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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 4/29/2021 1187388 Kings top prospect Quinton Byfield to make his NHL debut 1187418 To make the playoffs, the Stars will have to conquer their tonight against Ducks longest road trip in nearly 20 years 1187389 Ducks rally to defeat Kings as future for both clubs is on 1187419 What is Tyler Seguin’s fit in this Stars lineup when he’s display ready to return? 1187390 Isac Lundestrom progressing ahead of Ducks’ rebuild 1187420 'We're fortunate': Sam Gagner, Red Wings grateful to 1187391 Arizona Coyotes see playoff hopes fade in lackluster loss have had hockey season to 1187421 Michigan presence will dominate 2021 NHL Entry Draft 1187392 Jay Varady making impact in first season as Coyotes 1187422 Red Wings lose goaltending duel with Columbus, 1-0 in assistant coach shootout 1187423 How to watch Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Bruins Jackets (4/27) - NHL Regular Season | Channel, Stream, 1187393 Thoughts and shots and other observations as the Bruins Time drive toward the playoffs 1187394 ‘Lot To Like From Everybody’ In Barometer Oilers Win 1187424 Another three points for McDavid and strong outing by 1187395 Blackhawks or Bruins? On fandom, ambivalence and Koskinen for Oilers in win over Jets who’s had it better the last 12 years 1187425 OILERS SNAPSHOTS: Regular-season success might be 1187396 ‘Tuukka’s in trouble now’: How Bruins goalie Jeremy a factor in playoffs Swayman grew into an NHL hotshot 1187426 Oilers fans should turn their attention to Canada's coming attractions in Texas 1187427 Lowetide: What’s Kris Russell’s role on the Oilers now? 1187397 Sam Reinhart's successful transition to center strengthens What he does well and how the team should deploy him Sabres' depth 1187398 Sabres rookie Dylan Cozens turns to fighting to try to ignite his own game 1187428 Florida Panthers Clinch A Playoff Berth, And Start Thinking Bigger Flames 1187429 Florida Panthers playoff a reward for Barkov, Huberdeau 1187399 Flames Sutter pleased with defenceman & Ekblad Andersson 1187400 With Noah Hanifin out for the season, who needs ‘to take Kings the next step’ on the Flames blue line? 1187430 Kings top prospect Quinton Byfield to make his NHL debut tonight against Ducks Blackhawks 1187431 Quinton Byfield makes his Kings debut in loss to Ducks 1187401 Adam Boqvist might not need surgery on his broken right 1187432 Ducks rally to defeat Kings as future for both clubs is on wrist, coach Jeremy Colliton says display 1187402 Blackhawks’ Dylan Strome maligns low production as 1187433 Game 47: McLellan Postgame Quotes After Ducks Grab a long-term role comes into question Win Over Kings in Byfield’s Debut 1187403 Chicago Blackhawks' deteriorating goalie situation and 1187434 Quinton Byfield Postgame Quotes after His NHL Debut more With LA Kings 1187404 Blackhawks' Adam Boqvist ruled out for season 1187435 FINAL – Kings 2, Ducks 3 – Byfield, McLellan 1187405 Blackhawks or Bruins? On fandom, ambivalence and 1187436 Wednesday: Reign Projected Lineup, Life Without who’s had it better the last 12 years Byfield 1187437 4/28 Preview – Byfield in on second line, 11/7 vs. 12/6, Bjornfot on top pair, Moore video 1187406 Avalanche suffers first three-game losing streak of season 1187438 This Date in LA Kings History: April 28th with 5-2 loss at Vegas 1187439 Wednesday: LA Kings Projected Lineup vs. Anaheim 1187407 Avalanche needs strong 10-game finish to surpass Golden Ducks, Byfield Debut Confirmed Knights in West Division 1187440 EARLY LOOK – Wednesday: LA Kings Projected Lineup 1187408 Avalanche loss to Golden Knights underscores need to vs. Anaheim Ducks, Plus Byfield Notes get Philipp Grubauer back in net 1187409 LeBrun: The Avalanche expect to compete for the Cup, and they’re not afraid to let everyone know they are 1187441 Wild starts push to the playoffs by falling apart late in loss 1187410 Deen’s List: Struggling Avalanche to welcome back impact to the Blues players 1187442 Wild gives up three third-period goals, falls to Blues 4-3 1187411 Avalanche losing streak reaches three games after 5-2 1187443 Blues rally to beat Wild 4-3 on Thomas' with 0:23 left loss at Vegas 1187445 Jared Spurgeon stresses each player's value as Wild's 1187412 Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Betting Prediction, Picks new (April 28, 2021) 1187446 Wild returns home after clinching playoff spot to host 1187413 Takeaways from Avs loss to Vegas: Dubnyk mostly to Blues blame for this one 1187447 Kirill Kaprizov's Wild life: Rink, home, sleep . . . rookie 1187414 Avs lineup vs. Vegas stardom 1187415 Avs’ Newhook: “I think I am ready to make the jump” 1187449 ‘Just got taught a lesson’: Wild unravel in frustrating loss to Blues 1187450 Wild get taste of playoffs with five of final nine games vs. 1187416 Blue Jackets' GM Jarmo Kekalainen to help Finland at Blues 2022 Beijing Olympics 1187451 Wild, streak unravel against Blues, who have done a 1187417 Takeaways: A goalie duel, Elvis Merzlikins was number on Minnesota this season everywhere and the Blue Jackets finally won Canadiens Penguins Continued 1187452 Forward Jonathan Drouin taking indefinite leave of 1187488 Malkin Remains In Non-Contact Mode At Penguins absence from Canadiens for personal reasons Practice 1187453 Canadiens' popgun offence no match for high-flying Maple 1187489 WATCH: Penguins Blueger Drops the Gloves vs. Bruins Leafs Jeremy Lauzon 1187454 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' roller-coaster season wears on players San Jose Sharks 1187455 Crazy, condensed 56-game season getting more difficult 1187490 Sharks, playing spoiler, sweep two-game series with for Canadiens Arizona Coyotes 1187456 Canadiens Game Day: Injury-riddled Habs no match for 1187491 As Pasichnuk debuts, San Jose Sharks’ youth movement Maple Leafs kicks into overdrive 1187457 Forward Jonathan Drouin takes indefinite leave from 1187492 Kane's 20th goal leads Sharks past Coyotes 4-2 1187493 Sharks' offense comes alive as 'best fans in world' return 1187458 Leafs at Canadiens: Five things you should know 1187494 Joe Thornton and : Inside a friendship that 1187459 The Canadiens lost to the Maple Leafs, and in light of prior changed an NHL star and inspired a music legend events, it mattered less than usual 1187495 GOTTA SEE IT: Couture Loses Teeth Again, Still Smiling 1187460 Cole Caufield’s debut with the Canadiens as seen through 1187496 Postgame Notes #49: Balcers Stars, Sharks Edge the eyes of his father and brother Coyotes 4-2 1187497 Game Preview/Lines #49: Will Chekhovich, Melnichuk Play for Sharks This Year? 1187461 Are the Nashville Predators relying too much on goalie 1187498 30 Sharks: Bill Houlder on Why Was Juuse Saros in their playoff push? Effective Coach Kraken 1187462 Islanders in way of Rangers playoff-run magic 1187499 Montreal’s Jake Allen is a likely Kraken expansion draft 1187463 Struggling Islanders trying to work way out of slump with pick — as long as he’s not too good in playoffs Rangers series looming 1187464 Islanders in the playoffs and beyond: St Louis Blues Numbers that tell a concerning story 1187500 Hochman: The Blues' power play, thanks to Mike Hoffman 1187465 The Time for Kyle Palmieri to Get Crack at Islanders Top and others, has rejuvenated the team Line is Now 1187501 Now that's a comeback: Blues rally for 4-3 win over Wild 1187466 NYHN Daily: Islanders Skid Continues, Bruins Pull Within 1187502 Blues Notebook: As always, Bortuzzo ready when called One upon 1187503 Prediction: .500 hockey could be good enough to get the Blues to the postseason 1187467 Rangers can’t play catch-up in final playoff push 1187504 Game Day: This will be a Wild week for the Blues 1187468 Islanders in way of Rangers playoff-run magic 1187505 Thomas caps Blues’ rally in 4-3 win over Wild 1187469 Alexis Lafreniere’s Rangers career is beginning to take off 1187470 Why the NY Rangers should start goalie Igor Shesterkin the rest of the way 1187506 Lightning’s Erik Cernak showing growth, one 1187471 Postgame takeaways: Alexis Lafrenière keeps finding hat trick at a time reasons to smile as NY Rangers win 1187507 How the Lightning created the most elaborate Stanley Cup 1187472 Rangers coach David Quinn has tough decision against ring of all time Islanders: Igor Shesterkin or Alexandar Georgiev? Maple Leafs 1187508 visits Toronto on 3-game road skid 1187473 GARRIOCH: Led by Tkachuk's Gordie Howe hat trick, 1187509 ‘Step one is done.’ Maple Leafs clinch fifth straight trip to Senators close out April with win over Canucks the 1187474 SNAPSHOTS: Trip to worlds could help Chabot be an 1187510 Matthews scores 35th, Thornton and Spezza hit Olympian ... Lot of Ottawa players will have the option milestones as Leafs clinch playoff spot 1187475 Senators’ late-season surge isn’t meaningless. It’s a sign 1187511 Leafs vs. Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs would be of optimism worth the wait. Darryl Sittler has a feeling 1187512 CLINCHED: Maple Leafs beat Habs to secure playoff spot Flyers 1187513 TRAIK-EOTOMY: Former OHL GM says Connor 1187476 On Brian Elliott: Will ‘Moose’ be on the loose as Flyers McDavid's best is yet to come look to the future? 1187514 Marlies 'lucky, fortunate' to return to work following 1187477 Five things we learned from Tuesday’s Flyers 6-4 loss to two-week COVID quarantine the Devils 1187515 A LOT OF RIVALRY': Maple Leafs, Canadiens meet amid playoff excitement Penguins 1187516 Maple Leafs report cards: Toronto on the verge of the next 1187478 Minor league report: Penguins beat Phantoms in step with playoff clinch 1187479 Spot in Penguins lineup appears secure for Frederick Gaudreau upon return 1187480 Will Evgeni Malkin return to Penguins’ No. 1 power play? 1187528 Canucks managing their way through ‘minor hockey’ Mike Sullivan won’t commit schedule: Bo Horvat 1187481 Penguins petition state for less-distanced ‘vaccinated 1187529 Senators 6, Canucks 3: Below-average effort has Green sections’ at home games turning red at bench 1187482 Mike Sullivan: Evgeni Malkin 'full contact' at practice, will 1187530 Canucks vs. Senators recap: Tired team runs out of gas travel with Penguins 1187531 The Armies: Canucks’ season nears the end, the apathy 1187483 Empty Thoughts: Bruins 3, Penguins 1 sets in, a Bubly-flavoured feud, and ‘The Goonies’ for a 1187484 Much more than a division title at stake when Penguins battle the Capitals 1187485 Evgeni Malkin a full practice participant as he nears return 1187486 Sullivan’s Surprise: Malkin Is Cleared For Contact 1187487 PENGUINSThe Line: Speed, Transition & Why Sullivan Should Love It | PHN+ 1187517 Column: Hockey Gods need to give us Golden Knights vs. Avalanche 1187518 Golden Knights top Avs in division showdown, win 10th straight 1187519 Ex-Golden Knights coach to coach Team Canada 1187520 Golden Knights top prospect Peyton Krebs joining Silver Knights 1187521 Goaltending offers the difference — and a possible playoff preview — in Golden Knights’ win over Avalanche 1187522 Behind Fleury’s Saves, Golden Knights Defeat Colorado In Pivotal Division Game, 5-2, Wednesday 1187523 Vegas Golden Knights Beat Avalanche For Tenth Straight Win Websites 1187532 The Athletic / Is NHL’s ESPN-Turner partnership good for hockey? League executives weigh in on financials and 1187533 The Athletic / Joe Thornton and Gord Downie: Inside a friendship that changed an NHL star and inspired a music 1187534 .ca / Thornton, Spezza make history as Maple Leafs cruise to playoff berth 1187535 Sportsnet.ca / Adaptable Oilers proving they can beat opponents any way they want 1187536 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' inability to shake bad habits puts playoff readiness in question 1187537 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks unable to overcome physical, mental fatigue in loss to Senators 1187538 TSN.CA / Leafs will test playoff readiness against Habs 1187539 TSN.CA / Seven years into Treliving’s tenure, Flames still seek playoff success 1187540 USA TODAY / Split ? 'Inside the NHL?' What we know about the NHL's new media rights deals 1187524 Jets losing streak swells to five straight with 3-1 loss to Oilers 1187525 McDavid could be greatest ever 1187526 Jets' skid hits five in another loss to Oilers 1187527 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Wheeler calls for more competitive fire... season series vs Oilers won't matter if Jets find t SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1187388 Anaheim Ducks because quite obviously at the American League level he’s overcome that and he does control games at times.”

LA Times: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Kings top prospect Quinton Byfield to make his NHL debut tonight against Ducks

Quinton Byfield will play on a line with Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore on Wednesday when he makes his NHL debut for the Kings.

By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST APRIL 28, 2021 1:04 PM PT

Forward Quinton Byfield, regarded as a key piece of the Kings’ rebuilding process since they chose him No. 2 overall in the 2020 draft, is scheduled to make his NHL debut when the Kings face the Ducks at on Wednesday night in the second of four straight games between the Southern rivals.

The 18-year-old native of Newmarket, Canada, is considered a rare combination of size, speed, and extraordinary skill at 6 feet 4 and 215 pounds. He had eight goals and 20 points in 30 games with the Kings’ top farm team, the of the . In his junior hockey career he had 61 goals and 143 points in 109 games over two seasons.

Kings coach Todd McLellan said he planned to have Byfield skate alongside Adrian Kempe and Thousand Oaks native Trevor Moore on Wednesday and that Byfield also would get some time on the second power-play unit. In addition, Byfield might kill some penalties as the situation allows.

“We’re not playing him to hide him. We’re playing him to let him experience things,” McLellan said. “So he should be able to handle a regular shift. We expect him to. After that there may be more ice time available for him.”

McLellan said he would give Byfield basic advice and avoid putting too much pressure on him. “We’re going to give him the information that we think he needs, as we do with other players, and we’re really going to leave him alone,” McLellan said. “He’s worked hard to get here. We don’t want to overload any individuals, certainly not an 18-year-old coming into the league.

“I’m going to use that cliché of play the game, enjoy the moment, take everything in, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. We will help you with that and that’s what you have a long career for, is to fix them. He’s got good people around him when he steps onto the ice tonight ... and I think it will create some excitement for our hockey club as well.”

HOCKEY

Kings’ Quinton Byfield wants to be a role model for other Black hockey players

Quinton Byfield, who became the NHL’s highest-drafted Black player when the Kings selected him second overall, saw few players like himself growing up.

The jump to the NHL, where the pace is faster and the opponents bigger than at the junior level or in the minor leagues, can be a formidable challenge for young players. It has been a benefit to Byfield that because of pandemic-related restrictions, the Kings’ minor league team this season has been training and playing at the same facility where the Kings practice. Though he didn’t begin to practice with them until Tuesday, Byfield was familiar with Kings players and coaches, which might give him a sense of comfort. That familiarity seems to have accelerated his development.

“I think there’s been a personal adjustment that he’s made to life here and that affects his game, the comfort of being in and around the NHL players,” McLellan said. “I think he’s understood and began to adapt to the pro game, certainly at the American League level. Become a little more responsible defensively. Understands the pace of play and how quick he has to make decisions and distribute pucks.

“I hope that he’s not one that will feel obligated to move pucks to older, more experienced veterans because he has a very good skill set. We want him to use that and command the use of the puck and the distribution of it and the selection. But sometimes young players feel a bit intimidated, like they have to do that I hope he doesn’t feel that way 1187389 Anaheim Ducks The Ducks charged back into the game.

Literally, in fact.

Ducks rally to defeat Kings as future for both clubs is on display Sam Carrick barged into the crease of Petersen to cut the Ducks’ deficit to 2-1 at 12:53. There was contact between Carrick and Petersen, but not enough to prevent Petersen from making the save, with the puck By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 9:51 p.m. | trickling through his legs a nanosecond before Carrick hit him. UPDATED: April 29, 2021 at 1:13 a.m. Sam Steel tied the score 2-2 at 16:35, accepting a pass from behind the net from Rickard Rakell and snapping a shot from the high slot past Byfield and Petersen for his second goal in three games. Steel scored One day, in the not-too-distant future, of the Ducks and the Ducks’ lone goal in their loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Anze Kopitar of the Kings will be on their way to the Saturday. in Toronto for their enshrinement ceremonies before returning to Southern California to have their jerseys retired in their ’s rafters. “I thought it was great,” Ducks coach said of the comeback. “Our bench was good. There was a lot of chatter on our Their possible replacements faced off against each other for the first time bench. The second (Kings) goal was unfortunate, just a real honest in the NHL when the Ducks and Kings renewed their rivalry on mistake. It was good to see our guys understand that and keep playing Wednesday night at Staples Center, providing tantalizing glimpses of the hard, and for each other.” future for two franchises in similar stages of rebuilding projects. Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Let the record show that Trevor Zegras and the Ducks won Round 1 over Quinton Byfield and the Kings, 3-2. Their mere appearances on the ice enlivened the second of four games this week between the teams. The series shifts to Center on Friday and Saturday.

The eighth-place Ducks (15-28-7) were eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the day, a foregone conclusion considering their lowly state. The seventh-place Kings (18-23-6) remained alive, but only just barely. They are eight points out of the fourth and final playoff spot with just nine games left.

Cam Fowler drove a stake through the Kings’ hearts, overshadowing Zegras’ return to the NHL as a center and Byfield’s debut, by scoring the tie-breaking goal with 1:01 remaining in the third period. Fowler beat Cal Petersen from the slot after a series of moves to skate into the open.

Soon enough, the Ducks ended a five-game losing streak and handed the Kings their third loss in four games.

“Just trying to create something offensively, just trying to use my skill set, just trying to get something to the net,” Fowler said in a postgame television interview. “I was kind of fighting it tonight, so I was trying to do anything I could do to help the team. Luckily, it went in.”

Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit marveled at Fowler’s play after making his NHL debut after being recalled along with Zegras earlier in the day.

“That was not a move I would be doing,” the defensive-minded Benoit said, laughing. “But he can pull that off. It was a nice move by him.”

Zegras, the ninth pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and Byfield, the second selection in 2020, were recalled from their AHL teams, familiar foes from battles this season between the Gulls and the Ontario Reign and also the and Canada at the World Junior Championships.

Zegras, 20, was scoreless with one shot on goal while logging 14:37 of ice time. He also won five of eight faceoffs, one of several areas of emphasis during his nine-game stint with the Gulls as he transitioned to center from left wing. He played 17 games earlier this season with the Ducks.

Byfield, 18, was scoreless in 17:57 of ice time, recording four shots on goal and wins on eight of 12 faceoffs. He had the puck on his stick in the closing seconds, with a chance to tie the score, but couldn’t convert. He had a minus-1 defensive rating.

“I thought he started strong,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said of Byfield. “I thought he contributed to a lot of offensive chances. He was good in the (faceoff) circle. He had a pretty good idea and understanding of the structure of how we wanted to play. Overall, a passing grade for him. He was probably one of our better players.”

The Kings took a 2-0 lead in the first 11:15 of the second period, but they gave it up in the final 8:59 as the Ducks rallied to tie it 2-2 heading into the third. Gabe Vilardi ended his 23-game drought with a power-play goal at 4:50. Adrian Kempe made it 2-0 with a short-handed goal at 11:15.

Kempe’s goal came via a miscommunication between Fowler and Ducks goalie John Gibson. Gibson came charging out of his net after a loose puck that Fowler appeared to have within his grasp with a few quick strides. Kempe benefited from an I-got-it-you-take-it moment. 1187390 Anaheim Ducks

Isac Lundestrom progressing ahead of Ducks’ rebuild

Coach Dallas Eakins: 'Right away, he came in and we could see that he was stronger. We could see he was faster'

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 11:17 a.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at 2:33 p.m.

Coach Dallas Eakins made a startling admission the other day. He said he didn’t believe center Isac Lundestrom could crack the Ducks’ lineup when training camp started in January. Eakins said he thought Lundestrom would start the season with the AHL’s .

“He surprised us,” Eakins said.

Lundestrom’s statistics are modest, no question. He had six goals and three assists in 34 games going into Wednesday’s game against the Kings at Staples Center. He also had five goals and six assists in 12 games with Timra IK in his native Sweden to start the season.

But there’s been more to Lundestrom’s all-around play than goals and assists, according to Eakins.

“He’s gotten better each and every day,” he said. “He’s taken wonderful strides and is ahead of where we thought he was going to be, which is a great thing when you’re rebuilding an organization, when somebody gets ahead of themselves.

“In an adverse season, you can look at the standings, and we all understand where we’re at, but when it comes to certain individuals on this team, and ‘Lundy’ is one of them, we are trending in the right direction with the rebuild.”

Eakins then took a deep dive into the specifics of Lundestrom’s play.

“Last year, he would get moved off of pucks, outmuscled, had a tough time playing at a high pace for a full shift or a full game, was still caught a little bit in his homeland’s way of play of bringing the puck back a lot, and was still learning the defensive part of the game, which is extremely hard for a young centerman,” Eakins said.

“There is so much on these guys, physically. I think people underestimate the toll faceoffs take on your body, the toll of the game of playing from goal line to goal line and being in intense battles at both ends of the ice.

“Right away, he came in and we could see that he was stronger. We could see he was faster. Suddenly, he’s not getting bumped off the pucks. He’s the one bumping people off the pucks. He was transporting the puck north to south. He’s turned into a really responsible killer and a very, very responsible centerman.

“He just needs to keep growing and keep working on his faceoffs, which are critical. That’s a guy we thought was going to take a little bit more time, but he’s had a real nice progression here over the last year.”

Lundestrom, 21, made his North American debut as an apple-cheeked 18-year-old, the Ducks’ first-round draft pick (23rd overall) in 2018. He played 15 games with the Ducks, recording two assists, and 19 more with the Gulls, including seven in the playoffs in 2018-19.

He returned to the lineup Monday, after an eight-game layoff after an appendectomy. He centered a skillful line with Max Comtois, the Ducks’ leading scorer with 28 points, on left wing and Rickard Rakell, second with 25 points, on right wing. It could be a line to watch in the seasons to come.

It’s taken several years, but Lundestrom has found his comfort zone on the ice and off of it.

“You always want to play good and be better every game, but I’ve felt, for sure, I’ve been more comfortable,” he said. “I think one big part is I’ve felt more comfortable off the ice with all the guys and everything around here (in Southern California). I think I can get better from here.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187391 Arizona Coyotes Save of the game

Kuemper kept it a one-goal game in the second period with this effort:

Arizona Coyotes see playoff hopes fade in lackluster loss to San Jose Up next Sharks The Coyotes return to for the final homestand of the regular season. It's back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against the West Division-leading and playoff-bound Vegas Golden Knights. Jose M. Romero Then comes two games against the , including the home finale on May 5, which will be Fan Appreciation Night.

Arizona Coyotes head coach said hours before Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.29.2021 Wednesday's game that there remained belief that if the team did the right things, they could win the game and continue to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive.

But after another loss, 4-2 to the San José Sharks for their ninth defeat in 11 games, that belief might be down to faint hope.

The Coyotes (21-24-5) got off to another confounding start to the game, going down by three goals. Their comeback attempt came up short and was deflated by a key mistake late in the game.

The Coyotes still had a chance to draw even as time ticked off the clock, but captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson was called for tripping with 2:16 to play. The Sharks lost their power play advantage 50 seconds later with a penalty of their own, but the Coyotes' inability to pull goalie Darcy Kuemper for an extra attacker sooner didn't help.

"No penalty is good unless it's an aggressive one," Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said.

"The start's killing us. Three gifts again. A couple of guys, wrong reads. I don't understand on the reads, a couple of guys are fragile on these reads at the start of the game, and it was in our net," Tocchet said. "You start pushing the pace when you're down 3-nothing, but it's the start, once again."

Tomas Hertl scored into an empty net around Coyotes defensemen Jakob Chychrun with 37 seconds to go, sealing another Arizona loss in their late-season swoon.

In essence, every game is a must-win for the Coyotes in the final days of the regular season, and they aren't winning.

Ekman-Larsson admitted his miscues, which also included a hooking penalty earlier in the third period after the Sharks' skated by him with the puck.

Ekman-Larsson wondered aloud about his own play, as the Coyotes fell three points behind the St. Louis Blues for the West Division's last playoff spot.

The Sharks needed 17 seconds to jump out to the lead in Monday's game, and on Wednesday it took 1 minute, 12 seconds for a 1-0 lead on Evander Kane's 20th goal of the season.

Rudolfs Balcers was too quick with the puck for Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to recover, and he scored on a semi-breakaway midway through the period for a 2-0 San José lead. Then Kevin Labanc, with Coyotes defensemen and Kuemper slow to react, put home another goal.

But the Coyotes, as they did when going down 4-0 on Monday, had a response. 's goal on a delayed penalty with 4:13 to go in the first brought him to one point away from 900 points for his career, and gave him a team-leading 18 goals on the season. He has eight goals against San José this season.

Johan Larsson scored early in the second period to make it a one-goal deficit. He was in position for a loose puck off the stick of Hertl and put it away.

Kuemper, pulled early in the second period on Monday after the Sharks scored four goals, appeared close to getting the hook again with three shots getting past him in the first period. But he collected himself, came up with key saves in the second period and gave the Coyotes a chance.

Kuemper had 27 saves and a critical penalty kill of a 5-on-3 and 5-on-4 in the third period gave the Coyotes hope with plenty of time to equalize, but they couldn't find a needed goal.

'Toc' talk

Tocchet, who said he has to do better to have the team ready to play: 1187392 Arizona Coyotes

Jay Varady making impact in first season as Coyotes assistant coach

Jose M. Romero

The Arizona Coyotes didn't have to look far to fill a position on their bench among the coaching staff, officially adding Jay Varady just before this season started.

Varady was already an extension, in some ways, of the staff. He'd coached the Coyotes' American Hockey League team, the Tucson Roadrunners, to a 70-45-11 record from 2018 to 2020, and after sports came to an abrupt end with the arrival of COVID-19, came up to help the Coyotes in the bubble environment for last year's NHL postseason.

His familiarity with Coyotes prospects who've played for and currently play in Tucson was a plus as the team went into this year's training camp, and before it had ended, Varady earned a full-time position the NHL after two decades of coaching.

"You've got all these extra players around, so you really need an extra coach, almost, to keep those guys in shape outside the staff. So in the bubble, that was mostly my main role, which allowed me to spend more time with Rick Tocchet's staff," Varady said. "As we were approaching (this) season, we didn't really know if the American (Hockey) League was going to go. It was just a transition into a season that was going to be jam-packed.

"I was excited about the opportunity, and I've loved every second of it."

Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said having Varady this season has been a great resource.

"I really enjoy working with him, he's a very passionate guy about the game, and he wants to teach and he also wants to learn, too," Tocchet said. "He's always pushing the envelope and thinking outside the box."

The relationship Varady has with players like Michael Bunting, Lane Pederson, Adin Hill, and the taxi squad players that played for him in Tucson the past couple of years is important for Tocchet, who calls Varady a "conduit."

Varady has run a lot of taxi squad practices, the small-group sessions that typically take place after the main team gets their on-ice work done.

"He can talk to the guys. The taxi squad guys, he keeps them motivated," Tocchet said. "Helps me out because I've got a lot of stuff going on. He keeps those guys motivated and explains things to them, too."

Varady's time in Tucson allowed him to forge a good working rapport with the Coyotes coaches, and now that he's in Glendale, the organization's top player development people are only a few steps away at Gila River Arena.

Varady credited Tocchet for being very inclusive with the Tucson coaches and player development staff, so that everyone is on the same page with regard to the plan for how to bring those players in the minors along.

"I think that is the big thing, just the continuity of the whole group," Varady said. "Everything that's player-facing, from the development team to the American league team to the NHL coaching staff is really one plan and one mission, and I think that helps players here in Arizona."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187393 Boston Bruins (22.2 percent), while the other two players he was tied with had 53 and 46. He has four goals at even strength.

The Bruins are known for grooming US college free agents, particularly Thoughts and shots and other observations as the Bruins drive toward defensemen (Torey Krug, Kevan Miller, Connor Clifton). Lyle, undrafted the playoffs out of OHL Owen Sound, looks like a promising Canadian find by ’s staff. Matt Ryan and Bob Wetick are Boston’s Ontario-based scouts, while Michigan-based Jeff Barratt assists them. By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated April 28, 2021, 6:04 p.m. ▪ Eagerly awaiting what fresh ideas Turner has for its fledgling NHL coverage. In this viewer’s broad-stroke opinion, the NBC product had become stale, had too serious a tone, and lacked imagination. Rarely A few extra thoughts from the Pittsburgh swing of the Bruins road trip, as were intermission segments must-watch TV. we count the days until approximately 4,565 fans (25 percent) will be allowed into TD Garden … Splitting some of the marquee with ESPN, TNT will show the Stanley Cup Final in three of the next seven years, half of the playoffs in each of ▪ Even the most pessimistic Bruins fans (don’t ask them for their thoughts those years, and the Winter Classic. Here’s hoping it captures some of on Tuukka Rask) probably believe this team will make the playoffs. The the “innovative, fun, and dynamic” energy, as chairman Jeff Zucker Bruins (28-14-6) will play six of their final eight games against teams that described it, of its popular NBA coverage. entered Wednesday out of the picture: two each against the Sabres, Devils, and Rangers, a run that begins Thursday against the battered “You can’t just copy ‘Inside the NBA’ on Thursday nights; that comes Buffalonians. together over time and relationships,” Zucker said. “We’re going to bring that same approach to the NHL.” The Rangers (26-18-6), making a push from fifth place, have won three in a row and are 4 points back of Boston. If anyone is ripe for the picking, Bring us new faces, smarter analysis, and a looser atmosphere, and it looks like the team down the Long Island Railroad. we’re off to a good start.

The Islanders are 2-4-1 since adding Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac at Boston Globe LOADED: 04.29.2021 the trade deadline, and it has not been pretty. They have been shut out three times in that span. Their power play is 3 for 20. Excluding a 6-1 win over the Rangers, they have scored five goals. At 63 points (29-15-5), they’re 1 ahead of the Bruins.

As of Wednesday, six teams — Carolina, Florida, and Tampa in the Central; Vegas, Colorado, Minnesota in the West — had clinched playoff spots. The North and East remain up for grabs. The latter, with the Capitals on top (three straight wins, 68 points to the Penguins’ 67), is the most difficult to project. Put another way, traveling hockey writers are booking hotels in multiple cities.

▪ A senior NHL said the East playoffs could begin a few days after the original projected dates of May 13-14. Will that be enough time for Brandon Carlo to recover?

Brandon Carlo has played in 23 games this season.JOHN TLUMACKI/

GLOBE STAFF The second-pair defenseman, who has played four periods of hockey since March 5 (concussion, upper-body injury), was said to be working out in Brighton during the Bruins’ five-game swing through Buffalo and Pittsburgh.

▪ Happy 35th birthday (Wednesday) to the ever-understated David Krejci, who wasn’t about to puff his chest over his flashy goal against the Penguins.

“You know, one of those things,” Krejci said. “Tried to make a move one- on-one. It worked, so …”

Gee, what a me-guy. By comparison, he gushed about linemate Taylor Hall, who has been everything the Bruins could have wanted.

“He’s fast, he makes one-on-one moves, he’s a pretty strong guy as well,” Krejci said. “He makes things happen. At the same time, the last few games he’s been backchecking really hard. As a centerman, I appreciate when my wings do that. It means I don’t have to do it.”

Let’s set the over/under on “Hall 71” jerseys in Thursday’s TD Garden crowd at 10 (keep in mind, capacity remains at 2,191). You taking the over?

▪ After an excellent game for ’s bottom six, questions linger with that group. Was Tuesday a one-off scratch for Jake DeBrusk, or is his status as a regular in flux? Trent Frederic had his legs moving after an 11-game break — does he deserve a spot? What about Nick Ritchie, who was dropped to the fourth line? Should the Sean Kuraly-Charlie Coyle combo get a little more time to cook? What’s the most effective usage for Curtis Lazar?

Though the Bruins always want more from this group (especially Coyle and DeBrusk, who have shown they can bat higher in the order), they do have some solid depth.

▪ Providence defenseman Brady Lyle is showing finishing talent. The right-shooting rookie (6 feet 3 inches, 212 pounds) is tied for the AHL lead in goals by a rookie defenseman (six). Lyle scored his via 27 shots 1187394 Boston Bruins notch, and a statement to the Blueshirts that they aren’t going to be passing Boston in the standings over the season’s final weeks.

If anything, it looks like the Black and Gold are going to climb past an ‘Lot To Like From Everybody’ In Boston Bruins Barometer Win Isles team struggling since the loss of Anders Lee. They are just one point back of the Islanders with two games in hand and wins in seven of their last nine games since solidifying the roster at the NHL trade By Joe Haggerty deadline.

“We addressed some things before the game. Obviously, we know where we’re at in the standings and what’s going on around us. We talked about If there is one grand assessment to be made after Tuesday night’s solid some stuff and for the most part we stuck to the game plan and did 3-1 win for the Boston Bruins over the at PPG exactly what we talked about,” said Krejci. “I think we’re a good team, Paints Arena, it’s that the Bruins are going to be just fine with eight especially when guys do what they’re good at. That’s what happened games left in the regular season. tonight in a big game as the last one on a road trip.” Sure, the New York Rangers still trail the Boston Bruins by a handful of Prior to last night’s win the Bruins had a 92.9 percent chance of points in the East Division for the final playoff spot. And the East Division qualifying for the playoffs, and that number just went up after tacking on playoff picture is going to be the ultimate toss-up between those top four another two points against the Penguins. teams that do actually make the postseason with the Capitals, Penguins, Islanders and Bruins all very evenly matched. Now they’re looking at two more at TD Garden against the hapless Sabres to close out the week. The only thing that seems to be tripping up the B’s right now is the heavy schedule, a whopping 17 games in the month of April, that they’re playing At this point it’s much less “if” and much more “when” the Boston Bruins down the stretch, with tired minds and heavy skating legs featuring qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Tuesday night gave them a prominently in back-to-back losses in Buffalo and Pittsburgh. pretty good barometer of just how postseason-ready they are once they settle into Stanley Cup playoff mode. With a few days rest, the Bruins best players dominated the Penguins in the 3-1 win and left their head coach with little to critique afterward. Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 That is the ultimate sign that a hockey team just played a close-to-perfect game.

“A lot to like from everybody tonight, to be honest with you. We played a good, determined game. Our top guys did the finishing,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “Our bottom guys did a lot of the dirty work, the grunt work, the physicality. It’s a good formula for us.”

It wasn’t all there when the Bruins were mismanaging the puck en route to giving Buffalo six goals last weekend, and there certainly wasn’t enough offensive push in the Sunday matinee shutout at the hands of the Penguins. But the Bruins once again proved they will be able to score even strength goals against quality teams with both David Krejci and Taylor Hall kicking in dazzling snipes, and the Perfection Line dominating from the very first shift of the game.

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak combined for the Marchand second-effort score in the third period, 14 shots on net and 22 shot attempts, which is their level when they’re really buzzing during the postseason. Bergeron won 20-of-30 draws and the trio routinely torched Sidney Crosby’s line in a head-to-head matchup that I’m not sure the Penguins are going to want in a potential playoff matchup.

Krejci and Hall each finished with four shots on net apiece and that second line had 12 shot attempts as well, giving the top-6 forwards plenty of puck possession (34 shot attempts) and offensive output (three goals).

The much-maligned bottom-6 forwards were solid as well.

Trent Frederic jumped back into the lineup with a gritty, energetic performance that had the Penguins agitated while Frederic, Sean Kuraly, Chris Wagner and Curtis combined for 20 registered hits. Everybody up and down the lineup crowded the opposing net and got to the inside ice that’s been inconsistent at best for the B’s throughout the season.

“The way our team is built we’re at our best when we’re rolling four lines and everybody is kind on the same page out there,” said Tuukka Rask. “We’re playing a tight game, chip in and chip out and then when the time is there to make a play they do. And the skill takes over. When the bottom lines aren’t scoring, they’re doing valuable work otherwise. When everybody is on the same page like we were today, I think we have a better chance of winning.”

Jeremy Lauzon dropped the gloves and hammered Teddy Blueger in a fight, and Charlie McAvoy created a number of transition opportunities in his 27 plus minutes of ice time, including the nasty Krejci backhander that eventually opened up the scoring midway through the game.

None of it even mentions the solid goaltending performance Rask, who stopped 25 shots and has won four of his five starts with a .937 save percentage since coming back from a suspected back injury.

Add it all together and it’s a clear picture of what the Bruins are going to bring to the Stanley Cup playoffs in a couple of weeks. It’s confirmation to the B’s players that they have the goods when they kick things up a 1187395 Boston Bruins of lunatic would turn away the eruption of joy that accompanied the first Cup celebrated on Chicago ice in 77 years in 2015?

To be on the other side of #17Seconds, no less? Blackhawks or Bruins? On fandom, ambivalence and who’s had it better the last 12 years But fandom isn’t about the destination, right? It’s all about the journey. All that aforementioned unbearable fun and excruciating joy. It’s about sweating out Big Games with your friends, living and dying with every By Mark Lazerus Apr 28, 2021 shot and save. But more than anything, it’s about hope — believing you might win, you can win, you will win. That hope sustains you through the offseason. It carries you through training camp. It buoys you through the dog days of the regular season. And it fuels you during the playoffs. It’s a thought that pops up in my mentions a few times every month. Has for years. It’s expressed in the comments section every time I write a Bruins fans have that hope, every night, every year. For 12 consecutive story about the good old days, which is, I’ll freely admit, a lot. It’s even years, Bruins fans had reason to believe, reason to sweat, reason to come up among the Blackhawks themselves, in private conversations at agonize over every game, every goal, every coaching decision, every the rink in the lazy hours before and after a practice. I once brought it up roster move. For 12 consecutive years, they were in the game. Their to Marcus Kruger and he said he and were talking about it team mattered. just “the other day.” Blackhawks fans haven’t had that hope, really, since the eighth-seeded That thought? Should have been four. Predators swept them out of the first round four long years ago. They haven’t truly earned a playoff spot since. First, they tried clinging to the There should have been four Stanley Cups in the Blackhawks’ golden past, like so many former champions do. Didn’t work. Then they tried age, not “just” three. It’s a thought that gnaws at Chicagoans and retooling with veterans, like Boston and Pittsburgh did. Didn’t work, Blackhawks fans across the globe. As much as fans swell with pride either. about 2010, 2013 and 2015, they dwell inside on 2014, a season that ended in overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Now they’re trying to rebuild with youth, like they did themselves in the mid-2000s. But it takes time. There’s hope, but it’s long-term hope. Even If only the Blackhawks could have made a 4-3 third-period lead in Game before the Blackhawks were all but eliminated from playoff contention 7 against the Kings stand up. If only Nick Leddy’s jersey had fitted him a last week, nobody was really living and dying with every game because little more snugly. The Rangers wouldn’t have stood a chance in the nobody really thought this team had any realistic chance at a Stanley Cup Final, the thinking goes. The Blackhawks still would have championship. It’s still fandom, but it’s a softer fandom, more relaxed. won the following year, is the assumption. The first and only three-peat in The highs aren’t nearly as high, the lows aren’t nearly as low. It becomes the salary-cap era was theirs for the taking. more a hobby, less an obsession. It’s healthier, sure, but not nearly as That’s fandom, right? You’re never satisfied. You always want more. fun. Whether you’re a player, a season-ticket holder or a casual observer, it’s Since the last Blackhawks’ championship, there’s been nothing but so much fun to win that you get greedy. You get addicted to the stagnation. Since the last Bruins championship, there’s been nothing but relentless cycle of tension and release that comes with playoff series, contention, including two more trips to the final. Boston sports fans have with endless overtimes, with pivotal Game 5s and unendurable Game 7s. been hilariously spoiled over the last couple of decades, so maybe Hell, the exquisite agony of the hours leading up to an elimination game they’re the wrong group to appreciate what they’ve had in the Bruins. But are almost as good as the giddy hours that follow a successful one. And the point remains: The Bruins keep mattering. The Blackhawks are taking you just want more and more and more. It’s natural, all part of the fun. the long way back to mattering. Now, strictly speaking, only Penguins fans can say they’ve had as good a So what’s better? Burning hotter or burning longer? Six or seven run as the Blackhawks have in the cap era. The Blackhawks’ core won unbelievable years or a dozen-plus really good ones? Chicago’s peaks three Cups, the Penguins core has three Cups. That the Penguins are tower over Boston’s (the difference between winning a Cup and losing in still in position to make a run at another one surely gives their fans the the final might be just 17 seconds, but it feels like 17 lifetimes). But edge, but Blackhawks fans really have no right to complain, right? Bruins fans have wrung more relevance and gotten more of their fix of Well … that sweet, sweet hope and despair that makes sports so simultaneously soul-crushing and soul-replenishing. There’s another thought I’ve seen pop up in my mentions more and more lately, particularly since it became evident a few years ago that the Ask any fan, and they’ll surely tell you they’ll take the titles. No Cubs fan Blackhawks needed to move on from the glory years. It shows up in the would give back 2016 for more of this second-tier contention they’ve had comments sections once in a while, too. I even talked about it with since. And the fact is, once you win it all, nothing else can ever live up to a couple years ago, and he admitted to some envy. it. But there is something to be said for the Bruins’ more, let’s say, tantric fandom. Why can’t the Blackhawks be more like the Boston Bruins? Because while the Blackhawks play out the string on this pleasant but The same Bruins who retooled around a veteran core and barely dipped ultimately fruitless season and Chicagoans turn their attention to the at all, missing the playoffs in just 2014-15 and 2015-16, but doing so with Cubs, White Sox and (deep sigh) Bears, the Bruins are gearing up for 96 and 93 points, respectively. The same Bruins who have supplemented another playoff run. Bostonians are plotting potential matchups, stressing the likes of and Brad Marchand with David Pastrnak over second-round showdowns, stocking up on Sam Adams and bracing and Charlie McAvoy. The same Bruins who, through savvy roster themselves for up to two more months of glorious misery. Sounds great, management, team-friendly contracts and an aggressive mindset, have doesn’t it? been buyers at the trade deadline year after year after year. What’s my point? Honestly, I’m not sure I have one. It’s just a thought The same Bruins who’ve won one Stanley Cup in … *checks notes* … that’s been rattling around in my brain the last few weeks as fans have four decades? Who haven’t won one in 10 years? Those Bruins? Yeah, started to tune out another lost Blackhawks season a few weeks before those Bruins. the end, and as giants of modern Blackhawks history such as Corey Crawford, Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw keep stepping away from All of which brings me to another thought, one that I haven’t seen the game for good. I’m old enough to remember when April and May expressed on Twitter, in the comments, or among NHLers themselves. (and sometimes June) were the most exciting times to be a Chicago Maybe that’s because it’s mildly insane. But if you had the choice, would sports fan. Maybe I just miss those days, and miss writing about Big you rather have been a Blackhawks fan since, say, 2008, or a Bruins Games the way so many of you miss stressing over and celebrating fan? them. Blackhawks, right? Three Cups is more than one Cup. End of discussion. That’s sports, right? The highs are unbeatable, the lows are unbearable. Right? I mean, what fan in their right mind would give up the delirious joy And being somewhere in the middle? Well, in the emotionally heightened of the Chicago hockey renaissance, skipping work or school to attend the fantasy world that is sports, ambivalence is the worst feeling of all. 2010 parade and tracking the week-long Cup crawl through Chicago’s so-called Viagra Triangle? What kind of person would be willing to give The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 back the comeback against Detroit and #17Seconds in 2013? What kind 1187396 Boston Bruins Jeremy Swayman eventually peeled off his covers. He loved being at the rink, foiling shooters who were sometimes five years older.

The bigger problem was infrastructure. has had good players, ‘Tuukka’s in trouble now’: How Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman grew into from Scott Gomez to Brandon Dubinsky to ex-Bruin Nate Thompson. an NHL hotshot Eventually, they run out of road. By the time Swayman’s 17th birthday approached, Alaska did not have a U-18 AAA team. Players of Swayman’s profile identified better opportunities elsewhere: the prep By Fluto Shinzawa Apr 28, 2021 schools of New England, Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn., Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind.

Another issue was attention. Because of cost and distance, Alaska is not Jeremy Swayman straightened out his University of Alaska-Anchorage a popular waypoint for junior and college scouts. The kid who has a bad polo shirt. He brushed off his khakis. The 17-year-old goalie, joined by day during a scout’s visit is not guaranteed a second viewing. his father, Ken, and his youth hockey coach Merit Waldrop, wanted to make a good impression on his prospective college staff. “If you don’t produce, you lost your opportunity,” said Waldrop, an Anchorage native. “That window for us is a little bit smaller. The door Things were set to align. Swayman was born and raised in Anchorage. closes. It’s not very often if you have a bad game that scout comes back He played for the Alaska All-Stars and the Alaska Oilers, two top local to see you again. If you go down there and have success at the right time programs. His dad, a podiatrist, was a longtime volunteer doctor for the in the right place, maybe he comes to see you again. Maybe he calls and Seawolves. Before he was a year old, Swayman attended UAA games asks about you. But up here, if you don’t produce or don’t show up at the atop his father’s back. As he grew older, he pushed sticks in a shopping right time, that opportunity is done.” cart and filled the players’ water bottles. Swayman thought he’d have an in-state junior opportunity. In 2015, he The former Seawolves stick boy has since roared to a 5-2-0 start with a was tendered by the North American Hockey League’s Kenai River 1.57 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage with the Bruins. Brown Bears. The team is based in Soldotna, about a three-hour drive He has the highest save percentage in the league of any goalie with from Anchorage. seven or more appearances. According to Moneypuck, Swayman has saved 0.541 goals above expectation per 60 minutes. Among goalies The tryout for the Alaska club was in Blaine, Minn., of all places. with seven-plus appearances, only Petr Mrazek and Andrei Vasilevskiy Swayman was feeling good about his chances. By then, he was one of have negated goals at a higher rate. the state’s best goalies.

Yet the 22-year-old who has swiped the Boston Bruins’ backup job from “I was no NHLer,” said Waldrop, a four-year Alaska-Anchorage player Jaroslav Halak and pushed Tuukka Rask could not draw the interest of who played parts of five seasons with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. “But I just his hometown team — a program that is fighting to survive. This had remember shooting on this 14- or 15-year-old kid, and I’m like, ‘I’ve got to happened before. work to score on this kid.’ I used to joke, ‘This is my next NHLer.’”

So the boy who loved everything about Alaska had to chase his dream Swayman had an obstacle coming. elsewhere. Jeremy Swayman (Courtesy of Ken Swayman) Jeremy Swayman (Courtesy of Ken Swayman) Swayman’s trip to Blaine did not go well. He got cut. David Gunnarsson, the founder of DaveArt, is one of the NHL’s go-to mask painters. His clients regularly request flags of their countries on Swayman was desperate. He was out of local AAA options. their mask. Halak, a Gunnarsson client, wears the double cross of the Several of his friends had moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., to play for Slovakian flag atop his latest model. the Pikes Peak Miners, a AAA program in the North American Prospects States and provinces, on the other hand, are not as popular. Gunnarsson Hockey League. He asked his buddies if they could inquire. did not know the number of his customers that have made such requests, On a Saturday afternoon in August 2015, Greg Vanover, the Miners’ only that they were few and far between. coach, was overseeing tryouts for the upcoming season. Texts and calls Swayman is an exception. The back of his DaveArt creation boasts the suddenly came in. They were all from his Alaska players. outline of his home state. It’s all there, from the northern peak of Barrow Finally, he stepped away from his evaluations and took one of the calls. to the Aleutian Islands below the Bering Sea. For Swayman, the graphic Vanover was informed that a good Alaskan goalie was looking for a represents Alaska’s people more than its features. team.

“Alaska’s pretty unique. A unique place to come from,” Swayman said. By then, Vanover had already committed to two goalies. All he knew “It’s a big reason why I’m where I’m at now. The people that have about Swayman was a memory of a 2014-15 Pacific District postseason supported me and helped me to get where I wanted to be is tremendous. viewing and recalling that the goalie had skill. When I get to look at the back of my helmet before every period, that just reminds me and gives me extra motivation to do my best and make them Vanover agreed to talk to Swayman. The coach explained the situation. proud.” Swayman would have to beat out two goalies.

Three decades ago, Alaska’s mountains and waters and wildlife called to The 16-year-old understood. Then he told Vanover what he planned to Swayman’s father. Its people convinced him to stay. But long-term do. residence has not wrung the Brooklyn from his accent. His son’s new city is “Boah-ston.” But Ken Swayman, raised in Canarsie, uses the same “I’m gonna win you games,” Swayman said. “I’ll come and be your No. 1 term for his adopted home state as its natives: “up here.” Alaskans call goalie.” the Lower 48 “down there,” perhaps even with a sprinkle of pity for what Vanover believed him. He extended Swayman an invitation. the rest of us are missing. The Swaymans considered the opportunity. He could stay home with “It’s a wonderful place,” Ken Swayman said. “Beyond just the beauty, the family and friends, but he would likely hit developmental quicksand in people here are pretty incredible. Anchorage, we call it a small town. high school hockey. It wasn’t an easy choice. Being a physician here for three decades, my patients have become my family.” “Jeremy leaving was not because he didn’t like Alaska or because we didn’t support hockey,” Ken Swayman said. “It was because there was The state is not as friendly to those drawn to man-made ice. When nothing at the time. There were no options.” Jeremy Swayman’s wakeup calls came for shooting sessions before school, there was no sign of warmth, to say nothing of sunlight. The teenager said goodbye and settled in with the Nolettes, his billet family in Colorado Springs. “You talk about getting up at 5 in the morning in a cold Alaska winter,” Ken Swayman recalled. “To get a 10-year-old out of bed, that was tough. Jeremy Swayman swiftly moved ahead of the other Pikes Peak goalies. There were some fisticuffs getting him out of bed.” He was fast. He was technically sound. He liked winning. He enjoyed training. There was one thing Swayman didn’t know how to do: compete. Vanover watched from Colorado Springs. Like Waldrop, he was not surprised with Swayman’s play. Several times, Vanover turned to his wife Vanover taught Swayman that every save mattered. There were Allison to say the following: practices when Vanover warned Swayman that if a first shot went in, they would meet in the parking lot later for sprints. “Tuukka’s in trouble now.”

Swayman enjoyed the challenge. Sometimes, he’d hit the parking lot just The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 because he felt like it.

Before one game against a high-powered opponent, Swayman assumed he’d be the starter. Vanover assured him no such thing.

“I didn’t like your warmup before the last game. I didn’t like your last game,” Vanover told Swayman. “We won the game 5-2, but I didn’t like the two goals. I didn’t like them. I thought you were pretty average. I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”

The Miners completed warmups. The opening buzzer sounded. Vanover still hadn’t named his starter.

Both goalies skated for the net. Swayman got there first. Vanover informed Swayman he’d get the hook if he let in just one goal.

“I went down to the other goalie and said, ‘Hey, I’m serious about that. If he lets in one goal, you’re going in,’” Vanover said. “Then I asked him, ‘When do you think he’s coming out?’ He goes, ‘He’s not. He’s not.’”

Swayman recorded a shutout.

“He skates by, smirks and gives me a little head nod,” Vanover said. “He never said another word about it. It was, ‘That’s what you want? Then OK, let’s go.’”

Swayman lit up the NAPHL. Former Colorado College coach Scott Owens, who was the coach and general manager of Sioux Falls of the USHL, was interested in drafting Swayman.

Owens is friends with Vanover and called the Pikes Peak coach for information. Vanover told Owens that Swayman was “legit.” It is a word he does not use often to describe teenage hockey players.

Owens then called Swayman to express his interest in drafting him as Sioux Falls’ third goalie. Swayman told Owens he’d be the Stampede’s No. 1.

In 2016-17, Swayman posted a .914 save percentage in 32 games for Sioux Falls. He earned one more start than partner Mikhail Berdin, a 2016 Winnipeg draft pick. Swayman accepted an offer from the University of Maine, and the Bruins selected Swayman in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

None of it may have happened had Kenai River brought Swayman on.

“It was one of those years where I wasn’t going to take no for an answer after I was cut,” Swayman said. “That’s something that I promised myself and my family. I said, ‘That was the worst feeling ever. I never want to be cut from a team again.’ I’m really grateful that I did fail in that circumstance. Because it’s really motivated me for the future.”

Swayman started his USHL career well. UAA revved up its interest, but by then, Maine was in the lead.

“It just didn’t happen,” Ken Swayman said of the Seawolves’ push. “They just came too late to the game. I don’t want to say anything negative about it. But they didn’t recruit him early enough. They kind of took it for granted that he would just stay. By the time they were talking to him, he had already had 12 other opportunities from big-time schools.”

Maine, the school on the other side of North America, was the perfect fit for the Anchorage native. Under the late Red Gendron, Swayman was a three-year workhorse, playing in 100 games. After turning pro, Swayman needed just nine tuneups in the AHL.

On April 6, Swayman made his NHL debut in Philadelphia. He made 40 saves, including 23 in the second period.

Waldrop, watching from Anchorage, was a little worried in the second period. But he was not surprised with how Swayman played.

Under normal circumstances, Ken Swayman would have attended his son’s debut at Wells Fargo Center. But because of COVID-19 restrictions, he watched from his Anchorage home. He stood, as he usually does when his boy plays, for most of the game. After the win, he nearly burst with pride. 1187397 Buffalo Sabres wall half the game,” Granato said. “He can move east-west, left-right, and he has a creative side to him as well, very deceptive and creative player. He has more opportunity offensively in that position. I feel we’ve seen Sam Reinhart's successful transition to center strengthens Sabres' depth that and we’ve been able to take advantage of that. As he’s re- acclimated to that position, he shows signs of continuing to get better and more dangerous.”

Lance Lysowski Apr 28, 2021 For whatever reason, past coaches and management have declined to play Reinhart at center, a position he had not played full-time since the

early weeks of the 2017-18 season. He had strong underlying numbers BOSTON – Pavel Buchnevich’s desperate lunge for the puck had the while skating alongside mostly bottom-six-type wingers in a small sample New York Rangers in position to kill precious time off the Buffalo Sabres’ size at the position under former coach Phil Housley, but the Sabres power play in a one-goal game Tuesday night. preferred to have Reinhart paired with Eichel on the top line.

Then Sam Reinhart knocked the puck away from Buchnevich, skated When the Sabres traded Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis in June 2018, around the unsuspecting opponent, avoided another defender to give Mittelstadt, not Reinhart, was the top candidate to center the second line. possession to Casey Mittelstadt and positioned himself in the slot. Perhaps management was hesitant because Reinhart has been productive on the wing, totaling 20 or more goals in five of his six full NHL Reinhart, almost seven years removed from his selection second overall seasons. by the Sabres, one-timed a shot over goalie Igor Shesterkin’s glove to tie the score with 3.2 seconds remaining in the second period. It's a work in progress, but Sabres finally seeing results on power play

The goal was Reinhart’s team-high 22nd of the season – the fastest he’s "The Sabres still need to shoot pucks more, but at least the ones they are ever reached the 20-goal mark – and was the latest reminder of what the firing are starting to find the net," writes Mike Harrington. 25-year-old can accomplish in the middle of the ice. It was the type of “It is a different challenge, for sure,” Reinhart said. “There’s no surprise sequence that interim coach envisioned when he moved it’s more a demanding position, I think how the defensive side of it and a Reinhart back to center on March 31. different kind of game from a skating standpoint as well. Yeah, I’ve In 16 games since switching to his natural position, Reinhart has 10 enjoyed that part of it, too.” goals with five assists for 15 points. Of all Reinhart has accomplished in The defensive aspect has been an adjustment. Opponents have the his sixth full NHL season – including an expanded leadership role – he advantage in 5-on-5 shot-quality share with Reinhart on the ice at center, cited comfort at center as a primary area of growth. according to NaturalStatTrick.com. But Reinhart has evolved into an Sabres rookie Dylan Cozens turns to fighting to try to ignite his own exceptional defensive player. It’s likely he and his linemates will allow game fewer quality shots in time.

“I think after you drop the gloves, the adrenaline boost is something you The Sabres suddenly have four dynamic center options for 2021-22: can’t really get from anything else,” Cozens said. Eichel, Reinhart, Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens, all of whom were selected in the top 10 in their respective draft. Cody Eakin is under “It’s allowed me – really, forced me – to move my feet a little bit more,” contract through next season, although he has only two goals in 44 said Reinhart, who was drafted as a center. “I think it was an adjustment games this season. Arttu Ruotsalainen and Rasmus Asplund are at the start of my career, having to force myself to do it more moving over possible options at center. to the wing and having to bring that part of it, and this part is almost more natural for me for my professional career. So, it’s been fun for me to kind Adams likely will receive calls from other teams to gauge the Sabres’ of go back to that and play that different a little bit.” interest in trading Eichel and/or Reinhart. Eichel, 24, is under contract for five more seasons, but he has been the subject of trade rumors since last Moving Reinhart to center was initially done out of necessity because fall. Reinhart, meanwhile, is approaching unrestricted free agency and Eric Staal was traded to Montreal and rookie Dylan Cozens suffered a his versatility will be coveted by teams. minor upper-body injury. Jack Eichel also was recovering from a herniated disk in his neck that eventually ended his season. The Sabres, though, could choose to keep both and have Reinhart at center or right wing. The latter position is easier to upgrade through However, the bold move by Granato and General Manager Kevyn Adams trades or free agency. Cozens can play right wing and Jack Quinn, the has given the Sabres intriguing options entering a pivotal offseason for Sabres’ most recent first-round draft pick, is closer to filling the void there the franchise. It also likely increased the cost of a potential long-term as well. contract for Reinhart, who is a pending restricted free agent for the second consecutive year. +3

Entering Thursday, Reinhart’s 22 goals were tied for 10th in the NHL, Travis Yost's Sabre Metrics: What the numbers show about Casey only six fewer than superstar center Connor McDavid. Mittelstadt's recent surge Goals and assists don’t properly show Reinhart’s production, either. Helped in part by hollowed-out depth post-trade deadline, the Sabres According to Evolving-Hockey.com, Reinhart ranks third on the team in have looked for a chance to give Mittelstadt more latitude in the lineup. generating on-ice shot quality at 5-on-5 since transitioning to center. His Regardless of Adams' plan, Reinhart’s successful transition to the 6.2 goals above replacement, a metric that illustrates a player’s overall position he exceled at in junior hockey is one of the few silver linings in value to his team, ranks first on the Sabres this season. Remarkably, another non-playoff season. Reinhart hasn’t struggled in the faceoff circle, either, as he’s won 46.2% of his draws. “I think he sort of naturally slows the game down,” Sabres winger Jeff Skinner said of Reinhart. “He’s got good poise with the puck, he makes It seems unlikely Sabres will use injured Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark great plays because he sort of is aware of where everyone is on the ice. again this season … sort of whether he’s on the wing or at center, it’s nice to play off a guy Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will make his second NHL start tonight in like that, because he kind of draws guys to him and it opens up space for against the New York Rangers. his linemates.”

Reinhart is one of 15 players in franchise history to have at least five 20- Buffalo News LOADED: 04.29.2021 goal seasons with the Sabres. With Eichel out, Reinhart has started to ignite the Sabres’ power play with three goals over the past three games.

Moving Reinhart off the right wing equates to taking the restrictor plate off a sports car. Playing down the middle has given him more room to distribute the puck to his teammates.

“What I really like about him, Sam is not only a great goal scorer, he has more room to find different pockets because he’s not wedged against the 1187398 Buffalo Sabres that but, you know, he’s in the emotion of the moment and to this point I’ve been fine with anything he’s done with the emotion of the moment. He’s a passionate guy.”

Sabres rookie Dylan Cozens turns to fighting to try to ignite his own Goalie plan game The Sabres will start Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal against the Bruins on Thursday night in TD Garden. Luukkonen, 22, had 38 saves in the Lance Lysowski Apr 28, 2021 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday and owns a .914 save percentage in two games with Buffalo.

Previously, Granato preferred to sit Luukkonen for the first game of a BOSTON – Dylan Cozens was already agitated by his own performance series. This provided the rookie with an opportunity to watch the when he saw Buffalo Sabres teammate Drake Caggiula hit from behind opposition and achieve a better understanding of what to expect. by New York Rangers forward Kevin Rooney in the third period Tuesday However, Luukkonen had 36 saves to win his first career NHL start night. against the Bruins last Friday.

Seeking a way to get involved in a tie game at Madison Square Garden, "He’s good to go now," said Granato. "I think he’s settled in. It’s great.” Cozens bolted toward his fallen teammate and the 20-year-old rookie center grabbed Rooney, 27. For approximately 10 seconds, Cozens This puts Dustin Tokarski on track to play the series finale Saturday threw punches and even put Rooney in a headlock. afternoon. Tokarski, 31, has allowed 10 goals on 66 shots over his past two starts, but he has a .908 save percentage in 12 appearances this Cozens did not connect with any significant right hooks but the message season. was sent. The fight had little impact on the outcome as Rangers rookie winger Alexis Lafreniere scored the go-ahead goal with Cozens in the Lesson learned penalty box and the Sabres lost, 3-1, at Madison Square Garden. Tage Thompson’s assignment to the Sabres’ fourth line was not a form of “I think after you drop the gloves, the adrenaline boost is something you punishment for the 23-year-old winger’s cross-checking penalty that can’t really get from anything else,” Cozens said following practice preceded the Rangers’ go-ahead goal in the third period Tuesday. Wednesday at Boston’s Warrior Ice Arena. “I do think after a fight it does Granato, though, expressed his disappointment to Thompson because give me a huge boost. It’s definitely something I think I’ll do when I’m not retaliating against 32-year-old Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith happy with my game and not happy with how I’m feeling.” contributed to the Sabres’ demise.

Thanks to their age and production, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart lead “There was no question that that was an impact,” said Granato. “I felt that the way into the future for the Buffalo Sabres, even if General Manager an experienced player and that player in Smith, he did a nice job of Kevyn Adams may have trade offers and new contracts to consider. Add baiting, I felt, that penalty. He’s a tough player and he could’ve easily in the potential of players such as Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, Jack stood and not fallen down on that play but he knew he was drawing a Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin and two goalies, and the cupboard is far from penalty. So, it’s a learning moment.” bare in Buffalo. Another absence Ben Tsujimoto Sabres center Cody Eakin returned to Buffalo to be with his wife for the Cozens hasn’t been playing poorly. He logged 19:42 of ice time Sunday birth of their child, Granato told reporters. in New York and had seven assists in his previous 10 games. The former seventh overall draft pick was promoted to the Sabres’ top power-play Eakin, 29, has two goals with four assists for six points in 44 games this unit and has solidified the team’s depth at center with Jack Eichel out for season. He’s a reliable presence on the penalty kill and has won a team- the season. best 54.37% of his faceoffs. Eakin has been a health scratch for each of the past five games. The Cozens line, which also featured Anders Bjork and Arttu Ruotsalainen, even finished the game Tuesday with a 50% shot-attempt Buffalo News LOADED: 04.29.2021 differential at 5-on-5. The group, though, was not creating enough scoring chances and struggled to contain the Rangers’ second forward line, led by winger Chris Kreider.

Cozens had performed well against elite players in recent games, and he's an easy mark for an opponent trying to send a message to the Sabres. When Rasmus Ristolainen irritated the Boston Bruins with a hit on David Pastrnak, Cozens was the target of a late check by Nick Ritchie.

Now opponents may think twice about trying to push around the rookie. Despite handling himself well in two fights this season, Cozens has little experience dropping the gloves. His only scrap in junior hockey occurred in a preseason game on Sept. 14, 2018, when he fought Sam Pouliot of the Swift Current Broncos.

“They didn’t really want me to fight down there,” said Cozens. “I think I was too much of an asset to them. Up here, I know as a young guy it’s something that, like I said before, it’s an easy way to gain respect and it’s just something I think I can do to help the team, especially when I’m not doing good, I’m not feeling good.”

Even when Cozens is not at his best, he’s a valuable part of the Sabres’ present and future. Losing him late in a tie game is not ideal. His first fight, a spirited bout in which he held his own against Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren on March 2, occurred three minutes before New York scored another goal in a 4-3 loss.

There’s also the risk of injury or an additional penalty for instigating. Yet, interim coach Don Granato told reporters Wednesday that he has not had an issue with either of Cozens’ fights.

“With Dylan and fighting, that’s a quick choice and decision for each guy and each player,” said Granato. “We would never advocate anything like 1187399 Mackey was back with the Flames on Wednesday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to get in the lineup any time soon.

“With Connor, it’s more that I’ve seen him play twice live, and other than Flames head coach Sutter pleased with defenceman Andersson that I don’t really know him,” Sutter said. “I want to make sure that, two things: That he gets into practice and understands the changes we’ve made in terms of style and system, and then see if he can play at this Daniel Austin pace.

“That’s the key I want to see with Connor. I don’t know if he plays or not, to be honest, but I think that’s important. That’s one of the things you can A couple of days ago, Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter talked have with a taxi squad now. If those guys are close to being NHL players, about needing his young defencemen to step up now that Noah Hanifin to see if they can practise to become NHL players. That’s what we’re was out for the rest of the season. doing with Connor.” Sutter referred to expectations that haven’t been met and an opportunity The 24-year-old Mackey played three games for the Flames in mid- for the young guys on the blueline to prove their worth in the Flames’ final February and picked up one assist. eight games. HAPPY FOR HIM As it turns out, though, Sutter was not referring to 24-year-old Rasmus Andersson. He made that clear on Wednesday afternoon. Sam Bennett has been red-hot for the Florida Panthers since the Flames dealt him away at the trade deadline. The 2014 first-round draft pick has “Didn’t apply to Rasmus,” Sutter said. “It’s got nothing to do with him. picked up 10 points in seven games for the Panthers after contributing He’s been a very good player on this team. He’s for sure been the third- only 12 points in 38 games for the Flames earlier this season. best defenceman on this team since I’ve been here.” Asked about how it felt to see Bennett thriving, Flames centre Mikael It’s probably not worth speculating on which of Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Backlund said the whole team is happy for him. Mark Giordano is ranked below Andersson on Sutter’s list, but the notoriously demanding Flames head coach was mostly full of praise for “We didn’t trade him because we didn’t like him,” Backlund said. “It’s just the Swede. the way things turned out here and I’m happy he’s having success there.”

Andersson’s seen his role reduced a bit since the start of the year when Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.29.2021 he was put on the team’s top pairing next to Giordano, but he is still third in minutes-per-game on the team, with 21:17 and has contributed four goals and 13 assists. Among Flames d-men, only Giordano has more this season.

So whether or not Andersson emerged as the top-pairing defenceman some expected him to this season, he’s taken a step forward in his development and is a big part of the Flames defensive corps. Sutter’s liked what he’s seen.

“(Andersson has) the ability to move pucks and make good decisions, defend really well, adjust to the system changes we’ve made, kill penalties,” Sutter said. “If anything, I’d like him to shoot pucks more. I think Noah would probably have more shot attempts than anybody on our team, but Rasmus actually has a better shot so I’d like to see him use it more.”

Sutter may not have been referring to Andersson when he said three or four young defensemen needed to step up, but that means he was talking about guys like Oliver Kylington, Juuso Valimaki, Nikita Nesterov — who isn’t that young, at 28-years-old — and Connor Mackey, who practised with the Flames after playing 27 games this season with the Stockton Heat.

“This summer when you guys (in the media) sat in on team meeting, I’m sure you envisioned (Valimaki) pushing to play in the top-four,” Sutter said. “I’m sure (Nesterov), when he signed, was expected to make a contribution in the top-six. I’m sure the player you just talked about, Kylington, was going to get every opportunity if he grabbed it to play in a top-six role.

”I know the team really wanted to look at Connor Mackey, so I’d say those are the young players that are still pushing to see if they’re NHL players.”

None of this is to say that there aren’t areas where Andersson can improve, both in the off-season and in these final eight games where the Flames try to pull off the extremely improbable task of catching the Montreal Canadiens and qualifying for the playoffs.

Sutter may not have been referring to Andersson when he said the team’s young defensemen needed to step up, but Andersson himself believes he needs to be playing better.

“I always have high expectations of myself and, you know, obviously it’s a tough blow for the whole team and especially for Hani, he’s been having a good year and it obviously sucks that he has to miss the rest of the season,” Andersson said. “As Darryl said, there’s other guys who have to step up and obviously I’m one of them, but my expectations for myself haven’t changed. I always have high expectations for myself and I can be a lot better than I’ve been.”

GETTING A LOOK 1187400 Calgary Flames All of that is made more impressive by the fact that he was not playing sheltered minutes. According to Dom’s data, Hanifin’s competition had been the 14th highest in the league, and second on the team behind With Noah Hanifin out for the season, who needs ‘to take the next step’ Tanev (9th league-wide). on the Flames blue line? It’s clear that Hanifin was hitting a new level in his game this year, and although there are only eight games left in the season, his absence creates a pretty big void on the blueline. By Hailey Salvian Apr 28, 2021 “You don’t replace that player,” Sutter said. “It’s not possible.”

And while Hanifin has solidified his importance to the Flames blueline, There have been very few bright spots in what is shaping up to be a there are several players who have struggled this season and work to do disappointing season for the Calgary Flames — and perhaps one of the to prove that they belong in the Flames’ long-term plans…Especially with brightest was the emergence of Noah Hanifin. a summer of change potentially looming. With Hanifin out, those players are going to get the final three weeks of the season to take advantage of But leave it to this strange year (COVID, shortened season, no fans etc) a hole on the blueline and show why they deserve to be part of the to stamp that out, as the Flames announced on Monday that Hanifin Flames’ core moving forward. would require season-ending shoulder surgery. The team has not released further details on the injury, or when (and where) the surgery Sutter made that pretty clear on Monday, albeit in a much more blunt will be. way.

Head coach Darryl Sutter indicated that Hanifin’s shoulder had been an “I think one of the reasons that we are not in a playoff spot is there are ongoing issue since last week against Montreal (April 16). Here is the three or four young defencemen that have not lived up to expectations assumed initial injury: this year,” he said. “So they have eight or nine games to compete with each and find out which one or two are able to take the next step.” He left that game six minutes into the third period but returned midway through the frame. Then, on Saturday against Montreal, Hanifin got Well, he’s not talking about Tanev, or 37-year-old Mark Giordano, who tangled up with Corey Perry early in the first period and did not return. Sutter has called the best defenceman on the team. That leaves Andersson, Juuso Valimaki, Oliver Kylington. The injury is significant for the Flames, and Hanifin, as the left-shot defenceman had been in the midst of arguably his best season to date With a loss to Montreal on Monday, the Flames’ playoff odds are once and had effectively turned himself into an important piece of the core in again very slim. And barring an impressive hot streak, the Flames’ final Calgary. eight games of the season could become increasingly meaningless down the stretch. However, those games will be critical for the Flames’ young “He’s a guy who plays a lot of even-strength minutes for our team. You defenceman to step up and impress their coach and their general don’t just replace it,” Sutter said Monday. “You lose the player, and that’s manager watching from above. unfortunate.” So, now that we’ve laid out what Hanifin has done so well, let’s take a Hanifin’s status as a core player had previously been in question as he look at where some of his teammates are falling short, and what could be struggled in previous seasons to put it all together and be worthy of his at stake. draft status (5th overall in 2015). In the 2021 season preview, Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score model projected Hanifin to be worth 0.6 wins Note: Both Nikita Nesterov and Michael Stone will also need to step up, in an 82-game season, which is a second-pair calibre defenceman. and are fighting for contracts next year. But at 28 and 30 years old, they aren’t exactly young, or “taking the next step” in their development. So However, mostly paired with Chris Tanev to start the season, Hanifin has we’re going to focus on the three aforementioned players here. transformed himself into a reliable top pair defenceman. And according to Dom’s metrics, Hanifin has been worth one win in his 47 games played, Rasmus Andersson which is 1.75 wins at a full-season pace and the value of a No. 1 D. Expectations were high coming into the season for Andersson after he In previous years, Hanifin showed that he had the tools to be an asset moved up the Flames’ depth chart last season and established himself offensively, but would often give a lot back the other way on defence. But as one of the best puck-moving defencemen in the league. this season, with Tanev beside him, Hanifin made great strides in his defensive game, while also showing a better understanding and comfort In fact, there were very few defenders better at breaking the puck out level in knowing when to jump into the rush and when to hold back. with control last year than Andersson. And with Travis Hamonic and TJ Brodie signing elsewhere in free agency, it was expected that Andersson Hanifin’s offensive statistics have dipped slightly this year. Although in 20 would assume a greater role this season. games under Sutter, Hanifin scored two goals and 10 points, doubling his point production from the first 26 games under Geoff Ward (two goals However, so far this season, Andersson has failed to meet those and five points). It’s a pace that would have topped last season’s expectations. production but still would have been short of his career highs (10 goals in Now, it’s not all bad, so let’s start on a positive. With four goals and 17 2017-18 and 33 points in 2018-19). That being said, all of Hanifin’s points in 48 games, Andersson is only one goal and five points shy of his defensive underlying numbers this season are career-highs. On the career highs in both goals (5) and total points (22) and would be on pace Flames, only Tanev has been scored on less and allowed fewer chances to pass those numbers in an 82-game season. against. That being said, Andersson has appeared to take a step back As a pair, Hanifin and Tanev currently have the fourth highest expected defensively. goals rate among D-pairs league-wide who have played at least 250 minutes together. At an impressive 59.27 percent, Hanifin and Tanev With Hanifin and Tanev taking on top competition on the Flames’ No. 1 were driving more offence than they were allowing from opponents. pair, Andersson was paired with Giordano for most of the season. And, Further, Hanifin ranks 15th among defenceman (who have logged at simply put, they struggled. least 400 minutes) in the fewest expected goals against (1.83 per 60 minutes) and sits in the top-20 in expected goal percentage (55.20 As a pair, they were scored on a team-leading 26 times, or 2.95 times percent). per 60 minutes — only the third-pair of Nesterov and Valimaki were worse. They also had the worst expected goals rate on the team (45.83 Hanifin became one of the most relied upon players on the team, percent). Any expected goals percentage under 50 indicates that a pair is especially at five-on-five, as no player on the Flames logged more even giving up more to their opponents than they generate themselves. And strength minutes (880:39, or 18:44 per game) at the time of his injury. Andersson and Giordano were often hemmed into their own zone or And just last week, Hanifin got a big vote of confidence from Sutter when giving up scoring chances against. he was moved from being Tanev’s partner and was paired with Rasmus Andersson: “I think Noah was ready to handle his own pair,” Sutter said A few weeks ago Sutter swapped the pairings to have Giordano with of the change. Tanev and Andersson with Hanifin. When speaking to local media about the changes, Sutter said Giordano was being “held back” by playing with a young defender in Andersson and that Giordano was “covering up for When he has played this year, he’s been serviceable. He’s never made him a lot.” glaring errors, but he hasn’t really grabbed hold of a spot either.

Not exactly glowing praise for a player who was meant to be part of the Sutter said the team will find who can take the next step, but that is future of the Calgary blue line. probably hard to do when you can’t crack the lineup and aren’t given any games in the AHL either. Andersson is not a prospect anymore, so there are starting to be questions around his ceiling. Did he peak last season? Or is this just a Like Valimaki, Kylington is an RFA this summer. And with Hanifin out, he down season in a pandemic? could get some games in down the stretch, which would give him an opportunity to show what he brings to the table and that he deserves It’s important to consider that Andersson is still only 24 and is locked into another contract in Calgary. Without a solid showing, perhaps he is a (what could be) a team-friendly contract for five more years with a $4.55 player the Flames move on from in the offseason? Or he gets a million cap hit. If he can re-find his form as one of the best puck movers qualifying offer and is moved in a deal. I could also see a scenario where in the league, that deal is incredibly valuable. But, as Sutter said, he he is taken by Seattle at the expansion draft. hasn’t quite lived up to those expectations. And it doesn’t seem like he’s gained the trust of his new head coach. And if he isn’t, I think he’s someone who may just need a fresh start. Because it hasn’t seemed to be working in Calgary, for whatever reason. In a normal season, one down year isn’t likely to hurt a player’s long-term future. But in yet another down season, with the Flames poised to make The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 major changes this offseason, it’s going to be important for Andersson to show Sutter what he’s looking for to stay in the conversation.

Juuso Valimaki

There is no question that Valimaki has had a difficult season. A difficult few years really…

A high ankle sprain limited him to 24 NHL games in 2018-19. Then that offseason, he tore his ACL and needed surgery. In all, Valimaki was away from the NHL for around 20 months. This season was meant to be his triumphant return.

And when you consider he was entering the season with Calder aspirations, or at least chatter from select local media members, it’s certainly been a disappointing year.

Valimaki, 22, has mostly played on the third-pair this season and has scored two goals and nine points in 44 games.

Under Sutter, only Kylington averages fewer minutes than Valimaki, albeit it’s a small sample size. He’s also been a healthy scratch four times. I think his hiatus from the league certainly plays a role in his struggles this year. It’s not easy to play in the NHL, let alone as a 22- year-old who missed almost two years of league action. But Sutter has said simply, he needs to be better.

As mentioned, his initial pairing with Nesterov has been scored on the most per-60 minutes played. Their expected goals rate was modest at 54.85 percent. However they also faced the lightest competition compared to the top-four, so given the somewhat sheltered deployment, their underlying numbers should be better. Individually, Valimaki was on the ice for 2.91 goals against per-60, which is the fifth on the team, and No. 2 on the blueline.

Valimaki has appeared to be learning on the fly at times this year and hasn’t exhibited much confidence with the puck, either when making plays or breaking the puck out. It’s definitely been there in flashes on goals scored or plays he’s made, but it hasn’t been there consistently. Again, his injuries don’t help, and certainly playing for a coach who is notoriously hard on his rookies adds to what has been a hard few years for a very young player.

That being said, Valimaki is going to get an opportunity to step up in Hanifin’s absence and show Sutter that he can meet the lofty expectations that have been placed on him since he was drafted in 2017. Valimaki still young with a high ceiling, one that is certainly better than we’ve seen him play at this season. I think he’ll be fine in the long term.

We also can’t forget that, as an RFA, he is playing for his next contract. He’s not in jeopardy of not getting a qualifying offer. But a contract year is a contract year, and if he can step up down the stretch he could add value or term onto his next deal, or at the very least not take money off the table for himself.

Oliver Kylington

Kylington is an odd study.

He’s only 23 years old, and comes with an affordable cap hit ($787,500), and has spent most of the season on the taxi squad. As of Wednesday morning, Kylington has played six games this season. Three under Ward, and three under Sutter. In fact, he’s never played a full NHL season since being drafted in the second round in 2015. 1187401 Chicago Blackhawks

Adam Boqvist might not need surgery on his broken right wrist, Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton says

By PHIL THOMPSON

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist might be able to recover from a broken right wrist without undergoing surgery, coach Jeremy Colliton said.

“I don’t think he’s going to need surgery. Obviously that’s a positive,” Colliton said Wednesday.

Boqvist broke the wrist during a collision with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Černák at the 4-minute, 57-second mark of the second period of the Hawks’ 7-4 loss Tuesday at the .

The wrist injury not only costs Boqvist the remaining seven games of the season, but also delays his offseason program. For how long remains uncertain.

“It’s going to put a bit of a crimp in his workout plans, but he’s got to do everything he can to improve his conditioning so that he can play at his highest level for longer,” Colliton said. “He’s improved a lot this year. The overall fitness that he can bring, that’s going to help him a lot.”

Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist sits alone on the bench after a 3- 1 loss to the Predators on April 23, 2021, at United Center. Boqvist suffered a broken right wrist Tuesday against the Lightning, ending his season.

Boqvist also missed 14 games this season because of separate stints in the COVID-19 and concussion protocols.

Colliton elaborated on his desire to see Boqvist build his durability.

“The biggest thing is his ability to play more minutes, have a 30-second shift and then still have enough to start the power play after we draw a penalty,” he said.

Despite the fits and starts of Boqvist’s season, Colliton said the 20-year- old showed progress.

“Both offensively and defensively, he’s done a good job of using his legs to get body position, get stops in the defensive zone, close quicker, and that’s allowed him to be more dynamic offensively,” Colliton said. “You know, win the puck and then move it ahead, join the rush, join the attack.

“He’s building confidence on the offensive blue line. I still think he has more to give there when you look at what he can do.”

Boqvist averaged 52 seconds per shift this season, tied for sixth on the Hawks, and averaged 19.7 shifts, sixth among Hawks defensemen and 11th overall.

His average ice time was 16:59, including 3:23 on the power play. Last season he skated 16:13 per game and 2:10 on the power play. He had a goal and seven assists on the man advantage this season.

“Power play, I think he’s improved there,” Colliton said. “He’s been big part of the success we’ve had there. When he hasn’t been on the power play, it’s affected us.

“He’s still a very young player in terms of defensemen in the rest of the league. He’s really just getting started. A lot of guys aren’t even close to making their debuts, and he’s got almost 80 games.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187402 Chicago Blackhawks Minutes earlier, talking about fellow center-wing flip-flopper Phillipp Kurashev, Colliton said the Hawks “like that flexibility, that he can do it in both positions, as we build our team.” So there’s no question Strome’s Blackhawks’ Dylan Strome maligns low production as long-term role positional rigidity reduces his value. comes into question Virtually everything else this season has reduced Strome’s value, too. Strome has scored only 13 points in 35 games this season — including Only he can turn it around. only six at even strength — and was healthy-scratched for crucial games “[This year] hasn’t been what I wanted, but sometimes that’s how it twice last week. happens,” he said. “This year hasn’t been fun for a lot of people.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.29.2021 By Ben Pope Apr 28, 2021, 4:07pm CDT

Dylan Strome has dealt with inexplicably low scoring this season.

While the Blackhawks played two crucial games last week, Dylan Strome sat in dress clothes in a United Center suite, a healthy scratch in favor of a seventh defenseman.

That scenario would’ve been hard to believe over the last two seasons, during which Strome cemented himself as an integral top-six forward. But that’s how 2021 has been for Strome.

“It’s never fun sitting out,” Strome said Wednesday after returning to the lineup Tuesday. “It sucks to have to watch. But [I’ve] got to play better, got to produce more. They wanted to go with seven ‘D.’ I played 10 and 11 minutes the two games before that, so they thought they could find my minutes somewhere else.”

Strome, a self-described “big stats guy,” knows the numbers.

After scoring 89 points in 116 games the last two seasons with the Hawks, he has scored only 13 in 35 games this year. He knows merely six of those points have come at even strength: four goals, one primary assist and one secondary assist.

But he also knows much of that precipitous drop-off in production isn’t his own fault. His points should theoretically be holding steady or even increasing, based on his shot rates.

His shot attempts have increased from 9.5 per 60 minutes to 10.0 this season. So have his shots on goal (6.0 to 6.3) and scoring chances (5.9 to 6.1). And since returning from a concussion March 18, he has averaged 11.4 shot attempts, 7.3 shots on goal and 8.5 scoring chances per 60.

“It’s weird,” he said. “I have one secondary assist this year, where sometimes you make a pass and a guy makes a pass and it goes in. The last couple years, those were going my way. This year . . . [there’s] not much puck luck.”

He doesn’t intend to exempt himself, though.

“There’s been five or six times this year where I’ve missed grade-‘A’ chances or back-door [chances],” he added. “You turn eight goals into 13 or 14. Stats are one thing, but you’ve got to keep getting the chances . . . and find a way to bear down.”

The Hawks’ seven remaining games don’t mean much from a wins-and- losses standpoint but remain crucial for individual players hoping to prove something to the front office entering what could be a big offseason of trades.

After defenseman Nikita Zadorov, Strome headlines that list. Coach Jeremy Colliton scratching the 24-year-old forward for those two games was a wake-up call, demonstrating how far he has fallen down the depth chart. With as many as 22 forwards currently in contention for roster spots next year, that’s a concerning sign.

