SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 10/25/2019 1158197 Ducks can’t mount a comeback after falling behind early 1158230 J.T. Compher moves into Mikko Rantanen’s role on the against Stars Avalanche’s top line 1158198 Ducks lose reunion game to Stars and Manson and Kase 1158231 How Ian Cole could be the key to Cale Makar finding to injuries consistency and taking the next step 1158199 Ducks welcome defenseman Brendan Guhle back to 1158232 An unexpected face is replacing Mikko Rantanen lineup with open arms 1158233 Blue Jackets 4, Hurricanes 3 | Columbus Blue Jackets 1158200 Coyotes, Kuemper get outworked in loss to Islanders show some grit in rallying from an early defict to beat t 1158201 Coyotes’ 4-game winning streak snapped in loss to 1158235 Columbus Blue Jackets working to close passing lanes on Islanders the kill 1158202 Shane Doan raves about Coyotes’ Christian Dvorak: ‘That 1158236 No. 500 for Nick Foligno spices Blue Jackets' Metro kid is special’ matchup with 1158237 Portzline: 10 observations in Blue Jackets’ OT win over Carolina 1158203 How the Bruins stay in the right frame of mind 1158204 Sean Kuraly, Bruins have a ‘fourth line’ in name only 1158205 Brett Ritchie starting to 'turn the corner' and give Bruins 1158238 Once a villain to Stars fans, Corey Perry faces Ducks for needed offense the first time in Victory Green 1158206 announces retirement from the NHL 1158239 With two goals in the win over Anaheim, the Stars are after 15 seasons finally seeing the version of Denis Gurianov they hoped 1158207 Bruins in a good, not great, place after 'measuring stick' 1158240 Former Stars forward Devin Shore reminisces on times in stretch Dallas; Miro Heiskanen given heavy workload in final m 1158241 Dallas Stars all-decade team: Longevity in Victory Green, young playmakers fill out roster 1158208 Sabres glad to escape from New York after a dud of a 1158242 Stars 20/20: Denis Gurianov plays hero as Stars shoot night down Ducks 1158209 The Wraparound: Rangers 6, Sabres 2 1158243 Stars Mailbag Vol. 51: Early issues, goaltender 1158210 Vesey's return to New York comes as he finds comfort in performance and forecasting a Hintz extension Buffalo 1158211 Sabres game day: Rangers are reeling heading into Buffalo's MSG visit 1158244 10 games in, Detroit Red Wings not doing anything right 1158245 Ineffectiveness on specialty teams keying long Red Wings' Flames losing streak 1158212 Flames scratch out shootout win after Panthers take late 1158246 Grand Rapids report: Pickard posts shutout, Ericsson lead makes debut 1158213 Duhatschek: How the Heritage Classic in is 1158247 Red Wings feel urgency to reverse course before season bringing outdoor hockey back to its roots unravels 1158248 How to watch, listen and stream Red Wings vs. Buffalo Carolina Hurricanes Sabres 1158214 Canes broadcaster Mike Maniscalco undergoes 1158249 Rebuilders’ roundtable: How the Red Wings, Senators and successful surgery to remove abdominal mass Kings differ in approach and progress 1158250 ‘The full package’: How Red Wings prospect Robert Mastrosimone keeps proving doubters wrong 1158215 Blackhawks end their disappointing homestand with their 3rd consecutive loss, 4-1 to the Flyers 1158216 Jonathan Toews is still struggling to get his offensive 1158251 JONES: Oilers faced adversity and came out on top game going: ‘I’m not getting chances’ against Capitals 1158217 Sleepy Blackhawks lose to Flyers, conclude disappointing 1158252 McDavid and Draisaitl launch third period comeback to homestand beat Capitals 1158218 Critical 9-game deadline creeps closer for Blackhawks and 1158253 Edmonton Oilers Snapshots: NHL leading scorer comes to Kirby Dach town 1158220 Jay Zawaski provides listening pleasure for Blackhawks 1158254 Trade from Medicine Hat worked out well for Josh fans in podcast world Williams 1158221 Hawks goalie Lehner more than admirably filling in for 1158255 Fifty- scorers ready to face-off when Edmonton Oilers Crawford host 1158222 Blackhawks' seven-game homestand ends on a low note 1158256 Edmonton Oilers Game Day: Sam Gagner draws into 1158223 Blackhawks Talk Podcast: Jeremy Colliton calls out lineup against Washington Capitals Blackhawks work ethic in stinker vs. Flyers 1158257 Lowetide: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James Neal are 1158224 Four takeaways: Blackhawks take a step back in loss to leading a quality Oilers second line Flyers 1158225 Instant reaction: Blackhawks wrap up seven-game homestand with loss to Flyers 1158258 Panthers wing Jonathan Huberdeau on his way to a 1158226 Is Dylan Strome's transition to wing a long-term move for record-breaking season. Here’s how Blackhawks? 1158259 Panthers get four-point game from Barkov, extend road 1158227 Robin Lehner to get second straight start for Blackhawks point streak in shootout loss to Flames vs. Flyers 1158260 ‘Unlimited sampling’ + beer = new Panthers fans: It’s 1158228 ‘We deserved what we got today’: Blackhawks’ homestand Beerfest time at BB&T Center closes with ugly loss 1158261 Say what? Panthers navigate melting pot of eight 1158229 How did he score that goal? Patrick Kane explains all languages to find chemistry season long. 1158262 Kings surrender 3 power-play goals in loss to Blues 1158299 Ryan Strome Scores Twice as Rangers Down Sabres to 1158263 Blake Lizotte’s ‘relentless’ personality got him to the Kings end 5-game skid and now he’s out to prove he belongs for good 1158300 Ryan Strome and Brett Howden fill void at center for 1158264 Rebuilders’ roundtable: How the Red Wings, Senators and Rangers Kings differ in approach and progress 1158301 Rangers snap five-game skid with surprisingly dominant 1158265 OCTOBER 24 RAPID REACTION: BLUES 5, KINGS 2 effort 1158266 GAME 10: LOS ANGELES AT ST. LOUIS 1158302 An unlikely role change helped save Brendan Smith’s 1158267 SAME LINEUP; POSSESSION VS SUPPRESSION; HOW Rangers career DOES RIVALRY EVOLVE WITH BLUES’ CUP? 1158303 Two key Rangers pieces already thriving in New York 1158268 VILARDI PROGRESSING AS NEXT EVALUATION FOR 1158304 Postgame analysis: NY Rangers regain confidence by INTEGRATION NEARS snapping five-game losing streak 1158305 Rangers beat Sabres at MSG to snap their five-game losing streak 1158269 Early, late goals in second period by Predators haunt Wild 1158306 David Quinn: Rangers ending slide was a team effort in loss 1158307 Rangers come out shooting and snap losing streak after a 1158270 Wild-Nashville game recap heated team meeting 1158271 Predators' Rinne flawless in blanking Wild 4-0 1158272 Wild shut out again on the road, falling 4-0 in Nashville Senators 1158273 Defenseman Carson Soucy springs a rookie surprise on 1158308 GAME DAY: Islanders at Senators Wild 1158309 D.J. Smith holding off on making a goalie decision for 1158274 Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk out vs. Predators but feeling Islanders game better after fall 1158310 SNAPSHOTS: Nick Paul trying to put his mind to being a 1158275 Wild again unable to solve Predators goalie Pekka Rinne full-time NHL player in 4-0 loss 1158311 The answers will have to come from within for the Ottawa 1158276 Wild supporting cast stepping up to combat injury bug Senators 1158277 After a solid two games, Wild revert back to their bad 1158312 Rebuilders’ roundtable: How the Red Wings, Senators and habits in loss to Preds Kings differ in approach and progress 1158278 The formula behind Wild sharpshooter Brad Hunt’s 1158313 Logan Brown did all the right things in his Senators blistering slap shot season debut, but was it enough to stay? Canadiens 1158279 In the Habs' Room: 'It has to be better,' Weber says of 1158314 Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk score their first goals penalty-killing of the season as Flyers whip Chicago, 4-1 1158280 Poor defence and penalty-killing sink Habs against 1158315 Samuel Morin staying patient as he waits his turn with nemesis Sharks Flyers 1158281 Stu Cowan: Low eggs-pectations in kitchen for Habs' 1158316 Flyers sharpen their skills in 'different' practice Brendan Gallagher 1158282 Canadiens Game Day: Penalty-kill costs Habs again in 4-2 loss to Sharks 1158317 Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson’s ability to find 1158283 Sharks at Canadiens: Five things you should know shooting lanes has evolved 1158284 The Canadiens’ miserable penalty kill is overshadowing 1158318 Travis Williams is coming back to Pittsburgh, and the something far more important Penguins' David Morehouse is thrilled 1158285 Video Review: The Canadiens’ penalty kill is killing them 1158319 Sidney Crosby would like to see NHL develop goal-line technology 1158320 Wish Travis Williams luck dealing with cheap Pirates 1158286 An injured Matt Duchene would be an alarming twist in ownership Predators' young season | Estes 1158287 Matt Duchene leaves Predators game with 'lower body' injury 1158321 Aaron Dell outduels Carey Price as Sharks top Canadiens 1158288 Predators beat Minnesota Wild 4-0 behind stellar 1158322 Most Valuable Patrick: On eve of milestone, Marleau as performance from Pekka Rinne vital to the Sharks now as ever 1158289 Inside the quiet moments that prepare Matt Duchene for 1158323 Evander Kane’s two goals help Sharks beat Canadiens every game again 1158324 Sharks takeaways: What we learned in bounce-back 4-2 win vs. Canadiens 1158290 Devils practice lines: Nico Hischier, Will Butcher ready to 1158325 Sharks hoping history of turning season around vs. return? Could Jesper Bratt sit? Canadiens continues 1158291 How Nico Hischier’s contract extension affects Devils’ salary cap situation next season St Louis Blues 1158292 What’s the Devils’ plan for Jesper Boqvist? 1158326 Blais out with thumb injury, Sanford steps in for Blues 1158293 With Jesper Boqvist, Devils trying to balance long-term 1158327 Oh, really? Blues' O'Reilly mired in 'one of my worst starts' development and winning now in 11 seasons 1158328 Blues notebook: Blais' sore thumb puts him in doubt for Thursday's game 1158294 Semyon Varlamov makes 21 saves as Islanders put a 1158329 Preview: Blues vs. Los Angeles muzzle on Coyotes 1158330 Blais' status uncertain for Blues-Kings game 1158295 Islanders clip Coyotes for fifth straight victory 1158331 Blues score three power play goals, beat Kings 5-2 1158296 Derick Brassard scores first goal with Islanders 1158297 Islanders president Travis Williams leaving to run Pirates 1158298 Islanders return from off days rested, defeat Coyotes 1158332 Film session: Breaking down the Lightning’s penalty-kill problems Maple Leafs Websites 1158333 Mediocre October not yet a cause for panic among Maple 1158363 The Athletic / How the Heritage Classic in Saskatchewan Leafs is bringing outdoor hockey back to its roots 1158334 Maple Leafs are working on getting their house, and their 1158364 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers 'find a way' as McDavid, Draisaitl key defensive play, in order comeback vs. Capitals 1158335 It’s still October, veteran Jake Muzzin reminds Leafs 1158365 Sportsnet.ca / Urgent need to fix Canadiens' penalty kill Nation, it’s a little early to panic clear after loss to Sharks 1158336 NHL game preview: San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple 1158366 Sportsnet.ca / Flames 'relieved' to beat Panthers as they Leafs still search for their game 1158337 For Seattle GM Ron Francis, NHL expansion draft is 20 1158367 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: Your GM's Next short months away Critical Move Edition 1158338 Game Day: Sharks at Maple Leafs 1158368 Sportsnet.ca / Horvat line juggling shows Canucks roster 1158339 Maple Leafs captain Tavares taking positives to heart as remains incomplete he recovers from broken finger 1158369 Sportsnet.ca / 'We're OK': Jake Muzzin says Leafs' recent 1158340 Tavares' belief solid, Maple Leafs teammates vow slide isn't end of world accountability in looking to end slump 1158370 Sportsnet.ca / How sidelined Leafs Hyman, Dermott 1158341 Maple Leafs’ Muzzin: ‘Let’s not go frickin’ crazy here’ supported each other through recovery 1158342 'EAGER AND ANXIOUS': Zach Hyman nears return for 1158371 Sportsnet.ca / How Leon Draisaitl compares to Alex lagging Maple Leafs Ovechkin as a goal scorer 1158343 Q&A: Justin Holl on the Black Keys, wedding planning and 1158372 TSN.CA / Maple Leafs focus on fixing their game ‘in the his strong start D-zone’ 1158344 Capmageddon is here: Which four players should the 1158373 TSN.CA / Auston Matthews believes honesty the best Maple Leafs cut to make room? policy for slumping 1158374 TSN.CA / ' top line dominating the Vancouver Canucks competition 1158359 Canucks paid a high price for J.T. Miller, but he's been 1158375 TSN.CA / Six Takeaways: Canucks vs Red Wings worth every penny 1158376 TSN.CA / Who will be the Craig MacTavish of NHL visors? 1158360 Canucks' offensive prowess driven by smart defenders 1158377 USA TODAY / Capitals' John Carlson has Bobby Orr-like 1158361 Vancouver Canucks assign forward Adam Gaudette to month: Is 100-point defenseman season still possible? AHL's Utica Comets 1158378 USA TODAY / NHL fact or fiction: Avalanche team to 1158362 Why J.T. Miller has been the Canucks’ best forward so far beat? Taylor Hall key to winning the Cup? 1158345 Shea Theodore becoming shootout star for Golden 1158354 Regina ready for a Classic Knights 1158355 Playing outside, thinking inside 1158346 Goaltender Garret Sparks relishes return to NHL with 1158356 Jets looking forward to special night in Regina Golden Knights 1158357 Jets’ defence and special teams remain a work in 1158347 Golden Knights launch virtual reality experience progress: 4 observations from the homestand 1158348 VGK’s Pacioretty Lands Toyota Pitchman Job, While 1158358 Duhatschek: How the Heritage Classic in Saskatchewan is Schmidt Snags Hyundai Work (And Smith Says He Would bringing outdoor hockey back to its roots Welcome

Washington Capitals SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1158349 Capitals’ winning streak snapped with a late flurry from Oilers’ young stars 1158350 In a clash of old and young, 50-goal scorers Alex Ovechkin and Leon Draisaitl to face off in Edmonton 1158351 Washington sports teams rally behind Nationals 1158352 How to WATCH: Capitals at Oilers: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream 1158353 4 things to know for Caps-Oilers: John Carlson vs. Connor McDavid 1158197 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks can’t mount a comeback after falling behind early against Stars

Staff Report

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCT. 24, 2019 8:39 PM

DALLAS — Denis Gurianov ended a personal scoring drought with two goals in the first period and the Dallas Stars beat the Ducks 2-1 on Thursday night.

Gurianov hadn’t scored in 26 games since his first NHL goal on Nov. 18, 2018.

Dallas won its third straight game. The Ducks have lost three in a row. Stars goalie Ben Bishop made 29 saves.

John Gibson stopped 27 shots for Anaheim.

Gurianov scored on the Stars’ first shot. He skated into the right faceoff circle and lifted a backhand over the left shoulder of Gibson at 2:42.

Midway through the first period, the Ducks killed a 5-on-3 power play.

For Gurianov’s second goal, he skated past the puck at the blue line, recovered and slid another backhand inside the right goalpost at 17:37.

The Stars outshot Anaheim 10-8 and won 74 percent of the faceoffs (17 for 23) in the first.

Anaheim pulled within 2-1 on a power-play goal by Max Comtois at 4:31 of the second period. The puck came to him in front of the goal with Bishop out of position to the left of the net. Comtois settled the puck from a skate to his stick for his first goal this season, the third of his career.

It was only the second Anaheim goal in 26 power plays this season.

The goalies took over in the scoreless third period. Gibson made a glove save on Tyler Seguin and a breakaway by Radek Faksa, sent in by Mattias Janmark. Bishop stopped two shots from the blue line by Cam Fowler.

Gibson left for a sixth skater with 2:15 to play, but the Ducks couldn’t score again.

LA Times: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158198 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks lose reunion game to Stars and Manson and Kase to injuries

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 8:22 pm | UPDATED: October 24, 2019 at 9:45 PM

DALLAS — It was supposed to be about a reunion, a much-anticipated meeting of friends and former teammates, and it was, but only to a point. Corey Perry made a pest of himself, per usual, and Andrew Cogliano did that thing where he skates like the wind with the puck on his stick.

Perry was scoreless in his first game against his former team since it bought him out of the final two years of his contract last June. It was also Cogliano’s first game against the Ducks since they traded him last season. Cogliano assisted on the first of Denis Gurianov’s two goals in the first period.

The first meeting between the Ducks and the ex-Ducks went to the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Thursday at American Airlines Center. The Ducks’ third consecutive defeat was compounded by the losses of defenseman Josh Manson and right wing Ondrej Kase to first-period injuries, however.

Manson skated to deliver a check to the Stars’ Jason Dickinson along the boards near the end of the first period, but he fell awkwardly to the ice after failing to connect. Manson was in obvious pain as play was halted. He needed assistance getting to the dressing room, unable to put weight on his left leg.

The Ducks later said Manson had suffered an unspecified lower-body injury and was under evaluation. He did not return to the game and walked with the aid of crutches outside the locker room after the game when reporters spotted him in the hallway.

Kase appeared to be hurt in a neutral-zone collision with the Stars’ Roope Hintz, suffering what the Ducks said was an unspecified upper- body injury. Kase continued to play in the opening period, but he was ruled out for the remainder of the game during the intermission.

“We’re big believers that in every moment there’s an opportunity,” Ducks coach said. “If we’re going to sit and sulk and feel bad for ourselves about something that’s happened in the past, how can you be ready for the opportunity that lies in front of you right now?

“This isn’t all rainbows and butterflies every day.”

Eakins spent the rest of the game mixing and matching his defense pairs, doing what he could to make up for the absence of one of his top defensemen. Hampus Lindholm, Manson’s usual partner, played with a number of partners over the final two periods.

In addition, Eakins also shuffled his lines, trying to keep shifts short in order to keep bodies fresh. In the end, the Ducks managed to keep the Stars scoreless and remain in striking distance, trailing by only a goal despite missing one defenseman and one forward for the final 40 minutes.

The Stars built a 2-0 lead in the first period on two wicked backhanded shots by Gurianov, his first two goals of the season. Max Comtois cut the Stars’ lead to 2-1 with a second-period power-play goal, only the Ducks’ second man-advantage strike in 27 chances this season.

The Ducks had plenty of chances, but couldn’t produce the tying goal in the final frantic minutes, with goaltender John Gibson on the bench in favor of a sixth attacker. The Ducks outshot the Stars 30-29.

“They’re both big players in our lineup,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said of the challenge of playing without Manson and Kase. “They both eat up minutes. (But) those are things hockey teams go through. I didn’t think we did a good enough job on the walls to start the hockey game.

“We gave up too many pucks coming out of the zone, and we didn’t play fast enough.”

"I thought we battled hard… it wasn't going our way."

Orange County Register: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158199 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks welcome defenseman Brendan Guhle back to lineup with open arms

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 2:46 pm | UPDATED: October 24, 2019 at 2:46 PM

DALLAS — The evolution of Brendan Guhle continued Thursday, which was to say he was back in the Ducks’ lineup after sitting out for six consecutive games because of an unspecified lower-body injury. He took the place of Michael Del Zotto, rejoining defense partner Cam Fowler.

Guhle has taken halting steps since the Ducks acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Brandon Montour last Feb. 24. He has played only four games this season and 10 overall since the trade last season.

To be certain, the Ducks like what they’ve seen from the 22-year-old defenseman. They admire his speed, his passing and his ability to deliver a hard shot from the perimeter through traffic and on target, among the most-coveted skills in the shot-blocking-centric NHL today.

The Ducks simply haven’t seen enough of Guhle because of this season’s lower-body injury and last season’s oblique strain. He was limited to six games after the trade from Buffalo and sidelined for the AHL playoffs, where he was expected to play a key role for the San Diego Gulls.

Guhle is expected to be part of the Ducks’ new wave of players, a group of talented youngsters who will some day become the core group of the franchise, replacing veterans such as longtime captain Ryan Getzlaf, 34, playing in his 15th season in the NHL.

“I’d like to see him get back to where he was playing,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said before Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars. “I thought he was making some great strides before his injury. He’s worked extremely hard to get back to get ready.

“We’ve done our best to be sure he’s ready to get back in (the lineup). We’ve probably been overly-cautious with it. Now, his challenge is to get his game back to speed. Would we love to see that (Thursday)? Yeah. Is that too lofty a goal? Maybe.”

What does Eakins like best about Guhle’s game?

“I liked that he was getting aggressive with his defensive play,” Eakins said. “He can skate like the wind and we’ve given him the green light to get up the ice and he was feeling his way through that. I’m not sure he’d been encouraged to do that in the past.

“The other thing is this kid can shoot the puck very hard. Obviously, with us being challenged to score goals, we need more of that.”

POWER ASSIST

Eakins didn’t plan to include Guhle on either of the Ducks’ power-play units Thursday. Eakins was expected to play him when the Ducks had man-advantage situations in upcoming games, however. The Ducks’ power play was ranked 30th in the 31-team NHL going into Thursday.

Only the (1 for 27, 3.7 percent) were clicking at a lower success rate than the Ducks (1 for 25, 4 percent). The Ducks finished last season ranked 24th in the league with a 17 percent success rate with the man advantage.

AROUND THE RINK

The Ducks trailed only the Philadelphia Flyers in faceoff winning percentage going into Thursday’s action around the league. The Ducks had won 55.4 percent of their faceoffs and the Flyers had won 56.7 percent. … Left wings Max Comtois and Max Jones returned to the lineup Thursday.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158200 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes, Kuemper get outworked in loss to Islanders

Richard Morin, Arizona Republic

Published 6:53 p.m. MT Oct. 24, 2019

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Anders Lee's third-period goal was the eventual winner and the New York Islanders beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Thursday night.

Derick Brassard and Josh Bailey also scored and Brock Nelson recorded two assists as the Islanders won their fifth consecutive game. Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves in his third win of the season.

Michael Grabner and Conor Garland scored for Arizona. Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves as the Coyotes' four-game winning streak was snapped. Jakob Chychrun recorded two assists.

Kuemper's impressive 13-game stretch of allowing two goals or less came to an end when Lee slipped a backhander past the goaltender at the eight-minute mark of the third period. Kuemper is one of 11 goalies in NHL history to have had such a streak. Bailey and Devon Toews assisted on Lee's goal.

Bailey broke a 1-1 tie at 14:03 of the second period when he fired a one- timer from the high slot past Kuemper. Defenseman Adam Pelech helped start the offensive opportunity when he skated into the zone with control of the puck. The Islanders generated a few chances before Bailey scored, with assists going to Nick Leddy and Nelson.

Brassard opened the scoring at 1:25 of the first period when he redirected a puck from Ryan Pulock past Kuemper. Prior to Brassard's first goal of the season, the Coyotes hadn't trailed since the first period against Winnipeg on Oct. 15, four games ago. Pulock and Nelson picked up assists on the play.

The Islanders signed Brassard late in the summer to a one-year contract after the center struggled to find his rhythm after being traded twice last season. The 32-year-old has predominantly played center throughout his 13-year career, but skated at left wing for the first time as a member of the Islanders, alongside Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.

Grabner evened the score at 1-1 when he snapped a wrist shot past Varlamov at 10:20 of the first period. Bailey failed to effectively chip the puck deep into the offensive zone and the former Islander took advantage of the turnover. Chychrun assisted on the play.

Gardland cut the Coyotes' deficit to one goal when he scored off a rebound at 18:55 of the third period. Chuchrun and Phil Kessel assisted on the play.

Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield scored an empty-netter with 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158201 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes’ 4-game winning streak snapped in loss to Islanders

Staff Report

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCTOBER 24, 2019 AT 7:00 PM

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Anders Lee’s third-period goal was the eventual winner and the New York Islanders beat the Arizona Coyotes 4- 2 on Thursday night.

Derick Brassard and Josh Bailey also scored and Brock Nelson recorded two assists as the Islanders won their fifth consecutive game. Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves in his third win of the season.

Michael Grabner and Conor Garland scored for Arizona. Darcy Keumper made 18 saves as the Coyotes’ four-game winning streak was snapped. Jakob Chychrun recorded two assists.

Kuemper’s impressive 13-game stretch of allowing two goals or less came to an end when Lee slipped a backhander past the goaltender at the eight-minute mark of the third period. Kuemper is one of 11 goalies in NHL history to have had such a streak. Bailey and Devon Toews assisted on Lee’s goal.

Bailey broke a 1-1 tie at 14:03 of the second period when he fired a one- timer from the high slot past Kuemper. Defenseman Adam Pelech helped start the offensive opportunity when he skated into the zone with control of the puck. The Islanders generated a few chances before Bailey scored, with assists going to Nick Leddy and Nelson.

Brassard opened the scoring at 1:25 of the first period when he redirected a puck from Ryan Pulock past Kuemper. Prior to Brassard’s first goal of the season, the Coyotes hadn’t trailed since the first period against Winnipeg on Oct. 15, four games ago. Pulock and Nelson picked up assists on the play.

The Islanders signed Brassard late in the summer to a one-year contract after the center struggled to find his rhythm after being traded twice last season. The 32-year-old has predominantly played center throughout his 13-year career, but skated at left wing for the first time as a member of the Islanders, alongside Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.

Grabner evened the score at 1-1 when he snapped a wrist shot past Varlamov at 10:20 of the first period. Bailey failed to effectively chip the puck deep into the offensive zone and the former Islander took advantage of the turnover. Chychrun assisted on the play.

Garland cut the Coyotes’ deficit to one goal when he scored off a rebound at 18:55 of the third period. Chychrun and Phil Kessel assisted on the play.

Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield scored an empty-netter with 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158202 Arizona Coyotes

Shane Doan raves about Coyotes’ Christian Dvorak: ‘That kid is special’

BY MATT LAYMAN

OCTOBER 24, 2019 AT 10:54 AM

One of the notable storylines of the Coyotes’ 2019-20 season so far — albeit eight games in — has been the emergence of a formidable second line.

That trio, founded on the pairing of Christian Dvorak and Nick Schmaltz and completed by the addition of one of either Conor Garland or Barrett Hayton, has been good. When Dvorak and Schmaltz are on the ice together, per NaturalStatTrick, they’re plus-4 with eight high-danger scoring chances and a 63.6% faceoff win rate in nearly 64 minutes played this year.

Dvorak is tied with Garland for the team lead in goals with four, while Schmaltz has a team-leading nine points on three goals and six assists. Schmaltz has two multi-point games already this year and Dvorak scored twice in last week’s win against Winnipeg before he scored the game- winning overtime goal on Tuesday at the Rangers.

All of this is good context to understand why former Coyotes captain Shane Doan spoke highly of Dvorak when he joined Burns & Gambo on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

“I got teased, because I am the biggest fan of him,” Doan said on Wednesday. “I think that kid is special.”

Doan, who was still on the Coyotes for Dvorak’s rookie season, compared the 23-year-old to Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, a four-time Selke winner and the owner of the second-highest faceoff win percentage the last five seasons among active players. As of Thursday morning, Dvorak led the NHL in faceoff win percentage at 68.3%.

“He’s a guy that just does everything right, is never going to be the guy that’s going to be ‘Rah, rah, rah’ and emotional and over-the-top,” Doan said. “But just so unbelievably consistent and professional and so talented and so much fun to play with.”

After the team’s win against Nashville last week, head coach Rick Tocchet praised Dvorak’s play this season.

“[Schmaltz] and Dvo are really, the last three or four games, really got their game going,” Tocchet said. “I can tell, a lot of chemistry. They’re defending well, too. They’re not just a one-way line. I think Dvo’s been great for us. … Like he’s been really, really good.”

The year before his rookie year with the Coyotes, Dvorak played with the OHL’s London Knights on a team that featured a bunch of now-NHL players, like Toronto’s Mitch Marner, Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, Montreal’s Victor Mete and St. Louis’ Robert Thomas. The year before that, Dvorak’s Knights had eventual Coyotes forward Max Domi.

“You talk to anyone that played with him in junior, and to a man they will rave about the character of the kid,” Doan said. “They played on a really good junior team there, the London Knights. And it was Mitch Marner and Matthew Tkachuk and Max was with them early on. It was just a great team. And every single one of those guys just rave about how Dvo was their best player, Dvo’s their leader, Dvo was the guy that really kind of made everything work.”

Dvorak scored 15 goals in each of his first two NHL seasons before missing almost the entirety of last year with injuries. This year, he’s off to a great start. The Coyotes hope it stays that way.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158203 Boston Bruins In addition to seeing Durant individually as needed, the Bruins stay grounded with bimonthly team meetings. Grievances are aired. Feelings are shared. The leadership group, particularly Chara, Patrice Bergeron, How the Bruins stay in the right frame of mind and David Backes, encourage expression.

“It’s nice to know where everything stands,” defenseman Matt Grzelcyk said. “It’s important to know where each guy is, so you know where By Matt Porter Globe Staff they’re coming from.”

October 24, 2019, 5:21 p.m. Cassidy considers the room its own ecosystem, but Durant will let him know “if there’s an underlying theme of these meetings that will help us

be better, if there’s too much anxiety in the room, too much stress. He’s To any St. Louis Blues fans bold enough to show up for Saturday night’s not going to sit there and say, ‘Kevan Miller said you’re a [bleep bleep] rematch with the Bruins at TD Garden: Brandon Carlo will be looking for today.’ ” you. As a player, Harvard-educated general manager Don Sweeney found He means you no harm. This has nothing to do with last season’s sports psychology fascinating, taking bits and pieces from various books. Final. If you wear your team’s colors, you’re helping him He sees it as a vital part of the Bruins’ operation. keep his head right. “There was a time it was voodoo,” said Sweeney, who played 1,115 The Bruins defenseman has a ritual during the national anthem, whether games in the NHL, the vast majority with the Bruins. “I believe people are in Boston or elsewhere: He scans for a jersey, sweatshirt, or sign, and much more open-minded now.” finds a bit of pregame peace. Veterans such as Krejci, 14 years and 855 games into his career, are “I look for blue in the crowd,” he said, “to convince myself I’m going to be trying to keep their brains blue. positive and upbeat and ‘blue-brained.’ ” “The season’s really long, so you’re going to go through stretches where The Bruins learned that term from their sports psychologist, Dr. Stephen the red brain activates,” he said. “You have to find a way to activate the Durant. It means a serene state of mind, being present, controlled, and other side. Everyone has their approach.” rational. The negative state, “red-brained,” is a jittery, off-kilter, and It’s seen in Carlo when he looks for someone, anyone, wearing a shade impulsive kind of attitude that leads to poor decisions. of royal, navy or indigo. It’s never hard to find in Toronto, Tampa or Carlo’s clinical description: “Blue brain is when you’re calm and just in a Buffalo. It’ll be easy in New York on Sunday, with all that Broadway blue good place. Red brain is when you’re about to break your [expletive] stick in the crowd. over somebody’s head.” Carlo’s even covered in Calgary, where there’s nary a speck in a sea of During the 90 seconds or so it takes to sing the anthem — double red. He just stares at the boards. against Canadian opponents — some Bruins focus on their opponent. “Geico sign,” he said. “There’s one in every building.” Zdeno Chara is “going through the lines, the individual players, their habits and tendencies,” he said, and “focusing on what we talked about in the morning meetings.” Some refer to their own games. David Krejci reminds himself to “keep my feet moving and get my teammates Boston Globe LOADED: 10.25.2019 involved.” Goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak try to let their minds go blank.

Charlie McAvoy shuts his eyes.

“It’s my own little reflection time,” the third-year defenseman said. “Game things, life things, just how amazing the opportunity is, just kind of take it all in and be thankful and grateful for the opportunities that I have. Close my eyes and not let the moment be too big.”

No matter their habits, they stay cool with the help of Durant, who co- founded and co-directs the sports psychology program at Massachusetts General Hospital. A former rugby player, the 64-year-old doctor’s mental strength helped him overcome the loss of an eye during competition. He meets with the Bruins regularly during the season.

Durant, who also works with the Red Sox, declined to discuss his work at length — “It’s about the players, not the shrink,” he wrote in an e-mail — but he credited several others for the red-blue concept, including Gil Enoka, mental skills trainer for the All Blacks, New Zealand’s storied rugby team. A book outlining Enoka’s work, “Legacy,” by James Kerr, has reached the nightstands of several Bruins, including defenseman Kevan Miller and coach Bruce Cassidy.

Cassidy has dog-eared a few pages.

“I get red-brained during games,” he said. “I’m working on that, as every coach should. Listen, I’m emotional, I tell it like it is. During games, that will happen. I think players are OK with it, as long as I don’t get carried away.”

When he does, he knows to take a deep breath to get back to blue. Carlo uses a visual cue. When winger Jake DeBrusk goes sideways, he gets moving.

“I usually skate,” said DeBrusk. “My reset is usually during TV timeouts, skate around, get moving. Once I’m in my zone, I do anything I can to stay in it.

“When I’m feeling it, when I’m hot, I’m thinking the same way on the ice and off the ice. It’s hard to do. Days go by, and you’re trying to stay feeling it.” 1158204 Boston Bruins There are worse things to be known as than a money player, but Kuraly still wouldn’t mind a little more production for him and his linemates sooner rather than later.

Sean Kuraly, Bruins have a ‘fourth line’ in name only “It’s something I’m trying to figure out,” said Kuraly, who has three assists. “Does the game get a little different as the year goes on? Is it us that has to figure out each other? It’s an interesting question about why it By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald works so well at the end of the year and in the playoffs. It’s been a couple of years now and when I look back on it, it’s taken a little while to get PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 4:15 pm | UPDATED: October 24, rolling. It’s frustrating, though I think every year we’re a little ahead of 2019 at 6:34 PM where the previous year was. But I don’t know what the reason is for it. Is it personal? You come into a new year and are you too fresh, are you thinking about too much and not just playing? It’s an interesting The Bruins’ forward grouping of center Sean Kuraly, left wing Joakim question.” Nordstrom and right wing Chris Wagner is often referred to as “the fourth line,” but don’t get too hung up on that designation. There’s an argument But despite the relatively slow start, this “fourth line” remains a reliable to be made that, after the B’s explosive top line, the Kuraly-led unit is the commodity. B’s next most important line, especially right now with the nominal second and third lines still very much in flux. Boston Herald LOADED: 10.25.2019 Oh, sure, the trio brings many of the qualities often associated with fourth lines. The players inject energy, throw checks and eat pucks with the best of them. In fact, Kuraly, Nordstrom and Wagner all missed significant time last year with broken bones that resulted from blocked shots.

But the group has become a more reliable unit than your typical energy line. Oftentimes coach Bruce Cassidy will tap them on the shoulder to play key shifts against the opposition’s top line, taking some of the burden off the B’s top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak on some nights (though the top line saw plenty of Auston Matthews/Mitch Marner combo the last couple of games). And while there hasn’t been a ton of offensive production from the line, the group is expected to chip in. The Kuraly line accounted for 27 goals last year

For Kuraly, the responsibilities on him and his linemates have become a point of pride.

“I think the expectations for us are a little higher,” said Kuraly. “We’re not just expected to go out and play defense, we’re expected to contribute every now and again. I think it’s taken a little bit of time to find my way early in the year here, but I think it’s something that just builds and builds. We know we’re an important part of the team. The first line is doing most of the scoring, but we’re getting some secondary scoring now. We saw last year that the team relies on us sometimes and we’ve got to be a piece that helps push the game in our direction as often as possible.”

On Wednesday, Cassidy talked about how one of the things that makes the Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak line so great is the constant communication the players do among themselves.

“Kuraly’s line to a certain extent has done that, it’s just in a different fashion,” said Cassidy. “They’re a different animal, but they do communicate in how they want to play and I think it shows that they have coordination in their game.”

The line, Kuraly concedes, has not hit on all cylinders yet. Part of it is due to the fact that Nordstrom has missed five of the nine games with a couple of injuries, though he seems to be inching closer to a return, possibly on Saturday against the Blues.

“It’s a simple game, but it’s simple and it’s fast and I think a little different than some of the simple games in the past where you’d have a line that just chips and run guys,” said Kuraly, averaging 15:01 in ice time this year, more than two minutes above his career average. “I don’t think that’s really us. I don’t think we try and chase hits. Nordy helps us with that speed, he’s on the forecheck. We try to have a three-man forecheck, so if they’re disciplined enough to bring three guys back to the puck, we’re working just as hard to get up and try and disrupt that. When Nordy’s back, it brings us closer that identity of a simple, hard game but also a little bit of … I don’t want to say skill, but we want to make plays, too. Everyone that’s playing in the NHL is expected to contribute. That’s definitely on our minds.”

Kuraly, the driver of the line, also expects a bit more from himself. He admittedly had a rough night in Toronto last Saturday — he can put those games in the rear-view mirror more quickly now, but he still doesn’t want them happening — and he’s yet still looking for his first goal, as is Wagner. But starting slowly is nothing new for Kuraly. He’s got a growing reputation as a playoff performer. In fact, you could argue that the B’s would not have gotten past Toronto in Round 1 last year had he not returned late in the series from a broken thumb. 1158205 Boston Bruins

Brett Ritchie starting to 'turn the corner' and give Bruins needed offense

By Joe Haggerty

October 24, 2019 2:28 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass. — The emergence of secondary offense has been a big, welcome Bruins storyline over the last couple of games and there is perhaps no bigger example of that than power forward Brett Ritchie stepping up to make plays.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Ritchie played a season-high 13:26 of ice time in the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Leafs on Tuesday night, and also scored the eventual game-winning goal. Jake DeBrusk had a shot deflect off a Toronto defender and the puck bounced right onto the stick of Ritchie, who blasted it home past Michael Hutchinson a little more than six minutes into the third period.

Couple that game-winning strike with an assist in Saturday night’s OT loss to the Leafs, and another pass that could have been a goal had DeBrusk been able to finish a play at the net, and it’s clear that Ritchie’s offense is opening up for the Bruins after a five-game stretch where he went without a point.

“It was coming, you could see it — [Brett] Ritchie’s starting to turn a corner a bit, [Charlie] Coyle and [Jake] DeBrusk, they’ve been closer. They’re on pucks a little better, so I was happy for them to get rewarded,” said Bruce Cassidy of Ritchie, who has skated with Coyle and DeBrusk over the last few games. “Not only that, I thought they did a better job getting out of their end, winning puck battles when it mattered, then it translated in the other end.”

Ritchie is second on the Bruins with 24 registered hits in eight games played, and the big right winger’s ability to control pucks down low in the offensive end and win battles along the side boards has been noticeable. He's even shown an ability to execute passes down low in the O-zone leading to scoring chances. The second effort in those areas has translated into points in each of the last two games and perhaps shows Ritchie’s new team exactly what he’s capable of when his game is in a good place, as it is right now.

“The last few games have been good. I’m always trying to play my game. I’m new to the team so everybody is new to me. I’ve played with Coyle the most of anybody out of the centermen, so I feel like I’m most used to him. But we have four good lines and we are pretty interchangeable. Any one of those lines could be our best line, so where you end up is a pretty good spot,” said Ritchie. “It was a big goal. I’m just glad were able to score and hang on for the win. I’ve had some looks. I was maybe due a little bit. Sometimes they can come in bunches and sometimes they’re spread out, but you take them when you can get them.

“It starts to weigh on guys that you want to score and you want to contribute. I think you get worried if you’re not getting chances to score, but if the chances are there, I think statistics will show they’re eventually going to go in. Pastrnak scores every night, but not every guy is going to score like that.”

With two goals and three points in the first eight games, Ritchie is now on pace for 20 goals and 30 points along with 200-plus hits — and those are numbers the Bruins would gladly take out of him along with his size and strength. It’s certainly helping both Ritchie and the Bruins that he's finding his best game pretty early in his tenure in Boston.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158206 Boston Bruins

Dennis Seidenberg announces retirement from the NHL after 15 seasons

By Joe Haggerty

October 24, 2019 11:31 AM

There is one less active player from the 2011 Stanley Cup edition of the Boston Bruins as German defenseman Dennis Seidenberg announced his retirement from the NHL. The 38-year-old Seidenberg told a German news outlet that it was time after 15 NHL seasons of hard-nosed warrior play in the defensive zone that spanned six organizations and ended with the hard-working German D-men playing a mentor role alongside former B’s teammate Johnny Boychuk with a young Islanders team.

Interestingly, Isles rookie sensation Mat Barzal lived with Seidenberg and his family when he first arrived on Long Island and ended up winning the Calder Trophy in his first season in New York.

"Physically it just does not work anymore, my shoulder and wrists are pretty much done after 15 years in the NHL,” said Seidenberg to the German outlet EIS Hockey News with the help of Google translate.

Seidenberg last played in the NHL in 2017-18 after two years in the Islanders organization, but was limited to 28 games due to injuries before playing his last hockey for Team Germany during the 2018 IIHF World Championships.

Seidenberg arrived in Boston during the 2010 NHL trade deadline from the Florida Panthers along with in exchange for , Craig Weller and a second-round pick that eventually turned into current P-Bruins defenseman Alexander Petrovic. He ended up succumbing to a leg injury that season, but played a key top pairing defenseman role with Zdeno Chara during Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Seidenberg had a goal and 11 points and was a plus-12 in 24 playoff games that spring while averaging an amazing 27:38 of ice time, and one of the early turning points in that Cup run was Claude Julien installing Chara and Seidenberg as a top shutdown pair midway through the first- round playoff series against the .

Seidenberg was a hard-nosed, humble competitor willing to sacrifice his body in the defensive zone and a likable presence in the Bruins room always quick with a joke or a smile in a dressing room full of big personalities.

Overall, Seidenberg finished with 44 goals and 251 points in 859 games during his 15-year NHL career and played 401 games for the Bruins over the course of the best seven-year stretch in his professional hockey career. Seidenberg was bought out of his contract by the Bruins after suffering an ACL tear to his right knee during the 2013-14 NHL season, and that buyout cap figure ($1.167 million) will actually, finally come off the books following this current NHL regular season.

There are now just eight active members of the 2011 Stanley Cup team still playing in the NHL with Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask still with the Bruins and Johnny Boychuk, Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin still active with other NHL teams while Adam McQuaid remains unsigned after last playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Seidenberg told the German media outlets that he wasn’t sure what would be next in his career, but didn’t rule out the possibility of playing in the German league with his 35-year-old younger brother Yanick, who plays for Munich EHC.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158207 Boston Bruins That strong start (6-1-2) has become a reality through the first nine games. Perhaps the best news of all is that they still aren’t anywhere close to playing at peak capacity

Bruins in a good, not great, place after 'measuring stick' stretch “I’d go as far as to say we haven’t played really good. I think we’ve kind of been…just kind of been a straight line, really. We’ve dipped and we’ve gone above, but we’ve consistently played good [hockey] and we want to By Joe Haggerty be better than that,” said McAvoy. “I know personally I want to be better than that and I think as a team we’ve talked and we have a feeling in this October 23, 2019 11:20 PM locker room that we’d like to grow our game exponentially. We’d like to do that.

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins went into their three-game miniseries “Every day we’re looking at the right stuff, looking at good video of what against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs viewing the we need to work and what we need to get better. Every day is a new stretch as “a measuring stick” for the B’s after an opening six-game day.” stretch to start the season that wasn’t very challenging. The Bruins still have one more measuring stick game waiting for them Sure, the Golden Knights and the Avalanche are pretty good teams out Saturday when they host St. Louis in a rematch of the Stanley Cup Final. West, but the Black and Gold will face bigger challenges getting out of That one should bring even more emotional resonance than the their own divisional bracket in the playoffs with the Bolts and Leafs divisional showdowns. But the B’s enter it knowing they’re a little more running neck and neck with Boston. battle-tested after getting through Tampa and Toronto and a little more confident knowing their game is in a good place at this early stage of the So, what is there to make of the Bruins after watching them take four out season. of a possible six points when they ended the three-game divisional stretch with a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at TD Garden? Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 There’s every reason to believe this team is going to be every bit as good as last year’s team was in the regular season, if not even better this time around.

Think about it. The Bruins aren’t playing close to their best hockey, they were missing their No. 2 center for all three games (in fairness, so was Toronto with out as well) and they still came within a shootout loss and an overtime defeat of taking all six points from the Lightning and Leafs. They had to settle for four out of six points, but they head into a three-day break from games feeling pretty good about themselves while sitting second in the Atlantic Division with games in hand against the teams (Buffalo in first place and Toronto in third) on either side of them in the standings.

“Those three games I thought our offense came around a lot better in terms of shot generation and chance generation, second chance generation and second-chance effort on pucks. I thought that part was good,” said Bruce Cassidy. “We weren’t generating as much earlier in the year. We competed well and we were in every game. We won one of them, unfortunately, but I thought we could have won all three. I didn’t feel like we were on the wrong end of any of those three games in terms of the play.

“You feel about that and they’re probably measuring themselves against us as well. So I think it’s a bit of a three-headed thing going on from the last couple of years. But now all of a sudden if you look at our division you’ve got Buffalo in the mix, Florida is starting to play well and Montreal. We’re measuring ourselves against these teams that we’ve seen in the past, but we’re also in the present now. Our next challenge will be to see what Buffalo is all about, and Florida, in our division.”

The good news is that the trends are beginning to change for the better after the B’s basically rode Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak along with the top power-play unit for the first two weeks of the season. Brett Ritchie has played back-to-back quality games against Toronto, Jake DeBrusk and Par Lindholm scored their first goals and Charlie McAvoy is showing signs that he’s coming out of a sluggish offense start to the year as well.

Bjork to Providence shows the impact of living "in a salary cap world"

Combine all that with David Pastrnak leading the NHL with 10 goals in nine games, the Bruins leading the NHL with a power play that’s scoring a ridiculous 35.7 percent of the time and a goalie tandem (Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak) second in the league with a .935 save percentage, and it’s clear the Bruins have all the ingredients to again stand as one of the best teams in the NHL.

That much was clear as things unfolded against Tampa and Toronto the past week.

Certainly, there is still a ways to go for the Bruins, but they needed a strong start given what might be waiting for them in the dog days of February and March once a “Stanley Cup Final hangover” takes hold. 1158208 Buffalo Sabres "The growth process doesn't change depending on a score of a game," Krueger said. "We are still making mistakes. We made mistakes in past games and we were able to find ways to win. Today, we just couldn't Sabres glad to escape from New York after a dud of a night recover from the hole we dug ourselves into."

By Mike Harrington Buffalo News LOADED: 10.25.2019

Published Thu, Oct 24, 2019|Updated Thu, Oct 24, 2019

NEW YORK -- Start spreadin' the news: Duds happen to every NHL team over the course of an 82-game season. Did you forget that in the midst of the joyride that was the Buffalo Sabres' 8-1-1 start?

The Sabres took some cold water to the face Thursday night in a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. It wasn't a standard blowout by any means as Buffalo outshot the Rangers, 33-24, and had 27 more shot attempts in the game.

But the Sabres made some big mistakes with the puck that turned into goals and couldn't convert on many good chances. The Rangers took the ice with a 2-4-1 record and on a five-game losing streak, but they took it to a Buffalo team that entered the night atop the NHL's overall standing. It was 3-0 after one period and the Sabres never caught up.

"It was a very strange game," said coach Ralph Krueger. "First of all, we put ourselves in the hole for sure with the puck management or lack of. But there were so many moments where you felt you were getting back into it."

It was a particularly tough night for Rasmus Dahlin, who was on the ice for four New York goals and posted a minus-3 rating for just the third time in his 93-game career over the last two seasons.

Dahlin got pickpocketed in the neutral zone by Artemi Panarin in the first period and the Rangers' big-ticket free agent evaded a Carter Hutton pokecheck and calmly slid the puck into an empty net to give New York a 1-0 lead it would not relinquish. On New York's second goal, Dahlin couldn't block a pass across the crease to Brett Howden, who got an easy tap-in on Hutton.

"I got the puck a little far from my body and I should just play it easy," Dahlin said of the Panarin goal. "I tried to make a pass, but it didn't work and they scored. That's a learning (thing) for me."

"I thought he was going to have a little more pressure so I got aggressive with a pokecheck and Panarin made me look pretty silly on that one," Hutton said. "But that's what good players do. They take advantage of mistakes."

The Wraparound: Rangers 6, Sabres 2

As a 33-year-old veteran, Hutton could only smile sheepishly when asked about Panarin's poise with the puck. Hutton isn't the first goalie to get toasted by the $81.5 million player nicknamed "The Bread Man."

"I think my stick is a lot slower than an NHL defenseman's and he walks around and makes me look pretty silly," Hutton said. "It's one of those ones you live and die by it. I live by my reads and he made me pay."

Dahlin has 10 points in 11 games but is now minus-2 on the season. His sophomore year has seen more prominent struggles with the puck in the defensive zone at times than during his rookie season.

So Dahlin said he was quite happy the Sabres have a game Friday in Detroit, rather than having to sit on this effort for a few days.

"Obviously I didn't have my best game today but I have to refocus for tomorrow too," he said. "Stuff happens on the ice and you can't think about it too much. ... I'm learning every day. I've got a lot to improve in the D-zone. I'm working on it, so hopefully it can get better for tomorrow."

Dahlin, of course, was hardly the only player to endure a faux pas in this one.

Casey Mittelstadt didn't tie up Ryan Strome's stick and the Rangers center deflected home a point shot with 38 seconds left in the first period for New York's third goal. And Jack Eichel's blind back pass at the New York line was intercepted and Strome scored on the ensuing 2-on-1 to put the Rangers ahead, 5-2, midway through the third.

"I don't think it was a 6-2 game," Hutton said. "Quite a few breaks and bounces but we gave up a lot of East-West plays and they made us pay." 1158209 Buffalo Sabres down the front as a tribute to the stricken city and its fallen first responders.

Next: The Sabres flew to Detroit immediately after the game and will The Wraparound: Rangers 6, Sabres 2 meet the reeling Red Wings for the first time this season Friday night at 7:30 in Little Caesars Arena. The Wings are 3-7 and have lost six straight, including Wednesday's 5-2 decision in Ottawa. By Mike Harrington

Published Thu, Oct 24, 2019|Updated Thu, Oct 24, 2019 Buffalo News LOADED: 10.25.2019

NEW YORK – A terrible first period proved ruinous for the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night as they gave up three goals and never caught up in a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden.

The Sabres fell to 8-2-1 as they endured the end of their second three- game winning streak of the season. The Rangers (3-4-1) snapped a five- game losing streak.

New York took a 3-0 lead through 20 minutes in a rare offensive outburst. The Rangers had scored just five goals in the first period in their first seven games -- and had not scored more than twice in any of their previous five games as they went 0-4-1.

Injury report: The Sabres lost defenseman Marco Scandella and forward Jimmy Vesey to injury in the second period and only Scandella returned for the third -- but he did not take a shift. Vesey, playing his return game against his old team, appeared to take a slash to the hand or midsection from teammate Brady Skeji. Scandella limped off but it wasn't clear where his injury occurred.

Thievery: The Rangers took a 1-0 lead as Artemi Panarin pickpocketed Rasmus Dahlin and then deked around Carter Hutton to drop the puck into an empty net at 11:41 of the first period. It ended a stretch of 7 minutes, 38 seconds without a faceoff.

Trouble: Brett Howden made it 2-0 on a tap-in at 14:32 and Ryan Strome deflected home a Skeji shot in front of Casey Mittelstadt for his first of the year with 38 seconds left in the period to make it 3-0.

Much better second: The Sabres outshot the Rangers, 15-4, in the middle period and got goals from Scandella at 4:17 and Vladimir Sobotka at 19:11. But they were sandwiched around a Tony DeAngelo goal at 13:20 and the Rangers emerged from the period with a 4-2 lead.

Coup de grace: The Sabres had some heavy pressure going in the third period but Strome put the game away on a 2-on-1 with 12:03 left. It was a tap-in off a Howden pass after a giveaway by Jack Eichel at the Rangers' blue line. Chris Kreider had a puck bounce off him into the net for the final goal with 1:15 to play.

Scoring first: The Sabres have netted the opening goal eight times in 11 games but have given it up the last two. This was just the second time this season this season they have trailed after 40 minutes.

Net shift: The Sabres had alternated starting goaltenders for the last nine games but broke the pattern by using Hutton for a second straight game. Hutton, who entered the game second in the NHL in both goals-against average (1.65) and save percentage (.943), made just 19 saves on 25 shots but didn't appear to have much chance on any of the goals.

"It's just never marrying a process in the lineup the same all the time," coach Ralph Krueger said a couple hours prior to faceoff. "We just felt it was a good one to mix it up. Of course, you do look a little bit at history but it was not the deciding factor here today. It was just a gut feel that we thought this was a good one for Carter."

The history, however, was real. Hutton entered the game 4-1, 1.48/.953 against New York in his career while Linus Ullmark was 0-2, 4.04/.846.

History books: The game was the 2,000th all-time regular-season NHL contest at the current Garden, which opened in 1968. That was 1,999 home games for the Rangers and one game for the Philadelphia Flyers against the Oakland Seals on March 3, 1968, due to wind damage to the roof at the Spectrum. The Rangers play No. 2,000 for them and 2,001 for the building here Sunday against Boston.

The Sabres fell to 33-38-5 with 15 ties here since they were born in 1970 and that includes one of the more emotional games in Garden annals. Buffalo suffered a 5-4 overtime loss on Oct. 7, 2001, in the first Rangers regular-season game after the 9/11 attacks. For the only time in their history, the Sabres wore red and black jerseys that said "New York" 1158210 Buffalo Sabres first line at some point. I understand that it hasn’t been realistic so far, since I haven’t really showed much.”

Kakko doubled down on that interview in English with reporters here Vesey's return to New York comes as he finds comfort in Buffalo Wednesday.

"I’m playing bad hockey. Of course [it’s not fun] because we are not By Mike Harrington winning the games right now,” he said. “But, hopefully it’s getting better. Like, next game, maybe I feel better.” Published Thu, Oct 24, 2019|Updated Thu, Oct 24, 2019 What's it like for the Rangers coach David Quinn to see his former Boston University star Jack Eichel continue on the road to stardom with the Sabres? "I won't like it tonight," said a smiling Quinn. "Listen, I'm not NEW YORK -- Jimmy Vesey has spent the last two days back in the Big surprised. This is a guy who's got world-class talent and a world-class Apple. The Sabres winger is comfortable here after playing the last three work ethic. He's off to an incredible start." seasons for the New York Rangers and is getting more comfortable with his new team, even though he entered Thursday without a goal in the first 10 games. Buffalo News LOADED: 10.25.2019 "Even for the last 4-5 games, I've felt better and better," Vesey said prior to the game in Madison Square Garden. "It feels like our line is starting to click. It seems like in California and on Tuesday (at home against San Jose), we're in the offensive zone every time we're out there. It's good for me to hold on to some pucks and make some plays. I feel like I'm knocking on the door to get one to go in for me."

As Vesey said, he had assists in two of the three games out West, had three shots on goal in the opener at Anaheim and also had three in Tuesday's game.

Buffalo coach Ralph Krueger gave it up to Vesey by putting him on the ice for the opening faceoff Thursday against his old team with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. Vesey had an uneventful 37-second shift and then returned to his normal line with Casey Mittelstadt and Conor Sheary.

"We know Jimmy would like to be producing more but we're not upset with him in any way, shape or form," Krueger said. "We like the way he's come in here, taken on his role and become an important penalty killer for us. ... He's working hard in both directions and we like the way he's embraced that style of play and the offense is going to come."

Vesey went to dinner in Manhattan on Wednesday with his former Rangers center, Ryan Strome, and New York defensemen Brady Skeji and Tony DeAngelo.

"He's a good buddy of ours and it was good to see him last night," Strome said. "He's happy. the team is doing really well. He's very optimistic and having a good time. I've been traded twice and I know how it feels. It can be strange but it was good to see him doing well."

"It was good to see those guys. I was close with them and obviously we're all excited for this game," Vesey said. "It's all a little weird. I've never entered the building this way. Couldn't find where the sticks were. Everything is a little different but it's always good to be back in New York. You have to look at it as just another game once you get past the first couple of shifts."

Vesey said he's noted how Mittelstadt has kicked some offense into his game in recent starts and hopes he can follow the same plan. Krueger said putting a player on a special teams role even when he's not producing offensively is a way a coach can kick-start some confidence.

"It's good for the mindset," Krueger said. "He's definitely somebody that can help our power play too if need be. We had him there a lot in preseason and know what we can do."

"It's a lot of fun," Vesey said of his PK work. "I got a chance to be on it last year and this year I'm getting more time. It's a real challenge that's fun and a big part of today's game. (Vladimir Sobotka) and I are still figuring out reads off each other since we're not together 5-on-5 but we've been good so far."

Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft, got a chance on his team's top line for the first time this season Thursday night playing with Chris Kreider and center Mika Zibanejad.

Kakko entered the game with just one goal and one assist and told a Finnish reporter here Sunday he's disturbed by his start. He's averaging just over 14 1/2 minutes per game and played only 9:31 on Tuesday in an overtime loss to Arizona.

“Hockey isn’t very much fun for me right now,” Kakko told Eastside Media. “Things haven’t been working out, and sometimes I feel like I could be on the ice a bit more. It would be cool to get a chance on the 1158211 Buffalo Sabres combined have just five so far. Four-time 20-goal man Chris Kreider, who equaled his career high with 28 goals last year has yet to score. Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft, has one Sabres game day: Rangers are reeling heading into Buffalo's MSG visit goal and one assist with a minus-6 rating.

Kakko is averaging just over 14 1/2 minutes per game and played only 9:31 on Tuesday. He told a Finnish reporter on Sunday he's disturbed by By Mike Harrington his start.

Published Thu, Oct 24, 2019|Updated Thu, Oct 24, 2019 “Hockey isn’t very much fun for me right now,” Kakko told Eastside Media. “Things haven’t been working out, and sometimes I feel like I

could be on the ice a bit more. It would be cool to get a chance on the NEW YORK – The Buffalo Sabres are 8-1-1 and a major surprise atop first line at some point. I understand that it hasn’t been realistic so far, the NHL's overall standing with 17 points. Now comes another new since I haven’t really showed much.” challenge: Just 10 games into the Ralph Krueger regime, they've hit a Kakko doubled down on that interview in English with reporters here quick road trip with two games against brutally struggling teams. By all Wednesday. rights, the Sabres should collect four points on this trip. But how will they handle prosperity? "I’m playing bad hockey. Of course [it’s not fun] because we are not winning the games right now,” he said. “But, hopefully it’s getting better. The Sabres play the New York Rangers tonight in Madison Square Like, next game, maybe I feel better.” Garden and the Blueshirts (2-4-1) are 30th overall and have lost five straight (0-4-1). Friday night's game in Detroit is against a reeling 29th- Kakko will be getting the chance he wants tonight because he skated on place club that is 3-7 and has dropped six in a row. the top line in practice Wednesday with Zibanejad and Kreider and will stay with them for the game. The Sabres, meanwhile, have won three straight for the second time this season and have matched the second-best start through 10 games in "You see Mika Zibanejad as your center, you automatically get a new their history, surpassed only by the 10-0 run to open the 2006-07 level of confidence," Rangers coach David Quinn said Wednesday. "It campaign. beats playing with me. He’s in a much better position mentally if he sees that Mika Zibanejad is his center and Chris Kreider is his left winger." As is now their custom most of the time on the day of a game, the Sabres will not have a morning skate today and Krueger will hold his daily Panarin has been on Zibanejad's wing all season but will likely move briefing in the late afternoon. The Rangers skated at Madison Square down a rung tonight to play with Pavel Buchnevich on the right and Ryan Garden, where their home losing streak hit three games with Tuesday's Strome as the No. 2 center. 3-2 overtime loss to Arizona. Vesey returns: Sabres winger Jimmy Vesey will be playing his first game This year's records aside, this one figures to be far from easy for the against his former teammates after spending three years with the Sabres. They are just 1-4-2 in their last seven games against the Rangers. Vesey has just two assists in 10 games but had perhaps his Rangers – and 4-13-2 in the last 19 meetings overall. Things have been strongest overall game for Buffalo Tuesday against San Jose, including equally tough on the road, as Buffalo is only 2-7-1 in its last 10 trips to quality time on the penalty kill. the Garden and has lost its last three visits. Vesey has been playing on the fourth line with Casey Mittelstadt and History at the World's Most Famous Arena: Tonight's game is the 2,000th Conor Sheary and that line's impact has been on the rise. Mittelstadt has all-time regular-season NHL game at the current Garden, which opened three goals and two assists in the last three games and earned plenty of in 1968 (1,999 home games for the Rangers, and one home game for praise Wednesday from NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes. Philadelphia against the Oakland Seals on March 3, 1968, due to wind damage to the roof at the Spectrum). "He's a good buddy of ours and it was good to see him at dinner last night," Rangers center Ryan Strome, one of Vesey's most prominent The Sabres are 33-37-5 with 15 ties here since they were born in 1970 linemates last season, said today. "He's happy. the team is doing really and that includes one of the more emotional games in the building's well. He's very optimistic and having a good time. I've been traded twice history. The Sabres suffered a 5-4 overtime loss on Oct. 7, 2001, in the and I know how it feels but it was good to see him doing well. It's a bit of first Rangers regular-season game after the 9/11 attacks. For the only a desperate game for us. As much as I went him to do well, we have to time in their history, the Sabres wore red and black jerseys that said take care of our own business tonight." "New York" down the front as a tribute to the stricken city and its fallen first responders. Casey Mittelstadt's drive to net shows Sabres' commitment to defense

In the net: If the Sabres had followed their pattern of alternating Don't mess with a good thing: Barring a surprise injury or illness, the netminders that has stretched for nine straight games, it would have Sabres don't need to fix what isn't broken and should have the same been an all-Swedish matchup in goal of Buffalo's Linus Ullmark vs. lineup. That means Evan Rodrigues and John Gilmour remain healthy longtime Rangers stalwart Henrik Lundqvist. scratches.

But coach Ralph Krueger has announced the Sabres will break their Quinn on Eichel: What's it like for the Rangers coach to see his former pattern and give Carter Hutton a second straight start in goal. Hutton is 4- Boston University star Jack Eichel continue on the road to stardom? "I 1, 1.48/.953 against New York in his career while Ullmark is 0-2, won't like it tonight," said a smiling Quinn. "Listen, I'm not surprised. This 4.04/.846. is a guy who's got world-class talent and a world-class work ethic. He's off to an incredible start." "It's just never marrying a process in the lineup the same all the time," Krueger said 90 minutes prior to faceoff. "We just felt it was a good one Pine time: Former Sabres draft pick Brendan Lemieux, who has no goals to mix it up. Of course, you do look a little bit at history but it was not the and one assist in six games, got only one shift over the final 14:20 of deciding factor here today. It was just a gut feel that we thought this was Tuesday's game for the Rangers. a good one for Carter." “I thought Lemieux had a tough night,” said Quinn. "We ended up taking Lundqvist (1-3-0, 3.57/.906) will make his 862nd career appearance as a a penalty because Lemieux turned it over. But [Lemieux] has played well Ranger tonight, passing Jean Ratelle for the sixth-most appearances as for us. I just thought it was one of those nights he didn’t have it.” a Ranger (skater or goalie) in franchise history. In his last 13 games Lemieux was taken 31st overall by the Sabres with the first pick of the against the Sabres, Lundqvist's is 9-3-0, 2.10/.930. second round in the 2014 draft but was dealt to Winnipeg eight months Hutton is now second in the NHL by a whisker in goals-against average later in the Evander Kane trade, in part because he told the Sabres he (1.65), save percentage (.943) and wins (6). The respective leaders are wouldn't sign with them and wanted a trade. Minnesota's Alex Stalock (1.64), Boston's Tuukka Rask and Arizona's Darcy Kuemper (.944) and Vegas' Marc-Andre Fleury (7) Buffalo News LOADED: 10.25.2019 Not much firepower: Mika Zibanejad and premier free agent signee Artemi Panarin have four goals apiece – and all other Rangers forward 1158212 “I thought the second wasn’t good,” Giordano said. “The third felt better at the start, obviously. For whatever reason, we’re not sharp enough right now in the neutral zone and ‘D’ zone.

Flames scratch out shootout win after Panthers take late lead “That’s not the way we want to play in a 6-5 game.”

Thursday’s game was the last home date for the Flames until Nov. 5 as Kristen Anderson, Postmedia they head on the road for their biggest stretch of the year, starting with the 2019 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic on Saturday against the Winnipeg October 24, 2019 10:44 PM MDT Jets (8 p.m., CBC, City TV, Sportsnet 1, Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

Their road record is 2-4-0.

They salvaged a point.

Two, actually. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019 But Thursday’s 6-5 shootout victory over the Florida Panthers was a reminder that the Calgary Flames are not perfect and still have a lot of work to do when it comes to consistency.

Josh Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, and Mark Pysyk scored in the third period to erase a two-goal advantage and pull ahead 5-4. If it wasn’t for Sam Bennett’s crashing and banging to shove one past Sergei Bobrovsky with 2:43 remaining in the third, the Flames would have been still floundering at .500 instead of moving to 6-5-1.

Offence wasn’t a problem on this night.

Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk both scored in the shootout while David Rittich made saves on Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov.

Yet suboptimal defensive play and turnovers nearly cost them and allowed the Joel Quenneville-powered Florida Panthers to get back in the conversation.

“There’s times where it’s too loose out there, to be honest,” said Flames captain Mark Giordano. “It feels too much like a turnover-fest. At 4-2 in the third, you’re in a good spot.

“You don’t necessarily want to give them three, but it’s pretty resilient by our group to get it back.”

Tkachuk had himself a game, scoring twice, including a timely early goal in the third period to go ahead 3-2. Giordano also responded with the team’s fourth marker at the 5:16 mark to make it 4-2. Tkachuk nearly ended it on his first shift in overtime and again with 1:22 left in extra time but Bobrovsky shut the door.

Meanwhile, Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau drew a penalty from Denis Malgin with 31.3-seconds left.

“We know we have to be better defensively and in the neutral zone,” Giordano said. “All of us. I’m sure we’ll get some video on that one and we’ll need to clean it up.”

This wasn’t a goaltending duel, by any means.

Rittich allowed five goals on 20 shots in regulation while Bobrovsky allowed five on 21.

Austin Czarnik put the Flames on the board at 11:43 of the first period — with a special assist to a pinching Rasmus Andersson, who tied up Aaron Ekblad in front and created some traffic to have the puck go off Ekblad’s skate.

In the second, however, Czarnik missed a crucial assignment by allowing Mackenzie Weegar to walk in and rip a shot from the high slot to knot the score 2-2 with 4:45 remaining in the middle frame. (Czarnik, by the way, didn’t return for the third frame)

The second period, albeit, wasn’t the Flames’ best. They allowed another early goal — for the fourth straight game, after doing so against the L.A. Kings (16 seconds in), Anaheim Ducks (12 seconds in), and the Washington Capitals (35 seconds in).

This time, Huberdeau took advantage of a rattled Rittich, who had tripped behind the net on the previous play and couldn’t get up. Huberdeau also took advantage of poor wall play by TJ Brodie, who lost the puck to Aleksander Barkov while Huberdeau beat Rittich glove-side over his shoulder with 4:28 elapsed in the second.

The Flames led twice on this night, a 1-0 advantage and a 4-2 lead in the third period. 1158213 Calgary Flames In some ways, scheduling the game for January might have been a truer reflection of what outdoor hockey really looks like in Saskatchewan, because by then, winter will have genuinely and forcefully sunk in. A Duhatschek: How the Heritage Classic in Saskatchewan is bringing night in late-October should be a comparative skate in the park by the outdoor hockey back to its roots local standard — no extra layer of long underwear required.

But for this event, the where matters far more than the when.

By Eric Duhatschek Outdoor hockey conjures up Images of the game at its most basic grassroots level, and if there is a place where the grassroots element Oct 24, 2019 remain an actual fact of hockey life, it is here in Saskatchewan.

Because here in Saskatchewan, the temperatures still get cold enough for the ice to freeze on its own – and then stay frozen for long stretches REGINA — Ask Dave King about what hockey means to his home of winter. province and he talks you through a guided tour of some of Saskatchewan’s lesser-known parts. “There’s an old Saskatchewan expression that maybe reflects a little bit of old-school thinking is, but it’s true: You can’t love the game of hockey “It goes beyond just Gordie Howe,” the former NHL coach and member until you freeze your toes a little bit,” King said. “I would compare the of the Saskatchewan said. “If you drive through outdoor hockey tradition in Saskatchewan to the kids that played inner- Saskatchewan and get to Foam Lake, there’ll be a sign that says: ‘Home city basketball in the United States. It’s a pick-up game. No referees, no of Bernie Federko.’ When you go through Val Marie, the sign says: rules really. You can do what you want to do. And you’d see that in ‘Home of Bryan Trottier.’ Some towns have got three or four players, and hockey in Saskatchewan. they’ll list those players’ names on a billboard outside of town. “On a Sunday afternoon, you’d play down at the rink – with grown-ups. “We’ve had a romance with the game for a long time.” You might be 10 or 11, and you’d be playing pick-up hockey with people Saskatchewan may not be the birthplace of hockey, but the game’s roots who are way older than you, and way better than you. So, if you wanted are firmly embedded here — in the geography and the climate, in the the puck, you had to really work hard to get it; and when you had it, you people and the land. If a sport can have a beating pulse, you can hear it had to work really hard to keep it. thump, thump, thumping here. “Often, you’d have to clear the rink of snow before you could play. And Area-wise, the province is almost four times the size of New England, but on a snowy night, you’d sometimes have to stop the game to scrape the its population is less than a quarter of Boston’s. ice a little – and then you’d go back and play again.”

And yet, Saskatchewan has produced an outsized amount of hockey Federko is one of the dozens of Hockey Hall of Famers who began talent. The greatest female player of all time, Hayley Wickenheiser, is playing hockey, both indoors and outdoors, in a small Saskatchewan from Shaunavon; and yes, Mr. Hockey was from Floral. town. Many are known for their toughness and grit. Federko had that too – but also an uncommon skill level that eventually helped him score To King’s point, it doesn’t stop there. The generations of players, 1,130 points in 1,000 NHL career games. For years now, Federko has coaches and managers born and raised in Saskatchewan, who been a television analyst for the St. Louis Blues, a team that had three eventually left their mark on the hockey world reads like a who’s who of Saskatchewan-born players on its 2019 Stanley Cup team. the game’s greatest legends. There was Elmer Lach and the Bentley brothers, Doug and Max. Emile Francis and Sid Abel. Johnny Bower and Federko described his upbringing in Foam Lake as “pretty typical” for a Glenn Hall. Trottier and Wendel Clark, Federko and Red Berenson. The small Saskatchewan town. Geographically, it is located smack dab in the McCrimmon boys, Brad and Kelly. The Odeleins, Lyle and Selmar. Other middle of the Prairies, with all the surrounding land dead flat. The only hard-knock guys: Joey Kocur, Dave Manson, Tiger Williams and Kelly trees that grew were the ones the townspeople planted. In the summer, Chase. Current NHLers: Patrick Marleau, Ryan Getzlaf and Jordan the weather got hot and windy. In winters, cold and windy. Eberle. Pivotal administrators: Charles and Bill Hay. The expansive “A town in Saskatchewan is judged by how many grain elevators it had,” coaching tree: King, Mike Babcock, Todd McLellan. Berenson qualifies in explained Federko. “We had seven or eight, so that made us a big town, that category too. one of the bigger towns on the Yellowhead highway.” Long before Shattuck St. Mary’s became the must-attend preparatory The original rink in Foam Lake was across the street from where the school for teenage players in North America, Saskatchewan had Notre Federkos lived, but it burned down when Bernie was five or six years old. Dame College, in Wilcox, run by Father Athol Murray. Today, it would be When they built the new recreation centre, they moved it to the edge of described as an academy, perhaps even an incubator. In those days, it town, by the railroad tracks. That eventually became the main hangout was a barebones boarding school in a tiny Prairie town that grew into a for Federko, his brothers and his friends. But once winter socked in, they national feeder institution. didn’t have to go very far to play. In addition to all its homegrown talent, Saskatchewan has also drawn “Dad used to flood the garden for us,” Federko said. “By Halloween, it players from all over the world so they could hone their craft in their was cold enough to freeze, and so we had outdoor ice, usually from the formative years. Mike Modano left a comfortable middle-class Detroit end of October until about mid-March. The snow would get so high that suburb to play in Prince Albert. So did Leon Draisaitl (of Cologne, sometimes it would be six or eight feet high around the boards because Germany). So did Josh Morrissey (of Calgary, Alberta). Future Tampa you’d be shovelling it all winter. There’d be only one way in eventually, Bay Lightning teammates (and Stanley Cup champions) Brad Richards and the puck would almost never go out of the rink because the and Vincent Lecavalier landed in Wilcox. Every other punchline in the snowbanks were so high.” movie “Slap Shot” is seemingly peppered with references to the province; to Eddie Shore (of the Cupar Canucks) and to old-time hockey. Part of the challenge of growing up in a small town in that era was Saskatchewan hockey. avoiding boredom, Federko said. Keeping busy was a priority.

This weekend, the NHL has found Saskatchewan again in a splashy, “As kids, because there was only one channel on the TV, you grew up visible way. During the era of the “neutral” site games, the NHL finding things to do,” Federko said. “We played baseball, cricket, kick the previously played six regular-season games in Saskatoon, all at can, rode our bikes – anything to pass the time. SaskPlace. “We lived a block away from the high school, where my uncle was the But the 2019 edition of the Heritage Classic will bring the NHL’s first-ever caretaker. So, we used to go to the gym and shoot hoops – help him regular-season outdoor game to the province. It will take place Saturday sweep up and clean the chalkboards and that let us spend some time in night – live on Hockey Night In — at Mosaic Field, home of the the gym. It was a town of 1,200 people; so, you knew everybody and CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. The game will feature the two NHL everybody knew you; and you could come and go as you please.” teams from neighbouring provinces – the Calgary Flames and the Winnipeg Jets. The long-range forecast calls for moderate temperatures, According to Federko, everyone in his circle shared the same essential with the snow not expected to fall until Sunday. values – and knew early on in life that the only way to prosper was through hard work. Eventually, to make their way in the world, they also knew they had to leave their small towns behind. It didn’t mean you couldn’t come back – because most still do, to pay the debt forward. But the same teams and actually won the provincials when I was 13 – our when once you were out there, pursuing your dreams in the larger world, first taste of playing (province-wide).” your roots gave you stability and structure. Hailing from a too-small town actually helped some players progress “When I think back to my entry into the game and my brothers’ entry and faster through the ranks, according to King. my friends, here’s what I would tell you: In Saskatchewan, we’re given and then we earn,” said McLellan, the Los Angeles Kings’ head coach. “If a young guy was 12 or 13, and wanted to play competitively, one of “Our parents would go out and get us all our equipment and take us to two things usually happened,” King said. “Either he might have to go to the rink, and put us out there. That’s given to us. another community because there might not be enough 12- or 13-year- olds in your community to form a team. Or failing that, you would play up, “From there, they made us earn it. For example, for us to continue to play at a higher age level. the game, school was important. School came first. My parents also stressed proper etiquette at home; respect for elders; being on time; “So, you’d enter a team in a 14-year-old league, but fill out the roster with participating in a team environment; work ethic. There was never a lot of a lot of 12- and 13-year-olds. For a lot of our young players, that’s how systems stuff when we played. It was ‘put your work boots on and go to they got so good – because they were playing above their heads, at a work.’” young age. That gave them a real kick start, in their development.”

McLellan is listed in his NHL biography as being from Melville, but he If there is such a thing as an urban hockey tradition in a mostly rural grew up in Goodsoil, listed on Wikipedia as the “central gateway to province, it is focused on two cities – Saskatoon (current population Meadow Lake provincial park.” Current population: 281. It is also home to 246,376) and Regina (236,481). former Ranger Ron Greschner, whom McLellan describes as “the NHL Among current NHL players from Regina, the New York Islanders’ guy that we all knew.” In Goodsoil, the only paved street was the Jordan Eberle has perhaps the deepest connection. He was born in highway. Regina in 1990, played his novice for the Regina tier-1 Kings and moved “But every other street, the snow just got so packed down that when I to Wilcox to play one year of bantam as a 14-year-old at Notre Dame. was younger, I remember sometimes skating to school,” McLellan said. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Regina Pats, his hometown Almost always, they would bring their hockey sticks along. team, and after spending one year playing midget hockey in Calgary for the AAA Buffaloes, he spent the next four “If you took a hockey stick to school now, they’d probably view it as a seasons with the Pats — culminating in 2010, when he was named the weapon,” McLellan said, “but back then, we would put them in our player of the year. Eberle, who grew up as a lockers and as soon as the bell rang, you’d go outside and play hockey. fan of the Oilers, eventually started his NHL career in Edmonton but says Every school had an outdoor rink and there could be four different games a lot of the rural hockey experiences of his peers were also mirrored in going on at the same time. After school, you didn’t go home. You went his upbringing in the (comparatively) big city. out on the rink. Some kids played in their boots, some in their skates. Instinctually, that gave us a lot of creativity in the game. It wasn’t at all “In summer, we’d use the community rink for ball hockey, and in winter, structured. It was just fun.” they’d flood it when it got cold enough,” Eberle said. “That was close to where I lived so I would say the majority of the outdoor hockey I played If there is a further common thread linking players and officials from was there. But we also had a backyard rink. small-town Saskatchewan, it is that focus on community. “There was something you could buy at Canadian Tire – an inflatable thin For years, every social interaction was filtered through the local hockey plastic sheet that you could fill with water, and then it would freeze and or curling rink, said King. you would peel the plastic off and that was your outdoor rink. My dad did that for us every year. I mean, it was tiny – just enough that you could “It’s changing quite a bit now, but in the past, the curling rink or the take five strides and make a play and shoot. I skated on that thing hockey rink usually had a concession stand so in the mornings, people hundreds of times with my brothers and sisters. would gather there to have a coffee,” King said. “It gave people a place to socialize. Now that’s been replaced a little bit by Tim Horton’s. Eberle’s parents now live in Calgary in the lake community of Auburn Bay, and back in his Oiler days, he would drive down the highway to “But when I was a little guy, everyone went to the rink. I lived in spend Christmas with his family. Part of the tradition was playing shinny Battleford, a little town right across the river from North Battleford, so we – but this was a completely different outdoor experience than his youth. – all of us as kids – you had a game either Friday or Saturday in your community and we’d all go. There wasn’t TV like there is now, where you “They have their own Zamboni and the ice is pristine,” Eberle said. “The could compare the product, so we thought our level of hockey was the weather there was pretty nice too, so you’d be out there, just in a track best. We thought our players were like NHL players.” suit and gloves — and it was awesome.

And if something ever happened to the rink, it could be disastrous for the “But when I was outdoor playing as a kid in Regina, it could get to minus- town. Former NHLer Gord Sherven – one of 48 members of Notre 40 – and I’d still be out there playing. Even playing in indoor rinks, as a Dame’s Wall of Honor – grew up in Mankota, a small community, where kid, I remember the air would flow through them, and you literally had to he says he had his own key to the rink. wear mini-mitts under your hockey gloves, because it was so cold and your hands would freeze.” “Everybody went to the rink in winter because there was nowhere else to go,” Sherven said. “That was the heartbeat of the community. People This past summer, the Blues’ Saskatchewan trio – of Tyler Bozak, would go there in the mornings and just sit and watch a hockey game. Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz — brought the Stanley Cup to Mosaic Field to celebrate the championship during a CFL game between “In 2002, the rink in Mankota was condemned – the Centennial Arena, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders. The trio built in 1967 – and they couldn’t get it insured anymore, so they had to wore their Blues jerseys, but at an appropriate moment in the ceremony, tear it down. stripped them off to reveal Rider jerseys. The place went wild.

“All of a sudden, boom, it seemed like the heart and the pulse of the Spending a day with the Stanley Cup is now both a long-standing community was gone. They still had the curling rink, but it wasn’t the tradition and a worldwide phenomenon, but according to Federko, it same. My brother was still living there at the time and said, ‘We will never didn’t change the fact that its appearance at a ‘Rider game really be the same town without the arena.’ I mean, they still had an outdoor resonated with the people of Saskatchewan. sheet, but the kids had to go and play for teams in other towns. It was just not the same after they lost the rink.” “Maybe it’s just our upbringing that makes you never forget where you come from,” Federko said. “The neat thing about the Saskatchewan boys Some of those Saskatchewan communities were so tiny they had to is they wanted to bring it back to where it all started. It’s important – combine forces with other towns to ice a proper team. In his bantam where you came from, and to show your thankfulness to the people who year, Federko says Foam Lake combined with Kelvington to form a team supported you early in our lives.” that played in the provincial B division – which was designed for towns with populations under 2,000. According to King, that tradition – of thankfulness — dates back generations in Saskatchewan. “Even with the towns combined, we were still under 2,000,” Federko said. “It’s where I got to know Barry Melrose really well. We played together on “As a young player, I played for Vic Lynn,” King said. “Lynn played for the hockey games. We had the Swift Current bus tragedy. People don’t like Toronto Maple Leafs and he won the Stanley Cup (three times: in 1947, to talk about it a lot, but it is still very much on people’s minds. 1948 and 1949). His nickname was Bear – because he was a big, thick, strong guy, a real competitor and he was one of the greatest guys to play “I know for me, I go on Hockeydb.com every morning because I can see for because you always knew where you stood with him. He’d played in the results of games from around the world and I almost always end by the NHL. He lived in some big cities down east. But he never lost touch going to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League results to see how with his Saskatchewan roots. He was a real bread-and-butter kind of a Humboldt is doing. It’s made you very aware – that it’s a special team guy. He was just so humble, a straight-forward, honest man. now and a special situation – and it’s always going to be that way.

“I’ve met so many hockey people like him, who never lost that flavour of In 1983, during Federko’s seventh NHL season in St. Louis, the Blues Saskatchewan, even though they made it to the big time and made big were tentatively sold by Ralston Purina to (Wild) Bill Hunter, a smooth- bucks by the standards of those days. Gordie Howe used to come back talking promoter and a Notre Dame grad himself, who had plans to in the summertime to Waskesiu, him and Johnny Bower. Johnny had the relocate the team to Saskatoon. In the end, the NHL’s board of governors hamburger place and used to flip hamburgers and hot dogs; and Gordie vetoed the idea, on the grounds that Saskatoon was too small a city to worked at the golf course, cutting the greens. They had to do that to sustain an NHL franchise long term. The Blues had two important supplement their salaries. Even now, our NHL players who are making Saskatchewan connections then – Emile Francis, the team’s GM, and big money still come back to Saskatchewan. Federko, most of whose family was living in Saskatoon by then.

Perhaps the best example of hockey’s humble Saskatchewan origins is “The one thing that’s bad about Saskatchewan is that the two biggest the presence of Notre Dame College, officially known as Athol Murray cities aren’t big enough to support NHL teams,” Federko said. “When College of Notre Dame. Founded in 1920 by The Sisters of Charity of St. there was all that talk about St. Louis moving to Saskatoon, deep down, Louis as a residential elementary and high school for boys and girls, its you knew there was no way they could support that – especially now motto reflects ingrained Saskatchewan values: “Struggle and emerge.” when payrolls are $80 million. Its current mission statement: “To develop young men and women to “So, I think it’s great that they’re doing this outdoor game for become purposeful leaders, with virtuous character.” Saskatchewan because there are so many kids that have gone through In the beginning, Notre Dame had no running water or central heating. there and played in the NHL – and people want to see the real thing. They want to see real players and a real game and they deserve it. For “They got old railroad boxcars and that’s what they converted into Saskatchewan to have a game, out in the open air, it’s just great.” dormitories,” King said. “They would glue newspapers to the walls to keep the breeze from going through too quickly. At Notre Dame, you Knowing Regina the way he does, Eberle predicts the event will be a went to school and you played hockey. That’s basically all there was. rousing success.

In addition to Richards, Lecavalier and Clark, Notre Dame’s alumni also “I grew up in Regina, played my junior hockey in Regina. Regina’s includes Eberle, Gord Kluzak and both Jaden and Mandy Schwartz. always been home to me,” Eberle said. “When I played there as a Three current NHL coaches (, Jon Cooper and Rod hometown kid for the Pats, the community got behind me 100 percent. I Brind’Amour) are all grads — as is current Alberta premier Jason remember my final game – standing ovation. Regina’s always had the Kenney. Sherven was recruited to Notre Dame by Martin Kenney, Pats and the Riders. The new stadium there, it’s so nice. I went to a Jason’s father, who was the school president for 17 years (1975-1992). game there this summer. With the way the weather should shape up, it should be an awesome, awesome outdoor game.” “Back in the day, it’d be minus 20 or minus 30 degrees out and they froze in those dorms,” Sherven said. “They would put a coal stove in the back McLellan too believes the game “will be well-supported, a big celebration. of a cloth-covered truck, and the players would all pile in the back and It’s the halfway point between the two rival teams that are going to play. that’s how they went to hockey games. There’s going to be Jet fans and Flame fans there, wearing their colours.

Sherven was recruited to play on the Notre Dame bantam team when he “But more importantly, there’s going to be hockey fans there too, who will was 14 and remembers how “the first month was tough. I was in Grade appreciate the 40 players on the rink – and I guarantee you, there will a 10. It was a very hard school – the old boy/new boy system. You’d listen lot of conversations, in the stands, or near the concessions, talking about to what the old boys did and there were consequences when you didn’t. when we played outdoors in Rosthern or Wakaw or wherever. But within a month, the hockey started. I loved it. Terry O’Malley was my “It will take people back in history — to a lot of their own outdoor hockey first coach. Arguably, Terry along with Barry McKenzie, were the two best experiences.” coaches for development anywhere in Canada. They’d just left Father Bauer and the national program; from a development standpoint, it couldn’t have been better.” The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 In the WHL’s current 22-team incarnation, five franchises are based in Saskatchewan: The Pats, the Saskatoon Blades, the Prince Albert Raiders, the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Swift Current Broncos. In 1986, four players on the Broncos died in a bus crash on the Trans- Canada highway bound for a game in Regina. The survivors included Joe Sakic, the future Hall of Famer; and Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHLer who became an activist for players’ rights.

Eighteen months ago, a second bus tragedy befell the province, when the Humboldt Broncos bus, heading to a Saskatchewan Junior League playoff game in Nipawin, was hit by a tractor-trailer truck. That collision took 15 lives. In its immediate aftermath, the NHL’s Saskatchewan community rallied behind the community, offering assistance however they could. McLellan, then the Oilers’ coach, and his Calgary counterpart at the time, Glen Gulutzan, joined forces and went to Humboldt immediately, distributing team gear, but mostly just to let the families of the victims and survivors know the hockey community had their collective backs.

The memory of the tragedy is still fresh in people’s minds, says King, who spends his summers in Saskatchewan’s lake country.

“Even now, you can hardly drive down the street without seeing a car with a bumper sticker that reads ‘Humboldt Strong,’” King said. “I worked in Yaroslavl, the city which had the plane crash that killed 37 people, and that’s never going to go away. It’s similar in Humboldt. For all of us in Saskatchewan, we know what it’s like to travel those rural roads, to go to 1158214 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes broadcaster Mike Maniscalco undergoes successful surgery to remove abdominal mass

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

OCTOBER 24, 2019 10:38 AM, UPDATED OCTOBER 24, 2019 10:44 AM

The Carolina Hurricanes said Thursday that television and web host Mike Maniscalco underwent successful surgery this week to remove a large non-cancerous mass from his abdomen.

The team said the surgery was performed Monday by Dr. Michael LeCompte and Dr. Michael Meyers at UNC REX Hospital in Raleigh. On Thursday, Maniscalco received the results of the biopsy, which determined the mass to be non-cancerous.

The team said Maniscalco and his family are grateful for the positive thoughts, prayers and concerns in the past week, and have asked for continued privacy as he continues to recover.

Maniscalco is in his fourth season with the team, serving as rinkside reporter and host of Hurricanes LIVE pre- and postgame shows on Fox Sports Carolinas, as well as hosting and producing video content for CarolinaHurricanes.com. He also serves as host of the Canes Corner radio show.

The Buffalo native is a 10-year veteran of sports media in the Triangle, and hosted pregame and postgame shows on the Hurricanes’ radio broadcasts from 2007-16.

News Observer LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158215 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks end their disappointing homestand with their 3rd consecutive loss, 4-1 to the Flyers

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

OCT 24, 2019 | 10:13 PM

Maybe getting out of town for a quick road trip is just what the Blackhawks need.

The Hawks played their worst period of the season and finished their season-high seven-game homestand with a disappointing 2-3-2 record, falling to the Flyers 4-1 on Thursday night at the United Center for their third straight loss.

They visit the Hurricanes on Saturday before returning to the United Center on Sunday for a 6 p.m. start against the Kings.

The Hawks were outshot 13-1 during a miserable second period but came out for the third with a sense of urgency. Brandon Saad’s third goal of the season on a breakaway a minute into the period cut the deficit to 2-1. Rookie Kirby Dach had an assist on the goal, giving him points in each of his last two games.

The Hawks continued to push the Flyers for the tying goal, but the Flyers’ Kevin Hayes slipped past Brent Seabrook at mid-ice for his own breakaway and beat Robin Lehner to restore the two-goal advantage. The score could have been much worse, but the Flyers had two goals overturned on video review when they were ruled to be offside.

Neither team looked good in the first period, with the Hawks holding a 7-5 shot advantage. Midway through, Patrick Kane carried into the offensive zone on a two-on-one but sent a bouncy pass toward Drake Caggiula, who couldn’t get a stick on it.

A few seconds later, Duncan Keith let a puck get past him at the blue line, and Oskar Lindblom converted a two-on-one to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.

Claude Giroux redirected a shot past Lehner from in front of the net to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead 59 seconds into the second period.

The Flyers’ James Van Riemsdyk stole the puck from Erik Gustafsson in the Hawks’ zone to make it 4-1 late in the third.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158216 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019

Jonathan Toews is still struggling to get his offensive game going: ‘I’m not getting chances’

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

OCT 24, 2019 | 1:40 PM

It doesn’t matter how the finale of the Blackhawks’ season-long seven- game homestand turns out, the best they can do is take a .500 record with them when they head out on the road again.

The Hawks entered Thursday’s game against the Flyers with a 2-3-2 mark but with the belief that they’re trending upward. The loss of Connor Murphy for at least 11 games to a groin injury was a blow to an improving defense, though coach Jeremy Colliton thinks they have the depth to get by.

"We're getting there," Colliton said. "I think we're defensively getting better and better. We haven't scored as we probably would expect to. I'm not concerned about that; I think that's going to come, the power play's going to come. We have top players who are going to produce for us."

Colliton said as much, but all it takes is a glance at the stat sheet to know the Hawks’ top players have not produced so far this season. Patrick Kane has a team-high three goals, down from the seven he had after seven games last season. Alex DeBrincat has two goals after scoring 69 over the last two seasons, but both of those have come on the power play.

When Jonathan Toews began the season without a point in three games, there wasn’t any concern, but his cold stretch isn’t showing signs of abating. Toews has an overtime goal that bounced in off his thigh and a secondary assist on an empty-net goal that helped the Hawks close out a 3-1 win last week against the Blue Jackets.

But that has been it for Toews through the first seven games. Despite playing more minutes than any forward other than Kane, Toews is one of three Hawks forwards — reserves Zack Smith and Brendan Perlini are the others — without any points during five-on-five play this season.

"The puck's not going in because I'm not getting chances," Toews said after Thursday's morning skate. "Can't just magically put it in the net if I'm not getting shots, not creating chances. Got to start there."

So how can Toews create more chances?

"A lot of little things," Toews said. "Got to play with more energy, got to be harder on the puck. Got to win some draws in the offensive zone. Getting plenty of chances down there. (I'm) just losing draws and end up going back to (our) own end and playing there. A lot of little things. Building some chemistry with my linemates and just get my game going."

Toews has had a variety of linemates this season beginning with Kane and Alex Nylander for the first two games. Colliton then moved DeBrincat and Drake Caggiula onto Toews’ line for three games before Kirby Dach replaced Caggiula for the most recent two.

Colliton has shown a willingness to shake things up to try and get players going, but one thing he isn’t considering is moving Brandon Saad to Toews’ line. The third line with Saad, David Kampf and Dominik Kubalik have been superb in every game. Colliton broke them up for the latter half of the second game of the season by moving Kubalik to the top line, but the results were not productive.

“That line has been our best for some time,” Colliton said. "We haven’t been as dynamic offensively as we were in the past, but we’ve been in every game. When things have gone against us momentum-wise, that line in particular has been able to go out there and turn things back for us. That’s a pretty good formula for success long term.

“I don’t feel the combinations are getting in the way of us having success in the top of our lineup. We’ve just got to keep pushing, working on our details away from the puck, and that will create more offense for us.”

1158217 Chicago Blackhawks

Sleepy Blackhawks lose to Flyers, conclude disappointing homestand

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Oct 24, 2019, 10:00pm CDT

That seven-game homestand that was expected to give the Blackhawks momentum after their disjointed European trip?

The Hawks finished it with only two wins.

Thursday’s finale — a 4-1 loss to the Flyers — was as bad as it gets. The comatose Hawks mustered a mere eight shots on goal through the first two periods, including a second period in which they were outshot 13-1 despite two power plays (neither of which produced a decent look).

A fed-up Jeremy Colliton ripped his team in the postgame news conference.

“We need to focus on how hard we work, both sides of the puck but particularly defensively, and then how we manage it,” Colliton said. “You see again tonight when we turn it over, we expose ourselves badly, and we were punished badly.”

The third period contained at least a semblance of life, including a goal by Brandon Saad that broke up Flyers goalie Brian Elliott’s shutout attempt, but it was nowhere near good enough to overcome the first 40 minutes.

“We just wasted the whole second period,” Colliton said. “We did have a very strong push in the third period, and, if anything, it just proves the point of how bad we were earlier. As soon as we turned on the work ethic, we were very effective.”

The final score could’ve been worse if not for two Flyers goals that were nullified after successful offside challenges.

With the new defensive pairs, the Hawks looked panicky and disjointed at the blue lines — though Colliton insisted “anything could work” with sufficient work ethic — and surrendered a dozen odd-man rushes.

“It’s just about managing the puck,” said Robin Lehner, who had 19 saves. “Honestly, that’s just all it is.

‘‘It’s not that complicated. You manage the puck, and they don’t get all the breakaways and two-on-ones today, and it might have been different.”

The night was perhaps best summed up by a horrendous intermission performance by a ’70s cover band, whose slapstick ridiculousness was received poorly by the disgruntled United Center crowd.

But even those boos didn’t match the ones reserved for the Hawks.

No. 3 overall pick will stay up or spend the rest of the season in the WHL.

If Dach, 18, plays his 10th game, he’ll accrue a year on his entry-level contract, making him a season closer to restricted free agency. If he’s sent down beforehand, the Hawks can push his free agency back a year.

So these next few weeks could determine millions of dollars — for Dach and the Hawks’ future cap flexibility. At the minimum, it will significantly alter his career trajectory.

‘‘I’m not really too worried about what’s going on in terms of where I’ll be,” Dach said Thursday morning.

“I’m more focused on just being here and trying to make the team and not worried about a cutoff date or nine games or anything like that.”

Last season, only the top three overall picks played 10 games or more. The season before, only the top two picks accrued a year of service time.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158218 Chicago Blackhawks Toews has had a rough start to the season on both sides of the puck. And he’ll say it himself.

The five-time All-Star is perennially considered among the NHL’s premier Critical 9-game deadline creeps closer for Blackhawks and Kirby Dach defensive forwards. But he’s been one of the worst defenders in the league so far. Offensively, Toews has just two points through seven games and has yet to net a five-on-five point.

By Avery Yang Toews has missed assignments, looked slow to the puck and hasn’t had the chances that are normally afforded to him. Oct 24, 2019, 3:16pm CDT ”The puck’s not going in because I’m not getting chances,” Toews said

Thursday morning. “Can’t just magically put it in the net if I’m not getting The Blackhawks’ Kirby Dach celebrates his first NHL goal as Vegas shots, not creating chances. Got to start there.” Golden Knights’ William Karlsson skates by during the first period of a For reference, at this time last season, Toews had 10 points and five hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, in Chicago. goals. The 12-year veteran finished with a career-high 81 points. Though Kirby Dach is facing a looming deadline, one slowly creeping into his it’s been a limited sample size, he’s currently on pace for just 23 this foreground. After seven more games, the Blackhawks must decide year. whether the No. 3 overall pick will stay in Chicago or spend the rest of “Got to play with more energy, got to be harder on the puck,” Toews said. the season in the WHL. “Got to win some draws in the offensive zone. Getting plenty of chances If Dach plays his 10th game, he’ll accrue a year on his entry-level down there that [I’m] just losing draws and end up going back to your contract, making him one season closer to restricted free agency. If he’s own end and playing there. A lot of little things.” sent down beforehand, the Blackhawks can push his free agency back a Colliton thinks Toews can return to last year’s form. In order to do so, he year. stressed starting with improvements on the defensive end. This means these next seven games could determine millions of dollars ”It starts if we defend well, then we can get opportunities in transition,” — for both Dach and the Blackhawks’ future cap flexibility. At the very Colliton said. “Whether that’s in D zone or whether that’s in the neutral minimum, it will greatly alter his career trajectory. zone or whether it’s getting on the forecheck and forcing turnovers, you The whole thing is existential in nature. Even so, Dach says he’s “feeling create offense by forcing a turnover, and that’s our whole group. If we good” about it. force more turnovers, then we have more opportunity to create. I think that’s a big part of it.” ”I’m not really too worried about what’s going on, in terms of where I’ll be,” Dach said Thursday morning. “I’m moreso focused on just being here and trying to make the team, and not worried about a cut off date or Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.25.2019 nine games or anything like that.

”If I so happen to get sent back, then at that time I’ll start worrying about that and focusing on that. But for right now, I’m focused on the Blackhawks and being here.”

The 18-year-old scored his first career goal against the Golden Knights on Tuesday on an inadvertent deflection off his knee, emblematic of his propensity in junior hockey to score goals by lingering around the net.

Last season, only the top three overall picks played more than nine games. The year before, just the top two picks accrued a year of service time. In 2016, only four players got more than a cup of coffee.

There’s no template for how the Blackhawks will handle this. The first two picks of the draft are typically retained for the season. The third overall pick is often the cut-off.

Dylan Strome, Dach’s linemate, has been impressed by what he’s seen thus far.

”He was good in both games,” Strome said. “He’s a good skater, he keeps moving the puck, he plays confident, so if you have those traits, it’s going to come naturally.”

Strome, also a former third overall pick, is all too familiar with Dach’s predicament. After spending seven games with the Coyotes in 2016, the team sent him back to juniors. Three years later, he’s still on his entry- level contract.

With so much on the line, the Blackhawks have been careful not to show their cards just yet.

“Let’s let it play out,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters on Tuesday. “We don’t have to make up our mind before we have all the facts. So we won’t.”

Despite the uncertainty, Dach has been soaking up every opportunity to learn from veterans like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews — guys Dach “grew up idolizing” — and adapting his game accordingly. Even if it might be for just a short while.

“It’s been good to learn from a couple of NHL superstars and future Hall of Famers and have them teach me the ropes,” Dach said. “Any time they have anything for me to come help myself out and be better, I’m obviously all ears and listening to it.” 1158220 Chicago Blackhawks which could make for quite a grind. But Zawaski has enjoyed the new endeavor.

“It’s been rewarding,” said Zawaski, who turned part of his basement in Jay Zawaski provides listening pleasure for Blackhawks fans in podcast his Homewood home into a studio. “The support that I’ve gotten there world from the ‘Madhouse’ listeners … I think after the first week I actually got choked up on the podcast talking about it because thousands of people came right away, and it was something I didn’t expect.”

By Jeff Agrest But maybe it should be expected from a fan base that for the most part has been deprived of regular in-depth coverage over the airwaves. Oct 24, 2019, 12:10pm CDT Stations might argue that when the conversation turns to hockey, listeners turn the channel. Zawaski argues otherwise.

When the Blackhawks returned to relevance in 2009 by making the “I think one thing that sports radio has failed to pick up on is those kids Stanley Cup playoffs, local media outlets had to reacquaint themselves that were 8 or 9 when the Blackhawks started getting good are now 18 with not just the team, but hockey. and 19, and to a lot of them, the Hawks are their No. 1 team,” he said. “We’re constantly trying to find ways to get younger and appeal to more The Score, for one, was looking for someone on staff to lead playoff people. Well, how about not ignoring this new fan base? I think the postgame coverage. But the station was practically bereft of hockey success of the ‘Madhouse’ podcast is proof positive that there is an knowledge. audience for this.”

