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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/19/18 Anaheim Ducks 1121652 Rangers rally past Ducks 3-1 1121680 Blackhawks find some fire in 2-1 win over Predators 1121653 Ducks’ winning streak comes to an end with late loss to 1121681 Henri Jokiharju leaves Blackhawks to join Finland at World Rangers Junior Championships 1121654 Ducks’ defensive-minded Jakob Silfverberg excelling on 1121682 Blackhawks Q&A: Which players return next season? Who both sides of the puck gets the starts with Corey Crawford hurt? 1121655 Bob Murray’s second-chance style pays dividends, so far, 1121683 Blackhawks C Marcus Kruger sidelined by concussion, out with Sprong and Aberg vs. Dallas, Colorado 1121656 How did Luke Schenn go from can’t-miss prospect to 1121684 Blackhawks' Jeremy Colliton believes Erik Gustafsson can 29-year-old minor-leaguer? be 'top player' in NHL 1121685 While Cubs prepare to launch Marquee, Hawks, Bulls & Sox return to NBCSCH 1121657 Coyotes stumble after taking early lead against Islanders 1121686 Blackhawks beat Predators 2-1 as Cam Ward shines in in latest inconsistent loss Corey Crawford's place 1121658 For two Coyotes rookies, first NHL road trip was one to 1121687 Landlord vs. tenant: Blackhawks' Connor Murphy faces remember Ryan Hartman tonight 1121659 Game Day: Arizona Coyotes kick off homestand against 1121688 Jeremy Colliton sees world junior tourney as chance for Henri Jokiharju to grow 1121660 ‘Consistency’ stands as key word after Coyotes fall to Isles 1121689 Ward makes 30 saves in Blackhawks' victory over Preds 1121690 Former teammate and friend Carcillo hopes Blackhawks' Crawford gets proper care for latest concussion 1121661 Jaroslav Halak was barely challenged by the Habs 1121691 Chicago Blackhawks' Jokiharju to miss at least 8 games 1121662 Bruins’ Zdeno Chara finds new way to communicate while playing for Finland 1121663 , Zdeno Chara expected to return to 1121692 Four takeaways: Blackhawks turn in complete effort, wrap practice Wednesday up homestand with win 1121664 Bruins’ rookie makes a case for himself 1121693 Blackhawks loan Henri Jokiharju to Finland for 2019 World 1121665 What we learned in Bruins' impressive 4-0 win over the Juniors Canadiens 1121694 The Wraparound: Dylan Strome busting out of bust label 1121666 Bruins place Gemel Smith on after just three in the early going with Blackhawks games 1121695 Can a new TV deal help the White Sox land Manny 1121667 After a long goalless stretch to start the season, Bruins' Machado or Bryce Harper? Can Chicago support two Torey Krug is starting to ramp up scoring RSNs? 1121668 Bruce Cassidy's "No BS" team meeting sparked Bruins' 1121696 Tape-to-tape: Looking on the bright side of a miserable rout of Canadiens 2018 for the Blackhawks Buffalo Sabres Colorado Avalanche 1121669 Sabres' third-period meltdown ends with another loss to 1121697 J.T. Compher, with concussion protocol in rear-view last-place Panthers mirror, looks to further develop as one of the Avalanche’s 1121670 The Wraparound: Panthers 5, Sabres 2 1121698 Alexander Kerfoot is ready to help the struggling 1121671 Mike Harrington: If Berglund doesn't want to be here, Avalanche Sabres should accommodate 1121672 Panthers at Sabres: Five Things to Know 1121673 Phil Housley: Jake McCabe, Lawrence Pilut, could return 1121699 Artemi Panarin expected back 'very soon' to Sabres' lineup this weekend 1121700 Shuffled forward lines get results 1121674 Travis Yost's Sabre Metrics: How Sabres have found 1121701 Blue Jackets 1, Golden Knights 0 | Five takeaways success on kill 1121702 The epic tale of : How its construction 1121675 The Sabres’ unraveling comes quickly and at a that put life in the Blue Jackets and a heart in downtown C usually favors them 1121703 Stars coach Jim Montgomery saw intent in Calgary's 1121676 Flames lay an egg in Dallas Garnet Hathaway's hit on Tyler Seguin in Tuesday's 1121677 Seven secrets to success behind the Flames rapid rise in second p the West 1121704 Stars find their 'mojo,' a full 60 minutes in win over Calgary, snapping four-game losing streak Carolina Hurricanes 1121705 19-year-old Miro Heiskanen is reminding Stars coach Jim 1121678 Canes’ Calvin de Haan knows more about good defensive Montgomery of an NHL Hall of Famer hockey play than brewing up a beer 1121707 Benn, team defense bust Stars out of four-game slump in 1121679 The history, rules and benefits of a Hurricanes-style of red-hot Flames victory celebration, from someone who has taken part 1121708 Stars 20/20: Combined shutout and Radek Faksa, now a scoring winger, help Stars end skid 1121709 Detroit Red Wings extend winless streak with latest 1121747 Victor Mete ready to show Canadiens what he learned in debacle in Philly Laval 1121710 Detroit Red Wings face emergency after losing Jimmy 1121748 Stu Cowan: Habs coach Claude Julien sends strong Howard message at practice 1121711 Detroit Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina will go to World 1121749 Video analysis: Victor Mete’s time in Laval should improve Juniors his confidence in the NHL 1121712 Game thread: Detroit Red Wings fall to Philadelphia 1121750 Melnick’s GBU: The Canadiens say goodbye to 2018 by Flyers, 3-2 partying like it was 2017 1121713 Red Wings lose Howard, game in rough night in 1121751 The deeper numbers that help explain ’s Philadelphia numbers 1121714 Red Wings' Howard injures back, Bernier gets start in Philadelphia Nashville Predators 1121715 Filip Hronek returns to Red Wings more confident, 1121752 Tuesday's recap: Blackhawks 2, Predators 1 comfortable 1121753 As Subban, Arvidsson inch closer to return, Preds GM 1121716 State approves $10M loan for Joe Louis Arena demolition Poile says team has to 'weather storm' 1121754 Ryan Hartman 'showing his stuff' for Predators 1121717 Unclaimed $68,000 Oilers 50/50 prize carried over to Devils Saturday's game 1121755 vs. Maple Leafs: LIVE score 1121718 Edmonton Oilers forward takes centre stage updates and chat (12/18/18) against St. Louis Blues 1121756 3 takeaways from NJ Devils' 'unacceptable' loss to Maple 1121719 Blues beat Oilers on disputed third-period Leafs 1121720 JONES: Oilers look sluggish in loss to cellar-dweller St. 1121757 Maple Leafs steamroll Devils in another ugly loss Louis Blues 1121758 What NJ Devils' John Quenneville needs to prove in NHL 1121721 Going home to St. Louis most important for Pat Maroon 1121759 How they line up: Taylor Hall takes part in NJ Devils' 1121722 St. Louis Blues forward can sympathize with Connor morning skate McDavid predicament 1121760 Devils overwhelmed by John Tavares and the Maple Leafs 1121723 Edmonton Oilers Game Day: St. Louis Blues limp into 1121761 Beyond the broadcast: A wild weekend on the road with town Devils radio icons Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch 1121724 Lowetide: Ken Hitchcock and the Oilers fan base that is intoxicated by the words of the great communicator New York Islanders 1121725 Under Ken Hitchcock, the Oilers may be moving away 1121762 Robin Lehner stops 35 shots and Islanders beat Coyotes from the yo-yo approach to development for third straight win 1121763 Robin Lehner dominates as Islanders snag another road win 1121726 Four-goal third gives Panthers comeback win over Sabres 1121764 Islanders top Coyotes for third win in a row 1121727 Panthers score four goals in third period to rally past 1121765 Brock Nelson plays for Islanders against Coyotes Sabres 1121766 Production from Jordan Eberle crucial to Islanders' 1121728 Winging it: Roberto Luongo wins in Buffalo again as success Panthers run past Sabres 1121767 John Tavares praises Islanders organization, fans and Coliseum in return to metro area to face Devils 1121729 The young and the old combine to lead the Kings to an impressive win 1121768 Kevin Hayes' goal rallies Rangers late to down Ducks 1121730 Austin Wagner’s two goals lead Kings past Jets 1121769 David Quinn really wasn’t happy with the officiating 1121731 Cal Petersen passed his Kings audition, and the main 1121770 Rangers can’t let unfair system force them into tearing up stage awaits team 1121732 Kings’ Drew Doughty took loss at Pittsburgh hard 1121771 Rangers snap out of funk thanks to dominant third period 1121733 Jeff Carter doesn’t ‘want to go anywhere’ via trade, but is 1121772 Rangers rally past Ducks with three goals in third that the right move for the Kings? 1121773 Lias Andersson still growing into being consistent for 1121734 DECEMBER 18 RAPID REACTION: KINGS 4, JETS 1 Rangers 1121735 GAME 35: LOS ANGELES VS WINNIPEG 1121774 Goldman: What we’ve learned from David Quinn’s player 1121736 REPORT: VILARDI RULED OUT FOR WORLD JUNIORS usage and systematic decisions so far NHL 1121737 Ryan Suter is healthy and eager for more minutes 1121775 KEXP to handle in-arena music for Seattle’s new NHL 1121738 Wild-San Jose game recap team 1121739 Offense dries up as Wild closes out homestand with loss to Sharks 1121740 Jones shuts out Wild, Couture scores 2 in Sharks' 4-0 win 1121776 UPDATED: Ottawa Senators make proposal to salvage 1121741 Too many lapses, too little offense as Wild falls to Sharks downtown arena deal, developer files $1B counterclaim 1121742 Wild closes out homestand vs. Sharks without Matt 1121777 Thomas Chabot's unintentional 'sick celly' a hit with Dumba Senators fans 1121743 Wild lose 4-0 as habit of falling behind costs them again 1121778 BRENNAN: "It's kind of a dumb thing to do," Ryan says of 1121744 Wild defenseman Ryan Suter: ‘I’m starting to feel more Turris slashes comfortable out there’ 1121779 Matt Duchene's new stage: Senators forward delivers as a 1121745 Russo: Final day before the NHL’s trade freeze, and Wild musical act prove again they need a finisher or two 1121780 HEADING BACK DOWN: Senators send Drake Batherson 1121746 Wild Walkthrough: Wild must figure out their third periods to AHL or they’re in trouble 1121781 Eugene Melnyk sued for $1 billion while Senators fans start to stay away from Canadian Tire Centre Toronto Maple Leafs 1121782 McCaffery: For new Flyers coach Gordon, another 1121814 Tavares, Matthews score as Maple Leafs embarrass challenge to survive struggling Devils 1121783 Flyers' Hart, Gordon both heading in right direction after 1121815 Game Centre: Tavares show, Marleau milestone spark dual debut Leafs past Devils | The Star 1121784 Flyers Notebook: Carter Hart hype can't mask Flyers' air of 1121816 Kyle Dubas’ signing of John Tavares worth every penny desperation for Maple Leafs | The Star 1121785 Flyers 3, Red Wings 2: Carter Hart provides needed jolt in 1121817 Over The Boards: Flames spark hope in season of NHL debut surprises | The Star 1121786 Flyers' Carter Hart makes exciting NHL debut at Wells 1121818 Maple Leafs spread scoring around to end road trip on Fargo Center winning note 1121787 Flyers vs. Red Wings: Live stream, storylines, game time 1121819 Taylor Hall back as Devils try to dump Leafs and more 1121820 How Kasperi Kapanen’s brilliant skating is propelling him 1121788 Notable comparisons for Flyers goalie Carter Hart's path to a breakout year in a changing game to NHL at 20 years old 1121821 Leafs Report Cards – Game 34 at New Jersey 1121789 How much difference can a new voice in Scott Gordon 1121822 How did Luke Schenn go from can’t-miss prospect to make for Flyers? 29-year-old minor-leaguer? 1121790 Flyers vs. Red Wings: Game 32 preview, line combos, 1121823 LeBrun: Q&A with Kyle Dubas on the Nylander broadcast info negotiations, deals for Matthews and Marner and offer 1121791 What the Flyers can expect from new coach Scott Gordon sheets 1121824 20 Questions with Marc Savard: On nearly becoming a Maple Leaf, sleeping with sticks and his $19,000 ‘meal’ 1121792 Tom Wilson not Penguins' primary focus vs. Capitals 1121793 Penguins send Jean-Sebastien Dea back to AHL as Vancouver Canucks forwards get healthy 1121838 Canucks Post Game: Growing up in a ‘man’s game,’ 1121794 Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins' power play: 'We need to avenging Stecher hit, Nilsson’s dilemma score' 1121839 Canucks at Night: A rumble-tumble game out of nowhere 1121795 Penguins reassign Jean-Sebastien Dea; Patric Hornqvist leaves Canucks fuming return appears likely 1121840 Ed Willes: Canucks and Lightning party like it’s 1989 1121796 20 Penguins Thoughts: The truth about why Daniel 1121841 Lightning 5 Canucks 2: Season’s beatings in drama-filled Sprong was traded game 1121797 Teddy Blueger is frustrated, but remains hopeful for a 1121842 Spotted: CanucksArmy writers in Canucks press box chance in the NHL 1121843 Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi done for the year after knee surgery San Jose Sharks 1121844 Ben Kuzma: Hard-working Beagle brings his bite every 1121798 Takeaways: Sharks rookie is going to be hard to bump night for Canucks from the lineup 1121845 Canucks Game Day: Lightning strikes often, power-play 1121799 Sharks complete perfect road trip with shutout win over progress, Roussel reels it in Wild 1121846 The Athletties: The Exorcist thing, the Roussel arrival, the 1121800 Things to know: Erik Karlsson admits he’s feeling more fist bump and a Juolevi investigation comfortable with Sharks 1121847 10 thoughts on the Canucks, including a special teams 1121801 San Jose Sharks fans: Here’s how to get half-price beers turnaround and the search for Horvat’s long-term linemat 1121802 Martin Jones shuts out Wild, Logan Couture scores 2 in 1121848 Andre Burakovsky is an attractive trade candidate for the Sharks’ win Canucks, but at what cost? 1121803 Martin Jones rebounds from benching to lead Sharks to 1121849 Back to the Future: Alex Auld and the 2004 playoffs fifth straight win 1121804 Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 4-0 win vs. Wild as Vegas Golden Knights streak hits five 1121825 Golden Knights players join fans in Fortnite ‘Battle Royale’ 1121805 Sharks vs. Wild watch guide: Projected lines and 1121826 Personalized goal songs would be smash hit with Golden defensive pairs Knights 1121806 Even after rough outing, Sharks goalie Martin Jones’ game could be back to where it needs to be Washington Capitals 1121827 GM says Capitals might get ‘sentimental’ on next St Louis Blues Backstrom, Ovechkin contracts. What might that look like? 1121807 Ex-Blue Brodziak finds a home -- and Hitchcock -- in 1121828 Capitals aim to keep contending in an NHL that’s dragged Edmonton recent champs to the bottom fast 1121808 Blues surprise Oilers with 4-1 win 1121829 Madison Bowey now part of Capitals' winning formula 1121809 Another turnabout as Blues beat Edmonton 4-1 1121830 What’s Christmas like in North Pole, Alaska? Cold, says 1121810 Judging the pros and cons: Just how attractive is the Pheonix Copley of his hometown Blues’ coaching job? 1121831 The Capitals see so much more in Tom Wilson than just the physical play 1121832 It’s a good time to be John Carlson — Caps’ D-man talks 1121811 Lightning top Canucks in messy, chippy game life on and off the ice 1121812 Lightning focusing on defense, can’t miss plays 1121813 Time in the AHL good for NHL coaches Websites 1121850 .ca / Canucks prove they won't be pushed around despite loss to Lightning 1121851 Sportsnet.ca / Takeaways: Leafs dismantle Devils with mechanical efficiency 1121852 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers wasting Talbot's resurgence with clumsy power-play effort 1121853 Sportsnet.ca / Identifying each Eastern Canadian NHL team’s biggest weakness 1121854 Sportsnet.ca / Takeaways: Flames run out of third-period miracles in Dallas 1121855 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' Connor McDavid stays in his lane when asked about officiating 1121856 Sportsnet.ca / 18 memorable Montreal Canadiens moments from 2018 1121857 Sportsnet.ca / Is Jets sniper becoming a setup man? 'I hope not' 1121859 TSN.CA / Vilardi out, Lafreniere in as Canada prepares for Swiss 1121860 TSN.CA / Babcock says work will lift Leafs out of slump 1121861 TSN.CA / Ryan gives his side of surprising fight with Turris 1121862 USA TODAY / NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico to host NHL's Winter Classic and All-Star Game 1121833 Jets start West Coast swing with 4-1 loss to lowly Kings 1121834 Jets benefiting from fewer trips to sin bin 1121835 Lowry enjoys a little home cooking 1121836 Jets guarding against royal flush in the court of NHL's worst 1121837 Jets fall flat against Kings

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1121652 Anaheim Ducks

Rangers rally past Ducks 3-1

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kevin Hayes scored on a short-handed breakaway with 40 seconds remaining and the New York Rangers rallied to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Tuesday night.