Strome’s inability to adapt from a center to wing is a problem, too. He did center a line Tuesday with Dominik Kubalik and Pius Suter, but it was one of relatively few such opportunities he has received.

“We’ve got some good centers on this team, [but] I feel like I can be one of those centers and hopefully I can prove it,” Strome said.

“He would prefer to play center,” Colliton said Tuesday. “We’ve talked about that before. I try to put guys individually in the best situation we can for them to have success. But ultimately I have 23 [players] I need to do that for . . . Part of the game is you don’t always get the role you want to have and it’s up to you to make the most of it.” 1187403 Chicago Blackhawks Killer decision:

Adding Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach to the penalty kill has really worked out. They are a big reason the PK has killed off 19 of 20 power Chicago Blackhawks' deteriorating goalie situation and more plays over the last six games.

"It makes (the opponent) uncomfortable, no question," Colliton said. "You John Dietz can't really settle in as much in the offensive zone (and) you've got to be careful on the offensive blue line ... because you know you have a long stick with great instincts in a guy like Kirby. Brinksy's quickness, he can jump on it and create a 2-on-1. ... With the playoffs all but out of reach for the Blackhawks, it seems like a good idea to offer up some Five Thought pieces a bit more often. "They can use those instincts and the speed and the reaction that they have to create things the other way." So away we go ... You can go home again: Cracks showing? After not registering a single point in nine games with Florida, Vinnie The first concern is between the pipes. Hinostroza has 2 goals and 7 assists in 10 appearances with the Hawks. Although Kevin Lankinen (16-13-4, .910, 2.95) has put together a fine The Bartlett native has certainly proven he still belongs in the NHL, his rookie season, there have been some troubling signs of late. And it's not speed and tenacity on display every night. just the recent numbers, which are quite ugly (.856 save percentage, Hinostroza will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season. Seems like 4.39 GAA in his last six starts). a no-brainer to bring him back on a cheap one-year deal. Lankinen, so strong early on, has yielded quite a few soft goals. Look no Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.29.2021 further than Erik Cernak's shot from the right faceoff dot that slid right between Lankinen's legs 28 seconds into Tampa Bay's 7-4 victory Tuesday at the United Center. He needs to make that stop.

Tampa Bay's third goal, by Alex Barre-Boulet, came after Lankinen failed to clear a rebound.

There are plenty of other examples over the last three weeks, including a 55-foot shot from Detroit's Troy Stecher that deflected off Lankinen, then bounced over his right shoulder and into the net.

So has the heavy workload been too much?

"It's probably not unexpected with how much he's played," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "He's had some good efforts here sprinkled in as well. It's just a tough grind, this league. A lot of our guys have gone through that."

While there's plenty of blame to go around -- especially when it comes to the wretched defensive coverage in front of the net -- it's also fair to wonder if Lankinen is truly a top-end goalie that can lead a team to the promised land.

Looking good:

Before the season, Ian Mitchell was the rookie defenseman everyone expected to shine. And while Mitchell had a decent campaign, it's Wyatt Kalynuk who has impressed most down the stretch.

In just 14 games, Kalynuk is tied with with most goals among blue liners with 4. He's also shown good defensive awareness, is a sharp passer and adds some physicality when needed.

"He's come a long way since training camp," Colliton said. "He's made a lot of plays at our level, which is hard to do. He's made them with his legs but also moved the puck really well. Shown a willingness to jump in the play, (which has) added to our attack.

"Defending, he's making quicker reads so he can close out in 'D' zone, which again helps him get going the other way, helps our team to get out and control the tempo."

More needed:

It's been a rough campaign for Dylan Strome, who was in concussion protocol for a month and scratched in two games against Nashville last week. Strome (8G, 5A in 35 games) returned to the lineup against Tampa Bay, playing center. He looked sharp in the first period, taking 3 shots on goal and nearly scoring in the waning seconds.

Still, he knows the consistency has been lacking.

"There's been five or six times this year where I've missed Grade A chances or back doors," Strome said Wednesday. "(That would) turn 8 goals into 12 or 13 or 14. ...

"I feel like I had a lot of good chances last night and have for a while now. I've got to find a way to bear down, and when I get a chance to make a good pass, I've got to put it there and hopefully they put it in.

"Lots of things I can work on, but just capitalizing on my chances and obviously being out there for positive shifts." 1187404 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Adam Boqvist ruled out for season

BY CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS

The Blackhawks have been plagued by injuries since before the 2020-21 season even began and the bad luck continued on Tuesday.

Adam Boqvist, who left the game in the second period after taking a hit from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, sustained a broken right wrist and is done for the rest of the season.

"I don’t know what the timeline is, but he has a broken wrist," head coach Jeremy Colliton confirmed following a 7-4 loss. "Certainly, he’s not coming back for this year."

Not good: Adam Boqvist goes straight to the locker room holding his right wrist/forearm. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/d2XMEPzev8— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 28, 2021

It's an unfortunate blow for Boqvist, who has been sidelined on numerous occasions this season. He missed nearly one month towards the beginning of the season because he tested positive for COVID-19 and was also out for more than a week earlier this month while in the NHL's concussion protocol.

Now, a broken wrist has ended his season early. He finished the campaign with 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 35 games while averaging 16:59 of ice time.

"It’s been unfortunate that his momentum has been stopped a few times by having him miss time when he’s been rolling and playing well," Colliton said. "But that’s part of his development as well into a pro, finding a way to be a bit more durable and play more games. He’s improved away from the puck, his confidence on the puck, and I like the direction he’s headed. Just unfortunate he’s going to miss some games here."

Kirby Dach suffered a similar injury in December and was put on a four- to-five-month timetable. Boqvist is likely to be on a similar timeline, but it's not ideal that he'll spend a large portion of his offseason rehabbing.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187405 Chicago Blackhawks of lunatic would turn away the eruption of joy that accompanied the first Cup celebrated on Chicago ice in 77 years in 2015?

To be on the other side of #17Seconds, no less? Blackhawks or Bruins? On fandom, ambivalence and who’s had it better the last 12 years But fandom isn’t about the destination, right? It’s all about the journey. All that aforementioned unbearable fun and excruciating joy. It’s about sweating out Big Games with your friends, living and dying with every By Mark Lazerus Apr 28, 2021 shot and save. But more than anything, it’s about hope — believing you might win, you can win, you will win. That hope sustains you through the offseason. It carries you through training camp. It buoys you through the dog days of the regular season. And it fuels you during the playoffs. It’s a thought that pops up in my mentions a few times every month. Has for years. It’s expressed in the comments section every time I write a Bruins fans have that hope, every night, every year. For 12 consecutive story about the good old days, which is, I’ll freely admit, a lot. It’s even years, Bruins fans had reason to believe, reason to sweat, reason to come up among the Blackhawks themselves, in private conversations at agonize over every game, every goal, every coaching decision, every the rink in the lazy hours before and after a practice. I once brought it up roster move. For 12 consecutive years, they were in the game. Their to Marcus Kruger and he said he and Brandon Saad were talking about it team mattered. just “the other day.” Blackhawks fans haven’t had that hope, really, since the eighth-seeded That thought? Should have been four. Predators swept them out of the first round four long years ago. They haven’t truly earned a playoff spot since. First, they tried clinging to the There should have been four Stanley Cups in the Blackhawks’ golden past, like so many former champions do. Didn’t work. Then they tried age, not “just” three. It’s a thought that gnaws at Chicagoans and retooling with veterans, like Boston and Pittsburgh did. Didn’t work, Blackhawks fans across the globe. As much as fans swell with pride either. about 2010, 2013 and 2015, they dwell inside on 2014, a season that ended in overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Now they’re trying to rebuild with youth, like they did themselves in the mid-2000s. But it takes time. There’s hope, but it’s long-term hope. Even If only the Blackhawks could have made a 4-3 third-period lead in Game before the Blackhawks were all but eliminated from playoff contention 7 against the Kings stand up. If only Nick Leddy’s jersey had fitted him a last week, nobody was really living and dying with every game because little more snugly. The Rangers wouldn’t have stood a chance in the nobody really thought this team had any realistic chance at a Stanley Cup Final, the thinking goes. The Blackhawks still would have championship. It’s still fandom, but it’s a softer fandom, more relaxed. won the following year, is the assumption. The first and only three-peat in The highs aren’t nearly as high, the lows aren’t nearly as low. It becomes the salary-cap era was theirs for the taking. more a hobby, less an obsession. It’s healthier, sure, but not nearly as That’s fandom, right? You’re never satisfied. You always want more. fun. Whether you’re a player, a season-ticket holder or a casual observer, it’s Since the last Blackhawks’ championship, there’s been nothing but so much fun to win that you get greedy. You get addicted to the stagnation. Since the last Bruins championship, there’s been nothing but relentless cycle of tension and release that comes with playoff series, contention, including two more trips to the final. Boston sports fans have with endless overtimes, with pivotal Game 5s and unendurable Game 7s. been hilariously spoiled over the last couple of decades, so maybe Hell, the exquisite agony of the hours leading up to an elimination game they’re the wrong group to appreciate what they’ve had in the Bruins. But are almost as good as the giddy hours that follow a successful one. And the point remains: The Bruins keep mattering. The Blackhawks are taking you just want more and more and more. It’s natural, all part of the fun. the long way back to mattering. Now, strictly speaking, only Penguins fans can say they’ve had as good a So what’s better? Burning hotter or burning longer? Six or seven run as the Blackhawks have in the cap era. The Blackhawks’ core won unbelievable years or a dozen-plus really good ones? Chicago’s peaks three Cups, the Penguins core has three Cups. That the Penguins are tower over Boston’s (the difference between winning a Cup and losing in still in position to make a run at another one surely gives their fans the the final might be just 17 seconds, but it feels like 17 lifetimes). But edge, but Blackhawks fans really have no right to complain, right? Bruins fans have wrung more relevance and gotten more of their fix of Well … that sweet, sweet hope and despair that makes sports so simultaneously soul-crushing and soul-replenishing. There’s another thought I’ve seen pop up in my mentions more and more lately, particularly since it became evident a few years ago that the Ask any fan, and they’ll surely tell you they’ll take the titles. No Cubs fan Blackhawks needed to move on from the glory years. It shows up in the would give back 2016 for more of this second-tier contention they’ve had comments sections once in a while, too. I even talked about it with since. And the fact is, once you win it all, nothing else can ever live up to Patrick Kane a couple years ago, and he admitted to some envy. it. But there is something to be said for the Bruins’ more, let’s say, tantric fandom. Why can’t the Blackhawks be more like the Boston Bruins? Because while the Blackhawks play out the string on this pleasant but The same Bruins who retooled around a veteran core and barely dipped ultimately fruitless season and Chicagoans turn their attention to the at all, missing the playoffs in just 2014-15 and 2015-16, but doing so with Cubs, White Sox and (deep sigh) Bears, the Bruins are gearing up for 96 and 93 points, respectively. The same Bruins who have supplemented another playoff run. Bostonians are plotting potential matchups, stressing the likes of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand with David Pastrnak over second-round showdowns, stocking up on Sam Adams and bracing and Charlie McAvoy. The same Bruins who, through savvy roster themselves for up to two more months of glorious misery. Sounds great, management, team-friendly contracts and an aggressive mindset, have doesn’t it? been buyers at the trade deadline year after year after year. What’s my point? Honestly, I’m not sure I have one. It’s just a thought The same Bruins who’ve won one Stanley Cup in … *checks notes* … that’s been rattling around in my brain the last few weeks as fans have four decades? Who haven’t won one in 10 years? Those Bruins? Yeah, started to tune out another lost Blackhawks season a few weeks before those Bruins. the end, and as giants of modern Blackhawks history such as Corey Crawford, Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw keep stepping away from All of which brings me to another thought, one that I haven’t seen the game for good. I’m old enough to remember when April and May expressed on Twitter, in the comments, or among NHLers themselves. (and sometimes June) were the most exciting times to be a Chicago Maybe that’s because it’s mildly insane. But if you had the choice, would sports fan. Maybe I just miss those days, and miss writing about Big you rather have been a Blackhawks fan since, say, 2008, or a Bruins Games the way so many of you miss stressing over and celebrating fan? them. Blackhawks, right? Three Cups is more than one Cup. End of discussion. That’s sports, right? The highs are unbeatable, the lows are unbearable. Right? I mean, what fan in their right mind would give up the delirious joy And being somewhere in the middle? Well, in the emotionally heightened of the Chicago hockey renaissance, skipping work or school to attend the fantasy world that is sports, ambivalence is the worst feeling of all. 2010 parade and tracking the week-long Cup crawl through Chicago’s so-called Viagra Triangle? What kind of person would be willing to give The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 back the comeback against Detroit and #17Seconds in 2013? What kind 1187406 Colorado Avalanche Colorado pulled Dubnyk with under 5 minutes left and Jonathan Marchessault scored an open-net goal. The Knights have now won 10 consecutive games.

Avalanche suffers first three-game losing streak of season with 5-2 loss Denver Post: LOADED: 04.29.2021 at Vegas

Colorado trails Vegas by 6 points in West Division standings (72-66) with 9 games left

By KYLE FREDRICKSON PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 10:16 p.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at 10:54 p.m.

The Avalanche needed a strong start against the Vegas Knights to reverse a losing trend.

It all fell apart in the first 10 seconds.

The Avs suffered several unfortunate bounces, and played mostly undisciplined hockey, in a 5-2 loss Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. Devan Dubnyk started in net as defensemen accounted for both Colorado goals.

The Avalanche loss widens the gap on first place in the West Division, with Colorado now trailing Vegas by six points — 72 to 66 — with nine regular-season games left. Up next, Colorado (31-12-4) hosts the San Jose Sharks (19-24-5) on Friday night at .

“The margin of error is small for us right now,” coach said. “We have to find a way to be better with the puck and be more disciplined in a couple of different areas. But I can’t fault the guys for their work ethic tonight. We wanted to grind out a gutsy performance and make sure that we were competitive and physical. I thought we did that. It just wasn’t a well-executed game from us.”

The Avs have now lost three straight games for the first time this season. But help is on the way. Starting goalie Philipp Grubauer is off the COVID- 19 protocol absence list while forwards Joonas Donskoi and Mikko Rantanen are nearing clearance to play.

On Wednesday night, though, it was ugly from the start. The Avalanche trailed 10 seconds into the game.

Vegas won the opening faceoff and a crossing pass into the Colorado zone bounced off the skate of defenseman Sam Girard, who lost sight of the puck as it went toward his net. Knights forward William Karlsson capitalized with an easy backhander past Dubnyk.

“We’re a resilient group. I don’t think anyone really blinked at it,” defenseman Ryan Graves said. “Things like that happen. It’s a hockey game. It’s a weird bounce the way it happened.”

It got worse. Two Avalanche penalties — Liam O’Brien (hooking) and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (tripping) — gave Vegas a brief 5-on-3 opportunity. Colorado escaped the disadvantage, unscathed, then finally regained its mojo.

Nathan MacKinnon initially provided the juice with a high-energy and physical shift. The third-line kept momentum rolling when Carl Soderberg’s backhander was rebounded by Devon Toews, who beat Vegas goalie Marc Andre-Fleury on the rebound. It tied the game, 1-1, late in the first period.

The Avs continued to dominate play to start the second and held the Knights without a shot on goal for nearly 10 minutes. But a holding whistle on Girard, one of four Colorado penalties on the night, resulted in a Vegas power-play goal (Max Pacioretty). Their lead grew when Knights captain scored from behind Colorado’s net — bouncing the puck off Dubnyk’s backside.

A 3-1 deficit seemed daunting with about 6 minutes left in the second, however, the Avs kept clawing.

Graves scored on a slapshot from the top of the circle (his second goal of the season). MacKinnon assisted on the play to extend his consecutive points streak to 15 games.

But the pendulum swung back toward Vegas, quickly, in the third. A Stone-led rush finished with another Pacioretty goal to lead 4-2. 1187407 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche needs strong 10-game finish to surpass Golden Knights in West Division

By KYLE FREDRICKSON | April 28, 2021 at 5:49 p.m.

The Vegas Golden Knights sit atop the West Division standings with three weeks left until the end of the regular season. Just don’t expect coach Pete DeBoer to relax.

The Avalanche is within striking distance.

“I anticipate they’re going to be great tonight,” DeBoer said in advance of Wednesday’s Avs-Knights game. “Particularly, their big lineup had an off night at St. Louis. … In my history with those types of players like (Nathan) MacKinnon, is that when they have an off-night, they usually come roaring back.”

The Avalanche, with 10 games left in its regular-season schedule, narrowly trails Vegas in the West points race — 70 to 66. But Colorado has an extra game in hand, after it endured a five-day coronavirus shutdown.

“Of course, we’re aware of the standings,” Avs forward Carl Soderberg said. “We look at it after every game. I think all players do.”

It leaves little room for Avalanche error should the team regain its place atop the West and secure home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. But there are reasons for optimism.

Colorado’s regular season, after Wednesday night, concludes with four- game sets against the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings — both non-playoff teams — in addition to one more game at Vegas (May 10). The Knights’ path forward is more challenging with seven of their final eight games against playoff-bound opponents.

“There is some runway left here, even if we were to lose (Wednesday),” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “But our team is focused on doing what we can to go out and check these guys hard. Frustrate them and go get two points.”

Byram update. Avalanche defenseman Bo Byram has not played in a game since late March. The 19-year-old rookie entered the concussion protocol after a questionable but unpenalized hit from Knights forward Keegan Kolesar. Byram also spent time on the COVID protocol absence list.

Bednar told reporters that Byram suffered a health setback and confirmed on Wednesday that it is unrelated to coronavirus. Byram’s timetable for return with the Avalanche remains uncertain. He has two assists over 19 games this season.

“He’s certainly going to have to play some games with the (AHL) Eagles to get back up to speed,” Bednar said. “Then we’ll just see how he does and evaluate him, to see if he can come in and help us or not.”

Line change. Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri replaced Tyson Jost on Wednesday as the team’s second-line center, with Jost shifting to winger alongside Valeri Nichushkin. The move places Carl Soderberg back on Colorado’s third line.

“I need to get (Kadri) with some guys that can help him produce because we need that line to be able to chip in a couple of goals for us,” Bednar said. “I think that should be our top three forwards outside of our first line (Wednesday). So, we’re going to play them together and see what we can get accomplished.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187408 Colorado Avalanche 4

2-2

Avalanche loss to Golden Knights underscores need to get Philipp .887 Grubauer back in net 3.32

0 By Peter Baugh Apr 28, 2021 Jonas Johansson

6 By acquiring Devan Dubnyk at the trade deadline and Jonas Johansson the month before, Avalanche general manager brought in 3-1-1 enough goaltending depth to keep his team afloat during the regular .910 season. But the team’s recent results have shown what’s been true since No. 2 Pavel Francouz suffered a season-ending injury in January: If 2.27 Colorado is going to make a deep postseason run, it will have to come on 1 the back of 29-year-old starter Philipp Grubauer. Hunter Miska Grubauer, who returned to on-ice activities this week after a positive COVID-19 test April 14, could play as early as Friday against the Sharks. 5 He and his .920 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average will be a welcome addition for second-place Colorado: With the starter out the 1-1-2 past five games, the Dubnyk-Johansson tandem has gone a combined 2- .838 3-0 with an .874 save percentage. That mark is even lower (.837) during the Avalanche’s current three-game losing streak, their longest of the 4.15 season. 0 Dubnyk took the net Wednesday with the Avalanche looking to pull within two points of first-place Vegas, and Golden Knights forward William But aside from Grubauer, whose 2019-20 season ended with an injury in Karlsson scored 10 seconds after puck drop. A defensive lapse led to the the second round of the playoffs, the Avalanche’s goalies don’t engender breakaway, but Dubnyk had a chance to stop the backhanded shot. much faith. Sure, Johansson has shown signs of promise, but he gave up Instead, the puck jumped past him. four goals in a loss to St. Louis on Monday and has only 19 games of NHL experience. The 25-year-old has an .894 save percentage this For the rest of the game, the Avalanche, who could see the Golden season between his time in Buffalo and Colorado, which hardly makes Knights in the second round of the playoffs, found themselves playing him a trusty option come playoff time. almost entirely from behind. They managed to tie the score at 1-1, but Vegas responded quickly with a Max Pacioretty power-play tally that Then there’s the 34-year-old Dubnyk, who brings a positive veteran Dubnyk let slide through his legs. Then, five minutes later, Vegas captain presence and fits in well with the dressing room. But in his past two Mark Stone bounced a puck off the goalie’s back and into the net. The starts, he’s looked more like the goalie he was this season in San Jose Avalanche lost 5-2, putting them six points back in the West Division (.898 save percentage) than he did in his first two wins with Colorado standings with one game in hand. (.918). He has playoff experience from his time in Minnesota but owns a less-than-ideal 8-18 postseason record with a .904 save percentage. “I’d like to see (Dubnyk) have two of the first three (goals),” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who noted that defensive breakdowns Blame for a loss can never fall entirely on a goalie’s shoulders. The led to the scoring chances. “The penalty kill goal can’t go in. He has eyes Avalanche committed four penalties Wednesday, for example, putting (on it) and it goes through him. … It wasn’t a great night for him.” Dubnyk in a tough spot. But mistakes happen, and a championship-level club needs a netminder who finds ways to bail teammates out. Standing across the ice from Dubnyk, Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury played brilliantly, stopping 35 of Colorado’s 37 shots and preventing the The Avalanche seem to have that in Grubauer, but they probably don’t Avalanche from taking advantage of Golden Knights’ blunders. with either of their other backups. That means the front office and Colorado’s missteps, on the other hand, usually led to the puck in coaching staff are counting on Grubauer to be in good form when he Dubnyk’s net. returns, and the Avalanche need him to maintain that level of play in the postseason. If Colorado is forced to turn to someone else, whether it’s “If you flip the script, go the other way, they had some defensive lapses, because of a Grubauer injury or a dip in production, its path to the Cup we forced them into some turnovers, some power plays, had some real starts looking much grimmer. good looks,” Bednar said. The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 “Fleury was probably the difference-maker tonight.”

That’s what Fleury has been throughout his 17-year career, which has seen him win three Stanley Cups with the Penguins. Now 36, he has a .927 save percentage this season, and fellow Knights goalie Robin Lehner (.922 save percentage) has proved capable of winning big games, too.

“We trust our goalies,” Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves said. “And they trust theirs.”

Avalanche goalie statistics

Philipp Grubauer

34

25-8-1

.920

2.00

5

Devan Dubnyk 1187409 Colorado Avalanche “Now they’re adding the offense and they’ve got some good, skilled players up front. They’re playing with a lot of confidence. It’s a good hockey team that’s come a long way.’’

LeBrun: The Avalanche expect to compete for the Cup, and they’re not The Avs enter these playoffs having taken a few swings at it the last few afraid to let everyone know they are years. Injuries to both their top two goalies derailed their Cup bid last summer in the bubble.

By Pierre LeBrun Apr 28, 2021 This is their fourth consecutive season going to the postseason, they won a round last year and the year before after getting their feet wet as a young team in 2017-18 and losing in the opening round.

The Colorado Avalanche’s path to winning the Stanley Cup will never be There were lessons learned. more illuminated than it is right now. “I think you learn every chance you get in the playoffs,” said Sakic. “You Which guarantees absolutely nothing, of course. know you have to play a different style. I think there’s a maturity to our team, the guys understand how to play more consistent. That you are But all things being equal, and with all due respect to legit Cup going to face adversity but you got to stick to the process. This year contenders in Vegas, Tampa, Carolina and Toronto, a healthy Avs team we’ve been a consistent team for the most part … our guys have played is the one to beat in a few weeks when the playoffs begin. the right away and have been sticking to the game plan, buying into one One of the things I love about the Avs is that they haven’t shied away another.’’ from those Cup expectations. Anything short of it will be a profound They’ve also deepened their attack. As our Avs beat writer Peter Baugh disappointment. recently wrote about, Tyson Jost has taken a big step in his game on the They’re putting it out there and they’re comfortable saying so. team’s third line.

“That’s our expectation is to compete for the Cup and at the end of the “He’s found a real good role, the way he’s playing, he’s playing with a lot year be the team that’s lifting it over our head,” Avs GM Joe Sakic told more confidence,” Sakic said of Jost. “He’s skating, he’s strong on pucks, The Athletic this week. “That’s our goal. I know that’s our players’ goal early in the year really took to the PK role, and he’s been one of our best and expectation. It’s what they’re shooting for. Yeah, they’re not shy to PK players. That’s how he’s playing five-on-five as well, really driving that admit it. But like I said, there’s a number of teams who feel the same line. … way. “I’m really happy for him.’’ “But we’re going to be judged by what we do starting next month. We do It’s not all roses. Veteran center Nazem Kadri has struggled as of late, really believe that we have a great shot at it.’’ having gone eight games without a point. And now winger Brandon It’s been a regular season full of adversity, a couple of COVID-19 pauses Saad, a key offseason pickup with an eye to his playoff experience, is out and some injuries at times slowing down what otherwise has looked like two-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury. The hope is that he’s ready a runaway train for some of it. for the first round of the playoffs, but there’s no guarantee of that.

When Nathan MacKinnon’s squad is healthy, it feels like they have the You cannot control when injuries occur, as the Avs found out last puck all night long. The Avalanche are also atop the league in goals for summer when their top two goalies were lost. per game at 3.52 and fourth in the league in goals against per game at All of which underlined the need for the Devan Dubnyk trade before the 2.41. deadline earlier this month. “They’re a hell of a team,’’ Los Angeles Kings head coach Todd McLellan “We knew early in the year that Pavel Francouz was going to have said. “We all recognize the pace and the speed that they play with and surgery and was finished for the year,” said Sakic. their ability to attack, but I don’t think they get enough credit for the pace and speed that they defend with, too. “So we knew we were going to have to get a depth goalie and a backup goalie, so we first got (Jons) Johansson and then got Dubnyk. Our plan “At least when we play them, you just don’t get a lot. They’re first to a lot was always to get two more to back up Philipp Grubauer just to prevent of loose pucks, they swarm you quickly, there’s not a lot of ice to do what happened last year in the bubble.’’ anything with. And Dubnyk has fit in well. “They’re the team to be reckoned with.’’ “He’s been great, he’s come in, been a veteran presence,’’ said Sakic. What’s uncanny is how both McLellan and Sakic used one identical word “Just a great team guy. He knows his expectations and his role. He’s to describe how the Avs play. been a great fit for us.’’ “We like to be a fast team that has four lines coming at you with speed,” So here we are. The playoffs are around the corner. said Sakic. “When we’re healthy, we feel we’ve got that. We just like to swarm. That’s how we like to play.’’ Truth be told, this is likely the deepest team the Avs are going to have for a number of years. Oh, don’t get me wrong, they’re going to be McLellan had high praise for Vegas, too, as he’s had a front-row seat to contenders for several years, but this deep? both contenders in his makeshift division this year. The flat salary cap has other ideas. Captain Gabriel Landeskog needs a And that’s the crazy thing. The potential for Vegas-Colorado in the new contract, as does Grubauer. Oh, and stud defenseman second round. will need a second contract after his entry-level deal expires this summer. Remember all the fuss all those years Pittsburgh and played There are big decisions that loom after the season. each other in the second round? “Well, yeah, we anticipate the cap is going to be flat for a number of I would argue an Avs-Golden Knights series is the closest thing to a years now,” said Sakic. “It’s unfortunate. But that’s the world we’re living Stanley Cup Final in the second round we’ve seen. in right now in the hockey world. Every team has got to deal with it. So Odds are we’re getting it. But there’s a pesky team called the Minnesota yeah, we have some decisions we have to make at the end of the year. Wild making some headlines as well these days. But we’ll make those at the end of the year.

“They’ve been great,” said Sakic. “They’re a tough team to play. They’ve “We feel we have a deep team this year and we’ll see where it goes and changed the way they play a little bit. They’re opening it up a bit more, what it’s going to look like going forward. they’re skating, obviously, (Kirill) Kaprisov is a heck of a hockey player “But every team in the league is dealing with the flat-cap scenario. We’re and a fun player to watch. I think he’s brought that energy to them. not the only one.’’ They’ve always had a solid defensive team. Like Tampa Bay last offseason, it’s always easier to stomach those cap- crunching decisions when you’re Cup champion. Is this Colorado’s year? We start to get the answer soon enough.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187410 Colorado Avalanche

Deen’s List: Struggling Avalanche to welcome back impact players

By Aarif Deen - April 28, 2021

It was another unpleasant game for a team that on paper looks more unpleasant by the day.

Without eight of its regulars and two more additional players (Erik Johnson and Pavel Francouz) that haven’t played nearly all season, Colorado continues to throw out a lineup that doesn’t resemble that of a Stanley Cup-contending team.

Most of the lines are shuffled each game in an effort to jump-start the talent-depleted lineup. The only line that has amounted to anything at even strength lately is the top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog and Andre Burakovsky.

Deen’s List breaks it down:

Avs need reinforcements

Help could be on the way. No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer and wingers Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi are all likely to return Friday against San Jose. Without the three, who were all on the COVID protocol list in recent weeks, Colorado suffered its first three-game losing streak of the season.

This is the biggest storyline here. The Avs are the only team to have two COVID pauses this season and both times returned without a full lineup and struggled out of the gate. Colorado managed to defeat St. Louis in its first game back and take a 2-0 lead in Saturday’s contest. But since then — with a shorthanded lineup — the Avalanche have been outscored 14- 4.

Kadri’s suffering continues

Avs coach Jared Bednar has continued to shuffle Nazem Kadri’s wingers with hopes of breaking the centerman out of his slump. Kadri has not scored a goal in 17 games and has just three assists in that stretch. His last point was nine games ago.

Bednar put Tyson Jost and Valeri Nichushkin — two of the Avs’ more consistent depth forwards — on Kadri’s wings Wednesday. Kadri finished with three shots, a minus-2 rating and two penalty minutes in 18:35.

“I didn’t love his game,” Bednar said of Kadri.

Little room for error

During his post-game press conference, Bednar said the Avalanche’s margin for error is small right now. He’s referring to mistakes leading to goals-against.

But the margin for error in the standings is also low — much lower than it was just a week ago. While the Avs continue to fight for first place in the West Division, where they trail Vegas by six points with a game in hand, they also have Minnesota breathing down their necks.

The Wild blew a 3-1 lead in the third period against St. Louis on Wednesday and lost in regulation. That loss kept the Avs in second place. Colorado leads Minnesota by a point but has two games in hand. The Wild, who are 17-5-0 at home, play 6-of-8 games in their building.

Unlucky bounces

The Avalanche had an ample amount of bounces go against them. The first goal bounced off of Sam Girard’s skate before William Karlsson scored. The second goal, which came on the power play, deflected off Devon Toews.

And at the other end, Jost shot a puck that went right across the Vegas goal line and came out the other end.

Minuses for the stars

Defenseman Cale Makar and MacKinnon each finished with a minus-1. The duo of Avalanche stars are a combined minus-12 during Colorado’s three straight losses. milehighsports.com LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187411 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche losing streak reaches three games after 5-2 loss at Vegas

By Aarif Deen - April 28, 2021

Losing three-straight games is always a cause for concern but the Avalanche’s injuries and COVID-related absences have taken a toll.

Colorado (31-12-4) had an opportunity to close the gap with the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the West Division on Wednesday but was defeated 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena to close out a five-game road trip that spanned 15 days.

It now trails Vegas by six points with a game in hand. The Avs, who have nine remaining games, play at Vegas on May 10.

But reinforcements could be on the way as early as Friday at Ball Arena against San Jose. No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer and wingers Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi — each of whom were on the COVID protocol list in recent weeks — are expected back.

“We have an opportunity to go home and turn things around against San Jose,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “We’ll get some reinforcements back in the lineup, should have some guys back in and healthy. It’s going to change the dynamic of our team.”

The injury-depleted Avalanche will still be without defensemen Bo Byram and Jacob MacDonald, and forwards Matt Calvert, Brandon Saad and Logan O’Connor.

Defenseman Erik Johnson and goalie Pavel Francouz also remain out for the rest of the season.

“We don’t care who we have in the lineup. We’re missing guys, we don’t care,” said Avs defenseman Devon Toews, who scored his seventh goal Wednesday to tie it 1-1 late in the first period. “We got enough guys, we got enough depth to win these hockey games. It’s going to take a little bit more from everyone to get it done.”

Vegas got on the board early and never trailed. Center William Karlsson won the opening faceoff and scored just 10 seconds in. The puck was up for grabs after it bounced off the skate of Avs blueliner Sam Girard, and Karlsson located it first and swung in on goalie Devan Dubnyk.

Bednar called the play a defensive lapse but said Dubnyk should have made the stop.

The Avs also had a defensive blunder on the third goal, a tally from Mark Stone behind the net where he banked it in off Dubnyk.

The Avs had ample opportunity to close the gap but each time they got close, another penalty or defensive breakdown stopped them in their tracks.

Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 35 shots and did his part to keep Colorado from rallying.

“We generated some nice scoring chances but Fleury was good in goal,” Bednar said. “The margin for error is small for us right now. We have to find a way to be better with the puck and more disciplined in a couple of different areas.” milehighsports.com LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187412 Colorado Avalanche Sign up with DraftKings Sportsbook by clicking here to grab 100-1 odds on a quarterback to be taken first overall.

DraftKings Sportsbook Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Betting Prediction, Picks (April 28, 2021) States: CO, PA, NJ, IN, IL, IA, MI, MI, VA, TN, and WV

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Bets We Like With a Blues Win avalanche golden knights pick Max Pacioretty OVER 1 point (+130, Fan Duel) or Pacioretty 1+ points (- The Colorado Avalanche were brought back to earth their last two times 195, DraftKings) out, losing consecutive games in regulation for the first time since in over two months. In between, the Avalanche were an otherworldly 22-3-3. Pacioretty has had a resurgent season for the Golden Knights and is in They will look to bounce back tonight with an important showdown the midst of a hot streak in which he has points in seven straight games against the Vegas Golden Knights. (3-9-12). We always believe in riding a hot hand, which is why the -195 doesn’t scare us on him to register at least one point. Let’s take a look at this matchup, the seventh of eight meetings between Colorado and Vegas, from a betting perspective in our Avalanche vs. But also note that Pacioretty has four multi-point games on this nine- Golden Knights betting preview with odds, picks and predictions. game winning streak for Vegas, which makes the bet at FanDuel so appealing. Get just one point, and it’s a push. Get two or more, and you Despite Colorado’s incredible run, it wasn’t enough to catch Vegas. As are cashing at 1.3x your bet — a good deal and good probability, well as the Avalanche have played for the past two months, the Golden whether Vegas wins or not. Knights basically said, hold my beer. They have won nine straight games and 10 of their last 11. In the process, the Knights passed Colorado and FanDuel Sportsbook now lead the West Division by four points, although the Avalanche have a game in-hand. States: CO, PA, NJ, IA, IN, IL, TN, VA, MI and WV

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PROMO CODE: Avalanche to win and OVER 5.5 goals (+290, DraftKings)

MILE500 We talked about how these teams always seem to play low-scoring games, despite both squads having high-powered offenses. A lot of that NEW PLAYER BONUS$600 though is predicated on good goaltending. It looks like Avalanche goalie Phillip Grubauer will not play in this one despite coming off the COVID-19 RISK-FREE FIRST BETBET NOW! protocol Tuesday. Knowing they’ll have a backup goalie in net, Colorado Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Betting Pick will look to push the pace, and Vegas will likely oblige because they’ve proven they can win games in all kinds of games, including up-tempo, The series between arguably the two best teams in the NHL has been higher-scoring affairs. nip and tuck all season. Each team has won three times, and the Avalanche have outscored the Golden Knights by a narrow 13-12 As good as the Avalanche are, you rarely see them as an underdog, so margin. That total of 25 goals in six games should also tell you that these simply taking them to win at +114 is a value bet in and of itself. teams tend to play low-scoring, defensive affairs against one another, With a backup goalie in net and two high-powered offenses going head- despite being the two teams with the greatest goal differential in the NHL. to-head in a game that means more to Colorado, getting the Avalanche Colorado has the highest goals for per game played in the league (3.52) at +290 in a higher-scoring game provides huge value — especially since and Vegas is fourth (3.38), yet, against one another, they only average Colorado hasn’t lost three straight games all season. 2.17 and 2.00, respectively. Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Prediction

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Odds Colorado wants to win the division. To do so, they will need to win this Here are the lines for Avalanche vs. Golden Knights at DraftKings game. Vegas will both skate and score with them, and maybe even beat Sportsbook: them in this battle of two of the NHL’s best teams. But Colorado is too good of a team to lose three straight, and Vegas is due for a loss. This is Spread: Spread: Avalanche (+1.5 -235), Golden Knights (-1.5 +190) the perfect storm, although we expect a heck of a hockey game.

Moneyline: Avalanche (+114); Golden Knights (-132) Pick: Avalanche 4, Golden Knights 3

Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120)/Under 5.5 (-103) milehighsports.com LOADED: 04.29.2021 Bets We Like With an Avalanche Win

Nathan MacKinnon OVER 1 points (-146, FanDuel)

Tired of seeing us tell you to bet MacKinnon? Not if you’ve been betting his player props. He has a 14-game point streak going, so as long as he gets one point, you don’t lose. It should also make you feel good that he has points in 21 of his last 22 games. That means it’s almost certain this bet does not lose, but it could push.

You need MacKinnon to have a multi-point game, which he’s done 12 times in his last 22 contests. If the Avalanche are going to snap the Vegas win streak, MacKinnon is going to have to be at his best, so you would think getting two points is a legit possibility.

MacKinnon is -305 on DraftKings to get at least one point. If you’re betting with your head and not worried about the bankroll, then you shouldn’t be scared to lay that much wood. 1187413 Colorado Avalanche

Takeaways from Avs loss to Vegas: Dubnyk mostly to blame for this one

By Adrian Dater

LAS VEGAS – Well, one thing we can still say with surety: The Avs don’t appear to have solved their backup goaltending problems with their moves near the trade deadline. The Avs lose their third straight tonight, this time to Vegas, and I think the game was decided in goal. Their guy, Marc-Andre Fleury, was much better than the Avs’ guy, Devan Dubnyk, and that was that.

The Avs have lost three in a row for the first time this season, and hopes of a division title are fading fast. The Avs are now six points back of Vegas for first in the Honda West Division, with the Avs having one game in hand. Colorado remains in second place only because St. Louis rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Minnesota Wild tonight.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187414 Colorado Avalanche

Avs lineup vs. Vegas

By Adrian Dater

LAS VEGAS – It feels like one of those nights when – no, I can’t help but use this analogy because I’m in Vegas – the Avs are playing with some house money. If they lose, it’ll be super easy just to say “We didn’t have our No. 1 goal scorer or No. 1 goalie or No. 1 utility guy, not to mention a couple other good players. Hats off to beating us. See you in the playoffs.”

On the other hand, it’ll be: “OMG, the Avs have lost three in a row and are careening into the playoffs, playing their worst hockey at the wrong time of the season to do that.”

No matter what happens tonight, we shouldn’t think it’s the end of the world. The fact is, the Avs are going into tonight’s game with the Vegas Golden Knights with an injury/Covid-depleted lineup, and the bookies here in Vegas are, in fact, telling us: The Golden Knights are the favorites to win, and it’ll be a SURPRISE if they don’t win.

That’s the attitude I think we should all take, as Avs enthusiasts, into this game. And maybe we’ll shock ’em.

Here’s the Avs lineup for tonight:

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Burakovsky

Jost-Kadri-Nichushkin

Soderberg-Compher-Sherwood

O’Brien-Bellemare-Kaut

The Masters

D

Toews-Girard

Graves-Makar

Nemeth-Timmins

Dubnyk

If the Avs are going to win this game, I think it has to be: 1. Dubnyk having a great night and 2. The defense adding a lot to the scoring. I think Cale Makar has to have a great game if the Avs are to win, with all the guys out up front. Wouldn’t hurt if Sam Girard could add something tonight on the scoresheet either.

NOTEBOOK: Jared Bednar reiterated that Philipp Grubauer, Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi all could return for Friday’s home game against San Jose. … Bo Byram will start a rehab stint with the Colorado Eagles. … The game will be on NBCSN. Altitude isn’t doing the game. … The Avs are +125 underdogs at SuperBook Colorado. There are some great prop bet odds boosts for the game, including what I think is a steal of a bet involving Nathan MacKinnon scoring a goal. Do yourself a favor and check ’em out.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187415 Colorado Avalanche

Avs’ Newhook: “I think I am ready to make the jump”

By Adrian Dater

As colleague Scott MacDonald documented in a piece yesterday, Alex Newhook could see his name called by the Avalanche to join them soon – particularly if injuries to other forwards, such as the one that happened to Brandon Saad the other day, keep happening.

Newhook is, indeed, a bright prospect and the Avs have bright prospects as a team. They have secured a berth in the playoffs and are among the NJ sports betting sites favorites to win the Stanley Cup. William Hill has them priced at 4.8 for the title and bet365 4.0 in the same market.

“I think I am ready to make the jump to professional hockey and I think I’ve had a great two years at ; I really enjoyed my time here, but I think it’s the right time for me to move on,” Newhook said recently.

“I think a few of the guys on our team have made similar decisions, and I am really happy to be taking this step now. It was definitely a hard decision. Looking at coming back and with my sister coming in and the group of guys we have here, so it was a hard decision, but I think it was the right one and I am really excited for the future here.”

The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice. They did so in 1996 and again in 2001. was their coach the first time and Bob Hartley the second. Their first title came on the back of four straight wins in the series against the Florida Panthers. The second time was somewhat more challenging, as it took all seven games to decide the series with the .

Whether the 2021 unit will be able to match the title-winning heroics of yesteryear’s teams remains in the balance. Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic certainly hopes so.

The Masters

“We love the way the team is coming together, love the way they’re playing. Management, fans and everybody in the dressing room believes this is a time we need to compete for the Stanley Cup,” he said.

This is the fourth consecutive season the Avs have qualified for the playoffs. It is their second-longest stretch. They had done so 10 times in a row from 1995-6 to 2005-6. Of course, coach Jared Bednar trusts they’ll go all the way this time – and gift fans a third Stanley Cup title.

“My thoughts on the four playoff years is, it has been a lot of fun. I enjoy the heck out of coaching this team and these players. When they work like this and you start seeing the results coming year after year, getting better and better every year, it’s highly encouraging as a coach,” Bednar was quoted as saying by the Denver Post.

“I think our buy-in in a bunch of aspects of our game – especially on the defending side of the puck – and just getting more committed to a good all-around team game and being great teammates, I like what’s going on around here.”

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187416 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets' GM Jarmo Kekalainen to help Finland at 2022 Beijing Olympics

The NHL's lone European-born GM will reprise role as Finland's assistant GM, which he did previously for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and 2014 Sochi Olympics.

BRIAN HEDGER | The Columbus Dispatch

Jarmo Kekalainen is in his ninth season as the Blue Jackets’ general manager, but his ties to Finnish hockey remain strong.

The third GM in Blue Jackets history, and longest-tenured, still spends a portion of his summers in Finland and keeps close ties on prospects and teams in the Finnish elite league (Liiga) throughout the year. Kekalainen is also the only European-born GM in NHL history, which puts him in a unique position to help his home country on the international stage.

His first knowledge of the NHL and its Finnish-born players is one of the reasons Kekalainen will travel to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China as the assistant GM for Finland’s national team – his second Olympic experience in that role.

“It is an honor for me to be with the national team and work together with the coaching and management team,” Kekalainen said in a statement released by the Finnish Association on Wednesday. “The Olympics is a great event and an opportunity to achieve something unique, because I think we can put a really tough group together.”

Kekalainen is from Kuopio, Finland and rose up as a player there to play at both Clarkson University and in the NHL prior to starting his career as a hockey executive. He was the GM of Helsinki-based IFK in the 1990s, putting together a championship team in 1998 in Finland’s top professional league, and later was the president and GM of the Jokerit program – IFK’s Helsinki-based rival – prior to taking on the GM job for the Blue Jackets in 2013.

This is the third time Kekalainen will help construct a national team for Finland, after previously serving in the same capacity during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and 2014 Olympics held in Sochi, Russia – where Finland won a bronze medal.

According to QuantHockey.com, there are 59 players in the NHL this season, including three on Kekalainen’s roster: star forward Patrik Laine, goalie Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Mikko Lehtonen.

Four other Finnish-born NHL players are averaging more than a point a game: Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (26 goals, 26 assists), Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (24 goals, 28 assists), center Sebastian Aho (21 goals, 28 assists) and Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz (14 goals, 24 assists).

Goaltending options are also enviable on a list that includes a variety of established NHL veterans like Nashville’s Pekka Rinne, stars in their prime – like Boston’s Tuukka Rask – and impressive younger netminders like Nashville’s Juuse Saros, Korpisalo and Chicago Blackhawks rookie Kevin Lankinen.

“I believe we can do something special with the strong group we will be able to put together,” Kekalainen told the Dispatch.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187417 Columbus Blue Jackets Greiss also earned a shutout despite taking the loss, making 33 saves as the Red Wings outshot the Jackets 41-33 through 65 minutes. Combined, the goaltenders stopped 74 shots in the game and readied Takeaways: A goalie duel, Elvis Merzlikins was everywhere and the Blue themselves for a whopping 125 attempted shots launched their direction Jackets finally won prior to the shootout.

Nine-game winless skid ends on Elvis Merzlikins' 41-save shutout of the That’s a heavy workload, physically and mentally, but Merzlikins enjoyed Detroit Red Wings, which included two more stops in a shootout. it. Merzlikins: 'It's what we needed.' “That’s actually fun,” he said. “It’s funny, because you actually play against (the other goaltender). Greiss had a really great game, as well. Penalty shots are luck. This time the luck was on my side, so I was lucky. BRIAN HEDGER | The Columbus Dispatch But I think he had a great game and I was just waiting for the moment when he’s going to make, maybe a mistake or give up (a goal).”

Missed shots galore Overtime started the way all periods begin for Elvis Merzlikins. Each goaltender got help from numerous missed shots and the Red The Blue Jackets’ goalie tapped both goal posts with his stick. He gave Wings also blocked 16 of the Blue Jackets' attempts. the crossbar a smooch. He sent a couple requests skyward, toward the heavens via the rafters of . He then prepared himself Greiss got more help than Merzlikins in the miss category, though, for the fury of OT in a 0-0 game that was filled with near misses and despite the Jackets’ goalie also being spared by a couple Red Wings great saves. misses. Columbus missed the net 21 times in all, sending a number of attempts off scoring chances high, wide or pinging off the crossbar and This time, his superstitions paid off in a 1-0 shootout victory against the goal posts. Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, along with 41 saves plus two more in the shootout. Merzlikins’ efforts plus shootout goals by Patrik Laine Eric Robinson hit the post a little more than four minutes into the game, and Oliver Bjorkstrand allowed the Blue Jackets to rid themselves of a Max Domi rung a hard wrist shot off the crossbar in the second and winless streak that had grown to nine games (0-2-7) and prompted their Detroit’s Namestnikov sent one off the post with 12 seconds left in the emotional netminder to call it “embarrassing” last Thursday in Tampa, first. Asked about all the inaccuracy, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella Fla. focused on the positives of the game.

It was about time they finally won one. "Yep," he said. "Both teams are trying, though.”

“It doesn’t feel good in that locker room,” Merzlikins said. “Now, after this The race to the bottom win, it’s really what we needed. It kind of cancels everything (from the) past and (we’re) not thinking about that anymore and not even going The Blue Jackets finally got two points and a win, but it wasn’t enough to there. Last game, it’s a win … so that’s how we’re going to prepare for pull them even with the Red Wings at the bottom of the Central Division the next game.” standings. The shootout loss gave Detroit a point to stay one ahead of the last-place Jackets and the Red Wings also own the tie-breaker at the That won’t take place until Saturday in Raleigh against the Carolina moment with more wins in regulation. Hurricanes, so the Jackets began their three-day break between games with a full off day Wednesday to enjoy a feeling they hadn’t felt in three Columbus did, however, take a “loss” by winning. The victory pushed extremely long weeks. them back in front of the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators in the NHL’s overall standings, which means they’re now saddled with the sixth- “It feels really great,” said Merzlikins, who drew rounds of cheers from worst record in the league. That’s important when it comes to the draft in fans who stuck around to see his Nick Foligno-less victory jump hug and the summer, which uses a lottery system with odds to win the No. 1 postgame in-arena interview with TV analyst Jody Shelley. “I mean, overall pick determined by the order teams finish. really, it’s what we needed and it really feels great. Everybody was really battling and fighting, so I’m really happy for the boys.” The , who open their inaugural season next year, will get the third-best lottery odds and are guaranteed one of the top six picks. Mercifully, only five more games remain in the Blue Jackets’ season. That means the Jackets’ victory Tuesday dropped their lottery odds from fifth-best to seventh. Here are the takeaways from Tuesday's game: The Canucks and Senators each have more games left, though. Elvis’ top stops Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021 It was a busy night for both goalies, but Merzlikins tied an NHL career- high with 41 saves. That provided a lot of options for his top saves in the game, but a few stood out above the others.

The first was 1:13 into the game and was partially due to luck.

Vladislav Namestnikov tried a wrist shot aimed for the five hole, but was stopped by Merzlikins, who then kept the loose puck from crossing the goal line by spinning around in the crease.

He also made two huge saves against Jakub Vrana on breakaways in the second period and overtime before making back-to-back stops in OT that were arguably his best of the night. After kicking the puck into the high slot off a wrist shot by Valtteri Filppula on a 2-on-1 rush, Merzlikins readied himself for a follow-up from Michael Rasmussen. He tracked it and soaked up the puck to stop play, causing Rasmussen to shake his head in disgust.

“Elvis played really good,” Bjorkstrand said. “He made a lot of huge saves during the game, OT and in the shootout, so it’s huge when he plays that way. He kept us in the game.”

Goalie duel

Merzlikins and Detroit’s Thomas Greiss matched each other’s stellar work until the shootout, when the Blue Jackets were finally able to crack through with a pair of tallies. 1187418 Dallas Stars

To make the playoffs, the Stars will have to conquer their longest road trip in nearly 20 years

By Matthew DeFranks

In order to qualify for the playoffs, the Stars will have to conquer the road.

The team’s final seven games of the regular season are on the road, beginning with Thursday’s game at Tampa Bay. The Stars enter Thursday two points behind fourth-place Nashville for the final playoff spot in the Central Division with two games in hand on the Predators.

This isn’t any ordinary road trip, though. It’s one of the toughest in the league.

Only two teams have had longer road trips this season: San Jose began the season with 12 straight on the road and Nashville had an eight-game trip. The Stars go to five different cities, and the next five games are all against teams currently in a playoff position, including Saturday’s showdown with the Predators.

“We have to make the best of it,” Stars coach said. “We know what’s coming. We know we’re going to spend a lot of time next week in our hotel rooms. There’s nothing we can do about that.”

Despite schedules that typically feature some of the toughest travel in the league due to Dallas’ location, the Stars have not had a seven-game road trip in nearly 20 years. The last seven-game trip was in 2002-03, when captain Derian Hatcher played for coach , and the gold-tinted Stars won the Pacific Division with a record that had 15 ties.

So it’s been a while.

The Stars did flourish away from home last season, completing their run to the Stanley Cup Final in the Edmonton bubble. But even the sanitized abode of the JW Marriott offered the Stars more freedom than they currently have on the road.

Due to the league’s COVID-19 restrictions, players and staff spend most of their time in their hotel rooms, unable to go to restaurants outside the hotel and barred from going to the arena too early before a game.

“It’s been tough, to be honest,” Blake Comeau said. “I think every team is probably feeling it. You get to the hotel and you’re basically just stuck in the hotel until you play. There’s some long days, some long trips. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of adapting to it.

“It’s kind of become the new norm, but that being said, it’s a grind physically and also mentally just being stuck in a hotel while you’re out on the road.”

Beginning Wednesday night, the Stars spent the first of 13 straight nights in hotels.

The season-ending road trip was originally supposed to be four games with two in Nashville and two in Chicago. But the schedule was scrambled twice this season, first after Dallas’ coronavirus outbreak during training camp postponed four games and again in February when the winter storm postponed four more games.

The result was a road-heavy, condensed schedule down the stretch.

“It’s just the world we’re in now,” Jamie Oleksiak said. “You have to be able to adjust. Our schedule is so condensed, you really don’t focus on it too much. You’re kind of just going city to city, playing the game and then flying out again. We’re just focusing on hockey right now.”

The Stars remain very much in the postseason hunt despite a 5-1 loss to Carolina on Tuesday night, but Thursday’s game looms large since it is one of the games in hand Dallas has on Nashville. While the Predators rest at home for three days, the Stars will take on the defending champions.

“We’re just going to have to grind it out and get points,” John Klingberg said.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187419 Dallas Stars X — Jamie Benn — Denis Gurianov

Andrew Cogliano — Radek Faksa — Blake Comeau

What is Tyler Seguin’s fit in this Stars lineup when he’s ready to return? X — X — X

Seguin’s not playing fourth-line winger, so eliminate those slots right away. What’s left is fourth-line center or second-line winger. Before By Saad Yousuf Apr 28, 2021 scoffing at the mere possibility of Seguin centering the fourth line, understand that the consideration here is that he hasn’t played a competitive hockey game in seven months and may need to be eased As the Stars embark on their season-defining road trip to close out the back in, both in conditioning and physicality. There’s also somewhat of a 2020-21 season, they may get a significant boost to the lineup. Tyler precedent for this if you look at how Blake Comeau was eased in at the Seguin, one of the team’s top offensive players, has been working his beginning of the season. After missing a few weeks due to COVID-19, way back from offseason hip surgery and is expected to return to game Comeau made his season debut a week into the season on the fourth action at some point. There’s no definitive timetable on Seguin’s return, line before claiming his spot again to reunite the FCC line shortly after. with Rick Bowness saying last week, “When he feels like he’s ready to But Comeau’s situation isn’t the parallel for Seguin. go, that’s when he’ll play.” The Stars head coach has echoed those sentiments numerous times since then as Seguin continues to ramp Instead, let’s look at Seguin’s longtime linemates, Benn and Radulov. things up in practice. Benn got hurt in the first game of the season and missed the next four games over the span of eight days before returning to the ice. In that Whenever Seguin is ready to return, the question becomes where will he time, he was skating in practices and morning skates to get himself be in the lineup? That question is a bit easier to explore right now ready. When he was ready, Benn rejoined the lineup in full force on a line because the Stars have something in their lineup that has avoided them with Hintz and Radulov. Speaking of Radulov, his midseason absence for most of this season: Clarity. Let’s begin with what we know about the was much longer, as he missed 16 games and over a month with his current lineup and what it looks like. injury. Like Benn before and Seguin now, Radulov also spent a considerable amount of time skating in practices before finally cracking Alexander Radulov is no longer hanging in the balance, as he’s been the lineup when he felt ready. When he did, it was full throttle, playing ruled out for the season. Joel Kiviranta was skating very lightly after with Robertson and Hintz. morning skate 10 days ago and two days prior to that Bowness had said Kiviranta was “a long ways away” so his return isn’t imminent and doesn’t Neither Benn’s nor Radulov’s absences is apples to apples with Seguin factor into the forward group Seguin will be joining. because neither missed seven months and was coming off major surgery, but Seguin’s talent warrants that sort of approach. With all due Roope Hintz’s presence is a big factor because he’s currently the top-line respect, Seguin centering Kero and Pysyk might have a more favorable center. When he exits the lineup, it creates a bit of a shakeup, as was ramp up in terms of minutes but it would be holding Seguin back from his evident in the last game he missed on April 20. It forces the coaches to full potential. And while it’s been a welcome sight to see the Stars being juggle lines down the depth chart, in the most recent case bringing Jason able to roll two consistent scoring lines, replacing Dickinson with Seguin Dickinson up to the top line and Tanner Kero up from the fourth line to would be an upgrade, even when Seguin is working his way back to replace Dickinson on the second line. However, Hintz has been in the game shape and definitely when he’s up to speed. lineup consistently recently. After not playing in back-to-backs since February, Hintz has played two sets of back-to-backs in the past three That spot on the second line helps the team but is also beneficial for weeks. The only back-to-back remaining on the schedule for the Stars is Seguin. There is no player on the roster Seguin has more chemistry with the final two games of the season in Chicago. than Benn. Having those two on a line together, even if the positions are flipped, should help Seguin adjust back to the NHL game even quicker. The Stars have maintained the exact same four lines for the past four Having them on the same line also creates the opportunity for a games. Here’s what it has looked like: seamless transition in position for each player. They may be Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Joe Pavelski interchangeable in center and left wing responsibilities early on and once Seguin is completely ready, he can slide into his center role and Benn Jason Dickinson — Jamie Benn — Denis Gurianov goes back to his spot on the left wing.

Andrew Cogliano — Radek Faksa — Blake Comeau Benn’s play at center has helped reignite Gurianov immensely and they didn’t even have the history that Benn and Seguin do. Seguin will also Tanner Kero — Justin Dowling — Mark Pysyk have no pressure on him to carry a line, the way he would if he centered Exploring a fit that’s best for Seguin and the team is going to be the fourth line, because Benn and Gurianov are already in stride. Seguin educational speculation but one pretty safe assumption is that the Stars can comfortably find his way back. Once he does, the Stars will have a won’t dare go near that top line. If all three of them are available to play, legitimate top-six group. Here’s where the lineup is at now: Robertson, Hintz and Pavelski should be together. Their production Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Joe Pavelski speaks for itself but even when they’re not scoring, they win puck battles and clearly have an established chemistry. They are the team’s true top Tyler Seguin — Jamie Benn — Denis Gurianov line. Andrew Cogliano — Radek Faksa — Blake Comeau Bowness has shown some willingness to split up the checking line of Cogliano, Faksa and Comeau but that has usually either come out of X — X — X necessity — such as April 3 when the Stars were hurting for healthy That leaves some question about the fourth line and there’s some bodies down the middle so Faksa was elevated to the second line — or flexibility there. Dickinson’s versatility makes things easier. He could in an effort to shake things up when the team was in a rut. Right now, the center that line and Kero and Pysyk can stay where they’ve been Stars aren’t dealing with either situation so while it’s not as sure of a bet recently, bumping Dowling out of the lineup. The Stars could also have as the top line staying together, it’s a relatively safe assumption that the Dickinson play winger if they want to keep Dowling in the lineup, FCC line stays intact. especially early on in Seguin’s return. That way, Dowling can be the Now it gets interesting. One reason the Stars don’t need to split up the center staple of the fourth line and Dickinson can play his role there while FCC line is because they’ve found a solution for second-line center. also spelling Seguin, as needed, based on where Seguin’s conditioning Jamie Benn has been playing some of his best hockey in recent memory is. The options for fourth-liners carries flexibility, as the team can cycle since the switch from winger to center. Since his move to center, there through Kero, Pysyk, Nicholas Caamano, Rhett Gardner and Joel has also been a resurgence in Denis Gurianov’s play, who is the second- L’Esperance. This brings us to the final lineup: line right winger. The way those two players are performing right now, it’s Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Joe Pavelski a similar feel to the top line in terms of not wanting to mess with what’s working. If that’s the approach, here’s where we are so far in rebuilding Tyler Seguin — Jamie Benn — Denis Gurianov the lineup to see where Seguin slides in: Andrew Cogliano — Radek Faksa — Blake Comeau Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Joe Pavelski Dickinson/Kero/Caamano — Dowling/Gardner — Pysyk/L’Esperance The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021

1187420 Detroit Red Wings hockey, either. It's 3-on-3 and you never get to 3-on-3 in regular hockey. Certainly nobody has the appetite to keep playing 5-on-5 forever in the regular season.

'We're fortunate': Sam Gagner, Red Wings grateful to have had hockey "I don't know if there's an easy solution. Ultimately everybody knows the season rules at the beginning of the year and you have to play by them. If we don't like our record in overtime and shootout, then win the game in regulation time."

Ted Kulfan Red Wings at Hurricanes

►Faceoff: 7 p.m. Thursday, PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina

Somehow, someway, the Red Wings will finish the regular season next ►TV/radio: BSD-plus/WWJ-950 weekend (fingers crossed), navigating through a campaign amid a pandemic. ►Outlook: The Red Wings (17-25-9) and Carolina (32-10-7) face each other for the final time this season. … Interestingly, the Wings lead the Before it began, the NHL shortened the season to 56 games and season series against the division leaders 4-3-0. formatted a division-only schedule. There have been hiccups along the way, but the NHL will head into its playoffs confident it will conclude and Detroit News LOADED: 04.29.2021 award a Stanley Cup.

Who gets the credit for the Wings, and the rest of the league, to motor through?

“There’s been a lot of people behind the scenes that have really had to do a real good job for us to be able to play,” said veteran forward Sam Gagner, who has been in the NHL since 2007 but agrees this season has been unique.

Be it a team’s medical or training staff monitoring daily testing or treating injuries in a condensed, rigorous schedule, or equipment people or support staff, helping an NHL team get through this schedule has been a team effort.

“Looking back on it this year has been different than any other year,” Gagner said. “I’ve always felt that every year kind of brings its different challenges no matter how you prepare, but this year has been definitely been special in that regard. It’ll be a year we’ll remember for a long time.”

With the pandemic still causing much disruption on jobs and daily life in society, hockey players feel “fortunate,” said Gagner, that they’re able to complete a season.

“As players, we feel we’re very fortunate that we’ve been able to do what we love to do,” Gagner said. “There’s a lot of situations out there where people have had to sacrifice what they love to do and we’re still able to do it, obviously under different circumstances. Guys have had to really adhere to protocols and things like that, and it’s made it stressful at times.

“But at the end of the day, we’re playing hockey and we’ve enjoyed that part of it.”

Tough road ahead

The Wings' next three games are against Carolina and Tampa, two of the top teams in the division.

These will be important games for the Hurricanes and Lightning, who are battling for seeding and home ice advantage.

It should be a good, stiff test for a young Wings roster.

"(Tuesday's) game (in Columbus) ended up being a good hockey game, but it started real loose, like two teams that were out of the playoffs. We can't play loose hockey like that heading into Carolina or Tampa," coach said. "Just with the firepower both of those teams have, and that's not disrespectful to Columbus, we're kind of both in the same boat in missing the playoffs.

"But we better tighten up as we head into Carolina."

OT difficulties

The Wings are 2-9 in games decided by overtime or shootout this season, following Tuesday's 1-0 shootout loss in Columbus.

Generally speaking, the extra sessions are a bit of a crapshoot, with a shred of good fortune as important for a team as anything.

It seems every season there is minor criticism of the entire overtime process, but nobody has a better way of breaking the tie and deciding a winning team quickly and efficiently.

"I don't know the answer," Blashill said of going away from the shootout, specifically. "I don't want a tie, for sure. Overtime isn't necessarily real 1187421 Detroit Red Wings ►Matthew Beniers, center, Michigan: Beniers had a fabulous freshman season with the Wolverines (10 goals, 14 assists in 24 games) and solidified himself as an early pick. What scouts rave about is the fact Beniers is so good at both ends of the rink, which is so important in Michigan presence will dominate 2021 NHL Entry Draft today’s NHL.

►Brandt Clarke, defense, Barrie (OHL): Clarke fits the recent mold of explosive offensive defensemen who can change a game around with his Ted Kulfan ability, skating and shot. Clarke (6-1, 181 pounds) played in Slovakia this season to remain active and build his game.

Detroit — “With their first pick, the Red Wings select ...” ►Luke Hughes, defense, USNTDP: The younger brother of Quinn (Vancouver Canucks) and Jack (New Jersey Devils), Luke has bigger No, the Wings haven’t infiltrated the NFL, nor will they be making a size (6-2, 180 pounds) than his brothers but the same level of skating selection this weekend. and puck-moving ability. A foot injury ended his season prematurely.

But for hockey fans, especially Detroit fans knee-deep in a rebuild, it’s ►Simon Edvinsson, defense, Frolunda (Sweden): The mixed reaction in never too early to think about the NHL Entry Draft. December has turned more to the fact Edvinsson (6-4, 180 pounds) could be a top-three pick in some scouts’ estimations. The mobility is The NHL will hold the draft on July 23-24, approximately a month later exceptional, but scouts feel there’s a higher ceiling that Edvinsson could than usual, because of the coronavirus pandemic and late start to the reach. regular season. The NHL Draft lottery, it was announced earlier this week, will be held June 2. ►Jesper Wallstedt, goaltender, Lulea (Finland): After a big season playing in juniors (2.23 GAA, .908 SVS), Wallstedt has moved up steadily Both of those events, as has been the case in recent years, will be in the minds of many scouts. It’s always a risk picking a goaltender high important for the Wings, who will have another busy draft weekend this in the first round, but the calmness and poise Wallstedt plays with has summer. impressed folks. The Wings have 12 picks overall and seven in the first three rounds — ►Kent Johnson, center, Michigan: Yet another Wolverine who did their own and Washington’s in the first; their own, Edmonton’s and the nothing to disprove he’s a first-round pick this summer. Johnson had 27 New York Rangers' in the second; and their own and Vegas’ in the third. points in 26 games and can produce jaw-dropping goals with his ability. The Wings have their own pick in each of the first six rounds, and have He’s not big (6-1, 165 pounds) but he can break open games. Tampa’s in Round 4 and Ottawa’s in Round 5. Detroit News LOADED: 04.29.2021 But here’s the underlying issue for the Wings and the rest of the NHL scouting community. Because of the pandemic, junior and college season schedules have been altered or wiped out entirely, so some kids haven’t played at all. And scouts haven’t been able to travel nearly as much, if at all, to these games because of travel restrictions.

In total, the pandemic has made this particular draft class the most difficult to assess, maybe ever.

“It's been an interesting year as far as scouting,” general manager Steve Yzerman said on a media Zoom chat at the trade deadline. “We don't know what next year is going to look like either right now. Kris Draper (Wings' amateur scouting director) and I talk a lot and I ask him about this year's draft and next year's draft. It's funny, next year's draft, we haven't even seen those kids yet. At least they're watching the majority of the kids for this year's draft, or they watched them last year.

“The draft is very unpredictable, hit and miss. It probably is more unpredictable this year. You can look at it two ways in that you just may get really lucky or you may get really unlucky. Time will tell.

“We've got a lot of picks and our guys have been doing the best they can. Our scouting staff is doing the best they can to evaluate and look for prospects.”

The Detroit News took a look in December at the top 15 prospects at the time. Four months later, some things have changed and others haven’t.

Namely, Michigan defenseman Owen Power remains the probable pick — and the Wolverines will be well represented on draft night.

With that, here’s the second look at 15 prospects who could be there for the Wings picking up high, or mid- to late-round first round, in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft class:

►Owen Power, defense, Michigan: Power did nothing during his freshman season (16 points in 26 games) to discourage or erase projections that he is the No. 1 pick in the draft. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Power can be used in every situation, is an elite skater and scouts love his competitiveness. It’s probably not fair to Power right now, but given the size and mobility and the way they play, it’s natural to compare him lately to Tampa’s Victor Hedman, which is lofty praise indeed.

►Dylan Guenther, left wing/right wing, Edmonton (WHL): Guenther had 12 goals and 12 assists in 12 games and solidified his status as an elite goal-scorer capable of scoring or setting up others. At 6-1 and 175 pounds, Guenther isn’t afraid to stick his nose in the hard areas of the ice, and plays a hard game. 1187422 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings lose goaltending duel with Columbus, 1-0 in shootout

By Ansar Khan

Thomas Greiss and Elvis Merzlikins were perfect through 65 minutes Tuesday in a goaltending duel that was decided in a shootout.

That is when Patrik Laine and Oliver Bjorkstrand scored for the Columbus Blue Jackets, lifting them to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena.

Merzlikins made 41 saves in regulation and overtime and denied Jakub Vrana and Adam Erne in the shootout. It was his second shutout of the season and seventh of his career.

Greiss, who was 4-0-2 in his past previous six starts, with a 1.91 goals- against average and .938 save percentage, made 33 saves but only one of three shots in the shootout. Still, he recorded his 14th career shutout and his first as a Red Wing.

The Blue Jackets (16-25-10) ended a nine-game winless streak (0-7-2), winning for only the third time in their past 19 games (3-14-2).

The Red Wings (17-25-9) remain one point ahead of last-place Columbus in the Central Division.

The teams meet two more times, in Columbus, the final two games of the season, May 7-8.

Detroit was shut out for the seventh time this season and dropped to 1-7 in games decided in overtime or a shootout.

Joe Veleno, the 30th pick in the 2018 draft, made his NHL debut for Detroit. He logged 14:59 in ice time, including a shift in overtime, had two shots and won 4-of-7 face-offs.

Vrana had five shots on goal, including a pair of breakaways, the later in OT.

Filip Zadina had a glorious chance to end it in the final seconds of OT during a three-on-one rush but missed the net.

An apparent goal by Bjorkstrand 1:23 into the game was overturned following a coaches challenge. Video confirmed that Eric Robinson was offside on the play.

Michigan Live LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187423 Detroit Red Wings

How to watch Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets (4/27) - NHL Regular Season | Channel, Stream, Time

By Lauren Williams

The Detroit Red Wings are back in action after an overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. They face the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road and look to bounce back.

The game will take place at Nationwide Arena and will air on Plus. Fans can stream it on AT&T TV.

Detroit has averaged 2.4 goals per game across the past five games and will look to get plenty of shots up on Tuesday. They will look to take some of the load off , who stopped a career-high 50 goals through regulation on Saturday.

Fans could also see Joe Veleno, who was recalled from the team’s taxi squad on Tuesday.

Here’s how to watch Tuesday night’s game.

What: NHL Regular Season

Who: Detroit Red Wings (17-25-8) at Columbus Blue Jackets (15-25-10)

When: Tuesday, April 27

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Where: Nationwide Arena -- Columbus, OH

TV Channel: Bally Sports Detroit Plus

Michigan Live LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187424 Edmonton Oilers Koskinen’s play (16 stops in the third period), their special teams which not only scored two power-play goals for the 11th time (tops in the NHL) but got a late penalty kill where they suffocated the Jets after a trip by Kailer Yamamoto and McDavid’s work, won the day. Another three points for McDavid and strong outing by Koskinen for Oilers in win over Jets That’s six straight Ws for the Oilers over the Jets, their likely first-round North Division opponent, which gives them a psychological edge, for The Oilers got a strong game from , playing his first game sure, but that’s all. since April 7 in Ottawa and only third in the last month as he made 30 stops, while they got two power-play goals by and Ryan The glory days Oilers could never win at the old in Nugent-Hopkins and an empty netter from Leon Draisaitl regular-season, but it was a far different story in the playoffs where they were 4-0 there in the ’88 and ’90 finals with a fifth game suspended and tied 3-3 when the lights went out May 24, 1988.

Jim Matheson Edmonton Journal “We definitely raise our level when we play those guys (Jets). We try to limit their high-scoring chances in tight and keep them to the outside and

we’ve found a way to capitalize on ours,” said Nugent-Hopkins. There are ho-hum, repeatable tasks in life like making the bed or taking So does a 7-2 record and six wins in a row mean anything come the out the trash, but clobbering a good NHL team two games in a row, two post-season? Or do they just throw this away and start fresh? days apart, isn’t mindless chewing gum on the brain stuff or easy on the legs. “Obviously, it’s different in the playoffs. They’ll be fired up, we’ll be fired up if we wind up playing them. But you can definitely take momentum And so it was that the Edmonton Oilers, rolling to a 6-1 win Monday from this,” said Nugent-Hopkins. night, had a far rougher road to travel with the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. But getting mad didn’t mean getting even for ’s On both powerplay goals, Hellebuyck never had a prayer because he team as the Oilers put up a staunch defensive effort and knocked them was totally screened by Alex Chiasson — the first by Barrie, who has 41 off 3-1 with captain Connor McDavid having a hand in all three goals to points, two more than he had all of last year in Toronto, the second by give him 84 points on his chase for 100. Nugent-Hopkins, who scored 12 seconds after Wheeler went off. No points on the stats sheet but two big assists by Chiasson, who certainly “The unique part of the schedule this year is no matter what happens in looked like a net-front presence. one game, you go at it again right away. As a player who’s been on the other side of the (getting blown out) road, you regroup … you’re not “Really nice job by Chaser,” said Nugent-Hopkins. going to roll over and fold because you had a bad night,” said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, who felt it would be a tougher chore and it ON THE BENCH–Barrie has 300 career points in 601 games…Ryan was, but his team moved three points clear of the Jets in the scramble for McLeod played 12 minutes in his second NHL game and won five of second spot. eight face-offs. He’s 8-5 on draws in his two games.

The Oilers, now 26-10-2 after a 3-6 stumble to start the season, got a Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.29.2021 strong game in goal from Mikko Koskinen, playing his first game since April 7 in Ottawa and only third in the last month as he made 29 stops. In front of him, they got power-play goals by Tyson Barrie and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and an empty netter from Leon Draisaitl with Connor Hellebuyck pulled for an extra skater.

Blake Wheeler was the only Jets player to beat the Oiler back-up after Andrew Copp stole the puck from Dmitry Kulikov but Wheeler was also in the penalty box for both Oiler power-play goals — the first a trip on Kailer Yamamoto, the second a high-stick on Ethan Bear that drew blood.

McDavid, who has 15 points in his last five games, had at least two points in all nine games against Winnipeg and finished with 22 points in the series.

“What can you say? He’s having a special season and he’s a pretty spectacular player,” said Nugent-Hopkins, running out of words to describe McDavid.

“It was a hard-fought game, not a lot going on … Koskinen made a couple of saves early, we got the power-play goals, and there were a lot of wall battles for pucks. It was kind of a slugfest trying to find space,” said Oilers coach Dave Tippett, who went to his No. 2 guy Koskinen even though his backbone Mike Smith (17-5-2) had only given up one goal in his last 63 shots to the Jets and was unbeaten in four starts against them this year.

“Not playing in three weeks isn’t ideal but I had a lot of time to prepare for this game … we’ve got lots of extra players for practices so I can work on game type situations,” said Koskinen, who has a .929 save percentage in 10 games since Smith came back, with lots of idle time, wearing a ball- cap on the bench.

Koskinen was tested early and robbed Paul Stastny after Wheeler fed it to the wide-open forward three and half minutes into the game. He got his blocker on it, then his leg as the puck squirted toward the net.

“Kind of lucky. I was able to come across but the puck hit me somewhere on my body, I don’t even know where,” said Koskinen, who started all but one game until Smith returned from a leg issue Feb. 8.

“This is different for me but Smitty’s been playing excellent. All I can do is stay ready,” said Koskinen, who has a new mask, along with his Oiler cap. “It’s actually for our third jersey but I haven’t played a home game for awhile so decided to wear it tonight on the road.” 1187425 Edmonton Oilers DOWNWARD SLIDE The Jets went into the game Wednesday on their longest losing skid of

the season, dropping four straight at home after a successful five-game OILERS SNAPSHOTS: Regular-season success might be a factor in road trip. playoffs At one time, the Jets looked to be challenging the 'There is probably some mindset factors that go into it when you have for top spot in the division but have since fallen a point behind the Oilers success against a team' in the standings heading into Wednesday’s game.

According to Jets captain Blake Wheeler, it’s not exactly time for the team to panic. Derek Van Diest “There is going to be adversity at any point in any season,” Wheeler said. “Some of the top teams in our division, ourselves included — Toronto came into our building riding a long losing streak — it’s all about learning. The Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets are on a collision course for the I think we’re being taught some valuable lessons right now, heading into first round of the NHL playoffs. the end of the season and into the playoffs. And as they faced each other for the final time in the regular season “It’s simple, there is a way to play that is going to give you success and a Wednesday, there were questions whether anything accomplished in the way to not play that won’t give you success. That was on display (in season series can carry over to the post-season? Monday’s) game. “ Going into the ninth and final meeting between the teams, the Oilers had Notes … and the NHL came to an agreement on a a 6-2-0 record against the Jets and had won 6-1 on Monday to open the broadcast partnership in the United States, but the network confused two-game series. former Oilers captain Andrew Ference for McDavid. Ference was used in “The goal is to win every game you play, so from that standpoint you an advertisement along with captain Alex Ovechkin want to win every chance you have an opportunity to play,” said Oilers in a promo of the partnership. defenceman Darnell Nurse. “There is a chance that we can play each NHL newest partner promoting two of the games brightest stars after the other even more after (Wednesday), so there is probably some mindset NBA game tonight....Alex Ovechkin and Andrew Ference. factors that go into it when you have success against a team. But they pic.twitter.com/NHpy741vTL have a good roster and good players and a team that matches up pretty evenly.” — Dustin Nielson (@nielsonTSN1260) April 28, 2021

Going into the game, the Jets were trying to figure out a way to contain Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid was coming off a hat trick and four points Monday, and had 19 points (seven goals) in the previous eight games against the Jets.

Draisaitl had six goals and 11 points in eight games against the Jets.

“For us, we’re just focused on our game out there and when playoffs come, that’s something that you worry about then,” Nurse said. “At this point, there is still a lot of hockey to be played, there are still a lot of things in the air.”

The Oilers now have eight games left in the regular season and look like a solid group heading into the playoffs. The same could be said about the team last year heading towards the playoffs, but the pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic halted the Oilers’ momentum and then they were upset by the Chicago Blackhawks in the play-in round.

“It feels lot like a lot longer than a year ago,” Nurse said. “To be honest, I think our group has a strong belief in the team that we have this year. I don’t even know if looking back does any help with our situation now. So, when we look at our group and our roster and the guys we have in our room, it’s a lot of fun to be a part of this group, it’s a lot of fun to go out and battle and play for each other every night.”

STAR COMPARISON

Dominik Kahun grew up playing with Draisaitl and rode shotgun with the star forward early in the season with the Oilers.

On Wednesday, Kahun swapped stars and was on McDavid’s wing for the second consecutive game, freeing up Draisaitl to play with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto.

“It was good, we had a good game,” Kahun said when asked about playing with McDavid. “Connor had a hat trick and one assist and our line scored four goals. I think we did well, we had lot of offence and it was definitely fun to play.”

Kahun, 25, was born in the Czech Republic, but grew up in Germany playing on youth and national teams with Draisaitl. He was brought in by the Oilers this season to provide complimentary offence to the top two lines. Kahun had six goals and 11 points heading into the game Wednesday against the Jets.

“Both are elite players in the league right now, you have to play the game the way they want,” Kahun said. “For Connor, it’s the speed and you try to give him the puck at full speed and he’s going to do his thing. With Leon, you want to put the puck on his stick. It’s definitely fun to play with both of them.” 1187426 Edmonton Oilers “Absolutely,” said Button, who observed the same the last time Canada won the U-18 was in 2013, because it was the year another exceptional status player, a kid by the name of Connor McDavid, joined the team for the tournament in Sochi, Russia. Oilers fans should turn their attention to Canada's coming attractions in Texas “Normally, Canada doesn’t do well at this event because it’s usually scheduled during our junior playoffs. But this year, everybody is Team Canada's U-18 roster features Dylan Guenther, Shane Wright and available,” said Button. Connor Bedard, who could all take their turns to be the No. 1-overall NHL draft pick in each of the next three years So, what happened in 2013, the year McDavid won it?

“McDavid. He happened. He went in there and put the team on his shoulders.” Terry Jones Virtually the entire lineup of this U-18 Team Canada roster would all figure to be here for the Prospects Event and NHL Combine in late June/early July. Now what? That would feature games between draft-eligible players from the These last two Edmonton-at-Winnipeg games have had a preview-of-the- Major Junior Hockey League, and WHL. playoffs component that the rest of the Oilers’ irregular season schedule I’m hearing it’s now “very close” to being announced. simply won’t have. “I’m hearing the same thing here that you’re hearing. The NHL has all the Next week, when the Oilers play Vancouver, Vancouver, Vancouver and combine money, all this extra money, and they’d like to have a good look Vancouver in consecutive games with a fifth game against Vancouver at a whole host of Canadian players,” said Button, the former Dallas also scheduled to complete the 56 game schedule — five of the last Stars assistant general manager who used to have his office in the same seven games against the COVID Canucks mopping up a 19-game-in-32- building where he’s now working the TSN telecast of the event. days sentence for being host to the worst outbreak in all of pro sports during the pandemic — won’t be the same. “You’re looking at the future of the NHL. This is a best-on-best tournament and what you’re going to be watching is the best of the best. But prior to Game 1 of the Oilers-Jets playoff series, here’s a suggestion That’s what you’re getting with Wright, Bedard and Guenther. for fans in Edmonton. Your focus should now be shared with the coming attractions currently performing in Team Canada uniforms in Texas. “Every draft is the future of the NHL. We know that. But this is about the best of the best.” What NHL scouts are watching in the Dallas Stars practice facility this week is a Team Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation U-18 Keep one eye on the Oilers’ final games preparing for the playoffs to be world championship featuring three players — Dylan Guenther, Shane sure. Wright and Connor Bedard — who could all take their turns to be the No. 1-overall pick in an NHL Entry Draft in each of the next three years. But consider putting the other eye on the U-18 in Texas. It’s a ‘Coming Attractions’ trailer, times three. And they’re all headed to to perform, quite likely with fans in the stands, in the IIHF world junior do-over and two other events as Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.29.2021 well.

“It’s unbelievable. Potentially you’ll have the No. 1-overall pick in three consecutive drafts playing on the same team,” said Craig Button, the world’s only person paid to be a full-time scout as part of his duties as a television commentator with TSN.

Button is in Texas for the rescheduled U-18 to see the preview of what he’ll be watching in Edmonton at the world junior.

“Dylan Guenther, Shane Wright and Connor Bedard, are right in the conversation for first-overall pick for those three drafts. I’ve never seen anything like it. Ever!” Button expounded when I reached him after Canada’s 12-1 win over Sweden Tuesday evening. (That’s right. Twelve- to-one over Sweden, the last team to win the gold medal when the tournament was last held two years ago.)

The Edmonton Oil Kings’ Guenther is currently ranked in the top three for the coming draft.

The Kingston Frontenacs’ Wright, the captain who played for Canada in the Hub City bubble edition of the world junior as a 16-year-old four and a half months ago, who opened with a hat trick against the Swedes, is a 2022 draft.

And Bedard, the Western Hockey League’s first exceptional-player-status prospect playing as a 15-year-old with the in a bubble in Saskatchewan prior to heading to Texas for the U-18, is a 2023 draft.

How many players in this U-18 could be headed to Edmonton for the world junior?

“I’d say close to 50. I’d expect Wright, Guenther, Bedard, Brandt Clarke and Mason McTavish to be on Canada’s world junior team. The Swedes are going to potentially have five or six guys from this team, Finland and the Czechs, six or seven. I’m going to guess the Russians have four for- sure guys. So, I’d say there’s going to be upwards of 50 guys coming to Edmonton and Red Deer to play in that tournament.”

