburgh considered GM felt leaving the BB&T Centre after Sunday’s 3–0 loss to Calgary, Trevor Lewis before going the Buffalo route. Tallon replied, “I was pissed,” adding the Panthers haven’t been the same since a 4–0 defeat in Montreal on Feb. 1. (They are 5-9-2 since.) If 17. I was surprised there were no changes to the emergency goalie Tallon is upset, you can only imagine how owner Vinny Viola feels. Viola system. Don’t think it was unanimous, but majority rules. The best dropped more than $100 million — from Sergei Bobrovsky to Joel argument made for keeping it as is was a good one: that these are the Quenneville to Anton Stralman, etc. — and while attendance figures have people who regularly face NHL shooters in practice. (The day after David increased a bit, it is still under 14,000 per game. The Panthers are in Ayres and Carolina beat the Maple Leafs, he was on the ice with them.) danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season, and the Senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations Kris King pointed out that question being asked is, “What are the consequences?” There are many some teams — when on the road — will borrow the home city’s EBUG potential changes on and off the ice, but what has other GMs buzzing is for practices if they want to give one of their regular guys a breather. a belief the Panthers will strongly consider breaking up their core Another thing we learned: the league informed the Hurricanes that, if because the mix hasn’t worked. Was the Vincent Trocheck deal just the Ayers got hurt, Rod Brind’Amour had two choices. He could put another tip of the iceberg? player in goal, or he could go with six skaters. 7. In most situations, Tom Fitzgerald’s deadline work in New Jersey 18. The desire to changing the offside rule to “breaking the plane” is a would earn him the permanent GM job. This is not “most situations.” victory for Colin Campbell. He proposed this a few years ago, but there Fitzgerald’s been told he is a legitimate contender, but the Devils will go wasn’t enough support. That’s changed as everyone realized the onion through their search. Most interesting early development: I heard one was being sliced too thin. What also helped was data. From 2017-18 until individual was told he “doesn’t have the skillset” the organization is now, 45 of 71 “skate in the air” challenges would have been good goals looking for. With that in mind, it’s not a surprise that former Vancouver instead of disallowed ones. And the number of overall offside challenges GM Mike Gillis was among the first interviewees (if not the first). New would have dropped from 214 to 143. Jersey is only talking to untethered candidates until those under contract 19. That drop matters. Leagues are always concerned about how long are available later. their games take. The NHL says this season’s average regulation game 8. If Fitzgerald is not the long-term choice in Newark, he’ll be a serious time is down three minutes, from 2:30 to 2:27. The two-minute minor for candidate for other openings. failed challenges is one reason. Coaches are clearly concerned with it. From 2015-16 to 2018-19, there were an average of 225 reviews per 9. I think the Islanders were one team that inquired about Joe Thornton. season. This year, we’re at 133. Teams had a 25 per cent success rate It makes sense, considering their interest in Mikko Koivu as well. in those four years. This year’s rate is almost 60. Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, 20. Jason Spezza does not view these final five weeks (plus potential Leafs and Canucks. Plus , Rogers Hometown playoffs) as the end of his career. He says there have been no contract Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. talks with Toronto, but he wants to play again next season. 10. Carolina is targeting George Strait for its outdoor game. That would 21. Something new I learned about J.T Miller: each morning skate is at be a good get. Cross your heart that it happens. least 30 minutes. “I need to get a good sweat going,” he said. Teammates added that you can always hear him, even if he’s not in the 11. Only Vegas has fewer home games remaining than Columbus, as the same room. Blue Jackets begin an enormous swing through Western Canada. Fourteen of their final 15 are against teams in playoff position or 22. Canucks players and coaches say Miller’s been huge for Jake legitimately still alive. But they’re gutting it out, currently in the East’s final Virtanen. “He is on me to protect the puck,” Virtanen said. “He’s taught post-season spot despite an injury list longer than your right leg. GM me a lot about doing it right.” Jarmo Kekalainen said Cam Atkinson is the closest to return, although it won’t be on this trip. Kekalainen doesn’t feel his players get enough “It’s all about mindset,” Miller says. “He’s big and strong, but sometimes credit. he thinks too much. I want him to be a jerk.” Only he didn’t use the word “jerk.” “We had high expectation for ourselves,” he said this week. “People forget that the last three years, we had the fourth-most wins. Only Tampa 23. Information is tight around Jacob Markstrom. There’s a lot at stake. Bay, Boston and Washington had more. Our core is pretty good. At the The Canucks’ playoff position, the goalie’s future. The exact nature of the beginning of this year, with the players we lost, we had to go through the injury is guesswork. Lots of rumours, no confirmation. aggravation of people calling us out. They’re worthy of more respect. I Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it felt really strongly about the group.” Jarmo pulls no punches. 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, 12. Kekalainen jokes that he calls head athletic trainer Mike Vogt “Dr. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Death. I tell him to get away from me.” But, he adds, “Everyone has Canada’s most beloved game. injuries. You have to deal with them.” I asked him if there was anyone 24. I think the NHL and NHLPA are going to look at the five-day breaks who particularly raised their game when absolutely necessary, but he around the All-Star Game to see if there’s a better way. There’s a theory won’t go there. “I don’t want to lift anyone above the group. This is about that it is contributing to injuries. everybody doing everything they can.” 25. On-ice officials told league executives that, at the beginning of the 13. Other than the injuries, the only negative around the team is a year, coaches were making the decisions on where to have that first deteriorating relationship with Josh Anderson. The winger will not play face-off on a power play. Now, the players themselves are doing it more again this season due to injury. He’s a restricted free agent, eligible for often. I like that. It’s a good sign. Players should have that creativity. unrestricted free agency in 2021. Even though he can’t play for anyone else until September, there were rumblings another team was interested 26. Seeing Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid whip through the in getting a leg up on trying to acquire him now. Kekalainen would not Nashville Predators brought up this question: who were the last discuss that, but did say, “We always consider all options. He’s got teammates to be Hart Trophy Finalists? It was Mario Lemieux and arbitration rights. He’s a great player, and we miss him. But we have to Jaromir Jagr — who finished second and third behind Joe Sakic in 2001. look at what’s best for the franchise.” Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff were second and fourth in 2004. Obviously, Nathan MacKinnon will have a lot to say about the Hart race. But, if the Rangers make the playoffs, there was going to be a ton of support for Artemi Panarin. 27. Last team to have back-to-back Calder Trophy winners: the Boston Bruins, in 1967 and 1968. Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes can end that streak. 28. Some of you are interested in contract minutiae. Chris Kreider’s extension had to be altered slightly because it initially violated the 50 per cent rule — the lowest-salaried year(s) of the deal can’t be less than half of the highest. Kreider’s biggest number is $10 million, originally there was one year at $4 million. Everything was adjusted later. 29. Talking with Sidney Crosby in this photo is Ben Cooper, then Team Canada’s video coach at the 2010 Olympics. He is now coaching the Herning Blue Fox in Denmark. This was taken not long after the Golden Goal. Cooper said Crosby asked to see video of his historic score when they got back to the dressing room because “he couldn’t remember how he scored it.” It was such a massive moment, and it happened so quickly that it was too difficult to process. I wish I’d known that before we interviewed Sid. 30. Mike Babcock’s message for Team Canada. Something for you to enjoy. 