Vladislav Namestnikov had a goal and two assists, and Filip Chytil added an empty-netter in the Rangers' three-goal third period. Alexandar Georgiev, called up on Sunday after a stint in the minors, stopped 14 shots to help New York win for the second time in eight games (2-3-3).

Pontus Aberg scored on a deflection in the second period for the Ducks, who had won nine of their previous 10 games. Chad Johnson, claimed off waivers from St. Louis on Dec. 11, finished with 21 saves in his Anaheim debut.

With Chytil in the penalty box for interference on Johnson, Hayes skated up the left side, cut in and fired a shot that the goalie got a piece of, but the puck got through and across the goal line for his ninth. It gave Hayes four goals and 10 points in his last five games.

Chytil then came out of the box and scored into an empty net with 19 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Trailing 1-0 after two periods, the Rangers came out aggressive in the third period and outshot the Ducks 14-1 over the final 20 minutes. After falling short on several chances in the first half of the period, the Rangers broke through near the midpoint.

Brett Howden brought the puck along the boards on the left side, skated toward the corner and sent a centering pass to Namestnikov, who cut between two Anaheim players and beat Johnson from the left side for his fourth at 9:52.

The Rangers finished 0 for 3 on the power play, and the Ducks were 0 for 5.

Neither team could muster many chances through the first two periods, with Anaheim holding a 14-10 edge on shots on goal.

Mats Zuccarello was denied by Johnson on a tip try in front 1:07 into the second. Georgiev stopped an attempt by Getzlaf from the left circle about seven minutes later.

Boo Nieves had a breakaway with about nine minutes remaining in the middle period, but his shot from the right circle was gloved by Johnson. Chris Kreider also had a chance from the left circle, but fired the puck right into the Ducks' goalie with 6{ minutes to go.

Anaheim got on the scoreboard with 5:51 left as Aberg's centering pass from behind goal line went off Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad's skate and past Georgiev for his 11th of the season.

The Ducks had a chance to double the lead as Getzlaf passed the puck off his skate to Ondrej Kase cutting to the net, but Georgiev made a nice sliding save to his left with just under four minutes remaining in the middle period.

Keifer Sherwood hit a goalpost for the Ducks 3:13 into the game, and Nieves did the same a little more than seven minutes in.

New York's best chance in the first came as Kevin Hayes missed wide from the right side on a short-handed rush with 5:48 left, and Vladislav Namestnikov got the rebound off the end boards on the left side, but his backhand try was stuffed by Johnson.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121653 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks’ winning streak comes to an end with late loss to Rangers

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | Orange County Register

NEW YORK — There were troubling signs from the start. The crisp passing that’s come to define their play was absent. The sustained pressure that ignited so many of their recent rallies was missing. Their aggression was lacking and the rhythm they have so often gained from dictating the pace was not present.

The Ducks held a one-goal lead over the New York Rangers well into the third period Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, but what kind of an advantage was it, really? Given their misplays and missed opportunities, a 3-1 loss that ended their four-game winning streak seemed fitting, in the end.

New York’s Kevin Hayes scored on a short-handed breakaway, beating Ducks Chad Johnson and breaking a 1-1 tie with 40 seconds remaining in regulation play. Filip Chytil added an empty-net goal with 19 seconds left and the Ducks fell with a thud.

The Ducks were outshot 14-1 in the third period and by 24-15 overall.

“We stopped playing in the third,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “They came with a push and we got ourselves down to where we were receiving the game. We got a break to get a power play and then they scored a goal. We set something up and the next thing you know, the puck’s in our net.”

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Johnson, making his Ducks debut after they claimed him off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 11, got no help on either of the Rangers’ goals he surrendered. Hayes beat the Ducks down the ice to score and Vladislav Namestnikov scored on a one-timed shot from point-blank range.

The Ducks were gifted a power play when Chytil ran over Johnson and was assessed a penalty at 17:25 of the third. It was just the sort of late opportunity the Ducks had seized in recent games, but this time everything went haywire at once along the right-wing boards.

Ryan Kesler was about to be penalized just as the Rangers gained control of an errant Ducks pass. Namestnikov passed ahead to a streaking Hayes, who fled the zone in a hurry once he saw his teammate latch onto the puck and the referee’s arm go up signaling a delayed penalty.

Johnson appeared to get a piece of Hayes’ shot, but not all of it and it trickled into the net.

“He did what he’s supposed to do, give us a chance to win,” Kesler said of Johnson, who will serve as John Gibson’s backup while Ryan Miller recovers from a sprained knee that is expected to sideline him for up to six weeks. “We just didn’t keep our end of the bargain.”

Pontus Aberg gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead 14:09 into the second period, banking a centering pass intended for teammate Ondrej Kase off the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad and into the back of the net for his team-leading 11th goal. Ryan Getzlaf and Kase assisted.

One night after rallying from a 2-0 deficit and scoring three times in the decisive second period en route to a 4-2 victory over the Penguins in Pittsburgh, the Ducks took advantage of one of their few opportunities against New York. They failed to click again, though.

Moments after Aberg’s goal, Getzlaf set up Kase by kicking the puck to him in the slot with his skate in a play that would have made any soccer player proud. Getzlaf couldn’t control the puck with his stick, but he directed it with his skate instead.

Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev made the save, though. Georgiev started for the second time this season against the Ducks after he was in goal for New York’s 3-2 overtime win Nov. 1 at Honda Center. Unlike last time, the Ducks couldn’t eke out a point.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121654 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks’ defensive-minded Jakob Silfverberg excelling on both sides of the puck

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD

NEW YORK — Sidney Crosby did his best, but it wasn’t good enough. Crosby turned right and Jakob Silfverberg was in his face. Crosby went left and Silfverberg was there again. Crosby skated faster and Silfverberg stayed with him. Crosby slowed and there was Silfverberg again.

Crosby and the Penguins lost to Silfverberg and the Ducks on Monday in Pittsburgh because they lost the game within the game. Crosby recorded an assist on the Penguins’ second goal, but he couldn’t work his magic when it mattered most and the game was on the line in the final minutes.

The Ducks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to start the second period and took a 4-2 victory because of an offensive surge in the middle period, but also because of Silfverberg’s defensive tenacity against Crosby. Silfverberg’s dogged pursuit was a game-changer, but not an atypical performance from him.

Silfverberg had nine goals and 15 points going into the Ducks’ game against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. He might have had more goals and points if he had focused more on the offensive side of the ice, something Coach Randy Carlyle has asked for on occasion.

However, Silfverberg’s game as a two-way player might suffer if he concentrated more on scoring goals than preventing them. To play any other way would be going against his nature, and it might jeopardize the work of linemates Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Kesler.

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“Any time you can play against an offensively-skilled group like this and they don’t get what they want … you get a lot of compliments from the coaches and the bench, as well,” Silfverberg said of hounding Crosby, perhaps the game’s most-gifted offensive player.

“It’s obviously rewarding. You can see those guys getting frustrated out there. They’re used to getting space and getting points. I think we did a good job of that (Monday), of not giving them that room, that comfort zone.”

Silfverberg says he relishes the chance to go head-to-head against skilled players. It’s an assignment he and his linemates enjoy, especially now that they’re back together again after Carlyle was forced to juggle his line combinations because of injuries in the early weeks of the season.

“Definitely, playing against a team like this, you’ve got to know who’s out there,” Silfverberg said of the Penguins. “When you’re out there with them, you always get that little bit of extra energy or kick or whatever you want to call it. You get a little extra sharp. I think it makes a difference.”

DIFFERENCE-MAKERS

No question, the Ducks are playing at a higher tempo than recent seasons. They’ve become more accomplished at their new speed game as the weeks have passed. They’re more efficient and have managed the puck far better in December than back in October.

What’s also clear is the Ducks are far more determined than they were to start the season. More and more, they’ve won battles for loose pucks and for position in key areas on the ice, which has translated into more possession and improved defensive play.

“Randy says he wants us to be a blue-collar team, and I think that’s what we have become,” Silfverberg said. “We’ve obviously got a lot of skill, but you can’t just rely on skill. You’ve got to put the work ethic in, and I think everyone on this team is buying into that.

“We’re working really hard out there and it’s been rewarding.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121655 Anaheim Ducks and Ryan Garbutt? Even this summer’s signings of Luke Schenn and Andrej Sustr are not part of their current mix and really haven’t been. Perhaps you can argue that the lack of investment in better supporting Bob Murray’s second-chance style pays dividends, so far, with Sprong players is one of the reasons why the Ducks didn’t get past Los Angeles and Aberg and Chicago or haven’t past Nashville in their annual chase for the .

The difference with these players such as Sprong or Aberg – or even By Eric Stephens Dec 18, 2018 defenseman Jake Dotchin, another under-the-radar chance taken on a player whose time expired in another organization – is they’re young and

have a higher level of skill and upside. And they appear to be hungry and PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby. Ryan Getzlaf. Evgeni Malkin. John devouring the regular playing time they’re getting. Gibson. Phil Kessel. Now if he weren’t in a position of need, Murray probably wouldn’t have There was a collection of star power on the ice for the Ducks-Penguins picked up these players. But there might be a method to who will fill the contest Monday night at PPG Paints Arena. Within that was also a small gaps. meeting of players that have reinvigorated NHL careers which had “Players like Aberg, Sprong and Dotchin have come in and helped appeared to reach a level of stagnancy. resurrect their career,” Murray told The Athletic. “Can they maintain their And they could have Bob Murray to thank. The 64-year-old longtime level of play, or are they going to get comfortable?” general manager of the Ducks might today be the NHL’s patron saint of The last part is key. Murray said they’ve got the talent to make a nice second chances. (He isn’t the only GM to throw out lifelines, it just seems NHL living. But, beyond the contributions they’ve made during this nice he is a little more willing than others.) stretch for the Ducks, will they stay hungry every night or settle into the For instance, Daniel Sprong is running with his. Now he’s only 21 and feeling that they can take their spots on the roster for granted? Will they could very much forge a fine career in the league. His unfulfilled time in let their practice habits or off-ice work slip? It wasn’t that long ago where Pittsburgh could be rendered as a blip that won’t define that career. But they were on the very edge of the league. Murray pulled the former Penguins hotshot prospect out of a situation Derek Grant knows that all too well. Looking for some organizational where he was an offensive talent playing limited fourth-line minutes. If he depth at center in the summer of 2017 while Ryan Kesler was coming off was playing at all. hip surgery, Murray threw the well-traveled Grant a one-year deal. Until Sprong is playing alright. At least six more minutes a night on average in then, the 28-year-old had 86 NHL games with four different teams. He the six games he has played with Anaheim. And he has produced. had zero goals and a meager seven assists.

“I think if you ask any guy, if you play four or five minutes a night, you Grant won Carlyle over with effective grunt work that got him a fourth-line can’t really do much,” said the Dutch-born right wing, who has three center job out of camp. And then he took full advantage of injuries to goals. “If you make one mistake, it’s kind of a bad game because you Getzlaf and Kesler, moving up in the lineup and scoring 12 goals and 12 don’t have the opportunity to avenge that mistake. Or if you have a good assists in 66 games. shift. It’s tough to get into a rhythm. “Any time you get a chance to move up the lineup like that and play “When you’re sitting that long, your legs kind of start sinking too. It’s different types of minutes and different roles, it helps evolve your game,” tough. But I think if you ask any guy, it’s like that. Here we play four lines. Grant said. “I think it gives you confidence wherever you play in the We roll them over. I think just getting the opportunity, getting the lineup. I think it’s helped me in a big way.” offensive zone chances and it’s just fun to play.” Some talks with the Ducks didn’t materialize into a return this past One of the criticisms that’s been attached to Ducks coach Randy Carlyle summer but his lone season in Anaheim did garner interest from other is that he hasn’t evolved as the game itself has changed over the years. teams. A hoped-for deal with another unnamed team fell through after he But one sign may be his increasing willingness to put young players into thought he did enough to land a good contract with a raise attached to it. roles they’re best suited for. To him, it makes no sense to fit Sprong, a But Pittsburgh came calling and Grant jumped on the bit of security player with clear offensive capabilities, into a role where he had limited offered instead of waiting on something that might not come. opportunities to use them. He is happy to be on a team where he can call players like Crosby and “We’re going to try to put him in situations that he can use his shot,” Malkin teammates. He is also thankful for the group he was with and the Carlyle said. “Put him with a grouping of offensive players. I don’t think it GM who’s willing to give chances to those that didn’t break through would be fair to the player to put him into a fourth-line player when he’s elsewhere. provided offense at every other level than here. In his previous stint in the “It’s a good opportunity for guys,” said Grant, who dined with several , junior hockey. Ducks at a downtown steak and seafood restaurant Sunday night. “We’re going to give him an opportunity to see if he can score goals at “They’re missing a couple key guys again right now. It gives guys the NHL level on a consistent basis.” chances to step up. It’s up to the guy to come in and make the most of that opportunity. I’ve been watching them throughout the year and I’ve Two of those three goals made for the Ducks’ offensive output Saturday seen a number of guys step up on that occasion. Sprong’s another guy in their overtime win at Columbus. Sprong got his first assist for them who’s come in. He’s been given an opportunity and he’s been producing. Monday in their 4-2 win over his former team, which extended his new team’s winning streak to four and its red-hot stretch to nine wins in 10 “It’s good to see for players to get that chance and make the most of it.” games. Others with connective threads to the Penguins have paid off. The Murray acquired Sprong from Pittsburgh for defenseman Marcus signing of Carter Rowney to a three-year deal as a free agent raised a Pettersson. It could become a notable move for the season, just as his number of eyebrows, including those of this scribe. Rowney missed 20 waiver claim of versatile winger Pontus Aberg has. Aberg didn’t make games due to an upper-body injury. But when in the lineup, the 29-year- Edmonton’s lineup out of training camp. Now he’s got a top-line role in old has been very effective in his clearly defined fourth-line center role. Anaheim, scoring a team-leading 10 goals along the way. “Getting some term is obviously something you want,” Rowney said. This isn’t new territory for Murray. He has to fill around the edges for his “This organization’s obviously had a lot of history too. I’m from out west, cost-conscious club. The Ducks aren’t cheap, but they also don’t spend too. You look at the locker room, there’s a lot of good pieces to the money like drunken sailors. The big dollars, for the most part, are puzzle here. I think they got a chance here to compete and their history reserved for their drafted and developed own. Getzlaf. Gibson. Cam shows that they can win. So, I think it was a good fit.” Fowler. Hampus Lindholm. Josh Manson. Rickard Rakell. A flood of memories hit Rowney upon his return to Pittsburgh and PPG It does not work all the time and he will be the first to tell you such. One Paints Arena. He didn’t put up big numbers over the last two seasons could only look back at last season, where pickups such as Dennis with the Penguins and was very clearly a role player on a team with big Rasmussen, J.T. Brown, Jason Chimera and Chris Kelly had minimal to names. His willingness to skate and do the dirty jobs was appreciated, no impact. Remember fliers taken on Mike Santorelli, Mason Raymond with the proof coming early in the first period when the team posted his image holding up the Stanley Cup on the videoboard.