Bedard, being viewed as being a possible generational player, would figure to be back as the headliner of the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky U-18 tournament. 1187427 Edmonton Oilers Caleb Jones 26

Lowetide: What’s Kris Russell’s role on the Oilers now? What he does 51.5 well and how the team should deploy him 52.1

42.9 By Allan Mitchell Apr 28, 2021 Ethan Bear

34 Kris Russell is often talked about by Edmonton Oilers fans in a negative fashion. There’s lots of ammo. His outlet passing lacks the crisp tape-to- 51.5 tape precision that Caleb Jones provides, and his blocked shots indicate 52 he isn’t in possession of the puck in most cases. He also blocks young players (like Jones) who are more dynamic and promote offence from 51.2 holding a regular place in the lineup. Evan Bouchard There’s a disconnect between fans and the Edmonton coaching staff, 12 who value Russell enough to play him during important moments of a game. 51.5

So when the general manager acquires a younger, more effective 52.9 version of Russell in Dmitry Kulikov, who played brilliantly in his first game with the team alongside Adam Larsson — in the spot previously 45.5 occupied by Russell — that may offer hope for fans who would like to see Darnell Nurse better possession and goal-differential numbers. 46 Fans may get their way. Perhaps their opinion held sway? I don’t think so, and here’s why. 49.5

Russell with the puck 49.6

Russell is not a strong passer, and his puck-transporter days are long 58.1 gone. Fans who don’t remember his junior career and early time in the NHL might be surprised to find out there was more to his game 15 years Adam Larsson ago. 46 Russell was a puck mover who delivered some offence as a younger 48.2 man (career-high 34 points with the Calgary Flames in 2014-15), and Gare Joyce noticed him in the book “Future Greats and Heartbreaks,” 45.6 writing, “I have a soft spot for swift and skilled defencemen who might be a tad small, blueliners who will take off with the puck or join the rush as a 47.1 third man. Kris Russell of the Medicine Hat Tigers falls into that Tyson Barrie category.” 46 At this point in his career, Russell has become a safety-first defenceman who no longer has the hands or nerve of youth. Instead, he plays a more 47.5 conservative style. He ices the puck sometimes, does an alley-oop shot from his own zone that gets the puck to centre ice but little else, and on 48.1 occasion he will make a deft pass or carry to aid the cause. 53

Fans call that boring and counterproductive. Coaches? They call it Kris Russell dependable. 34 What Russell doesn’t do well 45.8 Russell’s resume suggests he can suppress offence via old-fashioned means. Among NHL regulars, he ranks No. 5 in blocked shots per 60 45.1 minutes (7.03). For this reason, when evaluating Russell I like to switch from Corsi at five-on-five to Fenwick at five-on-five. Corsi counts all shots 50 for and against when a player is on the ice, but Fenwick excludes William Lagesson blocked shots, assuming that to be a skill. 17 It sounds like a very small detail, but in the case of someone like Russell, it has major ramifications. Russell’s current Corsi at five-on-five in 2020- 41 21 is 44.9 percent, and his Fenwick (crediting him for blocked shots) is 36 45.8 percent. Using Natural Stat Trick, here are his numbers compared to Edmonton’s other defenders this season in Fenwick: 52.9

Oilers defence 2020-21 Slater Koekkoek

PLAYER GAMES FENWICK PCT SHOT PCT 17 GOAL PCT 40.8 Dmtry Kulikov 42.7 1 25 63.6 Russell’s possession number, even with the friendlier Fenwick grade, sits 64.61 No. 6 among Oilers regular defencemen, seventh overall. Fans look at those numbers, add Russell’s limited offence and wonder aloud (loudly) 100 why he plays such a central role. The coach might be looking at the goal percentage column, the one that Jones also has a strong group of numbers. This time it’s Ethan Bear shows Russell at 50 percent and Jones at 42.9 percent. Russell has (who has the best DFF share against elites) who is playing in bad luck. played over 500 minutes and Jones over 330 this season. These Both the math people and the eye-test group have the same view on numbers are showing us that Jones’ minutes are more successful in luck: Sooner or later, it all evens out. terms of where the puck is located most of the time. Russell and luck It’s also true that single events can hold enormous importance while also being single events. It’s human nature to believe what you see, even if Visually, Russell looks limited. Every shift looks like a battle of survival the cumulative evidence runs counter to the eye test. and there are no rich seam passes that send Connor McDavid on a breakaway (Jones sent a dart to 97 recently that was a work of art). That leads to all kinds of inconsistent behaviour in hockey coaching. A young defender making a mistake could be benched or excluded from The coach cares about results. Through his time with Edmonton, the starting lineup in the following game. If a veteran makes a mistake, Russell’s five-on-five goal differential is 173-177, or minus-4. He is 86-86 on the other hand: well these things happen to the best of us. For young in his most recent three seasons (via Natural Stat Trick). defencemen, it can put them between a rock and a hard place. Using Puck IQ over the same stretch against elites, we see Russell is 56- So, are the fans correct? Is Russell merely blocking progress? Let’s have 49, plus-7 and 53.3 percent against the league’s best. a look at the quality of competition. What Russell does well

Puck IQ (Oilers versus elites) Why and when does Tippett play Russell?

PLAYER TOI V ELITES DFF% DFF%RC Russell is one of three regular defencemen on this year’s team (along GOAL DIFF. with Darnell Nurse and Larsson) who is averaging more than two minutes Ethan Bear per game on the penalty kill. Russell’s goals-against per 60 (5.25) ranks No. 27 across the league among rearguards with 50-plus minutes in the 191 discipline.

59.3 At five-on-five, he averages 16:02 (No. 4 among Oilers defencemen) per game, his goals against per 60 (1.76) number is the best on the team 11.8 and is No. 29 across the NHL. In his first season with Tippett, his goals- 2-6 against per 60 at five-on-five (1.62) had him No. 17 across the NHL.

Caleb Jones So in their two seasons together, Russell has been outstanding in five- on-five goal suppression. Fans argue it’s luck and complain about lack of 98 success offensively, but Tippett clearly sees the value in Russell.

55.6 What does it all mean?

5.7 Edmonton’s coaching staff puts a high value on goal suppression, to the point that Russell and Larsson have played in the same starting six 3-2 defensively for several years now. Adam Larsson Fans want offence and to see their young players play, notably Jones 272 and Evan Bouchard.

54 Tippett wants to suppress opposition offence on the penalty kill and the times when the McDavid and Draisaitl lines are at rest during five-on-five 5.7 game states.

6-7 The trade for Kulikov put Russell in the press box for the game against Winnipeg on Monday. Kris Russell The PK gave up a goal, but Jones and Bear had a solid night together 188 five-on-five, making quality outlet passes. 52.4 As long as the young third pairing can prevent goals against, I expect 5.8 Russell will sit. If there are any signs of danger, it’s safe to assume Russell will draw back into the lineup. 8-5 It’s a matter of trust. Darnell Nurse The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 378

49.1

-1.8

18-17

Tyson Barrie

271

43.2

-11.6

16-17

I’ve culled the group to those who have played around 100 or more minutes against elites this season. All of the numbers shine for Russell against elites. He has played big minutes and is on the right side of the shot share (DFF is Dangerous Fenwick, a possession number that factors in shot distance and danger) relative to other Oilers and overall. His goal differential is rock solid. This is a good player card. 1187428 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers Clinch A Playoff Berth, And Start Thinking Bigger

By CBSMiami.com Team April 28, 2021 at 6:09 pm

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It was another cardiac cat moment, but in the end, the Panthers found a way to beat the Nashville Predators with a come- from-behind 7 to 4 victory and in the process clinch a playoff berth.

“It’s unbelievable the whole season has been very different for us, for all of us. Not just hockey players, but everyone on this planet. Everyone’s been going through tough times but I think the league and in this organization has done a really good job,” said center, Aleksander Barkov.

“It’s just a fun year and when you win it makes it so much more fun. I like the guys, every guy in the room. We come out to the rink we have fun, we know when to have fun and we know when to get serious.

The Panthers have only made the playoffs 7 times in their history but this trip feels different,” said Forward, Jonathan Huberdeau.

Finally, with Huberdeau and Barkov at the helm, this team is set up for sustained success, thanks to new additions.

The Panthers’ mainstays Barkov, Huberdeau, Ekblad, Weegar are under contract and a lot of the new players they brought in. These aren’t guys that are over the hill, that have one year left. Carter Verhaeghe has signed, Anthony Duclair is a restricted free agent. Same thing with Sam Bennett.

Also, deserving credit is the front office. New GM Bill Zito’s in-season moves have helped the Panthers get over the hump.

“He brought in some great additions. He’s really gelled well with obviously a hall of fame coach, so he was really the final piece, I think to this transformation and probably the most important,” said Florida Panthers President and CEO, Matthew Caldwell.

For fans, the fun is about to kick into high gear with capacity expanding to 50 percent inside the BB and T Center for the post-season.

“We will continue to work with the league to try and increase when appropriate. We have to be safe. We can’t take our foot off the gas on operating at a very conscientious manner, but we want to just get this place packed again. It’ll be 20,000 in no time,” said Caldwell.

LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187429 Florida Panthers In 2015-16, the Panthers were on fire, setting franchise records for wins and points, sending four to the All-Star Game with the Atlantic squad captained by Jagr and coached by Gallant.

Florida Panthers playoff a reward for Barkov, Huberdeau & Ekblad Those Panthers looked different although the overall outcome was a familiar story.

Florida was bounced out of the playoffs in 6 by the New York Islanders By George Richards and change came quickly.

BIG CHANGES IN SUNRISE, PHASE I

The Florida Panthers officially clinched a playoff spot by beating the Florida ended up making a wave of changes in the front office and within Nashville Predators 7-4 on Tuesday night. the hockey operations department. Players were not happy. Gallant certainly was not. He made that known, perhaps a little too much. A place in the postseason, unlike past years, was never really in doubt as these Panthers took off from the start. On Thanksgiving weekend in 2016 after Florida got off to a 11-10-1 start (without an injured Huberdeau), Gallant was famously fired after a loss to Save for a few bumps in the road, this team has had its foot on the gas the Carolina Hurricanes. throughout. Since the 2015-16 season, the Panthers have finished outside the Still, you could almost see the look of relief on the faces of Jonathan playoffs by: 14 points (2016-17), one point (17-18) and 12 points (18-19). Huberdeau and Sasha Barkov. Last year, the Panthers were outside of a wild card spot when the season If you walked outside your door in South Florida at the time Florida was shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. officially clinched, you may have heard Aaron Ekblad yelling in celebration. Florida was part of the expanded postseason as the 10th of 12 seeds in the east. The Panthers were knocked out of the best-of-5 qualifying These guys have been through a lot in their time with the Panthers. series by the Islanders in 4. They are starting to be rewarded. Sunrise 9-1-1: Bennett, Huberdeau & Duclair lighting it up for Panthers ”It feels unbelievable,” said Barkov, the team captain who scored twice in Quenneville is the third guy to coach the Panthers since Gallant was Tuesday’s postseason clincher. fired; he is the first to coach them in the playoffs. “We knew before the last game that if we won we would clinch but it It hasn’t been that long, it only feels like it. didn’t happen then. We had to grind it out. … Really happy with the result, really happy to be going to the postseason.” “We have a lot of fans who have been loyal to us,” Huberdeau said. “They haven’t had a lot to cheer for in the playoffs and this year will be Huberdeau had a big game as well, icing the game with two goals in the fun.” final minutes of the third. He ended the night with five points. To NHL players in their prime, those years can feel like a career. “It’s fun, we have been through a lot,” Huberdeau said. “I have been here nine years and this has just been a fun year. When you win, it’s so much Luckily for the Panthers, the primes of Barkov, Huberdeau and Ekblad more fun. I like every guy here. We come to the rink, we have fun. We have not been wasted. know when to have fun and when to get serious. On the ice, we have been working pretty hard. Some seasons have, sure.

“It’s fun to have this kind of year especially with everything we’ve got. This one has not. This is the second time we’ve been in the playoffs. It’s going to be a fun But this team looks to be, under the direction of Quenneville and GM Bill ride.” Zito, heading in the right direction. It feels like 2015 again, only with a lot This is only the second time the Panthers have officially made it to the of success thrown in. playoffs during the Huberdeau/Barkov/Ekblad era. BIG CHANGES IN SUNRISE, PHASE II Huberdeau was the first here, drafted third overall by the Panthers in The Panthers let longtime GM go not long after they were 2011 but he wasn’t on the team when Florida surprisingly won the knocked out by the Islanders and replaced him with former Columbus Southeast Division in 2012. associate GM Zito. Barkov was the second overall pick in 2013 after Florida followed that He made a number of sharp offseason moves like trading for Patric division title with a bellyflop in the lockout-shortened — and injury- Hornqvist, Alex Wennberg and Markus Nutivaara while signing free plagued — season. agents Carter Verhaeghe, Radko Gudas, Anthony Duclair and Ryan Florida Panthers to increase arena capacity for Stanley Cup playoffs Lomberg.

Ekblad joined the team when he was the first overall selection of the Zito also picked up Gus Forsling off from Carolina and later 2014 NHL Draft, the Panthers winning the draft lottery in a season in traded for Sam Bennett and Brandon Montour while signing college free which they fired coach Kevin Dineen following a seven-game November agent Matt Kiersted and Florida prospect Spencer Knight. slide and ended up just above the last-place Buffalo Sabres with 66 Florida Panthers going dancing, clinch playoff spot in Nashville points. The Panthers, as Tampa Bay coach said a few weeks ago, There have been some bright moments for the Panthers’ Big Three along are a completely different team. the way, but for the most part, this is a team that has disappointed. That was a compliment, by the way. Florida made a little run at making the playoffs in 2015 under new coach Gerard Gallant as the Panthers acquired Jaromir Jagr at the trade ”Training camp, we had like nine or 10 new guys,” Huberdeau said. “I deadline. came into camp and there were a lot of new faces. It was really different. The guys we brought in all fit in. Everyone liked each other. At that point, things were really looking up. Florida did not make the playoffs that year, but you could feel the tide turning. “You could tell in training camp we were having fun and were ready to go. You never know what will happen in a season, but right from the get- The Panthers had a bright, young, talented cast featuring Barkov, go, we started playing well and playing the right way. That’s our team. Huberdeau, Ekblad, Nick Bjugstad, Erik Gudbranson and Vincent That’s our identity. … We’re a hard working team with a lot of skill.” Trocheck. Although he is out for the next few weeks (at least) after having surgery Veterans like Jagr, Roberto Luongo, Willie Mitchell and Shawn Thornton on his fractured leg, Ekblad is hoping a long run by the Panthers will offered a guiding hand. allow him to join the team. Ekblad was hurt March 28 in Dallas and had surgery in South Florida the following day. He could be back in June.

If the Panthers are still playing by then, that means they will have gone deeper in the playoffs than any team in franchise history save for the 1996 team.

The ‘96 Panthers, in case you had not heard, reached the Stanley Cup Finals in their third year of existence and started the whole rubber rat craze. Florida hasn’t made it out of the first round since.

The Panthers certainly would love to have Ekblad be part of this.

On the ice, anyway.

This has been a very trying time for everyone and the Panthers have at least given their fans some hope that things are heading in the right direction.

Their players feel it too.

“It’s been unbelievable, like the whole season has been very different for us — not just hockey players but everyone on this planet,” Barkov said.

“Everyone has been going through a tough time. But I think our league and our organization has done a good job allowing us to do our job the best we can. We’re always prepared for the games. Thank you to them.

“As players, we have been ready and prepared. This has been a lot of fun and it’s going to get a lot more fun.”

ON DECK: PANTHERS AT BLACKHAWKS

When: Thursday, 8

Where: United Center, Chicago

Season series: Florida leads 4-2

TV: NBCSN

Radio: WQAM 560-AM

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187430 Los Angeles Kings because quite obviously at the American League level he’s overcome that and he does control games at times.”

LA Times: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Kings top prospect Quinton Byfield to make his NHL debut tonight against Ducks

Quinton Byfield will play on a line with Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore on Wednesday when he makes his NHL debut for the Kings.

By HELENE ELLIOTT

Forward Quinton Byfield, regarded as a key piece of the Kings’ rebuilding process since they chose him No. 2 overall in the 2020 draft, is scheduled to make his NHL debut when the Kings face the Ducks at Staples Center on Wednesday night in the second of four straight games between the Southern California rivals.

The 18-year-old native of Newmarket, Canada, is considered a rare combination of size, speed, and extraordinary skill at 6 feet 4 and 215 pounds. He had eight goals and 20 points in 30 games with the Kings’ top farm team, the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. In his junior hockey career he had 61 goals and 143 points in 109 games over two seasons.

Kings coach Todd McLellan said he planned to have Byfield skate alongside Adrian Kempe and Thousand Oaks native Trevor Moore on Wednesday and that Byfield also would get some time on the second power-play unit. In addition, Byfield might kill some penalties as the situation allows.

“We’re not playing him to hide him. We’re playing him to let him experience things,” McLellan said. “So he should be able to handle a regular shift. We expect him to. After that there may be more ice time available for him.”

McLellan said he would give Byfield basic advice and avoid putting too much pressure on him. “We’re going to give him the information that we think he needs, as we do with other players, and we’re really going to leave him alone,” McLellan said. “He’s worked hard to get here. We don’t want to overload any individuals, certainly not an 18-year-old coming into the league.

“I’m going to use that cliché of play the game, enjoy the moment, take everything in, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. We will help you with that and that’s what you have a long career for, is to fix them. He’s got good people around him when he steps onto the ice tonight ... and I think it will create some excitement for our hockey club as well.”

HOCKEY

Kings’ Quinton Byfield wants to be a role model for other Black hockey players

Quinton Byfield, who became the NHL’s highest-drafted Black player when the Kings selected him second overall, saw few players like himself growing up.

The jump to the NHL, where the pace is faster and the opponents bigger than at the junior level or in the minor leagues, can be a formidable challenge for young players. It has been a benefit to Byfield that because of pandemic-related restrictions, the Kings’ minor league team this season has been training and playing at the same facility where the Kings practice. Though he didn’t begin to practice with them until Tuesday, Byfield was familiar with Kings players and coaches, which might give him a sense of comfort. That familiarity seems to have accelerated his development.

“I think there’s been a personal adjustment that he’s made to life here and that affects his game, the comfort of being in and around the NHL players,” McLellan said. “I think he’s understood and began to adapt to the pro game, certainly at the American League level. Become a little more responsible defensively. Understands the pace of play and how quick he has to make decisions and distribute pucks.

“I hope that he’s not one that will feel obligated to move pucks to older, more experienced veterans because he has a very good skill set. We want him to use that and command the use of the puck and the distribution of it and the shot selection. But sometimes young players feel a bit intimidated, like they have to do that I hope he doesn’t feel that way 1187431 Los Angeles Kings With nine games left in the Kings’ season, it seems highly unlikely that Byfield will play in all of them. He can play up to seven games before a season comes off his entry-level contract, a situation the Kings seem certain to avoid. Quinton Byfield makes his Kings debut in loss to Ducks Earlier this season, the Kings brought up another top prospect, winger Arthur Kaliyev, for just one game despite his scoring his first career goal in his debut. He and Byfield developed some chemistry in Ontario, By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 10:21 p.m. | offering a glimpse of a promising future for the Kings. UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at 11:34 p.m. Byfield also skated on a Reign line with 2020 World Juniors golden goal-

scorer and former Ducks winger Devante Smith-Pelly, Hockey offers exhibitions of passion, resilience, teamwork, and, forming the first all Black line in pro hockey since the 1940s. occasionally, the reification of a dream in real time. Regardless of how his first handful of games go, Byfield will persist in Quinton Byfield made his NHL debut on Wednesday night. The Kings chiseling himself into the complete package at the sport’s very highest selected the Newmarket, Ontario native second overall in the 2020 NHL level. entry draft, the highest a Black player had ever been drafted in league “The grind never stops,” Byfield said. “I just want to keep getting better.” history. Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.29.2021 “I can definitely be a top player in the NHL one day. I’ve got the size, speed and natural abilities to do that,” Byfield said in the lead-up to the draft. “That’s the main goal, trying to be one of the top players in the NHL one day and, like everyone else in the league, to bring the Stanley Cup back to your team.”

Byfield, 18, started Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Ducks centering the second line and made a smooth pass on his first shift. In the third period, he tested goalie John Gibson with a pair of shots that were prime opportunities, both of which Gibson denied. Byfield finished with a team- high four shots on goal and was effective in the faceoff circle, winning eight of 12.

He saw 17:57 of ice time, including 4:20 on the power play, as Coach Todd McLellan said he was reconciling a desire to take pressure off of Byfield but also offer him an opportunity to take on significant responsibility.

“We don’t want to overload any individual, especially an 18-year-old coming into the league,” McLellan said.”We’re going to use the old cliche of ‘play the game, enjoy the moment, take everything in, don’t be afraid of making mistakes.’”

How much did McLellan trust Byfield? When the Kings allowed a late goal to fall behind 3-2 and had to pull goalie Cal Petersen, McLellan tabbed Byfield as the extra attacker. He even had the final shot attempt of the game during a hectic six-on-five shift.

Byfield has been adjusting to pro hockey at the American Hockey League level and also acclimating himself to his new home in Hermosa Beach, where he is living alone for the first time. When asked about the challenges of relocating to Southern California and the NHL during a pandemic, Byfield said cooking and cleaning were sometimes uncharted territory for him.

Yet on the ice, he’s faced few obstacles he was unable to surmount. As he worked on his game and became more assertive, he turned his minus-15 rating around by finishing with a plus-9 rating and nine points across his last dozen games with Ontario Reign. In prior seasons, 18- year-olds were not even eligible to play in the AHL – players coming from Europe are typically eligible at 19 and North American prospects gain eligibility at 20 – but Byfield adapted swiftly after the OHL canceled its season.

“I’ve just tried to improve a lot over the past couple years, really trying to fine-tune my game and be an every-situation player,” Byfield said. “There are quite a few elements that I still need to improve on, but I think my strong suits right now are my skating, for a big guy, and my vision out there. I usually like to find my teammates out there before I take a shot.”

At 6-foot-4, Byfield has continued to work on his physique and aggressiveness. Known for his mobility, vision and hands, the focus of his development during his time with the OHL’s as well as the Reign has been on assertiveness and play without the puck. Byfield said his defensive game was where he made the most progress both in his final year of junior hockey and his first minor pro season.

“It’s become a little more compact and a little bit more controlled,” Byfield said. “I’m not always just running around the ice and trying to get the puck back for my team, but more just picking up my guy and staying in my spot, being close to the boards for the puck and always being open.” 1187432 Los Angeles Kings The Ducks charged back into the game. Literally, in fact.

Sam Carrick barged into the crease of Petersen to cut the Ducks’ deficit Ducks rally to defeat Kings as future for both clubs is on display to 2-1 at 12:53. There was contact between Carrick and Petersen, but not enough to prevent Petersen from making the save, with the puck trickling through his legs a nanosecond before Carrick hit him. By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 9:51 p.m. | UPDATED: April 29, 2021 at 1:13 a.m. Sam Steel tied the score 2-2 at 16:35, accepting a pass from behind the net from Rickard Rakell and snapping a shot from the high slot past Byfield and Petersen for his second goal in three games. Steel scored the Ducks’ lone goal in their loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on One day, in the not-too-distant future, Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks and Saturday. Anze Kopitar of the Kings will be on their way to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto for their enshrinement ceremonies before returning to “I thought it was great,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said of the Southern California to have their jerseys retired in their arena’s rafters. comeback. “Our bench was good. There was a lot of chatter on our bench. The second (Kings) goal was unfortunate, just a real honest Their possible replacements faced off against each other for the first time mistake. It was good to see our guys understand that and keep playing in the NHL when the Ducks and Kings renewed their rivalry on hard, and for each other.” Wednesday night at Staples Center, providing tantalizing glimpses of the future for two franchises in similar stages of rebuilding projects. Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Let the record show that Trevor Zegras and the Ducks won Round 1 over Quinton Byfield and the Kings, 3-2. Their mere appearances on the ice enlivened the second of four games this week between the teams. The series shifts to Honda Center on Friday and Saturday.

The eighth-place Ducks (15-28-7) were eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the day, a foregone conclusion considering their lowly state. The seventh-place Kings (18-23-6) remained alive, but only just barely. They are eight points out of the fourth and final playoff spot with just nine games left.

Cam Fowler drove a stake through the Kings’ hearts, overshadowing Zegras’ return to the NHL as a center and Byfield’s debut, by scoring the tie-breaking goal with 1:01 remaining in the third period. Fowler beat Cal Petersen from the slot after a series of moves to skate into the open.

Soon enough, the Ducks ended a five-game losing streak and handed the Kings their third loss in four games.

“Just trying to create something offensively, just trying to use my skill set, just trying to get something to the net,” Fowler said in a postgame television interview. “I was kind of fighting it tonight, so I was trying to do anything I could do to help the team. Luckily, it went in.”

Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit marveled at Fowler’s play after making his NHL debut after being recalled along with Zegras earlier in the day.

“That was not a move I would be doing,” the defensive-minded Benoit said, laughing. “But he can pull that off. It was a nice move by him.”

Zegras, the ninth pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and Byfield, the second selection in 2020, were recalled from their AHL teams, familiar foes from battles this season between the San Diego Gulls and the Ontario Reign and also the United States and Canada at the World Junior Championships.

Zegras, 20, was scoreless with one shot on goal while logging 14:37 of ice time. He also won five of eight faceoffs, one of several areas of emphasis during his nine-game stint with the Gulls as he transitioned to center from left wing. He played 17 games earlier this season with the Ducks.

Byfield, 18, was scoreless in 17:57 of ice time, recording four shots on goal and wins on eight of 12 faceoffs. He had the puck on his stick in the closing seconds, with a chance to tie the score, but couldn’t convert. He had a minus-1 defensive rating.

“I thought he started strong,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said of Byfield. “I thought he contributed to a lot of offensive chances. He was good in the (faceoff) circle. He had a pretty good idea and understanding of the structure of how we wanted to play. Overall, a passing grade for him. He was probably one of our better players.”

The Kings took a 2-0 lead in the first 11:15 of the second period, but they gave it up in the final 8:59 as the Ducks rallied to tie it 2-2 heading into the third. Gabe Vilardi ended his 23-game drought with a power-play goal at 4:50. Adrian Kempe made it 2-0 with a short-handed goal at 11:15.

Kempe’s goal came via a miscommunication between Fowler and Ducks goalie John Gibson. Gibson came charging out of his net after a loose puck that Fowler appeared to have within his grasp with a few quick strides. Kempe benefited from an I-got-it-you-take-it moment. 1187433 Los Angeles Kings Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Game 47: McLellan Postgame Quotes After Ducks Grab a Win Over Kings in Byfield’s Debut

By LA Kings Insider

Up 2-0 early in the game, things were going the Kings way on Wednesday night at Staples Center. Even after Anaheim tied it up 2-2, LA controlled most of the third period and had several chances to put the game away. Instead, Cam Fowler potted a goal in the final minute of regulation and that was that.

Following the game, here’s what coach Todd McLellan had to share:

On the pros and cons of the powerplay changes he made

There were a lot more cons than pros, I can tell you that. It should be a time for us to drive a dagger into another team and get hungry and put the game out of reach, and it’s not that right now. It starts from right behind our own net, breaking out, guys aren’t alert, they’re not sharp for the puck. We very rarely attack north-south right now in the offensive zone; we want to go east-west through everything. Sometimes the puck gets through, and we just start all over again. Yeah, we got a goal tonight, and it was the most direct our powerplay has been in awhile, but the rest of it didn’t meet NHL standards.

On how he thought Quinton Byfield settled into the game and if he got better as the game went on

[Byfield] started strong, I’m sure that that made him feel comfortable. He contributed to a lot of offensive chances, he was good in the circle, he had a pretty good idea and understanding of the structure and how we wanted to play. Overall, definitely a passing grade for him; he was probably one of our better players. We had some guys that we certainly count on night in and night out that didn’t have very good nights tonight, it’s something they need to fix.

On if the thought coming into the game tonight was to play Byfield 18 minutes, or if he earned it as the night progressed

He earned the opportunity as the game went along; he was one of the better players. If we didn’t trust him, we didn’t feel good to put him on the ice, we wouldn’t. His minutes and the opportunity he got reflects his play and hopefully we can grow on that.

On if Byfield’s success in the defensive zone faceoffs (4/4) help take the load off other centers

We certainly hope so. He’s gonna play in the league for a lot of years by the look of it tonight. He’s gonna take many, many faceoffs, certainly believe he can win his share. The fact that he had a positive night tonight is a good start. A lot of things he can take out of the game tonight to gain confidence.

If the team was able to match the Ducks intensity after Adrian Kempe’s shorthanded goal

Obviously, the game went their way after that. I didn’t think the rink was tilted one way or the other. It wasn’t a great game, at least from our perspective. We didn’t play the way we wanted to play, the execution. When you’re not sharp, and you’re not executing properly, it’s gonna be one ugly game, and it was that for us. I don’t know about their team, but certainly for us it was that.

MORE POSTGAME CONTENT:

Quinton Byfield Postgame Quotes after His NHL Debut With LA Kings googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad- 522840723937225840-1’); });

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// 1187434 Los Angeles Kings many games of my career hopefully. There’s a lot to take away, but I definitely feel like I belong here.

On if he foresees playing against Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in Quinton Byfield Postgame Quotes after His NHL Debut With LA Kings Anaheim a lot in the coming years

They’re both great players, lots of skill and speed. Definitely build a rivalry over the next few years. By LA Kings Insider More postgame comments:

Todd McLellan postgame comments Anze Kopitar made his NHL debut vs. the Anaheim Ducks in 2006. Quinton Byfield made his NHL debut vs. the same team in 2021. While Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. Q18 with Quinton Byfield the micro results were quite different, the LA Kings are hoping the googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad- eventual macro results will be quite similar. 522840723937225840-1’); }); STATS CHECK Follow @mayorNHL Byfield's first NHL game: // minus-1 Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com 2 PIM LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 4 SOG (led all Kings players)

8-for-12 at the dot, 67% success pic.twitter.com/g4KkZhaL9g

— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) April 29, 2021

Byfield is clearly feeling it now. Dude is buzzing out there. He's bringing it this period.

— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) April 29, 2021

Following the Kings 3-2 loss to the Ducks on Wednesday, Byfield shared the following thoughts a few minutes after playing his first NHL game:

On managing his emotions during the day and throughout the game

It’s definitely a very exciting day, I wish I could’ve shared that moment with my family, but I know they’re super proud of me. They were texting me all day, giving me calls. All of my friends and buddies were reaching out to me as well, so I knew I had a lot of support behind me tonight, just wanted to go into the game with confidence.

On how he would compare the pace between the AHL and the NHL, and anything else that stands out in comparison

The pace was definitely quite faster, you’re playing against the best players in the world, I got to get up to speed on that and make some more plays. If they find you, you got to bury your chances or you don’t get the outcome that you want. Couple learning lessons from tonight.

On what he learned from playing with Ontario this season that prepared him for the NHL

There’s a lot I can take from playing in the AHL this year. If I can compare it to the OHL going in there, I was not the greatest defensively and had to learn quite a bit. As you go up through the levels, you always have to adjust and have to get used to that. Going to the AHL helped me there. I started finding my footing there, now this is the next step and I gotta translate that over here.

On if he was expecting to play 18 minutes tonight and four minutes on the powerplay

No, honestly, I wasn’t expecting that much. I could’ve done a few things better and a few things different, would’ve been a different outcome. It was nice to get those big minutes there.

On how it felt to have fans in the building, and what he can learn from this game going forward

The pace, a lot faster, guys are a lot heavier and more skilled and can make plays. Just got to step your game up and bury your chances. It was a lot of fun having fans in there, when you make a play or a good pass or do something, maybe get a shot, you can hear them. It definitely gave you confidence out there.

On if he feels he belongs in the NHL now

Yeah, I think so. There’s still a couple teaching lessons that I get out of this game, and I look forward to the next, just keep improving. First of 1187435 Los Angeles Kings On if he felt the game tilted towards Anaheim after the shorthanded goal Obviously the game went their way after that, but I didn’t think the rink

was tilted one way or the other. It wasn’t a great game, at least from our FINAL – Kings 2, Ducks 3 – Byfield, McLellan perspective, we didn’t play the way we wanted to play, and the execution…when you’re not sharp, and you’re not executing properly, it’s going to be one ugly game and it was that for us. I don’t know about their team, but certainly for us it was that. By Zach Dooley Notes –

– Forward Adrian Kempe collected his sixth multi-point game of the The LA Kings were unable to close out a 2-0 lead, as the Anaheim Ducks season, and his 14th goal, in tonight’s game. Kempe is now two goals scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 victory in the final meeting shy of his career high (16, 2017-18). between the two teams at STAPLES Center this season. – Kempe scored the team’s third shorthanded goal of the season, their The teams skated to a 0-0 opening period tonight, with shots even at first since April 3, and their first by a player other than Trevor Moore. nine apiece. The best two chances in the opening frame fell to Lias Andersson, created by Andreas Athanasou, but Anaheim netminder John – With his game-opening goal, forward Gabriel Vilardi snapped a 26- Gibson was equal with a pad save on both occasions at both ends of the game goalless streak with his seventh tally of the season. first 20 minutes. – Moore collected a point for the second consecutive game with the The second period featured four total goals, two by each team. First, the primary assist on Vilardi’s goal. The California native has seven points Kings scored on both special teams to take a 2-0 lead. Gabriel Vilardi (4-3-7) over his last ten games. snapped his scoreless streak with a rebound goal, created by an Adrian Kempe one-timer, to open the scoring. Kempe then got one of his own – Forward Quinton Byfield made his NHL debut tonight, and logged while shorthanded, capitalizing on an error between Cam Fowler and 17:57 in total ice time, including 4:20 on the man advantage. John Gibson and burying into the empty net for the goal. – The Kings played a first period without a goal for either team for just the Anaheim struck back, however, to tie the game at two heading into the eighth time from 47 games played this season. second intermission. Sam Carrick opened the scoring for the visitors, as The Kings are scheduled to return to the ice tomorrow morning for an 11 he drove the net down the left wing and beat Cal Petersen on the AM practice at Toyota Sports Performance Center. backhand. Towards the end of the middle stanza, forward Sam Steel found himself uncovered between the circles and beat Petersen on the LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 blocker side to tie the game through 40 minutes.

After the teams skated deadlocked for nearly 19 minutes, Fowler broke the tie with just 61 seconds remaining in regulation, as he danced around two Kings in the offensive end, before he put a wrist shot underneath Petersen’s glove hand for the game-winning goal.

The Kings left opportunities on the ice on a power play that did score once, but had more cons than pros tonight, as McLellan details below. Between those, and lapses at the defensive end on at least two of the Anaheim goals, the Kings will likely rue missed chances from the entire 200 feet from tonight’s defeat.

Hear from debutant Quinton Byfield and Head Coach Todd McLellan from after tonight’s game.

Quinton Byfield

Todd McLellan

On the pros/cons of getting a PPG, but also missing other opportunities

Well, there were a lot more cons than pros, I’ll tell you that. It should be a chance for us to drive a dagger into the other team and get hungry, put the game out of reach and it’s not that right now. It starts from behind our own net, breaking out, guys aren’t alert, they’re not sharp for the puck. We very rarely attack North-South right now in the offensive zone, we want to go East-West, through everything. Sometimes the puck gets through and we just start all over again. Yeah, we got a goal tonight, it was the most direct our power play has been in a while, but the rest of it didn’t meet NHL standards.

On Quinton Byfield’s debut, how he settled in, and if he got stronger as he went

I thought he started strong. The first time he stepped onto the ice, the first time he hit the ice, the puck came right to him and he made a real nice play. I’m sure that made him feel comfortable, I thought he contributed to a lot of offensive chances. He was good in the circle, he had a pretty good idea and understanding of the structure and how we wanted to play. Overall, definitely a passing grade for him, he was probably one of our better players. We had some guys that we certainly count on, night in and night out, that didn’t have very good nights tonight, so that’s something they need to fix.

On not easing Byfield in and if that was the thought going in

He earned the opportunity as the game went on, as I said he was one of the better players. If we didn’t trust him, and we didn’t feel good putting him on the ice, we wouldn’t have. I think his minutes, and the opportunity he got reflects his play, and hopefully we can grow on that. 1187436 Los Angeles Kings

Wednesday: Ontario Reign Projected Lineup, Life Without Byfield

By LA Kings Insider

Yes, Quinton Byfield has been recalled to the NHL, where he’s scheduled to make his NHL debut on Wednesday night. More than 1,000 miles away, his former team is getting ready to face the Colorado Eagles and LA’s 18-year-old prospect is still wrapped into the pregame narrative of that contest, as well.

It was back in mid-February when the Ontario Reign hosted the Eagles in SoCal. Coach John Wroblewski’s squad had gone winless in their first five games to start the 2021 AHL season and questions were being fired from all directions, like missiles flying overhead in Call Of Duty: Warhead.

Enter Byfield. He set up Arthur Kaliyev for a goal in the first period. Ontario added another marker in the second frame and eventually went on to secure a 2-1 win, their first victory of the season.

It also got the Reign off on the right foot after they had dropped five of the seven matchups against the Eagles a season prior. Ontario was largely a different team this time around and it was time for a fresh start.

Ditto tonight. Again, Byfield isn’t with the Reign as they begin the first of a three-game series vs. the Eagles tonight.

Onward and upward, part II.

Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Colorado Eagles

Kaliyev – Kupari – Fagemo

Johnson – Turcotte – Frk

Eyssimont – Thomas – Smith-Pelly

Imama – Sutter – Dudas

Moverare – Durzi

Gaunce – Strand

Phillips – Alt

Villalta (starter)

Berube

Other Roster Notes:

— Lias Andersson has been recalled to the NHL and will play for the Kings this week.

— Kings prospect Martin Chromiak (2020 NHL Draft pick), who recently signed an AHL contract, did clear quarantine and is with the Reign on this trip. From what we’re told, he showed up in phenomenal shape and looks ready to go. However, it remains to be seen if he will draw into a game on this trip.

— Nick Halloran and Jacob Doty will be healthy scratches, while Blaine Byron is sidelined with an injury. All three players are on AHL-only contracts.

— Highly regarded LA prospect Tyler Madden remains out indefinitely due to this hit, with no timetable available yet regarding when he’ll resume skating. However, in checking in with various sources, Madden is said to be doing much better of late. In fact, there is even some cautious optimism that he may even be ready to jump back in for a game or two next month. At the very least, there is now some encouraging news regarding the 21-year-old rookie forward.

After tonight, the same two teams will play again on Friday and Saturday.

Wednesday’s puck drop is scheduled for 6pm PST and can be streamed through AHL TV.

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187437 Los Angeles Kings selection. Sometimes, young players feel a little bit intimidated, like they have to do that, but I hope he doesn’t feel that way, because quite obviously at the American League level, he’s overcome that and he does control games at times.” 4/28 Preview – Byfield in on second line, 11/7 vs. 12/6, Bjornfot on top pair, Moore video McLellan the added comfort level of moving just across the hallway to go from the AHL to the NHL, as opposed to say flying in from Manchester, New Hampshire. Byfield is already familiar with both coaching staffs, familiar with many of the NHL players and appears ready to roll. McLellan By Zach Dooley added that Byfield will likely start on the second PP unit, and could see shorthanded time as well, as he did in the AHL.

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (18-22-6) vs. Anaheim Ducks (14-28-7) All good signs, for a highly anticipated debut, but at the same time, there are no unrealistic expectations for a young player in his first game. WHAT: NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME “We don’t want to overload any individual, especially an 18-year-old WHEN: Wednesday, April 28 @ 7:00 PM Pacific coming into the league. We’re going to use the old cliche of play the game, enjoy the moment, take everything in, don’t be afraid of making WHERE: STAPLES Center – Los Angeles, CA mistakes.”

HOW TO FOLLOW: Video: – AUDIO – iHeart Radio With the rest of the group, the Kings went with 11 forwards and 7 – TWITTER: @DooleyLAK defensemen on Monday, which opened up additional ice time for players up front such as Kempe and . It does, however, limit TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Kings return to the ice for game two of four against the Anaheim Ducks this week, with the last meeting of the the ice time of most guys on the backend, especially on the left side. season at STAPLES Center. McLellan said that we may see that look more moving forward and when asked this morning, he said not to assume an automatic change back to HEAD-TO-HEAD: Forwards Adrian Kempe (5-1-6) and Andreas a standard 12/6 alignment. Athanasiou (3-3-6) lead the Kings against Anaheim with six points If 11/7, Kurtis MacDermid was the team’s seventh defenseman on apiece. Athanasiou tallied his 11th career point versus the Ducks on Monday, his most against any one NHL opponent. Defenseman Drew Monday and that would likely continue. If 12/6, yesterday’s practice gave the appearance that Lias Andersson might also enter in, along with Doughty leads all skaters with five assists from five games played. For Byfield, with Jaret Anderson-Dolan skating with those not playing. the Ducks, the visitors tonight are led by forwards Rickard Rakell (2-2-4) Today’s skate, being optional, was inconclusive and we wait for warmups and Max Comtois (0-4-4), who have each collected four points in the season series to date. tonight for further clarity, and Andersson would need to be added to the active roster in order to play. KINGS VITALS: Following a full-team skate yesterday, the Kings were on In net, returned on Monday following three consecutive the ice this morning for an optional morning skate at Toyota Sports starts from Cal Petersen and was solid for the Kings, as he earned the Performance Center. victory with 21 saves on 22 shots in his first game played against the The big news from Todd McLellan this morning is that forward Quinton Ducks this season. The rotation used for much of the season would point Byfield is expected to make his NHL debut this evening. Byfield was back to Cal Petersen tonight, but that rotation has changed over the last recalled from the AHL on Monday, took his first full practice with the big slate of games. If Petersen starts, he is 1-1-1 with a .902 save club yesterday and is in line for his Kings debut later on this evening. percentage and a 2.96 goals against average against Anaheim this season. “You saw him in his first practice yesterday, you’ll see him in his first game today,” McLellan said this morning. DUCKS VITALS: Looking at the visitors, ,n terms of a starting goaltender for tonight, Anaheim Head Coach Dallas Eakins said yesterday that all Yesterday’s practice saw Byfield slotted amongst the top six forwards three of their netminders – John Gibson, Ryan Miller and Anthony Stolarz and he will likely center a line with Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore. – will see games down the stretch. Stolarz started on Monday, as well as “We wanted to put him with veteran players who have confidence and the game at STAPLES Center last week, both 4-1 Kings victories. John feel comfortable right now, somebody that can support him, and Kempe Gibson started the first three games of the season, winning two. is that type of player,” McLellan said of the line. “He can skate with him, Here’s how the Ducks lined up in Game 1 on Monday – has experience in the league, and Trevor Moore is [also] going to play with him tonight. He has a tenacity to his game, and a confidence to his Comtois – Lundestrom – Rakell game right now that will also compliment him. They’re both responsible, defensive players as well, both good penalty killers, and maybe they can Jones – Carrick – Terry help him in that facet as well.” Heinen – Steel – Volkov

The arrival of the team’s top draft pick in October has been much Deslauriers – Grant – Getzlaf awaited. In Byfield, the Kings add a center who, when on his game, is a puck-dominant player with the ability to carry it through the middle of the Fleury – Drysdale ice and create offensively for both himself and his teammates. Fowler – Welinski “I think my strong suits right now are my skating for a big guy and my Larsson – Shattenkirk vision out there,’ Byfield said yesterday. “I like to find my teammates before I take the shot, and I think those are two strong suits right now, Stolarz but there are a lot of improvements for me as I keep going.” Miller At 18 years, 252 days old, Byfield would become the sixth-youngest Kings player of all time to play for the Kings, slotting in just behind Tobias Isac Lundestrom returned to the lineup on Monday, after he missed eight Bjornfot, who made his debut last season at 18 years, 182 days old. games due to appendicitis. Monday’s contest was his first since April 6. Byfield is also the fourth-youngest forward in franchise history behind just Forward Adam Henrique was added to the NHL’s COVID Protocol and Jimmy Carson, Brayden Schenn and Doug Smith, all Top-5 draft picks of did not play on Monday, with what was reported as a close contact, not a the Kings. positive test. Defenseman John Manson remains “day-to-day”, and has not played since he was injured in a fight with Brendan Lemieux on April “I think he’s understood and begun to adapt to the pro game, at the 18. American League level,” McLellan said this morning. “He’s become more responsible defensively, understands the pace of play and how quickly On The Back End he has to make decisions and distribute pucks. I hope that he’s not one Perhaps lost in the Byfield-mania is that McLellan made a few changes that will feel obligated to move pucks to older, more experienced on the backend last game as well. Not only did Kurtis MacDermid check veterans, because he has a very good skill set, we want him to use that, in, with the Kings dressing seven on the backend, but the Top 4 was also and command the use of the puck, the distribution of it, the shot shuffled around, with Tobias Bjornfot moving up with , and Mikey Anderson slotting in next to Matt Roy.

Both pairings have been used before, neither are untested, at least at some level.

“The new look was one that was flexible obviously, dressing seven, so everybody got some time with different players,” McLellan said yesterday. “The new look may not last forever, but I think Mikey Anderson has developed greatly as a rookie player in the league, and Drew Doughty has had a big part in that. To give Toby a little taste of that is something that we want to experiment with, from now until the end of the season. That’s not to say we won’t go back to Mikey, but I think Mikey is quite capable of standing on his own, or with another partner. Perhaps giving Toby some experience against the other team’s top players and taking his minutes up a little bit, will give him a little boost as well.”

Bjornfot was the natural beneficiary of the move, slotting alongside Doughty, as he did for a cup of coffee at the beginning of last season. It also reunites the pairing of Anderson and Matt Roy, as steady as they come, as they started the season. Bjornfot talked this morning about playing with Doughty, and being ready for anything alongside one of the NHL’s best on the blueline.

“It feels good, he’s easy to play with and I just need to keep my stick on the ice and talk to him,” Bjornfot said. “He’s a smart player and he can make some passes you don’t quite know he could. You need to be ready and have a stick on the ice, be ready and see what’s happening.”

Both Doughty and Roy are good defensemen on the right side, but obviously, there are differences in style. Roy is “Steady Eddie” and you typically know what you’re going to get most shifts. Not to say Doughty isn’t steady, but he’s also more inclined to do different things on the ice, as Bjornfot noted above, and he’ll attempt plays that others wouldn’t even think of.

“I think maybe Royzie is more steady – of course Dewy is too – but Dewy is much more all over the ice, he can make plays,” the rookie defenseman explained. “I think both of them are two really good hockey players. Dewy, he has some crazy passes he can make, he has great hockey sense. It’s not too big of an adjustment, both are really good hockey players.”

With seven defensemen in play, there’s less of a set pair rotation, and more mixing and matching for sure. Whether or not that is indeed the look tonight, on the shifts they do play together, Bjornfot feels ready to go with Doughty.

We Want Some Moore

Lastly, hear from forward Trevor Moore this morning on a number of different topics.

The energetic winger discussed playing as one of 11 forwards versus 12, the excitement surrounding his linemate tonight, Quinton Byfield, how he communicates with new linemates and some memories from his own NHL debut, back with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187438 Los Angeles Kings

This Date in LA Kings History: April 28th

By LA Kings Insider

From their humble beginning as one of the NHL’s Second Six expansion teams in 1967, through winning two Stanley Cups in three years and becoming a league powerhouse in 2012-14, the LA Kings have experienced a rich hockey history over the past 50-plus years. Below are some key franchise moments that occurred on this date.

Happy birthday to original @LAKings forward Howie Menard, who was born on April 28, 1942.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/znwC7LXJVB

— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) April 28, 2021

On April 28, 2012, Matt Greene became the second defenseman in @LAKings' history to score a shorthanded goal in the playoffs. Greene's first career playoff goal proved to be the game-winner in a 3-1 win in Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/fLGS4OpT5m

— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) April 28, 2021

On April 28, 2014, the @LAKings became the ninth team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after facing a 3-0 series deficit. Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar each scored two goals and three points in a 4-1 win in Game 6 against the San Jose Sharks.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/NCnlShufug

— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) April 28, 2021

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187439 Los Angeles Kings The taxi squad is currently comprised of Troy Grosenick, Drake Rymsha, Lias Andersson, Quinton Byfield, and Tyler Madden

NOTE: The Kings are scheduled to wear their ’90s Heritage Jerseys Wednesday: LA Kings Projected Lineup vs. Anaheim Ducks, Byfield tonight (pictured above). This is one of three games where they’ll break Debut Confirmed out the Gretzky-era classics.

Should McLellan provide any key updates during his media availability later this morning, this article will be updated. By LA Kings Insider McLellan has confirmed Byfield will play. He also shared the following thoughts…

The entire past 14 months could easily be described as ‘fluid,’ and that On the configuration of the lineup tonight and the defense specifically word is just as appropriate for today. Don’t assume. With the Kings and Ducks set to play Game 2 of a unique four-game stretch, all the talk is centered on Quinton Byfield. Following his call-up to McLellan on Byfield the taxi squad on Monday, questions have been flying regarding a We’re going to give him the information that we think he needs, as we do possible date for his NHL debut. It at least appears that could come as with any of the other players. We’re really going to leave him alone. He’s early as Wednesday night at Staples Center. worked hard to get here. We don’t want to overload any individuals, Not sure where this is going or if it holds up… certainly not an 18-year-old coming into the league. I’m going to use that cliché of ‘Play the game, enjoy the moment, and take everything in, don’t Today's line combos at Kings practice would suggest: be afraid of making mistakes, we’ll help you with that.’ That’s what you have a long career for, is to fix them. He has good people around him Moore – Byfield – Kempe when he steps onto the ice tonight in Brown and Kopitar – even Kempe And and Iafallo have garnered some experience now in the league and it hasn’t been that long ago since they played their first game. He has a lot Grundstrom – JAD – Luff of support up front. I think it will create some excitement for our hockey club, as well. — John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) April 27, 2021 On how he’ll use Byfield tonight, what he might expose him to or protect If Tuesday’s practice configurations are to hold, Byfield would look to be him against playing with Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore (which would also come with an official call-up to the NHL roster). I’m gonna call his number and let him play. I don’t know how many penalties there’ll be or anything like that, but he’ll see some power play As the top line is all but locked in, a Byfield debut would lead to a series time. I don’t know where he’ll fit in on the penalty kill. We’ll see how many of follow-up questions about how the remaining forwards would be penalties we have tonight, but he’s been a penalty killer at the American utilized… and will coach Todd McLellan possibly go with 11 forwards and League level. We’re not playing him to hide him. We’re playing him to let seven defensemen again? It’s something he said he liked after the game him experience things, so he should be able to handle a regular shift, we on Monday. expect him to. After that, there may be more ice time available for him. At the very least, we expect Lias Andersson to re-join the Kings lineup [ed. note: McLellan indicated Byfield would likely be with the second tonight. That would most likely come with an official call-up to the Kings power play unit] roster (unlike his emergency recall on Saturday). Along with Byfield, those would be the second and third third of LA’s four possible call-ups. On the biggest strides he’s seen Byfield make this season

Predicting the third and fourth line is a challenge because it remains I think there’s been a personal adjustment that he’s made to life here. unknown if McLellan will use a traditional lineup of 12 forwards. We’re That affects his game, the comfort of being in and around the NHL assuming so. players. I know he hasn’t played in the NHL, but he parks in the same parking lot, they talk all the time, he’s familiar with both coaching staffs, LA Kings projected POTENTIAL lineup vs. Anaheim Ducks he’s comfortable in the community, all of that type of comfort should help Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown a player, rather than being recalled from Manchester, for example. All of that is comfort, I think he’s understood and begun to adapt to the pro Kempe – Byfield – Moore game, certainly at the American League level. He’s become a little more Andersson – Vilardi – Athanasiou responsible defensively, understands the pace of play and how quick he has to make decisions, and distribute pucks. I hope that he’s not one that Lemieux – Lizotte – Wagner will feel obligated to move pucks to older, more experienced veterans, because he has a very good skill set. We want him to use that and Bjornfot – Doughty command the use of the puck, the distribution of it, and the shot Anderson – Roy selection. But sometimes, young players feel a little bit intimidated, like they have to do that. I hope he doesn’t feel that way because, quite Maatta – Walker * obviously at the American League level, he’s overcome that and he does control games at times. * MacDermind could slide in to replace Maatta or be used as a seventh defenseman On a guy with Byfield’s size and speed, what type of thoughts go into who he should be playing with Petersen (starter) We wanted to put him with veteran players that have confidence and feel Quick comfortable right; somebody that can support him. Kempe is that type of Other players available: player, he can skate with him and has experience in the league. Trevor Moore is also going to play with him tonight. He has a tenacity to his Kurtis MacDermid game, and a confidence in his game right now that we think will also complement him. Both are quite responsible defense players, as well. Christian Wolanin Both are good penalty killers, so maybe they can help him in that facet, Kale Clague as well.

Matt Luff LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021

Carl Grundstrom

Jaret Anderson-Dolan 1187440 Los Angeles Kings Christian Wolanin Kale Clague

Matt Luff EARLY LOOK – Wednesday: LA Kings Projected Lineup vs. Anaheim Ducks, Plus Byfield Notes Carl Grundstrom

The taxi squad is currently comprised of Troy Grosenick, Drake Rymsha, Lias Andersson, Quinton Byfield, and Tyler Madden By LA Kings Insider NOTE: The Kings are scheduled to wear their ’90s Heritage Jerseys

tonight (pictured above). This is one of three games where they’ll break The entire past 14 months could easily be described as ‘fluid,’ and that out the Gretzky-era classics. word is just as appropriate for today. Should McLellan provide any key updates during his media availability With the Kings and Ducks set to play Game 2 of a unique four-game later this morning, this article will be updated. stretch, all the talk is centered on Quinton Byfield. Following his call-up to Until then, be sure to check out what Byfield had to say following his first the taxi squad on Monday, questions have been flying regarding a practice with the Kings yesterday – linked below for your reference. possible date for his NHL debut. It at least appears that could come as early as Wednesday night at Staples Center. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Not sure where this is going or if it holds up…

Today's line combos at Kings practice would suggest:

Moore – Byfield – Kempe

And

Grundstrom – JAD – Luff

— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) April 27, 2021

If Tuesday’s practice configurations are to hold, Byfield would look playing with Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore (which would also come with an official call-up to the NHL roster).

With the top line all but set in cement, a Byfield debut would also lead to a series of follow-up questions about how the remaining forwards would be utilized.

Tuesday’s practice suggested the other two lines would be comprised of the following six players: Lias Andersson, Andreas Athanasiou, Brendan Lemieux, Blake Lizotte, Gabe Vilardi and .

And the extras appeared to be: Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Carl Grundstrom, and Matt Luff.

For starters, if Andersson was to play at this point, it would most likely come with an official call-up to the Kings roster (unlike his emergency recall on Saturday). That would be LA’s third of four possible call-ups.

Putting that aside, it would also mean a potential reshuffling of / changes to three of the four lines used in Monday’s victory over the Ducks. Unless, of course, if coach Todd McLellan was to keep the Wagner – Vilardi – Athanasiou line together. That would at least give him the same top-line and same third-line. That would also leave one line 2/3 intact, swapping Lizotte for Byfield. Which would then leave an all new fourth- line.

The alternative — and it should be considered just as likely — is that one or more of the “extra” players will draw in.

LA Kings projected POTENTIAL lineup vs. Anaheim Ducks

Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown

Kempe – Byfield – Moore

Athanasiou – Lizotte – Vilardi

Lemieux – JAD – Wagner

Bjornfot – Doughty

Anderson – Roy

Maatta – Walker *

* If Byfield does play, MacDermind may slide in on D, likely replacing Maatta

Petersen (starter)

Quick

Other players available:

Kurtis MacDermid 1187441 Minnesota Wild

Wild starts push to the playoffs by falling apart late in loss to the Blues

The Wild returned home after clinching a playoff spot to end its season- long seven-game win streak against the Blues.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 10:34PM

The Wild is hoping to fine-tune its game during the rest of the regular season after clinching a playoff spot last week but in its first opportunity to polish up its play, the team debuted a dud.

Despite being in control for the first two periods, the Wild loosened its grip in the third and was overwhelmed 4-3 by the Blues on Wednesday at to halt its season-long seven-game win streak.

St. Louis scored three straight goals in the third period to flip a one-goal deficit into a one-goal victory. Two of its four goals came on the power play.

"It slipped away at the end," coach said. "Majority of the game we were real good, had majority of the play, and we made some mistakes at the end. It's disappointing, no question. We knew they were going to have a push in the third, no question. We fed it a little bit, took a penalty, and then we made some mistakes. They capitalized on that, caught a couple of bounces obviously, a couple of breaks. But they capitalized on some mistakes we made as well.

"We've found ways to win hockey games like this. Tonight we found a way to lose a hockey game like this."

Joel Eriksson Ek didn't finish the game, leaving after a collision with a Blues player near center ice. But after the game, he said he was feeling good.

CARLOS GONZALEZ

Gallery: St. Louis Blues edge Wild 4-3

Before he exited, Eriksson Ek and his line were cruising – orchestrating all three Wild goals to combine for five points. Jordan Greenway had two assists, and Marcus Foligno scored and set up another.

"I'd rather play a bad game than play like this [and lose]," said Eriksson Ek, who scored the Wild's second goal early in the second period. "That's what it's about is winning, and today we couldn't finish this last period like we have before and it's something we can learn from today."

The four goals scored on goalie Cam Talbot were the most he's been tagged for over his last eight starts, and the netminder said the team "needed a save" and didn't get it.

But Evason also didn't feel this letdown was reflective of the goaltending.

"He's a leader," Evason said. "He's taking responsibility. That's what he does. I disagree with him. We have to be so much better in front of him. Certainly no goal was his fault."

Although these were two vital points for the Blues and their bid to lock up fourth in the West Division, they still sit 15 points back of the third-place Wild.

Where this loss did affect the Wild, though, was in its chase to try to climb out of third.

The team didn't gain any ground in that pursuit, but it'll have another chance Thursday when it continues this three-game set against St. Louis.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187442 Minnesota Wild Winger Ryan Hartman, left, lingered on the Wild bench at the end of the game, after the Blues scored three third-period goals to rally for a 4-3 victory.

Wild gives up three third-period goals, falls to Blues 4-3 Despite the rally, fourth-place St. Louis remains a whopping 15 points back of the No. 3 Wild. But it's the race ahead of the Wild that was St. Louis scored three in the third and ended the Wild's seven-game win affected by the team standing still for a night. streak. "We have a lot to play for," Foligno said. "I know we have an 'X' next to our name in the standings, but it doesn't mean crap. We've got to come ready to work and play a full 60. Playoffs are just going to get harder. So By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 11:32PM we learn from this and we get better from it."

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 Despite already locking up a playoff spot, the Wild can try to check off another box during its push to the finish line, and that's securing home- ice advantage for its first-round series.

But not only did the team fail to get any closer to accomplishing that Wednesday when it kicked off a seven-game homestand, the Wild also had a rare off night at Xcel Energy Center that didn't make it look so intimidating in its own building.

In its first game since clinching a playoff berth, the Wild twice blew a two- goal lead — rolling out the welcome mat to get stunned 4-3 by the Blues in front of 3,000 to end the team's season-high seven-game win streak and suffer just its fifth regulation loss at home.

"Just got taught a lesson," Marcus Foligno said. "That team doesn't quit. We just get complacent and leave our [goaltender] out to dry."

St. Louis took over in the third period, scoring as many goals as the Wild had shots (three) in a comeback that was finalized with 23 seconds to go when Robert Thomas corralled a bouncing puck and lifted it past Cam Talbot.

"When it comes down to it, that's when you need a save, especially with 23 seconds left," said Talbot, who made 28 total. "Just got to get a blocker on it, got to get something behind that one.

"It's just a tough one to swallow when you're so close to getting to at least getting a point, taking it to overtime and anything can happen there. Third period we needed a save and didn't get one tonight."

BOXSCORE: St. Louis 4, Wild 3

The collapse glossed over a tremendous effort by the line of Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek and Foligno.

They set the tone physically, combining for 11 hits, and were behind the Wild's three goals — getting the scoring started with 2:13 left in the first period. After Greenway dumped the puck deep to Foligno, he fed Jonas Brodin for a shot that sailed past goalie Jordan Binnington as Eriksson Ek was setting a screen.

"They just were who they were," Wild coach Dean Evason said, "and they got rewarded for it."

The line continued to roll in the second, doubling the Wild's lead 32 seconds into the period when Eriksson Ek was left alone in front to backhand in a Greenway rebound and extend his career-high point streak to six games. With two assists, Greenway is up to 30 points — a career high.

An interference penalty by Kevin Fiala put St. Louis on the power play and only eight seconds into the advantage, the Blues converted — a shot by Mike Hoffman that trickled through Talbot at 10:27.

But the Wild re-established control on the next shift thanks to — who else — but the Eriksson Ek line.

Foligno wired in a shot from the middle of the offensive zone, his 10th of the season. Over their past six games, Greenway, Eriksson Ek and Foligno have combined for seven goals and 11 assists.

"Our line's been dominant all year," Foligno said.

Another power play goal by Hoffman at 3:49 of the third made it 3-2, and St. Louis tied the score by 7:41 when Thomas worked a Matt Dumba turnover to Jordan Kyrou for a goal. The Blues finished 2-for-2 on the power play, while the Wild went 0-for-1.

"You can't give teams life and energy," Eriksson Ek said. "This league is so tight."

CARLOS GONZALES, STAR TRIBUNE 1187443 Minnesota Wild Eriksson Ek left the game late in the third period after a neutral-zone collision with a Blues player but said he was fine afterward. ... Blues defensemen Vince Dunn and Colton Parayko were out for the second straight game with upper body injuries. Forward Zach Sanford, a healthy Blues rally to beat Wild 4-3 on Thomas' goal with 0:23 left scratch for the last two games, returned to the lineup. ... The Wild have outscored opponents 52-30 in the first period. ... Foligno has three goals

in his last four games. By DAVE CAMPBELL APRIL 28, 2021 — 9:55PM UP NEXT

The rematches here are Thursday and Saturday. Then the Blues return ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild recently became the third West home for a two-game set against Anaheim starting Monday, when the Division team to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Wild play the first of two straight games versus Vegas.

The St. Louis Blues made quite the case to join them with this comeback. Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021

Robert Thomas tracked down a skipping puck and snapped it into the top of the net with 23 seconds left, capping a three-goal third-period rally by the Blues for a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night to stop the Wild's seven- game winning streak.

"It's a mindset for me more than anything. It's staying on our toes and being aggressive," said coach , whose team won its third straight game to improve to 22-19-6 and take another step toward fending off Arizona, San Jose and Los Angeles for the fourth and final spot in the division.

Mike Hoffman's second power play goal of the game, both assisted by David Perron, brought the Blues within one early in the third period following a hooking call on Matt Dumba. Jordan Kyrou tied the game about four minutes later after a turnover by Dumba.

Then came the most costly of all the defensive breakdowns by the Wild, when Jonas Brodin was caught flat-footed and beaten by some slick stick work by Thomas for the third-latest go-ahead regulation goal in the NHL this season.

"We're definitely clicking a lot more together as a group. These are huge wins for us," Kyrou said.

Marcus Foligno had a goal and an assist, Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek also scored and Jordan Greenway had two assists for the Wild, who wasted a prime opportunity to creep closer to the division lead behind Vegas and Colorado. Both the Golden Knights and Avalanche played later.

"We wanted to catch Colorado and put heat on them, and these guys are trying to fight for their playoff lives, too," Foligno said. "We have a lot to play for. I know we have an 'X' next to our name in the standings, but it doesn't mean (anything). We've got to come ready to work and play a full 60."

Cam Talbot, who stopped 28 shots for the Wild, had his five-start winning streak snapped.

"When games were on the line and we needed big saves in the past few weeks, I've been making those saves. Tonight I didn't make the save that I need to make down the stretch there," he said.

Jordan Binnington had 25 stops for the Blues to improve to 5-1 in six career starts against the Wild, the only loss coming here in a 2-0 decision on March 25 to Talbot.

The Blues were the last team to beat the Wild, too, a 3-2 win in overtime on April 10 when Hoffman tied the game with 42 seconds remaining in regulation. Hoffman, who has seven goals and four assists in his last seven games, was moved to the first power play unit.

"Hoffman had good jump all game. He was on his toes. He was determined," Berube said.

The same could be said for the Blues in their quest for the playoffs, their taste of the Stanley Cup still relatively fresh from 2019.

"We know they're not going to quit," Talbot said. "They're a desperate team right now, and they're going to play to win there at the end."

BLUES BASH

The Wild brought the NHL's fourth-best penalty kill into the evening, but Perron found Hoffman with cross-slot passes for backdoor one-timers just 8 and 29 seconds into those power plays, respectively. This was the eighth straight game with a power play goal for St. Louis.

ODDS AND ENDLINES 1187444 Minnesota Wild Winger Ryan Hartman, left, lingered on the Wild bench at the end of the game, after the Blues scored three third-period goals to rally for a 4-3 victory.

Wild gives up three third-period goals, falls to Blues 4-3 Despite the rally, fourth-place St. Louis remains a whopping 15 points back of the No. 3 Wild. But it's the race ahead of the Wild that was St. Louis scored three in the third and ended the Wild's seven-game win affected by the team standing still for a night. streak. "We have a lot to play for," Foligno said. "I know we have an 'X' next to our name in the standings, but it doesn't mean crap. We've got to come ready to work and play a full 60. Playoffs are just going to get harder. So By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 11:32PM we learn from this and we get better from it."

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 Despite already locking up a playoff spot, the Wild can try to check off another box during its push to the finish line, and that's securing home- ice advantage for its first-round series.

But not only did the team fail to get any closer to accomplishing that Wednesday when it kicked off a seven-game homestand, the Wild also had a rare off night at Xcel Energy Center that didn't make it look so intimidating in its own building.

In its first game since clinching a playoff berth, the Wild twice blew a two- goal lead — rolling out the welcome mat to get stunned 4-3 by the Blues in front of 3,000 to end the team's season-high seven-game win streak and suffer just its fifth regulation loss at home.

"Just got taught a lesson," Marcus Foligno said. "That team doesn't quit. We just get complacent and leave our [goaltender] out to dry."

St. Louis took over in the third period, scoring as many goals as the Wild had shots (three) in a comeback that was finalized with 23 seconds to go when Robert Thomas corralled a bouncing puck and lifted it past Cam Talbot.

"When it comes down to it, that's when you need a save, especially with 23 seconds left," said Talbot, who made 28 total. "Just got to get a blocker on it, got to get something behind that one.

"It's just a tough one to swallow when you're so close to getting to at least getting a point, taking it to overtime and anything can happen there. Third period we needed a save and didn't get one tonight."

The collapse glossed over a tremendous effort by the line of Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek and Foligno.

They set the tone physically, combining for 11 hits, and were behind the Wild's three goals — getting the scoring started with 2:13 left in the first period. After Greenway dumped the puck deep to Foligno, he fed Jonas Brodin for a shot that sailed past goalie Jordan Binnington as Eriksson Ek was setting a screen.

"They just were who they were," Wild coach Dean Evason said, "and they got rewarded for it."

The line continued to roll in the second, doubling the Wild's lead 32 seconds into the period when Eriksson Ek was left alone in front to backhand in a Greenway rebound and extend his career-high point streak to six games. With two assists, Greenway is up to 30 points — a career high.

An interference penalty by Kevin Fiala put St. Louis on the power play and only eight seconds into the advantage, the Blues converted — a shot by Mike Hoffman that trickled through Talbot at 10:27.

But the Wild re-established control on the next shift thanks to — who else — but the Eriksson Ek line.

Foligno wired in a shot from the middle of the offensive zone, his 10th of the season. Over their past six games, Greenway, Eriksson Ek and Foligno have combined for seven goals and 11 assists.

"Our line's been dominant all year," Foligno said.

Another power play goal by Hoffman at 3:49 of the third made it 3-2, and St. Louis tied the score by 7:41 when Thomas worked a Matt Dumba turnover to Jordan Kyrou for a goal. The Blues finished 2-for-2 on the power play, while the Wild went 0-for-1.

"You can't give teams life and energy," Eriksson Ek said. "This league is so tight."

CARLOS GONZALES, STAR TRIBUNE 1187445 Minnesota Wild

Jared Spurgeon stresses each player's value as Wild's new captain

The message is playing out in the team's depth and togetherness.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 8:31PM

An offseason shake-up to the Wild's roster didn't just change the look of the lineup.

The team's leadership was also restructured, with Jared Spurgeon taking over as captain, and now Spurgeon has the chance to guide the Wild into the playoffs after the team clinched a berth Saturday at San Jose.

"He cares about how the team does and doesn't care about Jared Spurgeon's stats," coach Dean Evason said. "Doesn't care about his ice time. All he cares about is the end result, and I think that has filtered to the group.

"The success that we've had up to this point is largely in part because of his leadership qualities."

Before the season, Spurgeon was appointed just the second full-time captain in team history. The team decided not to bring back Mikko Koivu, who eventually signed with Columbus before retiring in February.

Since Spurgeon became captain, his message to the locker room has been how important everyone is to the team, a philosophy that's played out on the ice, where the team has been led by its depth.

Take just last week, when the Wild swept its four-game road trip. Goalies Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen both posted victories, 11 players scored and 17 picked up at least a point.

"It's a whole group effort," said Spurgeon, who played in his 700th game Wednesday against the Blues at Xcel Energy Center. "This year more than others in the past we've had everyone contributing whether it's a single game or a couple games in a row. Any single night someone else is stepping up, and that's been big for us.

"That's the reason why we've put ourselves in the position we are right now."

With longtime veterans like Koivu, Eric Staal and Devan Dubnyk gone, new players arrived. Not only have they panned out in action, the team has come together off the ice. Being on the road, where COVID-19 restrictions have limited where players can go, has helped them bond.

"When you're only allowed to hang out in your meal room and you're not really allowed to go out, we've spent a lot of time together," Spurgeon said. "We've been having a lot of fun with it."

And like the team's playing style, not just one player has the spotlight.

"We have a lot of vocal guys, whether it's in between periods or before games," Spurgeon said. "Everyone speaks their mind and feels free to do that. I think that's one of those keys that everyone feels comfortable speaking up in that room whether it's your first year or second year or your 10th year. I think as a group, we're bouncing ideas off each other and just supporting each other."

700 and counting

Spurgeon on Wednesday became the third player in Wild history and only the second defenseman to skate in 700 NHL games. He trails only Nick Schultz (743) and Koivu (1,028) for the most played with the Wild.

Carson Soucy also hit a milestone, suiting up for his 100th NHL game.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187446 Minnesota Wild

Wild returns home after clinching playoff spot to host Blues

This is the first of three in a row between the Wild and Blues at Xcel Energy Center.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 12:54PM

The Wild is back home after clinching a playoff berth last weekend in San Jose, and the team begins a seven-game homestand at Xcel Energy Center Wednesday night with three straight against the Blues.

These two teams will face off five times the rest of the regular season, and so far St. Louis has had the upper hand – delivering the Wild its most lopsided loss in franchise history (9-1) and then rallying in overtime to complete a two-game sweep at home earlier this month.

The Wild did shut out the Blues in the first matchup this season, a tremendous effort by goaltender Cam Talbot, who will get the start Wednesday after backing up Kaapo Kahkonen Saturday when the Wild upended the Sharks 6-3 to push its win streak to a season-high seven games and lock up a playoff berth.

Talbot was named the NHL's second star of the week on Monday after going 3-0 last week with a 1.67 goals-against average and .953 save percentage. He's 6-0-1 in his last seven starts and is 10-1 with a 1.86 goals-against average and .935 save percentage with two shutouts in 12 starts at Xcel Energy Center.

"You prepare obviously for a team that works their butt off," coach Dean Evason said. "They get pucks to the net. They crash the net. Real good structure. Real good defensively. Good in all areas. Clearly, we've seen their best. We have to play our best in order to compete with them here tonight."

Before the game, the Wild announced it assigned goaltender Hunter Jones to the taxi squad. Andrew Hammond is day-to-day with an upper- body injury.

Projected lineup:

Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Marcus Foligno

Kirill Kaprizov-Victor Rask-Mats Zuccarello

Kevin Fiala-Ryan Hartman-Marcus Johansson

Zach Parise-Nico Sturm-Nick Bonino

Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba

Carson Soucy-Ian Cole

Cam Talbot

Key numbers:

299: Career points for captain Jared Spurgeon.

4: Goals or more scored by the Wild in six of its last seven victories.

17-4: Record for the Wild at home this season.

5-3: Showing by the Wild in the first game of a back-to-back.

17: Power play goals for the Wild over the past 13 games.

About the Blues:

St. Louis is battling for the final playoff berth in the West Division and currently occupies fourth with 48 points, one ahead of Arizona. The Blues have won two in a row to snap a three-game losing streak. Both those wins came at home; St. Louis has dropped its past five road games. Captain Ryan O'Reilly has three goals and three assists over his last two games. St. Louis is 6-1-1 in its last eight games vs. the Wild.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187447 Minnesota Wild room maybe I tend to get a little shy, but overall it's going a lot better and I'm slowly starting to pick up a lot."

He misses his friends and his mom's cooking, and his life since moving to Kirill Kaprizov's Wild life: Rink, home, sleep . . . rookie stardom Minnesota has become "rink, home, sleep, travel, eat, repeat."

The leading candidate for NHL rookie of the year honors and his team Rarely does he leave home but when he has, Kaprizov's been prepare for the playoffs. recognized a few times in the community even while wearing a hat and mask, getting asked, "Hey, is that you?"

His contract is up after this season and although he hasn't been part of By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 12:42PM any talks so far on a new deal, Kaprizov said he'll get involved in those discussions in the summer.

For now, he's focused on the rest of the season. He's excited about the Record-breaking games, Rookie of the Year hype, and now a chance to playoffs, but there's work to do before they start. play for the Stanley Cup. "We still have nine games to go," Kaprizov said. "We need to continue to Kirill Kaprizov's debut season in the NHL keeps getting more and more play at a high level and get ourselves prepared and ready so that we can special, but how the Wild performs is more of a priority to the forward come into the playoffs hot." than any personal accolades he's achieving along the way. Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 "Obviously, it's great," Kaprizov said Tuesday through translator Ilya Kravtchouk after the team practiced ahead of facing the Blues on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. "I'm proud, but it's not something I really think or focus on. I just try to play my game and do the best that I can every single day."

Fact is it's impossible to separate Kaprizov's impact from the Wild's success, the two becoming intertwined from the very first game of the season when Kaprizov capped off a three-point introduction to the league by scoring in overtime.

Since then, he's continued to deliver in impressive fashion, with the past week one of his best stretches.

He scored five goals in four games, surpassing Marian Gaborik for the most goals and points in a Wild rookie season.

One of the goals he scored Friday at Los Angeles was his slickest so far, a drive to the net after the puck slid through his legs.

"It's all situational," he said. "When you're on the ice, you have to react. Things are moving very, very fast, so I was in the right place at the right time. The move was there. I did it. It's not something I regularly practice. It's kind of just instinctive."

That skillful display only boosted Kaprizov's candidacy as the NHL's top rookie, a race he's been leading from the get-go. He's still pacing all first- year players in goals (22) and points (41) while ranking tied for second in assists (19), but others are getting closer — like Dallas' Jason Robertson.

Although Kaprizov tries not to contemplate the Calder spotlight, he's constantly reminded about it on social media and he's aware of Robertson's push.

"Of course, seeing another opponent there, it helps motivate you," Kaprizov said. "It makes you want to do better, and that's as any competitor would. But other than that, I don't focus or think about it to be honest."

And by going on one of his most productive runs of the season, Kaprizov helped the Wild extend its win streak to a season-high seven games and clinch a playoff spot last Saturday.

Overall, Kaprizov has six goals during a five-game goal streak that is one shy of tying the Wild record of six accomplished twice, most recently by Nino Niederreiter Nov. 14-24, 2017. He also leads the team in goals and points, further proof he's been essential to the Wild even if he won't acknowledge it.

"I don't like to give myself compliments," he said. "I don't like to think of myself as an outlier. To be honest, at the end of the day, it was a team. All the guys got together. We all played well. It was a team effort, and at the end of the day, that's really all it's about and all I focus on — that it's a team game and how we can get better as a team."

Kaprizov, who turned 24 on Monday, actually feels he can improve his play — "defensively, offensively, every aspect of the game," he said.

What's already on the upswing is his English, particularly when he's around his teammates.

"I feel a lot more comfortable with the guys talking and listening and understanding," Kaprizov said. "Maybe sometimes outside the locker 1187448 Minnesota Wild room maybe I tend to get a little shy, but overall it's going a lot better and I'm slowly starting to pick up a lot."

He misses his friends and his mom's cooking, and his life since moving to Kirill Kaprizov's Wild life: Rink, home, sleep . . . rookie stardom Minnesota has become "rink, home, sleep, travel, eat, repeat."

The leading candidate for NHL rookie of the year honors and his team Rarely does he leave home but when he has, Kaprizov's been prepare for the playoffs. recognized a few times in the community even while wearing a hat and mask, getting asked, "Hey, is that you?"

His contract is up after this season and although he hasn't been part of By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2021 — 12:42PM any talks so far on a new deal, Kaprizov said he'll get involved in those discussions in the summer.

For now, he's focused on the rest of the season. He's excited about the Record-breaking games, Rookie of the Year hype, and now a chance to playoffs, but there's work to do before they start. play for the Stanley Cup. "We still have nine games to go," Kaprizov said. "We need to continue to Kirill Kaprizov's debut season in the NHL keeps getting more and more play at a high level and get ourselves prepared and ready so that we can special, but how the Wild performs is more of a priority to the forward come into the playoffs hot." than any personal accolades he's achieving along the way. Star Tribune LOADED: 04.29.2021 "Obviously, it's great," Kaprizov said Tuesday through translator Ilya Kravtchouk after the team practiced ahead of facing the Blues on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. "I'm proud, but it's not something I really think or focus on. I just try to play my game and do the best that I can every single day."

Fact is it's impossible to separate Kaprizov's impact from the Wild's success, the two becoming intertwined from the very first game of the season when Kaprizov capped off a three-point introduction to the league by scoring in overtime.

Since then, he's continued to deliver in impressive fashion, with the past week one of his best stretches.

He scored five goals in four games, surpassing Marian Gaborik for the most goals and points in a Wild rookie season.

One of the goals he scored Friday at Los Angeles was his slickest so far, a drive to the net after the puck slid through his legs.

"It's all situational," he said. "When you're on the ice, you have to react. Things are moving very, very fast, so I was in the right place at the right time. The move was there. I did it. It's not something I regularly practice. It's kind of just instinctive."

That skillful display only boosted Kaprizov's candidacy as the NHL's top rookie, a race he's been leading from the get-go. He's still pacing all first- year players in goals (22) and points (41) while ranking tied for second in assists (19), but others are getting closer — like Dallas' Jason Robertson.

Although Kaprizov tries not to contemplate the Calder spotlight, he's constantly reminded about it on social media and he's aware of Robertson's push.

"Of course, seeing another opponent there, it helps motivate you," Kaprizov said. "It makes you want to do better, and that's as any competitor would. But other than that, I don't focus or think about it to be honest."

And by going on one of his most productive runs of the season, Kaprizov helped the Wild extend its win streak to a season-high seven games and clinch a playoff spot last Saturday.

Overall, Kaprizov has six goals during a five-game goal streak that is one shy of tying the Wild record of six accomplished twice, most recently by Nino Niederreiter Nov. 14-24, 2017. He also leads the team in goals and points, further proof he's been essential to the Wild even if he won't acknowledge it.

"I don't like to give myself compliments," he said. "I don't like to think of myself as an outlier. To be honest, at the end of the day, it was a team. All the guys got together. We all played well. It was a team effort, and at the end of the day, that's really all it's about and all I focus on — that it's a team game and how we can get better as a team."

Kaprizov, who turned 24 on Monday, actually feels he can improve his play — "defensively, offensively, every aspect of the game," he said.

What's already on the upswing is his English, particularly when he's around his teammates.

"I feel a lot more comfortable with the guys talking and listening and understanding," Kaprizov said. "Maybe sometimes outside the locker 1187449 Minnesota Wild Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.29.2021

‘Just got taught a lesson’: Wild unravel in frustrating loss to Blues

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 8:42 p.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at 9:27 p.m.

Ask anybody on the Wild about clinching a playoff berth and they’ll give a different iteration of the same answer:

It doesn’t matter. Not with regular season still in full swing.

That message starts with coach Dean Evason. He’s been asked about the playoffs various times over the past few days, and every time he’s immediately shifted the focus back to the remainder of the regular season.

Luckily for the Wild, they have that playoff berth to fall back on after a brutal 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center.

After jumping out to a 3-1 lead, the Wild took their foot off the gas in the final 20 minutes of play, and the Blues made them pay. Robert Thomas scored the game-winner with less than 30 seconds left.

“Just got taught a lesson,” Marcus Foligno said postgame. “That team doesn’t quit. We just kind of get complacent and leave our goaltender out to dry. It’s a crappy feeling.”

It was a disappointing loss for the Wild considering how well they started the game. They got solid efforts from up and down the lineup, and Jonas Brodin helped the Wild make it 1-0 late in the first period.

That score held into the second period where the Wild got a goal from Joel Eriksson Ek about 30 seconds into the frame to make it 2-0. It was a backdoor tap-in for Eriksson Ek, set up by a solid effort by Greenway behind the net.

While it looked like the Wild might run away with the win at that point, the Blues responded with a goal from Mike Hoffman to make it 2-1.

Not surprisingly, Evason sent out the Greenway-Eriksson Ek-Foligno line to inject some energy into the team. That trio promptly responded with a goal from Foligno to stretch the lead back to 3-1.

That set the stage for the third period where the Wild completely unraveled with some sloppy play up and down the ice.

The spiral started with a hooking penalty by Matt Dumba, and Hoffman scored on the ensuing power play to cut the deficit to 3-2. If that wasn’t bad enough, Dumba had a costly turnover in his own zone a few minutes later, and Jordan Kyrou made him pay with a goal to tie the score at 3-3.

“You can’t give teams life and energy,” Eriksson Ek said. “This league is so tight, and every team is going to score if they get chances.”

Fittingly, the Wild let the game slip away for good in the final minute of play as Thomas collected a bouncing puck and lifted a shot past Cam Talbot with 23 seconds left on the clock.

“When it comes down to it, that’s when we need a save,” Talbot said. “Especially with 23 seconds left. Just got to get a blocker on it. I’ve got to get something behind that one. It’s just a tough one to swallow when we’re so close to getting to at least getting a point, taking it to overtime, and anything can happen there.”

While nobody likes losing a game, maybe this was a wake-up call the Wild need with a couple of weeks left in the regular season.

“I know we have an ‘X’ next to our name in the standings,” Foligno said referring to clinching a playoff berth. “It doesn’t mean crap. We have to come ready to work and play a full 60 minutes. The playoffs are just going to get harder.”

The good news for the Wild is they get a shot at redemption on Thursday night.

“We have found ways to win hockey games like this (in the past), and tonight we found a way to lose a hockey game like this,” Evason said. “We have to regroup and get ready to play tomorrow.” 1187450 Minnesota Wild “It’s been fun to play in front of whatever limited fans we’ve had,” Spurgeon said. “Whenever we’re at home we get that energy. To be able to have (the fans) we do, and hearing how loud they get, it’s been awesome for us. Hopefully, going forward we can get some more in Wild get taste of playoffs with five of final nine games vs. Blues going into the playoffs.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.29.2021 By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 11:47 a.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at 11:48 a.m.

Never mind the cliched desperation the Wild will face over the next couple of weeks. With nine games left in the regular season — five of them against the St. Louis Blues — the schedule itself will give the Wild a taste of the NHL playoffs.

Though the condensed 56-game schedule established two-game series for most of this season, the Wild have rarely played so many games against the same team in such a short period of time. That could benefit the Wild right now as they get a chance to make adjustments on the fly like they will have to do in the playoffs.

Asked about the logistics of nine games over the next 16 days, coach Dean Evason noted that even the two-game series have had a playoff vibe. He expects that to intensify in the coming days with the Wild well aware that the Blues (21-19-6, 48 points) are fighting for their playoff lives. They currently are fourth in the West Coast division, one point in front of the Arizona Coyotes (21-23-5, 47 points).

The Wild and Blues play three times this week — on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, all at the Xcel Energy Center. Then they close out the regular season with back-to-back games in St. Louis on May 12- 13.

“You get to this time in the year and hope the hockey club is in that mindset to play a tight-checking game,” Evason said. “Just staying the course and all that good stuff. I think the games will have a playoff feel going forward here.”

It also will serve as a barometer heading into the playoffs. While the Wild have dominated the bottom-feeders of the West Coast division this season, they have been all over the place against the Blues. They won 2- 0 last month, suffered a blowout 9-1 loss a few weeks ago, then followed that up with a 3-2 overtime loss.

“You have to prepare for a team that works their butt off,” Evason said of the Blues. “They crash the net. They have good structure. They are good in all areas. We’ve seen their best, and we have to play our best in order to compete with them.”

TALBOT’S WORKLOAD

Not surprisingly, the Wild went back to Cam Talbot in goal for Wednesday’s game against the Blues. He has been outstanding over the past six weeks, putting together a 13-2-2 record, 2.03 goals-against average and .937 save percentage.

“He’s been awesome,” captain Jared Spurgeon said. “He just makes the saves look so easy. Whether it’s not giving up rebounds, or if he has to, he’s putting them to the corner. For us, knowing we have confidence in whoever is back there helps us play our game.”

It raises the question: How much rest will Talbot get down the stretch? How much rest does he even want?