31. Let’s talk about Nashville. When the Predators came to life, many of us Canadian hockey snobs were like, “Seriously, WTF?” Then, as reporters began travelling there, word seeped out. “You’ve got to see this place.” “It’s one of the best road trips in sports.” I laughed at one print reporter saying the hockey writers at his paper fought over who got to go there. The music and the bars are obviously a big part of that, but it’s a fun place with a lot to do whether single or family-oriented. The 2017 Stanley Cup Final was a game-changer for the league. Everyone got exposed to how Nashville made its unique culture a big part of the Predators’ identity, and we all saw the massive crowds outside Bridgestone Arena for the open-air concerts. All the best to the people of that great city and hockey success story.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172223 Websites 14. Dawson Mercer, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL): Slowed recently by injury, there’s great elusiveness to his game because of his silky smooth hands. Sportsnet.ca / Sportsnet’s 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: March 15. Connor Zary, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL): Pace of production has been remarkably consistent all season long, and this is Zary’s time of year. Sam Cosentino 16. Dylan Holloway, C, Wisconsin (NCAA): Grit and determination are now accompanied by production, as half of his points have been March 4, 2020, 3:20 PM accumulated over the past month. 17. Braden Schneider, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Because of a It’s crunch time in the scouting world as team personnel plan their final late birthday and physical maturity, he’s closer to his ceiling than many in viewings of players. The COVID-19 scare has begun to have an impact this draft class. as some professional games in Europe have been cancelled. 18. Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (SHL): Like many of the young Swedes, he’s International events are now in question as we further understand the in between being to good for the U20 league and not yet good enough to scope of the coronavirus. The impact is just starting to be felt in North be a top six in the SHL. In any event, his ability to shoot the puck will America, with the cancellation of some Chicago State basketball games, translate. which has added some trepidation to all big events. Some NHL personnel have been subject to travel restrictions between continents. 19. Rodion Amirov, LW, Ufa (VHL): Everything is in place for him to Individual teams are continuing to monitor international travel. become a middle-of-the-line-up producer. A player who thinks the game well with defensive awareness as part of the package. Having said that, this is typically the time of year where scouts will make their final trip to Europe to corroborate the work that has been done by 20. Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia Sting (OHL): A look at old-school stats European scouts. This may not happen for a lot of teams based on travel is fascinating. On track to score 40 goals with a minus-40 rating. NHL restrictions/bans. Several teams have altered their viewings of players bloodlines always add bonus points to a players’ projection. based on the fact the U18’s are to be held in Plymouth, Michigan in April. That event is now in peril. Teams may be forced to rely more heavily on 21. Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL): Met the timeline for video and prior viewings to make definitive determinations on players. his return and still has two weeks worth of games to prove he belongs amongst the best in-class. Of note, the high-end part of this draft class features plenty of late-born 2001 players (Lafreniere, Rossi, Lundell, Schneider and Holloway, etc.) 22. Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL): A wild horse so plenty of scouting work has already been done on them. Of course, who’s at his best when he’s free to roam. There’s still plenty of work to be more viewings the better, especially in high-leverage situations, but those done in his own end. may also be limited based on the coronavirus outbreak. 23. John-Jason Peterka, LW, Munchen (DEL): A well-rounded, pro-style In any event, here’s Sportsnet’s top 31 for the month of March game makes him attractive, but there are some concerns about the offensive ceiling. 1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL): The only drama left will be to see who wins the draft lottery, and the chase for that first 24. Ty Smilanic, C, (USNTDP): It would be nice for scouts to have seen overall pick afterwards. him play healthy for a long stretch, but that’s not likely to happen before season’s end. 2. Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL): Has been banged up in the second half. May have to take a peak in the rear view mirror at who’s 25. Ridly Greig, Brandon Wheat Kings, LW (WHL): Plays mean and has charging from third. been a key factor in Brandon’s meteoric second-half rise. His game is built for the rigours of a long WHL playoff run. 3. Tim Stutzle, LW, Mannheim (DEL): Plenty of discussion surrounding Stutzle as the second-best prospect available in this draft class. 26. William Wallinder, D, MODO (Sweden U20): Fascinating puck-mover with size and skating ability. Think Alexander Edler, whose value may not 4. Alexander Holtz, RW, Djugarden (SHL): Uses elite spatial awareness be truly appreciated until later in his career. equally well for scoring goals and distributing the puck. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey 5. Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa 67’s (OHL): There’s no questioning the ability, world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what but some teams fear he won’t be able to do it at centre in the NHL. they think about it. 6. Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie Otters (OHL): Wherever he’s ranked inside 27. Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): Mid-March the first 10 he is still the top defenceman available. return is not out of the question and his viewings in the playoffs will be important. 7. Cole Perfetti, LW/C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL): Sixth sense for where, when and how to get to a place to create good scoring opportunities 28. Jan Mysak, C, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL): Has excelled since coming individually or for teammates. to North America. Plays a skill game with pace and patience. 8. Anton Lundell, C, HIFK (Liiga): While there may be some concerns 29. Seth Jarvis, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL): Super reliable player in about his offensive ceiling, Lundell’s complete game makes him a safe a variety of situations and his production has exceeded expectations. pick if the floor is a third-line centre. The next test will be leading a young Portland team on a quest for a WHL title. 9. Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda (SHL): Tough player to nail down based on limited opportunity in the SHL. There’s still plenty of book on 30. Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin (DEL): At this point, there’s plenty of this player for the sheer number of games he’s played above his age offensive upside, but less certainty about play away from the puck and group. attention to detail in the defensive zone. 10. Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa 67’s (OHL): The goal-scoring pops (48 in 59 31. Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL): Concussion games), especially since he doesn’t play on Ottawa’s top line. The issues have derailed an amazing summer start to his season. Lapierre’s developmental curve year over year has scouts excited about Quinn’s draft position is likely to be determined by a team’s medical staff potential. prognosis. 11. Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): Excellent feet allow him to close out plays before they develop. Enjoys engaging in heavy physical play and making opponents aware of when he’s out there. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 12. Jake Sanderson, D, (USNTDP): Game continues to improve. Untapped offensive potential. Professional attitude and leadership abilities wreak of a decades-long NHL career. 13. Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA (VHL): His placing in this draft makes him a big wildcard. Uncontested top goaltending prospect by a wide margin. 1172224 Websites talent. His passing ability, his strength , his vision, his shot… He’s got everything, and he’s such a fun player to play alongside because he’s able to put the puck on your stick in any situation. Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' McDavid, Draisaitl recapturing magic of peak “Honestly, I think that if you can keep them apart it’s probably more Toews-Kane beneficial for your team. Then if you need to put them together you know they’ll create something.”