So Jay Zawaski raised his hand.

Zawaski, a producer at the time, had been at the station since 2001 but Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.25.2019 had done little on the air. In fact, he hadn’t been behind a radio mic since his days at Lewis University, just before he joined The Score. But he knew hockey, having followed the Hawks closely since high school at St. Laurence. So the station gave him a shot.

That knowledge, though, was nowhere to be found when Zawaski started his first show.

“Oh, my God, the terror,” Zawaski said. “I had probably 15 pages of notes, and all of a sudden they turned into a foreign language. I couldn’t read them. I was just overwhelmed by the moment.”

Jason Goff, another Score producer at the time, heard Zawaski floundering. He called in to the show as any listener would, but unbeknownst to the audience, he didn’t want to talk about the Hawks as much as he wanted to put his colleague at ease.

“He actually started interviewing me, like, ‘Hey, what did you think of that power play?’ And I started talking about it,” Zawaski said. “That gave me so much confidence because I was sensing myself doing poorly, and then when he called in, it was like, ‘OK, he’s hearing it, too. Relax.’ I will never forget that.”

The Score’s “Hockey Guy” was born. And it has been smooth sailing since.

In fact, Zawaski, now the executive producer of the “Bernstein & McKnight” midday show, has created a mini empire of Hawks content. He can be heard on two podcasts: the “Madhouse Chicago Hockey Podcast” with James Neveau of NBC 5 and the “Locked On Blackhawks Podcast” he does solo. He also has a book due out in the spring: “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the Chicago Blackhawks” from Triumph Books.

If his radio work put him on the map in the hockey media world, the “Madhouse” podcast allowed him to go places he never dreamed possible. What began in 2015 as a casual venture between two Hawks fans has turned into a small business, with downloads surpassing 50,000 this month alone.

“I still have trouble believing it sometimes,” Zawaski said.

The goal of the podcast is to fill the void left by sports-talk radio, which doesn’t give the Hawks nearly the coverage it gives the other major teams in town. Imagine Bears talk but about the Hawks for 45 minutes to an hour, generally once or twice a week. And listeners are treated to a sports-talk type of show, conversational in style and professional in sound.

“I have to give Jay the credit. He’s got the audio, technical wizardry,” said Neveau, NBC 5’s sports digital content producer. “You can tell when something is shabbily put together. We make it a point to try to make the product as polished as possible without losing that authenticity as fans.”

The success of the “Madhouse” podcast led to the “Locked On” network of podcasts reaching out to Zawaski before this season. “Locked On” has a podcast for almost every MLB, NBA and NFL team, and it’s expanding its NHL coverage. The difference is, episodes drop every weekday, 1158221 Chicago Blackhawks Said Lehner on Tuesday: "It's up to the coach. People are making a big deal out of it. It's very early in the season.

"Goalies have their ebbs and their flows. I think I'm a good goalie and I Hawks goalie Lehner more than admirably filling in for Crawford think Corey's a (heck of a) goalie, too. It's a good thing for this team and (we'll) see what happens going forward."

John Dietz Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.25.2019 Follow @johndietzdh

Updated

10/24/2019 11:27 PM

If Jeremy Colliton has road mapped out how the Blackhawks are going to use Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner in the foreseeable future, that map is locked up tighter than Fort Knox.

Only Colliton and his staff likely know which direction they're going on a given night -- or perhaps in a given week.

"We have a bit of a plan," Colliton said last week. "But the reason I don't want to go out with it is the plan can change.

"That's life."

So far it's Lehner who is making life miserable for Hawks' opponents. Which is exactly why he started a second straight game, this one against the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center on Thursday.

Before yielding 4 goals on 23 shots to Philly, Lehner was 1-0-2 with a .943 save percentage and 1.94 goals-against average. His record would be even better if he'd get more offensive support as the Hawks (2-4-2) have scored just 6 goals in his four starts.

Asked if his strong play is simply a continuation of last season -- when he posted 6 shutouts and a 2.13 goals against average for the Islanders -- Lehner said no.

It's actually a continuation of his last four campaigns.

"Feel the same," said Lehner, who played with Buffalo from 2015-18. "Every year you change a few things structurally, depending what team (you're on). I have to play different here than I had to play last year and than I had to play in Buffalo.

"We weren't a very good defensive team in Buffalo. … (That) prepared me for breakaways and 2-on-1s because I had a lot of them every game."

That being the case, some fans may pause here and wonder why Lehner allowed Vegas to convert 2 of 3 shootout attempts in a 2-1 loss Tuesday. And why his .549 save percentage in shootouts ranks almost dead last since 2013-14.

Lehner -- one of the most honest interviewees in a sport filled with them anyway -- has no problems admitting it's simply one of his weak spots.

"I'm terrible at shootouts. But I don't let in breakaways," he said. "People just don't understand how big of a difference it is. When a player doesn't get to slow down, I know exactly how to play it. When they get to slow down, I'm terrible.

"I love overtime, but shootout is a different sport for me. I've tried to do different things; sometimes you've just got to accept what you're not good at. I'll keep trying to see if I can get better at it."

As for Crawford, he hasn't necessarily been bad.

But his numbers (1-3-0, .891, 3.59) pale in comparison to his new teammate, and Thursday was the first time he'd sat in back-to-back games while healthy since the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs.

So as Lehner continues to shine, it's fair to wonder if he might be making the coaching staff take a different fork in the road than they originally planned.

But if that fork leads to more victories, then it's one they'll gladly travel down.

"That's what we want. Competition," Colliton said. "And it's going to push both those guys to be better." 1158222 Chicago Blackhawks Calvin de Haan moved up to the top pairing with Duncan Keith against Philadelphia, and Slater Koekkoek played for the first time in five games on the third pairing with Erik Gustafsson. Koekkoek had 7 shot attempts (2 on goal) in 15:39. … Brendan Perlini and Zack Smith were healthy Blackhawks' seven-game homestand ends on a low note scratches against Philadelphia. … After eight games last season, Jonathan Toews had 5 goals and 5 assists. This season he has (1 goal

and 1 assist). John Dietz

Follow @johndietzdh Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.25.2019 Updated

10/24/2019 11:33 PM

The Blackhawks completed their seven-game homestand Thursday with a gigantic dud, falling 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers and dropping to 2-4-2 on the season.

The Hawks' lone goal came from Brandon Saad early in the third period and briefly gave them life, but a pair of defensive breakdowns squelched their momentum and led to yet another setback.

"When we don't come out together (and) keep it simple, they create turnovers and that kills our offense," Saad said.

This was the second straight game the Hawks managed just 1 goal.

They've also now allowed 13 goals in the three games Connor Murphy has missed due to injury. And he's not returning until Nov. 16 at the earliest, so they need to figure out how to stop the avalanche of odd-man rushes that have come when he's not in the lineup.

"I mean Murph is a great defenseman, but we have other great defensemen too," said goalie Robin Lehner, who made 19 saves. "It's just about managing the puck. Honestly that's all it is.

"It's not that complicated. If you manage the puck, they don't get all the breakaways and all the 2-on-1s."

The decision to place Murphy on long-term injured reserve means the defenseman will not be available until November 16 at the earliest. The hole he leaves is a gaping one, but Colliton isn't placing all of the blame for the defensive breakdowns on his blue liners.

"There's a lot of talk about line combinations. It's not the combos," Colliton said.

"The lines that have success, they're playing a very direct, hardworking, team-oriented game and they're willing to do the dirty work. They're willing to get their nose dirty. … The lines that aren't having success (it's) because they're not doing those things."

Philly's first goal came after Duncan Keith tried tapping a puck forward in the offensive zone, only to have it batted the other way by Oscar Lindblom. De Haan and Lehner failed to stop the ensuing 2-on-1, with Lindblom scoring at 13:05 of the first period.

The Hawks, who had just 1 shot on goal in the second period, made a game of it when Saad neatly tucked a puck past Brian Elliott with 19:00 remaining.

But the Flyers made it 3-1 when Kevin Hayes beat Brent Seabrook to a loose puck in the neutral zone and proceeded to beat Lehner to the glove side with 14:57 left.

About 12 minutes later, an Erik Gustafsson turnover in the Hawks' defensive zone turned into a James van Riemsdyk goal -- and that was that.

Colliton thought his team was "cheating defensively" in what he termed a "wasted" second period.

"We've all got to get better," Lehner said. "I've got to get better too.

"On the third goal on the breakaway it would have been nice to come up with a big save. But you don't get rewarded if you don't do the right things.

"So I think it was an honest, well-deserved result today. Probably should have been a couple of more goals and they took away two goals too (on video review). We deserve what we got today."

Slap shots: 1158223 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Talk Podcast: Jeremy Colliton calls out Blackhawks work ethic in stinker vs. Flyers

By Charlie Roumeliotis

October 25, 2019 12:56 AM

After a poor showing against the Flyers, Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton had a strong message to his team as they wrapped up their seven-game homestand. Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down what went wrong and how the Blackhawks missed a big opportunity by starting the season on home ice.

Plus, could there be some roster movement soon with Kirby Dach staying and Brendan Perlini potentially leaving?

1:03 - Poor puck management to end the homestand

3:34 - Jeremy Colliton calls out his team's work ethic

4:32 - Is it time for Colliton to go to the line blender?

7:11 - Looking at Patrick Kane and the power play units

10:45 - Takeaways from the seven-game homestand

12:26 - Kirby Dach proving he belongs in the NHL now

15:15 - Brendan Perlini given opportunity to seek trade

16:22 - Blackhwks face a tough-test vs Carolina

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158224 Chicago Blackhawks power-play goal differential is just +2. Last season this was an area of strength, but it hasn't clicked through eight games this season.

"I think execution's letting us down," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "I think Four takeaways: Blackhawks take a step back in loss to Flyers we could shoot the puck more. We got that 30 seconds at the beginning of the third, we shot a couple pucks. That was the most dangerous we looked all night. Shoot the puck, recover it and then things open up. When you try to pass it into a chance or pass into the net it's more By Charlie Roumeliotis difficult. I think that's the case right now."

October 24, 2019 11:30 PM Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019

Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center on Thursday:

1. Blackhawks take a step back

The Blackhawks felt like they should've gotten four out of four points in their previous two contests against Washington and Vegas, two opponents they clearly out played. But they took a step back against the Flyers, which is disappointing because the performance was trending in the right direction and the effort the Blackhawks turned in was far from their best on Thursday.

"We all have to get better," Robin Lehner said. "I have to get better too. On the third goal, the breakaway it would have been nice to have come up with a big save and it would be 2-1 and who knows? But you don’t get rewarded if you don’t do the right things. I think it was an honest, well- deserved result today. There probably should have been a couple of more goals. They took away two goals too. We deserved what we got today."

2. Too little, too late

The Blackhawks had a forgettable second period and it resembled parts of the season opener in Prague. They were outshot 13-1 and gave up a goal 59 seconds into the middle frame, but the entire period could've been worse.

The third period was much better, with the Blackhawks leading in shot attempts (30-9), shots on goal (16-5), scoring chances (17-6) and high- danger chances (8-4) in the final frame, according to Natural Stat Trick, and even pulled the score within 2-1 exactly one-minute in. But the Flyers responded shortly after and the push was too little, too late for a team that had no choice but to throw the kitchen sink after trailing 2-0 going into the third period.

"I think it just starts with turnovers," Brandon Saad said. "When we don't manage the puck, teams get momentum going the other way. Gave up way too many chances, odd-man rushes, breakaways tonight. We got lucky with a couple offsides calls, but when we don't come up together, play with speed, keep it simple, they create turnovers and that kills our offense."

3. Not taking advantage of homestand

The Blackhawks wanted to finish strong before heading to Carolina for their first road game in the states of the season. They finished the seven- game homestand by picking up six out of a possible 14 points for 2-3-2 record, which wasn't exactly what they were hoping for.

But the results are what they are, and the Blackhawks have to find a way to start getting the job done on home ice, even if the puck luck goes against them.

"I think we deserved better," Calvin de Haan said. "There were a few games in there where we might've been the better team. There's tons of games left, you can't just look at this homestand and break it down, but you obviously want to be above .500. But there's some positives we can take away from the homestand and we played some good hockey. Tonight wasn't our night and we played some good hockey in the previous games so we can build off those."

4. Power play slipping

The Blackhawks' power play is starting to become concerning. They failed to record a single shot on goal during the first two power plays and didn't convert on any of their four attempts, putting them at 0-for-13 over their last three games.

For the season, the Blackhawks are now 3-for-26 for a conversion rate of 11.5 percent and they've also given up a shorthanded goal, so their 1158225 Chicago Blackhawks

Instant reaction: Blackhawks wrap up seven-game homestand with loss to Flyers

By Charlie Roumeliotis

October 24, 2019 10:25 PM

FINAL SCORE:

Flyers 4, Blackhawks 1

Snap judgments:

— This was far from the Blackhawks' best effort of the season, which is disappointing after they turned in terrific outings in the previous couple games. The third period is when they finally started to get going, but by that point they had dug too large of a hole. Turnovers bit the Blackhawks in the behind again.

— The Blackhawks and Flyers combined for only 12 shots on goal in the first period, but they also generated 15 total scoring chances, nine of which came from the visiting team. After getting a goal overturned due to an offside challenge by the Blackhawks, the Flyers eventually opened the scoring when Oskar Lindblom converted on a 2-on-1.

— The Blackhawks were outscored 1-0 in the second period and were outshot 13-1. The Flyers easily could've opened up the game in the middle frame but Robin Lehner held down the fort as best as he could. It was the second period in Prague as well that the Flyers took control of the game, outshooting the Blackhawks 16-7.

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Is Dylan Strome's transition to wing a long-term move for Blackhawks?

By Charlie Roumeliotis

October 24, 2019 12:00 PM

When the Blackhawks drafted Kirby Dach with the No. 3 overall pick, the organization immediately filled a position that was lacking on the depth chart.

But then the question became: How is this going to work in the long term?

Jonathan Toews is still the No. 1 center and has a lot left in the tank. Dylan Strome was acquired in November last season and has turned into a dependable No. 2 center. That means Dach slides in at third-line center, right?

Not exactly.

Dach made his NHL debut last weekend and started out as the second- line center, which was Strome's usual spot. But rather than bumping him to the third line, Strome was moved to the wing, partly because the Blackhawks didn't want to take away his minutes. The other part is the team feels that line of Dach, Strome and Patrick Kane could work in the long run.

But Strome is still adjusting to the switch and it sounds like he's preparing for the possibility of the move lasting more than just a few games.

"It's not something I'm used to, but I'm working on it," Strome said. "I wouldn't say I'm comfortable yet, but I'm trying to get better every day at it. It's something new to me. I think it's a little bit less skating, it's a little bit you gotta hold onto the puck a little bit longer. I'm working on it, I'm trying to get better at it and hopefully I can continue to grow and be a good winger."

The Blackhawks like having versatility among their forward group, but the only way to get both Dach and Strome top-six action is to move one to the wing and Strome is the guy who's making the transition, at least for now, with a healthy lineup.

So even though it may not be permanent, you have to wonder whether Strome's future is at the wing if Dach is kept on the NHL roster for the entire season.

"It's a matter of looking at our centers and who's most comfortable low," Colliton said. "I think Dach can do a really good job for us. Maybe it frees up Stromer to have a little more pressure on the puck up ice, make a few plays. Last year he had a stretch with [Artem] Anisimov where he kind of shared the center role and I thought that helped him at times. It's an option. I think with Dach in there, I liked our center group a bit more."

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Robin Lehner to get second straight start for Blackhawks vs. Flyers

By Charlie Roumeliotis

October 24, 2019 11:30 AM

Robin Lehner will start in goal for the Blackhawks when they battle the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center on Thursday to wrap up a seven-game homestand, coach Jeremy Colliton confirmed after morning skate. This will be his second consecutive start and fourth of the season.

Lehner is coming off a game in which he turned aside 33 of 34 shots for a save percentage of .971, which earned him the No. 3 star of the game in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.

"He's been good," Colliton said. "I thought all three games he played [in] and I thought [in] preseason he was strong too. That's good. That's what we want, competition, and it's going to push both guys to be better."

Lehner is 1-0-2 with a 1.93 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in three starts this season. He's also 4-6-0 with a 3.01 goals- against average and .897 save percentage in 10 career starts against the Flyers.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158228 Chicago Blackhawks The Blackhawks’ third period might have been better, but there was only one way to go up after one of their worst second periods in franchise history. The Blackhawks produced one shot on goal over the 20 minutes of the second period, and that one shot didn’t even come in their 3:27 of ‘We deserved what we got today’: Blackhawks’ homestand closes with power-play time in the period. Twice in franchise history have they been ugly loss shut out in shots in a period, so Thursday was only slightly better than that.

The power play is partially to blame for Thursday’s loss, and that can be By Scott Powers said of all of the Blackhawks’ losses this season. The Blackhawks need Oct 24, 2019 their power play to figure it out — they’re 3-of-26 — if they’re going to have team success this season. Fans booed during the second and third power plays and cheered when Patrick Kane finally recorded a shot on the power play in the third period. Whatever you thought about the Blackhawks’ record after seven games, they were moving in the right direction. The story goes well beyond the power play Thursday, though. There was Duncan Keith misplaying a puck coming out of the offensive zone and There were plenty of indicators of that. They were defending and limiting giving the Flyers a two-on-one that led to a goal. There was Brent high-danger chances. The offense wasn’t exactly producing, but there Seabrook getting beat after going for a puck in the neutral zone and were signs of life. Overall, they probably deserved more than the six allowing the Flyers a breakaway goal. Erik Gustafsson handed the Flyers points they have taken through seven games. their fourth goal with a turnover. There were plenty of people who felt that way, too. Blackhawks coach The night could have been worse, too. The Blackhawks were lucky two Jeremy Colliton stated that repeatedly. Robin Lehner said that other Flyers goals — one that came off a Brandon Saad turnover and passionately after Tuesday’s shootout loss. Calvin de Haan put it as another in which de Haan was beat to the net — were overturned strong fact Wednesday, too. because of offside challenges. “Blackhawks are playing good hockey right now,” de Haan said after The Blackhawks didn’t sugarcoat any of that either. practice. “It doesn’t matter what the fans think and stuff, but we’re playing good. I don’t really care what anyone says, we’re playing competitive “It was kind of a sloppy game,” de Haan said. “Just didn’t really seem like hockey, and we could have won arguably the past four, five games here. we could handle the puck that well tonight. The opportunities we gave up, It’s frustrating, but you just got to try and stick with it.” they were Grade A’s. Can’t put that all on Robin, stopping those is on us. There’s five guys on the ice as well, just felt like we got maybe outworked That was true then. a little bit. But it’s a good learning curve at the same time. We can look at It wasn’t true after Thursday night. video and see what we can do better and go from there.”

In the Blackhawks’ eighth game of the season, that all changed. The Lehner put it plainly, too. Blackhawks played their worst game of the season as their offense, “It’s just about managing the puck,” Lehner said. “Honestly, it’s just all it defense, puck management and effort crumbled in a 4-1 loss to the is. It’s not that complicated. You manage the puck, they don’t get all the Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center. breakaways and two-on-ones today and it might have been different. Where Colliton’s message had been consistently positive regardless of Who knows? Again, in spurts, we’re dominating, but we don’t manage the result after the first seven games, his words and tone were much the puck. different Thursday. “We all have to get better. I have to get better too. On the third goal, the “Up until tonight I thought we’d been improving,” Colliton said. “We were breakaway it would have been nice to have come up with a big save and on the right track. It’s probably still the case but it just … I want our team it would be 2-1 and who knows? But you don’t get rewarded if you don’t to understand what we need to do to have success. The quicker we learn do the right things. I think it was an honest, well-deserved result today. it, it becomes part of our DNA, then this team is good enough. We’ll There probably should have been a couple of more goals. They took make the playoffs. We’ll be a hard team to play against. The longer it away two goals, too. We deserved what we got today.” takes, the longer we don’t want it to be part of our identity and we put How the Blackhawks lost also changes how their record looks right now. ourselves in a bad spot and we’ve been there before. This group has The Blackhawks are 2-4-2 on the season and just went 2-3-2 on a seven- been there before. So we got to learn. It’s ultimately like how bad do you game homestand. That can’t be spun after a loss like that. want to win.” “It’s definitely tough, you want to take care of your home games, that’s Colliton didn’t question whether the Blackhawks had the right players to the bottom line,” Saad said. “Playing at home, we got to be sharper. succeed. He did question whether all those players wanted it enough. Playing in front of this crowd, usually that’s where you take advantage “To win you need some skill. We have enough skill,” Colliton said. “We and capitalize in our games. Unfortunately it didn’t go that way for us but need to focus on how hard we work, both sides of the puck but we snuck a couple points out and we just have to learn and build from particularly defensively, and then how we manage it. You see again this.” tonight, when we turn it over, we expose ourselves badly and we were If you were listing the Blackhawks players by value to this team, Connor punished badly. So what was otherwise a fine start, we’re down 1-0. Murphy would finish a lot higher than some might expect. What was otherwise us finding a way back into the game in the third, the game’s out of reach. Until we clean it up it’s going to be difficult to win. Before suffering a groin injury Tuesday, Murphy was arguably playing the best hockey of his career, and the Blackhawks were moving forward “There’s a lot of talk about combinations, line combinations. It’s not the because of that. combos. It’s the lines that have success that are playing a very direct, hard-working, team-oriented game and they’re willing to do the dirty The sample size might be small with just six games, but Murphy was work. They’re willing to get their nose dirty and pressure on the playing exceptionally well and getting a lot of ice time. In six games and forecheck. Back pressure on the way back. No shortcuts in D-zone. 102:45 of five-on-five ice time, he had a 55.25 Corsi percentage and a Those are the lines that have had success. The lines that aren’t having 59.22 expected goals percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick. success, they’re not having success because they’re not doing those things. It’s not the combos. I could get the bingo balls out and with the Colliton was riding Murphy, too. He had played him 18-plus minutes in players we have I could throw any combos out there and they would work five-on-five play in four of his first five games, and Murphy might have if we had the work ethic away from the puck and we managed it and we ended up around there again if he played the entire game Tuesday. played a winning style, team-first mentality up and down the lineup, they Murphy had a couple of stretches under Joel Quenneville two seasons would work. Anything could work. You saw that in the third. We jumbled it ago and under Colliton last season when he was good, but he wasn’t up. It wasn’t the combos, it was the work ethic. We dominated because playing that type of minutes and driving possession like that. we were skating, we were winning battles, we got pucks deep. That’s the Even more important than those numbers, Murphy was helping the recipe.” Blackhawks establish a top pairing with him and Duncan Keith. In 79:13 of ice time together, the pairing has a 55.30 Corsi percentage and 51.41 expected goals percentage. The Blackhawks have lacked a top pairing what to do best on the ice. I’m just trying to take any information that I like that since Niklas Hjalmarsson was traded. can and kind of help improve my game.

Last season, the only Blackhawks pairings to have Corsi and expected “For me, it’s just about being stronger on my stick and having a better goals percentages greater than 50 percent with a minimum of 100 stance where I’m not as wide and losing power when I go back. We’re minutes played were Erik Gustafsson and Slater Koekkoek and starting small and working our way up to make sure that everyone is as it Gustafsson with Jan Rutta, according to Corsica. should be.”

Murphy’s injury timeline has changed, too, from what Colliton originally It’s an area Dach knows has to get better. He won 473 of 1,147 faceoffs thought. Colliton said after Tuesday’s game Murphy would likely miss two for a 41.2 percentage in the WHL last season. Through his three games weeks. With the Blackhawks putting Murphy on long-term injury reserve, in the NHL, Dach won three faceoffs and lost eight. he has to miss at least 24 days and 10 games. “It was good to get some reps underneath the center,” Dach said of his “He’s played real well especially since we put him with Duncs,” Colliton first few NHL games. “Obviously I haven’t taken too many draws the last said of Murphy prior to Thursday’s game. “They really solidified our D- games. I expected that being a younger guy, not going through training corps taking the typically top matchup. He’s one of the guys on our back camp and not having a feel for it. Anything I can to keep getting better, end who can really play physical and make a stop to get us out of D- I’m going to do it.” zone. That’s really helped us. It’s a hole, but it’s an opportunity for other guys to take more of a role. Everyone wants to play more. Say ‘I can do Having Jonathan Toews and Ryan Carpenter as teammates is part of more, I’ll play better if I play more.’ Well, here’s an opportunity. that, too. Ultimately, that could help our depth down the road.” “Going up against those two guys is good for me and just to learn how Colliton chose to put de Haan on the right side of Keith against the two good centermen in the league are able to win faceoffs and learn from Flyers. Colliton opted against Gustafsson after seeing the Keith- them,” Dach said. Gustafsson pairing struggle early in the season. In 33:16 of time together Dennis Gilbert doesn’t normally take a nap on game days, but he was as a top pairing this season, it had a 33.81 Corsi percentage and a 33.10 going to make an exception Thursday. expected goals percentage. Read about his Wednesday. He woke up around 7:15 a.m. to get ready In their first game together, the Keith-de Haan pairing had its ups and for a Rockford IceHogs’ bus trip to Cleveland. After 7 1/2 hours on the downs. Numbers-wise, it had a 36.84 Corsi percentage (7-12 shot bus, he received a call informing him he was being called up to the attempts), 29.52 expected goals percentage and was on the ice for one Blackhawks. He arrived in Cleveland at 5:30 p.m., got his bags and went goal against in 14:52 of ice time. to the airport. He boarded a plane at 7:30 p.m. and arrived at O’Hare at 9 It might take de Haan some time to get comfortable playing on the right p.m. He took an Uber back to Rockford to pick up some stuff. From side as a left-handed defenseman. It’s something he hasn’t done much in Rockford, he got in his car, drove back to Chicago and arrived at his his NHL career. hotel at 1 a.m.

The Koekkoek-Gustafsson pairing was mostly a positive on the night As tiring as it all was, Gilbert was feeling good inside. He was headed from a numbers perspective. It had a 75.0 Corsi percentage (15-5) and back to the NHL. 59.48 expected goals percentage. It was on the ice for one goal against “Not going to be complaining about the travel day,” Gilbert said. in 11:40 of ice time. The Olli Matta-Seabrook pairing had a 45.0 Corsi percentage (9-11), 42.46 expected goals percentage and was on the ice The Blackhawks have been pleased with Gilbert’s development. They for two goals against in 11:07. showed that by giving him an NHL game at the end of last season, playing him in this season’s opener and now recalling him after Murphy’s It’s no secret Brendan Perlini is the odd forward out for the Blackhawks injury. right now. “He was the closest in camp to begin with,” Colliton said prior to Even if Kirby Dach wasn’t with the Blackhawks, Perlini would likely be Thursday’s game. “That’s part of why we kept him in Prague. He has the sitting behind Zack Smith. With Dach here for now, Perlini is basically the ability to play a similar game as Murphy — he’s a big kid, skates well, team’s 14th forward. It’s unlikely he’s playing anytime soon, either. can get a stop in D-zone. As far as what we want him to continue to work So, what to do? The Blackhawks aren’t about to place Perlini on waivers. on is just the puck plays. He makes plays, but when he’s got time, just At 23 years old, with 45 goals in 200 NHL games and having an making the simple one, taking the first option. I think he’s really close to $874,125 cap hit, he would undoubtedly be claimed by another team. being an NHL player so to have him here is a good opportunity for us to work with him and he’ll get in at some point.” But the Blackhawks do appear as if they’re willing to trade him. Multiple league sources said Thursday night the Blackhawks had reached out to Gilbert made a costly turnover in the Blackhawks’ opener against the teams to gauge interest in acquiring Perlini. One source said the Flyers that led to a goal. He struggled to settle a puck and then passed it Blackhawks were seeking a draft pick and described his value as low. directly to the Flyers in the defensive zone. Gilbert was solid the rest of the game, and he tried to learn from his mistake. Colliton was asked after Thursday’s morning skate how he helped a player in Perlini’s situation keep his spirits up. “I don’t want to be carrying the puck,” Gilbert said. “That’s not a secret. I know they don’t want me carrying the puck either. Just came around the “Try to keep having conversations whether it’s me or other guys on the net, the puck rolled on me a little bit. Things happen, but I thought I did a staff,” Colliton said. “He’s got to just take care of his own whether it’s in nice job responding. I thought I built on that afterward and being really practice or when he gets the chance to go in, try to make an impact. simple. In the second and third, I thought I had some really productive Sometimes it takes longer than you want and that’s the business we’re shifts. I was able to play well after that.” in. I think we’ve got quite a bit of depth up front and that’s ultimately good for our team. Individually, it makes it hard on our guys because you’re IceHogs assistant coach Anders Sorensen thought Gilbert’s decision- going to go a stretch without playing. For the team performance, that’s making has been one of the reasons he’s gotten better over the last year. what we try to build is more depth.” “I think he’s a good student of the game,” Sorensen said by phone Dach will be getting plenty of pro lessons for however long he remains Thursday. “He’s inquisitive. He wants to watch film. He wants to talk with the Blackhawks this season. about situational stuff. His work ethic on and off the ice has helped. Obviously his decisions with the puck and being more effective with the Faceoffs were part of the lesson plan this week. After the team practiced puck has improved. That was a big thing over the course of the year.” Wednesday, he spent time with Blackhawks development coach Yanic Perreault on faceoffs. Perreault, who has been in his role for seven Whenever the Blackhawks are going to need a defenseman from seasons, is considered one of the best ever at faceoffs. Rockford, Adam Boqvist’s name is going to obviously come up.

“I’ve worked with guys in the past who have done the same thing,” Dach “He had a good camp and made a good impression, made a lot of plays said. “Everybody’s different, and they got their own tips that they can help as an offensive player,” Colliton said. “That’s not a bad thing for him to you with faceoffs. As a young centerman, you’re always trying to learn continue have time to learn the pro game, and obviously with the focus on defending. Ultimately, we want to see him down there defending the way he’s going to have to up here, and that’s the challenge for him.”

Sorensen basically said the same thing, too.

“I think he’s taken steps forward,” Sorensen said. “He’s got some natural abilities with the puck. Obviously his play without the puck and his ability to defend is the area of kind of focus for him. I think he’s making progress there.”

The newest Blackhawks defenseman prospect Ian McCoshen joined the IceHogs in Cleveland. He practiced with them Thursday.

McCoshen had been acquired from the Florida Panthers for forward Aleksi Saarela on Tuesday. McCoshen, 24, had been in the AHL this season, but he has played 60 career NHL games. He’s another left- handed shot.

“He’s obviously got some experience from both NHL and AHL,” Sorensen said. “He’s got some size. He skates well for a big guy. We like what we see so far.”

Saarela had zero goals and one assist in his first five games with the IceHogs. He had 30 goals and 24 assists in 69 AHL games last season.

When Saarela arrived at the Blackhawks, some sources described him as having an attitude problem. Sorensen said that wasn’t an issue with him in Rockford.

“I don’t think that was an issue at all,” Sorensen said. “He was a good kid, played hard. Just a business deal.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158229 Chicago Blackhawks What Kane saw: “To be honest with you, just saw some space by the defenseman and just tried to shoot on net and kind of pick an area. I knew Shawzy (Andrew Shaw) was in front. He did a great job of screening the goalie and taking away Hart’s eyes there. I knew (Sean) How did he score that goal? Patrick Kane explains all season long. Couturier was kind of closing the space on me. I was trying to get a quick shot off, especially with it’s like two minutes left in the game. You’re trying

to get anything at the net, especially when you’re down by two. It worked By Scott Powers out perfectly when you shoot it like that and you see it go right in the net. It’s a good feeling.” Oct 24, 2019

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 Patrick Kane had about three seconds to read the situation.

He got the puck in the neutral zone and had one Washington Capitals defenseman, Nick Jensen, ahead of him. Kane slowed down coming up the right side, allowing teammate Alex Nylander to join the rush. Kane couldn’t see everything behind him, but he recognized with how Jensen was moving toward him, not Nylander, that another Capitals player was likely about to enter the picture. Time was running out.

Kane saw Nylander stop hard and put himself in a position for one-timer. He could have passed, but he looked off Nylander and then decided to shoot. Everything was happening rapidly on the ice, but it slowed down in Kane’s mind as he processed everything. He knew precisely where he wanted to put the puck to beat goalie Braden Holtby and then released the shot.

“Just trying to shoot that one 5-hole,” Kane said. “I know in the past I’ve actually had 2-on-1s against him where I’ve shot it along the ice 5-hole and he makes a save. This one I just tried to pick it up a little bit off the ice. I know going into games I’ve done this before and it’s worked and that before and hasn’t worked. I think we were in Washington one time and I came down on a 2-on-1 and tried to shoot it low on the ice 5-hole. Same side, same shot and he made the save. This one I tried to get a little bit of air on it, get it over his stick.”

His adjustment worked, and Kane recorded his third goal of the 2019-20 season. Like Alex DeBrincat did last season, Kane has agreed to discuss his goals with The Athletic this season. We’ll update this story throughout the year.

No. 3: Oct. 20 vs. Washington Capitals, 9:58 of 3rd period, 5-on-5

Kane jumped on the ice with the fourth line for a shift in the third period against the Capitals. He and Nylander were near the top of the defensive zone. Nylander intercepted a pass and got it ahead to Kane. With a 2-on- 1, Kane opted to keep it and beat Holtby from the right circle. It was his fifth career goal against Holtby.

What Kane saw: “Two-on-one, they had a backchecker, their defenseman was coming over to me a little bit more than a normal 2-on- 1, so I knew they had someone coming on Nylander. He actually stopped up. I probably could have gave it to him for a one-timer. Kind of looked him off, just tried to shoot it low. I think it surprised Holtby a little bit.”

No. 2: Oct. 14 vs. Edmonton Oilers, 4:11 of 2nd period, 5-on-5

Kane had to move very little for his second goal of the season. Set up at the edge of the right circle for a faceoff, Kane watched as the puck ended up in front of him. He pulled it in and shot it quickly to beat Oilers goalie Mike Smith. It was his 11th career goal against Smith.

What Kane saw: “I kind of scored there before. That second period where it’s right off the faceoff, you find a loose puck and you’re able to get a quick shot at the net. I’ve been thinking about it, maybe I can get a chance off anything that comes to the middle. I think Edmonton’s forward kind of skated by the pile and the puck just popped to me on my backhand. Just try to pull it in and get a quick shot off. There’s not much time and space there. I think that was the biggest thing. I had to pull it to my backhand and then almost pull it in a little bit to take a different shooting angle past a guy’s stick. Just try to pick a spot glove side. Sometimes those shots sort of surprise goaltenders, especially off a faceoff like that.”

No. 1: Oct. 10 vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 17:53 of 3rd period, 6-on-5

The Blackhawks were trailing by two goals with under three minutes remaining and pulled their goalie in favor of a 6-on-5 attack. Kane was fed the puck at the top of the right circle, shot it on net and scored his first goal of the season. It was also his first career goal against goalie Carter Hart. 1158230 Colorado Avalanche

J.T. Compher moves into Mikko Rantanen’s role on the Avalanche’s top line

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

October 24, 2019 at 4:07 PM

LAS VEGAS – J.T. Compher will play right wing with center Nathan MacKinnon and left wing Gabe Landeskog at even-strength Friday afternoon against the Vegas Golden Knights. Compher replaces Mikko Rantanen, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury.

“I like the way our lines played on that road trip and we had some success last year with Compher playing with those guys and that’s going to be our first go-to for tomorrow night,” Avs coach Jared Bednar told the media in Denver before the Avs flew here Thursday afternoon. “We’re open to change. We just want to give this a crack before we go to anything else.”

Rantanen, who is tied with MacKinnon with a team-high five goals, seven assists and 12 points, will miss his first game Friday since suffering a leg injury in Monday’s 3-1 loss at St. Louis. Bednar announced Wednesday that Rantanen is “week-to-week.”

Compher, 24, was most recently the third-line right winger with center Tyson Jost and Colin Wilson. Compher had assists on two of Jost’s three goals in Saturday’s 6-2 win at Tampa Bay.

“I look at his game in Tampa; that line was really good, Jost’s line, and he was the driving force, made a lot of plays to the puck, had good poise with the puck, used his speed in a bunch of different areas to help that line,” Bednar said of Compher. “I think Mack and Landy can use a little bit of that, so that’s why I’m putting him there.”

Compher, a Chicago-area native who played three years at the University of Michigan, serving as captain as a junior, might also replace Rantanen on the No. 1 power play. Compher served in that capacity while Rantanen missed training camp and preseason while without a contract, before he signed a team-high six-year deal worth $55.5 million.

Footnotes. Bednar said Philipp Grubauer will start in goal, which probably means backup Pavel Francouz will play Saturday at the Pepsi Center to complete a back-to-back set. … Bednar has switched up his defensive pairings, moving Ian Cole with rookie Cale Makar and Nikita Zadorov with Ryan Graves. The top pairing of Sam Girard and Erik Johnson remains intact.

Denver Post: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158231 Colorado Avalanche There were some other items of notice in the Avalanche’s 6-2 win against the Lightning the following evening. That was the game that saw Bednar promote Samuel Girard to the first-team power-play unit while sending Makar to the second team. Makar had an assist in the victory but still had How Ian Cole could be the key to Cale Makar finding consistency and a few shaky sequences such as when he tried doing a spin move to taking the next step escape trouble in the corner only to commit a turnover that saw the Lightning receive extra time in the offensive zone.

“I feel like, I don’t know what the best way to describe maybe, but it’s just By Ryan S. Clark like my eyes aren’t connecting with my feet right now,” Makar said. “It just Oct 24, 2019 takes time and every level I have been at the first how many ever games it’s taken a while to get used to and I kinda relay this even back to college. My first probably 10 or 15 games at UMass, it was just kinda the same thing with trying to get used to it. Ian Cole is always talking to somebody whenever he is on the ice. He will ask assistant coach Nolan Pratt about the details of a specific drill or “I’m not saying it’s going to happen the same way but it’s just a learning engage with a teammate by providing input on something he may have curve. You gotta stick through it and stay positive.” noticed throughout a game or in a practice setting. Makar said Bednar and the coaching staff have “been awesome with This is the sort of impact Jared Bednar and the Colorado Avalanche are communicating” as it relates to telling him what he needs to work on hoping Cole can have on rookie defenseman Cale Makar. going forward.

Makar has had a bit of a mixed start to his first full NHL regular season. “That’s all you can ask for,” he said. “Any kind of advice you can give me On one hand, his eight points through nine games are the second-most is the best.” among all rookies. But there have been struggles. He had the costly miscue in Pittsburgh that led to an overtime loss while committing the Part of what made Makar — other than his collegiate exploits and being a sort of errors that led to a slight reduction in playing time and a demotion No. 4 pick in 2017 — so intriguing coming into this year was what he to the second-team power-play unit. achieved during his 10-game playoff cameo with the Avalanche last season. Bednar initially paired Makar with Nikita Zadorov but their eight-game partnership was hindered by inconsistent play prompting the decision to Compare his nine regular-season games versus his 10 playoff contests. change the Avalanche’s second defensive unit. Playing Cole and Makar Are there some similarities or are they really two completely different together allows Bednar to keep the favored dynamic accompanying a experiences? right-handed shooter with a left-handed shooter while also keeping a “I feel like they are two different kinds of experiences,” Makar said. puck-moving defenseman with a collaborator who serves in a stay-at- “Obviously, it was big for me to be able to come in and learn the systems. home role. There is still a lot I need to work on and learn. But it’s different.” Keeping that defensive continuity is only part of the objective. This is where having an experienced and vocal figure such as Cole could “As a young player you don’t really know how much easier (having) a guy prove instrumental in this facet of Makar’s development. that talks, that’s giving you information, how much they can make a Speaking about his new partnership with Makar actually reminded Cole difference in your game,” said Bednar, who was a defenseman during his of when he first broke into the NHL and was paired with NHL All-Star and playing days. “Then, when you play with a guy like that, you don’t miss it. Olympic gold medalist veteran Eric Brewer when they were both I know that from experience being a player. I know that from experience teammates with the St. Louis Blues. talking to guys and trying to get guys to talk more on the ice and communicate more on the ice. Cole said he was “really quiet” when he first came to the NHL. His thought was, “What am I doing telling Eric Brewer what to do with the “When you have a partner being your eyes and ears … it makes the puck?” But what allowed Cole to become more vocal was noticing how game so much easier and slowed down for you and your puck play is Brewer was open to talking about everything. generally significantly better.” Like. Everything. Makar opened the season with the demands that come with being a top- four defenseman charged with operating the controls of a first-team “Even the most obvious things. You’re going to a puck. You’re going to power-play unit that has the potential to be among the NHL’s elite, skate and he’s yelling, ‘Skate!’ It just reaffirms what you’re thinking,” Cole featuring Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and said. “The more you do it, the more you reaffirm, the more you’re both on Mikko Rantanen. the same page when you’re reading the rush, when you’re breaking out, when you see where the holes are on the breakout, whatever the case He was averaging 20:03 minutes of ice time through his first six games may be. I think when you constantly talk, even for the most obvious while going on a five-game point streak that saw him collect six points in things, I think it just clears up any sense of indecision. that span. Four of Makar’s points were power-play assists. “If you’re thinking, ‘I think this is it but I’m not sure’ but you hear The game when everything appeared to have changed was the 3-2 somebody behind you saying the same thing, you think, ‘Perfect!’ and I overtime loss to the Penguins. He received a season-high 23:53 in ice think that’s where I got it from and it’s been hugely beneficial for me.” time with the game culminating in Brandon Tanev recovering the puck and skating into the Avalanche’s zone, where he got leverage on Makar Cole said there is no timetable for when a player becomes before scoring the overtime winner. communicative. He said that comes when a defenseman can recognize the correct reads themselves. A couple more mistakes came to the forefront in the next two games against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. “I think first and foremost, you need to know where the correct play is before you can communicate,” Cole said. “That’s where when I started Florida held a 2-1 lead when it played a puck into Colorado’s zone. getting comfortable yelling as much as I possibly can is when I started to Makar was against the half wall and appeared to lose control of the puck, make sure I was really reading the play right and knowing what the which resulted in Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov playing a correct call was.” one-two combination. The exchange caught Makar out of position and led to Huberdeau launching a wide-open shot in the middle of the slot Bednar said Thursday he plans on playing Cole and Makar together that beat Philipp Grubauer for a 3-1 lead with 5:03 left in the first period. Friday against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas before the Avalanche return to Denver on a back-to-back versus the Anaheim Makar was limited to a season-low 14:09 in ice time. ShiftChart recorded Ducks. Makar received eight shifts in the opening period, but he was held to a combined nine shifts for the second and third period while he remained Makar and Cole have worked together previously. Cole, Girard and Patrik on the bench in overtime as the Avalanche captured a 5-4 victory in the Nemeth were among the defensemen who played with Makar during the extra frame. postseason last season. There was one game against the San Jose Sharks when Cole and Makar were sitting next to each other and Cole began exchanging notes with Makar about what he noticed during their shift.

Then again, that is what Cole does. Both he and Nemeth, from the minute training camp started last season, would often be seen having conversations about different reads and where to be on the ice. It didn’t matter where they were. They could be on the ice or in the dressing room after practice.

Sometimes, they’d even have a post-mortem after games between interviews with reporters.

“I think it’s very crucial,” Makar said about the role communication plays in a player’s development. “Obviously, you want to gain as much knowledge as you can and understand your partner … and as you communicate more, it makes things easier.”

Bednar said the Avalanche know Makar can be an extremely productive player capable of making an impact, just as he did during the team’s playoff run that ended in a Game 7 Western Conference semifinal loss to the Sharks.

Knowing what Makar is capable of achieving is why Bednar and his staff have had conversations with the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner about his mindset when he came in from college compared to now while also examining what’s different. Bednar said what happens is players start thinking more about results and less about the process that made them good players.

“He’s had some ups and downs and a little bit of inconsistency in his game right now,” Bednar said. “But we’ve seen some good, we’ve seen some not so good. I think it’s a focus thing and I’m going to try and do everything I can as a coach to help him in certain situations so he gets his game in order and becomes a real impact player for us.

“We really need him to be playing in that top-four role and in a lot of offensive situations. We gotta try to get him on the ice in the offensive zone and the offensive half more and I think a guy like Ian Cole can help do that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158232 Colorado Avalanche J.T. Compher will take Rantanen’s spot on the power play as well, which gives the Avs a bit of a different look with a right shot on that side of the ice. Samuel Girard will continue to run the first PP unit as well.

An unexpected face is replacing Mikko Rantanen There is one player on the Avs who is yet to suit up for a game, and that’s Vladislav Kamenev. I asked Bednar after practice about Kamenev and what they’re doing to make sure he’s ready, and he gave a very candid response. “The thing about Kammy is I didn’t love his training BY EVAN RAWAL camp. As it went on we saw some flashes of what I wanted to see. I will OCTOBER 24, 2019 say that his practice play, especially at 5 on 5 drills once we’ve kind of got into the season has been much improved from what I saw last year and even in training camp, so that’s a positive sign. I’d love to try to get him in here it’s just with the way our roster is right now, we’ve been The mystery is over. relatively healthy and I like what a lot of guys are doing. When that Head Coach Jared Bednar hinted at it yesterday, but the first guy to get a changes, Kammy has to be ready, we have to keep him ready as a shot at playing on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel coaching staff and he has to work to stay ready, both mentally and Landeskog in Mikko Rantanen’s absence? physically so he can come in and help us and have a good showing when he gets in.” J.T. Compher. Bednar then went on to mention they want Kamenev at center when he The 24-year-old Illinois native isn’t looking to change his game too much, gets in, and that’s what makes it so tough for them to get him in with their as he knows what makes him successful. depth. They like Jost and even Compher at center over wing so the depth “When I’m playing well, I’m playing with speed,” Compher said after is forcing Kamenev to be patient. practice on Thursday. “I think I can bring that to this line. They already play with a ton of speed, so I’m just trying to complement them the best I can.” BSN DENVER LOADED: 10.25.2019

Ultimately, a big reason why Compher is getting the opportunity on the top line came down to one thing: Bednar didn’t want to mess with the second line.

“I liked the way our lines played on that road trip,” Bednar said before the team flight to Vegas. “We had some success last year with Compher playing with those guys. Same thing with the power plays. I’d like to leave as much as I can the same here for a little bit and just see how long Mikko is going to be out, but we’re open to change.”

The lines up front were forced into change due to Rantanen’s lower-body injury. On Wednesday, Bednar mentioned they were going to separate Cale Makar and Nikita Zadorov as a pair. Thursday, Makar was paired with veteran Ian Cole, while Zadorov was with Ryan Graves.

I spoke to Graves after practice about what he and Zadorov can bring as a pair.

“I think we’ll complement each other,” Graves told DNVR after practice. “We’re both heavy and both play a physical style of game. I think we’ll be a good pair and I’m looking forward to it. We’re hoping to be tough for other teams to play against and be a big, heavy pair back there.”

Both Graves and Zadorov are left shots and spent practice alternating on the right side, and it seems who is playing that right side hasn’t been finalized yet.

“I don’t think anyone is too worried about it,” Graves said. “We’re just making sure we’re both comfortable over there. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter who plays that side. We’ll switch during the course of play anyway. Whoever plays it will be fine.”

A lot of defensemen struggle with the transition of playing their off side. Graves said it’s not as big of an adjustment as it would seem.

“It’s not that big of an adjustment,” the well-spoken Graves said. “You just kind of have to know your outlets before you get the puck a little bit, because your body is shifted a different way. There’s advantages to it too. I think it’s a little better in the offensive zone, your stick is in the middle of the ice as opposed to on the boards.”

Changes aside, the Avs know they have to be ready for a tough Vegas squad.

“They’re just relentless,” Graves said. “They’ve got a lot of speed and they work hard, and they stick to their system. They have four lines that roll and play hard and play the right way, fast and over top of pucks and pucks to the net. Simple hockey. That’s tough to play against when a team plays like that.”

Valeri Nichushkin will re-enter the lineup and play with Tyson Jost and Colin Wilson.

Philipp Grubauer will start against Vegas, and while Bednar didn’t confirm it, he did indicate they are leaning towards starting Pavel Francouz on Saturday at home against Anaheim. 1158233 Columbus Blue Jackets who carried it into the Hurricanes’ zone and pumped a wrist shot under goalie Petr Mrazek’s glove for his first goal of the season.

Milano tied it 4:26 later, carrying the puck up the left wing off a pass from Blue Jackets 4, Hurricanes 3 | Columbus Blue Jackets show some grit in Savard and scoring from a sharp angle with another jaw-dropping goal rallying from an early defict to beat the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime that rivaled his between-the-legs number last week. Cutting hard to the short side, Milano quickly slid the puck from forehand to backhand and then flicked it past Mrazek on the far side.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch @BrianHedger Neither team scored in the third, but the Jackets had their chances. They also killed off two Hurricanes power plays to get the game to overtime. Oct 24, 2019 at 10:31 PM

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 It wasn’t the prettiest game, but the Blue Jackets refused to let a series of unfortunate events take them down.

After coming back from an early 3-1 first-period deficit with two goals in the second, the Jackets downed the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime for their second straight OT victory — earning the second point when Pierre-Luc Dubois fed Cam Atkinson at 3:28 for a tap-in goal that ended it.

“That’s a huge win," Atkinson said. "They’re a really good team. I think their record speaks for itself, so we knew that we were going to see their best."

Alexandre Texier, Ryan Murray and Sonny Milano scored in regulation for the Blue Jackets (5-3-2), who got 21 saves from Joonas Korpisalo. Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Dzingel and Sebastian Aho scored for the Hurricanes, all in a wild first period that put the Jackets in an early hole.

The Jackets, who’ve earned at least a point in six straight games, couldn’t have asked for a much better start. Emil Bemstrom and Texier combined to open the scoring just 3:21 into the game, with Bemstrom feeding his fellow rookie for a one-timer.

But the excitement didn’t last long.

The Jackets allowed three goals over the next 9:11, falling behind 3-1 after a series of unfortunate decisions and events.

Hamilton’s goal, which tied it 1-1 at 4:32, came off a 2-on-1 rush that followed the Blue Jackets not following their own “stay above the puck” mantra. Too many of them got caught in the Hurricanes’ zone, and Hamilton made them pay, burying his sixth goal of the season and second against Columbus.

The Hurricanes were just getting started too.

Dzingel, who finished last season with the Blue Jackets and wasn’t re- signed, scored the next one. The former Ohio State forward made it 2-1 with a wrist shot off a beautiful feed by Martin Necas, but the goal wouldn’t have happened — at least not that way — had Murray’s stick held up.

Murray failed to clear the defensive zone seconds earlier because his stick snapped in half, which set up Necas for the drop pass to Dzingel. Aho then made it 3-1 just 49 seconds later, after another unfortunate Blue Jackets miscue.

Milano accidentally stepped on the puck trying to clear it and watched Aho tip it past Korpisalo seconds later for a two-goal margin.

It was a stunning sequence, but not the beginning of the end for the home team.

"They got a couple bouncy, weird goals, their second and third goals, but good teams kind of stick with it and we stuck with it," Atkinson said.

The Blue Jackets dominated the second period, controlling the puck nearly start to finish, building a 15-3 edge in shots and knotting it 3-3 on goals by Murray at 12:57 and Milano at 17:23.

“It was another opportunity presented to us, as far as just not blowing up," coach John Tortorella said. "Starting that second period, we needed to stay patient and not try to score. We just needed to play above the puck. … So, we kept our patience, played above the puck and probably played, out of all the minutes we’ve played this year, that was probably the fastest I’ve seen this team play, as far as our transition. We were fast.”

Murray’s cut the Carolina lead to 3-2 after the Blue Jackets forced a turnover. David Savard and Boone Jenner got the puck up ice to Murray, 1158235 Columbus Blue Jackets Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexander Wennberg and Nick Folingo have to rise to the occasion this season to make up for the scoring potential lost during free agency.

Columbus Blue Jackets working to close passing lanes on the penalty kill So far they’ve answered the bell — so much so that Tortorella has been tinkering with some lines that separates Wennberg from Bjorkstrand.

Tortorella said he prefers to play Bjorkstrand on the right wing, though he Jacob Myers The Columbus Dispatch @Jacob_Myers_25 can play both sides. He put Bjorkstrand and Wennberg on separate lines against Toronto with the return of Anderson, though it doesn’t necessarily Oct 24, 2019 at 9:31 PM mean he’ll stick with the changes.

For how they’re playing right now, Tortorella said it can help anyone on At 15:40 of the first period of the Blue Jackets’ win at Toronto on their lines. Monday, Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews received a cross-ice “When an offensive player is on in a top-six role and you fight as hard for pass in the offensive zone, with pretty much an open net in front of him pucks as both of those guys are fighting right now, you're helping your as goaltender Joonas Korpisalo scrambled to his right. linemates,” he said. “That's one thing I think Wenny has really improved Fortunately for the Jackets, Korpisalo got his blocker on the puck. But it at. He's not only going to the puck, he's not getting rid of it. He's holding was the type of play coach John Tortorella said has been happening too onto it, taking a hit, rolling out, crawling up the wall in the offensive zone.” often lately.

“We have left seams open that don't need to be open,” he said. “It'll get Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 rectified.”

The pass went from the right to the left side of the ice and made its way through Josh Anderson, Zack Werenski and Boone Jenner to get to Matthews.

The top players in the league are going to get their looks, but a couple of adjustments in positioning and awareness can lead to the Jackets more easily killing off penalties.

"When you start a new year … you need time to get your concept down,” Tortorella said. “We need to get in between those (seam passes), and we haven't done a good job of that.”

The Jackets had begun to limit the number of times they have been short-handed heading into Thursday night's home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. They committed no penalties against the New York Islanders last week and two against the Maple Leafs, one of which resulted in a Blue Jackets short-handed goal. The Jackets were short- handed on 13 occasions in the first three games compared to 12 times in the six games heading into Thursday’s game.

The Jackets ranked 21st in the league with a penalty kill at 76% before Thursday’s games, giving up six goals.

Other than doing the obvious — keeping the puck out of the net — defenseman David Savard said forcing an opponent to play away from its top option is vital to a penalty kill.

“I think we've done a good job in the past of make them go to option B or C and stuff like this,” Savard said. “It's kind of our job to make sure whenever one guy's coming and Korpi's square at him, that that's the play he's going to do.”

Korpisalo had proved in his seven starts this season prior to Thursday that he can move across the crease and make highlight-reel saves. The blocker save against the Maple Leafs is just one example of the goaltender’s play having boosted the penalty kill numbers a bit. Seconds later against Toronto, Korpisalo stretched out his right pad to stuff another chance on the doorstep.

Anderson has been a vital part of the Blue Jackets' penalty kill the past couple of years. Now that Anderson is back in the lineup after missing six games with an upper-body injury, it should mean the Jackets can build some continuity with a man down.

The Jackets had an optional morning skate Thursday in which assistant coach Brad Shaw was working with the penalty killers, making simple adjustments to prevent those seam passes that often lead to goals on the wings.

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter how the Jackets penalty kill unit keeps the puck out of the net. Getting bodies or sticks in the way of those passes is just one element.

"We've just got to find a way to get the job done basically,” Savard said. “Doesn't matter if it's pretty or not. I think at the end of the day we just kind of do our job and make sure we're focused. And if there's a breakdown, that's when Korpi comes in hand and makes a huge save for us.”

Tortorella looking for balanced lines 1158236 Columbus Blue Jackets Regardless, it hasn’t been an issue that way and a couple of the forwards probably don’t mind getting extra minutes by double shifting.

The Blue Jackets will be without defenseman Markus Nutivaara, who No. 500 for Nick Foligno spices Blue Jackets' Metro matchup with sustained a lower-body injury Monday in their 4-3 overtime victory at the Carolina Hurricanes Toronto Maple Leafs. Scott Harrington will draw back into the lineup to replace him, playing for the first time since the season-opener Oct. 4 against Toronto.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch @BrianHedger Petr Mrazek (4-1-0) will start in net for the Hurricanes, while Joonas Korpisalo (4-2-1) will start his third straight game for the Blue Jackets – Oct 24, 2019 at 1:37 PM after earning a win with 28 saves against the Maple Leafs.

“Korpi has won that No. 1 position,” coach John Tortorella said. “He has Seven-plus years have passed, but Nick Foligno still remembers what it just played his way into the No. 1 position. Everybody’s trying to grab a felt like to join the Blue Jackets in a July 1, 2012 trade that sent him from position. He has done the job and been pretty consistent here of late.” Ottawa to Columbus.

It was one of three key trades for the Jackets, along with deals for Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 Brandon Dubinsky and Sergei Bobrovsky, that helped change the culture in Columbus from perennial also-ran into perennial contender — something Foligno is now hellbent to protect after the departure of several key players in free agency, including Bobrovsky.

Heading into his 500th game with the Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena — a tough clash against the Carolina Hurricanes — Foligno has become a pillar for Columbus, on and off the ice.

“Honestly, I’ll never forget it, because everyone else was like, ‘Oh, man, it’s a big difference from Ottawa to Columbus because we’re a playoff team,’ but I was pumped,” said Foligno, who was named Blue Jackets captain three years later. “It was about opportunity, but not just because it was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to play more.’ I just wanted to put a stamp on something in the league, and I was at an age where I was kind of in the middle of the young guys and the old guys. I was 24 or 25 and I just kind of felt like, ‘Here’s my chance to become a core piece and really put my stamp on this team and make it my own, in a sense.’ ”

That is exactly what he’s done, too.

Foligno has notched 292 points on 126 goals and 166 assists in his first 499 games with the Blue Jackets, but solid numbers only tell a fraction of the story.

Columbus is where he and wife, Janele, started their family. It’s where all three of their children were born, where they went through some emotional wringers while dealing with serious health issues that affected their kids — and it’s a place where they have become ingrained in the local community.

Foligno has become one of the most recognizable faces of the franchise, around Columbus and nationally, and his work here isn’t complete. He’s still going strong heading into his 851st NHL game and halfway to 1,000 with the Blue Jackets.

“I came in with a bunch of other guys at that time, too, like Dubi and Bob, and we all just kind of gathered around each other and wanted to build something here,” Foligno said. “I’ve really been able to really embrace being a Columbus Blue Jacket in every facet of that — the community, the team, the fans, the people, the teammates and the coaches, too.

I think what I’m most proud of is that from when I got here, I can honestly say that we’re a better team, not just because of me but because of the people in here. The foundation’s been built and I’m just really proud to be one of the guys who is a part of that.”

The matchup

Since winning their first five games, the Hurricanes have dropped three of their past four, including a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Oct. 12 in Raleigh, N.C.

Carolina (6-3-0) has also carried a small roster on a four-game road trip that will conclude in Columbus. The Hurricanes currently have just 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies — and all but one goalie will be in the rotation against the Blue Jackets (4-3-2).

They went through the first three games that way, too, all in games played on the West coast — an odd choice considering the propensity of unexpected health issues to crop up in the NHL and the fact their affiliate is based in Charlotte, N.C. 1158237 Columbus Blue Jackets feel really proud of themselves as far as how they’ve handled some of these situations when they’re down and just stayed within themselves.

“Hopefully that becomes us. It’s not us right now. It’s 10 games. I don’t Portzline: 10 observations in Blue Jackets’ OT win over Carolina know who the hell we are. I like this team. I like the enthusiasm they bring. We have to keep on working at it so it becomes who we are and it becomes a second nature to us.”

By Aaron Portzline 3. Moose

Oct 24, 2019 One of the unwritten rules in an NHL dressing room is that no player shall be referred to by their given name. Dubois is known as “PLD” or “Luc”

mostly. But another name gets tossed about, too. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ten observations from the Blue Jackets’ 4-3 “Moose.” overtime win over Carolina on Thursday: Dubois, in his third NHL season, has played thus far like an agitated 1. A drought, ended moose, hellbent on shedding checks and carrying the puck through traffic Cam Atkinson was set free on a breakaway late in the third period and toward the net. Monday in Toronto, a chance to give the Blue Jackets a comeback win in Last night he overwhelmed Carolina’s Martin Necas in the neutral zone the hotbed of hockey. before turning and heading into the attack zone. That’s when Atkinson It was Atkinson’s only shot on goal in the game, and the puck wobbled on started reading the play and heading to the far post. him a bit, altering his attempt to go five-hole on Leafs goaltender Fredrik “He’s a moose out there,” Atkinson said. “He’s taken his game to a whole Andersen. The puck then hopped over his stick blade when Atkinson different level since the start of the season. I love playing with him. He tried to score on the rebound. pushes me, and I hope I push him. “It sucks,” Atkinson said Wednesday. “But that’s just the way it goes “He definitely brings us into the fight. He’s just playing like an absolute sometimes.” man, and it’s great to see.” Thursday, in overtime against Carolina, Atkinson sensed an opportunity Dubois spent the offseason working on his puck possession, realizing when man-child Pierre-Luc Dubois made a power move to get free that he’d be charged with carrying the puck more after (sorry, it must be through the left circle. done) Artemi Panarin’s departure over the summer as a free agent. “As soon as I saw him beat his man, I knew I had a step on (Hurricanes It shows. defenseman Jake Gardiner),” Atkinson said. “I was just hoping … I was going as fast as I could to the back post. Monday, he made a power move off the wall on Toronto’s Auston Matthews before scoring. On Oct. 12, Dubois held off Carolina’s Brock “I think (Dubois) saw me. I think I was calling for it. But I kind of blacked McGinn with his left arm and scored on a breakaway in a 3-2 win in out at the same time. It was a hell of a play, a hell of a pass by him.” Raleigh, N.C. Atkinson left no doubt, gave the puck no say in the matter. He slammed Thursday, Dubois was all over the ice, often dragging Hurricanes with home the game-winner from the doorstep of Carolina goaltender Petr him. Mrazek at 3:28 of OT. “He spanked (Carolina’s) Jordan Staal coming out of the corner in that It ended a six-game streak without a goal, and it was Atkinson’s first third period,” Tortorella said. “Staal is a big, strong kid, and Luc just even-strength goal — albeit three-on-three — this season. spanked him bringing it to the net. “Every game, even if he doesn’t score, you have that feeling he’s going “I just think he feels that good about his game, how strong and how to,” Dubois said. “Calling it a big goal is an understatement, but it was a confident he is with the puck, that he’s just taking people on. He’s been big goal for us tonight.” really good here for a number of games.” It’s the 39th game-winning goal of Atkinson’s career, second-best in 4. ‘Yakety Sax’ franchise history. Rick Nash had 44. It’s also Atkinson’s sixth career OT game-winner, tied with Nash for second. Seth Jones leads that category The first period started well enough for the Blue Jackets. Rookies Emil with seven. Bemstrom (primary assist) and Alexandre Texier (goal) finished a four- on-one rush to make it 1-0 only 3:21 into the game. “You can sense some of the frustration with Cam,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “To score that type of goal … he had a couple of Milano busted a coverage barely a minute later, allowing Carolina chances also, prior … but to score a goal like that and win a game is defenseman Dougie Hamilton to break free for a clean look on Joonas really important. Korpisalo, tying the score 1-1.

“All the things within that goal … wins a game, gets a guy off the schneid If you listened closely later in the period, you might have heard the a little bit, and hopefully it will help with his confidence.” “Benny Hill Show” song playing.

2. Tight quarters, but comfortable At 11:43, Ryan Murray’s stick broke on a clearing attempt from deep in the corner, leading to a turnover that set up an easy goal for former Remember the uncertainty after the 0-2 start to the season? Since then, Jackets forward Ryan Dzingel at 11:43. the Blue Jackets are 5-1-2. All eight games have been decided by one goal, and the last four have gone to overtime or shootout. Not even a minute later (12:32), Milano stepped on a puck high in the left circle, lost his balance and coughed it up, leading to another Carolina This is one of the youngest teams in the NHL, especially at goaltender. goal that made it 3-1. Yet they seem to be handling themselves quite well. “It was another opportunity presented to us as far as not blowing up,” “I don’t know what we are yet,” Tortorella said. “It’s 10 games. You can’t Tortorella said. “We just needed to stay patient, not try to score, just play say ‘You are this’ after 10 games, but we certainly have shown some above the puck. It’s such a fast team we’re playing against.” resilience here.” Funny how the hockey gods respond so quickly sometimes. The Blue Jackets led 2-0 over Toronto, then trailed 3-2, but came back in the third period to force overtime and eventually win. Thursday, they Murray scored the 3-2 goal at 12:57 of the second period, his first goal overcame a rough first period (down 3-1) before coming back to win in since Nov. 8, 2018. Milano scored the 3-3 goal at 17:23 of the second, overtime. setting up a big third period.

“It’s great lessons,” Tortorella said. “It’s great to see the resilience. And 5. Classic Milano night you get your result, too, and that hammers it home for them. They should Blown assignment. Curious play in his own zone. Benched. Highlight- Harrington played 12:15, was minus-2, had two shots on goal, blocked worthy goal. Sonny Milano had a classic Sonny Milano night Thursday. three shots, had two hits.

After Milano’s blown assignment on Hamilton’s goal and his stumblin’, The Blue Jackets made a trio of minor-league moves Thursday, all aimed bumblin’ turnover, Tortorella benched him for the final 7:30 of the first at keeping some of Cleveland’s depth players from developing rust: period. forwards Maxime Fortier and Nikita Korostelev and defenseman Michael Prapavessis were sent to ECHL Jacksonville. But listen to Tortorella’s words and you can hear the words of a teacher, something that’s often lost in his passion and fiery moments. 9. Your nightly ‘Wennberg is different’ update

“(Milano) steps on the puck and it costs us,” Tortorella said. “He loses his Wennberg had no points and no shots on goal. Given the way he’s backcheck on Hamilton’s goal. He needs to be above him (defensively) played so far in the first month of the season, he was just OK on there. There are a number of things we struggle with, but he made some Thursday. really good offensive plays, too. But get this: Wennberg, whose career struggles on the dot have been “It’s give and take here. As I’ve said before, we’re going to be patient and well chronicled in this space, won 11 of 13 faceoffs, including 9 of 9 in the try to help him, because I think there’s a tremendous upside to the neutral zone and defensive zones, and 7 of 8 versus Carolina’s Erik offensive ability he can bring this team. We’re going to keep working. Haula.

“We have to make decisions along the way. If we see that it’s just getting The rest of the Blue Jackets were 15-of-31. out of hand as far as (him) losing his concentration away from the puck and doing those things he needs to do, then we need to make an Wennberg is 83-of-154 (53.9 percent), by far the best run of his career adjustment there.” and one of the best in the NHL so far this season. Among players with 120 or more draws this season, he’s 18th in the NHL. Milano was back taking a regular shift in the second and third. The goal he scored was highlight material, though not as breathtaking as the 10. All over in overtime between-the-legs beauty from earlier this month. The last four Blue Jackets games have gone to overtime — a loss in Coming through the left circle, he went forehand to backhand in a flash Chicago, a loss to the New York Islanders, a win in Toronto and now a and lifted the puck up and over the outstretched pad of Mrazek, who got win over Carolina. a piece of the puck. It was noticeable Thursday that the Blue Jackets pulled the puck out of “I sat him for the rest of the first period, just to let him collect himself,” the attack zone and reset in the neutral zone and defensive zone if they Tortorella said. “But then I went right back with him, and I thought he didn’t like their options. made two or three really good offensive plays to help us.” Keep in mind, the Blue Jackets used to turn their three-on-three play over 6. Working with kids, part 2 to (sorry, it can’t be avoided) Artemi Panarin, allowing him to make an individual play and bring everybody else along. There were times when Tortorella had a lengthy chat with Bemstrom at the end of practice Panarin would barely leave the ice in OT. Wednesday. Bemstrom has struggled getting adjusted to the pace of the NHL, and he’s found it difficult to relax and play his game like he did back New players are running the show now. home in Sweden. Tortorella insists he doesn’t coach the Blue Jackets players regarding The Blue Jackets are trying to talk him through it, including Tortorella. three-on-three, but they had a chat about it earlier this week. Thursday, Bemstrom and Texier skated on the fourth line with center “The only thing we talked about is that we can use the whole ice,” Riley Nash but they combined for the game’s first goal. Tortorella said. “I’m not even sure if they hear me or if they really care to Tortorella made his way down the bench to give Bemstrom a pat on the listen to me, but I just don’t want them getting stuck in the offensive zone back but he noticed something before he even arrived. thinking they have to play between the blue and the goal line when they don’t like something.” “It’s funny,” Tortorella said. “I was going down to him and he just had this grin on his face … after we had our little conversation (on Wednesday). Alison Lukan’s analytics

“I just hope it helps him. I want it to release him so he can make those The Athletic’s Alison Lukan provided these insights into the Blue Jackets’ plays, and he made two or three of them tonight. Little by little, we’ll get overtime win: there.” • Each period was a different story in this game. The Hurricanes Bemstrom and Texier carried six-game point droughts into Thursday’s controlled play in the opening frame, before Columbus dominated in the game before Texier’s first-period goal. second with 80 percent of all shot attempts. The third period belonged to Carolina, and while the Blue Jackets would analytically and literally win 7. Hitting 500 overtime, they fought against a tough opponent tonight. The Blue Jackets had 41.04 percent of shot attempts, 38.53 percent of scoring chances Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno became the seventh player in and 41.47 percent of expected goals. franchise history to play in 500 games for the organization. • According to MoneyPuck.com, the expected goal totals were 2.02 to He joins: Rick Nash (674), Fedor Tyutin (553), David Vyborny (543), Cam 2.82 in favor of the home team. So both goalies were below Atkinson (537), Jared Boll (518) and Rostislav Klesla (515). expectations. Korpisalo had the stronger of the two performances, The Blue Jackets will have one and maybe two more join the “500 club” missing his expected save percentage (compared with league average this season. David Savard played No. 499 on Thursday, so he’ll likely hit goaltending) by 2.51 percent. 500 on Saturday in Philadelphia. • Werenski was in peak rover form. He led the team in five-on-five shot Boone Jenner played in No. 429 on Thursday, meaning if he plays in attempts (6), individual scoring chances (4), shot quality (.39 expected every game this season — never an easy task, but something he’s done goals) and high danger attempts (2). He earned the best chance of the twice in his career — he’d play in No. 500 in the penultimate game of the night for the Jackets on his shot attempt on the doorstep that came with season. 6:15 remaining in the second. That shot had a 36.7 percent chance of becoming a goal. 8. Nutivaara out, Harrington in • Your top individual performances according to game score: David Defenseman Markus Nutivaara was out of the lineup Thursday with an Savard (2.21), Alexandre Texier (1.82), Cam Atkinson (1.77) and Emil undisclosed injury, forcing a tweak to the Blue Jackets’ third defensive Bemstrom (1.63). pairing. — Data via MoneyPuck.com, Evolving-Hockey.com, Ryan Murray partnered with Scott Harrington, who hadn’t played since NaturalStatTrick.com and reflects score and venue adjusted five-on-five the season-opening loss to Toronto. That allowed Seth Jones and Zach play unless otherwise stated. Werenski to stay together on the top pair, and Vladislav Gavrikov and David Savard to stick as the shutdown pair. The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158238 Dallas Stars “It was weird, but I got that first shift out of the way and it was just another hockey game,” Perry said. “It was fun. There was some back- and-forths out there, some jabs. That’s hockey.”

Once a villain to Stars fans, Corey Perry faces Ducks for the first time in Perry said he knew ahead of time that the Ducks would be buying out his Victory Green contract that carried a cap hit of $8.625 million annually. Anaheim had dinner with his agent, and the franchise that he helped bring a Stanley Cup and won a Hart Trophy with cut him loose.

By Matthew DeFranks “No hard feelings. It’s a business. You move on. Sometimes change is a good thing, and I’m embracing what I have here. … That decision [to sign 2:18 AM on Oct 25, 2019 with Dallas] wasn’t easy. There were a lot of phone calls, a lot of back and forth with my agent, a lot of talks with my wife, my family. It’s a process. Some guys go through it a few times in their career. This is the In the Hangar on the north side of the American Airlines Center, Corey first time I’ve ever had to do that.” Perry jerseys for sale hang in the back of the room alongside Joe Pavelski’s. For a few minutes at a time before the Stars beat the Ducks Stars coach Jim Montgomery said he texted Perry on Wednesday about 2-1 on Thursday night — Perry’s first game against his former team — playing his old team, and offered a preview of what might come against it’s a lonely place, less popular than the No. 14 and 91 sections of the the Ducks, many of whom had become like family over 14 seasons. team store. “I don’t know if Corey has a brother, but if he had a brother, I’m sure he Perry is a new addition to the Stars, and a short-term one at that, having fought with him a lot,” Montgomery said. signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. And during the 14 years he “I’m sure they know what I’m all about,” Perry said. spent in Anaheim, Perry was a villain to Stars fans. He was a pest and a goal-scorer; part agitator, part MVP. Cogliano too: Cogliano was also playing against his former team for the first time on Thursday, after Dallas acquired him in a trade for Devin He’s now transferred that game to the Stars and got to show his old team Shore in January. Cogliano spent parts of eight seasons with the Ducks. that bought out the last two years of his contract over the summer as Dallas picked up their third straight win. Denis Gurianov scored two “I think it’ll be a little bit awkward when you’re going through warmup,” goals, his first two of the season, and Ben Bishop made 29 saves as the Cogliano said. “Really, I’m really focused on what I need to do tonight Stars improved to 4-7-1. personally and our team. You put that aside once you start playing the game.” After losing five of their first six one-goal games, the Stars have now won two straight 2-1 decisions, beginning with a win over Ottawa on Monday. Cogliano said he was looking forward to hitting Ducks forward Ryan Dallas can avenge a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh last week when the Penguins Getzlaf. visit the American Airlines Center on Saturday. “I think he deserves one,” Cogliano said. “Try to hit him as hard as I can, “Overall, that’s three wins in a row,” Stars forward Andrew Cogliano said. don’t know that it’ll do much, but I’ll give him a good go.” “That’s all that matters. I think all lines seem like they want to contribute on a nightly basis. Bish is playing really well, our goalies are playing really well and our defense are doing a good job defending when they Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.25.2019 need to. This is what we needed. With the start we’ve had, we want to continue to roll.”

Perry registered four shots on goal and two hits during his 16:38 of ice time. But as popular as he was in Southern California, Perry’s following in Anaheim failed to travel to Texas.

A walk around the concourse before the game and intermission yields just one Stars fan wearing a No. 10 Perry jersey. It can be seen as an odd choice for a Dallas season-ticket holder. Buying a jersey of a player that annoyed you endlessly for more than a decade? Try telling that to Grand Prairie’s Cason Pence.

“I’m like ‘Look guys, he’s going to be a Dallas Star now. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it. It’s happening, whether you like it or not,’” Pence said. “I’ve made a lot of friends and a lot of enemies wearing it out here. Every time someone goes ‘Ah, how can you wear that?’ I’m like ‘Why do you hate the Dallas Stars?’ He’s a Dallas Star now. End of story.”

Pence said he bought the jersey right after Perry singed with the Stars on July 1. He wore it to opening night against Boston on Oct. 3. He’s a season-ticket holder and the Perry jersey joins a collection that also features John Klingberg, Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Brett Ritchie jerseys.

Other No. 10 jerseys are sprinkled through the concourse (of Patrick Sharp or Brenden Morrow), but no other Perry ones. Swapping black and orange for victory green was enough for Pence to forget Perry’s history with the Ducks.

“Oh, hated his guts,” Pence said. “He’s that pesky agitator that has a strong shooting ability, good net-front presence and I think it’s a good call by the team to pick him up, especially on such bargain deal.”

For Perry, being a Dallas Star has become the norm. Playing against the Ducks? Well, that’s new.

Thursday’s matchup with his former team would have been 1,000th career game had a fractured foot had not robbed him of the season’s first two weeks. Perry went to dinner with former teammates Wednesday night. He playfully shoved Ondrej Kase during warmup. He wore green instead of orange. 1158239 Dallas Stars Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.25.2019

With two goals in the win over Anaheim, the Stars are finally seeing the version of Denis Gurianov they hoped for

By Matthew DeFranks

4:57 AM on Oct 25, 2019

Stars forward Denis Gurianov scored his first two NHL goals of the season during the first period of Thursday night’s 2-1 win over Anaheim, racing down the right wing before beating Ducks goaltender John Gibson with a backhand — twice.

The goals were almost identical for the speedy Russian, except that he roofed his first one above Gibson and he slipped his second one between Gibson’s legs.

“I tried to shoot high glove, but it bounced a little bit and I got it five-hole,” Gurianov said. “Still, not bad, right?”

They were Gurianov’s second and third career NHL goals, but the first ones to come off his stick. His first goal was a deflection off his knee last season against Nashville. Thursday was Gurianov’s fifth game back in the NHL after scoring a hat trick for AHL affiliate Texas.

Since Gurianov has returned from the AHL, he’s been more engaged in the game, both using his speed to cut his way to the net and also physically to finish checks and knock opponents off the puck.

“I think his checking skills all over have really improved,” Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. “And you can his confidence is growing. He’s finishing a lot of checks. He’s causing turnovers. His first goal was a finished check by [Andrew] Cogliano, bumps it to him with speed underneath. That’s great support by him and a really good play by Cogliano.”

Cogliano: “I think it just shows what kind of player he can turn into with his speed. Not many guys in the league can skate like him. Those are two high-end goals and they end up being the difference tonight.”

Gurianov has said his brief trip to the AHL helped him find his game that was missing during the preseason and three regular season games. With Texas, he played on the power play and penalty kill, and said that receiving more ice time helps him play better.

The Stars are hoping Gurianov can be this season’s Roope Hintz: a speedy youngster who begins the season on the fourth line, discovers his game in the AHL and turns into a scorer in the NHL. Does Montgomery have to try to convince Gurianov that his game works at this level?

“I think we’ve been trying to do that for a while, and now he’s going out and doing it,” Montgomery said. “I think, mentally, he’s starting to believe that not only can he do it, but he can do it really well in this league.”

For how well Gurianov played, he still only finished with 10:52 of ice time and his linemates were in a similar range with Justin Dowling at 10:18 and Cogliano at 12:27.

“I was trying to get them out there as much as possible,” Montgomery said. “Sometimes, you’re trying to get matchups. When it comes down to that last 3 1/2 minutes, you’ve got to have players that know what we’re doing in a pulled goalie situation. But absolutely, that line deserves more minutes. I was actually surprised that they were only around 11 minutes.”

Briefly: For the first time in two weeks, the Stars played a Western Conference opponent on Thursday night. Of Dallas’ first 11 games, only two were against Western Conference teams (last year’s division champions St. Louis and Calgary).

Montgomery said Eastern Conference games tend to be more “run and gun” while Western Conference teams, molded by the Stanley Cup championships of Chicago and Los Angeles, play more methodical.

-- The Stars recalled defenseman Joel Hanley from Texas on Thursday morning. Hanley played Wednesday morning for Texas in Chicago and was again a healthy scratch in Dallas against Anaheim. Hanley has been a healthy scratch for the last six NHL games.

1158240 Dallas Stars

Former Stars forward Devin Shore reminisces on times in Dallas; Miro Heiskanen given heavy workload in final minutes

By Matthew DeFranks

5:04 AM on Oct 25, 2019

For the first time since the Stars traded him to Anaheim in January, forward Devin Shore was back in Dallas, though he was a healthy scratch for the Ducks for the fourth time this season.

In January, the Stars traded Shore for Cogliano. Shore was originally a second-round pick by Dallas in 2012 and played parts of four seasons with the Stars.

“It was crazy,” Shore said. “I think both teams were looking to shake things up. Definitely unexpected, but when I got over there, the guys welcomed me in right away. Of course I miss the guys in Dallas, but that’s the reality of pro hockey. I couldn’t be more thankful of how quickly I was able to adjust to that dressing room.”

Shore said he had dinner with John Klingberg and Mattias Janmark on Wednesday night, and a fan gave him cupcakes in the press box on Thursday night. While Shore enjoys the proximity to Disneyland, he missed the Stars’ postseason run in the spring.

“I was happy to see the guys make the playoffs last year, unfortunate that I never got to play a playoff game,” Shore said. “That’s the organization that gave me a chance, treated me first-class, treated their players and staff first-class. It was a lot of fun. I think you always remember your first game, your first goal and that was all with Dallas.”

More ice time observations: Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen spent just seven seconds of the final 4:35 off the ice, including a final shift of 3:31. Heiskanen finished with a team-high 26:14 of ice time, over three minutes more than John Klingberg.

Stars forward Alexander Radulov played just 12:23 on Thursday night, just the second time since 2008 that Radulov played fewer than 13 minutes in an NHL game. Radulov did not play the final 6:55 of the third period and did not register a shot on goal.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158241 Dallas Stars Jordie Benn-Esa Lindell Can’t have one Benn without the other, and Lindell -- behind Klingberg

and Miro Heiskanen -- has grown into another budding star along the Dallas Stars all-decade team: Longevity in Victory Green, young blue line in Dallas. playmakers fill out roster Goalies

Kari Lehtonen: Lehtonen gets the nod as top goalie for his longevity By Joey Hayden between the pipes. Lehtonen appeared in 445 regular season games over nine seasons this decade with the Stars. 3:43 AM on Oct 24, 2019 Ben Bishop: Bish closed the decade with one magnificent season in goal for Dallas, a Vezina-worthy one at that.

Editor’s note: This is the third of four all-decade teams The Dallas Head coach Morning News will release this week. Next Monday, we will release the top ten D-FW athletes from 2010-19. Lindy Ruff: Ruff went 165-122-41 over four seasons (2013-17) behind the bench. The Stars appeared in the playoffs twice under Ruff, two of the What a long, strange trip it’s been for the Dallas Stars this decade. team’s three postseason appearances of the entire decade.

On the heels of a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2008, the Stars kicked off this decade in the midst of a stretch where Dallas missed the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.25.2019

Under the leadership of a freshly-named captain Jamie Benn with a newly-acquired Tyler Seguin, the Stars broke that streak in during the 2013-14 season under head coach Lindy Ruff.

This new wave of Stars hockey peaked when a high-powered offense led the Stars to the Western Conference’s top seed in the 2016 playoffs after racking up 109 points during the regular season. However, the Stars’ run would end in the second round of the playoffs after a seven-game series against the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues would again play the villains this past season as the Stars fell again in the second round of the playoffs, again in seven games (this time in double overtime), under the leadership of new head coach Jim Montgomery.

While the playoff success may not have been there in the form of a Stanley Cup, there were many players to celebrate along the way. With that said, The Dallas Morning News has selected 20 players to form the Dallas Stars all-decade team:

(Note: Team accounts for the 2009-10 through 2018-19 seasons.)

Forward lines

Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Alexander Radulov

Why not start with one of the Stars’ most-prolific lines on the past few seasons? While Benn has been in Dallas his entire career and Seguin since 2013, the combined powers of their hockey bromance were infused with an Alexander Radulov addition during the 2017 offseason. In the past three seasons, the trio has combined for 262 goals and 367 assists for 629 total points.

Brenden Morrow-Brad Richards-Jason Spezza

Another captain, another prolific scorer, and another veteran offseason addition.

Loui Eriksson-Cody Eakin-Mike Ribeiro

The line of offensive playmakers who would eventually find homes elsewhere in the NHL as the decade moved on.

Antoine Roussel-Vernon Fiddler-Steve Ott

And a line of fan favorites full of hitting, fighting, some penalties, and maybe a little scoring, too.

Defensive pairings

Alex Goligoski-John Klingberg

A mix of then-and-now as far as this decade of Stars hockey is concerned. The first half of the decade belonged to Goligoski who racked up 187 points in six seasons with Dallas before being traded to Arizona. Then, Klingberg took over as the team’s top defenseman in recent years with 219 points in one less season of play.

Trevor Daley-Stephane Robidas

Daley and Robidas both wore Dallas Stars threads for 11 seasons. While many of those years took place before the decade began, it’d be hard to imagine this roster without them. 1158242 Dallas Stars John Gibson is one of the best goalies in the NHL, if not the best. He was superb and made a handful of high-difficulty saves that kept the Ducks in the game.

Stars 20/20: Denis Gurianov plays hero as Stars shoot down Ducks There was a key stop on Jamie Benn in tight, a glove snag on Tyler Seguin and another glove save on Radek Faksa that immediately come to mind as moments that could have inflated the Dallas lead.

By Sean Shapiro Ben Bishop needed to match Gibson’s effort save for save, and he did. The Stars netminder stopped 29 of 30 shots, including 11 in the third Oct 24, 2019 period when the Ducks had a final push for the tying tally.

6. Corey Perry’s first game against his old team was a big storyline DALLAS — The Dallas Stars extended their first win streak of the season heading into this one. to three games with a 2-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. After practice Wednesday, he held court with reporters, some from 1. On Tuesday, a handful of Stars players dressed in Halloween Anaheim, for close to 20 minutes. He was once again a big topic of costumes and went over to Children’s Medical Center Dallas as part of a conversation on Thursday after the morning skate. community outreach event. The Ducks didn’t have a morning skate, but several of the players who Denis Gurianov was dressed as Luigi to complete the Mario Brothers were at the arena waited to catch up with their former teammate after the look with Roope Hintz. Stars skated, and before the game, Perry had some fun interacting with his former colleagues. Hintz, like Mario, has been the main attraction this season for the Stars. He’s sped through opposing defenses and collected coins, er, goals, and There weren’t any overly feisty moments in the game, but in the third stars at a more frequent pace than any other Stars player this season. period Perry took an extra poke at a rebound and Korbinian Holzer gave Perry a slight cross-check. Gurianov, like Luigi, has been a supporting actor this season. He’s a part of the story, but there’s a reason it’s “Super Mario Bros.” and not “Super 7. While Gurianov was soaring, Alexander Radulov was struggling. Luigi Bros.” Radulov had only 20 shifts for 12 minutes, 23 seconds of ice time. It was But every so often, Luigi gets his moment, whether it’s getting his own just the second time since 2008 he had less than 13 minutes of ice time game busting ghosts in a haunted mansion or saving the day and in an NHL game. separating crossed dimensions in Dinohattan. The Ducks’ lone goal was Radulov’s fault after he took another bad And Gurianov got his moment on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. offensive-zone stick penalty, slashing in the second period. While he was serving his sentence, Maxime Comtois scored his first goal of the 2. Gurianov’s goals came on rather similar plays. season.

He drove down the right side of the ice, beat a defender and fired a The most telling thing about Radulov’s usage came in the first period backhand past Ducks goalie John Gibson. when the Stars had a five-on-three power play. Radulov wasn’t included in the unit Montgomery sent onto the ice, and he was replaced by Perry The first goal was a beauty, backhand top-shelf, while the second one on that Klingberg grouping. went five-hole, even though Gurianov conceded after the game he was trying to go high glove once again. 8. Speaking of power plays, it’s starting to become abundantly clear the coaching staff doesn’t look at the so-called first unit as the first unit. “I tried to shoot high glove, but it bounced a little bit and I got five-hole,” Gurianov said. “Still, not bad, right?” While the grouping of Benn, Tyler Seguin, Radulov, Joe Pavelski and Klingberg are the bigger names, they’ve been less effective and have “That line, in general, has just really been building momentum,” Stars started to yield more ice time to the grouping of Miro Heiskanen, Esa coach Jim Montgomery said. “They were the best line tonight, and Lindell, Perry, Hintz and Gurianov, which has actually created chances they’ve been excellent for us.” and not looked absent-minded when entering the offensive zone. 3. It seems like this game has been coming for Gurianov. The Klingberg unit has been staler; they keep trying to force the seam After returning from the AHL, he’s played progressively better and found pass without actually moving their feet to get the penalty killers out of a niche on the Stars’ power play. sorts. The Heiskanen unit is at least mobile and forcing the penalty killers into more difficult situations. His defensive details are much improved, and there’s an air of confidence about him that he belongs in the NHL. 9. No matter which unit is out there, the Stars should really work on five- on-three situations in practice on Friday. “Yeah, our line thinks about D-zone first,” Gurianov said. “If you play good in the D-zone, we’ll have momentum in the offensive zone.” For the second straight game, Dallas failed to create a quality chance with more than a minute of a two-man advantage. “I think he’s grasped a little bit of being a little bit more positional because I think this league is much more — the routes are a little bit different than 10. There’s been more lineup consistency lately — winning will do that — playing in the (AHL), and if you make the right routes and play positional, and Montgomery went with the lines and defensive pairings he used in a you usually get the puck,” Andrew Cogliano said. “I think he’s been doing win against the Ottawa Senators on Monday: a great job in the D-zone, he’s been playing his position really well, and Jamie Benn — Roope Hintz — Corey Perry when you do that, you tend to get more chances.” Jason Dickinson — Tyler Seguin — Joe Pavelski 4. For as well as he played, Gurianov played only 10 minutes, 52 seconds and had a team-low 9 minutes, 47 seconds at even strength. Mattias Janmark — Radek Faksa — Alexander Radulov

Montgomery was asked about Gurianov’s ice time after the games. Andrew Cogliano — Justin Dowling — Denis Gurianov

“I was trying to get them out there as much as possible,” Montgomery Miro Heiskanen — John Klingberg said. “Sometimes you’re trying to get matchups, and when it comes down to that last three and a half minutes, you’ve got to have players that know Esa Lindell — Andrej Sekera what we’re doing when it’s the pull-goalie situation, but absolutely, that Jamie Oleksiak — Taylor Fedun line deserves more minutes, and I was actually surprised that they were only around 11 minutes.” The Ducks countered liked this:

5. For goaltending aficionados, this was a fun one. Max Comtois — Ryan Getzlaf — Ondrej Kase

Rickard Rakell — Adam Henrique — Jakob Silfverberg Nick Ritchie — Sam Steel — Troy Terry “I didn’t think tonight was as good as what we played last game or even Philadelphia, to be honest. The puck possession in the first two periods, Max Jones — Derek Grant — Carter Rowney especially the second, was not good enough,” Montgomery said. “I Hampus Lindholm — Josh Manson thought our third period was our best puck-management period, which led to those chances. Then we had a lot of great chances. They were Brendan Guhle — Cam Fowler pressing, of course, but we managed the puck well, put it in behind. We had speed to the puck, which led to breakaways and two-on-ones on Jacob Larsson — Korbinian Holzer forechecks.” 11. Perry is the bigger name and the lifetime Duck turned Star, but it was While Montgomery wanted to see more with puck possession, the stats also the first time Cogliano played against his former team after a trade tell a different story, and Dallas had the better flow of play when you look last January. at shot attempts and quality chances. Stars general manager Jim Nill reflected on the trade during morning 16. This win streak is important for the Stars as they try to dig themselves skate Thursday. out of the early-season ditch. “We knew what we were getting there,” Nill said. “You add speed to your It’s something that sounds cliche, but the Stars really have to take this lineup. Penalty killing is one of his niches. I think for him, he’d like to potential recovery game by game. They also have to manage a winning score a little bit more. But overall we knew what we were getting, and in streak properly, which Montgomery was asked about after the game. the dressing room he was a high-end character.” “We’ve got to keep building. It’s easier to teach and build on positives The Stars have had Cogliano playing on the fourth line this season, and and also teach on areas we need to get better when you’re winning,” he’s spent a good amount of the season with one or both of his linemates Montgomery said. “The players are more receptive, and I think coaches as younger players. For example, recently he’s been playing with do it in a better fashion if things continue to build positively.” Dowling and Gurianov. 17. Heiskanen played 26 minutes and 14 seconds. When the Stars were “The type of game he plays, he can kind of play with everybody,” Nill clinging to the lead, he played the final 3 minutes, 31 seconds. said. “He’s responsible and can help manage guys on the bench. I think his biggest thing is he plays the right way. There is a lot of things that The 20-year-old is being treated like he’s the Stars’ best defenseman, maybe fans don’t see. The plays he makes on the boards, the ways he which he is. gets into lanes. Those are the little things that winning hockey players do and that people don’t really appreciate. All people see are goals and 18. Joel Hanley was recalled Thursday morning after getting sent to the assists; it’s the little things that these players do that make the AHL on Tuesday and playing a daytime game with the Texas Stars on difference.” Wednesday in Chicago.

12. Devin Shore was sent the other way in the trade and was back in It was an exercise in keeping Hanley fresh and to cap gymnastics at the Dallas for the first time since the transaction. same time.

He was a healthy scratch but took time to discuss his exit from Dallas While it’s a minuscule amount in the grand scheme, the Stars saved cap and his feelings on the franchise after skating. space on Tuesday and Wednesday. They also saved a day on Hanley’s waiver counter. Once an NHL player clears waivers, they have 30 days “It was crazy. I think both teams were looking to shake things up, and it or 10 games played before they have to clear again. was definitely unexpected,” Shore said. “But when I got over there, the guys welcomed me in right away. Of course I miss the guys in Dallas, but In Hanley’s case, he has now spent 19 days on the NHL roster this that’s the reality of pro hockey, and I can be thankful for how quickly I season and played in two games. After 11 more days on the NHL roster, was able to adjust to that dressing room and leadership group there.” he’d require waivers to go back to Texas.

Shore said he had nothing but good memories from his time in Dallas. It Nill said Thursday the Stars always planned on recalling a defenseman was the organization that drafted him and the team he scored his first Thursday, but it wasn’t locked in that it was going to be Hanley; rather, NHL goal for. that performance in Chicago dictated who would be recalled.

Shore had dinner Wednesday with Janmark and Klingberg and said he 19. Nill also had a moment to comment about the overall play from planned to connect with a few more former teammates after the game. Texas, which has started the season with a 3-3-1 record in its first seven games. “Hockey is a pretty small world,” Shore said. “So hopefully pick up where we leave off. So it’s good to see them.” “The American League is a little bit different since they start with a slow schedule,” Nill said. “They’ve played two games on the weekends, and After the game, Shore did end up connecting with some old teammates that’s it. Now the schedule gets going. I like what they’ve done so far. I as he waited outside the Dallas dressing room. That also led to the kind think the coach has done a good job, and it’s a young group. A lot of new of comical moment when Cogliano came out and introduced himself. players trying to build as a team. I think our goaltending has been very good, and the lines are starting to mesh more.” 13. Benn gave us a glimpse of what some fans would call “Beast mode.” Nill is spot on about the Texas goaltending; Jake Oettinger and Landon With less than five minutes remaining, he showed a burst, dangled Bow have been dynamic in net. around a defender and nearly waited out Gibson for what would have been the game-clinching tally. Bow has a .929 save percentage and 2.20 goals-against average in four games. Oettinger has a .921 save percentage and 2.61 GAA; he also Moments like that have happened rather infrequently for Benn in the past has one shutout in three appearances. couple of seasons, but he has seemed to find a bit of new life playing with Hintz and Perry. 20. Here is how the Stars did when it came to Montgomery’s process:

14. Seguin is still looking for a goal against the Ducks, the only team Average five-on-five shift length of 40 seconds or less: Pass. The Stars’ remaining in the NHL he hasn’t scored against. average shift was 39.93 seconds.

It’s something Seguin hasn’t talked about much, but it’s an achievement Zero undisciplined penalties: Failed. he puts value on; not many players can say they’ve scored against all 31 NHL teams. Three or fewer odd-man rushes: Passed.

Last season Patrick Marleau became the 25th player in NHL history to Win net-front battle: Passed. score against all 31 teams. If Seguin wants to become No. 26, he’ll have Win special teams: Failed. to wait until January. The Stars would have gone five-for-five tonight if Radulov hadn’t taken 15. Dallas won, but the coaching staff felt the performance wasn’t as that penalty that led to the Ducks’ goal in the second period. strong as the wins against the Philadelphia Flyers or the Ottawa Senators. The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158243 Dallas Stars I think it’s a safe bet that if the Stars miss the postseason this year, Nill gets fired. Knowing that, do you think Nill will try and trade the Stars’ 2020 1st for immediate help? If he does, would ownership potentially reject the trade unless they climb higher in the standings (i.e. less likely Stars Mailbag Vol. 51: Early issues, goaltender performance and to be a high draft pick) (From Tyler M.) forecasting a Hintz extension I don’t think it’s in Jim Nill’s DNA to think that way. If he did make a panicked move to trade a first-round pick, I think that would actually be the back-breaking decision to get him fired. By Sean Shapiro Ownership always has slight oversight of what Nill is doing. It’s why Tom Oct 24, 2019 Gaglardi sits at the team table during the draft. If Dallas is trying to swing a big move, he gets consulted for his stamp of approval. Remember, Nill is responsible for spending his money. Sean – I know the NHL is trending to more speed which is great. However, it seems like the Stars are not very fast with the exception of As far as draft picks go, the Stars are actually looking for picks in the Roope, Gurianov, Janmark and Heiskanen and definitely not very 2020 draft since they only have four at this moment. If Dallas is able to physical. It seems we get pushed around a lot and the lack of physicality trade Julius Honka, they’d like it be for a draft pick. affects puck possession and creating few turnovers on the forecheck. There’s also not much the Stars can actually do to make player moves Does Monty ever preach more physical play to the team? Do you think it this season, considering how close they are to the cap and the player is an issue? (Curt H.) control for those with big contracts. Nill could make a mid-level move, like Jim Montgomery often preaches about the benefits of physical play. he did for Andrew Cogliano last season, but if we are being realistic, this is the team and the group that has to figure it out. He recently spoke about how the Stars need to check more and that checking is simply a measure of effort — effort that really wasn’t up to Watching Perry get under the skin of opponents is a quality we really snuff until the recent game against the lowly Ottawa Senators. haven’t seen since Roussel. While his antics may not be quite as bombastic, it’s interesting to see how it impacts not just the opponents, Personally, I think the Stars need to do more with the puck before they but also his teammates, who seem to follow the example while he’s on are in position for that physicality to be an issue. There is a significant the ice. How important is an agitator in today’s game? It certainly seems dump-and-chase mentality on this team, and more controlled entries to have some form of tangible impact on the game, and it’s refreshing to would lead to fewer of the 50-50 battles the Stars are forcing. see it back in Dallas. (From Martin G.)

There was a good dose of physicality without the puck and tracking it I’m of the viewpoint that agitators are only valuable if they can actually back down against Ottawa. The question becomes, was that just a result turn around and play the game at a high level. If someone is a pest and of playing a bad team or the start of a positive trend? just a depth forward, mentally strong teams won’t care. Those agitators will have little impact in the game. Well, *do* toddlers enjoy watching hockey? (From Jonah S.) If someone can play at a high level like Perry has in his career and also Mine does. She’s also learning how to use the mini-sticks we have and be that pest, then they become effective at driving opponents crazy. has attempted stickhandling once or twice. Let’s tack on a similar question here from Matthew. She’s still learning, however, that she only can use one stick at a time in the rulebook. Scotty Upshall was on the “Spittn’ Chiclets” podcast and believed the Stars would turn things around despite a very tough start. He mentioned Where did the banners for the Stars retired numbers go? That banner no the Stars were missing a guy that brought some nastiness to the team. I longer hangs in the AAC rafters? (From John C.) know Perry is back and he might fill that role or when Polak returns he The retired numbers haven’t gone anywhere; they are still hanging in can be that “enforcer” on the blue line. How would you assess Upshall’s AAC. If I’m missing a reference or a different question, please let me comments and how would this team benefit from someone such as a know in the comments. Rousell or Shaw? (From Matthew M.)

It’s great that he has notched a couple goals in the last few games, but Scotty Upshall talking about “nastiness” on the Stars has to be taken with I’d argue that Pavelski has not looked like a $7M AAV player. Do you a grain of salt because he’s likely miffed he didn’t make the team. He attribute this to him simply adjusting to a new team/city or is there tweeted last week that he was still available. another underlying issue at play? If it’s the former, is there an “X” amount Personally, I don’t see the value a player like Antoine Roussel or Andrew of games into the season mark that you become concerned with his play Shaw would bring, especially with the massive overpay on both of their or is it not that simple? (From Mason B.) contracts. He hasn’t looked like a $7 million player. You don’t have to argue that; I The Stars are a big team – one of the biggest in the NHL. They should be feel like everyone knows at this point. able to play physical hockey without needing a so-called enforcer on the On one hand, it’s still early, and Pavelski has to adjust after playing with roster. one team and one system for so long. He played with a consistent force With the much needed emphasis on the player’s safety, does the NHL in Joe Thornton, so he’s still searching for that type of connection in mandate how often teams must replace players’ helmets? How often do Dallas. the Stars receive new helmets? (From Susan H.) Pavelski also has been better in the overall game than many would Typically, players’ helmets are used for the entire season and the NHL believe; he’s been good at getting pucks out and in the passing game. doesn’t mandate how often they need to be replaced. If a helmet is But he makes $7 million a season because he is expected to score compromised and is no longer safe, it gets changed. Otherwise, the goals. And if he doesn’t score, this will look like a poor investment by same bucket is used throughout the season. Dallas. What do you think is the Stars’ biggest problem offensively? Talent/finish As a fellow beer league goalie, I’ve been curious for a while. What league ability or coaching scheme? (From Jason B.) do you play in and how do you make it work with all your travel/working nights? (Carl E.) At this moment it’s about talent, not finishing. Coaching deserves some blame, but players making close to $10 million a season should be able I can’t play on a team during the NHL season. The game and travel to produce no matter who the coach is. schedule aren’t conducive to making enough games, and it’s not really fair to a team to have a goalie who is often AWOL. My theory for the horrendous start: The veterans said, “we only need 3-4 games to get up to speed.” Yet we were working in significant personnel I do sub when I can during the season, but any regular league play changes. Monty took them at their word. Suddenly we discover they lack happens in the offseason. chemistry and are not at up to game speed. I picture an Animal House scene where you have Benn’s Otter saying to Monty’s Flounder, “Hey, you f’d up. You trusted us!” Thoughts? Think the first line players play cap works in a short, simple, dumbed down explanation? Thanks and more of those hated preseason game next year? (Dennis O.) keep up the awesome work! (From Will D.)