“We don’t have conversations about the future,” Evason said. “We have talked to him in the past, like, ‘How do you feel?’ It’s not, ‘Can you go?’ Then we communicate with him. We do that with every player. It’s not a situation where we ask players if they feel good to go. We don’t talk about a week from now. We play the game and then revisit it after and make a decision.”

HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE

With nine games to go and the Wild (31-13-3, 65 points) nipping at the heels of division leaders Vegas (34-11-2, 70 points) and Colorado (31- 11-4, 66 points), chasing down home-ice advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs isn’t out the question.

That would be a huge bonus for the Wild considering how good they have been at home this season. They entered Wednesday’s game with a 17-4-0 record at the Xcel Energy Center this season. They have won 15 of their past 16 home games. 1187451 Minnesota Wild game highly unsatisfied after not burying a number of scoring chances, pressed for the winning goal and instead was pushed off the puck.

The crowd wanted a call on Zuccarello being tripped, but instead, the Wild, streak unravel against Blues, who have done a number on play went the other way with speed, and Thomas flew through Brodin for Minnesota this season the demoralizer.

“We know they’re not gonna quit,” said Talbot, whose personal seven- game point streak was snapped. “They’re a desperate team right now, By Michael Russo Apr 28, 2021 and they’re gonna play to win there at the end. We take a penalty to start the period, and their power play’s been pretty hot lately. When it comes

down to it, that’s when you need a save, especially with 23 seconds left. For two periods Wednesday night, the line dubbed the “GREEF LINE” by Just got to get a blocker on it, got to get something behind that one. a handful of clever Wild fans gave the St. Louis Blues grief every single “It’s just a tough one to swallow when you’re so close to getting at least a time they hopped the boards. point (by) taking it to overtime. … Third period, we needed a save and The Jordan Greenway–Joel Eriksson Ek–Marcus Foligno line helped didn’t get one tonight.” create Minnesota’s three goals and was that physically dominant, It was nice of Talbot to take a swan dive on the knife, but that’s hard to particularly whenever the Wild needed a big momentum shift to help accept when he has been so good this season, especially in the past two regain momentum. months. He was 13-2-2 in his previous 17 starts, in fact, and coach Dean The trio was writing one heck of a template for exceptional hockey until Evason rolled his eyes at Talbot taking the blame for this late-game the team as a whole unraveled once more this season against the Blues. meltdown.

A penalty, a turnover and one final sloppy shift in the final minute of ‘I think he’s doing what he does. He’s a leader,” Evason said. “He’s regulation each resulted in a goal as the Blues spoiled a strong first 40 taking responsibility. That’s what he does. I disagree with him. We have minutes by the Wild by mounting a three-goal, third-period comeback to to be so much better in front of him. Certainly, no goal was his fault.” hand the Wild a painful — and rare — 4-3 loss at Xcel Energy Center. Said Foligno: “Just got taught a lesson. We just kinda get complacent When Robert Thomas skated right up the gut and through normally and (left) our tendy out to dry. It’s a crappy feeling.” reliable defenseman Jonas Brodin for a winning goal with 23 seconds It’s a shame the Wild didn’t pull this one off because the Greenway- left, the Wild’s seven-game win streak came to a sudden end. The loss Eriksson Ek-Foligno line would have deserved every accolade tossed its was only the Wild’s second in the past 17 games at home. way Wednesday night. It was like they were on supercharge, like they ROBERT THOMAS WITH A LAST MINUTE DAGGER each grabbed pregame large Americanos with five extra shots of PIC.TWITTER.COM/SDYBKSYRUR espresso.

— SPITTIN' CHICLETS (@SPITTINCHICLETS) APRIL 29, 2021 Brodin earned the game’s first goal late in the first period when he fired through Eriksson Ek’s screen after Foligno chased down a blocked The defeat came in Minnesota’s first game since its earliest clinching of a Greenway shot to save possession. In the second, they controlled their playoff spot in its history Saturday night in San Jose. shifts even further, scoring early when Eriksson Ek backhanded Greenway’s rebound into a wide-open net after a hard-nosed shift led to “This was a big game,” said a visibly perturbed Foligno. “We wanted to an offensive-zone draw. catch (second-place) Colorado and put heat on them, and (the Blues) are trying to fight for their playoff lives, too. We have a lot to play for. I know OFF THE FACEOFF, ITS 2-0 #MNWILD THANKS TO THIS ERIKSSON we have an ‘x’ next to our name in the standings, but it doesn’t mean EK GOAL. PIC.TWITTER.COM/8AVNN55GD4 crap. We’ve got to come ready to work and play a full 60. Playoffs are just going to get harder. So we learn from this, and we get better from it.” — GILES FERRELL (@GILESFERRELL) APRIL 29, 2021

The Wild will have a chance to respond right away Thursday night when Then, after a dominant first 10 periods by the Wild were doused by an they take on the Blues again. In fact, Wednesday’s game was the first of undisciplined Kevin Fiala offensive-zone penalty and the Blues cut a 2-0 three in a row against the Blues and five in the regular season’s final nine deficit in half nine seconds into the power play, the Eriksson Ek line got games. Fiala off the hook by responding on the ensuing shift with an outstanding, forechecking shift. Plain and simple, the Blues have done a number on the Wild this season, though. Cam Talbot shut the Blues out in the first meeting March 25, but After his two linemates changed in the offensive zone, Foligno stayed on, three weeks ago in St. Louis, the Wild suffered their most lopsided loss in took Dumba’s feed and swept a whistler through the net-front provided by franchise history, 9-1, then the next night watched as their 2-1 third- Zach Parise and Nico Sturm. period lead disintegrated with a last-minute extra-attacker goal by Mike MARCUS FOLIGNO, OFF THE DUMBA FEED, PUTS THE #MNWILD Hoffman, then a buzzer-beating overtime goal by Ryan O’Reilly. RIGHT BACK OUT IN FRONT BY TWO. In the latest meeting, the Wild’s normally solid Brodin-Matt Dumba PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZMFFVUKNKC defense pair had a nightmarish final period. — GILES FERRELL (@GILESFERRELL) APRIL 29, 2021 First, Dumba took an early penalty, and the Wild’s usually stingy penalty Still, Foligno, who leads the NHL with a 33.3 shooting percentage (10 kill was beaten for the second time in the game just 28 seconds into the goals on 30 shots), was beating himself up for fired a shot from the Blues power play on a Hoffman snipe from his signature spot — the right goalmouth over the net in the third period. faceoff circle. The Brodin-Dumba pair survived their next shift, but right after a faceoff one shift after that, a miscommunication on a reverse led “Probably would have took the air out of their sails a little bit, so it’s just to Jordan Kyrou’s tying goal. tough to digest right now,” he said.

Dumba banked a pass off the end boards dasher meant for Brodin. The Wild got a scare late in the third when Eriksson Ek, their best center, Instead, Thomas read it perfectly, picked it off and fed Kyrou alone in the collided with Jaden Schwartz coming off the bench and looked to be hit in slot. He made a move, looked to lose the puck, and it slid underneath the head. He left the game briefly, returned to the bench, then left again. Talbot. It’s unclear if the NHL made him go to the quiet room to be monitored for a concussion because the good news is the Wild made Eriksson Ek HERE'S KYROU'S 11TH GOAL OF THE SEASON … available after the game, which they never do for injured players. HTTPS://T.CO/29XQV6YYKR “I’m good,” Eriksson Ek said. “I’d rather play a bad game than play like — JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) APRIL 29, 2021 this (and lose). That’s what it’s about is winning, and today we couldn’t In a period when the Wild spent most moments hemmed in their own finish this last period like we have before and it’s something we can learn end, they finally picked up their play and at least woke Jordan Binnington from today.” up from a siesta in the back half of the period. But in the final minute, the Kirill Kaprizov-Victor Rask-Mats Zuccarello line, which had to leave the The Wild have now gone 22 consecutive games without outshooting an improved. You just have to work hard and continue to get better and opponent. That’s almost hard to imagine for a team that at one point this hopefully everything works out.” season was one of the league’s top five-on-five teams. But, isn’t it amazing how the Wild turned their ghastly, league-worst power play Bjugstad return on horizon? around in the month of April yet find themselves being too much on their Nick Bjugstad missed his 11th consecutive game Wednesday night, but heels at even strength on a nightly basis? Evason has made it clear Bjugstad has been ready to return from his Evason was asked about that after Tuesday’s practice and voiced little head injury the past three or four games. concern, especially of late where, sure, there has been a shot deficit, but But with the Wild healthy and on a winning streak, Evason didn’t want to he has been happy with how well and hard the Wild have defended. change the lineup and pull an undeserving player.

Wednesday, however, the Wild went from outshooting the Blues through Now that the Wild lost for the first time since that April 10 overtime loss at two periods to leaking oil during a one-sided Blues’ third period that St. Louis, it wouldn’t be shocking if the door has opened for Bjugstad to ended with three goals to the Wild’s zero and 12 shots to the Wild’s play Thursday night. three. The Wild, 6-1-1 in the second of back-to-backs, did have a couple of “We’ve found ways to win hockey games like this. Tonight, we found a banged-up bodies Wednesday among Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman, who way to lose a hockey game like this,” Evason said. “We’ve got to regroup, blocked a Torey Krug shot in the first period, and Sturm, who blocked a get ready to play (Thursday).” shot with his hand in the third. But if they’re good to go, would Evason Echoed Foligno: “We just gotta make sure that we forget about this one dare pull Rask from the lineup? That would seem doubtful just because and come back angry and hungry.” Rask has yet to even be pulled off the top line or top power-play unit despite erratic play the past month. Marcus Johansson had a rough Kaprizov on Calder ‘clickbait,’ contract talks and more game Wednesday, but he’s played mostly well lately.

On Tuesday, Kaprizov, who is comfortable thus far only talking to the So that brings up to the fourth line. media through a translator, held his third press conference of the season. Sturm may be the easy guy to pull because the rookie was scratched in He hit on a number of topics since his last presser, including the recent three of five games in early April, but that would seem unfair because he chatter about the Calder Trophy being a battle between him and Dallas’ has been outstanding of late. The same could be said about Parise, who Jason Robertson. has had a good month but continues to get minuscule ice time compared with what the perennial top-six forward is used to. “I try not to think about it,” Kaprizov, who leads all NHL rookies with 22 goals and 41 points in 48 games, said of the Calder talk. “But with As you can see, if everybody’s healthy Thursday, Evason has a big today’s day and age with social media everyone has Instagram and decision if he chooses to get Bjugstad back into the lineup. … things like that. I’m constantly getting messages. I see it everywhere. It’s hard not to notice it. Personally, I don’t really think about it too much. I Captain Jared Spurgeon became the third Wild player in history to hit the don’t stress about it. Obviously, it’s always great to win something, but for 700-game plateau. Mikko Koivu ranks first at 1,028 games and Nick me personally the team performance is first and any personal accolades Schultz second at 743 games. In neat fashion, Spurgeon’s milestone come after that.” came in a game against the Blues’ Marco Scandella, his first regular defense partner both with the Houston Aeros and Minnesota Wild. Robertson suddenly has pulled within a point of Kaprizov in four fewer games, so like it or not, this could come down to the wire for Professional The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 Hockey Writers’ Association voters tasked with voting for the honor.

“Seeing another opponent there, it helps motivate you,” Kaprizov said. “It makes you want to do better and that’s as any competitor would. But other than that, I don’t focus or think about it, to be honest.”

Kaprizov did add unsolicited, “For the reporters, it’s probably quite a bit of clickbait to get the ratings up, but for me personally, I really don’t think about it much.”

Touché, although to be clear, there apparently isn’t a Russian word for “clickbait.” The translator, humorously, said he summarized what Kaprizov actually said by using the word, “clickbait.”

On other topics, the Wild have initiated contract talks with Kaprizov. It’s believed the Wild have made a contract offer, and it wouldn’t be shocking if that’s a max eight-year deal at the highest cap hit in Wild history (north of $8 million per?). What Kaprizov, 24, will eventually need to decide is whether he wants to commit an eight-year term when he conceivably could take a shorter term (maybe four, five or six) and then hit a real home-run contract when that deal’s up at a younger age than 32.

“I’m not really involved, to be honest,” Kaprizov said. “I have a contract right now that I’m on. And that’s the only thing that I’m focused on. This season, this current contract, really that’s my only focus. Going through playoffs, doing as well as I can, and then when the summer comes, we can have those discussions. I’ll be a little bit more involved. But right now, my focus is on my current contract and the current season.”

Overall, Kaprizov is happy with his season, but he feels there’s still some improvement that can be done.

“Overall, yeah, of course, I’m happy, but I think there’s a lot that I need to improve on. I continue to need to get better,” he said. “This season hasn’t been all that great. I’ve had some down days, but overall it’s been good. But I definitely need to continue to improve in all aspects of my game — defensively, offensively, every aspect of the game.

“If you ask any player, there’s always room for improvement in every aspect. The same applies to me. Every aspect of my game needs to be 1187452 Montreal Canadiens

Forward Jonathan Drouin taking indefinite leave of absence from Canadiens for personal reasons

THE CANADIAN PRESS

The Montreal Canadiens say forward Jonathan Drouin is taking indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.

The Canadiens announced on their Twitter feed that Drouin will be placed on long-term injured reserve by the club.

“We ask everyone to respect his privacy,” the Canadiens said.

Drouin has 23 points in 44 games this season. He has missed Montreal’s last three games with a non-COVID related illness.

“The most important thing right now is Jo [Drouin] taking care of what he needs to take care of,” Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said in a teleconference Wednesday. “When I heard his name this morning, I don’t think hockey, I think about the person.”

The Canadiens, fourth in the North Division, were scheduled to host the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187453 Montreal Canadiens The Canadiens, already missing winger Paul Byron, also had to face the Leafs without winger Tomas Tatar. That meant Michael Frolik returned to the starting lineup for the first time since April 1 on an emergency recall. Frolik was playing only his third game this season. Canadiens' popgun offence no match for high-flying Maple Leafs Rookie winger Cole Caufield made his Montreal debut and, in his second Montreal has been held to 29 goals in its last 15 games and its home NHL game, was teamed with and Suzuki. record dropped to 10-11-2 after a 4-1 loss to Toronto Wednesday night. The visitors required only 98 seconds before opening the scoring with a power-play goal on their first shot. Toronto displayed good puck movement, ending in Nylander’s 15th goal this season. Herb Zurkowsky The Leafs beat Jake Allen again on their fourth shot, at 8:44, on

Matthews’s magnificent solo effort. He stole the puck from Suzuki, and Maple Leafs' William Nylander beats Canadiens goalie Jake Allen during then displayed excellent hand-eye co-ordination, knocking the puck from a first-period power play Wednesday night at the . midair, then scoring on a shot that deflected off the post.

Article content Matthews leads the NHL in goals, with 35.

Limited offence and little success at home continue to plague the Allen had to be sharp to keep his team in the game the remainder of the Canadiens. period, making stops on Matthews, who was in alone, and Rasmus Sandin. Montreal returned from a five-game swing through Alberta, but failed to produce a consistent effort in its 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Muzzin made it 3-0 at 6:27 of the second period — his shot from the the Bell Centre on Wednesday night. It was the start of a four-game point deflecting off the stick of defenceman Jon Merrill. Veteran Joe homestand for the Canadiens, who will meet the Leafs four times in 11 Thornton drew an assist on the play, the 1,100th of his career. days — and potentially more if they meet in the first-round of the North But the Canadiens finally ended Jack Campbell’s shutout bid at 15:15. Division playoffs. Suzuki came down the left side, his quick release through a screen William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Jake Muzzin and Adam Brooks beating Campbell high to the stick side. It was the centre’s second goal in paced the first-place Leafs (31-13-5), who won their third consecutive three games and 10th this season, and might have provided Montreal match, clinching a playoff berth in the process. Nick Suzuki scored the with some momentum entering the third period. only goal for the Canadiens (21-18-9), who lost for the ninth time in 13 But instead it was Brooks, playing only his sixth game this season, who games. scored at 8:15 of the period after Allen turned the puck over behind his While the Canadiens remain six points ahead of Calgary in the battle for net to , who fed Brooks in front. the fourth and final playoff spot, both teams have now played 48 games. The Canadiens entertain Winnipeg Friday night. Montreal has been held to only 29 goals in its last 15 contests and Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 continues to struggle at home, its record now a poor 10-11-2.

It was an eventful day for the Canadiens, beginning in the morning when the organization announced winger Jonathan Drouin was taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons.

Drouin missed the three-game series at Calgary with what interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said at the time was a non COVID-related illness. Drouin’s mired in a horrific slump, with only two goals in 44 games — although he has 21 assists — last scoring Feb. 23, at Ottawa.

With Drouin being placed on the long-term injured reserve list, he’ll be compelled to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

Maple Leafs' William Nylander beats Canadiens goalie Jake Allen during a first-period power play Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell traps the puck between his glove and pads as he shuts down Habs right wing Joel Armia's breakaway during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

Despite pressure from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl, Habs centre Nick Suzuki scores on goaltender Jack Campbell during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

Habs right wing Josh Anderson drives Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly to the ice during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Wayne Simmonds pressures Habs defenseman Jeff Petry as he rounds goaltender Jake Allen's net during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

Habs centre Eric Staal is in the thick of it with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie as Habs centre Jake Evans looks on during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

It gets crowded behind Habs goaltender Jake Allen's net as Habs right wing Cole Caufield, left to right, left wing Phillip Danault and defenseman Jeff Petry all get tied up by Toronto Maple Leafs centre during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

Habs centre Jake Evans drives Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott to the ice after taking a big check from Dermott during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. 1187454 Montreal Canadiens “Lots of ups and downs,” Danault added. “I think there’s ups and downs everywhere, but Montreal’s a little more intense. We know how the fans are passionate. They can love you, they can not like you, too. It’s part of the game, it’s part of the big market of Montreal. That’s why they’re … Stu Cowan: Canadiens' roller-coaster season wears on players the best fans in the league.

"We understand we have a great job," Phillip Danault says, "but we’re “It’s not easy … it’s not easy to play in Montreal. When you win, it’s the human and it’s hard sometimes to listen to what people are saying." best thing, for sure, and when you’re doing good things. We’ve just got to find a way to not listen to what’s around. But the nature of French in

Quebec, it’s hard to not listen. We’re all human, too. We understand we Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette have a great job, but we’re human and it’s hard sometimes to listen to what people are saying around us. Even our close people … sometimes they just give us a little comment and we get irritated. It’s a big market … we’ve just got to learn to work with it. It’s not easy … it’s a lifetime work.” This Canadiens season is turning into a real-life version of the Lance et Compte TV series from the mid-1980s. This has been a tough season for Danault, who didn’t score his first goal until the 25th game and has 4-18-22 totals in 48 games. Danault is also That soap opera on ice, written by journalist Réjean Tremblay and playing for a new contract since his three-year, US$9.25-million deal novelist Louis Caron, focused on the personal and professional life of expires after this season and he can become an unrestricted free agent. Pierre Lambert, a player with the fictional Le National NHL team in Quebec City. It has also been a tough season for Drouin, who has 2-21-23 totals in 44 games and has gone 26 games without scoring a goal. Drouin has two The storylines from this Canadiens season could be enough to bring seasons left on his six-year, US$33-million contract. back Lance et Compte. As the only two francophone Quebecers on the team, there is more First, the team gets off to a fantastic 7-1-2 start, which has fans dreaming pressure on Danault and Drouin. of a 25th Stanley Cup. “I’m not getting into details,” Ducharme said when asked about Drouin’s Then things slowly start to fall apart, resulting in head coach Claude situation. “The only thing I wish for him is that he takes care of himself. Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller getting fired when the team has a We’re with him, we’re supporting him, his teammates support him. We’re 9-5-4 record. Dominique Ducharme is named interim head coach without a team and we’re going to remain a team.” getting one full practice with the team before taking over. It’s a real-life team. The star goaltender, Carey Price, continues to struggle, so a week later GM fires goalie coach Stéphane Waite during the middle Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 of a game.

The team’s inconsistent play continues, unable to win more than three games in a row. Joel Armia tests positive for COVID-19 and four games are postponed. Brendan Gallagher, the heart-and-soul of the team, then suffers a fractured thumb and the Canadiens take a nosedive with the possibility of missing the playoffs becoming real.

The star goaltender is then sidelined for six games with a lower-body injury. Price returns and sustains a concussion during his second game back and is out indefinitely. The Canadiens have a hot goal-scoring prospect in Cole Caufield, but somehow can’t get him in the lineup because of salary cap constraints.

Jonathan Drouin, the local boy, misses three games in Calgary with a “non-COVID related illness” and after the team returns home he is placed on the long-term injured reserve list for personal reasons and will be absent indefinitely. The team asks that Drouin’s privacy be respected.

That bring us right up to Wednesday night’s game at the Bell Centre, which the Canadiens lost 4-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadiens now have eight games remaining in the regular season as they continue to fight for a playoff spot..

Over the years — with every game televised, 24-hour sports TV channels and sports talk-radio stations, along with social media — the Canadiens have become a reality TV show and sometimes people might forget that the players are real people and not actors.

Pro athletes earn a lot of money and they also face a lot of pressure from fans and media. It’s part of their job.

The bigger the market and the more passionate the fan base, the more the pressure can build.

Forward Jonathan Drouin will take an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.

He was placed on long-term injured reserve by the club. We ask everyone to respect his privacy. pic.twitter.com/bfy5F7afY6

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2021

“As a player, we already put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” the Canadiens’ Phillip Danault said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “I would say it gets amplified in Montreal. We so want to do well and wear the jersey with pride. It’s an added pressure we put on our shoulders. Sometimes, it becomes more difficult on the ice and off it. These aren’t the kinds of things we can control. 1187455 Montreal Canadiens The Canadiens asked Wednesday that Drouin’s privacy be respected now that he’s on the long-term injured reserve list after he had missed the previous three games with what the team called a non-COVID related illness. Crazy, condensed 56-game season getting more difficult for Canadiens “I’m not getting into details,” Ducharme said about Drouin. “The only thing "We have 20 guys in the lineup tonight that will be wearing the jersey and I wish for him is that he takes care of himself. We’re with him, we’re we’ll fight for the win," coach Dominique Ducharme says. supporting him, his teammates support him. We’re a team and we’re going to remain a team.”

Danault called it a “difficult situation” with Drouin, who has struggled this Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette Publishing date:Apr 28, 2021 season with 2-21-23 totals and a minus-8 in 44 games. He has gone 26 games without scoring a goal and had been demoted to the fourth line.

The Canadiens announced Wednesday morning that Jonathan Drouin “I’d rather not elaborate and get into details; it’s his private life,” Danault had been placed on the long-term injured reserve list for personal said about Drouin. “It’s certainly not evident. I understand it, too. I’m a reasons and will be absent indefinitely. Quebecer and I know what it means to play in Montreal. It’s hard for me to comment, I don’t want to get into details. He’s a big part of our team This crazy, condensed 56-game NHL season isn’t getting any easier for and we’re sad for Jo.” the Canadiens. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 With Carey Price (concussion) and Brendan Gallagher (fractured thumb) already sidelined, the Canadiens were missing Tomas Tatar, Paul Byron and Jonathan Drouin at Wednesday’s morning skate in Brossard before facing the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.

Tatar and Byron are both dealing with lower-body injuries, while the Canadiens announced Wednesday morning that Drouin has been placed on the long-term injured reserve list for personal reasons and that he will be out indefinitely. Tatar and Byron were both going to be game-time decisions.

Wednesday night’s game against the Leafs was the 16th of 17 games in 30 days for the Canadiens in April. They will play seven games in 12 days in May to wrap up the regular season.

Heading into Wednesday’s game, the Canadiens were holding the fourth and final playoff spot in the all-Canadian North Division, six points ahead of fifth-place Calgary (21-24-3) while holding one game in hand on the Flames.

“We have 20 guys in the lineup tonight that will be wearing the jersey and we’ll fight for the win,” Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “It is a challenging year. There’s not one player right now, there’s not one former player right now, there’s not a coach, there’s not a former coach … nobody’s been through 25 games in 43 days schedule, going coast-to-coast. Never happened in hockey. So we’re just managing it day-by-day and the guys are all in in what we do. It’s challenging. It’s challenging for many reasons. It’s part of it … we got to deal with it. We’ll go through it. We’ll come out of this as a team stronger.”

The Canadiens’ Phillip Danault, in his seventh NHL season, said this is the hardest one for him, even though it’s not a full 82-game schedule.

“I don’t think I’d be the only one (to say that),” he added. “It’s 56 (games), but it feels like 82 or plus, especially for the body and mentally. In all aspects, to be honest. No fans … it’s hard. It’s part of life. Everyone goes through hard times, too, in different ways, so we’re not complaining about it. We just know it’s a harder year and we got to stick to it and keep pushing for the playoffs.”

Danault said having no fans in has made it more difficult to bring emotion to the game, especially when they’re playing so many games in such a short period of time.

“Playing every two nights, so we’re trying to get the emotion,” he said. “I think the hardest part in hockey is to get that emotion every single night and that passion. We’re playing our best when we’re passionate. It’s definitely hard to get every single night, but that’s where good teams come together and we stick (together) and we got energy on the bench and we’re trying to fight through it. Obviously, we know it’s not going to be perfect but trying to get the best energy as we can.”

This is Jake Evans’s first full season in the NHL with the Canadiens, but he has also found it challenging. Evans has been a healthy scratch for nine games.

“It’s definitely been a different season, one you wouldn’t — I guess — expect as much,” Evans said. “But for me it’s pretty simple. It’s playing the same way as I started the year and whenever I get that chance in the lineup it’s just playing my game and playing hard and trying not to focus on all those outside factors.” 1187456 Montreal Canadiens absent indefinitely. The Canadiens asked that Drouin’s privacy be respected. Byron and Tatar are dealing with lower-body injuries.

Drouin missed the previous three games with what the Canadiens said Canadiens Game Day: Injury-riddled Habs no match for Maple Leafs was a non-COVID related illness. In 44 games this season, Drouin has 2- 21-23 totals and is minus-8. While Drouin ranks second on the team in Offence continues to be a problem for the Canadiens, who have now assists — trailing Jeff Petry, who has 23 — he has gone 26 games scored two goals or less in 11 of their last 13 games. without scoring a goal.

Michael Frolik took Tatar’s spot in the lineup, while Byron missed his third straight game. Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette Publishing date: Apr 29, 2021 La formation de ce soir.

Tonight's lineup.#GoHabsGo | @TSN690 pic.twitter.com/GobHbUq3PQ The Canadiens were simply no match for the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night at the Bell Centre. — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2021

William Nylander opened the scoring for the Leafs with a power-play goal Defenceman Alexander Romanov returned to the lineup after being put 1:38 into the game while Tyler Toffoli was in the penalty box for tripping. on the taxi squad before Monday’s 2-1 win over the Flames in Calgary. The Canadiens used their last call-up of the season to put Romanov Auston Matthews made it 2-0 when he scored his league-leading 35th back in the lineup. He was on the third defence pairing with Jon Merrill goal of the season 8:44 into the first period and when Jake Muzzin made and they both finished the game minus-2. it 3-0 for the Leafs at 6:27 of the second period this game was basically over because the Canadiens have a very hard time scoring more than After the morning skate, Ducharme wouldn’t go into details about two goals in a game. Drouin’s situation, but did say the player has the support of the team and his teammates. Ducharme did shoot down any speculation that Drouin Nick Suzuki gave the Canadiens a glimmer of hope at 15:15 of the might have checked himself into the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse second period when he cut Toronto’s lead to 3-1, but the Leafs really put program. it away when Adam Brooks scored at 8:15 of the third period. When asked if he’s hoping Drouin will be able to return before the end of The Canadiens have now scored two goals or less in 11 of their last 13 the regular season or in the playoffs, if the Canadiens get there, games since Brendan Gallagher was sidelined with a fractured thumb Ducharme said: “The most important thing right now is Jo taking care of and have a 4-9-0 record during that span while scoring 23 goals. That what he needs to take care of. When I hear his name this morning, I don’t works out to an average of 1.77 goals per game. think hockey. I think about the person.” If this continues, there’s no guarantee the Canadiens will get in the The coach added: “I talk to my players daily, I like to know how they’re playoffs, even though they hold a six-point lead over the Calgary Flames feeling. Our role is to get the best out of them. We’re here to help them, in the battle for the final spot in the all-Canadian North Division. Both challenge them, and help them reach their full potential. But we’re also teams have eight games remaining. here for individuals. I’ve always acted the same way with Jonathan as “Tonight on our side, I was OK with the way we started,” Canadiens head with any other player. We’re here to support them and we’ll always be coach Dominique Ducharme said. “They scored on their first two there for them.” chances, then we kept going a little bit. But then the last five minutes of Ducharme had an update on Price, who has missed the last five games the first and the second period I think mentally maybe it seemed for the with a concussion after missing six games earlier this month with a lower- guys that it looked like a big mountain to climb back. We kind of slowed body injury. down there. Gave a push early in the third.” “He’s doing better,” the coach said. “He had a test today so we’ll know a It was the Canadiens’ first game back home after a five-game Western little bit more. There was some good news to get yesterday. It’s always Canada road trip on which they posted a 2-3-0 record. tricky (with concussions), but he’s heading in the right direction.” “We need to be better also finishing on our chances,” Ducharme said. THE POWERHORSE #GoHabsGo Josh Anderson hit on “Especially early in the game.” #LeafsForever Morgan Rielly If the Canadiens do get in the playoffs the Maple Leafs will be their likely @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/fJSyB9rQTO first-round opponent. If Wednesday night was a sign of things to come it would be a very short playoff series. The Canadiens are hoping — Here's Your Replay (@HeresYourReplay) April 29, 2021 Gallagher and goalie Carey Price (concussion) will be back in the lineup by that time, which would improve their chances. Toffoli and Anderson have impact

This was the seventh of 10 games this season between the Canadiens Tyler Toffoli (25) and Josh Anderson (17) lead the Canadiens in goals. and Leafs. The Canadiens now have a 2-4-1 record in those games. While they didn’t score Wednesday night, they did have a physical The Leafs improved their first-place record to 31-13-5 and clinched a presence. Toffoli led the Canadiens with seven hits, while Anderson had playoff spot with the win. The Canadiens now have a 21-18-9 record, six. Toffoli had two shots and Anderson had three. including 10-11-2 at home. Five of their last eight games are at the Bell “There’s just no excuses,” Anderson said about the team’s performance. Centre. “Yeah, we got back from out west and that road trip. But (the Leafs) The Canadiens have a 12-13-5 record since Ducharme took over as looked pretty flat tonight and I think that we made it an easy hockey head coach from Claude Julien. game for them. These are the games that you just got to find a way to win and just grind through. You just got to find a way and all come NICK SUZUKI #GoHabsGo together and good things will happen. We just didn’t have a full 60-minute hockey game tonight. 3-1 #LeafsForever “We’re in a playoff position right now, but it’s not easy,” Anderson added. @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/sDK8pVSbCC “You got to come out and compete for these next eight or so games and — Here's Your Replay (@HeresYourReplay) April 29, 2021 you want to be in the playoffs, you got to deserve to be in the playoffs. We just got to find ways to win and I know that some guys are not going Lineup changes to have it every night. But you just got to compete and just battle together and get through it together and good things are going to happen.” The Canadiens were missing Gallagher, Price, Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron and Tomas Tatar for this game. Toffoli and Anderson have combined to score 31 per cent of the Canadiens’ 137 goals this season. Toffoli had scored a goal in four The team announced Wednesday morning that Drouin had been placed straight games before getting shut out by the Leafs. Anderson has only on the long-term injured reserve list for personal reasons and will be two goals in the last nine games, both coming in the same game. Joel Armia in all alone. The Leafs went 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Canadiens were 0- for-2. Campbell flashes the leather. Ben Chiarot led the Canadiens with 21:48 of ice time, followed by Shea @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/eih4uxuaMo Weber with 21:48 and Jeff Petry with 21:26. Corey Perry led the forwards — Here's Your Replay (@HeresYourReplay) April 29, 2021 in ice time with 16:59, followed by Anderson with 16:35 and Suzuki with 16:28. New linemates for Caufield Weber had a team-leading four shots, while Petry, Anderson and Joel Cole Caufield was on a line with Phillip Danault and Tatar for his NHL Armia had three each. debut Monday night in Calgary. Danault went 14-6 on his 20 faceoffs (70 per cent), Suzuki went 6-3 (67 On Wednesday night, Caufield was with Nick Suzuki and Toffoli. per cent), Jesperi Kotkaniemi went 8-5 (62 per cent), Evans went 4-2 (67 per cent) and Staal went 3-2 (60 per cent). Caufield had two shots in 13:59 of ice time and finished the game minus- 1. Stu Cowan: Canadiens' roller-coaster season wears on players

“Looking for all our players to be at their best and playing solid,” The Canadiens announced Wednesday morning that Jonathan Drouin Ducharme said when asked about that new line following Wedesday’s had been placed on the long-term injured reserve list for personal morning skate. “I think those three guys together, obviously, they have an reasons and will be absent indefinitely. offensive potential, for sure. But they’re different players. We’ll see … they might connect. Or maybe chemistry won’t be that good. With the Crazy, condensed 56-game season getting more difficult for Canadiens question marks that we have up and down the lineup we need to be What’s next? flexible and ready to adapt to anything.” Wednesday night’s game was the first of four straight home games for Son premier match au Centre Bell. the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. They will play the Winnipeg Jets on First game at the Bell Centre for this guy.#GoHabsGo Friday (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN3, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM), the Ottawa pic.twitter.com/wQOLYauzW3 Senators on Saturday (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) and the Maple Leafs again on Monday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2021 TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

The veteran and the kid Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 Jake Evans was a healthy scratch for six of the first 13 games that Eric Staal played for the Canadiens after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres.

Evans, who lost his fourth-line centre job to Staal, was a winger on the fourth line Wednesday night with Staal and Frolik.

“He talks a lot on the bench and I think we’re developing some nice chemistry,” Evans said about Staal after the morning skate. “He’s such an amazing player and he’s played in this league for a while. He just knows where to be and he’s so strong on the puck. Really good on faceoffs, too, so he’s an easy guy to play with.”

Evans is in his first full season in the NHL, while Staal is in his 17th season. This was Evans’s third straight game after being a healthy scratch for six consecutive games.

“I think for me when that trade (for Staal) happened it was still in my hands to play my game and if I played well enough hopefully I’d get those opportunities,” Evans said. “So it’s the same mindset now when I get back in the lineup is try and make sure it’s not your last one and try and get that opportunity again and again. So every game I’m going in I’m trying to prove myself and prove to the coaches and to the team that I can be a good player on this team and have a positive impact.”

Frolik est de retour dans la formation!

Frolik is back in the lineup!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/YPLyRGpRhU

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2021

Gallagher skating again

Ducharme said after the morning skate that Gallagher, who has been sidelined since suffering a fractured thumb in a 3-2 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers on April 5, has started skating again and that the cast has been taken off his right hand.

“He’s doing good, but I don’t think it changes anything on his timeline to come back playing,” Ducharme said.

Gallagher is not expected to return to the lineup before the end of the regular season.

#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/p56mheqjR3

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 29, 2021

Some stats

The Canadiens outshot the Leafs 33-29, outhit them 29-24 and won 66 per cent of the faceoffs. 1187457 Montreal Canadiens

Forward Jonathan Drouin takes indefinite leave from Montreal Canadiens

Mired in a season-long scoring slump, Drouin was removed from the lineup due to a non COVID-19 related illness last week.

Herb Zurkowsky Montreal Gazette

Montreal Canadiens' Jonathan Drouin (92) carries the puck over the blue line as Vancouver Canucks defenceman Jordie Benn (8) follows behind Feb. 1, 2021.

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In a surprising development Wednesday morning, the Canadiens announced forward Jonathan Drouin will take an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.

He has been placed on the long-term injured reserve list by the club, which requested that his privacy be respected.

The 26-year-old left-winger is mired in a season-long slump, having scored only two goals in 44 games. He has, however, added 21 assists. Drouin’s last goal came Feb. 23, at Ottawa, and he has gone four games without a point.

Last week, before a game at Calgary, interim head coach Dominique Ducharme announced Drouin was a late scratch due to a non COVID-19 related illness, but the club provided no further details.

Also last week, when Drouin was asked by the Montreal Gazette about his scoring slump, he replied: “There’s another column on the right, too, if you want to look at it.”

He undoubtedly was referring to his assists total.

After Wednesday’s morning skate, Ducharme wouldn’t go into details about Drouin’s situation, but did say the player has the support of the team and his teammates.

When asked if he’s hoping Drouin will be able to return to the Canadiens before the end of the regular season or in the playoffs, if the Canadiens get there, Ducharme said: “The most important thing right now is Jo taking care of what he needs to take care of. When I hear his name this morning, I don’t think hockey. I think about the person.”

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Forward Jonathan Drouin will take an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.

He was placed on long-term injured reserve by the club. We ask everyone to respect his privacy. pic.twitter.com/bfy5F7afY6

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2021

Drouin, along with winger Josh Anderson, are the Canadiens’ highest- paid forwards, both earning an annual salary of US$5.5 million. But Anderson, acquired in a trade from Columbus for Max Domi, has 17 goals and 24 points this season.

There was some belief Drouin’s season might turn around after Ducharme replaced the fired Claude Julien in late February — if only because Ducharme was his coach in junior hockey, with the Halifax Mooseheads. But that, obviously, hasn’t occurred.

The Canadiens entertain the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187458 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021

Leafs at Canadiens: Five things you should know

This is the seventh of 10 games between the teams, who will see each other four times over the next 11 days.

Herb Zurkowsky Montreal Gazette

Canadiens' Tyler Toffoli is flanked by goalie Jake Allen and rookie Cole Caufield after Monday night's win over the Calgary Flames.

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Here are five things you should know about the Leafs-Canadiens game Wednesday night at the Bell Centre (8 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).

The matchup: This is the seventh of 10 games between the teams, who will see each other four times over the next 11 days — and even more should they meet in the opening-round of the North Division playoffs, something many fans are hoping for. The Canadiens are 2-3-1 against Toronto, but that includes a 4-2 victory the last time they met in Montreal. Tomas Tatar paced Montreal that night with a pair of goals, one into an empty net. All of the games have been close, with the largest margin of victory being two goals.

Now that that’s done:Cole Caufield made his Canadiens debut in Monday’s 2-1 victory at Calgary. Skating mostly on a line with Tatar and Phillip Danault, the 5-foot-7, 170-pound right-winger had four shots on net while playing 15:40. Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme also utilized Caufield on the power play. With no media availability on Tuesday, there’s no update on the injury situation and no way of knowing whether Caufield will remain in the lineup. But we already know he doesn’t require much time or space to shoot. “If there’s a good look I’m going to take it,” Caufield said Monday night. “I’m going to shoot whenever I can, create things and hope things happen.”

A move that paid off: There’s no denying Tyler Toffoli will go down as one of general manager Marc Bergevin’s better acquisitions this season. Signed to a four-year, US$17-million free-agent contract last October, Toffoli scored his team-leading 25th goal in Monday night’s game. Although the Canadiens remain offensively challenged, Toffoli has more than carried his weight. He has four goals in his last four games and became the first Montreal player since Stéphane Richer in 1987-88 to produce 25 goals in 45 games or less. Richer did it in 40 games and completed the season with 50 goals in 72 games, while Toffoli has played in 44. “I never come into a season thinking about a certain number,” Toffoli said. “The season’s not over yet. I’d be lying if I said there’s no puck luck or bounces. It’s been a fun ride.” Toffoli produced 24 goals and 44 points in 68 games last season, split between Vancouver and Los Angeles.

The other guys: The Maple Leafs (30-13-5) are running away with the division and lead Edmonton by seven points, although the Oilers hold two games in hand. Still, it’s sometimes difficult to read Toronto. The team went into Vancouver and lost two straight to a team that had been sidelined for a lengthy period of time because of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols. But then the Leafs went to Winnipeg and swept a two-game series against the stronger team. Toronto will be well-rested, having last played on Saturday.

This and that: With defenceman Alexander Romanov placed on the taxi squad Monday — a move that was required to activate Caufield — Ducharme decided to pair newcomers Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson. Both players were acquired at the trade deadline. “They played well together,” Ducharme said. “They were composed on breakouts and made some solid plays defensively. They did a solid job.” … Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen returned to full practice on Monday after missing five weeks with a knee injury. While the veteran would like to play a game before the end of the regular season, no timetable has been established for his return. He’s a potential unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. … The Leafs are undefeated in two games since Nick Foligno joined the roster. Foligno was acquired in an April 11 trade from Columbus, and then had to serve a seven-day quarantine period. He has two assists with the Leafs. 1187459 Montreal Canadiens think that way, even though there are many fields where the top 800 people in the world are paid far more handsomely.

But despite hockey players being wired differently than most of us, they The Canadiens lost to the Maple Leafs, and in light of prior events, it have vulnerabilities, moments where their intense desire to excel and win mattered less than usual come in direct conflict with their limits as people, limits they have tried to push as far as possible their entire lives.

At some point, however, you can only push those limits so far before they By Arpon Basu Apr 28, 2021 hit a wall.

We don’t know what’s happened with Jonathan Drouin, and that’s fine. It’s good, even. He deserves privacy in handling whatever personal Josh Anderson seemed exasperated, repeatedly stating how much he issues led the Canadiens to grant him an indefinite leave of absence believed in the Canadiens despite the 4-1 loss they had just suffered at Wednesday morning. The fact they are showing him support in this is the the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. positive news, but here’s hoping Drouin is able to recover from whatever At one point, he even prefaced that belief in his team by saying “believe it issues he is facing. or not”, as though believing in this team stretches what could be One thing about Drouin is he is an intense competitor. He holds himself considered plausible. The Canadiens have now lost nine of their last 13 to an incredibly high standard. He watches video obsessively in an effort games, with every loss coming in regulation time, and only one of them to improve. He’s completely changed the way he plays, putting in as having a one-goal margin. much effort without the puck as when he has it. But weaknesses have Anderson had nothing to be ashamed of with his performance in the remained, and he had become – as he’s been for much of his time in game. He gave everything he had and then some. But the thing is, Montreal – a lightning rod for criticism. everyone on the Canadiens is giving everything he has. The question is Once the Canadiens announced Drouin would be gone indefinitely, it was really how much is reasonable for them to give? clear there was something serious involved. It is rare to see the “I don’t know what to tell you,” Anderson said off the top of his postgame Canadiens include a request to respect a player’s privacy when they media availability after the game. “There’s just no excuses. Yeah, we got announce news, but they did in Drouin’s case. It was alarming. back from out west and that road trip, but (the Maple Leafs) looked pretty Phillip Danault was asked to address the situation Wednesday morning, flat tonight and I think that we made it an easy hockey game for them. and he was in a unique position to do so. He is a Quebec-born These are the games you’ve just got to find a way to win and just grind Francophone playing for the Canadiens, like Drouin. They are the only through.” two in that position, and they each play prominent roles on the team. There’s just no excuses. That carries an extra burden that no other player on no other team is forced to carry. Mitch Marner and John Tavares do not feel it as Ontario- We hear hockey players say this a lot, and often times they are correct. born stars for the Maple Leafs; they just feel the normal burden of being The conditions they play under are the same for every team. Every team a star player for the Maple Leafs. Where they were born, their mother has injuries. Every team has difficult portions of their schedule. Every tongue, really have nothing to do with it. team goes through adversity and it is the best teams that come out the other side stronger. The Canadiens don’t appear able to find the other Danault insisted he did not want to get into the details of what was going side. on with Drouin, and no one really asked him to. Danault went there all on his own. It was almost as though he needed to get something off his own But if there are no excuses, there can be reasons. chest.

This was the Canadiens’ 17th game in 30 days. The Maple Leafs have He immediately pointed to that unique burden. played 14 games in the same span, which under normal circumstances would be considered ridiculous, but those three fewer games are a “We’ve got to find a way to not listen to what’s around,” Danault said. blessing right now. It’s not the Maple Leafs’ fault the Canadiens had a “Our nature as French Quebecers, it’s hard not to listen, we’re all case of COVID-19 that cost them a week of action and further humans too. We understand we’ve got a great job, it’s hard to listen to compressed an already-compressed schedule, and good on them if they what people are saying around us. Even people close to us, they say a were able to take advantage of the circumstances. little comment and we get irritated. It’s a big market, we’ve got to learn to work with it. It’s not easy, but it’s a life’s work.” But we all knew the Canadiens would have trouble handling a schedule like this when it was released by the NHL, so we shouldn’t be all that Drouin, from the very first day he was traded to Montreal, has always surprised to see it happening now. wanted to embrace this burden. To use it as fuel. He immediately got involved with the CHUM Hospital Foundation and became the face of The day began Wednesday with terrible news, but news that provided a their fundraising efforts. He knew what it meant to be a kid from Mont good dose of perspective to everything that is going on around the Tremblant playing for the Montreal Canadiens and he wanted to thrive on Canadiens right now. it. But, as Danault said, it’s not easy.

Did this loss to the Maple Leafs make you upset as a Canadiens fan? Did “It’s easy to say I don’t hear anything, but eventually you can’t help but it make you question that fandom? Did it alter your mood? Are you hear things, even if you know those things already,” Danault said. annoyed reading this story right now? Angry, even? “Hockey players are already demanding enough on ourselves, but when it’s not going well, we get criticized and it becomes even tougher to Now take that level of emotion and multiply it by about 1,000 to get some bounce back. We take it personally sometimes. I have my family, my wife sense of what the actual players are feeling every time they leave the ice and kid, and I stick with them as much as possible. We work as a team after a loss, knowing how many of you are disappointed in them, but an enormous amount. It’s not easy, but I’m lucky they’re there.” even stronger than that, the feeling of disappointment in themselves. This is something hockey players are wired to accept and recover from, but What Drouin is going through, what led to him taking the extraordinary not at this rate. Not with this kind of frequency. measure of taking a leave of absence in the home stretch of the season, cannot only be affecting him. And it cannot solely be the unique burden The investment required from the athlete to play in the NHL is at a level he faces as a native son playing for the Canadiens. none of us can fully understand. This is something these men have been obsessed with practically their entire lives. Most of them first began The constancy of this schedule, the relentlessness of it, has to have skating at age 2 or 3, playing organized hockey maybe two or three years played some kind of role here, and in that sense, every member of this later, and that was it. From that point on, this has been the goal, the team must be feeling it to varying degrees. singular obsession. How many of you have been working on being good at your jobs for that long? From that age? Danault called this the hardest season he’s ever played, how 56 games have felt like more than 82. And he hasn’t even reached 56 yet. It is easy to say that these athletes are paid millions to play a game, and therefore excuses are unacceptable. That you would love to trade places The desire to compete and win is what drives these guys even as they with them. That they are paid to perform and therefore they should experience the most trying season of their lives. But conjuring up what it perform no matter the circumstances or obstacles. That is your right to takes to compete consistently is proving difficult, and it would not be unreasonable to believe the players are having difficulty doing that because of circumstances that are outside their control.

Having time between games allows frustration to dampen. It allows you to manage the extreme highs and extreme lows of a season and not allow them to bleed from one game into another. But when the next game is always two days later, or the next night, without exception, the residual effects of each game could very well pile up, and then performance can suffer.

No one wants to admit it, least of all the players, but it would appear to be a reality that was made very stark by what Drouin and the Canadiens decided to do earlier in the day Wednesday, prior to this loss to the Maple Leafs that was largely inconsequential.

Except no loss, no game, is inconsequential in Montreal. The same could be said of other NHL cities, that is not unique to the Canadiens, but when you add that reality to the reality of an extremely demanding schedule, nights like Wednesday are what you get. Nights like the Canadiens have had very frequently of late are what you get.

“We’ve talked about it,” Ducharme said after the game. “Mentally, it’s about managing the game. Tonight was one example. It’s not that they had many chances to start, but they scored on their first two chances. So now that becomes a different mental challenge. I think where we didn’t handle things right tonight is that we tried to force the game early as if it was the end of the third period already, that we needed to score two in five minutes at the end of the first.

“So it’s sticking with your game, it’s not giving gifts to the other team, it’s about managing moments, it’s about many things. Obviously, we addressed all that, but we’ll keep working on it and we won’t let up on that. We’ve got to be stronger, and we’ll do it.”

There are no excuses in hockey, but there can be reasons.

Hockey players are not perfect. They are not indestructible. They are not infallible. But their failures are not always due to a lack of strength.

It can be difficult to remember sometimes, but perhaps we all need to do a better job on that.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187460 Montreal Canadiens Paul Caufield doesn’t watch his sons play hockey with the same verve as a typical hockey dad. He watches more like a coach, silent, focused, paying attention to details. The day after his son’s NHL debut, Paul was on a plane at 6 a.m. to Dallas for the U-15 nationals, always the coach at Cole Caufield’s debut with the Canadiens as seen through the eyes of his heart. In fact, Dallas Stars centre Joe Pavelski, who is from nearby father and brother Plover and skated at the same rink in Stevens Point that Paul manages today, texted him to congratulate him on Cole’s debut. When Pavelski

found out Paul would be in Dallas, the Stars player offered him tickets to By Arpon Basu Apr 28, 2021 Tuesday night’s Stars game against the Carolina Hurricanes. But Paul’s team had practice Tuesday night, so he didn’t go.

Yes, he takes coaching seriously, which is what made the first thing he The Caufields, like most families, have a group chat. Unlike most noticed about Cole suiting up in his first NHL game so amusing. It wasn’t families, however, their group chat often revolves around hockey. anything about how he played, because the game hadn’t even started yet. It was during the national anthem. It was no different Monday morning. “I’m looking for things. Does he fit in? Can he keep up with the pace? Is Paul Caufield, the father of the family, was at the rink he manages in he getting opportunities? Is he changing at the right time? All that little Stevens Point, Wis., getting ready to take the U-15 team he coaches to stuff, I’m looking at,” Paul said. “Kelly’s just excited he’s wearing a the national championships in Dallas. uniform. Kelly Caufield, the mother, was teaching and therefore did not have “We see him standing there, and he’s starting the game! And I’m thinking access to the chat. he shouldn’t be standing between (Shea) Weber and (Ben) Chiarot, Brock Caufield was in Madison, where he is completing his junior year at they’re two big guys. He should be standing somewhere else.” the University of . At the opening faceoff, Caufield lined up next to someone closer to his Cole Caufield, of course, was in Calgary with the Canadiens. And he had size, and the first thing Paul thought of was there were two Hobey Baker news. Award winners facing off against each other. Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau won it in 2014, and Caufield won it a couple of weeks ago. But Simultaneously, everyone in the family had a message flash across their once the game began, Paul’s coaching eyes took over. phones. It was brief, but it packed a punch: 22 is in. Paul and Kelly Caufield watch their son Cole play his first home game at Though Caufield has not worn No. 22 in years, not since he took part in a the University of Wisconsin in 2019. (Arpon Basu / The Athletic) tournament with a national team as a youth player, Paul and Brock instantly knew what the message meant. “The first thing that intrigued me was the pace of the game up and down, because Calgary’s got fast forwards. But it almost seemed like the Cole Caufield was going to the show. structure helped him, the forecheck, he was the first guy, angling the guy “I was just so happy, I didn’t even know what to say,” Brock said to the outside, and doing a pretty good job that way,” Paul said. “The first Tuesday. “I can’t even remember what I texted back in the group chat. I rush down the ice, he shoots it and we’re like, oh, my goodness, that was just overwhelmed, and the first thing I did was check what time the almost went in! What? First shift in the NHL? game was at.” “What I saw is just like what he’s said the whole trip, the team has been Paul, on the other hand, knows exactly how he responded in the group really good to him, teaching him. They could have been the total opposite chat. because he’s here taking away ice time from someone. But he said Danault and Tatar were really good to him throughout the game. … He “Can you call me?” got some shots on goal, he did all the little things he’s supposed to do well, but it was the things people thought he’d struggle with, getting the The hockey roots of the Caufield family run deep. puck off the wall and out of the zone, making all the little plays in the Wayne Caufield was a semipro hockey player from Sault Ste. Marie, defensive zone. The scoring, that should come, but can he play in his Ontario, who finished his career with the , where he own defensive zone, can he do the simple stuff to be effective five-on- and his wife, Eileen, settled. Wayne coached youth hockey in the five, and I thought he did that. He got pucks out of the zone.” Milwaukee area for more than 20 years and was inducted into the Paul was at home watching on television with Kelly and invited a former Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011. college teammate and his wife to watch with them. It was quiet.

This led to Paul’s love of the game. He played for the University of Down in Madison, Brock was still reeling from the news when his coach, Wisconsin-Stevens Point and remains the school’s all-time leading Tony Granato, gave him a call. He picked Brock up at his apartment and scorer, with 126 goals and 128 assists in 148 games. He went on to a brought him over to his house, where they watched Cole’s debut coaching career in college hockey before the birth of his sons led him to together. take a job running the local rink in Stevens Point, the rink where his sons learned to love the game through countless hours of practice, just the two “I couldn’t be there, and I couldn’t watch with my parents,” Brock said, “so of them, working to achieve a dream. it was a cool way to celebrate his first game.”

That dream came true for Cole on Monday, and it couldn’t have been a Brock and Cole had been speaking throughout the Canadiens’ road trip, more appropriate day. with Cole relating what he was experiencing to his big brother, who played a big role in Cole getting there. Aside from being in an NHL Wayne Caufield died in 2018, but Monday would have been his 78th entourage, there were little details to talk about, like the charter plane birthday. that brought the Canadiens to Alberta.

“He was the guy who brought hockey to our family,” Paul said. “Everything was just cool, because he’d dreamt about it his whole life and When Brock sat down to watch his brother play his first NHL game, this is now it was happening,” Brock said. “We kind of catch ourselves talking to what he thought of. each other. Like, is this actually happening to you right now? It’s hard to imagine sometimes. If we were to go back a few years ago and we’d be Family. talking, like, do you think this is going to happen? It’s kind of crazy to see how fast it’s happened. “Just seeing the name on the back of his jersey,” Brock said. “Like, my grandpa started our family through hockey, and it’s just been such a “It’s crazy to think of everything he’s accomplished this year. Like, he family atmosphere. My mom and dad, my dad would be coaching, my won a gold medal (at the World Junior Championship) this year. It seems mom would be in the stands, my brother and me would be playing, just like that was three years ago. There’s been so much, and he’s handled it thinking back to all those memories, how it all helped Cole get here and all so well. It’s cool to see, and it’s cool to see it keep going for him.” helped our family get to where we are. It’s just cool looking back on all that, and seeing his name on the back of his jersey is pretty special.” After the game, Caufield said he was excited to finish his media responsibilities and call his parents. He was happy to have made his debut, but he was happiest the Canadiens won what was a must-win game.

It’s unclear how long Caufield will be able to stay in the Canadiens lineup because of all the salary-cap and roster juggling that needed to happen just for him to play one game (Paul said he has recently taken to reading up on all the collective bargaining rules that are affecting his son’s ability to play in the NHL).

But when Paul got that call from his son after his first NHL game, there was only one message that came through loud and clear.

“So cool. I’m here, it’s so cool,” Cole told his dad. “I just want to stay here. I want to stay at this level.”

This was another major hockey milestone that Paul and Kelly Caufield were unable to attend. When Cole went to the world U-18 championships in Sweden, they couldn’t afford the trip. When he won the gold medal at the world juniors in Edmonton, the closed Canada-U.S. border meant they couldn’t see that, either. When he made his professional debut with the in Toronto, the border was still closed. The same obstacle stopped them from seeing their son’s NHL debut.

But that phone call had to suffice, and it was meaningful to a father who had prepared his son for this moment practically his entire life.

“It was pretty neat to touch base with him. You just wish you could be there and experience it,” Paul said. “But we know he’s in good hands and he’s mature, he’s grown up in the last year and a half here before our eyes.

“He’s on his own.”

The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187461 Nashville Predators

Are the Nashville Predators relying too much on goalie Juuse Saros in their playoff push?

MIKE ORGAN | Nashville Tennessean

Anyone wondering if the Predators are counting too heavily on goalie Juuse Saros in their playoff push got their answer Tuesday night.

It is a resounding yes judging by the 7-4 loss Nashville suffered against the Florida Panthers at .

As much of a setback as it was, the Predators, who are trying to hold off Dallas for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division, would truly be reeling heading into Saturday's humongous matchup against the Stars if not for another gritty effort by Saros.

Saros ended up with a career-high 49 saves after facing a career-high 55 shots. He made 39 saves Monday in a 4-1 win over Florida.

"I believe there was only one guy on the ice that deserved a better fate and that was Saros," Predators coach said. "Unfortunately, he played a really good game and we didn't play a good team game. They were better than us in every facet — speed, puck battles, execution, puck pressure. It wasn't the recipe for us to be able to win."

Still, thanks to Saros, Nashville (27-22-2) had a chance to win late.

He stopped 47 or the first 51 shots he faced and the score remained 4-4 until Florida's Frank Vatrano got wide open and sent the puck past Saros in the top corner with 12:45 remaining.

The Panthers (32-14-5) added their third power play goal six minutes later when Jonathan Huberdeau scored and they made an empty net goal in the final two minutes.

"I don't think that's a game we're very proud of," said Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis, who scored two goals, the second which gave Nashville a 4-3 lead. "We've been moving in the right direction in a lot of games lately and in this one we took a step back."

Ellis, however, was quick to praise Saros for giving the Predators a chance, even after the manner in which the Panthers dominated the offensive zone throughout the game.

"This group is obviously disappointed in the way we played in front of our goal tender," Ellis said. "He gave us a chance to win and it didn't come through. We need to move on, we need to learn from it . We have the biggest game of our year coming up."

Saros had 24 saves and did not allow a goal in the shootout in the Predators' last game against Dallas, a 3-2 overtime win on April 11. Nashville leads the series 4-3 this season against the Stars.

Along with Saros' play perhaps the only other positive came Tuesday when Predators captain Roman Josi assisted on a goal scored by Tanner Jeannot, which put Nashville up 3-2 in the second period.

The assist moved Josi into sole possession of third place on the Predators' all-time points list with 444 (115 goals, 329 assists) after passing (443). He also became the highest-scoring defenseman in franchise history.

Tennessean LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187462 New York Islanders

Islanders in way of Rangers playoff-run magic

By Mollie Walker April 28, 2021 | 9:25pm | Updated

The Rangers have been in do-or-die mode for quite some time now and have played with an understanding that one loss could send them out of playoff contention.

But after winning seven of their past 10 games (including a 6-0 record against the Devils and Sabres, both of which have been eliminated), the Blueshirts are about to embark on the most pivotal chapter of their fight for a postseason bid: a home-and-home with the Islanders on Thursday and Saturday.

It just may become a lengthy, detailed page in the archives of the long- standing Battle of New York.

These are a pair of games that could go down in history given what’s at stake for both teams. The Rangers are looking to prove their rebuilding is nearly complete and achieve their goal of making the playoffs. The Islanders are looking to erase the memory of their Eastern Conference finals exit last season and officially go the distance with their win-now roster.

It is very unlikely that both teams will sit in the top four in the East Division come mid-May, with the Capitals, Penguins and Bruins all in the mix as well. So it is one or the other, as the Rangers sit five points behind the Isles, who are currently third in the division with a game in hand.

The Rangers are undoubtedly the underdogs, forced to claw and scratch their way into their current position following a disappointing start to the season. But while focusing on the present and refusing to look ahead, the Rangers, from March 13 through Tuesday, were tied for second in the NHL in wins (16-6-3), tied for first in points (35) and ranked first in goal differential with a plus-39.

“It’s the old sports cliché: We’ve just got to be ready to win a hockey game on Thursday, and that’s all we can manage and that’s all we can focus on. That’s all that matters,” head coach David Quinn said after Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Sabres. “We’re still playing meaningful hockey, we have a chance, but we’ve just got to make sure we’re ready to go against the Islanders on Thursday night. That’s really all it comes down to.”

The Islanders have held the edge so far in this truncated season of intra- divisional play, with wins in four of the six meetings between the teams — including two shutouts. But after losing 1-0 to the first-place Capitals on Tuesday night, the Islanders are 0-2-1 in their past three games and 2-4-1 in their past seven.

A lot would have to go wrong for the Islanders to miss the playoffs, but they seemingly have lost their touch since acquiring forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the Devils at the trade deadline. The Islanders are 4-5-1 in the 10 games since that trade.

But the Rangers, who were laughed out of the Coliseum in a 6-1 loss last week, are coming off much easier competition. There is nothing easy about the Islanders.

“I think last year, we proved how good a team we are, in the bubble,” the Islanders’ Matt Martin said of his team’s 2019-20 playoff run. “When you’ve proven it in the past and been through these things in the past, you often know what you can expect in the future. It’s no secret we’ve got to be better. It’s not always easy to find your game when you’re struggling.”

New York Post LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187463 New York Islanders

Struggling Islanders trying to work way out of slump with Rangers series looming

By Andrew Gross

A third straight playoff berth has long seemed a foregone conclusion for the struggling Islanders.

A spot is still there for the taking, provided they start playing playoff- quality hockey. They cannot afford to get swept in their next series, two games against the rival Rangers starting Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

The teams also play Saturday night at to conclude their eight-game, season series.

"It definitely gets a little frustrating when things aren’t clicking," Matt Martin said after the Capitals completed a three-game sweep with a 1-0 win on Tuesday night in Washington. The Islanders were shut out twice in that series and have scored one or fewer goals in five of their last seven games.

Island Ice: 's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 83: The big, big, big Isles-Rangers series

Andrew Gross and Colin Stephenson discuss the upcoming two Islanders-Rangers games this week and what they mean for the NHL playoff race.

"We’ve been through a scoring slump, every team goes through them," Martin said. "We’ve been through rough patches, I think every team goes through them. We’ve just got to find a way to work ourselves out of it. We’ve overcome these things in the past and I’m confident in this group that we’ll find our way and be playing our best hockey come playoff time."

The Islanders, who were off on Wednesday, fell five points behind the East Division-leading Capitals and four points behind the second-place Penguins. The fourth-place Bruins, who have played one fewer game, trail by one point.

Two regulation wins by the fifth-place Rangers would bring them within a point of the Islanders, with the top four teams in the division advancing to the postseason.

The Islanders reached the second round in their first season under coach and, last season, reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1993.

High expectations accompanied this season. They can still be reached but only if the Islanders tighten their defensive play and start being more aggressive in getting pucks to the opponent’s net.

The Islanders are 2-4-1 in this stretch of scraping for any goal production. Their only laugher was a 6-1 win over the Rangers at the Coliseum on April 20.

"You’re going to trail in games, it’s the nature of the sport," Casey Cizikas said. "When you trail, it shows what kind of team you are. You keep fighting. You keep moving forward. It’s not always going to go your way.

"Right now, it’s difficult. It’s not easy for us. This is where we grow as a team. This is where we get big and, moving forward, you’re going to see a team that’s competitive. That’s hungry. This is a good test for us and we’re going into a game against the Rangers with our heads high knowing we’re a good team and, moving forward, we’re going to play our game and our game only."

The Islanders’ most recent win over the Rangers also stands as their lone regulation win in their last 10 games. They’ve managed a 4-5-1 record in that span but have fallen behind in the regulation wins tiebreaker.

"I’m a points collector," Trotz said. "The No. 1 priority is to get some points every night."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187464 New York Islanders Tuesday’s loss in Washington, will cycle back in — they are Nos. 1 and 2 in xGF percentage over the past 10 games. Neither is a scorer, obviously, but the Islanders need hustlers right now to, as Trotz likes to say, bring others into the fight. Islanders in the Stanley Cup playoffs and beyond: Numbers that tell a concerning story That’s perhaps the most disappointing trait of the Isles since the trade three weeks ago: There doesn’t seem to be enough will. The hallmark of this three-game sweep by the Caps was watching a Washington team outwork the Isles, who are themselves built on outworking opponents. By Arthur Staple Apr 28, 2021 Whether it was outlet passes up the wall that were cut off to extend zone time or a failure to win a puck battle in the opposing end, the Islanders were out-willed. That’s reflected in these numbers, because they just The numbers right now aren’t good. haven’t had the puck enough in the previous 10 games.

The Islanders are 4-5-1 in their past 10 games — coincidentally, how 13 many games they’ve played since acquiring Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac — and they are only five points up on the Rangers, who have a This is the total number of goals from Islanders defensemen this season, home-and-home with the Isles on Thursday and Saturday. Isles fans led by Pelech and Noah Dobson with three apiece. It’s somehow not the might need the Jaws of Life to get their hands un-wrung from the stress if lowest total in the league — the Senators (12), Leafs (11) and Jets (nine) their team drops these next two, even though they’re followed with four have fewer goals from their defensemen and two of those teams are against the bottom-feeding Sabres and Devils. headed to the playoffs. So it’s not disqualifying. But it sure is concerning.

In short, it would take a collapse of epic proportions to blow a playoff Trotz said his defensemen haven’t been able to get up in the rush lately spot. But some numbers have emerged over the course of this weird because the team’s breakouts have been poor. That’s not on the season that require a deeper look to see how they will impact the coming defensemen themselves, since outside of Nick Leddy, individual rushes postseason and beyond. aren’t this D-corps’ thing. And of the 124 NHL players with at least 100 shots on net, no one has a worse shooting percentage than Ryan Pulock The Islanders are just more than halfway into Lou Lamoriello’s five-year at 0.98 — that’s just bad luck at this point. plan. The turnaround from before Lamoriello and Barry Trotz was swift and impressive. Now, we need to see if there’s another, higher level this But Lamoriello might have to be thinking about whether his defense team can reach or whether it has maxed out its capabilities with what it needs an upgrade this offseason to find someone who can find the net. has. The task is daunting; the Isles may lose Leddy or Scott Mayfield in the expansion draft, creating another hole, and Pelech is due a massive 11-9-1 and 12-15-7 raise into an already tight cap situation.

These are the Isles’ second-half records this season and last. These This might be an area the Islanders cannot afford to overlook going were two deeply strange, hopefully never-to-be-repeated schedules, so forward, though. They simply don’t create enough offense from their take that into consideration. But last season, whether you call the halfway defense; they can shuffle some forwards around, but the core of that mark 34 games (they played 68) or 41 because they planned to play 82 group is well established. To get the Islanders up to the next level, they before the pandemic struck, the Islanders were on a second-half ride to need another puck-mover who is skilled at navigating both ends of the nowhere before the shutdown. ice.

Injuries played a major role last season (Adam Pelech, Cal Clutterbuck, Yes, we know about Devon Toews. Honestly, if the Avalanche were Casey Cizikas) and this season (Anders Lee), but the two teams above facing a cap crunch, Lamoriello would be wise to see what it would take the Isles in the East Division standings have lost twice as many games to to bring Toews back. He’s sorely missed. Failing that, one of Lamoriello’s injury/illness/protocol as the Isles this year. One injury can’t derail an many moves to come this offseason may need to be a defenseman who entire season; now, the Islanders look like a team that could have it can generate swift zone exits and entries. happen two years running. 13:14 and 12:47 Yes, we know — last year’s Islanders made the conference final. But does anyone believe that happens if the schedule plays out in the Zajac’s even-strength ice time since he joined the Islanders, followed by spring? And this season there’s no extra pause between the regular Palmieri’s. Palmieri was getting 14 minutes, 27 seconds of even-strength season and the playoffs. ice time per game with the Devils, so that’s a big drop-off. It’s likely time for Trotz to see what Palmieri and Mathew Barzal can do together In the one full season with Trotz and Lamoriello, the Islanders were because Palmieri’s best moments so far as an Islander at five-on-five actually better in the second half of 2018-19 (25-13-3) than they were in came with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a speedier, more dynamic center than the first half (23-14-4). So there is that. But for two seasons now, the Brock Nelson. The Nelson-Palmieri combo hasn’t clicked. Isles raced out to amazing starts and slowly, unsteadily, fell into the pack by the end of the year. As for Zajac, Trotz conceded “it’s taken longer than I thought” to try to figure out where the veteran forward fits. He played with Nelson and They can still go on a healthy playoff run. As Trotz said recently, “the Palmieri on Tuesday, and that line was flat-out bad. The Zajac addition is playoffs are kind of a reset.” And this team under Trotz has been superb looking more and more like a miscalculation — there’s no role for him on at resets. But the second-half fades need to be examined this offseason. a team that runs four deep at center and needs scoring and forechecking Whether it’s better regular personnel, a deeper bench of NHL-ready from its wings. players or something else, the Isles need to change these numbers for 2021-22. It’s overall not a bad move for the future, quite honestly. Zajac and Cizikas are unrestricted free agents, and Zajac would be far cheaper as a 54.4/49.5 vs. 44.4/43.3 4C for a year or two than Cizikas will be at four or five years, or whatever term is needed to keep Cizikas an Islander. Zajac as their fourth-line The first numbers are the Islanders’ expected goals and shot-attempt center and penalty killer for another season has some appeal. As a first- percentages (at five-on-five, courtesy of Natural Stat Trick) before the or second-line wing? Not so much. Palmieri/Zajac trade. The Isles were fourth in the league for xGF through 39 games and 15th in CF (shot attempts = Corsi), both at the higher end The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 of the usual range for the Trotz-led Isles.

The second set of numbers is from after the trade. It’s been only 10 games, but the Isles’ five-on-five play has caved in. And five-on-five is where the Islanders win games under Trotz. The 44.4 xGF percentage is 30th in the league in the span since the trade and very reflective of how the Isles have played: one goal or fewer in six of the 10 games and no slow whatsoever.

Trotz has searched in vain for lines that can carry the play of late. You’d have to think that Michael Dal Colle and Leo Komarov, who both sat out 1187465 New York Islanders There was some thought that Trotz was hesitant to have Kyle Palmieri play there due to the fact that there would be three right-handed shots on the same line. The Islanders coach appeared to dismiss that idea.

The Time for Kyle Palmieri to Get Crack at Islanders Top Line is Now Adding Kyle Palmieri could help jumpstart a top line that needs to get going in time for the Islanders to make a run in the playoffs. The Islanders are at their best when they can roll four lines, but they need their best players at their best, and that means Barzal and by extension By Christian Arnold Eberle, generating chances and leading the offensive charge.

Giving them a noted goal-scorer and someone that can fill that Lee role a There are seven games left in the regular season and the New York bit more naturally would certainly do that. The idea is one that Barzal has Islanders are trending in the wrong direction. Right now, it would still take given thought to. a catastrophic collapse for the Islanders to miss the postseason, but with “You obviously run the possibility through your mind of playing with either their five-on-five game struggling and their offense hard-pressed to find one of those guys,” Barzal said about playing with Palmieri or Zajac. the back of the net New York is heading into the playoffs on the wrong “That’s on Barry. He knows our lineup really well and he knows what foot. everybody brings. What lines seem to need. I just go out there and play What’s become abundantly clear has been the correlation between the with whoever I’m with and try to make the best of it.” lack of scoring from the top line and the team’s inability overall to score in NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 a given game. The Islanders are 2-4-1 since the NHL trade deadline and they’ve been shutout three times in the seven games since then.

They’ve been outscored 18-14 in that span, which is inflated by the 6-1 win they had over the New York Rangers on April 20. Without that game, their total goals in that stretch drops down to eight.

Scott Mayfield’s Improvement Critical to Islanders Success

Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal have remained mainstays on the top line, while head coach Barry Trotz has mixed in Travis Zajac, Leo Komarov and Josh Bailey to try and fill the void left by an injured Anders Lee. Neither one of them has said the constant lineup flux has impacted their game, but it’s safe to say it hasn’t helped it.

“I’m used to playing with different players and I’m used to having lines switched up, and playing with different players,” Barzal said. “I’ve been with most of these guys now for three or for years. I’ve played with almost every guy. It’s just going out there and trying to work hard. Whether I’m with Leo, (Zajac), Leezy, whoever.

“Just trying to play to their strengths. … That’s just where it really comes down to, finding that chemistry as quick as possible.”

While Barzal might be trying to play to the strengths of the guys put next to him, now might be the time that someone is put on his wing that plays to his strengths. Barzal hasn’t scored a goal since his hat trick on April 1 against the Washinton Capitals, while Eberle has been held to just one goal over his last seven games.

While Komarov, Bailey and Zajac have their roles to play on this Islanders squad, it isn’t on the team’s top line.

When Lou Lamoriello went out and traded for Palmieri and Zajac, the expectation was that Palmieri would be playing on the top line in the spot Lee had been so successful in with Barzal and Eberle. In the nine games since that deal, we have yet to see Palmieri get an opportunity on the team’s most important offensive unit.

Kyle Palmieri has struggled to find the back of the net this year, in part because he spent most of it playing on a New Jersey Devils team that also struggled to score. However, the offensive output still hasn’t come since joining the Islanders.

He did score in his third game as a member of the Islanders — a power- play goal no-less — but since then he has been quiet.

Welcome to the #Isles Kyle Palmieri pic.twitter.com/JnIRp6UmpC — Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) April 11, 2021

Kyle Palmieri has played well and generated chances, recording 18 high danger chances since joining the Islanders, according to Natural Stat Trick. His Corsi For percentage of 45.54 is also fifth-best among Islanders forwards in that span and he has an xGF percentage of 43.82.

With seven games to go before the end of the regular season, the Islanders have still been trying to figure out the right line combinations and it’s time that Palmieri gets his chance to play alongside Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle.

“We’re trying different people, I don’t think it’s one game,” Trotz said about the prospect of Palmieri playing with Barzal and Eberle. “He might be next on the list. You can do that. There’s nothing saying that you can’t (play him there). He’s just on the list of potential candidates.” 1187466 New York Islanders

NYHN Daily: Islanders Skid Continues, Bruins Pull Within One Point

By Christian Arnold

The New York Islanders were swept by the Washington Capitals on Tuesday extending their losing streak and moving them to 2-3-1 since the NHL trade deadline. What went right, wrong and everything in between in the latest loss? The Islanders will need more out of Scott Mayfield and the Boston Bruins are now a point behind the Isles in the East Division. All these stories and more in the NYHN Daily.

The Islanders changed their lines but got the same result on Tuesday in a 1-0 loss to Washington. What happened? Well they got hurt by the early goal against yet again. (NYI Hockey Now)

An in-depth look at what has been going on with Scott Mayfield this season and why it’s critical that he gets his game going in time for the postseason. (NYI Hockey Now)

Semyon Varlamov mysteriously didn’t dress for Tuesday’s game. Speculation ran wild until Trotz revealed…. he was just getting a day off to deal with some soreness. (NYI Hockey Now)

Production has been too far and few between for Mathew Barzal and the Islanders’ top line. Trotz tried to shake things up a bit to get them going on Tuesday. (Newsday)

The Islanders have dropped three straight games and have struggled since the deadline, but the chances of them missing the playoffs remains slim. There’s only a three percent chance they finish outside the top four in the East Division. (The Athletic)

Still, there are plenty of trends right now that have people raising their eyebrows in concern. (The Athletic)

There was plenty to like from the Boston Bruins’ latest win on Tuesday night. That has to have Islanders fans starting to sweat a bit. (Boston Hockey Now)

When it comes to the Florida Panthers’ return to the postseason, there are no three players that deserve to go to the dance with Florida than Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau Huberdeau & Aaron Ekblad. (Florida Hockey Now)

Evgeni Malkin is practicing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is good. However, he is still wearing a non-contact jersey during skates. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The fell to the New Jersey Devils. Suffice to say no one was quite thrilled about that. (Philly Hockey Now)

Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy is looking to get back into the coaching game. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Jayden Halbgewachs is tearing it up in the AHL for the San Jose Barracuda. After coming back from hip surgery he is racking up the points. (San Jose Hockey Now)

Mattias Janmark’s versatility has been a big factor in the Vegas Golden Knight’s success. (Vegas Hockey Now)

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187467 New York Rangers

Rangers can’t play catch-up in final playoff push

By Mollie Walker April 29, 2021 | 12:24am | Updated

In the previous six matchups before Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Sabres, the Rangers grappled with finishing games rather than getting off to strong starts.

In fact, the Blueshirts had outscored their opponents 10-3 in the opening 20 minutes, dating to the 6-3 win over the Devils on April 17. They had given up six goals, however, in third periods over that same span, allowing teams to make things interesting toward the end of games.

It was the opposite Tuesday night against the Sabres, when the Rangers were outshot 16-6 in the first period. Somehow — well, with Igor Shesterkin’s stellar play in net — the Rangers survived and escaped with the game still scoreless.

“We got better as the game went on, ,” said Ryan Strome, who assisted on Alexis Lafreniere’s game-winner in the third. “I think lately our starts have been good, and we haven’t been finishing the game. [Tuesday night] was a little different. Proud of our effort. I think at this time of the year, these wins are huge, it doesn’t really matter how we get them. I thought we banded together in the third period. We had a couple good penalty kills, power play was able to get one. We found a way.”

Season-deciding games on the horizon for the final six matchups against the upper-echelon of the division — the Islanders, Capitals and Bruins — so the Rangers won’t be able to afford any lackluster periods. It will take a full 60-minute effort each night for them to have a chance of squeezing into the postseason by stealing one of the four playoff spots from either the Bruins or the Islanders.

The Rangers have averaged four goals per game in their past 10 games, which will be crucial to maintain. A scoring dip would be detrimental, considering they own a league-low .211 winning percentage in one-goal games and have just four victories under those circumstances.

“I don’t think we were too happy with our first, I thought they came on really well, they played a good first,” Brendan Smith said of the Sabres. “We knew what we had to do, we talked about it in the dressing room. I think from the second it just continued to get better. So it was kind of a trickle-down effect, just of what we had to do and get better at, kind of come through the system and it took care of us.”

“That’s kind of the whole thing we’ve been preaching, if you follow the system, it will take care of us, and that’s what happened. Ultimately, the third period became our best because we wore them down.”

The Rangers have won nine of their past 11 home games, posting a 9-2- 0 record and outscoring opponents 54-25 over that span. They also have earned at least one point in 11 of their past 13 home games.

Three of the Blueshirts’ final six games of the season will be at Madison Square Garden.

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Islanders in way of Rangers playoff-run magic

By Mollie Walker April 28, 2021 | 9:25pm | Updated

The Rangers have been in do-or-die mode for quite some time now and have played with an understanding that one loss could send them out of playoff contention.

But after winning seven of their past 10 games (including a 6-0 record against the Devils and Sabres, both of which have been eliminated), the Blueshirts are about to embark on the most pivotal chapter of their fight for a postseason bid: a home-and-home with the Islanders on Thursday and Saturday.

It just may become a lengthy, detailed page in the archives of the long- standing Battle of New York.

These are a pair of games that could go down in history given what’s at stake for both teams. The Rangers are looking to prove their rebuilding is nearly complete and achieve their goal of making the playoffs. The Islanders are looking to erase the memory of their Eastern Conference finals exit last season and officially go the distance with their win-now roster.

It is very unlikely that both teams will sit in the top four in the East Division come mid-May, with the Capitals, Penguins and Bruins all in the mix as well. So it is one or the other, as the Rangers sit five points behind the Isles, who are currently third in the division with a game in hand.

The Rangers are undoubtedly the underdogs, forced to claw and scratch their way into their current position following a disappointing start to the season. But while focusing on the present and refusing to look ahead, the Rangers, from March 13 through Tuesday, were tied for second in the NHL in wins (16-6-3), tied for first in points (35) and ranked first in goal differential with a plus-39.

“It’s the old sports cliché: We’ve just got to be ready to win a hockey game on Thursday, and that’s all we can manage and that’s all we can focus on. That’s all that matters,” head coach David Quinn said after Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Sabres. “We’re still playing meaningful hockey, we have a chance, but we’ve just got to make sure we’re ready to go against the Islanders on Thursday night. That’s really all it comes down to.”

The Islanders have held the edge so far in this truncated season of intra- divisional play, with wins in four of the six meetings between the teams — including two shutouts. But after losing 1-0 to the first-place Capitals on Tuesday night, the Islanders are 0-2-1 in their past three games and 2-4-1 in their past seven.

A lot would have to go wrong for the Islanders to miss the playoffs, but they seemingly have lost their touch since acquiring forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the Devils at the trade deadline. The Islanders are 4-5-1 in the 10 games since that trade.

But the Rangers, who were laughed out of the Coliseum in a 6-1 loss last week, are coming off much easier competition. There is nothing easy about the Islanders.

“I think last year, we proved how good a team we are, in the bubble,” the Islanders’ Matt Martin said of his team’s 2019-20 playoff run. “When you’ve proven it in the past and been through these things in the past, you often know what you can expect in the future. It’s no secret we’ve got to be better. It’s not always easy to find your game when you’re struggling.”

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Alexis Lafreniere’s Rangers career is beginning to take off

By Mollie Walker April 28, 2021 | 6:37pm | Updated

The Rangers were lucky to escape the first period Tuesday night without letting Buffalo score, after allowing the Sabres to have their way in the offensive zone and pour on the shots as if they were the ones fighting for a playoff berth.

Defenseman Brendan Smith opened the scoring early in the second period for the Rangers, but Sabres center Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal tied it up with a mere 4 seconds left in the middle frame.

So with the game on the line in the third period, the Blueshirts had to fend off another heavy power play from the Sabres. That prompted head coach David Quinn to inform Alexis Lafreniere that he would be taking the next shift on the second line with Ryan Strome and to get fresh legs on the ice.

Moments before hopping over the boards for that shift, which culminated in the Rangers rookie scoring the game-winning goal, Lafreniere turned to Strome and asserted his confidence that has lately enraptured the rest of the team.

“[Lafreniere] actually said before we went on for that shift, ‘We’re going to go get one,’ ” Strome said after the 3-1 win Tuesday.

Alexis Lafreniere

The 2020 first-overall pick followed through on his words, taking a pinpoint pass from Strome and ripping a bullet shot from his knees past Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

It was Lafreniere’s 10th goal of the season, which lifted him to seventh among rookies in the NHL in goals. He is also now in a three-way tie, with the Predators’ Eeli Tolvanen and the Lightning’s Ross Colton, for the most game-winning goals among rookies with four.

Since switching places with Chris Kreider on the top line next to Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich for the 3-2 loss to the Flyers on April 22, Lafreniere only went that game without a point. In the past three contests, the 19-year-old has two goals and two assists.

“I know people were making a big deal of what his stats were earlier in the year, but he just played in his 50th game,” Quinn said Tuesday. “In a normal season, he would’ve had 32 more games to go, playing the way he is, playing on the line he is. He’s having a really good rookie year. With no training camp, with no exhibition games, it’s hard for these young players to get acclimated to the . If he had a three-week training camp with six exhibition games, the beginning of the season may have been a little bit different. But I think it speaks to his commitment, to his coach-ability, to his love for the game.

“That’s the thing that really jumps out at you when you coach him, how much he loves hockey. What an infectious personality he has on top of all the talent that he has.”

Infectious is the word that several of Lafreniere’s teammates have used to describe him. It’s easy to see even watching practice through a live stream. The Canadian teen talks to everybody, is incredibly affectionate and is never not smiling.

Lafreniere has been said to “light up a room” since he joined the team, but it’s been the evolution of his confidence that has beguiled the Rangers.

“I think I’ve always been the same, I’m just happy when guys have good games, when they make great plays,” Lafreniere said earlier this week. “Just happy to be here for sure. And with the group we have, it’s always a lot of fun.”

New York Post LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187470 New York Rangers But which goalie inspires more confidence at the moment? Given Shesterkin's standout play and Georgiev's ups-and-downs this season, the answer is obvious.

Why the NY Rangers should start goalie Igor Shesterkin the rest of the There's also this: The Rangers may have a better chance of catching the way Islanders in the standings than they do the Bruins.

Boston sits in fourth place with a four-point advantage over the Blueshirts, while the Islanders are in third with a five-point cushion. But Vincent Z. Mercogliano | NHL Writer the Bruins have eight games remaining on their schedule and the Islanders have seven, meaning they'll have one fewer opportunity to add

to their points total. Boston is also playing better of late, having won Somewhere beneath Igor Shesterkin's serious exterior is a pretty good seven of their last nine, while the Isles have lost three in a row and won sense of humor. only three of their last nine.

We've seen glimpses of it since he arrived in the U.S. two summers ago, If the Rangers win on Thursday and Saturday, they'll pull within one point but this is no time for jokes. of their arch-rival — yet another reason to ride the hot hand.

With the New York Rangers battling for every point to keep themselves in Bergen Record LOADED: 04.29.2021 the East Division's playoff race, the rookie goalie has been all business. That much has been clear from his matter-of-fact postgame remarks while starting 15 of the last 19 games.