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover March 4, 2020, 6:33 PM Canada’s most beloved game. It was one thing being around the Oilers traveling circus when it was just CHICAGO — It was a blast to score five third-period goals in Nashville, McDavid people wanted to talk about. But as the Blackhawks walked off and compelling to watch Mikko Koskinen and Alex Chiasson pilfer two the ice after ‘picture day’ at the United Center Wednesday, the guy from points in Dallas. But let’s face it — when you’re talking about hockey’s Edmonton was getting a lot more questions about the German dude than grand stages, neither of those barns can hold a candle to an Original Six the kid from Newmarket, Ont. team in the majestic United Center. Caggiula, who played on lines with both star Oilers centres before Peter It is here in the Windy City where Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane Chiarelli executed one of his legendary head-scratches — sending resurrected a sleepy hockey town, making it one of the hockey’s premier Caggiula here for expensive farmhand Brandon Manning — is the least destinations. Only in Chicago does Jim Cornelison blast out a Star surprised. Spangled Banner that shoots 40 players out of a cannon to start the “You’d watch Leon do something in practice and you’d say to yourself, game. ‘Hmmm,” Caggiula said. “Then you’d see him do that same thing in a On Thursday night, The Greatest Show in the National Hockey League game and you’d go, ‘Ah!’ Then the next day he’s back at practice, doing — league-leading scorers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid — raises something else…” its circus tent off Madison Ave., a 2020s version of Toews and Kane that As we often like to say, the players know first. the hockey world hasn’t laid eyes on in a long, long while. But it’s the coaches who have to figure out how to defend the two- “When I was in Edmonton, when they played together you could see how headed monster that will match up against Chicago’s dreaded pair on good they were,” began Blackhawks winger Drake Caggiula. “But when Thursday — a contest well worth tuning in for. they were apart you could also see how individually talented they were. How they were able to carry a line, and do stuff without each other.” “It’s just a different task,” Blackhawks bench boss Jeremy Colliton began. “When they’re on separate lines it’s more of a stress on your team. When Home of the Oilers they’re together it seems like they can play for two minutes, because they Stream all 82 Oilers games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over just keep the puck and force you to defend.” 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all I can recall Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault gnashing his outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. teeth over how to handle Kane and Toews, something that team only Here in Chicago they went through this just over a decade ago, when a figured out once, in 2011. Now, coaches across the NHL lay awake couple of rookies showed up in the 2007-08 season, arriving to find a scheming against the Oilers’ young duo, McDavid and the “bleepin’ moribund franchise whose owner Bill Wirtz had died that September, and phenomenal” Draisaitl. would be posthumously booed by the home faithful. The previous season “You’ve definitely got to know when they’re on the ice,” Colliton said. the ‘Hawks had ranked 29th in a 30-team NHL in attendance, failing even “The puck management is so important, because if you give them a to average 13,000 fans inside the cavernous, 20,000-seat United Center. transition opportunity you’re not going to recover, they’ve got so much They still had not made their home games available on local TV in speed and skill. When you’re out there against one or both, you’ve got to Chicago. take care of the puck. Force them to come 200 feet with it, and try to get Three Stanley Cups later all that has changed, and through it all, Kane in their way. and Toews were deployed the way Draisaitl and McDavid are these “Force them to build speed from zero — they both want to keep their days: separately until absolutely necessary late in a game — or perhaps speed as much as possible.” on a shift directly after a penalty kill. The good news is, Dallas managed to do just that. Because Toews was the first-line centre, that meant he got the best Chicago wingers not named Kane — Marian Hossa, , The bad news? Brandon Saad, etc… Kane flanked a second-line centre like Artem Anisimov, Brad Richards, Michal Handzus or Andrew Shaw. The other It very rarely happens two games in a row. spot on that line was a merry-go-round of wingers, all of whom Kane made into better players. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 (Ironically it was Artemi Panarin who finally landed there in 2015, but was dealt away because the Hawks wanted to return Toews’ old winger Saad from Columbus to get their captain going.) Sign up for NHL newsletters Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! It’s different in Edmonton, where both players centre their own lines. Collecting four capable wingers should be easier work for GM Ken Holland, and at this point he’s halfway there with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto. McDavid’s current wing situation is still a bit of a revolving door. But like Kane and Toews, the Oilers’ $21-million pair are done starting games together, even if they may finish a few that way. “My first year in the league (2016-17) I think Leon put up 80 points (actually 77),” said Caggiula. “He took a huge step forward in that playoff run against Anaheim. He had 16 points in two series. You could see him carry his own line, you could see him putting the team on his back, and you could see him doing it without Connor on his line. That might have been the confidence he needed. “Last year he scores 50, and this year he comes in with the confidence to say, ‘I’m right there with the best of them in this league.’ He’s a special 1172225 Websites For 43 minutes, the game’s only goal was scored like this: Canuck penalty-killer Oscar Fantenberg, who partially-blocked a shot into his own net for the losing goal Sunday in Columbus, tried to chip the puck out from behind the Vancouver goal, but hit the shaft of Soderberg’s stick, Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' newcomers unfazed by slide as fans see shades sending the arcing puck at a violent angle back towards Demko. The of past failures puck just cleared the cross bar on its way to the crease, kissed off the back of the goalie’s shoulder and rolled into the net to make it 1-0 Arizona at 7:27 of the first period. Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet Stephen Hawking, arisen from the dead, couldn’t explain the physics March 5, 2020, 1:59 AM behind that goal. But the way things have been going for the Canucks the last week — and the 50 years that preceded it — it was about what you’d expect in the biggest game of the season. VANCOUVER – Among the handful of new Vancouver Canucks this Ekman-Larsson ended the game with an empty-netter at 19:25, shortly season who are unencumbered and unscarred by the team’s recent after Antoine Roussel’s deflection hit Kuemper. failures, winger J.T. Miller said before Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes that he didn’t care about the growing panic in the The most positive thing for the Canucks was the play of Demko, who had market. his best game since Markstrom was injured. It was something, at least. To be kind of accurate, he said the players “don’t give a [expletive] who The Colorado Avalanche, who are a lot better than the Coyotes, visit the has a low panic threshold outside the room.” Canucks on Friday. He explained: “I don’t pay attention to that. I’m just trying to worry about “It doesn’t really matter the circumstances,” Demko said before the the present and take care of what we can take care of right now. If you’ve game. “We still believe we can win.” been here a long time, maybe you can kind of get the sense in your Late in the game, the music played inside Rogers Arena. Queen. “Under head, like, ‘Here we go again.’ But we worry about us. I don’t think pressure…” there’s any panic right now.”