Strong movie reference, Dennis. Dumbing down the salary cap is dangerous, because it creates confusion about a system that is not as simple as people like to believe. I don’t think it’s the number of games played by veterans; it’s the number of preseason games played together. For example, there was only one There is a reason the Stars have one person dedicated to managing and preseason game when all top-six forwards actually played. Next season, knowing the cap. That’s essentially his entire job. You need an expert to Dallas should look into better stacking players together that might be on break it down properly. the same lines once the season starts. In the simplest terms, the salary cap is a budget for the entire season, This has been something on my mind since the Polak injury. In a and each day a player is on the NHL roster, they count toward your situation like that, a player being stretchered off after laying motionless- allocated budget. So if they are sent down to the AHL, you’ve saved a probably the scariest possible situation in sports, how does the team little bit of money you can spend later. interact with the players family? Do the stars make a call or send someone in person to be with the family? We hear a lot about this being That’s overly simple, and I’m happy to talk about more complicated a classy org and just curious what details go into scary injury situations matters if you want to dive deeper. with a player and their family in the moment and through recovery. What do you think about our Team identity be about being bringing back Thanks! (From Nathan W.) the classic hip check we need the physical presence and the crowd goes In Roman Polak’s situation, his family was at the game. They saw it crazy and the opponent goes flying? I think a young team can get behind happen, and they went to the hospital with him that evening. it and enjoy it. Fans can bring strikeout signs like baseballs “k”s but ours will be for hip checks may be try to spell out “H I P H I P H O O R A Y” There isn’t really a set protocol for how to deal with an injury and interact petted signage? (From Kevin R.) with a player’s family. It’s more of a case-by-case basis. I don’t have a good answer for this question, but I felt Kevin’s creativity I’ve been reading old articles to learn more about hockey and this team. needed to be seen by others. I’m just finishing up season before last, and the end of that season sounds eerily familiar to the beginning of this one (like they just took a Any indication if the slow start to the season has impacted Winter Classic season break with some of the same problems but not as pronounced), ticket sales? (From James M.)‘ with the exception of a LOT of new names. Because of this, I’m not No, it was sold out before the season ever started. It could hurt the inclined to think Monty is the issue as it was a different coach. I’m secondary market and the scalpers, but the Stars and the NHL are wondering, does upper management of this team tend to gravitate already rolling in cash. towards a certain “type” of player, and is that “type” part of the problem? Maybe too many of the same guy and not enough variety making it so we Monty added “average shift length in 5-on-5 less than 40 seconds” as a always excel in one area (ie penalty kills) and really struggle in another new part of the process for this season, and I noticed in your 20/20 that (ie endurance to put together a whole 60 min game). Only character that the Stars have failed it in all but one game. I’m still new to watching are the same are the high ups and the team leaders. Seems this teams hockey but is this an unrealistic goal? Or is the extended shift time a sign culture is coming from one of those two areas. (From Mellisa O.) that the Stars are struggling this year? In addition could the removal of “win 56% of faceoffs” from the process also contribute to the Stars’ Mellisa, I hope you are finding informative work from the past — and that struggles in faceoffs? (From 朗) it has improved as you’ve read along. I don’t think the removal of a process point like faceoffs is going to impact Management certainly has a type, and Jim Nill himself has spoken about the win-loss results because it’s still something the Stars talk about quite being a big resume guy. a bit. Martin Hanzal had a good resume, and so did Marc Methot; that’s why I also don’t know if the 40-second-shift goal is realistic because I don’t they were both signed. Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry also came in with have the data from past seasons. It seems like a good goal in theory, but strong resumes. What happens after they’re signed can sometimes be a we will learn over the course of this season how feasible it might be. different story. Sean, thanks for your incredible coverage again this year. I just have one The Stars also tend to bet on those resume players in the bottom-six question. In the trailer, we see Finn running towards someone and roles, which is the “type” that Dallas needs to break free from. While a yelling, “Rey!” Now, we can assume from the timing of the sequences on couple of veterans can be valuable, having too many can limit the cost- the Death Star wreckage that this is either before or after Rey dukes it effective and energized younger players who could grow and make a out with Kylo. This instance of Finn yelling at Rey actually mirrors the team better as the season progresses. scene in The Force Awakens when Finn sees Kylo abducting her. Your point about the leadership group remaining the same is also a fair Considering Palpatine mentions in this final trailer that their “undoing” is one. We talk all the time about the Stars’ slow starts and how they can’t “coming together,” we can assume he refers to Kylo (the Dark Side) and get going in the first period. It’s been an issue for multiple coaches, and Rey (the Light Side), bringing the Force in perfect balance once again. the one common thread is the players. But that’s beside the point. If they came together, it stands to reason they did so earlier in the film. One might even guess they joined forces (as it Can the stars make the playoffs if the goaltending isn’t Jennings caliber? were) after their Death Star battle. That would make the mirror-image of It seems it covered lots of ills last year, and now that the goaltending has Finn chasing after Rey, shouting her name, extra-juicy if this time she’s been six-pack, the issues (scoring, sloppy play with the puck, somewhat leaving with Ren willingly, no? So my question is, how close are Polak passive end zone defense) have been more exposed by the results. and Comeau to returning and how do you see the lines getting shuffled (From Dylan M.) with them back in the mix? (From Patrick I.)

The goaltending was tremendous last season, but the Stars also played Well played, Patrick. Well played. a system that was beneficial to goaltenders’ overall numbers. Dallas limited quality chances and very rarely allowed rush chances, like they But there is no further update at this time. are this season. Love all your work! As a fan from DC who has never gotten a chance to So the Stars need their goaltenders to be sharp, but they also need to see the Stars live, I’m curious how you would characterize the Stars fan better get the defensive structure that allows goaltenders to put up base. Would you say it’s mostly older/younger, diehards/casual fans? Jennings-type performances. And would you say that’s changed from say, 10 years ago? (From Zoe L.) To answer your question: No, the Stars don’t need league-leading level goaltending, but they need to be in the upper tier. The defense has to get Thanks for reading, Zoe. better, which will make the goalies look better at the same time. I can’t speak to the Stars fan base from 10 years ago since I didn’t cover You have mentioned in recent tweets that the Stars send players down to the team at that time. In the time I’ve covered the team, I would say it’s a Cedar Park to save money on today’s cap or on a few days cap value. fanbase with a diehard core as well as a fringe contingent that needs to How does the the cap work overall? Could you please explain how the see more success before getting fully invested. It is interesting to see that there’s now a large swath of the that actually 2. I really enjoy talking about the game with Ben Bishop, while Radek grew up with the team. With the team being in Dallas for more than 25 Faksa and I have quite a few conversations about soccer. seasons, there are people who grew up with this team as kids, maybe seeing the Stanley Cup team up close and are now hoping for success 3. Tyler Seguin has made fun of my laugh this season. they saw when they were eight or nine years old.

The fact the Winter Classic is sold out in Dallas is a pretty good sign. The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 Given Stars cap situation with Pavelski’s, Radulov’s and Bishop’s oversized hits (and NMCs) in their final years, and huge raises for Klingberg and Miro while paying Benn and Seguin $9mil+ each (plus NMCs), how likely is an offer sheet for Roope? Media and fans always overestimate offer sheet frequency but Stars seem especially vulnerable. While Stars will likely try $6-7mil AAV bridge, what’s an offer sheet number that would be a bridge too far, so to speak, for Dallas? He’s got to be worth Aho’s offer sheet, with Roope’s additional size, strength and speed — he has a higher ceiling than any in recent memory. (From Robert S.)

You’re right about people overestimating and predicting offer sheets – we always get the forecast that it’s going to happen, and it rarely does. The fact that Sebastian Aho got an offer sheet and signed the one from Montreal before Carolina matched is a sign that there is more willingness from GMs to actually use them.

Hintz is going to be a fascinating RFA case next summer because he could score 40 goals this season if he continues his current pace. Hintz also has no reason to sign during this season because he can try to get his best value and use the market to his advantage in the summer.

I also don’t realistically see him getting Aho money at $8.45 million per season. He’s probably capped a bit by what happened with Nico Hischier, who signed an extension for seven years at $7.25 million per season. That feels like a market-setting deal.

Hintz’ deal, even if he got Aho money, wouldn’t break the Stars. But it would likely cost them Mattias Janmark and force a difficult decision on what to do with Radek Faksa. I believe Dallas would match an Aho-type offer sheet, but anything above that could force a difficult decision.

If the Stars are going to avoid the bridge deal, and Hintz doesn’t slow down this season, $8 million isn’t out of the question should the Stars want to try to avoid the bridge deal.

One of the things that I can’t seem to understand is why Pavelski is seemingly always on the half wall on the power play. That seems so counter intuitive to me. You have one of the best shot tippers in the entire game, yet he’s not in the slot (“bumper”) position or in front of the net. Do you have any thoughts/insights as to why? (From Jon W.)

He spends more time in the middle and in front of the net than he does on the half-wall. I know since I’ve re-watched every power play too many times this season.

He does end up in other positions more than you’d like because of how bad the Stars have been at entering the offensive zone. They can’t get set and therefore never really get players to the spots they are supposed to be in according to plan.

In honor of former Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddox drop 2 hole-in- ones in one round – (knowing that most hockey players play golf) Who is the best golfer on the Stars? How many players have an ace (insert clever joke a bout Roope and his tattoo here)? (From Karl F.)

This is a question I’m hoping to ask about at some point. But Joe Pavelski and Tyler Seguin are early favorites in my mind.

Hey Sean! I’ve really enjoyed reading your articles so far this year. I have a few light-hearted questions in the midst of all the doom and gloom most Stars fans must be feeling so far this year:

Who if anyone rooms together on the road?

Who is the best interview (most informative or talkative, most willing to sit down for interview, person you most enjoy talking to)?

Have you gotten any chirps so far from the boys a la Klingberg’s press box food comment from last season?

Thanks again for the coverage! (From Lauren S.)

Good way to wrap things up. Let’s go rapid fire on this.

1. Everyone has their own room, it’s written in the CBA. 1158244 Detroit Red Wings Andreas Athanasiou, Frans Nielsen and Filppula have been notably quiet. Athanasiou's skill set is too good to have only two points, both assists, in eight games. He can create chances because of his ability to accelerate out of nowhere. Nielsen has no points after seven games. He 10 games in, Detroit Red Wings not doing anything right played with Ehn and forward Adam Erne to start the season, neither of whom have much offense in their history. Nielsen may be the Wing who

misses Thomas Vanek (who was not brought back) more than anyone, Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press as the two, along with Athanasiou, had excellent chemistry. Filppula has two points after 10 games, and that’s while averaging 2:15 per game on Published 12:29 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019 the power play.

Defense

The Detroit Red Wings came into the season intending to shock. This was the area new general manager Steve Yzerman addressed in the offseason, signing Nemeth and forward Valtteri Filppula and then And while they have managed to do just that, it hasn't been as they trading for Erne. Nemeth and Filppula both have a reputation as desired. defenders. But the improvement has been negligible — a 3.8-goals- Ten games into the season the Wings are struggling even more than allowed average compared to 4.0 last season after 10 games. anticipated for a team that made minor changes in the offseason. A 3-1 Opponents have scored five goals in five of the past six games. Shots- start segued into a six-game losing streak. They went into Ottawa on wise, the Wings have allowed an average of 35.3 per game this season, Wednesday needing “two points in the worst way possible,” as Dylan compared to 34.7 last season. Larkin put it, only to play their worst game yet, against the team with the Goaltenders Jonathan Bernier (2-3, .902 save percentage and 3.23- worst record in the NHL. goals-against average) and Jimmy Howard (1-4, .898, 3.88) don’t have They return for a three-game home stand that begins Friday against the pretty numbers but for the most part have played well. Howard was Buffalo Sabres (8-1-1), continues Sunday against the defending outstanding in the season opener at Nashville, and Bernier was excellent champion St. Louis Blues Sunday and ends in a rematch with the at Montreal and at Edmonton. Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

The Wings were off Thursday after playing back-to-back games. News Detroit Free Press LOADED: 10.25.2019 on the injury status of defenseman Danny DeKeyser, who was not available Wednesday, and forward Luke Glendening, who appeared to hurt a hand in Ottawa, should be available at Friday’s morning skate.

The Wings spoke in September of how last season’s 7-3 finish had instilled confidence they were a better team than deemed by oddsmakers, who picked them to finish near the bottom of the NHL. It hasn’t happened.

Here are the biggest areas of disappointment:

Special teams

The penalty kill has been baffling, operating at 71.9% compared to 80.5% last season at this point. Patrik Nemeth is a good shot blocker, and DeKeyser, Glendening and Filip Hronek are willing to get into the path of a puck, too. But the kill has allowed nine goals in the 32 times the Wings have been shorthanded. Seven of those goals have come during the six- game losing skid.

One key difference is Darren Helm, who averaged more than two minutes per game on the penalty kill last season but has been taken off the penalty kill this season in favor of Jacob de la Rose and Christoffer Ehn.

The power play has seen the biggest drop-off compared to last season when it was at 25% after 10 games. It went 0-for-5 in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss at Ottawa to drop to 12.1%, having converted four times on 33 opportunities.

Mantha has three of those goals, Dennis Cholowski has one. The only players with points on the power play are Mantha, Cholowski and Taro Hirose with three each, and Athanasiou, Filip Hronek and Tyler Bertuzzi each with one.

Offense

I joked with one of the assistant coaches after opening weekend that if the team just plays the first line of Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi 30 minutes per game, lookout playoffs. After 10 games, Mantha leads the Wings with seven goals and 11 points, Tyler Bertuzzi ranks first with six assists and second with 10 points, and Larkin is third with seven points. The only other line that has factored in offensively is de la Rose, Helm and Justin Abdelkader. Helm scored one of his four goals during a brief stint on the top line, but otherwise the fourth line has combined for four goals among 11 points.

The Wings average 2.3 goals per game, marginally better than their 2.1 average last season at this point. The scoring, though, was more spread out last season - six players had at least five points compared to three this season; 12 players last season had at least three points compared to eight this season. 1158245 Detroit Red Wings For a team like the Wings, in which scoring goals can sometimes be a chore, that’s way too many goals to overcome.

“It’s hard to score in this league and we have to make sure it’s hard for Ineffectiveness on specialty teams keying long Red Wings' losing streak the other team, too,” forward Frans Nielsen said. “We have to make sure they at least have to work for the chances they get.

“Right now, it’s too easy.” Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Blashill admitted after Wednesday’s loss in Ottawa that forward Luke Published 1:24 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019 Glendening “is going to be out for a little bit”, after injuring his left hand in the game.

Losing Glendening for any period of time will be a tough blow, given his Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau celebrates his goal with teammate effectiveness in the face-off circle, defensive side of the puck, and Vladislav Namestnikov as Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier versatility. stands nearby during the second period Wednesday. “He’s a warrior out there, a shot blocking machine,” Abdelkader said. “It Kanata, Ontario — There are a lot of things going wrong with the Red was unfortunate to see him go down and not come back. He’s a heart Wings, all of which have contributed to this six-game losing streak. and soul type of guy. The other guys in the lineup have to fill the void.” But when you look at the specialty teams, the ineffectiveness of the Blashill is likely to update the conditions of both Glendening and power play and penalty kill are key reasons the Wings haven’t won since defenseman Danny DeKeyser, who missed Wednesday’s game, after October 10 in Montreal. injuring himself the night before against Vancouver. They were front in center over a 48 hour span in losses to Vancouver Abdelkader was hit by a shot late in Wednesday's loss to Ottawa, but and Ottawa. returned to the ice before the end of the evening. After allowing two key Vancouver power play goals Tuesday, igniting the

Canucks’ comeback, the penalty kill did its job against Ottawa, stopping the NHL’s worst power play unit (ranked last, 3.7 percent). Detroit News LOADED: 10.25.2019 But then, you have the Wings’ power play, which scored twice against Vancouver, but was 0-for-5 against Ottawa along with allowing the tie- breaking shorthanded goal.

It seems the Wings are losing the specialty team game within a game every night. And for that reason, they’re losing games night after night.

“It makes it really difficult,” said coach Jeff Blashill, talking about struggles of the specialty teams. “You ask me about how many goals we’ve given up, a lot of those goals have been on the penalty kill. We’ve gone through games where we’ve played pretty good defensively and all of the sudden, you give up goals on the penalty ill and it melts you a little bit.

“(Wednesday in Ottawa) it’s 2-2 and we give up a shorthanded goal. Do that, and you better find a way to come back and score.

“We can’t lose the specialty teams battle on a nightly basis and think we’re going to win.”

Blashill and his staff did a study several years ago which showed teams who win the specialty teams game within the game on a given night, won 76 percent of games.

“Right now, we’re putting ourselves at tough odds,” Blashill said. “Now, you have to play that much better than other teams to win. That’s really hard to do.”

In Thursday’s NHL stats, the Wings have the 26th ranked power play (12.1 percent) and 27th penalty kill (71.9 percent).

Those types of numbers are a recipe for long losing streaks.

“You can talk about systems, different thing, but each individual has to be a little bit better,” Justin Abdelkader said. “We have to work as a team. It’s been a tough stretch for sure but I believe in our group and we’re coming home, so that will help us.”

Against Ottawa, it appeared at times as if the Wings were trying to change the complexion of the game on a single shift.

But when a team is mired is a lengthy losing streak and there aren’t many positives, maybe it’s understandable.

“I’ve talked all the time about the importane of confidence in this league,” Blashill said. “(Giving up the shorthanded goal), you’re back on your heels too much. Fourth goal, a couple are out there way too long and they can’t think right.

“It felt like we’re trying to make it up on one shift sometimes. That’s not how it goes.”

The Wings have allowed 27 goals over this six-game losing streak — including five goals allowed in five of the losses. 1158246 Detroit Red Wings

Grand Rapids report: Pickard posts shutout, Ericsson makes debut

Staff Report

The Detroit News

Published 11:39 a.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019 | Updated 11:57 a.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019

Grand Rapids goalie made 26 saves and first-round pick Michael Rasmussen was named the third star with two assists in the Griffins' 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

The game featured the debut of defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who was put on waivers by the Red Wings on Tuesday.

Ericsson, who played 176 games for Grand Rapids from 2006-09, set a new standard for the longest time span between Griffins appearances at 3,888 days, or 10 years, 7 months and 22 days (March 1, 2009 to Oct. 23, 2019).

The record had been held by Jimmy Howard at 2,831 days, or seven years, eight months and 28 days (May 6, 2009 to Feb. 4, 2017).

The Griffins improved to 3-2-0-1 and kicked off their four-game home stand with their first home-ice win of the season. They’ll host the Manitoba Moose on Friday at 7 p.m.

Game 6: Pickard shuts out Admirals

Team stats: Grand Rapids Griffins

First-round picks: Michael Rasmussen (2+5=7/+2), Filip Zadina (1+0=1/- 5), Moritz Seider (0+1=1/3), Joe Veleno (0+0=0/-5)

Game 5: Offense stalls in loss to Stars

The Griffins suffered their first regulation road loss and were held scoreless for the first time this season, falling 3-0 against the Stars on Saturday night at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas.

Game 4: Griffins lose in a shootout in Texas

The Griffins fought back from a two-goal deficit in the third period but eventually fell 4-3 in a shootout against the Texas Stars on Friday night at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas.

Matt Puempel was named the third star with a power-play goal and an assist.

Game 3: Larsson earns first professional win

The Griffins picked up their second road win of the season after defeating the Rockford IceHogs 4-2 on Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Ill.

Filip Larsson earned his first professional victory in his debut, saving 24 shots.

Game 2: Admirals spoil Griffins' home opener

Troy Grosenick turned aside all but one of the 39 shots he saw on Friday to spoil the home opener for the Griffins and backstop the Milwaukee Admirals to a 4-1 win at Van Andel Arena.

Game 1: Griffins earn season-opening win in Chicago

The Griffins opened up the regular season with an 8-5 victory against the on Saturday night at Allstate Arena in Chicago.

Matthew Ford led the Griffins with a career-high-tying four-point night.

Detroit News LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158247 Detroit Red Wings Blashill said Wednesday was the worst his team has played defensively in a while.

“I think part of it is when you’ve scored (four) goals in three games,” Red Wings feel urgency to reverse course before season unravels Blashill told reporters after the game. “We worked on forecheck pressure, we worked on O-zone pound. I think as a result sometimes we got a little bit too loose. Sometimes when you try so hard you play a little bit dumb at times and you give up chances you can’t afford to give up. We got to Posted Oct 24, 2019 find ways to score more than we have without a shadow of a doubt, but By Ansar Khan | [email protected] we can’t give up this many goals.”

Many had low expectations for the Red Wings coming into the season. Their aim was to “shock” the doubters. They have done that the past six After an encouraging start, the Detroit Red Wings appear to be who games, but for all the wrong reasons. many thought they were – a rebuilding team thin on talent that figures to finish near the NHL’s basement again. Luke Glendening didn’t finish Wednesday’s game due to an undisclosed injury. They have lost six in a row and what’s particularly discouraging is the way they’re losing – they’ve been outscored 27-9. “Luke’s going to be out for a little bit. I don’t know how long,” Blashill said after the game. “I’ll know more on Friday. But he’ll definitely miss some They are 3-7-0 and not much better off through 10 games than they were time.” last season (1-7-2). Justin Abdelkader was injured after blocking a shot but said he’s fine. They have been bad offensively (30th in the league at 2.30 goals per game), defensively (last in the league at 3.80 goals against per game) and on special teams (26th on power play, 27th on penalty kill). Michigan Live LOADED: 10.25.2019 General manager Steve Yzerman stressed patience when he was hired in April and endorsed coach Jeff Blashill, who had signed a two-year contract extension only weeks before. But that patience could be tested if this trend continues.

Things can change quickly. The Red Wings went 8-2-0 after their poor start in 2018-19. But there is urgency to reverse course or risk having the season unravel before Thanksgiving.

“We have to find a way to put a streak together,” Frans Nielsen told media in Ottawa following Wednesday’s 5-2 loss. “We have to start on Friday. We have to do it one at a time, but right now it’s getting to where we have to win right now.”

The Red Wings, after a day off Thursday, play their next three are at home, a tough stretch that starts Friday against the league-leading Buffalo Sabres (8-1-1).

The young, upstart Sabres provided a glimpse of their future with a 7-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena in the season finale. After rebuilding for years, Buffalo is being driven by high picks Jack Eichel (No. 2 in 2015), Rasmus Dahlin (No. 1 in 2018), Sam Reinhart (No. 2 in 2014), Casey Mittelstadt (No. 8 in 2017) and Rasmus Ristolainen (No. 8 in 2013).

The defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues (4-2-3) visit on Sunday. On Tuesday, former GM Ken Holland’s surprising Edmonton Oilers come to town. The Oilers have been shut out their past two games (by Winnipeg and Minnesota) but are 7-2-1 and tied for third overall. Stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl rank among the NHL’s top five scorers.

The biggest concerns for the Red Wings entering the season were lack of scoring beyond their strong top line and a bad defense corps.

Both issues have surfaced early.

Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin have combined for 13 of the team’s 23 goals.

They desperately need other top-nine forwards to step up, none more so than Andreas Athanasiou (no goals, two assists, team-worst minus-11 in eight games). Taro Hirose has no goals and three assists in 10 games and has registered only seven shots.

Veteran centers Valtteri Filppula (no goals, two assists, minus-7 in 10 games) and Frans Nielsen (no points in seven games) also must contribute to some degree.

The defense is what it is and won’t improve significantly this season. Young Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski flash their offensive ability and but need time to learn how to be better defensively at this level.

Danny DeKeyser, their steadiest defenseman, will be missed if his injury keeps him out much longer. Mike Green is off to an alarmingly poor start offensively (one goal, no assists in 10 games).

A turnaround must start in their own zone. The Red Wings have allowed five goals in five of their past six games. 1158248 Detroit Red Wings

How to watch, listen and stream Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres

Posted Oct 24, 2019

By Lauren Williams | [email protected]

The Red Wings host the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, Oct. 25 at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit continues to seek victory after losing their sixth- straight game in Ottawa. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

Detroit’s record heading into Friday night’s game is 3-7, while Buffalo is 8-1.

WATCH

Broadcast: Fox Sports Detroit

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go | Hulu | PlaystationVue | YouTube TV | fubo (free trial)

LISTEN

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

Live Stream: TuneIn Radio

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158249 Detroit Red Wings restocking the cupboard at the NHL and AHL levels. There have been misses but two hits have been first-line wing Alex Iafallo (in 2017) and second-line center Blake Lizotte (in April). They continued to stockpile draft picks and had four selections in the top 50 in June. Rebuilders’ roundtable: How the Red Wings, Senators and Kings differ in approach and progress This season, the Kings have been able to integrate younger players into their lineup and give them significant minutes, starting with Lizotte. Defenseman Sean Walker played in 39 games in 2018-19, but he is averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time this season. But you can Max Bultman, Lisa Dillman and Hailey Salvian only go so far with the youth movement at this early stage of the rebuild. Oct 24, 2019 In a perfect world, they’d bring up a couple more players from the AHL late in the season to give them a taste of the NHL, to help set them up for the next season. When the Red Wings and Senators squared off Wednesday night in Ottawa, it was hard not to think about how far both rebuilding teams still That’s about as much youth as their lineup can handle. have to go. One of Kings general manager Rob Blake’s best moves in his two-plus They ranked 30th and 31st in Dom Luszczyszyn’s projected standings years on the job was the Jake Muzzin trade in January. The Kings sent before the season, and even after Ottawa’s 5-2 win, it remains with Muzzin to the Maple Leafs and received three assets in return — two Detroit as two of the four bottom-dwelling teams in the league’s prospects (forward Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Sean Durzi) and standings. Sure, you could point to pieces on each team (Dylan Larkin, Toronto’s first-round draft pick in June. Thomas Chabot, Anthony Mantha and Brady Tkachuk, to name a few) That turned out to be Swedish defenseman Tobias Bjornfot, at No. 20. who are already NHL difference makers, and for two rebuilding clubs Six players from the 2019 draft class have played in the NHL this season, those are extremely important players to have. In many ways, that makes and the others were all taken ahead of Bjornfot. He appeared in the it interesting to watch them go head-to-head, understanding how much of Kings’ first three games, was a healthy scratch the next four and was their respective teams’ success will be based on how those players sent to AHL Ontario on Friday. continue to develop. I can see the Kings going back to the playbook of last season and But what’s just as interesting, if not more so, are the processes each stockpiling assets in the second half of the season with a series of team is undergoing behind the scenes, and the similarities and trades. differences in their approaches, successes and setbacks so far. With that in mind, The Athletic’s Red Wings and Senators beat writers, Max Blake told me last week that he anticipated a shuffling of younger players Bultman and Hailey Salvian, put together a roundtable with Kings beat so that they can continue to get games in with the Kings or the Reign. writer Lisa Dillman to discuss three of the league’s clearest rebuilders, The Kings might be behind the Red Wings in terms of the start of their comparing and contrasting their respective situations, timelines for rebuild but they are taking the same patient development path. It spoke contention and more. volumes when they changed plans and decided not to send Bjornfot back to Sweden, opting to keep a close watch on his progress. To start off, how would you each characterize the rebuilding efforts of the team you cover? What has the team’s approach been, and what looks Max Bultman: I think for the Red Wings, a lot of their rebuild has been like it will or won’t work so far? about making as many draft picks as possible and a patient development process (they haven’t “rushed” really any of their prospects except Hailey Salvian: The Senators’ rebuild is still relatively new, as they really maybe Michael Rasmussen, as a result of the CHL-NHL agreement, and only committed to one in earnest last season. First they traded away Erik even in that case they have since sent him to the AHL now that he’s Karlsson before training camp and then traded a number of their core eligible). They’re in Year 3 or 4 of this process, depending on how you players (Mark Stone, Ryan Dzingel and Matt Duchene) at the trade want to set the timeline. So they’ve certainly had their fair share of picks deadline in February. Last year their approach was to tear it down and — in the last three drafts they’ve made 32 picks, which is a whole draft bring in assets in return. In the case of the Karlsson trade, the Senators and a half more than their original allotment — and in the last two years got “young veteran” NHLers in Chris Tierney and Dylan DeMelo, alone they’ve made three first-round and five second-round picks. prospects Rudolfs Balcers and Josh Norris and two of San Jose’s draft picks. Now, though, they’re in that ever-challenging development phase, and things aren’t moving along super fast there. They’ve got a couple young Other notable returns are Erik Brannstrom (Vegas Golden Knights) and defensemen who are now NHL full-timers in Dennis Cholowski and Filip Vitaly Abramov (Columbus Blue Jackets). And for the upcoming draft, Hronek, and some of the young players who had already been drafted they also have five picks in the first two rounds. That is all on top of their when the rebuild started (Larkin, Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler already strong prospect pool of Logan Brown, Alex Formenton and Drake Bertuzzi) have cemented themselves in the top six, but their top Batherson, among others. prospects aren’t really kicking the door down right now. Filip Zadina has Right now, though, the Senators are in the development phase of the tons of talent, but he’s got lots of room left to develop before he can be rebuild. They have some young standouts in the NHL already (Tkachuk, counted on as a top-liner. Joe Veleno was a star last season in the Chabot, Brannstrom and Colin White) who are being mostly paired off QMJHL, but he hasn’t scored a point yet in the American Hockey with veterans to help show them the ropes. The rest of the prospects are League. Moritz Seider looks advanced but is just 18. Evgeny Svechnikov in the AHL, where the team believes they will develop the best, which had an ACL injury last season and is still recovering, Rasmussen is still has been a point of contention among Senators fans to start the year. learning the pro game, and all of those second-round picks in the last two years are likely going to take substantial time. Personally, I think the young prospects need to work things out in the AHL first. This Senators team is going to struggle a lot at times this year, So their approach looks potentially promising in theory, because of the and protecting their young stars from being the NHL’s punching bag is volume of picks and prospects they’ve accumulated, but I wouldn’t say the best they can do for their development. Whether this will work, only they’re right on the verge of breaking through or anything. time will tell. But the Senators certainly have a lot of talent coming up Corey Pronman has the Senators and Red Wings pretty close together in through the organization and if they can stay on a positive development both his farm system and under-23 Core Rankings, either at the fringe or path, I think this will be a good team in time. just outside the top 10, but the Kings he has at pretty extreme ends of the Lisa Dillman: What hurt the Kings in the past was that they were caught spectrum (fourth in farm system, 24th in under-23 core). Most of the between trying to climb through the window one more time or rebuild and Kings’ best players seem to be on the older end, but there’s also some just couldn’t seem to make their minds up about what to do. substantial pieces who haven’t yet arrived. Lisa, how has that impacted their timeline? The pitfalls of such indecision were on full display last season, resulting in a 30th-place finish and worst showing in a decade. You can’t put one Dillman: If there was any doubt that the Kings are highlighting a specific toe in the water when confronting the cold reality of a rebuild. draft class, it was reinforced at their state of the franchise function in Los Angeles in August, not long before rookie training camp. What has helped move it along is that the Kings have been getting more active and aggressive on the college free-agent front, gradually That same night, Alex Turcotte, playing for the University of Wisconsin, Dillman: There are many long-term contracts that are already burdening picked up his first collegiate point in an exhibition against the University the Kings. The one at the forefront is the goaltender Jonathan Quick’s of British Columbia. It was noted at least once, maybe more, at the deal — which runs through the 2022-23 season and has a $5.8 million season-ticket holder event. AAV. What also would help the Kings as they make their way through a rebuild is the addition of an outside voice on the management team. I More recently, Kings coach Todd McLellan made reference to Turcotte’s know it’s impossible to compare what Vegas did, as an expansion team, three assists on Friday night against UM-Duluth and spoke about Arthur to other franchises, but I thought it was impressive that George McPhee Kaliyev’s stellar play (with OHL Hamilton). Even a couple of time zones went outside his comfort zone and just didn’t only bring in former away, it’s hard to miss what Turcotte, who was taken at No. 5 in June, is colleagues from his Washington Capitals days. Ron Hextall did work for doing in college – the Kings’ TV home, Fox Sports West, announced it the Kings previously as an assistant general manager. But I thought it will air 11 of Turcotte’s games this season. was an important move for Blake to bring in an experienced hand (as a In other words, there’s a lot of excitement about the June draft and rightly part-time adviser) from outside his inner circle, who had been through a so with three picks in the top 33. Nothing can fast-track a rebuild more lot the same issues now facing the Kings when he was the Flyers’ GM. swiftly than landing multiple impact players in one draft. There has been Bultman: Without sounding too much like a broken record, it’s the lack of less talk and more mystery about, say, the 2017 draft, largely because of a truly elite prospect to build around. I do think Larkin is a No. 1 center in an injured player. the NHL, but Cup winners often either have two of those, or at the very I think some of the discrepancy in Corey’s rankings — at least when it least a superstar winger or defenseman to go with that center — if not comes to the Kings — certainly has to do with Gabe Vilardi. It’s hard to more. The Red Wings need one of those things badly (like both other assess (guess?) where Vilardi might be in his professional career if he teams in this roundtable, their fortunes would be changed significantly hadn’t had deeply concerning and lingering issues with his back. with an Alexis Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield). There are a couple longer contracts that will be burdensome for the next few years, but they’re also It’s safe to say that a healthy Vilardi, who was taken 11th in the 2017 finally getting to the point where they’ve been able to shed a fair number draft, would have had the Kings ranked quite a bit higher than 24th in the of those, too. Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen are the only contracts current under-23 core. that look like they’ll be issues two years from now. I’d also say future goaltending is a great unknown for Detroit. Filip Larsson is the supposed Coincidentally, as I was writing one of the answers to the roundtable, an goalie of the future, but he’s got a dicey injury history and even then may email from the Kings’ PR staff hit my inbox on Monday night, about not be that true star in net. Vilardi. It said he was scheduled to start skating on Tuesday at their practice facility in El Segundo. If all goes well, the next step would be to Salvian: I think the Senators have similar weaknesses to the Red Wings. practice with the . Of note, Vilardi’s last game was Dec. 9 The Senators do have a star defenseman and winger in Chabot and with the Reign. Tkachuk, but right now there are questions about whether White can grow to become a No. 1 center. It’s still incredibly early, but his struggles What would you both say are the best assets each of these teams has in to start the year suggest that the Senators would really benefit from a their respective rebuilds? Is it the current cores, farm systems, draft high-end center like Byfield. Another weakness for the Senators too, is capital, management team in charge? Some combination or something while they have the quality and quantity in their prospects, they don’t else? necessarily have the same resources being put into them like other Dillman: In no particular order, the best assets the Kings have is teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs, for example, run their AHL Marlies like impressive goaltending depth in the organization and an elite prospect in an NHL club. When they send a player down to develop, the player has Turcotte. Not only do the Kings have two talented goalies in Jack access to elite coaches, trainers, facilities and are about 100 meters Campbell and Cal Petersen but they are both signed to team-friendly away from the Leafs (they share a practice facility). The Belleville contracts, setting up the Kings for the next couple of seasons. Petersen Senators re-signed Troy Mann this year, and Mann and D.J. Smith last summer signed a three-year contract extension with an AAV of appear to be on the same page, which is great. But I don’t get the sense $858,333. It is a two-way contract the first year and one way after that, Belleville operates quite the same as the Marlies. Nobody does. meaning that the Kings have seen enough in him to support the Have there been any particularly interesting setbacks or surprise contention he is their goalie of the future. Campbell, who would have developments in the rebuild of the team you cover? been an unrestricted free agent after the season, signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract in September. Salvian: I just spent the evening in Belleville over the weekend and things aren’t going as well as initially expected. When the Senators sent so Salvian: I’d say it’s a combination of things for the Senators. They have many top prospects down out of training camp, expectations in the AHL the young core already in White, Tkachuk and Chabot. They have a solid were set pretty high with all the potential star power they were getting. farm team in Belleville developing players like Batherson, Brown, Norris But the have started the season with only two wins in and Formenton. And they have solid draft capital coming into this year’s six games. Brown and Batherson are leading the team, but their defense draft, like I said above, with five picks in the top two rounds in what is has struggled and so have their goaltenders. Mann even said that the projecting to be a deep draft class. coaches in Belleville have a lot more work cut out for them than Bultman: Ottawa’s pick situation for this draft is pretty impressive, anticipated. Which isn’t great, but it’s still early. especially if that Columbus second-rounder ends up in the early part of Dillman: For now, the Vilardi injury setback would be high on the list. I’ll the second round. That’s prime “get the mysterious draft-day slider who be curious to see what happens with him now that he seems to be turns out to be really good” territory. progressing and if he would even be on the list when we assemble to do I suppose the best assets the Red Wings have are a No. 1 center on a this again a year from now. (By then, will the three of us call ourselves solid contract and a handful of highly picked prospects already in the “The Lottery Club”?) system to develop. Going back to the last question, none of the current On the positive side, the big surprise was the swift development of top prospects may turn out to be that elite piece, which is something L.A. Bjornfot, who was not expected to be in the season-opening night lineup. with Turcotte probably has an advantage with. But I do think there’s value Todd McLellan said the other day that they kept thinking Bjornfot would in the volume of good prospects. be sent back to Sweden and joked that he still hadn’t gone to the airport. Even if the majority don’t become impact players (which has to be the Bultman: Svechnikov’s setbacks via injury and his less productive second expectation), there really are a lot of potential pieces in the system, which year in Grand Rapids would count. Rasmussen hitting standard ninth- is a world of difference from where things stood two years ago. And then overall-pick expectations looks like a tough bet if the game plan is to I think Steve Yzerman’s presence, while still pretty nebulous in its direct make him a defense-first center and net-front power-play specialist, so impact to date, has to get some benefit of the doubt based on the team there’s that. And then relative to the draft-night expectations, Zadina not he built in Tampa. It continues to bear repeating that the circumstances being an immediate-impact NHL winger may count here as well. That’s with the Red Wings are different from what he walked into with the not ideal with so many recent first-round picks, with the obvious caveat Lightning (a Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos would change Detroit’s that they’re all still young with plenty of room to develop. I still think outlook exponentially), but he’s got a good track record for building a Zadina, in particular, is going to be a really good player in the NHL with winner. time, and patience is needed with him, but there was a time when the How about a weakness? name David Pastrnak was getting thrown around as a model for him. That certainly sounds pretty lofty now. Hronek going from second-round pick to a guy who looks like a potential top-four player on a contender is probably on the positive end of that spectrum. But there’s not that Brayden Point- or Nikita Kucherov-level find that totally changes your outlook.

How about a realistic time for contention? When could you next realistically see the team you cover winning a playoff series and it not being a total shock?

Dillman: One of the exercises we conducted this past summer was a projected Kings roster in three years.

Could the Kings contend at the end of their rebuild? While three years feels like it is forever in professional sports, I feel as though they have the right pieces in the pipeline and the right organizational philosophy when it comes to drafting and development.

Winning a playoff series? Yes, it could happen as early as next season.

The game changer, for me, would be if Turcotte is in the Kings’ lineup and if Cal Petersen is no longer the goalie of the future but the goalie of the present.

Salvian: I could see the Senators turning the corner and getting out of the basement by 2021-22. I think being a legitimate playoff-contending team is one or two years after that. Most of their players will still be pretty young by 2021-22 and they won’t have much, if any, playoff experience on the roster. They may need a year or two of losing in the first round of the playoffs to really make a lengthy run and win a few rounds. But that all depends on how their prospects develop these next few years.

Bultman: Winning a playoff series either this season or next would be a definite surprise in Detroit. I do think the Red Wings should start to move out of the basement next season, though. And even if that’s not enough to make the playoffs, by 2021-22 this team should theoretically be in a position to threaten for some measure of postseason success. (At least as long as their prospects are developing as they hope.) Is it a true Cup threat by then? Highly doubtful. But winning a round? Why not.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158250 Detroit Red Wings “It stung not making the team but I just used it as motivation and said, ‘OK, I’m in a great spot in Chicago, I have nothing to complain about, just try to work even harder,’” Mastrosimone said.

‘The full package’: How Red Wings prospect Robert Mastrosimone keeps That work paid off. Mastrosimone scored 17 points in 12 games against proving doubters wrong Team USA over the two-year span that followed — before ultimately earning a four-game call-up to the program in 2018-2019. By the time the draft came around, Mastrosimone was second among under-18 USHL players with 60 points and 31 goals in 54 games. By Scott Wheeler Steel coach raves about Mastrosimone as a player who Oct 24, 2019 would go wall-to-wall to finish checks and block shots on the penalty kill. Moore relied on him to be the go-to guy on a defensive zone faceoff when the Steel were up by a goal – and the guy to manufacture goals on BOSTON — Robert Mastrosimone seems more like a senior than a his own late in a period when they were down. freshman, as he sits on a couch inside the management office at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. “I’ve never seen somebody in games consistently compete so hard in every facet of the game like he does,” Moore said. “If he’s not putting Most other BU students have gathered along the Charles River to watch points on the scoreboard, he always finds a way to have an impact. His the Head Of The Charles, the largest regatta on the planet. But relentless compete is through the roof. That’s what makes him special.” Mastrosimone doesn’t have time to to take in the tradition that begins on the shores of the prestigious campus. He’s in the middle of another busy Moore also said Mastrosimone is always eager to improve. day in his young career as a varsity athlete. He’s just finished an Last year, Moore said, Mastrosimone was the one player on the team afternoon team meeting and is about to head to a pregame meal ahead who always applied instructions he was given in the very next game. of his third game as a member of the Terriers. When Moore challenged him to slow his game down and rely less on his The 18-year-old is confident and engaging as he rhymes off the traits that ability as a scorer and more on his ability as a playmaker at the helped him become a 54th overall pick by the Red Wings in the 2019 beginning of the season, Mastrosimone brought that part of his game to a NHL Draft. He leans forward over his knees as he speaks. He has slight new level, using his knack for thinking faster than other players to make shoulders and sharp blue eyes that match his backward baseball cap. his teammates better and control the puck more.

“My strengths are definitely my work ethic, my hockey IQ and my skills,” Steel general manager Ryan Hardy calls Mastrosimone selfless. Mastrosimone says. “Those are definitely my best assets right now. And I “He was far away our only real high-end NHL Draft prospect and it never think my biggest weakness is my skating but I’ve been working on that a fazed him. He would always be willing to sacrifice his own self-interest for lot and I think I’ve got a lot better.” the team,” Hardy said. “If we asked him to play third-line left wing Despite being overlooked by USA Hockey’s development program, he because we needed some balance, it was never, ‘Oh, I don’t how this never doubted his ability to reach the highest levels of the game. He’s going to do to my draft stock,’ it was, ‘Yeah, whatever you need me to do already off to a hot start as a rookie with the Boston University Terriers, for the team.’” with 3 points in as many games. That strong start is something that But above all else, Hardy said Mastrosimone plays with an engine that doesn’t often happen for players Mastrosimone’s age in NCAA hockey. never shuts off. But anyone who knows the kid saw it coming. “We got to the playoffs and he found a completely other gear. It was Mastrosimone picked up a goal and an assist in his Terriers debut. (Jim almost like he was possessed and he was just going to will the team as Pierce / BU Athletics) far as they could go,” Hardy said. “He was the main catalyst. He doesn’t fear anybody. He plays the game with a reckless abandon for his own Mastrosimone wasn’t surprised when Detroit selected him last June. His body.” interview with the team at the scouting combine ran past the allotted time. Instead of talking about himself, they talked mostly about hockey. Mastrosimone scored 15 points in 11 playoff games for the Steel, before Mastrosimone couldn’t help himself, he says, because he never stops they fell to the Sioux Falls Stampede in the Clark Cup final. On his first talking about hockey — a passion for which he credits his dad, who shift of Game 3 of that series, Mastrosimone suffered a head injury. The grew up playing the sport before becoming a financial adviser (his mom Steel lost 5-1 but associate coach Brock Sheahan is still convinced they is a travel planner). would have won the game had Mastrosimone had been able to stay in it.

He smiles. The new level of play that Mastrosimone found that season came at the end of a brutal schedule. “I grew up around hockey. I watched every Islanders game when I was younger,” he says. “I was always playing mini hockey in the living room. I Mastrosimone’s 2018-2019 season included a national team camp in just fell in love with the game at a young age and I’ve loved it ever since.” Buffalo, the , the World Junior A Challenge, the USHL’s top prospects game, and online schooling on top of all of his Cale Politoski, who coached Mastrosimone when he played for the commitments to training sessions, practices, games and video with the under-16 team at the historic Shattuck St. Mary’s prep program, Steel. remembers a happy, go-lucky kid. But also a player who was so important to the team that when he was injured twice in his final year at “There was a lot on his plate beyond the pressures of his draft year and I the school, he left a void it could never fill. thought he handled it unbelievably,” Sheahan said. “Beyond being an impact player as far as production, he was a leader for us with the way First, Mastrosimone broke his tibia. The injury was supposed to sideline he handled his business.” him for the year. Instead, Mastrosimone made it back for the national tournament. Throughout that busy year, Sheahan said Mastrosimone remained positive, energetic, curious, and the kind of player who would ask the But the remarkable return was short-lived. In the semifinals, coaching staff about their kids. When Mastrosimone was selected at the Mastrosimone was forced out of the game after taking a hard hit. draft in Vancouver, Sheahan was there to support him and his family.

“He was a difference-maker, no doubt about it,” Politoski said. “He fuels And while he insists Mastrosimone is also extremely talented, Sheahan your team and he just makes you better. He makes things happen, he points to his “motor” for propelling him to where he is today. creates that energy, that spark that other guys fuel off of.” “He’s going to win a one-on-one battle even though he’s not the biggest Even with his success at Shattuck St. Mary’s, Mastrosimone had to prove guy. He has an ability to get pucks off that I haven’t really seen and score he deserved to be considered among the best young players in the goals,” Sheahan said. And despite his size, Mastrosimone protects the country. puck and makes plays under intense pressure.

After being cut by the national development team in 2017, Mastrosimone “He’s fun to watch play,” Sheahan said. “He’s always making something went to the USHL determined to prove it made a mistake. With the happen.” Chicago Steel, he carried that chip on his shoulder. After his pregame meal, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Mastrosimone wrapped up a weekend back-to-back with a team-leading four shots on goal in a 4-3 loss to Northern Michigan. Terriers coach Albie O’Connell praised Mastrosimone his strong start.

“Mastro’s been really good. He’s highly competitive,” O’Connell said. “He’s got good offensive punch to him.”

And despite acknowledging that Mastrosimone is physically underdeveloped, Hardy sees a player who will carry the scars of being cut by the U.S. development program all the way to a long NHL career.

Some players suffer when the things that worked for them at lower levels don’t translate. Hardy believes Mastrosimone’s versatility and competitiveness will prevent that. The result will be a player who can fill several roles in a roster, instead of one, Hardy says.

With the Terriers, the left-shot Mastrosimone has started as a right winger on the third line — even though he traditionally played centre or left wing. He’s also playing on the power play and penalty kill.

“I’m not the biggest guys but I like to play like I’m bigger, I like to throw my body around a little,” Mastrosimone said. “In the NHL, the game is getting away from the physicality and it’s a lot of finesse and skill and using open ice, and being a smaller guy today can be an advantage.”

If he can add some muscle in college, Hardy envisions a versatile player who will be able to compete for three or four winger spots in a lineup, rather than the one-dimensional role most young players box themselves into having to fill.

“With the way he works and the skill that he has, and the fact that he can pretty much score from anywhere, he’s going to be a real pain in the ass to play against,” Hardy said.

His new teammates and coaches already know as much, too.

Ethan Phillips, a fellow Red Wings draft pick and Terriers freshman, was a part of those wars between the Stampede and the Steel. He knows what Mastrosimone brings as both an opponent and a linemate.

“Whenever we played the Steel, you were always keyed up on him. He’s a dangerous player and he can really shoot and create plays so you’ve always got to be aware of him,” Phillips said.

Paul Pearl, the Terriers’ associate head coach, has known Mastrosimone for half a decade, having worked with him at his hockey camp when he coached at Harvard.

“There’s no let-up,” Pearl said. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very, very talented boy, but it’s his work ethic.”

Boston University’s coaching staff saw that as soon as Mastrosimone showed up in September. He quickly earned their respect as a smart, well-spoken and mature kid. When things get tough, they think he’ll handle the ebbs and flows of a college season better than other freshmen, just as Hardy and Sheahan have already witnessed.

“He’s the full package,” Pearl said. “It’s very impressive.”

So it’s no surprise that, ahead of his third game of college hockey, Mastrosimone was so at ease. Another “crazy summer” had come and gone. He overcame the head injury — which he says is behind him — and an ankle injury at Red Wings development camp.

“It was a tough break at camp but (my ankle) healed up pretty quick and everything since then has just been working, grinding, skating,” he said, shaking his head. “Every day.”

Now he’s pursuing business school at Boston University and excelling in an arena he feels comfortable in. Mastrosimone says he’s already in the groove of things and is pointed in the right direction.

With the Terriers, he gets to be himself. And being himself means working harder than the next guy.

“I think I have just been brought up that way my whole life. I’ve always been told to just work as hard as I can, no matter the situation in the game, no matter where the puck is, or even in the gym,” Mastrosimone said. “Just do everything to the best you can, as hard as you can.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158251 Edmonton Oilers in the last 13 seasons and 19-20-2 in their inaugural season in the building.

It was a game in which the Oilers needed to prove that they weren’t JONES: Oilers faced adversity and came out on top against Capitals going to follow up with an empty effort, and then compound their lapse into a total relapse involving a string of seriously poor performances and turn a run of success into a serious skid.

Terry Jones Edmonton has watched this team do that again and again, the most memorable recent example being the hiring of Ken Hitchcock to replace October 24, 2019 10:53 PM MDT Todd McLellan’s 9-10-1 team on Nov. 20 in San Jose and had them 17- 12-2 by Dec. 11 only to be 23-24-5 by Feb. 19 and continue to flounder the rest of the way. Sooner or later this season, there are likely to be games come along for the Edmonton Oilers that will be labeled and promoted as a ‘Statement To most people following from afar, the biggest fascination of what would Game.’ transpire in the tilt involved the sudden slide of McDavid, who went into the game, for only the second time in his career, with a three-game skid This wasn’t one of them, exactly. of shooting nothing but blanks.

The statements the Oilers needed to make with Thursday night’s return McDavid was facing the possibility of his first four-game pointless streak to Rogers Place did not necessarily involve the result itself, at least in of his 298-game NHL career. terms of defeating a specific opponent, but statements they absolutely needed to make about themselves after failing to compete in any area of It was a game about rebooting the Dynamic Duo on a night featuring last the game Tuesday night in Minnesota. year’s only two 50-goal scorers in Ovechkin and Leon Draisaitl.

Head coach Dave Tippett, who gave everybody a day off Wednesday, With The Great 8 and the German Gretzky getting two each, Draisaitl returned to the rink for the morning skate Thursday and didn’t dodge it. gets the game puck with the winner.

“I’m interested to see how our team responds. It’s our first bit of real And the Oilers get a game to use to tell themselves they are a team of adversity. We struggled last game. How are we going to react to that? substance now, not whatever the heck they were Tuesday in Minnesota. And I think our players will respond the right way.”

When they come back with two third period goals to tie it 3-3 and win it in Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019 overtime, you have to declare that they did.

The bottom line was that the Oilers didn’t come to compete in Minnesota. This night they did. And they didn’t fold their hand before the dealing was done.

Yes it was the Dynamic Duo that did it surrounded as usual by a quiet rest of the lineup. But Connor McDavid, who scored to send it to overtime and Draisaitl won it in overtime with his second of the game, had been quiet for two games themselves.

So who is going to knock it?

Draisaitl’s goal in extra time was his eighth to give him the Oilers record for OT goals with eight, one more than McDavid.

So Edmonton is now 8-2-1 and who is going to knock that either?

The Oilers clearly came to the rink looking motivated to play responsible, committed hockey.

After being blanked in back-to-back games on the road, the first priority was to score the first goal of the game. Two-thirds of the way through the first period, Darnell Nurse bounced one in off the stick of Dmitry Orlov to end the drought at 165 minutes and 58 seconds of failing to dent the twine.

It went in the net. But it didn’t break the seal.

And then the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals burst Mikko Koskinen’s bubble with three unanswered sandwich-session goals to give them a 21-6 record in goals for-against in the second period through 12 games this year.

It was a game about preserving their home ice superiority and making Rogers Place a venue the visitors take to the ice not expecting success during the Ken Holland-Dave Tippett era that’s just getting underway.

Despite not scoring a goal in the two-game road trip to Winnipeg and Minnesota, the Oilers came home with a 4-0 record in Rogers Place and started 4-0 Mikko Koskinen in goal.

Koskinen could be faulted to different degrees on all three goals but the fact is that Alex Ovechkin scored two of them, his eighth and ninth of the year and 666th and 667th of his career, and it’s hard to point a finger at a guy who had a letdown with two goals in 47 seconds and three in a span of eight minutes when the eight-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goal-scorer is waving his wand.

Edmonton is now 5-0 at home and Koskinen is now 5-0 for the season.

The Oilers were 8-19-4 in Rogers Place last year, 19-18-4 the year before, 25-12-4 in 2016-17 en route to making the playoffs the only time 1158252 Edmonton Oilers “Defending-wise, I thought we were all right,” said Tippett. “We are competing hard on defence, especially with a defenceman (Adam Larsson) out and guys playing bigger minutes than they would, and they are doing really well.” McDavid and Draisaitl launch third period comeback to beat Capitals FINALLY

After roaring out of the gate with 22 goals in their first five games, it Robert Tychkowski looked like the Oilers might never score again after their two-game Central Division stumble. They hadn’t seen a red light in 152:38 when the October 24, 2019 11:48 PM MDT puck dropped for the Washington game, but they finally found some mesh on Darnell Nurse’s second of the season at 13:20 (ending the drought at 165:58). It was a fluke that banked in off Alex Ovechkin’s stick, Sometimes they really do mean it when they say it’s not whether you win but they were due for some puck luck. or lose, but how you play the game. “I don’t think anyone loses confidence,” said McDavid. “These things It was certainly the case Thursday for the Edmonton Oilers, who were happens throughout the course of a season.” looking to re-establish themselves after back-to-back shutout losses to a pair of mediocre opponents in Minnesota and Winnipeg. A LITTLE HELP

With the high-powered Washington Capitals in town, the Oilers needed to In the end, the Oilers re-affirmed what we already knew: this is a team show their nervous fans, and a skeptical hockey world, that their recent with a lot of fight and a lot of high-powered offence, but it’s also a team two-game blip was just that, a blip, and not the early symptoms of that’s going to die on the vine if it doesn’t get some secondary scoring. another fatal collapse. The season is 11 games old and McDavid, Zack Kassian, James Neal And they did. In what was billed as a statement game, the Oilers made and Draisaitl have 25 goals this year. The other nine forwards have two. one, with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid delivering some incredible “It is a concern,” said Tippett. “Those guys are working hard. I liked their third-period dramatics to turn a 3-1 deficit into a stunning 4-3 overtime work ethic, I liked their penalty kill, but at some point they have to start victory. chipping in a little bit, too.” “We’ve done it all year, pretty much, coming back from deficits,” Draisaitl said of the first team in NHL history to start 5-0 when trailing in all five games. “We believe in here. We just needed to clean up a few things. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019 We did that and it was a big win for us.”

Courtesy of the big dogs. Draisaitl made it 3-2 at 4:25, McDavid tied it at 18:22 and then McDavid set up Draisaitl at 1:18 of overtime to bring down the house and and improve the Oilers to 5-0 at home and 8-2-1 on the season.

“That’s a really good team over there, they’re going to be in the playoffs,” said Draisaitl. “We beat a very good team. I’m proud of the guys.”

This one was all over the map, though.

The Oilers came out and hit the Capitals with some tough defence, scored first, led after 20 minutes and looked well on their way to showing that their 7-2-1 start was no fluke.

Then they sagged, gave up three goals in the second period and looked a little like the team that lost to the Jets and Wild.

In act three, they swarmed the Caps with relentless pressure until they finally broke.

“Credit to us for not folding, for sticking with it and battling back,” said McDavid. “It was group effort. Everyone found another gear. We were playing fast and when we do that, everyone looks good.”

Head coach Dave Tippett was curious to see how his team would respond after a bad game and he liked what he saw.

“We were down 3-1 and had made a couple of mistakes, but we felt like we were playing all right,” he said. “We just said ‘Let’s stick with it in the third period,’ and we got some momentum, we got rolling. Our big guys kind of took over and we ended up with the win. After not scoring for a couple of games, the guys came back hard and we played well against a good team.”

“DROUGHT” IS OVER

McDavid came into the game on the longest pointless streak of his career — three games — and was 15:35 away from watching it stretch to four before he set up Draisaitl for his seventh of the season to cut the Washington lead to 3-2.

By the end of the night he had a goal and two assists and finished plus 4.

TIGHT SHIP

Being able to rely on their defence when their offence isn’t clicking is an element that will serve the Oilers well moving forward. So is not caving in when the other team kicks in a couple of quick ones. The Oilers showed again on Thursday that staying composed and keeping it close means they’re never really out of it. 1158253 Edmonton Oilers “You learn to get better at that and I realize now more than I did when I was younger that it’s not always going to be an easy road and things aren’t always going to go exactly as planned, but you have to be able to take a punch and I think I’m excited about the opportunity. Hopefully, I Edmonton Oilers Snapshots: NHL leading scorer comes to town can go and give the team a boost and make it so I don’t come out of the lineup.”

The Capitals are keeping close tabs on the MLB World Series as the Derek Van Diest attempt to win their first title. October 24, 2019 8:14 PM MDT The Nationals, formerly known as the Montreal Expos, took a 2-0 series lead on the Houston Astros with a 12-3 win on Wednesday.

The best goal scorer in a generation was not at all surprised to see a “Always since Day 1 that I got to Washington, I’ve been a Nationals fan, defenceman leading the NHL scoring race three weeks into the season. a Mystics (WNBA), Wizards (NBA) and Redskins (NFL) fan,” Ovechkin said. “I’m happy for the guys and I’m happy for the city. They’ve taken Alex Ovechkin, who scores 50 goals a season for fun, was happy to see two steps and they have two more go.” teammate John Carlson lead the league in scoring and take some of the focus off him for a change as the Washington Capitals came to town to Ovechkin has been a guest of the Nationals and has thrown the take on the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. ceremonial first pitch at a game. When the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018 they celebrated the victory at Nationals Park. Carlson, 29, had five goals and 20 points going into the contest. He had a career-high 13 goals and 70 points last season. While a baseball fan, Ovechkin is still learning the intricacies of the game. “Sorry, it’s John Norris,” smiled Ovechkin when asked about Carlson, referring to the Norris Trophy. “Everybody knew that he’s a skilled guy “I know a home run and all those sort of things,” He said. “But sometimes and he’s our top D, obviously. Everyone is helping each other to get I still have to ask the American guys something about what happened out better back there. He’s playing big minutes like always and he’s just there. But I’m starting to understand a little bit better.” feeling it. It seems like everything he’s trying to do works and it’s good for us.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019 A product of Natick, Mass., Carlson was selected by the Capitals in the first round — 27th overall — of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He’s in his 11th season with the Capitals and played his 700th game Friday.

“I just feel like I’m playing similar to what I have in the past, but things are just going my way right now,” Carlson said. “You always work to get better and find new ways whether it’s watching video or practising, working on different things. It’s a tight game out there and things are going my way right now.”

Carlson went into the game against the Oilers on an eight-game point streak, one away from setting a franchise record. The Capitals were on a four-game win streak and were playing the third of a five-game road trip.

“It’s good for us forwards (when defencemen score),” Ovechkin said. “If when we play against the top defencemen in the league who are up there with the scoring leaders and have lots of points, we don’t want to give them any chances to shoot the puck or make a play. We know if you leave them open they will make a play and that’s what’s he’s been doing for us, so it’s been good.”

Sam Ganger was projected to be a top-six forward for the Oilers coming out of training camp this season, but things did not go as planned and he was sent to the Bakersfield Condors to start the year.

With the Oilers having next to nothing in terms of production from their bottom-six forwards, Gagner was called up to try and add some offence to the bottom two lines.

Gagner had two goals and four points in four games with the Condors before being recalled on Saturday. He did not dress in the 3-0 loss on the road against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and was in the lineup for the first time this year Friday against the Capitals.

“Personally, I just have to go in and play,” Gagner said. “I know what I have to do to be successful and I feel like I’ve added layers to my game in the last number of years.

“I think there are different areas I can help out, but obviously, the main one is creating some offence; getting some shots to the net and just kind of getting the puck to the offensive zone and making plays when I’m there. I just want to play to my strengths and help this team continues to move forward.”

Gagner, 30, was selected sixth overall by the Oilers in the 2007 NHL Draft and spent his first seven seasons in Edmonton before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes following the 2013-14 season.

After stops in Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus and Vancouver, along with AHL stints in Lehigh Valley and Toronto, Gagner was reacquired by the Oilers last season.

“I don’t think it ever gets easier, but I think there is a transition into trying and handling the setbacks and handling the adversity,” Gagner said. 1158254 Edmonton Oilers

Trade from Medicine Hat worked out well for Josh Williams

Derek Van Diest

October 24, 2019 6:35 PM MDT

Josh Williams was expected to have a big year as a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers last season, but it took a change of scenery for the forward to really find his game.

Williams, 18, was acquired by the Oil Kings midway through last season for forward Brett Kemp, who was among Edmonton’s leading scorers at the time.

The move has worked out for both teams as Kemp has two goals and 13 points in 12 games for the Tigers, while Williams has five goals and 13 points in 12 games for the Oil Kings.

“Obviously last year there was a lot of pressure on him with his draft year and everything and sometimes it’s tough, it puts a lot of pressure on kids,” said Oil Kings head coach Brad Lauer. “This year, he put the time in the summer, he really worked on his skating and got stronger and I think you’re really seeing the benefits of that right now at the start of the season and the type of year he’s having. He seems to be a lot more relaxed on the ice and more confident with the puck and things are working out for him.”

Williams was passed over in this summer’s NHL Entry draft and is looking to prove scouts wrong this year. He finished last season with 14 goals and 33 points in 66 games between Medicine Hat and Edmonton.

“Willie is playing really well and as a friend and as a teammate, it’s really good to see because it’s not always the easiest getting traded, especially due to the fact he was 17 and he was having a tough time in Medicine Hat before he came here,” said Oil Kings defenceman Conner McDonald. “You see the confidence back in his game, you see the attack mindset that he has, he can really shoot the puck, he can really put it in the net and he’s moving his feet a lot.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158255 Edmonton Oilers him that range because the puck doesn’t have to be in the perfect spot. He’s a big strong kid and you’re often concentrating on McDavid. One of them is going to make you pay.”

Fifty-goal scorers ready to face-off when Edmonton Oilers host Draisaitl might have been able to hide before on the power play, but not Washington Capitals now.

“I can feel it pretty tight around the box when I’m in there. I sense that,” he said. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal 0ilers coach Dave Tippett used to check shooters in his playing days so October 24, 2019 10:49 AM MDT knows a scorer when he sees one and 50 will forever be a feat to him.

“It’s even more special now because it’s harder to score. In the mid 80s and early 90s, the league was more wide-open and there were more of Alex Ovechkin falls out of bed and scores 50; eight times since he came them (eight in 1992-93) Now, it’s so hard to get there,” said Tippett. “You into the league. have to have a consistency in how you play and goal-scorers now. Take Leon Draisaitl woke up last year and suddenly hockey’s best passer hit Ovechkin. He scores on the power play, he’s a shooter, I mean he’s at 50, too. the top of the league in shots taken every year.

Maybe it’s only a one-off for Draisaitl as it was for Sidney Crosby and “There is a knack to scoring goals and it’s not just picking corners. It’s Corey Perry. shooting it quick, shooting it hard. It’s a talent. As they always say, if it was so easy, everybody would be doing it.” But Thursday, we get The Tale of The Two Fifties, with the Washington Capitals captain’s eight since 2005-2006. Maybe last year’s 50 will a one-off for Draisaitl. He scored his 50 last year on only 231 shots, and that shooting percentage (21.6) might not be Ovechkin, who just turned 34, beat the Edmonton Oilers left-winger, who sustainable. turns 24 on Sunday, by a single goal,(51) in the goal-scoring race last year. But, his shot is wickedly hard coming off that huge blade. Still, he’s not a shoot-first guy. He is a sweet passer, incredibly accurate on his back- Right now, Draisaitl has six goals (35 shots) and Ovechkin seven (50 hand. shots) as he closes in on Luc Robitaille (668) for 11th all-time, three back at 665. Ovechkin could surpass Teemu Selanne (684) by Christmas and “I should probably shoot more on two-on-ones,” said Draisaitl, but (690), Steve Yzerman (692) and Mark Messier (694) sometimes it’s nice to get a nice assist.” before the season ends.

Draisaitl is an unabashed Ovechkin fan, loves how and how often he Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019 scores.

“Absolutely I admire him. It’s incredible, he does it every single year. Obviously he has an off-year but an off-year for him is 40. Scoring 40 in this league is very hard to do,” said Draisaitl. “Growing up you watch guys like Ovechkin on YouTube, all those goals. Even last year being in the race with him was pretty cool.”

If Ovechkin feels any heat to get 50, Draisaitl doesn’t see it.

“He’s done it for so many years.I don’t know if it’s pressure for him. We know he’s going to score his goals. That’s just a fact,” said Draisaitl.

Of Ovechkin’s 665 goals, 218 have come on the power play.

“Everybody tries to cover him but they have other guys who can make you pay. They put a couple of pucks at the net, they get a couple of recoveries and it takes just one second if a guy is beat by a pass and it’s up and over to Ovie. He just doesn’t miss very often,” said Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk. “There’s a ton of velocity on it and he knows where to put it. Doesn’t seem to matter where the puck winds up (after a pass) because he’s got such a wide-range where he can hit it. Most of the time he’s going for low-corner. He’s not trying to go under the elbow, it’s halfway up the net. He knows if goalie is on his way over, that’s such a tough place to get to for the shot. He gets it there over and over.”

Draisaitl marvels at Ovechkin’s accuracy.

“He’s a pure shooter. He’s out there to shoot and put it in the net. Everyone knows it’s coming from that one spot (power play) and he still puts it in,” he said.

The Edmonton Oilers are flying high to start the 2019-20 NHL season, but even teams that touch the top of the standings can see their star players fall off a bit as seen in recent games.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl didn’t crowd the scoresheet in a win over Detroit and in a shutout shootout loss to the Jets, which once again underscores the need for the Oilers to conjure goals from their secondary lines.

Host Craig Ellingson talks to hockey beat writer Derek Van Diest about McDavid, Draisaitl and the forwards as well as the team’s continually solid goaltending.

Dubnyk sees some of Ovie in Draisaitl though.

“Leon is the same in that when the puck comes to him he’s not missing the net very often,” said Dubnyk. “He’s got that big paddle and that gives 1158256 Edmonton Oilers Host Craig Ellingson talks to hockey beat writer Derek Van Diest about McDavid, Draisaitl and the forwards as well as the team’s continually solid goaltending.

Edmonton Oilers Game Day: Sam Gagner draws into lineup against BIG MATCHUP Washington Capitals Leon Draisaitl vs. Alex Ovechkin

It’s very rare when two 50-goal scorers go head-to-head in the same Robert Tychkowski game, so it will be a special treat to see Leon Draisaitl and Alex Ovechkin face off Thursday. October 24, 2019 5:26 PM MDT They go about their business in very different ways, but both are lethal when the puck is on their stick in a scoring area.

Sam Gagner is drawing into the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup tonight. Ovechkin has reached 50 or more goals eight times in his career while Draisaitl has finished eighth and fourth in NHL scoring in two of the last The veteran forward, who was called up to the Oilers on Saturday from three years. the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, will play his first NHL game of the season on the fourth line with Markus Granlund and Patrick Russell in place of Tomas Jurco. Gagner had been waived and sent to the minors before the start of the season. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.25.2019

The 30-year-old was acquired by Edmonton in February in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for Ryan Spooner.

A first-round Oilers draft pick in 2007, Gagner spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career in Edmonton. He scored 13 points in 32 games for the Canucks and the Oilers in 2018-19.

SLOWING DOWN

After a torrid start to the season, the Oilers have been shut out in back- to-back losses and are now faced with having to beat Washington to avoid a three-game losing streak.

All teams, even good ones, run into dry spells, so this doesn’t mean they’ve reverted back to their old ways, but a strong performance would certainly calm the masses.

STEPPING UP

The Oilers did a fantastic job with the schedule that was put in front of them, but now they are stepping up a weight class against the Capitals.

This is their toughest opponent of the season so far and a real test of their mettle — a true measuring stick game for a 7-2-1 team that wants to prove itself.

HOME-SCHOOLING

After going 18-19-4 at Rogers Place last year, the Oilers were determined to make it a tougher place to visit and have laid the groundwork for that with a 4-0 start there.

While they are 0-2-1 with one goal in their last three road games, they’ve been a resilient group at home. That’s a quality they’ll need against the Caps.

SLUMP?

It seems absurd that anyone would refer to it as a slump when a player is held pointless for three games for just the second time in his career, but that’s where Connor McDavid sets the bar.

The Oilers captain has made spectacular seem routine for so long that on nights where he’s good, not great, people ask what’s wrong.

A LITTLE HELP

Even when the Oilers were winning, their lack of scoring help from the bottom six was being raised as a concern.

Now that they’re losing and not scoring, it’s a problem.

The team is 10 games into the season and rookie defenceman Ethan Bear has more goals (2) than the bottom nine forwards combined (1).

The Edmonton Oilers are flying high to start the 2019-20 NHL season, but even teams that touch the top of the standings can see their star players fall off a bit as seen in recent games.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl didn’t crowd the scoresheet in a win over Detroit and in a shutout shootout loss to the Jets, which once again underscores the need for the Oilers to conjure goals from their secondary lines. 1158257 Edmonton Oilers Nugent-Hopkins is playing with Neal consistently, and the wingers rotating on the left side are contributing. The two major lines, with Chiasson and Jurco above, show the No. 2 line winning the possession (Corsi) battle handily and outscoring opponents at 5-on-5 to the tune of Lowetide: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James Neal are leading a quality 5-1. This is significant progress for an organization that spent much of Oilers second line the previous two seasons resembling a one-trick pony (the McDavid line) with little else to offer. Oilers fans are focusing on the lack of scoring from

the third and fourth lines, but general manager Ken Holland and Tippett By Allan Mitchell (plus his staff) are cobbling together a second scoring line.

Oct 24, 2019 Nuge’s 2019-20 numbers

Nugent-Hopkins is a fine two-way centre. His 5-on-5 offence relies on having quality wingers alongside him. In my ‘reasonable expectations’ Sunday night in overtime, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lost a puck battle along series in early September, I wrote: “Nugent-Hopkins’ best seasons have the left side wall in the Jets’ zone, just inside the blueline. Losing a puck two things in common: Good health and a more talented offensive player battle in that situation means calamity, and as expected a 2-on-1 ensued on his line. As a complementary player, he provides a defensive heading for the Oilers’ net. Nugent-Hopkins put his head down and cut conscience and a worthy target.” the ice with his skates in rapid fashion, barely catching Blake Wheeler just as the winger coasted in on goal and a split second before he could That’s the ideal scenario for a line featuring Nugent-Hopkins. release a shot. Nuge lifted Wheeler’s stick, the puck moved to safety, A year ago at 5-on-5, Nuge performed well with (1.91 points per 60) and and another jailbreak started in the direction of the Winnipeg net. It was a without McDavid (1.68 points per 60) on his way to a career high 69 brilliant play among many during the 4-on-4 overtime between the two points (aided by 26 power play points). So far in 2019-20, despite the teams. Nugent-Hopkins is a talented offensive player, but he’s also success of the No. 2 line, Nugent-Hopkins’ offence is lagging. Here are effective in suppressing opposition scoring chances. Nugent-Hopkins’ 5-on-5 numbers, along with the scoring totals of his For Nugent-Hopkins, the early days of the 2019-20 season surely have to wingers while playing with the Nuge, via Natural Stat Trick: be a relief, specifically during 5-on-5 minutes. After what seems like James Neal: 3-1-4 in 104:58 (2.29 points per 60) years of having pedestrian wingers shuffle in and out, Nugent-Hopkins has found a keeper on right wing and the left side may be coming Tomas Jurco: 0-1-1 in 41:48 (1.44 points per 60) together, too. The history of Nuge’s linemates is basically a combination of impact NHLers coupled with current and future KHL players. As an Alex Chiasson: 0-1-1 in 47:13 (1.27 points per 60) example, here’s a look at RNH’s top linemates (by line) from 2018-19 via Nugent-Hopkins: 0-2-2 in 132:18 (0.91 points per 60) Corsica.Hockey: This isn’t terribly unusual, Nuge is often the No. 2 offensive player on his Lucic-Nuge-Chiasson: line. We should expect his current number to climb (Nuge has been 95 minutes, 44.6 Corsi for, 2-4 goals hitting the post with great frequency, hammering the iron like he’s playing cowbell on Honky Tonk Women) but it’s also likely one of Nuge’s Nuge-McDavid-Rattie: linemates (probably Neal) will be more productive offensively. Here’s the trend over the last three complete seasons: 93 minutes, 49.4 Corsi for, 4-2 goals In 2016-17, Nugent-Hopkins posted 1.50 points per 60 at 5-on-5. His two Khaira-Nuge-Puljujarvi: most common linemates were Jordan Eberle (1.60) and Milan Lucic 80 minutes, 49.2 Corsi for, 4-6 goals (1.10).

Nuge-McDavid-Yamamoto: In 2017-18, Nugent-Hopkins posted 1.96 points per 60 at 5-on-5. His two most common linemates were Lucic (2.10) and Patrick Maroon (1.88). 72 minutes, 50.3 Corsi for, 1-3 goals In 2018-19, Nugent-Hopkins posted 1.75 points per 60 at 5-on-5. His two Nuge-McDavid-Kassian: most common linemates were Connor McDavid (2.39) and Alex Chiasson (1.24). 70 minutes, 39.3 Corsi for, 3-4 goals A reminder, those totals are while playing with Nugent-Hopkins, while the Lucic-Nuge-Puljujarvi: RNH totals are his overall numbers. What the second line needs, and 53 minutes, 44.9 Corsi for, 2-0 goals may have in Neal, is a pure offensive player who can take advantage of opportunities despite playing tough competition. Six line combinations a year ago, no real consistency, and for Nugent- Hopkins very little traction. As a contrast, Connor McDavid played over The tough minutes 500 minutes in 2018-19 with two sets of wingers (284 minutes with Nugent-Hopkins is playing on a team that punishes his talent in multiple Draisaitl-Kassian, 247 minutes with Draisaitl-Chiasson) while Nuge had ways. He is, as Tyler Dellow labelled him years ago, a power play witch six sets totalling just over 450 minutes total. who could run a 5-on-4 as the centrepiece in many NHL cities. Alas, the Consistency hockey Gods have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on his team, meaning the sublime passing talent that is Nugent-Hopkins gets Nugent-Hopkins talked about having regular linemates during this year’s overlooked often. He still tears up the power play. training camp, saying “you build chemistry, you start to feel each other out, you learn more about each other. I think it’d be nice for me to play The expectation of Nugent-Hopkins is that he’ll play tough minutes, consistently with somebody.” outscore the opposition and do it without having McDavid or Draisaitl on his line. That’s the starting point. This year, he ranks No. 5 in time on ice Dave Tippett, trying to build a second scoring line, was gifted James Neal against elites among Edmonton forwards, but Puck IQ tells us he is and entering the season the Nuge-Neal combination was expected to second in terms of percentage of overall ice time. Nuge climbs Everest form the foundation of the No. 2 line in Edmonton. How is that working? every night, without McDavid most of the time. Is Nuge playing more with a set line? Here are the early 5-on-5 results, via Natural Stat Trick: What does it all mean?

Chiasson-Nuge-Neal: Nugent-Hopkins is a wonderful player. Holland (by acquiring Neal) and Tippett (by deploying Neal on his line) have given him quality pieces on 41 minutes, 57.8 Corsi for, 2-0 goals the No. 2 line, and (so far) have been keeping the duo together. The Jurco-Nuge-Neal: results in on-ice goals are rock solid and Nuge’s scoring numbers at 5- on-5 will settle down as soon as those shots that hit the post start going 39 minutes, 56.2 Corsi for, 3-1 goals in. Oilers fans should be encouraged by his start, by the usage from his coach and by the possibility of real chemistry forming when Nuge and Neal play together for 20 or 40 games. The 2019-20 season is a lot about solving problems that have been on the shop floor for years. Nugent- Hopkins playing centre on a line that outscores elite competition is one step closer to reality. That’s a win.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158258 Florida Panthers

Panthers wing Jonathan Huberdeau on his way to a record-breaking season. Here’s how

BY ALANIS THAMES

OCTOBER 24, 2019 02:59 PM

It doesn’t take long for the chants to start.

During player introductions ahead of each Florida Panthers home game, BB&T Center is filled with shouts of “HUUB” as left wing Jonathan Huberdeau makes his way to the ice.

The veteran has given fans plenty of reason to cheer since entering the league. The Panthers drafted him with the third overall pick in 2011.

He’s one of the top scorers in Panthers history, sitting at No. 7 all-time in goals (128) and third in points (367), and he has been an asset for the Panthers (4-2-3) with his passing.

Last year, he set the franchise record for most assists in a single season (62). And now, in his eighth NHL season, the 26-year-old can potentially set a new Panthers all-time assists record.

Huberdeau notched his sixth assist of the season in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The mark is second on the team this season behind linemate Aleksander Barkov. And Huberdeau needs just 11 more to pass Stephen Weiss’ all-time team assist record of 249.

After finishing the 2018-19 campaign with a career-high 92 points (30 goals, 62 assists), the Saint-Jerome, , native has continued his impactful scoring. He leads the team with 10 points, and he scored his fourth goal of the season when he tipped in a shot from defenseman Anton Stralman in the third quarter Tuesday.

“[Huberdeau] with the puck is dangerous,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said after the win. “ … I think he’s one of those guys that is a threat to score every time he’s on the ice. I just think that defensively we need to do the right things so we can be even better.”

His one-goal, one-assist performance helped extend the Panthers’ consecutive points streak to six games as they head into a four-game road stretch, which starts Friday night in Calgary, Alberta, against the Calgary Flames (5-5-1).

“We’ve had a lot of games in overtime lately, so I thought it was good to get a regulation win,” Huberdeau said after Tuesday’s game. “And I thought it was good to get some points early. That’s what we want, especially before going on a long road trip. It was good to get the points at home.”

Huberdeau, who has appeared on the score sheet in seven of the Panthers’ first nine games, has yet to make an NHL All-Star appearance, but he has made a case through the first few games of the 2019 season. And he has done so on a Panthers team that just now seems to be hitting its stride with a new coach and a plethora of new pieces.

“Lately, I’ve been struggling a little bit,” he said. “but I just want to help our team. I want to be a leader out there, and every time I’m on the ice I want to be good in the offensive zone as much as possible.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158259 Florida Panthers Calgary had taken the lead at 11:59 of the second when Tkachuk converted a give-and-go with Michael Frolik, who also had the primary assist on Tkachuk's goal in the third.

Panthers get four-point game from Barkov, extend road point streak in Flames coach Bill Peters thought they were in control when Giordano shootout loss to Flames made it 4-2, but they quickly lost that control.

"We were in a good spot right there, and they pushed, we didn't handle it very well, recovered, broke down a little bit," Peters said. "Huge goal by Staff Report (Bennett), he got us into overtime, and then the shootout."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCT 25, 2019 | 12:22 AM Sun Sentinel LOADED: 10.25.2019

CALGARY, ALBERTA

Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano was pleased with the way teammate Matthew Tkachuk delivered in the clutch.

Tkachuk scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout as the Flames recovered from squandering three leads and beat the Florida Panthers 6-5 on Thursday night.

“In big games, [Tkachuk] is always going to be there,” Giordano said. “You always want the puck on his stick, it seems, in high-pressure situations. He makes plays under pressure. That’s what makes him so good.”

However, Tkachuk wasn't pleased with the way his team blew three leads.

"We're lucky. That's obviously a big two points, but we don't want to get comfortable in games like that," Tkachuk said. "We've got a two-goal lead in the third you have to put it away."

Sean Monahan also scored in the shootout for Calgary, which converted both tiebreaking attempts on Sergei Bobrovsky. David Rittich thwarted Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov to secure the victory.

Austin Czarnik, Mark Giordano and Sam Bennett scored in regulation for Calgary.

Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Josh Brown, Evgenii Dadonov and Mark Pysyk scored for Florida. Barkov had four assists.

Florida got its first lead at 14:59 of the third period. Pysyk got open in the slot, took a feed from Frank Vatrano and sent a 30-foot wrist shot through Rittich's pads.

Calgary responded at 17:17. Bennett broke to the net, shot the puck and collected his own rebound to score.

"We got a big goal there, obviously, all of a sudden it's 5-4 (Florida) but then they get a fortunate bounce on their goal," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said. "Then in overtime, anything can happen and we've been snake-bit a little bit in overtime and in the shootout."

Florida has points in its last seven, but only three of the games have been wins.

"You want to squeeze out every point you can and when you come back the way we did from a 4-2 deficit, you try to find the positive in that," said Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who played in his 400th NHL game..

Rittich's five goals allowed came on 23 shots. Bobrovky faced 24 shots.

Tied 2-2 after two periods, the Flames surged in front 4-2 on Tkachuk's second goal of the game 32 seconds into the third and Giordano's goal at 5:16.

Calgary had more chances. Sean Monahan, held without a goal in his last 10 games, was stopped on a breakaway, then robbed on a one-time shot. The Flames also hit two posts.

The Panthers pulled within one on Brown's first goal of the season at 6:20. Florida tied it just over two minutes later when Dadonov converted Huberdeau's pass on a 2-on-1.

Down 2-1, the Panthers tied it for the second time in the second period at 15:15 when Weegar got open in the slot, took a feed from Barkov, and beat Rittich on his blocker side from 40 feet out. 1158260 Florida Panthers

‘Unlimited sampling’ + beer = new Panthers fans: It’s Beerfest time at BB&T Center

By WELLS DUSENBURY

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL

OCT 24, 2019 | 2:09 PM

If you like beer and hockey, the BB&T Center is the place for you next month. Actually, you just have to want to sample a bunch of beers in a cool, your-beer-won’t-get-warm environment. Maybe you’ll find out that you are a hockey fan, too.

On Nov. 30, the Florida Panthers will host their annual Pucks & Pints Beerfest. Presented by Funky Buddha Brewery, the event will take place at the BB&T Center for the Panthers’ game against the Nashville Predators. Don’t worry, it’s a Saturday, so you can sleep in the next morning.

The Panthers have various ticket options, including the general- admission package, which gives you access to the event, an upper level ticket to the game, parking and most importantly — a 4 oz. cup for unlimited sampling for $65. Students 21 or older can purchase an admission package for $35.

Participating breweries include Barrel of Monks, Broski Ciderworks, Cigar City Brewing, Concrete Beach Brewery, Copperpoint Brewing Company, Funky Buddha Brewery, Lagunitas, LauderAle, M.I.A. Beer Company and more. The event will also feature live music and giveaways.

You must be 21 or older to attend the event, of course.

Puck & Pints will begin at 4 p.m. at the Xikar Lounge “Beer Garden” and the food court in section 130. The puck drops at 7 p.m., so there is plenty of time to get your beer on first.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158261 Florida Panthers “If we were speaking Finnish between us three, they would always let us know about it,” said Borgstrom, who also knows some Swedish. “It’s nice to speak Finnish, but in the locker room, I feel it’s better to at least use English as the main language. If you go with a language that people don’t Say what? Panthers navigate melting pot of eight languages to find understand, it’s not nice for everyone.” chemistry Added Keith Yandle: “You don’t want someone to feel left out, so if you hear a guy talking French or Russian or something, you walk by and say, ‘English!'” By Erin Brown Panthers Jonathan Huberdeau (11) and Sasha Barkov (16) know how to Oct 24, 2019 celebrate goals in several languages. “I know we have good chemistry on the ice,” says Barkov. “We don’t even need to talk that much.” (Russell LaBounty / USA Today) CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — As linemates this season and last, Jonathan Huberdeau and Sasha Barkov proved to be among the NHL’s most There are also benefits to having a multitude of languages on the ice. prolific duos. “If we’re doing a play, I can tell Barky in English and he can tell Daddy Although they scored a combined 188 points in 2018-19 and have (Evgenii Dadonov) in front of their players (in Russian), and they wouldn’t continued to display terrific on-ice chemistry this season, there are still know what they were saying,” Yandle said. times they confuse one another. When Quebec native Mike Matheson is on the ice with Huberdeau or “Sometimes when we speak English we don’t really understand,” Sam Montembeault, they do the same in French. Huberdeau said. “We say it’s funny when we don’t really understand Denis Malgin, who was born in Switzerland to Russian parents, is each other.” Florida’s Rosetta Stone. He is fluent in four languages: English, Russian, Although their spoken English is seemingly fluent, neither Huberdeau nor Swiss and German. The winger often code switches to easily Barkov learned it as their mother tongue. So when it comes to communicate with whomever he is speaking. communication, getting a point across may not always be as crisp as “Barky, Daddy and Bob, we speak Russian together. To Borgy, I speak their passes and one-timers. English. He tries to speak German to me, but … if somebody is speaking “If we don’t understand each other, we just smile and laugh and keep German, I’m going to speak German with him.” going,” Barkov said. “I know we have good chemistry on the ice. We Anton Stralman is the lone Swede on Florida’s roster, though he don’t even need to talk that much.” sometimes chats with Borgstrom who, “speaks better (Swedish) than he Huberdeau, whose primary language is French, and Barkov, who first admits to.” learned Russian and Finnish, are among nine Panthers who consider The defenseman said it’s “natural” for players to switch between themselves multilingual. languages if the situation calls for it. Although this year’s squad is not the most ethnically diverse in franchise “When I was playing with Heddy (Victor Hedman) in Tampa, we would history, players and coaches can communicate in a combined eight communicate in Swedish on the ice, in the corners. That was kind of languages. natural for us,” Stralman said. “If I see anyone I am playing against or The league is more linguistically colorful now than when coach Joel other Swedes, I’ll chit-chat (in Swedish).” Quenneville began his NHL playing career in the late 1970s. Learning English, however, has become a skill as essential to NHL During his rookie season in 1978-79, only 6 percent of NHL players were players as perfecting one’s two-way game. born outside of North America. If any language other than English As a 16-year-old with NHL aspirations, the French-speaking Huberdeau dominated, it was French, with 15 percent of the league’s players hailing had plans to learn English, whether it was at prep school or during his from Quebec. major junior career. Today, 31 percent of players were born outside of North America, while He ended up in Saint John, New Brunswick, with a billet family who the contingent from Quebec makes up 5 percent. There are as many spoke English and teammates who could translate. Russians and Finns in the NHL as Quebecois. “My (billet) family was only English, so to get things done I had to speak Quenneville said he started noticing the multitude of languages in the English,” Huberdeau said. “You’re going away from your family and going league when he began coaching. to a family that only speaks another language that you don’t know. But “There was always one or two players, but you didn’t notice it much,” hockey, it makes it fun. The guys made it easy on me and I learned. The Quenneville said. “But it was always one language (English).” family was great, teaching me things. I was asking questions. It was tough at the beginning, but the process goes pretty quick. And it still is, at least in Quenneville’s locker room. “I think it’s the best way you can learn another language — go into a The Cats coach maintains an English-only rule with his current squad, place that only speaks that language, and you have to speak it to get mainly out of courtesy to everyone. around everything.”

It is not a new concept to the Panthers, who saw the NHL’s first English- That is exactly the situation Dadonov found himself thrust into as a 20- only locker room established under Terry Murray 20 years ago. year-old.

“Everybody has their way, whether it’s a curse word or whatever. That As the only Russian on the in his first pro season comes out naturally,” Quenneville said. “But conversationally, we want to in North America, Dadonov leaned on his roommate, Tyler Plante, and make sure we’re talking English. online lessons to pick up the language.

“Some guys you need (a translator) until they get acclimated. Usually, “I think it’s not that hard when you’re younger,” Dadonov said. “But when you have full-time help to get them to understand the language. But that you’re older and come over, it’s probably harder.” has always been in place. Guys who don’t understand, you might have a translator in a meeting or something like that early on.” Montembeault also learned English during his stint in juniors, from coaches, teammates and subtitles on TV, “so I could see the actions with Multilingual players find they can easily slip into discussions with the words.” countrymen without realizing they’re breaking the rule. Being the only French-speaking player in Springfield last season further During Henrik Borgstrom’s first professional season with the Springfield developed Montembeault’s familiarity. He had no choice but to speak Thunderbirds, he could chat with fellow Finns Sebastian Repo and Juho English, but he also picked up some phrases in other languages as well. Lammikko. Teammates would jokingly ask them to “stop talking gibberish.” “I love learning new languages,” Montembeault said. “It’s fun when you go up to those guys (and) from out of nowhere you tell them something (in the language) they know.”

Even Yandle, whose exposure to a foreign language was limited to a French-immersion program in elementary school, has picked up a few phrases as well.

“Anything in other languages I know words of, it’s all the swear words that guys have told me in Finnish, Swedish or Russian,” Yandle said. “It’s all you need in life.”

Players who come from Scandinavia have the greatest advantage. English is part of the primary school curriculum. Players such as Stralman, Borgstrom and Barkov learned the language at an early age.

“It makes everything so much easier,” Borgstrom said. “Nowadays it’s even bigger because kids have their iPhones and iPads. They can go to the internet and watch YouTube. They learn it so fast. It’s great we start learning English so early. It’s just going to help you later on in life. I’m grateful (for) that.”

For others, mastery is still a work in progress.

“We try to make a joke that we don’t understand,” Huberdeau said of his conversations with Barkov. “Sometimes we say something and (when it isn’t understood) we just say, ‘Ah, whatever.’

“Hockey is not really talking. On the ice, it’s more having the feeling of it. That’s what we’ve been doing. We understand each other a little bit more, but sometimes we laugh about it.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158262 Los Angeles Kings Orange County Register: LOADED: 10.25.2019

Kings surrender 3 power-play goals in loss to Blues

Staff Report

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 8:07 pm | UPDATED: October 25, 2019 at 12:58 am

ST. LOUIS — The Kings’ penalty kill had been remarkably efficient of late, but it abandoned them against the defending Stanley Cup champions on Thursday night.

Alex Pietrangelo and Robert Thomas scored goals in a two-minute span of the second period and the St. Louis Blues came back to beat the Kings 5-2 on Thursday night.

Brayden Schenn scored twice, including an empty-netter, and Vince Dunn also scored for the Blues, who went 3 for 4 on the power play against a Kings penalty kill that had stopped 16 of their previous 17 attempts.

“We were drilled on the penalty kill,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “Our power play wasn’t sharp. More importantly for me, it was above and beyond structure tonight. I thought they were just harder. They stripped pucks. They won battles and small area games we didn’t win. They were always ahead of us.”

Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko each had a pair of assists for the Blues and Jordan Binnington made 33 saves.

Jeff Carter and Alex Iafallo scored for the Kings and Jonathan Quick made 30 saves.

Pietrangelo tied the score at 2-2 with a one-timer from the high slot midway through the second for the Blues’ second power-play goal in three tries.

Thomas, who missed the first part of the season with an upper-body injury, poked in a puck freed up by a quick stick from Zach Sanford to give the Blues a 3-2 lead with 8:04 left in the second. It was the first goal of the season for Thomas, who thought he had scored earlier in the period but a review showed his shot went off the crossbar instead of into the net.

“I missed an open net the game before so it’s one of those where eventually it will come but you just don’t know when,” Thomas said. “A great play by Sanny and I had the whole net.”

Schenn finished off a nice feed from Schwartz and Parayko gave the Blues a two-goal advantage at 7:27 of the third with the team’s third power-play goal of the game.

The Kings capitalized on a failed Blues breakout to take a 1-0 lead late in the first. Blake Lizotte kept the puck in the Blues zone and found Carter all alone in front of the net as he beat Binnington on a backhander for his second goal of the season with 5:11 left in the period.

Dunn evened the score with a power-play goal with 1:37 left in the first. Schwartz set it up with a no-look pass that found its way through the Kings crease and between Drew Doughty’s skates before landing on Dunn’s tape.

Iafallo gave the Kings a 2-1 lead at the 3:07 mark of the second period. Iafallo tipped in a Sean Walker shot from the point for his second goal of the season.

“They have what we want,” Kings center Trevor Lewis said. “Everyone wants to beat them and give them our ‘A’ game. Obviously they did a good job against us tonight and I don’t think we were as sharp as we needed to be.”

Blues right-winger Vladimir Tarasenko left the game with an upper-body injury after getting tangled up with Kings defenseman Walker on a partial break with about six minutes left in the first. Tarsenko, who had eight points in his previous five games, had two shots in 4:37 of ice time before leaving. 1158263 Los Angeles Kings wasn’t getting anything. He came in and he made our team, probably pushed some guys out of the way. It’s exciting.”

It wasn’t the first time Lizotte faced an outsized challenge. Blake Lizotte’s ‘relentless’ personality got him to the Kings and now he’s Even Lizotte’s mother remembered being firmly and immediately out to prove he belongs for good corrected by her son about his prospects in the NHL when she drove over to St. Cloud to have dinner with him during the collegiate season, his sophomore year, last February. By Lisa Dillman “I was just talking to him about something and said, ‘If you ever play in Oct 24, 2019 the NHL,’’’ she said. “He said, ‘No, I will play in the NHL.’ And I changed my phrasing.

“He said it with such conviction, I almost sat back and said, ‘Whoa.’ He is Blake Lizotte guessed he was about 10 years old when he had a light- driven to do this. It was very firm. He knew in his mind that’s what he was bulb moment, still years away from playing for Chisago Lakes High going to do. As a mom, you’re cautious and you don’t want to put School, the Minot Minotauros, the or St. Cloud State expectations on him and say, ‘When you play in the NHL.’ And if he University. doesn’t, he feels like, ‘I let her down.’” He was on hand to watch the Minnesota Wild play against the Detroit Blake Lizotte will tell you that being underestimated at every level aided Red Wings in St. Paul and happened to be in the bowels of the arena his development. and spotted the Wild players warming up for the game in what is now a time-honored tradition. “If you look at my track record, I’ve never been a highly touted prospect, because of my size and just my coming from a small town,” he said. “I saw Cal Clutterbuck playing soccer before the game and I said, ‘I want “Being a free agent, I’ve had to earn my way every step of the way. And I to be in the NHL someday. I want to play here someday,’” Lizotte said. think that’s actually helped me in the long run. My personality is “Sure enough, I thought about that this last week and it’s kind of crazy.” relentless and I don’t picture it as, ‘Oh, they have me in the lineup.’ They That day is almost here. don’t.

Lizotte will have played in 11 NHL games — one last season and 10 this “I said, ‘I’m going to show up to camp and give my best foot forward and season — with the Kings by the time the Minnesotan returns home to that’s all I can do.’ I can’t control anything else.” play the Wild on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. From Lindstrom to Los Angeles “It’s pretty surreal,” Lizotte said. “If you’d told me a year ago you’d be in The kid who showed up on Marty Murray’s North Dakota doorstep for the my shoes, I’d say, ‘No way.’ A lot has happened in the last year. So, it’s 2014-15 season stood about 5-6 and weighed 138 pounds. all surreal every day for me. It’s something that I’ve been dreaming about.” “I could not believe this was the kid that was coming to play junior hockey for us for the year,” said Murray, who is now the general manager and It is a game eagerly anticipated by a close family and a proud small coach of the Minot Minotauros. “He literally looked like a little boy and his community, Lindstrom, supporting and cheering for its first NHLer. mom kind of laughs to this day. She was like, ‘I cannot believe I just sent Lindstrom is 35 miles northeast of the Twin Cities and only 10 miles from him up to Minot, North Dakota, on his own.’ Wisconsin. “He had this beat up, old Toyota Corolla. You can hear him coming two Lisa Lizotte, Blake’s mother, teaches fourth grade in neighboring Chisago blocks away when he rolled down the streets, and yeah, it was a pretty City, and her students know Blake because he has visited her class from funny story. It is obviously great to see his career take off and we were time to time. The next time he drops by the school, it could be a certainly lucky to have him here for a year.” fascinating career day: how an undersized youngster, 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, went from being undrafted to signing as a free agent to a The decision to let the youngest of her three sons move to Minot was far centering the second line of an NHL team. from easy for Lisa.