“I was here in the whole organization for a while,” Rowney said. “They treated you well. Obviously, the fun times when you’re winning and to be able to win a Cup here was something special with that team. The moments that happened that year. My kid (Anders) was born here. There’s all sorts of special moments that have happened throughout the years with that organization.”

Pettersson is now part of it. The Dec. 3 trade shocked him, leaving him “really emotional and sad when it happened.” After all, the Swede was one of the Ducks’ many drafted and developed players. Even with other defenseman prospects in the organization drawing more attention, he pushed his way onto the team last season, appeared in its playoff games and secured a regular third-pairing spot out of fall camp.

The 22-year-old sees the upside of his move to the Penguins. His biggest strength is his first pass and who wouldn’t want to get the puck to Sid or Geno or Phil as quick as possible? And he’s been with them long enough to understand why Murray dealt him.

“I think that some changes needed to be done for both teams,” Pettersson said. “I was surprised, but at the same time, we both kind of felt that they needed some scoring. They obviously got that in Sprong. It worked out pretty good. I’m really glad that they gave me a chance to play in the NHL. To be on a team like Pittsburgh with the success they’ve had.

“We all know how the business works there. We all sign up for it. It’s a shock, but at the same time, everybody’s got to be prepared for that to happen. It’s a business and you’ve got to be prepared for that kind of deal. … So thankful that they gave me a chance to play in Pittsburgh. The big success they’ve had with the team they have. All credit to Bob for that.”

As for the Penguins’ view of the trade, The Athletic Pittsburgh’s Josh Yohe initially covered that here with GM Jim Rutherford. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan offered his take on the swap of two players still in the process of cementing NHL spots.

“Sometimes a trade like that, the way I look at it, is it’s something that both teams benefit just based on needs,” Sullivan said. “When you look at Anaheim, they’ve got a lot of good, young defensemen. And when you look at our team, we have a veteran group of players that are dynamic offensively. And so, it’s a great opportunity, I think, for both guys.

“Certainly, Marcus has helped us. We think we’re a better team with Marcus in the lineup. He’s helped us on our blueline. We think he’s a real good young defenseman that’s only going to get better. And we acknowledged the price that we paid to get Marcus. Daniel is a good shooter and has the ability to score goals. And has a great upside as well.”

There were stars on the ice Monday night. There were also a few others trying to reach their potential or simply take advantage of situations provided them by the two teams.

Coming back to a trade that he clearly welcomed without saying so, Sprong said there was no bitterness with the Penguins and wouldn’t criticize them when it came to a question about whether he got a fair shake to stick in Sullivan’s rotation. He had moved on. A new challenge with a new coach he was eager to take on. “Not many guys could say they played on one team their whole career,” the winger said.

What wasn’t said was this being another shot provided by a GM who offers them, hoping he’ll hit on a few. In beating Pittsburgh, Sprong had the initial shot that helped set up Adam Henrique’s power-play goal. Aberg assisted on Getzlaf’s clinching empty-netter. Rowney set up Kiefer Sherwood’s tying score in a game-turning huge second period for the Ducks.

“When you play a lot, it gives you confidence,” Sprong said. “You tend to make plays. It feels good to be out there and try and help the team win. As a person, it gives you more confidence to make plays. You start believing again in your own strengths and what you can bring to the table.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121656 Anaheim Ducks are dominated by 19-year-olds, but Schenn was impressive enough as a defensive defenceman to be an exception.

When Toronto traded the seventh overall selection and a pair of other How did Luke Schenn go from can’t-miss prospect to 29-year-old minor- picks to the Islanders to move up to fifth overall, they knew they were not leaguer? landing a high-end offensive talent. The TSN panel that day spoke highly of Schenn – Pierre McGuire, in particular, described him as a “franchise player” – but the most telling moment in hindsight was an exchange By Jonathan Willis Dec 18, 2018 between McGuire and Bob McKenzie.

“I can’t say enough good things about Luke Schenn,” McGuire said. “Just the physical impact — this is Adam Foote, this is a one-man search-and- At 18, Luke Schenn was a prized prospect, a fifth overall pick. At 19, he destroy type of a guy, and you build defencemen like this, Bob.” played a whopping 21:37 in the NHL, and led his team in average 5-on-5 ice time. At 23, he was traded in a one-for-one deal for James van “And what the NHL scouts really like about this guy is that he knows he’s Riemsdyk, who would average 31 goals per 82 games over the next six not a great offensive defenceman,” McKenzie responded. “He knows his years. limitations. He knows that he’s a defence-first guy, and he doesn’t try to do too much with the puck, but what he does with the puck is highly A few weeks after he turned 29, Schenn was cut by the Anaheim Ducks efficient … This is a guy who knows his job and knows how to do it.” and exposed to waivers. Nobody claimed him and he was assigned to the AHL. Myers and Schenn were fundamentally different bets. In Myers, the Sabres rolled the dice on a player with impressive physical tools and Pierre LeBrun underwhelming results, gambling less that he was never going to be a ✔ two-way defender and more that, for a variety of understandable reasons, he just hadn’t put it all together yet. In Schenn, the Leafs @PierreVLeBrun grabbed a player who wasn’t really expected to post big offensive totals by anyone; his value down the line was explicitly defensive. Ducks place Luke Schenn on waivers today with the idea that if he clears they want to get him more ice time in San Diego Defensive defencemen are tricky to judge. Points are an imperfect measurement of offence, but they at least capture actions directly related 252 to scoring and provide a widely understood benchmark. Defence has 12:55 PM - Nov 17, 2018 historically been measured by the absence of opposition offence, or by actions less obviously correlated with defensive success, like hits and Twitter Ads info and privacy blocked shots.

110 people are talking about this The problem with hits and blocked shots is that both require the defender to not have the puck. Obviously that’s going to happen to every team at Twitter Ads info and privacy some point – and when you don’t have the puck getting in lanes, and How does that happen? How does a can’t-miss prospect, a player good being able to hold the front of the net and knock players off pucks can be enough to top 20 minutes per game in the world’s toughest league as a very helpful – but to a lot of top hockey minds in the modern game, once teenager, end up unwanted by 31 teams before he is even 30? a team is at that point, it’s already made a mistake.

Schenn was originally drafted by Toronto in 2008, a year famous for its Even someone like Darryl Sutter, whose championship-era Kings were a defencemen. Twelve defenders went in the first round that summer, physically dominant, defensively strong hockey team, made that point including two future Norris Trophy winners (Erik Karlsson and Drew when Los Angeles acquired Marian Gaborik in 2014. Doughty) along with a two-time all-star (Alex Pietrangelo) and the No. 1 “The big thing in today’s game is you have to be able forecheck and defenceman on the most recent Cup winner (John Carlson). Roman Josi, backcheck, and you have to have the puck,” Sutter said, as quoted by 315 points in 514 career games, slipped to the second round. the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson. “You can’t give the puck up. We Schenn was in the initial cluster of four that went immediately after first don’t play in our zone, so there’s not much defending. overall pick Steven Stamkos; in order Doughty, Zach Bogosian, “I’ve coached in three decades now and this stuff where they said Marian Pietrangelo and Schenn. Despite the lofty company, it was immediately had to play in Jacques (Lemaire)’s system is a bunch of bull-crap. The apparent that something separated Schenn from that early cluster, game’s changed. They think there’s defending in today’s game. Nah, it’s something which gave him more in common with other defenders taken how much you have the puck. Teams that play around in their own zone later in the first round. (say) they’re defending but they’re generally getting scored on or taking Points-per-game is a pretty blunt tool, especially for defencemen, but it is faceoffs and they need a goalie to stand on his head if that’s the way also occasionally useful. Four players drafted in the first round stand they play.” apart from their peers and all have had solid careers: Doughty and Sutter’s comments echo those of another coach renowned for running Pietrangelo obviously, Bogosian to some degree (and one discounts the tight-checking, defensive teams: Dave Tippett. effect of injury in his career at their peril) and even the somewhat one- dimensional Del Zotto, who has averaged 20:35 per game over his 588 Speaking to Dan Brickley of the Arizona Republic in 2012, Tippett major-league contests. recalled a story from his days as an IHL head coach/general manager in the 1990s. At the other end of the spectrum are the five defencemen who scored far less in junior. Schenn and Sbisa have had long careers. Teubert and “We had a player that was supposed to be a great, shut-down Cuma washed out without hitting the games-played limit for Calder defenseman,” Tippett said. “He was supposedly the be-all, end-all of eligibility. defensemen. But when you did a 10-game analysis of him, you found out he was defending all the time because he can’t move the puck. Only Tyler Myers, the 6-foot-8 converted forward who scored very poorly early on in his WHL career, stands out from the pack. In addition to his “Then we had another guy, who supposedly couldn’t defend a lick. Well, size and positional change, it should probably be noted that Myers was a he was defending only 20 percent of the time because he’s making good right-shot defender playing on the same team as Schenn and a third plays out of our end. He may not be the strongest defender, but he’s only prominent righty, Tyson Barrie. doing it 20 percent of the time. So the equation works out better the other way. I ended up trading the other defenseman.” “There’s a lot of projection in this guy,” an unnamed scout told The Hockey News prior to draft day. “He doesn’t show it right now, but there Comments like those of Tippett and Sutter are commonly accepted now, is room for a lot of development in his game. He has pretty decent but represent a changing perception of what defending means in the talent.” modern NHL. We can see the shift in a few different ways if we compare what an NHL defenceman in 2007-08 looked like, opposed to a player at Schenn was not a big-swing projection like Myers. At 18 he was already the same position a decade later. polished enough to play defence (along with Doughty) for Canada’s gold medal-winning entry at the world juniors. In most years, those positions The modern defenceman is smaller, younger and taken earlier in the The premise for this piece was “what happened to Luke Schenn” but a draft than his counterpart of a decade ago. chart like this offers an obvious answer: nothing happened. When players who score like this in junior make it, this is what a successful career looks In 2007-08, the average NHL defenceman was 28.2 years old. He stood like. 73.8 inches tall and weighed in at 209 pounds. The average drafted player to make the cut was selected 87th overall. It would be nice to be definitive on that point. Toronto has been criticized for bringing Schenn along too rapidly and perhaps there is something to In 2017-18, the average NHL defenceman was 27.2 years old, a whole that. Ron Wilson was raked over the coals for his failure to develop year younger than he had been in 2007-08. He was almost the same Schenn and others, and maybe there is something to that, too. But we height, at 73.7 inches tall, but significantly lighter at 203 pounds. The don’t have access to some alternate universe where we can see what average drafted player to make the cut was selected 74th overall. would have happened under a different coach or different development Schenn, listed at 74 inches and 216 pounds in his draft year, would plan, so it’s hard to make ironclad statements. eventually rise to a listed playing weight of 221 pounds. He was on the The evidence here is suggestive and points to problems not so much in heavy side for a defenceman a decade ago, but he’s a monster by development as in drafting. Schenn was a consensus choice at the spot modern standards: 18 pounds heavier than the average defenceman, where Toronto took him, so this isn’t so much a “the Leafs don’t draft who shares similar height. well” conclusion as it is an “NHL scouts, in general, overvalued this We might infer from the data above that playing style has shifted. The player.” decrease in age and weight, and higher overall draft position suggest that We can go further and say that NHL teams have overvalued this type of more emphasis is placed on speed and skill than it was a decade ago. player. Obviously these players have some value: Schenn played more We see those points confirmed when we look at how much offensive than 700 games and most of his peers on the list above are still playing impact the defenceman of 2017-18 had at 5-on-5 vs. his counterpart in in the league. Nine of these 12 made the majors, which is something. 2007-08. Where the valuation went wrong was in assuming that a player with Games last season were far busier for the average top-six defencemen Schenn’s limited offensive skillset could be a franchise cornerstone in the than they were a decade ago. The 15 percent-ish increases in hits and NHL’s current era. It’s the same mistake Ottawa would make a year later hits taken might superficially be seen to favour a physical defenceman with Cowen, and the same mistake that Colorado would make with like Schenn, but even they point to a quicker game than the one into Siemens two years after that. which Schenn was drafted. Fortunately for Toronto, Philadelphia duplicated the mistake when they More than that, the offensive demands on the typical defenceman have accepted Schenn as the trade return on James van Riemsdyk in 2012. increased dramatically. In just a decade, defencemen have increasingly It’s the kind of mistake which still happens more frequently than it should. become part of the attack, with goals, assists, points, shots and shot attempts all up a significant amount. In 2015, Edmonton dealt the Mathew Barzal pick (along with a second- round selection as a sweetener) to the Islanders for low-scoring Maybe the most interesting item on the chart above is the way the shutdown defender Griffin Reinhart. In 2017, even more embarrassingly, increase in defencemen goals (up 43 percent) has outpaced the increase recently reinstalled GM Dale Tallon protected both Petrovic and Pysyk in in total shots (up just 16 percent), which would suggest that defencemen the expansion draft and worked out a deal with Vegas where the Golden are either evolving as shooters or simply firing from better locations. As Knights could have Jonathan Marchessault if they took Reilly Smith along odd as it sounds, neither appears to be correct. The average top-six with him. defenceman in 2017-18 scored on 4.6 percent of his 5-on-5 shots, as opposed to 4.2 percent in 2007-08 and more critically 3.9 and 4.1 percent Those mistakes should sting more than Toronto’s initial selection of respectively in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The number so far this year is 4.0 Schenn because the targeted players were older and had even less room percent. for growth.

As I read it, the shooting percentage spike in 2017-18 is a little The league does seem to be learning, though. The first round used to be misleading, and we are better off looking at the more modest spikes in filled with these kinds of picks, but in 2017 and 2018 there weren’t any other statistics. major junior defencemen taken in the first round that didn’t have good offensive totals. The last one which really qualifies was Winnipeg’s Even confining ourselves to those smaller spikes, we see gains in selection of Logan Stanley 18th overall in 2016. everything. Defencemen shoot more, pass more and score more in addition to hitting more and being hit more (at least, according to the What we haven’t touched on much is Schenn playing 21:32 per game as official NHL data, which despite its flaws should be reasonably consistent a 19-year-old in the NHL. Surely that says something about his quality? year-to-year). Things happen faster and the need to skate and process plays quickly is vital. Yes and no. The first point that needs to be made is that playing heavy minutes at 19 is a surprisingly rough barometer for eventual NHL ability. With that in mind, the one negative paragraph in The Hockey News’s On a per-game basis (min. 1,000 total minutes), three 19-year-old largely positive article on Schenn back in 2008 makes for interesting defencemen played more than 23 minutes per game between 2005-06 reading. After quoting Kelowna GM Bruce Hamilton as saying that and 2015-16: perennial Norris candidate Drew Doughty, Myers, and Schenn would be a more vocal leader with time, writer Rob Vanstone current Wild No. 4 Jonas Brodin. took note of what Schenn himself felt he needed to get better at. When a forward is a big scorer at 19, NHL stardom is basically assured. “Improvements are also warranted, according to Schenn, with regard to The same is not true for NHL defencemen logging heavy minutes at 19, his quickness afoot and his anticipation.” which perhaps also speaks to the evolving game and the difficulty in assessing defence. Those were intelligent goals for Schenn, but he was hampered by his starting point. We have already touched on the crude tool that is draft There is also the matter of performance. Of Toronto’s eight regular year points-per-game, but if we look back on drafted WHL defencemen defencemen in 2008-09, Schenn ranked seventh by on-ice shot share, between 2006 and 2011 who scored at a similar level to Schenn it does ahead of only Jonas Frogren. He was sixth by total on-ice goal not take long to spot a pattern. differential.