Then in their most important game of the season, the Canucks extended their playoff-imperilling losing streak to four games by falling 4-2 to the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 Arizona Coyotes, overcoming a third-period deficit only to blow their late lead against one of the teams trying to push them out of the Stanley Cup tournament. Which, to those who have been here a long time, felt so very Canucky. So did the Columbus Blue Jackets, who scored four times in last eight minutes on Sunday to stun the Canucks 5-3 in Ohio on Sunday, managing their next game out to choke away a late two-goal lead and lose 3-2 Wednesday to the Calgary Flames, another team moving away from Vancouver in the National Hockey League standings. After holding a nine-point playoff cushion a month ago, the Canucks’ longest losing streak of the season has dropped them into a three-way tie for the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference. Vancouver has games in-hand on both Arizona and the Winnipeg Jets, but since the Canucks are losing all their games these days, those extra at-bats don’t feel very beneficial. The Minnesota Wild are only one point behind, the Nashville Predators two, and they’ve played the same number of games as the Canucks: 66. The West Coast was a lot less panicky at 61 games, which is when starting goalie and team MVP Jacob Markstrom suddenly left the lineup with a mysterious knee injury. Cue the panic. “We still believe in our group,” winger Tanner Pearson, another of the newcomers unfamiliar with the angst epidemic, said before scoring what briefly seemed like a winning goal on Wednesday. “You don’t want to have lessons like these 65 games into the season. At the end of the day, it’s not the last game of the season where if you lose, you’re not in the playoffs. We still have time to learn from it. That’s a positive. “Me and Ty Toffoli won a Cup (in 2014 with Los Angeles) and in our first- round series we were down 3-0 to San Jose. Anything is possible.” Still part of the season-long playoff mosh pit, the Canucks suddenly seem to be way behind everyone. In their four-game losing streak, they led in the third period twice and in another game were tied, and instead of emerging with five or six points, they’ve gathered none. Toffoli tied Wednesday’s game 1-1 with a brilliant sharp-angle shot into a top-corner gap Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper gave him at 3:19 during a Vancouver power play. Pearson then scored the go-ahead goal at 6:16 with his skate on the rebound from Jake Virtanen’s shot. But with time and space to settle a rimmed pass behind his net, Canucks defenceman Troy Stecher watched in horror as the puck rocketed off his skate and straight out into the path of Coyote Carl Soderberg, who relayed it to Nick Schmaltz for the tying goal at 10:10. Arizona, which had won only seven of its previous 23 games, won it at 12:39 when Lawson Crouse deflected Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s point shot past Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, who had plenty of saves but still no luck. 1172226 Websites Sign up for NHL newsletters Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to

your inbox! Sportsnet.ca / How NHL is taking precautions around spread of “Part of our discussions with the PA on the CBA front has been to see if coronavirus we can come up with a formula that can provide a little more predictability to the clubs on a more advanced basis than is currently the case,” said Daly. Eric Francis | @EricFrancis “Over the last several years we haven’t been able to give them a cap March 4, 2020, 2:35 PM number until late June. Hopefully at some point in the future we’ll have a mechanism that allows them to have that number sooner.”

That would be helpful for organizations as they look to sign players to BOCA RATON, Fla. – After weeks of closely monitoring the multi-year contracts. developments surrounding the spread of coronavirus, the NHL revealed Wednesday it has issued its first travel ban for league employees. One day after revealing the league would unveil a new puck – complete with sensors for tracking data – during the playoffs, Bettman went on the “We’ve barred all travel outside North America for business purposes,” offensive when asked why it would introduce a new puck at the most said commissioner Gary Bettman after wrapping up three days of GM important time of year. meetings. “The puck has been extensively tested and extensively used, and “On a personal level, people are still free to do what they want to do. If anybody suggesting somehow that can be an issue is just misguided you go to a place that is on the list of countries that have an issue, or speculation,” said Bettman. while you are there a country comes onto the list, we want you quarantined outside the office for two weeks, so we can see if symptoms “There’s no difference in the physical characteristics and the way it develop.” performs.” Bettman said the ban does not extend to the league’s 31 clubs, which Testing videos shown to the GMs and media included shooting the new can decide individually how they’ll react to the heightened awareness of puck out of a cannon at 170 mph against a concrete wall, amongst other the virus that has killed more than 3,200 and been contracted by over tests. 90,000 worldwide. Bettman said 24 teams have used the puck in games this year “For the time being they’re free to adopt it, but it’s an individual club unbeknownst to them, and not a single player knew it or complained decision.” about how it performed. General managers said they’ve been given daily coronavirus updates Able to transmit data for broadcasts and fans at 60 times per second, the from the league, which has been in constant contact with Health Canada puck is full of sensors that make it worth considerably more than the and the Center for Disease Control. current ones in use. “Speculation, when you’re dealing with something like this, isn’t That said, they’ll still use up to 40 pucks a game, chill them the same way particularly helpful,” said Bettman, who refused to deal with hypotheticals as always, rotate them out of play every three or four minutes and will not like the possibility of canceling games or playing them without fans in the ask fans for them back if they are shot into the crowd. stands as they have started doing in Europe. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey “We’re staying on top of it, which is what you have to do. We’re aware of world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what all the possible alternatives and we may have to deal with any of those they think about it. alternatives if something happens we have to react to. We’re aware of what’s happening around the world and understand this can evolve and Stemming from the commissioner’s four-point plan to ensure there isn’t change. As we sit here today, I don’t think people should get too far another Bill Peters situation in the league, Daly said the league is close ahead of themselves… let’s see how it all evolves.” to having a hotline in place for anyone in the league to report inappropriate conduct of any sort. Flames GM Brad Treliving said it’s business as usual with his team, but is continually monitoring the situation. “We hope to provide our, for lack of a better term, whistle-blower platform, up and running by June 1,” said Daly. “They’ve given us lots of information on two things, but mainly from the team perspective and everything in North America and staying on top of “We are in the process of developing the education and training program things and potential contingency plans,” he said. for club executives, coaches and staff, and they will all be trained prior to the start of next season.” “The second part is in Europe, relating to our scouting. Everyone has staffs that are going over there and chasing players and some He said since the commissioner promised action on inappropriate tournaments and leagues that have been affected. We spent a lot of time conduct, the league has been inundated with reports from teams on that. From the NHL standpoint it’s wait, watch and stay current with following the new guideline, which insists on mandatory reporting of what is happening. You’ve got to take leadership for your staff and make anything of concern. sure you’re not putting them in tough situations. But right now its “I can tell you our clubs have been over-inclusive, and the level of business as usual until you find out otherwise.” communication of issues that are local team issues has been solid,” said The NBA recently sent a memo to players, suggesting they replace high- Daly. fives with fist bumps, while also encouraging them not to handle pens, “Normal HR issues they deal with regularly we’ve been brought into the balls or jerseys handed to them by fans for autographs. loop on because clubs want to err on the side of being over-inclusive.” One casualty of the virus is the possibility of pre-season games in China He added, “We’re not sitting on any major scandals or news breaking this September, which won’t happen now. stories in that regard.” Incidentally, only twice in NHL lore has the Stanley Cup not been Asked about the dismissal of Ottawa Senators CEO Jim Little on awarded – once during labour stoppage and once in 1919 due to the Wednesday morning for “conduct inconsistent with the core values of the Spanish Flu. Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey League,” the commissioner Other topics discussed: said, “It’s not what you think.” Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly revealed the salary cap will go up next season to somewhere between $84 million and $88.2 million, depending Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 on negotiations with the NHLPA on the inflator they agree on. It’s a significant rise from the $81.5 million the league is currently operating under, which was welcome news to GMs. Daly said the uncertainty of the final number until summer is something he’s hoping to rectify as he undergoes preliminary talks about a new CBA with the players’ association. 1172227 Websites Extending out to look at passing, we find that Talbot faces 12.5 slot passes every 60 minutes, while Rittich faces 11.6, so once again Talbot is actually dealing with a slightly tougher workload. Sportsnet.ca / Is a goaltender controversy brewing with the Calgary The amount of time Rittich has played this season might be the biggest Flames? external factor in all of this, as he’s started far more games than Talbot has. At the very least it doesn’t appear that the Flames would be hurt by giving Talbot more chances down the stretch. He may even steal the job entirely. Andrew Berkshire | @AndrewBerkshire And he’ll start Wednesday at home against Columbus. March 4, 2020, 4:42 PM

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 It would be putting it mildly to say the Calgary Flames have had an inconsistent season. They’re the only NHL team right now in a playoff position with a negative goal differential (not including shootout goals), but even that doesn’t quite do justice to how weird their season has been. The Flames have allowed 10 more goals than they’ve scored and that poor goal differential ranks all the way down at 24th in the league. That’s not to say they’re the 24th-best team, but it does illustrate how all over the place they’ve been. Earlier in the season the Flames were a shell of the team we saw last year, when they were one of the best in the league during the regular season. But a November coaching change driven by unacceptable behaviour rather than performance helped to bring some of the magic back anyway. Despite their skaters seeing a big positive step in the right direction, the Flames haven’t really captured that momentum and reaped the reward of their offence scoring the fifth-most goals per game of any team in 2020. Goaltending has been one of the issues, which has necessitated a bit of a change in deployment. Using five-game rolling averages in order to smooth out performance and eliminate crazy single-game variability a little bit, let’s take a look at how David Rittich and Cam Talbot have performed this season over time. At about the mid-point of the season, the Flames started turning to Talbot more often, and after that Rittich’s play dropped off in a relatively extreme way. What’s interesting is that Rittich’s drop off to being below league average (where the x-axis is set) didn’t begin before the team started relying on Talbot more — and as Rittich has really started to struggle, the team has actually started going to Talbot less often. Brought in to be a steady backup in case Rittich faltered, Talbot has been very strong down the stretch after being a little inconsistent to start the season. If Rittich keeps struggling it wouldn’t be surprising if the Flames turned to Talbot when the playoffs come around, but going from backup to starter duty is not the easiest transition in the world, and raw save percentage in all situations can leave a lot to be desired in evaluating performance. So the question is, are the Flames actually better off turning to Talbot than they are sticking with Rittich and riding it out? Let’s look at the more detailed 5-on-5 data to see some more descriptive and predictive performance indicators. Breaking things down by zone, it’s clear that Talbot has been far more efficient at stopping pucks from the inner slot area, where Rittich has struggled the most compared to his peers. But Talbot’s also been better from the high slot, where both Flames goaltenders have been below league average. From the perimeter, neither goaltender is giving up more than their fair share of weak goals, stopping pucks at a 97.7 and 98 per cent rate from the outside, which is above the league average of 97.3 per cent. From the save percentages alone, it would seem Talbot is the better option for right now because he’s been stopping pucks at a higher rate from the more important areas in the game state that is most predictive of future performance. However, there’s one more area we can’t ignore: frequency. How often a goaltender is challenged to make a difficult save is a big factor in how often they’re able to make those saves, so are the Flames giving Talbot an easier time by either playing better in front of him or facing lesser teams? Per 60 minutes played at 5-on-5, Talbot is indeed facing fewer shots on net from the inner slot than Rittich, but only by a negligible amount. Rittich faces 6.11 inner slot shots per 60 minutes, while Talbot faces 5.99, and Talbot actually faces slightly more shots from the high slot. Talbot faces 7.81 shots on net from the high slot every 60 minutes, while Rittich faces 6.99. That’s less than one shot per 60 minutes, but it shows that Rittich hasn’t had a rougher ride. 1172228 Websites that Campbell has about $65 million less in career earnings than his former teammate.