There is room for Lizotte fever in the midst of Wild country. “If you know anything about our history, that was not long after my husband had passed away,” Lisa said. “He died suddenly in his sleep. “All these people have Lizotte shirts and jerseys,” Lisa said. “It’s an incredible thing in our little community that somebody from our town “For me to make that decision by myself, to let one of my kids go far made it to the NHL.” away when they were still under 18 and not done with school, it was very difficult. I sought a lot of counsel.” Her phone started lighting up with messages when he made the Kings’ opening-night roster, but even then she was measured in her But she remembered a conversation that she once had with her expectations. husband. Mike, who was a teacher in nearby North Branch, played high school hockey and tennis and shared a love of both sports with his sons, “If he plays one game or two, that’s amazing to us,” Lisa said. “It’s kind of Brett, Brock and Blake, and coached them. a local hero thing happening. I go into the grocery store and I can’t get out of there with at least five people saying, ‘Wow, how’s Blake? Are you “Everyone said he was like a 45-year-old kid,” Lisa said. excited?’” The summer Mike passed away, they had been out on their boat on the This was before Lizotte kept winning puck battles, kept energizing and lake and discussed what might happen if Blake kept progressing with his kept moving up the Kings’ lineup, working his way to the second line, hockey. Mike said that if Blake was good enough to play at an advanced centering Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli. Heading into Thursday night’s level and wanted to play college hockey, he might need to leave home. game at St. Louis, Lizotte had two assists and was plus-three in nine games. Most of the summer projections — The Athletic included — didn’t “I remembered the conversation. It helped me solidify that in my mind if have Lizotte in their opening-night lineup, let alone penciled in as the Mike was here, he would send him,” Lisa said. second-line center. A young Blake Lizotte (in red). (Provided by Lisa Lizotte) “The main thing is the work ethic every day. Practice, game, whatever it That, and a deep religious faith helped. It also eased her mind that Blake is, he’s dialed in,” Carter said. “He’s 21 years old, but he’s mature would be living with Murray and his young family. Murray was drafted by beyond his years, is probably a good way to put it. You’d have to ask the Calgary Flames in 1993 and played for the Flames, the Philadelphia him, but I got to think, just looking at him and knowing a little bit of his Flyers, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Kings (19 games in 2006-07) as story, it seems like he’s kind of always the underdog, right? well as the Kings’ AHL team in Manchester. “The little guy. ‘Man you’re never going to make it, blah blah blah.’ The “I was the older captain in the American League,” Murray said. “So, it kid’s got a chip on his shoulder and he comes to work every day and was kind of fun, all the young guys that came through like Alec Martinez, doesn’t take anything for granted. He came in and made our team. He Trevor Lewis and (Jonathan) Quick was down there for a while. “I played with a few of those guys and now, full circle, that he (Lizotte) is “I’m happy I’m not going against him anymore. I’m excited I don’t have to playing with them now too.” chase him around anymore. He plays like he is 6-foot-4. He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop, goes to the dirty areas. Like I said, he’s not a fun guy to Lizotte would go on to record 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in 56 play against. You know he’s never going to stop. If you beat him once, games with Minot. Everyone was eager to see how the teenager with two he’s coming back to try to get it from you again.” years of high school hockey under his belt would fare against bigger, older and stronger players. Right player, right time

“His mom’s on pins and needles,” Murray said. “Our league is older There has always been room for smaller skilled players in the NHL, but compared to, say, the USHL. There are some pretty grown men in our the flood started when the NHL started cracking down on hooking and league, and I remember his very first exhibition game, he got hit and got holding and interference. his bell rung and I am like, ‘Oh boy, this is the end of it.’ His mom is going to want him home and who am I to say that that is not the right call. It created a more suitable environment for smaller players to flourish and show their creativity. Earlier in camp, a couple of prominent smaller “But he stuck it out and healed up from that and we gave him his time skilled players — Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames and Alex that he needed and then, he had an impact in right his first game. I think DeBrincat of the Chicago Blackhawks — came up in a conversation with we won 3-2 and I think he was maybe in on all three goals. We knew Lizotte. right there and then; he was ready to move on and ready to push himself at this level.” “Those are definitely players you strive to be like, but I think those type of players are one in a handful,” Lizotte said. “Guys like Gaudreau and Kings coach Todd McLellan had the team’s beat reporters chuckling last (Patrick) Kane, the guys who are smaller but they light up the league, I week when he passed along what assistant coach Trent Yawney had to think those are generational players. say about Lizotte’s energy, likening him to “a mosquito in a dark tent.” “For myself, it’s more like guys like Cam Atkinson, or Brendan Gallagher. Those relentless qualities were on display in Minot and carried over to Smaller players who have a motor and work hard. So, I think those are the next two seasons in USHL Fargo and two more with St. Cloud State. more players that I try and be like. I try to play to skill, I do. But first and foremost, I like to play hard and with energy, and not afraid to go “He continued to impress and the one thing that always astonished me is, anywhere on the ice.” whenever he went into a puck battle, he always comes out with it somehow,” Murray said. “There might have been two or three players in While the Kings are waiting for some of their high draft picks to mature, a scrum and here is little Blake coming out with the puck and I do not it’s an added bonus for them to have Lizotte manage to hit early, beating know how he does it. I think it is a lot of heart. We’ve have had 6-foot-4 the expectations once again. While Carter and Toffoli have helped him, guys here that did not win nearly as many puck battles as him. Just his it’s clear that Lizotte’s energy has rubbed off and sparked his linemates. tenacity and his will, shift-in, shift-out.” “It’s exciting to get some young guys and some young legs and a little bit Lizotte’s emergence at St. Cloud State came during a period in which the of energy into the lineup,” Carter said. Kings had to get creative as they attempted to restock a pipeline without a lot of high draft picks. Assistant general manager Michael Futa and his And it’s more than that with Lizotte, and, say, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who department got aggressive in college free agency and the Kings started played with Carter briefly last season and impressed him with his winning some bidding wars: Alex Iafallo (UM-Duluth,) Sean Walker maturity. (Bowling Green), Sheldon Rempal (Clarkson), Daniel Brickley (Minnesota “It’s just thinking and knowing this is the move,” Carter said. “This is State University, Mankato). where you need to be, if you’re there, and everybody else does their job When it comes to St. Cloud, the Kings have a valuable inside track with then everything works out. Sometimes you get young kids that come in their college scout Brooks Bertsch, who played for the Huskies from and they think they have to do everything. Have to go 100 miles an hour, 2011-15. One of his fellow scouts joked that Bertsch probably still has a 100 percent of the time, then you’re out of position. Slow it down, think key to the locker room. about where you need to be, and do your job and everything is fine.”

“If you can play, you can play. It doesn’t matter how big or small you are,” Bertsch said. “If you compete and you can provide value and a role to a The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 team or a lineup, they’ll find room for you. I think that’s the way the league’s going, whether you’re a free agent or drafted player.

“That’s what’s great about the NHL. It doesn’t really matter where you come from. Kids like Blake could pass through when they’re draft eligible at 18 and 19 and they still find a way. We’re starting to see, there’s always a couple guys every year, whether it’s European free agents or NCAA free agents, that are finding their way onto rosters.”

Bertsch started meeting with Lizotte late last year to build a relationship. The Kings were waiting to see if he was interested in leaving school after his sophomore season. If not, they were prepared to keep a close eye on him and stay patient.

Two games in March on consecutive days in St. Paul convinced Bertsch that Lizotte was ready for the next level. (The No. 1-seeded Huskies would later go on to lose to American International in their first game of the NCAA regional tournament.)

“I believe they played Colorado College (a 5-2 victory) on Friday and Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, a (3-2) loss in overtime to Mikey Anderson’s team,” Bertsch said. “Blake was pretty much a dominant player in both games and had the ability to take over both of those games.”

Coincidentally, Anderson, the defenseman who was drafted by the Kings in 2017, and Lizotte are living together this season.

“We played against each other, I think it was six times a year for two years when we were in junior,” said Anderson, who is with AHL Ontario. “And then the last two years in college we played each other five times each year. 1158264 Los Angeles Kings restocking the cupboard at the NHL and AHL levels. There have been misses but two hits have been first-line wing Alex Iafallo (in 2017) and second-line center Blake Lizotte (in April). They continued to stockpile draft picks and had four selections in the top 50 in June. Rebuilders’ roundtable: How the Red Wings, Senators and Kings differ in approach and progress This season, the Kings have been able to integrate younger players into their lineup and give them significant minutes, starting with Lizotte. Defenseman Sean Walker played in 39 games in 2018-19, but he is averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time this season. But you can Max Bultman, Lisa Dillman and Hailey Salvian only go so far with the youth movement at this early stage of the rebuild. Oct 24, 2019 In a perfect world, they’d bring up a couple more players from the AHL late in the season to give them a taste of the NHL, to help set them up for the next season. When the Red Wings and Senators squared off Wednesday night in Ottawa, it was hard not to think about how far both rebuilding teams still That’s about as much youth as their lineup can handle. have to go. One of Kings general manager Rob Blake’s best moves in his two-plus They ranked 30th and 31st in Dom Luszczyszyn’s projected standings years on the job was the Jake Muzzin trade in January. The Kings sent before the season, and even after Ottawa’s 5-2 win, it remains with Muzzin to the Maple Leafs and received three assets in return — two Detroit as two of the four bottom-dwelling teams in the league’s prospects (forward Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Sean Durzi) and standings. Sure, you could point to pieces on each team (Dylan Larkin, Toronto’s first-round draft pick in June. Thomas Chabot, Anthony Mantha and Brady Tkachuk, to name a few) That turned out to be Swedish defenseman Tobias Bjornfot, at No. 20. who are already NHL difference makers, and for two rebuilding clubs Six players from the 2019 draft class have played in the NHL this season, those are extremely important players to have. In many ways, that makes and the others were all taken ahead of Bjornfot. He appeared in the it interesting to watch them go head-to-head, understanding how much of Kings’ first three games, was a healthy scratch the next four and was their respective teams’ success will be based on how those players sent to AHL Ontario on Friday. continue to develop. I can see the Kings going back to the playbook of last season and But what’s just as interesting, if not more so, are the processes each stockpiling assets in the second half of the season with a series of team is undergoing behind the scenes, and the similarities and trades. differences in their approaches, successes and setbacks so far. With that in mind, The Athletic’s Red Wings and Senators beat writers, Max Blake told me last week that he anticipated a shuffling of younger players Bultman and Hailey Salvian, put together a roundtable with Kings beat so that they can continue to get games in with the Kings or the Reign. writer Lisa Dillman to discuss three of the league’s clearest rebuilders, The Kings might be behind the Red Wings in terms of the start of their comparing and contrasting their respective situations, timelines for rebuild but they are taking the same patient development path. It spoke contention and more. volumes when they changed plans and decided not to send Bjornfot back to Sweden, opting to keep a close watch on his progress. To start off, how would you each characterize the rebuilding efforts of the team you cover? What has the team’s approach been, and what looks Max Bultman: I think for the Red Wings, a lot of their rebuild has been like it will or won’t work so far? about making as many draft picks as possible and a patient development process (they haven’t “rushed” really any of their prospects except Hailey Salvian: The Senators’ rebuild is still relatively new, as they really maybe Michael Rasmussen, as a result of the CHL-NHL agreement, and only committed to one in earnest last season. First they traded away Erik even in that case they have since sent him to the AHL now that he’s Karlsson before training camp and then traded a number of their core eligible). They’re in Year 3 or 4 of this process, depending on how you players (Mark Stone, Ryan Dzingel and Matt Duchene) at the trade want to set the timeline. So they’ve certainly had their fair share of picks deadline in February. Last year their approach was to tear it down and — in the last three drafts they’ve made 32 picks, which is a whole draft bring in assets in return. In the case of the Karlsson trade, the Senators and a half more than their original allotment — and in the last two years got “young veteran” NHLers in Chris Tierney and Dylan DeMelo, alone they’ve made three first-round and five second-round picks. prospects Rudolfs Balcers and Josh Norris and two of San Jose’s draft picks. Now, though, they’re in that ever-challenging development phase, and things aren’t moving along super fast there. They’ve got a couple young Other notable returns are Erik Brannstrom (Vegas Golden Knights) and defensemen who are now NHL full-timers in Dennis Cholowski and Filip Vitaly Abramov (Columbus Blue Jackets). And for the upcoming draft, Hronek, and some of the young players who had already been drafted they also have five picks in the first two rounds. That is all on top of their when the rebuild started (Larkin, Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler already strong prospect pool of Logan Brown, Alex Formenton and Drake Bertuzzi) have cemented themselves in the top six, but their top Batherson, among others. prospects aren’t really kicking the door down right now. Filip Zadina has Right now, though, the Senators are in the development phase of the tons of talent, but he’s got lots of room left to develop before he can be rebuild. They have some young standouts in the NHL already (Tkachuk, counted on as a top-liner. Joe Veleno was a star last season in the Chabot, Brannstrom and Colin White) who are being mostly paired off QMJHL, but he hasn’t scored a point yet in the American Hockey with veterans to help show them the ropes. The rest of the prospects are League. Moritz Seider looks advanced but is just 18. Evgeny Svechnikov in the AHL, where the team believes they will develop the best, which had an ACL injury last season and is still recovering, Rasmussen is still has been a point of contention among Senators fans to start the year. learning the pro game, and all of those second-round picks in the last two years are likely going to take substantial time. Personally, I think the young prospects need to work things out in the AHL first. This Senators team is going to struggle a lot at times this year, So their approach looks potentially promising in theory, because of the and protecting their young stars from being the NHL’s punching bag is volume of picks and prospects they’ve accumulated, but I wouldn’t say the best they can do for their development. Whether this will work, only they’re right on the verge of breaking through or anything. time will tell. But the Senators certainly have a lot of talent coming up Corey Pronman has the Senators and Red Wings pretty close together in through the organization and if they can stay on a positive development both his farm system and under-23 Core Rankings, either at the fringe or path, I think this will be a good team in time. just outside the top 10, but the Kings he has at pretty extreme ends of the Lisa Dillman: What hurt the Kings in the past was that they were caught spectrum (fourth in farm system, 24th in under-23 core). Most of the between trying to climb through the window one more time or rebuild and Kings’ best players seem to be on the older end, but there’s also some just couldn’t seem to make their minds up about what to do. substantial pieces who haven’t yet arrived. Lisa, how has that impacted their timeline? The pitfalls of such indecision were on full display last season, resulting in a 30th-place finish and worst showing in a decade. You can’t put one Dillman: If there was any doubt that the Kings are highlighting a specific toe in the water when confronting the cold reality of a rebuild. draft class, it was reinforced at their state of the franchise function in Los Angeles in August, not long before rookie training camp. What has helped move it along is that the Kings have been getting more active and aggressive on the college free-agent front, gradually That same night, Alex Turcotte, playing for the University of Wisconsin, Dillman: There are many long-term contracts that are already burdening picked up his first collegiate point in an exhibition against the University the Kings. The one at the forefront is the goaltender Jonathan Quick’s of British Columbia. It was noted at least once, maybe more, at the deal — which runs through the 2022-23 season and has a $5.8 million season-ticket holder event. AAV. What also would help the Kings as they make their way through a rebuild is the addition of an outside voice on the management team. I More recently, Kings coach Todd McLellan made reference to Turcotte’s know it’s impossible to compare what Vegas did, as an expansion team, three assists on Friday night against UM-Duluth and spoke about Arthur to other franchises, but I thought it was impressive that George McPhee Kaliyev’s stellar play (with OHL Hamilton). Even a couple of time zones went outside his comfort zone and just didn’t only bring in former away, it’s hard to miss what Turcotte, who was taken at No. 5 in June, is colleagues from his Washington Capitals days. Ron Hextall did work for doing in college – the Kings’ TV home, Fox Sports West, announced it the Kings previously as an assistant general manager. But I thought it will air 11 of Turcotte’s games this season. was an important move for Blake to bring in an experienced hand (as a In other words, there’s a lot of excitement about the June draft and rightly part-time adviser) from outside his inner circle, who had been through a so with three picks in the top 33. Nothing can fast-track a rebuild more lot the same issues now facing the Kings when he was the Flyers’ GM. swiftly than landing multiple impact players in one draft. There has been Bultman: Without sounding too much like a broken record, it’s the lack of less talk and more mystery about, say, the 2017 draft, largely because of a truly elite prospect to build around. I do think Larkin is a No. 1 center in an injured player. the NHL, but Cup winners often either have two of those, or at the very I think some of the discrepancy in Corey’s rankings — at least when it least a superstar winger or defenseman to go with that center — if not comes to the Kings — certainly has to do with Gabe Vilardi. It’s hard to more. The Red Wings need one of those things badly (like both other assess (guess?) where Vilardi might be in his professional career if he teams in this roundtable, their fortunes would be changed significantly hadn’t had deeply concerning and lingering issues with his back. with an Alexis Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield). There are a couple longer contracts that will be burdensome for the next few years, but they’re also It’s safe to say that a healthy Vilardi, who was taken 11th in the 2017 finally getting to the point where they’ve been able to shed a fair number draft, would have had the Kings ranked quite a bit higher than 24th in the of those, too. Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen are the only contracts current under-23 core. that look like they’ll be issues two years from now. I’d also say future goaltending is a great unknown for Detroit. Filip Larsson is the supposed Coincidentally, as I was writing one of the answers to the roundtable, an goalie of the future, but he’s got a dicey injury history and even then may email from the Kings’ PR staff hit my inbox on Monday night, about not be that true star in net. Vilardi. It said he was scheduled to start skating on Tuesday at their practice facility in El Segundo. If all goes well, the next step would be to Salvian: I think the Senators have similar weaknesses to the Red Wings. practice with the Ontario Reign. Of note, Vilardi’s last game was Dec. 9 The Senators do have a star defenseman and winger in Chabot and with the Reign. Tkachuk, but right now there are questions about whether White can grow to become a No. 1 center. It’s still incredibly early, but his struggles What would you both say are the best assets each of these teams has in to start the year suggest that the Senators would really benefit from a their respective rebuilds? Is it the current cores, farm systems, draft high-end center like Byfield. Another weakness for the Senators too, is capital, management team in charge? Some combination or something while they have the quality and quantity in their prospects, they don’t else? necessarily have the same resources being put into them like other Dillman: In no particular order, the best assets the Kings have is teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs, for example, run their AHL Marlies like impressive goaltending depth in the organization and an elite prospect in an NHL club. When they send a player down to develop, the player has Turcotte. Not only do the Kings have two talented goalies in Jack access to elite coaches, trainers, facilities and are about 100 meters Campbell and Cal Petersen but they are both signed to team-friendly away from the Leafs (they share a practice facility). The Belleville contracts, setting up the Kings for the next couple of seasons. Petersen Senators re-signed Troy Mann this year, and Mann and D.J. Smith last summer signed a three-year contract extension with an AAV of appear to be on the same page, which is great. But I don’t get the sense $858,333. It is a two-way contract the first year and one way after that, Belleville operates quite the same as the Marlies. Nobody does. meaning that the Kings have seen enough in him to support the Have there been any particularly interesting setbacks or surprise contention he is their goalie of the future. Campbell, who would have developments in the rebuild of the team you cover? been an unrestricted free agent after the season, signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract in September. Salvian: I just spent the evening in Belleville over the weekend and things aren’t going as well as initially expected. When the Senators sent so Salvian: I’d say it’s a combination of things for the Senators. They have many top prospects down out of training camp, expectations in the AHL the young core already in White, Tkachuk and Chabot. They have a solid were set pretty high with all the potential star power they were getting. farm team in Belleville developing players like Batherson, Brown, Norris But the Belleville Senators have started the season with only two wins in and Formenton. And they have solid draft capital coming into this year’s six games. Brown and Batherson are leading the team, but their defense draft, like I said above, with five picks in the top two rounds in what is has struggled and so have their goaltenders. Mann even said that the projecting to be a deep draft class. coaches in Belleville have a lot more work cut out for them than Bultman: Ottawa’s pick situation for this draft is pretty impressive, anticipated. Which isn’t great, but it’s still early. especially if that Columbus second-rounder ends up in the early part of Dillman: For now, the Vilardi injury setback would be high on the list. I’ll the second round. That’s prime “get the mysterious draft-day slider who be curious to see what happens with him now that he seems to be turns out to be really good” territory. progressing and if he would even be on the list when we assemble to do I suppose the best assets the Red Wings have are a No. 1 center on a this again a year from now. (By then, will the three of us call ourselves solid contract and a handful of highly picked prospects already in the “The Lottery Club”?) system to develop. Going back to the last question, none of the current On the positive side, the big surprise was the swift development of top prospects may turn out to be that elite piece, which is something L.A. Bjornfot, who was not expected to be in the season-opening night lineup. with Turcotte probably has an advantage with. But I do think there’s value Todd McLellan said the other day that they kept thinking Bjornfot would in the volume of good prospects. be sent back to Sweden and joked that he still hadn’t gone to the airport. Even if the majority don’t become impact players (which has to be the Bultman: Svechnikov’s setbacks via injury and his less productive second expectation), there really are a lot of potential pieces in the system, which year in Grand Rapids would count. Rasmussen hitting standard ninth- is a world of difference from where things stood two years ago. And then overall-pick expectations looks like a tough bet if the game plan is to I think Steve Yzerman’s presence, while still pretty nebulous in its direct make him a defense-first center and net-front power-play specialist, so impact to date, has to get some benefit of the doubt based on the team there’s that. And then relative to the draft-night expectations, Zadina not he built in Tampa. It continues to bear repeating that the circumstances being an immediate-impact NHL winger may count here as well. That’s with the Red Wings are different from what he walked into with the not ideal with so many recent first-round picks, with the obvious caveat Lightning (a Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos would change Detroit’s that they’re all still young with plenty of room to develop. I still think outlook exponentially), but he’s got a good track record for building a Zadina, in particular, is going to be a really good player in the NHL with winner. time, and patience is needed with him, but there was a time when the How about a weakness? name David Pastrnak was getting thrown around as a model for him. That certainly sounds pretty lofty now. Hronek going from second-round pick to a guy who looks like a potential top-four player on a contender is probably on the positive end of that spectrum. But there’s not that Brayden Point- or Nikita Kucherov-level find that totally changes your outlook.

How about a realistic time for contention? When could you next realistically see the team you cover winning a playoff series and it not being a total shock?

Dillman: One of the exercises we conducted this past summer was a projected Kings roster in three years.

Could the Kings contend at the end of their rebuild? While three years feels like it is forever in professional sports, I feel as though they have the right pieces in the pipeline and the right organizational philosophy when it comes to drafting and development.

Winning a playoff series? Yes, it could happen as early as next season.

The game changer, for me, would be if Turcotte is in the Kings’ lineup and if Cal Petersen is no longer the goalie of the future but the goalie of the present.

Salvian: I could see the Senators turning the corner and getting out of the basement by 2021-22. I think being a legitimate playoff-contending team is one or two years after that. Most of their players will still be pretty young by 2021-22 and they won’t have much, if any, playoff experience on the roster. They may need a year or two of losing in the first round of the playoffs to really make a lengthy run and win a few rounds. But that all depends on how their prospects develop these next few years.

Bultman: Winning a playoff series either this season or next would be a definite surprise in Detroit. I do think the Red Wings should start to move out of the basement next season, though. And even if that’s not enough to make the playoffs, by 2021-22 this team should theoretically be in a position to threaten for some measure of postseason success. (At least as long as their prospects are developing as they hope.) Is it a true Cup threat by then? Highly doubtful. But winning a round? Why not.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158265 Los Angeles Kings We talked about it in the second intermission. We wanted to come out and we wanted to win the game. That’s why we’re playing. We had some power plays to put the puck in the net. We had some chances five-on- five, so we’ve got to bear down and obviously capitalize on that because OCTOBER 24 RAPID REACTION: BLUES 5, KINGS 2 it makes a difference.

Postgame Notes

JON ROSEN — With the loss, Los Angeles fell to 78-102-26 all-time against St. Louis, a record that includes a road mark of 29-62-12. These teams have two OCTOBER 24, 2019 games remaining, December 23 at Staples Center and March 27 at Scottrade Center.

Todd McLellan, on measuring up against the Stanley Cup champions: — With the loss, the Kings fell to 4-4-0 against the Western Conference, 2-1-0 against the Central Division, 2-4 in games decided by three or Well, there are a lot of stories within the game. Obviously, the special more goals, 3-1-0 when scoring first. 1-2-0 when tied after the first teams, you know I’m going to answer that question. We were drilled on period, 0-5-0 when trailing after the second period and 0-1-0 when shots the penalty kill, our power play wasn’t sharp. But more importantly for on goal are even. Thursday’s game was the first time this season they me, it was above and beyond structure tonight. I though they were just did not out-shoot their opponent. harder. They stripped pucks, they won battles and small area gains that we didn’t win, they were always ahead of us. They got us tired and — St. Louis out-shot Los Angeles 16-12 in the first period, marking the hemmed in our zone. So, a lot of it for me was the physicality in small first time this season L.A. has been out-shot in a first period this season. areas that we just weren’t very good in. I expect our guys to be a little bit — By allowing two third period goals, the Kings have now been better. We have some guys that play that type of game that really didn’t outscored 16-8 in third periods this season. perform very well tonight. — Los Angeles has outscored opponents 23-22 in five-on-five play but McLellan, on the aspects of the St. Louis power play that overwhelmed has registered only three goals in 5×4 situations, whereas their the Kings: opponents have registered 11 in 5×4 situations. Well, they killed us in basically three different areas. One was the — By assisting on Alex Iafallo’s goal, Anze Kopitar registered his 899th rebound, it was almost a hope play to the netfront, that was the first one. career point (316-583=899). We got beat on an entry, they made a really nice play, but we were in position. We just weren’t paying attention. And then obviously the third — The Kings registered 44 shot attempts (35 on goal, 4 blocked, 5 one, we got into a battle, and it’s one of those situations I’m talking about. missed). The Blues registered 69 shot attempts (35 on goal, 19 blocked, On the half-wall where they strip the puck out, they were able to attack. 14 missed). Justin Faulk led all skaters with six shots on goal, while Ben So, three different areas. It wasn’t anything they did special other than Hutton finished with a team-high five. win the puck in those spots and made us pay. — Los Angeles won 24-of-47 faceoffs (51%). Adrian Kempe won 2-of-5, McLellan, on whether Nikolai Prokhorkin could get into a game on the Michael Amadio won 6-of-11, Anze Kopitar won 10-of-16, Alex Iafallo trip: won 0-of-1, Trevor Lewis won 2-of-7, Blake Lizotte won 2-of-2 and Jeff Carter won 2-of-5. Yeah. Anybody that’s on the trip we anticipate using. So, yeah.

Trevor Lewis, on the penalty kill challenges: LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 10.25.2019 They did a good job at just kind of shooting tonight. They shot and got pucks back. We’ve just got to have the clears while we can. I think we’ve been doing a better job on faceoffs, but I think the main thing is just staying out of the box more.

Lewis, on any correlation on penalty killing struggles:

I kind of forget – the one Petro had, I didn’t really see what happened. I just saw him get a shot and I think Carts tipped it, too. Stuff’s going to happen. They’ve got one more guy than us. I mean, we’re going to get scored on sometimes. I thought we’ve done a good job of paying more attention to detail, and the past few games, we’ve been good at getting faceoff wins and getting clears and getting fresh guys out, but when guys have to kill off a lot of penalties, it makes guys tired, too. So I think the biggest thing is just staying out of the box.

Lewis, on using the game as a “measuring stick”:

They have what we want. Everyone wants to beat them and give them our A game, and obviously they did a good job against us tonight, and I don’t think we were as sharp as we needed to be. [Reporter: You guys know how that feels.] Yeah, definitely. Coming off winning, everyone’s gunning for you. We really wanted this one tonight, and unfortunately we had a few sloppy mistakes that led to zone time and led to goals.

Kyle Clifford, on how he’d grade the team’s overall performance:

There are some good things and then there are some areas we’ve got to clean up. We got running around in our D-zone a little bit, and I think communication goes a long way. You work back for your D partners, and they work for you. Some minor things.

Clifford, on what he saw from the scrum with Jordan Binnington, and what Binnington said to him:

I don’t know what he was doing. He’s a mute, didn’t say a word.

Clifford, on opening up the third period with a good purpose: 1158266 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 10: LOS ANGELES AT ST. LOUIS

JON ROSEN

OCTOBER 24, 2019

GAME THREADS

St. Louis Blues 4, Los Angeles Kings 2

Third Period, 2:48 remaining

Preview

Box Score

Ice Tracker

LA Kings Audio Network

Fox Sports Live Stream (requires subscription)

SOG: LAK – 33; STL – 34

PP: LAK – 0/2; STL – 3/4

First Period

1) LAK – Jeff Carter (2) (Blake Lizotte, Drew Doughty), 14:49

2) STL PPG – Vince Dunn (2) (Jaden Schwartz, Colton Parayko), 18:23

Second Period

3) LAK – Alex Iafallo (2) (Sean Walker, Anze Kopitar), 3:07

4) STL PPG – Alex Pietrangelo (4) (David Perron, Ryan O’Reilly), 10:16

5) STL – Robert Thomas (1) Zach Sanford, Tyler Bozak), 11:56

Third Period

6) STL PPG – Brayden Schenn (7) (Jaden Schwartz, Colton Parayko), 7:29

Los Angeles Kings (4-5-0) at St. Louis Blues (4-2-3)

Tuesday, October 24, 2019, 7:00 p.m. CT

Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO

Referees: #19 Gord Dwyer, #12 Justin StPierre

Linesmen: #68 Scott Driscoll, #86 Jesse Marquis

Fox Sports West, FOX Sports GO, LA Kings Audio Network

LAK starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Alec Martinez, D Sean Walker, LW Alex Iafallo, C Anze Kopitar, RW Dustin Brown

LAK scratches: D Joakim Ryan, F Nikolai Prokhorkin

STL starters: G Jordan Binnington, D Colton Parayko, D Alex Pietrangelo, LW Alex Steen, C Ryan O’Reilly, RW David Perron

STL scratches: D Carl Gunnarsson, F Sammy Blais, F Robby Fabbri

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158267 Los Angeles Kings The Kings won last year’s season series, including the sole game at Enterprise Center, after which the Blues parted ways with former coach Mike Yeo. They’re 4-5-2 in their last 11 head-to-head meetings, which followed a stretch in which Los Angeles had won 19 of 24 regular season SAME LINEUP; POSSESSION VS SUPPRESSION; HOW DOES and playoff matchups. RIVALRY EVOLVE WITH BLUES’ CUP? “Obviously, I think when you play the defending Stanley Cup champs you expect to bring your best game and I think they expect to get the best game from whoever they’re playing. Good challenge for us,” Carter said. JON ROSEN “We always seem to play pretty well here, so hopefully we can win.” OCTOBER 24, 2019 That was pretty much in lockstep with Todd McLellan’s evaluation. The context of the game that truly matters for the visitors is that they’re looking to build off a good performance in Winnipeg that began the trip The LA Kings face the defending champion St. Louis Blues at Enterprise and gain stock of the advances they’ve made. Center tonight (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX Sports West / FOX Sports GO / LA Kings Audio Network). Today’s skate was optional, but because Jack “For us, or for the staff, anyhow, this game comes at a good time for us Campbell remained on the ice with Nikolai Prokhorkin and Joakim Ryan, because I think we’re starting to put some things in place, and we may as Jonathan Quick is projected to start against St. Louis – against whom well test it against the best,” McLellan said. “We have enough players in he’s 9-13-3 with a 2.47 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and our locker room that have won championships and remember it, and they three shutouts in 25 career regular season games – with the following know how the opposition prepared for them, and we don’t want to lineup in front of him: disappoint the Blues tonight. We want to give them our best game as all the teams are going to do this year. When you’re champions, they Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown prepare for you, so I’d like to think that we can deliver on that and then we can evaluate where we stand against the best.” Carter-Lizotte-Toffoli — Some interesting opposing forces tonight. Los Angeles leads the Kovalchuk-Kempe-Lewis league in shots per game and shots-for percentage and ranks second in Clifford-Amadio-Wagner Corsi, while St. Louis is coming off a well-executed 3-1 win over Colorado in which they limited the offensively gifted Avs to only 10 even Hutton-Doughty strength shots on goal.

Martinez-Walker The Blues’ shots-for percentage is marginally in the red and their raw MacDermid-Roy possession rates aren’t great early in the season, but they also have a healthy 8.7% five-on-five shooting percentage. Part of these trends Notes! reflect their desire to maintain possession of the puck down low and favor puck movement that leads to scoring chances rather than raw shot — Their vitals: Jordan Binnington, who yesterday flashed us a peace volume, as it was described by a member of the media. sign from his truck while ascending the Enterpise Center loading dock as we descended it, will start in goal. Midwestern hospitality! Thank you, “Well, they also lead the league in O-zone faceoff wins and O-zone time. Jordan. He lost his only career start against Los Angeles, a 4-3 Kings That for me alone is shot suppression,” McLellan said. “There’s no taking home win in which he stopped 25 of 29 shots in a matinee that preceded a shot from your crease at Binnington, it just doesn’t happen. For us to last season’s bye week. Also: suppress their share and to work on earning our opportunity in the offensive zone, it’s going to have to start our blue line in in the faceoff Expect St. Louis to align with a forward group of Schwartz-Schenn- circle. This team, in my opinion, the Blues check to win and they have all Tarasenko, Steen-O’Reilly-Perron, Sanford-Bozak-Thomas and four lines that are willing to do it. Their skill players lead the way and they MacEachern-Barbashev-Sundqvist with defensive pairs of Parayko- won a Cup because of it. We’re going to get what we need right now, I Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester-Faulk and Dunn-Bortuzzo. Sammy Blais is think, as a team. We’re going to get tested, we’re going to get pushed, day-to-day with a thumb injury and won’t play. and we’re going to get a good evaluation tool to move forward.”

— The halcyon days of the Kings-Blues rivalry might not be described as It led into a discussion on “physicality,” an abstract that’s difficult to define such from the home team’s dressing room, given that the two series won and doesn’t rely solely on pure, blunt force. by Los Angeles – particularly the 2013 series, which opened with two St. Louis home wins – left a poor taste in a proud group’s mouth. “You go back to when Panger was playing, it was just running guys through the end wall and fighting,” McLellan said. “Now, it’s shot That has since been absolved with a Stanley Cup win. Because of the blocking, it’s battles in the faceoff circle. I think Blake Lizotte’s one of our Kings’ own triumphs earlier this decade, there aren’t as many fists most physical players, and he’s small but he’s got a tenacity to him, he shaken in the direction of Craig Muni, Patrick Roy and so on. The same strips pucks, he gets body position. That’s physicality.” goes for their 1967 expansion brethren. — You may have seen this on social media yesterday, but Carrlyn, Daryl Speaking with Jonathan Quick after Wednesday’s practice, the roles are and I made a trip to Cahokia Mounds on Wednesday, one of only 24 the same. This will be a difficult game between veteran teams, as is the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States. An area home to norm when visiting Mound City. roughly 20,000 people when the native population peaked between AD “Every time we come in here we expect a hard game,” he said. “For the 1050 and 1200, Cahokia was settled around the year 700 and became past decade, that’s the type of team they’ve been. They’ve been a really the largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas north of what’s now great team. I’d say 10 years, they’ve been a playoff team maybe nine of Central Mexico. The “mounds” are in reference to the massive, pyramid- them. We know what to expect coming in here. Whether they won last like structures constructed out of mud and clay that today serve as the year or now, we know it’s a tough game [Thursday].” park’s most recognizable attractions. Monk’s Mound is the largest.

And so it should be another typically tight game between a pair of teams There are sports tie-ins! First off, Jay Varady, a good friend from our that have built success off their checking and can play a grinding, Everett Silvertips days, is the head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners physical possession game. That may evolve year-over-year, and even and is a native of Cahokia, Illinois, a town some 10 minutes south of the several years ago, Alex Steen had spoken about the Blues’ efforts to mounds that borders East St. Louis. Secondly, and more importantly integrate more speed and skill into their lineup. But the last two teams to (sorry, Jay), there were fairly advanced athletics and competition that win Stanley Cups were heavier teams that won playoff series similarly to apparently led to sports betting. One of those sports is Chunkey, which the Kings’ methods earlier this decade. we’ll talk about during the second intermission of today’s broadcast. Several pics are below; we hope you’ll stay tuned in! “Everybody says that the league’s changing to the small, skilled players, but then they come out and beat the [apples] out of everybody,” Jeff — Tonight’s officials are referees Gord Dwyer and Justin StPierre and Carter said. “Everybody thinks they know where it’s going, but no one linesmen Scott Driscoll and Jesse Marquis. Thanks for reading, Insiders. really knows.” Puck drop is nigh.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158268 Los Angeles Kings

VILARDI PROGRESSING AS NEXT EVALUATION FOR ONTARIO INTEGRATION NEARS

JON ROSEN

OCTOBER 24, 2019

There’s more guarded encouragement with forward prospect Gabe Vilardi, who has progressed in his on-ice rehabilitation from a back injury with the team’s development staff but hasn’t played in a professional game since his Ontario Reign rehab assignment last December.

Today’s plan was for Vilardi to take the ice with a bigger group of “four or five” extra skaters and the development staff, per hockey ops. He’ll continue to be evaluated weekly, with the next step potentially being integrated into Ontario Reign practices. This follows standard protocol from injured players coming back from an injury in which they skate in a track suit, skate in complete gear by themselves, skate with a handful of players, gradually become integrated into full team skates, and then handle contact before their activation is weighed.

This is a deliberate process. The team is happy with where Vilardi is at and believes he’s ahead in his rehabilitation compared to any other time he attempted to skate his way back from the injury. But pain management is still something he’ll have to deal with throughout his career, as is the case with a number of players who experience back injuries.

More to come as the decision on integrating him into practice nears. From my indicators, he’s made good progress.

Selected 11th overall in 2017, Vilardi, who turned 20 in August, registered one assist in four games with the Reign on a conditioning assignment late last fall that was cut one game short due to the injury. He was arguably the best player in all of junior hockey when he registered 22 goals and 58 points in 32 games with OHL-Kingston – followed by 11 goals and 22 points in 16 playoff games – in the second half of the 2017- 18 season.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: = 1158269 Minnesota Wild

Early, late goals in second period by Predators haunt Wild in loss

By Sarah McLellan OCTOBER 24, 2019 — 11:03PM

NASHVILLE – The Wild’s been burned by back-to-back letdowns throughout the season, a quick turn of events that torments the team.

But Thursday against the Predators, the hiccups bookended a period – a poor start and finish in the second that helped Nashville earn a 4-0 win at Bridgestone Arena.

“For the most part, we have our experienced veterans on the ice in the last minute and first minute and they’re there supposedly to control the game and get you in the flow,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “So it’s deflating.”

After a strong first in which the Wild hemmed the Predators’ in their zone and peppered goalie Pekka Rinne with 13 shots, the visitors couldn’t sustain that momentum following the intermission.

Instead, it was the Predators who pounced – only 37 seconds in on a blistering shot by winger Miikka Salomaki during a delayed Wild penalty.

A slower pace ensued after the goal, which seemed to benefit the Predators more than the Wild. But a one-goal deficit heading into the third wouldn’t have been a bad spot to be in for the Wild.

A two-goal hole, however, made for a steeper climb.

With 29 seconds to go, winger Calle Jarnkrok’s shot went off the post and into the net.

“I thought we started to maybe press a bit too much and turn pucks over, and then I think halfway through the second started to become more of an even game,” defenseman Jared Spurgeon said. “Obviously that one in the last 30 seconds isn’t ideal. Trying to go into the third thinking you’re going to be down by one and ends up being by two. It’s a lot harder to come back from that, for sure.”

This loss didn’t just snap the Wild’s modest two-game win streak.

It also plummeted the team to 1-6 on the road.

“If you look at our schedule, it better change,” said Boudreau, referring to the six road contests looming in the team’s next eight games. “It’s just something that we have to change.”

Although a return home revived the offense, this was the second consecutive road game the Wild was shut out. The team was blanked last Thursday, too, 4-0 in Montreal.

And while the team was able to clean up its play in its own end during its two-game win streak, the breakdowns in the third weren’t pretty.

Nashville winger Craig Smith was left all alone while most of the Wild players were on the right side near the corner. The fourth goal was a shorthanded breakaway.

“We are just trying to take chances at that point,” defenseman Ryan Suter said. “Once you're down two goals with 10 minutes to go, you have to take chances and try to make stuff happen. And that's usually what happens.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158270 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Nashville game recap

SARAH MCLELLAN OCTOBER 24, 2019 — 10:48PM

GAME RECAP

STAR TRIBUNE’S THREE STARS

1. Pekka Rinne, Predators: The goaltender made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season.

2. Miikka Salomaki, Predators: The winger broke the stalemate early in the second.

3. Colton Sissons, Predators: The center scored and had an assist.

BY THE NUMBERS

0 Goals by the Wild on 13 first-period shots.

5 Career shutouts for Rinne vs. the Wild.

10 Predators players who registered a point.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158271 Minnesota Wild missed his fourth consecutive game with a lower-body injury. ... Nashville C Matt Duchene left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Laviolette did not have an update on his condition after the game. Predators' Rinne flawless in blanking Wild 4-0 UP NEXT

Wild: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. By JIM DIAMOND Associated Press OCTOBER 24, 2019 — 10:45PM Predators: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The way Pekka Rinne was playing, the Predators' slow start was irrelevant.

Rinne made 26 saves, Colton Sissons had a goal and an assist and Nashville beat the Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Thursday night.

Miikka Salomaki, Calle Jarnkrok and Craig Smith also scored for the Predators, who have won two straight.

The shutout was Rinne's first of the season and 56th of his career. He improved his record on the season to 6-0-1, the second-best season- opening run in franchise history after Tomas Vokoun, who started 7-0-1 in 2005-06.

Rinne's best sequence came late in the first period, with the game scoreless.

With 1:09 remaining in the first, Rinne turned aside a backhand shot from Jason Zucker and then denied Mikko Koivu's attempt at the rebound from just outside the crease.

"Anytime you feel like as a team you're not playing to your potential, I think as a goalie it feels good to be able to help your teammates," Rinne said. "I feel like there were a few situations in the first where I made some good saves and was able to keep the game nothing-nothing. After that, I feel like we improved a lot."

Most of the first period was played in the Predators' end of the ice. Rinne stopped all 13 Minnesota shots he faced in the opening period.

"It was kind of a tale of two periods," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "The first period, I think we gave up a little bit too much. They had us on our heels a little bit. In the second and third periods, I thought we did a much better job just competing on pucks, skating and playing in the offensive zone."

Salomaki scored the game's first goal 37 seconds into the second period.

Sissons carried the puck into the Minnesota zone on the right side. Sissons left a drop pass for Salomaki in the right circle, where he beat Wild goaltender Alex Stalock with a wrist shot high to the far side.

"I knew he was coming up with me, in behind me on the rush, and he did a good job of letting me know where he was," Sissons said of Salomaki. "So I just kind of had to lay it there for him."

It was Salomaki's first goal of the season. The Finnish winger began the season with Milwaukee of the AHL but played his third consecutive game since being recalled.

Nashville broke through on just its fifth shot of the game.

"We talked about it in between periods, about coming out the same way," Minnesota defenseman Jared Spurgeon said. "Obviously to get an early one against isn't what you want."

Jarnkrok made it 2-0 with 28 seconds remaining in the second.

After taking a pass from Viktor Arvidsson at the top of the right circle, Jarnkrok beat Stalock with a wrist shot that went off of the far post and into the net for his second goal of the season.

"It's a deflator when they score in the first minute and the last minute of the period," Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Stalock finished with 17 saves.

Smith scored his first of the season at 6:58 of the third off assists from Nick Bonino and Rocco Grimaldi.

Sissons' short-handed goal with 3:07 remaining completed the scoring.

NOTES: Stalock is 0-5-1 in his career against Nashville. ... Minnesota G Devan Dubnyk did not make the trip to Nashville because of an upper- body injury sustained Tuesday night. ... Predators LW Filip Forsberg 1158272 Minnesota Wild

Wild shut out again on the road, falling 4-0 in Nashville

Chances come early, then dry up, against Predators.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune OCTOBER 25, 2019 — 1:45AM

NASHVILLE – The Wild’s performance in the first period was the kind of start that can set up a team up for success even though there’s still two- thirds of the game to go.

Not only was the action almost exclusively in the Predators’ zone, but the pressure applied by the Wild was meaningful — 13 shots, with many quality chances.

“That was probably our best period of hockey in this building in a long time,” coach Bruce Boudreau said.

But the push wasn’t perfect because one important ingredient was missing.

Execution.

After the Wild failed to capitalize while it was in charge, the Predators recovered and pulled away for a 4-0 victory Thursday in front of 17,386 at Bridgestone Arena that halted the Wild’s momentum from back-to-back wins.

VideoVideo (00:40): Coach Bruce Boudreau recaps the 4-0 loss to the Predators Thursday.

“You see it every game,” Boudreau said. “One team controls the play. If you don’t get rewarded for it, the other team eventually is going to pick it up.”

If the Wild’s inability to bury the Predators in the first period opened the door for a Nashville revival, lapses in the first and last minutes in the middle frame completed the transformation.

Only 37 seconds into the second, winger Miikka Salomaki accepted a drop pass from center Colton Sissons after Sissons shrugged off defenseman Jonas Brodin and wired the puck by goalie Alex Stalock’s blocker. The goal came during a Wild delayed penalty.

Nashville padded its lead with 29 seconds to go in the period on another drop-pass sequence. This time, Viktor Arvidsson fed Calle Jarn- krok, who smashed a shot off the post and past Stalock.

“It was a shot that probably could have been stopped or should have been stopped,” Boudreau said. “It’s a deflator when they score in the first minute and last minute of the period.”

This outburst by the Predators was a change of pace from the first period, when the Wild (3-7) dictated play.

Winger Marcus Foligno tipped a puck off the post soon after puck drop. So did winger Luke Kunin later in the period. Defenseman Matt Dumba also hit the post, while winger Jason Zucker was stymied on a partial break into the Predators’ end.

Mikko Koivu’s attempt in the crease was also kept out.

At one point, shots swelled to 9-1 in favor of the Wild.

Give credit to Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, whose 26 saves sealed his first shutout of the season and fifth in his career against the Wild.

“It was a winnable game, and we didn’t stay with it,” Boudreau said.

Had the Wild found a way to sneak at least one puck by him in the early stages, the team wouldn’t have been forced to chase — an approach that made it vulnerable in the third.

Winger Craig Smith was left alone in front of the net to shove the puck by Stalock at 6:58 before Sissons scored shorthanded on a breakaway at 16:53.

“The first period was great, but we don’t get rewarded for anything,” Boudreau said.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158273 Minnesota Wild After winger Ryan Hartman broke his stick in the defensive zone, he stayed in the play and moved to the point to try to plug up a shooting lane — which he successfully did, blocking a shot from Weber before eventually peeling off for the bench. Defenseman Carson Soucy springs a rookie surprise on Wild "The biggest part of hockey is having a good, active stick and making it difficult," Hartman said. "So it is tough, but I think if you can just stay in front of him, hopefully they shoot it and you can block it. That's the best- By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune OCTOBER 24, 2019 — 9:45PM case scenario."

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 NASHVILLE – Carson Soucy didn't play the first time the Wild descended on Nashville for its season opener, sitting as the extra defenseman on the roster.

But in the three weeks since that game Oct. 3, the rookie has become a regular — an unexpected development that has helped the Wild's back end persevere despite not being at full strength.

"He's surprised everybody, pleasantly so," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "… It's hard to take Carson out right now."

The Wild hasn't scratched Soucy very often.

After not playing in the first game, Soucy debuted during the next outing in Colorado and rattled off five straight appearances before Nick Seeler subbed in last week at Montreal. But Soucy was right back in action the following game, and he recorded his first career point — an assist — in the 3-0 victory over the Oilers on Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center.

"Any chance you get to play in the NHL is always going to be a blast," Soucy said. "I'm just trying to make the most of it and take it all in."

Soucy and Brad Hunt have turned into a reliable duo for the Wild on the third pairing. Their minutes are well below the 20-plus being averaged by the Wild's top four defenders, but Soucy's plus-5 rating entering action Thursday against the Predators was a team high, an emergence that could tee up a debate for the Wild on how it plans to dole out ice time once Greg Pateryn returns in a few weeks from core muscle surgery.

"Let's worry about that later," Boudreau said.

On the mend

Devan Dubnyk didn't accompany the Wild to Nashville, but the goaltender could be back playing as soon as Saturday, when the team plays host to the Kings.

Dubnyk was injured Tuesday, landing on his back after winger Ryan Donato slid into him.

"Fell on the wrong part of the body, and it hurt," Boudreau said.

Although he didn't make the trip, Dubnyk was "working hard back home," Boudreau said, and he also exercised Wednesday.

"He was feeling a lot better," Boudreau added.

Kaapo Kahkonen, whom the Wild recalled from the American Hockey League on Wednesday on an emergency basis, backed up Alex Stalock on Thursday.

Center Joel Eriksson Ek, who has missed the Wild's past three games because of a lower-body injury after blocking a shot Oct. 17 at Montreal, could also return Saturday.

As for winger Kevin Fiala, he is considered day-to-day because of a lower-body injury. Fiala was moved to injured reserve Wednesday.

Winger Jordan Greenway also didn't play Thursday.

Like Dubnyk, Greenway left Tuesday's game. He exited in the first period after getting leveled by a heavy check from Edmonton's Josh Archibald. Greenway did travel to Nashville but wasn't in the lineup after waking up feeling sick, Boudreau said.

With Greenway sidelined, center Victor Rask returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous three games with a lower-body injury.

Block party

Blocking shots has stung the Wild, like in Eriksson Ek's case, but getting in front of the puck has also helped the team get out of sticky situations.

Take the team's game vs. the Canadiens on Sunday. 1158274 Minnesota Wild

Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk out vs. Predators but feeling better after fall

By Sarah McLellan OCTOBER 24, 2019 — 12:41PM

NASHVILLE – Devan Dubnyk won’t take on the Predators Thursday at Bridgestone Arena with the rest of the Wild, but the goalie could be back in action soon.

Dubnyk was injured Tuesday in the 3-0 win over the Oilers at Xcel Energy Center after a collision with winger Ryan Donato sent Dubnyk falling on his back. He remained back in the Twin Cities while the team traveled to Nashville but is doing better.

“Him and [Joel Eriksson] Ek are both working hard back home,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I think they’re going to be surprisingly close to being ready for the next game surprisingly. They may not be ready. But when I watched Ek skate yesterday and Duby work out yesterday, he was feeling a lot better.”

After this game against the Predators, the Wild hosts the Kings Saturday. Eriksson Ek has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury.

Winger Jordan Greenway was also injured Tuesday, leaving the game after he was crunched by Edmonton’s Josh Archibald. Greenway accompanied the team to Nashville but won’t play Thursday after waking up feeling sick.

Center Victor Rask is set to get back into the lineup after being sidelined for three games with a lower-body injury.

With Dubnyk unavailable, Kaapo Kahkonen will back up Alex Stalock vs. the Predators after the team recalled him from the minors Wednesday on an emergency basis. The Wild also shifted winger Kevin Fiala (lower- body injury) to injured reserve yesterday.

“It’s not week-to-week or anything,” Boudreau said of Fiala. “It’s more day-to-day.”

Projected lineup:

Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Jason Zucker

Mats Zuccarello-Eric Staal-Luke Kunin

Marcus Foligno-Victor Rask-Ryan Hartman

Ryan Donato-Gabriel Dumont-Gerald Mayhew

Ryan Suter-Matt Dumba

Jonas Brodin-Jared Spurgeon

Carson Soucy-Brad Hunt

Alex Stalock

Key numbers:

81: Saves on 86 shots by goalie Alex Stalock.

97: Career assists for defenseman Matt Dumba.

4: Points for center Eric Staal in his last two games.

1: Power play goal by defenseman Brad Hunt in each of his past two games.

7: Goals on the power play for the Predators over their last eight contests.

About the Predators:

After their season-opening win against the Wild, the Predators have gone 4-3-1 to rank among the top teams in the Central Division. Most recently, Nashville dispatched Anaheim 6-1 Tuesday at home. Of its five wins, four have come on home ice where the team is 4-1-1. Defenseman Ryan Ellis extended his career-long point streak to five games Tuesday with an assist in the Predators’ victory. Goalie Pekka Rinne is 5-0-1 with a 2.31 goals-against average.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158275 Minnesota Wild

Wild again unable to solve Predators goalie Pekka Rinne in 4-0 loss

By DANE MIZUTANI

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the guy on the other side.

That’s something the Wild have had to do time and time again when they have played against Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne at his home rink.

While the 36-year-old Rinne always seems off his game in St. Paul, he’s almost always lights out when the Wild come to town.

That trend continued Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena as the Wild struggled to solve Rinne yet again in a 4-0 loss to the Predators. Rinne has started 20 games against the Wild at home in his career and has allowed one goal or fewer in 10 of those games.

It was clear from the onset that Rinne was on his game. He made a handful of impressive saves early on, including thwarting a Luke Kunin shot from in close to keep the game scoreless.

“We played a solid 20 minutes,” Wild defenseman Ryan Suter said. “It would’ve been nice to get one in the first period and put them on their heels.”

Instead, the Predators entered the locker room feeling good about themselves, thanks in large part to Rinne, and it felt like only a matter of time before the game started to even out.

That’s exactly what happened as winger Miikka Salomaki scored on a delayed penalty 37 seconds into the second period to make it 1-0.

“It’s pretty deflating,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. “There’s no doubt. That was probably our best period of hockey in this building in a long time, and once they scored the goal, we sort of slumped.”

It raises the question: How does something like that happen? How does a team that played so well for 20 minutes go into a shell for the ensuing 40 minutes?

“That’s a good question,” Suter said. “I think they came out with more of a push (in the second period), and we were ready for that. They were just able to get one by us, and then we were kind of on our heels.”

That much was clear as the Wild failed to generate many scoring chances themselves, and even when they did, such as when Jason Zucker had a chance to tie the game with a one-timer from in close, they couldn’t convert.

Fittingly, shortly after Zucker missed his scoring chance, winger Calle Jarnkrok made it 2-0 with less than 30 seconds left in the frame. He collected a pass on the rush and fired a snipe through a screen to beat Alex Stalock.

“Obviously that one in the last 30 seconds isn’t ideal,” defenseman Jared Spurgeon said. “Trying to go into the third period thinking we’re going to be down by one goal and it ends up being by two goals. It’s a lot harder to come back from. That’s for sure.”

It got worse for the Wild in the third period, as winger Craig Smith made it 3-0 with an easy goal from alone in front, and center Colton Sissons scored shorthanded to finalize the score at 4-0.

“It was a winnable game,” Boudreau said. “We didn’t stay with it.”

Rinne did stay with it, continuing his stellar play the rest of the way and finishing with 26 saves to secure the shutout.

“There were parts of the (game) that were good,” Suter said. “It just sucks when you don’t score.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158276 Minnesota Wild

Wild supporting cast stepping up to combat injury bug

By DANE MIZUTANI PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 4:18 pm | UPDATED: October 24,

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While the Wild have slowly started to right the ship after a slow start, the injury bug has started to spread throughout the locker room.

It started with Mats Zuccarello, who recently returned to the lineup after missing a couple of weeks, and continued with Victor Rask and Joel Eriksson Ek . All three have been listed with lower-body injuries.

Adding to the woes, Kevin Fiala recently was placed on injured reserved with — you guessed it — a lower-body injury, and Devan Dubnyk and Jordan Greenway missed Thursday’s game against the Nashville Predators because of undisclosed injuries.

Luckily for the Wild, none of the injuries has been overly serious, and coach Bruce Boudreau has classified everyone as day-to-day rather than week-to-week.

In the meantime, the Wild have been forced to rely on their supporting cast, and that group has proven to be up to the challenge.

Whether it’s someone random like Brad Hunt leading the team in scoring with four goals and six points, or minor leaguers like Gerald Mayhew and Gabriel Dumont stepping into the lineup with little to no drop in performance, the Wild have managed to stay afloat.

“It’s a good thing,” Boudreau said. “We got some good players (with the Iowa Wild) that have been able to come up and step in and do a job. That’s really important. That’s what we need our minor-league team to do.”

It sounds as if reinforcements could be on the way for the Wild, perhaps as early as this weekend. According to Boudreau, both Eriksson Ek and Dubnyk might be ready for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

“I think they’re going to be surprisingly close,” Boudreau said. “They may not be ready. Just when I watched (Eriksson Ek) skate yesterday, and (Dubnyk) work out yesterday, (they were) feeling a lot better.”

Even if they aren’t ready to go, the Wild should be able to weather the storm.

“It’s been a team effort,” Hunt said. “That’s something we’ve been preaching since the start of the season. We just stuck with it the whole time and we didn’t get down on each other, and obviously it’s starting to turn around.”

Now, if only the Wild could get some production from some of their heavy hitters.

“Any team that needs to battle out of something needs other guys to step up,” defenseman Matt Dumba said. “Then when the other guys that are kind of the regulars start to pitch in, that’s how we get things rolling. If we can everyone on board and everyone contributing, we’re going to be successful here.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158277 Minnesota Wild — NASHVILLE PREDATORS (@PREDSNHL) OCTOBER 25, 2019 “We started to maybe press a bit too much and turn pucks over and then

I think halfway through the second it started to become more of an even After a solid two games, Wild revert back to their bad habits in loss to game,” Spurgeon said. “Obviously that one in the last 30 seconds isn’t Preds ideal. Trying to go into the third thinking you’re going to be down by one and ends up being by two. I thought we had a couple chances in the third, but again, defensive miscues and then they’re in our net.”

By Michael Russo Oct 24, 2019 A killer shift led to the 2-0 Preds’ lead.

Parise, very late in a 67-second shift, took a bad-angle shot that missed the net and led to a quick counter. Instead of backchecking, a tired NASHVILLE — At least the Wild made it easier for sports fan in Parise went for a line change, the Predators came with speed, the Wild Minnesota to change the channel and focus solely on the red-hot Vikings. backed off, Suter was caught in between and then instead of trying to Two games after the Wild veterans led the way during a much-needed block the shot, Suter skated himself into an oh-so-perfect screen of home win against the Montreal Canadiens, many of those same much- Stalock. relied upon vets were abysmal during the Wild’s latest loss to the “It was a bad line change. You just can’t make those line changes in the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. second period,” said Boudreau, who felt Jarnkrok’s shot that first hit Jason Zucker was a minus-4 and Mikko Koivu, Ryan Suter, Zach Parise Stalock, then ricocheted off the post and in was stoppable. “It’s a deflator and Jared Spurgeon — five of the six longest tenured players on the Wild when they score in the first minute and last minute of the period.” — were each well-earned minus-3’s during a 4-0 loss, the Wild’s seventh In the third period, with the Wild pressing, Zucker missed the net on a 2- in a row (0-5-2) in Nashville since Dec. 27, 2016. on-1. Then Spurgeon had a shot blocked. Twenty-three seconds after the Blown offensive opportunities. Bad line changes. Chasing puck carriers Zucker miss and 12 seconds after the Spurgeon block, it was 3-0 after into the corner and not covering the front of the net. Turnovers. Bad Suter and Koivu, two smart defensive players who should know better, gaps, then not getting in shooting lanes, then screening your goalie. chased the puck carrier, Rocco Grimaldi, into the right corner despite Spurgeon being on his tail. Parise, a minus-6 in two games in Nashville Yeah, they were an absolute mess. this season, also got lured to the wall.

“Just missed assignments that shouldn’t be missed or trying to do too Those four defenders have 3,622 games worth of NHL experience. much and then it ends up going against us,” Spurgeon said. “They should be easily correctable, but they’re also things that shouldn’t be “You’d like to wonder what they’re thinking at that stage,” Boudreau said. happening.” “It’s definitely not like what we’re supposed to be doing.”

After consecutive home wins that had optimism re-brewing, the Wild fell Grimaldi gave the puck up to Nick Bonino a few feet away on the wall to 1-6 on the road and were shut out for the second straight road game. and he fed Craig Smith in the slot. Smith, who had no goals this season, That’s not good considering 10 of their next 15 games and 13 of their was all alone because Koivu and Suter didn’t go to the net. He had next 20 are away from Xcel Energy Center, where the 3-7 Wild are 2-1. enough time to pitch a tent, turned and easily scored for a 3-0 lead.

“If you look at our schedule, it better change,” coach Bruce Boudreau CELLY #PREDS | #MINVSNSH PIC.TWITTER.COM/DF4UDIMKGZ said. “The first period was great, but we don’t get rewarded for anything. When you don’t get rewarded, you know it’s eventually going to turn — NASHVILLE PREDATORS (@PREDSNHL) OCTOBER 25, 2019 around.” The fourth goal by Sissons was a shorthanded breakaway after Suter Honestly, it was so, so, soooo perfectly Minnesota Wild: Incredible — couldn’t connect with Zucker on a pass. like, totally dominant — first period where the Predators looked like they “We are just trying to take chances at that point,” Suter, who in 17 games didn’t belong on the same ice surface as them. They don’t score. Then, in Nashville since leaving the Predators has no goals, four assists and is they immediately allow a goal to start the second period and the wheels minus-6. “Once you’re down two goals with 10 minutes to go you have to fall off. take chances and try to make stuff happen. And that’s usually what Despite outshooting the Predators 13-4 in the first period and watching happens.” Pekka Rinne stone them at every turn like he usually does to them in The Wild played a great first 28 or 29 minutes but things really slowed Nashville, the Wild gave up a goal on the first shot of the second period. down as the stingy Predators tightened up in the neutral zone. In the first period, the Wild skated with speed and easily got through the neutral HE CALLED CORNER POCKET #PREDS | #MINVSNSH zone time and time again. In the back half of the second, they had real PIC.TWITTER.COM/MEJWWC3D5N trouble getting through and it led to Rinne, who was so good in the first, — NASHVILLE PREDATORS (@PREDSNHL) OCTOBER 25, 2019 needing a rocking chair to stay alert.

They had so many good chances in that opening period. Zucker was The Wild had one shot in the final 10:46 of the period, none in the final denied on a partial breakaway in the first period. Rinne slid over to rob 6:15. Koivu, who has no goals in 10 games, near the left post. Mats Zuccarello, “It’s pretty deflating, there’s no doubt,” Boudreau said. “That (first period) still searching for his first goal with the Wild, was denied in tight. was probably our best period of hockey in this building in a long time. The Wild couldn’t score, then saw that strong opening frame destroyed Once they scored the goal, we sort of slumped and they came on.” by giving up goals in the first and final minute of the middle period. The 36-year-old Rinne, former Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom’s old Karpat It was almost predictable. Oulu backup who sometimes struggles in Minnesota, has started against the Wild 20 times at home. “It was a winnable game, and we didn’t stay with it,” Boudreau bristled. In those 20 starts, he has shut out the Wild five times, has given up one Thirty-seven seconds into the period and after a delayed penalty to goal or fewer 10 times, two goals or fewer 15 times and three goals or Jonas Brodin, Miikka Salomaki took a drop pass from Colton Sissons and fewer 19 times. beat Alex Stalock from the right circle. Similarly, with 29 seconds left in the period, Calle Jarnkrok accepted a drop pass from Viktor Arvidsson It was a disappointing loss for a Wild team that held Nashville to 21 shots and beat Stalock from the right circle. in its home barn.

CALLE JARNKROK MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS SET FOR LUNCH “They scored on the few chances they got,” Zuccarello said. “Some TOMORROW. games are like that when you play good and obviously we need to create a little bit more. But they scored on their chances. We didn’t. That’s the BIG MACS ON JARNY #PREDS | #MINVSNSH difference.” PIC.TWITTER.COM/NSB9CH0BZP Greenway not feeling well Jordan Greenway traveled to Nashville because he said he was feeling no ill effects from the Josh Archibald check that got him in the chin and ended his night early against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

But Greenway woke up Wednesday morning not feeling well and didn’t play against Nashville.

Boudreau would only go as far as to say Greenway didn’t feel right, but the worry obviously with a situation like this is a concussion. Often times concussion symptoms pop up a few days after an incident.

With Greenway out, it created a conundrum for Boudreau.

He could either move Ryan Donato or Gerry Mayhew up to a line with Eric Staal and Zuccarello or fiddle with the lines.

He chose to move Luke Kunin to the right side of the Staal line and moved Zuccarello to the left for the first time. Victor Rask, who missed the previous three games with a foot injury, centered Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman.

Dubnyk, Eriksson Ek feeling better?

Devan Dubnyk didn’t travel to Nashville after falling hard on his back and having his helmet smash hard into the ice during a collision with Donato and Brandon Manning in Tuesday’s game.

Dubnyk is still very sore but feeling better, so he’s questionable to start Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Joel Eriksson Ek (foot), who has missed the past three games, may practice Friday and could return Saturday. Kevin Fiala (lower body), who is on injured reserve, must miss Saturday’s game but is eligible to return as early as Tuesday’s game in Dallas.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158278 Minnesota Wild comes from your abs and your core and the way your legs power you through it.

“The only thing I would say is I know it doesn’t have anything to do with The formula behind Wild sharpshooter Brad Hunt’s blistering slap shot my hands. I don’t even have that good a grip strength. My bottom hand is not very tight at all. I just use it to flex the stick. So, I really don’t know why I have the ability to do it whereas other guys maybe shoot a little different and slower.” By Michael Russo Oct 24, 2019 Dumba, really the Wild’s lone sharpshooter from the back end until

Hunt’s arrival, simply says, “I think some guys just got it and some guys NASHVILLE — Brad Hunt wasn’t into cops and robbers or hide and seek don’t.” or Duck, Duck, GOOSE or any of that kind of stuff as a kid when playing BRAD HUNT AFTER THE @MNWILD’S WIN: “IF WE DO THE RIGHT with his friends. THINGS AND STICK TOGETHER, THE GOOD STUFF IS GONNA “And I wasn’t good at video games, so I never played video games,” the HAPPEN.” PIC.TWITTER.COM/SZZU7VZ3SR Wild defenseman said. — FOX SPORTS NORTH (@FSNORTH) OCTOBER 21, 2019 What Hunt loved to do as a child while growing up in British Columbia The Athletic checked in with our resident physics expert, A.J. LaPanta, was shooting pucks. the son of Wild play-by-play guy Anthony LaPanta, who graduated “I would just shoot pucks all the time,” Hunt, now 31, said. “I’d come magna cum laude in physics at Saint John’s University in 2017. home from school, change my clothes and shoot pucks. Like, that’s what LaPanta said the power behind a hockey shot mostly has to do with the I did for fun. I’d shoot and shoot and shoot.” torque of the stick, not the size or strength of the individual, and the two And shoot and shoot some more. most important variables are force and stick length.

“It’s something I always practiced when I was a kid,” said Hunt, whose “Whether you think of the stick as creating torque or as a simple lever, father, Steve, built a deck in the family’s backyard for his son to shoot the most important factor is the amount of force applied,” LaPanta from. “I enjoyed doing it, and it’s just developed over the years.” explained. “The length of the stick will matter because as the stick flexes, the blade will trail the rest of the shaft by a greater distance, and more Wild fans surely know this by now. angular acceleration will be required for the blade to catch up to the rest of the stick. This maximizes the torque of the stick.” Not only does Hunt lead the Wild with four goals in nine games (that’s one more than he had in 29 games for the club last season after being Hunt does use an unusually long stick for his size. acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in January), Hunt is tied for second in goals scored by a defenseman in the NHL this season and is “The speed of a shot comes with technique, and Huntsy uses a pretty tied for first with two power-play goals. If it was not for the fabric of Jason long stick, so when he gets that leverage, he uses it to whip his stick Zucker’s sweater blowing in the wind opening night in Nashville, Hunt pretty good,” Dumba said. “Me, I use a lot of the stick to get torque and it may actually be leading the league in both categories because Zucker comes from a strong core and the lower body.” got credit for the goal that night after Hunt’s howitzer breezed by him. Hunt says his lone objective with every shot is to hammer it as hard as Hunt is a little guy. he can “and pray it’s on net,” where Dumba has several different types of shots. He’s 5-foot-9 on a good day and 180 pounds if he had a big breakfast, yet maybe only teammate Matt Dumba, who isn’t a whole lot bigger, can “I just hit it as hard as I can,” Hunt said. “I’ve tried to develop over time hammer the puck with as much velocity as Hunt. getting a wrister through and stuff like that, but it’s not as good, whereas Dums has a great wrist shot, too. Mine’s not nearly as good as his. I just Matt Dumba and Brad Hunt want to hit it as hard as I possibly can.

Even the flame-shooting Matt Dumba is left impressed by Brad Hunt’s “My theory is if it hits somebody, they’re not going to want to get hit by it shot. “The way he’s shooting it right now, his is probably better,” Dumba again.” says. (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) According to the NHL, Dumba is one of 22 defensemen in league history It proves that you don’t have to be 6-9 like Zdeno Chara or built like Shea to record four consecutive double-digit goal seasons through their 24- Weber or Brent Burns to scorch pucks from the blue line. year-old season. Since 1992, Dumba is only one of four (Dion Phaneuf, Aaron Ekblad and Dougie Hamilton being the others). Hunt has taken part in three AHL All-Star Games and actually made a fourth, but he was playing for the Nashville Predators at the time and Yet, he was humbled that Hunt said he possesses seven or eight couldn’t attend. different ways to beat you with a shot.

But in the three others in Providence, Utica and Syracuse, “I took part in Dumba likes to change angles, snap it, wrist it, slide with it, “but my best the hardest shot competition in each of them, and everybody I was up is my one-timer, and I think that’s his best as well.” against was like 6-3 or 6-4,” Hunt said, laughing. “Everybody was like, ‘Why are you in this?’ And then I go shoot it and they go, ‘Crap, where The two have proven that on carbon-copy power-play goals in each of did that come from?’” the past two games, both wins over Montreal and Hunt’s first NHL team, Edmonton. In 2013, Hunt shot 99.5 mph and finished third behind Brayden McNabb (101.8 mph) and Eric Gryba (99.6). In 2015, Hunt finished second to After faceoff wins, the puck came back to Dumba, somebody all Colin Miller (105.5 mph) despite shooting 101.2 mph. In 2016, Hunt opposing penalty kills must respect and front because he’s such a threat finished second to Ryan Graves (103.4 mph) despite shooting 100.2 to shoot from atop the left circle. On both goals, Dumba essentially mph. became a decoy and swung the puck to Hunt, who had a lot of open ice to shoot at with his gorgeous-looking one-timer. The one that still amazes him is 2015. *VOLUME UP* “I rip that thing 101.2 miles per hour,” Hunt said, shaking his head. “I was winning, but Colin went right after me and blasted it like 105. It was THAT'S THE SOUND OF BRAD HUNT TYING THIS GAME UP AT 3. crazy.” #MNWILD PIC.TWITTER.COM/ULWCBU8K1Y

Hunt has no clue why or how he’s able to shoot so fast. — FOX SPORTS NORTH (@FSNORTH) OCTOBER 20, 2019

“I’m an OK golfer,” Hunt said. “I don’t play as much as I used to, but I BRAD HUNT IS A SCORING MACHINE #MNWILD used to be decent and can hit a pretty good drive. But with hockey, I just PIC.TWITTER.COM/HLDEUOVOPR hit it as hard as I possibly can. It’s kind of like golf. You see a little guy and all of a sudden he just crushes a ball 350 yards. I just think it’s more — FOX SPORTS NORTH (@FSNORTH) OCTOBER 23, 2019 the technique or the fundamentals of doing it. I was always taught it “It’s a good combination to have,” coach Bruce Boudreau said of having Dumba on the left point and Hunt on the right.

On Hunt’s last two goals, he has beaten the goalie clean.

“I think that’s the idea behind (having Hunt and I on the same power-play unit) is to have a couple threats out there and try to generate as much shots as possible,” said Dumba, who sold the shot on both of Hunt’s goals knowing he had Hunt in his back pocket to his right. “He’s got a bomb. Whenever you can put it in that guy’s wheelhouse, you want to get it there.”

Asked whether he or Hunt had the more dangerous shot, Dumba, who is 29 goals from his 30-goal aspiration for this season, said, “The way he’s shooting it right now, his is probably better.”

Since playing four years at Bemidji State, shocking the college hockey world by advancing to the Frozen Four in 2009 and leaving the Beavers as the school’s all-time leading scorer amongst defensemen, Hunt has played on eight pro teams, including five NHL teams, since 2011. But it sure looks like Hunt has found a home in Minnesota since former general manager Paul Fenton traded for him, then re-signed him to a two-year deal at the league minimum $700,000 a year in June.

When acquired, Hunt was the Golden Knights’ eighth defenseman but was immediately inserted into Minnesota’s lineup on the right side despite being a left-shot defenseman. He has settled into that role impressively and not only is an offensive threat, he also keeps getting better defensively in large part because he’s one of the Wild’s most mobile defensemen.

He says that just comes from confidence knowing he’s playing every game compared to when he was a healthy scratch almost nightly with Vegas.

Plus, Hunt said, he’s “learning from one of the best defensemen in the league. (Jared) Spurgeon is the same size and he’s the one I look up to. I try to take pieces of his game and try to put it in my own. By no means am I saying I’m Spurgeon … but it’s someone I’m able to learn from and I appreciate everything that he does.”

Hunt has also assumed the Nate Prosser good-guy-in-the-locker-room role perfectly. As Boudeau says, it’s very evident that Hunt was raised the right way by parents Steve and Tricia.

Hunt legitimately gets embarrassed when people ask him about being such a nice guy, joking that his wife, Katie, “will tell you lots of things that are bad. I just try to do the right thing all the time and be a good person.”

“He’s a great dude. He’s awesome,” Dumba said. “He’s easy to get along with. Genuine, genuine dude. It’s the same everyday with Huntsy. He’s got that big smile and just brings that energy, so you love that in a locker room.”

BRAD HUNT IS AN AWESOME HUMAN BEING. #VEGASBORN PIC.TWITTER.COM/Y1M382ZQWW

— JESSE GRANGER (@JESSEGRANGER_) MARCH 16, 2018

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158279 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: 'It has to be better,' Weber says of penalty-killing

Head coach Claude Julien rues Montreal's missed opportunities on offence and says his team has to do a lot of work to improve its PK.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 24, 2019

Brett Kulak said there was no panic when the Canadiens gave up a power-play goal in the final minute of the first period of Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

“You don’t like to give up a goal late in the period, but with our offence, we felt confident we were okay,” Kulak said.

There was one problem with that thinking. The Canadiens fired 37 shots at backup goaltender Aaron Dell, but only two of them found the back of the net as the Sharks defeated the Canadiens 4-2 for their ninth consecutive win over Montreal.

Coach Claude Julien had a simple explanation for the loss.

“Did we get some chances? Yes we did, but we didn’t bury them. They didn’t get that many chances, but they buried them.”

“They have the No. 2 penalty-killing team in the NHL, but we had some chances on the power play and we weren’t able to lift the puck,” Julien said. “We had some great chances in the slot, but we couldn’t hit the net. When you have a chance in the slot, you have to hit the net.”

The failure to score might not have been as big a problem if the Canadiens played better defence. Julien described the effort as “poor.”

“We had guys missing assignments and cross-checking guys in front of the net when they should have been looking for the puck.

The defensive woes started with another disappointing performance by the penalty-killing unit, which now ranks 30th in the NHL. The Sharks scored on their first two power plays to take a 2-1 lead early in the second period. That allowed the Sharks to use their size and strength to sit back and protect the lead.

Evander Kane scored both San Jose power-play goals and the sequence leading to the second goal was strange to say the least. Kulak was called for tripping behind the Montreal net, even though the replay showed he didn’t make contact with the San Jose player who fell to the ice. He was settling into the penalty box when there was a call from the reviewing the play in Toronto. After a conference involving the four officials on the ice, Jeff Petry replaced Kulak in the box.

Shea Weber was in the box for Kane’s first goal, which means the Canadiens were missing two of their best penalty-killers when the goals were scored.

The PK has been a problem all season and the one thing everyone could agree on after Thursday’s loss was that it has to be better. Julien said the PK will be the priority as he reviews the tapes Friday and it will be the focus in the on-ice session at Brossard as the Canadiens prepare to face the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. The Leafs have the seventh- best power play in the league with a success rate of 25 per cent.

“It has to be better, it has to make a difference like it did last year,” Weber said. “Those two power-play goals they scored gave them some momentum and it allowed them to sit back and bang pucks off the boards. We can’t be negative about the start we’ve had on the PK, but we know it can be better.”

Carey Price didn’t get much help from the players in front of him, but giving up four goals on 23 shots does not constitute a good night. The goaltender’s record is now 4-3-1, but the figure that should raise some concern is his .903 save percentage.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158280 Montreal Canadiens

Poor defence and penalty-killing sink Habs against nemesis Sharks

San Jose's 4-2 victory at the Thursday night was the team's ninth consecutive victory over Montreal.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 24, 2019

San Jose goaltender Aaron Dell had the hot hand and Carey Price did not.

That was the story Thursday as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Canadiens 4-2 at the Bell Centre. It was San Jose’s ninth consecutive victory over the Canadiens, whose last win over San Jose was on March 21, 2015.

The loss left the Canadiens out of a playoff position with a 4-4-2 record. What is more troubling is that they are 2-3-0 at home with the struggling, but potentially explosive, Toronto Maple Leafs coming to the Bell Centre Saturday.

The Montreal defence wasn’t very good and it started with the penalty- kill, which let the Canadiens down once again.

Montreal was nursing a 1-0 lead when Evander Kane scored on a scramble in front with 55 seconds remaining in the first period. There seemed to be some confusion in front of the net as the Sharks had a couple of swipes at the puck before Kane connected.

Kane added a second power-play goal to give San Jose a 2-1 lead in the second period. He picked up the rebound of Tomas Hertl’s shot at the side of the net and shovelled in a backhander before Price was able to move across and cover the empty portion of the net. San Jose scored on two of their three power plays and the Canadiens have given up 11 goals on 34 power plays and have the second-worst penalty-kill in the NHL, with a success rate of 67.6 per cent.

The power play has been better this season, but it went 0-for-3 Thursday night. The Canadiens’ power play had seven shots on goal and Dell played a key role in keeping them off the board. Dell finished the game with 35 saves while Price, who didn’t get a lot of help from his defence, had 19.

The Canadiens outshot the Sharks 16-6 in the second period, but three of those San Jose shots found the back of the net. Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson scored to give the Sharks a 4-1 lead before Joel Armia scored with 14 seconds left in the period. Armia redirected Max Domi’s shot from the side boards for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

The Canadiens had the better of the play in the first period and opened the scoring when Nick Cousins scored his first goal as a Canadien. He was on a 2-on-1 break with Brendan Gallagher when he elected to shoot off the left wing. Dell made the save, but Cousins followed up and potted the rebound.

The Canadiens caught a break after Barclay Goodrow appeared to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 7:03 of the first period. Goodrow had a step on Ben Chiarot as he took a pass from Joe Thornton and beat Carey Price off the rush. Claude Julien didn’t waste any time challenging the goal and the replay showed that Goodrow crossed the blue line before Thornton carried the puck into the zone.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158281 Montreal Canadiens Veteran Nate Thompson hadn’t seen Gallagher’s cooking video and asked: “Is it bad?”

When told it was, Thompson laughed and said: “I’m not surprised at all.” Stu Cowan: Low eggs-pectations in kitchen for Habs' Brendan Gallagher Thompson said he’s not a good cook, either, and keeps things simple Video of Canadiens winger cooking scrambled eggs shows he's in no when he has to do it. danger of becoming an Iron Chef. “I’d just grill everything,” he said. “You can’t go wrong grilling everything — steaks, veggies, everything at once.”

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 24, 2019 Thompson’s wife, Sydney Kaplan, is a very good cook and makes most of his meals.

“Occasionally I’ll go in the kitchen and help,” he said. “If she’s doing three Food Network Canada should give the Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher things at once and she needs something stirred, I’ll just go in there and his own cooking show. stir.”

It could be hilarious. Thompson is a big fan of chicken, pasta, salad and vegetables.

The Canadiens recently posted a Cooking With Gally video on the team’s Backup goalie Keith Kinkaid also hadn’t seen Gallagher’s video, and had website showing Gallagher cooking scrambled eggs and it wasn’t pretty. the same first reaction as Thompson: “Is it bad?” After my wife — who is a big foodie — watched the video, she said: “Oh, my God! That boy needs someone to cook for him.” After the details were described, Kinkaid laughed, shook his head and said: “He didn’t put anything on the bottom of the pan?” I’m sure there would be no shortage of volunteers in Montreal to cook for one of the most popular players on the Canadiens, but Gallagher’s diet is Kinkaid considers himself a pretty good cook and said he loves to do it. pretty simple. He does most of the cooking at home with his girlfriend, Jaclyn Phillips, helping out with the side dishes. “It’s as standard as it gets with me,” Gallagher says in the video. “Three scrambled eggs, toast. That will hold me over for a little bit. I buy eggs in “Last night, we did chicken and ribs with zucchini and I wanted onion bulk because I go through them pretty quickly.” rings,” Kinkaid said. “I was craving onion rings.”

Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher cooks eggs at home in a video on Kinkaid said his specialty is chicken Parmesan, adding he also likes to the HabsTV YouTube channel. MONTREAL CANADIENS grill a steak with green beans, roasted potatoes, onions and peppers.

Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher cooks scrambled eggs at home in Most of the Canadiens players will eat breakfast in the team’s kitchen at a video on the HabsTV YouTube channel. the in Brossard and some will also eat lunch there after practice. In the video, a peek inside Gallagher’s fridge shows a lot of eggs, margarine and some yogurt — and not much else. The bachelor dines “A lot of guys eat here, some guys go out to eat, some guys eat at out often. home,” Thompson said. “Everyone kind of does their own thing.”

Gallagher scrambles his eggs in a frying pan without adding any oil or Max Domi, who is a Type 1 diabetic and also has celiac disease, has his butter to the bottom of the pan to keep them from sticking. Cleaning the a personal chef who cooks all his meals with no gluten. pan afterward must be quite a job, although Gallagher keeps his dishes At the end of Gallagher’s video of cooking scrambled eggs, he says: to the minimum. “You don’t want me to have to cook for you.” “It’s a scrambled egg,” he says in the video. “You can scramble it any No kidding. way you want. I also gave up on putting oil at the bottom of the pan. I used to and I just really, really simplified my egg making.” Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 Gallagher’s diet is also very simple, consisting mainly of pasta and chicken. He also enjoys caesar salad.

“There are some nutritionists that even say pasta is no good for you anymore,” he says in the video. “But I’ve been eating the same thing my whole life. I don’t really feel a need to change it. The one thing I don’t eat is fish. I don’t really like fish, so I usually pick up some fish-oil pills.”

Canadiens rookie Nick Suzuki watched the video and chuckled when it was brought up after Thursday’s optional morning skate in Brossard.

“I thought it was pretty funny,” Suzuki said. “I don’t cook my eggs like that. I can probably make eggs better than that.”

That wouldn’t be hard.

Suzuki is living with fellow rookie Cale Fleury in a condo at the Bell Centre and they both enjoy cooking.

“We made dinner last night … a chicken salad,” Suzuki said. “We both do the cooking. We have a grocery store right across from us, so it’s pretty easy.”

Victor Mete also saw Gallagher’s video, but couldn’t make fun of his teammate’s cooking skills.

“I can’t make eggs … I never tried it, I’ve never done it,” Mete said. “I can make pasta, but that’s about it.”

Mete said his girlfriend, Courtney Petrachek, cooks for him and is very good at it. Mete likes to eat fish the day before a game and pasta as a pre-game meal.

His favourite meal?

“If I could eat anything, probably pizza,” Mete said. 1158282 Montreal Canadiens Sharks goalie shines Sharks goalie Aaron Dell stopped 35 of the 37 shots the Canadiens fired

at him and somehow wasn’t named one of the game’s three stars. Canadiens Game Day: Penalty-kill costs Habs again in 4-2 loss to Kane was named the first star with two goals and an assist, Sharks Sharks teammate Tomas Hertl was the second star with three assists, and the Canadiens’ Cousins was the third star with a goal and a team-leading six shots. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 25, 2019 “Did we get some chances? Absolutely,” Julien said. “We had lots of chances, even in the third period. We don’t bury them. They didn’t get that many chances, they buried them. Let’s say those two power-play It’s a good thing the Canadiens only play the San Jose Sharks twice a goals. Other than that, they didn’t get a ton of chances the whole game season, because they can’t beat them. and it’s not reflective on the shots because they didn’t get many shots. And if the Canadiens don’t improve their penalty-killing, they’re going to They didn’t get that many chances, but they buried theirs. We didn’t. have a hard time beating any team. “We had lots of chances and times where you need to lift the puck up The Sharks beat the Canadiens 4-2 Thursday night at the Bell Centre. It and you’re shooting at their pads,” the coach added. “We need to be was the ninth straight win for the Sharks against the Canadiens. The last better. We had some great chances from the slot, we missed the net. time the Canadiens beat the Sharks was on March 21, 2015 when they You can’t miss the net when you’re shooting from the slot. So there’s won 2-0 at the Bell Centre. Dating back to 2005, the Sharks have a 15-4- some little details. I didn’t think overall I thought our defensive game was 0 record against the Canadiens. poor tonight. Even if they didn’t get many chances, the chances they got they buried them. We got some guys that could have been a lot better for Evander Kane scored two power-play goals for San Jose Thursday night, us tonight.” while the Sharks also got goals from Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson. Nick Cousins and Joel Armia scored for the Canadiens, who outshot the Last year, the PP. This year, the PK. Sharks 37-23. The Sharks went 2-for-3 on the power play. Working hard at it.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/rQkjpcSN9Z— Canadiens The Canadiens have given up 11 power-play goals in 10 games this Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 25, 2019 season and their record is now 4-4-2. They rank 30th in the NHL in First goal for Cousins penalty-killing with a 67.6 per cent success rate. Only the Winnipeg Jets are worse at 63.6 per cent. For Cousins, it was his first goal with the Canadiens after signing with the team as a free agent this summer. He broke down the left wing on a two- “The power plays are about finding seams and banging in trash,” on-one with Brendan Gallagher, fired a shot and then banged in his own Canadiens goalie Carey Price said after the game. “So we have to rebound. regroup and figure it out.” “I think I had a couple of chances actually there earlier to shoot and I As for the Canadiens’ inability to beat the Sharks, Price said: “They play tried to pass,” Cousins said. “So I just figured I’d shoot one and lucky well and they capitalize on their chances that they get. I thought overall enough it came right back to me. we played them pretty solid.” “I mean it’s nice, but at the same time it’s more so about the team,” The Canadiens were in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings Cousins added about getting his first goal. “We’ve lost two in a row here after Thursday’s night’s games. Attendance at the Bell Centre was now. We got to clean some things up here and we have a chance to do 21,052, marking the third straight game the Canadiens haven’t sold out that Saturday night.” the building, which has a capacity of 21,302. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be at the Bell Centre Saturday night. Back to the drawing board “I thought we carried the majority of the third period, but we just couldn’t The Canadiens ranked 12th in penalty-killing last season with an 80.9 per get one by their goalie,” Cousins said. “So got to give their goalie credit, cent success rate. he played pretty well. Defenceman Jordie Benn ranked second on the Canadiens last season “I think if we clean up our special teams, I like our game a lot five-on- with an average of 2:47 of ice time per game on the penalty-kill, trailing five,” Cousins added. “I think we generate the majority of the play, the only Shea Weber at 2:49. It certainly looks like the Canadiens are majority of the shots. If we just clean up our special teams we should missing Benn — who signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free serve ourselves up with a chance to win.” agent this summer — on the PK. Traverse la patinoire, prend son propre retour. C'est bon pour un 1er Ben Chiarot, who was signed as a free agent to take Benn’s spot, was on the ice for both Sharks power-play goals. avec le ⚪.

The Sharks have the best penalty-killing unit in the NHL this season with Across the rink and off his own rebound. Good for his first in a 91.4 per cent success rate after the Canadiens went 0-for-3 Thursday ⚪.#GoHabsGo | @Cous27 pic.twitter.com/4YFHyLIe0C— night. Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 25, 2019

“Our PP tonight wasn’t bad,” Canadiens coach Claude Julien said after Prevent defence the game. “They’re the No. 2 (now No. 1) penalty-killing team in the The Sharks spent much of the scoreless third period simply dumping the league. They’re very aggressive. But our penalty-kill was not good puck out of their own zone or icing the puck. enough. It didn’t take them long to score. Either missing assignments or we’re not clearing pucks or we’re too busy cross-checking guys in front of “It was kind of weird,” Cousins said. “It seemed like every time they would the net instead of looking for the puck. There’s a lot of things that will be get the puck in their own end they would high flip it out and not really give addressed tomorrow (at practice). I think it’s time that there’s certain us anything offensively in that aspect. I think we just need to reload a things here that have to be clearly defined and I’ll make sure that little bit quicker and make our transition game that much better than it happens.” already is.

When asked if it’s easier to fix the penalty-kill than the power play, Julien “It was definitely frustrating, but that’s the way they play,” Cousins added. said: “We fixed the power play this year, so far. The penalty-kill was good “That’s the way San Jose has played for, I don’t know, however long I’ve last year and this year it’s off. So, no matter what, it’s a task, it’s a job been in the league. You got to give their goalie credit. I think he played and it has to be better.” well, but I think we could have done a good or a better job of at least getting in front of him.” The Canadiens ranked 30th on the power play last season with a 13.2 per cent success rate. This season they rank seventh at 25 per cent. On a more positive note, Drouin enjoyed playing with Domi and Armia.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/vyGvrnxAxh— Canadiens Montréal One Dell of a win tonight.  pic.twitter.com/H3rjQbkVOI— San Jose (@CanadiensMTL) October 25, 2019 Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 25, 2019 Armia and Tatar in lineup  Montreal, QC#SJSharks pic.twitter.com/WpBiIMEV0L— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 24, 2019 Armia was in the lineup after missing the last two games with a lower- body injury and Tomas Tatar played after leaving practice early on Hockey old-timers Wednesday when he took a shot off the foot. The Sharks have two 40-year-olds on their roster, Joe Thornton and Armia played right wing on a line with Max Domi at centre and Jonathan Patrick Marleau, and they both picked up assists against the Canadiens. Drouin on left wing and scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season. “I won’t be the oldest guy on the ice, that’s for sure,” Thompson, who at It marked the first time this season that Domi and Drouin have been 35 is the oldest player on the Canadiens, said with a smile after taking together on the same line. They started last season together, but Julien part in the optional morning skate. “Those two guys are future Hall of split them up in January. Famers. Hopefully, maybe I can try and get a couple of signed sticks from them tonight.” “It felt good,” Drouin said. “I thought we were skating. I thought our line as the game went on felt more comfortable. We were more attacking the Thornton was the No. 1 overall pick at the 1997 NHL Draft by the Boston net, we were more attacking the area. We made sure this morning that if Bruins and the Sharks took Marleau with the No. 2 pick that year. the pretty play’s there we make it, but if it’s not we just play the way Marleau re-signed with the Sharks on Oct. 8 this year after spending the we’ve been playing since the start of the year and, obviously, Armia has last two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thornton has 0-4-4 totals a great goal.” and is minus-5 in 10 games this season, while Marleau has 2-4-6 totals and is plus-3 in six games. Julien was asked Thursday morning what Domi and Drouin needed to do different or better than they did last season when they were on the same Canadiens 20-year-old rookie Suzuki was born two years after Thornton line. The coach paused for a couple of seconds before answering. and Marleau were drafted.

“I kind of don’t like that question because I don’t know that they were “Maybe a little bit weird,” Suzuki said Thursday morning about playing bad,” Julien said. “I just think the fact that they’re together, Jonathan’s against a couple of 40-year-olds he grew up watching on TV. playing good hockey, Max is a point-a-game guy. We got Armia hopefully “(Thornton’s) from around where I kind of grew up (in London, Ont.) so I on his right side and we just think that those three guys together can give was always watching him. My dad was a fan of his.” us another real, solid line that we can throw out against other teams’ top lines. That’s basically it.” Marleau played in his 794th consecutive game Thursday night. Domi played in his 207th consecutive game, the longest streak among Domi picked up an assist and now leads the Canadiens in scoring with 3- Canadiens players. 7-10 totals in 10 games. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau became the first teammates age 40 or 麗: La période est finie. older to factor in on a goal since 2013, when they assisted on Melker Karlsson's goal. (h/t @PR_NHL) #SJSharks 麗: Period's over. pic.twitter.com/GXXcbD0ftA— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 25, 2019 Armia: Nope.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/auJ5reLnJ9— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 25, 2019 The lines

Some stats Here’s how the Canadiens’ lines and defence pairings looked against the Sharks: The Canadiens won only 39 per cent of the 80 faceoffs in the game against the Sharks. Phillip Danault (12-of-22) and Nate Thompson (5-of- Tatar – Danault – Gallagher 11) both won 45 per cent, Jesperi Kotkaniemi (5-of-14) won 36 per cent and Domi (10-of-29) won 34 per cent. Drouin – Domi – Armia

Cousins led the Canadiens with six shots, followed by Gallagher and Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron Domi with five each. Armia led the Canadiens with six hits, followed by Cousins – Thompson – Suzuki Jeff Petry and Paul Byron with four each. Mete – Weber Shea Weber led the Canadiens with 23:23 of ice time, followed by Drouin (21:27), Petry (21:13) and Domi (21:00). Kulak – Petry

#Habs vs #SJSharks: Game on! #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/Qiql16TYz1— Chiarot – Fleury Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) October 24, 2019 Reilly, Folin and Weal were healthy scratches. Optional morning skate Papa avait raison. Twelve players took part in Thursday’s optional morning skate in Brossard: goalie Keith Kinkaid; defencemen Victor Mete, Brett Kulak, Baby shark wins. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/E1vrAWkZqj— Cale Fleury, Mike Reilly and Christian Folin, along with forwards Armia, Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 25, 2019 Jordan Weal, Kotkaniemi, Cousins, Thompson and Nick Suzuki. What’s next? Julien was asked if optional morning skates might become a regular thing The Canadiens have a practice scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday in for the Canadiens. Brossard as they prepare to face the Maple Leafs Saturday night at the “Possibly,” the coach said. “We talked about that. There’s a lot of times, Bell Centre (7 p.m., CBC, SN1, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio). especially after two days of practice, I don’t think a full team morning Next week, the Canadiens hit the road for three games against the skate’s going to change much.” Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio), Asked if he might keep the optional morning skates rather than the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS) and the abandoning them since some players do like to skate the morning of a Dallas Stars on Saturday (7 p.m., CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio). game, Julien said: “Not really. Sometimes you got to kind of make that Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 tough decision and say: I don’t care whether you like to go on or not. We’re going to stay off for those reasons. We’ve done that already this year where we’ve had no morning skates. I don’t think there’s anybody on this team that is going to come up to me and say: I absolutely need to skate. Guys are adjusting more and more to that and I think we’re OK with the optionals now and sometimes it will just be video sessions as we move forward here.”

Les requins sont 퓲퓬퓲 1158283 Montreal Canadiens

Sharks at Canadiens: Five things you should know

A well-rested Carey Price will be in goal for the Canadiens, while their power play will face a tough test against Sharks' penalty-killers.

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 24, 2019

Here are five things you should know when the Canadiens (4-3-2) play the San Jose Sharks (3-5-1) Thursday at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio).

The goalies: The Canadiens’ Carey Price should be well-rested after getting the day off Sunday in Minnesota when backup Keith Kinkaid stopped 29 of 33 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Wild. Price has allowed only two goals on 51 shots while winning his last two games, including a shutout, improving his record to 4-2-1 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Aaron Dell, who has a 1-1-0 record with a 3.48 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage, will start in goal for the Sharks. Martin Jones, the Sharks’ No. 1 goalie, has struggled this season with a 2-4-1 record, a 3.46 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage.

The offence: The Canadiens rank fifth in the NHL in offence, scoring an average of 3.67 goals per game. Brendan Gallagher (4-5-9) and Max Domi (3-6-9) are both averaging a point per game, while Jonathan Drouin isn’t far behind with 3-5-8 totals. Domi and Drouin will be reunited on the same line against the Sharks for the first time since last January. Joel Armia is expected to return to the Canadiens lineup after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury and will play right wing on the line with Domi and Drouin.

Special teams: The Canadiens rank sixth in the NHL on the power play with a 27.3 per cent success rate. They will face a tough test against the Sharks, who rank second in penalty-killing with a 90.6 per cent success rate. Armia, Tomas Tatar and Jeff Petry have two power-play goals each for the Canadiens, tied for the team lead. The Canadiens have struggled with penalty-killing, ranking 28th in the NHL with a 71 per cent success rate. They allowed two power-play goals in Sunday’s loss to the Wild. The Sharks rank 12th on the power play with a 21.9 per cent success rate.

Old Sharks: If Canadiens fans think captain Shea Weber is old at 34, the Sharks have two 40-year-olds on their roster: Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Thornton was the No. 1 overall pick at the 1997 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins and then Marleau was selected by the Sharks with the No. 2 pick. That was three years before the Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi was born. Thornton has 0-3-3 totals in nine games this season, while Marleau has 2-3-5 totals in five games since being re- signed by the Sharks on Oct. 8 after spending the last two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nate Thompson is the oldest player on the Canadiens at 35.

Dynamic defence duo: Sharks defencemen Brent Burns (2-6-8) and Erik Karlsson (1-7-8) are tied for the team lead in points with centre Logan Couture (1-7-8). Burns won the Norris Trophy with the Sharks in 2016- 17, while Karlsson won two Norris Trophies with the Ottawa Senators before being traded to the Sharks on Sept. 13, 2018. Burns leads the Sharks in ice time this season with an average of 26:33 per game, followed by Karlsson with 26:23.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158284 Montreal Canadiens play, the majority of the shots. If we just clean up our special teams we should set ourselves up each and every night for a chance to win.”

Jonathan Drouin took that notion even one step further. The Canadiens’ miserable penalty kill is overshadowing something far “We want to sometimes not even go on the power play because we like more important our five-on-five very much,” he said.

The Canadiens are fifth in the NHL in controlling shot attempts at five-on- By Arpon Basu Oct 24, 2019 five, seventh in shots on goal percentage, eighth in goal percentage, fifth in expected goal percentage and seventh in high-danger scoring chance percentage, all according to Natural Stat Trick. If traditional stats are more your thing, the Canadiens are sixth in the league in goals per There’s a very valid reason why Claude Julien was just about as angry game, and while their overall goals against per game is high at 3.3, their and annoyed as we have seen him this season Thursday. 18 goals against at five-on-five is tied for 12th fewest in the NHL. It’s because he knows the one thing preventing the Canadiens from Not everything is perfect, far from it. Carey Price hasn’t exactly been being more competitive, the one thing costing his team points is one dominant, the defence takes turns having a pairing that looks problematic thing that is very much under his control. in a given game and, again, the 11 goals the Canadiens have allowed on You can always look at a bad power play, as we did all of last season in the penalty kill is tied for the most in the league. Montreal, and say it is a question of personnel and, more specifically, a But if their five-on-five play can be maintained, the Canadiens should be lack of scoring talent. You need finishers on a power play, and there are fine. It might be difficult to see that right now, but it should turn out to be only so many finishers in the NHL to go around. Sometimes a team true. doesn’t have too many, but that’s not necessarily the coach’s fault. “They didn’t get that many chances and they buried theirs. We didn’t. We It’s not quite the same thing when it comes to a penalty kill. Finding had lots of chances,” Julien said. “There were times we need to lift the players who can be effective in that phase of the game is far easier. puck up, or shooting at their pads, we need to be better. We had some There are way more grinders and defensive forwards and defensive great chances from the slot, and we missed the net. You can’t miss the defencemen available, so no team lacks them. In fact, some teams have net when you’re shooting from the slot. It’s little details. But I didn’t think too many. No one ever looks at a leaky penalty kill and says a team lacks overall our defensive game was poor tonight. But even if they didn’t get the personnel to make it work. that many chances, the chances they got, they buried them. I think we’ve No, when it comes to the penalty kill, it almost always comes down to got some guys that could have been a lot better for us tonight.” coaching. If there is a player or two who are not doing their jobs on the Julien was not wrong in his assessment of this one game Thursday, but penalty kill, you replace them with players who can, because there are overall, the Canadiens are getting goals. They are controlling play. They always players available who can do that job. There are a select few who are out-chancing teams. They are doing the things they established last can do it at an elite level, but the club of players who are able to do the season as their strengths. things necessary to have a successful penalty kill is not all that exclusive. The one thing they need to fix is the one thing that is very fixable. It is Even if it were, the Canadiens are not exactly lacking those kinds of also the one thing Julien is best at fixing. players. The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 So when the San Jose Sharks score two goals on the power play and the Canadiens lose by two goals and it’s the second game in a row the margin of defeat can be directly linked to the performance of the penalty kill, you get a version of Julien that sounds like this:

“Our penalty kill wasn’t good enough,” he said. “It didn’t take them long to score, either missing assignments or we’re not clearing pucks or we’re too busy cross-checking guys in front of the net instead of looking for the puck. There’s a lot of things that will be addressed (at practice Friday). It’s time that there’s certain things that have to be clearly defined and I’ll make sure that happens.”

This is not exactly a new phenomenon for the Canadiens this season, and it is something we have already covered quite extensively. It’s a problem.

But it is not one the Canadiens, and particularly Julien, cannot fix. In fact, a team coached by Julien for a full season has finished with a penalty kill worse than 80 percent only twice in his career. That’s in 14 seasons (counting the year he was fired by the New Jersey Devils with three games left in the regular season because, well, that was just goofy). One of those times was his first year in Boston in 2007-08, the other was two years ago when Shea Weber was out all year and the Canadiens were just a mess. In those 14 seasons, Julien-coached teams have finished in the bottom half of the league on the penalty kill five times, and only twice in the last 10.

Otherwise, Julien’s teams tend to figure it out in this phase of the game, and that’s why he was so angry Thursday.

Where the Canadiens continue to excel is at five-on-five. They did it against the Sharks and they have now dominated their opponent in five of their last six games in this far more important phase of the game. It is what the Canadiens have built as an identity and they are getting back to it after a rough start to the season. This is what is encouraging in their play, and with the power play no longer being a momentum sinkhole for them, if they can continue doing this to teams at even strength things should smooth out for them over time.

“I think if we clean up our special teams, I like our game a lot five-on- five,” forward Nick Cousins said. “I think we generate the majority of the 1158285 Montreal Canadiens There has to be a better way. For example, I don’t know, reversing the bad call they made in the first place after quickly conferring with their colleagues in the video room, such as they do in rugby.

Video Review: The Canadiens’ penalty kill is killing them Just a thought.