If we adjust league-wide scoring in each of those WHL seasons to the A year later, the Leafs’ coaches would slash his ice time down to a more same level (3.5 goals per team per game), and only consider top-100 realistic 16:53 per game, and in a third-pairing role, Schenn’s results picks who scored within 0.1 points-per-game of Schenn in their first year improved markedly. Both shot share and goal differential moving north of of draft eligibility, we end up with 11 names to compare to Schenn: 50 percent. Those are good numbers in a depth role at age 20 — numbers in line with an eventual 700-odd game NHL career. Of the dozen players on this list, Schenn was drafted highest and ranks first in games played and total points. When we look at scoring rates and Which, it should be added, is quite an achievement, and would be widely average ice time, Schenn is a good fit for virtually all of the successful recognized as such if Schenn hadn’t been so over-hyped as a 17-, 18-, NHL players on this list: Cowen, Sbisa, Pysyk, Petrovic, McNabb and and 19-year-old. Stone. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121657 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes stumble after taking early lead against Islanders in latest inconsistent loss

Richard Morin Dec. 18, 2018

When a media member asked Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet to evaluate his team’s focus level in a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday, he needed to ask the reporter a clerical question before answering.

“Which part of the game?”

The exchange illustrated what has become a common theme for the Coyotes over the past two weeks. With Tuesday’s loss, the Coyotes have now dropped six of their past seven games. And while they are still missing several regular players from their lineup, the Coyotes’ inconsistent play throughout an individual game has only further handicapped them.

It certainly did on Tuesday.

“In the first period we were good; they only had (a few) chances,” Tocchet said. “In the second period we gave up three egregious mistakes and they made us pay. And then in the third period I thought we made a push again. I thought that was the story of the game.”

The Coyotes’ first fumble of the second period came from Brock Nelson and was a result of some lazy play by the Coyotes in their own end. Several players had an opportunity to clear the puck in the preceding sequence (Clayton Keller, Alex Goligoski and Nick Schmaltz were a few of the culprits), and Nelson finally found the back of the net as the Arizona defenders stumbled around.

The Islanders’ second goal of the middle frame came after Kevin Connauton failed to clear a puck out of the defensive zone and ended up handing it right to Islanders forward Josh Bailey. With most of the Coyotes defenders already out in translation, Bailey found Anthony Beauvillier all alone in the right slot as New York took a 3-1 advantage after two periods.

“It’s just execution,” Tocchet said of the second-period goals. “A couple bad passes. In this league, you have to execute. You have to be able to make an 18-foot pass. We didn’t, and it ended up in the back of our net. And we’re not scoring right now. Everything is magnified when you don’t score.”

The Coyotes’ defensive breakdown in the second period is not an isolated event. In their past seven games, dating back to Dec. 6, the Coyotes have allowed 12 second-period goals and scored just five for themselves. The Coyotes have lost six of those seven games.

In a more recent sample, they have allowed four second-period goals in their past two games (both losses) and have scored none.

It’s a disturbing trend of which the Coyotes are aware.

“You’re looking for leadership in those situations,” Tocchet said. “You’ve got to be able to make a play under pressure. And it’s been the second period; you’re right. I don’t have an answer right now other than we’ve got to be able to make an 18-foot pass and execute. We didn’t for that stretch.

“And then we chased the game. We don’t have a team that can chase the game. We’ve got to score some goals.”

The Coyotes, who entered play Tuesday nine points out of a playoff spot, have six more points available before the NHL’s holiday break. They will host the Montreal Canadiens (Thursday) and Colorado Avalanche (Saturday) before visiting the San Jose Sharks (Sunday) before the hiatus.

However, the sheer reality is that the Coyotes now sit three games under NHL .500 and are failing to secure points that should be obtainable. If the Coyotes don’t start executing soon, their dwindling playoff hopes could be out of reach by end of the calendar year.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121658 Arizona Coyotes every game and that was the negative part of that road trip, but other than that it was really good.”

Less than 24 hours after a 3-1 loss to the Sabres, the Coyotes were For two Coyotes rookies, first NHL road trip was one to remember skating at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. The opportunity to play at the legendary venue was not lost on Garland and Bunting. Richard Morin, Dec. 18, 2018 “It was a cool night,” Garland said. “That’s such a famous building so it was awesome to be out there for that. … Of course we would have liked to have a couple more wins (on the trip), but it was a nice learning Conor Garland and Michael Bunting understand the bottom line. They experience on the road.” know their job is to help the Coyotes win as many games as possible for however many games they end up playing with the big club. The Coyotes scored four unanswered goals against the Rangers, and Derek Stepan scored the overtime winner against his former team for But for the rookies, each of whom made their NHL debuts this month, the what might have been the club’s most emotionally charged win of the Coyotes’ latest road trip meant more than a lackluster 1-3 record. For season. each of them, it was their first NHL road trip — and the destinations gave added context to a trek neither player will soon forget. For Garland and Bunting, two rookies experiencing the same NHL firsts, it was one of many moments that made a 1-3 road trip feel much more Garland made his NHL debut on Dec. 8 against the San Jose Sharks at successful than that. Gila River Arena. His parents and sister flew in from Scituate, Mass., to catch the game and hopped on an overnight flight back to Boston the “We felt we had some momentum in the third and obviously that tying same night. goal was huge,” Garland said of the Rangers game. “And then especially for ‘Step’ (Stepan), who played there for seven years, to score that But the Garlands weren’t just flying back home; they were also heading winning goal. It was fun celebrating that one with all the guys.” to the Coyotes’ next stop on the schedule: TD Garden in Boston. Although he has yet to register a point in five games with the Coyotes, The Coyotes had an off day in Boston on Monday, and Garland said he Garland has caught the eye of head coach Rick Tocchet and should spent the day giving a tour of Boston to teammate Mario Kempe. After continue to play a key role as a right wing with Hinostroza on the shelf. shopping in the Prudential Center and sightseeing from the backseat of various Uber rides, Garland was ready to play an NHL game in front of Bunting was sent back to Tucson on Monday with Galchenyuk healthy his hometown crowd. again and a few injured forwards beginning to skate their way back to game action. “I know all the areas down there but traffic is a nightmare,” Garland said of traversing through Boston. “If we ever get back, I’ll try to show But regardless of what happens or where the two rookies end up, they'll (Kempe) some better spots.” always have the shared experience of a special first NHL road trip.

Garland said he had close to 40 people in the stands for the game, "We’re going through it at the same time,” Bunting said. “We’ve been including “countless” cousins, aunts and uncles as well as his teammates for the last two years and this is our third so it was cool to go grandfather. He also had 15-20 friends and players he knew from his through it with a teammate.” days of youth hockey on the South Shore. Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.19.2018 “They all came down after so it was nice to see everybody,” Garland said. “Not much hockey talk. Just good to see everybody. Also had my equipment manager from junior come down. It was nice to see people I haven’t seen in a while. I was just happy for my family, obviously, because they sacrificed a lot. It was great to see them able to enjoy that.”

In that same game, in which the Coyotes suffered a 4-3 loss, Bunting was making his NHL debut when Alex Galchenyuk couldn’t go with a lower-body injury. Bunting, like Garland, had just been promoted from Tucson that week.

“Morning skate,” Bunting said about when he learned he’d be making his debut. “Got off (the ice) and called my mom right away and said, ‘I’m playing tonight; try to find a flight.’ Both her and my dad were all over it. A few aunts and uncles were able to make it, my grandpa, brother and girlfriend were all there.”

After the Coyotes had blown an early 2-0 lead to the Bruins, Bunting found the back of the net for the Coyotes’ third goal. Kempe sent the puck behind the net and a forechecking Garland cut off a defender, allowing the puck to trickle back to the crease.

Bunting, crashing the net, poked it through the body of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask for his first NHL goal in his first NHL game.

That first @NHL goal feeling. pic.twitter.com/qN0gVQTAqV

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 12, 2018

“It felt good,” Bunting said of the goal. “Those are kind of my goals; I love to score greasy ones around the net. I didn’t even know it had gone in, honestly, until I saw Kempe put his hands up and I was like, ‘Oh my god, no way.’ I kind of just blacked out on that celly, but it is what it is. That was a lot of fun.”

The Coyotes then went to Buffalo, where Bunting was able to get more family and friends out to watch him play. Bunting is from the Scarborough area of Toronto, which is less than two hours of a drive from Buffalo.

“It was definitely pretty cool and an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Bunting said of the road trip. “Unfortunately we didn’t win 1121659 Arizona Coyotes

Game Day: Arizona Coyotes kick off homestand against New York Islanders

Richard Morin, Dec. 18, 2018

The Arizona Coyotes will look to improve upon a lackluster 6-8-1 home record this season when they kick off a three-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Tuesday at Gila River Arena.

The Coyotes, who have lost five of their last six games, are playing without five of their regular players (Antti Raanta, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jason Demers, Christian Dvorak and Michael Grabner).

Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet did not commit to a starting goaltender when asked after Monday's practice, but Darcy Kuemper is expected to start in net. Adin Hill started the last two games for the Coyotes, but Tocchet said he wanted to make sure Kuemper received a consistent stretch of starts at some point as well.

Rookie forward Michael Bunting was assigned back to the Coyotes' AHL affiliate in Tucson following Monday's practice, but a corresponding roster move was not announced. The Coyotes' active roster sits at 22 players.

Tuesday’s game

Islanders at Coyotes

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Gila River Arena.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7).

Outlook: The Arizona Coyotes (14-16-2) open a three-game homestand when they host the New York Islanders (15-12-4) on Tuesday at Gila River Arena. … The Islanders will be playing on the second end of a back-to-back on the road after visiting the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. … Entering play Monday, the Islanders had lost two of their last four games and four of six overall. … The Coyotes have lost five of their last six. … This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season, with the Coyotes set to visit the Islanders on March 24. … The Coyotes have never lost on Tuesday’s date (Dec. 18) since moving to the desert, posting a 3-0-1-0 record over that span. … The Islanders are led in scoring by forwards Mathew Barzal with 27 points (four goals, 23 assists) and Josh Bailey with 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists); Anders Lee leads the team with 11 goals.

Projected Coyotes lineup

Keller—Schmaltz—Garland

Galchenyuk—Stepan—Fischer

Panik—Richardson—Archibald

Crouse—Kempe—Cousins

Ekman-Larsson—Connauton

Chychrun—Hjalmarsson

Oesterle—Goligoski

Kuemper

Hill

Potential scratches: Ilya Lyubushkin and Calvin Pickard.

Injury update: Vinnie Hinostroza (lower body) and Christian Dvorak (pectoral) both skated informally Monday but their respective timetables for return are not fully known. ... Michael Grabner (eye) remains out indefinitely. ... Jason Demers (knee) remains out indefinitely after his recent surgery. ... Antti Raanta (lower body) is expected to miss the rest of the season following a procedure.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121660 Arizona Coyotes Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.19.2018

‘Consistency’ stands as key word after Coyotes fall to Isles

BY MATT LAYMAN

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Coyotes’ season in 2018-19 could be characterized by peaks and valleys.

They were shut out three times in their first four games. Arizona won their fifth in a row on Nov. 2. The Coyotes were outscored 11-2 in two games after Thanksgiving, then won four in a row.

And since that streak, the Coyotes have lost six of their last seven games, most recently a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders at home after going 1-3-0 on a four-game East Coast road trip. In this particular game, consistency wasn’t only an issue on a game-to-game basis but on a period-to-period basis.

Head coach Rick Tocchet was asked what he thought of his team’s energy during Tuesday’s game.

“Which part of the game?” he replied.

Perhaps that’s the best way to characterize how it went for Arizona against the Isles.

“The first period we were good. We had three chances,” Tocchet continued. “In the second period, we gave three egregious mistakes, a couple veteran players. And then in the third I thought we made a push again. So, that was kind of the story of the game.”

Arizona scored first — Mario Kempe’s first of the season on a pull-up off the rush from the right circle — but went into first intermission tied 1-1. Josh Ho-Sang, Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier all scored for the Islanders (the latter two in the second period) to take a 3-1 lead that would stand after six minutes of play.

Arizona led shots on goal 37-32 as Darcy Kuemper made 29 saves. Robin Lehner tended net for New York in place of former Coyote Thomas Greiss, who played last night at Colorado.

The Coyotes dropped to 14-17-2 on the season and remain in second-to- last place in the Pacific Division.

“Just execution. The goals they got was just execution,” Tocchet said. “A couple bad passes. In this league, you have to execute. You have to be able to make an 18-foot pass and we didn’t and it’s in our net. We had some chances and we’re not scoring right now, so everything’s magnified when you don’t score.

“You’re looking for leadership in those situations. Not just older guys but younger guys. You’ve got to be able to make a play under pressure.”

In some instances, Arizona struggled to get the puck out of their own end, and on one occasion was attempting to do so but committed a turnover that resulted in an Islanders goal.

That happened in the second period, a period that Tocchet said contained “egregious mistakes” (see above).

“I feel like that’s been a little common theme for us unfortunately the last games here when we play pretty well for a long time during the game and then we have 10 minutes that’s not good at all,” Niklas Hjalmarsson said. “That’s when the opponents usually find a way to score some goals. Same story today again.

“We just have to find consistency in our game and just kind of realize that we’re playing about huge points here. We know where we are in the standings and we got some catching up to do.”

Up next are the Montreal Canadiens, who like the Islanders will visit the Coyotes after playing the previous night in Denver. The Coyotes are currently 13 points behind third place in the division and will look to change that on Thursday.

LOOSE PUCKS

–The Coyotes sent forward Michael Bunting down to Tucson on Monday. Tocchet said at practice that forwards Christian Dvorak and Vinnie Hinostroza both skated but weren’t yet ready to return to action. 1121661 Boston Bruins The impending return of Patrice Bergeron could push Cave out of the lineup, but the 23-year-old center, with a 1-3—4 line in 13 games, is doing what he can.

Jaroslav Halak was barely challenged by the Habs “Terrific kid, person,” said Cassidy, who coached him two years in Providence. “Usually once a game he’s getting a good look. This one he was able to get in the back of the net. Having him out there 4 on 4 the By Matt Porter last minute shows the trust level you have in a player like Colby, and he’s earned that.”

Healthy approaches MONTREAL — He was once the toast of this town. A goaltender who steals playoff games for the Canadiens wins hearts across La Belle Bergeron and Zdeno Chara skated in Brighton on Monday, Cassidy told Province, where the game is religion, especially in this city, the Hockey the Globe, and both are expected to return to practice Wednesday, Holy See. following the club’s day off.

When he’s a visitor wearing Black and Gold, all good deeds are Assuming he is cleared for contact, Bergeron (rib/sternoclavicular) could forgotten. He might as well be wearing horns on his head. play this weekend. Chara (left MCL) is slightly behind.