“I just thought it looked like him and, it’s funny, that’s like his go-to tie,” Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Jack Campbell returns to city where career said Campbell. “It looks good on him. That’s funny he brought that up, was rebuilt but I love that guy. He’s awesome.” The goaltender is such a team-first guy that he recently took it upon himself to start the Leafs’ ‘Road to 50’ movement, growing a moustache Chris Johnston | @reporterchris in support of Auston Matthews’ pursuit of a 50-goal season. March 4, 2020, 11:39 AM In the process, he’s launched an unofficial competition in the dressing room: Who can say the nicest thing about him? The compliments seem to grow in depth with each answer given. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Jack Campbell’s road trip began on Feb. 2. "It doesn’t seem like he ever has a bad day," said Andersen. He packed one suit for work, one casual outfit for dinners and had no "He’s above and beyond,” said Tyson Barrie. “He’s a good dude." idea that his life was about to be turned upside down with a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs. "He’s probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet,” said Zach Hyman. More than a month later he’s finally returned to Los Angeles with a While Campbell doesn’t have roots in Los Angeles as deep as Toronto chance to tie up loose ends. There’s two important points on the line at teammates Clifford and Jake Muzzin — both former Stanley Cup winners Staples Center Thursday night, sure, but the 28-year-old goalie had with the Kings — this will always be a meaningful stop on the NHL circuit some pressing business to take care of beforehand. for him. "I get to get some clothes," he said. This is where the former 11th overall draft pick rebuilt his game under the watchful eye of goalie coaches Dusty Imoo and , and this is Not that he’s complaining. Campbell simply doesn’t have that in him. where he finally established himself as a bonafide NHLer after looking He’d be a wealthy man if he could bottle and sell his natural ‘whatever- like he might never deliver on the big expectations that followed him. will-be, will-be’ attitude. Campbell will resume a transient life when he returns to his new home in He didn’t even go on a shopping spree after arriving in Toronto with the Toronto at the end of the week. He’ll finally have some better clothing loosely packed suitcase. In a move true to the man and his unique path options on hand, but he’s staying in a downtown hotel for the balance of to the Leafs crease, he simply made due with what he had. the season. "I ordered a pair of socks on Amazon and that’s about it," said Campbell. Again, not that he’s complaining. The Leafs are fortunate they got him when they did. "I love it. It’s great," said Campbell. "A lot of Marriott points. I’ll take it." It is no stretch to suggest that Campbell played an important role in keeping their season from veering off the rails at an inflection point. The organization had lost total faith in former backup Michael Hutchinson and Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.05.2020 starter Frederik Andersen was out injured when general manager Kyle Dubas acquired Campbell and veteran winger Kyle Clifford in the middle of a game — a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden that left the Leafs out of a playoff spot. Campbell came in and immediately went 3-0-1, helping bridge the gap until Andersen returned to health while banking points that have given Toronto a small cushion over Florida in the Atlantic Division standings. As fate would have it, Campbell actually watched the end of that Leafs- Rangers game on TV before receiving a call from Kings general manager Rob Blake with news of the trade. He had just returned from his last supper with former teammates in Manhattan — a large group that included Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and goaltending partner Jonathan Quick, among others — and was completely caught off-guard by the news. Quick came to his hotel room and they had a reflective conversation before parting ways. On the surface they had little in common — the intensely competitive former Conn Smythe winner and the easy-going journeyman who took nearly a decade to find his way — but they shared a special partnership with the Kings. It was built on a shared ethic of how best to approach the job. "You know, we both are pretty responsible guys. Accountable, I guess, is the word,” said Campbell. “I just think we both take it on ourselves. Like there’s no finger-pointing.” That’s a big reason why he’s become so popular, so quickly, with his new team. Campbell took ownership of a late tying goal allowed to Marco Scandella late in the third period during a 2-1 overtime loss to Montreal on Feb. 8 despite the Leafs being outshot 19-2 after the second intermission. He fell on the sword again after Tuesday’s 5-2 loss in San Jose — one which saw the team outplayed for basically the entire second period. And you know there will be no hard feelings stemming from Sheldon Keefe’s decision to start Andersen here on Thursday night. As much as he’d love to face his former team, that’s just not how he operates. “He’s like over-the-top positive,” said Kings defenceman Drew Doughty. “Jack will do anything for anyone and it almost gets to the point that you’re going up to him like, ‘Hey, just stop doing [expletive] for people.’” To further prove the point, Doughty told a story about the time Campbell bought him a Gucci tie as a thank-you present for hosting an after-party at his house. That probably cost about $300 — not insignificant given 1172229 Websites Andersen gets the call against the Kings. Campbell, who spent four years in Los Angeles, will play on Friday against the Ducks.

"The biggest thought process for us, first of all, is we wanted to get Jack TSN.CA / Up-and-down Maple Leafs aim for higher level of into two of the three games this week," Keefe explained. "So that, to me, competitiveness trumps anything in terms of him playing against his former team or anything like that. And then, also, Fred's our starting goaltender and it just makes sense for him. He didn't play last night, full practice day today and he goes in and plays a game rather than him playing on a back-to- Mark Masters back. He deserves that. This time of the year, especially, we have to make those right decisions." TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes Andersen is 8-1-2 with a .930 save percentage against Los Angeles. on the Maple Leafs, who practised on Wednesday at the Toyota Sports With back-to-back games coming up, featuring the former teams of both Performance Center in El Segundo, Calif., ahead of Thursday’s game of the Leafs' goaltenders, head coach Sheldon Keefe explains the against the Los Angeles Kings. decision to start Frederik Andersen against Jack Campbell's former team, After three impressive wins last week against Tampa Bay, Florida and the Kings, and vice versa. Vancouver, the Maple Leafs came crashing back to earth on Tuesday Ilya Mikheyev, who's out until late March as he recovers from a wrist night in San Jose losing 5-2 to the 27th-place Sharks. injury, skated alongside John Tavares and Nylander at practice. Alex "We've had way too many of those nights like last night," said head Kerfoot, who was in that spot last night, moved to centre on the third line coach Sheldon Keefe. "I mean, we don't want to just say, ‘Hey, we put with Kyle Clifford and Kasperi Kapanen. Keefe is undecided on how the together three pretty good games last week and it's just a one off,’ there’s Tavares line will look on Thursday. been other times when we've looked like that and one of the bigger "Part of why we put Mikheyev there is we didn't have any real solutions issues is that when we've looked bad, we've been really bad." today and we didn't want to waste our time debating that," the coach Right from the start, the Leafs seemed a bit off in San Jose despite revealed. "But, also, with Mikheyev we want him to get more reps, more having arrived in northern California on Sunday and holding a full game-like reps out of the practice and it’s harder to do that when you're practice on Monday. the extra forward. We knew we weren't going to go long today so if we didn’t have him on a line he wouldn’t have got much out if it." "Last night in the first eight or nine minutes we were getting outshot 11-1 and out-chanced significantly, that’s unacceptable and we’re capable of Wednesday's on-ice workout lasted 25 minutes. better than that," said Keefe. Drew Doughty is eager to face Clifford tomorrow night. The pair were The Sharks took control in the second period out-attempting the Leafs teammates for nearly a decade, winning a pair of championships during 28-8 in five-on-five play. Despite that, Toronto actually won the period 2-1 that run. and was in a good position to steal the game in the third. "I know what he's all about," the Kings defenceman said. "I played with What was missing? him for so long. I know what he's going to do out there so I'm going to have fun with it. Obviously, you see him as like the big, tough guy, you "Our competitiveness," said winger William Nylander, who was on the ice know, guy who's going to rock other guys so I'll try to get him, get him for a pair of goals against. "I mean, it's that part of our game that we once." need to learn, to find out how to get back in those kind[s] of games where we're not playing to our capabilities." The showdown against his hometown team, the Leafs, always gets the London, Ont., native fired up. The fact that Clifford, Muzzin and Campbell Wednesday featured some honest dialogue about why this keeps have all switched to Toronto's colours via trade has only stoked those happening. Keefe noted it's been going on for months. fires. "We tried to touch on some things today in the room and figure out why "I want to beat them, obviously, especially now that those three guys are when we're off, we're off," said defenceman Jake Muzzin, who's sidelined on that team," Doughty said. "I want to beat them even more (to) have with a broken hand. "We tried to touch on some things today about that bragging rights over the summer." and, you know, not let our game slip like that. That's between us in there, though." Doughty can focus on bragging rights, because the Kings aren't in a playoff race. Los Angeles, once a powerhouse, is now 30th in the NHL. The Leafs endured some ugly defeats in the lead up to the trade How hard is it being patient? deadline, which prompted general manager Kyle Dubas to label his team a "Jekyll and Hyde" group. "It's very hard," Doughty admits, "but the position I'm in I got to try to stay positive every day, as hard as it is. It's coming to the rink trying to have "We're capable of putting together a level of competitiveness and work fun, trying to help guys get better and help myself get better. It's a difficult ethic and structure every day to make sure that it doesn't go south to that process, but I'm in the position I'm in so I have to make the best of it, just degree," said Keefe. "Any time that our backs are against the wall and try to get better every day both as a team and individually." we need to push back, our guys have responded really well to that. But we need that to be the standard and that's what we’re working towards." Los Angeles has been stockpiling draft picks as general manager Rob Blake fills up the prospect pool. A top pick would certainly accelerate the Muzzin has previously said the Leafs have a tendency to rely too much rebuild so April's draft lottery will be a big focus here. And TSN insider on their high skill level and look for an easier game. The players know Pierre LeBrun reports that the Kings are looking at possibly having actor their best level is very high, but sometimes that creates a false sense of Will Ferrell represent them at the lottery broadcast. security. "He was around quite a bit when we were winning the Cups and stuff like "It gives us confidence, for sure, and perhaps it can be a bit of a crutch that so maybe he can bring a little luck back to the organization," for us to say, 'Hey, once we get to the playoffs we're going to be able to Doughty said. do that,’ but we’re not in the playoffs yet," said Keefe. "We have to earn our way there. Also, we want to get our game to a level where that’s just Doughty admits it's 'very hard' to be patient with rebuild the standard, that’s what we’re capable of. We don’t want to be Having won two Stanley Cups, Drew Doughty admits that it has been responding to anything that’s happening, we want to be dictating it and difficult playing during the Kings' rebuild, and hopes Will Ferrell brings we want to be confident when we come to the arena every day about some of the good luck back at the NHL Draft Lottery. what we're going to be and bring that particular day." Campbell may not be playing Thursday, but this is still an emotional trip Jekyll and Hideous: When Leafs are bad, they're really bad and it has to for him. Los Angeles is where he rediscovered his game and became an stop established NHL player following some "dark" early days in Dallas. After an encouraging three-game win streak that saw them clinch "I just appreciate guys like, I don't even want to say specific guys, important games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, because if I leave someone out I'll feel bad, but so many of the older the Leafs lost another ugly one to the San Jose Sharks. Why is it that guys who took me under their wings and helped me believe in myself as when the Leafs are bad, they are really bad? Head coach Sheldon Keefe a player to turn the page and become a full-time NHL goalie," Campbell and the players try to explain. said. "I just appreciate the friendships I have there." Jack Campbell, who allowed four goals on 37 shots in San Jose, won't One of his closer friends was Doughty. get the chance to face his old team on Thursday night. Instead, Frederik "He's like over-the-top positive and over-the-top doing things for people," Doughty said. "Jack will do anything for anyone. It almost gets to the point that you're going up to him like, 'Hey, stop doing s--- for people.'" Doughty's favourite "Soupy" story? "I had an after party at my house one time so he came over the next morning and he was like, ‘Dewy, thank you so much for having me over at the house,' and he bought me a Gucci tie just because of that after party. Just for having him over for a few beers after the bar he got me a Gucci tie." "He's just the man," Campbell said with a laugh. "I just thought it looked like him and, it's funny, that’s like his go-to tie. It looks good on him. That's funny he brought that up, but I love that guy. He's awesome." How good was that after party? "It was a good time. Drew's a great guy to hang out with so we always had a good time at the rink or away from the rink and those are memories I'll always have." Drew Doughty spoke with the media today about Jack Campbell's 'over- the-top' positivity, a refrain already familiar to the Maple Leafs players. Campbell spoke about his friendship with Doughty that he formed over his years playing for the Kings.