When asked about his heavy workload following Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, the 25-year-old predictably downplayed his impact during this strenuous stretch.

"I wouldn’t say it was too difficult of a stretch," Shesterkin said through interpreter Nick Bobrov, the Rangers' director of European scouting. "When you play a lot, you grow more confident, you get more trust, you help the team win. The guys block a lot of shots in front of (me), and that’s also helpful."

TAKEAWAYS: Alexis Lafrenière keeps finding reasons to smile

LINEUP: Kids learn valuable lessons in NHL's toughest division

The Rangers blocked 16 shots on Tuesday, but they would not have won the game without another robust effort from their goaltender. Shesterkin finished with 36 saves, including 16 to keep the game scoreless during a first period in which his teammates struggled to keep up with the Sabres.

Since returning from a groin injury on March 25, he's gone 9-4-2 while posting a .922 save percentage. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and have provided the Rangers with a star-powered trio, but Shesterkin is right up there with them in terms of importance to the team during this second-half run. He ranks in the top 10 in most NHL goalie categories and should garner some Calder Trophy votes.

He should also play in each of the Rangers' final six regular-season games.

Apr 25, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers stops a shot in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on April 25, 2021 in .

If the Blueshirts are going to have any shot of making the playoffs, they're going to need to win most, if not all, of those games. And at this point, there's no question that Shesterkin gives them the best chance to win.

He's held up well while receiving the vast majority of starts in the last month-plus. In fact, he indicated it's fueled his confidence.

The one thing the Rangers haven't asked him to do is play on consecutive days, which would be required to play out the final six games. The Rangers will host the Washington Capitals on May 5 before traveling to Boston to play the Bruins on May 6.

If they're still within striking distance when those games show up on the schedule, they should give him a crack at it. He's earned the opportunity to answer one of the only remaining questions.

All of this assumes Shesterkin is up to the task physically. If he's dragging and needs a day off, coach David Quinn will surely give it to him. But if he's feeling good, Quinn should roll with his best option.

An argument could be made for backup Alexandar Georgiev to give Shesterkin a breather in one of the upcoming games against the Islanders. The Rangers will host them at 7 p.m. Thursday before traveling to Long Island on Saturday.

Georgiev has had some of his most memorable games against the Isles. He's 7-2 with a .944 SV% in his career against them, which are his best numbers against any opponent in the East Division. If there's a good matchup for him, this is it. 1187471 New York Rangers him, is how much he loves hockey and what an infectious personality he has, on top of all the talent that he has."

Brendan Smith's value on display Postgame takeaways: Alexis Lafrenière keeps finding reasons to smile The Rangers looked like they were running on fumes while mostly sleep- as NY Rangers win walking through a first period in which they were out-shot, 16-6. But early in the second, it was one of their few veterans who provided a jolt of energy. VINCENT Z. MERCOGLIANO | NHL Writer That's a role Smith has embraced this season, going from a healthy scratch on opening night to a fixture on the D corps. He registered his fifth goal of the season at the 2:22 mark on a laser slap shot from the Even when he wasn't scoring, Alexis Lafrenière never showed any point to put the Blueshirts up 1-0. frustration. "I don't think we were too happy with our first (period)," Smith said. "I He just kept giving out hugs. thought (the Sabres) came out really well. They played a good first and "His attitude is fantastic," Brendan Smith said of the No. 1 overall pick. we knew what we had to do. We talked about in the dressing room and I "It’s infectious. When you see somebody smile like that, you light up a think from the second on, it just continued to get better. It was kind of a room. I love that about him. He enjoys coming to the rink, he enjoys trickle-down effect." playing hockey, he enjoys being around the guys and he makes The goal served as the highlight in a strong all-around game. Smith everybody else feel good because of how he is. It’s a great quality to notched four shots on goal, three hits, two blocks and drew the penalty have." that led to Zibanejad's clinching goal in 20:22 time on ice. Now that the 19-year-old's game is trending up, so, too, are the smiles. With Jacob Trouba missing his fourth consecutive game due to an upper- There were plenty to go around on Tuesday after he scored one of the body injury, Smith is left as the only active defensemen over 23 years biggest goals of his young career. old.

With the New York Rangers in need of a boost to keep their slim playoff It's a role the 32-year-old is reveling in. hopes alive, Lafrenière delivered. He netted the decisive goal in a 3-1 win "I enjoy it," he said Monday. "It keeps me young. (Adam Fox) told me the over the visiting Buffalo Sabres, ripping a one-timer from the slot for his other day I have more games than the whole D corps. That was 10th goal of the season and fourth point in the last three games. interesting, but I think they're fun. They bring a lot of life. ... I’ve really The clutch goal was setup by Ryan Strome, who won a puck battle enjoyed our group this year. I know everybody's saying that we're very behind the Buffalo net and found a wide open Lafrenière to break a 1-1 young, but I think we have a lot of mature younger players. A guy like tie with 10:11 to play. (K’Andre Miller), you would think he's been around for four or five years. We have a lot of guys like that in the room." According to Strome, the rookie called it. Smith has had to scratch and claw for every shift he's received in the last "He actually said before we went on for that shift, we changed lines a two seasons, but his steady presence has enabled him to see the four- little bit, and he said, ‘We're gonna go get one,' " the veteran center said. year, $17.4 million contract he signed in 2017 all the way through. He's "You saw the emotion on his face. He was pretty happy, so a big goal even building a case for the Rangers to consider re-signing him as a and a big win." depth piece for next season.

LINEUP: Kids learn valuable lessons in NHL's toughest division "Smitty has meant a lot to us for a long time," Quinn said. "I thought that might have been his best game of the year. I thought he did so many COLUMN: Baby adventures and what I've missed regarding the Rangers things for us tonight at key times. Obviously, the goal is huge. He draws Mika Zibanejad followed four minutes later with his 20th goal of the a penalty, but just his overall game, I just really liked. He means so much season on a power play to seal the victory, with Strome assisting on the to us, on and off the ice. He's a personality, he’s a leader and I'm just play for his 300th career point. really happy for him the way things went tonight."

As a result, the Rangers (26-18-6) were able to keep pace with the Igor Shesterkin's standout performance Boston Bruins, the team they're chasing for the fourth and final playoff While Smith's goal fueled a much better second period for the Rangers, spot in the East Division. The Bruins defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to they ended it on sour note. maintain a four-point lead in the standings. They have eight games left to play, while the Rangers are down to only six. Filip Chytil was called for tripping with 33 seconds remaining — the first penalty of the game on either team — with Sam Reinhart capitalizing by New York Rangers' Alexis Lafreniere (13) celebrates his goal against the scoring the tying the goal just 3.2 seconds before intermission. Buffalo Sabres during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in New York. Quinn called it "a kick in the ass," but that would be the only blemish on Igor Shesterkin's scoresheet. Prior the power-play goal, he stopped the New York Rangers' Alexis Lafreniere (13) celebrates his goal against the first 27 shots he faced. Buffalo Sabres during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 27, … Show more The 25-year-old rookie finished with 36 saves in another standout performance. Whether they're able to close the gap or not, the recent uptick from Lafrenière is one of many encouraging signs during a 25-game stretch in Once again, he was the most important player on the ice. It was his 15th which the Blueshirts have gone 16-6-3 to keep things interesting. start in the last 19 games, with his play inspiring confidence on a nightly basis. "He's really played well lately, and he's been playing well for about a month now," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "I know people are He's looked like one of the top-10 goalies in the league during the making a big deal of what stats were earlier in the year, but I think he just Rangers' second-half surge. played his 50th game. In a normal season, he would have had 32 more games to go – playing the way he is and playing on the line he is. He's 'A fun group to play with' got 10 goals, so he's having a really good rookie year. The Rangers couldn't get any help from the Pens, who dropped a 3-1 "With no training camp, with no exhibition games, it's hard for these result to Boston on Tuesday. young players to get acclimated to the National Hockey League," he The Bruins, like the Rangers, have won seven of their last nine. added. "If he had a three-week training camp and six exhibition games, the beginning of his season might have been a little bit different. But I "We know what the scoreboard is showing, but it ultimately lies with us think it speaks to his commitment, to his coachability, to his love for the and we kind of hold our own fate," Smith said. "Yeah, if you look too far game – and that's the thing that really jumps out at you when you coach into the future, it looks like an impossible task. But if you take it day-by- day, game-by-game, it’s more manageable. That’s what we’ve been talking about."

That's absolutely the right message for the Baby Blueshirts, who have undoubtedly gotten better at focusing on the task at hand. And while, at times, it looked like they may have been thinking ahead to Thursday's showdown with the Islanders, they got the job done.

New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin (31) and Chris Kreider (20)s celebrate their 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in New York.

New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin (31) and Chris Kreider (20)s celebrate their 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April … Show more

All in all, the Rangers fattened up by going 6-1-1 against the last-place Sabres this season. They also went 6-2 against the second-to-last-place New Jersey Devils, including the recent four-game sweep.

"These games are going to determine who makes the playoffs and who doesn’t," Quinn said. "The fact we went 6-0 against the Devils and Buffalo is no small feat. This is the National Hockey League. It's not easy to beat teams. We're such an effort-driven sport. I've said it a lot. (Buffalo) competes hard, they've got good players, they're well coached. (Don Granato) has done a hell of a job with them since he's taken over. They're very difficult to play against, and they're going to cause trouble for the people that they're going to see here in the last 10 days of the season."

The Rangers have to hope that's true, with the Sabres playing their next two games in Boston. But the Bruins aren't the only team they're in pursuit of.

The third-place Islanders, who lost 1-0 to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, hold a five-point lead in the standings with one game in hand. The Rangers will play their next two games against their rival, at home on Thursday and on the road Saturday. If they somehow win both, they would suddenly be breathing down the Isles' neck.

Regardless of how it all shakes out, the belief Smith spoke of during his postgame remarks was telling. The importance of playing meaningful games down the stretch is evident, with this group building chemistry and developing a closeness that will serve them well in these final six games and beyond.

"I love what the leaders say in the room; I love the young guys (and) how they respond and keep playing hard," Smith said. "It's a fun group to play with, and I love playing for these guys. I love playing in front of our goalies. I really enjoy it because the level of effort people put forth. The dynamic of our team, we have very young guys and a couple older guys, and we're all buying in. That's what you need to do, especially in the stretch when you really want to play playoff hockey.

"If we can keep this going, it would be something to be really excited about. We would like to do it as a team and for the fans and for everybody."

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Rangers coach David Quinn has tough decision against Islanders: Igor Shesterkin or Alexandar Georgiev?

By Colin Stephenson

Igor Shesterkin has shown, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he is the Rangers’ No. 1 goaltender, and a definitely worthy heir to the great .

But Alexandar Georgiev owns the Islanders. And with the dogfight the Rangers are in to try and sneak their way into the playoffs – possibly at the expense of the Islanders – how could Rangers coach David Quinn not consider starting Georgiev on Thursday against the Isles in a game the Rangers must win?

The Rangers did not practice Wednesday, so Quinn didn’t have to face that question from the media. But there’s no doubt he had to be asking the question of himself.

In the four seasons before Georgiev joined the Rangers full time in 2018- 19, the Rangers went 1-9-2 against the Islanders. In the three seasons since, they have gone 7-7-1, including the 6-1 thumping they suffered in Nassau Coliseum on April 20.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 83: The big, big, big Isles-Rangers series

Andrew Gross and Colin Stephenson discuss the upcoming two Islanders-Rangers games this week and what they mean for the NHL playoff race.

Georgiev has all seven of the Rangers wins over the Islanders in that time. He is 7-2 against the Isles in his career with a 1.70 goals-against average, .944 save percentage and two shutouts, one of those coming this season. No other Rangers goalie – not Lundqvist, Shesterkin or Keith Kinkaid – owns a victory over the Islanders in the past three seasons.

There’s no debate about the fact that Shesterkin, who has started 15 of the last 19 games for the Rangers, has been better, by far, than Georgiev this season. He’s 15-11-3 overall, with a 2.42 GAA and .922 save percentage, where Georgiev overall is 8-5-2 with a 2.67 GAA and .906 save percentage.

The Rangers would not still be in the playoff hunt were it not for Shesterkin, who was simply brilliant Tuesday in the Rangers’ 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Shesterkin made 36 saves in that game, and the Rangers could not have won had he been less than amazing.

And yet, Shesterkin, who is in his first full season in the NHL, is 0-3-1 against the Isles, with a 3.75 GAA and an .878 save percentage (15 goals allowed on 123 shots in four games).

So, with six games left in the season, four points behind fourth-place Boston for the final playoff spot in the East Division and five behind the third-place Islanders, should Quinn go with his No. 1 guy Thursday, or the Islanders’ No. 1 nemesis?

Here’s what he said about Georgiev the morning of April 9, before Georgiev started in the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Isles:

"He's a guy that's done well against the Islanders, and … the only thing that I know about goalies, is whether they stop it or not. So, he stops it, (or) seems to stop it more than he doesn't, against the Islanders. That's the only thing that I know.’’

And here’s what said the morning of April 11, on the decision to start Shesterkin that night in a game the Rangers ultimately lost in overtime, 3- 2:

"Probably the decision that we went back and forth on more than any this year, who to play in goal tonight. Shesty, I think, his play overall has kind of put him in this position … to get this opportunity.’’

What will he say Thursday morning? 1187473 Ottawa Senators Myers went top shelf on the stick side for his fifth of the season, getting Vancouver on the board at 5:43 of the period.

Only 1:10 into the second, Vancouver coach called a GARRIOCH: Led by Tkachuk's Gordie Howe hat trick, Senators close out timeout and read his club the riot act. April with win over Canucks The Senators came out flying and pulled into a 3-0 lead on the strength of two goals in a span of 32 seconds. Norris gave his club the three-goal advantage with his 18th of the season on a perfect setup from Tkachuk. Bruce Garrioch It was Tierney that got the party started by firing it into an open net only 38 seconds into the period. Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 The Senators outshot the Canucks 11-10 in the first and held a 1-0 lead

on the scoreboard, but Vancouver really didn’t have many great chances Senators 6, Canucks 3 on Hogberg while Demko was forced to make some point-blank stops.

The Ottawa Senators won’t go quietly into the off-season. Picked up on waivers from the Habs, Mete scored his first in seven games with Ottawa at 2:04 when he took a perfect feed from Alex The Senators wrapped up April by raining on the Vancouver Canucks’ Formenton, split the defence and beat Demko glove side. playoff chances with a 6-3 victory Wednesday night at the . “I’m getting a bit more comfortable with these guys and I’m trying to piece together what kind of plays they’re looking to make,” said Mete. “I know Alternate captain Brady Tkachuk led the way with the first Gordie Howe (Formenton) pretty well because I played junior with him (in London), so I hat trick of his career (a goal, assist and a fight) as the Senators closed knew he would be able to find me there in the middle and make some out this four-game series against the Canucks with their third victory. things happen.” Colin White, Josh Norris, Thomas Chabot, Victor Mete and Chris Tierney also scored, and Marcus Hogberg picked up his second straight win. The Senators face the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at the Bell Centre. “It’s pretty cool,” Tkachuk said of his Gordie Howe. “I’ve definitely had opportunities beforehand and not gotten it done. I wouldn’t really call that one a fight (against Zack MacEwan). Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.29.2021 “I’m more happy with the outcome and how we played a full 60 minutes, and it was just a great game from top to bottom. We’re showing our true colours right now, we’re a fun team to watch and it’s fun to be a part of right now. We’ve learned a lot this year and the success is following.”

Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko wasn’t very good at all, but he didn’t get a whole lot support either as only Brandon Sutter, Tyler Myers and Jake Virtanen scored for the Canucks. The Senators, who picked up their sixth win in eight games, closed out the year against Vancouver with a 3- 4-2 record.

These games were pivotal to the Canucks’ playoff hopes and the Senators climbed out of last place in the North Division with this victory by moving a point ahead. Now, before anybody gets too excited about this, it should be noted that the Canucks have seven games in hand on the Senators, so the chances of it finishing this way aren’t good.

That’s why the Senators aren’t really getting caught up in checking the stats every day.

“I don’t think we’re looking much at the standings,” said coach D.J. Smith. “It would be great if we finished ahead of someone, but the biggest thing for me is to keep developing these guys and continuing to work on what makes us a good team.”

Tkachuk completed his big night when he fired it by Demko at 16:13 of the second to give the Senators a 5-2 lead heading into the third.

The two teams combined for five goals on the first nine shots in a span of 6:45 to start the second period.

Neither coach could have been pleased, but a couple of quick goals by the Senators seemed to serve as a wakeup call. You have to give Chabot credit, he went to the net to pick up a rebound to give the club a 4-1 lead at 6:23. A terrible giveaway by Hogberg behind the goal allowed Virtanen to deposit the puck into an empty net to cut Ottawa’s lead to 4-2 at 7:23.

“We work hard every night and we want to win games,” said Chabot, who played 26:12 and was plus-2. “We battle until the end and it doesn’t matter what the score is. I think we’ve shown that in the last couple of games. This is one thing we really wanted to do as a group by starting to build for next year.

“We want to create ourselves a really good identity, and I think we’ve done that. Other teams in the division are realizing it’s harder to play against us than they thought. That shows a lot about us as a group, and we want to keep building on that and keep winning more games here this season.”

On the Virtanen goal, Hogberg couldn’t get a handle on the puck, Tyler Motte stole it and threw it out front to Virtanen, who fired it home while Hogberg scrambled to get back to his net. He didn’t look very good when 1187474 Ottawa Senators season. He left Germany in mid-December to attend the world junior championships in Edmonton and a week later joined the Senators.

Forward Evgenii Dadonov will likely have the option to suit up for Team SNAPSHOTS: Trip to worlds could help Chabot be an Olympian ... Lot of Russia along with defencemen Nikita Zaitsev and Artem Zub, while Ottawa players will have the option Sweden may have some interest in defencemen Erik Brannstrom.

Gettng players to attend this year will be difficult for every country. The threat of COVID-19 remains at the forefront around the world, and that’s Bruce Garrioch going to be a consideration for players. Plus, this may only be a 56-game schedule, but it’s been compressed with teams suiting up nearly every Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 second night.

“It’s up to each individual,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said Wednesday. Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot (72) checks Vancouver “Are they banged up? Do they have to have any kind of time off with Canucks centre Tyler Motte (64) during the second period at the injuries and whatever the case may be? Then, there’s COVID-19 that ties Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. into all of this. It’s a different time and it’s just up to each individual guy.

Article content “Selfishly, you want them to play and have that experience, but also you’re afraid and don’t want them to get hurt. That affects your team so Thomas Chabot will have a tough decision to make when it comes to it’s a give or take. Most importantly, I want our team ready when the year next month’s world championships. starts next year.”

Should he stay or should he go? THE LAST WORDS

At some point soon, he’ll have to let Team Canada know. After capping the Gordie Howe hat trick with his second-period goal (his 16th of the season), Tkachuk did his “Frank The Tank” celebration Canadian general manager Roberto Luongo took another step toward dance. Hey, who wouldn’t want to mark that kind of night when it’s the building the team by naming former Vegas Golden Knights coach Gerard first of your career? … The Senators outshot the Canucks 12-6 in the Gallant as the bench boss Wednesday for the IIHF world championships second and outscored them 4-2. It was wild. … Winger Alex Formenton, that are scheduled to take place from May 21 to June 6 in Riga, Latvia. who had a nice assist on Victor Mete’s first with the Senators, was The belief is Chabot, and forwards Drake Batherson, Connor Brown and stopped on a third-period breakaway. That pass to Mete was the first Nick Paul, are on Canada’s radar screen. helper of Formenton’s NHL career. … Paul had his second fight of the season in third when he dropped the gloves with Travis Hamonic. Paul In the case of a guy like Chabot, who scored his fifth of the season in the has stated in the past he knows he has to play that role. Paul did a good club’s 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, it might help job in this one. with his bid to be on the roster at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

“At the end of the day, his play throughout the whole year will dictate whether he makes the team or not,” Luongo said Wednesday when Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.29.2021 asked about Chabot by Postmedia. “Coming to a tournament like this, where the eyes are on every day in practice and games, you really get to know the player inside and out.

“In the past, there have been guys who have shown up at a tournament like this and made their case. The next year, they made the Olympic team. If anything, it gives them a little bit of an edge. It’s not the end-all, be-all, but if you look back at 2009 when Drew Doughty went to the world championships, he was very young and the next year he was on the Olympic team.

“It could play a role, and if I’m a young player who could go over there to give my name a little push into contention I’d be glad to go over there and do it.”

Team Canada and the Americans will meet in Newark, N.J., on May 15 to charter overseas the next day. Gallant said the club will have three skates together before its first game.

Are players really going to want to travel overseas, especially with the health and safety protocols they’ve had to live with during the NHL season? That’s the biggest hurdle Luongo and Gallant will face in trying to put a roster together along with ’s Scott Salmond and former Arizona Coyotes forward Shane Doan.

Luongo said he’s spoken with the NHL GMs to receive permission to speak to players and will talk with candidates “in short order,” and he can understand some players’ concerns about attending.

“It’s been a difficult year for everybody for different reasons and understandably some guys will hesitate a little bit,” Luongo said. “But it’s an opportunity to represent your country, first and foremost, and it’s a great opportunity for some younger players to play more hockey if they haven’t played much this year.”

Of course, they won’t be the only ones who may have the opportunity. Team USA will extend invites to forwards Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris, while centre Colin White will get consideration. Tkachuk, a restricted free agent, likely won’t attend and you’d have to expect the same for Batherson.

Standout rookie winger Tim Stuetzle will get an invite from Germany, but he’s not expected to go because he wants to focus on preparing for next 1187475 Ottawa Senators optimism to close out the season — even though I think Murray had some mixed feelings about it.

In that final month of the season, we could see Karlsson’s game Senators’ late-season surge isn’t meaningless. It’s a sign of optimism evolving. When you compare the end of the season to the beginning, you see a confident player who was on the precipice of becoming a full- fledged superstar.

By Ian Mendes The next season, Karlsson entered camp a completely different player and had arguably the most dominating season of any Sens player en Apr 28, 2021 route to capturing the Norris Trophy.

We could also see the growth of Colin Greening’s game. Greening I have a distinct memory of walking out of the BB&T Center in Sunrise, scored six goals in 16 games in March, setting the table for his Florida, with Bryan Murray in March 2011. The Senators had just breakthrough campaign alongside Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. defeated the Florida Panthers 2-1, on the strength of a pair of third period But I truly believe the biggest reason for success was the arrival of goals from Erik Karlsson and some solid goaltending from Craig Anderson. Murray admitted he traded for Anderson at the deadline to Anderson. give him a test drive as the starting goaltender. “I think we might be winning too much,” Murray said to me with a laugh. Anderson responded by going 6-3-1 in March with a .936 save It was delivered with Murray’s impeccable sarcastic tone, which meant percentage and 2.19 GAA, securing a firm grasp on the starter’s net. there was probably a grain of truth to his comment. In hindsight, you could really see the picture of future success starting to The general manager was concerned about the Senators winning some come into focus in the final weeks of the 2010-11 season. They obviously meaningless games and ruining their draft position. Murray had just put made a significant offseason change in bringing in Paul MacLean as up a white flag on the season and had shipped out key veterans like Mike head coach, but the players who were going to be important to the Fisher, Chris Kelly and Alex Kovalev at the trade deadline. team’s success started to emerge in those final weeks of the season.

The club was clearly trying to be in an advantageous spot for the 2013-14 upcoming NHL Draft. But a late-season surge vaulted Ottawa past the Reasons for success down the stretch: This is a weird one, because it’s likes of the Avalanche, Islanders and Panthers in the standings. important to consider the Senators did not have a first-round pick in the The New Jersey Devils ended up winning the draft lottery and the NHL Draft in 2014. That meant there was no incentive for or Senators — who once had designs on a top-two pick — were pushed bottoming out, so this one has to be treated accordingly. down to the sixth spot. This was the season in which they traded for Ales Hemsky at the But there’s an argument to be made those late-season wins in the spring deadline. And what many people forget (myself included until I did the of 2011 helped establish the foundation for a Sens playoff team in the research), is that Hemsky collected 17 points in 20 games with Ottawa. 2011-12 campaign. He was really a productive player who helped the Senators.

And as this year’s edition of the Senators heats up — they’ve won five of Ottawa also had terrific goaltending in the final couple of weeks of the their past seven games — it’s worth exploring if this winning streak season. Robin Lehner won his last three starts with a sizzling .955 save should be reason for legitimate optimism around the club. percentage and 1.58 GAA. Anderson also won six of his last 10 starts with a .921 save percentage. Are these hollow victories that are ruining their draft position — or a harbinger of success on the horizon? But it’s really tough to argue the 2013-14 Senators laid the foundation for success the following season, because Ottawa had an awful start to the Let’s start to answer this question by looking at some similar situations in next campaign. They fired MacLean midway through the season and only recent Senators history. In the post-2005 lockout era, the club has qualified for the playoffs by virtue of the miraculous Hamburglar run. missed the playoffs on seven different occasions. So it feels like a bit of a stretch to say this fits the pattern of what we’re Here’s a look at how the seven non-playoff seasons in Ottawa ended — looking for here. looking at a 10-15-game sample size to close out the regular season. 2015-16 It’s interesting to read this list and to see what appears to be a correlation between winning games down the stretch and making the playoffs the Reasons for success down the stretch: OK if you thought bringing in following season. When the Senators end the season on a high note in a Hemsky in a non-playoff year was weird, who could forget the time the non-playoff year, they have responded by qualifying for the postseason Sens brought in Scott Gomez after the trade deadline? the following year. Yep, this one might even be stranger. When they stumble and stagger to the finish line, it has meant another And stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Sens got some ridiculously bad season is in the on-deck circle. good goaltending. Andrew Hammond went full Hamburglar mode in But it’s overly simplistic to look at these seven seasons and say we have March, posting a .938 save percentage and 1.87 GAA in eight starts. evidence of a clear trend. So it’s worth exploring each situation and then The Sens also had some terrific late-season chemistry and production trying to bring it back to the current state of the franchise. from the line featuring Mark Stone, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Zack 2008-09 Smith.

Reasons for success down the stretch: This was a nightmare season for But it’s also hard to call this a positive end to a regular season, when the the Senators, that involved changing coaches midway through the club changed its general manager and head coach just days after the campaign. Say what you want about Cory Clouston, but the team season concluded. I don’t believe any of the success from the tail end of absolutely turned its fortunes around shortly after he arrived on the the 2015-16 season is responsible for the playoff run the following year. scene. So a change in coaching has to be considered a major reason for I think it’s also worth taking a brief look at why the Senators stumbled in the late-season turnaround. each of the last three seasons — though I’m mindful that everybody is The Senators also received some stellar goaltending in March from Brian tired of this storyline. Elliott, who went 9-3-0 with a 2.57 goals-against average. The following 2017-18 season, Elliott would emerge as the club’s No. 1 netminder, winning a career-high 29 games in helping the Senators return to the postseason. Reason for problems down the stretch: This was probably one of the most disastrous seasons in franchise history and things were boiling 2010-11 underneath the surface. When some of the stuff came to public light, it’s Reasons for success down the stretch: I think that 2010-11 team is the no wonder this club closed out the season with a 3-10-0 record. most fascinating to me, because there was legitimate reason for This was clearly a case of a group of players who were ready to put an Juxtapose that with the earlier portion of the season, when the head end to the season and it was reflected in their play on the ice. coach did not trust that trio to protect a similar lead in the final five minutes of a game against Winnipeg. The Jets scored late to tie it and 2018-19 then won the contest in overtime — while the young trio looked on.

Reason for problems down the stretch: After trading , The Sens are winning these games with their young stars playing a Stone and Ryan Dzingel around the trade deadline, the Senators finished significant role in air-tight, defensive hockey games. Ottawa has off the season with an odd assortment of players on their roster. surrendered only seven goals over the past five games — by far its best Brian Gibbons, for example, collected 14 points in the final 20 games of defensive stretch in the D.J. Smith era. the season. Oscar Lindberg suited up for 20 games as well. “We’re defending way harder and that’s the way you’re going to win in This felt like a mishmash of characters just trying to get to the end of the the regular season next season,” said Smith. “If you take the next step, season, with Marc Crawford coaching the final 18 games. that’s how you’re going to win games. It’s not like we’re just playing out the string — we feel these games are important.” 2019-20 In the last three seasons of the rebuild, it has felt like Ottawa has just Reason for problems down the stretch: The Senators had their season been playing out the string as Smith alluded to in his comment. cut short, so it felt like they were actually starting to turn a bit of a corner when the season shut down due to COVID-19. They went into the pause But not this time around. with a 5-6-1 record in their final dozen games of the regular season — The hard lessons of the rebuild appear to be finished and this core of showing an improvement from the group that started 3-8-1 in the first 12 Senators players is ready to start winning right now. The winning may not games under D.J. Smith. align with a playoff race, but at this stage of the rebuild, there are no Again, they used a bit of an odd collection of players to close out the hollow or meaningless victories for Ottawa. season. The season finale at Los Angeles featured players like Scott This club has finished no higher than 30th place in the overall standings Sabourin, Jayce Hawryluk, Mikkel Boedker, Andreas Englund, Ron the last three seasons, so planting the seeds of a winning culture far Hainsey and Matthew Peca. outweighs their draft position. Just listening to Tkachuk speak about the 2020-21 dressing room environment in glowing terms is refreshing for Ottawa fans, who have grown accustomed to a losing identity in recent years. So let’s bring all of this back to the present, where the current edition of the Senators are winning games. But what’s most important is that it “Everybody comes to the rink every day wanting to win, so I think that feels like the players who should be on the roster next season are makes it so much fun,” said Tkachuk. “It’s great to see the progress playing significant roles right now. we’ve had.”

There is not a collection of veterans serving as temporary placeholders, And given which players are the ones progressing, there is every reason as we saw in previous seasons in the rebuild. to be hopeful this late-season surge carries over to next season for the Senators. During the last five games the Senators have won, the goal scorers are the players who will be playing an instrumental role with the club next These wins don’t feel meaningless or hollow. Instead, each victory adds season. a layer of optimism for what may be around the corner.

And just as we saw the early indicators of Karlsson’s greatness at the tail end of the 2010-11 season, I think we’re truly witnessing the birth of the The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 next great No. 1 line in Senators franchise history right now.

This combination of Josh Norris in between Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson has the makings of being Ottawa’s dominant unit for the next several years. On Monday, we saw Tkachuk evolve into an elite playmaker, with the primary assists on both the goals from Norris and Batherson.

The way the Batherson goal unfolded was a great example of the chemistry and communication this trio is building in the final weeks of the season. Tkachuk had a no-look, backhand pass that landed on Batherson’s stick, before the winger released a howitzer past Braden Holtby for the game-winning goal.

It’s really fascinating to listen to the linemates speak about how they are approaching these games. Tkachuk explained that the goal to Batherson was a set play they had discussed before puck drop.

“Going into the game, that’s kind of what we wanted to focus on. Being in that little area and that’s what we talked about as a line,” said Tkachuk on Monday evening. “(Drake) was calling for it. All I had to do was pass it to his voice.”

On Tuesday afternoon — which happened to be Batherson’s 23rd birthday — the right winger took a few minutes to describe the chemistry required to execute that goal with Tkachuk.

“He’s got a high hockey IQ. Both he and Josh are easy to play with,” said Batherson. “Like he said last night, he just heard my voice and he put it right on my tape.”

If Batherson and Tkachuk are using their voices to connect with each other this season, just imagine how it will be next season when their communication likely evolves to a form of telepathy. Things should become so instinctual they will probably seamlessly connect without saying a word to each other.

Watching Smith also put them on the ice to protect a lead is a huge step in the right direction. On Monday, the Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson line saw two lengthy shifts in the final four minutes of regulation time to protect a one-goal lead. 1187476 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers play in New Jersey again Thursday. ... A goal credited Tuesday to Sean Couturier was switched Wednesday and given to Travis Sanheim as the NHL reviewed the video and determined the puck deflected off the defenseman. ... The Devils (10 games) joined Buffalo On Brian Elliott: Will ‘Moose’ be on the loose as Flyers look to the future? (18 games) as teams that ended long losing streaks this season against the Flyers. ... In his NHL debut Tuesday, Egor “Big Z” Zamula had five

shot attempts (three on goal) and was plus-1 while playing 19 minutes, by Sam Carchidi 19 seconds and having Sanheim as his partner. ... Couturier and Jake Voracek have four-game point streaks. ... Several Flyers are in long Published Apr 28, 2021 scoring droughts, including Scott Laughton (no goals in last 25 games), Kevin Hayes (no goals in last 15 games), Nolan Patrick (one goal in last

20 games), Joel Farabee (one goal in last 18 games), and Travis Veteran goaltender Brian “Moose” Elliott has been a warrior during his Konecny (two goals in last 25 games). ... The Flyers have allowed the four years with the Flyers, battling hard, compiling a 63-36-14 record, and first goal in 17 of the last 19 games. serving as a mentor to Carter Hart.

But with Hart either struggling or injured for the last eight weeks, Elliott’s Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.29.2021 workload has increased even more than expected in the condensed season, and the results have not been good.

In short, Elliott, 36, plays much better when he is rested. He figured to be a fresh goaltender if used more sparingly this season as Hart’s backup.

As it has turned out, Elliott (26 games, 22 starts) has played almost as much as Hart (27 games, 25 starts).

2021 NFL draft: A first-round trade up could still be in the cards for the Eagles

Hart, who has a 3.67 GAA and .877 save percentage, regressed significantly, and there are questions about whether he will return to form next year.

And that has created questions about whether the Flyers will re-sign Elliott (2.98, .892), a pending unrestricted free agent.

The Flyers might opt to sign a more durable goaltender in case Hart struggles again next season.

In the season’s first two months, Elliott played well while his workload was low. In four games in January, he had a 2.22 GAA and a .932 save percentage. He also played in just four February games, and he was excellent (1.82, .929).

March and April have been a different story.

Used much more often, Elliott had a forgettable March (3.74, .847 in 11 games), and his April (2.95, .902 in seven games) has been up and down, including Tuesday’s 6-4 loss in New Jersey. It was Elliott’s sixth start in the last eight games.

“That’s the balance that is not easy to find,” coach said Tuesday, referring to the right amount of playing time for Elliott. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to win every game. When Moose has been fresh, he’s been outstanding, and his record is good. When we play him a lot – I think this was his third game in seven [actually six] nights – it’s a little bit more difficult.”

The Flyers, you’ll recall, had the best points percentage in the East Division entering March.

Since then, they have only 11 wins in 31 games (11-16-4), have fallen into sixth place, and dropped out of the playoff race. In than span, they are 1-10 in games following a loss, getting outscored, 58-25, in those 11 matchups.

There have been lots of factors for the tumble. The team’s poor overall defense, the special teams’ struggles, and the dried-up offense have contributed. Ditto the inconsistency of Elliott and, to a greater extent, Hart.

The Flyers are counting on the ultra-promising Hart, 22, who has missed the last six games with a mild knee sprain, having a bounce-back season in 2021-22.

As insurance, they might decide to sign a younger, more durable goalie to complement him. Among the potential unrestricted free-agent goalies are Buffalo’s Linus Ullmark (2.63 GAA, .917 save percentage), 27; Toronto’s Frederik Andersen (2.91, .897), 31; Colorado’s Philipp Grubauer (2.00, .920), 29; Detroit’s Jonathan Bernier (3.02, .912), 32; and Tampa Bay’s Anders Nilsson, 31, who has missed the season because of post-concussion syndrome.

Breakaways 1187477 Philadelphia Flyers With a pair of games against both the Penguins and Capitals next week, the Flyers probably need to do something in their next two games against the Devils to avoid finishing the season under .500.

Five things we learned from Tuesday’s Flyers 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Zamula steady in debut Devils Yegor Zamula, pictured top, with first NHL game puck and Jackson Cates with first NHL assist puck.

Wayne Fishflyingfishhockey.com Russian defenseman Yegor Zamula made his NHL debut and held his own. The 21-year-old was a plus-1 with 27 shifts (19:19 ice time) and three shots.

“If your team is down, “Everybody can see the potential and the upside,” Vigneault said. “He’s got to work, and we’ve got to work with him to help him become the best And it’s losing games, player he can be.” Who you gonna call? Said Zamula: “It’s a little bit different level than the AHL. I tried to work Streakbusters!” hard every shift, play faster, but this is the first game. I will work hard in practice to get ready for the next game.” Well, the Streakbusters, aka the Flyers, were at it again on Tuesday night. Elliott a bit overworked?

The downtrodden New Jersey Devils had gone 10 games without a win With Carter Hart still nursing a sprained knee, 36-year-old Brian Elliott (0-9-1), but the Philadelphia crew came to the rescue and did it in almost has been getting more action than he can probably handle. Alex Lyon did comedy movie (did someone say “Ghostbusters?”) fashion. start one game over the past two weeks, but Elliott has done most of the heavy lifting, and it might be starting to show. This just a month after helping the Buffalo Sabres end an 18-game (0-15- 3) winless streak, which was threatening league records for futility. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to win every game,” Vigneault said. “When he’s been fresh, he’s been outstanding. His record is real good. After falling behind to the Devils, 3-0, the Flyers rallied to score a goal in This is his third game in seven nights. It makes it a little more difficult.” the second period and two more early in the third for a 3-3 tie at the in Newark, New Jersey. Fun to watch rookies make debuts

But then, after giving up a goal and scoring another, the Flyers Couturier, a grizzled veteran at 28, confirms he gets a kick out of rookies surrendered a fifth goal on the way to a 6-4 loss. like Zamula, Wade Allison and Jackson Cates get their feet wet in the NHL. Another slow start contributed to the debacle. The Flyers have now allowed opponents to score first eight straight games and 17 of the last “For these guys, it’s a dream come true,” Couturier said. “They worked 19 outings. hard their whole life to be up here. They’re finally getting that opportunity. They’re doing well, playing a good, hard game. They don’t look out of Coach Alain Vigneault is running out of answers. place. It’s fun to see. Overall, I think they’re doing a great job.”

Although he continues to maintain his players aren’t quitting, he’s not Short shots saying much about the level of hockey intelligence we’re seeing out there. This game saw the Flyers commit one mistake after another, The Flyers also got goals from Oskar Lindblom and Phil Myers, his first of leaving goaltender Brian Elliott once again out to dry. the season … The setback snapped a four-game winning streak for the Flyers at Prudential Center. They were trying to win their fifth road game How bad was it? in a row against New Jersey for the first time ever … Zamula’s 19:19 is the most a Flyer has played in his NHL debut since Robert Hagg played The Devils entered the game one for their last 25 chances on the power 21:19 in his debut on April 9, 2017. play. So, what do they do? Score on their first two opportunities.

On Sunday night, the Flyers needed a pair of Claude Giroux miracle goals in the final two minutes to send the game to a shootout and an Burlington County Times LOADED: 04.29.2021 eventual 4-3 win over the Devils at the Wells Fargo Center.

But there would be no such drama on Tuesday night as the hungry Devils refused to lose.

It was only the Devils’ fifth home win (5-17-3, close to an NHL record for poorest home record) for the season.

Typical of the Flyers’ weak start was their inability to cash in on a four- minute power play of their own in the first period. They managed just one shot and that seemed to give the Devils some added life.

“The first period, I thought energy-wise I thought we started off all right,” Vigneault said in a post-game media Zoom call. “Then they took the four- minute penalty and we totally lost momentum there. Our power play wasn’t effective at all. Other than hitting a post, we had absolutely nothing.”

Poor starts are one of the reasons the Flyers haven’t won back-to-back games in the month of April.

One of the worrisome aspects of this effort was the way the Flyers went limp after Sean Couturier scored on goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood at 12:25 of the third period to tie it at 4-4, only to have New Jersey’s Yegor Sharangovich connect just 11 seconds later for what was the game- winner.

Eleven seconds. Like a scene from a pee-wee game.

“The fifth goal was a miscommunication between the ‘D’ and the goaltender,” Vigneault said. “Unfortunate to give that up the way we battled back.” 1187478 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Penguins beat Phantoms in overtime

SETH RORABAUGH

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 10:10 p.m.

An overtime goal by forward gave the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins a 2-1 home win against the rival at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

Forward Josh Currie recorded two assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (9- 11-3-2) while forward Anthony Angello scored a goal in regulation. Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 41 saves on 42 shots in the victory.

Highlights:

The Penguins’ next game is a road contest against the Binghamton Devils on Friday, 7 p.m.

•

The Wheeling Nailers home contest against the at WesBanco Arena on Wednesday was postponed indefinitely due to what was termed as “ECHL health and covid-19 protocols.” No further details were provided.

The teams are scheduled to play in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Friday, 8 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187479 Pittsburgh Penguins “My mindset has always been to get better, no matter what the circumstances were,” Gaudreau said. “Try to get better in every little aspect of my game — and that hasn’t changed, that will not change. That’s my only mindset. Spot in Penguins lineup appears secure for Frederick Gaudreau upon return “I believe I am playing better hockey overall, but with that I am sure that there’s (an aspect of) just being at the right place at the right time.”

CHRIS ADAMSKI Tribune Review LOADED: 04.29.2021 Wednesday, April 28, 2021 6:29 p.m.

When Pittsburgh Penguins turned to Frederick Gaudreau last month, it partly was out of desperation and lack of other options.

When the Penguins next deploy Gaudreau in a game, it will be for an entirely different reason.

“He’s really had a positive impact on the games that he’s been in,” coach Mike Sullivan said, “and that really what’s earned him the opportunities that he has moving forward.”

Gaudreau appears poised for a return to game action from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since April 11. Gaudreau has been skating with teammates, and he was a full-contact participant Wednesday during practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

More telling, Gaudreau skated between Colton Sceviour and Evan Rodrigues on what was the fourth line, a strong indication not only is he ready for a return but that Sullivan would dress him as one of the team’s 12 forwards — perhaps as early as Thursday for the start of a two-game series at the Washington Capitals.

“He’s earned the opportunity to be in the lineup,” Sullivan said. “When he’s been in the lineup, he’s made a positive impact on the game.

“And the biggest thing that jumps out to me is his compete level. He’s a guy that brings a ton of urgency and ton of energy to the games when he’s playing, and I think that passion for the game is contiguous.”

Gaudreau has a goal, three assists and a plus-2 rating in 13 games for the Penguins. Some of the advanced metrics paint an even better picture of the soon-to-be 28-year-old’s play. According to naturalstattrick.com, Gaudreau ranks among the top five Penguins forwards in team shot- attempt and shots-on-goal percentage while on the ice.

Gaudreau made his team debut March 18 at the New Jersey Devils only because four of the Penguins’ top nine forwards were injured. But he kept his spot over the next 12 games on merit, even as the Penguins got healthier.

“Freddy is one of those guys who really stepped up when guys were getting hurt,” said Kasperi Kapanen, one of those then-injured forwards.

“It’s good to have those guys to come in and play well under pressure, and Freddy is really one of those guys who came in and played really good hockey for us.”

Sullivan would never admit it publicly, but Gaudreau’s strong play has to be viewed as a surprise in that he — based on the pecking order of recalls from the AHL affiliate — was buried on the organizational depth chart when the season began. Gaudreau also did not play a game in the NHL last season, unable to earn a promotion from the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, where he had 11 goals and 17 assists in 42 games.

Still, former Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford saw something he liked. At the time of Gaudreau’s signing, from the outside it was viewed as little more than help for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

“I think the intent was to try to create as much depth as we can at all those different positions, and Freddy was one of those guys,” Sullivan said. “As far as his performance since he’s been a Pittsburgh Penguin, I think it speaks for itself.”

Sullivan speaks about Gaudreau as if he’s a player who will always have a spot in his lineup. Time will tell if that’s the case after the trade addition of Jeff Carter and looming return of Evgeni Malkin.

But it does appear as if Gaudreau has moved ahead of Mark Jankowski on the center depth chart with two weeks until the Stanley Cup playoffs start. 1187480 Pittsburgh Penguins

Will Evgeni Malkin return to Penguins’ No. 1 power play? Mike Sullivan won’t commit

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 4:51 p.m.

Is Evgeni Malkin about to get Wally Pipp-ed? When it comes to the power play, indications are mixed.

Malkin’s return to the lineup appears imminent, with the future Hall of Fame center practicing with teammates Wednesday on what coach Mike Sullivan termed a “full-contact” basis. Malkin will travel with the Penguins on their four-game roadtrip to Washington and Philadelphia, suggesting he could soon play in his first game since suffering a suspected right knee injury March 16.

But a funny thing happened to the Penguins’ power play in Malkin’s stead: it improved. The Penguins were 15 for 84 on the power play (17.8%) before Malkin’s injury; they are 16 for 53 (30.2%) since. Jared McCann stepped onto the No. 1 PP unit and has six power-play goals in 20 games, taking over the team lead in that category for the season.

This has led to calls for McCann to keep his spot, even when Malkin returns. Sullivan would not commit, either way.

“We will make that decision when the time comes,” Sullivan said via video conference call with media Wednesday, “but right now we like the way the power play is operating, They’ve done a real good job for us…. They’re making a positive impact on the game, and that’s encouraging from our standpoint.

If Wednesday’s practice is any indication, Sullivan might be weighing his options in regards to the power play. At one point, Malkin skated on the top unit with usuals Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel.

At other points, though, Malkin was at the other end of the ice as part of an alternate unit with Jason Zucker, Kasperi Kapanen, Jeff Carter and Mike Matheson.

“When ‘Geno’ does come back into our lineup, then obviously, it gives us more options to do different things with the groups that we have,” Sullivan said.

Tribune Review LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187481 Pittsburgh Penguins regulations and existing covid-19 protocols would remain in place. Notably, masks still would be required, even in the vaccinated sections.

The email from the Penguins was sent Tuesday, a day in which Penguins petition state for less-distanced ‘vaccinated sections’ at home coronavirus hospitalization and case rates continued to decline in games Allegheny County and the state.

Almost one-third of Allegheny County residents have been fully vaccinated, with another 21% who are partially vaccinated and CHRIS ADAMSKI theoretically would be fully inoculated in the coming weeks.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 3:56 p.m. The NHL postseason is set to begin in about two weeks, and the Penguins are close to clinching a playoff spot. Gate revenue from playoff

home games is significant to the organization, and fans traditionally covet Restaurants once had smoking and non-smoking sections. The tickets to postseason games more than they do those for the regular Pittsburgh Penguins are working to allow for vaccinated and non- season. vaccinated sections at PPG Paints Arena. A Penguins’ spokesperson said other than the email, the team would not In an email sent to season-ticket holders, the Penguins said they have comment further. petitioned state government and the commonwealth’s

Department of Health about the idea, which would allow more tickets to be sold because seating would be less socially distant. Tribune Review LOADED: 04.29.2021 “We are encouraged by the number of people in and around the region that have been vaccinated and feel that this would be a safe and effective way to allow more fans access to attend games,” wrote Penguins CEO/president David Morehouse in the email to season-ticket holders.

Under current state regulations for indoor events put in place by Gov. Tom Wolf, the Penguins have had recent games with announced attendance of 4,672 — about 25% of PPG Paints Arena’s capacity for hockey.

That is an increase from March games that had a 2,800-person limit under previous guidelines. The Penguins began their delayed and shortened season with no tickets sold for games, although a small number of team guests were in luxury suites.

Speaking Wednesday in Washington County, Wolf said the Penguins’ initial inquiry to the state involved allowing only vaccinated fans into the arena, presumably to allow for full (or close to full) capacity.

Reactions from elected officials to the vaccinated-section proposal were mixed. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald enthusiastically supported the Penguins’ plan, calling vaccinated sections “the right thing to do.”

“I applaud the Penguins for doing that,” he said during a weekly Allegheny County Health Department news conference Wednesday. “Those folks can feel safe if they’re together. They don’t need to be 6 feet apart. They don’t need to be wearing their masks, if everybody that’s been vaccinated in an area can be together. I would encourage all of our sports teams, all of our venues, theaters, the opera, the symphony, the playhouse to go ahead and think about the same thing.”

Wolf seemed more lukewarm.

“One of the things that was in the CDC guidelines is you’ve still got to be careful,even if you’ve been vaccinated, and even if you’re in the outdoors, if you’re at a crowded event,” Wolf said.

“So the Penguins and everybody with sporting (events) indoors and outdoors are struggling with exactly that question: How do we do this? We’ve got … close to 50% of Pennsylvanians who have gotten the first dose. What can they do right now? And it’s a work in progress. We are trying to figure it out.”

The Pirates for May are selling tickets up to 25% capacity for games at PNC Park, despite state guidance that now allows for 50% of capacity for outdoor events.

Capacity limits vary across the country, with a UFC fight night in Jacksonville, Fla., last weekend becoming the first indoor, sold-out sporting event held in the country since the pandemic was declared in March 2020.

The Texas Rangers team played to a sold-out crowd of 38,238 for their home opener April 5. Coronavirus cases in Texas and in Tarrant County (where Globe Life Field is located) have remained virtually flat in the 3½ weeks since.

The email from the Penguins states that vaccination status would not be a requirement for attending games and that all federal and state 1187482 Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Sullivan: Evgeni Malkin 'full contact' at practice, will travel with Penguins

Chris Adamski

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:49 p.m.

A pair of injured centers continue to practice with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and each will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip.

Evgeni Malkin and Frederick Gaudreau each had what could be characterized as a robust participation in Wednesday’s practice in Cranberry. While Malkin wore a white jersey that typically indicates “no contact,” coach Mike Sullivan said after practice he was working on a “full” contact basis.

Gaudreau was not encumbered by any apparent contact restrictions at all, and he centered a fourth line during rushes. That indicates his return is imminent, perhaps as soon as games at the Washington Capitals on Thursday and Saturday.

Gaudreau has not played since suffering a a lower-body injury April 11. In recent days he has taken part in morning skates or practices, but Wednesday was the first time he did not wear a “no-contact” jersey.

“I feel better and better every day and it feels good to skate with the team,” Gaudreau said. “It’s never fun to get injured and go through rehab. It was good to see the team having success, but you want to be on the ice as well. Overall, it’s going well.”

The guy in the white jersey, that’s Evgeni Malkin. He’s at Penguins practice today.

Malkin not only wore a different colored jersey than everyone else, he also took line rushes on a “fifth” line. Though he did work with the No. 1 power play at times at during Wednesday’s practice, he also was part of a second unit. That indicates his status is more in limbo than Gaudreau.

Malkin hasn’t played since March 16 because of a suspected right knee injury. He remains on long-term injured reserve.

“So very excited for him to come back,” erstwhile linemate Kasperi Kapanen said. “Hopefully it’s soon. But we’ll see.”

Gaudreau skated between Colton Sceviour and Evan Rodrigues, suggesting that his return to the lineup would result in a healthy scratch for Mark Jankowski.

Jankowski skated with Malkin and Sam Lafferty in a makeshift grouping.

Tribune Review LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187483 Pittsburgh Penguins Boston forward Brad Marchand secured victory at 9:11 of the third period. Gaining the offensive zone on the left wing, Marchand lifted a wrister from the circle that struck Jarry in the mask. Jarry appeared stunned for a moment but gathered himself to reject a forehand shot off Empty Thoughts: Bruins 3, Penguins 1 the rebound by Bruins forward David Pastrnak. The puck trickled loose to the right of the cage where Marchand was able to slam home an easy

forehand shot for his 26th goal. Pastrnak and forward Curtis Lazar SETH RORABAUGH recorded assists.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 11:48 a.m. The Bruins added an insurance goal at 12:18 of the third. After Krejci gained the offensive zone at center point, he backhanded a pass to forward Taylor Hall at the left point. Dragging the puck past backchecking Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, Hall ripped a wrister from the high slot Observations from the Penguins’ 3-1 loss to the Bruins: past Jarry’s blocker for his sixth goal. Assists were tallied by Krejci and With the current pandemic-related restrictions in place that limit media defenseman Mike Reilly. from directly interacting with NHL players or coaches, it’s difficult to get a A late goal by the Penguins broke up the shutout bid at 17:39 mark of the feel — on a human level — for subjects you interview. We’re just people third. Off a stretch pass from the defensive zone by Penguins talking to one another through the squawky audio of a laptop with defenseman Kris Letang, forward Jeff Carter entered the offensive zone upwards of 20 other people listening in. with some pace and chopped a slapper from the right circle beating It’s imperfect and impersonal. But obviously necessary given the Rask’s blocker on the far side for his 11th goal. Letang and forward circumstances. Kasperi Kapanen netted assists.

But one trait that has stood out among members of the Penguins is the Statistically speaking blunt self-assessment defenseman Mike Matheson will offer. • The Bruins led in shots, 31-26. Even going back to the first days of training camp, he was very frank • Pastrnak led the game with six shots. about his play. • Carter and forward Bryan Rust each led the Penguins with five shots. When asked what went wrong for him as a member of the Florida Panthers, he didn’t sugarcoat things. • McAvoy led the game with 27:52 of ice time on 32 shifts.

“In Florida, it just seemed like things kind of snowballed,” Matheson said • Letang led the Penguins with 26:19 of ice time on 25 shifts. Jan. 5. “It got to a point where I was starting to lose confidence. Obviously, that’s on myself. So going into this offseason, I didn’t really try • The Bruins controlled faceoffs, 34-26 (57%). to hide from the fact that I needed to get better in certain areas. • As usual, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was dominant at the dot “The worst thing you can do is pretend everything is great. Because going 19 for 30 (63%). obviously, I wasn’t happy with where my game was last year.” • Crosby was 16 for 29 (55%). And given how much Matheson struggled to live up to the expectations • Bruins defensemen Jeremy Lauzon and Kevan Miller each led the that came with a monster eight-year contract worth a total of $39 million game with four blocked shots. that he signed with the Panthers in 2017, his self-audit was spot on. • Defenseman Brian Dumoulin led the Penguins with two blocked shots. Four months into this season, Matheson has largely turned his game around as he has become a pretty vital part of the Penguins’ blue line, • Jarry made 28 saves on 31 shots. forming a reliable second pairing with Cody Ceci. With 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 42 games, his ability to move the puck, either • Rask made 25 saves on 26 shots. through his bold skating or his clean passing has blossomed as a Randomly speaking member of the Penguins. • This game was fairly similar to the Penguins’ 1-0 home win against the But there are still a few hiccups. Bruins on Saturday. There was a lot of defense. The only difference was Heck, he had an outright belch on Tuesday. the Bruins took the first lead of the game and that prompted the Penguins to take a few more chances offensively, exposing them a bit and allowing On the opening goal of Tuesday’s home loss to the Bruins, he was the Bruins to pour on some offense. That’s a pretty effective formula to simply beaten on a fantastic move in his own slot by Bruins forward lose a game. David Krejci. • The Penguins failed to challenge Rask all that much. Sure, they had 26 After the game, Matheson didn’t hold back. shots which is an OK total, but not many of them were really that daunting. On the occasions they were able to get a shot on net past the “You look at that first goal, that’s my fault,” Matheson said. “I came off the phalanx of Bruins defenders who blocked an astounding 21 shots, Rask bench and didn’t get my gap. Put myself in a bad spot. I had no gap. Was was easily capable of kicking out a rebound to somewhere in the vicinity flatfooted. They have good players that are deceptive and hard to play of Fifth Avenue. And on the relatively few instances he allowed a against if you give them time. That’s not a recipe for success if you’re rebound near the crease, a Bruins teammate was able to play the puck sitting back and not playing aggressive through the neutral zone with out of danger. good gaps.” The Penguins really didn’t do much in the way of second-chance As long as he has that huge contract, Matheson is always going to be opportunities or even screens leading to tips or redirections. It was a justly scrutinized. There are flaws to his game, particularly defensively. relatively easy night at the office for Rask. But no one can ever accuse him of being anything less than completely • It was a rare off night for the Penguins’ top line of Jake Guentzel, honest about himself. Crosby and Rust. According to Natural Stat Trick, they were on the ice What happened for 21 shot attempts against while only generating 10 of their own.

The Bruins broke the stalemate late in the second period at 18:10. Coach Mike Sullivan isn’t afraid to sic that top line against the Lugging a puck up ice from his own zone to the neutral zone, Bruins opposition’s top line. And why not? That’s a pretty good trio of forwards. defenseman Charlie McAvoy dished a pass to Krejci who gained the But the Bruins have a pretty good top line in Bergeron, Marchand and offensive blue line at center point. Dragging the puck past passive Pastrnak. They showed that by being fairly dominant against the pressure from Matheson, Krejci veered to the left circle and lifted a slick Penguins’ top line. backhander past the glove of goaltender Tristan Jarry on the far side for • As the game wore on a bit, the Penguins moved Kasperi Kapanen up to his seventh goal of the season. Assists went to McAvoy and goaltender right wing on the second line in place of Jason Zucker. That promotion Tuukka Rask. led to a few shots. It’ll be interesting to see if that’s something the coaches experiment with moving forward.

• The fourth line of Evan Rodrigues, Mark Jankowski and Colton Sceviour hasn’t been bad. They find ways to get the puck deep and keep it there. It doesn’t always lead to a shot but they don’t spend much time in their own zone which is always a plus. As it was, they generated five shot attempts while allowing only three.

Whenever injured forward Evgeni Malkin (or even Frederick Gaudreau) returns, the “RodJankSce” line probably gets broken up with the “Jank” portion of it most likely getting scratched, but the Penguins’ coaches seem to have discovered a viable option should they need to turn to it.

• Jarry was adequate. It would have been nice to see him steal a goal or two, especially Hall’s goal, but he was fine in this game.

• The Penguins going 0 for 3 on the power play, with all three chances coming early, didn’t help matters.

Historically speaking

• Penguins forward Teddy Blueger recorded his third career fighting major with Lauzon fairly late at 6:38 of the third period.

During his postgame media availability, Blueger had a bag of ice on his left hand but indicated he was fine.

Publicly speaking

• Matheson on the Penguins not challenging Rask enough:

“Tuukka Rask is a great goaltender. That’s part of how they play is they collapse in the middle around their net. If we do get a chance, they’re good at making sure the rebounds are cleared away and our forwards are boxed out. That goes into being good defensively. That’s definitely one of the areas that makes them hard to play against. It’s not from a lack of effort from our forwards. They were trying their hardest to get to the net and be there for the rebounds. As defensemen, we could probably do a better job of getting our shots through that second layer. They were able to front a lot of our shots and (turn) the transition the other way.”

• Blueger on the Penguins’ lack of net-front traffic:

“The whole night, it seemed like we were a step behind in terms of winning puck battles. Didn’t get enough pucks on net, didn’t have enough traffic in front of Rask. The rebound that he did kick out, we didn’t get to too many of them. That’s not really a recipe for success.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187484 Pittsburgh Penguins A very fast group, as well. So we’ve just got to be aware of that and just play our game.”

Goaltending is a question mark down in D.C. The Capitals let Braden Much more than a division title at stake when Penguins battle the Holtby, who backstopped them to the only Cup in franchise history in Capitals 2018, walk in free agency. And his replacement, Henrik Lundqvist, is out for the season with a heart issue. So they are counting on youngsters Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov.

MATT VENSEL The Penguins are obviously on a roll, too. They are 13-4-1 since March 24, setting up what will be an entertaining two-game set, with or without Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Ovechkin. APR 28, 2021 6:19 PM “The [Boston games] were the two biggest games of the year,” Mike Matheson said Tuesday, after their 3-1 loss to the Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. “And our next two against Washington are even that much bigger, Drive up Interstate 79 through Cranberry and you can’t miss the five fighting for first place.” massive banners hung on the side of UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Those are not commemorating the years the Penguins won whatever And finishing first in the division means something for the Penguins in their division was called at the time. 2021, when they will have to beat two strong teams to make it to the NHL’s final four. Since that Lemieux guy showed up, the Stanley Cup has been the only thing that matters. And historically speaking not winning the division — One, they had the league’s best home record entering Wednesday at 20- Patrick, Metropolitan or the [insert corporate sponsor] East — hasn’t 4-2. With or without fans in attendance, they have been tough to beat in been an impediment to that. their barn.

However, in 2021, with four evenly matched teams in the East and the Two, Tristan Jarry’s home-road splits are striking. Their No. 1 goalie is Penguins being so dominant at PPG Paints Arena, seizing that No. 1 15-3-2 this season with a .930 save percentage at PPG Paints Arena. On seed feels significant. Coach Mike Sullivan certainly thinks it’s something the road, Jarry has won just six of his 14 starts while posting a worrisome they should strive for. .877 save percentage.

“Because it puts you in the best possible position to be successful for the Three, home ice would be huge if they were to butt heads with the Bruins ultimate goal,” Sullivan said the other day, “which is to try to win a in the postseason. The Penguins have won just once at TD Garden Stanley Cup.” under Sullivan, earlier this month. The Bruins, meanwhile, have won two of their last 10 here. Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin skates past Capitals right wing Tom Wilson Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh. And four, as Kris Letang noted last week, hosting the first two games of a playoff series provides a chance to set the tone. In 2019, the Islanders Evgeni Malkin a full practice participant as he nears return won their first-round matchup by blitzing the Penguins in the first few minutes of Game 1. There is a good chance the East Division will be won in Washington these next three days. The Capitals will host the Penguins, who trail them For Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Letang and the Penguins, those by a single point in the standings, twice at . The first tangible benefits are a much bigger deal than the actual honor of winning game is Thursday night. the East Division.

The Penguins are 4-2-0 against the Capitals this season, though three In this title-hungry sports town, it takes the ultimate prize to distract wins came after regulation. Their last matchup was a 5-2 loss Feb. 25 in motorists. Washington.

For the Capitals, that win started a stretch in which they have won 23 of their last 31 games to put themselves in position for yet another division Post Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 title. They still score in bunches. But their goal prevention has improved under coach , who replaced current Penguins assistant Todd Reirden last summer.

“[He] does a good job coaching the offense. They’ve got a real aggressive game plan,” Sullivan said. “He plays that left-wing lock in the neutral zone. He’s always played that with the teams he’s coached and Washington has adopted that now. We obviously have a lot of respect for them. They’re a good team.”

Even without a guy Sullivan called “one of the best goal-scorers of all time.”

Alex Ovechkin missed Washington’s last two games with a lower-body injury. He did not practice Wednesday and remains day-to-day, per Laviolette. The Capitals still beat the New York Islanders in both games that he missed, including Tuesday’s 1-0 victory on Long Island. They allowed just 18 shots in that one.

Now, they shouldn’t be confused with the stingy Boston Bruins, the team that just limited the Penguins to two goals while splitting two games in Pittsburgh. But the Capitals are faster than the Bruins, just as big and boast a deeper lineup.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Teddy Blueger center Zach Aston-Reese battle for loose puck in front of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask Tuesday April 27, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Nine guys have at least nine goals for the Capitals. And bold trade deadline pick-up Anthony Mantha has four goals and six points in his first seven games.

“The Capitals are a little more evenly spread out [than Boston],” Kasperi Kapanen said. “They’ve still got big guys. They’re a very talented group. 1187485 Pittsburgh Penguins Tanev did not practice with the main group Wednesday. The winger, who has been sidelined since April, once again skated with the taxi squad beforehand.

Evgeni Malkin a full practice participant as he nears return Americans behind the bench

Thursday’s game will feature two head coaches who rank in the top four all-time in American-born coaches in wins behind the bench. Peter MATT VENSEL Laviolette of the Capitals ranks second behind John Tortorella. Sullivan is now only four games behind Dan Bylsma, the ex-Penguins coach, for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette third all-time among Americans. APR 28, 2021 2:00 PM Eight of the NHL’s 31 teams currently have an American-born head coach.

Evgeni Malkin is on track to rejoin the Penguins lineup during their “There’s a lot of real good coaches in general. And so for [so many] upcoming road trip. The star center was elevated to full participation Americans to have the opportunity to coach in the league, I think it’s Wednesday afternoon as the Penguins practiced at UPMC Lemieux great,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s an indication of how far hockey has come Sports Complex in Cranberry. and how much it’s grown and developed in the United States. … And that’s great for our game.” Malkin did not take part in line rushes. But in the final minutes of the afternoon practice, he got reps with the top power-play unit for the first DeSmith sporting a new look time since taking a knee-to-knee hit March 16. He replaced Jared Backup goalie Casey DeSmith on Tuesday busted out a bright, new set McCann on that unit. of leg pads and gloves. The gear, made by True, is mostly “Pittsburgh It is unclear if Malkin will suit up Thursday against the Washington Gold” with a bit of black. There is no white, a look Marc-Andre Fleury Capitals, with first place in the East Division at stake. But practicing would certainly smile at. without contact restrictions is the final step before getting clearance from “I’m a fan of it,” Kapanen said of DeSmith’s flashy setup. “I like the the team’s medical staff. colorful pads. You don’t always have to wear the whites or the blacks. It would be greatly beneficial to get Malkin back on the ice for a few They’re a good shade of yellow or gold or whatever you want to call it. I regular-season games, giving him a chance to knock off some of the rust think it fits him well.” before the start of the playoffs and, more importantly, help the Russian rediscover his swagger. Post Gazette LOADED: 04.29.2021 Malkin went down early in a physical game against the Boston Bruins six weeks ago. He charged into the corner and couldn’t step out of the way of a hard bodycheck from Jarred Tinordi. Their right knees inadvertently slammed together.

The 34-year-old has been rehabbing that lower-body injury since then.

Malkin got off to a poor start to his pandemic season. But in the two weeks prior to his injury, he was a force. He had four goals, 12 points and a plus-6 rating in nine March games, most of which were spent alongside Kasperi Kapanen.

“I’d like to think that we’d be put together,” said Kapanen, who is back from his injury. “We had some good chemistry going on when we were both playing. So I’m very excited for him to come back. Hopefully it’s soon. But we’ll see.”

The Penguins reuniting Malkin and Kapanen, who were especially dangerous on the counterattack, is a safe bet. And while there is intrigue about what they might do with the top power-play unit, do you really think Geno won’t be on it?

“We’ll make that decision when the time comes. But right now, we like the way the power play is operating. They’ve done a real good job,” coach Mike Sullivan said, adding, “When Geno does come back into our lineup, then obviously it gives us more options to do different things with the groups that we have.”

Pittsburgh Penguins center Teddy Blueger center Zach Aston-Reese battle for loose puck in front of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask Tuesday April 27, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Malkin is not the only injured player who will be traveling to Washington. Freddy Gaudreau and Brandon Tanev will also be on this road trip, Sullivan said.

Gaudreau, who has missed eight games with a lower-body injury, is expected to suit up Thursday. He was also elevated to full participation on Wednesday. He took Mark Jankowski's spot in the middle of the fourth line during line rushes.

“I’m feeling better, for sure. I’m feeling better and better every day,” he said.

Gaudreau, who turns 28 on May 1, made his Penguins debut on March 18. In 13 games, he had one goal, four points and a plus-2 rating. He also won 53.6% of his faceoffs and was utilized as a penalty killer. He figures to be in the mix for one of the final forward spots when the playoffs begin in the middle of May. 1187486 Pittsburgh Penguins

Sullivan’s Surprise: Malkin Is Cleared For Contact

Published 15 hours ago on April 28, 2021

By Shelly Anderson

The eye test wasn’t the bottom line Wednesday after all. Although injured Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was in a white jersey, contrasting with all his teammates, at practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, and PHN reported he was still in non-contact mode, coach Mike Sullivan delivered a curveball afterward — one fans should be thrilled with.

“Geno participated full contact in practice,” Sullivan said if Malkin.

That would mean Malkin is all the closer to returning. Could he play as soon as Thursday at Washington? It would seem to be more of a possibility in light of Sullivan’s disclosure.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if Malkin played and Capitals sniper and fellow Russian star Alex Ovechkin did not? Ovechkin has missed the past two games and did not practice Wednesday because of a lower-body injury. Washington coach Peter Laviolette has listed Ovechkin as day-to-day.

If Ovechkin — who has never missed a game against Pittsburgh in his career — can’t play, “They lose a world-class scorer, and I’m probably stating the obvious when I say that,” Sullivan said. “He’s one of the best goal scorers of all time.”

Sullivan said the Penguins will prepare for the Capitals lineup with and without Ovechkin.

Perhaps Washington should do the same with Malkin.

Sullivan said all three injured players — Malkin, Frederick Gaudreau and Brandon Tanev — are traveling to Washington, where the Penguins play two games in a row.

About that white jersey Malkin wore while the rest of his teammates were in black or yellow: The use of contrasting jersey colors for injured players is not for the benefit of reporters or fans. It’s usually a visual reminder to teammates not to hit that player.

It’s not clear what Malkin’s teammates were told about his status. At one point during practice, Malkin went to the net. A player we didn’t identify was between Malkin and goaltender Tristan Jarry, and the body language suggested frustration with not being able to defend the net-front as a player normally would, something we attributed to a non-contact status.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187487 Pittsburgh Penguins

PENGUINSThe Jeff Carter Line: Speed, Transition & Why Sullivan Should Love It | PHN+

Published 15 hours ago on April 28, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

The last few Pittsburgh Penguins games have not been heavy with offensive highlights (read that as in offense, not offensive, but there were certainly some highlights Penguins fans were offended by on Tuesday). The Penguins line, which has filled the stat sheet and brought fans out of their seats, is anchored by Jeff Carter in the middle.

And to think, PHN expected him to hold down the RW beside a grinding center. What was LA thinking? Mea Culpa on that one, both LA and PHN.

The Carter line has been remarkable since Carter found his footing within the Penguins system.

For the most part, the line has been Jared McCann on the left, Jason Zucker on the right. Though sometimes the lefties McCann and Zucker flip based on circumstance. And Kasperi Kapanen may join the band, too.

We hit the film room to show you just how good the Carter line has been and why head coach Mike Sullivan should love it.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187488 Pittsburgh Penguins

Malkin Remains In Non-Contact Mode At Penguins Practice

Published 18 hours ago on April 28, 2021

By Shelly Anderson

For those who had their hopes up that Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin might return from injury in time for Thursday’s first-place showdown with the Capitals in Washington, well, you might have to have more patience.

Malkin, who is believed to have sustained a knee injury March 16, continued to practice with the team at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, but he was still wearing a white non-contact jersey. He took some line rushes on a “fifth line” with Mark Jankowski and Sam Lafferty.

He also worked in a little bit on the power play drills. First, it was with the second unit, then he replaced Jarded McCann for a couple turns with the top unit. It’s unclear where he will be used once he returns to games.

Injured forward Frederick Gaudreau, meanwhile, joined practice in a regular, contact-approved jersey and centered the fourth line between Colton Sceviour and Evan Rodrigues.

If it seems incredible that Malkin has missed the past 21 games – well over a third of this scheduled shortened by COVID-19 – perhaps it’s because the Penguins have played well without him.

That doesn’t mean Malkin won’t be valuable in his return, of course. He had five goals, 17 points in the 14 full games he played before he got hurt.

Unlike Malkin, Gaudreau, when he’s ready to return, could face a challenge staying in the lineup despite serving as a solid fourth-liner in the 13 games (one goal, three assists) he has played.

Brandon Tanev, out the past 11 games, again skated before practice with the taxi squad in an alternate-colored (this time gray for those with inquisitive minds) jersey, indicating he is not yet ready for contact or for the main practice.

The club has previously said Tanev probably won’t be back before the end of the regular season, and that still seems feasible given that there are just 10 days remaining.

However, with a delay in the onset of the playoffs and the start date not determined or announced, there would seem to be a good chance that Tanev could be ready for the postseason given that he is skating and shooting.

We didn’t get a video of it, but Tanev did one lightning lap around the rink just before he got off the ice. The wheels are there, although he might need a bit more time to build his stamina back up so he can display those wheels over the course of a game.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187489 Pittsburgh Penguins

WATCH: Penguins Blueger Drops the Gloves vs. Bruins Jeremy Lauzon

Published 23 hours ago on April 28, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

For the first time since the opening week of the 2019-20 season, Pittsburgh Penguins Teddy Blueger dropped the mitts. The Penguins center scrapped with Boston defenseman Jeremy Lauzon earlier in the third period of the Penguins’ 3-1 loss to Boston on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena.

Blueger last fought in Oct. 2019 against Korbinian Holzer, according to HockeyFights.com.

He earned stick taps from the Penguins after his bout with Lauzon, who is a couple of inches taller and about 20 pounds heavier.

Lauzon got some good shots over the top, but Blueger landed a pair of hard body shots.

“It was a one-goal game, so. We try to be physical and hard on them and, I don’t know if that necessarily led to the fight,” Blueger said. “I think it just kind of happened. We just kind of got tangled up and it just kind of came out of that.”

Blueger handled himself well and later could be seen icing his hand, though he said he was fine.

This season, Teddy Blueger has 21 points (7-14-21) in 37 games. He was injured against the Bruins on March 15 but returned on April 11. Since the Pittsburgh Penguins lost on Tuesday, they failed to hold onto first place in the East Division and didn’t clinch a playoff berth.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187490 San Jose Sharks ATTENDANCE: Official attendance for Wednesday’s game was announced at 1,037, 517 more people than Monday’s game at SAP Center with the Coyotes. For the game, SAP donated 500 tickets to first responders, teachers, and healthcare workers as part of “Frontline Sharks, playing spoiler, sweep two-game series with Arizona Coyotes Workers Night.”

The Sharks may try to increase attendance by a few hundred more people for their next home game on May 3 against the Avalanche. By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group REMEMBERING RICH: The Sharks took time during a first-period stoppage in play to remember Rich Perez, a Sharks employee for over PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 10:06 p.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at two decades who passed away on April 28, 2020 after he fell ill from a 11:20 p.m. bacterial infection. He was 64.

The Sharks wore decals on the back of their helmets that resembled a SAN JOSE – The Sharks might be too far out of fourth place in the West garlic bulb with the initials ‘RP.’ The Sharks also announced they were Division to make a serious run at a playoff spot at this point in the naming their mailroom after Perez, a native of Gilroy. season. But that doesn’t mean they can’t spoil the postseason Perez first worked as an usher at the downtown arena for roughly three aspirations of other teams in the division. years before in 1996 he became the Sharks’ mailroom coordinator. The The Sharks scored three times in the first 14 minutes and eight seconds positions allowed him to meet almost everyone in the organization. and got some timely saves from goalie Josef Korenar in a 4-2 win over “He was very close to a lot of people in the organization, a lot of our the Arizona Coyotes at SAP Center, sweeping the two-game series after equipment trainers, he was very close to (Joe Thornton),” Couture said of they had lost eight straight earlier in the month. Perez. “Every time he walked through the room, he was smiling. Great Evander Kane, Rudolfs Balcers, Kevin Labanc and Tomas Hertl all person. We miss him.” scored and Korenar made 28 saves for his second straight win as the

Sharks remained five points back of the St. Louis Blues for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.29.2021 The Coyotes, meanwhile, in a near-must win situation, remained three points of St. Louis, which now has three games in hand on Arizona.

The Sharks’ commitment to giving younger players opportunities remained in full effect Wednesday, as they had eight players in the lineup that were 23 years old or younger. Some, like John Leonard and Alexander Barabanov were the top-six forward group and others were on the power play and penalty kill.

“We rolled four lines and put young guys in certain positions, gave chances on the power play and penalty kill,” Sharks coach said. “We got a lot accomplished, I thought.”

The Sharks had a 3-0 lead by the 14:08 mark of the first period as Kane, Balcers and Labanc all scored even-strength goals.

Kane’s goal, just 72 seconds in, came at the end of a pretty passing play, as Tomas Hertl found ABarabanov with a cross-ice pass before Barabanov found Kane for his 20th goal of the season. It’s the sixth straight year, and the seventh season overall, that Kane has scored at least 20 goals.

Defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk became the eighth San Jose player — and second this month — to make his NHL debut this season.

Pasichnuk, signed as a free agent with the Sharks last spring after four years at Arizona State, played on the third defense pair with Marc- Edouard Vlasic and had 7:38 of ice time through two periods.

“You think back to when you were a young guy, you kind of want to be left alone,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said. “But if there are parts of the game where a veteran guy can help out with, then that’s our turn to say something.

“But just let them play their game and remind them that they’re here for a reason. Enjoy it. There’s only one time you’re gonna play your first NHL game, so enjoy it.”

The other Sharks players 23 or younger were forwards Joachim Blichfeld, Noah Gregor, Leonard, and Alex True, defensemen Mario Ferraro and Nikolai Knyzhov and Pasichnuk, and Korenar, who started his second straight game.

The Sharks’ injury list right now includes forwards Dylan Gambrell (foot) and Ryan Donato (lower body) and defenseman Radim Simek (upper body). Labanc missed Monday’s game with an upper-body injury, but played Wednesday on the third line with Gregor and True.

Balcers, who turned 24 on April 8, played on the Sharks’ top line with Leonard and Couture.

The Sharks (20-24-5) remained five points back of the St. Louis Blues for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. After tonight, the Sharks have seven games remaining, starting with a two-game series with the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. 1187491 San Jose Sharks Pasichnuk said he got word Tuesday from general manager that he was playing against the Coyotes. He will be paired with Marc- Edouard Vlasic to start the game, although some defense pairs may be juggled throughout the game. As Pasichnuk debuts, San Jose Sharks’ youth movement kicks into overdrive “Honestly, I kind of blacked out for a second,” Pasichnuk said. “Like, is this a dream? I’ve had dreams of this day in the past, and then I always wake up in the morning, ‘Oh, it’s just a dream.’ But yesterday was crazy. Before practice (Wilson) came and talked to me and told me I was in By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay tomorrow, so it was pretty crazy. Area News Group “I still haven’t wrapped my head around it fully yet. I don’t think I will until I PUBLISHED: April 28, 2021 at 12:22 p.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2021 at step on the ice.” 2:18 p.m. True will start Wednesday’s game as the Sharks’ third-line center,

replacing Gambrell, who was injured Monday after he blocked a shot in SAN JOSE – Maybe the only positive to being out of the playoff picture the third period. Gambrell is considered day-to-day. and having a handful of injured players is the opportunity to audition Also notable is Timo Meier, who has nine goals in 46 games, starting on some prospects at the NHL level before the end of the regular season. the Sharks’ fourth line with Patrick Marleau and Blichfeld. That’s what the Sharks are diving into now as they get a better feel for Boughner said it’s a situation where if the Sharks were in a better spot, how ready some of their AHL players are to making the jump to the NHL. perhaps some more experienced players could have powered through Defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk is the latest to get a chance, as he’ll play their injuries. in his first NHL game Wednesday night when the Sharks host the “They’re legit injuries,” Boughner said. “But if you got a kid that’s 100 Arizona Coyotes. Pasichnuk is the eighth San Jose player, and second percent that you want to give a shot to and look at, then it’s probably the this month after goalie Josef Korenar, to make his debut in the league smarter thing to do.” this season. Pasichnuk becomes the second Arizona State player — and the first The Sharks’ injury list right now includes forwards Dylan Gambrell (foot) skater — to play in an NHL game. The first was Ottawa goalie Joey and Ryan Donato (lower body) and defenseman Radim Simek (upper Daccord, who made his NHL for the Senators on April 4, 2019. ASU body). Kevin Labanc missed Monday’s game with an upper-body injury hockey is in just its sixth season as an NCAA Division I program. but will return tonight. “It means a lot, for sure,” said Pasichnuk, who signed as a free agent “A lot of guys are just not 100 percent,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner with the Sharks last spring. “I owe so much to the Arizona State program. said. “We’re trying to get guys that are fresh and deserve shots for guys … I know they’re all going to be watching tonight and there’s still my that might be banged up a bit.” family. I love those boys and I love the coaches back there. I hope we With Pasichnuk, 23, the Sharks will have eight players in tonight’s game can make them proud tonight for sure.” that are 23 or younger. Forwards Joachim Blichfeld, Noah Gregor, John

Leonard, and Alex True are all in, as is defensemen Mario Ferraro, Nikolai Knyzhov and Pasichnuk, and Korenar, who will start his second San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.29.2021 straight game.

Rudolfs Balcers, who turned 24 on April 8, will play on the Sharks’ top line with Leonard and captain Logan Couture. Winger Alexander Barabanov, who made his Sharks debut Monday against Arizona after he was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 12, will play on the Sharks’ second line with Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane.

The Sharks entered Wednesday with a 19-24-5 record and 43 points, five points back of the St. Louis Blues for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. After tonight, the Sharks have seven games remaining.

“We put ourselves in this position, unfortunately,” Boughner said. “We know where we’re at as an organization, so we want to see young guys play, we want to see what they have.

“Some of these guys are first-year pro, they’ve spent a while down there in the American League, and some recent new faces that we made trades for. It’s a situation where it’s allowing us to see what we have underneath us.”

Arizona coach Rick Tocchet can relate.

In his first season as the Coyotes’ coach in 2017-18, the team had nine players 22 years old or younger play at least 10 NHL games. That included 19-year-olds Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun, and 20-year- olds Lawson Crouse and Christian Fischer — all players were drafted in either the first or second round.

“It’s dangerous in a way that if you have too many guys that are not ready, but you have to put them in during the season, they can regress a little bit in their development. So you’ve got to be careful,” Tocchet said.

“But especially now though. It’s important that you get guys in, just to show them how hard it is to play in the NHL and what it takes. So you give them a taste.”

Pasichnuk is playing in place of veteran defenseman Greg Pateryn, 30, who had dressed for the last two Sharks games. In his first year of professional hockey after four seasons at Arizona State, Pasichnuk has seven points in 29 games with the Barracuda this season. 1187492 San Jose Sharks Kessel got the Coyotes on the board late in the first period when Nick Schmaltz's shot deflected off him and in for his 18th goal. Arizona had an extra skater on the ice for 59 seconds because of a delayed penalty before the goal. It was Kessel's eighth goal of the season against San Kane's 20th goal leads Sharks past Coyotes 4-2 Jose, tying a record for the most vs. the Sharks held by Teemu Selanne (1995-96) and Luc Robitaille (1992-93).

JOSH DUBOW, San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 04.29.2021 AP Sports Writer

April 28, 2021

Updated: April 28, 2021 10:40 p.m.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Evander Kane reached the 20-goal mark for the sixth straight season, Josef Korenar made 28 saves to win his second straight start and the San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 Wednesday night.

Kane's goal started a three-goal barrage for San Jose in the first period with Rudolfs Balcers and Kevin Labanc following up to help San Jose sweep the two-game series against Arizona in their first two games in front of their home fans.

The Sharks were allowed 520 fans on Monday and 1,037 for this game.

“It's getting there,” captain Logan Couture said when asked if it's feeling like a normal home game again. “The last two games have been very nice. Our fans are awesome. We love the support, We wish there could be more in the building. But both games they've done a great job. They are noticeable.”

The Sharks entered the series on an eight-game losing streak that all but knocked them out of playoff contention.

With the back-to-back losses the Coyotes fell three points behind St. Louis for the final playoff spot in the West Division with the Blues holding three games in hand. Arizona has lost nine of 11 games overall.

“I think the last little while we've been making too many mistakes,” captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. “That comes down on me. I don’t know what I'm doing out there. We have to clean that up.”

San Jose Sharks left wing Rudolfs Balcers (92) scores a goal past Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif.

Tomas Hertl sealed the game with an empty-net goal for San Jose.

Phil Kessel and Johan Larsson scored but the Coyotes couldn't get anything else past the 23-year-old rookie Korenar. He got his first two career wins this week against Arizona.

“You could tell he looked a little more comfortable in there tonight,” coach Bob Boughner said. “I know he wasn’t happy with a couple of the goals the other night. It’s good he came out and found his game.”

Kane played a big role in both wins with a goal and three assists on Monday night and then another goal in this game to give him 20 on the season. Kane became the fourth player to reach at least 20 goals in each of the past six seasons, joining Alex Ovechkin, Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov.

Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for Arizona.

FAST START

The Sharks jumped on top of Arizona early for a second straight game. After scoring 17 seconds into the game on Monday, the Sharks took 1:12 to get on the board in this game when Kane finished off a nifty passing sequence started by Tomas Hertl and Alexander Barabanov.

San Jose added to that lead when Balcers took a turnover at the blue line and skated in to beat Kuemper with a backhand to make it 2-0.

Labanc added the third goal when he knocked in a loose puck after a scramble in front of the net.

“The start is killing us,” Coyotes coach Rich Tocchet said. “Three gifts again. Wrong reads. I don’t understand the reads. A couple of guys are fragile on these reads at the beginning of the game and it’s in our net.”