The devil they knew barely had to work Monday. Jaroslav Halak made 22 Kevan Miller (larynx) will not be cleared for contact until after the saves in Boston’s 4-0 win, recording his third shutout of the season and Christmas break, Cassidy said, but he continues to practice with the 45th of his career. He was barely challenged by the Habs in his first team at home. game as a Bruin in the Bell Centre, a building he once owned. Jake DeBrusk (concussion) is “feeling better,” but he has been off skates “It’s always nice to get a shutout,” he said, before discussing the effort in since reporting his condition Dec. 6 in Tampa. Cassidy did not anticipate front of him. “From the drop of the puck, we played pretty good. For 60 he would skate Wednesday. minutes, we didn’t give them much.” Urho Vaakanainen (concussion, flu) could practice Wednesday. Halak, greeted by a mixture of cheers and catcalls during introductions, posted his second shutout of the club that drafted him in the ninth round Walking wounded (271st overall) in 2003, the puckstopping savior of their run to the 2010 Defenseman Steven Kampfer, who took a deflected puck to the face late Eastern Conference final. Monday night, he denied Carey Price a chance in Sunday’s game, wore a full face shield. Teammate Sean Kuraly at his 300th career win. (broken nose) did the same . . . The Canadiens on Saturday celebrated Halak faced five shots through the first 25 minutes, able to take a trip coach Claude Julien’s 600th win. Julien earned 419 of those in Boston . . down memory lane if he so chose. He did not. . Charlie McAvoy finished with six hits, most of them rubbing out forwards along the boards . . . Chris Wagner, off his six-shot effort against Buffalo, “If you find yourself looking to the stands, I don’t think that’s a good was one of two Bruins (Kampfer the other) to fire blanks. But Wagner thing,” he said. “I know I wasn’t busy the first half of the game.” landed six hits of his own . . . The Bruins won 56 percent of drops, with David Krejci (11 of 19) taking 58 percent of his. Halak’s heroics in the 2010 playoffs, when he dragged the Canadiens on their best run in nearly two decades, are part of the scriptures. Meaning, Boston Globe LOADED: 12.19.2018 they are ancient history, just like the trade that June, when then-general manager Pierre Gauthier angered fans by shipping Halak, the underdog savior, to St. Louis. Even future Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, rising to prominence in the Canadian Liberal party, lamented the deal on Twitter.

“WHAT!?!?” he wrote. “Halak for two hockey sticks and a bag of magic beans . . . ”

More than eight years later, the sticks and beans (Lars Eller and Ian Schultz) are no longer here, but Carey Price has proven Montreal’s decision-makers prescient. He stood 15 away from catching Jacques Plante for No. 1 on Montreal’s all-time wins list.

But the 33-year-old Halak, regaining his footing after a so-so run (1-3, .887 save percentage in his previous four starts), picked up his first victory here since November 2013, when he was with the Blues. His other shutout of the Habs in Montreal: a 19-save effort in his first game here after the trade, in January 2012.

“I would assume he’d feel pretty good about it,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of Halak, who spent the first four years of his career here (2007-10) before stints with the Blues, Capitals, and Islanders.

He signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with Boston on July 1.

“First, just living in the moment, to get another win,” Cassidy said. “We made his life a lot easier than maybe the last two starts he’s had.”

Brilliant in October and November, Halak slid from first to fifth in save percentage (.926) entering Monday. He finished the game back in first (.929), improving his record to 10-5-2 and GAA to 2.27. He is second in the league in to Vegas’s Marc-Andre Fleury (five).

A first for Cave

Rookie Colby Cave scored his first NHL goal in his 16th game, and first time playing in Montreal.

“Feels real good, especially in a winning effort,” said Cave, who added a secondary assist on Joakim Nordstrom’s first-period goal. “I thought we played an unreal game as a team tonight. We rolled four lines, all three D pairs were playing good, and Jaro was a brick wall back there. It’s a recipe for success.” 1121662 Boston Bruins When writing his captions and selecting which photos to upload, Chara said the decision-making process is focused on the audience, rather than himself. One of his primary goals is to resonate with “different tribes of Bruins’ Zdeno Chara finds new way to communicate people with different interests.”

“It’s not as much what I think of it, but I try to think what that meant for that person next door, next country, next town — would that be helpful for By Nicole Yang them?” he said. “Would that be motivating? Would that be something they’re happy to see? You can have obviously different feelings and

different views, but you want to make sure someone outside of your Bruins fans scrolling through their Instagram feed last week likely spotted thinking understands it as well.” an encouraging development from a familiar, albeit recently absent, face. As the three-time First Team All-Star works his way back to the ice, Defenseman Zdeno Chara — who suffered a left MCL injury against the Chara expressed no plans to curtail his usage. He noted social media Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 14 — shared a slo-mo video of himself has not been a source of distraction or negativity in his experience. wearing a weighted vest while engaging in a strength exercise at Warrior “Everybody has their choice to do whatever they want with it,” he said. “I Ice Arena. Chara has missed the Bruins’ last 16 games, though he is choose to do what I’m doing, and hopefully, it’s something that helps expected to return to practice Wednesday. people, inspires people, and motivates people.” “With great work and help from our entire Bruins Medical and General manager Don Sweeney announced Tuesday the Bruins placed Rehabilitation staff, we are making progress every day,” he wrote in the forward Gemel Smith on waivers and assigned defenseman Jeremy caption. “Eager to be back at full strength and playing.” Lauzon to Providence. Smith, who was claimed off waivers from the Instagram is a relatively new endeavor for the 41-year-old , who Dallas Stars earlier in December, skated in just three games with the started his account in January. Since joining the photo- and video- Bruins this season (0-0—0). sharing social media platform, he has only further endeared himself to Boston Globe LOADED: 12.19.2018 fans via detailed captions accompanying imagery from various aspects of his professional and personal life.

After the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the Bruins from last year’s postseason, for example, Chara uploaded an aerial shot of him on the ice with a lengthy note reflecting on the team’s performance. And in the weeks following his wife’s and daughter’s shared birthday, April 27, he posted a photo of the trio enjoying a meal at Top of the Hub. (His two- year-old twin boys apparently didn’t get the invite.)

Other documented highlights include meeting retired American tennis player Andy Roddick at Harvard Business School, straining potato dumplings at Kokava Ranch in his native country of Slovakia, and dressing up as a crow for Halloween. Intermingled are clips of him polishing his stick skills and logging squat reps in the gym. https://www.instagram.com/p/BladR_-Doa_/

Although he now comes off as a seasoned pro, updating his 108,000 followers an average of 10-plus per month, Chara wasn’t always too keen on using Instagram or any form of social media.

“I was kind of on the skeptical side,” he said. “Sometimes I felt like people were posting very unnecessary things, just posting things that you kind of wonder why that can be so important? It kind of turned me off a little bit.”

As Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube started becoming more ubiquitous in sports, however, Chara said he came around to the idea of launching his own account, realizing that his posts could be harnessed as a vehicle for communication and inspiration.

“I felt that if I were to ever go down that road, I would like to make it count,” he said. “You slowly start seeing how [social media] can be very beneficial and helpful to others. That’s what kind of got me into it. You can really reach out to any fan or any person who is interested in a matter of seconds. It’s not always easy to be following newspapers or interviews or TV or games, but on Instagram, in short messages, you can reach out to people — thousands of people — in a matter of seconds.”

From informing fans about his injury recovery to offering an inside look at his family activities, Chara said he has found Instagram to be a useful tool in connecting with his fans. Unlike Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s account, there’s very little, if any, sponsored content, product promotion, or carefully designed graphics on Chara’s page. Instead, he’s elected to candidly open a small window into his life — a decision that’s appears to have been received well by Boston sports fans.

Chara said he’ll occasionally read through the comments if he has time, and he even makes a concerted effort to translate each caption into Slovakian so that those abroad can interpret his messages, too. Still, he’s cautious with the type of content he shares publicly.

“You want to make sure you don’t cross the line where you’re exposing yourself too much,” he said. “I want to make sure I don’t get caught up with, ‘This is me,’ or give up too much privacy. You still want to have some boundaries, and there’s a reason for that.” 1121663 Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara expected to return to practice Wednesday

By Matt Porter

MONTREAL — Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara skated in Brighton on Monday, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told the Globe, and both are expected to return to practice Wednesday, following the club’s day off.

Assuming he is cleared for contact, Bergeron (rib/sternoclavicular) could play this weekend. Chara (left MCL) is slightly behind.

Kevan Miller (larynx) will not be cleared for contact until after the Christmas break, Cassidy said, but he continues to practice with the team at home.

Jake DeBrusk (concussion) is “feeling better,” but he has been off skates since reporting his condition Dec. 6 in Tampa. Cassidy did not anticipate he would skate Wednesday.

Urho Vaakanainen (concussion, flu) could practice Wednesday.

Boston Globe LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121664 Boston Bruins and we’ve used their quickness more recently. I think the forwards have freed them up to pressure.

“Montreal’s had some trouble with their PP lately, so you put pressure on Bruins’ rookie Colby Cave makes a case for himself them. That works against us when we’re having trouble. That was the game plan. It’s worked (Monday), hopefully it will work (tomorrow against Anaheim).” By STEVE CONROY News and notes

McAvoy enjoyed his best game since returning from a concussion. He MONTREAL — Colby Cave enjoyed his best game as a Bruin in not only picked up a pair of assists, he was credited with a half-dozen Monday‘s win against the Canadiens. He scored his first NHL goal — the hits. He said the checks just came to him in the course of the game. pivotal tally in the B’s 4-0 victory — and he notched his first multi-point game in the big leagues. “I think it was mostly just rubbing guys out along the wall. I don’t think I tried to throw any big hits that put me out of position. I think I was just Was the performance good enough to prevent it from being Cave’s swan trying to stop guys momentum and those guys come when you have a song? You have to wonder. Patrice Bergeron is expected to return soon, good gap,” McAvoy said. … maybe even as early as tomorrow night against Anaheim, and a center will have to come out of the lineup. It would be hard to take Cave out The Bruins placed forward Gemel Smith on waivers. The club had after the night he had in Montreal, but it might make the most sense. claimed him off waivers from Dallas on Dec. 6. He played three games for the B’s and was minus-3 with no points and three shots on net. The Whatever happens, coach Bruce Cassidy was happy to see Cave finally B’s also assigned defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to Providence. break through. Boston Herald LOADED: 12.19.2018 “I’ve coached Colby in the minors before and seen him come up. He’s a terrific kid, team player all the way, will do whatever is asked of him,” Cassidy said. “He’s done a little more offensively in Providence this year and it’s translated here. He’s had a lot of good looks, not a ton but its usually once a game he gets a good look and this one gets in the back of the net. Having him out there 4-on-4 in the last minute shows the trust level you have in a player like Colby. He’s earned it.”

Cave has 1-3-4 totals in the 13 games he’s played in Boston, but he has seemed more comfortable in his current recall to the big club than he had in a couple of cameos last year or in training camp in September. He’s been centering an effective, if a tad nondescript line with and Joakim Nordstrom.

“I’ve been trying,” Cave said. “I’ve had my moments and learning curves you might say, but we’ve got a great coaching staff who’ll sit you down, Watch video and you can learn from your mistakes. They also do a good job of showing you what you do well. You need to keep your confidence up and I thank them a lot for that.”

Before he scored Monday on a beautiful setup from Charlie McAvoy in a 4-on-4 situation, Cave had several glittering chances, including one in Pittsburgh last Friday, but couldn’t cash in.

“Oh it was definitely frustrating, but it’s one of those things. I’ve gone through it no matter where I’ve played, the scoring slumps, hitting posts. But if you’re getting chances, it means you must be doing something right, so I’m just trying to do the same thing,” Cave said.

It will be interesting to see what Cassidy does when Bergeron is ready to come back. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson is starting to develop a chemistry with Ryan Donato and Danton Heinen. That grouping drew a rave Monday morning from Cassidy, though the trio did get hemmed in their zone in the second period when the game still was in question, but otherwise it was solid. Especially JFK, who came up with three blocked shots in the game. Chances are, Cassidy would want to continue to grow that line. Is there a spot on the fourth line, where Noel Acciari currently is centering Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner? That grouping also played a very good game.

We’ll soon find out what Cassidy’s plans are. Cave, though, is trying not to worry about what he can’t control.

”I’m just trying to be consistent every night as much as I can, whether that’s winning faceoffs, being hard on the penalty kill and like (Monday night) if I can chip in offensively that’s what I want to do,” Cave said. “I’m just going to keep doing that and keep putting my best foot forward.”

PK steady

The B’s dominated Montreal, but if the game could have gone sideways on them, it would have happened when they took two first-period penalties, then another one in the second. The penalty kill, however, calmed the waters instead.

“We’ve made an adjustments the last couple of games, tried to be more assertive, aggressive,” Cassidy said. “Without our long sticks in front, (defensemen such as Kevan Miller and Zdeno Chara), we can’t be as structured. Now we’ve incorporated (Steven Kampfer and Matt Grzelcyk) 1121665 Boston Bruins *Matt Peca was a minus-2 with zero shots on net in eight minutes of ice time. Not only did he not make an impact on the game, he actually made things worse for Montreal most of the time that he was out there.

What we learned in Bruins' impressive 4-0 win over the Canadiens *Habs defenseman Shea Weber was on the ice for a pair of goals against in 24:01 of ice time and really wasn’t much of a figure in a game where he should have had some kind of influence. He was one of many By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2018 6:09 PM Habs who didn’t make much of a difference.

MORE B's - Some historic stats from a big night in Montreal

Here’s what we learned in the Bruins' decisive and impressive 4-0 win *One shot on net and three giveaways in 16:05 of ice time for Jonathan over the Canadiens in Montreal: Drouin, who was much better for the Habs the last time that the Bruins visited the Bell Centre. This time he was damned near invisible. 1) Interesting that reports out of Montreal had Bruce Cassidy holding a 10-minute pregame team meeting. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 It probably isn’t much of a surprise after there was almost zero intensity in an important Sunday loss to the Buffalo Sabres at home, but it was instructive to see how his players responded after the rare - for Cassidy - move of calling out the players for a lack of accountability. It probably wouldn’t have to be done if Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron were around. They're expected to return this week at some point, but sometimes the coach needs to step up and be the voice of leadership when some of the other important voices are absent and unavailable. The win over the Habs pretty much assures that the Bruins are going to get over the hump with their big injuries and get at least Bergeron back while in pretty good playoff position, all things considered. While it did work against the Habs on Monday night, the Bruins coach also knows that he needs to be selective when to call those kinds of meetings. Having too many loses some of the effectiveness of the strong message being conveyed.

2) Charlie McAvoy had his best game since coming back from a concussion.

Perhaps it was just the right amount of time for him to get his quality skating legs back or it was getting challenged after a couple of so-so defensive games against Pittsburgh and Buffalo. McAvoy was a physical presence throwing his body around. He finished with a couple of assists while making some excellent passes and played No. 1 defenseman-type of hockey at both ends of the ice. Now, it’s going to be up to the D-man, who turns 21 Friday, to continue building on his performance Monday night and keep improving as he works toward peaking in the playoffs. McAvoy has the chance to be a real difference-maker on a nightly basis. Three shot attempts, six hits, a pair of blocked shots and 19:47 of ice time ends up being a solid night’s work.

3) Colby Cave's hard work rewarded with goal No. 1.