Here’s Johnny

By Marc Dumont Oct 24, 2019 He didn’t hit the scoresheet, but Jonathan Drouin had yet another solid game for the Canadiens. With his speed on full display, Drouin created a pair of five-on-five scoring chances, and while he was on the ice the Canadiens controlled the majority of the shots. Much like the Canadiens’ previous opponents, the Minnesota Wild, the San Jose Sharks were facing an early-season internal crisis after they Stats aside, his renewed confidence has led to a lot more Drouin-esque got off to a slow start to the 2019-20 campaign. Logan Couture’s attempt rushes, such as this one he put together in the first period: to rally the troops by calling out his team meant the Sharks arrived in Montreal hungry to make an immediate impact. Game of inches

But let’s make one thing clear: The circumstances, which did add an The Kulak-Petry pairing had a very strong start to the game. Their ability extra element of difficulty to the Canadiens’ schedule, shouldn’t matter. to support the attack in the offensive zone was quite evident and led to a The Sharks’ issues aren’t the Canadiens’ concern, as they have their few decent chances. own potential internal crisis to avoid. In other words, using Couture’s rally But their high-risk style of play caught up to them as the game went on, cry to explain a poor performance by the Canadiens on Thursday night with the pairing on the ice for both five-on-five goals against. would be nothing more than a convenient excuse. They’re the kind of pairing that will get burned on occasion, especially At first, it seemed like they wouldn’t need an excuse, as the Canadiens when they’re attempting to create offence from the blue line, as they quickly took control of the game, doubling the Sharks’ five-on-five shots were against the Sharks, but they’ll have to pick their spots a little more while creating seven high-danger chances to the Sharks’ zero in the first carefully moving forward to avoid giving up high-danger chances. period, but a Shea Weber penalty would serve as a catalyst for the 4-2 loss. On that note, the Weber-Victor Mete pairing did a very good job limiting chances, but the Canadiens need more than half their top-four to play The Canadiens really should have finished the first period with a lead, or well if they intend to make the playoffs. at the very least tied, seeing as they flat-out dominated the shots in quantity and quality. But they were once again let down by their Final word lackluster penalty kill, which has quickly replaced last season’s power play as the most disappointing aspect of their game. The Canadiens were let down by their special teams, which has been a recurring theme over the past three seasons, but more than that, they A tale of two situations were let down by their inability to capitalize on their scoring chances.

The Canadiens did a very good job shutting down passing lanes at five- They had 15 high-danger chances at five-on-five, more than enough to on-five, as evidenced by Cale Fleury’s defensive play, which eventually generate several goals. And while it’s easy to point fingers at the players led to Nick Cousins’ first goal of the season. who usually lead the offensive charge, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Canadiens’ system counts on every player providing value in all three The penalty kill, on the other hand, was anything but impressive. Well, zones on a nightly basis to succeed. impressively awful counts, I suppose. It’s up to players like Artturi Lehkonen, Paul Byron, Nate Thompson, Not only did they create more havoc in Carey Price’s line of sight than Jesperi Kotkaniemi and, to a lesser extent, Weber and Kulak to provide the Sharks did, but due to poor stick positioning and lazy defending, the the kind of secondary and tertiary scoring the team desperately needs. passing lanes were also left wide open. I’m getting ahead of myself since there’s a lot of hockey left to play, and if What we saw against the Sharks on the penalty kill was the kind of thing Carey Price were reading this right now he’d probably tell me to chill out, one would expect to see from a team in its first preseason game, but if the Canadiens do not start to receive balanced scoring or a healthy perhaps even in an intrasquad game, but definitely not 10 games into the dose of penalty killing in a hurry, they’ll just keep increasing the likelihood season. that the only event that’ll take place at the Bell Centre following the After the Sharks scored their second power-play goal of the game, the conclusion of the regular season will be the NHL draft. Canadiens’ penalty kill fell to 29th in the NHL with a lowly 67.6 percent The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 efficiency, which is actually worse than the 74.1 percent efficiency that left the Canadiens second-to-last in the penalty-kill department two seasons ago.

Now, we’ve established that the Canadiens’ penalty kill has quickly replaced the power play as the main source of frustration for Canadiens fans, but it’s probably worth mentioning that the referees haven’t exactly helped their cause.

I don’t like to blame referees. More often than not, they do a pretty good job calling an incredibly fast game that’s virtually impossible to regulate perfectly.

But there’s one particular longtime tradition employed by NHL referees that is incredibly silly, for lack of a more censored word.

The makeup call. I hate it with every fiber of my being.

In a vacuum, the logic behind the makeup call is sound. If they make a mistake, like, say, calling a phantom penalty on Brett Kulak that is transferred to Jeff Petry after review because he was actually closer to his opponent (yet didn’t merit a penalty, either), they shouldn’t compound the mistake by calling another soft penalty, which is exactly what they did against Brent Burns later in the second period.

It’s a loophole that’s conducive to making more bad calls. Instead of one bad call on the books, you now have two, and one of them is on purpose. 1158286 Nashville Predators

An injured Matt Duchene would be an alarming twist in Predators' young season | Estes

Gentry Estes, Nashville Tennessean Published 10:30 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2019

During a relatively nondescript 4-0 shutout of the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, it became clear in the third period: The Predators’ Matt Duchene was no longer available to play.

The team is saying it was a “lower-body injury” that caused Duchene to exit.

And that could be big.

As the Predators’ headline signing of this past offseason, Duchene has made an impact on this young season. Entering Thursday night, he had 11 points (two goals) in nine games. His versatility has helped cover for the loss of Filip Forsberg to a recent injury, as he has successfully shifted from center to wing.

It might be easier to crack military codes in wartime than to obtain postgame details on fresh hockey injuries other than the vague upper- body or lower-body-type classifications. Predators coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday evening that he hadn’t spoken to the training staff and had no update to offer on Duchene’s injury.

And Duchene himself was not around when the media reached the Predators’ locker room.

So basically, we don’t know if it’s serious or not. Best to avoid panic.

But things were going so well.

And the idea of perhaps being without Duchene for an extended period of time – beginning with a tough Saturday night road game at Tampa Bay – is not an appealing thought for a Predators team that was already without a banged-up Filip Forsberg the past four games and dealt with injuries as a routine annoyance last season.

That team won in spite of those hurdles, however, and it’s likely this one could, too.

Because the man in goal is still playing awfully well.

Goalie Pekka Rinne dominated Thursday night’s game, posting his 56th career shutout. The Predators won their past two games by a combined score of 10-1, and perhaps the most surprising part of that was Rinne allowing one goal.

“It should be two (shutouts) in a row, honestly,” said the Predators’ Colton Sissons of Rinne. “… He’s the man around here. We love playing in front of him.”

An organization that has been known for its defense – and Rinne – opened this season with a flurry of goals, but it is now starting to lean back toward the defense – and Rinne, who is now a sparkling 6-0-1 this season.

That record is not a coincidence, and it should give the Predators hope if the offense happens to find itself without another key piece.

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Matt Duchene leaves Predators game with 'lower body' injury

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 9:25 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2019 | Updated 10:03 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2019

Matt Duchene has been one of the Predators' most visible players this season.

But the center/wing was nowhere to be found on the ice after playing a shift late during the second period against the Wild at Bridgestone Arena.

He was gone from the Predators bench in the third and played a team- low 9 minutes, 37 seconds. With about seven minutes remaining in the third period, the team tweeted that he'd suffered a lower body injury and would not return.

Matt Duchene (lower body) will not return to tonight’s game vs. Minnesota. #Preds

— Nashville Preds PR (@PredsPR) October 25, 2019

Predators coach Peter Laviolette said after the game he had no update on Duchene because he hadn't talked to the team trainer.

The Predators won't be on the ice Friday before leaving for Saturday's game in Tampa.

No obvious injury occurred during Duchene's final shift during the second period.

Duchene is second on the team with 11 points (two goals, nine assists). He signed a seven-year, $56 million contract this summer.

Filip Forsberg missed his fourth straight game Thursday with a lower body injury.

Tennessean LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158288 Nashville Predators

Predators beat Minnesota Wild 4-0 behind stellar performance from Pekka Rinne

Jim Diamond, Associated Press Published 12:00 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2019 | Updated 9:57 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2019

Pekka Rinne made 26 saves, Colton Sissons had a goal and an assist and the Nashville Predators beat the Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Thursday night.

Miikka Salomaki, Calle Jarnkrok and Craig Smith also scored for Nashville, which has won two straight.

Minnesota's two-game winning streak ended.

The shutout was Rinne's first of the season and 56th of his career. He improved his record on the season to 6-0-1. His best sequence came late in the first period, with the game scoreless.

With 1:09 remaining in the first, Rinne turned aside a backhand shot from Jason Zucker and then denied Mikko Koivu's attempt at the rebound from just outside the crease.

Salomaki scored the game's first goal 37 seconds into the second period.

Sissons carried the puck into the Minnesota zone on the right side. Sissons left a drop pass for Salomaki in the right circle, where he beat Wild goaltender Alex Stalock with a wrist shot high to the far side.

It was Salomaki's first goal of the season. The Finnish winger began the season with Milwaukee of the AHL but played his third consecutive game since being recalled.

The goal was scored on Nashville's fifth shot of the game, as most of the first period was played in the Predators' end of the ice. Rinne stopped all 13 Minnesota shots he faced in the opening period.

Jarnkrok made it 2-0 with 28 seconds remaining in the second.

After taking a pass from Viktor Arvidsson at the top of the right circle, Jarnkrok beat Stalock with a wrist shot that went off of the far post and into the net for his second goal of the season.

Stalock finished with 17 saves.

Smith scored his first of the season at 6:58 of the third off assists from Nick Bonino and Rocco Grimaldi.

Sissons' short-handed goal with 3:07 remaining completed the scoring.

NOTES: Stalock is 0-5-1 in his career against Nashville. ... Minnesota G Devan Dubnyk did not make the trip to Nashville because of an upper- body injury sustained Tuesday night. ... Predators LW Filip Forsberg missed his fourth consecutive game with a lower-body injury. ... Nashville C Matt Duchene has assists in three straight games. He left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury and did not return.

UP NEXT

Wild: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Predators: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Tennessean LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158289 Nashville Predators As his teammates prepare themselves to take the ice, Duchene hangs back in his stall, waiting until the last possible moment to join them in the hallway. It’s those quiet moments that help Duchene feel ready.

Inside the quiet moments that prepare Matt Duchene for every game “I’m just relaxing,” Duchene said. “I need to be relaxed before a game. I’m not a guy who needs to get hyped up, because I’m a person that’s pretty on the gas as it is personality-wise. It’s about relaxing and finding that happy medium between being on your toes and being chill. For me, By Adam Vingan Oct 24, 2019 that’s what it’s about.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 Two 16.9-ounce bottles of Dasani in hand and headphones in his ears, Matt Duchene emerges from the dressing room and takes a seat on the Predators’ bench.

The countdown clock on the Bridgestone Arena scoreboard reads 39:35 when he shakes and cracks open the first bottle, the energy supplement provided by strength and conditioning coach David Good turning the water a deep pink.

Over a span of about three minutes, Duchene, taking steady swigs, downs both bottles. There’s no science behind the speed in which Duchene ingests the contents. He’s just thirsty.

“I found early in my career that for me to feel my best, I have to have a lot of water in me, or a lot of fluid,” Duchene said. “Some games, it goes down faster than others.”

Hockey players are creatures of habit, and many are meticulous in their preparations before games. But most take place behind closed doors. Duchene prefers to do his out in the open.

“I’ve done it my whole career,” Duchene said. “I just like to throw some tunes on, sit out in the atmosphere a little bit before the game. It’s probably my favorite part of pregame, just sitting there listening to music and getting ready for the game.”

After a quick skate in the morning to get a feel for the puck and a meal of gluten-free pasta with rosé sauce and salmon at a nearby Italian restaurant, Duchene heads home to spend time with 8-month-old son Beau and take a quick nap.

Once he arrives at the arena, he syncs his warmup routine to a six-song playlist, which, as one might have assumed, is loaded with country music.

“Right now, I’ve got four songs off the new Hardy album (‘HIXTAPE, Vol. 1’), which is probably the most from any album I’ve ever had on a playlist, which says a lot about how much I love that album.”

Duchene shared his current rotation, which has also been embedded at the bottom of the story:

Blake Shelton: “God’s Country”

Luke Combs, Brooks & Dunn: “1, 2 Many”

Hardy feat. Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch: “Boy From The South”

Hardy feat. Morgan Wallen: “He Went To Jared”

Hardy feat. Hunter Phelps and Jameson Rodgers: “My Kinda Livin”

Hardy feat. Morgan Wallen and Zakk Wylde: “Turn You Down”

At the moment, Duchene has “My Kinda Livin” written on the back of the tape wrapped around the shaft of his stick. Above it is his son’s name, and underneath is “PHIL. 413,” a reference to the Bible verse that states, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Duchene completes it with a cross.

Arms folded, Duchene clears his mind and stares ahead, breaking his gaze to look up at the clock as it ticks toward the start of pregame warmups. Like clockwork, he rises from the bench at 29:09, jogging back into the dressing room to gear up for the game.

What is the significance of that particular time?

“All the nines,” said Duchene, whose fascination with the number originated from childhood idol , who wore No. 9 for the Montreal Canadiens.”I need time to get in, get dressed, so I picked 29 because of the nine in it. I actually wore 29 for Team Canada when I was younger. Nine has always been my number, so just keeping it consistent with everything else in my life.” (Duchene went with No. 95 two seasons ago after being traded to the Ottawa Senators, combining his favorite number with one he wore when he was younger.) 1158290 New Jersey Devils likely get the call to start on Friday, assuming he feels 100 percent, which he said he did.

Star Ledger LOADED: 10.25.2019 Devils practice lines: Nico Hischier, Will Butcher ready to return? Could Jesper Bratt sit?

By Chris Ryan

The Devils held the final practice of their long layoff on Thursday before they finally hit the ice for a game against the Arizona Coyotes at 7 p.m. on Friday at Prudential Center in Newark.

Nico Hischier (bruised ribs), Will Butcher (upper body), and Mackenzie Blackwood (illness) were all on the ice on Thursday, with the Devils getting full participation from all players.

That provided a look at what the Devils’ lineup could be on Friday. Here’s how the team lined up during 5-on-5 drills:

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FORWARDS

Taylor Hall - Jack Hughes - Kyle Palmieri

Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Wayne Simmonds

Pavel Zacha - Nico Hischier - Nikita Gusev

Miles Wood - Kevin Rooney - John Hayden

Jesper Bratt, Jesper Boqvist

DEFENSEMEN

Damon Severson - P.K. Subban

Andy Greene - Sami Vatanen

Mirco Mueller - Matt Tennyson

Will Butcher - Connor Carrick

GOALIES

Cory Schneider/Mackenzie Blackwood

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A few notes to accompany your reactions to the changes:

- Seeing Bratt as an extra forward might raise some alarm bells. He’s one of the team’s more gifted offensive forwards, and he’s proven over two seasons what impact he can have. But over the last two games, he’s generated just one shot and one shot attempt, going scoreless in both. Bratt has been prone to lulls in play during his career, and while it’s not a lock for him sit on Friday, the Devils want to see him reestablish his offensive presence.

Coach John Hynes has changed his lineup between practice and game days in the past, Bratt could wind up dressing on Friday. Morning skate will give a final indication.

- Even with Hischier healthy, the Devils are keeping Hughes with Hall and Palmieri on the top line. The trio hasn’t lit the world on fire at 5-on-5 in two games together. In 10:20 of total ice time in those contests (where special teams limited a lot of even-strength play), the three collected six shot attempts and allowed eight, and they weren’t on the ice for any goals, for or against. But Hughes continues to gain traction with each passing game, and Hall and Palmieri remain as the team’s most talented wingers. Hynes is giving them another chance to jell together.

- If Butcher is healthy enough to play, he’ll likely jump into Tennyson’s spot in the lineup. Butcher is on IR, so to activate him, the Devils will need to clear a roster spot, and sending Tennyson to Binghamton is the most likely move. So that fact he was on the fourth pairing on Thursday shouldn’t raise any alarms. If he’s healthy enough to play, he’ll be in the lineup.

- Blackwood returned to practice after missing sessions on Monday and Tuesday due to illness. After winning the last two games, Blackwood will 1158291 New Jersey Devils

How Nico Hischier’s contract extension affects Devils’ salary cap situation next season

By Chris Ryan

Nico Hischier secured his future with the Devils when he signed a seven- year, $50.75 million contract extension. Barring a trade, he’ll wear red and black for at least the first 10 years of his NHL career.

In paying him that salary now, the Devils are banking on Hischier’s continued development, and as someone who won’t turn 21 until January, there’s still plenty of room for growth in the 2017 No. 1 overall pick.

But this story isn’t about Hischier and his deal. It’s about how the contract affects everything else the Devils will be able to do in the confines of the salary cap starting next season.

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Having Hischier locked up now, rather than signing him to a new contract in the summer of 2020 as a restricted free agent, gives the Devils more cost certainty regarding the cap and the other moves they’ll need to make in June and July.

With Hischier’s contract on the books for 2020-21, the Devils will have $53,383,333 committed toward the cap based on their current contracts, per Cap Friendly. Their current 2019-20 payroll is at $76,621,935, with the difference set to come off the books at the end of the season.

The current NHL salary cap is at $81.5 million, though that will likely go up a bit before next season. So they’ll have $28,116,667 available to spend in the summer, plus the cap increase.

Buy Nico Hischier gear: Fanatics, NHL.com, Lids, Dick's Sporting Goods

It certainly looks like a lot, but other players are going to need to be paid. The biggest question mark is Taylor Hall, who could be looking at $11 or $12 million per season if he re-signs with the Devils on a long-term contract.

If Hall ends up signing elsewhere, all of this becomes moot, because the Devils will have more than enough cap space to spread around. But if he stays, they’ll need to carefully navigate their other pending free agents.

Captain Andy Greene is in the final year of his contract that pays him $5 million per season. The $5 million contract of forward Wayne Simmonds and the $4.875 million AAV of defenseman Sami Vatanen also expire this season. Jesper Bratt and Mackenzie Blackwood finish their entry-level contracts in 2019-20, so they’ll likely be in line for raises on their next deals in the summer as RFAs. John Hayden ($750K), Kevin Rooney ($700K) and Mirco Mueller ($1.4 million) will also be free agents.

In short, it will probably be difficult for the Devils to retain all of them, though Blackwood and Bratt aren’t going anywhere.

Plenty will change between now and when decisions on those players need to be made in June and July, but having Hischier’s contract done now will give the Devils a much clearer picture of the money they have available to sign other players around him.

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What’s the Devils’ plan for Jesper Boqvist?

By Chris Ryan

Jesper Boqvist has played in two of the Devils’ first eight games of the season. That might prompt one to think the Devils might ultimately send him back to Sweden, since he’s ineligible to play in the AHL this season due to his European contract.

However, the Devils’ hope and expectation at this point is to keep Boqvist in the NHL for the entire 2019-20 campaign.

“It’s something that we’d like to do, yes,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “I mean I don’t want to sit here and tell you that it’s for sure, but right now, our plan is, yes, to have him here.”

The 2017 second-round pick and 20-year-old is still developing as a player, and this is his first season playing on the smaller rink of North American hockey. So the Devils have been deliberate about rushing him into a full-time role.

Sitting games might seem counterintuitive to Boqvist’s development when he could be playing full time in Sweden, but at this point, the Devils see it more beneficial for him to be in this role with the NHL club.

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“It’s important to him and he’s played pretty well, and he’s a guy that we think is going to be able to progress," Hynes said. "This is new for him. He’s in the NHL, he’s on a North American sheet. He’s practicing every day against these guys, he’s had opportunities to play. You talk to him, he’s like, ‘I learned something every day. If I play a game, I learned something every shift.’ And that’s invaluable.”

Essentially, Boqvist is still on the NHL roster because the Devils see him making an impact this season.

Part of Boqvist’s value comes from his range. If the Devils called up a current forward from Binghamton in the AHL, that player would likely slot into one of the team’s bottom two lines. Boqvist could currently fill a bottom-six role, like he’s done in the two games he’s played, but the Devils view his current ceiling as higher than that. If they needed a player to step into a top-six spot or help the power play, Boqvist could do it.

So his games will steadily increase if the Devils see him continue to progress. The team, however, doesn’t have a certain number of games they need Boqvist to clear.

“I think it’s tough to say this earlier, how many games he’s going to play," Hynes said. "Put it this way: There is a plan we have, but we’re not saying, ‘He needs to play this many games.’ I think it’s tough to say that this early on, but we do think he’s in the right place right now.

“We think he’s a good player. We think he’s a guy that can continue to get better, and we think this is the right environment for him to be able to continue to grow right now, and that’s what we’re doing. Some of that may be games, some of it might not be games, but that’s what we feel is best at this point.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158293 New Jersey Devils When he’s not at the rink, he’s living in Jersey City with fellow Swede Jesper Bratt. They live in the same building as Kevin Rooney, Pavel Zacha and Zacha's girlfriend. John Hayden lives nearby.

With Jesper Boqvist, Devils trying to balance long-term development and The group is frequently together exploring Jersey City and on occasion, winning now going into . They go to football games, they golf, they hang out as a group in their apartment building.

The October schedule hasn’t exactly been a busy one for New Jersey, Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 3:29 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019 but Boqvist is anything but bored.

“Everything he’s getting — living in North America, being around the team, practicing every day, seeing the NHL — this is a good part of his NEWARK — When it comes to developing young talent, the New Jersey development,” Hynes said. “And the fact that he hasn’t played a ton of Devils, like many other NHL teams, have a philosophy regarding playing games, we have not as a team played a ton of games so that doesn’t time and usage: You don’t carry a player on the NHL roster just to factor into our decision at this point in time.” scratch him every night. Boqvist is going to play NHL games for the Devils this season. The club Conventional wisdom says consistent playing time is how a player gets does not know how many yet, but they’re confident he will force his way better. You want him to learn to kill penalties? You send him to the into the lineup. And if he doesn't by Christmas, then they may consider American Hockey League to kill penalties. Is a young player a mess in sending him back to Sweden. his own end when trying to protect a lead? He can work on closing games in the minor leagues. For now, Boqvist is happy to be right where he is, even if it means his playing time is inconsistent. But when it comes to the Devils’ two top prospects, defenseman Ty Smith and forward Jesper Boqvist, the club doesn’t have the ability to “This is the best league in the world,” Boqvist said. “So, yeah. I want to send them to their AHL affiliate in Binghamton. Smith’s late birthday be here as much as I can.” makes him ineligible for the AHL under the NHL-CHL agreement and Boqvist’s contract with his Swedish club, Brynäs, precludes him from Bergen Record LOADED: 10.25.2019 playing in the NHL’s top developmental league.

NJ Devils prospect roundup: Ty Smith off to a hot start in WHL

The Devils sent Smith back to his junior team in the WHL. They would have rather sent him to the AHL to work with their development coaches but they didn’t have a choice. Spokane was the only option for consistent playing time.

But New Jersey is where Boqvist remains even though the 20-year-old isn’t logging much playing time in New Jersey. He’s suited up for just two games and has been largely sheltered in those two games. The relative inexperience of Boqvist, rookie Jack Hughes and former KHL winger Nikita Gusev makes it difficult to use all three in games sometimes.

“We’ve got some guys up front who are learning and we can’t have all of those guys in our lineup at the same time,” coach John Hynes said Thursday after practice at Prudential Center. “So with that being said, we feel like he can help our team. We have tons of games left and he’s going to get opportunities to play. He can help us win, he adds depth and competitiveness to our team. He’s a versatile player, we think he can play on the top-nine, on the power play, shootout, he’s got 3-on-3 and 4- on-4 potential.

"We see that. But he’s learning too.”

GUSEV: How NJ Devils' Nikita Gusev is fitting in as NHL player

Every development path is different. While it might seem like the Devils are breaking the cardinal rule of development by carrying a guy on the roster just to sit him, they feel that it’s best to keep him in Newark with the NHL team in order to maximize his potential and give him individual attention.

“He’s played pretty well and he’s a guy that we think is going to progress,” Hynes said. “This is new for him. He’s in the NHL, he’s on a North American sheet, he’s practicing every day against these guys, he’s had opportunities to play. And when you talk to him, he says he’s learned something different every day.”

Most of those lessons Boqvist has gleaned have to do with time and space on a North American ice sheet. He’s a creative playmaker and his instincts are to make plays with more space.

“In tight areas, I’m learning where to place the puck to get out of them so we can handle it the right way,” Boqvist said. “It’s stuff like that. Everything is tight out here.”

Whether he’s been playing in a game or sitting in the pressbox, Boqvist has been able to gain insight into what it takes to be a successful NHLer. He’ll watch a game, see something a forward does and try and replicate that at practice. He’s getting a lot of 1-on-1 attention in practice and in the video room with the Devils’ NHL staff and developmental staff. 1158294 New York Islanders Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield scored an empty-netter with 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

"That was more Islanders hockey," Trotz said. "Everyone was engaged Semyon Varlamov makes 21 saves as Islanders put a muzzle on physically. We didn't have any passengers." Coyotes NOTES

Prior to the game, the Islanders placed Leo Komarov on injured reserve By SCOTT CHARLES ASSOCIATED PRESS |OCT 24, 2019 | 11:59 PM and activated Casey Cizikas. Cizikas missed the previous five games with a lower-body injury. ... New York scratched 19-year-old defenseman Noah Dobson, and forwards Ross Johnston and Tom Kuhnhackl. ... Chychrun skated in his 180th NHL game and has played the most games The New York Islanders didn’t miss a beat after a four-day break. by a defenseman before his 22nd birthday in franchise history. ... Arizona Anders Lee hit the winner in the third period and the Islanders beat the scratched Eric Comrie, Barrett Hayton and Aaron Ness. Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Thursday night in their first game since an New York Daily News LOADED: 10.25.2019 overtime win over Columbus on Saturday.

Derick Brassard and Josh Bailey also scored and Brock Nelson recorded two assists as the Islanders won their fifth consecutive game. Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves in his third win of the season.

"It feels good," Brassard said. "I think our team is going in the right direction. We are building some really strong things here. We can't be satisfied. This is a really good league and everyone is winning. We just have to keep going."

Michael Grabner and Conor Garland scored for Arizona. Darcy Keumper made 18 saves as the Coyotes' four-game winning streak was snapped. Jakob Chychrun recorded two assists.

Kuemper's impressive 13-game stretch of allowing two goals or less came to an end when Lee slipped a backhander past the goaltender at the eight-minute mark of the third period. Kuemper is one of 11 goalies in NHL history to have had such a streak. Bailey and Devon Toews assisted on Lee's goal.

Anders Lee (27) celebrates with teammates Josh Bailey (12), Scott Mayfield (24) and Devon Toews (25) after scoring a goal during the third period.

"A little humble pie for the team," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. "I thought some guys were sluggish or whatever. You have to play with your nose over the puck, not on your heels. We played on our heels a little bit and that's what happens."

Bailey broke a 1-1 tie at 14:03 of the second period when he fired a one- timer from the high slot past Kuemper. Defenseman Adam Pelech helped start the offensive opportunity when he skated into the zone with control of the puck. The Islanders generated a few chances before Bailey scored, with assists going to Nick Leddy and Nelson.

"As soon as Leddy started coming down, you are trying to do the opposite and pop high and get open," Bailey said of his mindset during the possession. "He sold it really well and made a great play."

Brassard opened the scoring at 1:25 of the first period when he redirected a puck from Ryan Pulock past Kuemper. Prior to Brassard's first goal of the season, the Coyotes hadn't trailed since the first period against Winnipeg on Oct. 15, four games ago. Pulock and Nelson picked up assists on the play.

The Islanders signed Brassard late in the summer to a one-year contract after the center struggled to find his game after being traded twice last season. The 32-year-old has predominantly played in the middle throughout his 13-year career, but skated at left wing for the first time as a member of the Islanders, alongside Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.

"Systematically it helps because everybody has to know each other's role," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said of having two centers on the team's second line. "The compliment is one guy is not in position they know how to fill in the blanks and gives you some support underneath in the right areas. I just think he (Brassard) looked pretty comfortable."

Grabner evened the score at 1-1 when he snapped a wrist shot past Varlamov at 10:20 of the first period. Bailey failed to effectively chip the puck deep into the offensive zone and the former Islander took advantage of the turnover. Chychrun assisted on the play.

Garland cut the Coyotes' deficit to one goal when he scored off a rebound at 18:55 of the third period. Chychrun and Phil Kessel assisted on the play. 1158295 New York Islanders

Islanders clip Coyotes for fifth straight victory

By Associated Press October 24, 2019 | 10:00pm | Updated

The New York Islanders didn’t miss a beat after a four-day break.

Anders Lee’s third-period goal was the eventual winner and the Islanders beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Thursday night in their first game since an overtime win over Columbus on Saturday at .

Derick Brassard and Josh Bailey also scored and Brock Nelson recorded two assists as the Islanders won their fifth consecutive game. Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves in his third win of the season.

“It feels good,” Brassard said. “I think our team is going in the right direction. We are building some really strong things here. We can’t be satisfied. This is a really good league and everyone is winning. We just have to keep going.”

Michael Grabner and Conor Garland scored for Arizona. Darcy Keumper made 18 saves as the Coyotes’ four-game winning streak was snapped. Jakob Chychrun recorded two assists.

Kuemper’s impressive 13-game stretch of allowing two goals or less came to an end when Lee slipped a backhander past the goaltender at the eight-minute mark of the third period. Kuemper is one of 11 goalies in NHL history to have had such a streak. Bailey and Devon Toews assisted on Lee’s goal.

“A little humble pie for the team,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “I thought some guys were sluggish or whatever. You have to play with your nose over the puck, not on your heels. We played on our heels a little bit and that’s what happens.”

Bailey broke a 1-1 tie at 14:03 of the second period when he fired a one- timer from the high slot past Kuemper. Defenseman Adam Pelech helped start the offensive opportunity when he skated into the zone with control of the puck. The Islanders generated a few chances before Bailey scored, with assists going to Nick Leddy and Nelson.

“As soon as Leddy started coming down, you are trying to do the opposite and pop high and get open,” Bailey said of his mindset during the possession. “He sold it really well and made a great play.”

Brassard opened the scoring at 1:25 of the first period when he redirected a puck from Ryan Pulock past Kuemper. Prior to Brassard’s first goal of the season, the Coyotes hadn’t trailed since the first period against Winnipeg on Oct. 15, four games ago. Pulock and Nelson picked up assists on the play.

The Islanders signed Brassard late in the summer to a one-year contract after the center struggled to find his game after being traded twice last season. The 32-year-old has predominantly played in the middle throughout his 13-year career, but skated at left wing for the first time as a member of the Islanders, alongside Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.

“Systematically it helps because everybody has to know each other’s role,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said of having two centers on the team’s second line. “The compliment is one guy is not in position they know how to fill in the blanks and gives you some support underneath in the right areas. I just think he (Brassard) looked pretty comfortable.”

Grabner evened the score at 1-1 when he snapped a wrist shot past Varlamov at 10:20 of the first period. Bailey failed to effectively chip the puck deep into the offensive zone and the former Islander took advantage of the turnover. Chychrun assisted on the play.

Garland cut the Coyotes’ deficit to one goal when he scored off a rebound at 18:55 of the third period. Chychrun and Phil Kessel assisted on the play.

Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield scored an empty-netter with 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

“That was more Islanders hockey,” Trotz said. “Everyone was engaged physically. We didn’t have any passengers.”

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Derick Brassard scores first goal with Islanders

By Andrew Gross

Derick Brassard played wing sparingly last season during his frustrating odyssey from the Penguins to the Panthers to the Avalanche.

But the natural center certainly looked comfortable on Brock Nelson’s right wing on a line with Anthony Beauvillier in the Islanders’ 4-2 win over the Coyotes on Thursday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.

Brassard got to the crease and redirected defenseman Ryan Pulock’s blast from the right boards to open the scoring at 1:25 of the first period for his first goal as an Islander. He played a season-high 17:54, scoring on his only shot.

“I just felt like I was a little bit more involved tonight,” Brassard said. “Nellie and Beau, they’ve been outstanding since the start of the season. I think they really helped me.”

Komarov to IR

Center Casey Cizikas was activated off injured reserve and logged 14:10 as he returned to the Islanders’ lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury.

Forward Leo Komarov (illness) was placed on IR retroactive to Oct. 17 to clear a roster spot for Cizikas.

Coach Barry Trotz said Komarov will not travel with the team to Ottawa for Friday night’s game against the Senators and also is doubtful for Sunday night’s game against the Flyers at the Coliseum.

Isles files

Center Cole Bardreau, 26, logged 7:53 and won 6 of 8 faceoffs in his second NHL game. He needed 16 tickets for friends and family after nobody was able to make it to Columbus to see his NHL debut on Saturday. Bardreau centered Michael Dal Colle and rookie on the third line, which was where Brassard had been playing . . . The Islanders won 32 of 53 faceoffs (60 percent) . . . The attendance was 10,752 . . . Rookie defenseman Noah Dobson and forwards Tom Kuhnhackl and Ross Johnston were the healthy scratches. “I’m planning to use all our players in the three games,” Trotz said.

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Islanders president Travis Williams leaving to run Pirates

By Jim Baumbach

Islanders president of business operations Travis Williams is leaving to run the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to a source. Williams was hired 11 months ago to oversee preparations for the new arena at Belmont Park.

The Pirates have scheduled a news conference to introduce the team's new president on Monday.

An Islanders spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Williams, who spent the majority of his career in Pittsburgh before joining the Islanders, was hired because of his experience in the building of the Pirates’ PNC Park and the Penguins’ PPG Paints Arena. Islanders co- owner Jon Ledecky said last November that Williams’ experience would go a long way in providing “an unparalleled experience” for Belmont attendees.

“That's essentially why I was brought here,” Williams said in January at a Belmont public hearing in Elmont, “because we've had that success in Pittsburgh in doing this and we want to do that same thing as well for the Long Island community as well.”

Before the Islanders, Williams was chief operating officer of the Penguins for eight years and also was outside counsel to the Pirates for 12 years before that. With the Pirates, Williams replaces Frank Coonelly, who was let go Monday after 12 years as team president.

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Islanders return from off days rested, defeat Coyotes

By Andrew Gross

No rust issues here. The Islanders looked as crisp over a full 60 minutes as they have all season.

After three days of practice and an off day, they extended their winning streak to five games with a 4-2 victory over the Coyotes on Thursday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.

“Everyone was excited to play,” said Derick Brassard, who was switched from his natural position of center to right wing on Brock Nelson’s second line and made it 1-0 at 1:25 of the first period with his first goal as an Islander. “We’re kind of sick of practicing. It’s always nice to get a rest, but we felt the energy right off the bat. I think it was a complete game.”

The extended break allowed invaluable fourth-line center Casey Cizikas, who had missed five games with a lower-body injury, to heal, and his return helped the lineup click. His line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck again was able to set the Islanders’ hard-working, hard- forechecking identity.

“I liked that we came out and set the tone,” coach Barry Trotz said. “We were dogs on the bone right off the bat. That was more Islanders hockey. Obviously, Cizikas’ line back together, that just looks right.”

The win started a stretch of three games in four nights for the Islanders (6-3-0), who will play at Ottawa on Friday night and against the Flyers at the Coliseum on Sunday night. Another four-day break follows.

The Islanders had not played since a 3-2 overtime win at Columbus on Saturday night.

“You just try and keep it simple,” said right wing Josh Bailey, who was moved to ’s top line with Anders Lee and gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 14:03 of the second period.

He then set up a crucial goal by Lee — who connected with a backhander at the crease despite falling on his backside — for a two-goal lead at 8:00 of the third period.

“I thought, from the first shift, we did that for the most part,” Bailey added. “We played north and guys got their legs going.”

Nelson had two assists, nine Islanders had at least one point and Semyon Varlamov stopped 21 shots to win his third straight start.

Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves for the Coyotes (5-3-1), who had their winning streak snapped at four games. Kuemper allowed more than two goals for the first time in his last 14 appearances.

“These guys like to start quick,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock, who set up Brassard’s tip-in at the crease with a slap shot from the right boards. “We had to take control of the game early.”

Conor Garland cut the Islanders’ lead to 3-2 at 18:55 with the Coyotes skating six-on-five. Defenseman Scott Mayfield clinched it with a rink- long, empty-net goal with 11.2 seconds remaining.

“I just think we played the right way,” Bailey said. “It wasn’t just offensively. It was all over the ice. We were, for the most part, smart with the puck, making smart decisions and not forcing things. Then we seemed to find some chemistry in the offensive zone.”

The Coyotes tied it at 1-1 as former Islander Michael Grabner beat Varlamov over his glove from the left circle off a bad line change and Bailey’s giveaway.

Phil Kessel’s hook on Clutterbuck at 15:06 of the second period ended the Islanders’ stretch of 128:24 without a power play dating to the second period at Winnipeg. But the Islanders’ man advantage lasted only 41 seconds before Barzal negated it by slashing the stick of defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158299 New York Rangers Panarin alongside Strome and Buchnevich while heralded rookie right wing Kaapo Kakko was on a line with center Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Ryan Strome Scores Twice as Rangers Down Sabres to end 5-game "It was a good step in the right direction. I give our leaders a ton of skid credit," Quinn said. "It wasn't just the lines. A lot of guys came here with purpose tonight."

The loss was the first for Hutton after six wins and starts this season as By ALLAN KREDA ASSOCIATED PRESS |OCT 24, 2019 | 11:50 PM the Sabres fell to 1-5-2 in their last eight meetings with the Rangers.

With his 451st career win, Lundqvist moved to within three victories of Curtis Joseph for fifth place on the all-time list. The 37-year-old Swedish NEW YORK — The Rangers were especially eager to earn a home netminder also made his 862nd career appearance, passing Jean Ratelle victory against the high-flying Buffalo Sabres to stem a series of subpar for sixth-most appearances as a Ranger. results. Three first-period goals and a through effort sparked the home team and a solid win ensued. "We were patient. We played hard, waited for breakdowns and we took advantage," Lundqvist said. "It was great to see. It's important to Ryan Strome scored his first two goals this season and Henrik Lundqvist understand how you win games in this league." made 31 saves as New York snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6- 2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. NOTES

"That was obviously a good game," said Strome, who had 18 goals for The Rangers are 16-4-0 against Buffalo since Apr. 19, 2013 . The teams the Rangers last season after joining them in a trade from Edmonton. will meet Feb. 7 in New York and March 22 in Buffalo . The Rangers "Regardless of who produced, we needed that one as a team. It feels scratched forward Micheal Haley . The Sabres scratched forward Evan good right now. We worked hard for that one." Rodrigues and defenseman John Gilmour ... The contest marked the 1,999th regular season game played by the Rangers at the current The Rangers have been struggling since opening the season with two Madison Square Garden, which opened in 1968. ... The game marked wins, followed by five defeats — the most recent in overtime to the the return of forward Jimmy Vesey, who was traded to the Sabres last Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. Against the resurgent Sabres, who had summer after three seasons with the Rangers. eight wins in their first 10 games, the Rangers came out with pace and received goals from Artemi Panarin, Brett Howden and Strome in the New York Daily News LOADED: 10.25.2019 opening period.

Panarin, who signed a seven-year $81.5 million free agent contract last July, started the scoring with an unassisted goal at 11:41. Panarin corralled a loose puck along the right boards before swooping in and beating Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton for his fifth goal of the season. Panarin has points in last three games and five of the team's eight contests this season.

Howden made it 2-0 when he tapped the puck past Hutton at 14:32 for his second goal this season. Assists went to Brady Skjei and Jesper Fast.

Strome added to the lead with a tip-in at 19:22 with assists to Skjei and Tony DeAngelo. Strome's goal represented the 200th point of his NHL career.

"There was a lot of communication out there," Howden said. "We were really helping each other."

The Rangers held a 10-7 shots advantage after the first period but the Sabres had the better of play in the second, outshooting the home team 15-4.

Defenseman Marco Scandella put Buffalo on the board with an unassisted goal at 4:17 of the second before DeAngelo restored the three-goal lead with his third goal in two games at 13:20. Skjei and Pavel Buchnevich assisted on DeAngelo's fourth goal of the season.

Buffalo's Vladimir Sobotka narrowed the deficit to 4-2 when he scored at 19:11 of the second, beating Lundqvist for his first goal this season. Kyle Okposo and Marcus Johansson registered assists.

The teams traded chances in the third until Strome extended the lead to 5-2 with this second goal of the night, completing a two-on-one with Howden at 7:57 as the teams skated four-on-four.

"Most important is that guys know their identity and it worked out tonight," added the 26-year-old Strome, who has points in five of the last six games. "It was a good statement game that we had it in us to beat a team that's 8-1-1."

Chris Kreider completed the scoring with his first of the season at 18:44 of the third. Rookie defenseman had an assist - his first NHL point - and Fast added his second assist of the contest.

"We didn't show the Rangers enough respect and they punished us for it," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. "There were so many moments where we felt like we were getting back into it. We just couldn't recover from the hole we dug ourselves into."

Rangers coach David Quinn continued reshuffling lines in search of new combinations as the season evolves. Against the Sabres, Quinn had 1158300 New York Rangers

Ryan Strome and Brett Howden fill void at center for Rangers

By Brett CyrgalisOctober 25, 2019 | 2:51am

Those discussions about Filip Chytil possibly coming up from AHL Hartford might have to wait for another day.

As the 20-year-old center was stuffing the stat sheet with the Wolf Pack, the varsity squad finally got things on track when the Rangers broke a five-game winless streak with a 6-2 victory over the Sabres on Thursday night at the Garden.

Chytil, who has three goals and eight points through the team’s first six games going into Hartford’s busy three-game weekend, was given the first crack at the role of second-line center in training camp. But he couldn’t secure that spot and it seemed like the team’s biggest void.

Yet Thursday, it was pivots Ryan Strome and Brett Howden leading the charge, as Strome scored twice and Howden added a goal and an assist. It made Chytil’s return not seem immediately necessary.

“I know he’s doing very well down there,” coach David Quinn said. “If he continues to play to the level we know he’s capable of playing, he’ll be back here.”

Strome is versatile and can play the wing just as easily, so he always seemed a stopgap at that spot. Howden is more of a two-way center than a top-six dazzler. But those two surely got it done against the league- leading Sabres.

“I thought both those guys played very well,” Quinn said. “They had strong nights.”

It was some welcome back to the Garden for Jimmy Vesey, as the former Ranger came in with no goals and two assists in the first 10 games with Buffalo — and then got hurt when he was hit by former roommate, Brady Skjei, at 7:18 of the second period. It is believed Vesey suffered a shoulder injury and did not return.

Vesey, who was traded in the summer for a 2021 third-round pick, did get a smattering of applause when he was shown on the scoreboard in the first period, along with his stats from the three years he spent as a Ranger.

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo scored his third goal in the past two games, and it happened to coincide with his 24th birthday. He said the only other time he might have scored on his birthday was in juniors.

Adam Fox collected his first career point, assisting on Chris Kreider’s first goal of the season late in the third period.

Kaapo Kakko had a great chance to score his second career goal when he had a semi-breakaway early in the second period, but his backhand attempt hit the post. The 18-year-old rookie who was taken with the No. 2 pick in the draft was switched to a line with Zibanejad and Kreider and got 11:47 of ice time.

New York Post LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158301 New York Rangers “It’s not fun getting booed off the ice like we did last game,” Strome said. “A good statement game.”

New York Post LOADED: 10.25.2019 Rangers snap five-game skid with surprisingly dominant effort

By Brett Cyrgalis October 24, 2019 | 9:42pm | Updated

Who the hell were those guys?

As pigs flew over Broadway, the previously lifeless Rangers not only broke a five-game winless streak, but absolutely took it to the league- leading Sabres in registering a 6-2 triumph at the Garden on Thursday night. It was a sorely needed win for the Blueshirts, who were starting to see a very bleak few months in front of them if things didn’t turn around fast.

“We just needed that one as a team,” said Ryan Strome, who recorded his first two goals of the season in his first game while centering the electric Artemi Panarin. “You could tell by the emotion, I think guys don’t really care right now who scored, or who did what. That was a good ‘prove it’ to ourselves, and ‘prove it’ to our fans.

“Feels good right now. We worked hard for that one.”

To a man, the Rangers (3-4-1) all went back to Wednesday’s practice, when they had meeting after meeting, and when coach David Quinn said his veterans “took the bull by the horns, and there were certainly some heated discussions.” But they still had to come out and do it against the Sabres (8-2-1), who might not have looked it, but were still the hottest team through the first few weeks of this season.

“It’s important to go out there and show everyone we’re not just talking,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped all 11 shots he faced in the third period en route to 31 saves overall. “We had a lot of meetings, we watched a lot of video. But in the end, it comes down to what you do in the game to prove it.”

Henrik LundqvistRobert Sabo

What the Rangers did was finally manage to get out of their end with some efficiency, and finally take advantage of the offensive opportunities they did have. Quinn shook up his lines, separating Panarin and Mika Zibanejad for the first time this season — but the coach was also the first one to put the praise right back on the players for competing with more purpose.

“I guess [the line changes] does have something to do with it,” Quinn said, “but I was more impressed with some individuals’ mental approach.”

Finally the offense didn’t have to be shouldered by Zibanejad, as the Rangers were stout down the middle all night. Following Strome was Brett Howden, who had a goal and an assist while centering a cohesive third line with Brendan Lemieux and Jesper Fast.

But the Bread Man was the one who set the pace, as Panarin made a great individual play midway through the first period to steal the puck from a shaky Rasmus Dahlin and then slickly drag it around a poke check from goalie Carter Hutton before sliding in a backhand. It was a play that left his new linemate gawking.

“Quinny likes to change it quite a bit,” Strome said of the lines, smiling now that he has one of the elite talents on his left flank. “The most important thing is guys know their identity, guys know who they are. No matter what line you’re playing on, if you bring to the table what you were brought here for, I think we’ll be successful.”

After Panarin, it was Howden finishing in front and a Strome tip that made it 3-0 going into the second period. A Marco Scandella goal — off a bad turnover from Kaapo Kakko — was then answered by Tony DeAngelo’s third goal in the past two games to make it 4-1.

And when Vladimir Sobotka scored on a glancing deflection with 48.9 seconds left in the second to make it 4-2, the Rangers answered early in the third with Strome’s second of the night. The cherry on top was Chris Kreider finally getting of the schneid for his first goal of the season, coming on a rebound of his own shot bouncing in off a Buffalo defender.

It was that type of night, and all the ragging the Rangers took from their fans after Tuesday’s desultory performance seemed far in the past. 1158302 New York Rangers

An unlikely role change helped save Brendan Smith’s Rangers career

By Brett Cyrgalis October 24, 2019 | 3:57pm | Updated

Playing out of position is better than playing out of the league.

At least, that’s the thought process for Brendan Smith, the man who has played defense for almost all of his professional career but who has found a niche as a fourth-line winger — a skill that kept him with the Rangers a season ago, and one that has kept him here again rather than being down with AHL Hartford, where he spent the second half of the 2017-18 season.

“Last year was definitely an interesting year, it wasn’t anything I had to deal with before,” Smith said of the change before his team brought a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) into a Garden match against the league- leading Sabres on Thursday night. “Going into this year, I think just doing it more, I’m getting better at it the more I see it. For me, I want to be in the best shape possible, I want to help the team win. I thought I did a good job of that, either being here with the club [last year] and now to help the team in any aspect.”

Smith was an effective lefty-shot defenseman with the Red Wings when the Rangers first traded for him at the 2016-17 trade deadline. After an impressive playoff run with the Blueshirts, the club signed him to a four- year, $17.4 million deal that quickly blew up in their face.

Smith didn’t seem as ready as the Blueshirts were expecting when he showed up for training camp in 2017, and his season never got on track. The same day the franchise sent their famous letter to the fans declaring the rebuild on Feb. 8, 2018, they also put Smith on waivers. His hefty contract cleared with ease, and he spent the rest of that season playing with the youngsters on the Wolf Pack.

But when David Quinn came in at the start of last season, he eventually found that Smith had some viability at forward. Smith played a straightforward game that a lot of the roster was lacking, maybe even more so this season with the influx of more skill up front.

“He competes,” Quinn said. “You throw a puck in the corner, that’s not a guy you want to be in there with. That’s something we need more of, from a lot of guys. He can make a play, too. He can shoot the puck. Makes the opposing team uncomfortable.”

Quinn has kept Smith as a defenseman on the penalty kill, where the coach said he has done “a great job.” The options for man-down are limited on the back end, with Quinn choosing not to use either of his 21- year-old rookies, Adam Fox and Libor Hajek, nor the offensively minded Tony DeAngelo. That leaves Smith to go with Marc Staal, and a second wave of Jacob Trouba and Brady Skjei.

But maybe the biggest boost of confidence for Smith came when Quinn cut down his bench late in Tuesday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Coyotes — and Smith was one of nine forward to keep getting shifts down the stretch.

“I think it’s a boost,” Smith said. “There are so many guys on this team [who] are very competitive. I want to help the team win as best as possible. Whatever I can do to continue to play a strong, physical game, and help chip in offensively, maybe that gives me those opportunities. Sometimes that recognition is kind of nice.”

Smith, 30, has another year left on his deal after this season, and it’s hard to see exactly where he fits into the Rangers’ future, with the likes of young lefty-shot defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Yegor Rykov in the system. There are quite a few more jobs open in the NHL at forward, too, but he said he was not currently focused on what he might do going forward.

“I can’t comment on that,” Smith said. “Right at the moment, I just want to help the team in whatever aspect that is. I just like competing, so it doesn’t matter where it is, when it is. As long as I’m out there, I’m happy.”

New York Post LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158303 New York Rangers And you never quite know how a player is going to handle New York. Case in point: Mike Keane. Another: Scott Gomez.

“It’s a big boost to have the extra skill that [Panarin and Trouba] bring to Two key Rangers pieces already thriving in New York the team,” said Lundqvist, outstanding in the 451st victory of his NHL career. “It brings confidence to the group when you have those kinds of top players. And when they’re great teammates, it means even more.”

By Larry Brooks October 24, 2019 | 2:15pm | Updated So far, so good for Panarin and Trouba. Which is a very good thing for the Rangers, who need all the warm and fuzzies they can get.

New York Post LOADED: 10.25.2019 Marian Gaborik set the gold standard for big-ticket free agents who sign with the Rangers. For after signing a five-year, $37.5 million deal on July 1, 2009, the Great Gabby shot out of the gate wearing the Blueshirt, scoring six goals in his first seven games, 11 in his first 13 and 19 in his first 22 matches en route to a career-best-equaling 42-goal season.

Artemi Panarin is a different breed with a different skill set. Whereas Gaborik was one of the NHL’s elite snipers and scorers, Panarin is one of the game’s great playmakers who can also sprinkle in a goal here and there, as he did off a dynamic move to give his team a 1-0 lead in Thursday’s 6-2 Garden victory over the Sabres.

The similarity, though, is in the way they responded to the spotlight under which big-name, big-money acquisitions operate in New York. By going out and playing their game. By accepting the responsibility that comes with the paycheck(s), which in this case will amount to an average of $11,642,857 for each of Panarin’s seven years under contract.

(I wondered on July 1 how long it would take me to memorize that number. Three-and-a-half months, it turns out.)

There can be debate, as there was both externally and internally, about whether the Rangers were ready for Panarin. There is, however, no debate about whether Panarin was ready for the Rangers and New York.

The 27-year-old Russian has been a model teammate. He practices diligently. He is popular among his peers. He has been willing to move out of his comfort zone and conduct interviews in English with the journalists who report on the team.

Indeed, though Panarin on Wednesday said that he did not think he was playing especially well, suggesting he was at 70 on a scale of 100, you could run down a list of dozens of issues that had been plaguing the Rangers and you would never find No. 10 among them.

And the same can be said for Jacob Trouba, acquired in a trade from Winnipeg and then signed to a seven-year contract worth $8 million per as a restricted free agent. He also has accepted the responsibility.

“I think they’re very good at blocking out the surroundings and focusing on the group we have inside the room,” Henrik Lundqvist, who has seen them all come and go over the past 15 years, told The Post. “It’s not easy coming with that kind of pressure, but they both have done a great job with it.

“I’ve been very impressed. Both have come as advertised.”

Though Trouba is not yet been the straight-up, matchup guy everyone quite naturally envisioned when GM Jeff Gorton pulled off the trade to acquire him on June 17, that’s more a function of David Quinn’s desire to protect young left-side partner Libor Hajek than a commentary on No. 8. When Hajek, a bright spot through the first three weeks, is ready for the challenge, that will be the matchup pair.

Trouba has been a horse in New York, averaging an NHL 10th-highest 24:57 of ice time including Thursday’s whopping 26:46. He has made the first pass and he has been physical, exemplified by the whopping shoulder check he laid on Sam Reinhart late in the third period. It hasn’t been perfect back there, and No. 8 can be a bit erratic, but when a team spends as much time without the puck and in the defensive zone as have the Rangers, breakdowns become inevitable.

But what applies to Panarin applies to Trouba. You can run down that list of problems and you’d never find Trouba’s name on it.

This is no small thing. The hierarchy did its due diligence on the team’s two offseason marquee acquisitions but you never really know how an athlete is going to respond to huge money and the comfort/security of having that kind of long-term contract until he plays under it. You never quite know how he is going to handle the attendant pressure and the spotlight until he experiences it. 1158304 New York Rangers and we really pulled together. It’s nice to get some secondary scoring to help out Mika and the rest of the top guys."

The Rangers' final two goals came in the third period, with Howden Postgame analysis: NY Rangers regain confidence by snapping five- feeding Strome in a four-on-four situation and Kreider bouncing in his first game losing streak of the season in the final two minutes.

Finding a No. 2 center behind Zibanejad has been one of the Rangers' biggest issues early in the season, which made the strong performances Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writer Published 9:27 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019 from Strome (two goals, plus-three rating) and Howden (one goal, one | Updated 11:13 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019 assist, plus-three rating) especially encouraging.

"I thought those two played very well tonight," Quinn said. "Those guys had real strong nights tonight." NEW YORK - Did the Rangers finally come up with the right line combinations? Or was it more about playing with the urgency coach More takeaways from Vin David Quinn has been preaching the last two weeks? Team meetings can be viewed in a variety of different ways — a sign of Whatever it was, that looked a heck of a lot better. accountability, a sign of a panic, somewhere in between — but it really comes down to the results that follow. In this case, whatever was said The Blueshirts snapped a humbling five-game losing streak Thursday at prior to Wednesday's practice worked. "I give our leaders a ton of credit," Madison Square Garden in their best effort of the young season — a 6-2 Quinn said. "They took the bull by the horns. There certainly was some win over a Buffalo Sabres team that came to Broadway playing well. heated discussions yesterday, and they all looked in the mirror and "If you want to talk about the line changes, I guess that does have realized what we needed to do. You can have all the meetings you want, something to do with it," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "But I was but you have to apply it." more impressed with some individuals’ mental approach tonight." I asked Quinn the question I put at the top of the story — was the The slump-busting victory was spurred by a strong first period. Artemi improved play more about the lineup changes or the level of urgency? "I Panarin, Brett Howden and Ryan Strome each scored to help the was encouraged by a lot of things tonight, more so from some of the Rangers jump out to a 3-0 lead — exactly the type of start the Blueshirts individual performances," he said. "I thought of a bunch of guys had good needed to bolster their dwindling confidence. nights. They were dialed in. There was a lot more purpose to their game; there was a lot more support throughout all three zones. The guy who "We can’t get booed off the ice in the first period in our home rink," had the puck had people to pass it to, which hasn’t been the case too Strome said. "That’s unacceptable, and we did a good job tonight." often over the last two weeks. So, it wasn’t just the lines — I thought a lot of guys came here with a purpose tonight." LINEUP: Rookie Kaapo Kakko gets his chance on the top line While several guys had good games, in many respects the stars of the DAVID QUINN: Coach addresses team psyche and handling of youth night were Howden and Strome. I told Howden after the game that he Key moment looked like a different player and asked if he agreed. "One-hundred percent," he said. "I think going over some video with Quinny and seeing The losing streak was marred by slow starts, and even though the my game, I just had to simplify it a bit more — using my legs. When I’m Rangers (3-4-1) looked better to begin the Sabres game, they didn't have skating and playing fast, that’s when things start to open up. After I got to anything to show for it through the first 10 minutes (which included see the video and go over some things with him, it’s really easy to see getting blanked on an early power-play opportunity). how simple it is. You don’t have to over-complicate things."

Everything changed once Panarin scored. The second line with Strome, Panarin and Buchnevich was the Rangers' The Rangers' leading goal-scorer stole the puck off the stick of Rasmus best. Strome seems to be answering the second-line center questions Dahlin in the neutral zone and took it to the net by himself, beating goalie and earning more trust from Quinn. "I don’t think it’s just been tonight," Carter Hutton with a backhand for his fifth goal of the season. Quinn said. "I think he’s progressively gotten better as the season's gone on. His last few games, I think he’s one of the few guys you can say had No stopping that. pic.twitter.com/El0NzroUej a pretty good night, or not that bad of a night the way we had played the last two nights. I like where his game is at, that’s for sure." — New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 24, 2019 Here's Strome on what playing with Panarin does for him. "I just try to get "Where we’re at, mentally, it was a big deal to get the first goal," Quinn him the puck and go to the front of the net," he said. "I mean, he makes said. some unbelievable plays. It’s just a matter of getting open and getting That sparked a run of three goals in less than nine minutes to end the him the puck. Maybe a little give-and-go hockey and try to create some period, putting the Rangers in the driver's seat for the rest of the game. room for him. Obviously, he shows how the skill set can take over."

Caught my eye The four-on-four goal where Howden connected with Strome was critical, extending the lead back to three goals (5-2) and sealing the win. Both Despite playing his first game on the Rangers' top line, the struggles Howden and Strome said they were gassed from a long stretch in which continued for rookie Kaapo Kakko, who still looks uncomfortable in the the Sabres had possession. Once they got the turnover, Howden said he defensive zone and finished with a minus-two rating in 11:47 time on ice. was looking to dump the puck and get off the ice for a line change, but he heard Strome yelling to go for the goal. "I wanted a change, but on a two- But while the reshuffled top line with Kakko, Mika Zibanejad and Chris on-one, your eyes pop out of your head a little bit," Strome said. Kreider had its hiccups, the ripple effects of the line changes provided an overall boost. Man, these goals are sweet tonight!#NYR | #NYRangerspic.twitter.com/S4zfXFaoy7 Moving Panarin down to the second line resulted in the desired outcome of more balance. — Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) October 25, 2019

Panarin and new linemates Strome and Pavel Buchnevich were on the Another good game for DeAngelo, who had two goals Tuesday and a ice together for three of the Rangers' six goals, with Buchnevich assisting goal and an assist to go with a plus-three rating on his 24th birthday on Tony DeAngelo's goal in the second period. Thursday. "He’s got a ton of offensive instincts," Quinn said. "This is a guy that when the puck is on his stick — and I don’t think I’m over- THE BIRTHDAY BOY! #NYRpic.twitter.com/Lef34RdOTg exaggerating this — there aren’t a lot of guys in this league who have his — Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) October 25, 2019 vision. The way he can find people, his deception, and he’s got a great sense of when to jump in the play." The third line was also effective, with wingers Jesper Fast and Brendan Lemieux assisting on Howden's first-period goal. I tweeted during the morning skate that the Rangers were especially loud. Kreider said after Tuesday's loss that their communication on the "The first two games, Mika’s line really dominated the whole game," ice needed to improve, and that was something a few players said they Howden said. "These last couple games obviously haven’t been our best, harped on Wednesday and Thursday. It seemed to translate to the game. "There was a play in the third period where you could hear everyone on the ice talking from the bench," Strome said. "It sounds like a little thing, but it’s a big thing cause it makes guys know where to go with the puck and there’s less turnovers. That’s the sign of a good team and a maturing team. Unfortunately, it took us maybe one too many games to learn our lesson, but I think we took a big step forward tonight."

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158305 New York Rangers

Rangers beat Sabres at MSG to snap their five-game losing streak

By Colin Stephenson

Desperate to find a way to end their five-game losing streak, the Rangers did what they could to change things up Thursday as they prepared to host the red-hot Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden. They changed up the forward lines, and they tried having a morning skate.

Whatever they did, it worked.

The new-look second and third lines produced big time, with Ryan Strome getting his first two goals of the season and Brett Howden getting a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ 6-2 win.

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo scored his third goal in two games as the Rangers (3-4-1) ended their losing streak and cooled off the Sabres with their first win since Oct. 5.

“It’s just a good feeling to get a win, I think, especially on a homestand like this,’’ said Strome, who centered the second line, between wingers Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich. “It’s not fun getting booed off the ice like last game, and I think [this was] a good statement game . . . not only for our fans, but for this [locker] room, I think, you know, to prove it to ourselves, we’ve got it in us to beat the team that’s [8-1-1 coming in].’’

Rangers coach/mixologist David Quinn’s latest experiment was to split up his top two forwards, Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, bumping left wing Chris Kreider and Kaapo Kakko up to the first line to play with Zibanejad, and dropping Panarin down to the second line, with Strome and Buchnevich.

Panarin showed he can create his own offense without Zibanejad feeding him the puck. He scored the game’s first goal, unassisted, at 11:41 of the first period, poking the puck away from Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who had mishandled it just outside the Buffalo blue line, and then corralled it, pulled it past goalie Carter Hutton’s ill-advised poke check attempt, and slipped a backhander into the empty net for his fifth goal.

“It’s not only how special the finish was, it was the job he did,’’ Strome said, when asked how huge Panarin’s goal was for the Rangers. “He forechecked hard, had a good stick and, you know, when your leaders are doing the right things constantly on the ice — him, Mika, and a couple other guys — I mean we follow, and, you know, good team effort. It took everybody, and sometimes it’s a game like this that can get you out of a little bit of a rut and hopefully we can get going.’’

Howden, dropped to third-line center after four games up on the second line, made it 2-0 at 14:32 when he whacked in a pass from Jesper Fast at the left post — on his second attempt — for his second goal of the season. Strome made it 3-0 in the final minute of the period when he tipped in a left-point shot by Brady Skjei with 37.8 seconds left for his first goal. Skjei had two assists.

Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella capitalized on a turnover by Kakko to fire a shot through a screen to beat Henrik Lundqvist (31 saves) and make it 3-1 at 4:17, but after a tremendous shift by the Panarin line — in which Panarin hit the post on a one-timer — DeAngelo scored his fourth of the season to extend the Rangers’ lead to 4-1 at 13:20.

Buffalo’s Vladimir Sobotka scored his first goal of the season with 49 seconds left in the second period to pull the Sabres back to within 4-2. But in the third period, with the teams skating four-on-four, Howden and Strome combined on an insurance goal that relieved any nervous tension the Garden fans may have felt. The pair broke in on a two-on-one and Howden fed Strome for a backdoor tap-in to make it 5-2 at 7:57.

Kreider’s first goal of the season provided the final margin with 1:16 left.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158306 New York Rangers

David Quinn: Rangers ending slide was a team effort

By Colin Stephenson

David Quinn has kept changing lines and defense pairs and doing whatever he could to try and find the right mix that would work for the Rangers, but he was not willing to point to those changes as the reason the Rangers were finally able to end their five-game losing streak.

“I was encouraged by a lot of things tonight, more so from some of the individual performances,’’ Quinn said after Thursday night's 6-2 win over the Sabres. “I thought a bunch of guys good nights; they were dialed in, there was a lot more purpose to their game, there was a lot more support throughout all three zones. The guy who had the puck had people to pass it to, which hasn't been the case too often over the last two weeks, so it wasn't just the lines; I thought there were a lot of guys came here with a purpose tonight.’’

Quinn to Chytil: Keep it up

At the morning skate, Quinn was asked whether calling up a player from AHL Hartford had been considered as the team tries to find different ways of shaking things up.

“We talk about that daily,’’ he said.

Asked specifically whether Filip Chytil, the 20-year-old center who is leading Hartford in scoring with eight points (three goals, five assists) in six games, needs to do anything more to earn a callup, Quinn said he just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.

“There's a lot of things that you consider when you make those decisions, so, everyone knows he's doing very well down there, and if he continues to play to his level that we know he's capable of playing, he'll be back here,’’ Quinn said.

Blue shorts

Quinn was less effusive in talking about another former player of his, former Ranger Jimmy Vesey, who was traded to Buffalo on July 1. Asked what difference he noticed in Vesey with the Sabreso, Quinn said, “I haven't had a chance to watch much of them, so any comment I would have on them wouldn't be one that would be real.’’ . . . Despite playing on the first line, Kaapo Kakko had just 11:47 of ice time. Only the fourth line trio of Greg McKegg, Lias Andersson and Brendan Smith had less.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158307 New York Rangers you do that you’re going to have the puck more and sustain some zone time and give yourself an opportunity.”

It goes without saying, too, that when you do those things with more Rangers come out shooting and snap losing streak after a heated team consistency, you don’t need to defend as much, or spend so much time meeting defending, which is not only rough on the scoreboard, but also an exhausting way to play.

“Communication, I think, is the main thing we talked about,” DeAngelo By Rick Carpiniello Oct 24, 2019 said, “and just support. When you’re talking it makes the other four guys on the ice know what’s going on and it’s a lot easier when you have the

puck. You could hear it from the bench, guys talking and it was a big NEW YORK — The Rangers don’t have a captain. That doesn’t mean thing for us. In the first couple of weeks, we weren’t coming out of the they don’t have leaders. zone the way we want to. Tonight it was pretty clean.”

On Thursday, the Rangers snapped a five-game losing streak (well, 0-4- It took a while to get from there to here, though. 1, because of the NHL loser’s point) and a good portion of the credit for a They defended. They didn’t, as the coach has said in the past, “cheat the 6-2 win over October Cup champion Buffalo goes back to Wednesday. game” or take shortcuts. For the most part. On that day, before practice, the players called a meeting. No coaches. Took their foot off the gas for a while in the second, but still defended. No staff. Players only. There was a lot of talking, by a number of players, Which will win them more games than vice versa. some of it quite heated. “I give our leaders a ton of credit,” Quinn said. “They took the bull by the You can guess that the four alternate captains were involved in the horns and there were certainly some heated discussions yesterday. They discussion — Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal and Jesper Fast. all looked in the mirror and realized what we needed to do. You can have You can bet the house that Henrik Lundqvist was involved, too, because all the meetings you want, but you’ve got to apply it, and I thought the when he speaks, people listen. And probably a few others. practice was as good a practice as we had had in a while. It was a great After that brief practice, Rangers coach David Quinn was quite mental and physical purpose to the practice. It was only a half hour, but I demonstrative about how good he felt about what had just occurred. And think when that practice ended they felt good. They felt about the thing how good he felt about how it would translate into Thursday’s game. we worked on the last half of the practice and it carried over.”

But these are the Rangers, who were 2-4-1, who had outplayed one As Lundqvist said, small things leading to big things. team in the first seven oddly scattered games — and that was Ottawa, so “Our goals were all the result of hard work,” Strome said. “I mean, some does it even count? — and who could make a laundry list of things that of them were great finishes. But if you look at the plays that led up to needed to be cleaned up. So those of us who have a brain in our head them, it was good hard work.” decided to wait and see what they did with the Sabres, who were 8-1-1 coming into the Garden. And scoring depth.

Well, the Rangers checked almost every box. They did it with simplicity “Huge. Huge,” Strome said. “Me then Kreids, a couple of guys get their and tenacity, a good combo for starters, for sure, no matter how good or first and get going. I mean, our big boys have been going but it’s when bad, experienced or green, a roster might be. everyone has that confidence and gets on the sheet. Tony again, obviously tonight. When you score a goal or get a point and the team “It was a big, big thing how we managed the puck, but also just the battle wins, both of those combined, you get a little more confidence. Hopefully level,” said Lundqvist, who allowed fewer than three goals for the first tomorrow we can have a little more confidence and have that swagger time this season. “We didn’t spend as much time in our own end, but also and start to build on this win.” we talked about ‘do the little things right it will lead to big things.’ But if you’re going to start with trying to make the big things happen, it’s going The start, though. The Rangers had allowed 20 or more shots in the first to be hard. period of their previous two games, and that was probably the initiative for the players’ meeting. “And I feel like we’ve been on the wrong side a lot early in games. So this was a big step, with the meetings yesterday and that practice. We talked “We can’t get booed off the ice at our home rink, right? That’s about it being a big step for us to get to where we need to be. So it was unacceptable,” Strome said. “We did a good job. You can look at the nice to see, for us to get rewarded.” goals and stuff like that, but I think the coaches are really going to be happy with the little things we did. We were good teammates, we were There was a lot made of Quinn’s tinkering with the forward lines — supporting each other on the bench and making little plays to get out of moves that gave teen Kaapo Kakko some first-line responsibility with our zone, and that’s what we have to do.” Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, and that pushed Artemi Panarin to a “second” line with Ryan Strome and Pavel Buchnevich. Well, what it also They did it together, like Eddie Olczyk’s old Heave Ho! Of course, this did was make the lineup deeper, at least for this one night. And it gave team is still going to have hiccups and burps and probably stretches the appearance, at least, of a shakeup. Which was needed. where it spits up on itself, because it’s made up of relative babies. Take out Lundqvist and it’s the youngest team in the league. Probably going to Kreider and Strome scored their first goals of the season, and Strome get younger as the season goes on. So it’s not going to be smooth, and added a second. Panarin had a beauty of a solo goal, Buchnevich was a nights like these won’t be the norm. But they showed they can have beast, and Zibanejad, well, his usual. Kakko hit a post, and though he these sometimes, and if those sometimes outnumber the other times, was briefly subbed out for Jesper Fast protecting a third-period lead, the they should be pretty happy with that. kid was just fine. “The more we play good D, the more we’re going to have the puck,” But the guys playing behind those six were good too. Brett Howden had DeAngelo said. “And when you get guys like Mika and Bread and Strome a goal and an assist, Fast a pair of assists. It went right down the line. and Buchie, and when these guys have the puck on their stick in the O- Oh, and the defense — the team defense — was as good as it’s been in, zone, they’re going to make plays and we’re going to score.” well, it’s hard to remember how long, while the defensemen did their Thoughts thing in both ends. Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist (after scoring two Tuesday), Brady Skjei — whose game is coming, while 1) Last year it was a staple. This year, there have been no icings by paired with DeAngelo — had a pair of assists. Jacob Trouba and Libor either teams, I don’t believe, in the first minute of any Rangers game. Hajek played their best game of the season as a pair. Until Thursday when Buffalo iced it at :30. One streak over. The Rangers also didn’t allow 20 shots on goal in the first period so, you know, another On and on it went. streak … One streak remained intact: The Rangers haven’t committed a “I thought we did a lot of things we hadn’t done for three weeks,” Quinn too-many-men penalty yet this season. Remember how last season said. Yes, it was 19 days between wins. “Way more puck support, there began? The Sabres took one of those in the first period Thursday. was way more pace to our game, way more structure in our game. When 2) Buchnevich fired two one-timers on the first power play. One on goal on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, apparently for some magic and Carter Hutton made a good save. One missed everything and went words for the officials. up into the screen. Guys practice those every day at the end of practice, especially the PP guys. But you’d be surprised — or maybe you wouldn’t 13) Comically, though, the four-minute power play was interrupted when — how often they miss the net, trying to rip it under the crossbar or just Kreider crashed the crease on a lead pass from Zibanejad. Kreider inside the post. Guys like Martin St. Louis, and now Panarin, hit the net a slammed on the brakes, and jumped over the sliding Hutton, even remarkable percentage of the time while practicing those. Buchnevich grabbing the crossbar to clear the goalie. But he was still called for also made a good puck-recovery during that PP. goaltender interference. Reputation penalty perhaps?

3) A minute or so later, the Rangers tried a tic-tac-toe off a steal by 14) During the resulting four-on-four, with the four Rangers in need of a Strome, but Strome’s “toe” pass for Buchnevich was ill-advised, change, Strome forced a turnover to Howden and Howden returned the telegraphed and broken up. Of course, it’s a highlight-reel goal if it puck on the two-on-one for a Strome one-timer. 5-2. Howden said he sneaks through. thought about dumping it in and changing, until he heard Strome holler for it. Strome had been on the ice for 1:29, Howden for 1:50. 4) Daily Bread: So no more Bread and Butter Line, yet. The dilemma for me is, what if Panarin gets the second line going? Is that the Bread and 15) Another solid night for the jack-of-all-trades Brendan Smith, forward Butter Line, then? See, these are the things with which I struggle. and penalty-killing defenseman. On a late PK a puck flipped over Lundqvist and might have floated into the net, until Smith batted it out of LOOKS LIKE @ARTEMIYPANARIN GOT THE  WITH THIS ONE. the air and over the crossbar. Then he made a diving clear as he lost his PIC.TWITTER.COM/D2NZZDLOUV balance. That came shortly before Kreider’s goal, which went in off one of the Sabres in the slot. — NHL (@NHL) OCTOBER 24, 2019 16) This was, in fact, the 2,000th NHL game played in the “new” Garden 5) Middle first, Panarin picked the pocket of Rasmus Dahlin at center ice (which opened in 1968). Sunday will be the 2,000th NHL game played at and took it wide, beating Dahlin to the net. Hutton moved out to try to the new Garden by the Rangers. Wait, what? Yup, in March 1968, the force Panarin’s hand, but Panarin easily side-stepped him and slipped Philadelphia Flyers played a home game at the Garden (as part of a the puck into the empty net. 1-0. “Where we’re at mentally, it was a big double-header), against the Oakland Seals. Why? Because there was deal to get the first goal,” Quinn said. damage to the roof of the Spectrum due to a storm. Gonna guess the MSG crowd rooted for Oakland. Though I don’t think they quite, shall we 6) Brendan Lemieux, who found himself out of the rotation Tuesday, did say, disliked the Flyers to any degree yet. some good wall work and pushed the puck in front. Fast, the Swedish- Army knife, pushed it across the crease to Howden who, after whiffing on 17) For the record, I’m going to be the last to leap onto the Sabres’ the bouncing puck, stuck with it and shoveled it inside the left post. 2-0. bandwagon. They are better this year, but they won 10 in a row last season and people went a little nuts over that. So I’m gonna wait it out. 7) With 37.8 seconds left in the first, DeAngelo went point-to-point to Brady Skjei for a shot that Strome deflected past Hutton (another good My Three Rangers Stars shift by Panarin and Buchnevich, too). 3-0. 1. Pavel Buchnevich STROME'S SWEET RE-DIRECT MADE IT 3-0 #NYR PIC.TWITTER.COM/LQVORNC0M6 2. Tony DeAngelo

— RANGERS ON MSG (@RANGERSMSGN) OCTOBER 24, 2019 3. Ryan Strome.

8) Early second, off a turnover, Buchnevich hustled back and thwarted a The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 Buffalo two-on-one. Then Trouba turned one over and the Sabres had another two-on-one — this time Lundqvist stopped Jimmy Vesey and Lias Andersson cleaned up the rebound. The Sabres finally got one when Buffalo’s Victor Olofsson and the Rangers’ Hajek screened Lundqvist, allowing Marco Scandella’s left point shot snuck into the short side over Lundqvist’s shoulder. 3-1.

9) Good Tony, Bad Tony: Panarin rang a one-timer off the crossbar, which sure as heck looked and sounded like it hit the bar in back of the net. It was waved off, play continued for six or seven seconds, and Buchnevich made a cross-ice pass to DeAngelo sneaking in on the right side. DeAngelo, on his 24th birthday, buried it for his third goal in two games, fourth of the season. 4-1.

10) “Fortunately the last couple of games, guys have put pucks right on my stick, so there’s nothing much to do but be in the right spot,” DeAngelo said.

“He’s got a ton of offensive instincts,” Quinn said. “He’s a guy, when the puck’s on his stick — and I don’t think I’m over-exaggerating this — there aren’t a lot of guys in this league that have his vision, the way he can find people, his deception and he’s got a great sense of when to jump into the play, especially from the offensive blue line. It’s good to see him get rewarded for it.”

THE BIRTHDAY BOY! #NYR PIC.TWITTER.COM/LEF34RDOTG

— RANGERS ON MSG (@RANGERSMSGN) OCTOBER 25, 2019

11) With 48.9 left in the second, a harmless rush by the Sabres, and Vladimir Sobotka wristed one through Lundqvist’s legs. It might have hit something on the way in. But that one was very fragrant, and Lundqvist reacted with the appropriate anger toward himself. 4-2. And the Sabres had two or three other good chances in the final seconds of the period.

12) Kakko-Meter: Early third, the birthday boy drew a penalty to Jeff Skinner, and on the power play Kakko walked in and beat Hutton but hit the post with a chance to put the game away. Another chance to do so came when Skinner’s stick clipped Zibanejad’s face and Skinner tacked 1158308 Ottawa Senators DEFENCE Thomas Chabot-Nikita Zaitsev

Erik Brannstrom-Ron Hainsey GAME DAY: Islanders at Senators Mark Borowiecki-Dylan DeMelo

GOALTENDERS Bruce Garrioch Anders Nilsson

Craig Anderson Ottawa Sun Sports Hockey Ottawa Senators ISLANDERS’ LINES N.Y. Islanders (6-3-0) at Ottawa Senators (2-6-1) Anders Lee-Mathew Barzal-Josh Bailey 7:30 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre, Derick Brassard-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier TV: TSN5, RDS, Radio: TSN 1200 AM, Unique 94.5 FM Michael Dal Colle-Cole Bardreau-Oliver Wahlstrom THE BIG MATCHUP Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck Logan Brown vs. Brock Nelson DEFENCE The Senators called up the 21-year-old Brown from their AHL affiliate in Belleville because of injuries to centres Colin White and Artem Anisimov. Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock He played 12:09 on 19 shifts Wednesday against the Red Wings and did not record a point. This is a big opportunity for Brown to show he belongs Devon Toews-Scott Mayfield in the NHL and he has to contribute offensively. Nelson leads the Nick Leddy-Johnny Boychuk Islanders with nine points. GOALTENDERS FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Semyon Varlamov 1. Play for 60 minutes Thomas Greiss The Senators did a good job in this area in the club’s 5-2 victory over Detroit on Wednesday. The club had a brief setback in the second when SICK BAY the Senators surrendered two goals and fell behind 2-1, but they got back up with timely goals by Mark Borowiecki and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. OTT: Artem Anisimov, Rudolfs Balcers, Colin White, Christian Wolanin That’s what this team is going to need in these circumstances. NYI: Leo Komarov, Jordan Eberle, Andrew Ladd

2. Offence from the defence Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 The Senators haven’t scored a lot this season, but it was nice to see Borowiecki chip in with a goal against the Wings. It’s only the second goal from the blueline this season — Thomas Chabot had the other one — and it would be helpful for the Senators if more players on the back end were able to chip in more consistently.

3. Keep it going, Chris

With a two-point effort against Detroit, centre Chris Tierney has three goals and six points in nine games this season. With the injuries up front, he’s going to get a chance to get even more playing time and make more contributions. He certainly looked good against the Wings and has been one of the club’s better players this season.

4. Wear down the Islanders

The Islanders were on a four-game winning streak going into their game Thursday night at home against the Arizona Coyotes. Three of those victories were decided in either overtime or a shootout, which means the Isles have had plenty of work to do to get wins. The Senators are sitting here waiting for the Isles and that should bode well.

5. Get ready for Greiss

The Senators will likely face Thomas Greiss in the New York net. Semyon Varlamov faced the Coyotes at home and the expectation is both goalies will play in these back-to-back games. Greiss has a 5-1-0 lifetime record versus the Senators with a .892 save percentage and a 3.39 goals-against average in eight appearances.

SPECIAL TEAMS

OTT: PP 3.7% (31st); PK 82.5% (13th)

NYI: PP 33.3% (3rd); PK 73.7% (25th)

SENATORS’ LINES

Brady Tkachuk-Logan Brown-Anthony Duclair

Vladislav Namestnikov-Chris Tierney-Bobby Ryan

Nick Paul-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Connor Brown

Tyler Ennis-J.C. Beaudin-Scott Sabourin 1158309 Ottawa Senators

D.J. Smith holding off on making a goalie decision for Islanders game

Bruce Garrioch

D.J. Smith wanted to put a little more thought into his goaltending decision before making it final.

The Ottawa Senators’ coach wasn’t prepared to tell reporters Thursday afternoon whether Anders Nilsson will make his third straight start Friday night at the Canadian Tire Centre when the New York Islanders come to town or whether he’ll go back to Craig Anderson.

But after Nilsson stopped 34 of 36 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at home, it wouldn’t be any surprise if he stayed in the net. Smith indicated he’d confirm his decision after the morning skate on Friday.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Smith said. “I’m going to talk to (goalie coach) Pierre (Groulx) because I don’t want one guy playing too much, but at the same time (Nilsson) has played really well so we’ll make that decision here shortly.”

Nilsson started his NHL career with the Islanders and was drafted by the club in 2009, so it might make sense to stick with him, which means Anderson would likely face the San Jose Sharks on Sunday at home.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158310 Ottawa Senators with Detroit on the power play. Ottawa had only four shorthanded goals all of last season. So why has the area been so strong? “Goalies,” Pageau said with a smile. “I’ve always said your best killer is your goalie, and since the start they’ve given us a chance to kill most of the penalties SNAPSHOTS: Nick Paul trying to put his mind to being a full-time NHL and they’re making the saves when we need it.” He added the players player have done a pretty good job in front of them as well. “All of the sacrifices, you don’t see all the blocked shots that we’re getting, the stick on the

puck that the forwards and the defence are making and winning battles is Bruce Garrioch a big thing,” Pageau said. “It’s something we want to keep working on. We’d like to be in the box less.” … It meant a lot to Borowiecki to score on Canadian Forces Appreciation Night. He does a lot of work with Soldier On and he was meeting with his friend, Joe, who told him he was It’s mind over matter. going to score and drop the gloves. No, he didn’t fight, but the goal was And, in the end, Nick Paul wants to be a player who matters for the nice. “It was extra special for sure,” Borowiecki said. “Luckily I potted Ottawa Senators. one. My wife (Tara) and my mom were here so it was good.” … It didn’t appear there will be any changes to the lineup judging by Thursday’s The 24-year-old Paul, acquired in the trade that sent Jason Spezza to the skate. That means winger Mikkel Boedker and defenceman Cody Dallas Stars on July 1, 2015, makes no bones about the fact this is his Goloubef will be scratched. last chance to become a full-time NHL player after being called up from the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville last week, and he’s determined to Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 make the most of this opportunity.

Not only is the 6-foot-3 Paul trying to turn his game around physically, he’s trying to take a better approach mentally, and that’s why he turned to meditation to get himself prepared to compete every day. It paid dividends with his efforts in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night and he’s going to keep that approach.

“There’s a lot of ups and downs,” Paul said Thursday. “It’s been four years here, going up and down. My dream is to make the NHL and every year it’s so hard. It’s such a mental battle and you’ve got to learn not to be your worst critic. A lot of guys that go up and down get so hard on themselves, harder than anyone else does, and it gets in their own head.

“That’s what I was doing for a little bit. I went into this new program and we did some meditation and I loved it. I started getting out of my own head. I was coming to the rink and telling myself, ‘Don’t make a mistake,’ or that I was going to screw up, and that’s what happens. So now I’m just staying positive, confident and telling myself I can do stuff.

“It’s been paying off. My attitude has been good, my confidence has been good and I’m not over-thinking things. Now I’ve got a clear head, I’ve got to work hard and I’ve got to use my feet. That’s what I’ve got to go with.”

Paul has been able to free his mind, and as a result, the rest of his game has followed. He has played 60 games in his NHL career and wants to stick around for more.

“It’s tough going up and down,” he said. “You’re trying to improve one thing and then you get on yourself to try to improve. It’s very mentally draining. Being an older guy in the NHL and seeing people come up and down, you have to tell them to keep a level head. You can’t have your lows be too low or your highs be too high.”

IMPROVEMENT MUST CONTINUE

Coach D.J. Smith was certainly pleased with what he saw from Paul on Wednesday.

He had 14:32 of ice time playing mostly with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Connor Brown, plus Paul picked up an assist with a perfect dish on Mark Borowiecki’s second-period goal.

“That’s kind of what I remember from Nick Paul in junior,” Smith said Thursday. “He was skating all the time and because he played good defence he got offensive opportunities, and I thought that’s what he did (against Detroit).

“Now, he has to prove he can do that kind of thing on a nightly basis in order for him to be effective at the NHL level.”

His teammates saw a difference as well.

“He played with a lot of confidence,” said Pageau. “He’s always been strong on the puck, perfect size, fast and protecting the puck really well. I’m happy for him. He works so hard, he comes in every camp and he finishes tops in the fitness testing and on-the-ice testing. I’m happy he’s played really well and he deserves his spot here.”

THE LAST WORDS

The Senators have zero complaints about their penalty-killing units. The club has killed 82.5 per cent of the power plays and is ranked second in the league with three shorthanded goals after Pageau scored the winner 1158311 Ottawa Senators The players know the onus is on them to get the job done again and again because it’s easy to talk about consistency, but it can be awfully difficult to find.

The answers will have to come from within for the Ottawa Senators “That’s the X factor in sports: Why does that effort and that attitude come and go?” said alternate captain Mark Borowiecki. “If you could figure that out, you would definitely win more often than not, but it’s also about growth a little bit — growth on the mental side of the game as a group. Bruce Garrioch “We can’t be motivated by terrible efforts that result in good efforts.

You’ve got to find a way to make it a standalone effort, and that’s part of The Ottawa Senators took a step in the right direction Wednesday night the maturation process in here, and hopefully we get there sooner rather at home. than later. … You’ve got to find that competitive edge every single night. It’s not going to be easy and you might be drained physically and Now, they have to take another one. mentally, but you’ve got to find a way to dig deep.”

Coming off a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to start this Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 homestand, the Senators will be trying to win two straight for the first time this season as the New York Islanders arrive at the Canadian Tire Centre on Friday night and, ideally, coach D.J. Smith would like to see some consistency from this group with only two games left on the schedule this month.

While general manager Pierre Dorion has been working the phones — especially with forwards Colin White (hip flexor) and Artem Anisimov sidelined for extended periods — to see if there are any fits for a trade, the best bet is for the answers to come from within because a check of the forward market with three league executives Thursday indicated the pickings are slim.

The Senators called up forwards Logan Brown and J.C. Beaudin from the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville in the last couple of days because of injuries and what Smith witnessed against the Wings was a group that looked bound and determined to get the job done.

The reality is it has to stay that way for this team to have success.

“What I saw (Wednesday) was some hungry players,” Smith said after the club’s skate Thursday. “Logan Brown is trying to prove himself, Beaudin comes in and says, ‘Hey, I want to stay here,’ and you’ve got guys here who want to keep their positions. I thought it was a really healthy, competitive group here.

“I didn’t think we played as hard in the last game on the road (in Dallas) and there were some guys that looked comfortable. Part of this process has got to be that you’ve got to reward the guys that work the hardest. You always have to have people that are pushing from behind you, and (Wednesday) I thought we had guys that worked really hard.”

If the Senators can find the answers with the group here — or by calling up more of the club’s top prospects in Belleville — then it makes no sense to deal. Names on the market include injured Minny forwards Kevin Fiala and Joel Eriksson Ek, along with centre Ryan Donato.

There’s also Kings forward Tyler Toffoli, but he’s a UFA and will be a trade deadline chip, and the indications are the Pittsburgh Penguins also have some forwards they’d like to move.

Of course, the organization has a lot of assets and no shortage of draft picks if Dorion wants to make a deal. The reality is he’s not going to make a trade just for the sake of making a move, and any decision on a deal would have to make sense in the long-term with the Senators entering another phase in this rebuild.

That’s why the best bet for the Senators is to look at the big picture and to let Smith get this group to the point where it’s competitive every night. Smith challenged the players given more ice time Wednesday because of the injuries to step up, and he got better efforts from the likes of forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Chris Tierney and Nick Paul.

“I need to see it every night from our guys,” Smith said. “If you miss a night every 10, it’s not that you can live with it, but you can understand it. You can’t have one good and one bad. This is a really good time for a lot of guys: Pageau gets to play a ton of minutes with the centres out, Tierney gets to play a ton of minutes on both sides of the puck.

“These guys, this is their chance to play all the minutes and prove they can do it. You’ve got wingers trying to fit in and get their minutes. I really just liked the overall competitiveness of our group just knowing that we don’t have a set No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 line essentially (because) everybody is fighting for minutes.” 1158312 Ottawa Senators second-line center Blake Lizotte (in April). They continued to stockpile draft picks and had four selections in the top 50 in June.

This season, the Kings have been able to integrate younger players into Rebuilders’ roundtable: How the Red Wings, Senators and Kings differ in their lineup and give them significant minutes, starting with Lizotte. approach and progress Defenseman Sean Walker played in 39 games in 2018-19, but he is averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time this season. But you can only go so far with the youth movement at this early stage of the rebuild.

Max Bultman, Lisa Dillman and Hailey Salvian Oct 24, 2019 In a perfect world, they’d bring up a couple more players from the AHL late in the season to give them a taste of the NHL, to help set them up for

the next season. When the Red Wings and Senators squared off Wednesday night in That’s about as much youth as their lineup can handle. Ottawa, it was hard not to think about how far both rebuilding teams still have to go. One of Kings general manager Rob Blake’s best moves in his two-plus years on the job was the Jake Muzzin trade in January. The Kings sent They ranked 30th and 31st in Dom Luszczyszyn’s projected standings Muzzin to the Maple Leafs and received three assets in return — two before the season, and even after Ottawa’s 5-2 win, it remains with prospects (forward Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Sean Durzi) and Detroit as two of the four bottom-dwelling teams in the league’s Toronto’s first-round draft pick in June. standings. Sure, you could point to pieces on each team (Dylan Larkin, Thomas Chabot, Anthony Mantha and Brady Tkachuk, to name a few) That turned out to be Swedish defenseman Tobias Bjornfot, at No. 20. who are already NHL difference makers, and for two rebuilding clubs Six players from the 2019 draft class have played in the NHL this season, those are extremely important players to have. In many ways, that makes and the others were all taken ahead of Bjornfot. He appeared in the it interesting to watch them go head-to-head, understanding how much of Kings’ first three games, was a healthy scratch the next four and was their respective teams’ success will be based on how those players sent to AHL Ontario on Friday. continue to develop. I can see the Kings going back to the playbook of last season and But what’s just as interesting, if not more so, are the processes each stockpiling assets in the second half of the season with a series of team is undergoing behind the scenes, and the similarities and trades. differences in their approaches, successes and setbacks so far. With that in mind, The Athletic’s Red Wings and Senators beat writers, Max Blake told me last week that he anticipated a shuffling of younger players Bultman and Hailey Salvian, put together a roundtable with Kings beat so that they can continue to get games in with the Kings or the Reign. writer Lisa Dillman to discuss three of the league’s clearest rebuilders, The Kings might be behind the Red Wings in terms of the start of their comparing and contrasting their respective situations, timelines for rebuild but they are taking the same patient development path. It spoke contention and more. volumes when they changed plans and decided not to send Bjornfot back to Sweden, opting to keep a close watch on his progress. To start off, how would you each characterize the rebuilding efforts of the team you cover? What has the team’s approach been, and what looks Max Bultman: I think for the Red Wings, a lot of their rebuild has been like it will or won’t work so far? about making as many draft picks as possible and a patient development process (they haven’t “rushed” really any of their prospects except Hailey Salvian: The Senators’ rebuild is still relatively new, as they really maybe Michael Rasmussen, as a result of the CHL-NHL agreement, and only committed to one in earnest last season. First they traded away Erik even in that case they have since sent him to the AHL now that he’s Karlsson before training camp and then traded a number of their core eligible). They’re in Year 3 or 4 of this process, depending on how you players (Mark Stone, Ryan Dzingel and Matt Duchene) at the trade want to set the timeline. So they’ve certainly had their fair share of picks deadline in February. Last year their approach was to tear it down and — in the last three drafts they’ve made 32 picks, which is a whole draft bring in assets in return. In the case of the Karlsson trade, the Senators and a half more than their original allotment — and in the last two years got “young veteran” NHLers in Chris Tierney and Dylan DeMelo, alone they’ve made three first-round and five second-round picks. prospects Rudolfs Balcers and Josh Norris and two of San Jose’s draft picks. Now, though, they’re in that ever-challenging development phase, and things aren’t moving along super fast there. They’ve got a couple young Other notable returns are Erik Brannstrom (Vegas Golden Knights) and defensemen who are now NHL full-timers in Dennis Cholowski and Filip Vitaly Abramov (Columbus Blue Jackets). And for the upcoming draft, Hronek, and some of the young players who had already been drafted they also have five picks in the first two rounds. That is all on top of their when the rebuild started (Larkin, Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler already strong prospect pool of Logan Brown, Alex Formenton and Drake Bertuzzi) have cemented themselves in the top six, but their top Batherson, among others. prospects aren’t really kicking the door down right now. Filip Zadina has tons of talent, but he’s got lots of room left to develop before he can be Right now, though, the Senators are in the development phase of the counted on as a top-liner. Joe Veleno was a star last season in the rebuild. They have some young standouts in the NHL already (Tkachuk, QMJHL, but he hasn’t scored a point yet in the American Hockey Chabot, Brannstrom and Colin White) who are being mostly paired off League. Moritz Seider looks advanced but is just 18. Evgeny Svechnikov with veterans to help show them the ropes. The rest of the prospects are had an ACL injury last season and is still recovering, Rasmussen is still in the AHL, where the team believes they will develop the best, which learning the pro game, and all of those second-round picks in the last two has been a point of contention among Senators fans to start the year. years are likely going to take substantial time. Personally, I think the young prospects need to work things out in the So their approach looks potentially promising in theory, because of the AHL first. This Senators team is going to struggle a lot at times this year, volume of picks and prospects they’ve accumulated, but I wouldn’t say and protecting their young stars from being the NHL’s punching bag is they’re right on the verge of breaking through or anything. the best they can do for their development. Whether this will work, only time will tell. But the Senators certainly have a lot of talent coming up Corey Pronman has the Senators and Red Wings pretty close together in through the organization and if they can stay on a positive development both his farm system and under-23 Core Rankings, either at the fringe or path, I think this will be a good team in time. just outside the top 10, but the Kings he has at pretty extreme ends of the spectrum (fourth in farm system, 24th in under-23 core). Most of the Lisa Dillman: What hurt the Kings in the past was that they were caught Kings’ best players seem to be on the older end, but there’s also some between trying to climb through the window one more time or rebuild and substantial pieces who haven’t yet arrived. Lisa, how has that impacted just couldn’t seem to make their minds up about what to do. their timeline? The pitfalls of such indecision were on full display last season, resulting Dillman: If there was any doubt that the Kings are highlighting a specific in a 30th-place finish and worst showing in a decade. You can’t put one draft class, it was reinforced at their state of the franchise function in Los toe in the water when confronting the cold reality of a rebuild. Angeles in August, not long before rookie training camp. What has helped move it along is that the Kings have been getting more That same night, Alex Turcotte, playing for the University of Wisconsin, active and aggressive on the college free-agent front, gradually picked up his first collegiate point in an exhibition against the University restocking the cupboard at the NHL and AHL levels. There have been misses but two hits have been first-line wing Alex Iafallo (in 2017) and of British Columbia. It was noted at least once, maybe more, at the deal — which runs through the 2022-23 season and has a $5.8 million season-ticket holder event. AAV. What also would help the Kings as they make their way through a rebuild is the addition of an outside voice on the management team. I More recently, Kings coach Todd McLellan made reference to Turcotte’s know it’s impossible to compare what Vegas did, as an expansion team, three assists on Friday night against UM-Duluth and spoke about Arthur to other franchises, but I thought it was impressive that George McPhee Kaliyev’s stellar play (with OHL Hamilton). Even a couple of time zones went outside his comfort zone and just didn’t only bring in former away, it’s hard to miss what Turcotte, who was taken at No. 5 in June, is colleagues from his Washington Capitals days. Ron Hextall did work for doing in college – the Kings’ TV home, Fox Sports West, announced it the Kings previously as an assistant general manager. But I thought it will air 11 of Turcotte’s games this season. was an important move for Blake to bring in an experienced hand (as a In other words, there’s a lot of excitement about the June draft and rightly part-time adviser) from outside his inner circle, who had been through a so with three picks in the top 33. Nothing can fast-track a rebuild more lot the same issues now facing the Kings when he was the Flyers’ GM. swiftly than landing multiple impact players in one draft. There has been Bultman: Without sounding too much like a broken record, it’s the lack of less talk and more mystery about, say, the 2017 draft, largely because of a truly elite prospect to build around. I do think Larkin is a No. 1 center in an injured player. the NHL, but Cup winners often either have two of those, or at the very I think some of the discrepancy in Corey’s rankings — at least when it least a superstar winger or defenseman to go with that center — if not comes to the Kings — certainly has to do with Gabe Vilardi. It’s hard to more. The Red Wings need one of those things badly (like both other assess (guess?) where Vilardi might be in his professional career if he teams in this roundtable, their fortunes would be changed significantly hadn’t had deeply concerning and lingering issues with his back. with an Alexis Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield). There are a couple longer contracts that will be burdensome for the next few years, but they’re also It’s safe to say that a healthy Vilardi, who was taken 11th in the 2017 finally getting to the point where they’ve been able to shed a fair number draft, would have had the Kings ranked quite a bit higher than 24th in the of those, too. Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen are the only contracts current under-23 core. that look like they’ll be issues two years from now. I’d also say future goaltending is a great unknown for Detroit. Filip Larsson is the supposed Coincidentally, as I was writing one of the answers to the roundtable, an goalie of the future, but he’s got a dicey injury history and even then may email from the Kings’ PR staff hit my inbox on Monday night, about not be that true star in net. Vilardi. It said he was scheduled to start skating on Tuesday at their practice facility in El Segundo. If all goes well, the next step would be to Salvian: I think the Senators have similar weaknesses to the Red Wings. practice with the Ontario Reign. Of note, Vilardi’s last game was Dec. 9 The Senators do have a star defenseman and winger in Chabot and with the Reign. Tkachuk, but right now there are questions about whether White can grow to become a No. 1 center. It’s still incredibly early, but his struggles What would you both say are the best assets each of these teams has in to start the year suggest that the Senators would really benefit from a their respective rebuilds? Is it the current cores, farm systems, draft high-end center like Byfield. Another weakness for the Senators too, is capital, management team in charge? Some combination or something while they have the quality and quantity in their prospects, they don’t else? necessarily have the same resources being put into them like other Dillman: In no particular order, the best assets the Kings have is teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs, for example, run their AHL Marlies like impressive goaltending depth in the organization and an elite prospect in an NHL club. When they send a player down to develop, the player has Turcotte. Not only do the Kings have two talented goalies in Jack access to elite coaches, trainers, facilities and are about 100 meters Campbell and Cal Petersen but they are both signed to team-friendly away from the Leafs (they share a practice facility). The Belleville contracts, setting up the Kings for the next couple of seasons. Petersen Senators re-signed Troy Mann this year, and Mann and D.J. Smith last summer signed a three-year contract extension with an AAV of appear to be on the same page, which is great. But I don’t get the sense $858,333. It is a two-way contract the first year and one way after that, Belleville operates quite the same as the Marlies. Nobody does. meaning that the Kings have seen enough in him to support the Have there been any particularly interesting setbacks or surprise contention he is their goalie of the future. Campbell, who would have developments in the rebuild of the team you cover? been an unrestricted free agent after the season, signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract in September. Salvian: I just spent the evening in Belleville over the weekend and things aren’t going as well as initially expected. When the Senators sent so Salvian: I’d say it’s a combination of things for the Senators. They have many top prospects down out of training camp, expectations in the AHL the young core already in White, Tkachuk and Chabot. They have a solid were set pretty high with all the potential star power they were getting. farm team in Belleville developing players like Batherson, Brown, Norris But the Belleville Senators have started the season with only two wins in and Formenton. And they have solid draft capital coming into this year’s six games. Brown and Batherson are leading the team, but their defense draft, like I said above, with five picks in the top two rounds in what is has struggled and so have their goaltenders. Mann even said that the projecting to be a deep draft class. coaches in Belleville have a lot more work cut out for them than Bultman: Ottawa’s pick situation for this draft is pretty impressive, anticipated. Which isn’t great, but it’s still early. especially if that Columbus second-rounder ends up in the early part of Dillman: For now, the Vilardi injury setback would be high on the list. I’ll the second round. That’s prime “get the mysterious draft-day slider who be curious to see what happens with him now that he seems to be turns out to be really good” territory. progressing and if he would even be on the list when we assemble to do I suppose the best assets the Red Wings have are a No. 1 center on a this again a year from now. (By then, will the three of us call ourselves solid contract and a handful of highly picked prospects already in the “The Lottery Club”?) system to develop. Going back to the last question, none of the current On the positive side, the big surprise was the swift development of top prospects may turn out to be that elite piece, which is something L.A. Bjornfot, who was not expected to be in the season-opening night lineup. with Turcotte probably has an advantage with. But I do think there’s value Todd McLellan said the other day that they kept thinking Bjornfot would in the volume of good prospects. be sent back to Sweden and joked that he still hadn’t gone to the airport. Even if the majority don’t become impact players (which has to be the Bultman: Svechnikov’s setbacks via injury and his less productive second expectation), there really are a lot of potential pieces in the system, which year in Grand Rapids would count. Rasmussen hitting standard ninth- is a world of difference from where things stood two years ago. And then overall-pick expectations looks like a tough bet if the game plan is to I think Steve Yzerman’s presence, while still pretty nebulous in its direct make him a defense-first center and net-front power-play specialist, so impact to date, has to get some benefit of the doubt based on the team there’s that. And then relative to the draft-night expectations, Zadina not he built in Tampa. It continues to bear repeating that the circumstances being an immediate-impact NHL winger may count here as well. That’s with the Red Wings are different from what he walked into with the not ideal with so many recent first-round picks, with the obvious caveat Lightning (a Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos would change Detroit’s that they’re all still young with plenty of room to develop. I still think outlook exponentially), but he’s got a good track record for building a Zadina, in particular, is going to be a really good player in the NHL with winner. time, and patience is needed with him, but there was a time when the How about a weakness? name David Pastrnak was getting thrown around as a model for him. That certainly sounds pretty lofty now. Dillman: There are many long-term contracts that are already burdening the Kings. The one at the forefront is the goaltender Jonathan Quick’s Hronek going from second-round pick to a guy who looks like a potential top-four player on a contender is probably on the positive end of that spectrum. But there’s not that Brayden Point- or Nikita Kucherov-level find that totally changes your outlook.