SHARK KILLER 1187493 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' offense comes alive as 'best fans in world' return

BY ALEX DIDION

It hasn't been the season the Sharks hoped for in 2021, as COVID-19 restrictions forced the team to play its first month of games away from the Bay Area. Even when the team finally was able to play at SAP Center, local restrictions kept any fans from being able to attend games in person in San Jose.

Monday night was the first chance for spectators to return to a Sharks home game in San Jose. The Sharks certainly seemed to feed off the energy of the 520 fans in attendance, as the team snapped an eight- game losing streak and beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-4.

"It was awesome, we've got the best fans in the world and they were a big reason we won tonight," Evander Kane said directly after the Sharks' first game in front of fans at SAP Center in 414 days.

Kane had four points in the winning effort, and the Sharks tied a season- high with six goals, all of which were scored by different players.

The Sharks are slowly increasing the number of fans allowed in the building, but the team did sell every single ticket that was available for the game according to team president Jonathan Becher. Although it was just under 3 percent capacity, Kane could feel the intensity in the building.

"It was great, for 500 fans they were awfully loud and really engaged," Kane told reporters in his postgame press conference. "Gave us a bit of a boost, especially when they started to come a little bit in that second period, it was nice to have the fans behind us and giving us that support. So looking forward to playing in front of them again on Wednesday."

"It was very cool, the fans that we did have were very loud and very into it," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said after the win. "You could tell a lot of people were happy to be here and it was the first time we heard the national anthem all year 'you suck' so it was good."

The win puts the Sharks four points behind Arizona for fifth in the Honda West Division. Five points behind the St. Louis Blues for the fourth and final playoff spot, the Sharks will need to build on the momentum from tonight's victory.

Five of the Sharks' final eight games will come against teams that already have clinched spots in the postseason, and with six of those final eight being played at SAP Center, that home crowd energy will be invaluable as the team tries to claw its way into the playoffs.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187494 San Jose Sharks favourite team, a fact highlighted in Downie’s 2017 song and ode to his brother, “You, Me and the B’s.”

The Downie family obsession with the Bruins began at a young age. Joe Thornton and Gord Downie: Inside a friendship that changed an NHL Harry Sinden, then the team’s general manager, was a family friend. As a star and inspired a music legend minor league coach, Sinden also worked in real estate and sold the Downies their home in Amherstview, outside of Kingston, Ont. Downie’s parents asked Sinden to be godfather to their children.

By Joshua Kloke “Back in the day, we supported every move Harry made,” Downie told Bob McKenzie in his book “Hockey Confidential” of his Bruins fandom.

Thornton sat stunned as he glimpsed into the life of his favourite singer. It is September 2016, and the sun has set on Toronto’s Withrow Park. The singer who adored the team he was now playing for, in part, Two men are standing near the site of the park’s outdoor rink, and they because of the man who drafted him. are smiling. It follows then that Gord would appreciate Thornton, too, given that One man is one of the greatest hockey players of his generation. Sinden selected him. Thornton provided hope for a franchise that had Beside him stands the other man: an adored Canadian rock musician, just missed the playoffs for the first time in 30 years. regaling him with exploits from the hundreds of games of shinny he’s And when Thornton first took the ice for the Bruins, Gord’s appreciation played as a goalie on that rink. The hockey player wakes up the sleepy for his game swelled. park with his boisterous laugh as the musician describes his game. By 1997, had become the most popular band in The two friends share laughter because they have to: the musician is in a Canada, partly on the strength of Downie’s wild creativity on stage, his bout with terminal brain cancer. And the hockey player knows this body-contorting dancing and unchained poetic musings. meeting, which he kept private from his teammates, might be the last with his friend. Downie was a different breed, and in Thornton, Downie saw someone who also made a name for himself by breaking from the mould. The Tragically Hip’s final tour had finished months earlier. Gord Downie’s family, led by his brother and newfound caretaker, Patrick, were not “What he sees, and what he executes, is like a different game,” said necessarily open to regular visits from anyone who wanted to wish Patrick of what Gord liked in Thornton’s sometimes daring playmaking. Downie well. Instead, they created an environment where Downie could rest when he needed to, focus on being around his children and make Thornton and Patrick would remain friendly, stopping to chat whenever more music, as were his wishes. they passed each other at TD Garden. And Patrick always made sure to sneak in an extra Tragically Hip song or two during a game for Thornton, But those rules didn’t apply to Joe Thornton, Downie’s favourite hockey even if Thornton’s favourite, the slow, drunken stumble of “Long Time player, who over time became a close friend. Running” wasn’t fit for a raucous arena.

“There was always an open door for Joe,” says Patrick. Not long after Thornton began with the Bruins, he travelled to Toronto for a Tragically Hip concert and afterward, met his idol backstage. And in those meetings, Thornton both grew closer with Downie, and became a changed man. “Overwhelming,” says Thornton of seeing Downie in person. “I don’t really get nervous around people, but he was probably one of the only In a rare interview on a topic he has often declined to address, Thornton guys I ever got nervous around.” said he was thankful to have Downie in his life. The musician helped him find a better path, one that eventually led him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It took, in Thornton’s estimation, “about three seconds” into the conversation before he felt at ease. And, Thornton says, “He made me a better person.” “You know the movie Avatar where the one character plugs into Gord Downie and Joe Thornton at the corner of Hampton and Hogarth (another)? You just knew who you are as soon as you hugged. An instant avenues in Toronto. (Courtesy of Joe Thornton) connection,” says Thornton. Though moments like this are rare, Joe Thornton is unsettled. Thornton, of course, wanted to talk about the concert. Downie, as he The normally easy-going, and immensely talented playmaker is sitting in would often do, wanted only to feed his Bruins obsession. the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, a building that has since been demolished. Thornton was enamoured by Downie’s ability to quell the noise around He has just been selected by the Boston Bruins as the first overall pick in him. He hung on Thornton’s every word. the 1997 NHL Draft and has been thrust into the spotlight. Sitting with an interviewer, producers and camera people, Thornton is a little “Joe was our first real Bruin friend,” says Patrick, laughing. overwhelmed and in need of a question that will put him at ease. He gets it when the interviewer asks: What music do you like? The kinship between Gord and Joe was cemented by what Patrick calls a “rock and roll magnetism” in both men. Thornton’s wide smile, already his trademark, flashes and he says: “The Tragically Hip.” As Patrick describes what brought Thornton and his brother together, it’s easy to imagine he’s describing Gord, too. “Oh, you like that band?” the interviewer asks. “He’s able to capture the imagination of a lot of people. The guy just “My favourite,” Thornton replies. lights up rooms. The room is a better place even after he’s left it,” Patrick says. The Tragically Hip was played in his minor hockey locker rooms when he was as young as 12, he says, around the time 1991’s “Road Apples” was It did not take long for Thornton to earn a special place for Downie: He released. became his favourite player, a designation Patrick stresses didn’t come lightly. The interviewer points behind him, to a man clad in black holding a boom mic. Their friendship grew, but Thornton’s role with the Bruins became more and more tenuous, questions arising about whether his easy-going “That’s Gord Downie’s brother,” the interviewer says, and Thornton’s persona was the right fit for the Bruins dressing room. smile grows wider. Downie thrived off Thornton’s persona, though, gravitating to his laugh, When the interview finishes, Thornton and Patrick Downie connect. his larger-than-life spirit, his magnetism. He would describe Thornton in a Patrick is a lifelong Bruins fan who lives in Boston. He works for the way only a poet could: “Loose as ashes, and twice as dusty.” team, doing everything from producing interviews to DJ’ing games. Thornton, a wide-eyed teenage fan of the band at heart, asks about Gord In November 2005, Thornton was controversially traded from the Bruins Downie and Patrick details his favourite singer’s obsession with the to the San Jose Sharks. Bruins general manager Mike O’Connell, who Bruins. He said he and his brother talk nearly every day about their took over from Sinden in 2000, didn’t get the kind of return many expected. Thornton went on to win the Hart Trophy that season. The trade crushed Downie, as he highlighted in “You, Me, and the B’s,” the Western Conference final. The Sharks would win 5-2 over the St. when he sang of the “constant concern” over the trade. Louis Blues, sending Thornton to his only Stanley Cup Final.

But even after the trade, Downie and Thornton stayed in touch. Through the cancer treatments that had preceded the announcement of Downie’s diagnosis and their upcoming final tour, Thornton had received They were getting older, having children, and connecting over their near-daily updates and photos from Downie’s 30 straight days of cancer families. Both began moving away from the primes of their careers. treatment. Thornton might not have been the All-Star that he was earlier in his career, and The Tragically Hip’s influence in Canadian pop culture began In every one of the photos, Downie wore the same outfit: a denim jacket to wane. over a Boston Bruins jersey with Thornton’s name on the back.

But still, both persevered at their craft. “His coat of armour,” says Patrick. “That was the best he could do to protect himself.” Thornton played his 1,000th career NHL game in 2011, a landmark achievement for players normally at the end of their careers. The year “It took my breath away,” says Thornton. before, Downie released his well-acclaimed solo record “The Grand Bounce.” During his treatment, Downie began growing an unkempt beard. It was at this time that Thornton began growing his now trademark grey beard, The two friends were enjoying success on their own terms. And that only too. A coincidence, sure, but an opportunity to bond all the same. brought them closer. While Thornton and the Sharks would lose the Stanley Cup Final to the “We truly loved what we did and we never took anything for granted,” Pittsburgh Penguins, that summer still changed Thornton’s life forever. Thornton says. “And I think that is a huge similarity: the passion that we have for both of our arts. I call what I do art, and I think we’re both very The band’s final tour solidified their place as Canadian icons. Throughout similar in that way.” every sold-out show, they dipped into their 30-year catalogue of songs, each of which created a uniquely Canadian cultural language. Close to It was the conversations with Downie that helped Thornton see his game one-third of watched their final concert in their hometown of in a different light, as he became re-assured in his approach. Kingston. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, was in attendance for the teary-eyed goodbye. “He liked my art,” says Thornton, when asked why he was Downie’s favourite player. “I’ve always explained it like, you’re an artist: You have Thornton attended the tour and stayed connected with Downie as he your brushes and your canvas and then you go from there. It’s a unique delivered emotional show after show throughout Canada. And his way to look at it, and it’s how I look at it. You’re the painter and here’s resurgence made him a surprise selection for Canada’s World Cup of your brushes, and here’s your canvas, what are you going to do with it? Hockey roster that September in Toronto. The tournament was more It’s like that, every hockey game.” than an opportunity to remind the hockey world of his talents. Thornton, 37, treated it as a chance to make career-defining visits with his friend. Thornton’s career is littered by the kind of no-look, behind-the-back passes few players in NHL history had the brains, or the audacity, to try. In the months that followed that final tour, Downie’s health worsened. Thornton remains the active leader in NHL assists, and is seventh all Patrick had moved into Downie’s Toronto home full-time to care for him. time. And so on afternoons between morning skates and games, and on the He got there by sticking to this credo: “Safe is dead.” nights off, Thornton would travel east along Bloor Street to Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood, nestled in between the Don Valley Parkway During one of their many hangs, Thornton casually dropped the phrase in and Withrow Park, to visit his friend. conversation. The visits were kept secret from his Team Canada teammates. Downie stopped in his tracks. “I didn’t need to say anything to anybody,” he says. “Wait, what?” he asked, stunned. “Safe is dead?” In a dark time, Thornton’s spirit lifted Downie’s. Thornton began likening his approach to Downie’s intense and uninhibited onstage persona. “Joe was always himself,” Patrick says. “He lightens up every room he comes in. You feel it. It’s totally infectious. He’s not a perfect human “It’s like you, Gord, when you’re up on stage; nothing you do is safe. Safe being. None of us are. I think he knows what a touch he has with people.” is dead, man,” he said. “Being able to talk to him then was a privilege,” says Thornton. “It’s Having never heard the phrase before, it stuck with Downie, both as a something that I never took for granted.” lyricist and a person. Together, they’d walk the Riverdale streets. Downie would take Thornton After that conversation, Thornton received frequent text messages from for dinner at Allen’s, one of his favourite Toronto pubs. Downie asking for more insight into what “Safe is dead” meant to Thornton. “When it comes to Toronto, Gord had some very serious pride for this city,” Patrick says. “He just kept on going back to it,” Thornton says. “I had no idea what he was going to do with it. Like an artist, he heard something and he had to Thornton would love to hear Downie go down memory lane with stories learn more and dig further.” throughout the band’s career, including their stop on “,” when Downie was struck by nerves in the band’s opening song. He Thornton assumed his credo had piqued Downie’s interest, and that was was trying to give his nephew, who had just turned 11, a sign from the the end of it, until the release of “,” Gord Downie’s sixth broadcast. As he sang the opening lines to “Grace, too,” he brought his and final solo record. two index fingers together.

“Every song is about a person,” Downie said. Some song titles speak for When they were in public together, Downie was routinely approached by themselves (“My First Girlfriend”), but the inspiration for the majority of fans who just had to share their personal love of the band. the songs remains a mystery. And every time, Thornton was struck by how Downie treated these fans “Safe Is Dead” was one of those mysterious tracks. It crystalized his the same way he had treated Thornton: with intense appreciation and friendship with Thornton and it hit hard. “Very humbling,” he says now. devoted interest.

The opening lyrics capture Downie’s surprise at hearing the term, and “To give people the time of day,” Thornton says of what he learned from then speaks to their friendship: “Wait, what/Safe is dead/The dark Downie. “Walking throughout Toronto like we did, everybody knew Gord. previews/Who’d miss this fear/A damn silence/Exiles meet.” And he would always stop.”

On the morning of May 24, 2016, the news of Downie’s terminal brain Thornton mimics Downie’s booming “Hello,” famously heard in the cancer was announced by the band. opening seconds of the band’s seminal 1997 live record, “Live Between The following night, Thornton came out buzzing, grabbing the primary Us.” assist on the Sharks opening goal less than four minutes into Game 6 of “He made everybody feel very important. For a guy of his stature, that’s very rare,” he says.

Thornton tried to put the lessons he learned from Downie into practice, as he did before a Sharks game in Toronto, when he met for 10 minutes with a family who had named their son after Thornton.

As the 2016 World Cup of Hockey came to an end, Thornton visited Downie and they would make what was their last walk together through Withrow Park.

“I cherish those memories forever,” Thornton says.

Downie cherished them too.

Patrick says his brother tried to live his last year without self-pity. He made just two public appearances in 2017, looking far more ill than he had in 2016.

Still, Thornton’s mantra, “Safe is dead” stuck. He spent the final year of his life largely in private, recording music whenever possible.

“It was just the inspiration he needed, and something he tried to live by late in his life,” Patrick says.

Downie died of brain cancer on Oct. 17, 2017.

“Tough one,” Thornton, his voice cracking, told reporters after learning of Downie’s death.

He thinks about Downie and the conversations they had in Toronto every single day.

Those conversations were brought into focus in October 2020, when Thornton was a free agent.

He had been coveted by the Leafs, as well as other teams.

Downie’s final solo record, “Away is Mine,” was released on Oct. 16, 2020. On that day, Thornton called Patrick to gauge his thoughts on him possibly signing in Toronto.

Patrick said he’d be thrilled, but Thornton also wanted to know what his brother might have felt. The two men agreed that Gord, the ardent Bruins fan, would wear a wry smile at the thought of Thornton as a Leaf.

Thornton told Patrick he was “99 percent there.”

Patrick advised him to play “Away is Mine” and make a decision.

A few hours later, Thornton signed with the Leafs.

“The Downies will take credit,” Patrick says, chuckling, “for the 1 percent.”

Did those visits lead Thornton to believe that signing in Toronto would be the right move for him?

“I think so,” Thornton says.

Toronto is a fitting landing spot for Thornton, the Tragically Hip fan. housed more Tragically Hip concerts than any other room. Hand-written lyrics to “50 Mission Cap” are hung just outside of the Leafs dressing room.

And of course, there is Downie’s music, still regularly played during breaks in games.

“He just seems to pop into your head. ‘Boom,’ it’s there. You don’t know why, it’s just there,” Thornton says.

In Toronto, it is impossible for Thornton to escape the memory of his friend.

And he would not want it any other way.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187495 San Jose Sharks

GOTTA SEE IT: Couture Loses Teeth Again, Still Smiling

Published 3 hours ago on April 28, 2021

By Sheng Peng

Logan Couture lost two more teeth tonight, but a win kept him smiling.

Couture – famous among San Jose Sharks fans for misplacing his chiclets on a regular basis because of his all-out style of play – was hit in the face by friend and ex-teammate Jason Demers. To add insult to injury, Christian Dvorak followed up with another blow.

As everybody else was watching linemate Rudolfs Balcers score a highlight-reel backhander, a visibly frustrated Couture stalked into the San Jose Sharks room, kicking something as he went down the hallway.

Was this a sign of a more serious injury?

Apparently not, as Couture emerged from the room minutes later, mostly unscathed. Surely, Balcers goal and a 4-2 San Jose Sharks victory over Arizona dulled the pain.

After the game, Couture was all smiles, as he recounted his ordeal.

"I almost made it through the whole season"

“Hey, I almost made it through the whole season, man,” the San Jose Sharks captain joked. “Seven games left. Almost.”

Couture confirmed that Demers was the culprit: “He told me he’s missing two, he wanted to make it even.”

Well, that’s mean. Of course, Demers was clearly joking. Couture and Demers came up together in the San Jose system and were teammates on the Sharks from 2009-15.

Should Couture expect an apology text from his old buddy?

“He apologized on the ice,” Couture grinned, “that’s enough.”

San Jose Hockey NowLOADED: 04.29.2021 1187496 San Jose Sharks Coyotes felt like they had the better 5-on-5 period, but Natural Stat Trick does say SJS 9-8 Chances, 3-2 High-Danger. We’ll see how the San Jose Sharks respond, whatever they’re playing for.

Postgame Notes #49: Balcers Stars, Sharks Edge Coyotes 4-2 PERIOD 3

7 in: Back-to-back positive step-ups by Burns in neutral zone. Good plays there. Published 4 hours ago on April 28, 2021 Barabanov has left flank spot opposite Karlsson on San Jose Sharks By Sheng Peng PP1. Kane high slot, Hertl net front, Burns up top.

Blichfeld has his feet taken out from under him near boards by Demers. The former San Jose Sharks d-man — “You fucking traitor!” a fan shouts PERIOD 1 below me — has been in the middle of some shady stuff tonight. Today marks one year since our beloved Sharks colleague Rich Perez 9 left: Back-to-back poor passes by Kane on PP, just passes to covered passed away. guys. He was always so positive and willing to help anyone in any situation. 6 left: Good work by Blichfeld to help out stressed Ferraro there in d- Kane goal: That’s execution by Barabanov. His breakout pass to Hertl is zone. deflected, but not enough by a Coyote. Then, he slips past Arizona Looks like — and remember it's his first NHL game — Pasichnuk getting defense, lures in Coyotes, and connects with a wide-open Kane. Great the late lead treatment. Not getting too much work in the third period patience by Hertl too, finding Barabanov. Looks like Christian Dvorak overreacted to the Hertl pass, puck watching instead of staying with 3 left: Ekman-Larsson loses puck in unforced error, Balcers snaps it up, Kane. draw penalty. Boy, has OEL fallen off.

7 in: Skill patience, vision, then execution by Barabanov to hit Burns 2 left: Again, on PP entry, Barabanov puts it where it’s easy for Hertl to across the ice. skate into.

This made me laugh: Crowd cheers jumbotron announcement, Patrick Happy Korenar: On Hertl ENG, I can see him celebrate demonstratively Marleau looks up, sees it yet another one of his milestones — 1,600 on other side. games as a #SJSharks player — he quickly looks down again without a second's acknowledgement

Labanc goal: In a comical pairing of perhaps San Jose’s slowest skater, San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 Alex True, and their fastest, Noah Gregor, the duo does fantastic work. True sends a puck down the ice, Gregor blows by Goligoski to negate the icing. Then Gregor circles behind net, hits True who steaming up the ice. Good work by True to follow up on his own shot, find Labanc for the gimme.

Scrum unfolding in front of Korenar, Hunt going at Vlasic, Crouse joining in, Pasichnuk beelines to the big guy, 6-foot-4 Crouse — Bob won't dislike that

3 left: Barbanov consistently putting puck in right place. Couple examples of that on that shift. Small execution plays that keep the attack going.

2 left: Pasichnuk takes the high sticking, but he looks like he has NHL strength. Explodes to beat Bunting to loose puck behind Korenar, then seems to wall him off from point shot.

Shot counter a little lopsided, Arizona 13-8, but it’s 8 all 5-on-5.

PERIOD 2

1 in: Good burst by Couture on forecheck of Ekman-Larsson. Feels like we haven’t seen that a lot recently. Maybe getting healthier?

2 in: Blichfeld can’t explode through Goligoski chasing dump-in. Feels like he still needs to work on his strength — his feet, unlike say Gregor, aren’t enough for this league. So he needs to get stronger.

3 in: Under pressure, Barbanov again puts the puck in a place that his teammate can do something with it.

Larsson goal: But then, it looks like Barabanov loses the point man Hjalmarsson walking down the slot.

7 in: On PP, his shot blocked, impeded by shot blocker, Barabanov finds a way to get it back to Burns. Puck seems to be on his stick like a magnet.

Balcers gets the start on the PK with Couture — his responsibilities have been increasing as season goes on

7 left: Barabanov pass on entry…intercepted. Need to stop production on my BaraGODov shirts.

6 left: Dangerous D-to-D pass by Knyzhov to Karlsson, not great awareness that there was a forechecking Coyote about to pounce on Karlsson.

5 left: Nice patience by Vlasic with puck, a couple forecheckers near him. Feel like I’ve seen a slight uptick in his play recently. Slight. 1187497 San Jose Sharks Bob Boughner conceded this morning, when asked if banged-up veterans like Kevin Labanc and Ryan Donato might have played on Monday if the San Jose Sharks were closer to a playoff spot, “They’re legit injuries. But when you have a kid that’s 100%, that you want to give Game Preview/Lines #49: Will Chekhovich, Melnichuk Play for Sharks a shot to, it’s probably the smarter thing to do.” This Year? So youth will be served. The Athletic confirmed again today that Melnichuk will likely get a start by the end of the regular season. San Jose Hockey Now has heard that Ivan Chekhovich should also make his Published 10 hours ago on April 28, 2021 NHL debut this year. By Sheng Peng Who’s left? Ryan Merkley? A San Jose State club player?

Evander Kane said of the youth movement: “We’ve been doing that all The sixth-place San Jose Sharks are five points behind fourth-place St. year, let’s be honest. I don’t know how many more different players you Louis for the West’s fourth and final playoff spot. The Blues’ recent two- can bring in.” game sweep of Colorado, however, may be a death blow to San Jose’s Pasichnuk says Doug told him yesterday that he was playing. He told his playoff chances – St. Louis also has two games in hand and hold the wife, who almost cried, then talked to his parents: "I'm so grateful. I just tiebreaker over the Sharks. The Blues are in Minnesota tonight. want to thank God for this opportunity. I dreamt of this my whole life." SAN JOSE SHARKS (19-24-5) Pasichnuk says 2 things that he's focused on most with Barracuda was Wow, the lines that I saw yesterday were right: learning to defend properly with speed at pro level + his skating, especially his backwards skating Barabanov-Hertl-Kane Pasichnuk, on what it means to represent @SunDevilHockey in NHL: "I Balcers-Couture-Leonard owe so much to the Arizona State program. They really helped me develop…I know they'll all going to be watching tonight. They're still my Labanc-True-Gregor family. I love those boys." Brinson Pasichnuk will make his debut tonight for the #SJSharks! AROUND THE NHL A lot of changes in the projected lines. Coming and going: 2020 No. 2 pick Quinton Byfield will make his NHL Coyotes line rushes (4/26 at SJS) debut tonight. At the same time, 2013 No. 3 pick Jonathan Drouin is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Canadiens for personal LINES reasons. And former San Jose Sharks rival Gerard Gallant is back at Bunting – Schmaltz – Keller work, taking Team Canada’s head coaching reins for the 2021 World Championships. Crouse – Dvorak – Kessel

Hunt – Larsson – Fischer San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 Brassard – Pederson – Hayden

PAIRS

OEL – Lyubushkin

Chychrun – Goligoski

Hjalmarsson – Demers

GOALIES

Kuemper

WHERE TO WATCH

Puck drop is 7:30 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it on NBC Sports Bay Area, Bally Sports Arizona Plus, or NHL.tv.

MORNING SKATE

The San Jose Sharks are going young – very young.

The Sharks will have eight players 23 years old or younger in tonight's game — Blichfeld, Gregor, Leonard, Knyzhov, Ferraro, True, Pasichnuk and Korenar. Balcers turned 24 on April 8.

Tonight, Brinson Pasichnuk will become the eighth San Jose Sharks player to make his NHL debut this year, joining Sasha Chmelevski, Fredrik Händemark, Josef Korenar, John Leonard, Alexei Melnichuk, Nicolas Meloche, and Jeffrey Viel. This comes on the heels of San Jose’s nine NHL debuts last year: Lean Bergmann, Joachim Blichfeld, Mario Ferraro, Noah Gregor, Joel Kellman, Nikolai Knyzhov, Maxim Letunov, Alexander True, and Danil Yurtaykin.

Underscoring where San Jose is in the standings, these 17 NHL debuts over the last two years is the largest two-season Sharks total since their expansion era. From 1991 to 1993, no less than 20 players made their NHL debuts for San Jose squads that went a combined 28-129-7. Between 1991-93 and 2019-21, the greatest two-year number of San Jose NHL debuts is 14, achieved three times, 2002 to 2004, 2003 to 2006 (remember there was no 2004-05 NHL season), and 2018 to 2020.

“That’s the way it goes,” Erik Karlsson acknowledged on Monday night. “We’re in this spot we’re in because we put ourselves here.” 1187498 San Jose Sharks [Murray] Craven, [John] MacLean, [Todd] Gill, Vernon, and [Kelly] Hrudey. The list goes on, but I really thought all of the guys pulled for each other and for the betterment of the team. It was a great dressing room to come into and a great environment to compete in.” 30 Sharks: Bill Houlder on Why Darryl Sutter Was Effective Coach While he was too modest to include himself, Houlder went on to admit how crucial the veteran corps was for the Sharks during that pivotal period in the team’s rebuild. Published 15 hours ago on April 28, 2021 “I thought the older players complemented and supported the younger By Ryan Cowley players really well,” the 53-year-old pointed out. “The NHL season is long and has ups and downs to it. This tends to magnify for younger players as it is the first time, or first couple of times, they are going through it. I When he was appointed the team’s new general manager in March 1996, thought the older players were not threatened by the younger players Dean Lombardi took over a struggling San Jose Sharks club who and really helped them along.” seemed more removed from their playoff successes in 1994 and 1995 than it looked. Having played for the expansion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993-94, Houlder already had a taste of what California hockey was like. Still, the Kevin Constantine had been relieved of his head coaching duties early in Thunder Bay, ON, native’s time in San Jose was a unique one. the 1995-96 season, but the team continued to struggle. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time in San Jose,” a matter-of-fact Houlder said. In the summer of 1997, Lombardi knew he needed some key veterans to “I was fortunate to play in many different cities and they were really nice balance his rebuild. Among those veterans was defenseman Bill Houlder. cities that I had good experiences in, but San Jose was my favourite stop in my career.” A stay-at-home blueliner and a smart passer with a big shot, Houlder was one of a handful of veterans Lombardi would sign during his first few Houlder’s fond memories of , though, were not limited years with the Sharks. to what happened on the ice.

In a continuation of my “30 Sharks” series for San Jose Hockey Now, I “I lived in Los Gatos, close enough to walk downtown and enjoy all the speak with Bill Houlder about his time with the Sharks and his local businesses,” he continued. “We had a great group of guys that relationship with the club’s new coach. gathered socially away from the rink and it was a really welcoming organization. Everything was done first-class and the organization made And that coach’s name was Darryl Sutter. my family feel of utmost importance.” Having come off a successful tenure in Chicago where he led the As for the fans at San Jose Arena, it was like nothing else, and the Blackhawks to the Conference Final in 1995, Sutter joined a San Jose former blueliner loved every minute of it. Sharks team that had a good balance of youth and veteran leadership. It was up to Sutter to steer the Sharks in the right direction, even if some “The fans were great and made for a real home ice advantage when we disagreed with his philosophy. played at home,” Houlder beamed. “One of my fondest memories in hockey was when we were playing Dallas in the playoffs and we won in Bill Houlder certainly remembered his time with Sutter and admits that he overtime (April 28, 1998). I remember the building erupting, and it was so benefited from the experience. loud, that I considered covering my ears. It was awesome.” “I enjoyed playing for Darryl,” Houlder said. “I was fortunate throughout In his two seasons with the Sharks, Bill Houlder played in 158 games, my career to play for many different coaches who had many different scoring 16 goals — seven of them game-winners — and 48 assists. styles. I usually found the issues were with coaches who tried to bridge different personalities, styles. There was no confusing Darryl’s style.” They may have been one of seven teams he suited up for in the NHL but the San Jose Sharks nonetheless continue to hold a special place in the- Like some coaches, Sutter brought a certain intensity with him behind the now North Bay Battalion head coach’s heart. bench. Some fed off it, some didn’t. For Houlder, it was his previous experiences of dealing with tougher coaches that helped him understand where Sutter was coming from. That, in turn, helped Houlder be at his best, making his two seasons in San Jose enjoyable ones. San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021

“I believe, at times, Darryl has been criticized for his intensity and sometimes that intensity was misplaced,” the former defenseman added. “I had an intense coach in junior (Bert Templeton) and some other intense coaches as a professional. I learned early not to take all of my coaches’ actions or words too seriously and to filter out the information that was unimportant and use what was important.”

Overall, Houlder learned, among other things, how to hone a solid work ethic from Sutter — something he has taken with him as he prepared for his own coaching career.

“Darryl created an environment that you always had to be ready,” Houlder recalled. “When it was time to work, be ready to work; when it was time to prepare, be ready to prepare. Throughout my career, there were times when I wasn’t completely dialed in for whatever reason. Many things could contribute to this, but I learned that when I showed up to the rink, I needed to be ready to perform.”

When he arrived in San Jose in 1997, Bill Houlder was joining a team with the aforementioned good balance of youth and leadership.

Jumping aboard a club whose roster had included veterans such as Tony Granato, Marty McSorley and recent Conn Smythe winner , Houlder was another veteran brought in to help guide the San Jose Sharks’ youth movement, which included Jeff Friesen, , and recent second-overall pick, Patrick Marleau.

“My teammates in San Jose for [those] two years were awesome,” Houlder fondly reflected. “It was a really strong character group that all were pulling in the same direction. It was an interesting mix of old and young. We had young guys like Marleau, Friesen and Sturm; leaders like 1187499 Seattle Kraken two contact years remaining at a reasonable $2.875 million each, he’s certainly a financial fit.

“As we get into the last month of the season and the playoffs, we’re going Montreal’s Jake Allen is a likely Kraken expansion draft pick — as long to get a better read on some of the guys that are going to be the best fit as he’s not too good in playoffs for us,” Francis told local media members this month, adding: “Ideally you’ve got the mindset of figuring out who’s your starter, and a great No. 2. Maybe you go with two ‘No. 1b’s’ or maybe you go with a No. 1 and maybe a younger guy. That remains to be seen.” April 28, 2021 at 10:59 am Updated April 28, 2021 at 5:37 pm Allen could be paired with a younger goalie the Kraken might draft, such By Geoff Baker as Chris Dreidger, 26, of the Florida Panthers, or Adin Hill, 24, of the Arizona Coyotes. Or, in a veteran tandem with Cam Talbot, 33, of the Minnesota Wild, or Holtby, 31. An interesting situation has developed in Montreal involving a player widely viewed as the surest Kraken pick in the upcoming NHL expansion And the Kraken is getting a bonus look at Allen as a No. 1 guy to better draft. gauge his limits. He’s struggled when holding the No. 1 role in previous seasons. Canadiens backup goalie Jake Allen, 30, was acquired from St. Louis last offseason to spell incumbent Carey Price and keep a spot warm for Price suffered a lower-body injury April 5, then a concussion his second minor-league prospect Cayden Primeau. With teams allowed to protect game back April 19. In 10 outings since Price’s first injury, Allen is 4-6 only one goalie in the draft, Allen was supposed to be exposed for the with a 2.83 GAA and a .902 save percentage — a slight numbers dip, Kraken to select as one of their three required netminders, and which you’d expect with increased playing time. everybody would go along their merry way. He has allowed more than three goals just once and kept his team in That’s still likely to happen, except Allen has outperformed Price for most games. much of this season. And now, with Price injured for most of April and One thing I haven’t seen Allen do much is “steal” wins when his team Allen keeping his team in the final North Division playoff spot, there’s a fails to outplay an opponent. The lone exception this stretch was a 2-1 growing clamor from anxious Montreal fans for Allen to be the starter in win over Calgary two weeks ago in which the Flames were clearly the the postseason. better team. Otherwise, Allen tends to win only when the Canadiens There’s also been buzz from fans and pundits — which I was asked outplay opponents and loses when they don’t. about in a Quebec City radio interview last week — about whether Price Yeah, it doesn’t help that Allen’s team struggles to score. But it’s for that might be approached to waive his no-movement clause so he can be very reason I’d expect Price to start the playoffs if he recovers soon, as exposed in the draft. And believe me, if Allen starts in the playoffs and expected, from his concussion. somehow wins a couple of rounds, the pressure on Montreal to keep him over Price would grow exponentially. These Canadiens don’t look capable of outplaying anyone for an entire playoff series, and their best bet might be hoping Price can summon his The basic statistics for Price and Allen this season are fairly close: Price past and steal some wins. At his cost he’s likely staying put, anyway. I as of Wednesday was 12-7-0-5 with a 2.64 goals-against average (GAA) can’t envision him risking the indignity of waiving his clause and the and .901 save percentage, and Allen was 9-9-0-4 with a 2.50 GAA and Kraken not picking him. .913 save percentage. So the Canadiens would need to bend over backward financially in a But dig deeper, and the gap favors Allen. predraft deal to get the Kraken to take Price, and I don’t think they will A Sportsnet chart using proprietary Sportlogiq data showed Allen has unless Allen starts the playoffs and forces their hand with some heroics. allowed fewer goals despite facing nearly three more shots per game And it would likely take one heck of a side deal offer to steer the Kraken than Price from the dangerous inner-slot position. from Allen if he’s the one exposed.

The Evolving-Hockey analytics website had Allen as of Tuesday saving Keep an eye on things, but assuming Price recovers, Allen’s tenure in 2.17 more goals than “expected” given the quality of shots faced — 13th- Montreal will most likely end. best among NHL goalies with at least 20 appearances. Price had allowed And fortunately for the Kraken, he already has shown enough as more 8.11 more goals than expected, only 28th-best under that criteria. than a run-of-the-mill backup to fit within any number of goaltending Fueling the Price-to-Seattle chatter: He is a British Columbia native who combinations they go with. played junior hockey for the Tri-City Americans; his wife, Angela, is from

Kennewick; and they make their offseason home in the Okanagan town of Kelowna. Seattle Times LOADED: 04.29.2021 So Price might be motivated to lift his no-movement clause and escape Montreal’s intense hockey media glare for friendlier confines.

But this clearly isn’t the same Price once considered the planet’s top goalie.

Price, when he’s on, can still swing a game or playoff series in a way I’m not yet convinced Allen can. But notwithstanding last fall’s play-in-round shocker over Pittsburgh and near-upset of Philadelphia in the playoffs, Price’s “on” switch isn’t being flipped nearly enough of late.

He’ll turn 34 in August with — ouch! — five years remaining on his contract, with a $10.5 million annual salary-cap hit. Montreal would need to eat a whole lot of that money and probably can’t choke down enough of it to make things palatable.

After all, Kraken general manager Ron Francis could just draft Vancouver Canucks netminder Braden Holtby if he wants a veteran starter plagued by recent inconsistency but with potential upside. Holtby won a Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018, is two years younger than Price and has just one remaining contract year at a far lower $4.3 million cap hit.

Francis actually has a few goaltending options, and Canadiens backup Allen appears to fit given his age, experience and contract status. With 1187500 St Louis Blues reminding one of Nail Yakupov, the one-time No. 1 overall draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers who was traded to St. Louis. Ol’ Yaky was super- fast — otherworldly fast — but seldom able to also use that speed to create actual offensive opportunities. He was a bust with the Oilers and Hochman: The Blues' power play, thanks to Mike Hoffman and others, was a bust with St. Louis. I don’t think Kyrou will be a bust with St. Louis. has rejuvenated the team Nights such as Wednesday remind us that.

The Blues are sure making this interesting. Every two weeks it’s a paraphrase of that line from “The Godfather Part III” — “Every time I think Benjamin Hochman we’re out of the playoffs, they pull us back in.” But now, the Blues are doing it with a powerful power play. That can change some games. Already has. Mike Hoffman was supposed to be in Nashville. Or Washington. Or some other playoff-contending city where a hockey executive could’ve shipped “I think just a different look all around, to be honest with you,” Berube a draft pick to his hard-luck counterpart in St. Louis. Hoffman was as said after the game. “Vladi is in a different hole, Hoffman’s back up there, good as gone — a healthy scratch with a hearty cap hit on middling so we just got a different look all around. It’s just a couple plays that are team. But something happened that week before the National Hockey being designed and they’re executing them — and it’s a big thing getting League trading deadline — and it’s happening again. the puck in Hoffman’s hand, with his shot. … We’ve moved a lot of guys around all year on the power play, just to try to find some chemistry and Mike Hoffman’s offense was unlocked. And thus, he became locked in. some production. I think there’s been a number of different looks, but this Robert Thomas’ injury at the time opened up a spot. The Blues won three one seems to be working right now. So hopefully we can continue to straight at the mid-April deadline and kept No. 68. produce on a power play. It’s important. So we’ll see.”

And now, in late April, they’ve won three straight again.

In between were three losses. And it would be very Blues-like to St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021 suddenly lose three straight again, beginning Thursday night. But the Blues have something going for them that’s altering these games — they’ve made the power play potent. Credit Craig Berube and his assistants for trying out some new recipes. Credit Vladimir Tarasenko for adjusting to a different role on the power play. And of course, credit Hoffman, who’s had a Phoenix-like rise as the Blues try to rise ahead of Arizona in the standings.

In Wednesday’s 4-3 win against the Wild, Hoffman scored twice on the power play.

“Anytime your power play can chip in like it did today, it creates a lot of momentum,” Thomas said in the postgame Zoom interview. “It brought us back twice there to within a goal. So it was huge power-play goals. And, yeah, definitely kept us in the game and got our momentum going in the third.”

Check out this stat — the Blues have now scored a power-play goal in eight consecutive games for the first time since January-February of 2013, this per @stlblueshistory on Twitter. Their power play sways — it changes the trajectory of both teams’ momentum. A lot will be made about the Blues’ final two goals Wednesday. The Jordan Kyrou goal tied it up, and the Thomas goal, with 23 ticks left, won it for the visitors.

Look, the Blues were down 3-1 in the third. They had just been embarrassed in the second period, again. But Jaden Schwartz made a play that won’t show up on the stat sheet. His hustle and extra effort drew a penalty. And with 16:11 left in the third, David Perron delivered the prettiest of passes through the slot to Hoffman, whose timely one-timer announced the Blues were back in this thing.

“I think we’re moving the puck around (better),” Hoffman said of the power play. “It’s huge starting with control — Ryan (O’Reilly) is so good at faceoffs that we get the puck right away, we don’t have to break it in. And when that happens, we can run a couple of plays off, which we did tonight — and we scored on both of them.”

Again, he was good as gone. Hoffman has 12 points in the past 10 games. Eight of those points are on the power play.

And with the unlocking of Hoffman, Berube made another clever move, this time mid-game in Minnesota. In the third period, he put Hoffman with the youngsters Thomas and Kyrou. An energy line. And sure enough, they scored … and scored again.

“I think just our speed and our creativity,” Kyrou said after the game. “It’s definitely tough to defend when all three guys were forechecking like that and backchecking. We were just all over the puck, creating turnovers and attacking them. …

“We’re definitely clicking a lot more together as a group. And now these are obviously huge wins for us — we got playoffs right around the corner and we’re right in the fourth spot right now.”

And remember, for all the excitement about Thomas and Kyrou in the future, both guys had been struggling in the present. Kyrou has electric speed — otherworldly speed — but it doesn’t mean much if you can’t get a shot lifted off the ice or even on goal. For a little while there, it was 1187501 St Louis Blues adversity you gotta battle through it. That’s what makes you stronger as an individual and helps your team out.”

After Hoffman’s third-period goal made it a 3-2 game, Kyrou tied it at the Now that's a comeback: Blues rally for 4-3 win over Wild 7:41 mark, ending his goal drought at 14 games. He was alone in the near slot after taking a pass from Robert Thomas, but lost control of the puck as he was loading up to shoot.

Jim Thomas “I was just stickhandling and I went to go do the Kucherov — that’s what I did there, and it just went in,” Kyrou said, with a chuckle.

It was not one Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov would necessarily be ST. PAUL — Until Saturday, the Blues had only one comeback victory all proud of. But as they say in baseball, it’s a line drive in the box score. season when trailing by two goals or more. Kyrou managed enough contact with the puck enough to get it through But they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Colorado that night for a 5-3 the legs of Talbot for his 11th goal of the season. triumph. The Blues were energized after that goal, dominating play for most of the They did it again Wednesday, rallying from deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to remaining 12 minutes-plus of play. The Wild (31-14-3) were outshot 7-1 defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 at Xcel Energy Center. after the goal.

Robert Thomas’ goal with 23 seconds left in the third period was the “I thought in the third period we came out with a different mindset than game-winner, giving the Blues their third consecutive victory and keeping we did in the second period,” coach Craig Berube said. “I was happy first them ahead of Arizona for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West and third period tonight. Second period, obviously not so happy.” Division. The Blues were outscored 2-1 in the second, which put them at minus-19 “It just happened quick,” Thomas said. “You see a lot of goals — like for the period in goal differential over the course of the season. those stick battles on high flips. I was just trying to poke it through and His second intermission speech? get a shot off. Very fortunate it went in.” “We just (need to) get back on our toes and be aggressive again,” It was the third-latest regulation goal scored in the NHL this season, and Berube said. “There were certain situations that they had us hemmed in only the fourth go-ahead in the final 30 seconds of regulation for a Blues our zone, and there were reasons why. And I just told the team why and player since the 1999-2000 season. what’s going on. In this instance, Mike Hoffman flipped the puck in from the neutral zone “It’s a mindset for me more than anything. Stay on our toes and be and Thomas won a puck battle with veteran Wild defenseman Jonas aggressive, and I thought we did again in the third period. I thought we Brodin, with just enough space to poke the puck past Minnesota goalie had a pretty good period.” Cam Talbot. Better than good, actually. Much better. “I wanted to score there,” Thomas said. “It’s definitely a nice feeling scoring, so I definitely wasn’t letting anything stop me.”

In an injury-plagued season, it was only his third goal, but it couldn’t have St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021 come at a better time. The Blues improved to 22-19-6 for 50 points, three points ahead of Arizona, which lost 4-2 to San Jose on Wednesday. Additionally, the Blues have three games in hand over the Coyotes.

“We wanted this game real bad, and it’s a big game in the standings,” Thomas said. “So that’s kinda what it came down to.”

Through two periods, this looked like anything but a game that would end with Blues’ heroics. The Wild looked like a different team than the one the Blues beat twice in St. Louis 2 ½ weeks ago. They were quicker to the puck than the Blues more often than not, were tenacious with their checking, and spent so much time camping in front of the St. Louis net it made you wonder if they were getting KOA points.

The Blues trailed 3-1 after two periods against a Minnesota team that had a home goals-against average of 2.10 and was 15-1-0 at home since Jan. 31.

“Going into the (second) intermission, we were talking as a group,” said Hoffman, who scored two power-play goals. “We’ve come back from plenty of games this year, so why not do it again?

“But we never gave up. Our power play got one, Rousie (Jordan Kyrou) got one, and then we got a pretty fortunate bounce at the end and Thommer was able to bury one. So we never gave up, stuck with it. It’s a game of momentum and I thought we had it for a majority of the third.”

That they did, outshooting Minnesota 12-3 in the period. Hoffman got the train rolling, when he scored from his office — a one-timer from the right circle — on a setup from David Perron less than four minutes into the third. It was his 16th goal of the season and gave him the team lead in power-play goals with six.

His first goal of the night, midway through the second period, extended the Blues’ season-best streak to eight consecutive games with at least one power-play goal.

And since his initial benching March 28 against Anaheim, Hoffman has 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 10 games. Say what you will about his overall game, Hoffman has persevered this season.

“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “I’ve said this multiple times, there’s ups and downs throughout a year. Personally, with a team, you go through 1187502 St Louis Blues an idea by this weekend on when Kostin will get to the United States. The plan is to send him directly to the Blues and the NHL.

Blues Notebook: As always, Bortuzzo ready when called upon St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021

Jim Thomas

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Since the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2019, veteran defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has gotten used to being in and out of the lineup. So when he sat six consecutive games as a healthy scratch earlier this month, he took it in stride and just stayed ready.

“That’s totally it,” Bortuzzo said. “You try to fine-tune some of your skills, whether it’s puck-handling or skating. And then, at the end of the day, it’s gonna be a mentality of having confidence in yourself that when you do get back in there you can contribute and continue to help this team in the way that you’ve done for a while here.”

Bortuzzo has played parts of seven seasons with the Blues and is closing in on his 300th game with the team — he was at 295 Wednesday. Suddenly, he’s one of the team’s senior members.

His return to action was fueled by coach Craig Berube’s decision to go with seven defenseman Saturday against Colorado. Bortuzzo made his presence felt immediately, walloping Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog in the opening minute of play.

Bortuzzo picked up a roughing penalty with that hit, and that gave Colorado a 5-on-3 advantage because Brayden Schenn already was in the box. The Avalanche scored a power-play goal to take a 1-0 lead. But in a game the Blues won 5-3, Bortuzzo had left a calling card. The Avs’ had their heads on swivel whenever Bortuzzo was in the neighborhood.

He had three hits in that game and a team-high four hits in Monday’s 4-1 victory.

Now, with Vince Dunn out with an upper-body injury, Bortuzzo may be in the lineup for a while, just in time for the Blues’ final push for a playoff berth.

“Good to get back in,” he said. “This is a fun time of the year, the home stretch here gearing up for playoffs. The higher it gets in the games here, the more exciting to play in. It’s exciting to get back in there and bring our brand of hockey to the group.”

No Parayko

Speaking of 11 forwards and seven defensemen, Berube said after Wednesday’s morning skate that his plan was to use the same alignment against the Minnesota Wild. Assuming, that is, that Colton Parayko was healthy enough to play Wednesday.

Parayko took part in the morning skate and “looked good” according to Berube. But Berube also said he’d wait to see how Parayko, who has an upper-body injury, felt later in the day. Well, Parayko did not come out for pregame warmups and was scratched, along with Dunn, and healthy scratches Kyle Clifford, MacKenzie MacEachern and .

Without Parayko, Berube went back to a traditional lineup of 12 forwards and six defensemen. That meant forward Zach Sanford, a healthy scratch the past two games (against Colorado), was back in the lineup.

Kostin’s a champ

Klim Kostin and are champions of the Kontinental Hockey League. Avangard defeated CSKA Moscow 1-0 Wednesday in Game 6 of the KHL finals, winning the series four games to two and claiming the .

Kostin was loaned to Avangard by the Blues to get some games in with the uncertainty of both the NHL season and the American Hockey League season. Although the Blues probably could’ve used him, particularly earlier in the season when they had all kinds of forwards injured, it turned out to be a good move.

Combining regular-season and playoff games, Kostin had 12 goals and 15 assists in 67 contests. He had a total of 94 penalty minutes — yes, that’s a lot — and was plus-11.

The Blues have a visa ready for Kostin, and general manager Doug Armstrong told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday that the team will have 1187503 St Louis Blues enough skill to play on the top six. What does Craig Berube need to do to get Sanford back to his Cup level?

A: Sanford has often admitted that it's all a mind game with him, and Prediction: .500 hockey could be good enough to get the Blues to the when he can keep his focus high is when he does best. And that's a postseason factor of his confidence. When he is scoring and producing, he's thinking about the game, and then he produces more. So it becomes a chicken- and-egg thing. The Blues have got to get him focused to score and they've got to get him scoring to be focused. There's a chance Sanford Tom Timmermann could be back in the lineup (Wednesday). Usually once he gets going, he's fine, and the periods of good play now last longer than they used to. He could be well-served by a stretch on an energy line where he gets to What will it take for the Blues to lock up a playoff spot? Will Binnington bang and feel good about that part of his game and playing the defensive start every game the rest of the way? Will Klim Kostin add a playoff side and then transitioning back into a more offensive role. Though if spark? These are some of the questions we handled in our weekly they're going to keep Tyler Bozak centering Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir hockey chat. Tarasenko, then Sanford is not going to get on a top-two line anyway.

Q: With 10 games remaining, what are your thoughts on what the Blues Q: Will Jordan Binnington play every game until the Blues clinch the have to do to make the playoffs? fourth playoff spot? What have you seen in his play that has elevated his performance? O'Reilly's hat trick leads Blues past Avalanche 5-3 A: I would expect you'll see Ville Husso in the second half of back-to- A: The Blues have to win as many games as Arizona does, and the backs and that's it, so three of the final 10 games. I don't see Binnington Blues have three more games to do it in. So unless Arizona has a very playing both sides unless he has a game with a very low workload. So if strong finish, which seems unlikely the way they have played of late, .500 he gets a 20-shot game, then they can bring him back. Who can explain hockey should do it for the Blues. They're close to a lock at 58 points. goalies? Binnington is back to making big saves when needed, and I Los Angeles has as many games remaining as the Blues, but the Kings think he's cut down on soft goals he'd like to have back. Whether that's are in a position where they have to win three more than the Blues. focus or fundamentals or just how life works (or that Colorado had a Which is a lot. depleted lineup), I don't know. But the Blues are going to have to win some games; this team has hit Q: What’s the ceiling for Jake Walman? Can he be a top-four some rough patches during the season. A seven-game losing streak right defenseman? Special teams guy? now, which they're not far removed from, would really complicate matters. Blues V Wild

Q: Avangard Omsk won the Gagarin Cup in the Russian Kontinental A: At one point, Walman was ahead of others in the system, then he Hockey League on Wednesday afternoon. So what’s next for Blues didn't do well in the AHL, and others jumped ahead of him. He turned his prospect Klim Kostin? Do you see a role for him come playoff time? game around last season at San Antonio and jumped up the list. I think he can be a second-pairing defenseman, and when Colton Parayko was A: I don't know how easily you plug a guy who hasn't played with the out, Craig Berube used him there with Torey Krug. I don't know if he'll be team all season and has been playing on a different sized ice surface a shutdown guy, but his ability to transition the puck quickly and get it out into the lineup. Plus, someone's got to come out, and the Blues already of trouble and up the ice will serve him well. He still has to learn to be a are scratching forwards who have played a lot this season. It would be bit more careful with the puck, but he's learning. He's the quickest skater slightly easier, I suppose, if Kostin was able to get back in time for a in the back. If the Blues have a healthy defense next season, he'll likely regular-season game, because it would be a lot simpler to test him out end up on the third pairing because , Torey Krug, Marco there. But that will be tough, depending on … how quickly he can get Scandella and Colton Parayko will take the top four spots. The Blues back and how short the quarantine is. (I would guess it would be shorter have put him out there on the penalty kill a lot, and even on some five- if he flew back on a private plane.) So the Blues certainly could find a on-threes, so they believe in what he can do. place for him, but there are a lot of complications and a lot of ifs for a guy who will play on the third line at best this season. Q: Has Ville Husso shown enough to be penciled in as backup next season? Q: How long do you think Craig Berube will go with the 11 forwards, 7 defenseman lineup? Will he do it until the Blues lose? A: Yes, especially since I don't think backup goalie is a position where the Blues are going to want to invest in a flat-cap offseason. Husso has A: Looks like it could be at least one more game. Berube said gotten into his game a bit better, though he obviously still has to come (Wednesday) that if Colton Parayko is in the lineup, which will be a out sharper. Some hiccups were expected this season as Husso got his game-time decision, he'll go 11-7 to give the team cover in case Parayko start in the NHL. (or someone else) can't go the full game. To me, it seems that if that seventh defenseman is playing only five or six minutes, like Steven Q: Since Vladimir Tarasenko’s return, the Blues have regressed. Are Santini did Monday, I'd just as soon have another forward around. But there locker-room issues because of his statements to the Russian press right now, with a lot of the defense hurting, it seems coverage, as well as about him not being named captain? Should the Blues entertain trade superstition, is a factor. offers for Tarasenko in the offseason?

Comment: I loved the Ivan Barbashev, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou Colorado Avalanche vs St. Louis Blues line Saturday, but can that line play enough defense in the playoffs? The other three lines look solid. Putting Brayden Schenn (and David Perron) A: I doubt it’s locker-room issues over the captaincy. That was a long with Ryan O'Reilly was a great idea to get them going. Your opinions, time ago, in hockey terms. By the time Tarasenko was back, Ryan please. O'Reilly was well entrenched as captain. Also, it's not as if Tarasenko wasn't there one day and suddenly appeared. He'd been around the Perron posts 3-point game, Blues beat Avalanche 4-1 team for months before coming back. If there was anything to work out, they had ample time to do that. Response: Barbashev can play defense, that's not a problem, but Thomas and Kyrou have to up their game there. Thomas doesn't usually For whatever reason, the team's struggles began when Tarasenko get a lot of defensive-zone starts, in part because he's not strong on returned, though that was right around the time when faceoffs. The Blues will try to keep that line away from the opponent top got hurt and was done for the season. (They overlapped for four games.) lines. The lines right now are working, though the Tyler Bozak line wasn't I think Doug Armstrong has to listen to offers on Tarasenko, though the as sharp defensively the last two games against Colorado. Right now, Blues are unlikely to get any that will dazzle, and trading him to trade him proximity to Ryan O'Reilly is a good place to be because he's taken the is probably a mistake. The Blues probably value him more highly than team on his back. any other team does. (Though I never thought the Blues would get the return that they did for Jori Lehtera or Patrik Berglund.) This season, Q: Zach Sanford was great in the four Cup wins against Boston, when he Tarasenko may be just another guy, but he also has an upside that next played with Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron. He has the size every team season could make him more than just another guy again. After all the needs at forward to go deep in the playoffs and has proven he has shoulder operations, his best seasons are likely behind him. I can very easily see Armstrong making a bold, shake-the-team-up trade. Tarasenko would have to be a candidate there, but I just don't know what the return would be. And remember, Tarasenko has a no-trade clause.

Q: Any chance Mike Hoffman is back next season?

A: I'd be very surprised. The only way would be if there's absolutely no market for him. But if that's the case, would the Blues want him? If Hoffman has to take another short-term deal, it will be with a team that will put him in more chances to thrive.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187504 St Louis Blues Spurgeon, Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin – who have a combined 2,941 games of NHL experience.

“That D-corps has been together for some time now,” coach Craig Game Day: This will be a Wild week for the Blues Berube said. “Besides (Ian) Cole this year , who’s a new addition. . . .And they all skate well and they have good sticks and they’re smart players.

“So it’s important that we have good puck possession tonight in the Jim Thomas offensive zone, not get impatient and throw things away because they’re a good transition team. They take off the other way and they do a good

job with that.” ST. PAUL, Minn. _ Not that long ago, the Blues won their third straight One more thing. When the Blues lost 2-0 here on March 25 despite game in dramatic fashion with Ryan O’Reilly scoring the latest regular- outshooting Minnesota 37-11, the Wild were 29th in power play efficiency season overtime goal in franchise history. at a measly 10 percent. April has been altogether different, with the Wild His wicked backhand came with two seconds left in OT, giving the Blues tops in the NHL with a 42.5 percent success rate this month – scoring 17 a 3-2 triumph over the Minnesota Wild on April 10 at . power play goals in 13 games. Just one night earlier, the Blues had handed Minnesota its most lopsided “Their power play's hot right now, for sure," Berube said. "They got some defeat in franchise history – 9-1. real good players out there on the PP with Kirill and (Kevin) Fiala – those After the OT win, the Blues were only seven points behind the Wild in the guys are pretty high-end players.” West Division. With five games remaining against the Wild, maybe the PARAYKO? MAYBE Blues could catch them for third place in the division. It worked in victories Saturday and Monday over Colorado, so why not try How things have changed over the next 2 ½ weeks. While the Blues it again? With that in mind, Berube would like to go with 11 forwards and went 2-3-0 over that span, Minnesota has gone Wild. Not only have they seven defensemen again tonight. won seven in a row, the third-longest winning streak in franchise history, they’ve outscored the opposition 32-14 in the process. “If Parayko plays, yes,” Berube said.

As a result, the Blues will take the ice for today’s 6 p.m. contest at Xcel Colton Parayko, who missed Monday’s game with an upper-body injury, Energy Center 17 points behind the Wild in the West. The Wild, 31-13-3 took part in the morning skate. for 65 points, are only one point back of second-place Colorado and five points back of division-leading Vegas. “He looked good, so I think it’ll be a game-time decision,” Berube said. “See how he reacts this afternoon.” They’re thinking about catching the division leaders, not holding off St. Louis. Based on what transpired in the morning skate, Parayko will be the seventh defensema. If not, it looks like Zach Sanford is back in the lineup “They’re a well-structured team who has one of the higher-end amounts at forward after being a healthy scratch the previous two games and the of depth in the league in front and in the back end,” defenseman Robert Blues go with just six D-men. Bortuzzo said. “They defend well and it seems to me like they’re putting the puck in quite easily right now. But again, Berube’s preference is to go with seven D-men, and play Parayko. He just wants to see how Parayko feels closer to game time, “So it’s gonna be a good challenge on both ends of the ice to create which is 6 p.m. offense, and at the same time stop some of that high-end offense they’re playing with right now.” “Yeah, you never know,” Berube said. “Things happen. So we gotta cover ourselves and make sure.” As for the Blues, they’re fighting for postseason survival at 21-19-6 for 48 points. True, the Blues are one point ahead of fifth-place Arizona with Long after the morning skate had ended, forward Kyle Clifford and three games in hand. defenseman Steven Santini were skating with members of the taxi squad, so they look to be healthy scratches tonight. But they also have a much tougher remaining schedule than the Coyotes. POWER PLAY STEADY

With five of their remaining 10 contests against the high-flying Wild, The Blues have scored at least one power play goal in a season-high whether the Blues qualify for the postseason or miss the playoffs for the seven consecutive games entering tonight’s contest with Minnesota. second time in four years will be decided to a large degree on how they They are eight for 21 on the power play during that span and rank 14th in fare in those five games – three in Minnesota this week and two in St. the league at 20.7 percent. Louis on May 12-13. Here’s how the Blues lined up on the power play Wednesday morning: “This is the fun time of the year,” Bortuzzo said. “The temperature of the PPI: Krug-Perron-Hoffman-O’Reilly-Tarasenko game rises and the intensity and battle-level just goes to another level, gearing up for playoffs. We’re fighting for our lives here. We all know how Once again, Vladimir Tarasenko lined up net front, which is where he much getting into the playoffs means to this organization.” scored a power play goal in Monday’s 4-1 win over Colorado. And once again, Mike Hoffman is on the first unit; he hasn’t spent much time there Like Colorado, whom the Blues beat twice in their most recent games, this season even though he is second on the team in power play goals Minnesota has not had a losing streak longer than two games this (four). season. PPII: Faulk-Bozak-Schenn-Schwartz-Kyrou/Thomas The Wild don’t have the offensive sizzle of a Colorado or Vegas, yet they’re eighth in the NHL in scoring at 3.19 goals per game. Calder Brayden Schenn has moved down to the second unit with Hoffman Trophy favorite Kirill Kaprizov already has sent franchise rookie records moving up. Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas rotated on the second unit. for goals (22) power play goals (eight) and points (41). “Slow start for the power (this season),” Bozak said. “We’ve turned it “I think the main thing is just being patient” center Tyler Bozak said. around lately. Sometimes it just takes a bounce here and there to get you “They play so well defensively as a five-man unit. You gotta wait for your in a groove. . . .We gotta keep that up.” opportunities; you can’t force things and turn the puck over and give them opportunities. PK SLIPPAGE

“It might not be the most exciting game to watch, but these are fun ones The Blues got some key kills in their two victories over Colorado but have to play in.” allowed at least one power play goal in a season-high six consecutive games. The opposing team has scored on seven of 22 power plays in In goal, Cam Talbot is enjoying a renaissance year with a 17-6-3 record, that span. 2.33 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. He’s supported by a seasoned defenseman corps that includes Mike Dumba, Jared The Blues have fallen to 28th in the NHL, killing only 75.3 percent of the opposition’s power plays. “I think we took too many penalties against Colorado,” Bozak said. “Obviously, you’re gonna get scored on every now and again on the penalty kill. It’s inevitable. Especially against a team like Colorado, who has the talent they do.

“But yeah, we just have to block as many shots as we can, take away their time and space, and hopefully limit more chances.”

WHO’S HOT

Since his first healthy scratch March 28 against Anaheim, Hoffman has nine points in nine games (six goals, three assists.

WHO’S NOT

Kyrou has no goals over his last 14 games. He has two assists during that span and is minus-1.

BLUE NOTES

The Wednesday and Thursday games against Minnesota mark the Blues' 10th back-to-back of the season. They are 6-2-1 on the front end and 4- 4-1 on the back end of back-to-backs.

The Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings are the only teams in the NHL yet to register a shutout this season.

Apparently, the Blues have solved – at least for now – their problem with getting shots blocked. After getting 92 shots blocked over a four-game stretch for an average of 23 per game, the Blues had only nine shots blocked Saturday and just four blocked Monday against Colorado.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187505 St Louis Blues LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cam Fowler scored with 1:01 remaining and Anaheim ended a five-game losing streak.

Sam Carrick and Sam Steel also scored and John Gibson made 28 Thomas caps Blues’ rally in 4-3 win over Wild saves for the Ducks.

Gabriel Vilardi and Adrian Kempe had a goal for the Kings, who have lost three of four. Cal Petersen made 19 saves. Staff Report Fowler scored on a wrist shot at 18:59 of the third period to cap a rally BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS after falling behind 2-0 in the second.

APRIL 29, 2021 12:14 AM OILERS 3, JETS 1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Tyson Barrie and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a goal and an assist as Edmonton beat Winnipeg. ST. PAUL, MINN. Leon Draisaitl added a late empty-netter, and Connor McDavid had Robert Thomas tracked down a skipping puck and snapped it into the top assists on all three goals for the Oilers, who have won four of their last of the net with 23 seconds left, capping a three-goal third-period rally by five games. Mikko Koskinen stopped 29 shots for his 11th win of the the St. Louis Blues for a 4-3 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night season. to stop the Wild’s seven-game winning streak. Blake Wheeler scored for Winnipeg, and Connor Hellebuyck had 24 Mike Hoffman’s second power play goal of the game, both assisted by saves. The Jets lost their fifth straight. David Perron, brought the Blues within one early in the third period. Jordan Kyrou tied the game about four minutes later. Jordan Binnington Edmonton won seven of nine in the season series and sits in second made 25 saves as St. Louis won its third straight. place in the North Division — seven points behind Toronto. Winnipeg is third, three points behind the Oilers. Marcus Foligno had a goal and an assist, Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek also scored and Jordan Greenway had two assists for the SENATORS 6, CANUCKS 3 Wild. Cam Talbot, who stopped 28 shots, had his five-start winning streak snapped. OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist to lead Ottawa to a victory over Vancouver. MAPLE LEAFS 4, CANADIENS 1 Josh Norris, Victor Mete, Chris Tierney, Thomas Chabot and Colin White MONTREAL (AP) — Auston Matthews got his NHL-best 35th goal of the also scored for Ottawa. Marcus Hogberg finished with 16 saves. season and Toronto clinched a playoff spot. Tyler Myers, Jake Virtanen and Brandon Sutter scored for Vancouver, William Nylander, Jake Muzzin and Adam Brooks also scored for which needed a strong game from Thatcher Demko to keep the score Toronto, and Morgan Rielly and Jason Spezza each had two assists. from ballooning. Jack Campbell had 32 saves as the North Division-leading Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens for the fifth time in seven meetings this season. Ottawa outshot Vancouver 33-22.

Spezza is now tied with Canadiens legend Maurice (Rocket) Richard for 99th on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with 966 points. Joe Thornton Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 04.29.2021 helped set up Muzzin’s goal to become just the seventh player in league history to register 1,100 career assists.

Nick Suzuki scored for Montreal and Jake Allen stopped 25 shots.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5, AVALANCHE 2

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Pacioretty scored twice to lead Vegas to its franchise-best 10th straight win.

The Golden Knights now lead Colorado by six points, with the Avalanche having a game in hand. Vegas has outscored teams 45-17 during its win streak.

William Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Jonathan Marchessault also scored for Vegas. Marc-Andre Fleury, who has won five in a row, made 35 saves while improving to 15-8-2 lifetime against Colorado.

Devon Toews and Ryan Graves scored for Colorado, which is 11-4-0 after a loss this season, and has now lost three straight. Devan Dubnyk, who came in 4-3-2 with a 2.54 goals-against average and .924 save percentage against Vegas, made 21 saves.

SHARKS 4, COYOTES 2

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Evander Kane reached the 20-goal mark for the sixth straight season, Josef Korenar made 28 saves to win his second straight start and San Jose beat Arizona.

Kane’s goal started a three-goal barrage for San Jose in the first period with Rudolfs Balcers and Kevin Labanc following up to help San Jose sweep the two-game series against Arizona. Tomas Hertl sealed the game with an empty-net goal for San Jose.

Phil Kessel and Johan Larsson scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for Arizona.

With the back-to-back losses the Coyotes fell three points behind St. Louis for the final playoff spot in the West Division with the Blues holding three games in hand. Arizona has lost nine of 11 games overall.

DUCKS 3, KINGS 2 1187506 Tampa Bay Lightning ready down the stretch. I expect him back the next game, but we want to wait a couple days to see.”

With a postseason bid in hand, Cooper said he could give players rest Lightning’s Erik Cernak showing growth, one Gordie Howe hat trick at a down the stretch, but he wants to keep them sharp — especially since time there could be a layoff between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

“We’ve got to continue to play guys and give them games,” Cooper said. By Eduardo A. Encina “We can’t be giving guys multiple games off because then they lose their timing. So there’ll be a balance here, and we’ll find it.” Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.29.2021

It’s not easy to get one Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist and a fight in one game — let alone two over the span of seven weeks. But that’s what Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak had accomplished following Tuesday’s 7-4 playoff-clinching win over Chicago.

Cernak’s assist on Alex Killorn’s late third-period empty-netter gave him his second Howe hat trick of the season. His first came March 11 against the Red Wings. For the Lightning, the accomplishment is not just hockey novelty, but a sign of how the 23-year-old defenseman is growing into a more complete player.

Cernak’s goal came just 28 seconds into the game, jumping up to intercept a lazy pass from Chicago’s Riley Stillman in the defensive zone and creating his own breakaway. He jetted past two Blackhawks defensemen along the right wing and scored with a wrist shot from the right circle.

It was Cernak’s third goal in his past nine games. He’s already passed last year’s point total (12) and is one shy of his career-high of 16 during his rookie year of 2018-19. In this abbreviated season, he has reached 15 points in just 39 games.

Cernak has become much more comfortable and aggressive offensively while maintaining the grit that makes him one of the team’s more physical defensemen.

“He’s gotten more confident with the puck, for sure,” Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said after Tuesday’s game. “Before he would get rid of it, send it behind the net or something. Now, he skates within the zone, brings it in, makes some plays, passes, shoots the puck well. He’s just got more confident with the puck, and it’s great for us. I’m happy for him, and he’s just going to get better. He’s great to play with, obviously, and he’s good all around.”

Cernak’s fight had to be sweet redemption. He was in a shoving match with Mike Hardman, who was making his NHL debut Tuesday, when Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy came over with his eyes on Cernak, who was more than willing to drop his gloves.

You might remember it was Murphy who drew a match penalty for a high hard hit on Cernak behind the net on March 7. The Lightning had been trying to get their swings at Murphy since. Bally Sports Sun even showed a mic’d-up Barclay Goodrow challenging Murphy to fight during the last meeting between the teams, but Murphy declined, saying Goodrow was a “low-line player.”

Cernak was able to get his swings in on Tuesday, unloading several right-handed uppercuts and one hook to Murphy’s head before taking the Blackhawks defenseman down.

“I think Cernak’s had a hell of a year from start to finish, and he just continues to grow,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “He’s got a better feel for the league, the players, what he can do and what he can’t do. And when you’re big, strong, can skate, got a good head for the game and you’re willing to work hard, good things are probably going to happen for you. And they’re happening for him and I’m proud of him, because he’s worked hard to get to this point.”

Savard out as a precaution

Trade-deadline acquisition David Savard’s absence on Tuesday was more of a precaution than anything serious, Cooper said. Savard is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

“You get to this time of the year, and if you got little ailments and there’s a chance to get a little bit of rest, we felt this was the time,” Cooper said. “We don’t want to push things. We want to make sure we’ve got guys 1187507 Tampa Bay Lightning over the years. “It’s become more of a storytelling trophy,” he said. “Most guys say they want a ring that can be seen from 20 feet away.”

Armutlu said for a two-month stretch, he was in almost daily calls with the How the Lightning created the most elaborate Stanley Cup ring of all time Viniks, who went over every detail. The time for production and design took longer than ever due to COVID, with some materials and such taking more time to get delivered. Jostens sent the Viniks nine different sample rings, which took a couple weeks each to make, before they By Joe Smith settled on the finished product. Apr 28, 2021 “Going from a napkin to a real ring takes some effort to get where we want at the end,” Armutlu said.

About a week after the Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup in September, The wives/significant others each received a necklace/pendant, which owner Jeff Vinik and his wife, Penny, went out on a date night in was essentially the top of the Cup ring. downtown Tampa. “Our guys were gone for 65 days in the bubble and the wives/girlfriends The couple sat outside, in masks, in the courtyard at Armature Works were all alone with the kids,” Vinik said. “They probably deserved bigger near the waterfront and had some wine. It was over a glass of wine at a pendants than the rings the guys got.” Christmas concert a dozen years ago when Vinik hatched the idea to buy Penny Vinik also wanted a nice presentation for the ring, which Jostens’ a professional hockey team, so it’s no surprise a big decision was made surprised her with. It was a wooden box, painted in Lightning blue, with a on this night. velvet interior. There was a key to open it, with a digital screen inside that They knew they wanted to discuss the championship ring and Penny showed a video of Vinik’s remarks, plus highlights from their Cup run. took initiative by starting to sketch one out. She drew some pie-shaped “They went all out and in my mind, it’s the most comprehensive, sapphires in the background, with the Cup and a Lightning bolt on the elaborate and most expensive ring ever made,” Armutlu said. “We’re not front. They had no idea if it was doable, or how it would look in real life. going to just put them in a normal box.” “It might have literally been on a napkin,” Vinik said. Nor was there a normal presentation. They’d go over countless different alterations over video calls with a The Lightning players and staff were invited to the backyard of Vinik’s Jostens’ ringmaker in the next several months, but in the end, the home Friday night to receive their rings, with the Stanley Cup in championship ring Lightning players received Friday in the backyard of attendance. They had no idea what was in store for them. The blue Vinik’s home was based around that original sketch. And it made history. boxes were on circular tables, with only two people (usually player and This was the most elaborate, expensive and unique championship ring partner) at the table. Vinik and his wife opened with a speech where the the company has ever made, wowing players and staff alike in the blue, owner quipped that it would be “the worst party the Vinik’s would ever wooden display case that included a video message and highlights from throw.” Due to COVID protocols, everyone was wearing masks and there the Cup run. The final totals? 557 diamonds, 81 custom-cut genuine blue was no dinner or drinks served, except water. sapphires, with a combined weight of 25 carats. Estimated retail cost per “No food, no beverage, no conversation,” Vinik quipped. “At least Lord ring? $66,000. Stanley was there.” “There’s no doubt the new standard in championship rings is the ring the The Vinik’s spoke, then GM Julien BriseBois addressed the group, as Lightning made,” said Miran Armutlu, Jostens’ master jeweller who has well as captain . It was an emotional night, with plenty of made 103 championship rings since 1990. “There’s no doubt about it. Of laughs, and some tears, as you could see players smiling through their all the years I’ve been making rings, and we had over 90 percent of the masks when they got their “first look.” Vinik said the keys to the boxes championship rings the last 10-12 years, I could easily say that no ring were hidden under the flowers at the table so they wouldn’t sneak a peek comes close in terms of complexity and stone counts and incorporating until they were given the green light. There will be around 300 rings the mechanism (twisting Cup on top). distributed to Lightning staff, with the rings coming in different tiers, “It changed the landscape of the industry. It sets a bar so high that I’m though Armutlu said people won’t notice a huge difference. wondering what we’re going to do next.” “It was a very special moment for us,” said defenseman Victor Hedman, Vinik said the ring design was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by his the Conn Smythe winner. “With the season going on, that was a good wife, but included input from not only their four children but players and break for us to look back at what we accomplished six and a half months coaches from the Lightning. The team, which had spent 65 days in the ago. To have the ring presented to us by our owner and their generosity, “bubble” in Toronto and Edmonton on their playoff run, going through it’s out of this world. I’m super, super proud of what we did and it’s COVID protocols and away from their families, may have faced the another sign of what we accomplished. It will stay with us forever.” toughest road to win a Cup. And Vinik said they wanted to make this ring What struck Hedman and teammates the most about the ring was its size a fitting way to commemorate it. — and the personal touches. “The ring definitely tells the story of our season,” Vinik said. “It was a magical night,” coach Jon Cooper said. “Anytime you go Vinik said they looked at more than a dozen other championship rings through that, it’s the memories that you re-live. That’s the best part. The from years past, including those from the recent Cup champs like the ring exemplified everything that happened to us. The way it was Blues and Capitals. This one, however, would be unique. The rotating presented, you couldn’t pick it apart. It was just perfect the way the whole Cup on the front is something you won’t see on many other rings, and thing went down.” when you swing it, the word “Stockholm” is revealed. That was a player suggestion, as it was during the team’s Global Series trip to Sweden in November where they came together on, and more importantly, off the The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 ice.

“Gravy Train,” the Yung Gravy song that played in their dressing room after every win, also was put on the ring, as was 216:14, the total number of overtime minutes played by the Lightning in the playoffs, a record for a Cup champ. There’s the term “Distant Thunder,” a stick tap to their fans who supported them from afar.

“Our fans were such a big part of it,” Vinik said. “And we wanted them to be included.”

Armutlu, whose first ring was the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1990, said rings have become a lot more complicated and much heavier 1187508 Toronto Maple Leafs

Vancouver visits Toronto on 3-game road skid

Staff Report

By The Associated Press

Thu., April 29, 2021

Vancouver Canucks (19-21-3, seventh in the North Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (31-13-5, first in the North Division)

Toronto; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Maple Leafs -292, Canucks +235; over/under is 5.5

BOTTOM LINE: Vancouver visits Toronto looking to break its three-game road skid.

The Maple Leafs have gone 31-13-5 against division opponents. Toronto ranks second in the NHL averaging 6.0 assists per game, led by Nick Foligno with 1.0.

The Canucks are 19-21-3 against division opponents. Vancouver serves 10.1 penalty minutes per game, the most in the league. Alexander Edler leads the team serving 49 total minutes.

Vancouver defeated Toronto 6-3 in the last meeting between these teams on April 20. Brandon Sutter scored two goals for the Canucks in the victory and John Tavares scored two goals for the Maple Leafs in the loss.

TOP PERFORMERS: Auston Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with 35 goals, adding 24 assists and totalling 59 points. Mitchell Marner has 13 points over the last 10 games for Toronto.

Brock Boeser leads the Canucks with 37 points, scoring 17 goals and registering 20 assists. Quinn Hughes has 8 points over the last 10 games for Vancouver.

LAST 10 GAMES: Maple Leafs: 5-3-2, averaging 3.3 goals, 6.2 assists, 2.5 penalties and 6.1 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game with an .896 save percentage.

Canucks: 4-5-1, averaging 2.5 goals, four assists, 3.7 penalties and 11.3 penalty minutes while allowing three goals per game with a .908 save percentage.

INJURIES: Maple Leafs: Zach Hyman: out (knee), Zach Bogosian: out (undisclosed).

Canucks: Antoine Roussel: out (lower body), Elias Pettersson: out (upper body).

Toronto Star LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187509 Toronto Maple Leafs Neither are considered prime points producers, but more has been expected lately. Rielly ended his drought with a pair of assists in the first period. Galchenyuk addressed his play of late prior to the game.

‘Step one is done.’ Maple Leafs clinch fifth straight trip to the Stanley Cup “Obviously the last couple last couple of games I think I could definitely playoffs bring more and do better,” said Galchenyuk. “I know that I can bring more and play better.”

Milestones: With a first-period assist, Marner hit the 60-point mark before By Kevin McGran Staff Reporter his 50th game for the third time in his career (46 games in 2018-19, 49 in 2019-20) — a first in Leafs history. Darryl Sittler and Doug Gilmour each Wed., April 28, 2021 did so twice ... With an assist on Muzzin’s goal, Thornton became the seventh player to record 1,100 assists, joining (1,963), Ron Francis (1,249), (1,193), Ray Bourque (1,169), Had there been crowds Wednesday night at the Bell Centre, the Maple Jaromir Jagr (1,155) and (1,135) ... With two assists, Spezza Leafs would have silenced them. earned his 965th and 966th points, tying Maurice (Rocket) Richard for 99th all time. That’s because the Leafs scored early, scored late and scored majestically, clinching a playoff spot along the way by earning a 4-1 win Roster woes: The Habs are limping toward the playoffs. Top goalie Carey over their historic rivals. Price remains out with a concussion, pepper-pot forward Brendan Gallagher is out with a concussion and reliable centre Paul Byron and If there’s satisfaction in clinching a playoff spot — for the fifth season in a sniper Tomas Tatar both missed the game with undisclosed injuries. row — and doing it against the Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs didn’t Also, one of their top wingers, Jonathan Drouin, has stepped away from show it, the celebration muted by an empty arena. the game for personal reasons. Coach Dominique Ducharme was asked “We felt like a playoff team for quite a long time, yet you still have to if he thought Drouin would return for the playoffs. “The most important accomplish it. It is part of the journey,” said coach . “We thing right now is Drouin taking care of what he needs to take care of,” said to our team before the game, we had an opportunity to do it on our said Ducharme. “So when I hear his name this morning, I don’t think terms, so we might as well get it done and take care of that piece of about hockey. I think about the person.” ... The Leafs remain without business. goalie Frederik Andersen (knee), forward Zach Hyman (knee) and defenceman Zach Bogosian (shoulder). “But we also got to reflect on it, and feel good about it. It’s such a good accomplishment, to do it here with games remaining and being the first Playoff preview: Fans and the media may be hoping for a Leafs- team in the division to accomplish that, it’s a great thing. Canadiens playoff in a few weeks. The historic franchises haven’t met in the post-season since 1979. But to listen to players and the coach talk “We also have acknowledged that we are working towards bigger things.” about it, the team isn’t getting ahead of themselves.

Veteran Joe Thornton said the same thing in fewer words: “Step one is “There would be a lot of excitement, of course,” said Galchenyuk, an ex- done.” Canadien. “The rivalry goes back a lot of years. But at the same time our Last year, the Leafs — like everyone else — were denied a clinching focus is one day at a time.” Or as Keefe put it: “Let’s not get carried celebration since the season was paused by the coronavirus pandemic. away. Let’s just focus on the remaining games.” The Leafs were simply placed into an expanded playoff last summer, Marlies update: The returned to practice Wednesday, losing in the qualifying round. their quarantine after a COVID outbreak now over. It’s an important Clinching moment: The Leafs earned their clinching moment this time, development for the Leafs, who can again make sure their top prospects with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Jake Muzzin and Adam Brooks and others on the taxi squad get in games instead of getting rusty in the beating goalie Jake Allen. Matthews’ goal was the majestic one, coming pressbox. Speculation is mounting, for example, that Andersen will play a on a mid-air takeaway and a rifle of a wrist shot for the sniper’s 17th goal few games for the Marlies on his road back to recovery. in 21 games against Montreal. It stood as the winner. “First off for them, I know it’s a relief, chatting with (coach) Greg Moore a “What a treat to watch,” Leafs goalie Jack Campbell said of Matthews’ little bit here, it’s been a tough couple weeks,” said Keefe. “Greg was goal. “It was a huge goal for us in the hockey game. He’s just showing excited to get back to work and at the same time it does, of course, serve he’s a world-class player. He shows it every night, and that goal is just a a role for us and our team — not just with what we’re doing here right little glimpse of what we get to see every day. We’re definitely so now, but for the future of the organization to get those games in and have appreciative and lucky to have him on our side.” those guys continue their development and stay ready if or when needed.” Nick Suzuki scored the only goal on Campbell, but Montreal showed more life than expected, playing without key players after a long road trip, their 20th game in 35 nights. Toronto Star LOADED: 04.29.2021 The Leafs beat the Canadiens for the fifth time in seven games to become the first team in the North to have clinched. They host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday and Saturday.

The last time the Leafs made the playoffs five times in a row came with Pat Quinn as coach. They made it six in a row then, from 1998-99 to 2003-04. Quinn’s Leafs made it to the conference finals twice, losing to Buffalo in 1999 and Carolina in 2002. This group led by the likes of Matthews, Mitch Marner and Nylander — together since 2016 — hasn’t made it out of the opening round.

“The focus the rest of the way is to keep trying to play good hockey,” said veteran forward Jason Spezza. “It’s really important for us to kind of keep our identity, to keep working on things. We’ve got a few things we’re working on, small tweaks in our game.

“We’ve got to keep playing good hockey, develop good habits and keep trying to get wins.”

Under the microscope: Morgan Rielly and were a couple of players under the gun lately. Rielly came into the game without a point in six straight. Galchenyuk, likewise, has seen his contributions dwindle since his initial positive first impressions. 1187510 Toronto Maple Leafs “Step 1’s done,” Thornton said of the Leafs clinching a spot in the post- season dance.

Toronto will now turn its immediate attention towards a two-game series Matthews scores 35th, Thornton and Spezza hit milestones as Leafs at home beginning Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Montreal, clinch playoff spot which remains six points up on the Calgary Flames for the North’s final post-season berth, hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Friday before the Ottawa Senators come to town Saturday.

Staff Report Already without winger Brendan Gallagher (broken thumb) and No. 1 goalie Carey Price (concussion), the Canadiens announced before By The Canadian Press Wednesday’s game forward Jonathan Drouin is taking an indefinite leave Wed., April 28, 2021 of absence for personal reasons.

Toronto took a 1-0 lead just 1:38 into the first period on a power play when Nylander finished off a pretty passing sequence for his 15th goal. MONTREAL - Auston Matthews didn’t offer much insight about a lightning-quick flick of the wrists that inched him closer to his first Rocket Playing their 16th game in 28 days because of schedule changes due to Richard Trophy. COVID-19, the Canadiens were made to pay again at 8:44 on an incredible individual effort by Matthews. When the topic switched to a pair of veteran teammates happily grinding away in search of an elusive Stanley Cup, the Maple Leafs sniper flashed After linemate Nick Foligno threw a pass into the middle that bounced off a wide grin and had plenty to say. Suzuki, the Leafs’ star centre knocked the puck out of mid-air and in the same breath swept his 35th past a surprised Allen. Matthews scored his NHL-best 35th goal of the season, Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza hit impressive personal milestones, and Toronto “Elite of the elite,” Thornton said of Matthews, who now has 17 goals and defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 to become the first North Division 28 points in 21 career games against the Canadiens. “His release is team to clinch a playoff spot. incredible.”