Cave certainly isn’t going to be a top-six NHL center and it remains to be seen if he’ll even carve out a niche in the league at all. Still, he did get rewarded for his diligence the past few weeks by scoring his first NHL goal. Cave finished with two points and a plus-2 rating along with two shots on net and three hits. He couldn’t have asked for a better setup for the goal than a McAvoy drop-back pass from the goal line that caught the rookie center all alone with the puck in the slot area. Perhaps scoring his first goal will allow him to build some confidence and relax for a bit more offensive production, but I wouldn’t expect any kind of offensive explosions coming from the P-Bruins farmhand after he's filled in ably during the spate of B’s injuries.

PLUS

*Cave scored his first NHL goal, collected his first multi-point game and packed plenty of hustle and production into his 12 minutes of ice time. Cave may be a guy that returns to the P-Bruins once Patrice Bergeron gets healthy, and if that’s the case then he’ll always have that game vs. Montreal to remember.

*McAvoy finished with 19:47 of ice time, collected a pair of assists with a plus-2 rating and was one of Boston’s most physical players, throwing out six hits and forcing the Canadiens players to pay a price for the puck. It was McAvoy’s best game since coming back from a concussion and a reminder of what a difference-maker he can be.

*Joakim Nordstrom scored the first goal of the game and allowed the Bruins to play as front-runners for the entire game. Nordstrom continues to be a very valuable member of this team.

MINUS 1121666 Boston Bruins

Bruins place Gemel Smith on waivers after just three games

By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2018

It looks like the Bruins are pulling the plug on the very brief Gemel Smith experience.

After picking up the fast-skating former Dallas Stars forward on waivers a couple of weeks ago while in Florida in search of forward depth, the B’s placed Smith on waivers on Tuesday after scratching him for the last couple of games.

The 24-year-old Smith skated in three games with the Bruins this season after being claimed off waivers from Dallas, but didn’t make much of an impact with the short window to show his abilities.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy admitted it was going to be a tough spot for Smith with a coaching staff that really didn’t know his game very well, and he really needed to flash in those first few games if he was going to push another player off the B’s roster.

“He’s got good foot speed and hands, but I think he has to initiate more when he’s out there,” said Cassidy of Smith. “Whether it’s on the fore- check or with the puck, we have to kind of identify what he is for us. When you bring in a player like that in the middle of the year, you want to look at them. But I still have a certain loyalty to those players [already with the Bruins] so he’s going to have to outplay those players.”

It was clear that he didn’t outplay anybody in his three games with the Black and Gold, but that’s also a difficult sample size to make any judgments on a player.

Smith played in 14 games with Dallas this season, posting two goals and one assist for three points before getting put on waivers by them as well. The Bruins also sent defenseman Jeremy Lauzon back to AHL Providence in another Tuesday afternoon roster move.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121667 Boston Bruins

After a long goalless stretch to start the season, Bruins' Torey Krug is starting to ramp up scoring

By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2018

BOSTON – Torey Krug is stepping up his goal-scoring offense for the Bruins lately, and it isn’t by accident.

Krug has customarily been a double-digit goal-scoring threat throughout his productive career, but the goals were slow to come this season as he was sidelined for the first portion of the year after a foot injury late in the preseason. He went the first 17 games of the season without a single goal.

But now Krug has struck for three goals in the last six games for a Bruins team looking for all the offense it can muster while still missing some bodies from the lineup. It’s been a welcomed addition to the B’s offensive attack, which has a whole different dimension when Krug adds his dangerous shot from the point.

“We need secondary scoring even when the top guys are going. That’s how the best teams function,” said Bruce Cassidy of Krug, who is now on a more normal season pace of 9 goals and 59 points after his recent goal-scoring outburst. “So for us we’ve needed it. We’ve tried to build [Krug shooting for tips] into the offense with mixed results, so it’s just a matter of picking the right time when to shoot, and the right time when to shoot for a stick.

“He’s obviously started to shoot a little more for goals, and even on the power play he’s starting to try to score a little bit more when he gets to the top of the circles. Good for him. He’s an active guy on the PP and ends up on the half-wall a lot in a passing position, so sometimes maybe we need to remind him ‘Hey, power play as a passer and 5-on-5 let’s see if we can generate some [offense] getting it on net.’ He’s a capable scorer and that’s the message.”

MORE BRUINS

B's blank Canadiens in trip to Montreal

The flurry of lamp-lighters also changes Krug’s game where he gets more aggressive with putting his long range bombs directly on net rather than shooting for sticks in front, or to create rebounds for the forwards grinding in front of the net. The offensive D-man is good enough to beat the goalie on his own with his point, and that’s begun to happen a little bit.

“I don’t like to think about it too much because I’m still producing in other ways, but it’s good for your confidence,” said Krug, who has traditionally been a player that’s grown better as the season has worn on. “It changes my shooting mentality a little bit. When pucks aren’t falling for me, I tend to shoot a little bit more for tips and rebounds and not exactly shooting to score. So it definitely changes my mentality.

“In the Toronto game there were times I was shooting for sticks when I probably should have been funneling it to the net to hopefully get a rebound. You definitely get into that mode, for sure. When you’re playing with guys that have the hot hand, it’s also easier to just give them the puck and let them go to work. With Pasta scoring all those goals, it’s easy to bypass a slap shot and get the puck over into his hands to make something happen.”

Clearly Krug isn’t the kind of goal-scorer that’s going to carry the Bruins for two or three weeks like or David Pastrnak could up front. But he’s also one of the best offensive talents on the B’s and somebody they need to produce offense if the B's are going to be as good as they can moving forward.

That’s started happening for Krug in greater amounts, and it’s probably no coincidence that the offense has begun scoring goals at a higher clip as a result of it.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121668 Boston Bruins

Bruce Cassidy's "No BS" team meeting sparked Bruins' rout of Canadiens

By Darren Hartwell December 18, 2018

Rather than make excuses, Bruce Cassidy decided to make a statement.

Following back-to-back losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins head coach called his team in for a 10-minute meeting Monday morning in Montreal before its game against the Canadiens, according to The Athletic's Joe McDonald.

"It was no bulls---," one Bruins player told McDonald about the meeting, which another teammate described as "bold" and "(having) a purpose."

Cassidy's message apparently was simple. From McDonald:

Cassidy didn’t call out any individuals. It was simply a matter of “this is what we need to do in order to win.” The message was to start with a better checking game. Play with a purpose. Be accountable. To a man, the Bruins responded.

The Bruins responded and then some, thrashing the Canadiens 4-0 in the club's largest shutout win in Montreal since 1974.

Team meetings are rare and sometimes can fall on deaf ears if the timing is wrong, but Cassidy is 2-for-2 this month: He also held a meeting on Dec. 8 that resulted in a 6-3 stomping of the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden, per McDonald.

Monday's win certainly was a morale booster for the undermanned B's, who still are without team leaders Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara in addition to forward Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Kevan Miller.

Perhaps Cassidy felt the need to instill his own leadership in the absence of Bergeron and Chara. He seemed to accomplish that goal, as Boston moved past the Habs into fourth place in the Atlantic Division despite its injuries.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121669 Buffalo Sabres Dadonov capitalized when his shot rolled through Hutton's legs for the one-goal lead. Frank Vatrano then made it 4-2 with his backhanded shot after beating Marco Scandella to the front of the net, and with 14:04 Sabres' third-period meltdown ends with another loss to last-place remaining, Ristolainen collided with Pominville, whose status was Panthers unknown after the game. Dadonov added an empty-net goal with 2:30 left secure a Florida win.

"I thought they just wanted it more than us," Eichel said. "We have to Lance Lysowski | Published Tue, Dec 18, 2018 figure out a way to just stick with it, whether or not we get that next goal in the first five minutes. … We can’t change our game. I thought maybe

we did that a little bit. Got too cute." Rasmus Ristolainen did not see Jason Pominville until it was too late. The ugly loss did not negate all the Sabres have accomplished. They are The two Buffalo Sabres collided in the neutral zone during the third 7-4-2 against the Atlantic Division and are six wins shy of surpassing period, sending Pominville to the ice and causing Ristolainen to circle their total from all of last season. Their first-half success gives them back to help his teammate to the bench. some room for error, but the Sabres have been outshot 14 times in their "Obviously you know I didn't see him," Ristolainen said in a quiet locker last 20 games and again received no help from their bottom-nine room Tuesday night. forwards.

The devastating hit that forced Pominville from the game is one of "I don’t think the desperation was there," Eichel said. "They were several moments from the third period that will haunt the Sabres. They definitely desperate. They played hard in their own end, but I don’t think allowed four goals in the final 20 minutes, including one on a penalty we outworked them. Give them credit. They played a really good third shot, in a 5-2 loss to the last-place Florida Panthers inside KeyBank period. We weren’t good enough." Center. Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2018 The meltdown occurred after Buffalo controlled play for the first 40 minutes. Jeff Skinner scored his 25th goal of the season and Ristolainen scored to give the Sabres a one-goal lead after two periods. However, they unraveled in the first five minutes of the third to drop a seventh consecutive game to the Panthers.

Instead of holding a two-game win streak entering a Friday primetime matchup with Washington, the Sabres are left wondering how another inferior opponent embarrassed them on home ice.

"Obviously, it’s not acceptable, but [we need] more desperation in our game," Skinner said afterward. "I think that’s what we want to get to. We have to stick with it and keep on it. It’s tough. You can talk about it, but you have to go out there to do it. You have to find a way late in games to get big plays."

The Sabres, now 20-10-5 with 45 points, fell back into third place in the Atlantic Division with Toronto's victory over New Jersey. This was their first regulation loss this season when leading after two periods and was similar to when they allowed six unanswered goals in a 6-2 loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 8.

Entering Tuesday, Florida had a negative-19 goal differential in the third period and was without two of its top three centermen. The Sabres were playing their fifth game in eight days, including a back-to-back in Washington and Boston over the weekend.

That didn't affect them at puck drop. Skinner scored 3:48 into the game on a centering pass from Jack Eichel, as both players extended their point streaks to seven games. Carter Hutton, who made 31 saves, was outstanding in the first period and each of Buffalo's four lines were generating scoring chances.

That success continued into the second period, but the Panthers tied the score 9:17 in when Jared McCann's shot bounced off the rear boards and out front to Troy Brouwer, who shot the puck off Hutton for a goal. The Sabres regained the lead less than two minutes later when Ristolainen rushed through the right circle and beat Roberto Luongo with a short-side wrist shot.

However, bad habits began to creep into the Sabres' play. Frustrated by Luongo making a number of outstanding saves, the Sabres began attempting daring plays in the neutral zone and were passing in the offensive zone instead of taking open shots.

"We have an opportunity to close things out and it didn’t happen," coach Phil Housley said. "We have to feel comfortable in that position. We don’t have to do anything special. Take what the game gives us. It’s just a game of mistakes."

Florida, on the other hand, chose to keep shooting pucks at Hutton.

That simple strategy helped Florida score three goals in 3:44. First, Barkov deflected Keith Yandle's shot from the point for a power-play goal 58 seconds into the third to tie the score. Evgenii Dadonov earned a breakaway after stealing the puck from Rasmus Dahlin at the blue line, and Dahlin tripped him for a penalty shot. 1121670 Buffalo Sabres Line change: In search of secondary scoring, coach Phil Housley again made changes to his bottom-three lines. Casey Mittelstadt skated on the second line with Evan Rodrigues and Jason Pominville, while Kyle The Wraparound: Panthers 5, Sabres 2 Okposo and Conor Sheary skated next to Vladimir Sobotka on the third line. Tage Thompson was bumped down to the fourth line.

Ullmark update: Goalie Linus Ullmark missed the morning skate because Lance Lysowski | Published Tue, Dec 18, 2018 of an illness but served as Hutton's backup. Ryan Vinz, the Beauts' goaltending coach, participated in the morning skate with Ullmark absent.

Next: The Sabres will practice Wednesday at HarborCenter before It seemed as if Tuesday night could not get worse for the Buffalo Sabres. traveling to Washington, where they will practice Thursday in Capital One They allowed three goals in the first five minutes of the third period Arena ahead of a Friday primetime matchup against the Capitals. against a last-place opponent in KeyBank Center after controlling play for Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2018 40 minutes. Then Rasmus Ristolainen collided with Jason Pominville, who was helped off the ice and would not return to the game.

The Sabres would not recover, allowing an empty-net goal with 2:30 remaining to cap a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. It was Buffalo's seventh consecutive loss to the Panthers, who remain at the bottom of the Atlantic Division at 13-13-6. , Evgenii Dadonov and Frank Vatrano scored in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit.

The Sabres, 20-10-5 with 45 points, led 2-1 after two periods with goals by Jeff Skinner and Ristolainen. However, Barkov scored a power-play goal, Dadonov capitalized on a penalty shot and Vatrano backhanded a shot past Carter Hutton after Marco Scandella lost contain in front of the net. Those three goals were scored 3:44 apart, and Dadonov added an empty netter to cap the scoring.

Skinner scored his 25th goal of the season on assists from Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. After Florida tied the score on Troy Brouwer's goal in the second period, Ristolainen answered with his fifth of the season for a 2-1 lead.

9-1-2: This was the Sabres' first regulation loss this season when leading after two periods. They were previously 9-0-2 when outscoring opponents through 40 minutes.

Opening salvo: The Panthers were no match for the Sabres' top line in the first period. Skinner gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead 3:48 into the first when he collected a pass from Eichel and beat Florida goalie Roberto Luongo.

Panthers answer: Panthers center Jared McCann ripped a shot off the rear boards that bounced to the front of the net, where Brouwer was able to catch Hutton off-guard with the tying goal 9:17 into the second period.

Top line again: Following a flurry of chances, the Sabres' top line cashed in again when Ristolainen carried the puck through the bottom of the right circle and beat Luongo short side with a wrist shot.

Penalty shot: For the second time in as many games, a Sabres goalie had to stop a penalty shot. This time, though, Hutton was not able to make a save. Dadonov was tripped on a breakaway by Rasmus Dahlin, who had turned the puck over to lead to the scoring chance. Hutton appeared to stop Dadonov on the penalty shot, but the puck slowly went through his legs and in to give Florida its first lead.

Retaliation: Florida's leading scorer, Barkov, skated off the ice slowly and went to the locker room 14:09 into the second period after he was tripped in the corner by Skinner. After serving a two-minute penalty, Skinner was put into a headlock by Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle, who dropped his gloves and threw Skinner to the ground. Yandle received only a two- minute minor penalty for roughing.

Streak snapped: Barkov's tying goal 58 seconds into the third period was the first power-play goal allowed by the Sabres in 21 opportunities. The team last killed 20 or more consecutive penalties in 2016, when they went 23-for-23 from Jan. 10-25.

Drought over: Buffalo did not have a 25-goal scorer from 2012 to 2016, but Skinner accomplished that feat in the team's 35th game of the season. He also surpassed his output from last season, when he scored 24 in 82 games with Carolina. Skinner is also 12 goals away from matching his career-high of 37, which he set in 2016-17 and is also one of four players in franchise history to reach 25 goals in 34 games, trailing only Alexander Mogilny, who scored No. 25 in his 34th game in 1992-93.

Streaking: Skinner and Eichel both stretched their point streaks to seven games, while Reinhart's is now at a career-high 11 after his secondary assist on Skinner's goal.

100: With his secondary assist on Skinner's goal, Reinhart has 100 for his career. 1121671 Buffalo Sabres to file the list of teams they would not accept a trade to, and that allowed Blues GM Doug Armstrong to include Berglund in the deal with Buffalo.

The idea that Berglund is unhappy in Buffalo should be silly. Does he Mike Harrington: If Berglund doesn't want to be here, Sabres should really want to be in St. Louis, with the trainwreck of a season the Blues accommodate are having? He seemed more than happy during training camp here. It all changed when Housley sat him down in October for a game in San Jose after a terrible defensive sequence while killing a penalty two nights Mike Harrington | Published Tue, Dec 18, 2018 SHARE earlier in Vegas.