How about a realistic time for contention? When could you next realistically see the team you cover winning a playoff series and it not being a total shock?

Dillman: One of the exercises we conducted this past summer was a projected Kings roster in three years.

Could the Kings contend at the end of their rebuild? While three years feels like it is forever in professional sports, I feel as though they have the right pieces in the pipeline and the right organizational philosophy when it comes to drafting and development.

Winning a playoff series? Yes, it could happen as early as next season.

The game changer, for me, would be if Turcotte is in the Kings’ lineup and if Cal Petersen is no longer the goalie of the future but the goalie of the present.

Salvian: I could see the Senators turning the corner and getting out of the basement by 2021-22. I think being a legitimate playoff-contending team is one or two years after that. Most of their players will still be pretty young by 2021-22 and they won’t have much, if any, playoff experience on the roster. They may need a year or two of losing in the first round of the playoffs to really make a lengthy run and win a few rounds. But that all depends on how their prospects develop these next few years.

Bultman: Winning a playoff series either this season or next would be a definite surprise in Detroit. I do think the Red Wings should start to move out of the basement next season, though. And even if that’s not enough to make the playoffs, by 2021-22 this team should theoretically be in a position to threaten for some measure of postseason success. (At least as long as their prospects are developing as they hope.) Is it a true Cup threat by then? Highly doubtful. But winning a round? Why not.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158313 Ottawa Senators middle, the Senators need Brown right now. And if Brown truly believes he belongs in the NHL, this is his time to prove it.

So, how did he do in his season debut? Let’s take a look. Logan Brown did all the right things in his Senators season debut, but In the Senators’ 5-2 win over the Red Wings, Brown had just over 12 was it enough to stay? minutes of ice time, and while that may seem low, it was mostly due to special teams. The Senators spent ten minutes short-handed Wednesday night and Brown does not play on the penalty kill at the By Hailey Salvian Oct 24, 2019 moment, which naturally impacted his ice time. Tkachuk was similarly impacted and was limited to only 14:40 in ice time, compared to the over

18 minutes he’s been averaging to start the year. Ever since he could remember, Logan Brown has wanted to play in the Brown finished the game -1, had two takeaways, zero turnovers and . finished an abysmal 17 percent from the faceoff dot (two wins and 10 Growing up, Brown said he was always either playing NHL on his Xbox losses). But his Corsi score was among the top ten on the team with (NHL 2K5 with Martin St. Louis on the cover was his favourite), or he was 59.09 percent. Generally speaking, a Corsi score over 50 percent means at the rink or in the driveway shooting pucks. He even still remembers the the player, or line, was driving play. early days learning how to skate with his dad Jeff Brown, who played The line of Tkachuk, Brown and Duclair was the second-best of the night, over 700 games for seven teams in his NHL career. generating seven scoring chances in only seven minutes of ice time as a “I would skate around with the chair,” Logan Brown said with a smile. unit. The line of Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Connor Brown and Nick Paul led “Every lap I would skate around the rink, he would then push me around the team with 10 scoring chances. in the chair for a lap … It was a good way to learn.” Duclair, who had two goals in the game, said Brown was “definitely a Jeff retired in 1999, so Logan, who was born in 1998, didn’t get to grow boost up the middle” on the top line. up in an NHL locker room like some other next-generation NHL kids did “(He’s a) big body, can move the puck, he had a great game,” he said. “I (like Brady Tkachuk), but growing up he always knew he wanted to be think (he was) real reliable in every zone. It was good to see him get like his dad. some success tonight.” “Anytime anyone asked what I wanted to be it was never a question,” he While Brown didn’t stand out Wednesday for a flashy goal, big offensive said Wednesday morning. “I wanted to be a hockey player.” play or even a glaring error, he was noticeable for doing the right things In the grand scheme of things, not many paths to the NHL are straight when he was on the ice. forward. But for Brown, 21, the last few years haven’t exactly gone Like in the first period, on one of his first shifts of the game. according to plan. You can see Thomas Chabot makes a play for the puck along the boards After being drafted 11th overall by the Senators in 2016, he signed his and it winds up on Andreas Athanasiou’s stick. But Brown skates over three-year entry-level contract a few months later in August. In 2017 he and picked the puck right back off the Detroit winger’s stick. It’s not a made the Senators opening roster out of training camp and made his crazy play, but had he not had the defensive awareness the Red Wings NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs that season. After four could have had a high scoring chance opportunity. games in Ottawa he was returned back to the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. In 2018, Brown was assigned to the Belleville Senators in the AHL Again here in the first period, Brown was on the tail end of a long shift after training camp and played his first professional season there, posting and chased the puck into the corner and battled hard to get the puck out 14 goals and 42 points in 56 games. This year, Brown said he thought of his defensive zone. this was “his year” to crack the NHL roster and was disappointed to be one of the final cuts out of September’s training camp. “I was trying not to do too much,” he said when asked about his game. “I (didn’t) want to push the boundaries in my first game out there, just trying “That really sucked,” he said. “Like I said, all my life all I’ve dreamt about to get to the net and make little plays and see what I can do. was to play in the NHL and I felt this was my year and so to get sent down, it hurt.” “I try to be a 200-foot player, the more you can break stuff up in your own end and get it going the other way its huge for your line and your team.” As hurtful as the demotion was, Brown said he used it as motivation and got off to a hot start in the AHL. In his first five games of the season, As the game went on, and the Senators started to take control and spend Brown had three goals and seven points to lead Belleville in scoring (tied more time in Detroit’s zone, Brown continued to be in all the right spots. with linemate Drake Batherson). Like here, as Duclair breaks into the zone, Brown saw an opportunity and “I took it as a challenge,” said Brown. “I did everything I could down exploded past his defender and went straight to the net. He didn’t score there. Worked hard and worked on all the things they wanted me to here, but that’s absolutely the right play. And for a centre who is 6-foot-6, improve on to get an opportunity back up here.” that foot speed is impressive.

The sense from the organization appears to be the Senators wanted Or here, on a Duclair point shot, he put his massive frame right in front of Brown to have more time to develop in the AHL before being a full-time Red Wings netminder Jonathan Bernier for a screen. It may seem like NHLer. But injuries to centremen Colin White (out three to five weeks such a little thing, but it’s a really important one. with a groin injury) and Artem Anisimov (out one to two weeks with a Brown’s game Wednesday was filled with little moments like this. For a lower-body injury) forced their hand. player who is praised for his skill, Brown stood out for everything he did And on Wednesday, Brown got another taste of his dream after being away from the puck, which is something Smith and Belleville coach Troy called up from Belleville. Mann have spoken a lot about so far this season.

“We wanted him to play a lot of minutes. And to start the year with all the “I thought he was above the puck. I thought he worked away from the centres we had, we didn’t see an opportunity for him to play more than puck,” Smith said. “As a young guy, especially on the road, you’re going 10 minutes a night and we didn’t think that was any good for his to have to play against good lines and that’s the biggest thing is can you development. We’re in a situation now where we have two centres learn to play away from the puck in the NHL for long stretches. down,” said coach D.J. Smith Wednesday morning. “When you can do that, then you can play in the league. His skill will take “I think we were trying to hold him there for as long as possible so he care of that and you saw that, I think he made some pretty plays.” could develop. Fortunately for him — and unfortunately, I guess for us — If Brown can play the way he did Wednesday on a consistent basis, in with the injuries, he’s coming up.” my opinion, I would prefer him over Anisimov as a regular centre, On Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, Brown was immediately especially if he can develop much-needed chemistry with Tkachuk on the put in big time territory on the Senators’ top line with Tkachuk and top line. Anthony Duclair, a move Smith thought would give Brown the best But can he play this way night after night? And can he start to add more chance to succeed. Because with two injuries to key players down the of an offensive touch to that 200-foot game he plays so well? Those are the big questions here and Brown essentially has five weeks until White comes back to prove it and knock someone out of an NHL spot.

Brown was obviously the biggest focal point Wednesday, but there were a lot of positives out of this Senators game. So, here’s five bonus thoughts on the win against the Detroit Red Wings.

1. The Senators gave the Red Wings five power-play chances in this game.

That’s ten minutes with a man advantage for the opposing team, which is not ideal in the slightest. But, the Senators penalty kill Wednesday night was exemplary and gave up zero power-play goals, and even scored short-handed.

“Penalty kill has probably been the strongest part of our game all year, we’ve got a lot of workers,” said Smith, who made a call out to Dylan DeMelo, Mark Borowiecki, Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev, Pageau, Chris Tierney, Connor Brown, Vlad Namestnikov and Duclair.

“Our penalty kill wins us the game tonight for sure.”

2. Not only were the Senators solid on the penalty kill, but they were very sound in their own zone this game. Perhaps its because they were facing an opponent who is also in the throes of the rebuild, but the blue line seemed more detail-oriented Wednesday night. More so than they’ve ever been.

“I thought we were really good defensively in our zone, probably the best we’ve been,” Smith said after the game. “A couple mistakes ended up in our net, but I thought our attention to detail and our play away from the puck was better than it’s been.”

When you look at the shot chart from the game, you can see the Senators gave up some chances in front of their net, but most of them are clustered from the point or other less dangerous angles. It’s a far cry from other games in the past where the opposing team is getting clear looks right in front of the net.

3. Sticking with the shot chart above, you can also see the Senators had way more high danger chances than the Red Wings did. They were attacking the net more in the game, and their high-speed wingers (like Duclair) were taking advantage of the weaker Detroit defence and entering the zone with force.

Most of the Senators’ shot attempts were right in front of the net and resulted in most of their five goals. This is something they are going to need to carry over into their upcoming games against the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks and beyond.

4. After years of “will he or won’t he,” Nick Paul may actually stick in the NHL this year.

Throughout the game tonight, his line with Pageau and Connor Brown was driving play, and it felt like the puck was always on Paul’s stick. He had scoring chances. He made hits. He made plays. He matched up against Detroit’s top line and made life hard for Anthony Mantha every chance he got. He did it all on Wednesday.

Paul certainly deserves another shot to stick in the NHL, and Smith seems to think he can be of use to the Senators.

“I thought he played the game he had to play,” Smith said. “He can skate for a big guy and if he can give us (what he did tonight) it really helps us.”

5. In Las Vegas last week, Anders Nilsson won the Senators a point in the shootout. In Dallas he kept his team in the game and made the score look much closer than the game actually was.

Then, against Detroit, Nilsson was lights out again, letting in only two goals in his first win of the season. Early on in training camp, Smith said he wanted to roll Nilsson and Craig Anderson out with a 50/50 split. But right now Nilsson is making his case to stay in with the way he is playing.

In his last three starts (Vegas, Dallas and Detroit) Nilsson has posted a .953 save percentage and has only let in six goals, for a two-goals- against average.

You have to play the hot hand, and I think everyone, Anderson included, understands that.

— Stats and research courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158314 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers, coming off a 6-2 win Monday over Vegas, put two shots behind Lehner in the first period, but only one counted as a goal.

Oskar Lindblom's five goals now lead the Flyers. Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk score their first goals of the season CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP as Flyers whip Chicago, 4-1 Oskar Lindblom's five goals now lead the Flyers.

Lindblom converted Travis Konecny’s two-on-one pass to give the Flyers by Sam Carchid a 1-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first. It was his fifth goal, tops on the Flyers, and it gave Konecny a team-best 11 points and at least a point in seven of the Flyers’ first eight games. CHICAGO – Twenty nights after they opened their seasons in one of Europe’s largest and most beautiful cities, Prague, the Flyers and “I’m playing with great players who give good passes,” said Lindblom, Chicago Blackhawks met Thursday in a more familiar site. whose line, with Sean Couturier and Konecny, has been the Flyers’ best unit (by far) in the first eight games. "With that pass, I was pretty sure I With the same result. was going to get it on net. Those goals are greasy, but I like this.”

Oskar Lindblom, Claude Giroux, Kevin Hayes, and James van Riemsdyk Lindblom’s goal, his ninth in the last 13 games over parts of two seasons, scored goals, and goalie Brian Elliott was outstanding as the Flyers was scored a half-minute after the Blackhawks botched a two-on-one of defeated the Blackhawks, 4-1, at the United Center. their own.

For Giroux and van Riemsdyk, it was their first goals of the season. Earlier in the period, Hayes redirected a great feed from Farabee into the net to put the Flyers ahead, 1-0, but the Blackhawks challenged for “I think everyone in our group knew it was just a matter of time,” coach offside. After a video review, Hayes was clearly a stride offside, so his Alain Vigneault said after the Flyers’ first road victory in four tries this goal and Farabee’s first career point were erased. season. “If we stick with the process, do the right things, sooner or later you’re going to get rewarded. It was good for G and it was good for Elliott was solid in his first two starts, and he continued his strong play in James, to hit the back of the net and now we move on and we focus on the opening period Thursday as he stopped all seven shots, including our next game” Saturday against visiting Columbus. close-range chances by Dominik Kubalik, Andrew Shaw, and Alex DeBrincat. The Flyers (4-3-1), who lifted their record over the .500 mark, had scored a 4-3 win over Chicago in Prague on Oct. 4. “He battles real hard,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said before the Flyers’ fifth straight win over Chicago in the last three seasons. “He had a whale The Flyers played in their fifth time zone in eight games. The Blackhawks of a game the other night [against Vegas] and made some quality saves played their seventh straight home game since their loss in Prague. and gave us a chance.” Chicago cut the deficit to 2-1 one minute into the third period as Brandon The Flyers were trying to sweep the season series (minimum: two Saad got behind van Riemsdyk and Shayne Gostisbehere, and Robert games) in back-to-back years against Chicago for the first time since Haag made a bad pinch in the neutral zone. 1997-98 and 1998-99. Before that goal, the Blackhawks attack had all the life of a rock. But Mission accomplished. Saad got the crowd back into the game and Chicago swarmed the Flyers net for the next few minutes. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 10.25.2019 Hayes quieted the fans. He scored on a breakaway to restore the Flyers’ two-goal lead, at 3-1, with 14 minutes, 57 seconds to play. Joel Farabee got an assist, his first career NHL point.

About two minutes later, Farabee appeared to score his first NHL goal as he scored on a rebound of his own breakaway shot. But the play was reviewed and Hayes was offside, so the goal was negated. It was the second time during the game that Hayes was offside and it took a point away from the 19-year-old Farabee.

“On the first one he was too slow, on the second one he was too fast,” Farabee cracked.

Giroux looked at the bright side, saying Farabee was lucky because in a way, he will have two first goals.

“I didn’t even realize the second (erased goal) was even close to being offside,” said Farabee, who had four shots and three takeaways while playing a strong two-way game. “I didn’t see Kevin on my right side. Yeah, I would have liked it, but at the end of the day when you’r winning, you’re happy, so let’s keep this rolling.”

With 3:16 remaining, van Riemsdyk, ahead of the pack, secured the win with his first goal of the season.

Chicago had a 16-5 shots advantage in the third period, but Elliott (23 saves) stood tall.

Fifty-nine seconds into the second period, Giroux’s first goal of the season gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead. From behind the net, van Riemsdyk fed defenseman Travis Sanheim deep in the offensive end, and his shot was redirected over the shoulder of goalie Robin Lehner.

Late in the second, Giroux had a shorthanded breakaway but missed the net.

The Flyers had a 13-1 shots domination in the second period, and Chicago fans booed their team as the session ended. The Blackhawks had 5:27 of power-play time after the first two periods and zero shots with the man advantage. 1158315 Philadelphia Flyers

Samuel Morin staying patient as he waits his turn with Flyers

by Sam Carchidi

CHICAGO – New Flyers coach Alain Vigneault wants to get 6-foot-7, 230-pound Samuel Morin into the lineup, and with the team in the midst of playing four games in six nights, it may happen soon.

That said, Vigneault has a dilemma: He doesn’t want Morin to sit too long, but he also likes the way the other six defensemen are playing.

Alain Vigneault happy with Flyers’ lines, except for Claude Giroux’s unit. ‘They have to figure it out.’

Morin, who missed most of last season as he rehabbed from knee surgery, has been a healthy scratch in all eight games, including Thursday’s in Chicago.

“I look at the overall chances we’ve given up and our D-men have done a pretty good job,” Vigneault said the other day. “I would like to get Sam Morin in the lineup. He’s a young man who hasn’t played a lot of hockey for the last couple years. I’ve liked what I’ve seen in practices. I’ve liked what I saw in exhibition [games].”

Vigneaut said his defensemen have had “some very good moments and some other so-so moments, but none have played themselves out of the lineup.”

Justin Braun, who had a team-worst minus-5 rating entering Thursday, has been the least-effective defenseman in the first three weeks.

“Sam’s going to have to be patient, and when we put him in, we know it’s not going to be the most ideal situation, but he’s going to have to play well,” Vigneault said. He added that it’s a long season and that Morin “will get to play here at some point, and hopefully he’ll play well. It’s not going to be easy because he hasn’t played in a while. That’s just the situation he’s faced with.”

Morin, 24, a first-round selection (11th overall) in the 2013 draft, is healthy and ready.

“Obviously when you’re not playing, it’s not fun,” he said. “Right now, I’m treating every practice like a game. I try to block shots and I try to do all the little stuff that I’d be doing in a game. I’m in a tough spot. If I get into the lineup, soon or later, it’s going to be hard. I haven’t played in a month now. Right now, I’m really proud of myself. I’ve worked pretty hard. I think the guys notice that and I think the coaches notice that.”

Added Morin, who is usually on the ice an hour before his teammates as he works to stay in shape: “I’m in the NHL. It’s my dream here, right? So I just enjoy it and I need to be ready when I get my shot.”

Breakaways

The Flyers played seven of their first eight games against Western Conference teams; they now play the next 13 games against teams from the East. ... Entering Thursday, the Flyers had scored a total of 14 goals (4.7 per game) in their three wins, and a total of seven goals (1.75 per game) in their four losses.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158316 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers sharpen their skills in 'different' practice

By Jordan Hall October 24, 2019 6:45 PM

During the grind of an NHL regular season, system work is constant in practice.

It can never hurt to sharpen the skills from time to time.

The Flyers used Tuesday to do so as the team had a skill-focused practice at Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. Players were broken off into separate groups for 30-minute sessions, with a lot of the work being done under the guidance of Flyers skills coach Angelo Ricci.

"I've done this quite a bit in the past," Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault told reporters on Tuesday. "Obviously, the schedule's got to permit it, but I usually call this 'Hockey Skill Days,' where usually, the whole half hour is just skill-oriented."

The Flyers on Thursday night started a stretch of four games in six days, so Tuesday made for a good day to sneak in some skill work.

"Players, in my experience, love it," Vigneault, who is in his 17th year as a head coach, said. "They love working on that, that skill work. [They] don't have a lot of time because of the amount of games that we play in the schedule. So when we do get a day like this where we can do it, it's usually a fun day for the players and it's a different day."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158317 Pittsburgh Penguins one of the NHL’s premier defensemen at identifying and waiting for shooting lanes from the point.

“Sergei helps those guys with those subtleties of the game,” Sullivan Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson’s ability to find shooting lanes said. “He was so good at it himself. And Sergei’s got a real nice way of has evolved communicating with these guys. He has a great relationship with them. When it comes to the subtleties of that position, Sergei does a lot of work with these guys.”

SETH RORABAUGH | Thursday, October 24, 2019 5:25 p.m. Added Petterson: “If you get a pass, be able to be quick. It’s going to close up real quick. There’s a lot of good shot blockers in this league

right now. Just getting it off quick and making sure it gets there. (Gonchar TAMPA, Fla. — When the Penguins traded talented shooting winger has) worked a lot with me about that.” Daniel Sprong to the Anaheim Ducks for sturdy defenseman Marcus How exactly does one work on that specific aspect of finding shooting Pettersson in December, it was clear what was being exchanged. lanes? Offense for defense. “Just grind at it,” Pettersson said. “Get a lot passes and be able to shoot And to this point of the 2019-20 season, that notion has held firm. quick. Get the puck to settle down and shoot the puck quick. Work on the movement and be more confident and be able to move out there. Sprong is one of his team’s leading scorers, and Pettersson is way down Because if you stand still, you’re an easier target out there.” the list of point producers for the Penguins. Pettersson’s basic offensive numbers won’t make anyone forget the To be clear, Sprong is second on the San Diego Gulls of the American offensive exploits of Gonchar or even Moe Mantha. But since joining the Hockey League with two points in four games this season. He has yet to Penguins, his offensive production has never been better than at any skate in an NHL game in 2019-20. other point in his professional career:

Pettersson has appeared in all 11 of the Penguins games and has five “Yeah, it’s a great team to play for,” Petterson said. “I want to be able to points (one goal, four assists). do that and I’ve gotten opportunities to do that here. Fortunately, it’s happened that way. I’ve got to keep shooting pucks at the net because “Marcus’ whole game I think is evolving, offensively and defensively,” that’s where good things happen.” coach Mike Sullivan said. “When we got him last year, we were pleasantly surprised with his instincts offensively. We felt like that was A lot of positive things are taking place the more he shoots a puck. something that we could try to help him develop and get better (because) he’s a young defenseman. So he’s evolved in that capacity.” “He’s getting pucks through better from the offensive blue line,” Sullivan said. “He has more confidence, so he hangs onto the puck. He has the Part of that evolution has involved promotion. Primarily used on a third ability to change his angle if he needs to, to open up a shot lane. He can pairing with Erik Gudbranson or Jack Johnson upon his arrival to utilize his reach to change his angle. He’s evolving offensively in a Pittsburgh, Pettersson has been bumped up to the second pairing along number of different capacities.” with Justin Schultz. He also has become a staple on the second power- play group. Tribune Review LOADED: 10.25.2019

Each of those assignments nearly led to a tying goal in Tuesday’s 4-2 road loss to the Florida Panthers. Down 2-1 with 13 minutes, 37 secpmds remaining in regulation, Pettersson cranked a slapper from left of the high slot just wide of the cage. Forward Jake Guentzel was positioned in the left circle and re-directed the puck on net with his forehand, forcing Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to scoot to his right and kick out the puck.

Still down a goal later in the third period, with 7:50 remaining, Pettersson and the second power-play squad established possession in the offensive zone. Off a feed by Johnson, Pettersson golfed a one-timer that Bobrovsky fought off. On the ensuing scramble for the rebound, forward Zach Aston-Reese just missed a goal by putting a backhander off the right post.

In each instance, Pettersson maneuvered himself into position to find a shooting lane that allowed him to put a shot on net or create a scoring opportunity for a teammate.

“I’m a little bit more patient waiting for those shooting lanes,” said Pettersson, who is in his second full NHL season. “Or finding sticks if the shooting lane is not there. I’ve been doing a better job at at.

“It’s something I want to work on and be a little bit more patient up to. I’m working towards it.”

That work has been evident since the 23-year-old joined the Penguins. He is typically one of the final players off the ice for practices or morning skate, even staying out longer than teammates fighting to stay in the NHL or destined to be healthy scratches.

“He’s very deceptive,” Gudbranson said. “He’s got a really good shot. Certain guys just have that knack for having shots that can get tipped or placed in good places, in (teammates’) wheelhouses and stuff. He works extremely hard on it. He’s always taking shots after practice. You can tell it’s getting to another level. I have no doubt in my mind that he’s going to continue to get better.”

That improvement hasn’t happened without guidance. As is the case with all the team’s defensemen, Pettersson has sat at the learning tree of assistant coach Sergei Gonchar. During his playing career, Gonchar was 1158318 Pittsburgh Penguins “I think it’s good for the Pirates that Travis is here,” Morehouse said. “From a relationship perspective, he’s starting at third base. He was part of a team that had great success on and off the ice. He’ll bring that experience to the Pirates.” Travis Williams is coming back to Pittsburgh, and the Penguins' David Morehouse is thrilled That third-base analogy from Morehouse was a good one. Not only does Williams know Pittsburgh and its fans, but he’s familiar with corporate Pirates incoming president doesn't need to be a baseball guy to thrive sponsors and how to function on the business side of things.

“Travis will bring all of the relationships that we had, both politically and in the corporate world,” Morehouse said. “It kind of starts at third base JASON MACKEY instead of starting at home plate coming from out of town.”

Williams’ experience with baseball is also more substantial than many Soon-to-be-named Pirates president Travis Williams isn’t a baseball guy, people realize. at least in the sense that he hasn’t spent the past 15 or 20 years working Williams actually worked with the Pirates as outside counsel for the first for a team. 10 years of his career with Reed Smith LLP, when the firm served as Take one look at Williams’ former employer, specifically the unique counsel for the club on PNC Park development, TV rights and naming backgrounds the Penguins have put to good use, and it’s easy to see rights. how little sport-specific stuff matters here. The Indianapolis native is a lifelong baseball fan, having gone rooting for What’s infinitely more important is the experience Williams gained the Reds as a kid to the Cardinals when he lived in St. Louis and a fan of working for co-owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux and the Pirates since he moved to Western Pennsylvania in the late 1980s. In president/CEO David Morehouse, who’ve taken a diverse collection of high school, Williams played football, baseball, basketball and tennis. talent and molded it into one of the most well-run franchises in all of From Morehouse, there’s a good chance Williams learned how to try new sports. things and shift strategy. The Penguins as a whole likely taught Williams On Thursday, Morehouse expressed how happy he is to see Williams that reactionary decisions aren’t always the best ones. stepping into a new role and also how the Penguins experience has Roll it all together, and it’s a background that isn’t really unique to any probably prepared Williams for what he’s about to encounter. particular sport, but it does matter that Williams was in charge of the day- Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier had just six errors in 2019. to-day operations for a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2005- 06. Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier is a Gold Glove finalist “Travis is a hard-working, dedicated person, perfectly capable of leading “Travis worked in an environment where we all acknowledged what we the business operations of the Pirates,” Morehouse said. “We’re still didn’t know and didn’t pretend to know things that we didn’t know,” friends. We wish him all the success in the world. Morehouse said. “We were able to hire people who were experts and the best in that field. “Travis was a big part of the success that we’ve had both on and off the ice over the last 12 years. It’s good to have him back in Pittsburgh.” “I think the unique experiences that we have in different areas make us a stronger organization as a whole.” Post Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019

Morehouse would know. For as much impact as Williams had on the Penguins, Morehouse deserves a heap of credit here, too.

The Penguins have a sellout streak of 12-plus years on the Beechview native’s watch. They’re incredibly active in the community and with youth hockey. Their merchandise moves. Their TV ratings soar.

Morehouse worked on arena stuff and TV contracts, too. Even with the NHL on a variety of issues. But most important, Morehouse has been integral in creating the Penguins’ culture.

It’s the cloth from which Williams is cut and the type of thing that should be of benefit to the Pirates, regardless of whether Williams has made baseball (or hockey) decisions before.

“He has experience working with a team that does things a little bit differently than most other teams,” Morehouse said. “Hopefully that’ll translate to the Pirates and their success.”

What’s it mean to say the Penguins’ executives have varied backgrounds? Consider:

• Morehouse was once a boilermaker before he starting working on political campaigns.

• Senior vice president and general counsel Kevin Acklin worked for Peoples Gas and was Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff before joining the hockey club in October 2018.

• Their vice president of sales and broadcasting, Terry Kalna, has a background in car racing, while Kalna’s predecessor, David Peart, spent significant time around football and baseball.

Furthermore, it’s doubtful anybody will question Burkle’s hockey acumen or Lemieux’s abilities as a businessman. Successful companies, sports or not, can take people with diverse backgrounds and find a way to bring everything together.

In the middle of a pretty tough time, the Pirates will absolutely want and need that from Williams. 1158319 Pittsburgh Penguins Cairos Technologies and Adidas produce a system that does not rely on cameras, instead using a magnetic field to track the ball. A sensor is embedded inside the ball, which detects the magnetic field produced by thin wires run underneath the penalty box. A computer tracks the position Sidney Crosby would like to see NHL develop goal-line technology of the ball via the sensor and detects when the ball crosses the goalline.

Goalminder

MIKE DEFABO Another camera-based system, Goalminder uses high-speed cameras built into the goal posts and crossbar to deliver visual evidence only to

the referee, leaving it to the judgement of the officials. TAMPA, Fla. – Goal or no goal? GoalRef That’s the question the referees had to answer on Wednesday night in GoalRef uses a similar magnetic field-based technology to Cairos GLT, the waning seconds of the Penguins’ 3-2 loss in Tampa. Kris Letang fired but instead of the ball acting as a sensor, the goal frame detects the a shot that Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy gloved right on the goal passing of the ball. line. NOTE — Defenseman Juuso Riikola played left wing for the third time Depending on your point of view, it was either a clutch save by one of the this season during Pittsburgh’s loss to Tampa Bay. Coach Mike Sullivan league’s best goaltenders, or — if you’re like Penguins captain Sidney said after the game that the decision was made because fourth-line Crosby — you believe that “it looks like it’s in his webbing and for a split winger Adam Johnson was dealing with an upper-body injury. second it looks like his webbing is over the goal line.” Post Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 But who knows? Hours later, the play is still open to interpretation.

Teddy Blueger, center, celebrates with teammates Jake Guentzel and Jack Johnson after Blueger scored during the second period Oct. 22, 2019, against Florida.

Matt Vensel

Matt Vensel's Penguins chat transcript: 10.24.19

“There’s got to be some way they can definitively tell,” Crosby said. “…I’d like to think there’s some technology out there that could tell you it’s over the goal line or not.”

THAT CLOSE. 

The Penguins were that close to tying the game as time expired in the third period. pic.twitter.com/Ug18A1XOc6

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) October 24, 2019

The Penguins’ captain might be onto something here. Man has put man on the moon, eradicated life-threatening illnesses and discovered a way to – somehow – stuff even more frosting inside of Oreos. There’s got to be a way to solve these goal or no-goal controversies, right?

Well, maybe the technology already exists.

For years, other sports including tennis and soccer have utilized a variety of techniques. It goes beyond basic instant replay, incorporating a sophisticated network of high-speed cameras and electromagnetic systems.

In one such system used by FIFA, referees wear watches and receive a signal within one second so they can immediately make a call. The process has been used for at least five years now.

British newspaper The Guardian detailed numerous technologies that were in use for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, some of which the NHL might want to look into. The Cairos GLT system and GoalRef, in particular, seem to be close to what Crosby was suggesting.

Here is how The Guardian explained those technologies.

Penguins fall to Lightning despite Tristan Jarry's strong showing

GoalControl

German-produced GoalControl uses 14 high-speed cameras mounted around the stadium – seven pointed at each goal – to track the flight of the ball and detect whether it has cross the goal line or not.

Hawk-Eye

Hawk-Eye is already used in cricket, tennis and snooker, and like GoalControl employs high-speed video cameras dotted around the pitch to triangulate and track the position and flight of the ball. Seven cameras are required per goal mouth, allowing the system to still operate when several cameras are blocked. Hawk-Eye was used in the 2013-2014 Premier League season in the UK.

Cairos GLT system 1158320 Pittsburgh Penguins I can’t wait to hear what Nutting has to say about Williams when he introduces him Monday. That’s if Nutting decides to make a public appearance to speak to what angry and few fans the Pirates have left. Call me cynical, but I’m not betting on it. Wish Travis Williams luck dealing with cheap Pirates ownership Here’s the thing that amuses me most: Williams probably will help Nutting make even more money. By all accounts, he is a shrewd businessman and well-respected in the community. Nutting will love him RON COOK for that.

But making the Pirates better on the field where it really counts? Working My overriding thought after hearing the news Wednesday that the Pirates for Nutting and with Huntington? Do you believe in miracles? are hiring former Penguins executive Travis Williams to be their Pardon me if I don’t with the Pirates. president? Post Gazette LOADED: 10.25.2019 I feel sorry for Williams.

How can Williams — or any mere human, for that matter — be expected to succeed answering to the cheap owner above him and working with the failing general manager below him?

Talk about being stuck in the middle of a rotten mess.

I’m guessing the hiring of Williams, as reported by the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette’s Jason Mackey, will be met with the same collective yawn that greeted the news of Frank Coonelly’s departure as Pirates president earlier Wednesday. The team has made two significant moves since late this season: firing Clint Hurdle and either pushing out Coonelly or having him jump happily off a Pirates ship that has sunk into deep waters.

It was time for Hurdle to go, although he hardly was the franchise’s biggest problem. It might also have been time for Coonelly to go, although he didn’t sink the ship.

Good luck to Williams working for Bob Nutting and with Neal Huntington and his scouting staff.

Williams will go through some serious culture shock once he starts working for Nutting, who has never met a dollar he didn’t want to pocket. Williams spent 11 years with the Penguins — the final eight as chief operating officer — working for Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux before leaving a year ago to run the business side of the New York Islanders.

Burkle and Lemieux couldn’t possibly be more different than Nutting. They never ask their top officials, “How much will this cost us?” They merely say, “Spend what you have to spend in order for the team to win.”

I don’t imagine Williams will be hearing that much from Nutting. But, hey, maybe it won’t be all bad for him. At least he won’t get headaches from crunching big financial numbers with the Pirates’ payroll, right?

Who says I can’t be positive when it comes to the North Side ball club?

Williams also worked with two pretty good general managers with the Penguins — Ray Shero and Hall of Famer Jim Rutherford. Shero led the organization to the Stanley Cup final in 2008 and won the darn thing in 2009. Rutherford was the architect of Cup winners here in 2016 and 2017 and still is as good as anyone in the business.

Huntington’s work with the Pirates has been — how do I phrase this kindly? — a lot less impressive.

I get it that hockey and baseball are different sports, one with a salary cap and the other without. I also get that Huntington has had incredible financial restraints put on him by Nutting. I’ll always remember Huntington and Hurdle well for the way they somehow managed to overcome the obstacles put up by Nutting to end 20 years of Pirates losing with three consecutive playoff appearances from 2013-15.

But after watching small-market Oakland and small-market Tampa Bay make baseball’s postseason again, it’s easy to think Huntington hasn’t done enough with the meager resources Nutting has given him. A general manager and his staff had better be terrific at drafting and developing players under Nutting-like restraints. Huntington and his staff have failed badly, especially when it comes to starting pitchers.

Name me one they’ve drafted and developed after Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon. And Cole and Taillon hardly count because they were drafted No. 1 and No. 2 overall, respectively.

I think back to 2008 when Nutting called Coonelly and Huntington “the single best management team in all of baseball, maybe all of sports.”

Now, Coonelly is gone and Huntington should have been gone with Hurdle. 1158321 San Jose Sharks “I didn’t think he played that poorly,” Couture said of Price, who finished with 19 saves. “Just some bad bounces on him.”

After Friday, the Sharks road trip continues Sunday in Ottawa and wraps Aaron Dell outduels Carey Price as Sharks top Canadiens up Tuesday in Boston.

▪ Hertl had his first three assist game since Oct. 20, 2018 when he had three in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 6:45 pm | UPDATED: October 24, 2019 at 8:50 PM ▪ Brent Burns played his 600th game with the Sharks on Thursday. Since he was acquired by the Sharks in the summer of 2011, Burns, including Thursday, is third on the team in points (475) and second in assists (330). Against Montreal, Burns led all Sharks skaters with 26:43 of ice MONTREAL — Regardless of where they are in the Pacific Division time. standings, the Sharks have generally felt right at home at the Bell Centre in recent years. . ▪ Defenseman Tim Heed was benched midway through the first period and didn’t play again, as he finished with a career-low 3:21 of ice time on That didn’t change Thursday, as goalie Aaron Dell had 34 saves, just three shifts. Evander Kane had two power play goals and Tomas Hertl had three assists as the Sharks topped the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. “Just didn’t like his game early,” DeBoer said of Heed. “He’s playing with a young guy in Mario Ferraro that needs support, needs help.” Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson also scored for the Sharks, who are now 1-0-1 on this five-game road trip against Atlantic Division teams that San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 10.25.2019 continues Friday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs (5-4-2). The Sharks lost 4-3 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

“Tonight was a big one for us after the last game where we thought we could have had the second (point) there,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said. “It’s really nice to get this one tonight, but we can’t be satisfied. We go into another tough building tomorrow night against a team that’s going through some tough times and they’re going to be fired up.”

The Sharks entered the game in eighth and last place in the Pacific Division, one point back of seventh place Los Angeles and eight back of first place Edmonton. But they improved to 4-1-1 in their last six games overall and have now won six of their last seven in Montreal, including five straight, dating back to 2014.

Both teams scored two even strength goals. The Sharks also had three at even strength against the Sabres.

“It’s getting better,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer of his team’s play 5-on-5. “I still don’t think we’re heavy or hard enough in the offensive zone. I think we have moments, but in the past we always had kind of a four-line identity built around that. I don’t feel we’re there yet.”

Kane scored his power play goals at the 19:05 mark of the first period and the 4:54 mark of the second. He now has a team-leading six goals on the season.

Labanc then added an insurance goal at the 8:08 mark off an assist from Hertl to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead.The Sharks are now 9-for-21 with the man advantage over their last seven games.

“I think we’re just playing hockey,” Kane said of the power play. “The first goal, I think all five of us were out of our normal spots. Just reading and reacting off each other and trying to outwork their (penalty kill). We did a good job of that tonight.”

That was enough offense for Dell, who improved to 2-1-0 on the season in his first start since the Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 on Oct. 10. Dell made 12 saves in the first period and seven of his saves through 40 minutes came with the Sharks on the penalty kill.

“We might have gotten a little bit loose in the first period. But we talked about that and we tightened it right up for the rest of the game after that,” Dell said.

“You need goaltending like that on the road, especially in rinks like this where momentum can swing pretty quickly,” DeBoer said. “He was our best player tonight.”

One of Dell’s 12 saves in the first period came on a shot from on Nick Cousins, who was then able to gather the rebound and score from a sharp angle to put Montreal up 1-0 at the 16:26 mark of the opening period.

The Sharks got that goal back on the power play. Labanc gathered the puck near the corner to the right of goalie Carey Price to create some traffic in front of the net. The puck came out to Logan Couture, who shot toward the net went off Kane’s skate and past Price.

Price came into Thursday with a career record of 2-9-1 against the Sharks, whose first three goals came on just 13 shots. 1158322 San Jose Sharks coach Pete DeBoer, who really didn’t have the luxury of easing Marleau into the mix considering the lack of overall experience at right wing.

Including his two assists Tuesday, Marleau has responded with five Most Valuable Patrick: On eve of milestone, Marleau as vital to the points in five games. Sharks now as ever “Just a veteran presence, reliable guy,” DeBoer said. “He’s solidified one of our top lines there by giving Logan Couture someone he can rely on, that makes the right play, that plays an honest game. By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: October 24, 2019 at 10:04 am | UPDATED: October 24, 2019 at 11:11 am “He’s creating offense, and he does it without cheating. He makes the right decision defensively all the time. He’s been fantastic.”

Marleau’s first assist against the Sabres showed he still has some magic MONTREAL — Patrick Marleau assisted on a Christian Ehrhoff goal and left. played 18 minutes and 23 seconds in his 500th regular season game with the Sharks, a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Nov. 2003. After Brent Burns created a neutral zone turnover by the Sabres, Meier picked up the loose puck with Couture going toward the Buffalo net. In Jan. 2011 in his 1,000th game with the organization, Marleau scored Marc-Edouard Vlasic jumped up in the play to create an odd-man attack what was then his 18th goal of the season and played over 21 minutes in just as Meier fed Marleau, who glided toward the net before he a 4-2 victory over the then-Phoenix Coyotes. backhanded a pass to Vlasic for a tap-in.

Fast forward another eight-plus years and Marleau — set to play in his The two points gave Marleau 1,171 for his NHL career as he passed 1,499th game with the Sharks on Thursday in Montreal and his 1,500th Bobby Hull for 52nd all-tme. Marleau is now eight points back of Sergei on Friday in Toronto — remains an important, even vital, player to the Federov for 51st place. team that drafted him second overall out of Aneroid, Saskatchewan in 1997. “It’s betting a little bit easier. As I get more comfortable, it’ll become more natural,” Marleau said of playing right wing. “The system we play, we’re In fact, Marleau might be as important to the Sharks right now as he’s all kind of interchangeable.” ever been — even his heyday with the organization. The Sharks are 3-1-1 with Marleau back. They were outscored 17-5 in At 40 years old, Marleau’s become a fixture on the Sharks’ top line with four games without Marleau, and are outscoring teams 19-15 in five Logan Couture and Timo Meier. In Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the games with him. Buffalo Sabres, Marleau had two assists and played 17:37, fifth most among all Sharks forwards. Marleau is understandably modest about how important he’s become to the Sharks in such a short period of time, feeling the team has done After he spent his previous 21 NHL seasons either at center or left wing, things by committee. Still, it hard to imagine the Sharks right now without Marleau is learning the position of right wing on the fly, and he’s arguably him. already become the Sharks’ best option at that spot. “Wherever you stick him on the ice, he’s going to play well and play He’s also averaging a point per game so far. hard,” Couture said. “He’s done that for us.”

“I don’t think anything Patty does ever amazes me anymore,” Couture San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 10.25.2019 said. “He’s just so good. He’s the best player that I’ve practiced with, skating-wise, skill-wise, speed-wise. It seemed like he hasn’t lost a step, which is remarkable.”

Others who have played 1,500 games with one team/organization include Steve Yzerman, John Bucyk, Shane Doan, Alex Delvecchio, Nicklas Lidstrom, Ray Bourque and Gordie Howe.

After Marleau reaches that milestone, that list might not grow anytime soon. Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings is next-highest on the amount of games played list with one team, and he’s at 1,126 — four- plus regular seasons away.

“It’s incredible,” Sharks center Joe Thornton said of Marleau. “You’re lucky enough to play a thousand games. You’re not going to see it too, too often anymore, I don’t think.”

Before the start of the season, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson made a promise to younger players in the organization that they would get an opportunity to earn an NHL job. A few took full advantage, as wingers Lean Bergmann and Danil Yurtaykin made the team out of training camp.

After Evander Kane was suspended for three games at the start of the season, the Sharks had four rookies in the lineup for their opener against the Vegas Golden Knights. Yurtaykin and Bergmann were in the top six forward group for their NHL debuts,

Yurtaykin was placed on the top line with Couture and Meier on Oct. 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights and for two subsequent games. It didn’t go well, as the Sharks managed just three goals in their first three games.

Kevin Labanc played right wing on the top line for the Sharks’ Oct. 8 against Nashville. But by that time, Marleau’s return had already been announced.

Right from his first practice Oct. 9 in Chicago, he was placed on the top line at right wing. The next night, he scored two goals against the Blackhawks, and he’s been there ever since.

There was no talk between Wilson and Marleau about what type of role Marleau was going to play with the Sharks. That was doing to be up to 1158323 San Jose Sharks Blue Jackets 4, Hurricanes 3: Cam Atkinson scored 3:28 into overtime for host Columbus.

Briefly: Chicago placed defenseman Connor Murphy on long-term injured Evander Kane’s two goals help Sharks beat Canadiens again reserve with a groin injury. ... The Islanders placed Leo Komarov on IR because of an unspecified injury and activated Casey Cizikas, who missed five games with a lower-body injury. ... Boston wing Karson Kuhlman is expected to be out at least a month with a hairline fracture in Associated Press Updated 10:44 pm PDT, Thursday, October 24, 2019 his right leg, an injury incurred Saturday, the team announced.

San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 10.25.2019 After losing at Buffalo on Tuesday night, the Sharks headed north of the border looking to end a two-game slide.

As has been the case in recent seasons, they found the Canadiens to be gracious hosts.

Evander Kane scored two power-play goals and San Jose beat Montreal 4-2 on Thursday, the Sharks’ ninth straight victory against the Canadiens in a run that dates to March. 21, 2015.

“Our whole group was good tonight,” San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer said. “We came out ready to play. Playing with the lead made a huge difference. Special teams were good again.

“It’s a work in progress. We’re defending better than we did early. We’re not beating ourselves with reckless turnovers as much. It’s getting better.”

After Nick Cousins gave Montreal a 1-0 lead at 16:36 of the first, the Sharks evened the score at 19:05 of the period when a shot by Logan Couture ricocheted off Kane’s leg and into the net.

The Sharks made it 2-1, again on the power play, when Tomas Hertl poked a loose puck through the crease to Kane, who scored his sixth of the season at 4:54 of the second.

As he falls to the ice, Evander Kane celebrates after Logan Couture’s shot caromed off his leg past goalie Carey Price.

An unselfish play by Hertl led to San Jose’s third goal at 8:08 of the second when he passed to an open Kevin Labanc in the crease. Melker Karlsson’s first goal of the year, on a feed from Joe Thornton along the boards, made it 4-1 with 36 seconds left in the second.

Sharks goalie Aaron Dell took it from there. He stopped 35 shots, including nine shots during a Montreal power play in the second period.

“Did we get some chances? Absolutely,” Montreal head coach Claude Julien said. “We had lots of chances, even in the third period. We didn’t bury them. They didn’t get that many chances but they buried them.”

Flames 6, Panthers 5: Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk scored in the shootout as host Calgary warmed up for Saturday’s Heritage Classic game in Regina, Saskatchewan, by beating Florida. Tkachuk had two goals in regulation for the Flames, who forced overtime when Sam Bennett scored at 17:17 of the third.

Oilers 4, Capitals 3: Leon Draisaitl scored at 1:18 of overtime to cap host Edmonton’s comeback from a two-goal third-period deficit. Washington took a 3-1 lead in the second, with Alex Ovechkin scoring twice. Draisaitl then cut his team’s deficit in half at 4:25 of the third, and Connor McDavid’s goal at 18:22 tied it.

Blues 5, Kings 2: Brayden Schenn scored two goals, including an empty- netter, to pace host St. Louis. Blues wing Vladimir Tarasenko left with an upper-body injury.

Islanders 4, Coyotes 2: Anders Lee’s third-period goal broke a tie as host New York won its fifth in a row, ending Arizona’s four-game winning streak in the process.

Predators 4, Wild 0: Pekka Rinne made 26 saves for his 56th career shutout and Colton Sissons had a goal and an assist for host Nashville.

Rangers 6, Sabres 2: Ryan Strome scored his first two goals this season and Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves as host New York snapped a five- game losing streak.

Stars 2, Ducks 1: Denis Gurianov, who had 26 games without a goal, scored twice in the first period to lead host Dallas to its third consecutive win.

Flyers 4, Blackhawks 1: James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist as Phildelphia extended host Chicago’s losing streak to three games. 1158324 San Jose Sharks

Sharks takeaways: What we learned in bounce-back 4-2 win vs. Canadiens

By Chelena Goldman October 24, 2019 7:15 PM

There's just something about facing the Canadiens that helps the Sharks turn things around.

San Jose continued its success against the Habs on Thursday, relying on special teams and good goaltending to register a 4-2 victory in Montreal.

Here are three takeaways from Thursday's game:

Aaron Dell was outstanding

The Sharks really couldn't have asked for a better performance out of Dell. He built on his previous outing against the Chicago Blackhawks by stymying the Canadiens' speedy offense and being particularly impressive on the penalty kill, especially in the second period when he stopped a flurry in the final seconds of a Brent Burns penalty.

Dell's performance no doubt will earn him more starts, something head coach Peter DeBoer is aiming to give his backup netminder this season. With both of San Jose's goalies currently playing well, the Sharks can focus their efforts on cleaning up their defense.

Potent power play

Of San Jose's special teams, the penalty kill has gotten the most attention so far this season since it has been near the top of the league. But the Sharks' power play has also been clicking since Patrick Marleau returned to the team and the units were reconfigured. Both units have done a much better job with offensive-zone possession and getting the puck to the net instead of passing it back and forth to each other.

And you can't talk about the Sharks' power play without mentioning Evander Kane and his team-leading six goals with the man-advantage. He has done a really good job establishing a net-front presence overall this season, but his work driving the net on the power play has been especially impressive.

Cleaning up the rest of their game

Unfortunately, not every aspect of San Jose's game came around on Thursday night, and neutral-zone turnovers continued to be an issue for the Sharks against the Habs. Had Dell not been standing on his head all game, Montreal might have taken over in the latter part of the second period when the Sharks stopped getting shots to the net and started giving the Canadiens room to get back in the game.

Needless to say, that relaxed approach won't fly against other teams. Like, for example, the high-powered Toronto Maple Leafs -- who have scored the second-most goals in the league -- who San Jose will face on Friday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158325 San Jose Sharks

Sharks hoping history of turning season around vs. Canadiens continues

By Chelena Goldman October 24, 2019 7:57 AM

There's something about playing the Montreal Canadiens that prompts the Sharks to turn their game around.

San Jose is 14-4-0 against the Habs dating back to 2005, and some of those wins have occurred when the Sharks needed them the most. In Dec. 2015, San Jose broke out of a seven-game losing streak by beating the Habs in Montreal 3-1. In more recent history, a four-game losing streak -- which was followed by a closed-door meeting -- was snapped by another 3-1 victory at Bell Centre that turned the Sharks 2018-19 season around.

Now, in the first month of their 2019-20 campaign, San Jose could use another one of those turnarounds.

Granted, San Jose is facing some new problems this season than they were when they last defeated Montreal. They aren't coming off a lengthy losing streak or having glaring issues with their goaltending. This time around, however, the team is trying to establish its identity while integrating new players -- and that process hasn't exactly been a smooth one. Miscues and turnovers continue to end up in the back of San Jose's net, and getting a solid 60-minute game out of all four lines is still a work in progress.

Even with three straight victories in the middle of the month and some clear signs of improvement, the Sharks are still at the bottom of the Pacific Division. Plus, their current swing through the East Coast isn't going to get any easier. Perhaps playing against a team who they've fared well against in the past will turn things around?

To be clear, this isn't to say that there's some otherworldly magic that comes from the Sharks playing the Habs. Simply that the Sharks are playing them at yet another point of a season where they need to elevate their game.

San Jose is coming off of back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Sabres, and even though they got a point out of Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss, they also blew a 2-0 lead. Erik Karlsson told reporters afterward that "by no means should we be satisfied" despite picking up the one point. Head coach Peter DeBoer said he thinks the team is getting better, but "we're still not where we want to be."

Not every Shark is heading into Thursday's game on the struggle bus, mind you. Karlsson himself will take the ice in Montreal on a five-game assist streak and tallied his first goal of the season on Tuesday night.

Logan Couture has points in seven of nine games so far this season. Young center Dylan Gambrell scored his first regular-season goal in Tuesday's game and continues to play a key role in making San Jose's fourth line more effective.

Even San Jose's goaltending looks better than it did last season -- there's no denying Martin Jones was a big reason Jack Eichel didn't allow the Sabres to run away with Tuesday's game in Buffalo.

But the fact is, the Sharks still need to turn things around if they're going to recover from a rough start to their season. And there's no better time for them to do that than on Thursday night against the Habs in Montreal.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158326 St Louis Blues MacEachern-Barbashev-Sundqvist Defensemen

Parayko-Pietrangelo Blais out with thumb injury, Sanford steps in for Blues Bouwmeester-Faulk

Dunn-Bortuzzo By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch Goalie

Binnington Sammy Blais' thumb, hurt in the Colorado game on Monday, will keep him out of the lineup tonight. Zach Sanford will take his spot. Kings

Coach Craig Berube said it was day-to-day for Blais and he could be Forwards back as soon as this weekend. Blais took part in an optional morning skate on Thursday and seemed to be doing more with his well-taped left Alex Iafallo -- Anze Kopitar -- Dustin Brown thumb. Jeff Carter -- Blake Lizotte -- Tyler Toffoli

Sanford has no points in four games this season. He was on the line with Ilya Kovalchuk -- Adrian Kempe -- Trevor Lewis Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron at the start of training camp, but by opening day had been passed by Blais. Sanford played the next four Kyle Clifford -- Michael Amadio -- games, filling in for the injured Robert Thomas, but was seldom much of a factor, seeing limited minutes and having just one shot on goal. He's Defensemen been a scratch the past four games. Ben Hutton -- Drew Doughty

"Intensity's the biggest thing for me with him," Berube said. "When he's Alec Martinez -- Sean Walker intense and he's hard on pucks, he has good hands, makes plays. But he's got to be an intense player and be hard on pucks and be a physical Kurtis MacDermid -- Matt Roy player. That's his game." Goalies KINGS FOR THE DAY Jonathan Quick The Kings have won two in a row and are 4-5-0. With eight points, they are seventh in the Pacific Division. Jack Campbell

They have Berube's attention. The start of the game will be key. The Scratched: Joakim Ryan, Nikolai Prokhorkin Kings have been coming out fast. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 "It's important, they play pretty well," Berube said. "Their game has changed in some way from the old LA Kings, seem like a lot more of an attack team now. They lead the league in shot attempts so they get the puck a lot more and doing a lot more with it. We're going to have to be on our toes. It's always a tough game against LA, for us anyhow. They've got good players over there. We've got to be ready to go.

"I think it's just managing the puck first of all. They're doing a good job in the neutral zone, so looking at the tape, we've got to make sure we get the puck through the neutral zone because they're obviously doing a job there, forcing teams and turning pucks over and then they're going the other way. I think that's one part. The other part is being a checking team like we were the other night against Colorado. You've got (Nathan) MacKinnon and guys like that and you're looking at those players, you're focused on you better check or it's going to be tough. You've got to do the same thing tonight. They've got very good players. Kopitar's a very good player, obviously Drew Doughty. They have an attack mindset right now and shooting pucks. We've got to be on our toes and we've got to counterattack that."

WHERE ARE THE BLUES?

Berube on the team: "We've played some good hockey but we've played some hockey that's not so good. It's been inconsistent. I thought the last game was our best game for 60 minutes. We're hoping to build off that. For me, it's a mindset more than anything for our team now. I thought we were really dialed in last game, did things well for 60 minutes. We've got to continue to do that and play our game. You're not always going to get the right outcome but for the most part, when you're playing your game for 60 minutes and doing the right things, good things happen. We have to make sure we get consistent in that department."

LINES

The Blues had an optional practice on Thursday, but no reason to think these won't be the lines tonight:

Blues

Forwards

Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko

Steen-O'Reilly-Perron

Sanford-Bozak-Thomas 1158327 St Louis Blues effective. So if I can get that part, I know it will get other guys going as well.”

Coach Craig Berube sees the solution as not just position, but Oh, really? Blues' O'Reilly mired in 'one of my worst starts' in 11 seasons possession.

“He’s not getting enough puck touches,” Berube said. “He needs the puck more than he has. He’s got to help himself. He’s got to demand the By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch puck more and when he gets it, I think he’s going to shoot a lot more than he has been. His shots are down. If you want to score a goal, you have

to shoot. He’s got to demand the puck more and when he gets it, he’s It's been a frustrating start to the season for Blues center Ryan O'Reilly, good with it, hang on to it, but he’s got to get it to the net.” who is unable to score on this chance against Stars goalie Ben Bishop O’Reilly felt he saw progress for him and his line in the Blues’ win on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in the second period of a game at Enterprise Monday over Colorado, even if he had just one shot attempt. Center. Dallas defender John Klingberg watches. (Christian Gooden, [email protected]) “I think our line did a great job,” he said. “We had the puck a lot, we created more, I was more to the inside. I didn’t get as many shots as I Just over four minutes in the Blues’ game with Vancouver last week, would have liked. We’re building, slowly building.” Ryan O’Reilly was called for tripping the Canucks’ Jordie Benn, O’Reilly’s first penalty of the season. It’s something that no doubt will be O’Reilly’s focus is typical of him: look at his whole game, not his scoring. remembered when time comes for voting for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for gentlemanly play. “I’ve got to stop worrying about that side of the game and more focus on taking it shift by shift and working hard and fighting for the ice and “I thought (my first penalty) would be a little bit later in the season, but I making it difficult on their guys,” he said. “Usually when that happens, thought it was kind of soft, too,” O’Reilly said. “Kind of a bad bounce, it that’s when things naturally start to develop. That’s kind of the focus for hits his stick and he trips. The same thing happened to me out there and myself and other guys too, getting back to the harder game and letting they didn’t call it. It’s frustrating. You think you can get away with those things unfold from there.” ones a little bit. I hate going to the box. It’s not fun over there. It’s a terrible spot to watch the game from, I think. You can’t really talk to St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 anyone. You’re over there isolated. It’s something I definitely don’t enjoy. I want to be on the ice as much as possible.”

That O’Reilly has one penalty — he had six last season as he was runner-up for the Byng for the second straight season — is notable, because so far this season he has as many penalties as he has goals. And the goal he has was an empty-net goal, on Oct. 10 in Ottawa. O’Reilly had four points in that game, which is more than half the seven points he has this year. In the five games since then, he has no points.

“This is one of my worst starts, I think,” O’Reilly said. “The amount of ice I get for not doing anything, it’s disappointing. We’re still positionally as a team in a good spot where we can climb and, we’re not as far (back in the standings) as we were last year, that’s the most important thing, getting team wins. But I have to contribute as well.”

Though the numbers aren’t that far off, O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn have flipped the roles of being the team’s early season hero. Last season, O’Reilly was the one Blue who got off to a good start and almost single-handedly kept the team afloat. A year ago, he had two goals and nine assists through nine games; this season, he’s at one and six. Meanwhile, Schenn has six goals; he didn’t get his sixth last season until Dec. 5.

But while O’Reilly has only one less goal and three less assists than at the same point last season, the place in which the drop comes that says the most about his game is in shots on goal. He has just 12 this season, with only three in his past four games. That’s the fewest shots on goal he’s had through nine games in any of his 11 NHL seasons, and it’s less than half of what he had in each of the past three seasons. (Last year, he had 26; the two years before that, 25 each.) His shot attempt totals isn’t much better, at 17, not quite two per game.

O’Reilly knows he needs to take more shots, but he also knows that just shooting the puck every time he gets it is not the answer. A lot of times, all a shot like that does is give the puck to the other team. The issue for him as he sees it is getting to the place to make those shots matter, specifically in front of the net. Last season, 16 of his 28 goals were scored from 20 feet or less.

“I’m on the outside too much,” O’Reilly said. “It’s more about creating chances and stuff like that. Getting more shots, it is as simple as shooting but there are times when you have to read the game and, a lot of times, I’d rather have possession than give the goalie an easy shot. I don’t have a great shot so, I’m not going to score too many goals outside the dots. Vladi (Tarasenko), his shot, he’s real dangerous with that. Me, not having a great shot, a lot of my stuff is going to come off rebounds and getting to the net. For me, that’s what I have to do a better job at, getting to those harder areas. Getting in front and presenting my stick and finding a way to get it free and getting those rebounds.

“I’ve had good shifts here and there but just not my normal self, the way I create, and it hasn’t been anything what it needs to be in order to be 1158328 St Louis Blues Asked if he could have pulled some strings to meet Dylan, Berube said no.

“No interest in that kind of stuff really,” he said. Blues notebook: Blais' sore thumb puts him in doubt for Thursday's game Dylan doesn’t take honors for being the performer Berube has seen the most. He said that probably is the Allman Brothers.

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 21 hrs ago 0 St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019

Blues winger Sammy Blais took a whack on the left hand late in the first period on Monday against Colorado, and while he finished that game he might not be on the ice for the next one.

Blais, skating with a heavily taped left thumb under his glove, sat out many of the drills in practice on Wednesday in preparation for the team’s game Thursday at home against Los Angeles, and at times wasn’t even using his left hand when he was out there.

“We’ll see (Thursday) how he is,” coach Craig Berube said. “A little nicked up. We’ll see if he’s good (Thursday).”

With Blais sitting out most of practice, Zach Sanford took his spot, though Berube said either Sanford or Robby Fabbri would be in if Blais couldn’t go.

Blais has three goals and two assists this season, but doesn’t have a point in the past nine games and recently was moved off Ryan O’Reilly’s line to Tyler Bozak’s. While his scoring has slowed, his hitting has continued and his 39 hits this season are more than twice what the next Blue, Brayden Schenn, has (18).

GUNNARSSON BACK

Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, who has missed the past two games because of a lower-body injury, was back on the ice at practice Wednesday.

“I’ve been skating on my own for the last couple days but it feels good,” he said.

Injuries, mostly to his wrist, overwhelmed Gunnarsson last season, limiting him to just 25 regular-season games. But his first injury of the new season isn’t concerning him.

“This one was not bad,” he said. “I think I’ll be back pretty soon. More extra caution on not going back to early. It’s no fun. Just lucky it’s not a long one. Keep an eye on it.”

Berube said that while it was unlikely Gunnarsson would play Thursday, he could be available if needed.

MAC ATTACK

Mackenzie MacEachern, appearing in just his second game of the season, made his presence felt on Monday when he hit Andre Burakovsky hard into the boards as the Avalanche forward touched the puck to stop play after he was called for a delayed penalty.

MacEachern picked up a penalty on the play, but it was for roughing for his later scuffle with Nazem Kadri, who took exception to MacEachern’s hit of Burakovsky.

“I’ve never tried to hit guys after the whistle or have any intent to have malicious hits,” MacEachern said. “I didn’t hear the whistle, nor did I see the delayed penalty.

“I’m an honest hard player, I saw my opportunity to get in on the forecheck and try to get the puck back. I tried to take the body and get the puck.”

It is the kind of play that Berube likes.

“He’s a big guy that can really skate, get on top of people, and he hit some guys last game which was good,” Berube said. “We need that. It gives us energy.”

BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND

Bob Dylan was in concert at Stifel Theater, next door to Enterprise Center on Tuesday, and Berube was in the house. He put the number of times he’s seen Dylan at around 10.

“He’s a lot older now though,” he said. “He’s mellowed out quite a bit.” 1158329 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues vs. Los Angeles

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Blues vs. Kings

When, where: 7 p.m. Thursday, Enterprise Center.

TV, radio: FSM, WXOS (101.1 FM)

About the Kings: After successive shutout losses to Carolina and Buffalo, the Kings (4-5-0) have defeated a pair of 2019 playoff participants in Calgary and Winnipeg. Anze Kopitar scored the game-winner on a third- period power play in Tuesday’s 3-2 triumph in Winnipeg. That contest was the first of a four-game trip.

The Kings are trying to transition to a younger, faster team after finishing last in the Western Conference and 30th overall in the standings last seaosn, with 71 points. With an aging core of veterans remaining from their 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championship teams, they have missed the playoffs three of the past five seasons and won only one playoff game during that period.

Kopitar has a team-high four goals, while Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, Ilya Kovalchuk and Tyler Toffoli have three each. The Kings are allowing a league-high 3.78 goals per game, but have tightened lately.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158330 St Louis Blues

Blais' status uncertain for Blues-Kings game

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch Oct 23, 2019 0

Blues wing Sammy Blais wasn't a very active participant in practice on Wednesday, sitting out most of the rushes as the team got ready for their game with the Kings on Thursday.

Blais took a slash to his left hand in the Colorado game on Monday and while he finished the game, he spent a lot of time talking with trainer Ray Barile during practice with tape around his left thumb. At one point in practice, Blais was doing drills using only his right hand.

"We'll see tomorrow how he is," coach Craig Berube said.

Zach Sanford took Blais' spot on a line with Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas. Berube said that either Sanford or Robby Fabbri could move into that spot if Blais couldn't go.

Back on the ice on Wednesday was defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, who had missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury. While Gunnarsson probably won't play on Thursday, Berube said he was well enough to play if needed.

The lines and pairings were otherwise the same as against Colorado, with Mackenzie MacEachern skating on the fourth line.

AWARDS

Blues radio play-by-play announcer Chris Kerber is among the recipients of this year's Musial Awards for sportsmanship. Kerber gave up his broadcast spot to Fox Sports Midwest colleague John Kelly for the second period of each game in the Stanley Cup final so that Kelly, who wouldn't have been working the games otherwise since the TV broadcasts were entirely national at that point, could take part.

Laila Anderson is receiving the Musial Award for extraordinary character.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158331 St Louis Blues "He's an important leader for us and it's tough to see him go down," Binnington said. "I think our group did a good job of responding and picking each other up. It's good to see."

Blues score three power play goals, beat Kings 5-2 NOTES: Kings LW Ilya Kovalchuk is one goal behind Pavel Bure (437) for fourth all-time among Russian-born players. ... Blues LW David Perron is two away from 500 career points. ... The Kings scratched D Joakim Ryan and LW Nikolai Prokhorkin. ... The Blues scratched D Carl BY JOE HARRIS ASSOCIATED PRESS OCTOBER 24, 2019 11:13 PM Gunnarsson, LW Sammy Blais and C Robby Fabbri.

UP NEXT ST. LOUIS-Robert Thomas missed the first part of the season to an Los Angeles: travels to Minnesota on Saturday. upper body injury. He's starting to find his game now. St. Louis: travels to Boston on Saturday. Alex Pietrangelo and Thomas scored goals in a two-minute span of the second period and the St. Louis Blues came back to beat the Los Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 10.25.2019 Angeles Kings 5-2 on Thursday night.

"Anytime you come back from an injury that keeps you out for a month or two months it's really hard to get back into it," Thomas said. "The last couple of games I've felt a lot better, more comfortable with the puck, more confident, and I've got to keep building off of it."

Brayden Schenn scored twice, including an empty-netter, and Vince Dunn also scored for the Blues, who went 3 for 4 on the power play against a Kings penalty kill that had stopped 16 of their previous 17 attempts. Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko each had a pair of assists for the Blues and Jordan Binnington made 33 saves.

"That's a big heavy team over there," Schenn said. "They don't give you a whole lot offensively. They're pretty tight defensively. We were able to hold onto the puck, cycle, make plays. The D-men moved the puck extremely well tonight, fast, and it was fun to be a part of."

Jeff Carter and Alex Iafallo scored for the Kings and Jonathan Quick made 30 saves.

Pietrangelo tied it up 2-2 with a one-timer from the high slot midway through the second for the Blues' second power play goal in three tries.

Thomas poked in a puck freed up by a quick stick from Zach Sanford to give the Blues a 3-2 lead with 8:04 left in the second. It was the first goal of the season for Thomas, who thought he had scored earlier in the period but a review showed his shot went off the crossbar instead of into the net.

"I missed an open net the game before so it's one of those where eventually it will come but you just don't know when," Thomas said. "A great play by Sanny and I had the whole net."

Schenn finished off a nice feed from Schwartz and Parayko gave the Blues a two-goal advantage at 7:27 of the third with the team's third power play goal of the game.

"We were drilled on the penalty kill," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "Our power play wasn't sharp. More importantly for me, it was above and beyond structure tonight. I thought they were just harder. They stripped pucks. They won battles and small area games we didn't win. They were always ahead of us."

The Kings capitalized on a failed Blues breakout to take a 1-0 lead late in the first. Blake Lizotte kept the puck in the Blues zone and found Carter all alone in front of the net as he beat Binnington on a backhander for his second goal of the season with 5:11 left in the period.

Dunn evened the game with a power play goal with 1:37 left in the first. Schwartz set it up with a no-look pass that found its way through the Kings crease and in between Drew Doughty's skates before landing on Dunn's tape.

Iafallo gave the Kings a 2-1 lead at the 3:07 mark of the second period. Iafallo tipped in a Sean Walker shot from the point for his second goal of the season.

"They have what we want," Kings center Trevor Lewis said. "Everyone wants to beat them and give them our 'A' game. Obviously they did a good job against us tonight and I don't think we were as sharp as we needed to be."

Blues right-winger Vladimir Tarasenko left the game with an upper body injury after getting tangled up with Kings defenseman Walker on a partial break with about 6 minutes left in the first. Tarsenko, who had 8 points in his previous 5 games, had two shots in 4:37 of ice time before leaving.

Blues coach Craig Berube said Tarasenko would be evaluated tomorrow. 1158332 Tampa Bay Lightning prevent clean entries. You’re not seeing this as much this year for several reasons, including a number of failed clearing attempts by Tampa Bay. If you don’t win faceoffs (just 40 percent) and fail to clear, there’s less chance to apply pressure up ice. Film session: Breaking down the Lightning’s penalty-kill problems On this power-play goal by Montreal’s Jeff Petry last week, the Canadiens had an unabated entry, with no Lightning forward anywhere close to Tomas Tatar as he cruised up through the middle of the ice. By Joe Smith Oct 24, 2019 Tatar made a clean drop pass to Petry, who carries the puck in and is finally touched after he crosses the Tampa Bay blue line.

Watching sniper David Pastrnak score the Bruins’ first power-play goal The puck moves around and, with the Lightning on their heels, Petry is against the Lightning last Thursday, it would be easy to chalk it up to bad set up for a one-timer from the left side. luck. “We want to be unpredictable with what we’re showing different teams,” A few of the veteran Tampa Bay penalty killers did. Lalonde said. “The forecheck in the offensive zone. Right now, I don’t think we’re doing that. We’re reacting to their power plays and we’re on A shot slipped through from the point, bounced off Erik Cernak in front our heels.” and went right to Pastrnak on the doorstep. He rarely misses from there. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had no chance. Then there was Erik Haula’s goal in Carolina a few weeks ago. Tampa Bay had several chances to clear or thwart the Hurricanes’ puck But take a deeper look, and you’ll notice a prime example of the perfect possession, but it turned into a tic-tac-toe goal. There were two Carolina storm of problems plaguing the Lightning penalty kill. Their unit, ranked players in front of Curtis McElhinney, getting behind the two Lightning No. 1 in the NHL last year, has fallen to 28th at 71 percent. Tampa Bay defensemen in Cernak and McDonagh. did kill the Penguins’ only power play in their 3-2 win Wednesday (which we’ll get to later in the story). “We’re probably lacking some confidence in there, lacking some execution,” Lalonde said. “We miss some clears where we should have It started in the dot, where Anthony Cirelli lost the faceoff to Patrice easy support, and now we’re panicking … allowing them to reset.” Bergeron. Bergeron is one of the best in the league at draws, so that’s not alarming on the surface. But Tampa Bay has won just 40 percent of Execution its short-handed faceoffs (25th in the league), and it’s a killer to give To be fair, the Lightning gave up three power-play goals to arguably the opposing power plays that much more possession. best man advantage in the league: the Bruins’. Cirelli then fell down as the puck moved to the point, so the Lightning’s But even then, there was some missed execution (like the first clip we shutdown center couldn’t get to the shooting lane in time. Torey Krug got showed) and again on the second power-play goal, which was scored by a wrist shot through, and Cernak couldn’t handle it. Bergeron, positioned Bergeron. in the slot, tipped the loose puck to Pastrnak and it was in the net. On this play, McDonagh — one of the best defensemen in the league — “A couple guys talked about being unlucky on that,” said Lightning darts up to the sidewall to chase Krug and gets overextended. Bergeron assistant Derek Lalonde, who helps run the PK. “I don’t see that. We lost slips behind him to cut to the slot and finishes a cross-zone pass. a draw, fell down, lost a shot lane. Good on Boston for getting the puck through, but then we lost a net battle. “That’s a pretty top-end unit we faced, and they made us pay,” McDonagh said. “We’re guessing and not playing in our structure as “That’s not bad luck. We’re just not executing.” much.” What’s gone wrong with the PK? We go to the film to figure it out. Said Lalonde: “It’s an example where I would put ‘Mac’ up against Personnel anyone in the entire league as far as penalty kill. We missed a play. We had a nice kill before that, we had a nice PK going: a good clear, they The Lightning knew they’d have a tough task replacing some key cogs had no look. And then we gave them a grade-A (chance), and that’s the from last year’s penalty-kill unit. executing.

With shot-blocking force Dan Girardi retiring and Anton Stralman signing “We kill that and we’re saying that PK is a big part of our win. Now we with the Panthers, gone are two right-shot defensemen who played miss a play, and it’s almost part of our demise.” significant short-handed minutes last season. Girardi would eat a lot of shots, which is partly why Tampa Bay allowed the seventh-lowest rate of Goaltending unblocked shots against last year. Andrei Vasilevskiy was a big reason why the Lightning’s penalty kill was The Lightning have stuck with some PK regulars from last year on the best in the league last season — he masked some of their defense — Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak, along with Braydon breakdowns. Coburn and Victor Hedman. The forward duo of Anthony Cirelli and Alex Vasilevskiy ranked third in the league with a .910 save percentage while Killorn remains the same, but with Cedric Paquette missing the first eight short-handed, giving up 24 goals on 266 power-play shots on goal. Not games due to injury, Ondrej Palat has been a regular on the PK (after only was the team in front of Vasilevskiy solid on the penalty kill, but he little time there last season) as has Mathieu Joseph. was also strong in net. He had an expected goals-against on the PK of Right now, they’re allowing a lot of shots against: a rate of 104.36 per 60, 28.8 but allowed fewer than anticipated giving him a Goals Saved Above which ranks 22nd in the league. They were at 91.14 shots per 60 last Expectation (GSAx) of 5.06 while short-handed, which ranked fifth in the year, which ranked 11th. league.

Along with suppressing shots against, they also were able to limit quality This year? Vasilevskiy’s short-handed save percentage is .759, having chances as well. Their expected goals against (which measures the allowed seven goals on 29 power-play shots on goal. likelihood of a shot becoming a goal) of 5.57 per 60 was the second- No one is pinning the Lightning’s penalty-kill issues on Vasilevskiy, the lowest in the league last year. The above HockeyViz charts depict as reigning Vezina winner. But there’s a reason it’s often said that your most much, as purple means fewer shots were allowed in an area, while important penalty killer is your goaltender. And Vasilevskiy, who often orange means more shots against were taken in comparison to the bailed Tampa Bay out last season, has been a bit more human this year. league average. Vasilevskiy, was, however, a big part of Tampa Bay’s one kill in As for this season’s chart, it’s a small sample, so be wary of that. Wednesday’s win. However, you can see some chances from the high-danger areas. The volume Entries To be fair, the penalty-killing unit has been unnecessarily taxed so far One of the strengths of last year’s penalty kill was how it was so this season. aggressive up ice. Whether it was Cirelli or Killorn, the forechecking The Lightning made it a point of emphasis from day one of training camp forward would apply pressure in the neutral zone, blue-line area to to cut down on the number of penalties, having led the league in minors last season. Yet here we are through nine games, and Tampa Bay has identity to his line. And I thought they spent a lot of their night in the taken five or more penalties in five games, four or more in seven. offensive zone. They were banging. And he was the one leading the Wednesday was a significant step in the right direction, with the Lightning charge.” taking just one penalty (a double-minor for roughing by Anthony Cirelli). Power play: It’s hard to imagine that, with the amount of skill they “The struggles all start with the volume of penalties you take,” coach Jon possess, the Lightning power play could look so out of sorts. Cooper said. “How many did we take last game (against Colorado)? Two (power plays). It’s a lot easier to kill off two than five. But for the past few games, that’s exactly what it’s been like (they entered the game 11th in the league after being the league’s No. 1 unit a “If you’re killing five, if you give up one, maybe your confidence isn’t there year ago). Tampa Bay even gave up another juicy shorthanded as much. The other team sees some vulnerability in you a little bit and opportunity Wednesday and needed to be bailed out by a Vasilevskiy takes advantage. But I think one big thing is the volume of penalties: The save. less you take, the more chance you have of killing it.” But in the second of back-to-back power plays to end the game, the It has a ripple effect on your five-on-five game, too. If some of your best Lightning finally broke though with Hedman’s one-timer from the point defensive players — like Cirelli, McDonagh and Cernak — are being with 57 seconds left. taxed with five-plus minutes of short-handed ice time in a game, how effective will they be down the stretch? “That’s been a little bit of the Achilles, not shooting enough,” Cooper said. “And ‘Heddy’ is the one guy that has to shoot it. Hopefully, he watches The coaching staff has tried to make it sink in with players, making them the video of that. It’s just another threat out there when he’s shooting it skate extra after taking penalties in practice. and he did tonight. Fortunately for us, it went in.”

Also frustrating is the kind of penalties players are taking: 18 so far have Stamkos, who set Hedman up with a “flat” pass that ended up bouncing a been stick penalties (hooking, tripping, cross-checking, high-sticking). bit, said the key was simplifying their approach. That often stems from a player being out of position or having to act out of desperation as opposed to using his feet. “It goes in spurts usually,” Stamkos said. “When you’re hot, you’re hot, when you’re not, it feels like nothing is going to go in. The more you Watch this Nikita Kucherov penalty in Montreal. He turns the puck over in shoot, the better your chances. You’ve got a couple guys in front of the the offensive zone and has to race back on a Canadiens rush and is net, Heddy lets one rip and it goes in a huge moment for us.” called for slashing. WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE IN REGULATION, VICTOR HEDMAN'S With the help of our Shayna Goldman, we broke down the Lightning’s POWER PLAY GOAL GIVES THE LIGHTNING A 3-2 LEAD #GOBOLTS penalties this season by type and the biggest culprits. PIC.TWITTER.COM/U4RINRVEQY

What’s been the problem? — SHAYNA (@HAYYYSHAYYY) OCTOBER 24, 2019

“I think it’s team growth,” Lalonde said. “We’re earning some of these. The ceremony: There was a surreal pregame ceremony Wednesday in There’s a little desperation because we’re out of position. Instead of a which 46 of the 70 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor footrace, we’re turning it into a clutch-and-grab situation, and they were recognized on the ice, with a 96-year-old World War II veteran accumulate. dropping the ceremonial puck. Stamkos and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby took that faceoff, with both taking turns shaking the hands of the “We’ve got 3-4 clips where it could have been more (penalties), where distinguished vets. the ref looked the other way on a stick hold. I think we’ve earned everything we’ve gotten, and it puts pressure on a penalty kill that’s not PRETTY AMAZING MOMENT HERE IN TAMPA, WITH 46 OF THE 70 performing right now. It’s an alarming trend.” LIVING CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS HONORED IN PRE GAME CEREMONY BEFORE #TBLIGHTNING ***** #PENS PIC.TWITTER.COM/PWINPEPOOD

Wednesday’s Game — JOE SMITH (@JOESMITHTB) OCTOBER 24, 2019

The save: The Lightning had to wait through a roughly five-minute video “That was pretty special,” Stamkos said. “To see all the guys and get a review on Wednesday night, but Andrei Vasilevskiy’s final highlight-reel chance for me personally to do the puck drop was pretty amazing. To save at the buzzer was upheld for a 3-2 win. shake some of their hands, I thought it was a great gesture by Mr. Vinik Vasilevskiy, who was spectacular with 37 saves, was under siege in the and the organization. It’s going to be probably a once-in-a-lifetime final minute with the Penguins peppering him with shots with the extra experience where you’re in the building for all those men and women attacker. But during a last-second scramble, Ryan McDonagh darted into who have done tremendous things for this country. So it was pretty cool.” the crease to serve as a second goalie and Vasilevskiy darted over to The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 snag Kris Letang’s shot.

“I just tried to cover the bottom of the net, seal the ice and he just shot it into my glove,” Vasilevskiy said. “It was kind of a never-give-up play. It works sometimes.

“Not every time though.”

Many fans had already filed out, but both teams stood by their benches in anxious anticipation.

“The wait,” Vasilevskiy said, “was worth it.”

The debut: We wrote Wednesday morning about how much the Lightning had missed fourth-line center Cedric Paquette, and he showed why in his season debut. Paquette, who missed the first eight games with an injury suffered late in preseason, scored the tying goal after setting the whole play up with a ferocious forecheck. Linemate Luke Witkowski took a hit before making a pass to a streaking Ryan McDonagh in the slot. Paquette rushed in front for the tip.

Paquette had five hits in 12:14 of ice time, with Witkowski adding nine in 9:55.

“Ceddy is an extremely important player for us,” Cooper said. “To start the year, no Brayden Point, no Ceddy Paquette, those are two very important players down the middle for us. We kind of weathered the storm a little bit. For him to come back the way he did, he just brings an 1158333 Toronto Maple Leafs Matthews, who is not the most loquacious of the Maple Leafs, explained the proclivity for penalties quite succinctly.

“It has been killing us the last three or four games,” he said. “I think it is Mediocre October not yet a cause for panic among Maple Leafs up to us as a group to hold each other accountable. We are a family, but some time you have to yell at your family.”

Toronto has played two and three games more than some other teams at MARTY KLINKENBERG this point, so that tends to skew the numbers. But neither of its goalkeepers is in lock-down mode yet.

Between them, Frederik Andersen and Michael Hutchinson have a Lousy starts. Too many penalties. Sub-par goaltending. An injury to a key combined save percentage of just below .900. That is nowhere near player. An inability to take advantage of a favourable schedule. good enough over the long haul. Hutchinson played better in an overtime All of these things have plagued the Maple Leafs, and for them it adds up loss to the Bruins this week, but has yet to prove he is a reliable backup. to a 5-4-2 start. Matthews has churned out eight goals already, but the Maple Leafs have It is not what anyone hoped for in a season when expectations are barely kept up with their opponents. They have scored 40 goals and robust. allowed 39. That is the most against in the NHL.

“We have to reset,” Auston Matthews, probably the least culpable of The finger injury will likely keep Tavares out of the lineup for another two anyone togged in blue and white, said Thursday after practice in weeks, and that has created a void that has not been sufficiently filled. It suburban . “It is a bit of a wake-up call.” is not bad luck – it is what good teams must overcome, and do each year. The Maple Leafs head into Friday night’s game at home against the struggling San Jose Sharks (3-5-1) having lost their past two games. The Despite the multiple back-to-backs, the scheduler has been quite friendly. Leafs have been unable to string together more than two victories in a Twelve of Toronto’s first 18 games are at home. row. The team is just 3-2-2 at , failing to rack up points that Really, there has been little to celebrate and not terribly much to lament, could prove significant later. The Leafs have earned only 12 of a possible perhaps other than an overtime defeat at home on Monday against 22 so far – and that is not a pace that will get them in the playoffs. They Columbus. are not mired in quicksand, but they aren’t kicking up their heels either.

It is what happens in pro hockey. There is a long time between October “Sometimes it takes longer for things to come together than people and April, when records become meaningful. The dressing room does expect," defenceman Jake Muzzin said. “It doesn’t always happen like not drip wet with sweat over any of this, yet. ‘boom.' There are other good teams out there.“

"Every year is different,” John Tavares, the captain with a broken finger, This is his first full season in Toronto. He understands the expectations of said as he sat in front of his stall. “Every year is a journey. It ebbs and it fans in Toronto. flows.” “The pressure is always there to win,” Muzzin said. Toronto will be without Tavares again at Scotiabank Arena in the first of But he emphasizes that he isn’t worried. what will already be its third set of back-to-back games. The Canadiens await in Montreal on Saturday. “Let’s not get crazy,” he said.

Somebody tried to suggest to Mike Babcock that his team’s inconsistent Globe And Mail LOADED: 10.25.2019 performance might be having to play back-to-back games so often so early in the season.

“Excuses,” the coach said, in the manner of “poppycock.”

There is more to it than that. Things that are disconcerting but certainly not unfixable.

To begin with, the Maple Leafs have fallen behind in eight of 11 games. Having to repeatedly scramble back from a deficit consumes a great deal of energy and leads to failure more often than not.

Highly skilled and even more highly paid players stress the necessity of being ready to go at the puck drop – and then proceed to find themselves in a situation where they have to dig their way out of a hole again.

“Starting on time is something we always mention and [we] haven’t done it," Mitch Marner said. Not to single him out; he was merely the most recent Toronto player to speak to the trend on Thursday. “We have to be ready at the start.”

Of San Jose, which began the season by losing four games, Marner said, “We need to step on them in the first 10 minutes."

The Maple Leafs are 1-2-1 in their past four games. During that span, they have been assessed 36 minutes in penalties to their opponents’ 16. The penalties are caused mostly by a lack of attention to details, and it is unsustainable.

When asked about it, Babcock looked as though he wanted to jump out of his skin.

“All you have to do is put your stick on the puck,” the coach said, incredulous. If he had been wearing a hat, he would have thrown it on the ground and stomped on it.

It is, of course, a bit more complicated than that. But it is not like trying to split an atom. 1158334 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs are working on getting their house, and their defensive play, in order

By Mark Zwolinski Thu., Oct. 24, 2019

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs’ two best players, know it is time for them to translate their leadership from solid words to solid play on the ice.

Both players used words like “accountable” and teammates “expecting more” of each other as the Leafs returned to practice Thursday after back-to-back losses against Columbus and Boston this week.

Matthews called on his team to be more disciplined after a rash of penalties that kept the Leafs from developing offence and momentum the last two games. They took six minors against the Blue Jackets on Monday, and four more in the first two periods in Boston on Tuesday. Nine of those penalties were stick-related. With another set of back-to- backs this weekend — home to San Jose on Friday, in Montreal on Saturday — they know they need to be more disciplined.

“I think it’s with the group, holding each other accountable, that’s something we can do a better job of … and I think we are doing a better job of it,” Matthews said. “We’re a family in here. But sometimes you have to yell at your family.”

Matthews didn’t feel as if he was filling a leadership void with his comments. Captain John Tavares has been sidelined the last three games with a broken finger.

“I try to go about my game the same way, day in and day out, no matter who’s in or who’s out,” Matthews said. “I have to do my part in there and be a leader on the team.”

Matthews and Marner played roles in the team’s subpar performances this week. The coaching staff matched them with Boston’s top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, and the Bruins trio dominated. The Leafs’ leaders admitted they needed to be better without the puck.

“Defensively, but in all areas of the game,” Matthews said, regarding where he and the team must improve. “Obviously, I want to put the puck in the net, create on offence. But it starts in the (defensive) zone. That’s an area we have been working on lately.”

Some of the issues have been a result of the Leafs’ schedule, including three back-to-back sets, and injuries that have sidelined the likes of Tavares, forward Zach Hyman and defenceman Travis Dermott. Hyman and Dermott could return as early as this weekend.

But for those already in the lineup, there was more work on their defensive play in Thursday’s practice, and more talk about the penalties.

“No one wants to take penalties, no one needs to take penalties,” Marner said. “I think as a group, we gotta watch our sticks. We’re bringing them up by the hands quite a bit, it’s getting called quite a bit these days. So (we have to) just make sure we’re keeping our sticks on the ice.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158335 Toronto Maple Leafs “I don’t think a lot, to be honest,” Muzzin said. “(But) maybe it takes a little longer just to get some of the reads down (in the new system).”

In a sport played at the human equivalent of Formula One speeds, It’s still October, veteran Jake Muzzin reminds Leafs Nation, it’s a little hesitation is death. early to panic “When you hesitate for a second, then you’re playing D-zone longer,” Muzzin said. “And mistakes — not mistakes, but just a little hesitation — when you give good players time, they’re going to make plays.” By Dave Feschuk So that’s the charitable explanation for Toronto’s struggles against the Bruins’ top line on Tuesday and the Lightning’s top line earlier this month. Muzzin said there are reasons to be optimistic. Zach Hyman, the team’s There’s a reason why, on the night the Los Angeles Kings clinched their one-off of a tireless grinder, has been practising and could be nearing a second Stanley Cup back in 2014, Jake Muzzin logged some 37 minutes return, although only so much can immediately be expected from players of ice time in a double-overtime marathon, second only on the hopping the proverbial moving train. On a day when No. 1 defenceman championship team to star defenceman Drew Doughty. Muzzin is the Morgan Rielly missed a second consecutive practice for reasons that kind of calm presence with an obvious gift for inhabiting hockey’s were undisclosed — head coach Mike Babcock said Rielly is expected to unnerving chaos and appearing uncannily calm. be available Friday — Dermott, for his part, acknowledged hearing the Which is how he looked on Tuesday, when a handful of media members chatter of his impending status as a defensive saviour. gathered around the now-30-year-old Muzzin’s stall in the Maple Leafs “Oh yeah, I’m Jesus,” Dermott said sarcastically. “If I help, then great. dressing room and poked and podded for explanations in the wake of a And hopefully I don’t hurt the team.” four-game stretch that has seen the Leafs win once. Muzzin, for his part, spoke of a need for improving communication on the The media was never like this in Los Angeles, Muzzin said. Though he ice: “We need to talk more.” was a member of the Kings organization for two separate runs to the Cup — one as a minor-league bystander, another as that heavy-minutes Across the dressing room on Thursday, Auston Matthews spoke about blueliner — Muzzin, who joined his new team at last season’s the trade the importance of internal communication in the name of accountability. deadline, said he’s never experienced anything akin to this first minislump of a Toronto hockey autumn. “You know, we’re a family here,” he said. “But I mean sometimes you gotta yell at your family.” “I feel like everyone’s coming at us like it’s the end of the world here,” Muzzin said, smiling from behind his permanent playoff beard. Sometimes you gotta yell. And a little more than three weeks into a six- month slog, sometimes you need to exercise a realistic dose of patience. You know the citywide storylines. The big-money talent’s under- delivering. The coach is past his best-before date. A speed-and-skill- “We’re getting it. We’re going to get it. And it’ll be nice when you get obsessed GM has hoarded multiple clones of the same speedy, skilled everyone playing without thinking — just playing,” Muzzin said. “Every player at the expense of roster diversity. There’s some truth in all of it. team goes through it. We’re having some talks. But let’s not frickin’ go crazy here.” But if you listened to Muzzin on Thursday, offering a reasoned and balanced assessment of the early-season inconsistencies of his team’s Toronto Star LOADED: 10.25.2019 work in its defensive zone, among other on-ice locations, you could be convinced it’s not the end of the world. The only member of the team with a Cup ring owns a voice of authority that can convince you of things. So as much as some would look at Tuesday’s oddly uncompetitive defeat in Boston as a reason to sound an alarm, Muzzin was pushing for a return to calm.

“We’re OK,” Muzzin said.

Indeed, while there are good reasons to be concerned in Leafland, there are also plausible explanations for the slow start, among them a taxing schedule that’s put the Leafs in a handful of unfavourable positions against more-rested opponents.

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And as for the matter of the Leafs ranking as the seventh-worst defensive team in the league Thursday afternoon — having allowed a whopping 3.45 goals a game — certainly the newness of key personnel has to be given some weight. The Leafs, with the off-season departure of blueliners Ron Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev and Jake Gardiner, have plugged in a pair of 22-minutes-a-night defencemen into their system, in Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci, while weathering the ongoing absence of Travis Dermott, who could be back as early as Saturday night in Montreal after off- season shoulder surgery.

And when the Leafs play host to the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night in the Patrick Marleau return game, it’s worth noting that Barrie and Ceci will be suiting up for just their 12th respective game with the team. A little more than three weeks into a regular season that runs six months, let’s just say the adjustment period persists.

“Maybe sometimes it takes a little bit longer than everyone’s expecting it to, boom, just happen,” Muzzin said. “I mean, there’s other good teams out there, you know. And when you have new faces playing a new system, sometimes there’s miscues and stuff like that. So we’re working on it.”

How different is the system that appears to have de-emphasized Toronto’s former overreliance on the stretch pass in favour of shorter connections on breakouts? 1158336 Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL game preview: San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs

By Mark Zwolinski

SCOTIABANK ARENA

Faceoff: 7 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

NEED TO KNOW

Slow going: The Sharks got off to a poor start, losing their first four games of the season in regulation time before rattling off three straight wins. They had dropped two more, both to Buffalo, before facing Montreal on Thursday. Patrick Marleau’s return gave a bit of a boost to an offence that scored just five goals in those first four losses — they had 19 in their next five — but, through Wednesday, they had given up 3.67 goals a game, 21st in the NHL.

And still going: San Jose isn’t lacking for veteran leadership. Marleau and Joe Thornton are both 40 years old, defencemen Brent Burns and Marc- Edouard Vlasic are 34 and 32, respectively, and Logan Couture, who replaced the departed Joe Pavelski as captain, and goaltender Martin Jones are 30. But Couture still needed to call out his team this week, criticizing teammates Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier for a poor change in an overtime loss to the Sabres. “Just an inexcusable change,” Couture said. “Two guys that stayed out too long looking for offence. It's a selfish play that doesn't need to be part of this team, so we'll figure that out.”

The best offence ... Well, with Burns and Erik Karlsson on the blue line, it’s the defence in San Jose. Burns (two goals, six assists) and Karlsson (one goal, seven assists) were tied with Couture for the team lead in scoring through Wednesday. They were also among the league leaders in ice time, with Burns averaging 26 minutes, 33 seconds per game and Karlsson playing 26:23. Still, they’re not satisfied. “We need to find ways to win games, and right now we’re not doing that,” Karlsson said. They could use a little more from Vlasic, who had one goal and no assists in his first nine games, and Jones, who was 2-4-1 with an .894 save percentage.

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158337 Toronto Maple Leafs “What’s the most precious commodity we have right now? Time,’ Olczyk said. “Take advantage of it.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.25.2019 For Seattle GM Ron Francis, NHL expansion draft is 20 short months away

By Tim BoothThe Associated Press

SEATTLE—Now that he is a couple months into the job, Ron Francis has gained a little more appreciation for the task he signed up for.

The easy decision for the 56-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer would have been to take a consulting or scouting gig, keep his family settled in North Carolina and avoided the kind of challenge that may eventually define his post-playing career.

“It’s not every day you get to build something from scratch, especially in professional sports,” said Francis, the general manager of Seattle’s expansion NHL franchise. “You’ve got a blank canvas, you have the opportunity to build it, create your own culture how you want things to run.”

Francis is in the infancy of his tenure as Seattle’s GM. He was hired in July, more than two years before Seattle will play its first NHL game. For now, Seattle’s hockey brain trust consists primarily of three people: Francis, assistant general manager Ricky Olczyk and director of hockey administration Alexandra Mandrycky. Time is the greatest commodity they have, 24 months before the yet-to-be-named franchise takes the ice for a game that counts. They know that time will disappear rapidly.

“I think for us the biggest thing is not jumping into any sort of rash decisions,” Francis said. “We have some time, let’s make sure we look at it from all the angles and make sure we’re thorough in our approach as we build things out.”

It was a calculated move by Seattle to put together its front office so far ahead of ever playing a game. Long before a team nickname, a naming rights deal for its arena or even a coach is considered, Seattle’s ownership decided it wanted its hockey operations staff to be the first significant moves. They wanted Francis, Olczyk and Mandrycky to have as much time as needed to put together Seattle’s first roster.

That means a significant amount of time for all three at this point is gathering information. They’re building a database from scratch. Mandrycky is responsible for developing the analytics Seattle will use in its evaluations. Olczyk handles contracts and the salary cap, and will be responsible for monitoring all the player movement that is likely to take place over the next 18 months and will eventually create the player pool Seattle will pick from.

Francis is watching over it all, building out the infrastructure of the front office while also putting together who will run Seattle’s AHL franchise in Palm Springs. Francis finalized his pro scouting staff last month — including the hiring of Cammi Granato as only female pro scout currently in the league — and his schedule for the upcoming season will take him all over North America and to Europe.

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“There are some surprising parts of him,” team president and CEO Tod Leiweke said. “He’s very much an innovator, fully embracing technology. We were the first team to hire a woman to lead our analytics and he and Alex have just built this solid partnership. His recruitment and hiring or Cammi Granato; he might not have known it but he is a Seattle guy. He fits in so well with what we’re trying to do here.”

There are obstacles to overcome. While other teams have their own databases and scouting reports to draw from, Seattle is starting from scratch. The upside is being able to put it together in a system and format that fits exactly what works for Mandrycky and Francis.

“It’s nice from that perspective but then you start thinking about everything that has to be done and it’s a little bit daunting,” Mandrycky said. “But that’s why we’re looking to hire a really good team to build that together.”

And again, there is time. Seattle is still 20 months from the expansion draft. 1158338 Toronto Maple Leafs been a good player for them,” Matthews said. “I’m extremely happy for him. Not surprised he is still chugging along.”

MAPLE LEAFS LINES Game Day: Sharks at Maple Leafs LW-C-RW

Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-William Nylander Terry Koshan Ilya Mikheyev-Alex Kerfoot-Mitch Marner

Trevor Moore-Jason Spezza-Kasperi Kapanen GAME DAY: Islanders at Senators Dmytro Timashov-Nick Shore-Frederik Gauthier SAN JOSE SHARKS (4-5-1) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (5-4-2) Defence pairs Friday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena, Morgan Rielly-Cody Ceci TV: Sportsnet One, Radio: 590 AM Jake Muzzin-Tyson Barrie THE BIG MATCHUP Kevin Gravel-Justin Holl Martin Jones vs. Frederik Andersen Goaltenders Neither of the No. 1 goaltenders slated to start on Friday night — the Frederik Andersen Sharks’ Aaron Jones and the Leafs’ Frederik Andersen — can brag much about great personal stats this season. Jones especially has struggled, Michael Hutchinson compiling an .894 save percentage in seven games while going 2-4-1. Andersen is 5-2-1, which is fine, but his save percentage through eight SHARKS LINES games is .901, not anywhere near good enough for a team with Stanley LW-C-RW Cup aspirations. Jones has a career record of 7-1-1 against the Leafs with a .932 save percentage, which could mean little on Friday. Timo Meier-Logan Couture-Patrick Marleau

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Evander Kane-Tomas Hertl-Kevin Labanc

1. No slack Barclay Goodrow-Joe Thornton-Noah Gregor

The Leafs know all too well the mental and physical stresses that can Marcus Sorensen-Dylan Gambrell-Melker Karlsson come in the second half of back-to-back sets, and here come the Sharks after having played in Montreal against the Canadiens on Thursday night. Defence pairs The Leafs are a quicker group to begin with, and if they’re going to take Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Brent Burns advantage of a potentially tired club, there’s no better time. Toronto players keep talking about starting better — they’ve allowed the first goal Brenden Dillon-Erik Karlsson in eight of 11 games — and there’s no excuse to not take it to the Sharks off the opening faceoff. Mario Ferraro-Tim Heed

2. Spezza on Sharks Goaltenders

Having spent the past five seasons in the Western Conference with the Martin Jones Dallas Stars, Leafs centre Jason Spezza knows what the Sharks bring Aaron Dell each night. Pay attention, teammates. “They have some dynamic defencemen you really have to pay attention to and they use their D INJURIES more than most teams,” Spezza said. “They have some big bodies, Sharks — D Radim Simek (knee), D Dalton Prout (upper body), LW Jumbo (Joe Thornton) is still holding on to pucks down low and they like Lukas Radil (illness), D Jacob Middleton (undisclosed). to play behind the net. For me, the familiarity is there.” Keying on Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson will be crucial for Toronto. Maple Leafs — C John Tavares (finger), D Travis Dermott (shoulder), LW Zach Hyman (knee). 3. Special talk SPECIAL TEAMS Led by Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns, Evander Kane and Barclay Goodrow, the Sharks had been one of the best penalty-killing teams in Power play the NHL, ranking behind only the Vegas Golden Knights prior to games on Thursday. While the Leafs have been battling their own penalty-killing Sharks: 21.9% (12th) trouble, they have had 32 power-play chances, 16th in the NHL. Maple Leafs: 25% (8th) Momentum can be had one way or the other on special teams, and it’s on the Leafs to be a little more careful with their sticks than they have Penalty kill been in recent games. Sharks: 90.6% (2nd) 4. Yearning for home Maple Leafs: 79% (16th) With captain John Tavares nursing a finger injury, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner verbally have stepped into a leadership void, each saying Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 he has to be better. Perhaps playing at home against a Sharks team that presently is outside of the playoff picture will help get Matthews and Marner right again. Of Matthews’ 11 points this season, 10 have come at Scotiabank Arena; for Marner it’s nine of 12 points at home.

5. Marleau memories

The Leafs will honour Patrick Marleau with a video tribute during the game, and perhaps will feature the veteran cooking dinner for two of his favourite youngsters, Marner and Matthews. Good on Marleau for finding another job and contributing, but he had run his course in Toronto, bad contract or not. The game will be Marleau’s 1,500th with San Jose, and he could have some extra adrenaline. “He stepped in right away and has 1158339 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs captain Tavares taking positives to heart as he recovers from broken finger

Terry Koshan

John Tavares would love to know when he will return to the Maple Leafs lineup, but he can’t quite put a finger on it.

The Leafs captain continues to progress after suffering a broken finger on his right hand during Toronto’s 4-3 loss in Washington against the Capitals on Oct. 16.

“I couldn’t say,” Tavares said after practice on Thursday. “I have not had an updated image, so we just have to continue to let it heal. Over the next few days, we will get a better sense of where it’s at.”