TSN.CA LOADED: 03.05.2020 1172230 Websites Daly said: “I don’t think I’m talking out of school when I say that they [the Coyotes] don’t believe that what they’ve done is as serious as others believe.” TSN.CA / GMs Notebook: NHL hopes for set schedule on future salary Rest assured, the rest of the NHL’s teams are watching this closely. cap numbers Daly said the NHL plans to have a hotline to allow players and team personnel to anonymously report any inappropriate conduct up and running by June 1. Frank Seravalli To date, Bettman and Daly said teams have been “over-inclusive” so far because they were previously warned the NHL “doesn’t like surprises.” BOCA RATON, Fla. — The NHL’s general managers departed South “Normal HR issues they deal with regularly, we’ve been brought into the Florida cautiously optimistic a salary cap increase this summer will loop on because clubs want to err on the side of being over-inclusive,” provide a little extra breathing room. Daly said. “We’re not sitting on any major scandals or news-breaking stories in that regard.” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly provided the managers a salary cap projection for the 2020-21 season with a range between $84 million and $88.2 million, dependent upon negotiation with the NHL Players’ Association. TSN.CA LOADED: 03.05.2020 If those projections remain accurate, that would represent a minimum three per cent increase from the $81.5 million limit this season. The keyword there is “if.” Many GMs said Wednesday that they planned to be very conservative with that projection, because this season’s $81.5 million cap figure ended up being a full $1.5 million lower than the projection commissioner Gary Bettman gave to the group at these meetings last year. To that end, Daly said the NHL is negotiating with the NHLPA – as part of collective bargaining talks – on a system that would set a schedule of future seasons’ salary cap numbers. “Part of our discussion with the players’ association has been to see if we can come up with a formula that would provide more predictability for the clubs on an advanced basis, which currently isn’t the case,” Daly said. “Hopefully, at some point in the future, we’ll have a mechanism that allows them to have that information.” That was the big cap news from Wednesday’s meeting. Arming GMs with reliable future cap numbers – for say, the next two to three seasons – would create much better roster certainty, particularly with regards to planning and signing players to long-term contracts. Projected salary cap increase 'big news' for GM's trying to plan ahead Ryan Rishaug, , Pierre LeBrun and Frank Seravalli detail the measures the NHL is putting into place regarding the coronavirus, discuss the projected jump in the salary cap for next season, and share the latest on the investigation into the Coyotes allegedly fitness testing draft eligible players in a way that's outside of the rules. It would fundamentally change the way GMs do business, because they've been operating essentially blindly on a year-to-year basis, save for a guess of the usual small increase. Plus, if the scheduled salary caps are set conservatively, it could significantly reduce the amount of escrow withholding for players – a major sticking point in the CBA talks – and might even result in the owners paying players extra (beyond their published salaries) if revenues exceed the projections. “If the concern is keeping the escrow down,” Bettman said, “then you’ve got to focus on the cap in that light.” Daly has been spearheading the investigation into the Arizona Coyotes’ alleged private fitness testing of draft-eligible prospects, which is strictly forbidden in the NHL constitution. When finished, those findings will be presented to Bettman for ruling. He passed on the status of the investigation to all 31 GMs with Coyotes GM John Chayka in the room. “It’s ongoing,” Daly said. “The club is being very cooperative. Ultimately, the matter will be submitted to the commissioner to determine what happened, what actually transpired, and whether there should be a league response.” The NHL constitution calls for a $250,000 fine for each violation. But Bettman holds the power to mete out punishment he feels fits any potential crime. That includes a significant fine, the forfeiture of draft picks, the termination or suspension of employee(s), removing the Coyotes from consideration of hosting future league events or any combination thereof. “It could be whatever the commissioner determines is appropriate,” Daly said. The Coyotes have not publicly commented on the allegations. 1172231 Websites The common thread in all of these departures, of course, is owner Eugene Melnyk. And whether or not Melnyk is to blame for this latest divorce is immaterial to many Senators fans, who will point the finger in his direction whether he deserves it or not. TSN.CA / Jim Little lasts just 54 days as Ottawa Senators CEO The Senators owner, however, has been uncharacteristically quiet this season, declining all media opportunities. So unless Melnyk breaks from his current hiatus with the media and does a surprise round of interviews, Ian Mendes it’s safe to assume Little’s abrupt exit from the Senators will simply vanish into the cone of silence along with the others. Exactly three weeks ago – on Feb. 12 – Jim Little granted his first set of There was a time in which being the Senators head coach was the most interviews to the local media in Ottawa. fragile job in the league – as John Paddock, Craig Hartsburg, Cory Clouston, Paul MacLean, Dave Cameron and Guy Boucher can all attest. As the new CEO of the Ottawa Senators, Little wanted to make it clear the public would be seeing and hearing a lot from him in the months But now it feels like the position in hockey with the least amount of ahead. security is the person at the top of the corporate ladder for the Senators. “I will become the face of the franchise. It’s not a role that I’m seeking, The press release indicates the search for a new CEO is already but it’s a role that I’m told is required,” he told TSN 1200. underway and we should expect a replacement for Little to be named in the coming weeks. But shortly after 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, a rather terse press release was issued by the club stating that Little had been dismissed Whenever that announcement is made, it will be met with a great deal of from his duties as chief executive officer. skepticism and derision in this marketplace and around the NHL. The statement indicated Little had engaged in conduct that was After all, the new over/under for how long the next CEO of the Senators “inconsistent with the core values of the Ottawa Senators and the will last is now set at 54 days. National Hockey League.” Little released a statement on his firing late Wednesday afternoon, Since this season has seen multiple head coaches fired for inappropriate wishing Senators employees, players and coaches well. conduct, the vague press release certainly leaves room for interpretation. “The statement made today by the team contained some language that It should be noted that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked deserves some clarification. On Valentine’s Day, the owner and I had a about the dismissal at the general managers meetings in Boca Raton, personal disagreement over the approach that I had been pursuing. I am Fla., on Wednesday morning and simply said, “It’s not what you think.” a strong-willed person, and the disagreement included me using some Bettman characterized the dismissal as an “internal operations” decision. very strong language with him over the phone, including swearing, which he did not appreciate and for which I later apologized. So what now? “It was these events, to my knowledge, which led to my dismissal. Any The Senators are once again dealing with a pot of instability that always other inference from the statement is wrong.” feels like it’s on the verge of boiling over.

There were rumblings last week that Little and Melnyk weren’t seeing eye-to-eye on a couple of issues, but even the biggest skeptics didn’t TSN.CA LOADED: 03.05.2020 believe a divorce was so imminent. After all, Little had only officially been on the job since Jan. 10 – a span of 54 days. The hockey club has been a laughingstock around the league for its inability to retain senior management. Wednesday’s news has simply added another fresh punchline for cynics to pounce on. Since firing the affable and popular Cyril Leeder on Jan. 25, 2017 – roughly three years ago – the Senators have watched a carousel of suits come through their doors to try and fix their broken relationship with corporate partners. There was Tom Anselmi – one of the most well-respected names in the industry – who quietly vacated his position as president and CEO after about a year on the job in early 2018. Nicolas Ruszkowski lasted less than one calendar year in his position at the top of the corporate ladder, with the title of . But as short as those tenures were, Little effectively said, “Hold my $5 pregame beer,” and watched his position evaporate into thin air after just 54 days on the job. For an organization that actually seemed to be inching towards respectability – albeit at a glacial pace – Little’s sudden departure drags it back into the dysfunctional news cycle it has been desperately trying to escape. The Senators had been moving the needle in the positive direction lately, with the feel-good Bobby Ryan story not even one week old. Now the club has to answer why another senior executive – who was touted as being the right fit – has suddenly parted ways with the club. As has been stated before, the number of well-respected people who have left the organization over the last six or seven years under mysterious circumstances would create the perfect basis for an entire season of Stranger Things. The plot summary would simply read: A series of high-profile people vanish from a National Hockey League team without a trace, leaving no explanation for their departures. Not a single person who has left the organization – Leeder, Anselmi or Ruszkowski – has given an on-the-record account of their departure. All have chosen to take the high road and given the legal ramifications that could be hanging around Little’s departure, it’s safe to assume he won’t speak either.