“We’re playing with a couple living legends,” Matthews, 23, said of “What a treat to watch,” Campbell added. “Just a little glimpse of what we Thornton, 41, and Spezza, 37. “It’s pretty awesome at this stage of their get to see everyday.” career how passionate they are about the team, about winning, about Coming off a two-game sweep in Winnipeg following an 0-3-2 run, the performing every night.” Leafs made it 3-0 at 6:27 of the second when Muzzin’s point shot went in In recent weeks, that’s come as part of a dependable, no-nonsense off the stick on Canadiens defenceman John Merrill, who was battling in fourth line with rookie Adam Brooks. front with Thornton, for his third of the campaign.

And on this night, the pair hit numbers rarely seen. Thornton joined Wayne Gretzky (1,963), Ron Francis (1,249), Mark Messier (1,193), Ray Bourque (1,169), Jaromir Jagr (1,155) and Paul Thornton picked up an assist to become just the seventh player in NHL Coffey (1,135) as the only players in NHL history to crack 1,100 assists. history to reach the 1,100 mark, while Spezza set up two goals to tie Maurice (Rocket) Richard — Matthews is closing in on the trophy that Campbell said he sometimes has to pinch himself after chatting with bears the Canadiens legend’s name — for 99th all-time in scoring with Thornton and Spezza. 966 career points. “You’re in awe,” the goaltender said after improving to 14-2-1. “You’re “That’s a lot of hours playing street hockey with my brothers,” Thornton having a coffee with Jumbo or Spezz. I find myself chuckling in the car said. after practice. I’m like, ‘Wow, Jumbo and Spezz are my buddies. It’s pretty cool.’ “Pretty elite company,” Spezza said of equalling Richard. “He was quite a bit better than I am, but still pretty neat to do it here. Having scored two goals or fewer in 10 of 12 games since Gallagher was injured April 5, Montreal got on the board at 15:15 when Suzuki fired “To be even in the same breath as a guy like that is pretty cool.” through a screen off the post and in for his 10th.

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, whose NHL career was cut short by But Toronto put the game out of reach at 8:15 of the third when Spezza injury, said there was a moment Wednesday where he was able to soak stole the puck from Allen behind Montreal’s net and fed Brooks in front up Thornton and Spezza snapping the puck around the offensive zone as for his third. Spezza’s 966 points have come in 1,170 games, while fourth liners. Richard put up the same number in 978 contests.

“Those guys have accomplished a great deal,” Keefe said. “They’ve been But records like the ones he and Thornton reached Wednesday are elite, elite players for a very long time. To have them teaming up for us in things they’ll look back on further down the road. that role and being such great leaders for us, it’s outstanding. Very cool for them to have their own moments. For now, it’s about pushing forward with a post-season spot secured.

“I was telling Joe I don’t think I touched the puck 1,100 times in my time “The focus the rest of the way is just keep playing good hockey,” Spezza in the NHL.” said. “It’s really important for us to keep our identity, keep working on things.” Brooks, William Nylander and Jake Muzzin provided the rest of the offence for Toronto (31-13-5), which got 32 saves from Jack Campbell. The rest of the roster need look no further than the two veterans at the Morgan Rielly also had two assists as the division leaders improved to 5- bottom of the lineup helping lead the way. 2-0 against their rivals in 2021. “It truly is incredibly special,” Campbell said. “Not only are they historic Nick Suzuki replied for Montreal (21-18-9). Jake Allen stopped 25 shots hockey players. for the Canadiens, who were coming off a five-game road trip through “But they’re historic teammates.” Alberta and never really got out of second gear. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2021. “There’s just no excuses,” Montreal winger Josh Anderson said. “Yea, we got back from out west on that road trip, but they looked pretty flat tonight. Toronto Star LOADED: 04.29.2021 “We made it an easy hockey game for them.”

The Leafs and fourth-place Canadiens — set to go head-to-head three more times before the end of the regular season — look poised to meet in the playoffs for the first time since 1979. 1187511 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Star LOADED: 04.29.2021

Leafs vs. Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs would be worth the wait. Darryl Sittler has a feeling

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Wed., April 28, 2021

Darryl Sittler gets the same feeling of excitement about a potential Maple Leafs-Canadiens playoff series as he did more than 40 years ago, when the rivals last met in the post-season.

The former Leafs captain, who faced an unstoppable Canadiens team in the 1979 playoffs, recalled how each game energized both cities.

“If we end up playing the Canadiens, it will create a lot of interest for hockey fans and especially for Canadian fans,” Sittler said Wednesday in a phone interview. “When we played Montreal, there was always lots of fans cheering it here and vice versa in Montreal. It was a lot of fun.”

If the playoffs started today, Toronto and Montreal would face each other in the first round, with anticipation stoked by four meetings over the final eight games of the regular season.

The Leafs, who played Wednesday night at the Bell Centre, say they aren’t looking that far ahead despite a healthy lead in the North Division standings. But for Sittler and fans of both teams, the energy is already building.

“For sure, I would be really excited. The chances of (a Leafs-Canadiens playoff matchup) were tough for so many years because of the way the league was set up,” said Sittler, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989, “but it would be great if it happened this year. When you think of it in terms of how many years — the majority of fans, I think, wouldn’t have watched that series (in 1979).”

The clubs seemed bound for a Stanley Cup final matchup in 1993, until the infamous non-call on a Wayne Gretzky high stick on Doug Gilmour, leading to a seven-game loss to the Kings. A first-round meeting in 2013 was also derailed when Montreal beat Toronto in the final game of the season.

The chances of ending that drought when the playoffs start next month, however, look good.

“They’re very important,” Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said before Wednesday night’s first of four remaining regular-season meetings. “... As we get near the playoffs, we want to focus on the process, play the right way. And playing these guys a bunch is a good way to put that to the test.”

Rielly added that pandemic restrictions have made hard to “get a pulse” on the excitement level.

For Leafs forward Alex Galchenyuk, who has played on both teams, there’s no doubt a playoff meeting would be special.

“A lot of excitement, of course. A long rivalry, a lot of years,” Galchenyuk said.

“You go back and there’s been a lot of games played, but at the same time we’re trying to focus on one game at a time here and on the process. But obviously you have those thoughts in the back of your mind, and it could happen. It would be special.”

Sittler’s Leafs were swept in four by the Canadiens in the 1979 playoffs, and the season before as well. But he thinks this year could be different.

“I think now, with this all-Canadian division, it will be interesting,” he said. “With us having a good season this year, and with Montreal … if they have Carey Price (Montreal’s No. 1 goalie, now out with a concussion), they’d always be a team you’d have to be concerned about if you are a Leafs fan.”

“It would be a lot of fun. A lot of it comes down to goaltending and getting a few breaks along the way, but I like what I see with the Leafs.”

1187512 Toronto Maple Leafs Three more regular season meetings remain, while the Leafs can give a Montreal series more traction if they beat Vancouver at home Thursday.

Winger Alex Galchenyuk, the former first-round pick of the Habs, who CLINCHED: Maple Leafs beat Habs to secure playoff spot joined the Leafs this year, knows it would generate huge cross-country interest.

“There is a lot of rivalry, a lot of years going back, a lot of games played,” Lance Hornby he said before the game. “We’re trying to focus on one game at a time, but that (series) is in the back of your mind.” Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 Back in 2013, Galchenyuk was on the Canadiens team that beat the

Leafs on the last day of the 82-game season, which helped turn Toronto- The giant shadows of Auston Matthews, Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza Montreal series into Toronto-Boston. D-man Morgan Rielly, who joined loomed like the CN Tower over Montreal on Wednesday. the Leafs the next season, has heard a lot of talk through the ensuing eight years of what such a playoff match would mean to fans. Matthews helped his Rocket Richard Trophy push with his 35th goal, Spezza tied the Rocket in career points, Jumbo Joe had a milestone “It’s a bit different right now (with Toronto and Montreal in a COVID-19 assist and a Maple Leafs-Canadiens first-round playoff series drew lockdown and not attending games), not being able to get a pulse on how closer as Toronto posted a 3-1 win at the Bell Centre. people are feeling. But that (series) will be special if it’s the case. That said, we have to prepare for any possible match-up.” “Step 1 is done,” declared Thornton of securing a post-season berth, while the Habs felt more secure in fourth after Vancouver lost earlier in “I’m pretty familiar with him,” Keefe said. “I watched him play against the the day. Marlies and watched (his NHL debut) the other night. He’s an exciting young player.” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe urged “let’s not get carried away” with talk of the first Toronto-Montreal match-up since 1979, but good luck with that, as fans and media in the league’s two oldest cities start beating the Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.29.2021 drum.

Presumably, the lineup the Canadiens ice late next month will have a lot more meat on it.

While Jake Allen is capable, Carey Price is the money goalie in springtime, though not quite 100% recovered from a concussion. Also out of were Brendan Gallagher (thumb), Tomas Tatar and Paul Byron (both lower body) and the surprise Wednesday morning deletion of Jonathan Drouin. He was given a leave of absence for personal reasons and placed on long term injury reserve.

Asked if Drouin will be back this season, coach Dominique Ducharme would only say: “The most important thing right now is him taking care of what he needs to. When I heard his name this morning, I don’t think about hockey, I think about the person.”

Ducharme did say Drouin’s departure had nothing to do with entering the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse program. Struggling with just a couple of goals this year that had dragged Montreal’s offence down in recent weeks, he’d missed a few games with an illness that was not related to COVID-19.

Perhaps going right to the power play less than a minute into the game was the change of circumstance the Leafs needed. It took just 39 seconds into a Tyler Toffoli minor for Mitch Marner to find an open William Nylander for just Toronto’s fifth power-play goal since March 9.

Then Matthews had both benches agog, controlling a bouncing puck and releasing in almost the same motion to beat Allen on the far side.

“Wow,” said goalie Jack Campbell, watching at the other end. “That’s a little glimpse of what we get to see here every day.”

Matthews, who could only say “it all happened so fast”, will be tough to catch for the Richard award and much of his damage has been against the Habs.

Then came a good forecheck down low by the fourth line of the 41-year- old Thornton, 37-year-old Spezza and young Adam Brooks. It ended with Thornton disrupting in front of the net so Jake Muzzin could get a point shot through. The assist was Thornton’s 1,100th, just the seventh NHLer to do so, a list led by Wayne Gretzky’s 1,963 and exemplified his revived level of play the past few weeks.

Spezza’s assist on a later Brooks goal knotted him at 966 points with Richard, while Brooks added to his Leafs record of a power-play, short- handed and even-strength goal to start his NHL goal collection.

“That’s pretty elite company — he’s probably a better player than I am,” Spezza said. “It’s neat to do it in Montreal”.

Campbell, who had his NHL-record 11-game season opening winning streak stopped here two weeks ago, made 31 saves, beaten only by Nick Suzuki. 1187513 Toronto Maple Leafs Edmonton’s goaltending ranked 15th (3.03 goals-against average). The team is 10th this season (2.68) with the lowest GAA in the division. How deep the Oilers end up going in the playoffs will be more dependent on Smith than McDavid. TRAIK-EOTOMY: Former OHL GM says Connor McDavid's best is yet to come FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

With the top three places in each division practically spoken for, all that’s left to decide in this shortened season is who will grab the fourth seeds. Michael Traikos It’s even more of a reason why the NHL should have had a play-in series to determine who wins the final playoff spots … The U.S. television deals Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 the NHL secured with ESPN and TNT won’t matter much to Canadian hockey fans. But with the deals putting $655-million annually in the NHL’s pockets — more than double what it had been previously — all hockey Can Connor McDavid become the first player in more than 25 years to teams should benefit where the salary cap is concerned … A reason to score 150 points in a season? How about 200 points? be concerned that the NHL is leaving NBC for a network known more for basketball and wrestling? TNT celebrated the news with a picture of Alex It’s a question for another day, another year. With 28 goals and 81 points Ovechkin and what should have been McDavid, but instead was former in 46 games, the Edmonton Oilers captain will be lucky if he reaches the Oilers captain Andrew Ference … Taylor Hall has four goals and seven 100-point mark in a season that has been condensed to just 56 games. points in nine games since joining the Bruins. But how much money he That works out to a 144-point pace in a regular, 82-game season — a commands as a free agent in the summer will depend on what he does in number that hasn’t been reached since had 161 points the playoffs, where he has four goals and 12 points in 14 career games, and Jaromir Jagr 149 in 1995-96. while never making it out of the first round … The four goals and 10 And yet, for a player whose production has increased each and every points that Sam Bennett has scored in seven games with the Panthers year he’s been in the league, it’s a number that hardly represents the shows what a change of scenery can do for a player. It also shows just peak. how underrated his linemate Jonathan Huberdeau is … As of Wednesday, Huberdeau ranked eighth in league scoring with 57 points in After all, McDavid is only 24 years old. If he’s scoring at a 144-point pace 51 games. He tied for 10th last year and was tied for 12th in 2018-19. today, imagine what he’s going to do in the next couple of years? Only six players have scored more during that span.

“When he was 20, I was interviewed and I said, ‘Wait until he’s 24,’ ” said HERE’S ANOTHER THING former Erie Otters GM Sherry Bassin, who drafted McDavid into the Ontario Hockey League and has remained a close friend. If playing one season in the ruled Greztky ineligible for the Calder Trophy, then I don’t understand why the same is “Wait until he’s a man. When he’s a full man, look out.” not true of so-called rookie Kirill Kaprizov. Prior to scoring 22 goals and We’re already seeing some of those differences this season. While 41 points in 47 games with the Minnesota Wild, the 24-year-old Kaprizov McDavid has always dominated with his speed and skill ever since he spent six seasons in the KHL, where he twice led the league in goals … entered the league as an 18-year-old, it’s a different level of dominance Kaprizov, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2015, is the same age as this year. With a 15-point lead as the NHL’s scoring leader, he’s making it McDavid. If the two-time scoring champ went over to the KHL, do you look like he’s back playing junior. think they’d consider him a rookie? I doubt it … Shane Wright is not old enough for this year’s NHL entry draft. But the Team Canada captain It’s as if he has become faster, stronger and even more dangerous. showed why he is projected to go No. 1 overall in 2022 by scoring a hat trick in a 12-1 win against Sweden on Tuesday at the under-18 men’s There might be some science behind that. hockey championship. It was Wright’s first game in more than a year. “It “He’s still probably a couple of years away from his peak, which is really obviously sucked not being able to play,” said the Kingston Frontenacs scary,” said former Maple Leafs strength and conditioning coach Matt centre, who was granted exceptional status to play in the Ontario Hockey Nichol, who has worked with McDavid over the years. “Peak levels of League last season, where he scored 66 points in 58 games, but then strength — when guys are at their strongest, unrelated to hockey — are had this year completely wiped away by the coronavirus. “I was able to not typically present in guys who are in their mid-20s, so he’s still got a do some skills skates and all that, but never in an actual game. It’s nice lot of runway there. For speed, he still has a bit of runway. to be able to compete and play” … How good is the 17-year-old Wright? “He’d be No. 1 without a doubt if he were eligible for this year’s draft,” “That’s the really scary stuff.” said North American Central Scouting’s Mark Seidel. “I’m not saying he’s going to be a generational player, but he’s not that far off from what In other words, the best might be yet to come. After all, Wayne Gretzky’s McDavid is.” best year came at the age of 25, when he put up 215 points. The Norris Trophy can be a difficult award to handicap. “He works so hard at his game,” said Bassin. “It’s the will. Everyone talks about the will to win. I’m talking about the will to prepare to win. He’s like Based on the definition, it goes to the top defenceman “who that surgeon who spends 16 hours a day at a hospital. We’re just seeing demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the the beginning.” position.” But offence tends to matter more than defence. And while it’s based on what a player does in that particular season, it helps if he’s not TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT a one-year wonder — and if he’s playing for a playoff-bound team. How strong is McDavid? “He’s exceptionally strong,” said Nichol. “People With that in mind, here are five candidates: talk all the time about his speed — which they should, because it’s incredible — but I don’t think as many people realize that his strength is a Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay very large component of that speed, and that it makes it possible. Last year’s Conn Smyth Trophy winner won the Norris in 2017-18 and “Connor’s not a big, muscle-bound guy. But he has incredible levels of has been a finalist in each of the past four seasons. This year, Hedman relative strength to his body weight. He can trap-bar dead-lift well over is sixth in goals (9) and second in points (44), while logging top-five 500 pounds. That’s a good lift for anybody, but the fact that he can do it minutes. But it’s his stature as the league’s best all-around defenceman at slightly less than 200 pounds is even more impressive than if he were that once again makes him the favourite to win. 225 or something like that” … Another aspect of McDavid’s game that no one is talking about is his physicality. Only five Oilers forwards have Adam Fox, New York Rangers more hits than he does this year. “He can now hit Shea Weber and it’s Get used to seeing Fox’s name among Norris Trophy candidates. In only going to be OK,” said Nichol … For those complaining that McDavid is his second season, the 23-year-old leads defencemen with 47 points, putting up more points this season because he plays in a so-called with 21 of those coming on the power play. He also kills penalties, ranks “inferior” division, keep this in mind: He has scored 37 points in 24 games third among defencemen in takeaways and is a plus-23. against the three playoff-bound teams in the North Division, and 44 points in 22 games against the bottom-three teams … McDavid has been Roman Josi, Nashville the NHL’s most valuable player. But the MVP of the Oilers this year has been Mike Smith, who is 17-5-2 with a .923 save percentage. A year ago, With only six goals and 31 points, the reigning Norris Trophy winner might not be putting up Norris-type numbers this year. But it’s hard to imagine the Predators would have made a late-season playoff push without the help of their scoring leader.

Darnell Nurse, Edmonton

This has been a breakout season for the 26-year-old, who is second among defencemen with 14 goals and ranked fourth with a plus-25 rating. Considering that he spends more time on the penalty kill than on the power play — 20 of Nurse’s 25 points have come in even-strength situations — he deserves credit for his all-around game.

Jakob Chychrun, Arizona

The man they are starting to call “Chych Norris” is punching his way into the debate with a defence-leading 16 goals this season. Three of those were game-winners and his 36 points puts him in the top-10 among defencemen in scoring.

When Mark Seidel released his final rankings for the NHL entry draft earlier this week, the chief scout for North American Central Scouting knew there was going to be some backlash.

It wasn’t just that he was one of the few scouts who doesn’t have Owen Power ranked No. 1 overall. It’s that he didn’t even have the Michigan Wolverines defenceman, whom TSN’s Bob McKenzie called “the consensus favourite,”ranked in the top two.

“We’re usually in concert with those guys,” Seidel. “This year, we’re not. That’s okay.”

Instead, Seidel has Edmonton Oil Kings winger Dylan Guenther ranked No. 1. But the bigger surprise is that Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke is ranked No. 2, pushing Power to the third spot.

McKenzie’s list has Power at No. 1, followed by Guenther and Swedish defenceman Simon Edvinsson tied at No. 2. Clarke is at a distant No. 6.

Sam Cosentino of Rogers Sportsnet has Power ranked first, followed by his Michigan teammate Matthew Beniers, then Luke Hughes (the younger brother of Quinn and Jack) at No. 3, with Clarke at No. 7.

“If we look back in four years and Power is a superstar, I’ll be the first to say I’m wrong,” said Seidel, who has Edvinsson ranked ninth, Beniers ranked seventh and Hughes ranked fifth.

Of course, if that were to happen, most would cut Seidel some slack.

After all, the pandemic has made this a rather difficult draft. Viewings for the top prospects have ranged from slim to none. While Power played in 26 games for Michigan, Guenther was limited to just a dozen appearances in the WHL, and Clarke was forced to spend part of the year in Slovakia after the OHL shut its doors.

That left Seidel and others to do more speculating than usual.

So what does he like more about Clarke than Power? According to Seidel, it’s all about the offence.

“As far as Power goes, I think he’s a really good player, but I think Clarke has more offensive upside,” he said. “In the NHL today, the defencemen who are the most impactful are guys like Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox and Cale Makar, who can contribute offensively. I think Clarke does that better than Power. That’s not a knock on Power. But if I’m building a team, I want to build my team around Clarke.”

As for Guenther, Seidel compared the forward’s finishing ability to that of Brock Boeser’s or Jonathan Huberdeau’s.

“With the way he played last year, I think he has the chance to be an offensive force,” Seidel said of the 6-foot-1 Guenther, who had 12 goals and 24 points in 12 games with the Oil Kings this season. “He scores a ton. He can create offence where there doesn’t look like there’s any. ”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187514 Toronto Maple Leafs In Montreal on Wednesday night, the Maple Leafs were just as happy as the Marlies were earlier in the day, beating the Canadiens 4-1 to clinch a playoff berth … What is it that NHL players are always saying when tasked with keeping a superstar opponent in check? “We have to limit his Marlies 'lucky, fortunate' to return to work following two-week COVID time and space.” If the opponent is Auston Matthews, good luck with that. quarantine Matthews needed neither time nor space in the first period to score his 35th goal, batting the puck out of the air and firing it past goalie Jake

Allen before any Canadiens could react. The hand-eye, the quickness, Terry Koshan the accuracy — take your pick, Matthews put each on dazzling display … Morgan Rielly had two assists in the first period, marking his eighth multi- Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 point game of the season and first since March 11 … Jake Muzzin’s goal in the second period was the 12th by a Leafs defenceman. Only the

Winnipeg Jets, with nine, have got less from their defence corps this We can’t imagine there was a happier group of hockey players to be season. Prior to Wednesday, Vegas had the most with 30 … After the found on Wednesday. Leafs took a 3-0 lead on Muzzin’s goal, Jack Campbell made a fine glove save on a Joel Armia breakaway … The Leafs got a power-play goal The Toronto Marlies returned to practice at Coca-Cola Coliseum for the from William Nylander in the first but did not score on their other two first time since April 13, their two-week hiatus caused by COVID power plays. Toronto has not scored two power-play goals in a game protocols finally over. since March 3, a span of 25 games … With two assists, including on an “It makes you appreciate how lucky we are to be able to play hockey,” Adam Brooks goal in the third, Spezza has 966 career points, moving Marlies forward Kenny Agostino said. “There was a lot of excitement. him into a tie for 99th in NHL history with Maurice (Rocket) Richard … Spezza on helping the Marlies: “I don’t really want to get into it too much, “It’s a credit to the organization, staff and our doctors and us players for but we’re a big family here. We feel for those guys. I got to know a lot of following protocols and limiting how bad it could have been. You could those Marlies really well through training with them in the summer, great say you never really know (how it might have turned out), but our staff did kids. You don’t like seeing anybody go through a tough time. Those guys a great job keeping us updated daily. We’re fortunate to be back.” are grinding in a tough season, following all the COVID rules for them and also so we can have good success with avoiding it. We’re all part of The Marlies have not played since April 10. Their next scheduled game is the same organization, the same team.” on Saturday, when they play host to the to begin a run of 13 games in 20 days to finish the American Hockey League regular season. It has not been announced officially, but the expectation is that there will be no playoffs in the Canadian Division. Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.29.2021

Six Marlies games were postponed; five were rescheduled.

Unlike the Vancouver Canucks, who were hit hard by COVID before returning to play on April 18, the Marlies had just a few cases of COVID within the organization.

Still, coach Greg Moore said the players’ health was a concern. While there was some experience with idleness in March 2020 when the season was paused and eventually shut down, this was something else entirely.

“We were reaching out to the players daily, making sure their well-being was in a good spot,” Moore said. “That’s definitely a different dynamic, caring for your own and your group and making sure they’re okay.

“Our guys are hungry and eager to be back at it and thankful for the opportunity. It’s going to be important to be focused on ourselves and get ourselves tight with how we want to play and what our expectations are, but we expect to be competitive.”

Marlies captain Rich Clune took a big-picture view on the past two weeks.

“We all need to recognize we’re living in a city that’s dealing with the reality of COVID not going away, so I’m grateful to be healthy, and we all need to cherish these moments and do what we need to do to get through this time,” Clune said. “There’s a lot worse experiences we could be been going through.”

During the Marlies’ unscheduled break, it came to light that the Leafs players, at the suggestion of veteran forward Jason Spezza, pooled some money to help the Marlies players financially after AHL player salaries were drastically slashed in the shortened season.

“I was extremely overwhelmed with gratitude, but I’m not surprised,” Clune said. “I’ve got to know Jason over the years through friends and playing against him, and these last few years have been getting to know him more on a personal level.

“It’s a tough time. Financial insecurity is a real thing at our level right now and for Jason and the Maple Leafs players to step up and do this is world-class. Hopefully one day we can be in a position to pay it forward in some way.

“I wish (the Leafs) well and I hope they have a long playoff run and achieve everything they want. I know the guys on our team are extremely grateful. It was an amazing gesture.”

MAPLE LEAFS GAME ON 1187515 Toronto Maple Leafs have some others similar to that. We have to do our job to take away those opportunities.”

Keefe was glad to hear Toronto’s farm team, the Marlies, resumed A LOT OF RIVALRY': Maple Leafs, Canadiens meet amid playoff practice Wednesday after a COVID shutdown much of April. excitement “I know it’s a relief for them,” he said. “Chatting to (coach) Greg Moore a bit, it’s been a tough couple of weeks. The stress (of not playing and fearing an outbreak) wears on you.” Lance Hornby

Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.29.2021

For those wanting a Toronto-Montreal playoff series, there’s something fans on both sides can hope for Wednesday night when they meet at the Bell Centre:

Overtime, no matter the winner.

The more points the NHL’s two oldest clubs can rack up, the faster a first-round series will be set. Toronto leads the North Division by seven, while fourth place Montreal is six up on Calgary and 10 on Vancouver for the last playoff spot. With less than 10 games remaining, a few more points for the Leafs and Habs — two for the victor and one for the loser Wednesday if it goes beyond 60 minutes — increases chances of the first best-of-seven between the clubs since 1979.

Three more regular season meetings remain.

Alex hyman, the former first-round pick of the Habs who joined the Leafs this year, knows it would generate huge cross-country interest.

“There is a lot of rivalry, a lot of years going back, a lot of games played,” said the winger. “We’re trying to focus on one game at a time, but that is in the back of your mind.”

Back in 2013, Galchenyuk was on the Canadiens team that beat the Leafs on the last day of the 82-game season, which helped divert a Toronto-Montreal series into Leafs-Bruins. Defenceman Morgan Rielly, who joined the Leafs the next season, has heard a lot of talk through the ensuing eight years of what such a playoff match would mean to fans.

“It’s a bit different right now (with Toronto and Montreal in a COVID-19 lockdown and not attending games), not being able to get a pulse on how people are feeling,” Rielly said. “But that (series) will be special if it’s the case. That said, we have to prepare for any possible matchup.”

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe was typically all business and no semantics Wednesday morning, noting the Leafs lost 4-2 at the Bell Centre two weeks ago.

“Let’s not get carried away here,” he said of a late-May series. “I’m only focused on tonight and we have to be a whole lot better than our last time in this building.”

There are no lineup changes for the Leafs and Jack Campbell starts in goal.

Not so with the Canadiens, who were shaken up Wednesday morning when it was announced forward Jonathan Drouin is leaving the team for personal reasons and been placed on long-term injured reserve. He was struggling with two goals and 21 assists in 44 games and missed the past three with what was termed an illness, though not COVID-19 related. The team asked media to respect his privacy.

Asked if Drouin will be back this season, coach Dominique Ducharme would only say: “The most important thing right now is him taking care of what he needs to. When I heard his name this morning, I don’t think about hockey, I think about the person.”

Drouin joins goalie Carey Price (concussion) and forward Brendan Gallagher (thumb) as high-profile absentees.

“Getting that chemistry going.”

Meanwhile, it will be the much-hyped Cole Caufield’s first game against Toronto as the 5-foot-7 forward joined the Habs this week after a Hobey Baker Award-winning season at Wisconsin and a great showing in the AHL. He’ll be on right wing with Nick Suzuki at centre and Tyler Toffoli on the left, a potent unit.

“I’m pretty familiar with him,” Keefe said. “I watched him play against the Marlies and watched (his NHL debut) the other night. He’s an exciting young player and can score if you give him the opportunity. But they 1187516 Toronto Maple Leafs Joe Thornton (LW, No. 97): Good efforts to pull up and find trailing defencemen for scoring chances.

Thornton might not have been as amped-up physically as he has been Maple Leafs report cards: Toronto on the verge of the next step with over the past week, but he was still threatening on the puck, continually playoff clinch making effective passes. And you have to love the veteran calm from him as the Leafs clinched their playoff spot. He notched his 1,100th assist, which is an obviously impressive feat.

By Joshua Kloke Slowly but surely, right?

Apr 28, 2021 Adam Brooks (C, No. 77): Brooks did not look out of place playing between two of the smartest players on the Leafs, looking off defenders

with quick passes to keep the puck moving and the Canadiens on their You hear it all the time in discussions about the Maple Leafs: They’re heels. His play down low early in the second period to shove Canadiens loaded with skill. defenceman Alexander Romanov off the puck and quickly play it out front to Spezza was key, and it eventually led to a penalty drawn by the Leafs. And against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, that skill that propelled them to a 4-1 win, highlighted by some next-level offensive And hey, right place, right time, on his third-period goal. He just looks stick work, some precise puck movement on the power play and some calmer than you’d think for a player with just 13 NHL games to his name. excellent chemistry from some skilled players who just refuse to quit. A Those same skills could take them far this season. They clinched a Morgan Rielly (LD, No. 44): Great fake shot and pass on the Leafs’ first playoff spot with the win. goal. Rielly continued to read the play well all game, making good passes “We felt like a playoff team for quite a long time here, yet you still have to to evade nearby Canadiens. I thought he maintained good defensive accomplish it. It is part of the journey,” coach Sheldon Keefe said positioning all game and looked in control when he was on the ice. He afterward. had two assists.

Their next goal remains winning the North Division. Still, they look on the A- verge of doing something special come playoff time. Jake Muzzin (LD, No. 8): It’s not always the most effective play, but On to the observations! sometimes just firing the puck on net from distance leads to good things. And I swear Muzzin takes this kind of shot at least once a game. His Player reports decision worked out against the Canadiens with his third goal of the season. First star: Auston Matthews (C, No. 34): My honest, immediate reaction after watching Matthews’ first goal: Nick Foligno (LW, No. 71): I like Foligno a lot on the penalty kill. He just shows a presence of mind that is so valuable while playing in a high- Generally, Matthews flashes a stone-cold look as he scores goal after pressure situation. goal, but that fact that he hooted in surprise speaks to just how wild this goal actually was. But beyond the penalty kill, there’s a composure evident in Foligno’s game that is all the more impressive considering he’s trying to adapt to a We’re at the stage of Matthews’ dominance this season that he’s just new team and a new home. He stick-checked well, got in good spots and trying, as colleague Arpon Basu aptly described them, trick shots. is largely looking like a great late-season addition. He had an assist and Matthews led the Leafs with five shots on goal, and he did so in just was tops among all Leafs with 73 percent expected goals for at five-on- 17:33 of ice time. His 68 percent five-on-five expected goals for was third five. (All stats via Natural Stat Trick.) among all Leafs. It’s been a while since I’ve gone into the thesaurus to Mitch Marner (RW, No. 16): Marner was dialled in from the start, as find a synonym for Matthews’ dominance, but his highlight-reel plays evidenced by his smart pass and primary assist on the power play less against the Canadiens mean we’re calling his game “illustrious.” than two minutes into the game. He did well on the penalty kill, as he Second star: Jack Campbell (G, No. 36): I continue to be impressed by often does, to use his strong skating to get in the way of shooters. Campbell’s composure in goal, especially after his recent short slide. He B+ never looked like he was struggling to make a save out there, or even fighting it. His rebound control remained strong, and his stops from in Ilya Mikheyev (RW, No. 65): Excellent, aggressive stick work in the first tight were probably the most impressive part of his performance. He period to disrupt the Canadiens, then create an odd-man rush. Mikheyev stopped 31 of 32 shots. There’s no doubt Campbell is your Game 1 continued with his strongly paced play all game. He was tied for second playoff starter. among all Leafs with three shots.

Third star: The entire fourth line! Rasmus Sandin (LD, No. 38): Sandin’s head looked like it was constantly on a swivel, as he surveyed the ice for the right pass, then played calm, After the game, Keefe was asked if he ever just sits back and takes stock poised hockey throughout his fifth game this season. He never looked of having two of the greatest players in a generation playing together on lost in transition and used his deception well on the power play. the fourth line. It’s getting harder and harder not to grab the last remaining tickets on the “I had one of those moments tonight,” he said. “Those guys were in the Sandin hype train, isn’t it? offensive zone snapping the puck around to each other, and it’s a cool thing. Those guys have accomplished a great deal. They’ve been elite, B elite players for a very long time, and to have them teaming up for us in that role and being such great leaders for us, it’s outstanding.” Alex Kerfoot (C, No. 15): Kerfoot had good jump from the start, but you want him to hit the net with the puck on his stick, obviously. Let’s get to them: I liked Kerfoot tying up Nick Suzuki along the boards to force the turnover Jason Spezza (RW, No. 19): Good efforts from Spezza to get into that, eventually, led to the Leafs’ third goal. dangerous areas. It’s worth repeating, as I know I’ve noted this already: Spezza deserves credit for creating what looks like natural chemistry with Travis Dermott (LD, No. 23): Dermott’s no-look passing and efforts to his rotating cast of linemates this season. He had two assists protect the puck stood out. He moved the puck with confidence out of his Wednesday, and the latest example of that chemistry is how well he own zone, too. I’ve said it before: He plays bigger than he is, and the plays with Adam Brooks, highlighted by his quick pass from behind the Leafs are going to need more of that with Zach Bogosian out of the net for the third-period goal. Not a bad way to tie one of the all-time lineup. greats in points. John Tavares (C, No. 91): Tavares didn’t look nearly as dominant against Spezza and Joe Thornton combined to win six of nine faceoffs. the Canadiens as he has in recent weeks, but he’s also really raised the bar as of late. I did like his efforts to hound Canadiens on the forecheck. He fired a shot from the slot off the post in the third period. B-

Justin Holl (RD, No. 3): As with a lot of goals against, the blame on the first Canadiens goal could be shared, but Holl could have maybe gotten a little closer to Suzuki to limit the space he had to get a clean shot off.

Outside of that play, Holl moved the puck well all night and put up 67 percent five-on-five expected goals, tops among defencemen. He had an assist.

William Nylander (RW, No. 88): Tough to grade a player this low considering he scored, but I definitely didn’t appreciate Nylander’s game the way I often do.

He looked like he could have at least gotten a step on Suzuki as the Canadiens forward moved gingerly, and largely untouched, through the Leafs’ zone on the first Canadiens goal.

It is possible he thought Suzuki would be called offside, though.

Nylander recovered by trying to be a little more aggressive defensively, particularly with his stick. He did open the scoring, and he created other chances throughout the game.

C+

Alex Galchenyuk (LW, No. 12): Galchenyuk looked invisible in the first period but made some smart defensive plays with his stick to start the second period. Certainly not one of his better performances overall.

Nothing to see here

T.J. Brodie (RD, No. 78): Outside of a few good breakout passes, it was a fairly quiet game from Brodie. This is a weird place to be for Brodie, who remains one of the Leafs’ best defencemen, in my eyes.

Wayne Simmonds (LW, No. 24): Simmonds didn’t exactly jump off the page Wednesday, but he did get continued props on the broadcast. He put up 66 percent five-on-five expected goals, so it’s possible I missed something while still fawning over the fourth line.

Game Score

Game Score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a single game.

Heat map

Natural Stat Trick helps us out with a snapshot of where the shots were coming from Wednesday:

Final grade: A-

The Leafs were outshot 32-29 and owned only 53 percent of the five-on- five expected goals for, but this win never really felt in doubt. The Leafs were again a fun team to watch. It’s hard not to root for a team when some veterans who are still pining for their first Cup are playing with the energy and confidence they’re showing right now.

It’s a term I’ve already used, but the bar surely has been raised for this team when skillful, mostly comprehensive performances have become the norm. With the playoff spot assured, you can bet the focus will now be whether the Leafs can replicate these kinds of performances in the postseason.

“The guys have worked hard through a very challenging and unique season,” Keefe said. “I think you do have to acknowledge that we spoke about it, like I said, before the game about let’s get it done here tonight. They acknowledged that after the game, but we also have acknowledged that we’re working towards bigger things. It’s a nice accomplishment, but we’re going to be continuing to work towards building our team to be ready to play when it counts the most.”

Stay-ready squad: Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall, Joseph Duszak, Veini Vehvilainen, Martin Marincin, Michael Hutchinson, Stefan Noesen

What to watch for Thursday vs. Vancouver: With the Leafs having clinched a playoff spot, I’m still inclined to think there will be some lineup tinkering, experimenting and rest on the horizon. Could we see Ben Hutton make his Leafs debut against his former team? Could some of the younger players on the fringe give that fourth line some much-needed rest before the playoffs?

The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 Vegas Golden Knights For now, it would appear a good bet that the Knights could soon be 1187517 selling Honda Division champion T-shirts.

In other words, save all your spare cash and then some. Column: Hockey Gods need to give us Golden Knights vs. Avalanche LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 04.29.2021

By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal

It might not be official, but things have reached city limits: Consider the Golden Knights the best varsity team in the Honda West Division. The Knights beat Colorado 5-2 on Wednesday night before 3,950 at T- Mobile Arena, creating what should be an insurmountable cushion between them and the Avalanche for first place. And, yeah, that matters a lot. And, yeah, those in the lead hate to even consider having such an edge. “A huge, huge result for the standings,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “It gives us a real chance. We still have a lot of business to take care of over the last two weeks, but it sets up that our destiny is in our own hands. Which is at least what you want heading into the last few weeks of a season.” Fleury was terrific The Knights have eight games remaining and a six-point lead over the Avalanche, meaning DeBoer’s team would have to suffer a total collapse not to wear the crown of division champion. When you have won 10 straight — as the Knights have — such a thing seems less likely than Marc-Andre Fleury abandoning the poke check. By the way, he had another beauty Wednesday. He stopped all but two of 37 shots. The Knights would have been chasing instead of tied at 1-1 after one period if not for Fleury. He was really good. Colorado has nine games left and all but one are against junior varsity squads of the Kings and Sharks. The other is against these same Knights, but by then the West playoff seedings should be determined. I’m not sure Wednesday qualified as an appetizer, but only because of how electric the main course could be. It has to happen, right? The Knights and Avalanche need to settle things in a second-round playoff series. One has to beat the other to advance. One has to prove better to live for a final four of the NHL tournament. “It’s going to be a tough ask for anybody to beat that team,” DeBoer said. “We’ll just take the win tonight and enjoy it and think about that when we have to.” Yes, we’re talking playoff hockey, so it’s not as if the stars would need to align perfectly for a Minnesota or St. Louis (or both) to spoil such a desirable matchup with first-round upsets. I can’t call on the Hockey Gods to avoid such things. I used my one wish up this week when asking those of the baseball variety to get Mookie Betts’ bat going. Guess we’ll just have to count on the two varsity powers holding up their ends. The Knights against Colorado won’t look like this if things ultimately reach such a point, mostly because both sides almost surely would be at or close to full strength. Colorado was missing wingers Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi and goalie Philipp Grubauer on Wednesday. The last guy is the most important. Grubauer is like Fleury in that each could win a playoff series by himself. The Knights are also hurting in spots. DeBoer is one more injured center away from searching for help during open ice hours at City National Arena. “In a good spot” “We’re in a good position right now; however, we know we have to play better when they have their full lineup,” Knights forward Max Pacioretty said. “This was kind of a tricky game. It was our first in three days, and they were missing some guys, so it didn’t seem as sharp as when we normally play each other. “That being said, we’re in a good spot.” This is how things should end in the West. These two facing off in a best- of-seven. Vegas Golden Knights Karlsson’s backhand beat Dubnyk 10 seconds in to break his own 1187518 franchise record for the fastest goal to start a game. The previous mark was 14 seconds set Nov. 24, 2018, against San Jose. Golden Knights top Avs in division showdown, win 10th straight “Obviously, that’s a pretty good start,” Karlsson said. “It doesn’t get better than that.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 04.29.2021 By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

Anthem singer Carnell Johnson held the final notes of “The Star- Spangled Banner” a little longer than usual Wednesday. Public-address announcer Bruce Cusick put an extra emphasis on the last names when he revealed the starting lineups for the announced crowd of 3,950 at T-Mobile Arena. And the Golden Knights’ stars also rose to the occasion in the most important game of the season. Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone each finished with three points, and the Knights extended their franchise-record winning streak to 10 games with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. “We’ve still got a lot of business to take care of over the last two weeks,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “But sets us up where I think our destiny’s in our own hands at least, which is what you want heading into the last two weeks of the season.” The Knights (35-11-2, 72 points) inched closer to their third division title in four seasons and have a six-point cushion in the West Division over the Avalanche (31-12-4, 66 points), who have a game in hand. Minnesota also lost Wednesday and trails the Knights by seven points with eight games remaining. Pacioretty scored twice to push his points streak to nine games and leads the Knights with 24 goals. He also picked up his 300th career assist in the second period when Stone banked the puck off the back of Avalanche goalie Devan Dubnyk from behind the goal line for a 3-1 advantage. William Karlsson scored the fastest goal to start a game in franchise history to ignite the Knights, who have won four of seven from Colorado. The teams wrap up the season series May 10 at T-Mobile Arena. “We’re in a good position right now; however, we know we have to play better when they have their full lineup,” Pacioretty said. “That being said, we’re in a good spot here and our goal now is to try to jell and get even better here in these final eight games.” Marc-Andre Fleury remained in the chase for the with his fourth straight win and No. 488 overall. He is one victory from tying Roberto Luongo for third all time. Fleury finished with 35 stops, including one in the first period when he reached behind his back to swat away a puck. He also made a diving poke-check to thwart Liam O’Brien in the first period. Defensemen Devon Toews and Ryan Graves scored for the Avalanche, who went 0-for-4 on the power play and have lost three straight. Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his point streak to 15 games. “I think at 1-1, if (Fleury) doesn’t make some key saves, doesn’t allow us to stay there, I thought he made some key stops on the penalty kill,” Stone said. “He’s one of the main reasons why we went 4-for-4 on the kill.” Pacioretty put the Knights ahead 2-1 midway through the second period when his long shot on a power play slipped by Dubnyk. He finished off a two-on-one with Stone for an insurance goal early in the third period for a 4-2 advantage. Jonathan Marchessault added an empty-net goal. “Getting the two points and creating a little bit of separation is huge for us,” Stone said. “They had some key guys out of the lineup, and we’re missing some guys, too. But we dug in, (Fleury) made some big saves and we got some timely goals.” The Knights welcomed back winger Reilly Smith after he missed the past three games and forward Keegan Kolesar, who hadn’t played since April 11. Forwards Tomas Nosek and Nicolas Roy were scratched with undisclosed injuries. Karlsson wasted no time landing the first blow shortly after winning the opening faceoff when Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard couldn’t control the puck and Karlsson tracked it down near the offensive blue line. 1187519 Vegas Golden Knights

Ex-Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant to coach Team Canada

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gerard Gallant will be behind the bench again soon. The former Golden Knights coach was named head coach for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship on Wednesday. Gallant will be joined by assistants Mike Kelly and Andre Tourigny for the tournament that runs May 21 to June 6 at Riga, Latvia. “Gerard and Mike have worked together both at the NHL and junior level and have an understanding of what it takes to compete and win,” Hockey Canada chief executive officer Tom Renney said. ““We believe we have selected a group that will build on each other’s strengths and provide exceptional leadership, with input from (Team Canada general manager) Roberto (Luongo) and the Olympic management group, as our team prepares to compete for a gold medal.” Gallant led the Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season and earned the Award as coach of the year when Kelly was his top assistant. He was 118-75-20 in two-plus seasons before being fired Jan. 15, 2020. Since then, Gallant interviewed for head coaching openings with the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals but was not hired by either club. He remains a candidate for the job with the expansion Seattle Kraken, according to published reports. Gallant was an assistant in 2007 and 2017 for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship, winning gold and silver medals. Canada lost in the gold-medal game in 2017 and 2019, and hasn’t won the tournament since 2016. Canada opens the tournament against host Latvia and also will face Italy, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Norway and the United States in the preliminary round. No word on playoffs Coach Pete DeBoer doesn’t think the Knights will have a lengthy layoff between the conclusion of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. “I think we’re preparing for a short couple days and then I’m sure the puck’s going to drop on the playoffs,” he said. The NHL has not announced a start date for the playoffs. The regular season was extended to May 19 for the North Division after multiple games were rescheduled because of COVID-19 protocols. The Knights are scheduled to play their final game May 12 at San Jose. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, with the winner of the first two rounds advancing to the NHL semifinals. Commissioner said Tuesday the league is prepared to adjust its plans for the postseason while travel restrictions remain in place between the U.S. and Canada. Krebs’ arrival Forward Peyton Krebs completed his junior season Tuesday, and Silver Knights coach Manny Viveiros confirmed the 2019 first-round pick will join the minor league club soon. “Whether it will be on the tail end of our trip here or back in Vegas, I can’t give you any of the details just yet just because I don’t know yet,” Viveiros said. Krebs led the Western Hockey League’s East Division bubble with 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 24 games and finished on a 23-game points streak. After practicing with the Golden Knights in the postseason bubble last season, Krebs could provide a boost in the NHL playoffs. “That’s great news for Henderson, great news for us depthwise because you can see with the injuries you’re going to need that depth as we go forward,” DeBoer said. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187520 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights top prospect Peyton Krebs joining Silver Knights

By Justin Emerson (contact)

The Golden Knights’ top prospect is returning to the valley. Forward Peyton Krebs completed his junior season in the Western Hockey League Tuesday night. He is expected to join the AHL Silver Knights within the next week, Silver Knights coach Manny Viveiros said. It’s possible he ends the season with the Golden Knights, perhaps even joining the team for next month’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Krebs began the season in Henderson, picking up a goal and five points in five games with the Silver Knights. He has yet to make his NHL debut. But because he turned 20 years old during the season, he still had junior eligibility, and his rights were owned by WHL Winnipeg. A longstanding agreement between the junior leagues and the NHL meant if he were not in the NHL, he had to play in the WHL. He was ineligible for the AHL once junior season resumed in March after the pandemic delayed its start. Viveiros said it’s possible Krebs will join the Silver Knights to complete their road trip this weekend, but he may not join until the team returns home next week. Vegas had a similar situation two years ago when Cody Glass aged out of juniors following a dominant WHL season. He joined AHL Chicago, then the Golden Knights’ affiliate, for six regular season games and 15 playoff games. But he didn’t make his NHL debut until the following season. Krebs will likely play with Henderson for awhile, but there are no playoffs in the AHL this year because of the pandemic. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said earlier this month Krebs could be playing with the Golden Knights by the end of the year. “Before he left to go to Winnipeg, I felt he was a real important player on HSK,” McCrimmon said. “As he’s continued to develop over the year and again gets back on his feet in pro hockey with Henderson, it’s completely a possibility that he could be a factor for our team in the playoffs.” It’s rare but not unheard of for a player to make his NHL debut late in the season and contribute in the playoffs. In 2019, Colorado Avalanchestar defenseman Cale Makarcompleted his collegiate career at UMass, signed his entry-level contract during a playoff series and made his NHL debut mid-series. He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s Rookie of the Year last season. Besides his time with the Silver Knight, Krebs was with the Golden Knights during last season’s postseason bubble in Edmonton. “I don’t consider him your traditional junior coming out of junior hockey. I think he’s much more seasoned than that because of his experiences here in the last year,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. “That’s great news for Henderson, great news for us depth-wise, because you can see with the injuries you’re going to need that depth at some point as we go forward.” LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 04.29.2021 Vegas Golden Knights “We have two of probably the top five best goalies in the league,” Stone 1187521 said, speaking of Fleury and Robin Lehner. “They go in there every night and give us a chance to win. Flower did that tonight.” Goaltending offers the difference — and a possible playoff preview — in During the Golden Knights’ 10-game winning streak, Fleury and Lehner Golden Knights’ win over Avalanche have each started five games. Their combined stats during the streak include two shutouts, an incredible .936 save percentage and a 1.70 goals-against average. By Jesse Granger Apr 28, 2021 1 Fleury is among the league leaders in nearly every statistic, and Lehner has been phenomenal since returning from a concussion. Lehner’s positional style allows him to stay square to the puck and make difficult The Golden Knights entered Wednesday night’s heavyweight bout stops look easy, and it’s a major reason for his 12-1-2 record this season. against the Colorado Avalanche on a roll. Vegas had won nine games in “Our goaltender was very good,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said after a row and had outscored the opposition 40-15 over that span. the game. “And you know what? Both of our guys have been very good Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena was an entirely different story, but it all year, so you almost take it for granted. I can’t remember a loss where ended with a similar outcome. you walked out and said, ‘Boy, we played really well but our goaltender wasn’t good.’ That’s a great luxury we have. That’s how we’re built. Both Vegas was far from dominant, as Colorado outshot, out-chanced and, at of those guys have held up their end, shown up and given us great times, outskated the Golden Knights. But for all the possession the goaltending every night.” Avalanche maintained, and for all the chances they created, they couldn’t beat goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury often enough and were beaten 5-2 Vegas and Colorado are incredibly talented teams. If they end up for Vegas’ club-record 10th straight victory. meeting in the postseason, the series will likely come down to the wire, and the Golden Knights’ biggest advantage could come in net — “Fleury was probably the difference-maker tonight,” Colorado coach regardless of who’s playing. Jared Bednar said. Wednesday night’s game wasn’t a true preview. Vegas was without Fleury stopped 35 of the 37 shots he faced, including several acrobatic depth forwards Nicolas Roy, Tomáš Nosek and Ryan Reaves. Colorado saves that left Colorado forwards shaking their heads in frustration. The was even more hampered, missing Grubuaer, star forward Mikko Avalanche generated plenty of offensive chances, with 65 shot attempts, Rantanen, Joonas Donskoi, Brandon Saad, Erik Johnson and Bowen 37 shots on goal and 41 scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. Byram. Vegas didn’t create as much offense, with only 26 shots and 26 scoring But though the lineups change, I don’t expect the style of play to. chances on the other end, but Golden Knights forwards bested Colorado is faster and more dangerous offensively. But Vegas defends goaltender Devan Dubnyk on the first shot of each period Wednesday to well, relies on superb goaltending and has the big-time playmakers such take a six-point lead atop the West Division standings. as Stone and Max Pacioretty to score timely goals. The game could be a preview of a future playoff series, as Vegas and On Wednesday night, Fleury was able to weather Colorado’s offensive Colorado appear to be the cream of the crop in the division. Both sides onslaught long enough for Stone, Pacioretty and William Karlsson to find were missing players from the lineup, but Wednesday furthered the belief room to score. If these teams meet again, a similar performance will be that goaltending could decide an eventual series between the two. Vegas’ best path to victory. The Avalanche have one of the most high-powered offenses in the NHL, “Flower made some big, timely saves for us,” Chandler Stephenson said. leading the league with 3.49 goals per game. But in seven games against “I think that’s been one of our big strengths this year, sticking with games Vegas, Colorado has averaged only 2.14 goals. To further the point, the and not getting frustrated or letting the game get away. We just stuck Avalanche have only been shut out twice this season, both times by with it.” Fleury and the Golden Knights. The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 “He’s a good goalie. We’ve seen it before,” Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves said. “I think there was a game earlier in the year where he stole one from us. He’s done that throughout his whole career. You have to expect him to have a good game in big games.” FLOWER. #VEGASBORN PIC.TWITTER.COM/JLW83CGKUE — NHL ON NBC SPORTS (@NHLONNBCSPORTS) APRIL 29, 2021 And though Vegas pulled away late, the game was a tight battle most of the way. Colorado evened the score 1-1 in the first period with a goal from Devon Toews, then poured on the pressure early in the second, looking for a go-ahead goal. The Avalanche fired puck after puck toward the net, and Fleury denied them every time. Whether he was diving headfirst to poke the puck off a stick or spinning in circles to glove a puck behind his back away from the crease, Fleury was excellent. “I think at 1-1 if Flower doesn’t make some key saves it doesn’t allow us to stay there,” Mark Stone said. “I thought he made some key stops on the penalty kill. He’s one of the main reasons why we went 4-for-4 for the kill. Then we capitalized on our chances going forward.” FROM BEHIND HIS BACK AND WHILE SPINNING, MARC-ANDRE FLEURY WAS ABLE TO KNOCK THIS PUCK AWAY FROM THE NET. #VEGASBORN PIC.TWITTER.COM/UV2YS2L7FA — NHL ON NBC SPORTS (@NHLONNBCSPORTS) APRIL 29, 2021 On Wednesday night, the goaltending matchup was clearly in Vegas’ favor. That’s not entirely fair to Colorado, which was still without starting netminder Philipp Grubauer. Newly acquired backup Dubnyk wasn’t at his sharpest, and the Golden Knights took advantage. But even with a healthy Grubauer, the Golden Knights hold the advantage in net. They will likely need it to beat Colorado with a healthy lineup. And the beauty of Vegas’ phenomenal goaltending is that, unlike the Avalanche, the Golden Knights get great performances regardless of who is in net. Vegas Golden Knights two-on-one break to feed his high-scoring line mate and give Patches an 1187522 open net to fire in his second of the evening.

The Knights led, 4-2, in period three. Behind Fleury’s Saves, Golden Knights Defeat Colorado In Pivotal There are things we can clean up, but getting the two points and creating Division Game, 5-2, Wednesday some separation is huge for us. — Mark Stone

The Knights had the two-goal lead for most of the final period until By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com Jonathan Marchessault scored an empty-netter to complete the scoring for the 5-2 win. VGK are now six points up on Colorado, which has played one less game. Final Score: Vegas Golden Knights 5 Colorado Avalanche 2 LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 04.29.2021 Key Player: VGK goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, stopping 35 of 37 shots with a little help from his posts Key Goal Scorer: Max Pacioretty with two Key Pass and Play: Mark Stone’s gorgeous feed to Pacioretty in first minute of third period Consecutive Wins for Vegas: 10 VGK record: 35-11-2, best in NHL — off to Arizona for two games, Friday and Saturday VGK coach Pete DeBoer: “Our destiny is in our own hands which is what you want heading into the last two weeks of the season.” * It took a whole 10 seconds for the Vegas Golden Knights to score a record-quick goal and jump on the Colorado Avalanche in the season’s most important game at T-Mobile Arena. William Karlsson fired a backhander past the six-foot, six-inch body of Colorado netminder Devan Dubnyk at 19:50 and the 3,950 fans rejoiced (well, minus the Colorado Avalanche ones.) Wild Bill During this truncated 56-game pandemic season, with Colorado, Minnesota and St. louis now in the West Division for this COVID-19 season only, the Knights vs Avalanche games have been must-see TV this season. Indeed, NBC Sports Network was broadcasting this game to a national audience. Although, it’s the final season for NBC as ESPN and Turner Sports have seven-year multi-media broadcast deals with the National Hockey League. Karlsson’s 13th goal of the season had the Golden Knights up a goal until Colorado’s Devon Toews knotted the game at one as the Avs took control of the game. Fleury played well during the first 20 minutes. The Avs also hit a post or two and could have been leading on Pride Night in the building. After one period: Golden Knights 1 Colorado 1 * The Golden Knights didn’t get a shot on goal until forward Pacioretty scored a power play goal midway through the second period. It wasn’t a very hard shot, but it snuck through the Dubnyk five hole and the Knights were up 2-1. It was Pacioretty’s 23rd of the season. We’re in a good spot here. Our goal now is to try to gel and get even better in these final eight games. — Max Pacioretty Then it was time for Pacioretty’s line mate, Stone, to get on the scoring board. He did some gritty work at the net, and flipped a bank-shot off Dubnyk’s butt for his 19th goal of the season. Max Pacioretty goal is celebrated The Knights were up, 3-1, with Fleury playing rock-solid in the middle stanza. But the Avs responded. Colorado’s Ryan Graves notched his second goal of the season and the Knights’ lead was cut to 3-2. And that’s the way the second period ended: Vegas 3 Colorado 2 * Even with 3,950 fans in the seats, there was a playoff buzz inside the building. And only 55 seconds into the third period, Pacioretty took a gorgeous pass from Stone, who waited at the precise moment during the 1187523 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights Beat Avalanche For Tenth Straight Win

By Tom Callahan

Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty each recorded three-point nights as the Vegas Golden Knights topped the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. With the victory, the Golden Knights moved six points clear of the Avalanche at the top of the Honda West Division with one more game played. Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves for the victory, his 488th career win moving him within one of tying Roberto Luongo for third place all-time. GOLDEN GRADES Goaltending B+ Fleury did very little wrong, although his puck handling was an adventure tonight. There were a few times you could be forgiven for clenching your jaw when he strayed to play the biscuit tonight, but for the most part, it resulted in little consequence. Defense B The VGK defensive corps had its hands full with Nathan MacKinnon all night long. The Avalanche star was doing his absolute best to carry the team on his back, playing with fire and intensity all game long. Unfortunately for him, the shorthanded Avs could quite match his level. Vegas did a good job in containment at many points, although they did give up 37 shots on goal tonight. That said, Colorado’s only two goals came from defensemen. Forwards B A great game for Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone as each recorded three-point nights. William Karlsson opened the scoring and Jonathan Marchessault scored into the empty net to cement the win. Otherwise Alex Tuch was generating chances but failed to connect, and the rest of the forwards were good enough. Special Teams A- Nice to see the VGK power-play score again, although an early extended power play with 11 seconds of overlapping five-on-three time failed to yield anything. Each team ended up with four power plays and the Golden Knights penalty kill remains stellar on the season overall, allowing just 17 goals against all year. THE TAKEAWAYS Tonight was definitely a potential playoff matchup between two behemoths in the Honda West Division, and the Golden Knights answered the bell. I know that the Avalanche were missing several key names in the lineup due to COVID-19 and other factors, but the Golden Knights took care of business against a team they needed to beat. Ten wins in a row for Vegas is an impressive feat. Whenever the streak ends, the Golden Knights have gone on an impressive run to separate themselves atop the division and have once again labeled themselves among the top contenders for the Stanley Cup. Marc-Andre Fleury has been hot and picked up his 22nd win of the season. He now has 488 all-time and his next victory will tie Roberto Luongo for third place all-time in NHL history. With his assist on Mark Stone’s goal at 14:39 of the second period, Max Pacioretty recorded his 300th NHL assist. Brayden McNabb will play his 500th NHL game on Friday in Arizona against the Coyotes. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 04.29.2021 Winnipeg Jets night on Monday that included a hat trick. In nine games against the Jets 1187524 this season he scored seven goals and added 15 assists.

"With McDavid’s speed he’s always going to draw a few," Scheifele said. Jets losing streak swells to five straight with 3-1 loss to Oilers "It’s just a matter of getting into the O-zone more, when you get in the O- zone more you’re going to cause a team to make mistakes and that’s when you’re able to capitalize, whether it’s getting a goal or getting momentum or drawing a penalty." Jeff HamiltonBy: Jeff Hamilton Winnipeg mustered just five shots through 20 minutes — Edmonton doubled that number — with the Jets’ best chance coming off a bobbled The bleeding continued for the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday, and it’s play in front, where Josh Morrissey couldn’t handle the puck before it slid starting to turn into a gaping wound. out of danger and back into the hands of Edmonton. The Oilers turned back up the ice, and if not for a stellar display of athleticism by Already riding a season-long losing streak at the worst possible time, the Hellebuyck to rob Puljujarvi it could have easily been a 2-0 first-period Jets extended that slump to five straight defeats with a 3-1 loss to the lead. visiting Edmonton Oilers at Bell MTS Place. It was also the second straight loss to Edmonton this week — and sixth straight this season The Jets would find some life in the second frame courtesy of Wheeler, against the Oilers — not to mention it capped of a five-game home stand who scored his 11th of the season following a series of effective plays by with no points to show for it. Andrew Copp. Copp stole the puck in the corner before delivering a no- look backhanded pass to Wheeler, with the Jets captain firing a shot to "That’s hockey. You’re going to go through slides. We’ve been pretty the far side that beat Koskinen. It was the first goal in nine games for consistent all year, not losing two in a row. When you go on a slide like Wheeler and first even-strength marker in 11 games. this it definitely sucks," Jets forward said after the game. "You never want to do this, but whatever doesn’t kill you makes you Edmonton didn’t wait long to regain the lead, making it a 2-1 score less stronger. We just have to know there’s a plan for this, there’s a plan for than two minutes later. this team. I have faith that we’re going to come to the rink every single Again on the power play, and again with Wheeler serving the penalty, day and work our hardest and know that the rest will be taken care of." this time a double minor for high-sticking, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fired a What’s more, the Jets will most likely play the Oilers in the first round of shot from the top of the left circle that bested Hellebuyck low glove side. the Stanley Cup playoffs. And with the way they’ve manhandled McDavid registered another assist to give him his ninth straight multi- Winnipeg this season, they no longer have the their number, the Oilers point game against the Jets, which sets a new — and likely never to be officially own the Jets. duplicated, given the uniqueness of the season — record as the first player in NHL history to register at least two points per game against the In those six straight losses to the Oilers, the Jets have been outscored same team in a single season. 21-7, with just two goals in the last two games including Monday’s 6-1 drubbing. That game they were stoned by goalie Mike Smith; on The Jets pressed in the third period, but Koskinen stood tall in the Wednesday, it was backup Mikko Koskinen who stole the show, crease, turning aside any danger that came his way. Leon Draisaitl registering 29 saves in his first start since April 7. provided the nail in the coffin with an empty-net goal with nine seconds remaining. "I don’t think we have an opportunity the rest of the regular season, do we?" Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. "So we’ll have to figure it out. With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Jets are running We’ve got some important games for our group and it was a step in the out of time to right the ship. They get back to action Friday in Montreal right direction tonight but nothing’s going our way." against the Canadiens. Connor Hellebuyck made his NHL-leading 40th start of the season and "I think the game that we played tonight, if you can play that game from a played much better than in his last four starts. He finished with 24 saves positive viewpoint — right now we’re not, it’s a bit of a grinder for us in the loss, but accounted for a number of key saves to keep the game obviously — but you get a better feel of your opportunity going into the close. game," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. Twice he stopped a quality chance from in close that seemed destined "The chaos is the thing when you have some elite players on the other for twine. Once on a two-on-one, robbing Jesse Puljujarvi with the glove team that you worry about the most. Putting them in a position where it and again in the final minutes on a breakaway from Kailer Yamamoto. It’s becomes a skills contest, you’re going to have a hard time beating that a troubling sign when your goalie gives you a chance to win but you team with those two players (McDavid and Draisaitl) in their lineup; come up short on what’s supposed to be a prolific offensive team. they’re just that good. So for the next handful of games you want to take that same template — even if they’re low-scoring games — and not give "I thought we were hard tonight. We were doing all those details hard. It up anything off the rush, try to limit that as much as we possibly can was a step in the right direction," Hellebuyck said. "But we can’t settle for regardless of our opponent, and then you take that game into the losing. We’re going to snap out of this and it’s going to be big, and we’re playoffs." going to carry that momentum. It’s just a matter of time." Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.29.2021 The loss is particularly damaging in the standings. The Jets entered the game one point back of the Oilers, who still have two games in hand. Winnipeg drops to 27-19-3 with the loss, and Edmonton improves to 29- 16-2, inching closer to securing second place in the Canadian division and home-ice advantage against the Jets in the opening round. The first period followed a familiar script for the Jets, with Winnipeg starting the game with a spark only to fizzle out by intermission. Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett talks to his team during a time out in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods CP Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett talks to his team during a time out in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Edmonton would finally make them pay for their sluggish play, making it 1-0 on the power play with Wheeler in the sin bin. Tyson Barrie ripped a shot top shelf over the blocker of Hellebuyck, one- timing the blast off a pass from Connor McDavid with 29 seconds remaining on the man-advantage. The assist gave McDavid an eye-popping 20th point against the Jets this season. He finished the night with three assists, adding to his four-point Winnipeg Jets And the coaching is more detailed than ever, with video breakdown of 1187525 every player and every shift that helps formulate the types of game- planning and checking you never used to see. Which is why if we had the ability to go back in time, I dare say McDavid would have run wild over McDavid could be greatest ever the majority of competition with even greater ease than he does now. All of which makes it borderline criminal the Oilers have done next-to- nothing with him in their jersey for the past six seasons. They have but Mike McIntyreBy: Mike McIntyre one playoff series victory so far, way back in McDavid's sophomore season of 2016-17. They missed the playoffs entirely in three of his first five years, then were upset by underdog Chicago in the preliminary round He's having a season for the ages, single-handedly taking over games in the bubble last year. and putting up points at an incredible rate. And with each passing night, and every eye-popping performance, Connor McDavid keeps making the They have a golden chance to change that this year, and Edmonton is case that, when all is said and done, he might just end up being the best my team to beat when it comes to the all-Canadian division. Sorry, we've ever seen. Toronto. You as well, Winnipeg and Montreal. Let's see if they can find a way to finally come up big when the stakes are highest. You know You'll find little argument that the Mount Rushmore of pro hockey McDavid will bring it. He always does. It's up to the rest of the squad to currently includes Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe and do their part. . But it says here McDavid has the potential to surpass them all, with a unique toolbox of talent that puts him on an entirely different And wouldn't you know it, but the Jets line up as the likely first-round planet when it comes to his modern-day peers. And perhaps those of the opponent. Just like previous incarnations of the club couldn't solve the past, as well. "Great One" during those old battles, it appears a guy who could ultimately end up as the "Greatest One" has this team’s The skating, particularly the explosiveness and the edge-work. The number, as well. vision. The hands. The work ethic. Nobody's perfect, but the man known to Edmonton Oilers fans as "McJesus" comes pretty darn close in terms Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.29.2021 of an on-ice product. Following Wednesday night's 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place in which McDavid set up all three goals, the 24-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont. is lapping the field when it came to the NHL scoring race. His 84 points in 47 games, a 1.79 point-per-game average, is the highest in the league this century. And no, all of those points haven't come against Winnipeg, even if it feels that way. McDavid "only" had 22 (seven goals, 15 assists) in the nine head-to-head games this year, leading Edmonton to a 7-2-0 record. As far as I know, he doesn't own any property around these parts. But it appears he's living rent-free in the heads of the Jets, with multi-point games in every outing and a staggering 26.1 per cent of all his 2021 offence coming against Paul Maurice's crew. As captain Blake Wheeler said earlier this year, McDavid really is a "super freak." You know exactly what he's capable of, you know what you have to do to try and stop him, but it's nearly impossible once the puck drops. Just look at Monday night's 6-1 beatdown by the Oilers, in which McDavid scored three times, added an assist and somehow kept getting breakaways and odd-man rushes against a Winnipeg team that seemed powerless to do anything about it. It reminded me of my days of coaching minor hockey when you'd occasionally have some kid whose parents probably slapped skates on him in the delivery room doing laps around everyone else, the puck never leaving his stick until he'd bury it in the net. Of course, it's one thing to see a seven-year-old do that in Timbits. It's another matter entirely when it's happening in the best league in the world. Not surprisingly, McDavid is running away with the , awarded at the end of every season to the top offensive player. He has a 17-point cushion on the next highest producer, teammate Leon Draisaitl, and is 23-points ahead of Nathan MacKinnon, who is third.That would be a ridiculous enough gap if this were a full 82-game season. But it's even more absurd considering we still have a couple weeks to go on a 56- game campaign. Prior to this two-game series in Winnipeg, Edmonton was plus-88 in five- on-five scoring chances all season when McDavid was on the ice. But when he's catching his breath on the bench, they were minus-183. That is almost unfathomable. Show me another athlete, in any current major sport, who is that much better than the next best players. I'd argue we haven't seen this kind of dominance since Tiger Woods was winning golf majors in his sleep in the early 2000s. Putting McDavid's numbers to those of different eras in hockey is a bit of a fool's game, so I won't hold the fact McDavid's career-high in points (so far) is "just" 116. There's just no comparison to the game we see today versus the one that was played in the '80s and '90s, when Gretzky was regularly toying with 200-plus points per year. Today's athletes are better conditioned than ever, no longer showing up to training camp with the idea of getting in shape, or smoking cigarettes between periods, or spending off-days in the pub. They are finely-tuned machines. The goaltending is also completely different. Today's masked men are truly larger-than-life, wearing the biggest equipment we've ever seen, and the kind of shots that routinely used to light the lamp are now just routine saves. Winnipeg Jets They still fell behind, though, Tyson Barrie’s point blast beating Connor 1187526 Hellebuyck with Wheeler in the penalty box for tripping.

Hellebuyck kept it from becoming a two-goal deficit, robbing Dominik Jets' skid hits five in another loss to Oilers Kahun with five minutes left in the first on an Oilers three-on-one. The rush wasn’t the result of a Jets breakdown but rather the fracture of defenceman Josh Morrissey’s stick on an attempted shot in the Oilers Paul Friesen zone. Offensively, the Jets didn’t generate much, as shots were 10-6, Edmonton, after one. This was the response game that mattered. Wheeler got that one back early in the second, Copp stealing a puck in The night the Winnipeg Jets were going to tell us whether or not they the corner and feeding the captain for his first goal in nine games. remain a team to be taken seriously in the NHL’s all-Canadian division. Soon after, Wheeler took a double-minor for high-sticking, and the Oilers To show they can play a style of hockey that won’t lead to a quick exit cashed in again just 12 seconds into the first power play, Ryan Nugent- from the Stanley Cup tournament, a game that can hang with the Hopkins pulling the trigger. Edmonton Oilers. Winnipeg killed off the second minor. Monday’s 6-1 embarrassment, a fourth straight loss, had to not only be rock-bottom, but the catalyst for change. The proverbial wakeup call, gut- At that point McDavid already had two assists, giving him 21 points in his check time – pick your cliché. ninth game against the Jets this season. They accomplished just half their goal on Wednesday, tightening up He added a third assist, making it 22 points and finishes the series with defensively but managing just one goal again in a 3-1 loss. multiple points in all nine games, a one-season accomplishment the NHL has never seen before. “It was way better than the last game, for sure,” captain Blake Wheeler said. “They scored two power-play goals and that was the difference in Of course, teams don’t normally meet nine times anymore. the game.” The Jets will be glad there’s not a 10th. Down 2-1 late, they pushed, pulled goalie Connor Hellebuyck but gave up an empty-netter to Leon Draisaitl. As for a potential playoff meeting, they have seven games left to not only stop their own skid but rebuild a level of confidence that they’d even The Jets hung in for the entire night. Better than that. They matched the stand a chance in the post-season. Oilers, chance-for-chance, which in this case didn’t have to mean odd- man rush for odd-man rush. “We’re going to snap out of this and it’s going to be big,” Hellebuyck said. “It’s just a matter of time.” That’s a fool’s game against Connor McDavid and Co. By The Numbers Instead, the Jets were tenacious. Competitive. Much smarter and more engaged than they’d been after they fell behind by a couple of goals on Goals by period Monday. Jets: 0-1-0—1 Running into some early penalty trouble, they spotted the Oilers the first Oilers: 1-1-1—3 goal but didn’t change their game. Shots by period They fell behind again, 2-1 in the second period, but didn’t start giving the puck away through high-risk passes. Jets: 6-9-15—30 There was urgency on every shift. Oilers: 10-10-7—27 Their problem: they didn’t create enough. Power plays The Jets may have cleaned up their high-risk, poor-defence game, but Jets: 0-1 they’ve scored just six goals in their last five games. Oilers: 2-3 Yes, they’re missing Nik Ehlers. Big-time. But that’s one offensive star. Faceoff % Head coach Paul Maurice’s new-look lines got another new look early in the game. The best combo, though, was the one playing a second Jets: 54% straight game together: Mark Scheifele between Andrew Copp and Oilers: 46% Mason Appleton. Hits Copp and Appleton were the Jets’ best players. Jets: 38 Blake Wheeler scored the goal, but other than that not a lot was happening with the likes of , Paul Stastny and Pierre-Luc Oilers: 24 Dubois. Blocks Dubois hasn’t scored in 10 games, Stastny in eight. Jets: 20 It’s one thing to clean things up going the other way. But if you can only do it by sacrificing offence, you’re not a threat. Oilers: 13 Mikko Koskinen was good in the Oilers’ net. The Jets had some chances. Giveaways They worked their tails off. They cared. Jets: 9 But they lost. That’s five in a row. All at home. Six straight against Edmonton. Oilers: 8 “We’ll have to figure it out,” Wheeler said. “We’ve got some important Scoring leaders games for our group… but nothing’s going our way.” Jets: Wheeler 1-0-1, Copp 0-1-1 “It’s not like we didn’t have our opportunities,” Scheifele added. “You Oilers: McDavid 0-3-3, Nugent-Hopkins 1-1-2, Barrie 1-1-2 never want to do this. But whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We just have to know there’s a plan for this, there’s a plan for this team. Shots If you work hard, good things will happen.” Jets: Copp 5 (several players tied with 3 each) It was a far more cautious and less entertaining first period than Monday’s – exactly what the Jets wanted. Oilers: McDavid 5, Nugent-Hopkins 4 Hits Jets: Thompson 4, Wheeler 4, Poolman 4 Oilers: Larsson 5, Nurse 4 Blocks Jets: Wheeler 3 (several players tied with 2 each) Oilers: Nurse 3 (several players tied with 2 each) Ice time Jets: Copp 22:36, Morrissey 22:33, Pionk 22:17, Scheifele 22:17 Oilers: Nurse 26:50, Barrie 25:02, McDavid 23:16 Faceoffs won-lost Jets: Scheifele 10-3, Stastny 9-6, Dubois 6-4 Oilers: Draisaitl 11-13, McDavid 6-11, McLeod 5-3 Winnipeg Sun LOADED 04.29.2021 Winnipeg Jets Remember that in-game resilience the Jets showed much of the season, 1187527 often falling behind but coming back to win games?

Maurice sure does and wants to rekindle it over these last two weeks of JETS SNAPSHOTS: Wheeler calls for more competitive fire... season the regular season. series vs Oilers won't matter if Jets find their game... “If the other team scored a goal, it didn’t faze us one bit,” he said. “It never changed the way we played. We had a whole bunch of wins without scoring the first goal. We were close to leading the league in that Paul Friesen stat and also not losing back-to-back. We had that confidence and consistency in our game.

“We lost a couple, it started to drain out of our game, then it was The struggle will make them stronger. completely gone when we got pounded by Edmonton. Getting back to Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler says the adversity his team is that is the challenge for us now.” suffering in April can pay off in May. Hands made for scoring “It’s a lot better to go through this right now than it is in three weeks,” Maurice hasn’t felt the need to address his team about who should and Wheeler said before the Jets took on Edmonton, Wednesday. “Because shouldn’t be handling the rough stuff. if you’re riding high and just kind of getting away with things and you go into a playoff series and things get tough, you don’t have anything to go “If we ran seven games and Perreault, Ehlers, and Kyle Connor are back on. You don’t have any past experiences where you had to dig dropping the gloves, I might grab onto them and say ‘Hey fellas, there yourself out of a tough situation to build confidence from.” are other things that we’re paying you for.’ Those are isolated incidents,” the coach said. “Not just for the Winnipeg Jets but around the league. It’s Wheeler thought teammate Paul Stastny’s blunt assessment after just not in the game anymore.” Monday’s 6-1 loss to Edmonton was bang-on: the Jets had for too long been getting away with plays they shouldn’t be making at this time of It was last Saturday against Toronto that Connor dropped his gloves and year. They’d been cheating the game. tried to get into a scrap with Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin, after Sandin’s “reverse hit” flattened Wheeler. Wheeler even hinted the Jets need to find another level of effort. The same game saw Ehlers jousting with Joe Thornton throughout, “In my 10 years in Winnipeg, we haven’t always had teams as talented eventually suffering an injury that’ll keep him out for the rest of the as this current one,” he said. “But we’ve always been damn proud of how regular season. we’ve competed every single night. That’s kind of what our organization’s been built on. Sometimes you’ve just got to get back to that.” “I would be more likely to be encouraged by the fact that they were wired up enough in the game to have it happen,” Maurice said. Kyle Connor says tough stretches can teach some valuable lessons. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 04.29.2021 “You can definitely find out your character in your room,” he said. “We’ve looked at a lot of video and in the long run this will help us. Going into the playoffs we can look back on this and draw strengths. “The emotion’s there… it’s not from a lack of effort. We have an emotional group. Everybody’s invested.” Remember when? Wheeler says it’s apples and oranges to compare this team with the one that made a playoff run three years ago. Comparing their records down the stretch, though, as a possible precursor to how they’ll do in the post-season seems fair game. The Jets were 11-1 in their last 12 games in 2018 and rode that momentum to series wins over Minnesota and Nashville. This year’s team started its last dozen games with four losses. “Two completely different teams, two completely different circumstances,” Wheeler said. “Uncomparable events. But… you want to be playing your best hockey going into playoff time. We have yet to do that. We’ve done it at times this year and we’re learning some valuable lessons right now.” Playoff preview? The Jets say when they look back at this stretch, how they played over their last eight games will be far more important than whether or not they managed get the Edmonton monkey off their backs. Winnipeg had lost to the Oilers five straight times going into Wednesday’s game. “You’d like to establish a bit of a game plan that you have confidence going into not just a playoff series but any game,” Wheeler said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.” A Winnipeg-Edmonton first-round playoff series is looking more and more likely. The Oilers started Mikko Koskinen in goal, Wednesday. But the Jets know they’d have to deal with Mike Smith’s puckhandling skills in the playoffs. “There was a long stretch of years there where Pekka Rinne was hyperactive out of the net and really effective in moving the puck,” Maurice pointed out. “We’d see Nashville all the time. It is a focus when you get into a playoff series how the goaltender moves the puck. He’s going to get out and touch a bunch of pucks and you want to have a plan for it.” Resilience wanted 1187528 Vancouver Canucks STORY CONTINUES BELOW This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content Canucks managing their way through ‘minor hockey’ schedule: Bo Horvat Green has been pointed in his criticism of players like Vesey, who didn’t

sustain a COVID-19 infection and who he clearly hopes would be able to Patrick Johnston do more while his teammates work to regain their earlier health. That meant that Tyler Motte started the game on J.T. Miller’s wing, a line at least above where his talents are best deployed. Everyone knows this is going to be a lot of hockey. There aren’t many other options to play on a scoring line, Jake Virtanen Bo Horvat put the Vancouver Canucks’ schedule in terms from his own being the most obvious candidate but for whom most of this season has personal experience: Playing hockey as a kid. been a struggle. But even then, he said before Wednesday’s game he couldn’t think of an With the team playing Thursday in Toronto, Kole Lind at wing or Jack example in his past where he had played as many games as the team is Rathbone on defence might get a look. If either dresses, it would be their about to play: 14 games in 21 days. NHL debut. “I don’t think so, maybe in minor hockey at a hockey tournament or Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.29.2021 something like that, back-to-back hockey tournaments,” he said. “Obviously we knew it wasn’t going to be easy coming back from COVID.” Physically, he said, he thought he and his teammates were doing OK. “The cardio aspect of it has been pretty good,” he said. “It was tough the first game, definitely felt it in the first period. … Luckily I didn’t get too out of shape those first two weeks.” And in the big picture, the schedule the club is facing is just part of this unique season’s theme. The final run out to the year may be have been forced by their COVID outbreak, but the season always called for a lot of games in less than an ideal about of time, he pointed out. “We knew it was going to happen,” he said. “We were told at the beginning of the year it was going to be a different year and we’d have to make adjustments … we’d be uncomfortable at times.” Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko reacts to a goal scored by Ottawa Senators centre Josh Norris in the second period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Grate expectations Travis Green was honest about his team’s performance Monday, even in the face of fatigue from the players’ COVID-19 experiences. “We just didn’t get it done long enough,” he said of that 2-1 loss. The team looked gassed in its 6-3 loss on Wednesday. Going into the game, Green laid out what he was hoping to see from his players. Neither coach nor players will say “COVID fatigue” as a reason for their play, but it has to be a factor. “We want all our players to come into the room and say they played a very strong game,” Green said. “(On Monday) we were average and we need more than that.” His message was more critical after Wednesday’s game. “We weren’t very good tonight,” he said. The team was a bit tired, he admitted. “I thought we looked mentally tired, too. But there’s no rule in the league that you can’t win when you’re tired.” He attributed the first three goals against to “mental weakness.” I just want to see you’re doing your best, Green was saying. And it was some of the reason he got so upset on the bench early in the second period, calling a timeout and speaking with visible anger towards his players. “You guys don’t see me behind closed doors some nights. I was angry then because it’s a big game, and we all want to win badly.” Vancouver Canucks forward Zack MacEwen (right) goes for the puck in the first period against the Ottawa Senators. Lineup changes Jimmy Vesey was a scratch again Wednesday, giving way for Zack MacEwen. Vancouver Canucks A lack of compete that led to two Senator goals in a span of 32 seconds 1187529 to start the second period had Green calling a timeout and turning red and spitting a blue streak at the bench. And rightfully so. Senators 6, Canucks 3: Below-average effort has Green turning red at The gaffes put the Senators up 3-0 and had Green screaming for the bench right and prolonged response. “I was angry because it’s a big game,” said Green. “And there’s nothing wrong with being disappointed. Everybody should be upset when we lose Ben Kuzma and that’s the kind of people we want. “It’s understanding maybe I have to play a simpler game, more direct and put a puck behind when I don’t quite have my jump. And we kind of gave Ottawa Senators centre Chris Tierney (71) scores against Vancouver into it a bit and sometimes we do that when we get down because I know Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) in the second period at the our guys want to win so bad. Canadian Tire Centre. “We try to make plays out of nothing.” Article content The Canucks lacked a battle level in their own zone as the Senators Average is far from an attractive assessment. controlled a sequence that ended with Chris Tierney getting position on It means you’re good, but not good enough to succeed in any endeavour. Alex Edler to deposit a Thomas Chabot rebound to make it 2-0. And for the Vancouver Canucks, who continue to cling to the belief that “You’ve got to defend well to create offence and we’ve got to do a better they can go on a ridiculous run to remain in pursuit of a long-shot playoff job with all five guys working in the D-zone — whether it’s back pressure, position, having their collective effort Monday labelled as “average” by communication or puck battles,” said Edler. “It starts there.” Travis Green was a shot across the competitive bow. J.T. Miller then inexplicably put a backhanded clearing attempt from “Right now, we need more than that,” stressed the Canucks’ coach. behind the net into the slot. It was picked off to create a 2-on-1 down low and Josh Norris easily scored his fifth goal in the clubs’ nine-game The Canucks needed more of everything when they faced the Ottawa series. Senators on Wednesday following a 2-1 setback on Monday. “J.T. is a highly-competitive guy and I’m not letting him off the hook,” They needed to score first to gain momentum and support Thatcher stressed Green. “It wasn’t a good play for sure and he knows that. Demko, who returned after suffering a lower-body tweak in the morning Sometimes, his will gets the best of him.” skate Monday, and saw too many odd-man rushes Wednesday. Vancouver Canucks forward Zack MacEwen (71) plays for the puck in They needed to draw penalties rather than take them. And most of all, the first period against the Ottawa Senators. they needed to dictate the game and not chase it against the young, speedy, vastly improved and motivated Senators. SIGNS OF LIFE The Canucks didn’t get enough of anything. The Canucks did respond in the wild second frame to try to make a game of it. NEXT GAME Myers made up for multi-tiered mistakes on the game’s opening goal Thursday after 2:04 elapsed in the first period. Myers and Olli Juolevi were caught flat-footed as waiver-wire claim defenceman Victor Mete sped between Vancouver Canucks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs them and went glove on Demko for his first goal in 39 games. 4:30 p.m., Scotiabank Arena, TV: Sportsnet Pacific, TSN4, Radio: Myers rebounded to end some rare offensive-zone time in the second Sportsnet 650 AM period. He had ample time at the top of the slot to beat Marcus Hogberg glove side with Tanner Pearson providing the screen. However, Quinn Hughes then lost an edge in the O-zone and Chabot clicked on a They looked like a lack of game conditioning after not playing in a 24-day rebound attempt to restore the three-goal bulge. span — a league-mandated six-day break last month followed by a “Any time we generated momentum, we just shot ourselves in the foot,” coronavirus outbreak shutdown — had finally caught up to them with just said Myers. “A lot of the game is breakouts and forechecks. When we do 22 shots and surrendering 33. it hard and fast we’re a tough team to play against — we know that.” In a disheartening 6-3 loss that featured five second-period goals in the first 7:23 — including three by the Senators — the offence came from And that brings up the COVID-19 question about a room where not Tyler Myers, Jake Virtanen and Brandon Sutter and the obvious everyone is 100 per cent recovered from the virus or up to optimum disappointment was widespread. game shape. Playoffs? Really? “It’s obviously a tough situation and a strange situation — it’s a strange time in the whole world,” said Myers. “The guys have done a great job “We weren’t very good tonight,” said Green. “We got what we deserved. battling through it,” added Myers. “I don’t think this correlates with that We look a little tired physically and looked mentally tired, too. There’s no (COVID-19) — but we can make better plays and smarter decisions with rule in the league that you can’t win when you’re tired. I actually thought the puck.” we showed a little bit of mental weakness at the start of the second period with some of the plays we made. MOTTE GETS SHOT “First three goals we just kind of handed to them with bad passes, bad Tyler Motte was promoted to the top-six mix, Zack MacEwen returned after sitting in four of the last five games and the scratched Jimmy Vesey turnovers and bad coverage.” is looking like he’s scratched from off-season planning. Which, of course, brings up the roster rationale of playing those with an Motte, who had three goals in the first two season games against the NHL pedigree ahead of those who may give the Canucks a spark. Senators, did what he does best to narrow the count to 4-2. With “We’ve got guys in the room who will do anything to win, but if I think they Hogberg handling the puck like a grenade behind the net, Motte pounced (younger players) can help us win, they’re going in,” stressed Green. on it and found an open Jake Virtanen in the slot. Here’s what we learned as the Canucks get little rest with Thursday and However, a late line change left Brady Tkachuk all alone to up the count Saturday games in Toronto to close out a four-game road trip to 5-2 before Colin White added an empty-netter and Sutter a late effort. compressed into six days: “There are no excuses from us,” summed up Demko. “We’re playing with Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) reacts to a goal scored the cards we’ve been dealt. We have to re-set here and we know we by Ottawa Senators centre Josh Norris (9) in the second period at the have to string some wins together if we’re going to have a (playoff) Canadian Tire Centre. chance. I thought I could have been a little better tonight, to be honest. You want to be there when there’s a breakdown.” GREEN TURNS RED As for Vesey, the unrestricted free agent has not played in two of the last three games and the waiver-wire claim is pointless in eight games after arriving from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.29.2021 1187530 Vancouver Canucks This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content

4:06 p.m. Canucks vs. Senators recap: Tired team runs out of gas This is a shot chart that shows everything.