Tavares always is one to peer to where the grass is greener and regarding this injury, which occurred when teammate Morgan Rielly hit him with a shot, it’s no different.

The original prognosis for Tavares was an absence from the lineup of at least two weeks.

“The positive for me that I have really tried to take is it doesn’t really limit my ability to do everything other than shoot a puck or handle a puck,” Tavares said. “I’m using some really light pucks right now. So I’m able to really stay in shape … so when I am healthy and good to play, I’m going to be ready to go and try to get back at a really high level.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158340 Toronto Maple Leafs Perhaps it will be done on Friday, the cleaning up, and Leafs Nation will breathe a little easier as the team makes the short trip to Montreal.

Soon, the Leafs will have Zach Hyman, Travis Dermott and Tavares back Tavares' belief solid, Maple Leafs teammates vow accountability in from injury. The players in uniform now have no desire to wait for the trio looking to end slump join them again before playing an improved brand of hockey.

Tavares has confidence in his teammates to get it right, and soon.

Terry Koshan “It’s early in the year, we have a heck of a hockey team and we just have to stay the course,” Tavares said. “Things don’t change overnight. We know we have a lot better hockey ahead of us.”

Being forced into a role of spectator isn’t something that brings a smile to Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 John Tavares.

Considering that he has no choice as he recovers from a broken finger, the Maple Leafs captain for the time being is limited to verbal encouragement and offering advice.

“I wouldn’t say I look at things a little differently, but when you’re not in it competing and playing, you see it from a bigger view,” Tavares said after the Leafs practised at the on Thursday.

“We have some really good stretches, some really good spurts, and it’s just trying to find our game at a certain level consistently. I think there are no excuses — we don’t make them in here — but playing the back to backs has been a lot.”

The Leafs have had three back-to-back sets already, and are about to embark on a fourth, playing host to the San Jose Sharks on Friday at Scotiabank Arena before travelling to Montreal to face the Canadiens on Saturday.

Defenceman Morgan Rielly didn’t practise on Thursday, but coach Mike Babcock confirmed that the Leafs’ best defenceman will be in the lineup versus San Jose.

Losers of three of their past four games, the Leafs take a record of 5-4-2 into the meeting with Patrick Marleau and the rest of the Sharks, and will try to move past an uninspiring effort in Boston against the Bruins on Tuesday, a loss that came 24 hours after the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Leafs in overtime in Toronto.

The Leafs’ overall effort hasn’t matched the talent the club puts on the ice each night, and while just 11 games of the 2019-20 season are done, the points to be gained now are no less valuable than they are in March and April in the final run to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Part of the problem for the Leafs has been a lack of discipline, which has a negative impact in more ways than one. Before the NHL’s slate of 10 games on Thursday night, the Leafs found themselves at the higher end of minor penalties, having been shorthanded 38 times, the sixth-most in the NHL.

Not only are the Toronto penalty killers scraping along at 79% (16th in the NHL), the club’s tempo has been thrown off by the path beaten to the box.

For Babcock, the equation is fairly straightforward.

“Do you want four guys up front to be playing and four on the back (on the penalty kill) and the (rest of the) whole team is sitting there freezing to death?” Babcock said. “Why would you do that? Makes no sense.”

After a full day off on Wednesday, the Leafs, as Auston Matthews did late on Tuesday night in Boston, continued to hold themselves accountable for their play of late.

Mitch Marner chimed in on Thursday, reeling off the woes that have become larger issues.

“We have to get back to our game plan, playing a full 60,” Marner said. “We’ve done a bad job of that, starting on time is something we always mention, we haven’t done it. As leaders, we have to step up and start leading more on the ice, making people follow.

“We get in a groove when we are playing well and then we start taking penalties and lose the rhythm of other guys not getting on the ice. That’s something we have talked about cleaning up.”

Said Matthews: “It’s something we are doing a better job of, is holding each other accountable. We’re a family here, but sometimes you have to yell at your family.” 1158341 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Muzzin: ‘Let’s not go frickin’ crazy here’

Lance Hornby

This is Jake Muzzin’s first regular-season encounter with the hostile side of Leafs Nation and the veteran defenceman is a bit confused.

Part of that is likely because his old club, the Los Angeles Kings, weren’t high on the local sports radar this time of year, but also because it’s early in the NHL schedule.

“Every team goes through it,” he said of the Leafs lineup, sprinkled with newcomers, trying to find its pace. “We’re having some talks, but let’s not go frickin’ crazy here.

“There is always pressure to do well and this business is driven by winning, but this is my first (October) here and I don’t know what to expect. Maybe sometimes it takes longer when everyone is expecting it — boom — to happen. There are other good teams out there. You have new faces, playing new systems, sometimes there are miscues. But we’re working it out, we’ll be all right.”

On Friday, the Leafs meet a team Muzzin is quite familiar with, the San Jose Sharks.

“Big, heavy cycle team, forecheck team, low to high, pucks to the net, battles in front,” Muzzin rhymed off. “Something we see a lot in the West. We’ll have to be ready for that. (Sharks and Kings) had a lot of playoff series and stuff like that.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158342 Toronto Maple Leafs Philadelphia to make sure he’s set. Hyman has a had a unique view of the new-look Leafs all summer, through training camp in Newfoundland and from the press box during home games.

'EAGER AND ANXIOUS': Zach Hyman nears return for lagging Maple “It looks so much easier up top. Things move slower, it seems that you Leafs have more time than you think. Then you get back down to (ice level) and game speed. I miss that.

“It’s easy in the summer to take my time. This is an injury that you have Lance Hornby days feeling really good and bad days. I wanted to be back like yesterday, but at least now I’m skating with the guys.

“You have to respect the timeline, the process. I’ve done a lot of work to Zach Hyman has one of the least glamorous jobs on the Maple Leafs, but get to this point, making sure that when I do get back, everything is good now finds himself in the prime-time conversation. and there’s no setbacks.” For a team perceived to have lost its edge — in addition to three of the Hyman hurt himself landing awkwardly after he bounced off a hit on Brad past four games — there’s a growing ‘just wait ’til Zach’s back’ sentiment Marchand. While the rest of the Leafs could quickly slip into summer around the team. Not to put too much pressure on a left winger making mode, he was operated upon and needed weeks of re-hab before getting far less than Toronto’s rich kids, but the new-mix Leafs are missing a key a bit of down time in the summer, then back on a heavy training ingredient. schedule. He hoped to beat his projected hiatus, but the injury happened Hyman, once cleared from a sixth-month recovery from knee surgery in six months ago this week. the next week or so, has gained a well-deserved reputation for chasing “My wife (Alannah) wants to get me out of the house,” he laughed. “And pucks and getting them back, a popular refrain by coach Mike Babcock it’s nice to have a guy like Travis to go through the same thing, to have during his absence. someone to talk to. “When you’re winning, it’s obviously easier to watch,” Hyman said after “We spend a lot of tome together, pretty much on the same program Thursday’s practice. “And it’s easy in the summer to say, I’ll take my here, from Newfoundland through the year. We’re pushing each other. time, etcetera. You don’t realize how much you miss being out there until We each have our own table in (the medical room). They could engrave you’re off for an extended period. At the start of the year, you want to be our names on them, we’ve spent so many hours with the therapists. But playing. our sports science people and our strength coaches have been so good “I’ll be back soon.” with us.

Hyman hopes to be romping with the team’s top scorers, John Tavares “We’ve spent more time at this facility with them this summer than al the and Mitch Marner. The Leafs’ troubles were further complicated by years combined. Being positive and light is important. It’s really important Tavares breaking his finger a week ago and Kasperi Kapanen’s suitability you don’t get frustrated, that you bring a positive energy when you don’t for duties other than the Hyman role. Hyman has spent the past two know what the time line is.” weeks practising on the ‘fifth’ line of healthy scratches. Having not played Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.25.2019 effectively since Game 4 of the playoffs against Boston when he tore the ACL on his right knee (soldiering on to the end of the series), he has avoided yanking too hard on the leash held by the medical staff.

In addition to his forechecking forte, playing with the 47-goal Tavares and 94-point Marner bumped Hyman to career highs of 21 goals and 41 assists, respectively, last season.

“You never know until you come back,” cautioned Hyman of what his immediate impact could be. “You have to get back to game speed, but there’s no reason you can’t pick up where you left off. We all work hard and if that’s the case we get put back together and do our on thing, I’m sure it will work out like it did last season.

“The three of us complement each other. We each play different, but each plays a part. Once you try to do something different, things go wonky on the line. Going into the corner, winning battles in front of the net, those are things that made me effective. You change those things, you’re not the same player.”

Toronto has the skill, but the will has come into question the past few games, or at least proper concentration and avoidance of penalties. Hyman was nominated for Babcock’s leadership group in addition to new captain Tavares, alternates Marner and Auston Matthews, in a pool of veterans that includes Frederik Andersen and Jake Muzzin.

“All teams go through ups and downs in a long year of 82 games,” Hyman said of the club’s October blahs. “You try to do what you can in support, be a positive figure in the locker room.”

His return and that of defenceman Travis Dermott from a similar recovery path of off-season shoulder surgery will require some salary cap-related lineup changes for the Leafs.

The Hyman-Dermott hit of a little more than $3 million, most of it Hyman’s $2.25 million, will require the Leafs to take four contracts off their roster. Prime candidates are forward Nic Petan and defenceman Kevin Gravel, who’ve already passed through NHL waivers, then it gets risky to try and clear the likes of Nick Shore, Jason Spezza, Dmytro Timashov and defencemen Justin Holl and Martin Marincin without losing them on waivers.

Hyman and Dermott can’t come back before Saturday against Montreal, but resting Hyman in that game and Tuesday’s home tilt against the Capitals would buy the Leafs time right through until Nov. 2 in 1158343 Toronto Maple Leafs Sparksy and I used to live together during my first year in Toronto. We went to go see a show there. I can’t even remember who it was. It was a DJ. It’s actually a really weird room.

Q&A: Justin Holl on the Black Keys, wedding planning and his strong But I went to go see the Black Keys at the arena recently. start How was it?

It was great. Me, Freddie (Frederik Andersen) and Derms. Freddie had By Joshua Kloke Oct 24, 2019 some hook-up so we went and did the meet and greet after the show.

What did you say to them?

It’s already October and it’s clear Justin Holl will likely eclipse his totals (Holl puts a stunned face on) from a frustrating 2018-19 campaign. “Big fans.” That’s about it. But it was a quick picture and we were out of After playing 11 games last season and spending the majority of the year there. But they were super good. as a healthy scratch, Holl has flown out of the gates this season. He’s We were with a bunch of music people because we had a box. And they played in nine of 11 Leafs games, is logging more average ice time than were saying how they see musicians all the time, but seeing athletes is last season and looks like a lock to remain in the Leafs lineup through the really cool. And I said it’s the total opposite for us. We see athletes all the season. time but seeing musicians, you realize how talented they are. And Leafs coach Mike Babcock has noticed the difference. They have a lot of songs that you don’t realize are Black Keys songs, but “I think when you come out of the (AHL), you think it’s the same it’s not – you just hear them all the time, you know what I mean? they’re just bigger, faster, more speed, they’re harder, they’re big men,” Sometimes when you go to a concert and they do some talking to get the said Babcock of Holl ahead of Monday’s loss to the Columbus Blue crowd involved, that’s great too. They didn’t do any of that. They just Jackets. “So, the skill guy in the (AHL) is one size and a skill guy in the played music. Which I actually enjoyed. They’re just shredding. NHL (is another). I think he’s done a nice job for us this year. He can always skate, but his physical play in the defensive zone and keeping So when you’re watching them, are you just enjoying it, or are you pucks away from our net and keeping people off our net is the biggest looking for pointers yourself? change in his game and his ability to sort it out down low. If you’re an offensive D-man, we can probably turn a blind eye to some poor A little bit of both. Because you hear the guitar solos and then I’m looking defensive play at times. If you don’t generate offence, you’ve got to be at Derms going, ‘Wow, that’s really cool. You should get that going.’ And really good defensively. That’s the bottom line.” Modest Mouse was the opener and they have a lot of songs with keys. So I was really following what they were doing. It’s led to a happier Holl, who is using the boost in confidence to play the keyboard even more than he has in the past. What have you been listening to lately?

The Athletic caught up with Holl to discuss his strong start to the season, A lot of Juice Wrld. He’s a great rapper and singer. His beats are really his summer wedding and a recent meeting with the Black Keys in good and his piano instrumental stuff is good so I’ve been learning a lot Toronto. of those songs.

Let’s start with the obvious one: why hasn’t the Leafs band played a gig Nazem Kadri used to have control of the dressing room music. So who yet? has it now?

That’s a good question. The band is… around, but it’s not fully Mitchy (Mitch Marner). functioning. What’s your take on his music choices?

What’s missing? I think Mitchy has good taste in music. Some guys complain sometimes We’re still trying to learn our instruments. Derms (Travis Dermott) is a but it’s tough to please everyone. It’s a tough job, being the locker room good guitar player, there’s no question about that. I’m decent at piano. I DJ. don’t know how hard Tony’s been working at the drums. And Mango So if I’m in the Leafs dressing room, what am I hearing before a game? (Andreas Johnsson) hasn’t touched his bass in awhile. So, that’s a slight issue. A lot of rap music. And the Lumineers, their new album is really good. A lot of today’s hits like Top 40. I think Mitch is doing a good job. Tony? After writing the story on the Leafs band, I heard from some people who Yeah, Auston. Like Aus-tone. Tyler Ennis gave him that one. really enjoyed hearing about player hobbies. But there’s more than music Just had to be sure it didn’t have anything to do with the moustache. right? Who has one of the more interesting hobbies on the team?

No, but it’s a nice moustache to be sure. I know a lot of guys play tennis. I’ve been playing a lot of tennis lately on off days. Willie (Nylander) and I play a lot. And I know (Jason) Spezza If the band were to play a gig, is there a venue in Toronto you’d like to plays. Kerf (Alex Kerfoot) plays. (Ilya) Mikheyev plays. play? I know some guys play fantasy football, but I don’t know if that’s an Sparksy (Garret Sparks) did a DJ set at this place, but I can’t remember interesting hobby. what it’s called. But there’s this place at Queen and Portland that I’ve been to before. Do you know which one I’m talking about? Who would you compare yourself to as a tennis player?

When you say Queen Street, I start thinking about the Horseshoe. Obviously I’m nowhere near as good, but probably (Rafael) Nadal. Because I’m a grinder. Compete. Battle. Run down every battle. I’ve never heard of it. Is it a good spot? You got married this summer. Oh man, it’s my favourite spot in the city. I did. Do they have live music there? In my experience, planning a wedding is like a part-time job for a year. Every night. How much planning did you do during last season?

I’ve got to check it out. I didn’t do a whole lot, to be honest with you. My wife did a lot of it. And she was happy doing it. It’s her deal, you know, for the most part. The (At this point, Holl locates the Velvet Underground on a phone) one thing I wanted control of was music. And that’s the one thing I got. I ruled with an iron fist.

What were your non-negotiables? There was no way we were going to play “Cotton Eyed Joe,” or “Celebration.” None of those classic songs because they’re overplayed. I just don’t like them.

There wasn’t anything else that I put my foot down on. We had a taco truck at night because I wanted some food for people to sober up a little bit. Other than that it was just the music.

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WELL, THAT WAS CERTAINLY FUN. HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT MADE THE EFFORT TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE. ALSO SHOUT OUT TO MY NEW WIFE @AUDREYEHOLL , COULDN’T PICK A BETTER PERSON TO SPEND FOREVER WITH!

A POST SHARED BY JUSTIN HOLL (@12JHOLL) ON AUG 1, 2019 AT 10:16AM PDT

Which of your teammates attended?

Mango, Derms, Mitchy, Brownie (Connor Brown), JVR (James van Riemsdyk), obviously some of those guys are gone now, Patty (Marleau), Sparksy, that might be it.

Who put in the best shift?

Mango put in a nice shift. It was really funny. He spied throughout the night with different members of my wife’s family, just chatting, stuff like that. He assimilated really well. It was funny to see him mingling. Honestly, everyone fit right in.

I’ve always been curious: when you have a bunch of teammates at weddings, do you try and adopt a “no cellphones” policy?

That’s something I was thinking about. I was a little worried. I didn’t want anyone bothering any of the guys. But honestly, nobody… I was trying to decide if I was going to say anything. But it was like they were just friends, you know?

A strong start to the season. Has Babcock’s message to you been different in any way?

Not really. His message has been pretty consistent throughout the last couple years in terms of what he’s looking for. I think I’ve been executing on what he wants a little better this year.

So what are you doing differently?

I’m just playing well defensively. Not allowing a lot of space, not allowing a lot of chances and it’s translated into good games.

How much did you communicate with Babcock last year as the healthy scratches were piling up?

He would take me in quite a bit and reiterate what they were looking for and what their plan was. There definitely was communication throughout the year. It’s been similar this year.

I’d assume there’d be even more communication now.

There is more communication. But it’s not like he just left me out to dry last year either. It just makes it more clear what they want. If you guys are both on the same page, it makes it easier.

Did you get angry last season?

No, I don’t think I ever got angry. Frustration for sure. I think no matter what, I’m a pretty positive guy and I’m still confident in my abilities. I have faith that if I get an opportunity, things will work out.

It’s definitely a happier time now.

So when you’re happier, does that make it easier to sit down at the piano?

Honestly, last year I was trying to dive into keyboarding big time because I wanted to do something productive. I felt like I wasn’t doing anything productive hockey-wise, you know what I mean? So I thought I had to get going on something. And I’ve been doing it more this year just because it’s been so much fun. We have a lot of free time so again, you might as well be doing something where you’re bettering yourself.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158344 Toronto Maple Leafs Keeping Spezza over Shore would be really surprising, no? Mirtle: I mean, you can likely sneak them through waivers? Although I did

have someone with another team poking around the other day, asking Capmageddon is here: Which four players should the Maple Leafs cut to who they thought the Leafs may let go. make room? A versatile, experienced centre who can win draws and kill penalties is something a lot of teams need in their depth spots.

By Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle Oct 24, 2019 Wait, I just talked myself into them not making it through waivers. And Luca Sbisa was just claimed by Winnipeg.

It’ll be a big story if Spezza ends up with the Marlies because of the OK Jonas, here’s the situation the Maple Leafs are in. In a nutshell. name and his career, but with how deep this roster is, that’s probably the decision that makes the most sense. And then whenever there’s an They have a full roster and, other than the recent losses, all is well. But injury, he comes right back for his 10 minutes a game. Travis Dermott and Zach Hyman are coming back from injury, as soon as early next week against Washington, and that’s going to cause major As to your initial point: Tavares isn’t out long, so let’s not galaxy brain this issues. more than we need to. (I think they’ll probably just keep Hyman out until Tavares is healthy, which makes things simpler.) Mostly because they don’t have the cap space to keep a big chunk of the rest of their roster. Assuming everyone’s back, do you keep Marincin around full-time?

Here’s what the Leafs lineup looks like if they don’t cut anyone and they Siegel: A few things… get fully healthy: 1. I think you’ve got a point on Hyman. The earliest Tavares is probably That’s a really solid group, with three decent extra forwards and two solid back is Nov. 2 in Philadelphia. That’s only three games from now, extra defencemen. But they’re $2.72-million over the cap there and two including a back-to-back on the weekend with San Jose and Montreal. In bodies over the roster limit. Which, after some quick math, means that other words, Hyman isn’t missing that much more time if he waits a little four players have to go. longer to align with Tavares.

Now what? That said, the Leafs said a minimum of two weeks for his broken finger. What if it’s longer? Siegel: Well, I think we can immediately knock off a couple guys who haven’t played much: Nic Petan and Kevin Gravel. 2. As much as Shore looks mighty useful and important right now, once Tavares and Hyman return, he’s probably out of the lineup. Either him or Now, we need two more from a group that includes Nick Shore, Jason Timashov anyway. Here’s how I imagine the lines looking: Spezza, Martin Marincin, and Dmytro Timashov. If I’m the Leafs and I’ve watched Timashov the first couple weeks, there’s no way I’m risking him Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander getting claimed on waivers. He only just turned 23 this month. And he’s cheap – $694,444 – and an RFA next summer. Hyman-Tavares-Marner

So that means two from Shore, Spezza and Marincin. Who ya got? Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Kapanen

Mirtle: I thought you were going to take a stand here. Jeez. Fine, I’m on Timashov-Gauthier-Moore it. So as much as losing Shore would hurt, the Leafs can probably can get Agreed Petan (who’s on the trade block) and Gravel are goners. That on fine without him. Spezza would also be around, potentially, if they gets them down to needing roughly another $1.25-million in space and needed another faceoff guy up front. having a 23-man roster. Mirtle: The thing that is really too bad about this is every other team in Given all these players are right around league minimum salary ($700K), the NHL can carry 22-plus players. This isn’t a decision they’re forced that means two more have to go in order to be compliant. into, putting really useful depth on waivers.

Let’s rank the other options in terms of likelihood they get claimed on The Leafs are going to be so tight that they could easily get caught in a waivers: situation down the line where they have another Tavares-like injury, that isn’t substantial enough to require LTIR, and then they’re stuck playing 1. Timashov (probably given his age and point production early this 11 forwards and seven D or even going with fewer than 18 skaters in a season) game.

2. Shore? Then the hot takes will rain down about cap mismanagement by the front office. 3. Spezza This, to me, all comes back to the Marner negotiation and how high his 4. Marincin AAV came in. No wonder the Leafs had an absolute ceiling set for him at The easiest thing to do would probably be to waive Marincin and one of 11M — there’s just no way they could survive paying him more than he’s Spezza or Shore. But that leaves you with only six defencemen and getting here. And it’s going to cause real issues down the lineup. there’s a big road trip coming in a couple weeks. (Viva Las Vegas…) Siegel: You know what that reinforces for me: How insanely fortunate So, are they stuck keeping Marincin and losing all three of their extra they were that Patrick Marleau agreed to waive his no-movement clause. forwards here? That seems… ungood. Yes, it cost them a first-round pick in the trade with Carolina. But what happens if he doesn’t want to leave? What if he won’t waive and insists Siegel: Here’s the thing: If Dermott and Hyman both come back next on staying? week, the only extra player on the roster will be John Tavares. That is, of course, if he’s not going on long-term IR, which would keep him out 10 The Leafs probably can’t go three and four years for the Kasperi games and 24 days. Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson contracts, right? Can they sign Alex Kerfoot for four years at $3.5-million? Can they make that trade at all? That means no extra forward or defenceman. Which, in my opinion, means they waive Marincin and Spezza. Another stroke of fortune: not retaining any money long term on Nikita Zaitsev’s contract. The Spezza-Shore debate is interesting to me. Spezza is a lot older (36) than Shore (27). But he can technically do the same primary thing: win It all reinforces what we’ve talked about all along in the right-side draws. And he can potentially bring you a bit of offence, even Marner/Matthews/Nylander situations: how crucial it was to get them though he’s only got one point in five games. That said, he’s not the done earlier than they did. The extra time simply cost the Leafs on the skater Shore is, nor does he fit the gritty mold of a player Babcock likes cap. on his fourth line. Mirtle: Step right up Travis Dermott. This also brings up the prospect of another solution to the cap issue: a trade. What are the chances realistically that they move anyone? Feels slim, no?

Ceci seems to be key to their plans and is getting praised by Babcock for his play in a matchup role. Hard to see him going anywhere until Dermott potentially pushes him down the lineup.

Siegel: It’s still really hard for me to imagine Babcock playing Rielly and Dermott on the right side against the Bruins top line in a playoff series.

For all the potential, Dermott has played 1.5 seasons in the NHL. He’s still so young in his career. That’s surely what drove the decision to sign Ceci for $4.5-million after the trade from Ottawa – they needed another body on the right side.

I don’t see any other salaries to cut either. There’s not really a bad contract on the books anymore. And really, you don’t lop off useful pieces just so you can keep around a couple extra players. It just puts them in a really tight box during the regular season.

You have to hope, if you’re in that Leafs front office, that there isn’t a run of minor injuries.

Otherwise, Capmageddon!

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158345 Vegas Golden Knights It’s not just scoring. Of the top 10 all-time spots for most shootout victories for a goalie in a season, the Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury owns two of them.

Shea Theodore becoming shootout star for Golden Knights He used to watch film of opposing players as a way to gauge shootout tendencies, but then they scored too often on him and he ditched that idea. Now, it’s all about instincts and angles, not being too far out or back, having the patience to study a skater’s body and speed before By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal October 24, 2019 Updated committing. October 24, 2019 - 6:51 PM “Guys don’t always do the same thing,” Fleury said. “You think something

is coming and then they switch up. They all have good hands and are It is as much the shoulder fake as the jab step. smooth. But for me, it’s one-on-one, so it pisses me off when we lose a shootout because I didn’t make the difference in us winning. I hate Or is it a jab slide? getting scored on.”

Shea Theodore didn’t grow up in Aldergrove, British Columbia — It’s somewhat rare for a player — skater or goalie — to talk shootout population 15,000, with its claim to fame being where the A&E television strategy. You know, paranoia about giving away any secrets and all. series “Bates Motel” is filmed — developing all sorts of deceptive moves across various sports. But two points are better than one, and the Knights over their first 11 games have twice left the ice winners because they proved better at one He didn’t work on a pump fake for basketball or a scissor drag for soccer of the game’s more thrilling scenes. or a stop-and-go for football. Shoulder fake and a jab step. “Only hockey,” Theodore said. Skills, man. They’re something else. Such singular focus on developing an NHL-caliber deke has more and more paid off for him, as the Golden Knights defenseman consistently LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.25.2019 succeeds in faking goalies out of their flat blades in the team’s pursuit of two points instead of one.

The Knights return to T-Mobile Arena on Friday afternoon to engage Colorado, the Western Conference’s best side early this season.

It’s unlikely things will reach the shootout stage — only 13.5 percent of all games each year do — but should the score remain tied after three periods and five overtime minutes, know that one of three spots in the Vegas shootout order is likely already decided.

“A lot of it is about feel in terms of which guys to use, which ones might have had a good game and are playing with confidence,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “Those things are big for me. But we also rely heavily on the analytics.”

Either way, Theodore gets an attempt.

He scored the decisive shootout goal in a 2-1 win at Chicago on Tuesday and was also successful in a 3-2 victory against Ottawa before the Knights departed on a three-game road trip, each time using the same move to fool goalies Anders Nilsson and Robin Lehner.

Full disclosure: I’m a total geek for this stuff, finding it especially fascinating when a move is so skillful that it works even after it has been scouted and studied on film.

Yeah. I know. Dirk Nowitzki’s step-back jumper was unstoppable for most of two decades.

NHL teams don’t practice shootouts. Not really. You can certainly make the argument there are countless other areas in which to work during practice and morning skates But just know if a division championship is decided by a few points come April, wins like those against the Senators and Blackhawks could mean everything for the Knights.

Basically, guys are pretty much left to master moves on their own.

Like everything, there is history to it. Pavel Datsyuk was a virtual highlight film of shootout goals. Few could top The Magic Man for stickhandling and creativity. Claude Giroux’s move against Toronto. Sidney Crosby kicking his leg back and then roofing a shot under the bar.

Theodore has found success by approaching down the middle and slowing before using a left shoulder fake as a first move and then a left- foot jab. Hope being, the goalie commits to covering his right side and Theodore then beats him with a backhand to the left.

He hasn’t had to hope much, now 5-of-7 on shootout attempts in his young career.

“I’ve been working on it for a while and it seems to be paying off,” said Theodore, 24. “You just try and keep goalies guessing. If they don’t bite on the (first fake), then you have that shot option.”

Fleury matters, too 1158346 Vegas Golden Knights “I’m not sure the time frame right now,” Gallant said. “Hopefully we get them back soon. I don’t think it’s going to be that long, but we’ll see.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.25.2019 Goaltender Garret Sparks relishes return to NHL with Golden Knights

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal October 24, 2019 - 5:14 PM

When Stanley Cup-winning Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington returned to his hometown to face Toronto on Oct. 7, he was asked who his favorite Maple Leafs goalie was growing up.

“Besides Garret Sparks, probably Curtis Joseph, for sure,” Binnington said.

Joseph is fifth on the NHL’s all-time wins list and was famous for his “CuJo” masks throughout a 19-year career.

Sparks won 14 of his 37 career appearances with Toronto. He was traded to the Golden Knights in July after getting shunned by the Maple Leafs’ organization last season.

So, how did he become Binnington’s guy?

“That’s a long story. My apartment in Toronto where I lived for five years, he would sublease in the summer from me,” Sparks explained Thursday after his first practice since being recalled by the Knights. “We always had good battles (in juniors). We grew to know each other and enjoy each other’s company.

“To have him acknowledge me the way that he did in his return to Toronto was very special. I definitely appreciated it.”

Jordan Binnington wasn't with the Blues the last time they played in his hometown and gets his first chance to start here tonight.

Also… his favorite @MapleLeafs goalie probably will surprise you. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/ZhqidTg0Bu

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 7, 2019

Sparks won the Maple Leafs’ backup job last season and was off to a 6- 2-1 start. But he suffered a concussion during practice Jan. 3 when he was hit by a shot from forward William Nylander.

Sparks returned two weeks later and won two of his final 10 appearances. During the final week of the regular season, he was sent on a 10-day sabbatical to work with the organization’s goalie coaches.

Michael Hutchinson took Sparks’ spot and served as Toronto’s backup goalie during the final five games of the first-round series against Boston after his wife gave birth.

“That was me playing post-injury and trying to find myself again and find my game again, and it wasn’t me at 100 percent,” Sparks said. “I know what my game is like at 100 percent, and I know that it takes a lot of work to get there.”

This season Sparks compiled a 2-2-1 record with a 2.15 GAA and .936 SP in five appearances with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. He was recalled Wednesday after making 39 stops in a 3-2 victory over Texas.

Sparks was on the ice 20 minutes prior to practice Thursday working with the power play units.

“That’s the thing, just finding your own identity again and being the goalie you want to be and not being a goalie other people want you to be,” Sparks said. “I feel like I’ve had that freedom here.”

Injury updates

Coach Gerard Gallant provided a vague update on goaltender Malcolm Subban, who remains out with a lower-body injury but has not resumed skating. Subban has been listed as day to day since he left after the first period Oct. 10 at Arizona.

Meanwhile, Gallant said he’s “hoping” forward Alex Tuch (upper body) and defenseman Nate Schmidt (lower body) return to practice this week. He confirmed they have been skating on their own.

Tuch’s jersey was hanging in his locker stall after practice, a sign he was set to participate in a medical skate. 1158347 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights launch virtual reality experience

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

It all started with a tweet.

Heidi Browning, the NHL’s chief marketing officer, visited the virtual reality company Sense Arena’s setup at CES 2019 and was impressed enough to post about it.

Brian Killingsworth, the Golden Knights chief marketing officer, saw the tweet and decided it was worth checking out. Ten months later, the Knights are the group’s first NHL partner.

That means Sense Arena’s virtual reality hockey equipment is available to Knights players, local youth teams and visitors at City National Arena. There’s an instillation set up at the practice facility and fans can check it out during the Knights’ four-game homestand, which begins at 3 p.m. Friday against the Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s not as much of a physical training tool as it is a mental training tool,” said Garrison Macri, Sense Arena’s managing director in North America. “That’s really an important part of what we’re doing here. This is state-of- the-art brain training technology that we’ve brought to hockey.”

Sense Arena’s “VGK VR” setup at City National Arena includes a mock rink, a headset and a hockey stick that transports users to a virtual arena. The technology contains more than 80 drills, each with three difficulty settings.

It allows players to practice basic things such as passing or shooting, but there are also more advanced drills that cover things like tipping shots and defensive-zone breakouts.

“We put players into real-life situations,” Macri said. “And then we measure their peripheral vision, their ability to recognize the open lane and then their reaction time.”

The company has some prominent backers. New Jersey Devils all-time leading scorer Patrik Elias was at Sense Arena’s CES setup. Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak, who led the NHL in goals entering Thursday with 10, has been featured in promotional materials. And legendary right wing Jaromir Jagr, the league’s second all-time leading scorer, uses it with the team he owns in the Czech Republic: Rytiri Kladno. He’ll be doing social media promotions with the company in the near future.

“When you train your brain like that, it can translate to the ice pretty quickly,” Elias said at CES 2019.

Those looking to try the system out at City National Arena can do so during select hours. Pricing starts at $10 for two games and $20 for five. Each game produces a score and for $40 a player can get a full diagnostic test that creates an account to track their progress.

The Knights hope to have players like Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty do some of the drills so visitors can see how their score stacks up.

Killingsworth said the tech could also “potentially” be used in their Vegas Jr. Golden Knights program. He hopes it encourages people who like the sport but haven’t played to give it a shot.

“When we saw it, we said ‘This would be unbelievable to have’ for two things: One, for the advanced hockey player that’s really looking to sharpen their skills,” Killingsworth said. “And also for a fan experience thing. So someone who has never been on the ice (could see) the appeal of having the stick in their hands and what it feels like.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158348 Vegas Golden Knights

VGK’s Pacioretty Lands Toyota Pitchman Job, While Schmidt Snags Hyundai Work (And Smith Says He Would Welcome Range Rover Endorsement Job)

By Alan Snel for LVSportsBiz.com

By any standard, the Golden Knights players are a likable bunch and that makes them candidates to endorse local Las Vegas products. They’re not exactly glitzy, showy or known for showing much razzmatazz (in public, anyway).

But they have enormous star power in a market where fans treat them as kings (just not Los Angeles Kings).

In the past, forward William Karlsson was tapped for his Swedish roots by Findlay Volvo Cars to serve as an advertisement frontman for the car dealership.

And defenseman Deryk Engelland, seen as a community leader for his Oct. 10, 2017 pregame speech nine days after the mass shooting on the Strip and for his Vegas Born Heroes Foundation, is a pitchman for Findlay Automotive Group, too.

Just this morning, forward Max Pacioretty said he did a recent endorsement job for Toyota.

“Schmidty (VGK defenseman Nate Schmidt) just texted me about it the other day,” Pacioretty said at his locker after an 11 a.m. practice at City National Arena today.

In fact, Pacioretty’s agent, Allan Walsh of Octagon, also posted a Tweet about this last month.

Pacioretty’s linemate, Paul Stastny, was sitting next to the Toyota spokesman and joked with his teammate, “We’d be a marketing nightmare.”

Schmidt knows all about car endorsements because he picked up a side job as a pitchman for Henderson Hyundai. In a TV spot, he’s wearing a Golden Knights jersey with his 88 number, but the Golden Knights logo is not on the front of .

Schmidt’s “acting” ability is in full bloom here:

That’s the thing about Schmidt — who is not playing because of a leg injury — it’s difficult to ascertain the difference between his enthusiastic salesmanship in the Hyundai spot and his regular personality.

You might recall VGK’s feisty forward, Jonathan Marchessault, drove a Lamborghini during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs — giving that brand some extra pub.

A popular face around Las Vegas is hard-hitting forward Ryan Reaves, who gets a lot of air time for his local water district PSA advising homeowners to not waste water.

Reaves, who does have a craft beer in Las Vegas, told LVSportsBiz.com that he would welcome a pitchman job with Audi (hint hint, Audi).

Meanwhile, forward Reilly Smith mentioned, “I’m not a spokesman for anyone right now.”

But if he did have to endorse a car in a commercial, Smith said he would do a Range Rover spot — another hint from a VGK player.

Rookie forward Cody Glass seems like he would be the ideal endorser for a glass company — or at least a car windshield provider.

He doesn’t have any deals brewing. But he noted, “I’m keeping my options open.”

And then there’s good ol’ Jake Bischoff, a Steady Eddie-style defenseman who doesn’t have the flash to endorse a Lambo or even a Mercedes.

But if Bischoff did have to be a pitchman for a car dealer, here’s the vehicle he would endorse: “Ford truck.”

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158349 Washington Capitals Holtby had 36 saves on the night, more than a few of them dazzling. But Draisaitl denied his chance for a fourth straight win in the three-on-three period.

Capitals’ winning streak snapped with a late flurry from Oilers’ young “He played great,” Oshie said of Holtby. “He was the best player out stars there for both teams, I think. It sucks that we didn’t get two points from that.”

Washington Post LOADED: 10.25.2019 Samantha Pell

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers just kept on pushing. Shift after shift in the third period, a blur of orange and black jerseys made their way into the Washington Capitals’ defensive zone. Trailing by a goal to start the period, the relentlessness hosts produced an equalizer in the waning moments of regulation. In overtime, it was a quick strike that led to the Capitals’ 4-3 overtime loss at Rogers Place on Thursday night.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Capitals and wasted a two-goal effort from Alex Ovechkin, who now has 667 goals in his career and is just one shy of Luc Robitaille for 12th on the NHL’s all- time list.

The Capitals, who will play the second leg of the back-to-back Friday night in Vancouver, were undone by the Oilers’ speed in the final 20 minutes.

“We want to be an aggressive team, but we have to be smart while we do it,” forward T.J. Oshie said. “And in that third period we did not play quite smart enough.”

Up 3-1 to start the third, Washington allowed the first of Leon Draisaitl’s two goals at the 4:25 mark. The sublime Connor McDavid knotted the game with 1:38 remaining and the Oilers’ net empty.

In the extra period, Draisaitl finished a lightning-quick two-on-one rush, beating Braden Holtby at 1:18 off a stunning feed from McDavid. Holtby had no chance on the end-to-end burst, with McDavid waiting until the last possible second to put the puck onto Draisaitl’s stick.

“With the mistakes we make, we knew we could not give McDavid the speed through the neutral zone, and, those mistakes, they will use it,” Ovechkin said, “And obviously their speed that they have, we cannot give them freedom. Overall I don’t think we played well first and third.”

Earlier in the day, Ovechkin had talked about how hard it was to score goals in the modern era, with the evolution of advanced skill and speed of players. But against a dangerous, young Oilers team with the electrifying player in McDavid and the league’s only other 50-goal scorer last season (Draisaitl), Ovechkin looked to win the bout early on.

After Darnell Nurse put Edmonton up 1-0 with the only goal of the first period, Jakub Vrana tied the game 5:40 into second. Just 47 seconds later, Ovechkin scored his eighth of the year, deflecting a long shot off the stick of Jonas Siegenthaler past Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen.

A little over seven minutes later, with the Capitals on the power play, Ovechkin struck again to make it 3-1.

“Ovechkin has been doing it for [15] years, one of the best ever to do it,” McDavid said. “He holds the gold standard when it comes to goal scoring. Leon, he’s finding his way. Fifty goals last year; he scores in different ways. Two real good players.”

John Carlson, playing in his 700th NHL game, got his league-leading 21st point of the season on Ovechkin’s first goal.

Carlson’s assist extended his point streak to nine games. Only one other defenseman in NHL history has recorded more points in October: Al MacInnis (25 points in 13 games in 1990-91). Carlson has recorded at least one point in all but one game this season. Opponents have continued to heap praise onto the 29-year-old defenseman for his hot start, with his teammates pushing for the defenseman’s first Norris Trophy.

The Capitals’ three-goal second period continued a season-long trend — they have outscored opponents 21-6 in the middle frame.

“I liked our second period a lot, and we weren’t able to carry some of the things we did well in the second into the third, Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said. “But if you are going to play that style of game against that team, we made some really poor reads.” 1158350 Washington Capitals Washington Post LOADED: 10.25.2019

In a clash of old and young, 50-goal scorers Alex Ovechkin and Leon Draisaitl to face off in Edmonton

Samantha Pell

EDMONTON — Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin knows the challenges of scoring 50-plus goals in a season, that much is certain. He talks about the evolution of the game, how speed and skill have taken over the pure power-and-strength game of the past.

Yet here Ovechkin is in his 15th season, a player who has become this generation’s 50-goal stalwart. Ovechkin is only the third NHL player to record eight 50-goal seasons, with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy each recording nine in their careers.

But now, the younger generation of players is starting to creep up, with the latest 50-goal scorer being 23-year-old Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers. Thursday’s game signals the first time last season’s only two 50-goal scorers will be going head-to-head in the 2019-20 season with the Capitals facing off against the Oilers.

John Carlson has 20 points in October. His teammates are starting his Norris Trophy campaign.

Ovechkin said he was paying attention to Draisaitl’s 50-goal breakout last season, especially at the end, before taking home the Rocket Richard Trophy with 51 goals. Ovechkin has won the Rocket Richard Trophy in six of the last seven years.

“It’s nice, you know?” Ovechkin said of the younger players getting to 50 goals. “Didn’t stop in one place, different guys come into the league, and it’s good for fans. But, again, it’s hard to score 50 in this league over and over again. The game has changed so fast and different guys have came into the league, and the speed and skill, it’s something special.”

Ovechkin is on pace for 52 goals this season (seven goals in 11 games), while Draisaitl is on pace for 49 (six goals in 10 games). They score in different ways, with Ovechkin a “pure shooter” and Draisaitl’s game still being developed.

“It’s incredible, unbelievable,” Draisaitl said of Ovechkin’s 50-goal seasons. “He does it every single year. He has an off year, but an off year is 40 goals for him. Well, scoring 40 goals in this league is very, very hard to do.”

Draisaitl skates on the top line alongside Connor McDavid, one of the league’s most electrifying players, who is tied for second in the league with 17 points ahead of Thursday’s game. McDavid has scored 40-plus goals in each of the last two seasons. He has five goals and 12 assists this year.

Garnet Hathaway is thriving in bottom-six role with the Capitals

Capitals winger Carl Hagelin said the key to containing both players is not feeding their transition game and making them “play what they hate to play, and that is defense.”

“They are players who like to keep their speed for the whole shift, so usually they are just as good the first 10 seconds as they are the last 10 seconds of a shift,” Hagelin said. “I think it’s important to contain them and not let them wind up and get that speed or they are almost impossible to stop.”

As far as goal scoring, Ovechkin said it is typically hard at the beginning and the end of a season to score goals. The latter is because teams are making their playoff push with tighter defenses and perfected schemes, while the beginning lends itself to more players wanting to prove their games on the ice, which can also prove to be a challenge for opponents to find the gaps to create.

“The middle of the year, it’s the time when teams relax, especially if they have lots of points and they don’t want to put pressure on you and then you feel a little bit open,” Ovechkin said. “The beginning of the year it is a little hard to score goals because everybody miss the hockey and everybody wants to prove and everybody wants to show up, and sometimes you just get lucky when you get one or two.” 1158351 Washington Capitals If the 22-year-old does intend to buy tickets, good luck. According to StubHub, the average price of tickets sold on the secondary market for Game 3 has been $1,286.

Washington sports teams rally behind Nationals As for the Wizards, they’re on the road. They play in San Antonio on Saturday. But the team’s social media account tweeted after the Nationals won Games 1 and 2, including GIFs of Sean Doolittle and Juan Soto celebrating. By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times - Thursday, October 24, 2019 Washington Times LOADED: 10.25.2019

Before a packed house at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt — one of the most popular athletes in Texas — donned a Jose Altuve jersey and stoked the home crowd to cheer on the Astros. Behind home plate, the Rockets’ James Harden and Russell Westbrook, two of the biggest names in the NBA, watched Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander deal. The Astros even roped in Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who did a spectacular backflip before throwing out the first pitch in Game 2.

A tough act to follow, but the biggest names in Washington sports, like their counterparts in Houston, are rallying behind their baseball team as the Fall Classic shifts to the District for Game 3 on Friday night.

The Nationals are being showered with shoutouts and well-wishes from the Redskins, the Wizards and the rest of the franchises in town as the city is two World Series wins away from shaking off for good the idea that Washington teams are cursed — a meme that began falling apart when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018.

“That kind of city camaraderie, whether it’s the fans supporting or whether it’s other athletes, I think it all means a lot, especially when it gets down toward the end of things,” Capitals defenseman John Carlson said. “You need all the support you can get. I think it’s a special team over there. I know a couple of them. Just thrilled for them. They battled back all year.”

The Capitals won’t be in attendance for any of the home games this weekend as they’re on a road trip in Canada. But that hasn’t stopped them from vocalizing their support.

The NHL team awards a Nationals batting helmet to recognize a standout performer after every game. Star Alex Ovechkin, too, tossed out the first pitch earlier this postseason.

Another Washington champion, WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, threw out the first pitch in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series earlier this month.

This week, across social media, the Redskins, Capitals and Wizards have all sent supportive messages wishing the Nationals good luck at the start of the World Series. The Redskins even made a video featuring eight different players — including running back Derrius Guice and safety Landon Collins — rooting the Nationals on.

“Shout out to the Nats,” Guice said. “Best baseball team in the country.”

Since taking over as interim coach earlier this month, Bill Callahan has opened two of his press conferences to talk at length about the Nationals. First, he congratulated them on advancing past the in the National League Division Series. He highlighted the coaching job of manager Dave Martinez, adding he loves baseball.

Then when the Nationals swept the St.Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, Callahan again congratulated the team — noting the son of Redskins director of football operations Paul Kelly is a batboy for the Nationals. “it was great to see him on the tube last night celebrating,” Callahan said.

It is unknown how many Redskins plan to attend the games this weekend. They return from Minnesota on Friday, so some players should be available to go.

Redskins cornerback Josh Norman arrived to U.S. Bank Stadium in a customized Nationals’ jersey.

On Twitter, Guice tweeted Thursday “Yessir go @Nationals” when a fan asked him if he’d be at Nationals Park this weekend. He also followed it up by asking, “Where them Astros fans that was talking that smack?”

Hours later, Guice also tweeted: “Who got some Nationals tickets? Asking for a friend.” 1158352 Washington Capitals second-fewest games (11) to reach the mark for a defenseman in NHL history.

His is the fourth defenseman to reach 20 points in October in NHL How to WATCH: Capitals at Oilers: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream history.

Connor McDavid, C, Oilers (5G, 12A, 17P):

By Ryan Wormeli October 24, 2019 1:33 PM McDavid is one of the sport's best players and it's brightest young star. He currently ranks third in the NHL in scoring this season, and will be a handful for teams all season long.

The Capitals continue their road trip up north, heading to Edmonton to The center has been held pointless the past two games, so the Caps are take on the Oilers Thursday night. The Caps are riding high after taking hoping he isn't ready to break out of his mini-slump just yet. the first two games of their road trip and winning four straight overall. CAPITALS at OILERS SERIES HISTORY The Caps have been road warriors in the early going this season, entering Thurday's game with a 5-1 record away from Capital One Arena. Number of all-time Meetings: 76

The offense has been firing on all cylinders. During their four-game All-Time Series Record: Capitals lead 39-30-6-1 winning streak, the Caps have scored at least four goals in each game Last Meeting: Caps win 4-2 (11/5/18) and 19 overall. Last 10: Capitals lead 6-3-1 The Oilers started off hot this season, winning their first five contests, but have now lost three of their last five. A mirror image of the Caps, Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 Edmonton's offense has been the major culprit. The Oilers have been shut out in their last two games heading into the matchup with the Caps.

You can catch all the action on NBC Sports Washington with Caps Faceoff Live kicking things off at 8 p.m. and Caps Pregame Live beginning at 8:30 p.m., leading into puck drop. Stick with NBC Sports Washington after the game for Caps Postgame Live, D.C. Sports Live and Caps Overtime Live.

Here is everything you need to know about the Thursday night's game.

CAPITALS at OILERS HOW TO WATCH

What: Washington Capitals at Edmonton Oilers, Game 12 of the 2019-20 NHL Regular Season

Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

When: 9:00 p.m. ET

TV Channel: The Capitals at Oilers game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington (NBC Sports Washington channel Finder)

Live Stream: You can live stream Capitals at Oilers on NBC Sports Washington's live stream page. and on the NBC Sports App.

Radio: Caps Radio 24/7, 106.7 The Fan FM

CAPITALS at OILERS TV SCHEDULE

8:00 PM: Caps Faceoff Live

8:30 PM: Caps Pregame Live

9:00 PM: Capitals at Oilers

11:30 PM: Caps Postgame Live

12:00 PM: D.C. Sports Live

12:30 PM: Caps Overtime Live

CAPITALS at OILERS INJURY REPORT:

Capitals:

RW, Richard Panik, Upper body, Week-to-Week

Oilers:

LW, Joakim Nygard, Ribs, Week-to-week

D, Joel Persson, Concussion, Day-to-day

D, Adam Larsson, Foot, Earl-to-mid-November

RW, Tomas Jurco, Undisclosed, Day-to-day

CAPITALS at OILERS PLAYERS TO WATCH

John Carlson, D, Capitals (5G, 15A, 20P):

Carlson continued his scorching start to the season with two more points against the Flames, extending his point streak to eight games. He became the first NHL player to reach 20 points this season, requiring the 1158353 Washington Capitals

4 things to know for Caps-Oilers: John Carlson vs. Connor McDavid

By J.J. Regan October 24, 2019 6:00 AM

The Capitals (7-2-2) have won four straight and the first two of their five- game road trip heading into Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers (7-2-1). You can catch all the action on NBC Sports Washington with Caps FaceOff Live kicking things off at 8 p.m. before Caps Pregame Live begins at 8:30 p.m. to bring you up to the 9 p.m. puck drop. Stick with NBC Sports Washington afterward for Caps Postgame Live, D.C. Sports Live and Caps Overtime Live.

Here are four things to know for Thursday’s game.

This game features three of the top four points leaders in the NHL

Much has been made of the start John Carlson has had to the season and for good reason. He has 20 points in 11 games to lead the league. He reached 20 points with two goals on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. That ties him with Bobby Orr’s 1974-75 season for the second- fewest games by a defenseman to record his 20th point. Paul Coffey was the only player to do it faster when he hit 20 points in 10 games in 1988- 89.

While the Caps have the top scorer in the league, Edmonton boasts Nos. 3 and 4 with Connor McDavid (17 points) and Leon Draisaitl (16 points). Both players have been spectacular in leading the Oilers to their hot start.

Edmonton is undefeated at home

The Caps have jumped out to a 5-1-0 record away from Washington to start the season. The Oilers, however, have been a really tough team to play at home.

The Oilers are undefeated to this point in Edmonton. Not fake undefeated with a few overtime/shootout losses sprinkled in, I mean actually undefeated at 4-0-0.

These are not the same Oilers

Edmonton has had a familiar formula for the last few years. McDavid and Draisaitl carry almost all of the offensive load while the defense and goaltending both stink wasting yet another year of McDavid's career, the best player in the game today.

This year, things are different with Dave Tippett behind the bench. The offense is...still top-heavy, but the defense and goaltending have been much improved.

Edmonton ranks 5th in the NHL in goals against at 2.30 and 5th on the penalty kill at 88.2%. Both netminders have been strong with Mikko Koskinen boasting a 2.20 GAA and .934 save percentage and Mike Smith registering 2.14 and .925.

Edmonton has been shutout in consecutive games

The Oilers’ offense revolves around McDavid, Draistail and James Neal who leads the team with nine goals. If they can’t score, then the Oilers pretty much can’t score as we’ve seen the last two games with Edmonton being shutout in consecutive contests.

The last time the Oilers scored was in the second period of their win over the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 18. That is a total streak of 152:38.

Any team with McDavid and Draisaitl on it is still offensively dangerous as evidenced by their points. The Oilers also boast the second-best power play in the league at 35.7%. But if the Caps can manage to shut down the top scorers on this team, Edmonton is going to struggle to get much of anything going offensively.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158354 Winnipeg Jets It’s become an almost-daily question for the Jets: Who’s playing defence next game?

Fact is, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the top six is going to look like Regina ready for a Classic on any given night. And it’s probably going to get even more confusing in the coming days.

Nathan Beaulieu, who has yet to play this season due to an upper-body By: Mike McIntyre injury, is getting closer to a return and has started skating with the team. He’ll step into the lineup possibly as early as next weekend in either San

Jose or Vegas. Mosaic Stadium welcomes the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames for Luca Sbisa, picked up off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday's Heritage Classic outdoor game. Wednesday, is expected to join the club in Regina and will be an option REGINA — It’s being described as a major celebration of hockey — once he gets acclimatized to his new team, although the Jets should be although I don’t suspect the Winnipeg Jets are in much of a partying hoping the journeyman’s services aren’t required very often if they have mood these days. Winning just one of its past five games, all on home any hopes of sustained success. ice, tends to have a downer effect on a team. Add those two to a mix that already includes Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Perhaps a change of scenery can turn those frowns upside down. Dmitry Kulikov, Tucker Poolman, Ville Heinola, Anthony Bitetto and another previous waiver-wire addition in Carl Dahlstrom and Winnipeg There’s no question the Queen City is ready for its close-up, with signage could soon have nine healthy bodies in the mix. and banners and promotional material at every turn. Heck, even the elevators at our hotel have been painted over with Heritage Classic If so, someone’s gotta go. logos, lest anyone forget why they’re in town. Heinola’s next game will be his ninth of the season, putting the 18-year- Mosaic Stadium is all gussied up as well, ready to welcome both the Jets old on the threshold of burning the first year of his three-year entry-level and Calgary Flames for outdoor practices this afternoon, followed by the deal. Are the Jets going to allow him to hit 10? main event on Saturday at 9 p.m. The writing is likely on the wall, and Heinola’s swan song for this season It’s a good look, sure. But regardless of the pomp and ceremony, you may be the Heritage Classic. After that, a reassignment to either the wonder how close is the NHL coming to jumping the shark when it comes Manitoba Moose or back to his pro team in Finland seems increasingly to outdoor games? What was once a novelty has now become a staple of likely for the teen. every regular season, which becomes evident when you hear that Jets Further complicating matters is the Sami Niku situation. The talented forward Mathieu Perreault will be competing in his fourth. Finn was expected to be a big part of the team this season but has At least they’re moving these things around, giving cities such as Regina played just one game with the Jets as he deals with a nagging groin a chance to shine. The hope, no doubt, was that plenty of fans from injury that started in training camp. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta would converge to take in the Niku was dispatched to the Moose for conditioning only to suffer a festivities. setback. He’s resumed skating this week and could play as early as this The game is not sold out. A scan of Ticketmaster on Thursday showed weekend, so how he factors in remains to be seen. Expect him up with approximately 2,000 seats available for purchase, at prices ranging from the big club in the near future. $106 to $653, including fees and taxes. There’s also the ever-present Dustin Byfuglien question, and whether the Still, it should be a huge crowd, and maybe the Jets — who will veteran is leaning towards a return in lieu of early retirement. technically be the home team for the game — can have a bit more luck Add it all up and it seems like the blue line could very much remain a than they have at Bell MTS Place, with just a 2-10-0 record over the past work in progress. And, aside from a few lineup staples such as Morrissey dozen games dating back to last season. and Pionk, nobody should be getting too comfortable. "We signed up for these things because the NHL knows we have a good, Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 10.25.2019 young, fast team and the NHL likes that kind of hockey on TV. It will be a spectacle, it will be fun and then we’ll learn, as a group, how to handle this," Jets head coach said after his team dropped a disappointing 3-2 decision to the Los Angeles Kings.

"We’ll get our practices right, which will be good and we’ll get in there and play a hell of a lot better than we did."

They certainly can’t do any worse than their first crack at a Heritage Classic in 2016 at IG Field, when the Jets failed to light the lamp in a 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s not just the game, of course. There’s all kinds of other bells and whistles associated with the event, with Regina currently in the midst of what’s been proclaimed as "Hockey Week."

The scene at Mosaic on Thursday afternoon was a busy one, as final work was being completed on both the outdoor rink and the fan festival just outside the stadium grounds.

Unlike past Heritage Classic events, including the Jets-Oilers clash in 2016, there is no alumni game attached to this. However, there will be a hot-stove panel involving former members of the Jets and Flames. Former Jets Thomas Steen and Dave Ellett and ex-Flames Lanny McDonald and Jamie Macoun, once fierce rivals on the ice, will break bread together and swap stories from the past as part of today’s Heritage Classic Legacy Luncheon.

Expect a few tall tales to be told — but at least none of the oldtimers are at risk of a groin pull or muscle spasm.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will also speak at the event, while Jets executive chairman and governor Mark Chipman and Flames president and COO John Bean will unveil details of the 2019 "Legacy Project." 1158355 Winnipeg Jets Morrissey expects to experiment with a tinted visor and eye black for Saturday's game. The Jets practised at the Iceplex Thursday before departing for Regina. They're scheduled to practise outdoors at Mosaic Friday afternoon before a Saturday-morning skate at nearby Brandt Playing outside, thinking inside Centre, home of the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats.

Jets eager to soak up unique Heritage Classic fun but aren't forgetting "It's kind of a special game for me," said Morrissey, who grew up in there's work to do Calgary but spent most of his junior career in Prince Albert, Sask. "It's where my dad grew up... my grandparents are from there. Didn't

anticipate I'd be playing an NHL game back in Regina, but it's pretty cool By: Mike Sawatzky and I think the whole province of Saskatchewan is gonna be either supporting us or the Flames, since they're right in the middle. It's a great hockey province."

Saturday's Heritage Classic between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Another Winnipeg veteran, 31-year-old left-winger Mathieu Perreault, will Jets will be on a grand stage at Regina's Mosaic Stadium. be playing in his fourth outdoor game. Perreault, who played for the Jets in the 2016 Heritage Classic, was a member of the Washington Capitals And while many fans may be more concerned about immersing when they took on the Penguins at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field in 2011 and themselves in the unique outdoor experience, the game's combatants again in 2014 when his Anaheim Ducks faced the Kings at L.A.'s Dodger have a more basic desire: to win the game. Stadium. The Flames were 5-5-1 heading into Thursday's home date with the The 2011 game was marred by poor weather; rain forced a seven-hour Florida Panthers and coming off a disappointing 5-2 loss to the delay from the original 1 p.m. start time. Beautiful conditions greeted the Washington Capitals Tuesday night. The Jets, 3-2 losers to the Los game in California. Angeles Kings Tuesday, have fallen to 5-6-0 overall. "Enjoy the moment, what's going on around the game," said Perreault, In short, both teams are struggling for traction and have something to when asked what advice he would give his teammates unfamiliar with the prove. experience. "But once the puck drops, it's just another game. You've "What's kinda interesting about this game — certainly the spectacle of it gotta face it (like) it's two points in the standings you've gotta get and it's — but both teams are coming into this game not very happy, right?" said just another game but you can definitely enjoy what's all around it." Jets head coach Paul Maurice. "Both coaches are going to be, 'Yeah, Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 10.25.2019 yeah, enjoy the game, it's fun but we don't like our last game and we've gotta make amends for it.'

HERITAGE CLASSIC

Pre-game and post-game attractions

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (local time); Sunday, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (local time)

Where: Confederation Park, 1700 Elphinstone St., Regina

Admission: Free and open to the public

"So there's going to be a little edge to this game that you may not see, because L.A. went in (Saturday) and did the same thing to Calgary that they just did to us. Everybody'll be a little snarly coming into this one."

Connor Hellebuyck, expected to get the start in goal for the Jets, will be experiencing the thrill of an outdoor game for the second time. He was on the losing end of a 3-0 decision to the Edmonton Oilers at IG Field on Oct. 23, 2016.

"I'm extremely excited," said Hellebuyck. "There's nothing like the feeling of an outdoor game. The bigger crowds and the noise... A lot of people describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I'm very, very grateful to get it a second time."

Three years ago, a bright afternoon sun's intense glare off the ice forced NHL officials to delay the start of the game by almost two hours. Saturday's 9 p.m. start time (CBC, SN1, CITY, NBCSP) takes care of that problem.

Hellebuyck plans to soak up the atmosphere.

"Just to enjoy every second of it, but that being said, we're going to be strictly business. It's another NHL game and we need (the win); enjoy the little things, but at the end of the day, come ready to work," he said.

Blue-liner Josh Morrissey was just beginning his rookie season with the Jets when Winnipeg hosted its first Heritage Classic.

"What I remember was it was an awesome day, other than we lost," he said. "The whole experience was pretty cool. For me, I don't know if I had played 10 NHL games at that point in my career. To kind of be able to play a Heritage (Classic) game outdoors, that early in my career, was pretty special.

"I remember the glare in the afternoon was a bit of a problem, (they) had to push the game, but shouldn't have that issue with the night game this year. It's just a ton of fun. It's hockey in its most pure form, I guess, in some respects. Way back when everybody started playing, they started, for the most part, on outdoor rinks somewhere, so it's lot of fun." 1158356 Winnipeg Jets “Both teams are coming into this game not very happy,” Maurice said. “Both coaches are going to be: ‘Yeah, yeah. Enjoy the game. It’s fun.’ But we don’t like our last game, we’ve got to make amends for it. I think there’s going to be a little edge to this game.” Jets looking forward to special night in Regina The Flames lost in a similar way the Jets did to the Los Angeles Kings last weekend and have lost two of their past three (with a game scheduled against the Florida Panthers on Thursday still to play). Scott Billeck “We’re not going to lock them in their rooms, they’ve earned the right in

the NHL to enjoy this game,” Maurice said. “We just want to make sure a REGINA — Connor Hellebuyck said most would describe an outdoor good solid game is played.” game in the NHL as a once in a lifetime experience. FAN FEST If that’s the case, the Winnipeg Jets goaltender will be one of the lucky The NHL is putting on a party for fans of both teams on Saturday and few to get relish it for a second time. Sunday. Hellebuyck will be between the pipes for the Jets’ second NHL Heritage Dubbed “The PreGame,” the official fan festival will take place at Classic game in the past three years when they face the Calgary Flames Confederation Park close to Mosaic Stadium and will feature attractions at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Saturday night. for everyone. “There’s nothing like the feel of an outdoor game,” Hellebuyck said. Free coffee from Tim Hortons will keep folks warm, and there will be a Bigger crowds, bigger noise and the spectacle of it all, playing side-by- chance at each Tims truck on-site to spin for a chance to win a trip to the side with whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at the two teams. 2020 NHL All-Star Game.

Nine players from that game on Oct. 23, 2016 — a 3-0 loss to the The Stanley Cup will also be on hand on Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 Edmonton Oilers at Investors Group Field (now IG Field) — are expected p.m. to play on Saturday (although Adam Lowry’s status is still questionable.) Admission to The PreGame is free and will run from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Included among those is forward Mathieu Perreault, the 31-year-old who on Saturday and then again from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. All will dress for this fourth outdoor game, having played once for the times are local. Washington Capitals (in Pittsburgh), once for the Anaheim Ducks (in Los Winnipeg Sun LOADED 10.25.2019 Angeles) and now his second for the Jets.

“The one in Pittsburgh was raining, I think,” Perreault said. “The California one was beautiful.

“We’ll see how this one is going to be. It should be a lot of fun.”

Given that over half of Winnipeg’s roster is likely going to be wide-eyed for a bit trying to get their bearings, Perreault said the best thing to do is take in the moment at first.

“But once the puck drops, it’s just another game,” he said. “You’ve got to face it as two points in the standings that you’ve got to get. It’s just another game. But you can definitely enjoy what’s all around it.”

Last time out for the Jets, they allowed three goals in just less than eight minutes to the Oilers.

Mark Letestu, now a Jet, scored shorthanded to kick it off. Darnell Nurse and Zack Kassian each added insurance markers.

“It was an awesome day, other than we lost,” said Josh Morrissey, who was playing in just his sixth NHL game.

“To be able to play a Heritage game outdoors that early in my career was something special,” he said. “It’s just a ton of fun. It’s kind of hockey in its most pure form in some respects, way back to when everybody started playing, for the most part, on outdoor rinks somewhere.”

Morrissey is from Calgary but his dad grew up in Saskatchewan and his grandparents are from there. Morrissey also played most of his junior hockey career up in Prince Albert with the Raiders.

“It’s a special game for me,” he said. “It’s a great hockey province.

“It was always fun playing in that Saskatchewan division. All the arenas, the people … in the different cities and towns really support hockey. It’s in everyone’s blood. It is what everyone does.

“The support hockey teams get there is amazing. It’s the same we get here in Winnipeg, in Manitoba.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice will be behind Winnipeg’s bench again, as well.

He remembers one thing, vividly, that he’d like to avoid this time.

“No toe picks,” he said. “I think we went down three times. I think (Dustin Byfuglien) caught a heel, went down for a breakaway goal. I think we had three of them, two of them ended up in the back of our net. So I’m not sure if we’ll sharpen our skates differently or not.”

All joking aside, Maurice said what is interesting about the matchup is the two teams coming into it. 1158357 Winnipeg Jets “I don’t think that line’s been productive enough. For the last three or four games, I don’t think they really generated what we would normally expect,” said Maurice, noting the move was also designed to help Bryan Little’s line. “Both those lines have lost a little bit of simplicity to their Jets’ defence and special teams remain a work in progress: 4 game.” observations from the homestand That Maurice chose this option so early in the season tells you several things, the most important of which is that the development of the young forwards provides some other intriguing options. By Ken Wiebe Oct 24, 2019 Wheeler was clearly frustrated by his own play following Tuesday’s game

and he was out on the ice doing some extra work on Thursday when the There was a reason Paul Maurice said recently that the Winnipeg Jets Jets had an official off day. weren’t about to become a defensive juggernaut overnight. The Jets captain has three goals and six points in 11 games, but he’s Maurice knows full well it will be a daily grind to make the improvements gone five games without recording a point and is still looking for his first that were on display during Sunday’s 1-0 shootout victory over the power play point of the campaign. It’s not for a lack of chances, as Edmonton Oilers. Wheeler has 34 shots on goal.

Just when you thought the Jets might have taken another step toward Scheifele and Wheeler were back together in Wednesday’s practice, turning the corner in their defensive game, things unravelled quickly in though Laine had been replaced by Nikolaj Ehlers. the 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. One thing Maurice broke out in the preseason was using Wheeler with The 41 shots on goal allowed to the Kings wasn’t necessarily an attack Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp. on the defensive structure as much as it was a not-so-subtle reminder That’s a combination that could be worth testing out, since Wheeler’s that if the Jets don’t have their skating legs or aren’t using them, they’ve work ethic would fit right in with those two. got no chance. The offshoot of that would provide the option of playing Jack Roslovic Technically, the Jets will be the home team on Saturday for the Heritage and Kyle Connor together. Classic outdoor game in Regina. They had chemistry in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose and it would be But it’s a neutral site game, so let’s look at four takeaways from the first interesting to see what type of results they might produce now that extended homestand of the campaign. they’ve rounded out their respective games at the pro level. Stellar netminding, with a side of saltiness Maurice has plenty of options at his disposal and it seems obvious he’s It was a tough outing for backup Laurent Brossoit, who was under siege not going to be afraid to test them out when things aren’t going smoothly. in a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Defence still in flux Connor Hellebuyck started the past four games and he’s been The Jets are giving up too many shots on goal, but they’ve done a better outstanding, turning aside 120 of 129 shots on goal as he lowered his job of limiting the number of rush chances against – which was an area goals-against average to 2.38 and raised his save percentage to .929. they struggled with last season. Hellebuyck is up to eight starts in the first 11 games, which is a big It was always going to be a work in progress, given the amount of number, but it’s hard to argue with the results. turnover on the back end, but there are areas that can be corrected – the Hellebuyck is more than doing his part and figures to be between the biggest one being defensive zone coverage. pipes in at least the next two games, thanks in part to the break in the There have been a number of examples of the Jets either losing schedule. coverage or not boxing out or sealing the opponent in front of the net. Following Tuesday’s game, I asked Hellebuyck if he felt that starting Those are execution issues. seven of the past eight games had helped him get into more of a rhythm. A series of injuries have merely compounded the issues for the Jets, with “Yeah, I feel pretty good. I told you after the first game, but you guys Nathan Beaulieu and Sami Niku yet to appear in a game this season and thought otherwise,” said Hellebuyck. “But I’ve got to keep working hard Dustin Byfuglien still undecided about his future and on the suspended and making sure that I give my A-plus effort every night.” list. It was classic Hellebuyck to double down on his belief that he mostly Josh Morrissey (two games), Tucker Poolman (one game) and Anthony played well in allowing five goals in the season opener against the New Bitetto (two games) also missed time with various injuries, so it’s been a York Rangers. bit of a revolving door for this group. After seeing Brossoit get consecutive starts in Games 2 and 3, Morrissey has carried a heavy load, chipping in six assists while Hellebuyck has responded well and provided the type of goaltending the averaging 24:30 – which is nearly four minutes higher than his career Jets are going to need in order to be competitive. average. Brossoit’s 1-2 this season and he’ll be eager to get back between the Yes, there have been a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes, but that’s pipes in one of the games next weekend, either against the San Jose more a byproduct of the additional responsibility that’s been placed on Sharks or Vegas Golden Knights. Morrissey. Going to the nuclear option early He’s embraced the extra ice time, but Morrissey has also been adjusting How disappointed was Maurice in the effort against the Kings? to a number of new partners.

During the second period, he did something he has rarely done in the Neal Pionk has done a solid job on the back end, producing offensively past few seasons, splitting up Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler on the (two goals, seven points) and he’s been steady defensively as well. top line. The Jets are getting closer to making a decision on whether they’re going Why was this important? to be comfortable using the first year of the entry-level deal for 2019 first- rounder Ville Heinola. Scheifele and Wheeler spent only one period apart last season, in a blowout loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Heinola is up to one goal and five points in eight games, with the Heritage Classic lining up to be his ninth game. There’s obviously a reason they’ve been together on a regular basis – they’ve been extremely productive. His vision and puck-moving ability are obvious assets and if he’s on the charter to California, it’s another step closer to the next benchmark in his But after a relatively strong start to the new season, things had slowed career. down, especially at 5-on-5. Although Poolman isn’t expected to be out long term and Beaulieu is getting closer to returning from an undisclosed injury, the Jets claimed Luca Sbisa off waivers on Wednesday.

Sbisa had been in discussions with the Jets but signed with the Anaheim Ducks earlier this week, a one-year, one-way deal worth $750,000.

The plan was for Sbisa to report to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, but the Jets had other plans for him.

The 29-year-old appeared in only nine games for the New York Islanders last season and 30 with the Vegas Golden Knights the year before that, when Vegas advanced to the Stanley Cup final.

Sbisa is probably best served as a seventh D-man, but has the temperament to handle being in and out of the lineup.

For a defence corps that doesn’t have a lot of size or play too physical a game, Sbisa brings size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and experience, regardless of whether he becomes a regular or is just around to provide depth.

Sbisa isn’t here to be the saviour of a defence that remains a work in progress.

Special teams slumber

There have been some signs of life for the power play and it will be interesting to see if flip-flopping Pionk for Morrissey on the top unit pays dividends.

Right now, the Jets are in the bottom third of the NHL and are operating at 15.8 percent.

Having Pionk with the three other righties forces the opposition to respect the one-timer at the top a bit more.

Pionk views himself as the distributor of the unit and knows the importance of getting his shot through from the point – much like Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba before him.

By creating more of a shooting option, the Jets should be able to find more openings for seam passes to Laine for one-timers from the left wing or Scheifele in the slot.

And if those options are closed off, Connor needs to find a way to generate offence down low, like he did in scoring on a nifty backhand against the Arizona Coyotes.

The penalty kill (63.6 percent) struggles have continued for the Jets and were prominent once again in Tuesday’s loss to the Kings.

Despite a couple of early kills, the Jets allowed the game-winning goal when Morrissey was caught flat-footed and Anze Kopitar snuck a backhand through Hellebuyck.

Even going 2-for-3, the Jets remain in last place in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency.

If the Jets can’t find a way to improve both on the man advantage and while shorthanded, it’s going to be challenging for them to win consistently.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158358 Winnipeg Jets because by then, winter will have genuinely and forcefully sunk in. A night in late-October should be a comparative skate in the park by the local standard — no extra layer of long underwear required.

Duhatschek: How the Heritage Classic in Saskatchewan is bringing But for this event, the where matters far more than the when. outdoor hockey back to its roots Outdoor hockey conjures up Images of the game at its most basic grassroots level, and if there is a place where the grassroots element remain an actual fact of hockey life, it is here in Saskatchewan. By Eric Duhatschek Oct 24, 2019 Because here in Saskatchewan, the temperatures still get cold enough for the ice to freeze on its own – and then stay frozen for long stretches of winter. REGINA — Ask Dave King about what hockey means to his home province and he talks you through a guided tour of some of “There’s an old Saskatchewan expression that maybe reflects a little bit Saskatchewan’s lesser-known parts. of old-school thinking is, but it’s true: You can’t love the game of hockey until you freeze your toes a little bit,” King said. “I would compare the “It goes beyond just Gordie Howe,” the former NHL coach and member outdoor hockey tradition in Saskatchewan to the kids that played inner- of the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame said. “If you drive through city basketball in the United States. It’s a pick-up game. No referees, no Saskatchewan and get to Foam Lake, there’ll be a sign that says: ‘Home rules really. You can do what you want to do. And you’d see that in of Bernie Federko.’ When you go through Val Marie, the sign says: hockey in Saskatchewan. ‘Home of Bryan Trottier.’ Some towns have got three or four players, and they’ll list those players’ names on a billboard outside of town. “On a Sunday afternoon, you’d play down at the rink – with grown-ups. You might be 10 or 11, and you’d be playing pick-up hockey with people “We’ve had a romance with the game for a long time.” who are way older than you, and way better than you. So, if you wanted Saskatchewan may not be the birthplace of hockey, but the game’s roots the puck, you had to really work hard to get it; and when you had it, you are firmly embedded here — in the geography and the climate, in the had to work really hard to keep it. people and the land. If a sport can have a beating pulse, you can hear it “Often, you’d have to clear the rink of snow before you could play. And thump, thump, thumping here. on a snowy night, you’d sometimes have to stop the game to scrape the Area-wise, the province is almost four times the size of New England, but ice a little – and then you’d go back and play again.” its population is less than a quarter of Boston’s. Federko is one of the dozens of Hockey Hall of Famers who began And yet, Saskatchewan has produced an outsized amount of hockey playing hockey, both indoors and outdoors, in a small Saskatchewan talent. The greatest female player of all time, Hayley Wickenheiser, is town. Many are known for their toughness and grit. Federko had that too from Shaunavon; and yes, Mr. Hockey was from Floral. – but also an uncommon skill level that eventually helped him score 1,130 points in 1,000 NHL career games. For years now, Federko has To King’s point, it doesn’t stop there. The generations of players, been a television analyst for the St. Louis Blues, a team that had three coaches and managers born and raised in Saskatchewan, who Saskatchewan-born players on its 2019 Stanley Cup team. eventually left their mark on the hockey world reads like a who’s who of the game’s greatest legends. There was Elmer Lach and the Bentley Federko described his upbringing in Foam Lake as “pretty typical” for a brothers, Doug and Max. Emile Francis and Sid Abel. Johnny Bower and small Saskatchewan town. Geographically, it is located smack dab in the Glenn Hall. Trottier and Wendel Clark, Federko and Red Berenson. The middle of the Prairies, with all the surrounding land dead flat. The only McCrimmon boys, Brad and Kelly. The Odeleins, Lyle and Selmar. Other trees that grew were the ones the townspeople planted. In the summer, hard-knock guys: Joey Kocur, Dave Manson, Tiger Williams and Kelly the weather got hot and windy. In winters, cold and windy. Chase. Current NHLers: Patrick Marleau, Ryan Getzlaf and Jordan “A town in Saskatchewan is judged by how many grain elevators it had,” Eberle. Pivotal administrators: Charles and Bill Hay. The expansive explained Federko. “We had seven or eight, so that made us a big town, coaching tree: King, Mike Babcock, Todd McLellan. Berenson qualifies in one of the bigger towns on the Yellowhead highway.” that category too. The original rink in Foam Lake was across the street from where the Long before Shattuck St. Mary’s became the must-attend preparatory Federkos lived, but it burned down when Bernie was five or six years old. school for teenage players in North America, Saskatchewan had Notre When they built the new recreation centre, they moved it to the edge of Dame College, in Wilcox, run by Father Athol Murray. Today, it would be town, by the railroad tracks. That eventually became the main hangout described as an academy, perhaps even an incubator. In those days, it for Federko, his brothers and his friends. But once winter socked in, they was a barebones boarding school in a tiny Prairie town that grew into a didn’t have to go very far to play. national feeder institution. “Dad used to flood the garden for us,” Federko said. “By Halloween, it In addition to all its homegrown talent, Saskatchewan has also drawn was cold enough to freeze, and so we had outdoor ice, usually from the players from all over the world so they could hone their craft in their end of October until about mid-March. The snow would get so high that formative years. Mike Modano left a comfortable middle-class Detroit sometimes it would be six or eight feet high around the boards because suburb to play in Prince Albert. So did Leon Draisaitl (of Cologne, you’d be shovelling it all winter. There’d be only one way in eventually, Germany). So did Josh Morrissey (of Calgary, Alberta). Future Tampa and the puck would almost never go out of the rink because the Bay Lightning teammates (and Stanley Cup champions) Brad Richards snowbanks were so high.” and Vincent Lecavalier landed in Wilcox. Every other punchline in the movie “Slap Shot” is seemingly peppered with references to the province; Part of the challenge of growing up in a small town in that era was to Eddie Shore (of the Cupar Canucks) and to old-time hockey. avoiding boredom, Federko said. Keeping busy was a priority. Saskatchewan hockey. “As kids, because there was only one channel on the TV, you grew up This weekend, the NHL has found Saskatchewan again in a splashy, finding things to do,” Federko said. “We played baseball, cricket, kick the visible way. During the era of the “neutral” site games, the NHL can, rode our bikes – anything to pass the time. previously played six regular-season games in Saskatoon, all at SaskPlace. “We lived a block away from the high school, where my uncle was the caretaker. So, we used to go to the gym and shoot hoops – help him But the 2019 edition of the Heritage Classic will bring the NHL’s first-ever sweep up and clean the chalkboards and that let us spend some time in regular-season outdoor game to the province. It will take place Saturday the gym. It was a town of 1,200 people; so, you knew everybody and night – live on — at Mosaic Field, home of the everybody knew you; and you could come and go as you please.” CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. The game will feature the two NHL teams from neighbouring provinces – the Calgary Flames and the According to Federko, everyone in his circle shared the same essential Winnipeg Jets. The long-range forecast calls for moderate temperatures, values – and knew early on in life that the only way to prosper was with the snow not expected to fall until Sunday. through hard work. Eventually, to make their way in the world, they also knew they had to leave their small towns behind. It didn’t mean you In some ways, scheduling the game for January might have been a truer couldn’t come back – because most still do, to pay the debt forward. But reflection of what outdoor hockey really looks like in Saskatchewan, when once you were out there, pursuing your dreams in the larger world, the same teams and actually won the provincials when I was 13 – our your roots gave you stability and structure. first taste of playing (province-wide).”

“When I think back to my entry into the game and my brothers’ entry and Hailing from a too-small town actually helped some players progress my friends, here’s what I would tell you: In Saskatchewan, we’re given faster through the ranks, according to King. and then we earn,” said McLellan, the Los Angeles Kings’ head coach. “Our parents would go out and get us all our equipment and take us to “If a young guy was 12 or 13, and wanted to play competitively, one of the rink, and put us out there. That’s given to us. two things usually happened,” King said. “Either he might have to go to another community because there might not be enough 12- or 13-year- “From there, they made us earn it. For example, for us to continue to play olds in your community to form a team. Or failing that, you would play up, the game, school was important. School came first. My parents also at a higher age level. stressed proper etiquette at home; respect for elders; being on time; participating in a team environment; work ethic. There was never a lot of “So, you’d enter a team in a 14-year-old league, but fill out the roster with systems stuff when we played. It was ‘put your work boots on and go to a lot of 12- and 13-year-olds. For a lot of our young players, that’s how work.’” they got so good – because they were playing above their heads, at a young age. That gave them a real kick start, in their development.” McLellan is listed in his NHL biography as being from Melville, but he grew up in Goodsoil, listed on Wikipedia as the “central gateway to If there is such a thing as an urban hockey tradition in a mostly rural Meadow Lake provincial park.” Current population: 281. It is also home to province, it is focused on two cities – Saskatoon (current population former Ranger Ron Greschner, whom McLellan describes as “the NHL 246,376) and Regina (236,481). guy that we all knew.” In Goodsoil, the only paved street was the Among current NHL players from Regina, the New York Islanders’ highway. Jordan Eberle has perhaps the deepest connection. He was born in “But every other street, the snow just got so packed down that when I Regina in 1990, played his novice for the Regina tier-1 Kings and moved was younger, I remember sometimes skating to school,” McLellan said. to Wilcox to play one year of bantam as a 14-year-old at Notre Dame.

Almost always, they would bring their hockey sticks along. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Regina Pats, his hometown Western Hockey League team, and after spending one year playing “If you took a hockey stick to school now, they’d probably view it as a midget hockey in Calgary for the AAA Buffaloes, he spent the next four weapon,” McLellan said, “but back then, we would put them in our seasons with the Pats — culminating in 2010, when he was named the lockers and as soon as the bell rang, you’d go outside and play hockey. Canadian Hockey League player of the year. Eberle, who grew up as a Every school had an outdoor rink and there could be four different games fan of the Oilers, eventually started his NHL career in Edmonton but says going on at the same time. After school, you didn’t go home. You went a lot of the rural hockey experiences of his peers were also mirrored in out on the rink. Some kids played in their boots, some in their skates. his upbringing in the (comparatively) big city. Instinctually, that gave us a lot of creativity in the game. It wasn’t at all structured. It was just fun.” “In summer, we’d use the community rink for ball hockey, and in winter, they’d flood it when it got cold enough,” Eberle said. “That was close to If there is a further common thread linking players and officials from where I lived so I would say the majority of the outdoor hockey I played small-town Saskatchewan, it is that focus on community. was there. But we also had a backyard rink.

For years, every social interaction was filtered through the local hockey “There was something you could buy at Canadian Tire – an inflatable thin or curling rink, said King. plastic sheet that you could fill with water, and then it would freeze and you would peel the plastic off and that was your outdoor rink. My dad did “It’s changing quite a bit now, but in the past, the curling rink or the that for us every year. I mean, it was tiny – just enough that you could hockey rink usually had a concession stand so in the mornings, people take five strides and make a play and shoot. I skated on that thing would gather there to have a coffee,” King said. “It gave people a place to hundreds of times with my brothers and sisters. socialize. Now that’s been replaced a little bit by Tim Horton’s. Eberle’s parents now live in Calgary in the lake community of Auburn “But when I was a little guy, everyone went to the rink. I lived in Bay, and back in his Oiler days, he would drive down the highway to Battleford, a little town right across the river from North Battleford, so we spend Christmas with his family. Part of the tradition was playing shinny – all of us as kids – you had a game either Friday or Saturday in your – but this was a completely different outdoor experience than his youth. community and we’d all go. There wasn’t TV like there is now, where you could compare the product, so we thought our level of hockey was the “They have their own Zamboni and the ice is pristine,” Eberle said. “The best. We thought our players were like NHL players.” weather there was pretty nice too, so you’d be out there, just in a track suit and gloves — and it was awesome. And if something ever happened to the rink, it could be disastrous for the town. Former NHLer Gord Sherven – one of 48 members of Notre “But when I was outdoor playing as a kid in Regina, it could get to minus- Dame’s Wall of Honor – grew up in Mankota, a small community, where 40 – and I’d still be out there playing. Even playing in indoor rinks, as a he says he had his own key to the rink. kid, I remember the air would flow through them, and you literally had to wear mini-mitts under your hockey gloves, because it was so cold and “Everybody went to the rink in winter because there was nowhere else to your hands would freeze.” go,” Sherven said. “That was the heartbeat of the community. People would go there in the mornings and just sit and watch a hockey game. This past summer, the Blues’ Saskatchewan trio – of Tyler Bozak, Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz — brought the Stanley Cup to “In 2002, the rink in Mankota was condemned – the Centennial Arena, Mosaic Field to celebrate the championship during a CFL game between built in 1967 – and they couldn’t get it insured anymore, so they had to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders. The trio tear it down. wore their Blues jerseys, but at an appropriate moment in the ceremony, “All of a sudden, boom, it seemed like the heart and the pulse of the stripped them off to reveal Rider jerseys. The place went wild. community was gone. They still had the curling rink, but it wasn’t the Spending a day with the Stanley Cup is now both a long-standing same. My brother was still living there at the time and said, ‘We will never tradition and a worldwide phenomenon, but according to Federko, it be the same town without the arena.’ I mean, they still had an outdoor didn’t change the fact that its appearance at a ‘Rider game really sheet, but the kids had to go and play for teams in other towns. It was resonated with the people of Saskatchewan. just not the same after they lost the rink.” “Maybe it’s just our upbringing that makes you never forget where you Some of those Saskatchewan communities were so tiny they had to come from,” Federko said. “The neat thing about the Saskatchewan boys combine forces with other towns to ice a proper team. In his bantam is they wanted to bring it back to where it all started. It’s important – year, Federko says Foam Lake combined with Kelvington to form a team where you came from, and to show your thankfulness to the people who that played in the provincial B division – which was designed for towns supported you early in our lives.” with populations under 2,000. According to King, that tradition – of thankfulness — dates back “Even with the towns combined, we were still under 2,000,” Federko said. generations in Saskatchewan. “It’s where I got to know Barry Melrose really well. We played together on “As a young player, I played for Vic Lynn,” King said. “Lynn played for the hockey games. We had the Swift Current bus tragedy. People don’t like Toronto Maple Leafs and he won the Stanley Cup (three times: in 1947, to talk about it a lot, but it is still very much on people’s minds. 1948 and 1949). His nickname was Bear – because he was a big, thick, strong guy, a real competitor and he was one of the greatest guys to play “I know for me, I go on Hockeydb.com every morning because I can see for because you always knew where you stood with him. He’d played in the results of games from around the world and I almost always end by the NHL. He lived in some big cities down east. But he never lost touch going to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League results to see how with his Saskatchewan roots. He was a real bread-and-butter kind of a Humboldt is doing. It’s made you very aware – that it’s a special team guy. He was just so humble, a straight-forward, honest man. now and a special situation – and it’s always going to be that way.

“I’ve met so many hockey people like him, who never lost that flavour of In 1983, during Federko’s seventh NHL season in St. Louis, the Blues Saskatchewan, even though they made it to the big time and made big were tentatively sold by Ralston Purina to (Wild) Bill Hunter, a smooth- bucks by the standards of those days. Gordie Howe used to come back talking promoter and a Notre Dame grad himself, who had plans to in the summertime to Waskesiu, him and Johnny Bower. Johnny had the relocate the team to Saskatoon. In the end, the NHL’s board of governors hamburger place and used to flip hamburgers and hot dogs; and Gordie vetoed the idea, on the grounds that Saskatoon was too small a city to worked at the golf course, cutting the greens. They had to do that to sustain an NHL franchise long term. The Blues had two important supplement their salaries. Even now, our NHL players who are making Saskatchewan connections then – Emile Francis, the team’s GM, and big money still come back to Saskatchewan. Federko, most of whose family was living in Saskatoon by then.

Perhaps the best example of hockey’s humble Saskatchewan origins is “The one thing that’s bad about Saskatchewan is that the two biggest the presence of Notre Dame College, officially known as Athol Murray cities aren’t big enough to support NHL teams,” Federko said. “When College of Notre Dame. Founded in 1920 by The Sisters of Charity of St. there was all that talk about St. Louis moving to Saskatoon, deep down, Louis as a residential elementary and high school for boys and girls, its you knew there was no way they could support that – especially now motto reflects ingrained Saskatchewan values: “Struggle and emerge.” when payrolls are $80 million. Its current mission statement: “To develop young men and women to “So, I think it’s great that they’re doing this outdoor game for become purposeful leaders, with virtuous character.” Saskatchewan because there are so many kids that have gone through In the beginning, Notre Dame had no running water or central heating. there and played in the NHL – and people want to see the real thing. They want to see real players and a real game and they deserve it. For “They got old railroad boxcars and that’s what they converted into Saskatchewan to have a game, out in the open air, it’s just great.” dormitories,” King said. “They would glue newspapers to the walls to keep the breeze from going through too quickly. At Notre Dame, you Knowing Regina the way he does, Eberle predicts the event will be a went to school and you played hockey. That’s basically all there was. rousing success.

In addition to Richards, Lecavalier and Clark, Notre Dame’s alumni also “I grew up in Regina, played my junior hockey in Regina. Regina’s includes Eberle, Gord Kluzak and both Jaden and Mandy Schwartz. always been home to me,” Eberle said. “When I played there as a Three current NHL coaches (Barry Trotz, Jon Cooper and Rod hometown kid for the Pats, the community got behind me 100 percent. I Brind’Amour) are all grads — as is current Alberta premier Jason remember my final game – standing ovation. Regina’s always had the Kenney. Sherven was recruited to Notre Dame by Martin Kenney, Pats and the Riders. The new stadium there, it’s so nice. I went to a Jason’s father, who was the school president for 17 years (1975-1992). game there this summer. With the way the weather should shape up, it should be an awesome, awesome outdoor game.” “Back in the day, it’d be minus 20 or minus 30 degrees out and they froze in those dorms,” Sherven said. “They would put a coal stove in the back McLellan too believes the game “will be well-supported, a big celebration. of a cloth-covered truck, and the players would all pile in the back and It’s the halfway point between the two rival teams that are going to play. that’s how they went to hockey games. There’s going to be Jet fans and Flame fans there, wearing their colours.

Sherven was recruited to play on the Notre Dame bantam team when he “But more importantly, there’s going to be hockey fans there too, who will was 14 and remembers how “the first month was tough. I was in Grade appreciate the 40 players on the rink – and I guarantee you, there will a 10. It was a very hard school – the old boy/new boy system. You’d listen lot of conversations, in the stands, or near the concessions, talking about to what the old boys did and there were consequences when you didn’t. when we played outdoors in Rosthern or Wakaw or wherever. But within a month, the hockey started. I loved it. Terry O’Malley was my “It will take people back in history — to a lot of their own outdoor hockey first coach. Arguably, Terry along with Barry McKenzie, were the two best experiences.” coaches for development anywhere in Canada. They’d just left Father Bauer and the national program; from a development standpoint, it The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 couldn’t have been better.”

In the WHL’s current 22-team incarnation, five franchises are based in Saskatchewan: The Pats, the Saskatoon Blades, the Prince Albert Raiders, the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Swift Current Broncos. In 1986, four players on the Broncos died in a bus crash on the Trans- Canada highway bound for a game in Regina. The survivors included Joe Sakic, the future Hall of Famer; and Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHLer who became an activist for players’ rights.

Eighteen months ago, a second bus tragedy befell the province, when the Humboldt Broncos bus, heading to a Saskatchewan Junior League playoff game in Nipawin, was hit by a tractor-trailer truck. That collision took 15 lives. In its immediate aftermath, the NHL’s Saskatchewan community rallied behind the community, offering assistance however they could. McLellan, then the Oilers’ coach, and his Calgary counterpart at the time, Glen Gulutzan, joined forces and went to Humboldt immediately, distributing team gear, but mostly just to let the families of the victims and survivors know the hockey community had their collective backs.

The memory of the tragedy is still fresh in people’s minds, says King, who spends his summers in Saskatchewan’s lake country.

“Even now, you can hardly drive down the street without seeing a car with a bumper sticker that reads ‘Humboldt Strong,’” King said. “I worked in Yaroslavl, the city which had the plane crash that killed 37 people, and that’s never going to go away. It’s similar in Humboldt. For all of us in Saskatchewan, we know what it’s like to travel those rural roads, to go to 1158359 Vancouver Canucks It’s helped that Miller was a motivated player when he arrived in Vancouver. He’s aware of the perception he created last season in Tampa and while he disputes it, he said he came to the Canucks with a singular focus. Canucks paid a high price for J.T. Miller, but he's been worth every penny “Last year (the Lightning) told me I was going to play on a role line and I had to buy into that,” Miller says. “With that ice time the production isn’t going to correlate. I thought I had a really good year last year. It just wasn’t on the stats sheet. Ed Willes “I kind of came in with a chip on my shoulder. Hopefully the rest will take

care of itself.” Scott Stinson: In Washington, the Nationals prepare to host the World So far, no complaints. Miller doesn’t play a flashy game but it’s heavy, it’s Series game that should ... efficient and it’s professional. Pettersson says that makes him easy to “It was an eye-opener to see how skilled he was and how hard he play with and Miller’s experience also factors into the equation with his worked. I can’t say enough about him. He’s just fit in really well.” — Bo younger linemates. Horvat on J.T. Miller “It felt good from the first practise,” said Pettersson. When Jim Benning acquired J.T. Miller from the Tampa Bay Lightning in “They’re really high-end guys and they’re going to find a lot of things out late June, there were two distinct reactions in Vancouver. on their own,” says Miller. “But there are a couple of things I’ve learned The first, and most visceral, came from a large chunk of the fan base along the way from some great veterans I can pass on.” who wondered aloud if Benning had lost his mind. Miller, they conceded, On top of everything else, Miller also has a user-friendly contract which is an NHLer. But the price the Canucks’ general manager paid — a first- pays him US$5.25 million over the next four years. Yes, it’s still early round pick which is lottery protected for this year only and a third-rounder days for the player and the team and Canucks won’t know for sure what in last summer’s draft — was outrageous for a team supposedly in they have and what they gave up until Miller’s deal expires. rebuild mode. But they’re OK with the early returns. So’s the guy they gave up so much Juxtaposed against that informed opinion, however, was a second to land. reaction from the Canucks’ locker-room which wasn’t as loud but was more relevant. Miller was a player who could help the team win right now, It’s been unreal for me and my family,” Miller says. “We feel very the Canucks’ players said. That was the only point up for discussion. welcome here already.

First-rounder? Third-rounder? Who cares. That’s in the future. We need “I think once you start playing games you find out about each other. You help today and this guy makes us a better team today. learn how competitive your team is and how good it can be. I thought we came together on that last road trip. I think it’s only going to get better as “I thought we had enough prospects in our pool,” is how Benning we get to know each other.” explains his rationale. “(The first-rounder) is still three years away from helping your team and that’s if he hits. I just thought the time was right for And we get to know him. this deal.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.25.2019 And for three weeks at least, it’s been all of that.

Miller has now been with the Canucks for nine games but, given everything that’s transpired, it feels like he’s been here nine seasons. He leads the Canucks in scoring with a 4-6-10 line while fitting seamlessly alongside Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. He’s been a factor on the power play with his net-front presence and a factor five-on-five where his intelligent two-way game helps drive the Canucks’ offence. In the room, he’s fit comfortably in the teams culture, a respected veteran whose voice carries some weight.

All told, that’s a pretty good player and while it will take those three years referenced by Benning to measure the trade accurately, the point is the Canucks will have three years of Miller before the scales are brought out.

“Those guys don’t care about (the first-rounder) and I don’t blame them,” head coach Travis Green said. “He’s a big part of our team now.”

“It was an eye-opener to see how skilled he was and how hard he worked,” said Bo Horvat. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s just fit in really well.”

Miller, in fact, seems to be reclaiming the territory in Vancouver he lost last year in Tampa and therein lies a story. Now in his eighth NHL season, the 26-year-old Ohio native had six largely productive seasons with the Rangers before the Lightning acquired him with Ryan McDonagh in a blockbuster at the 2018 deadline.

In Tampa, Miller had some immediate success playing on a line with Steve Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov in the Bolts’ run to the Eastern Conference finals.

But last season, he found himself in a bottom-six role and finished with 47 points, his lowest total in three seasons, largely because Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde emerged as offensive players. With Tampa facing cap pressure, Miller was put on the auction block.

Benning now says the Canucks were one of four teams in the Miller sweepstakes.

“They were asking for more than we gave up,” Benning said. “I don’t like trading first-round picks but I thought this was the right guy.” 1158360 Vancouver Canucks “We’ve worked on getting pucks through and forwards showing sticks and trying to beat their D into open holes where we can find them for little tips and stuff like that.”

Canucks' offensive prowess driven by smart defenders The Canucks’ top two lines — the bottom two lines are a question for another day — have been especially dominant offensively. The Pettersson line has about a 60 per cent shot attempt share, a staggering level of dominance, while Bo Horvat’s is generating tons of shots as well. PATRICK JOHNSTON Horvat’s trio is still yielding more shots than perhaps they’d like, but as far as where they’re spending their time on the ice, they’re still in the positive. The puck-moving Canucks are posting some very positive numbers on offence. “It’s great to have really good defencemen, big or small,” Horvat said with a grin. “The ability to make plays this year, it’s huge. Our breakouts been It’s not a big surprise that a team that’s getting good goaltending and a ton cleaner … it’s made our life as forwards a lot easier.” makes noise in the offensive zone is having success. And once they get in the offensive zone, the Canucks are causing more So, yes, through nine games of the 2019-20 season, the Vancouver havoc, he added. Canucks have been worth the price of admission. Their playing style hasn’t been perfect — and they’ve mostly faced middling opposition — “Our D are doing a great job of getting pucks through to the net, I think but there are good numbers there. that’s our biggest thing this year, we’re crashing a little more, creating a little more havoc,” the Canucks captain said. “I think our D are doing Top of the list has been their share of overall shot attempts per game. great work at moving and trying to get their wingers out of position. I think After five seasons where the Canucks’ opponents averaged more shot that’s opening up a lot more chances for us forwards. Any time a D gets attempts than them, they’ve reversed that trend this year. to jump down the wall and take that winger with them, that gets teams lost in coverage.” “It’s a combination of different things. We’ve definitely tweaked some of our system stuff and it’s the players as well, it goes hand in hand,” said Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.25.2019 head coach Travis Green. “I thought we’ve been pretty effective so far. I’ve liked how we’re spending less time in our own zone and more time in the other team’s end.”

They’re averaging 58.5 shot attempts per game, up about 4.5 attempts per game over last season, while giving up 55.8 against, a decline of about 2.5 attempts.

As a stat, shot attempts share — a.k.a. “Corsi” — becomes useful when you hit 10 games. In other words, after Friday’s home game against the Washington Capitals.

And while it’s true that not every shot is equally dangerous — and by shot-quality metrics the Canucks’ shots have been more on the outside than you’d like, while yielding a few too many shots from in front — the principle that getting off more shots than your opponents usually leads to future success still matters.

It’s been proven over and over that the more time you spend in the offensive zone, the more shots you’re bound to get. And the teams that outshoot their opponents tend to win more often than not.

"Pace"

This is descriptive of a team's games — it's Corsi for and against mashed together.

LAK, OTT, and TOR hanging together in "fun" is a look. pic.twitter.com/GZYl2dZI5V— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) October 24, 2019

Chris Tanev, who’s now in his 10th season with the Canucks, said the story begins before they even have the puck. The Canucks are trying to be more aggressive in how they defend, he said.

“This year we’re playing more aggressively than we have in the past, we’re trying to get on top of guys,” said Tanev. “In our neutral zone defending and how we’re playing in our D-zone, we’re trying to close (space) quicker, get on top of guys and force turnovers, so we don’t have to get back and break the puck out. So maybe we can force a turnover in the neutral zone and go right back at them.”

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Chris Tanev kneels on the ice after blocking a shot during a game against the New Jersey Devils. Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press / PNG

And then they’re moving the puck well. Adding a trio of quality passers in Tyler Myers, Quinn Hughes and the underrated Jordie Benn has had an effect.

“We’re playing pretty quick, we’re transitioning better. Breakouts are better … a lot of the time we’ve played really good D-zone and we’ve transitioned the puck well. When we’re skating and executing the system properly, you can see how effective we are,” said Tanev

Once they’re in the offensive zone, the forwards have been a big help in completing the equation. 1158361 Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks assign forward Adam Gaudette to AHL's Utica Comets

Scott Brown

The 23-year-old forward only dressed in three of Vancouver's nine games this season.

It’s a good time to be a Utica Comets fan.

The Vancouver Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, which has stormed out to a perfect 5-0 start on the strength of stellar play from NHL veterans Sven Baertschi and Nikolay Goldobin, got even better on Thursday with the demotion of Adam Gaudette.

“Just want him to play,” Travis Green said of the move. “Seems like every game we went back and forth with whether to put him in or not.”

The 23-year-old Gaudette, who notched five goals and seven assists in 56 games with the Canucks last season, seemingly carved a spot for himself on the NHL squad’s roster with his exceptional performance in the preseason played in just three of the team’s nine games this season.

But with the Canucks playing well, minutes have been hard to come by. He’s no also exempt from being exposed to waivers, so the Canucks can send him back and forth to Utica without risk.

“Don’t be surprised if he’s back relatively soon,” Green said. “We need him to get down and get playing and get reps … it’s a good option to get him some good quality practice time and game time.”

Vancouver Canucks centre Adam Gaudette celebrates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during their Dec. 20, 2018 NHL game at Rogers Arena. RICHARD LAM / PNG files

The 2018 Hobey Baker winner appeared in 14 games with the Comets last season, collecting 11 points (5-6-11).

The Canucks (6-3-0) host the Washington Capitals (7-2-2) Friday, 7 p.m., at Rogers Arena.