Initially on the ice, Berglund responded well by playing wing on the fourth line. Apparently, however, he felt he was above that treatment. Another Sabres practice went by Tuesday morning. Another game Tuesday night. No sign of Patrik Berglund at either. Berglund signed a five-year, $19.25 million contract extension with the Blues on Feb. 24, 2017. It runs through the 2021-22 season — three The case of the Suddenly Skipping Work Swede is the first real off-ice more after this one — at a cap hit of $3.85 million. That wouldn't be bad saga of the season, but you get the sense it's not going to send this team money for a productive player, especially when you consider Berglund off the rails. has three 20-goal seasons on his resume and scored 168 goals for the First, Berglund was making only cursory contributions to the club's Blues. success. Second, it's not as if he's heavily invested here and looking to But Berglund has only two goals and two assists in 23 games with a turn around years of losing, like several players in this locker room who minus-5 rating. He has no points in the last 10 games, with just one goal must be having the time of their NHL lives. and one assist in the last 15 — and both came in the 9-2 romp past The Sabres suddenly announced Saturday morning that Berglund had Ottawa on Nov. 3. been suspended indefinitely for "failure to report." He had been out of Going rogue and turning up AWOL for a team flight is not the way a practice for a couple days — with coach Phil Housley left to stand in front professional acts. And it puts the Sabres in a bind. of the media and say Berglund was "sick" — but it's obvious now that something more ominous was going on. Berglund's contract and his poor play already have his trade value close to nil. Skipping out on a winning team might force the Sabres to keep When Berglund disappeared from practice, right after being a healthy some of his money to get rid of him. scratch in the Sabres' wins against Los Angeles and Arizona, Housley was clearly told to cover for him. It bought time for both Berglund and the The Sabres could try to get the contract voided under breach terms, but team. Players have the flu all the time. Nobody thought twice about it. that would not be an easy road. It's known that the NHLPA is watching this case closely and ready to act on Berglund's behalf if needed. Still, But when the team departed Friday for Washington, Berglund wasn't on you would think Botterill & Co. would love to get out from under the plane when he was expected to be there. That left the Sabres with no Berglund's deal, especially with the sudden, unexpected need to Pay Jeff choice but to act. $$$kinner after this season (capital P intentional). There's an easy bottom line here: Housley was healthy-scratching him at It's a messy situation. The Sabres would be wise to quickly clean it up. times for poor play and it would appear that Berglund decided he was above that treatment. Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2018 He opted to pack up his sticks and pucks and go home in a snit. If he doesn't want to be here, he's not needed.

Berglund has put nothing into this rebuild. Forget about the fact he was acquired for Ryan O'Reilly. He was largely a money balancer on the salary cap. That trade was all about getting Tage Thompson and a first- round draft pick, not a 30-year-old who proved inside of a month that he was no longer capable of being a reliable center in the speedier NHL.

If I'm General Manager Jason Botterill, I'm furious right now and I'm looking to get Berglund out of here for anything I can get. (Memo to the GM: Still time to do it by Wednesday's holiday roster freeze).

Now, you have to tread lightly on this kind of thing when the full story is not yet known. These guys are human too and can be dealing with the same kinds of issues as everybody else.

Kyle Okposo's 2017 summer of mental hell in the wake of his concussion was well-known in some minor depth even to people outside the organization, But Robin Lehner's acute substance abuse issues last season that became public in September were not.

To this point, there is no indication Berglund falls under any of these areas. "Failure to report" says he didn't show up. The Sabres have the lid on this one. There's no "we're concerned about him" talk. Housley and the players say that it's a management issue and they're worried only about the players in the room. That speaks volumes.

Approached on the subject Tuesday morning in KeyBank Center, Botterill couldn't shed much more light.

"There's communication going on there, but I don't have an update for you on it," Botterill told The Buffalo News. "When the time is right, we'll certainly try to elaborate on the situation. Right now, I can't discuss anything else."

The News has reached out to agent Peter Wallen multiple times since Saturday with no response. Wallen, it seems, has a hand in this as well.

Berglund carried a no-trade clause in St. Louis that turned into a modified no-trade clause July 1. According to a report by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman late Saturday night, Berglund and his agent missed a deadline 1121672 Buffalo Sabres 3. Offensive firepower: Sabres center Jack Eichel is tied with Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau for sixth in the league in scoring at 45 points and is tied for the league lead with 17 multipoint games. Sam Reinhart is on a Panthers at Sabres: Five Things to Know career-high 10-game point streak (5-11-16). Eichel (9-4-13) and Jeff Skinner (4-3-7) are both on six-game runs.

On the other side, Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau is second in the NHL in Mike Harrington | Published Tue, Dec 18, 2018 scoring since Nov. 24 with 21 points, including 16 assists (Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele has 23). He leads the Panthers with 38 points while

Barkov and Mike Hoffman have 31 apiece. In a turnaround season, one thing the Buffalo Sabres have yet to solve is "They have a lot of firepower," said Sabres center Johan Larsson. "You the riddle of the Florida Panthers. have to be aware of when they're out there. It's a pretty skilled team that The Panthers hit town last in the Atlantic Division – but they've won six causes problems. When they have room, they're going to make plays, so straight games against the Sabres and will go for No. 7 tonight at 7 in we have to do a better job of being on top of them all over the ice." KeyBank Center. 4. Special teams battle: It almost always tells a key tale and things will be Buffalo (20-9-5) is coming off its three-point weekend that featured a especially interesting tonight when Florida is on the power play. The shootout loss in Washington followed by Sunday's 4-2 win in Boston. The Panthers are fourth overall in the NHL at 27.5 percent and third on the Panthers are also on a high, snapping an 0-3-1 run with Saturday's 4-3 road at 29.6. But the Sabres' penalty kill has been stellar of late, pushing overtime win against Toronto. Aleksander Barkov, who defeated the to sixth in the league both overall (83.0) and home (87.5) and is now Sabres with an OT goal on Nov. 30, also beat the Maple Leafs by benefiting from the return of defenseman Marco Scandella. Buffalo has becoming the first player in Florida's 25-year history to complete a hat killed off 18 straight penalties, dating to Dec. 3 in Nashville, and is 17 for trick with a goal in extra time. 17 over the last six games. If the Sabres' PK unit goes perfect again tonight, it will be its first seven-game run since Oct. 24-Nov. 7, 2015. Here are Five Things to Know about tonight's game: Girgensons playing 'desperate' with blocked shots, hits to help Sabres 1. The lineups: The goaltending matchup will be Carter Hutton (13-8-2, 2.54/.919) against Roberto Luongo (6-5-1, 3.02/.904). Both guys have 5. Numbers games: The Sabres lead the NHL in overtime/shootout wins been stellar against the opposition, with Hutton 2-0, 1.22/.957 against the (8) and games that go past 60 minutes (13). ... The Panthers are Panthers and Luongo 19-8, 1.95/.934 against Buffalo. outscoring opponents, 30-23, in the first period but are an NHL-worst minus-19 in the third period (42-23) even though they've only been The Sabres have switched the centers on their middle two lines, with outshot, 320-311. Luongo and backup James Reimer are combining for Casey Mittelstadt rejoining Evan Rodrigues and Jason Pominville in a a paltry .869 save percentage in the final 20 minutes of regulation. ... combination from his six-game stint at the end of last season and Neither team has a short-handed goal, joining St. Louis and Boston as Vladimir Sobotka now moving between Conor Sheary and Kyle Okposo. the only teams in the league without one.

"We played well together last year and you want to find some of that Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2018 chemistry again," Mittelstadt said after today's morning skate. "There hasn't been enough support scoring for the first line so you have to change something. We'll try to make some plays with each other and we compliment each other well."

#Sabres lines during the morning skate:

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart

Rodrigues-Mittelstadt-Pominville

Sheary-Sobotka-Okposo

Thompson-Larsson-Girgensons

Dahlin-Bogosian

Scandella-Ristolainen

Guhle-Hunwick

McCabe-Elie

No Ullmark or Beaulieu

— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) December 18, 2018

2. The streak: The Panthers' six-game run is their longest against Buffalo since they entered the NHL in 1993. The Sabres are 0-5-1 in the streak, with four of the games in Sunrise, and have been outscored, 22-9. They are just 5-14-3 against the Panthers since the start of the 2013-14 season.

"They're a very desperate team right now," coach Phil Housley said of the Panthers. "They understand time is not on their side and we have to plan accordingly."

Panthers coach , the former Sabres defenseman, is wary that Buffalo is going to say enough is enough tonight.

"We remember when we don't have success against teams," said Boughner. "You're always more prepared and want to come out and make a statement. We have to make sure we're ready, get that compete back up just like against Toronto and play a smart road game, especially the first 10 minutes."

Mike Harrington: Sabres' new reality is a major challenge 1121673 Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner were the NHL's highest-selling jerseys over the weekend, according to IceJerseys.com. It was the first time since Daniel Briere and Chris Drury in 2005 that two Sabres outsold the rest of Phil Housley: Jake McCabe, Lawrence Pilut, could return to Sabres' the league. lineup this weekend **

Devante Stephens, a 21-year-old defenseman, was recalled by Lance Lysowski | Published Tue, Dec 18, 2018 Rochester from Cincinnati on Tuesday morning. A fifth-round draft pick in 2015, Stephens has five goals among 15 points with a plus-22 rating in 24 games for the Cyclones this season and appeared in six games with the Americans last year. The Buffalo Sabres' defense could be closer to full strength when they return to Washington for a Friday prime-time matchup against the Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2018 Capitals in Capital One Arena.

Jake McCabe and Lawrence Pilut, both on injured reserve, could return to the lineup either Friday against the Capitals or Saturday when the Sabres host the Anaheim Ducks in KeyBank Center, coach Phil Housley told reporters Tuesday morning.

McCabe, who has missed the past nine games with an upper-body injury, joined the Sabres for Tuesday's morning skate and has participated in on-ice workouts with Dennis Miller, the Sabres' rehab and development coach, for eight of the past nine days. Pilut, meanwhile, has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury but did not skate with the team Tuesday.

Additionally, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, who was injured in the second period of a 4-3 shootout loss in Washington Saturday, remains day to day with a lower-body injury, and Casey Nelson has yet to resume skating with the team. Winger Scott Wilson has yet to rejoin the team since breaking his ankle before the season opener but is expected to resume practicing soon.

"It’s good to see," Housley said Tuesday. "A lot of guys are starting to get close. Good to have Jake back in our pregame skate. It’s going to be good to get him back in some live practices."

McCabe, 25, was playing the best hockey of his career prior to the injury, which was suffered during a 5-4 loss in Tampa on Nov. 29. He had two goals among 10 points with a plus-2 rating while averaging 18:51 over 25 games. McCabe was also a key cog in the Sabres' penalty kill, which had allowed four power-play goals in 27 opportunities prior to his injury.

McCabe, who was limited to 53 games last season, told reporters the injury was more severe than he anticipated. His workouts with Miller over the past nine days are designed to ensure he will have a seamless transition when rejoining the team. McCabe skated alongside Remi Elie during line rushes Tuesday and participated in penalty-kill drills against the Sabres' second power play.

"I feel great," McCabe said. "It's kind of a tough schedule to get back with the team with the limited practices and the back-to-back with a day off, which is kind of frustrating timing for me. But I watched those guys get three out of four [points] this weekend and I'm eager to get back."

Pilut, 22, had two assists and a plus-3 rating in his six games with the Sabres prior to suffering the injury. He missed practice last Friday for what Housley called "maintenance" and was placed on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game in Boston.

In Pilut's absence, Matt Tennyson recorded a minus-3 in the 4-3 shootout loss in Washington, which prompted Buffalo to recall 21-year-old defenseman Brendan Guhle from Rochester. Guhle was a plus-1 and had one shot on goal Sunday in the 4-2 win over Boston, and Tennyson was sent back to Rochester on Monday morning.

Matt Hunwick, a 33-year-old defenseman acquired from Pittsburgh in June, also made his Sabres debut Sunday. He had not played an NHL game in more than eight months because of a neck injury suffered during an off-ice offseason workout.

While it remains unclear what Pilut's role will be upon his return, McCabe is sure to receive top-four minutes. He brings an edge to the ice by blocking shots and clearing traffic in front of the net. Marco Scandella, who missed eight games with an upper-body injury, returned to the lineup Saturday in Washington.

"I plan on it," McCabe said when asked if he will return this weekend. "Obviously I'm not in charge of the lineup, but I feel great. ... I'll be ready to go."

*** 1121674 Buffalo Sabres , third-, fifth-, and sixth-most utilized penalty killing forwards – Ryan O’Reilly, Benoit Pouliot, Scott Wilson and Jacob Josefson – haven’t been available to the coaching staff. That’s hundreds of minutes the Sabres Travis Yost's Sabre Metrics: How Sabres have found success on penalty had to reallocate around their lineup, and sometimes that can open up kill quite the can of worms. To Buffalo’s credit, they’ve actually improved performance on this front.

Defensively, the story is much more straightforward. Rasmus Ristolainen Travis Yost | Published Tue, Dec 18, 2018 has taken on the team’s biggest role on the penalty kill – a role probably more suited for him at this point in his career. He tends to play with

Marco Scandella, though we also have seen some of those minutes Travis Yost has been involved in the world of hockey analytics for a allocated to Zach Bogosian. In front of him regularly are three names – decade and is currently part of TSN's Hockey Analytics team. Prior to Girgensons, Larsson and Sobotka, in that order. Jake McCabe, just like joining TSN, Travis was a contributor at the Ottawa Citizen, the Sporting he was last year, tends to rotate in as a penalty killing option on their News and NHL Numbers, and has been a consultant for an NHL second unit. franchise. He will be contributing breakdowns on the Sabres for The That’s the recipe Buffalo has been cooking with this season, and so far, it Buffalo News this season. Follow Travis on Twitter: @travisyost. appears to be working. The team is clearly getting some goaltending The best penalty kill is the one that never takes the ice. But in the help, but not enough to wash away improvements made at the skater absence of incredible team discipline, having reliable penalty-killing units level. And subtly, it’s another area where Buffalo appears to be improved is essential for team success. And this season the Buffalo Sabres are from where they were from just a year ago. seeing positive results. Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2018 Heading into the Christmas break, the Sabres have one of the more successful penalty-kill units in the league. Entering Monday's games, their 6.2 goals against per-60 minutes ranked sixth in the (their straight conversion rate of 83 percent was fifth). It’s a bit of found money for a Sabres team that hasn’t had results on the penalty kill in the last couple of years; in 2016-17, they finished at 7.5 goals against per-60 minutes (23rd in NHL), and in 2017-18, they finished at 7.6 goals against per-60 minutes (20th). Their current performance would make them about 10 goals better in the standings on their penalty kill alone over an 82-game season, which is surely material.

When team success starts to shift like this, I try to answer two questions. First, how real is the performance? Penalty-kill performance in smaller samples can be highly volatile and we need to know if the underlying numbers are indicative of quality play. Second, what is a team doing from a personnel standpoint, and how does the coaching staff think about deployment?

The first question is rather straightforward. We know that the Sabres are conceding very few goals on the penalty kill relative to where the rest of the league is right now. But how do they compare on measures that are much more telling in terms of volume, and generally correlated with long- term penalty-kill success? (Data via NST)

The good news is that Buffalo isn’t skating by on save percentage alone. The shot volume they have faced – whether you want to look at the entire sample, or only part of the sample that’s truly collinear with scoring chance generation – is around league average. That's not indicative of some oncoming massive regression, though it’s fair to say that Sabres have certainly pulled their own when down a man. Linus Ullmark’s 91.8 save percentage and Carter Hutton’s 87.6 save percentage (over many, many more shots) were fifth and 22nd in the NHL, respectively. That’s going to get the job done.