Canucks just not getting enough shots from between the circles, and the Patrick Johnston Senators scoring on five shots from five separate spots.

Thatcher Demko was incredible in March. He’s having a hard time post- The Canucks are in Ottawa for their final game against the Senators in COVID. the 2020-21 season. 4:03 p.m. Article content Spoke too soon: Brady Tkachuk has made it 5-2 for the Senators. This afternoon, Thatcher Demko is making his second start for the He came on after a bad change but found himself behind the Canucks’ Vancouver Canucks since the team returned to action 10 days ago after defence pairing of Myers and Juolevi. a COVID-19 outbreak that saw most players fall ill. The Sens’ super-pest tore in alone on Demko, the fired a wrist shot 5:01 p.m. through the Canucks’ goalie. And that’s it. The Canucks have lost three of four to the Senators. *chuckles* 4:58 p.m. "We're in danger!" pic.twitter.com/cPblUnl6PW Brandon Sutter makes it 6-3 after wristing a shot past Högberg. — Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) April 28, 2021 Maybe the most meaningless goal in recent Canucks history. STORY CONTINUES BELOW 4:56 p.m. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canucks pulled the goalie again, with 5:30 to go. Article content And the Sens scored an empty netter. It’s 6-2. 4:01 p.m. The Senators have looked good against the Canucks over the past four Amazingly we’ve had a lull in scoring. games, but it’s clear the Canucks’ COVID-19 fatigue hasn’t helped either. Travis Green appears to have the line blender out again, as Brock 4:50 p.m. Boeser has taking a couple shifts with Boyd. Tanner Pearson joined them Pull the goalie! at one point. Travis Green tried to surprise the opposition by pulling the goalie with Jake Virtanen skating with J.T. Miller now. seven minutes to play. 3:45 p.m. Ottawa had a stab at the empty net but iced it instead. Another goal! Thatcher Demko is back in goal. This time its Marcus Högberg misplaying the puck behind his net and 4:41 p.m. Tyler Motte stripping the disc away then flipping it into the slot. Spectacular save by Thatcher Demko to keep the Senators from going Motte gets two assists for this play! pic.twitter.com/uGrAz1EsuU up 6-2, as he and Quinn Hughes misplayed the puck setting up a — Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) April 28, 2021 breakout. Both Jake Virtanen and J.T. Miller got their sticks on the puck but it’s It became a two-on-one and the Canucks’ netminder managed to make a Virtanen who is able to fire the puck home, pulling the score to 4-2. big save in tight on Chris Tierney. Maybe, just maybe, after all that, the Canucks have hope? Really close short-handed chance here off of the misplay from the Canucks. pic.twitter.com/DFzScnUyQB Tierney gets robbed by Demko off of a pass from Connor Brown. — Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) April 28, 2021 #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/k0HwMgh5Ky STORY CONTINUES BELOW — Pesky Sickos (@PeskySickos) April 28, 2021 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Moments later, he stopped Alex Formenton on a breakaway. Article content Three high danger chances for Ottawa on this penalty kill. Demko made three huge saves. pic.twitter.com/vztV4iDCDW That’s Virtanen’s 100th career point by the way. — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 28, 2021 3:43 p.m. And at the end of the power play, he stoned Connor Brown on yet Lots keeps happening. another two-on-one. First, Tyler Myers scored, taking advantage of some atrocious defending 4:30 p.m. by the Sens. Zack MacEwen just took a tripping penalty. Been a rough night for him. Tyler Myers gets Vancouver on the board. #Sens 3-1 #Canucks. pic.twitter.com/fcgSTBdngs Through two periods, he’s been on the ice for three Sens goals against in six mins of ice time. Not his fault but never a good feeling. — Brandon Maki (@BrandonMaki_) April 28, 2021 4:21 p.m. Second Thomas Chabot scored, 53 seconds after Myers, restoring a three-goal lead for the Senators. (It’s 4-1 now.) So here we go. One half of this Leafs qualification scenario could be real post-game. The Canucks were all over the map defensively after Quinn Hughes blew a tire in the offensive zone. Maple Leafs clinching scenario, tonight ... It's complicated pic.twitter.com/YiVeb3V2tv 3:37 p.m. — Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) April 28, 2021 The Canucks’ playoff chances, should this 3-0 score hold, will be four per cent post-game, according to HockeyViz.com. STORY CONTINUES BELOW 3:33 p.m. The Montreal fans are going to LOVE this. pic.twitter.com/sqPCfxXRNO Yikes. — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 28, 2021 Josh Norris, who may draw some down-ballot Calder votes, has just STORY CONTINUES BELOW scored the Senators’ third goal of the game. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. J.T. Miller made a brutal turnover into the Canucks’ slot and the puck was won back by Brady Tkachuk who worked a two-on-one down low Article content against Quinn Hughes and Thatcher Demko with Norris. Brady Tkachuk and Zack MacEwen got in another fight, by the way. Travis Green just reamed his team out at the bench. MacEwen didn’t like a hit on Brandon Sutter and got in Tkachuk’s grill; it was Tkachuk who actually flung his gloves off first. “We want all our players to come into the room and say they played a very strong game,” Green said post-game. Pretty clear he’s not happy 2:45 p.m. with how his team came out of the gates in the second. The Canucks really need to generate more around the net. 3:32 p.m. as pointed out by @SNJohnGarrett moments ago, #Canucks have OK we’re back with the second period… scored 1 goal in Thatcher Demko's last 3 starts. That makes goaltending difficult …and the Canucks have already scored. — Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) April 28, 2021 The Canucks, you may have heard, are tired. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Alex Edler got out-battled in front by Chris Tierney. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 3:22 p.m. Article content Tough period for the Canucks. Was talking to a scout who said that Senators goalie Marcus Högberg The #Canucks out chanced 11-2 in the 1st period by the #Sens, as per has some of the slowest hands in the NHL. Get pucks at his blocker and @NatStatTrick. The fatigue is real. his glove and there will be loose pucks galore. — Randip Janda (@RandipJanda) April 28, 2021 2:41 p.m. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Victor Mete opens the scoring for Ottawa. The Ex-Hab created his own breakaway by blasting through the middle of Tyler Myers and Olli Juolevi This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. and then wiring the Senators’ first shot of the game past Demko. Article content Ouch. Tough period for Juolevi. 2:38 p.m. just 3 shifts for Juolevi. Got scored on his first. Didn't play final 12:19 of I asked Travis Green pre-game about his team’s performance on period Monday. He was pretty honest: — Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) April 28, 2021 Travis Green: I thought our game on Monday was average, and right now STORY CONTINUES BELOW we need more than that. #Canucks @Sportsnet650 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. — Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) April 28, 2021 Article content STORY CONTINUES BELOW And this is simply illegal. Call the penalty, refs! This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Holding two sticks is illegal you bastards!! pic.twitter.com/TsQXZjl7yw Article content — Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) April 28, 2021 Motte-Miller-Boeser starts the game. STORY CONTINUES BELOW 2:35 p.m. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Alright here’s your lineup: Article content Projected lines for the #Canucks vs. @Senators 3:05 p.m. Pearson-Horvat-Höglander 15 minutes in and the Canucks are really struggling to get shots off from Motte-Miller-Boeser the slot. That’s rough. MacEwen-Sutter-Hawryluk Think this team is tired? They’re putting on a brave face but this is a Highmore-Boyd-Virtanen rough result. Edler-Schmidt 2:57 p.m. Hughes-Hamonic Canucks just had a power play after Senators forward Nick Paul hit Matt Highmore from behind. Juolevi-Myers

Canucks had a lot of possession but couldn’t get shots through. Going to #DemkoTime need more from their special teams to win this game. 2:30pm on @Sportsnet650 https://t.co/KAgpi2YNib Travis Green said pre-game that both teams were playing tight-checking, pic.twitter.com/cvue7b1P5R greasy hockey and that they lost on Monday partly because they didn’t play well on the whole — “we were average” — he said but also that they — Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) April 28, 2021 didn’t take the chances they had. Tyler Motte gets the top-six call with Jimmy Vesey heading back to the 2:52 p.m. press box. Jake Virtanen stays on a line with Matt Highmore and Travis Boyd. Halfway through the first and I’m still trying to figure out why Tyler Myers tracked his man so tightly so far from the puck creating the hole Mete 2 p.m. skated through on his goal. Demko played last Thursday against the Ottawa Senators but looked VICTOR METE! A phenomenal pass by Formenton sets up Mete for his tired and was breathing heavily post-game, as the Canucks fell 3-0 to the first of the season, and with the Sens. #GoSensGo division-trailing Senators. He said at the time that no one on the team was feeling 100 per cent. Wednesday’s game in Ottawa starts at 2:30 p.m. PT, a rare early start in the . This is the last of nine meetings between the two teams this season, with the Senators having won two of the last three encounters, including 2-1 on Monday in Ottawa. The Canucks’ chance of qualifying for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs have sunk to just seven per cent, according to HockeyViz.com, after surging to nearly one in five a week ago, when the Canucks defeated the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in back-to-back games. We’ll have updates throughout Wednesday afternoon’s game, so be sure to check back as we near faceoff. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.29.2021 Vancouver Canucks Which is just the absolute nicest way of saying, “Well, hey, which forward 1187531 lost their check” and is the equivalent of saying in an office email “I’m pretty sure I emailed you that last week, maybe check your junk mail folder” even though you both know you read the email and ignored it. The Armies: Canucks’ season nears the end, the apathy sets in, a Bubly- flavoured feud, and ‘The Goonies’ for all Best visualization THIS IS A TIRED HOCKEY TEAM. PIC.TWITTER.COM/J49F5PFXDI By Wyatt Arndt Apr 28, 2021 37 — PATRICK JOHNSTON (@RISINGACTION) APRIL 28, 2021 Best this is just the beginning If you had a pool on when apathy would fully set in on the Canucks THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONGGGGGGG THREE WEEKS. YIKES. season, Wednesday night was the official start date. — PATRICK JOHNSTON (@RISINGACTION) APRIL 28, 2021 The Canucks, with barely a hope and a prayer of a playoff spot, playing UH #CANUCKS YOU OK? at 2:30 pm against an Ottawa team that has been skating circles around them? — SLIM SHADY ♔ (@ALEXLOVESBURRS) APRIL 28, 2021 Baby, you’ve got an apathy stew going! #CANUCKS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE SKATING WITH PIANOS We’re at the point where we truly don’t know where the effects of a long STRAPPED TO THEIR BACKS. GOING TO BE A ROUGH HOME COVID-19 recovery begin and where the effects of a poor roster STRETCH. construction end, but I suppose it doesn’t really matter. — TYLER BENNETT (@TBENNZ) APRIL 28, 2021 All we can talk to are the results of another loss from the Canucks, and The second period, the dreaded long change for a tired team, once again another game in which they looked like they just had absolutely nothing featured several shifts when the Canucks simply had no energy and were left to give. pinned in their own end for extended periods. If the team and the fan base had trouble getting up for this game, On the Senators’ second goal, they worked the puck long enough to get imagine those games against Calgary at the end of the season. Those a point shot and cash in on the rebound as Alex Edler simply fell to the will be PBS-pledge-drive levels of excitement where all you can do is ice after a battle in front: hope JT Miller doesn’t implore the fan base that without their help, the Canucks wouldn’t be able to bring them such exciting programs as “The We can pick these goals apart all day, but as stated earlier, these types Senators Have Broken Our Spirit” or “Why are the Flames Still Trying?” of goals happened pre-COVID-19, so it really feels like at the end of the or “Mr. Bean Signs an 8-Year, $8 Million Deal with Vancouver.” day, you are just seeing the Canucks try to win games without a goalie on Michael’s secret stuff, and without their top center in Elias Pettersson, And if we aren’t at the traditional point of the season where the “play the but now with the bonus of an unknown COVID-19 recovery effect. kids, what else do you have to lose?” debates start to rage, then I don’t know when we ever will be. No one is saying Kole Lind is the answer, but Either way, they simply don’t have the depth to be an elite team, which there would at least be something to look forward to if he got a shot in has been the sobering thought fueling those “what if their goalie wasn’t one of the upcoming games. playing at an insane level?” ponderings that have followed this team around for the past several seasons. Don’t forget, that tired Canucks team you just saw get blown out by the Ottawa Senators now must face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday But this is a happy place, so let’s go back to “The Goonies.” night: Fresh legs would be welcome in that one, but it’s up to the coaching staff to decide if they’re able to help the team win, as Travis Because down here, it’s our time. It’s our time down here. That’s all over Green stated after the game. the second we ride up Jim’s bucket. The good news is there were at least plenty of goals in this game, which Best controller disconnect pays me that sweet, sweet GIF money more than a 2-1 loss would. LMAO #CANUCKS The bad news is six of the nine goals scored Wednesday were against — EMILY (@EMILYMLOWE) APRIL 28, 2021 the Canucks, and honestly, this was one of the most unwatchable games of the season. It was like a UFC fight that becomes so one-sided that you DO I EVEN CONTINUE WATCHING? #CANUCKS just want the ref to end it, but because it’s Steve Mazzagatti it keeps going. — TYLER, THE CREATOR (@ITSTYLERG_) APRIL 28, 2021 But that doesn’t mean the VIPs can’t have fun, right? I’m sure we can EASY ON THE STUPID FUCKING HORN OTTAWA work a “The Goonies” reference or two into some of these goals and — N8 (@NATEJSTIRLING) APRIL 28, 2021 have some fun with it. Miller, once again back to just JT, had an absolutely horrid time on the “Hey, you guys!” Senators’ third goal when he offered up a Luca Sbisa specialty, then See? SEE?? doubled down on it by slowly giving up more and more as the play developed: As Bob Ross always said, “Go out on a limb — that’s where the fruit is.” Again, NHL players live by “the code,” so by law, they cannot Best blame game acknowledge fatigue or injuries after a game. The first goal gave you a heads-up on the kind of night it was going to be, For all we know, it will come out a year later that half the players could featuring the kind of loving, open welcoming usually only a mother can barely breathe during this recovery from COVID-19, so the intention isn’t provide, when the Canucks invited Victor Mete to score: to bury Miller for his play on this goal. It’s just to point out that, yeah, hey, the Canucks are probably in for a rough stretch of games to finish off the The Olli Juolevi and Tyler Myers pairing has a spotlight on it because it season if things keep going this way. features a young first-rounder in Juolevi and a chaotic neutral rogue in Tyler Myers, who owns a vault of gold coins he occasionally likes to swim Which isn’t surprising, but as Andy always said, she couldn’t tell if it was through. an A sharp or a B flat anyway. Now, the big debate after the game was who was at fault on this goal, “The Goonies,” it’s all we have. and it’s easy to point at Juolevi’s foot speed as an issue or Myers playing his man super high and tight, then spinning away from the play to try to But another good example of the level of fatigue feeling different from skate back and recover, but Myers was quick to point out that, hey, don’t earlier in the season comes out on plays like this: forget the forwards: The Canucks just look really tired out there, unable to move their feet and TYLER MYERS ON METE’S GOAL: IT’S A DMAN FOR ONE, I THINK not even able to make the simple plays at times. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE THE BREAKDOWN WAS. YOU Best redemption CAN’T HAVE D-MEN BEATING YOU UP THE ICE. #CANUCKS @SPORTSNET650 TOLD YOU MYERS IS ELITE @THESTANCHION @PASSITTOBULIS — BRENDAN BATCHELOR (@BATCHHOCKEY) APRIL 29, 2021 — DAVID QUADRELLI (@QUADREILI) APRIL 28, 2021 First up is Nate Schmidt, who gets tricked by Brandon Sutter, as he suddenly switches lanes to try to place a call to Baton Rouge, leaving IF YOU PRETEND 30 SECONDS OF THE GAME DIDN'T HAPPEN, IT'S Schmidt passing to a ghost: TIED 1-1. #CANUCKS And just to show you that Schmidt isn’t the only one to fall for the trailing- — HUGHDINI (@CANUCKFORCUP) APRIL 28, 2021 player drop pass, here are the Ottawa Senators doing the exact same Quads, who has taken up the mantle as the Myers defender in thing: Vancouver, was proud to see the chaotic neutral rogue score just when it Safe to say it was some loose hockey on display. looked like the Canucks were done: Best beer league strats As Kevin Woodley pointed out last game, Marcus Högberg has not been a very good NHL goalie, which is why even just getting shots on net is a MORE LIKE BRADY TKACHERRY-PICKER, AM I RIGHT? viable strategy for the Canucks. — DANIEL WAGNER (@PASSITTOBULIS) APRIL 28, 2021 It also helps when the other team gives you three to five seconds to get your shot off. JESUS CHRIST THIS TEAM. #CANUCKS Best everything is happening! — BURT MACKLIN (@CANUCKLEHEAD03) APRIL 28, 2021 THE #CANUCKS MADE THE SENS LOOK LIKE THE GOLDEN TRAVIS, NOW IS IT TIME TO PLAY THE KIDS? ASKING FOR A KNIGHTS ON THAT GOAL FRIEND. #CANUCKS — NICK BONDI (@NICKBONDI) APRIL 28, 2021 — NUX4LIFE (@CANUCKS0709) APRIL 28, 2021 WHAT IS HAPPENING LMAO #CANUCKS Brady Tkachuk hid behind Juolevi and Myers and put the Senators up by three goals again before the end of the second period: — PARKER (@PARKERSPUCKS) APRIL 28, 2021 Sadly, there was no forward to blame for this goal. This was equal parts The Senators quickly restored their three-goal lead when Quinn Hughes Brady being “that guy” at Burnaby 8 Rinks (you know, the one with the raced into the zone and fell down, leading to a rush the other way: reflective visor) and Juo and Myers not realizing the danger they were in. There were several times when a Canucks player would try to gain the Props to Sutter, who let out an F-bomb after the puck bounced past him, zone or make a play and turn the puck over or fall down and take himself though. He knew. out of the play, leading to a chance against. A Sutter always knows. As Green said after the game, though, you can still win games when you’re tired, but as he’s also said in the past, this is a tough league to win Best truth in. HOCKEY ANNOUNCERS WHEN SOMEONE GETS A GORDIE HOWE I think Lou Bloom summarized it best when he said, “What I believe is HAT TRICK PIC.TWITTER.COM/6ZMJDJUDGL that good things come to those who work their asses off. And that people — BONK'S MÜLLET (@BONKSMULLET) APRIL 28, 2021 who reached the top of the mountain didn’t just fall there.” Hockey announcers get downright giddy talking about a Gordie Howe hat Best question trick. VESEY HAD BEEN ABYSMAL. BUT HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY A Best second truth BOTTOM 5 GUYS WHO WOULD BE SCRATCHED BECAUSE THEY ARE “ENERGY” WHEN WE CAN’T SCORE. I WAS ALMOST ASLEEP AND THAT FUCKING GOAL HORN WOKE ME. — PAVEL Y (@YIMMERSON) APRIL 28, 2021 — DAMMIT DAVE (@GFDDAVE78) APRIL 28, 2021 Best what is happening It’s like the horn from “Inception,” so I assume it is being used to wake THIS GAME, IS WEIRD. #CANUCKS people up from several layers of dreaming about the playoffs. — PETE EDWARDS (@PETE_GAS) APRIL 28, 2021 Best second attempt WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON #CANUCKS Brady wasn’t done there, though, as he tried cherry-picking again to start — CONNOR PF. (@CONNORPFORT) APRIL 28, 2021 the third: The Canucks would then quickly score their second goal of the game Hughes was able to slow him down enough to ruin his shot on net, but when Högberg ran into the most Lou Bloom guy on the team in Tyler also check out the energy from Thatcher Demko, who refused to take the Motte, who came across a scenario, didn’t like how it was laid out, then faceoff and simply wanted the clock to keep running to try to end the restructured it in a way that was most advantageous to himself: nightmare. The best part of this goal is Jake Virtanen and Miller racing to the puck Veteran EASHL move right there. like it’s “Warzone” and they’re both thirsty boys looking for an easy kill. Best request Best cameo #CANUCKS JUST NEED TO FIND A GRACEFUL EXIT STAGE LEFT #SHOTGUNJAKE 5TH GOAL OF THE SZN, CONGRATS BIG TUNA! FROM THIS SEASON. MICHAEL GOT ME FEELIN' BUBBLY @MIKEHALFORD604 — DWIGHT WOLFE (@DWIGHTSWOLFE) APRIL 28, 2021 @SADCLUBCOMMISH @MICHAELBUBLE #CANUCKS PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZPBVR5SSWB NOW I’VE SEEN EVERYTHING. #CANUCKS POWER PLAY GIVES UP 3 GREAT SCORING CHANCES ON DEMKO! THIS IS NUTS. — TOMMY THE TRACTOR GUY (@TOMMYKIPPES) APRIL 28, 2021 — RAFFI CAVOUKIAN (@RAFFI_RC) APRIL 28, 2021 We haven’t seen much of happy Tommy this season, mostly sad, eating- his-feelings Tommy, but we got to see a shotgun in all its glory. Just to fast forward through the third period and to offer up more evidence that, yes, COVID-19 is still affecting this team, I present to you Including an arcing shot of lime juice right into his eyeballs. the Canucks power play, featuring such friends as … Best garbage fire Bad communication: THIS IS GOOD HOCKEY. Bad east-to-west pass that gets picked off: — JASON BROUGH (@SADCLUBCOMMISH) APRIL 28, 2021 Ring the puck around the boards and Myers praying he doesn’t get Just to show you that both teams made mistakes, here are two examples walked: of players driving the zone, then dropping a pass to nobody. Yes, this was all on one power play. The only silver lining was that Bubly Demko looked like he showed up. The secret was to bombard him with odd-man rushes to get him to 6. CHERRY appear. It’s like saying “Candyman” in the mirror. DO I *LIKE* THE PERSON I'VE BECOME? Best just for prosperity NEXT QUESTION BRB ERASING THIS GAME FROM MY MEMORY #CANUCKS — JUSTIN MCELROY (@J_MCELROY) APRIL 24, 2021 — S (@TAYLORSHUGHES) APRIL 28, 2021 One thing Botch always told me was to make sure I have an ongoing NO ONE: feud in my articles, and while most nights that’s taken up by the gun show ticket salesman Dan Murphy, tonight we have a new challenger. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE: Justin McElroy has been on my radar ever since he soullessly ranked SENATORS GOAL HORN: BWEHHHHHHHHHHH BWEHHHHHHH Almond Park far too low on his park rankings, but with his latest Bubly BWEHH BWEHHHH BWEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH rankings, the war is officially on. BWEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Look, I get it, a top flavour is subjective, and I cannot claim to have a — N8 (@NATEJSTIRLING) APRIL 28, 2021 universal No. 1 Bubly flavour. Empty-net goals used to be our thing. But to suggest that cherry is at the bottom of the rankings, to say that Best stacking of the pads cherry is the Dana Murzyn of these flavours, too slow to have a role in today’s carbonated water game, is downright madness. THATCHER DEMKO IS BALLING OUT AND THE #CANUCKS ARE STILL GOING TO LOSE TO THE SENATORS BY FOUR GOALS. If you think analytical evidence is behind these rankings, think again: — DANIEL WAGNER (@PASSITTOBULIS) APRIL 28, 2021 THE CHERRY FLAVOUR IS A) TOO STRONG, B) DOESN'T TASTE LIKE CHERRY, C) SOMETHING YOU THINK SHOULD BE RANKED Best update HIGHER, ALL OF WHICH FACTORED INTO THE DECISION MAYBE THE MOST MEANINGLESS GOAL IN RECENT CANUCKS — JUSTIN MCELROY (@J_MCELROY) APRIL 26, 2021 HISTORY? Saying a flavour in Bubly water is “too strong” is so beyond — PATRICK JOHNSTON (@RISINGACTION) APRIL 28, 2021 comprehension that I don’t even know where to begin. Was that slight whisper of a taste of a past world in which you could enjoy all the sugar First, Daniel was wrong, the Canucks lost by three goals due to Demko in the world too much for your refined palette, Justin? balling out. Also, half of these flavours don’t taste like what they say they are. It’s Second, that is the most defeated any team has looked after scoring a basically “Star Trek” out here, where a computer simulates what it thinks goal this season. we think the flavour might be. We should just be happy they don’t all taste like chicken. Best summary And lastly, the personal prejudice is at least admitted to by Mr. McElroy, I FULLY RECOGNIZE WHAT THIS TEAM HAS BEEN THROUGH WITH who clearly sank cherry to the bottom of the rankings out of personal COVID. HOWEVER, #CANUCKS PLAY IN THE FIRST 1:10 OF THE spite. SECOND PERIOD WAS NOT COVID RELATED. THAT WAS SIMPLY SHODDY DEFENSE, QUESTIONABLE DECISION-MAKING AND In what world is grapefruit, the boring agriculturist Jethro Tull of the Bubly POOR PUCK MANAGEMENT THAT TURNED A 1-0 GAME INTO A 3-0 world, anywhere but at the bottom of a power ranking? GAME Feud on, sir. — JEFF PATERSON (@PATERSONJEFF) APRIL 28, 2021 Feud on. THE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. BUT LET’S NOT FORGET THAT THIS WAS A POORLY CONSTRUCTED ROSTER 7 Best story YEARS AGO AND IT STILL IS TODAY #CANUCKS QUINN HUGHES AND ELIAS PETTERSSON ARE LIKE AN OLD — D (@DP85SOON) APRIL 28, 2021 MARRIED COUPLE AS ROOMMATES Best chaos — HARMAN DAYAL (@HARMANDAYAL2) APRIL 28, 2021 I could not stop laughing at Myers’ little leg-kick attempt at the end there, For the few who missed it, please check out the story HD did Wednesday and I don’t know why. There is just something so delightfully quaint about for The Athletic. it. I have always said I enjoy Pettersson’s competitive nature and his eye- Best firm new rule for-an-eye sense of justice. ME GIVING IT TO @THESTANCHION FOR BANNING ME FROM THE It’s a fun change of pace from the Sedins, who are the world’s nicest ARMIES PIC.TWITTER.COM/LZAUDSWZCJ people to a degree that nobody shall ever topple them in the polite game, so why not lean the other way and watch as Pettersson pulls out the — MR BOOTH (@MRBOOTH_7) APRIL 28, 2021 kinds of passive-aggressive tactics usually only learned from 10-year relationships? #banned Fun stuff all around. It’s great to see players open up and have fun with Best shade their off-ice stories. THE CANUCKS ARE GETTING DUNKED ON IN FRENCH NOW. I worry about the day a Canucks player misses the Alien’s birthday, @PATERSONJEFF @MIKEHALFORD604 @SADCLUBCOMMISH however. PIC.TWITTER.COM/7EIC88HBLL I can just see it now, Brock Boeser forgets the big day … — DYLAN NICHOLSON (@RADIOCODEX) APRIL 28, 2021 “So Elias hands me a gift and says, ‘Hey, just wanted to give you Best new feud something for being such a good friend,’ so I go to open the box and THIS IS MY FIRST PINEAPPLE BUBLY BUT FOR THE RECORD THE there is a cow’s heart, blood everywhere. I turn to Elias and go, ‘What the CURRENT RANKING IS: hell, man?’ and he goes, ‘I just wanted to give you what you gave me for my birthday, a broken heart.’ Then he gets on his scooter and drives 1. LIME away. Which was extra weird because we were inside my house, and he just scoots across my living room, knocking over my coffee table, singing 2. BLACKBERRY ‘Un-break My Heart’ by Toni Braxton. Weird day. I never forgot his 3. ORANGE birthday after that, though, I can tell you that much.” 4. GRAPEFRUIT The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 5. PEACH Websites The pandemic was a factor, but the NFL may have played a bigger role 1187532 in preventing the NHL from landing Bettman’s initial goal of $750 million and maybe even flirting with closer to $1 billion per season for both packages combined. The Athletic / Is NHL’s ESPN-Turner partnership good for hockey? League executives weigh in on financials and more “We ended up doubling, and then some, the TV money but could it have been tripled? I think it could have if not for the NFL,” one NHL executive said. “It’s just a reality of it, I suppose.” By Sean Shapiro Apr 28, 2021 151 The NFL recently announced a $100 billion TV rights package split between Amazon, CBS, ESPN/ABC, Fox and NBC, which runs through 2033. Networks are paying more than $2 billion per season to the league NBC has an important legacy with the NHL. for the right to broadcast what are consistently the most-watched programs on television. When the league missed the entire 2004-05 season due to a work stoppage and the NHL’s overall value and marketability crashed to an all- Having TV rights expire the same year as the NFL is a blessing and a time low, NBC had just returned as a national television partner. In 2008, curse for the NHL. The NFL is the rising tide when it comes to sports the NHL introduced an NBC brainchild, the Winter Classic, a Jan. 1 media rights, it sets the bar and puts an emphasis on how much fixture that put the sport on the map on a day normally dominated by networks were willing to pay for live sports coverage. But the rights for college football. The outdoor spectacles have become the league’s most the NFL cost so much that networks had to make difficult decisions, and successful and most-viewed regular-season games. suitors and resources were possibly directed to football rather than the NHL. But now NBC is out of the picture. Turner Sports officially secured the second part of the NHL’s national TV deal in the United States on “The NFL sets and impacts everything,” one source said. “That’s just a Monday, paying $1.57 billion for a seven-year deal, an average annual reality of being in the sports business in the United States.” value of $225 million. ESPN has the A package, confirmed in March in a Some executives indicated the length of the deals was also a bit longer deal worth $2.8 billion. than ideal. The NHL has faced criticism over the 10-year deal it inked in Five team executives, who asked to remain anonymous so they could 2011 with NBC. Critics said the term of that deal locked in a rate that speak more freely, said Tuesday that the move away from NBC would be limited earning potential — and devalued the NHL’s product — in a good for the NHL. changing industry. These deals are shorter, but there is still uneasiness that more money could have been on the table down the line. “It was time to move forward with forward-thinking TV partners,” one NHL executive said. “A four- or five-year deal would have been better for the league,” an NHL executive said. “This is good for the NHL, but this is better for the TV Multiple executives said there was optimism that the new deals would networks getting that rate for seven years, who knows what rights would lead to a boost in creativity in promoting the game to a wider audience. cost and the higher value that could be there in five years.” One source noted that more could be done to sell the sport by better highlighting player personalities, especially during pre-game coverage. What wasn’t much of a concern to NHL executives is that in three of the next seven years, the Stanley Cup Final will be a cable-only production In short, the NHL wanted what the NBA has. on Turner Sports and therefore not available on an over-the-air channel. Of the executives interviewed for this story, only one even considered it a Culturally, the NBA’s prominence in American sports goes beyond the potential worry. hardcore fans, and the programming plays into that. A typical NBA pregame show focuses on more than just the Xs and Os of the sport, for “The TV world is changing, I don’t think that’s something that’s important example. anymore, and streaming and those elements have replaced that when it comes to importance, in my mind,” one executive said. “It’s about “I think we can learn a lot from the NBA’s broadcasts and we have thinking about what works moving forward, not about what has been a partners now in Turner and ESPN that understand that,” one NHL must in the past.” executive said. “We need to have broadcasts that focus on the people, ones that find more ways to connect because you can enter NBA fandom The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 from multiple avenues. That hasn’t been the case in hockey.” NBC has declined to comment on all matters related to the NHL’s deal at this point. The deals with ESPN and Turner represent an important shift for the NHL. Executives were excited about the potential of increased visibility when the ESPN deal was finalized in March. Hockey was back onto the “sports bar default” channel and would finally move back into the A block of SportsCenter programming. Getting on ESPN alone would have made the new TV deal a win, but Turner Sports making the late push and ultimately landing the rights added to the excitement. Multiple executives mentioned how they view Turner Sports as a channel that attracts a younger audience. While ESPN presents ancillary benefits being owned by , Turner Sports parent company, WarnerMedia, has similar benefits that excite NHL executives. “I think an underrated part of this deal, which more people should be talking about, is the Bleacher Report element,” a high-ranking team executive said. “They’ve done well connecting with and promoting things to a young audience, and the NBA has thrived on things like that. Look at what they’ve done with House of Highlights.” The hope, according to this executive, is that Bleacher Report and its House of Highlights video brand will focus more energy into creating viral hockey content. While most NHL executives expressed approval about the deals with ESPN and Turner Sports, questions were raised about what could have been. Before the pandemic, according to sources, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman laid out plans to bring in closer to $750 million per season in American media rights. Landing around $645 million per season isn’t a small number, but it’s more than $100 million less than some owners were expecting; over the course of seven years, it’s a total of more than $700 million less in expected TV revenue. Websites Downies their home in Amherstview, outside of Kingston, Ont. Downie’s 1187533 parents asked Sinden to be godfather to their children.

“Back in the day, we supported every move Harry made,” Downie told The Athletic / Joe Thornton and Gord Downie: Inside a friendship that Bob McKenzie in his book “Hockey Confidential” of his Bruins fandom. changed an NHL star and inspired a music legend Thornton sat stunned as he glimpsed into the life of his favourite singer. The singer who adored the team he was now playing for, in part, because of the man who drafted him. By Joshua Kloke 322 It follows then that Gord would appreciate Thornton, too, given that Sinden selected him. Thornton provided hope for a franchise that had just missed the playoffs for the first time in 30 years. It is September 2016, and the sun has set on Toronto’s Withrow Park. Two men are standing near the site of the park’s outdoor rink, and they And when Thornton first took the ice for the Bruins, Gord’s appreciation are smiling. for his game swelled. One man is one of the greatest hockey players of his generation. By 1997, The Tragically Hip had become the most popular band in Canada, partly on the strength of Downie’s wild creativity on stage, his Beside him stands the other man: an adored Canadian rock musician, body-contorting dancing and unchained poetic musings. regaling him with exploits from the hundreds of games of shinny he’s played as a goalie on that rink. The hockey player wakes up the sleepy Downie was a different breed, and in Thornton, Downie saw someone park with his boisterous laugh as the musician describes his game. who also made a name for himself by breaking from the mould. The two friends share laughter because they have to: the musician is in a “What he sees, and what he executes, is like a different game,” said bout with terminal brain cancer. And the hockey player knows this Patrick of what Gord liked in Thornton’s sometimes daring playmaking. meeting, which he kept private from his teammates, might be the last with his friend. Thornton and Patrick would remain friendly, stopping to chat whenever they passed each other at TD Garden. And Patrick always made sure to The Tragically Hip’s final tour had finished months earlier. Gord Downie’s sneak in an extra Tragically Hip song or two during a game for Thornton, family, led by his brother and newfound caretaker, Patrick, were not even if Thornton’s favourite, the slow, drunken stumble of “Long Time necessarily open to regular visits from anyone who wanted to wish Running” wasn’t fit for a raucous arena. Downie well. Instead, they created an environment where Downie could rest when he needed to, focus on being around his children and make Not long after Thornton began with the Bruins, he travelled to Toronto for more music, as were his wishes. a Tragically Hip concert and afterward, met his idol backstage. But those rules didn’t apply to Joe Thornton, Downie’s favourite hockey “Overwhelming,” says Thornton of seeing Downie in person. “I don’t player, who over time became a close friend. really get nervous around people, but he was probably one of the only guys I ever got nervous around.” “There was always an open door for Joe,” says Patrick. It took, in Thornton’s estimation, “about three seconds” into the And in those meetings, Thornton both grew closer with Downie, and conversation before he felt at ease. became a changed man. “You know the movie Avatar where the one character plugs into In a rare interview on a topic he has often declined to address, Thornton (another)? You just knew who you are as soon as you hugged. An instant said he was thankful to have Downie in his life. The musician helped him connection,” says Thornton. find a better path, one that eventually led him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thornton, of course, wanted to talk about the concert. Downie, as he And, Thornton says, “He made me a better person.” would often do, wanted only to feed his Bruins obsession. Gord Downie and Joe Thornton at the corner of Hampton and Hogarth Thornton was enamoured by Downie’s ability to quell the noise around avenues in Toronto. (Courtesy of Joe Thornton) him. He hung on Thornton’s every word. Though moments like this are rare, Joe Thornton is unsettled. “Joe was our first real Bruin friend,” says Patrick, laughing. The normally easy-going, and immensely talented playmaker is sitting in The kinship between Gord and Joe was cemented by what Patrick calls a the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, a building that has since been demolished. “rock and roll magnetism” in both men. He has just been selected by the Boston Bruins as the first overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft and has been thrust into the spotlight. Sitting with an As Patrick describes what brought Thornton and his brother together, it’s interviewer, producers and camera people, Thornton is a little easy to imagine he’s describing Gord, too. overwhelmed and in need of a question that will put him at ease. He gets “He’s able to capture the imagination of a lot of people. The guy just it when the interviewer asks: What music do you like? lights up rooms. The room is a better place even after he’s left it,” Patrick Thornton’s wide smile, already his trademark, flashes and he says: “The says. Tragically Hip.” It did not take long for Thornton to earn a special place for Downie: He “Oh, you like that band?” the interviewer asks. became his favourite player, a designation Patrick stresses didn’t come lightly. “My favourite,” Thornton replies. Their friendship grew, but Thornton’s role with the Bruins became more The Tragically Hip was played in his minor hockey locker rooms when he and more tenuous, questions arising about whether his easy-going was as young as 12, he says, around the time 1991’s “Road Apples” was persona was the right fit for the Bruins dressing room. released. Downie thrived off Thornton’s persona, though, gravitating to his laugh, The interviewer points behind him, to a man clad in black holding a boom his larger-than-life spirit, his magnetism. He would describe Thornton in a mic. way only a poet could: “Loose as ashes, and twice as dusty.” “That’s Gord Downie’s brother,” the interviewer says, and Thornton’s In November 2005, Thornton was controversially traded from the Bruins smile grows wider. to the San Jose Sharks. Bruins general manager Mike O’Connell, who took over from Sinden in 2000, didn’t get the kind of return many When the interview finishes, Thornton and Patrick Downie connect. expected. Thornton went on to win the Hart Trophy that season. Patrick is a lifelong Bruins fan who lives in Boston. He works for the team, doing everything from producing interviews to DJ’ing games. The trade crushed Downie, as he highlighted in “You, Me, and the B’s,” Thornton, a wide-eyed teenage fan of the band at heart, asks about Gord when he sang of the “constant concern” over the trade. Downie and Patrick details his favourite singer’s obsession with the Bruins. He said he and his brother talk nearly every day about their But even after the trade, Downie and Thornton stayed in touch. favourite team, a fact highlighted in Downie’s 2017 song and ode to his They were getting older, having children, and connecting over their brother, “You, Me and the B’s.” families. Both began moving away from the primes of their careers. The Downie family obsession with the Bruins began at a young age. Thornton might not have been the All-Star that he was earlier in his Harry Sinden, then the team’s general manager, was a family friend. As a career, and The Tragically Hip’s influence in Canadian pop culture began minor league coach, Sinden also worked in real estate and sold the to wane. But still, both persevered at their craft. During his treatment, Downie began growing an unkempt beard. It was at this time that Thornton began growing his now trademark grey beard, Thornton played his 1,000th career NHL game in 2011, a landmark too. A coincidence, sure, but an opportunity to bond all the same. achievement for players normally at the end of their careers. The year before, Downie released his well-acclaimed solo record “The Grand While Thornton and the Sharks would lose the Stanley Cup Final to the Bounce.” Pittsburgh Penguins, that summer still changed Thornton’s life forever. The two friends were enjoying success on their own terms. And that only The band’s final tour solidified their place as Canadian icons. Throughout brought them closer. every sold-out show, they dipped into their 30-year catalogue of songs, each of which created a uniquely Canadian cultural language. Close to “We truly loved what we did and we never took anything for granted,” one-third of Canadians watched their final concert in their hometown of Thornton says. “And I think that is a huge similarity: the passion that we Kingston. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, was in have for both of our arts. I call what I do art, and I think we’re both very attendance for the teary-eyed goodbye. similar in that way.” Thornton attended the tour and stayed connected with Downie as he It was the conversations with Downie that helped Thornton see his game delivered emotional show after show throughout Canada. And his in a different light, as he became re-assured in his approach. resurgence made him a surprise selection for Canada’s World Cup of “He liked my art,” says Thornton, when asked why he was Downie’s Hockey roster that September in Toronto. The tournament was more favourite player. “I’ve always explained it like, you’re an artist: You have than an opportunity to remind the hockey world of his talents. Thornton, your brushes and your canvas and then you go from there. It’s a unique 37, treated it as a chance to make career-defining visits with his friend. way to look at it, and it’s how I look at it. You’re the painter and here’s In the months that followed that final tour, Downie’s health worsened. your brushes, and here’s your canvas, what are you going to do with it? Patrick had moved into Downie’s Toronto home full-time to care for him. It’s like that, every hockey game.” And so on afternoons between morning skates and games, and on the Thornton’s career is littered by the kind of no-look, behind-the-back nights off, Thornton would travel east along Bloor Street to Toronto’s passes few players in NHL history had the brains, or the audacity, to try. Riverdale neighbourhood, nestled in between the Don Valley Parkway Thornton remains the active leader in NHL assists, and is seventh all and Withrow Park, to visit his friend. time. The visits were kept secret from his Team Canada teammates. He got there by sticking to this credo: “Safe is dead.” “I didn’t need to say anything to anybody,” he says. During one of their many hangs, Thornton casually dropped the phrase in conversation. In a dark time, Thornton’s spirit lifted Downie’s. Downie stopped in his tracks. “Joe was always himself,” Patrick says. “He lightens up every room he comes in. You feel it. It’s totally infectious. He’s not a perfect human “Wait, what?” he asked, stunned. “Safe is dead?” being. None of us are. I think he knows what a touch he has with people.” Thornton began likening his approach to Downie’s intense and “Being able to talk to him then was a privilege,” says Thornton. “It’s uninhibited onstage persona. something that I never took for granted.” “It’s like you, Gord, when you’re up on stage; nothing you do is safe. Safe Together, they’d walk the Riverdale streets. Downie would take Thornton is dead, man,” he said. for dinner at Allen’s, one of his favourite Toronto pubs. Having never heard the phrase before, it stuck with Downie, both as a “When it comes to Toronto, Gord had some very serious pride for this lyricist and a person. city,” Patrick says. After that conversation, Thornton received frequent text messages from Thornton would love to hear Downie go down memory lane with stories Downie asking for more insight into what “Safe is dead” meant to throughout the band’s career, including their stop on “Saturday Night Thornton. Live,” when Downie was struck by nerves in the band’s opening song. He “He just kept on going back to it,” Thornton says. “I had no idea what he was trying to give his nephew, who had just turned 11, a sign from the was going to do with it. Like an artist, he heard something and he had to broadcast. As he sang the opening lines to “Grace, too,” he brought his learn more and dig further.” two index fingers together. Thornton assumed his credo had piqued Downie’s interest, and that was When they were in public together, Downie was routinely approached by the end of it, until the release of “Introduce Yerself,” Gord Downie’s sixth fans who just had to share their personal love of the band. and final solo record. And every time, Thornton was struck by how Downie treated these fans “Every song is about a person,” Downie said. Some song titles speak for the same way he had treated Thornton: with intense appreciation and themselves (“My First Girlfriend”), but the inspiration for the majority of devoted interest. the songs remains a mystery. “To give people the time of day,” Thornton says of what he learned from “Safe Is Dead” was one of those mysterious tracks. It crystalized his Downie. “Walking throughout Toronto like we did, everybody knew Gord. friendship with Thornton and it hit hard. “Very humbling,” he says now. And he would always stop.” The opening lyrics capture Downie’s surprise at hearing the term, and Thornton mimics Downie’s booming “Hello,” famously heard in the then speaks to their friendship: “Wait, what/Safe is dead/The dark opening seconds of the band’s seminal 1997 live record, “Live Between previews/Who’d miss this fear/A damn silence/Exiles meet.” Us.” On the morning of May 24, 2016, the news of Downie’s terminal brain “He made everybody feel very important. For a guy of his stature, that’s cancer was announced by the band. very rare,” he says. The following night, Thornton came out buzzing, grabbing the primary Thornton tried to put the lessons he learned from Downie into practice, assist on the Sharks opening goal less than four minutes into Game 6 of as he did before a Sharks game in Toronto, when he met for 10 minutes the Western Conference final. The Sharks would win 5-2 over the St. with a family who had named their son after Thornton. Louis Blues, sending Thornton to his only Stanley Cup Final. As the 2016 World Cup of Hockey came to an end, Thornton visited Through the cancer treatments that had preceded the announcement of Downie and they would make what was their last walk together through Downie’s diagnosis and their upcoming final tour, Thornton had received Withrow Park. near-daily updates and photos from Downie’s 30 straight days of cancer “I cherish those memories forever,” Thornton says. treatment. Downie cherished them too. In every one of the photos, Downie wore the same outfit: a denim jacket over a Boston Bruins jersey with Thornton’s name on the back. Patrick says his brother tried to live his last year without self-pity. He made just two public appearances in 2017, looking far more ill than he “His coat of armour,” says Patrick. “That was the best he could do to had in 2016. protect himself.” Still, Thornton’s mantra, “Safe is dead” stuck. He spent the final year of “It took my breath away,” says Thornton. his life largely in private, recording music whenever possible. “It was just the inspiration he needed, and something he tried to live by late in his life,” Patrick says. Downie died of brain cancer on Oct. 17, 2017. “Tough one,” Thornton, his voice cracking, told reporters after learning of Downie’s death. He thinks about Downie and the conversations they had in Toronto every single day. Those conversations were brought into focus in October 2020, when Thornton was a free agent. He had been coveted by the Leafs, as well as other teams. Downie’s final solo record, “Away is Mine,” was released on Oct. 16, 2020. On that day, Thornton called Patrick to gauge his thoughts on him possibly signing in Toronto. Patrick said he’d be thrilled, but Thornton also wanted to know what his brother might have felt. The two men agreed that Gord, the ardent Bruins fan, would wear a wry smile at the thought of Thornton as a Leaf. Thornton told Patrick he was “99 percent there.” Patrick advised him to play “Away is Mine” and make a decision. A few hours later, Thornton signed with the Leafs. “The Downies will take credit,” Patrick says, chuckling, “for the 1 percent.” Did those visits lead Thornton to believe that signing in Toronto would be the right move for him? “I think so,” Thornton says. Toronto is a fitting landing spot for Thornton, the Tragically Hip fan. Scotiabank Arena housed more Tragically Hip concerts than any other room. Hand-written lyrics to “50 Mission Cap” are hung just outside of the Leafs dressing room. And of course, there is Downie’s music, still regularly played during breaks in games. “He just seems to pop into your head. ‘Boom,’ it’s there. You don’t know why, it’s just there,” Thornton says. In Toronto, it is impossible for Thornton to escape the memory of his friend. And he would not want it any other way. The Athletic LOADED: 04.29.2021 Websites And Matthews’ highlight-reel winner gives him 35 on the year and 1187534 strengthens his grip on the Leafs’ first-ever Rocket Richard Trophy.

Remaining Time -0:45 Sportsnet.ca / Thornton, Spezza make history as Maple Leafs cruise to Matthews knocks puck out of midair to himself before sniping past Allen playoff berth “He’s just elite. He's the elite of the elite. His release is incredible,”

Thornton says. “He's the prototypical power forward that can just do it all Luke Fox@lukefoxjukeboxApril 29, 2021, 12:58 AM right now.” Team history, of course, is the primary objective. Jack Campbell is not taking his position for granted. But after 96 days atop the North Division, a clinched playoff position was never in doubt for a Leafs lineup loaded with talent of all ages. No, we’re not talking about Campbell’s position as the starting goaltender for the first Canadian division team to secure a playoff berth. (Although A first-round collision with these same Habs feels destined, finally, for the we could be.) first time since the year Thornton was born: 1979. And no, we’re not talking about him becoming the first Toronto Maple Toronto has seven games remaining to iron out kinks, heal wounds and Leafs goaltender in five seasons to surpass Frederik Andersen in wins — figure out lines. a feat Campbell accomplished by securing a 4-1 victory Wednesday at Fans will have plenty of time to sweat and scrutinize come mid-May. Bell Centre, improving his record to a shiny 14-2-1. (Although we could be talking about that, too.) In the meantime, it’s OK to make like Jack Campbell or Auston Matthews — to enjoy a couple of legends snap it around and do their thing. We’re talking about Campbell coming to work every day in awe that he’s punching the clock alongside icons. “It’s pretty awesome at this stage in their career how passionate they are about the team, about winning, about performing every night,” Matthews “You know, you're having a coffee with Jumbo or Spezz, and I find myself says. just chuckling in the car after practice because I'm like, 'Wow, Jumbo and Spezz are my buddies.' It's pretty cool,” Campbell says. “And then you “To witness them accomplish what they’ve accomplished – obviously, hear about the records or milestones they meet, and it truly is incredibly tonight was a big night for both of them.” special. Not only are they historic hockey players, but they’re historic teammates.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.29.2021 Make that historic linemates. In the latest incarnation of Sheldon Keefe’s lineup, the coach has flanked rookie call-up Adam Brooks with “a couple of living legends,” as Auston Matthews describes them. That unlikely trio has worked hard to craft an identity and struck up some fine chemistry. From top-two draft picks to charismatic role players, Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza are buzzing around like a pair of the most joyful and determined fourth-line grinders you’ll ever meet. On a Montreal night, Spezza notched two assists and climbed into a tie with for the 99th-most points in NHL history (966). Incredibly, the minimum-wage employee has amassed more goals (10) and points (26) through 47 games than he did in 58 games with the Leafs last season. Spezza is more productive at 37 than he was at 34. Thornton made history in Winnipeg Saturday when he became the eldest Maple Leaf to score a goal. For Wednesday’s encore, he registered his 1,100th career assist, joining Wayne Gretzky, Ron Francis, Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, Jaromir Jagr and Paul Coffey as the only players to do so. Yes, he’ll keep the puck for his collection. No, he won’t get all sappy about it. “I don't look at them, but I've got quite a few. But that's just a lot of hours of playing street hockey with my brothers and pond hockey and been lucky enough to play with a lot of good goal scorers. It's been fun so far,” says Thornton, the league’s oldest forward chugging. Adds Morgan Rielly: “He gets these achievements, and it seems like nothing for him – he just keeps going. We’re lucky to have a guy like that.” The history Thornton and Spezza are scripting along this ride, what may be a final pitch at an unrealized dream, is not lost on those battling alongside them. “In fact, I had one of those moments tonight,” admitted a grinning Keefe, who hasn’t been overly prone to sentiment during post-game Zoom pressers. “Those guys were in the offensive zone snapping the puck around to each other, and it's a cool thing. Those guys have accomplished a great deal. They've been elite, elite players for a very long time. And to have them teaming up for us in that role and being such great leaders for us, it's outstanding. Very cool for them to have their own moments here today. They're both very special, of course. Eleven-hundred assists is a lot of assists. I was telling Joe, ‘I don't think I touched the puck 1,100 times in my time in the NHL.’” Spezza and Thornton’s ascent up the all-time offence charts is happening in concert with Matthews and Mitch Marner’s own marks as franchise pillars. With an assist, Marner became the first Maple Leaf to record three 60- point campaigns before his 50th game of the season. Websites The Maple Leafs have seven games left and a seven point lead on 1187535 Edmonton. They’ve got Vancouver twice, Montreal three times, an Ottawa and a Winnipeg. Sportsnet.ca / Adaptable Oilers proving they can beat opponents any Tippett won’t be looking at the standings over the final nine games. Not way they want as much as he’ll be looking at his roster. “We’re trying to get our team ready,” he said. “If we continue to build our team game the way we hope, the standings will take care of themselves. Mark Spector@sportsnetspecApril 29, 2021, 1:35 AM “All the little parts of the game that need to be clicking at the right time? That’s what we’re working on every day.” EDMONTON — General manager Ken Holland just didn’t have the cap Give Tippet and his staff some credit. space or the draft ammunition to really impact his Edmonton Oilers roster at the trade deadline. So he settled for a No. 4-5 defenceman in Dmitry They stuck with struggling defenceman Ethan Bear and he has found his Kulikov, and left the improvement up to the guys he already had. game, making those smart, quick plays in his own zone that result in multiple zone exits per night. And they’ve realized the value in depth Enter third-line centre Ryan McLeod, who has gone 62 per cent in the winger Alex Chiasson, who screened Connor Hellebuyck on Tyson faceoff circle in two games. At six-foot-three, he skates so well that you Barrie’s power play goal — a goal that doesn’t happen without can see him as this team’s 3C for a decade to come. Chiasson’s work, even though he went pointless in the game. How about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is doing his best to rescue a They’ve been unafraid to use McLeod, whose size and speed remind of lousy offensive season while back on Leon Draisaitl’s left side? He had a Lowry. When healthy, Jujhar Khaira falls right into his wheelhouse as a goal and an assist Wednesday in a 3-1 win. rugged fourth-line centre, and Edmonton is set up the middle. And Jesse Puljujarvi, whose game has reached the point that he and Barrie, with a goal and an assist, became the highest scorer among NHL Connor McDavid can make it work with whomever ends up as their left players who switched teams in the off-season, and with another three- winger. Even Dominik Kahun. point night McDavid did something that has been done once in the NHL in 15 years, notching his fourth consecutive game of three points or “I liked the way Kahun has played there,” said head coach Dave Tippett. more. On Monday the Oilers won a wide open, free-wheeling game by a 6-1 But it’s the team around McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — despite their score. It was a Connor McDavid highlight reel, with all six Edmonton nightly production — that has given Edmonton the fourth-best winning goals coming at even strength. percentage in the NHL since their 3-6 start. Two nights later, they flipped the switch. It was a defensive slog-fest with “It’s been a unique year that way,” began Tippett. “You’ve got this taxi zero space, against a Winnipeg Jets team hellbent on not letting the squad all around, so you’ve got a good selection of guys you can pick Oilers lord a six-game winning streak over the Jets when Round 1 of the from. There are some veteran guys who probably haven’t played as playoffs opens. So, Edmonton scored twice on the power play, and much as they’d like, but we’re trying to find the right mix. watched backup Mikko Koskinen make 29 saves before a Draisaitl empty-netter sealed a 3-1 win. “McLeod’s had such a good (AHL) year, we wanted to give him a look. Kulikov’s come in and … he’s a good veteran player. It’s a different year However you want to play, the Edmonton Oilers can play that way. — you’re carrying 30 players on the road in the regular season, and When’s the last time we’ve been able to say that about this organization? that’s usually a playoff (roster). “It’s a lot more fun winning than losing,” chuckled Nugent-Hopkins, the “We’ve got lots of options, and we’re probably going to need that depth.” longest-serving Oiler. “We had a bit of a shaky start to our season (3-6) but we didn’t get down on ourselves. Ever since then, we’ve kind of been Options. rolling. This is the time we want to be speaking. Things are going well for us right now.” That’s a new one here in Edmonton. They win when the score is 6-1, and they win when the score is 2-1. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.29.2021 They win whether it’s Mike Smith between the pipes, or if it’s Koskinen. They win at even strength, or they’ll beat you with their special teams, killing a crucial Kailer Yamamoto penalty late in this one. “Our power play got a couple of big goals for us, and it was just kind of a slugfest after that with guys just trying to find space out there,” Tippett said. “Lots of corner play, wall play… (His players showed) a combination of physical play and being able to make a play in a tight situation. Our guys hung in there and we found a way to win.” If you didn’t see the highlights on TV, that’s because there weren’t any. This was hand-to-hand combat against a Jets team that has now dropped five straight and lost touch of second place in the North. They’ll be much better when Adam Lowry and Nik Ehlers return for sure, but by then they’ll be boarding a plane to open Round 1 in Edmonton. Home of the Oilers Stream every Edmonton Oilers game this season with Sportsnet NOW. Plus, SN NOW+ subscriptions now include access to NHL LIVE! CHOOSE PLAN “It’s a fresh start in the playoffs,” said Nugent Hopkins, who rifled home a powerplay wrist shot. “They’ll be fired up to play, we’ll be fired up to play. Who knows if we’ll play them?” The only way Edmonton won’t play the Jets in Round 1 is if they somehow catch Toronto for the North Division lead, which seems ridiculous the way the Leafs are playing. But, just for fun… Of Edmonton’s nine remaining games, only two — against Montreal — are against playoff teams. There’s a two-game set at home against Calgary starting tonight, and five more with a dispirited Canucks team that was embarrassed by Ottawa on Wednesday. Websites “We tried to force the game early as if it was the end of the third period 1187536 already and we needed to score two (with) five minutes (left) in the first,” Ducharme said. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' inability to shake bad habits puts playoff It wasn’t some new phenomenon that emerged out of the blue. It’s been readiness in question a feature of the Canadiens’ game for too long, and it’s something they have to get away from before it’s too late.

“You’ve gotta come out and compete for these next eight games,” said Eric Engels@EricEngelsApril 29, 2021, 12:21 AM Josh Anderson, whose effort was unimpeachable, with a team-leading six shot attempts and six hits. “We’ve just got to find ways to win. I know some guys are not going to have it every night. You just have to MONTREAL—It’s the question that has to be asked, with eight games compete, battle together and put it together and good things are going to left in a schedule Phillip Danault referred to earlier on Wednesday as the happen.” biggest grind he’s ever been through. He’s played five 82-game Suzuki said morale has been good all along, despite the inconsistency seasons—with missed time due to injury in some of them—but this 56- and all the tough losses. Anderson repeated several times that his belief gamer has taken its toll on his body and mind, and he’s clearly not alone in the team is as its strong as it’s been since Day 1, and that it’s strong in that. enough for him to say they can beat the Leafs or anyone else. How much will this regular season take out of him and these Montreal But the actions need to start following now. Canadiens? “It’s sticking with your game,” Ducharme said. “It’s not giving gifts to the You look at the roster and say it’s built for playoff hockey, anchored by other team. It’s about managing moments. It’s about many things. several hardened veterans like Danault who haven't had the incentive to Obviously we address all that, but we’ll keep working on things and we burn it playing three games in four nights for weeks on end while a won’t give up on that. We’ve got to be stronger, and we’ll do it.” playoff spot has never really been under threat. Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said his players haven’t taken anything for Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.29.2021 granted, but they haven’t found a mode above survival over the last month. If they don’t find one soon, how will they build the belief they can play their best when it matters most? As Ducharme said earlier on Wednesday, no one in the professional hockey world has ever faced having to play 25 games in 43 days while traveling across the country and through multiple time zones, and we’re not bringing that up to excuse the way this team has handled all that; we’re merely wondering what the true cost of not handling it all that well will be. Because losses like the one the Canadiens suffered against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre affect the psyche, and the Canadiens have suffered too many of them of late. This was their ninth since Brendan Gallagher went down to injury 13 games ago—another energy- sapping slog made categorically more difficult by the way they beat themselves—and if they don’t start regularly experiencing something different, what will they have to pull from to convince themselves they can hang with the division-leaders in a seven-game series? “We’ve got to play a full 60 minutes against those guys,” Nick Suzuki said after scoring the only goal in the playoff berth-clinching 4-1 win for the Maple Leafs. “If we do meet them in the playoffs, a game like that won’t win us any games.” The problem is, win or lose, that’s the game the Canadiens have brought on most nights since their torrid 7-1-2 start to the season. A game where they “showed glimpses,” as Suzuki put it, but failed to “manage,” as Ducharme said. The coach says it’s mental, and we agree. His team knew it was in tough to begin with against the Leafs. It knew that with Gallagher sidelined with a fractured thumb, Carey Price recovering from a concussion, Jonathan Drouin on an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons and Paul Byron and Tomas Tatar nursing lower-body injuries, this was going to be a monumental challenge— especially after a grueling trip to Alberta that ended with a crucial win over the Calgary Flames and a red-eye flight home on Monday night. But the Canadiens made it impossible for themselves right off the hop on Wednesday. Tyler Toffoli hauled down Alex Galchenyuk on the game’s second shift, sending the talented Leafs to the power play on fresh ice. Remaining Time -0:50 Allen whiffs on puck behind the net, gives up goal to Brooks Sure, Toronto has struggled there of late, but it was able to pull off a perfect passing play to open the scoring on its first shot of the game, 1:38 into the action. Less than seven minutes later, Auston Matthews made a play few players not named Auston Matthews are capable of and he extended his team’s lead on its second scoring chance. From there, the Canadiens became unglued despite there being more than 50 minutes left of it to play. 1187537 Websites Listen and Subscribe for free | Marek on Twitter

| Friedman on Twitter Sportsnet.ca / Canucks unable to overcome physical, mental fatigue in loss to Senators When a coach is as good as Green was in his post-game Zoom call, it’s often an indication of how badly his team played.

The Canucks registered six of the first seven shots on net before getting Iain MacIntyre@imacSportsnetApril 28, 2021, 10:27 PM outshot 32-16 by the Senators over the final 55 minutes. Victor Mete scored on Ottawa’s first shot, making it 1-0 at 2:04, after 91 skating unchecked through a Grand Canyon-sized hole between defencemen Tyler Myers and Olli Juolevi. Interestingly, Myers, who was The Vancouver Canucks were trying to catch the Montreal Canadiens, more out of position than Juolevi, pointed out that it was a Canuck but instead have reeled in the Ottawa Senators. forward’s responsibility to pick up Mete, a defenceman. Starting an unprecedented 14 games in 22 nights, and just six games Needing a push to start the second period, the Canucks instead into their return from a COVID-19 crisis, the Canucks’ 6-3 loss surrendered goals 32 seconds apart to Chris Tierney and Josh Norris to Wednesday to the Ottawa Senators sure felt like the end of something. fall behind 3-0 by the 1:10 mark. Hope? Belief? The chance to actually still make the Stanley Cup The first was bad luck as Ryan Dzingel’s shot hit Vancouver defenceman Playoffs? Alex Edler and fell perfectly for Tierney, but the second was plain awful as J.T. Miller, the Canucks’ best forward with Elias Pettersson out Maybe all of the above. indefinitely due to injury, had a casual backhand, cross-zone pass Home of the Canucks intercepted near the Vancouver net. Miller then compounded his error with a flimsy attempt to check Brady Tkachuk, who skated the puck to the Stream every Vancouver Canucks game this season with Sportsnet goal and set up Norris on a two-on-one. NOW. Plus, SN NOW+ subscriptions now include access to NHL LIVE! Sign up for NHL newsletters CHOOSE PLAN Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to In their biggest game of the season, the Canucks looked tired and your inbox! careless as the Senators finished off a four-game series against Vancouver with their third win, passing their opponents on points and *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. dumping the Canucks into last place in the Canadian division. Green was so angry with his team he burned a timeout to get his players’ The Canucks, of course, have played seven fewer games than the attention by yelling at them. Senators and at the final horn Wednesday, still had four games in hand Just 53 seconds after Myers got a goal back for the Canucks, Thomas on the Canadiens, who were 10 points ahead of Vancouver and playing Chabot made it 4-1 for the Senators at 6:36 after Vancouver defenceman in Toronto. Quinn Hughes fell with the puck inside the Ottawa blueline and created a But the way they’ve looked the last couple of games, the Canucks could four-on-two counter-attack. have 14 games left and it still wouldn’t be enough. Asked what went wrong, Green said there was “a bit of a list.” The more Canuck players and staff try to push past talk about the team’s Asked about Miller’s play, Green said: “J.T.'s a highly competitive guy. recent health crisis, the more their play spotlights it. This team of COVID Does he make mistakes? Yeah, he does, every player does. And I'm not survivors – 19 players from their NHL roster tested positive for the letting him off the hook; it wasn't a good play for sure. Sometimes J.T.'s virulent P.1 variant as the calendar flipped to April from March – looks will and competitiveness does get the best of him, and sometimes he spent. tries to do a little too much. Much like when Hughes fell down. Here's a Rogers Hometown Hockey young guy that just wants to put his team on his back. I know that, I understand that. But that's that mental fortitude that you've got to stay This season, home is where the hockey is. Experience Rogers strong and stay with the game. Hometown Hockey. “We talked about the type of game Ottawa is was playing right now. They And the more tired they play, the more fragile they become mentally. don't give up a lot. They're waiting for us to make mistakes, and we're kind of trying to play the same way. I thought we gave into it a little. We Mostly, you just feel sorry for the Canucks and what the players and their cracked first tonight. We cracked for six or seven minutes there and it families have endured. But they look done. Even with 13 games to go, cost us.” Wednesday looked like the end. It’s too soon to say how much, but it looks like a lot. “I thought we looked a little tired tonight, to be honest, physically,” coach Travis Green said. “I thought we look mentally tired, too. But there's no The Canucks visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. rule in the league that you can't win when you're tired. I actually thought we showed a little bit of mental weakness in the beginning of the second Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.29.2021 period with some of the plays we made. The first three goals, we just kind of handed them (to Ottawa) with bad passes, bad turnovers, bad coverage, and all of a sudden six minutes into the period, we've given up three. We might have been tired, but you can still win when you're tired. “You've got to be smart, you got to do the right things, you got to make the right plays. You can pass the puck on the tape when you're tired. You can make a good decision and get a puck behind them and not turn it over and not make hope-plays when you're tired. But that's being mentally strong as well. That's understanding that, hey, maybe I've got to play a little simpler game, maybe I’ve got to play directly, maybe I've got to put a puck behind them (because) I don't quite have my jump. We kind of gave into it a little bit, and sometimes we do that when we get down as a team because I know our guys want to win so bad. I've seen it before, when we get down a little bit earlier. . . where we start to really chase the game and push to try to make plays out of nothing. And that usually doesn't end up well in our favour, and it didn't tonight.” 31 Thoughts: The Podcast Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. Websites "It's not like I'm going to sit here and overthink that I have to do this better 1187538 or this better," he said. "I know I can bring more and play better than I did the last few games, so that's where my mindset is." TSN.CA / Leafs will test playoff readiness against Habs After practice ends, Alex Galchenyuk putting in some extra work before the flight to Montreal pic.twitter.com/JCpxSIdsuB

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 27, 2021 By Mark Masters Despite playing almost exclusively in the top six since breaking into the lineup 18 games ago, Galchenyuk has just two goals and five assists with the Leafs. He's been playing on a line with Tavares and William The Toronto Maple Leafs held an optional skate at the Bell Centre on Nylander of late. Wednesday. "Just a little more [focus] with his details defensively," Keefe said when The Leafs and Canadiens have held the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds in the asked where Galchenyuk can improve. "I'm not overly concerned about North Division since Feb. 19. The forever rivals are on a collision course anything offensively. John and Will have done a really good job of finding to meet in the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. ways to produce consistently. Alex, on that line, he's got to do a lot of the "That will be pretty special if that's the case," said defenceman Morgan work. He's got to really skate both ways, forecheck and be really Rielly. "But, that being said, we got to prepare for any possible matchup." responsible defensively." The Original Six clubs haven’t met in the postseason since 1979. Keefe had a lengthy chat with Galchenyuk at the end of Tuesday's practice. "Trying to focus one game at a time," said winger Alex Galchenyuk, "but you always have those thoughts in the back of your mind that it could "He hasn't played poorly by any means," Keefe stressed. "He was happen." playing at such a high level for a really good stretch of time and that's a difficult thing to maintain. Most players come down from that, if not all Both teams have a chance to send a message before a potential playoff players a little bit. We want to just make sure that he's focused and showdown as the Leafs and Canadiens will meet four times over the next continues to know that we believe in him, but that we're looking to see 11 days. him trying to get back to that level he was at." "They're very important [games]," said Rielly. "We did a good job when Galchenyuk has been a minus player in five straight games. we played those two games against the Jets and we have some areas of our game that we’re proud of that we want to build on. We want to make Galchenyuk aims to be better after details slipped in Winnipeg sure we're keeping focus on the process and we’re playing the right way Alex Galchenyuk has been a minus player in five straight contests with and playing these guys a bunch is a good opportunity to put that to the one goal over that stretch and is looking to bounce back by focusing on test. I think we'll be ready for it." the things that have made him successful during his time with Toronto. "I'm sure it's going to be playoff hockey," said centre Auston Matthews. Head coach Sheldon Keefe isn't concerned about Galchenyuk's offence "It's going to be tight, not a lot of room out there. You're going to have to but would like to see him pay more detail to his game defencively. earn your chances and stay patient all night." --- Toronto has won four of six meetings with Montreal this season, including The Leafs penalty kill ranks 26th in the NHL this season at 76.6 per cent, two of three at the Bell Centre. which is down from 77.7 per cent last season when the team ranked "The games have been quite close," coach Sheldon Keefe cautioned. 21st. "They've had their way with us at different times, too. Each game is its Those numbers, however, are misleading, according to the coach. own animal. We just have to make sure we're ready from the start today. We weren't the last time we were in this building." "To be honest, I haven't been concerned about the PK all season," Keefe said. "I know the percentages haven't been great, but I think it reflects The Leafs fell behind 2-0 and ultimately lost 4-2 on April 12 in Montreal strongly upon our goaltending and how that's gone. When our goalies only hours after general manager Kyle Dubas offered the group a big have been really solid and consistent, our penalty killing has been great, vote of confidence at the trade deadline. Jack Campbell suffered his first and when our goaltending hasn't been, I think it's faltered a little bit. So loss of the season that night, ending a record-setting run. He'll be back that's part of it for sure." between the pipes tonight. In short-handed situations, Frederik Andersen owns an ugly .882 save Keefe isn't expected to make any changes to a lineup that played with a percentage, which down from .911 last season. Jack Campbell has been lot of emotion during a pair of wins in Winnipeg last week. The physical even worse at .833, which is down from .875 last season. Overall, element will be important against the Canadiens, who sit second in hits Toronto's short-handed save percentage ranks 28th in the NHL this this season. season, which is down from 22nd last season, per NaturalStatTrick. "We talked about competitiveness from day one," said captain John "The process of our penalty kill and how it's gone in limiting shots and Tavares. "I know Sheldon has made that a big focus ... just how chances against on the kill, I think it's been quite strong all season for us establishing physicality and competitiveness has got to be a big part of and something that's a pretty solid foundation for it," Keefe said. "If we who we are and the way we want to play." stay with that we think the percentages will equal out." "There's been growth," said Rielly. "Part of that is new players coming in The addition of Nick Foligno will also help the group and Keefe confirmed that play a certain style and just the group playing to our structure. That's that element was something the organization targeted ahead of the trade an area that we talked about a lot in the off-season and, as the year has deadline. gone on, that's an area of our game we want to build on and grow into." "He's done that throughout his career and takes a lot of pride in it," Keefe Leafs plan to get playoff-ready against their likely first round opponent noted. "With [Zach] Hyman out we've given him even more opportunity." With four games remaining in the regular season against the Montreal Foligno enjoys getting 'behind the scenes' look at Matthews-Marner Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs recognize the importance of these magic contests as the Habs will likely be their first round opponents come playoffs. As they approach the playoffs, Defenceman Morgan Rielly Nick Foligno has registered two assists in the two games he has played wants to make sure the club is "keeping focused on the process and since joining the Maple Leafs, playing alongside Auston Matthews and playing the right way." Mitch Marner. Now as a teammate of the duo, Foligno admitted to enjoying seeing how his linemates' minds operate, and how they plan on --- what to do every shift. While the Leafs played well as a group in sweeping a pair of games in --- Winnipeg, Galchenyuk didn't like his game. The Marlies returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since "I could've definitely [brought] more and done better," he admitted. being shut down due to COVID protocols on April 14. But the former Hab didn't want to go into detail. "You could see the smiles underneath everybody's masks," said head coach Greg Moore. "Once we got into practice, you could tell the guys were having fun. Just really thankful we get to do what we love again." "It just makes you appreciate how lucky you are to be able to play hockey," said forward Kenny Agostino. "A lot of excitement today. Guys were excited to be out of their places for a bit." The Marlies have 13 games scheduled over a 20-day stretch starting on Saturday. Marlies return from COVID shutdown; grateful for financial help from Leafs With the Toronto Marlies returning to practice after a lengthy COVID-19 pause, Coach Greg Moore said "you could see the smiles under everybody's masks" as the players were excited to get back. Marlies' captain Rich Clune was overwhelmed by Jason Spezza and the Leafs' gesture of helping the Marlies out financially saying the move was "world class." --- Projected Leafs lineup based on Tuesday's practice: Foligno - Matthews - Marner Galchenyuk - Tavares - Nylander Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Simmonds Thornton - Brooks - Spezza Rielly - Brodie Muzzin - Holl Sandin - Dermot Campbell Rittich TSN.CA LOADED: 04.29.2021 Websites Treliving has – so far – been unable to find the right coach for this core of 1187539 Flames players. Darryl Sutter is the fifth bench boss for the team under Treliving since he was hired in 2014. Only three NHL teams have had more head coaches in that span. One of Treliving’s hires was Bill Peters, TSN.CA / Seven years into Treliving’s tenure, Flames still seek playoff who resigned after instances of abuse and racism predating his arrival in success Calgary were revealed by former NHLers Michal Jordan and Akim Aliu, respectively.

As the disappointment in Calgary has continued, the perceptions about a By Salim Valji flawed team culture have only grown. For all the ugly truths this failed season has revealed for the Flames, one stands out: turning the Flames into perennial Stanley Cup contenders may require more than a handful As the Calgary Flames attempt to stave off playoff elimination during an of transactions. underachieving season, general manager Brad Treliving marks his seven-year anniversary at the helm of the team. Major decisions lay ahead for Treliving, who is under contract through the 2022-23 season, and the organization. The Flames were coming off a fifth straight non-playoff season when he was hired, finishing second last in the Western Conference. Jiri Hudler Gaudreau’s no-trade clause kicks in this off-season, and every passing led the team in scoring, Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie patrolled the day brings him closer to unrestricted free agency at the end of next blueline, and a quartet of goalies fought for the starting job following season. Giordano, the team captain, could be exposed in the expansion ’s retirement. draft. A year from now, the Flames face another franchise-altering decision with the under-performing Matthew Tkachuk, who is a restricted Perhaps that otherwise-futile 2013-14 season’s most important moment free agent next summer with arbitration rights and a $9-million qualifying was its final game, when a rookie named Johnny Gaudreau scored his offer in a flat cap world. first NHL goal in his debut. First, however, the Flames will conclude a season that began with playoff A year later, in the spring of 2015, led by Gaudreau and a young core expectations and appears destined to end prematurely. brimming with seemingly limitless potential in Sam Bennett, Mikael Backlund, Sean Monahan and Giordano, the Flames shocked the “It’s on all of us,” Treliving, addressing this year’s disappointment, said in Vancouver Canucks and won their first playoff series since their run to an interview on April 7 with TSN ahead of the trade deadline. the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals. “It starts with myself. I’m in charge of the hockey department so it starts As Treliving begins his eighth calendar year leading the franchise, that with the manager and we all take our piece of it. When you are in the playoff victory against the Canucks remains the peak of his tenure. Since position that we’re in at this time of the year, we all have to own it and so then, the Flames have been in that class of teams that are good enough it starts with myself, the players, everybody involved in the hockey to make the playoffs, but unable to make an impact once they get there. department. You own what your record is and so like I said, I accept responsibility as well as everybody else within the hockey department.” The Flames have made the playoffs in four of six seasons under Treliving (not counting this year), winning 11 total games (22nd in the league in TSN.CA LOADED: 04.29.2021 that span) and that one series in his first season. Treliving has developed a reputation during his tenure as one of the most active NHL general managers when it comes to inquiring about the availability of players and making transactions. His approach has been rooted in the belief that the core was a handful of moves away from becoming a legitimate Cup contender. It’s why he swung for the fences in dealing for defencemen and Travis Hamonic, and signed goalie Jacob Markstrom and blueliner Chris Tanev last off-season. Some transactions have paid dividends. In previous years he’s gotten top-60 picks for the likes of Hudler, Kris Russell, and Sven Baertschi. Among the players selected with those picks: blueliner Rasmus Andersson and winger Dillon Dubé. Under Treliving, the Flames have found forward Andrew Mangiapane and highly touted goalie Dustin Wolf in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively. This season, Tanev has been one of the team’s best defenders. At this year’s trade deadline he was able to turn Sam Bennett into a second-round pick and prospect Emil Heineman, who has drawn comparisons to versatile Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman. Arguably his best trade was acquiring defenceman Noah Hanifin and centre from Carolina in exchange for Hamilton, and unsigned prospect Adam Fox (who now leads NHL blueliners in scoring with the New York Rangers after refusing to sign with Calgary), and then inking the pair to team-friendly contracts. Trading draft picks for Hamilton and Hamonic propelled the team to regular season success, including their second-best point total in franchise history, but nothing of consequence in the postseason. The additions of Tanev and Markstrom have resulted in a team with a 3.8 per cent chance of making the playoffs, according to hockeyreference.com. Treliving’s signing of James Neal to a five-year, $28.75 million contract turned out to be a mistake, with the winger fitting in neither on the ice nor off it, and the team was forced to absorb Milan Lucic’s deal to move on from him. (To Treliving’s credit, Lucic has since turned into a serviceable player for the Flames). Led by Treliving, the Flames have had fewer draft picks (50) than all but five teams since 2014. In that same time span, Calgary has also had fewer first-round picks than every team except Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Washington. The major difference, of course, is that those teams have leveraged that draft capital into sustained playoff success and Stanley Cups. 1187540 Websites How will the money affect the salary cap? Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, likely not much, at least in the short

term. USA TODAY / Split Stanley Cup Finals? 'Inside the NHL?' What we know Bettman said the salary cap will remain flat until the money placed in about the NHL's new media rights deals escrow, a condition in the six-year CBA agreed upon last year as part of the "return to play" plan, is paid off. The increase in money might shorten the timeframe of the cap remaining stagnant, though. CHRIS BUMBACA | USA TODAY The digital aspect

With ESPN placing games on ESPN+, its direct-to-consumer platform, Starting next season, NHL games will air on network properties no longer Turner could do the same with HBO Max under the WarnerMedia affiliated with (or on) NBC, whose exclusive broadcast rights deal with umbrella. the league will expire at the end of this year's Stanley Cup Final. Zucker explained that won't be the case in 2021, but the option exists. The NHL knew the right business decision would be to partner with multiple broadcast entities. NBC is no longer one of them, as ESPN "That will happen in the years to come as HBO Max continues to grow (more broadly, the Walt Disney Company) and Turner Sports (more and as it becomes a bigger home of these kind of events," he said. "For broadly, Warner Media) are the rightsholders. now, the focus will be on the Turner networks." Each partner brings visibility — and pays hundreds of millions of dollars Turner also plans on leveraging its digital properties through the deal, yearly — to a league in need of just that. since Bleacher Report and House of Highlights have gained access to NHL highlights through the deal. “We’ve had ongoing conversations for the last several months and the last few weeks it raised to a new level,” WarnerMedia news and sports “We’ve got a real fire hose with Bleacher Report and House of Highlights chairman Jeff Zucker said Tuesday during a joint announcement with to reach younger viewers in a way that is pretty unique in the sports NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. landscape," Zucker said. "Bleacher and HoH and their social reach is unparalleled. That’s something we’re very excited about in this To better understand how this changes consumption of the league, construct." here's what you need to know: Inside the ... NHL? The breakdown Turner's NBA coverage, especially studio show "Inside the NBA," has Both the ESPN and Turner deals are for seven years and will expire after garnered praise over the years and the Emmy awards are proof of the 2027-28 season. success. ESPN has the upper hand and might be considered the "primary" It won't happen overnight — and the personalities available to them won't broadcast partner in this arrangement because ABC will air four of the rival the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith — next seven Stanley Cup Finals every other year, beginning in 2022. but both the league and Turner are aware of the value that organic programming can provide for viewership and popularity overall. Turner will broadcast the three Stanley Cup Final in the years between. “It’s the sensibility and the style that we approach our coverage with that Before the Cup Final, the two networks will split the first two rounds of the we will also bring here," Zucker said. "And I think that’s innovative, fun playoffs and the conference finals. and dynamic, and I think, again, that’s widely recognized with our NBA Turner will have the broadcasts for the annual Winter Classic on New coverage, so that’s what we want to do with the NHL.” Year's Day. Bettman interjected: “That’s what we’re excited about. We’re counting on NHL STRETCH RUN: Can Connor McDavid hit 100 points? it.” LIGHTNING: Check out the defending champions' Stanley Cup rings Zucker had no announcements regarding any hosts or analysts for those future shows. Twenty-five regular-season games will air on either ESPN or ABC, while an additional 75 games will stream on ESPN+ and Hulu. Every out-of- ESPN, Turner already share NBA rights market game previously available through NHL.TV will be on ESPN+, Disney and WarnerMedia are the two network broadcast partners for the which will replace NHL.TV. NBA, so there's a level of familiarity and institutional knowledge that Turner has rights to 72 regular-season games. exists. When will games air? That will make the scheduling easier, and there will be opportunities for cross-promotion. With nearly three times as many games going on linear TV compared to ESPN, and a robust sports programming schedule already (MLB, NBA, “I know Adam Silver is incredibly excited to have the NHL as part of this AEW), Turner must figure out which night of the week it wants to family as well," Zucker said. "I’ve spoken to him and he has expressed emphasize NHL coverage. that. I think everybody feels good about it and the history bodes very well for this.” But Zucker offered little information on that and said those decisions will be made in the coming weeks. Current NBC deal won't be affected The NBA currently airs on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The MLB Bettman was clear he had assurances NBC would honor its end of the playoffs shouldn't provide many hurdles, but the introduction of Tuesday contract and wouldn't diminish the caliber of the broadcasts. night games certainly will. AEW currently owns Wednesdays on TNT. “NBC has re-confirmed that to me," he said. "We should expect no Of course, Turner also has TBS at its disposal and will be putting plenty difference in the treatment that we are going to get compared to what of games there. we’ve gotten over the length of our relationship. On the ESPN side, a weekend day contest on ABC makes sense, as “We part as friends and look forward to the future, with each of us does a midweek offering for the cable channel. understanding why we made the decisions we both made to reach this point.” How much money are the deals worth? USA TODAY LOADED: 04.29.2021 Neither network is going to shout, and the NHL wants to be coy.

“It’s good (for the league),” Bettman said, although he would not disclose the terms of either deal.

According to the New York Post, the Disney deal is around $400 million per year, while Turner pays about $225 million annually. “We think the arrangements we have now are much more reflective of the value we bring as compelling content,” Bettman said.