The Comets are also in action tomorrow night against the Binghamton Devils

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158362 Vancouver Canucks This forecheck where Miller outmuscles Travis Zajac is very similar to the Flyers example above; Miller wins clean possession of the puck and sends it back to the point. It doesn’t lead to a goal, but his consistency when it comes to recovering pucks is why the Canucks have spent so Why J.T. Miller has been the Canucks’ best forward so far much time in the offensive zone; in the clip above it leads to a faceoff in the attacking end.

Here, Miller’s work is a textbook example of what an effective first By Harman Dayal Oct 24, 2019 forechecker (F1) needs to do. The F1’s job in a sequence is to goad the defenceman to one side of the ice — make it impossible for the puck carrier to reverse so that he has to skate into an area where there are To say offseason acquisition J.T. Miller has been instrumental in the more forecheckers. In this example, P.K. Subban fans the initial rim, after Canucks’ winning start to the season would be an understatement. which Miller essentially cuts the ice in half (Miller’s pursuit is so tight that Subban’s only escape route is behind the net), chasing and pushing him He’s tied with Elias Pettersson with a team-leading 10 points in nine right to Boeser. games. His four goals, meanwhile, are only behind captain Bo Horvat’s five, which is impressive given Miller’s pass-first tendencies. Getting Once Miller forces Subban and the puck right toward where his linemates high-end production from the flanks is a huge boost for a Canucks roster are, the puck squeezes out from the battle and there’s Pettersson with a that featured Loui Eriksson as its third-highest scorer from the wing last point-blank chance that rings off the crossbar. It’s not just about brute season. strength and speed either — sometimes it’s about smarts in baiting the opposition into breaking out a particular way. But Miller’s impact goes far deeper than what’s evident on the surface. Vancouver has simply dominated when he’s been on the ice, and the As Calgary breaks out here, Johnny Gaudreau is dashing through the underlying data suggests Miller can be a key contributor if and when his middle of the ice but is accounted for by Hughes. Tanner Pearson and scoring pace slows. Horvat have their checks covered, so Miller’s responsibility is primarily on taking care of Sean Monahan (No. 23) on the half-wall. For starters, Vancouver’s territorial advantage when Miller has been deployed is prodigious. Instead of smothering Monahan with a tight gap, Miller sags back a little — giving Rasmus Andersson the impression that he can make a clean Data via Natural Stat Trick pass to Monahan. Miller’s ready for this, however, and knows that he if After adjusting for score effects, Miller ranks second in shot share among jumps out early on the attempt he can get his stick on it. That’s exactly NHL forwards, helping his team control a staggering 65.9 percent of the what happens. It’s clever positioning and anticipation to force a turnover. shot attempts. It’s just not the sheer number of shots, but the quality of This individual effort against the Kings is probably Miller’s best work in the shots that they’re producing — he’s helping drive north of 62 percent pursuit of the puck and it led to another goal. He uses a good stick to of the scoring chances. snatch the puck from Jeff Carter in the defensive zone and skates it out The shots and chances have translated to actual goals as well — of harm’s way into the neutral area. At that point, it’s a 1-on-3 situation Vancouver is outscoring the opposition 9-3 at 5-on-5 when Miller’s on the and that’s where Miller creates something out of nothing. ice. He feathers the puck into open ice, careful not to put enough velocity that It hasn’t mattered which line he’s been on, either. Pettersson’s unit it might go for icing and then chases and recovers the puck himself. Edler wasn’t meshing at even strength until Miller joined the left side flank. That jumps up into the play and Miller makes a good read to spot him and dish move up the lineup all of a sudden left a hole on Bo Horvat’s line, which the puck back. had dominated with Miller through the first two games. Having data to corroborate what we see with the eyes would be nice and Why has Miller fit in so seamlessly? An absence of playmakers, an to this extent, we’re covered as Sportlogiq’s data indicates that Miller inability to get net-front chances and subpar board play and forechecking ranked 12th among NHL forwards in winning offensive zone puck battles were three of Vancouver’s biggest weaknesses. Miller checks all those last season. boxes. Effective net-front presence In the sample of games I tracked last year, the Canucks did a good job of When I broke down why Vancouver’s offence fell off a cliff in the second creating offence off the rush but were below league average in fighting half of the season, one of the issues that surfaced was the lack of for chances on the forecheck and net-front areas. diversity in how they produced goals. Teams tightened up on the Sure enough, Miller’s provided a significant boost in those areas. He’s Canucks in the neutral zone and because the team wasn’t generating certainly got the offensive touch to make plays (his playmaking acumen looks from in tight, the goals dried up quickly. has been underrated his entire career), but he combines that with strong No NHL team took their average shot from farther out and they were physical tools and a penchant for fighting in the dirty areas. dead-last when it came to creating rebounds and tips. This explains why Creating chances off the forecheck Jim Benning strategically targeted bigger bodies that had a nose for the net like Pearson, Micheal Ferland and Josh Leivo. Miller uses a combination of his burly 6-foot-1, 218-pound frame and a smart stick to consistently win puck battles that help the Canucks sustain Miller has also helped in this regard. offensive zone time. It’s not a flashy strength to have, but most top lines You can see how hard Miller battles against Noah Hanifin to gain inside in hockey need a digger (think Zach Hyman) to fetch pucks and win position before tipping a puck on goal from right in front. It’s a tough and battles to create more possession time for the creators on the line. grinding art to master and it’s paid off on the power play especially. Los Angeles sends the puck up the boards on this play and it’s Miller’s Miller’s net-front presence was responsible for providing a screen on the grade-A work on the wall that enables him to initially grab the puck. Then first goal shown and in the second he deflects the puck right past his vision and setup ability shines through as he spots Jake Virtanen in Jonathan Bernier. His value in this position is obvious in these clips, but the slot who finds Brandon Sutter for a quick strike goal. it’s also instrumental on goals where he’s been directly involved. This isn’t the only example where Miller’s quality work chasing dump-ins Watch how hard Henrik Lundqvist has to work to fight through Miller’s led to a goal. screen. When Pettersson receives the puck at the left circle, Lundqvist In the play above, Miller shows good anticipation and makes a decisive has to lean to the right to see what Pettersson’s doing — making it dash to steal the puck from Ivan Provorov before resetting the play to the difficult for him to track the puck across when the pass is made to Horvat point — leading to Brock Boeser’s first goal of the season. in the bumper. Stopping a puck like that is a lot easier of a task as a goalie when they’ve got a clear sightline to see what a creator like A sequence like this may not seem like much in isolation, but the Pettersson is plotting. impressive part is that Miller makes these types of plays on a routine basis. Miller’s contributions on the power play aren’t limited to what he does in the net-front, however. His vision and passing accuracy make him a threat to create plays down low, but when he’s shifted to another area of the ice, he’s got the smarts to adapt and make reads to create space for Miller makes the setup look so easy, but a dish like this is what I mean himself. when I argue that his passing accuracy might just be the best on the team. These strengths have translated to many assists in recent times — Getting touches on the puck in high traffic areas isn’t just about brute size Miller ranks 63rd among all NHL forwards for assists per hour at 5-on-5 and strength — it helps, but players need the smarts to recognize the soft since the 2016-17 season. spots on the ice and how to time their movements so they go undetected. The importance of these qualities is why a sub-6-foot player in Joe These qualities are important for a roster that lacks a bonafide playmaker Pavelski has been one of the best forwards in traffic for years. From after Pettersson. Vancouver’s perspective, the reads and timing are why someone like Virtanen hasn’t thrived near the net, while someone smaller, albeit In searching for a high-end top six forward to bolster their winger ranks smarter in Sven Baertschi was able to make it work. this summer, the Canucks were looking for a specific, highly coveted skill set. “I think it’s just seeing the ice,” Baertschi told The Athletic at training camp when asked about getting looks close to the net. “It’s one of those Vancouver had issues getting to the front of the net, so they wanted to things, I like going into traffic, but at the same time, I just see the soft bring in some size, but they didn’t want to do it at the expense of spots well. offensive touch. In Miller, the Canucks brought in a hard skill player — a well-rounded, versatile skater who plays with speed through the neutral “I think that’s one of those things I just seem to find the right little areas, if zone, wins battles in the toughest areas of the ice and introduces a it’s around the net or even behind the net, for me it’s one of those things playmaking element to the lineup that’s been sorely missing. where at times I want to get away from the D, I don’t wanna be around them, like a lot of times they’re big guys and so you kinda want to find the Relitigating the merits of trading away significant draft capital for a team right spot, but I think that’s just being able to see the ice.” that isn’t in its contention window is a debate that’ll be waged for years to come, but in the interim, it’s nice to see that the return piece has gone You can see how Miller possesses these exact qualities in one of the above and beyond in delivering for the Canucks during these first nine power-play goals he scored against Detroit. games.

The middle slot is the most dangerous area of the ice so when a player is Miller won’t shoot 16.7 percent forever and it’s unfair to ask his line to in the bumper, they are the penalty kill’s top priority as far as which lanes continue scoring 5-on-5 goals at a 12 percent clip so the offensive to take away. On this goal, pay close attention to how Miller floats two production will eventually slow, but even in forecasting that, you’re steps higher when Andreas Athanasiou (the PKer inching towards Edler) looking at a player who’s subtle strengths has helped his line siege the creeps up. It’s that subtle movement that creates the passing lane for him opposition as far as driving the shots and scoring chance edge is to get a clean shot off from the slot and it occurs because Miller made a concerned. smart read off Athanasiou’s movement and timed his own adjustment perfectly so that he went undetected. In short, he’s been everything the Canucks could have asked for out of a top six forward acquisition through the start of the season. Speaking of going undetected, look at how Miller’s able to escape his man and gain a clear path to the goal following a smart give and go from The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 Pettersson and Chris Tanev. The pass didn’t make it across this time around, but if it did, it would have meant a tap-in goal for Miller. Again, all about smart timing and routes to the net so that they can be first to pucks in the most dangerous areas of the ice.

Following a 13-goal campaign, Miller talked about how maybe it was time to be a little bit less judicious with his shots. He’s delivered on that end so far. He’s firing pucks both from a volume (8.6 shots on goal per 60 minutes) and quality (1.05 expected goals per hour) at the highest rate of his career.

Of course, it’s only been nine games so time will tell if he can continue finding all these good looks, but it’s an encouraging sign nonetheless.

Vastly underrated playmaking skills and transition value

One of the top reasons I pushed for Miller as a trade target as part of Project Petey before rumours of his availability even emerged was because he brought a new dimension to the top six with his playmaking strengths. I’ve stressed the importance of that value when he was acquired, but because his setups are rarely the type that make it onto the highlight reel; it’s an element of his game that has gone underrated.

Miller looks his most dangerous when he’s prodding for plays below the hashmarks and you can see why he’s so successful in these areas in the clip above. It begins for him with another heads up read to slip off his defender so that he’s open to receiving the pass from Pettersson.

Once Miller receives the pass, he’s able to thread the puck through a tight seam to find Boeser for a one-timer in the slot.

We see another example of this in the Canucks’ most recent win. Miller is so consistently accurate at fitting pucks through small seams that the opposition has to take away any semblance of daylight from him when he’s operating from behind the net.

Of course, his setup ability is equally impressive off the rush, which is vital for a Canucks team that likes to create offence from quick counterattacks.

Most forwards wouldn’t be able to turn a 2-on-2 rush where Mark Giordano is funnelling them to the boards, but this is where we see a little bit of creativity mixed in. Miller cuts back, does a great job to spot Tyler Myers who’s activating on the rush and then if you pay close attention he sauces a pass over Giordano’s stick and right onto Myers’ blade. 1158363 Websites because by then, winter will have genuinely and forcefully sunk in. A night in late-October should be a comparative skate in the park by the local standard — no extra layer of long underwear required.

The Athletic / How the Heritage Classic in Saskatchewan is bringing But for this event, the where matters far more than the when. outdoor hockey back to its roots Outdoor hockey conjures up Images of the game at its most basic grassroots level, and if there is a place where the grassroots element remain an actual fact of hockey life, it is here in Saskatchewan. By Eric Duhatschek Oct 24, 2019 Because here in Saskatchewan, the temperatures still get cold enough for the ice to freeze on its own – and then stay frozen for long stretches of winter. REGINA — Ask Dave King about what hockey means to his home province and he talks you through a guided tour of some of “There’s an old Saskatchewan expression that maybe reflects a little bit Saskatchewan’s lesser-known parts. of old-school thinking is, but it’s true: You can’t love the game of hockey until you freeze your toes a little bit,” King said. “I would compare the “It goes beyond just Gordie Howe,” the former NHL coach and member outdoor hockey tradition in Saskatchewan to the kids that played inner- of the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame said. “If you drive through city basketball in the United States. It’s a pick-up game. No referees, no Saskatchewan and get to Foam Lake, there’ll be a sign that says: ‘Home rules really. You can do what you want to do. And you’d see that in of Bernie Federko.’ When you go through Val Marie, the sign says: hockey in Saskatchewan. ‘Home of Bryan Trottier.’ Some towns have got three or four players, and they’ll list those players’ names on a billboard outside of town. “On a Sunday afternoon, you’d play down at the rink – with grown-ups. You might be 10 or 11, and you’d be playing pick-up hockey with people “We’ve had a romance with the game for a long time.” who are way older than you, and way better than you. So, if you wanted Saskatchewan may not be the birthplace of hockey, but the game’s roots the puck, you had to really work hard to get it; and when you had it, you are firmly embedded here — in the geography and the climate, in the had to work really hard to keep it. people and the land. If a sport can have a beating pulse, you can hear it “Often, you’d have to clear the rink of snow before you could play. And thump, thump, thumping here. on a snowy night, you’d sometimes have to stop the game to scrape the Area-wise, the province is almost four times the size of New England, but ice a little – and then you’d go back and play again.” its population is less than a quarter of Boston’s. Federko is one of the dozens of Hockey Hall of Famers who began And yet, Saskatchewan has produced an outsized amount of hockey playing hockey, both indoors and outdoors, in a small Saskatchewan talent. The greatest female player of all time, Hayley Wickenheiser, is town. Many are known for their toughness and grit. Federko had that too from Shaunavon; and yes, Mr. Hockey was from Floral. – but also an uncommon skill level that eventually helped him score 1,130 points in 1,000 NHL career games. For years now, Federko has To King’s point, it doesn’t stop there. The generations of players, been a television analyst for the St. Louis Blues, a team that had three coaches and managers born and raised in Saskatchewan, who Saskatchewan-born players on its 2019 Stanley Cup team. eventually left their mark on the hockey world reads like a who’s who of the game’s greatest legends. There was Elmer Lach and the Bentley Federko described his upbringing in Foam Lake as “pretty typical” for a brothers, Doug and Max. Emile Francis and Sid Abel. Johnny Bower and small Saskatchewan town. Geographically, it is located smack dab in the Glenn Hall. Trottier and Wendel Clark, Federko and Red Berenson. The middle of the Prairies, with all the surrounding land dead flat. The only McCrimmon boys, Brad and Kelly. The Odeleins, Lyle and Selmar. Other trees that grew were the ones the townspeople planted. In the summer, hard-knock guys: Joey Kocur, Dave Manson, Tiger Williams and Kelly the weather got hot and windy. In winters, cold and windy. Chase. Current NHLers: Patrick Marleau, Ryan Getzlaf and Jordan “A town in Saskatchewan is judged by how many grain elevators it had,” Eberle. Pivotal administrators: Charles and Bill Hay. The expansive explained Federko. “We had seven or eight, so that made us a big town, coaching tree: King, Mike Babcock, Todd McLellan. Berenson qualifies in one of the bigger towns on the Yellowhead highway.” that category too. The original rink in Foam Lake was across the street from where the Long before Shattuck St. Mary’s became the must-attend preparatory Federkos lived, but it burned down when Bernie was five or six years old. school for teenage players in North America, Saskatchewan had Notre When they built the new recreation centre, they moved it to the edge of Dame College, in Wilcox, run by Father Athol Murray. Today, it would be town, by the railroad tracks. That eventually became the main hangout described as an academy, perhaps even an incubator. In those days, it for Federko, his brothers and his friends. But once winter socked in, they was a barebones boarding school in a tiny Prairie town that grew into a didn’t have to go very far to play. national feeder institution. “Dad used to flood the garden for us,” Federko said. “By Halloween, it In addition to all its homegrown talent, Saskatchewan has also drawn was cold enough to freeze, and so we had outdoor ice, usually from the players from all over the world so they could hone their craft in their end of October until about mid-March. The snow would get so high that formative years. Mike Modano left a comfortable middle-class Detroit sometimes it would be six or eight feet high around the boards because suburb to play in Prince Albert. So did Leon Draisaitl (of Cologne, you’d be shovelling it all winter. There’d be only one way in eventually, Germany). So did Josh Morrissey (of Calgary, Alberta). Future Tampa and the puck would almost never go out of the rink because the Bay Lightning teammates (and Stanley Cup champions) Brad Richards snowbanks were so high.” and Vincent Lecavalier landed in Wilcox. Every other punchline in the movie “Slap Shot” is seemingly peppered with references to the province; Part of the challenge of growing up in a small town in that era was to Eddie Shore (of the Cupar Canucks) and to old-time hockey. avoiding boredom, Federko said. Keeping busy was a priority. Saskatchewan hockey. “As kids, because there was only one channel on the TV, you grew up This weekend, the NHL has found Saskatchewan again in a splashy, finding things to do,” Federko said. “We played baseball, cricket, kick the visible way. During the era of the “neutral” site games, the NHL can, rode our bikes – anything to pass the time. previously played six regular-season games in Saskatoon, all at SaskPlace. “We lived a block away from the high school, where my uncle was the caretaker. So, we used to go to the gym and shoot hoops – help him But the 2019 edition of the Heritage Classic will bring the NHL’s first-ever sweep up and clean the chalkboards and that let us spend some time in regular-season outdoor game to the province. It will take place Saturday the gym. It was a town of 1,200 people; so, you knew everybody and night – live on Hockey Night In Canada — at Mosaic Field, home of the everybody knew you; and you could come and go as you please.” CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. The game will feature the two NHL teams from neighbouring provinces – the Calgary Flames and the According to Federko, everyone in his circle shared the same essential Winnipeg Jets. The long-range forecast calls for moderate temperatures, values – and knew early on in life that the only way to prosper was with the snow not expected to fall until Sunday. through hard work. Eventually, to make their way in the world, they also knew they had to leave their small towns behind. It didn’t mean you In some ways, scheduling the game for January might have been a truer couldn’t come back – because most still do, to pay the debt forward. But reflection of what outdoor hockey really looks like in Saskatchewan, when once you were out there, pursuing your dreams in the larger world, the same teams and actually won the provincials when I was 13 – our your roots gave you stability and structure. first taste of playing (province-wide).”

“When I think back to my entry into the game and my brothers’ entry and Hailing from a too-small town actually helped some players progress my friends, here’s what I would tell you: In Saskatchewan, we’re given faster through the ranks, according to King. and then we earn,” said McLellan, the Los Angeles Kings’ head coach. “Our parents would go out and get us all our equipment and take us to “If a young guy was 12 or 13, and wanted to play competitively, one of the rink, and put us out there. That’s given to us. two things usually happened,” King said. “Either he might have to go to another community because there might not be enough 12- or 13-year- “From there, they made us earn it. For example, for us to continue to play olds in your community to form a team. Or failing that, you would play up, the game, school was important. School came first. My parents also at a higher age level. stressed proper etiquette at home; respect for elders; being on time; participating in a team environment; work ethic. There was never a lot of “So, you’d enter a team in a 14-year-old league, but fill out the roster with systems stuff when we played. It was ‘put your work boots on and go to a lot of 12- and 13-year-olds. For a lot of our young players, that’s how work.’” they got so good – because they were playing above their heads, at a young age. That gave them a real kick start, in their development.” McLellan is listed in his NHL biography as being from Melville, but he grew up in Goodsoil, listed on Wikipedia as the “central gateway to If there is such a thing as an urban hockey tradition in a mostly rural Meadow Lake provincial park.” Current population: 281. It is also home to province, it is focused on two cities – Saskatoon (current population former Ranger Ron Greschner, whom McLellan describes as “the NHL 246,376) and Regina (236,481). guy that we all knew.” In Goodsoil, the only paved street was the Among current NHL players from Regina, the New York Islanders’ highway. Jordan Eberle has perhaps the deepest connection. He was born in “But every other street, the snow just got so packed down that when I Regina in 1990, played his novice for the Regina tier-1 Kings and moved was younger, I remember sometimes skating to school,” McLellan said. to Wilcox to play one year of bantam as a 14-year-old at Notre Dame.

Almost always, they would bring their hockey sticks along. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Regina Pats, his hometown Western Hockey League team, and after spending one year playing “If you took a hockey stick to school now, they’d probably view it as a midget hockey in Calgary for the AAA Buffaloes, he spent the next four weapon,” McLellan said, “but back then, we would put them in our seasons with the Pats — culminating in 2010, when he was named the lockers and as soon as the bell rang, you’d go outside and play hockey. Canadian Hockey League player of the year. Eberle, who grew up as a Every school had an outdoor rink and there could be four different games fan of the Oilers, eventually started his NHL career in Edmonton but says going on at the same time. After school, you didn’t go home. You went a lot of the rural hockey experiences of his peers were also mirrored in out on the rink. Some kids played in their boots, some in their skates. his upbringing in the (comparatively) big city. Instinctually, that gave us a lot of creativity in the game. It wasn’t at all structured. It was just fun.” “In summer, we’d use the community rink for ball hockey, and in winter, they’d flood it when it got cold enough,” Eberle said. “That was close to If there is a further common thread linking players and officials from where I lived so I would say the majority of the outdoor hockey I played small-town Saskatchewan, it is that focus on community. was there. But we also had a backyard rink.

For years, every social interaction was filtered through the local hockey “There was something you could buy at Canadian Tire – an inflatable thin or curling rink, said King. plastic sheet that you could fill with water, and then it would freeze and you would peel the plastic off and that was your outdoor rink. My dad did “It’s changing quite a bit now, but in the past, the curling rink or the that for us every year. I mean, it was tiny – just enough that you could hockey rink usually had a concession stand so in the mornings, people take five strides and make a play and shoot. I skated on that thing would gather there to have a coffee,” King said. “It gave people a place to hundreds of times with my brothers and sisters. socialize. Now that’s been replaced a little bit by Tim Horton’s. Eberle’s parents now live in Calgary in the lake community of Auburn “But when I was a little guy, everyone went to the rink. I lived in Bay, and back in his Oiler days, he would drive down the highway to Battleford, a little town right across the river from North Battleford, so we spend Christmas with his family. Part of the tradition was playing shinny – all of us as kids – you had a game either Friday or Saturday in your – but this was a completely different outdoor experience than his youth. community and we’d all go. There wasn’t TV like there is now, where you could compare the product, so we thought our level of hockey was the “They have their own Zamboni and the ice is pristine,” Eberle said. “The best. We thought our players were like NHL players.” weather there was pretty nice too, so you’d be out there, just in a track suit and gloves — and it was awesome. And if something ever happened to the rink, it could be disastrous for the town. Former NHLer Gord Sherven – one of 48 members of Notre “But when I was outdoor playing as a kid in Regina, it could get to minus- Dame’s Wall of Honor – grew up in Mankota, a small community, where 40 – and I’d still be out there playing. Even playing in indoor rinks, as a he says he had his own key to the rink. kid, I remember the air would flow through them, and you literally had to wear mini-mitts under your hockey gloves, because it was so cold and “Everybody went to the rink in winter because there was nowhere else to your hands would freeze.” go,” Sherven said. “That was the heartbeat of the community. People would go there in the mornings and just sit and watch a hockey game. This past summer, the Blues’ Saskatchewan trio – of Tyler Bozak, Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz — brought the Stanley Cup to “In 2002, the rink in Mankota was condemned – the Centennial Arena, Mosaic Field to celebrate the championship during a CFL game between built in 1967 – and they couldn’t get it insured anymore, so they had to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders. The trio tear it down. wore their Blues jerseys, but at an appropriate moment in the ceremony, “All of a sudden, boom, it seemed like the heart and the pulse of the stripped them off to reveal Rider jerseys. The place went wild. community was gone. They still had the curling rink, but it wasn’t the Spending a day with the Stanley Cup is now both a long-standing same. My brother was still living there at the time and said, ‘We will never tradition and a worldwide phenomenon, but according to Federko, it be the same town without the arena.’ I mean, they still had an outdoor didn’t change the fact that its appearance at a ‘Rider game really sheet, but the kids had to go and play for teams in other towns. It was resonated with the people of Saskatchewan. just not the same after they lost the rink.” “Maybe it’s just our upbringing that makes you never forget where you Some of those Saskatchewan communities were so tiny they had to come from,” Federko said. “The neat thing about the Saskatchewan boys combine forces with other towns to ice a proper team. In his bantam is they wanted to bring it back to where it all started. It’s important – year, Federko says Foam Lake combined with Kelvington to form a team where you came from, and to show your thankfulness to the people who that played in the provincial B division – which was designed for towns supported you early in our lives.” with populations under 2,000. According to King, that tradition – of thankfulness — dates back “Even with the towns combined, we were still under 2,000,” Federko said. generations in Saskatchewan. “It’s where I got to know Barry Melrose really well. We played together on “As a young player, I played for Vic Lynn,” King said. “Lynn played for the hockey games. We had the Swift Current bus tragedy. People don’t like Toronto Maple Leafs and he won the Stanley Cup (three times: in 1947, to talk about it a lot, but it is still very much on people’s minds. 1948 and 1949). His nickname was Bear – because he was a big, thick, strong guy, a real competitor and he was one of the greatest guys to play “I know for me, I go on Hockeydb.com every morning because I can see for because you always knew where you stood with him. He’d played in the results of games from around the world and I almost always end by the NHL. He lived in some big cities down east. But he never lost touch going to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League results to see how with his Saskatchewan roots. He was a real bread-and-butter kind of a Humboldt is doing. It’s made you very aware – that it’s a special team guy. He was just so humble, a straight-forward, honest man. now and a special situation – and it’s always going to be that way.

“I’ve met so many hockey people like him, who never lost that flavour of In 1983, during Federko’s seventh NHL season in St. Louis, the Blues Saskatchewan, even though they made it to the big time and made big were tentatively sold by Ralston Purina to (Wild) Bill Hunter, a smooth- bucks by the standards of those days. Gordie Howe used to come back talking promoter and a Notre Dame grad himself, who had plans to in the summertime to Waskesiu, him and Johnny Bower. Johnny had the relocate the team to Saskatoon. In the end, the NHL’s board of governors hamburger place and used to flip hamburgers and hot dogs; and Gordie vetoed the idea, on the grounds that Saskatoon was too small a city to worked at the golf course, cutting the greens. They had to do that to sustain an NHL franchise long term. The Blues had two important supplement their salaries. Even now, our NHL players who are making Saskatchewan connections then – Emile Francis, the team’s GM, and big money still come back to Saskatchewan. Federko, most of whose family was living in Saskatoon by then.

Perhaps the best example of hockey’s humble Saskatchewan origins is “The one thing that’s bad about Saskatchewan is that the two biggest the presence of Notre Dame College, officially known as Athol Murray cities aren’t big enough to support NHL teams,” Federko said. “When College of Notre Dame. Founded in 1920 by The Sisters of Charity of St. there was all that talk about St. Louis moving to Saskatoon, deep down, Louis as a residential elementary and high school for boys and girls, its you knew there was no way they could support that – especially now motto reflects ingrained Saskatchewan values: “Struggle and emerge.” when payrolls are $80 million. Its current mission statement: “To develop young men and women to “So, I think it’s great that they’re doing this outdoor game for become purposeful leaders, with virtuous character.” Saskatchewan because there are so many kids that have gone through In the beginning, Notre Dame had no running water or central heating. there and played in the NHL – and people want to see the real thing. They want to see real players and a real game and they deserve it. For “They got old railroad boxcars and that’s what they converted into Saskatchewan to have a game, out in the open air, it’s just great.” dormitories,” King said. “They would glue newspapers to the walls to keep the breeze from going through too quickly. At Notre Dame, you Knowing Regina the way he does, Eberle predicts the event will be a went to school and you played hockey. That’s basically all there was. rousing success.

In addition to Richards, Lecavalier and Clark, Notre Dame’s alumni also “I grew up in Regina, played my junior hockey in Regina. Regina’s includes Eberle, Gord Kluzak and both Jaden and Mandy Schwartz. always been home to me,” Eberle said. “When I played there as a Three current NHL coaches (Barry Trotz, Jon Cooper and Rod hometown kid for the Pats, the community got behind me 100 percent. I Brind’Amour) are all grads — as is current Alberta premier Jason remember my final game – standing ovation. Regina’s always had the Kenney. Sherven was recruited to Notre Dame by Martin Kenney, Pats and the Riders. The new stadium there, it’s so nice. I went to a Jason’s father, who was the school president for 17 years (1975-1992). game there this summer. With the way the weather should shape up, it should be an awesome, awesome outdoor game.” “Back in the day, it’d be minus 20 or minus 30 degrees out and they froze in those dorms,” Sherven said. “They would put a coal stove in the back McLellan too believes the game “will be well-supported, a big celebration. of a cloth-covered truck, and the players would all pile in the back and It’s the halfway point between the two rival teams that are going to play. that’s how they went to hockey games. There’s going to be Jet fans and Flame fans there, wearing their colours.

Sherven was recruited to play on the Notre Dame bantam team when he “But more importantly, there’s going to be hockey fans there too, who will was 14 and remembers how “the first month was tough. I was in Grade appreciate the 40 players on the rink – and I guarantee you, there will a 10. It was a very hard school – the old boy/new boy system. You’d listen lot of conversations, in the stands, or near the concessions, talking about to what the old boys did and there were consequences when you didn’t. when we played outdoors in Rosthern or Wakaw or wherever. But within a month, the hockey started. I loved it. Terry O’Malley was my “It will take people back in history — to a lot of their own outdoor hockey first coach. Arguably, Terry along with Barry McKenzie, were the two best experiences.” coaches for development anywhere in Canada. They’d just left Father Bauer and the national program; from a development standpoint, it The Athletic LOADED: 10.25.2019 couldn’t have been better.”

In the WHL’s current 22-team incarnation, five franchises are based in Saskatchewan: The Pats, the Saskatoon Blades, the Prince Albert Raiders, the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Swift Current Broncos. In 1986, four players on the Broncos died in a bus crash on the Trans- Canada highway bound for a game in Regina. The survivors included Joe Sakic, the future Hall of Famer; and Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHLer who became an activist for players’ rights.

Eighteen months ago, a second bus tragedy befell the province, when the Humboldt Broncos bus, heading to a Saskatchewan Junior League playoff game in Nipawin, was hit by a tractor-trailer truck. That collision took 15 lives. In its immediate aftermath, the NHL’s Saskatchewan community rallied behind the community, offering assistance however they could. McLellan, then the Oilers’ coach, and his Calgary counterpart at the time, Glen Gulutzan, joined forces and went to Humboldt immediately, distributing team gear, but mostly just to let the families of the victims and survivors know the hockey community had their collective backs.

The memory of the tragedy is still fresh in people’s minds, says King, who spends his summers in Saskatchewan’s lake country.

“Even now, you can hardly drive down the street without seeing a car with a bumper sticker that reads ‘Humboldt Strong,’” King said. “I worked in Yaroslavl, the city which had the plane crash that killed 37 people, and that’s never going to go away. It’s similar in Humboldt. For all of us in Saskatchewan, we know what it’s like to travel those rural roads, to go to 1158364 Websites sometimes for the worse. For an Edmonton team off to a hot start, but wavering on a two-game losing/goalless streak — and trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes — this was one of those.

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers 'find a way' as McDavid, Draisaitl key comeback vs. “They’re a veteran team that knows how to win games,” said McDavid, Capitals who hit the 20-point plateau in game No. 11. “They clog it up, they know how to hold leads and they’re comfortable playing in one-goal games.

“Credit to us for not folding, and battling back.” Mark Spector | October 25, 2019, 1:27 AM Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019

EDMONTON — “We believe in here,” said Leon Draisaitl.

The Edmonton Oilers had been shut out in two straight games, and when they finally put one past Braden Holtby in the opening period Thursday, well, in reality it was just a Darnell Nurse centering pass that went in off of Dmitry Orlov’s stick.

Fast forward to the third period, down 3-1 to Alex Ovechkin and the mighty Washington Capitals, and the Oilers were facing their first serious test of the young season.

“We needed to find a way and we did,” said Connor McDavid. “It took the full 20 minutes, but we found a way.”

McDavid exploded in the third period and overtime with a goal and two assists, not to mention hitting a crossbar on a dazzling solo rush. The Oilers scored at the 4:25 mark, and then James Neal fed McDavid for a goal with the goalie pulled and 98 ticks left on the clock.

Draisaitl buried his eighth in OT on a signature 2-on-1 with McDavid, capping a 40-shot night that showed hints of a team that will not be denied.

The team effort in the third period belied the scoresheet, as Edmonton dominated Washington for most of the final 20 minutes to win 4-3, and step back into a tie for first overall in the National Hockey League standings with the Buffalo Sabres at 8-2-1.

“That’s a really good team over there, they’re going to be in the playoffs,” said Draisaitl. “I’m proud of the guys. We stuck with it, we battled.”

As much as it costs to see NHL hockey these days — and this was the third consecutive non-sellout at Rogers Place — 17,144 fans definitely got their money’s worth on this night, as the superstars delivered. Ovechkin had two goals, including a top-corner, powerplay wrist shot that dazzled the fans, while Draisaitl answered with two of his own.

Tipping the scales was McDavid, who put on a third-period tour de force that you simply had to see to believe.

“That is Connor at full speed. It was entertaining to watch,” marveled Oilers coach Dave Tippett. “It was a fun game, I’m sure, for the fans. The big guys scored. Ovechkin had two, Draisaitl had two and McDavid was really good.”

Ovechkin watched his team cough up a point in the third period, the kind of game they’ll be nailing down in April and May.

“We knew we could not give McDavid the speed through the neutral zone,” Ovechkin said. “Those mistakes, they will use them and obviously their speed that they have, we can not give them freedom.”

McDavid was asked about the show put on by the only two 50-goal scorers from last season, and like Draisaitl he deferred to The Great Eight, whose body of work will take years even for McDavid to approach.

“Ovechkin has been doing it for (15) years, one of the best ever to do it,” said McDavid. “He holds the gold standard when it comes to goal scoring. Leon, he’s finding his way. Fifty goals last year, he scores in different ways. Two real good players.”

Young Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear, who was eight years old when Ovechkin broke in, faced the Caps for the first time in his young career. He was outmuscled by Ovechkin on a second period deflection, then watched from the bench as the Caps captain lasered one high-glove for career goal No. 666, a devilish snipe past Mikko Koskinen.

“Honestly, I wish he didn’t score,” said Bear. “But it was pretty cool to see — he just rips it top cheese. Nobody’s really that upset. It’s Ovechkin, right?”

There are games each season that have a shelf life. Nights that teams reference in February and March, sometimes for the better and 1158365 Websites Kane’s second goal, scored 34 seconds after Petry was sent to the box for a phantom trip, was the product of the Canadiens freezing because they were so focused on not running out of position.

Sportsnet.ca / Urgent need to fix Canadiens' penalty kill clear after loss to “It’s a balance of sometimes you feel like you’re too aggressive and you Sharks need to box it up a bit more, and then when you’re doing that it feels like you just get peppered with shots and you need to be more aggressive,” said Chiarot, whose first response to being asked about the struggling penalty kill was, “Oh, f—.” Eric Engels October 25, 2019, 12:28 AM If the 28-year-old wasn’t too excited to talk about it, it’s at least in part

because he’s been on the ice for five of the 11 goals the Canadiens have MONTREAL — Despite Aaron Dell’s proclamation that his San Jose allowed on the penalty kill — including both of the ones San Jose scored. Sharks played the best game of their season at the Bell Centre on And it can’t feel good for him to know that he’s the only new player on a Thursday, the 4-2 score in their favour had more to do with the Montreal penalty kill that finished 13th in the league and operated at 80.9 per cent Canadiens than it did with his team. last season.

Not that we’re disputing the backup goaltender’s comment, because, Right now, the Canadiens rank 30th in the category. They’ve killed off frankly, the Sharks came to Montreal with a 3-5-1 record on the heels of just 67.6 per cent of their penalties. And Big Ben is hardly the only another bad loss and in possession of some of the NHL’s worst numbers reason that’s the case, just as last year’s success can’t solely be credited in all but one category — their penalty kill, which ranked second among to Jordie Benn, who left for Vancouver as an unrestricted free agent in 31 teams after successfully killing off 90.6 per cent of the team’s July. penalties. It’s just that they were dominated by Montreal in nearly every “We’re capable of doing better,” said Julien. facet of the game, outshot 37-23 and out-chanced by an even wider margin, and they really weren’t all that good. The Canadiens can’t be much worse in this aspect of the game. It’s the main reason they lost to the Sharks on Thursday, and it’s one of the only There were 20 icings in the game, 14 of them from the Sharks. reasons they don’t have more four wins through their first 10 games. — Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 25, 2019 If they don’t fix this quick, it’s going to cost them dearly. But Dell was phenomenal, and that San Jose penalty kill did its thing on Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019 Montreal’s three power-play opportunities.

As for the Canadiens, who had been excellent at 5-on-5 and surprisingly successful on the power play through their first nine games, they came into this one with an abysmal penalty kill and came out of it with an even worse one. And their coach made an assessment afterward that absolutely no one watching could take issue with.

“Our penalty kill was not good enough,” Claude Julien said.

“It didn’t take them long to score. Guys are missing assignments, or we’re not clearing pucks, or we’re too busy crosschecking guys in front of the net instead of looking for the puck. There’s a lot of things that will be addressed (Friday). It’s time that there’s certain things here that have to be clearly defined and I’ll make sure that happens.”

It’s fair to say we’re well past it being time for that. The issues have been the same since the season started on Oct. 3, but if there’s an urgency to “clearly define” things, it’s because trust between the players comprising each penalty-killing unit appears to have eroded.

That was abundantly clear on the first of two goals the Canadiens allowed on their first two penalty-killing opportunities against the Sharks. It was a full-blown fire drill in front of goaltender Carey Price with Evander Kane being the eventual beneficiary of a Logan Couture shot that deflected off of him and into the net.

The play started with Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry swinging well outside his designated area to make an aggressive stab at a puck Sharks forward Tomas Hertl was in full control of by the sideboards. From there, Hertl shoveled it down low to Kevin Labanc, who had an open lane to drive the net because Petry was out of position.

As Petry was jetting back to cover off Labanc’s net drive, Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot realized that his partner wasn’t going to recover on time. So Chiarot slid in front of Labanc to block the shot and the passing lane. The problem was that both Petry and Chiarot were on Labanc and it was compounded by the fact that Price didn’t believe either one of them was going to stop him.

The goaltender shuffled over and ended up with three players encroaching on him while the puck squirted past his glove and over to Couture, who was wide open.

The Sharks captain set up Erik Karlsson with a clean one-timer from the point that Price turned aside, but then the rebound was easily collected by Hertl and passed over to Couture for the shot that banked off Kane.

No one on Montreal’s side took a man on the play. They all just watched as the puck trickled into the net.

A picture worth 1000 words… pic.twitter.com/pj8dNHHjsf

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 25, 2019 1158366 Websites Some would say lucky. But given the unlucky bounces that led to their undoing against the

Washington Capitals two night earlier, we’ll just call it even in the eyes of Sportsnet.ca / Flames 'relieved' to beat Panthers as they still search for the hockey gods. their game “Definitely lots going on,” smiled coach Bill Peters, who went on an unsolicited rant earlier in the week about playing smarter defensive hockey and giving up freebies. Eric Francis | October 25, 2019, 1:58 AM “I thought we were in a good spot there when Gio scored. They pushed, we didn’t handle it very well, recovered, broke down a little bit … huge goal by (Bennett), he got us into overtime and then the shootout. It’s a Exhaling deeply, the look of relief on Noah Hanifin’s face mirrored the resilient win. We’ll take the two points.” sentiments of the city. Bennett was playing in his first game since Saturday when he left with a “That,” started the Calgary Flames defenceman, “would have hurt a lot. lower-body injury, returning to be the hero in a night that ended with Especially with the outdoor game coming up, and the big road trip, we’re David Rittich saving both Panthers shootout attempts. pretty relieved we got that one.” The outdoor game goes Saturday night in Regina where temperatures At a time when the confidence of his Calgary club seems to fluctuate are expecting to be around freezing come puck drop. from period to period, authoring a come-from-behind shootout win over a relentless Florida Panthers club Thursday could end up being one of the Things could certainly have been expected to get chillier had the Flames biggest moments of the season. not pulled this one out of the fire.

It certainly felt that way. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019 After all, at one point, the hosts were less than three minutes away from officially squandering a two-goal cushion they’d built early in the third period.

If not for a late Sam Bennett goal to stymie a three-goal binge by Alexsander Barkov’s Panthers, these Flames would have headed out on a five-game roadie with their tails between their legs.

The Heritage Classic outdoor celebration, slated to include their families Friday and Saturday, would have been significantly muted.

These are not last year’s, West-winning Calgary Flames.

Or are they?

Is this all part of the learning curve on handling increased expectations?

Or is this team really of the belief its good enough to win on its abundant skill alone?

The fact is they’re not.

And Thursday night that was almost perfectly illustrated… until they pulled a rabbit out of their hats with a wildly entertaining 6-5 win.

Tied 2-2 entering the third, the Flames appeared to turn a measured, vanilla outing into a route when Matthew Tkachuk scored his second goal of the night just 32 seconds in.

What followed was the Flames’ most dominant five-minute stretch of the season as Sean Monahan was stopped on a breakaway, Mark Giordano and Rasmus Andersson both hit the post on a powerplay, and Milan Lucic also had a great chance turned away. At the five-minute mark, Giordano put the Flames up 4-2 and appeared in control.

They weren’t.

Three goals by the Panthers in the following nine minutes turned the Dome into a morgue, brought to life only by Bennett’s game-tying tally off Aaron Ekblad to set up an intense extra frame and skills competition.

The late heroics could all could have been undone had they not clinched that second point thanks to shootout goals by Monahan and Tkachuk.

“It was a crazy third period obviously, but that’s a big two points for us confidence-wise,” said Tkachuk.

“When they tied it up they had a lot of momentum there, and pulling a win out there is going to be big for our team.”

How it all seemed to fall apart in the third was similar to the way this team has imploded routinely in their 6-5-1 season. Needless giveaways in the neutral zone and failing to play smarter, safer hockey continues to be a problem.

“I just think we want to get to our game,” said Giordano.

“There are spurts of it, but there are times it’s too loose out there, and it feels too much like a turnover-fest. I thought at 4-2 in the third we were in a good spot. I didn’t necessarily like to give them three, but I thought we were resilient to get one back.” 1158367 Websites group that will be in a crowded mix to secure a playoff spot. Just making the dance would do wonders for that market and that young core. Chayka must decide how aggressive he’ll be to give this roster an added push. Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: Your GM's Next Critical Move Edition 7. Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have done a solid job of identifying the players they want to keep and the ones they’re willing to let go. An original VGK, Cody Luke Fox | October 24, 2019, 8:30 AM Eakin, is next up. Kelly McCrimmon must determine whether to make Eakin, who’s off to a sluggish start, his seventh $5-million forward or walk

away. It is around this time of the season — the 10-game mark — that NHL 8. Edmonton Oilers general managers have seen enough to begin assessing what they have and what they lack. Of all of the 14(!) players on Ken Holland’s roster who are on expiring contracts, Darnell Nurse must be the priority. The RFA-to-be bet on The sample size isn’t expansive by any means, but there’s enough himself, taking a bridge deal in the summer of 2018. Now he’s eating up evidence to begin plotting the next course of action. 24 minutes a night and has contributed seven points despite not seeing Are we a couple tweaks away from being a playoff team? Should I try to much power-play usage. lock up my free agent before he explodes for a career season? Do I have 9. Carolina Hurricanes the right coach for this group? Carolina set the world on fire through the first two weeks but has quietly Of course, the next true pressure point for GMs won’t arrive until the receded back to the pack. We’re still not ruling out a Don Waddell mid- trade deadline, but with a few teams trying to wrap up important business season recruitment of the well-rested Justin Williams to join the Jerks early — be it New Jersey re-signing Nico Hischier, Chicago locking up and give one of the league’s deepest blue lines another bit of support up Alex DeBrincat, or St. Louis rewarding Brayden Schenn — we thought it front. worthwhile to preview the next big to-do item on each front office’s list. 10. Nashville Predators In our NHL Power Rankings: Your General Manager’s Next Critical Move Edition, we highlight the next significant decision, trade or signing that will Can you name a better defenceman on track to hit the open market than shape the future of your favourite club. Predators captain Roman Josi, who’s almost done with being the league’s biggest bargain at $4 million? We’ll wait. All 31 teams are ranked in order of their current power, while the write- ups zero in on a burning bit of unfinished business. 11. St. Louis Blues

1. Buffalo Sabres In a perfect world, Doug Armstrong will be able to satisfy the contract demands of both Vince Dunn, 22, and Alex Pietrangelo, 29. So, does the The right side of the Sabres’ blue line continues to be a deep source of GM prioritize loyalty and leadership, or youth and promise? Or, with the speculation. When Brandon Montour (RFA) returns from injured reserve, 2020 cap expected to be stagnant, can he find a way to keep everybody things get crowded. The curiosity surrounding the future of Rasmus happy? Ristolainen — the Sabres’ most-used skater is off to a much more responsible start — won’t go anywhere. Is he clawing back into the 12. Tampa Bay Lightning organization’s good graces, or just upping his own trade value? Once again, the Lightning have the roster depth to go all the way. Once 2. Boston Bruins again, Julien BriseBois’s cap is about to get tested, with critical RFAs Anthony Cirelli and Mikhail Sergachev on deck. The GM surely will be The still-dangerous Bruins are speeding toward another fascinating tempted to spend his extra first-round pick (via Vancouver) to bolster his summer of decisions, with key components at every position due for a already-strong roster. raise. With all due respect to a young spark plug like Jake DeBrusk (RFA), Torey Krug’s impending UFA status is the story we’re most 13. Pittsburgh Penguins intrigued about. The player loves the team; the team loves the player. But does an electric, 28-year-old puck-mover fall in line with Boston’s under- The Penguins’ Jim Rutherford is facing a conundrum where he’d like to market-for-the-greater-good cap structure or does he test an open patch up his injured forward group while knowing that he’ll soon need to market starving for his skill-set? dish out raises on the back end. Three of his starting six defencemen — Justin Schultz, Marcus Pettersson and Juuso Riikola — could come 3. Colorado Avalanche knocking for pay bumps, and both goalies — Matt Murray, Tristan Jarry — absolutely will. As the hot-start Avalanche reasserts its position atop our Power Rankings, Joe Sakic must be contemplating how soon he’ll need to re- 14. Anaheim Ducks sign impending RFAs Andre Burakovsky, 24, and Tyson Jost, 21. Each is off to a scorching beginning to his platform year, providing Colorado with The stingy Ducks find themselves, surprisingly, in the mix for the Pacific the secondary scoring it needed. lead, but theirs is a run built solely on keeping the puck out of the net. Finally with a little cap room to wiggle, Bob Murray must determine over 4. Washington Capitals the next couple months whether he believes enough in his group to dip into the forward rental market. Backup goalie Ilya Samsonov is outperforming impending UFA Braden Holtby in October. The latter is set to become the most marquee free 15. Montreal Canadiens agent at hockey’s most important position. GM Brian MacLellan must use the next few months to decide whether to give the keys to the kid, or holds two commodities his peers would love to have: cap reward a Cup champion who could use Sergei Bobrovsky’s outrageous space and 10 draft picks in the first five rounds of 2020. If the Habs can $70-million windfall as a comparable. stay in the mix in a bear of an Atlantic Division, Bergevin has the purchasing power to add a real difference-maker. 5. Vancouver Canucks 16. New York Islanders The next two big challenges staring at Jim Benning will be to decide whether Jacob Markstrom is a franchise goaltender and whether his The last time the Islanders’ franchise centre was on an expiring contract group — as hoped — is a legit playoff team. The good news is, those it didn’t end so well. needs to secure Mathew Barzal long- decisions should be tightly intertwined. term at fair value.

6. Arizona Coyotes 17. Columbus Blue Jackets

Compared to his peers, John Chayka has a solid track record of getting The Blue Jackets’ business challenges will not relent. After a summer of ahead of his important contract extensions. He also can be counted on departures, Jarmo Kekalainen must next dole out raises to his No. 1 for a mid-season shake-up trade. The improved Coyotes appear like a centre, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and an important power forward, Josh Anderson, both of whom will turn RFA. ALSO: He does not have a The Rangers’ four-game losing slump shoves them right back in a goaltender under contract for 2020-21. On the bright side, he does have familiar spot, toward the Metropolitan basement, and reminds us of a cap space to get these deals done. familiar decision for Jeff Gorton: to hang on to power winger Chris Kreider or consider selling him off at some point to a playoff team. 18. Florida Panthers 30. Ottawa Senators With the Panthers looking like a playoff bubble team, it will be fascinating to see how Dale Tallon treats veteran UFA-to-be forwards Mike Hoffman Pierre Dorion knows his mission — the Senators are rebuilding, if you and Evgeni Dadonov. Does he go the “own rental” route, try to extend, or haven’t heard — but the challenge now will be sorting through his 15(!) consider a trade to address a sluggish defence? impending free agents and determining whom to build around. Godspeed. 19. Toronto Maple Leafs 31. Detroit Red Wings The great UFA defenceman conundrum — 75 per cent of Toronto’s top four are in the final season of a deal — can wait. ’s next bit of Steve Yzerman is wisely taking a patient approach in Detroit, but the tone business is deciding who to cut when Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott of the rebuild will kick into gear when half of his top six — Anthony return from LTIR as early as next week. Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi — require significant raises. 20. Calgary Flames Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019 Brad Treliving’s stressful summer of 2019 will only pave the path to another one in 2020. Four of his six defencemen — T.J. Brodie, , Rasmus Andersson, Michael Stone — do not have contracts for 2020-21. The GM must use this time to ensure he bets on the proper players.

21. Philadelphia Flyers

Managing the Philadelphia Flyers entails more than just sorting through Gritty’s restraining orders. Chuck Fletcher must also make the proper call on RFA-in-waiting Nolan Patrick, who hasn’t produced at the rate of new multi-millionaire Nico Hischier but is a talented 21-year-old centre in a league that covets such a commodity.

22. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets are giving up more than three goals a night. The need for an answer from Dustin Byfuglien on whether he wishes to play NHL hockey again grows by the game. If Big Buff is retiring, Kevin Cheveldayoff would probably like to spend the $6 million he’s saving to patch up a blue line in shambles.

23. Los Angeles Kings

As tempting as it might be for Rob Blake to strive for a wild-card spot, the GM must take the more prudent course and maximize returns this winter for tradable assets like Tyler Toffoli and Kyle Clifford.

24. San Jose Sharks

Kevin Labanc bet on himself by taking arguably the biggest team-friendly deal of the summer ($1 million for one year). Does Doug Wilson have a juicy, long-term extension in a drawer, just waiting to be signed after Jan. 1? Or is Lebanc’s mediocre start to this season (minus-9, called out by captain Logan Couture Tuesday) hurting his pocketbook?

25. Chicago Blackhawks

Like most GMs, Stan Bowman will need to make a call on an intriguing RFA (Dylan Strome), but the more important decision will be deciding his goaltender of the future. Robin Lehner (UFA 2020) has handily outperformed Corey Crawford (UFA 2020) to this point, but Crawford has been granted more starts and Bowman has a history of rewarding the players that brought championships to the city.

26. Dallas Stars

Don’t look now, but Jim Montgomery has coached his stars to a two- game winning streak, cooling his seat if only temporarily. Montgomery’s boss, Jim Nill, was aggressive (again) over the past summer and must be just crossing his fingers that his players can turn this thing around. He’s not the type to sit idle, however. If struggles mount, he’ll need to address the mess in-season.

27. Minnesota Wild

Bill Guerin is gazing at a Herculean task and has vowed patience. The next step is assessing which of his veterans can be moved so Minnesota can finally begin stocking its prospect pool. Pain is coming.

28. New Jersey Devils

Priority 1 for Ray Shero is extending Taylor Hall. Priority 1A is maximizing Hall’s trade value if the superstar is unwilling to put pen to paper before Feb. 24.

29. New York Rangers 1158368 Websites now with five goals in nine games playing with a couple of different players. I don’t think he’s going to complain and I’m not complaining."

Given the Canucks’ plus-11 goal differential and the team’s early Sportsnet.ca / Horvat line juggling shows Canucks roster remains success, it is understandable that Green might be a little touchy about incomplete line-combo questions. As he noted, Miller-Pettersson-Boeser have been together for seven games and counting – six of them wins – and the fourth-line of Tim Schaller-Jay Beagle-Tyler Motte has been as stable as it is effective. Iain MacIntyre | October 24, 2019, 7:47 PM But the fact that Horvat could be on his fifth set of wingers in Game 10

may be proof, despite an impressive October, that the overhauled roster VANCOUVER – If the Vancouver Canucks play Friday like they practised is not finished. The team could use another winger who can score. on Thursday, Bo Horvat will skate against the Washington Capitals with Interestingly, two skilled wingers the Canucks sent through waivers to the his fifth different combination of wingers this season – one for each goal minors three and a half weeks ago, Sven Baertschi and Nikolay he scored during his team’s first nine games. Goldobin, are torching the AHL. It’s the NHL; things change by the shift. "Obviously, I was kind of off to a slow start," Horvat said "But when you’re But both Horvat and coach Travis Green were looking forward to less winning hockey games, it’s still fun, still enjoyable to play. That’s what churn this season than last, when the Canucks’ workhorse centre was you have to look at it. Winning is a lot more fun than getting points and dared to play with 30 different sets of wingers and finished with 27 goals losing." and 61 points despite the turnstiles on his flanks. • Second-year forward Adam Gaudette, who forced his way onto the No wonder Green and general manager Jim Benning said before this Canucks’ roster with an outstanding September, was sent Thursday to season that the summer acquisitions of forwards J.T. Miller and Micheal the Utica Comets after being healthy scratched in six of nine games. His Ferland were intended, partly, to provide stability for Horvat. re-assignment leaves a roster spot open.

He hasn’t seen it. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019

A promising combination of Horvat, Tanner Pearson and Miller lasted just two games before Green moved Miller alongside Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser to get the Canucks’ young scoring stars going.

Pearson, however, stayed with Horvat until the third period of Tuesday’s 5-2 win in Detroit. On Thursday, Pearson practised with third-line centre Brandon Sutter and winger Josh Leivo, while Ferland, the most transient piece of Green’s lineup so far, skated with Horvat and Jake Virtanen.

"It doesn’t really surprise me; it happened last year," Horvat said after Thursday’s workout at Rogers Arena. "Obviously, (Travis) is still trying to feel guys out early in the season. I think once we get rolling and guys get playing to their potential everywhere around the room, things will stick.

"I like to think I can play with anybody and make everybody around me better. That’s what I try to do every single night, no matter who I’m playing with."

At training camp last month, Horvat said "it would be great, I’m not going to lie" to finally have regular partners.

Pearson has been the one constant, Horvat’s winger since his trade to the Canucks from the Pittsburgh Penguins last February.

Pearson scored nine goals in 19 games with Horvat to end last year, and four games into this season his goal rate was up to 11 in 23. But Pearson is pointless in his last five games and Horvat’s line has struggled to generate five-on-five offence.

Of Horvat’s five goals – all of them scored on the successful four-game road trip that ended in Detroit and lifted the Canucks to 6-3-0 – three were on the power play, one from power-play pressure and one into an empty net.

Virtanen’s bank-shot goal against Detroit was his first of the season, and Ferland also has only one goal in nine games and logged a team-low 16:20 of total ice time the last two.

"I’m more worried about wins and losses and how that figures into the equation, and not worrying about whether Bo and Pearse play together and making sure that pair is perfect," Green told reporters. "I’m sure they’ll be together at different points in the year, and might even be together tomorrow night.

"Most guys in the league understand it’s not always just set in stone that you’re going to play with the same player all the time."

Yes, but wasn’t the idea to stop the insanity on Horvat’s wings? Green said at training camp: "I would love to have a little bit more of a set look for him."

On Thursday, the coach said: "Part of the equation was hopefully our lines would be solidified a little bit, and we’ve got two lines right now that have played together for quite a long time. If you look around at every team, they’re always switching some lines. Bo’s doing quite well right 1158369 Websites “Maybe sometimes it takes a little longer than everyone’s expecting it to just — boom — happen. It’s tough. I mean, there’s other good teams out there, and when you have new faces playing new systems, sometimes there’s miscues. So, we’re working it out. We’ll be all right.” Sportsnet.ca / 'We're OK': Jake Muzzin says Leafs' recent slide isn't end of world There is evidence to support Muzzin’s theory that, in fact, the sky is not falling.

• Toronto’s much-lauded offence has generated more even-strength Luke Fox | October 24, 2019, 4:33 PM goals (30) than any other club, and the Leafs are not relying on one line to produce.

• The underlying shot metrics look promising. The Leafs’ 54 per cent TORONTO – With 30 years on the rock, 763 professional hockey games Corsi at 5-on-5 rates third overall. in the bank and an infant waiting at home, Jake Muzzin is blessed with something few others on the fourth-youngest NHL club possess. (And, • Subtract Tuesday’s empty-netter, and they’ve only lost once by more no, we’re not talking about his Stanley Cup ring, that sparkly reminder than a goal, their 7-3 drubbing by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 10. from the Los Angeles Kings’ charmed run in 2014.) • The Leafs’ 98.2 PDO — hockey’s attempt to put math to puck luck — Muzzin has perspective. positions them as the eighth-unluckiest team in the league.

And it’s during occasions like this — as his Toronto Maple Leafs have • They are enduring four back-to-backs this month and are now grinding dropped three of the past four games, slinking to a losing record and away without three regulars — Tavares, Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott staring at another back-to-back with their captain sidelined — when a — in the lineup, while a mystery ailment has now forced Morgan Rielly to cocktail of patience and wisdom can calm the nerves. skip two practices this week.

“I feel like everyone’s coming at us like it’s the end of the world here. “I think that’s all excuses. The bottom line is, we’ve got games, you gotta We’re OK,” chuckles Muzzin, following Thursday’s practice. “Every team play ’em, and you gotta play well,” Babcock says. “We can be better, and goes through it, and we’re having some talks, but, I mean, it’s not frickin’ we have to be better — individually and collectively.” go crazy.” Sign up for NHL newsletters As Muzzin speaks, the usual swarm of Toronto media zigzags from player to player, filling their recording apps with explanations as to why a Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to supposed championship contender sits 18th overall in points percentage your inbox! (.544). Part of being better in their own end, Muzzin believes should come with Local talk radio has begun questioning the head coach’s job security, and improved communication and adaptation to their new defence partners. a list of tangible, yet mendable, trends have reared their ugly head. Not one of Toronto’s pairings, remember, has carried over from 2018-19, and Dermott’s return next week will shake things up once more. Five blown-lead losses. “We’ve got to talk more in our zone. I think that eliminates a lot of Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey miscues. But there are new guys. Maybe they’re not sure what to yell or world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what feel comfortable yelling. It’s not easy,” Muzzin explains. they think about it. That half-second of hesitation to read a coverage is all an elite offence, Seven goals allowed on the game’s first, second or third shot on net. such as Boston’s, needs to strike. Muzzin suggests we patiently allow Toronto’s defenders to find their groove. A league-high 38 giveaways. “Then you will see players on the other team with less time and less A league-high 29 even-strength goals against. chances against, I believe,” the savvy veteran says. A slew of sloppy stick infractions, adding up to the NHL’s third-most “I’m confident in this group. I don’t want to blow anything out of minor penalties (41). proportion. We’ll be fine.” With John Tavares (finger) injured, the pressure has ratcheted on Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019 superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, each wearing a letter on his chest, each filling his bank account with paycheques well over 10 times that of their entry-level compensation a year prior.

That tension has been surfacing in the young talents’ body language and words.

“I hate losing,” says Matthews, grateful for Wednesday’s day away from the rink. Time he spent chilling and not thinking about work. “Yeah, you’re frustrated, but it’s still early.”

As he did after Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss against the Bruins in Boston, Matthews again makes a call for accountability within the room.

“We’re a family here, but sometimes you gotta yell at your family.”

To the contrary, Muzzin — an older brother in this analogy — insists he’s not frustrated.

Considering where the defenceman was a year ago at this time, you believe him. Muzzin was on the 2-7-1 Kings in late October 2018. He watched his coach, John Stevens, get fired after one more loss. Still, the panic outside the dressing room wasn’t anything like he’s observing during his first full run in Toronto, where the rooting for your team also entails fretting and dissecting.

“No! We had two (media) guys in here. That was it,” Muzzin laughs.

“This business is driven by winning, and when you’re not winning, questions start getting asked. I feel like the pressure is always there to perform and to win. In this market, it’s a little more intense. 1158370 Websites Pretty soon, though, he and Dermott will be back where they’re happiest. Playing games for the Leafs.

The road to recovery was just a tiny bit smoother because they travelled Sportsnet.ca / How sidelined Leafs Hyman, Dermott supported each it together. other through recovery "I think it’s really important that you bring a positive energy, especially when things are frustrating and when you’re going through an injury where there’s a timeline but you really don’t know what the timeline is Chris Johnston | October 24, 2019, 4:04 PM until you’re ready and the doctors clear you and whatnot," said Hyman.

"Being positive and staying light is really important and [Dermott is] a good guy to have around to do that." TORONTO — You could have made a pretty good buddy cop parody with Travis Dermott and Zach Hyman these last six months. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019 The surgically repaired Toronto Maple Leafs have basically been each other’s shadow since the playoffs ended in Boston: Visiting the team’s practice facility for rehab from Monday to Thursday initially, then adding Fridays in as well during the summer months.

At training camp in St. John’s, they arrived at the arena together when their teammates were wrapping up morning scrimmages each day to get their work in with the medical staff. At home games throughout the first month of the regular season, they’ve often sat side by side in the press box at Scotiabank Arena.

"We’ve spent a lot of time together," Hyman said Thursday. "We’re close buds."

Now – or very soon, at least – they’ll get the payoff: Both players believe they’re closing in on a return to the Leafs lineup.

It has been their shared experience that’s made the recovery process bearable since Hyman had a torn ACL in his right knee repaired on April 29 and Dermott underwent left shoulder surgery on May 10.

"Having a guy like Travis to go through all that with makes it a lot less lonely because sometimes when you get injured it’s a lonely time," said Hyman.

"We each have our own table in there," he added, motioning towards the back room. "I think they’re going to engrave our names on that table. It’s been so many hours sitting on there getting treatment."

In Hyman, Dermott found not only a friend who could sympathize with what he’s going through, but also a motivator.

"If there’s a day where I’m 70 per cent coming in, if I had a bad sleep and I’m not feeling it, you see the look on Hyms’s face [and it helps]," said Dermott. "You come here and you think you’re early – 20 minutes, 30 minutes early – and he’s already in here. You’re like ‘OK, all right, I’ve really got to get going."’

Dermott is an upbeat character in his own right, the kind of guy who doesn’t have too many bad days. But he concedes that it’s been difficult being held at arm’s length while the team started the season without him.

It’s a feeling Hyman’s experienced as well, saying: "This is an injury where you have days you feel really good and days you don’t feel as well. So, yeah, I think it’s frustrating. I want to get back yesterday, right?"

"You can get pretty down on yourself pretty quick," said Dermott. "It’s easy to kind of get caught up in your mind and you start overthinking s— ."

Their impending returns should be a boost for a Leafs team that sits at 5- 4-2 and is missing captain John Tavares (broken finger) as well. Hyman was the dogged puck retriever on a line with Tavares and Mitch Marner last season – Toronto’s most effective trio at 5-on-5 – while the 22-year- old Dermott appears ready to come into his own with 100 NHL games under his belt and a spot alongside former Marlies teammate Justin Holl awaiting him on the third pairing.

Dermott and Hyman are eligible to be activated from long-term injured reserve in time for Saturday’s game in Montreal, but it’s not clear if that will happen because the team would have to clear four players off the roster to accommodate their cap hits.

Dermott says he’s physically ready to return as soon as the team needs him and isn’t sure if that will come against the Canadiens. Hyman hinted that he might still require a bit more recovery time.

"You have to respect the timeline and respect the process," he said. "I’ve done a lot of work to get to where I am now. Making sure that when I do come back everything’s good and there’s no setbacks going on." 1158371 Websites it. That’s likely a big reason why he scored on 21.6 per cent of his shots on goal last year, which isn’t a sustainable number but may not be as far off of his expected rate as many believe.

Sportsnet.ca / How Leon Draisaitl compares to Alex Ovechkin as a goal What may hurt Draisaitl’s chances to keep pace with or surpass scorer Ovechkin is that the Oilers have shifted to a low event style of play, cutting down on chances against but also chances for. Relying on Draisaitl and McDavid to break through on relatively few chances isn’t a bad strategy for a top-heavy team, but while Ovechkin ranks third in the Andrew Berkshire October 24, 2019, 10:42 AM league in scoring chances per 20 minutes at 5-on-5 with 4.5, Draisaitl ranks 182nd with 2.05.

With the Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals facing off Thursday, Nearly half of Draisaitl’s chances come off the rush and most of the rest last season’s only two 50-goal scorers will be going head-to-head for the are preceded by a pass, so the quality he gets is astonishingly high, but first time in the 2019-20 season. to hit 50 goals you need volume. The incredible amount of ice time the Oilers’ top players are getting does make the overall numbers look better Alex Ovechkin, 11 years Leon Draisaitl‘s senior, continues to show he than the rate stats. Draisaitl is 50th in the NHL in scoring chances, but by won’t be giving up the title of the sport’s best goal scorer any time soon, that measure Ovechkin is first and the gap between the two is large, with but the 23-year-old from Cologne, Germany is coming off a 105-point 37 for Ovechkin and 17 for Draisaitl. season and remains in the excellent role of riding shotgun with Connor McDavid. I have a lot of belief in Draisaitl as a top-level point producer and transition-driving forward, but this season so far doesn’t look like the one A lot of folks use his cushy position next to McDavid as a reason to knock where he’ll come at the king. on Draisaitl, but even when they’re apart Draisaitl is a very strong player who creates a lot of offence and transitions the puck better than 90 per Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.25.2019 cent or more of the league.

While they share some goal scoring prowess and big frames, Draisaitl and Ovechkin play the game very differently, as you might expect any time you compare players who are more than a decade apart in age. Ovechkin still has that youthful exuberance, but he conserves energy by not carrying the puck as much, as opposed to Draisaitl, who loves ripping through the neutral zone.

With the start the Oilers are off to this season, is it possible that Draisaitl could outscore Ovechkin? On the face of it, Draisaitl finished only one back of Ovechkin last season and the Russian is 34 now, whereas Draisaitl is squarely in his prime. However, since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Ovechkin has been displaced as the league’s top goal scorer only once in seven seasons, more due to him having a bad season than someone else having a great one.

Players do fall off as they get older, but Ovechkin keeps finding ways to extend his best years, so count him out at your own peril.

With that said, Draisaitl is a rising talent on a team that heavily depends on him and he gets to play with the best player in the world, so he’s in a good spot to be the guy who finally dethrones the Russian Machine. So far this season Ovechkin is right back where you expect with seven goals in his first 11 games, while Draisaitl has six in his first 10.

That paces both of them for around what they scored last season, but is Draisaitl capable of putting up the shot volume and quality that Ovechkin does to score that consistently? Let’s look at 5-on-5 data to figure this out. First, let’s look at all of Ovechkin’s shot attempts at 5-on-5 from last season and this season by volume and area of the ice in a heat map.

Looking at Ovechkin’s shot attempts — the so-called ‘Ovi spot’ is apparent at the top of the left circle, but the highest density of his shots actually comes from much closer to the net, in the direct centre of the inner slot where expected shooting percentage is all the way up at 21 per cent.

This is a relatively new thing for Ovechkin. He has spent most of his career sticking to the high slot for a vast majority of his shots, but after one down season back in 2016-17 (when he still scored 33 goals) he started pushing himself to get deeper in the offensive zone and attacking more off the rush, using his skating as an advantage to get better quality looks.

Ovechkin’s shot locations are a mix of playing to his strengths and him being smart enough to find the best spots to shoot from as the league has changed over time. So what does Draisaitl’s heat map look like?

Right away you can see Draisaitl’s overall shot volume is significantly lower than Ovechkin’s. The shot density numbers were higher for Ovechkin if you look at the legends on the right side.

What you can also see from the heat map is that Draisaitl’s shots are much more focused to inside the slot than Ovechkin’s, and he also likes to shoot from the Ovi spot.

Draisaitl isn’t shy about getting to the net — in fact he drives deeper than Ovechkin and gets lots of shots from the lip of the crease or even inside 1158372 Websites "Kind of a point in our year where we want to get going," said Morgan Rielly, "and I think we answered the bell."

But on Monday night, a parade to the penalty box cost the Leafs against TSN.CA / Maple Leafs focus on fixing their game ‘in the D-zone’ the Columbus Blue Jackets and then Tuesday's game never felt as close as the 4-2 final score indicated.

"These are battle scars you go through," said Babcock. "Boston played Mark Masters us and they went home and they would have said, 'Oh, we'll see what happens next time,' kind of like kids in a playground, it's the same

principle." TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes Tavares, 29, and Jake Muzzin, 30, have a bunch of those battle scars on the Maple Leafs, who practised at Ford Performance Centre on and it was interesting to hear how they described the first few weeks of Thursday ahead of Friday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. the new season. It's been a hectic first month for the Maple Leafs with 11 games in the "It's very early in the year," said Tavares, "and we have a heck of a first 21 days, including three sets of back-to-back sets. The results have hockey team and we just got to stay the course, continue to push been underwhelming so far with just five wins and frustration is starting to forward, keep coming together and continue to work on things. Things build. So, a full day off on Wednesday was a welcome opportunity to don't just change overnight … we know we got a lot better hockey ahead refresh. of us and just got to stay with it, continue to be positive whether things "It's nice," said centre Auston Matthews. "Just getting your mind off of are going well or things aren't going well, same mindset, same attitude hockey." and have that relentless mentality."

What did he do? Matthews: 'We're a family here, but sometimes you've got to yell at your family' "Chill," he said with a smile. "Yeah, just chill ... Put on a nice show, go for a walk, go for dinner, the day is yours." Auston Matthews was critical of his own play after Tuesday's loss to the Bruins. After Thursday's practice, Matthews elaborated on how he wants On Tuesday night, Matthews seemed stressed as he called out himself to be better in all areas of the ice. Matthews also discuss the importance and his team for a lacklustre start to a season full of big expectations. of holding each other accountable.

Matthews and fellow 22-year-old Mitch Marner are facing pressure to In conversation with a group of reporters, including TSN's Kristen Shilton, help turn the tide. Both are starting rich new contracts this season while Muzzin, the only Stanley Cup champion on the roster, expressed surprise wearing a letter on their sweaters for the first time in the NHL. that there was so much angst in the market so early in the year.

Matthews: 'It's just not good enough...I need to be better, all of us need to Jake Muzzin said he's not getting frustrated: "Maybe sometimes it be better' takes a little longer than everyone's expecting it to; like just, boom, it happens. When you have new faces, playing new systems, sometimes The Leafs lost in Boston on Tuesday falling under .500 for the season (5- there's miscues and stuff so we're working it out, we'll be alright." 4-2). "It’s just not good enough," said Auston Matthews. "We need to be better and I think it comes from the leadership group. I need to be better. — Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 24, 2019 All of us need to be better. We just need to look each other in the eye and hold each other accountable." A lack of discipline remains a big Jake Muzzin, experiencing his first taste of Leaf Nation backlash to issue. "It’s just been the same thing kind of over and over for us," the club's sluggish start "Every team goes through it. We're having some Matthews said. talks, but let's not go frickin' crazy here".

"As leaders we have to step up," said Marner after Thursday's practice, — Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) October 24, 2019 "start leading more on the ice and making people follow along." --- Matthews (eight goals, three assists) and Marner (three goals, nine During the first run through of the last drill of Thursday's practice, Marner assists) are both producing on the scoresheet, but have also been collided with Muzzin and was in clear discomfort. He didn't take another involved in breakdowns in their own end. rep while teammates came over to talk with him. After Babcock whistled Where can they improve? the session to a close, Marner went to the bench to speak with assistant athletic therapist Jon Geller before leaving the ice. He will usually stay "Right now, definitely defensively," Marner said. "Just trying to keep out a bit longer to do some skills work. people out (of the) middle." What happened? "Just defensively and all areas," Matthews said. "I mean, obviously, I want to put the puck in the back of the net, create on offence, but it starts "I don't know, just hit Muzzy, nothing crazy," Marner said while insisting in the D-zone and I think that's an area that we've been trying to work on he'll be fine to play tomorrow. lately and especially today so I’ve got to be better in that area moving Another health concern involves Rielly, who didn't take part in practice. forward." The defenceman also sat out Sunday's on-ice workout so that's two With captain John Tavares sidelined, Matthews and Marner have been straight practices he missed. getting the rare chance to play together on the same line, something they "I asked him if he's taking another day to himself," said Babcock with a both have wanted. But it hasn't gone smoothly and on Tuesday in Boston smile, "but, 'No.' Mo's a guy who wants to practise and play and be their line was dominated by the trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron around, a real leader for us, and he'll be available." and David Pastrnak. Rielly is averaging 25 minutes of ice time per game, which is up from "I thought the other night was a real good opportunity for them," said 23:07 last season. coach Mike Babcock. "At the end, it’s so simple, you just look at the guy across from you and you got to out-will them, that's what a playoff series Leafs Ice Chips: Marner insists he's OK after awkward collision is about, that's when you get the No. 1 match-up, play against the best D. In the end, you got to generate more offence than them and the way you After being involved in an awkward collision with Jake Muzzin, Mitch do that normally is you're outstanding defensively, because if you're not Marner was forced to leave Maple Leafs practice early. Marner insisted you spend all the time in your own zone and that gets frustrating, and he was ''OK'' and will be good to go Friday against the Sharks. Mark gets old." Masters has more on Marner and also looks at Morgan Rielly missing a second straight practice. Considering it's still October, the swing in emotions around the young stars has been notable. On Saturday night, the dressing room was Tavares made an appearance on the ice at practice Thursday, but it was jubilant following a 4-3 overtime win in Toronto against the Bruins even only a brief cameo. He skated across the pad to get to another pad to though the Leafs allowed 46 shots and blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2. continue some individual skills work. The centre broke his finger on Oct. Matthews suggested it could be a "statement game." 16 and is out at least two weeks. Tavares will get an updated image on his right index finger in the next few days, which will give a clearer indication of the timeline for his return.

"The positive for me, that I’ve really tried to take, is it doesn’t really limit my ability to do everything but shoot a puck and handle the puck," he said. "Using some really light pucks out there right now so I’m really able to stay in shape and work on some things individually that you don’t get to work on in season so just try and (focus) on those positives and really be able to be on top of my fitness and conditioning so when I am healthy and good to play I’m going to be ready to go and try to be back at a very high level."

Tavares urges teammates to stay positive; expects to get update on finger soon

John Tavares talks about why he wants his teammates to remain positive and continue to work to be better every day. Tavares also says he expects to get an update on his broken finger over the next few days.

---

Lines at Thursday's practice:

Forwards

Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander

Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Marner

Moore - Spezza - Kapanen

Timashov - Shore - Gauthier

Petan, Hyman

Defencemen

Muzzin - Barrie

Dermott^ - Ceci

Gravel - Holl

Marincin

Goaltenders

Andersen

Hutchinson

Power-play units at Thursday's practice:

Muzzin^

Marner - Nylander - Matthews

Johnsson

Barrie

Kapanen - Kerfoot - Spezza

Moore

^ Placeholders for Rielly

TSN.CA LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158373 Websites TSN 1050 Maple Leafs reporter Kristen Shilton joins Andi Petrillo and Craig Button to share an update from Leafs practice including why Morgan Rielly didn’t participate and what John Tavares’ injury status is

TSN.CA / Auston Matthews believes honesty the best policy for slumping That's part of both Marner and Matthews’ responsibility as first-time Toronto Maple Leafs alternate captains this season, a role that's been magnified in the wake of losing captain John Tavares to a broken finger. The injury has also necessitated some lineup changes for the Leafs, including Matthews and Marner rotating as linemates in tough matchup roles that have tested the Kristen Shilton young stars.

It’s all looked a little overwhelming for Matthews and Marner lately. Head TORONTO – The Maple Leafs have fallen short of their own coach Mike Babcock says how the pair weathers this difficult stretch will expectations far too often already this season, and Auston Matthews depend equally on what they do on and off the ice. believes honest communication will be key to getting the team on track. “The biggest thing you want from your leadership group is to model doing “You don’t want to lose; I hate losing,” said Matthews after the Leafs’ it right every day,” Babcock said Thursday. “I want them to go out and be practice on Thursday. “So you’re frustrated, but it's still early. We’ve still the best player in their position they're capable of being. When you set got new guys and we're still trying to mesh as a team and come together. the tone with your work ethic, with your detail, with your focus, with your But when we look around at the guys that we have, I think we expect preparation, that’s leadership. So that’s the challenge for all of us.” more out of each other. So that’s just holding one another accountable, With one more set of back-to-back games on tap Friday against San putting the past in the past, and putting our best foot forward.” Jose and Saturday at Montreal, marking the fourth time in three weeks The Leafs are 5-4-2 through 11 games this season, perched at third Toronto will play two games in two nights, the Leafs have plenty of place in the Atlantic Division, but tension has been building this week as opportunity to start putting their plans into action. Toronto came off another set of back-to-back games with only one of a Tavares won’t be out there as the Leafs try to get back on track, but he possible four points. The team is now tied for the most goals against in does have some advice for his teammates. the NHL (38) and has taken the fifth-most penalties (41). “It becomes a little bit more of the mental side of really staying with the In their last two games alone, the Leafs were called for 10 penalties – details and understanding being patient,” Tavares said. “When you have including eight stick infractions. A season ago, Toronto was the least some fatigue or you're on the second half of a back-to-back, just dig in penalized team in the NHL. and do our job the best we can. Things just don't change overnight. That all paints a disappointing picture for these Leafs out of the gate, We’re trying to just continue to get better every day and we know we got something Matthews believes can be helped by honest conversations a lot better hockey ahead of us.” about what needs to improve. TSN.CA LOADED: 10.25.2019 “We’re a family here, but sometimes you gotta yell at your family,” Matthews said. “[Communication] is something that we can do a better job of and I think it's something that we are doing a better job of.”

Tavares urges teammates to stay positive; expects to get update on finger soon

John Tavares talks about why he wants his teammates to remain positive and continue to work to be better every day. Tavares also says he expects to get an update on his broken finger over the next few days.

While the Leafs have been giving up a lot of goals, they’ve also scored consistently, notching the second-most goals to this point (40). That offensive success is part of what makes the team’s defensive lapses so frustrating, particularly amongst their top players.

Matthews spoke out strongly about the Leafs’ play so far after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Boston, saying, “It's just not good enough. We need to be better. I need to be better. All of us need to be better.”

The 22-year-old is the team’s second leading scorer with 11 points on the season (eight goals, three assists) and has collected one goal and three assists in his last four games, but that same stretch has been mired by other inconsistencies.

“Just defensively [I can be better] and all areas,” he said Thursday. “I have to put the puck in the back of the net, create on offence, but it starts in the D-zone and I think that's an area that we've been trying to work on lately, especially today [at practice], so I've got to be better in that area moving forward.”

He’s not the only one. Mitch Marner leads all Leafs in points this season with 12 (three goals, nine assists) but has also been struggling away from the puck. On Thursday, he echoed a similar statement to Matthews on how much better he needs to be.

“Right now it’s definitely defensively,” Marner said of the biggest area of concern in his game. “I think we just have to get back to our game plan, playing a full 60 [minutes]. We’ve done a bad job of that, and starting on time is something we always mention but we haven't done it. As leaders we have to step up, start leading more on the ice and get people to follow along.”

Shilton updates why Rielly wasn’t at Leafs practice Thursday 1158374 Websites

TSN.CA / Vancouver Canucks' top line dominating the competition

Travis Yost

The Vancouver Canucks drew a lot of attention last summer when they moved multiple draft picks – including a conditional first-rounder in the 2020 NHL Draft – to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for left wing J.T. Miller.

It’s rather unusual for rebuilding teams to move a package of future assets like that, especially when a first-round pick is involved. Front offices tend to take a conservative approach when they trade picks they know could end up as meaningful draft capital, but general manager Jim Benning went in the opposite direction. And for Benning the risk is quite high: Vancouver hasn’t reached the postseason since the 2014-15 regular season, and expectations for this season weren’t particularly high either.

That said, with risk can come reward, and Miller is a valuable asset. The question floating around Vancouver during the off-season concerned where he would be inserted into the lineup, which linemates he would be given, and what type of results the 26-year old could drive within the construct of this Canucks team. The lineup does have star talent – hello Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser – but sorely lacks the type of depth you need to push into the playoff mix.

The deployment question was answered early. Head coach Travis Green opted to keep his best talents together in an attempt to create a formidable top line. Miller has played an extensive amount of minutes with the two best players on the roster, and it’s given Vancouver some real credibility at the top of their lineup:

From an individual production standpoint, I think it’s fair to say things are humming along for all three of Vancouver’s marquee forwards. Through Thursday, Miller, Pettersson, and Boeser lead the Canucks in scoring, with both Miller (four goals, six assists) and Pettersson (two goals, eight assists) averaging more than a point per game. The overarching team results are also impressive early on – the Canucks have won six of their first nine games and in a division where only the Vegas Golden Knights appear to be a playoff lock, the early standings advantage they hold over the opposition matters.

Let’s talk about this line a bit further. We know the points have been racked up and we know that the team is winning, but is this a fleeting early season shooting percentage surge, or indicative of a line that is dominating the run of play? The answer appears to be the latter – and that’s fantastic news if you’re getting increasingly optimistic about Vancouver’s possible playoff fortunes.

Consider the splits for Vancouver’s performance with and without their top line on the ice. We know the depth issues will haunt this team to some degree, but if the Canucks truly have a capable top line, it completely changes the dynamic of how competitive the team can be. Through the first nine games, Vancouver’s top line has been sterling:

The crazy advantageous goal differential will regress with more minutes played, but the point here is that Vancouver’s top line is utterly dominating the competition. They are consistently getting 60 per cent or more of the shots, scoring chances, and expected goals when they are on the ice – that’s good even in comparison to other first lines around the league, and it’s certainly a night-and-day difference relative to what the rest of the Vancouver lineup can offer.

Vancouver paid a steep price for Miller’s services, and it’s going to take a lot more than two weeks of hockey to change our opinion on whether or not he was worth the price. But it’s this type of performance – even over just a two-week sample – that will give the Canucks’ front office more confidence in what they were trying to accomplish.

TSN.CA LOADED: 10.25.2019 1158375 Websites produce, but also need contributions from throughout the line-up. Earlier in the season, the defensemen were getting in on the scoring act. That offense -- not surprisingly -- has slowed, but the Canucks replaced it with goals from Beagle, Schaller, Jake Virtanen and Micheal Ferland on the TSN.CA / Six Takeaways: Canucks vs Red Wings road trip. While Schaller-Beagle-Motte are referred to as the Canucks fourth line based on their spot on the depth chart, they certainly weren't

three lines better than they were on the road trip. Jeff Paterson 5) Jacob Markstrom is dialled in. He was terrific on Sunday in his return to the line-up and seemed to take his game up a notch or two on Tuesday against the Red Wings. The two goals he allowed were both on TAKEAWAYS Detroit power plays -- a 5-on-3 in the first period and a 4-on-3 midway through the second. From that point on Markstrom was spectacular 1) Five goals in a period doesn't happen often. The Canucks managed keeping the Canucks within striking distance with a number of the feat once last season in the second period of an 8-5 win in Boston. spectacular saves including robbing Anthony Mantha twice after Mantha Per NHL Public Relations, five goals in the third period of a game has had opened the scoring in the hockey game. Markstrom was in the line of only happened six times in franchise history and the last time was April fire on a Wings power play to close out the second period. A goal there 15, 1993 -- two years before Bo Horvat was born. So the Canucks 5-2 and the Canucks likely don't come back. Early in the third Tyler Bertuzzi victory with five answered goals in the third was a generational had two whacks at a loose puck in front of the Canucks net, but occurrence. And twice on this road trip, the Canucks trailed by a pair at Markstrom was there to close the door. Trevor Daley had a great back- some point in the second period and found a way to win after rallying door chance set up by Dylan Larkin when the game was tied 2-2. Again, from a 3-1 deficit to earn a 4-3 shootout victory in St. Louis at the outset Markstrom was there for his hockey club. After starting the season 0-2 in of this four game road junket. With the win, the Canucks took three of Alberta, Markstrom has rattled off four straight victories holding his four games on their first extended road trip of the season. It's just one opponents (LAK, PHI, NYR & DET) to two goals in each of the wins. game, yet the difference between going 2-2 and coming home 3-1 feels significantly greater. The Canucks knew they had secured at least a .500 6) FInally, not to be *that* guy, but it should be pointed out that the road trip with wins in two of the first three. But falling to the struggling Canucks have done a nice job taking advantage of a manageable early Red Wings at the tail end of the trip likely would have been a massive season schedule. Only two of their nine games so far (at Calgary and at disappointment. While it didn't look good for 40 minutes, the Canucks got St. Louis) have come against teams that made the playoffs last season -- fired up for the final frame, figured out a way to beat Jimmy Howard and including two against the Wings who have now lost five straight and have ended up winning in a runaway. And suddenly this team has won six of scored just seven times in that span. Look, the Canucks can only play seven putting valuable standings points in their back pocket in the the teams laid out for them, so they have nothing to apologize for when it process. comes to quality of opponent. You play the team you're scheduled to play and the Canucks have won six of their first nine games with six of them 2) What a road trip for the captain. Bo Horvat entered the game in St. on the road. That is admirable to say the least. The point is that there are Louis -- the team's sixth game of the season -- without a goal. He comes better teams in the National Hockey League and the Canucks will have to home from the road trip as the team's leading goal scorer. Horvat scored face them, too, starting on Friday when the host Alex Ovechkin and the in all three victories. He bagged his first against the Blues, added his Washington Capitals. But all wins are good wins and all points matter for second against the Blueshirts on Sunday and with family and friends a team trying to claw its way into a playoff spot after being on the outside making the trip across the border to see him, Horvat recorded his first looking in the last four seasons. The hope has to be that early season NHL hattrick including scoring the first two Canuck goals to spark the success breeds confidence so that when this team comes up against comeback. Horvat who has scored 20, 22 and a career-best 27 last better opponents there will be a new-found belief that this year can -- and season now has five goals in nine games which is certainly a pace that will -- be difference. In that regard, they're off to a very nice start. will set him up to raise his personal bar again this season. The Canucks are 3-0 when Horvat scores and are 6-1 since he's had the C stitched to TSN.CA LOADED: 10.25.2019 his jersey. He finished Tuesday with seven shots on goal giving him 14 shots in his past two games. And, interestingly, he doesn't have a missed shot attempt over the past two outings. Every shot he has put toward the net has been on goal -- and four of them have found their way in.

3) It's also worth noting that the Canucks went 3-1 on a road trip that took them across the continent and Elias Pettersson did not score -- and still hasn't scored on the road this season. And that's not to suggest Pettersson isn't contributing. He had two assists on Tuesday and now has a share of the team lead with 10 points through nine games (tied with JT Miller). Pettersson made a remarkable diving defensive play with six- minutes remaining and the Canucks clinging to a 3-2 lead. So he was effective at both ends of the ice. It's interesting to note that just a game after watching the final eight minutes from the bench on Sunday at Madison Square, Pettersson was out on the ice late in this one in Detroit and making his presence felt. Moments after the defensive effort at one end, he picked up his second helper of the night on Tim Schaller's first goal of the season. Last season, if Pettersson wasn't scoring it seemed no one was on many nights. It's a sign of team progress that the Canucks aren't relying on the second-year Swede to be their scoring saviour. He's certainly an offensive leader, but others stepped up on the road trip and the Canucks are proving they can win hockey games without Pettersson taking over.

4) It's felt like a matter of time before the Canucks fourth line found a way to contribute offensively. Last week against the Red Wings, the line of Jay Beagle, Tim Schaller and Tyler Motte spent almost every one of their shifts at even strength in the Detroit zone. That trio wasn't as dominant on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena, but Schaller had a strong night in terms of shot shares (64.2%) and Beagle kept his head above water, too (53.3%) -- and that was primarily against the only scoring line the Red Wings have. On Saturday in New Jersey, the Canucks fourth line had a goal disallowed on a quick whistle. On Sunday, Jay Beagle scored his first goal of the season (short-handed) and Tuesday Schaller broke into the goal column for the first time. Good teams need their best players to 1158376 Websites It’s the old, “look good, feel good, play good” mentality. “I had a couple tough years there in Philly and I had my visor on while I

was doing it. I didn’t have my visor on and I was doing pretty well,” TSN.CA / Who will be the Craig MacTavish of NHL visors? Simmonds said. “Honestly, I don’t think the visor had anything to do with it, but moving to a new team, new surroundings, I’m trying to recreate myself, I guess.”

Frank Seravalli Simmonds said he was enthralled recently watching a clip of MacTavish playing in the 1994 Eastern Conference Final against the Devils as the

only skater left without a helmet. Ryan O’Reilly is among the last of a dying breed. “It was hard to believe,” Simmonds said. The Trophy winner became the face of the St. Louis Blues’ Who will be the MacTavish of his generation with the visor? Stanley Cup victory last season – in part because he’s one of the few players remaining in the NHL whose face isn’t protected by a visor. “Whoever plays the longest,” Simmonds said, laughing.

“There’s not many guys left that don’t wear them,” O’Reilly said this The smart money then would be on O’Reilly, the youngest player to not week. wear one at 28, who has the Conn Smythe pedigree and the ability and drive to outlast them all. Six seasons after the NHL and NHLPA made the use of face shields mandatory for every player entering the league, more than 97 per cent “I don’t really think about it like that,” O’Reilly said. “I don’t plan to use wear one, according to a study of rosters conducted by TSN. one, knock on wood, as long as I don’t have to. Yeah, I don’t plan to put one back on.” Only 19 of the 672 skaters to appear in an NHL game this season are skating sans visor. Down from 34 at the start of the 2017-18 campaign, A list of current NHL players without a visor: the number has nearly been cut in half over the last two seasons. Jamie Benn (Dallas) In other words, the race is on to see who will be the visor’s version of Craig MacTavish, famously the last man to skate in an NHL game Jordie Benn (Vancouver) without a helmet. Brian Boyle (Florida) “I got a lot of cuts [from] my visors in battles, the visor is always coming Zdeno Chara (Boston) down on top of my lips and stuff like that,” said O’Reilly, who wore one for his first season and a half in Colorado, but took it off when he got more Deryk Engelland (Vegas) comfortable in the NHL. “I think it’s just easiest for seeing. You don’t have to worry about something getting in the way, especially with all of the Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim) sweat off my face and my beard. I think, visually, it just gives me the Micheal Haley (N.Y. Rangers) biggest advantage." Zack Kassian (Edmonton) More than half of the NHL’s teams (16) have all 20-plus skaters wearing visors, including four of the seven Canadian squads, meaning that it’s not Milan Lucic (Calgary) unusual anymore to see a game contested between two teams with every player partially protected facially. Matt Martin (N.Y. Islanders)

That has created an acute awareness among the players left without a Ryan O’Reilly (St. Louis) visor. It’s almost a brotherhood, where one player can rattle off a list of Roman Polak (Dallas) similar players from the top of his head. Dalton Prout (San Jose) Visor-less players have become a sort of bortherhood in the NHL. Ryan Reaves (Vegas) “Ryan Reaves, Jamie Benn, Ryan O’Reilly, Deryk Engelland, I saw Prouter [Dalton Prout] not wearing one the other night,” Devils winger Andrew Shaw (Chicago) Wayne Simmonds said. “[Bleep], you can probably name them all on two hands.” Zack Smith (Chicago)

The number of fingers required dwindles every year. At least eight Wayne Simmonds (New Jersey) players who didn’t wear visors last season are currently out of the Chris Stewart (Philadelphia) league: Dustin Byfuglien (suspended), Kyle Brodziak (long-term injury), Cody McLeod and Zac Rinaldo (minors), Matt Hendricks, Marc Methot Joe Thornton (San Jose) and Chris Thorburn (retired) and Jason Garrison (unsigned). TSN.CA LOADED: 10.25.2019 More than half of the NHL’s current 672 skaters made their debut after the 2013 mandate, meaning they don’t have the option to play without a visor. Most have been conditioned to wear one anyway, rising through the junior and minors ranks, where visors are also mandatory.

Over time, previous stalwarts like Pittsburgh’s Erik Gudbranson have also begun wearing one.

Simmonds has actually gone the other way. He wore a visor last season with the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, but took it off this season after signing in New Jersey.

Why?

Simmonds said that he was pressured by then-Flyers GM Ron Hextall to wear one two seasons ago. (Hextall also pressured Flyers players to wear protective knee braces, even the players who did not have previous knee injuries, according to multiple sources.)

Now with the Devils, Simmonds said he removed the visor not because there wasn’t the same limitation imposed by GM Ray Shero, but because he wanted to get back to his old self. 1158377 Websites Has Carlson looked to see what Orr did in November that season? Carlson laughed. "Bobby Orr probably ended up with 140 points or

something and that ain't going to happen," Carlson said. USA TODAY / Capitals' John Carlson has Bobby Orr-like month: Is 100- Orr's total was 120 points, and he won the scoring title, MVP and Conn point defenseman season still possible? Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. But Carlson's point is the same.

Kevin Allen The only reason why Carlson has not been saddled with the "Bobby Orr" nickname is that it was already in use. "Sometimes Dmitri Orlov is called Bobby Orlov," Carlson said.

John Carlson's Washington Capitals teammates were not about to let USA TODAY LOADED: 10.25.2019 Carlson's Bobby Orr-like month pass without ribbing him about it.

"Relentlessly," Carlson said, laughing. "Relentlessly. We are an easygoing, fun team so it certainly gets flung around the room. But this has been pretty much every day. Every day, every time I see some people, they are on top of me."

It's what happens when a defenseman leads the NHL in scoring with 20 points in his first 11 games of the season. Earlier this week, Carlson joined Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey as the only defensemen in NHL history to have 18 points in the first 10 games.

As much fun as the Capitals may be having, there is serious respect for how Carlson, 29, continues to elevate his game.

"In his whole career, he has gotten better every year," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan told USA TODAY Sports. "We signed him to an eight-year deal (starting in 2018-19) and you might think there might be a letdown, but he took it to a new level last year."

Last season, he posted 70 points and owned a +21 plus-minus, but that wasn't enough to earn him a spot as a Norris finalist. He's considered a premium defenseman, but hasn't been lumped in the highest level group that includes Drew Doughty, Victor Hedman, Mark Giordano and Brent Burns among others.

"I thought last year he took a jump in his recognition," MacLellan said. "In our minds, he performs at their level."

If Carlson continues to be this dominant, he will be mentioned with the game's top defenseman.

"I think I'm playing as well as I have in the past, if not a little better," Carlson said. "But things are going my way right now. When I'm making a good play, the guys are scoring for me now."

No defenseman has reached 100 points in 27 years, not since the New York Rangers' Brian Leetch registered 102 in 1991-92.

"I get that (Carlson's) point pace and shooting percentage (21.7%) is probably not sustainable," MacLellan said. "But he is playing at a very level. He looks as good as he has ever looked to me."

Wednesday's game against Calgary marked the first time this season Carlson hasn't logged 24 or more minutes. He played 23:11.

"I listened to his comments before the season started and he said he wanted to defend at a higher pace," MacLellan said. "Give him credit for working on both sides of his game. I think the offensive game comes naturally to him. He has real good instincts: when to jump into the play, how to find guys with the puck, he has a good shot, good vision. Defensively, he's a good defender, but I agree when he plays with pace defending he's more effective. He's a good penalty killer."

But right now, all of the talk around Carlson is about how many points he is capable of getting. He's on a 149-point pace.

The game has changed considerably since Leetch topped 100 points. Does Carlson think it will be done again by a defenseman? Burns led defensemen with 83 points last season.

"Who knows how the game will go in the next five or 10 years or what kind of changes that will be made," Carlson said. "It could be restructured to be more offensive. I think it's a possibility. But if you are going to get 100 points, you have to be healthy for 99 percent of the season. The game is fast, tough and hard. And it's tough to stay healthy. I think there are a lot of factors saying 'no'. But there's a lot of talent in this league, and if the scoring keeps rising, you never know."

When Carlson had 18 points in 10 games, he matched what Orr did in 1969-70. 1158378 Websites ► With 18 points in 10 games, John Carlson has a shot at being a 100- point defenseman

Fiction: Carlson, 29, is playing his way into Norris contention, but it is USA TODAY / NHL fact or fiction: Avalanche team to beat? Taylor Hall highly unlikely he flirts with a 100-point season. No defenseman has key to winning the Cup? registered 100 points since the New York Rangers' Brian Leetch posted 102 in 1991-92. When Leetch did that, NHL games were averaging about seven goals per game. Today, NHL games average about six goals per game. Carlson had a career-best 70 points last season. Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Published 12:25 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2019 | Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2019 ► We should believe the Arizona Coyotes have turned the corner

Fact: You won't be disappointed this time. The Coyotes have given up only 13 goals in their first seven games and younger players such as We are only about three weeks into the NHL season and already it's not Nick Schmaltz, Conor Garland and Clayton Keller producing. The going the way forecasters thought it would. goaltending is solid. This looks like a playoff team. Strong starts by the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers, plus poor ►The St. Louis Blues have a Stanley Cup hangover starts by the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks have us scratching our heads. What's up with the Tampa Bay Lightning? Is Fiction: They have points in seven out of nine games, and beat the John Carlson's scoring for real? Avalanche on Monday night. But they are another team that needs to tighten up defensively as it has given up 30 goals in nine games. Let us help you sort out the fact and fiction: USA TODAY LOADED: 10.25.2019 ►Based on their start, the Colorado Avalanche are the NHL's team to beat

Fact: The Avalanche are a quality team. They are tied for the NHL lead in scoring (four goals per game) and rank in the top 10 defensively (2.67 goals per game). Phillip Grubauer is getting the job done in net, and with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who left Monday's game with an injury, this is a very dangerous offensive team. Rookie defenseman Cale Makar also has been an impact player with eight assists. The Avalanche have cap space to add a player or two.

Avalanche teammates congratulate Nathan MacKinnon, third from left, after MacKinnon scored a goal against the Blues during the first period.

►The Lighting aren't the team we thought they were

Fiction: Don't be fooled by the 4-3-1 start. They were never going to duplicate last season's 62-win regular season. But this is still a formidable group and Andrei Vasilevskiy is the Eastern Conference's most talented goalie. It may be better for this group to finish behind Boston in the Atlantic.

►The Oilers will win the Pacific Division

Fact: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are two of the top four players in the game, and the arrival of GM Ken Holland has given this team the most positive culture it has known in years. Holland's trade for James Neal has improved the team's scoring depth. Edmonton's defensive group is effective.

►The Devils' early struggles aren't the end of the world

►Fiction: It could mean the end of Taylor Hall in New Jersey, not to mention coach John Hynes. The Devils are trying to persuade Hall, a pending free agent this summer, to stay in New Jersey. The team's poor start doesn't help. Hynes is the same quality coach he was last season and Ray Shero has always been a loyal general manager. But he has to answer to ownership and the Devils are trying to compete now. The acquisition of P.K Subban told us that.

►Hall could be a key factor in deciding who win the Stanley Cup

Fact: If the Devils know they can't re-sign Hall, they have to trade him. Imagine if Hall ended up in Colorado. Could Shero work another deal with his mentor David Poile in Nashville? Hall, if traded, will be a big help for a contender.

►Without Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, the Columbus Blue Jackets are dead to us

Fiction: The Blue Jackets are younger, but enough talent remains to qualify for the playoffs in this division. Joonas Korpisalo looks like he will able to shoulder the load in net. Coach John Tortorella gets a lot out of this team.

►The Washington Capitals are the best team no one is talking about

Fact: So much attention is being paid to the early surprises, the Avalanche and the 5-1-2 Bruins, that we are forgetting about the 6-2-2 Capitals. If they get tighter defensive play out of Dmitry Orlov and Nick Jensen, they are as good as any team in the Eastern Conference.