So we know that Buffalo’s penalty kill has improved year over year. We might not be sure of the degree of improvement just yet, but it’s fair to say that all of the performance measures here are looking directionally better. The next question that comes into play: How does Phil Housley think about his penalty kill units, and what is he most inclined to do when a Sabres skater heads to the box?

The usage table below does a really strong job of capturing coaching deployment behavior. Here we have all 13 Sabres skaters who have been used (to varying degrees) on the penalty kill this season, and the minutes they have spent playing with one another as a percentage of total Sabres penalty kill ice-time. So when you see Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson play 14.4 percent of the time together, that’s 14.4 percent of all available Sabres penalty kill minutes. (That’s a lot.)

Let’s take a look at all of these relationships:

I mentioned the Girgensons/Larsson duo – they have established themselves as the most frequent two forward combination for the Sabres on the kill this season. To a lesser extent, we also see Vladimir Sobotka and Evan Rodrigues spending some time together, as well as Sobokta paired with Zemgus Girgensons.

The forward group is particularly interesting because of how many minutes the team had to replace from last year’s roster. Buffalo’s second- 1121675 Buffalo Sabres the game on a freak play just over a minute later after what’s been a busy schedule, we can see why the Sabres looked like a student who pulled an all-nighter to study for a midterm.

The Sabres’ unraveling comes quickly and at a point that usually favors “It’s not an upbeat bench, but you’ve got to go out and find a way and them make a play,” Skinner said. “Even if it’s just a hardworking shift where you get in their end and spend some time down there. You’ve got to find a way to create more energy and turn that momentum back into our side. By Joe Yerdon Dec 18, 2018 We just weren’t able to do it quick enough, and then once we did it, we weren’t able to sustain it long enough.”

It’s just one game, but it makes two consecutive rough games against the BUFFALO, N.Y. — Third periods have been, for the most part, the Panthers for Buffalo. Divisional points are the biggest ones to get, and if Buffalo Sabres’ best period of hockey this season, but all it took was six there’s a trait the Sabres have had all season long it’s that they don’t let a tough minutes Tuesday to make for a bad night. bad game linger. It’s on to the next one. Through 34 games, the Sabres have been comeback kids. Before The next one comes Friday in Washington against the Capitals, and the Tuesday, they outscored teams 35-30 in the third. Their record when Sabres might have defensemen Jake McCabe and Lawrence Pilut back leading after two periods was 9-0-2. Even in games they trailed going in the lineup. With a game the day after that against the suddenly hot into the third period they were 6-7-2, so seeing them drop a 5-2 decision Anaheim Ducks at home on Saturday before Christmas break, fresh legs to the Florida Panthers after holding a 2-1 lead after two made for a will make for a big help. surprising turn of events. That it took so little time to happen made for a tough night. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 The third period began with the Sabres leading 2-1. The Panthers were on the power play after Kyle Okposo was called for hooking at 19:09 of the second. It took Aleksander Barkov, who deflected a shot by Keith Yandle, 58 seconds into the third period to make it 2-2.

As ominous goals go, this one stood out, especially after the tussle Yandle and Jeff Skinner got into late in the second period. Yandle thought Skinner hit Barkov questionably. With Yandle getting booed every time he touched the puck after that, his goal quieted things down.

“We just sort of saw it coming as the game went along,” Skinner said. “(Roberto) Luongo made some big saves and we were looking for that bounce when we should’ve been going after it and try to create it for ourselves. Then they get one and we sagged a little bit, and then they get one pretty quickly after, which was a pretty big goal late in the game.”

After a misplay at the blue line by Rasmus Dahlin, Evgenii Dadonov took off on a breakaway in which he was taken down by Dahlin trying to make up for his honest-to-goodness mistake, and he was awarded a penalty shot 2:32 later. Dadonov’s shot appeared to be swallowed up by Carter Hutton, but the puck squeezed out from his pads behind him and slid across the line to give Florida the lead. Frank Vatrano gave Florida a two-goal lead 1:12 later when he beat Hutton short side after a Dadonov rebound.

“It just seems like we lost momentum,” captain Jack Eichel said. “It’s frustrating. We’re at home. We’ve got to find a way to have a better third period than that. … Maybe our puck management wasn’t there. I don’t think the desperation was there; they were definitely desperate. They played hard in their own end, but I don’t think we outworked them. Give them credit, they played a really good third period. We weren’t good enough.”

The Panthers’ aggressiveness on the attack had the Sabres back on their heels, and while they tried to get it back together after Florida’s blitz, Jason Pominville collided with Rasmus Ristolainen in the neutral zone on a line change that knocked Pominville out of the game at 5:56. Ristolainen said he didn’t see Pominville coming, and it’s clear the same could be said for Pominville, who will be evaluated fully Wednesday.

Six minutes in a game can fly by and seem like a lifetime all at once when everything goes against you.

RISTO ABSOLUTELY CLOBBERS POMINVILLE HERE, WHO LOOKED VERY WOBBLY HEADING TO THE LOCKER ROOM. PIC.TWITTER.COM/5TXGB3AA84

— SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) DECEMBER 19, 2018

“We’ve played a lot of hockey in a short time right now,” coach Phil Housley said. “This is, I think, our fifth game in eight nights, and at that point you’ve got to keep the game simple. I think we spent too much energy in our own zone because of our decisions up ice.”

As far as lessons go — and we’ve mentioned plenty about these Sabres and how each game provides a new learning experience — this one works out to be one about effort and what it takes to win. Housley mentioned the need for more of a shot mentality and better checking detail (the Sabres were outshot 16-9 in the third), but when a game goes from 2-1 to 4-2 in a span of 4:42 and then the veteran leader is put out of 1121676 Calgary Flames By the second intermission, the difference on the shot-tracker had ballooned to 26-12. The Stars managed to double their lead when forward Radek Faksa evaded Rittich’s poke-check and buried a deke on Flames lay an egg in Dallas his backhand.

There weren’t a lot of close-calls as the clock ticked down. Fourth-line centre Derek Ryan fired wide on arguably their best opportunity to trim Wes Gilbertson the deficit.

Starting netminder Ben Bishop, who exited for a chunk of the second period after being bopped by Flames forechecker Garnet Hathaway, and DALLAS — Perhaps, they should have been campaigning for another sidekick Anton Khudobin combined for a 24-save shutout for the hosts. afternoon puck-drop. “Just put it behind us,” said Flames leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau. After winning back-to-back matinees, the Calgary Flames wrapped a “Obviously, it wasn’t our best hockey tonight. The first two periods, they three-game road-trip with a thud — Tuesday’s 2-0 shutout loss in a dud took it to us and then third period we were just battling back.” of a performance against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas. So what now?

The Flames had been sizzling. Flush it.

On this night, they seemed to be snoozing. Forget it.

“We weren’t sharp — it showed right from the start,” said Flames captain As long as they’re sharp, the Flames’ next date should be a doozy. They Mark Giordano. “I thought they looked like the faster team, but only will welcome the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning — led by the likes because they were committed to putting pucks in and forechecking. For of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and local lad Brayden Point — for whatever reason, we were fighting it all night. We weren’t making clean Thursday’s marquee matchup at the Saddledome (7 p.m., Sportsnet plays. West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“Not to take anything them away from them, they played a hard-fought “I think I’m always pretty quick at saying, win, loss or draw, you move game, but I didn’t think we were sharp enough.” on,” Hamonic said after Tuesday’s blanking. “There is definitely a lot of areas I think we can clean up from tonight, but it’s no secret that we have Indeed, the Stars showed the sort of determination you’d expect from a been playing pretty well and going pretty good … squad desperate to snap out of a four-game losing skid, but this was as sluggish and sloppy as the Flames have been in quite some time, “So you want to obviously watch the tape, watch some situational stuff, perhaps since that 9-1 pummelling from the Pittsburgh Penguins in late learn from it and move forward. We have a huge test, obviously, next October. game.

They didn’t win enough faceoffs. “Regardless of the result, you have to move forward in this league because nobody is going to stop.” They didn’t win enough puck battles. PUCK PROGRESS Their passing wasn’t crisp and, on a couple of occasions, they tumbled in open ice. A dozen years ago, when goaltender Mike Smith earned the backup gig in Dallas, he figured he’d better hone his passing and puck-moving skills. If you were using your hands to count their scoring chances, you likely still had both thumbs free for twiddling. Pronto.

The Flames lead the loop in third-period comebacks, but even their flair After all, he was serving as second-stringer to Marty Turco, then for drama seemed to be missing in Dallas. Despite a dozen shots in the considered one the NHL’s best at threading breakout feeds from either final frame, they didn’t generate many golden opportunities. the crease or behind the net.

“They played well, give them credit,” said Flames defenceman Travis Eventually, Smith would earn that same reputation. Hamonic. “But that’s not nearly up to what we’ve been playing, especially of late, and what our group is capable of. So when arrived in Calgary to be his partner-in-pads? You can probably guess where this is going … “We started to push in the third, especially in the last 10 minutes … But that just wasn’t up to our standard or our par in the first 40.” “Yeah, we are both in pretty similar position in the beginning of our NHL career,” Rittich nodded. “He had Marty, and everybody knows how he There will, over the course of an 82-game slate, be some nights like this. could play and what he did on the ice. It’s same as with Smitty and me. I can see him in practice, how he’s working hard and trying to play every Even after Tuesday’s defeat, the Flames own an impressive 12-3-1 puck, and it’s something that he gives me — the idea like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s record in the past month and change. try it. Let’s work on it.’ ” They remain atop the Pacific Division. This part of his repertoire remains very much a work-in-progress, but it’s And for any road-tripping team, two out of three ain’t bad. no secret that improved passing and puck-handling has been a priority for the 26-year-old Rittich, one of the NHL’s breakout success stories so The Flames ensured this would be a successful sojourn thanks to far this season. Saturday’s tight-checking triumph over the Minnesota Wild and then Sunday’s blowout of the St. Louis Blues. “The difference between last year and this year, everyone can see it,” said Rittich, who was between the pipes for all three starts on the The schedule could have read something like this: Afternoon, afternoon, Flames’ now-wrapped roadie. “I’m not scared to play behind the net. I’m ugly. not scared to go stop the puck and make a play. It’s firstly about confidence, about the feeling. With a 26-save showing, David Rittich did his darnedest to keep the Flames within striking distance in Tuesday’s clash. “And Smitty always gives me some tips and ideas of what I can do better. He’s a big part of me, how I look in the net right now.” Moments after rookie standout Miro Heiskanen clanked the iron in a still- scoreless opening stanza, the goofy goalie was spotted leaning over to Smith has always credited Turco — now focused on charity efforts as kiss his post. president of the Dallas Stars Foundation — with having that same impact on his career. At that point, he needed all the help he could get. The Flames’ veteran twine-minder has often recounted a story from his The Stars out-shot the Flames by a 14-6 count in the first period, but first season at the NHL level, when he coughed up a puck and was still Rittich surrendered just one, fooled when Tyler Seguin’s attempted feed standing behind his own net when an opponent scored a freebie. glanced off the skate of captain Jamie Benn as he arrived at the door- step. Feeling a bit gun-shy, the rookie didn’t move from his blue paint on the next dump-in. When he headed to the bench at a TV timeout, Turco let him have it.

Rittich might have received an earful of another sort after Sunday’s victory in St. Louis, when he seemed to be too often looking for a Hail Mary long-range pass instead of the safer, shorter option.

That’s part of the learning curve.

“It’s definitely come a long ways from last year,” said Flames goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet of Rittich’s puck play. “He just has to get more consistent with it and a little sharper at times, and then on a back-to- back, keep it a little more simple.

“But if he makes a bad play, he’s right out there again on the next one to play it. So that’s good — it shows he’s confident. It’ll come. It will keep building.”

As he prepared for his second season at the Saddledome, Rittich devoted extra time during his summer skates in the Czech Republic to his handiwork in both retrieving the puck and distributing it.

Those efforts continue.

“He’s worked on it a ton,” Sigalet said. “We try to work on rims before every practice now, just different versions of either getting it by past the half-wall, getting his toes up the ice and getting his eyes while he is going back to get the puck instead of getting there and then looking. The more information he can get before he gets behind the net, it’s going to help him with his reads and his plays and help our ‘D’ out a lot back there.”

When Smith starts, Calgary’s defencemen will tell you his puck-moving skills spare them a lot of wear and tear from would-be forecheckers.

Still a student of this particular craft, Rittich hopes he can also help that cause.

“I’m trying to be better every day, working on that,” said Rittich, who has posted an 11-4 record and a stingy 2.20 goals-against average and .925 save percentage this season. “That’s my idea — if I’m going to play behind the net, I can help the ‘D’ to make easier plays and they don’t have too many hits.”

AROUND THE BOARDS

Flames right-winger James Neal was a no-go Tuesday against the Stars due to an upper-body injury, presumably the result of a puck to the face in St. Louis. The official word is the 31-year-old Neal will be re-evaluated once the team returns home … The Flames were also missing fellow winger Sam Bennett, now a spectator for two straight due to an upper- body injury … With Neal and Bennett both unavailable, the Flames dressed 11 forwards and seven defencemen in Dallas. With those wonky numbers (and with the club looking for any sort of spark), rookie blue- liner Oliver Kylington was spotted at forward in the third … The Flames boast one of the NHL’s most dangerous offences, but their past three regulation losses have been shutouts.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121677 Calgary Flames the same goalie on back-to-back days — are all pluses that are making a difference.

You saw his willingness to be flexible and not stand pat with the status Seven secrets to success behind the Flames rapid rise in the West quo on Saturday when after two periods he broke up his top line to get Elias Lindholm on a line with Matthew Tkachuk and James Neal. That trio produced the game-winning goal in the third period. Ten days ago, it was By Darren Haynes Dec 18, 2018 moving Garnet Hathaway onto the second line with Tkachuk and Ryan for the third period. That time it was Hathaway deflecting in the decisive

goal that broke the tie. The year 1989 is famous for a few reasons. 2. Ruthless housecleaning A short, stocky bald man named George Costanza, and his pals from A compelling argument could be made last offseason to keep Troy New York City, entered our lives. We were also introduced to Homer Brouwer, 33, in the organization for another season. With two years Simpson, loving husband, father of three, and nuclear power plant safety remaining on his four-year deal, persevere one more season and you cut inspector. the buyout penalty in half from four years to two. In Calgary, 1989 is etched in people’s memories for an additional reason. But Brouwer wasn’t a fit. It hadn’t worked and it didn’t look like it was ever It was the year the Flames won their only Stanley Cup. It was the going to work. If you’re serious about getting better, these are the hard culmination of the best season in franchise history in which they blazed decisions you need to make, which would have been extra hard given to a 54-17-9 record to win the Presidents’ Trophy, then disposed of the Treliving is the guy who signed him. Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs before taking down the Montreal Canadiens in the final. So he went ahead and pulled the trigger.

What’s making these days a nostalgic stroll down memory lane is that the Same goes for Matt Stajan, 34, locker room favourite and a guy who had current Flames club is off to its best start since that 1988-89 team. endeared himself to a sentimental fan base in the late stages of his long- term deal. A serviceable centre turned unrestricted free agent, who could As Calgary piles up the victories — eight wins in their last nine, 12-2-1 in be economically re-signed for another season to help mentor the young their last 15, 22-10-2 on the season — we flash back to that magical run guys on the team and provide veteran leadership. 30 years ago when the Flames’ 23-6-5 record through 34 games was the only other time the Flames have gotten off to this strong of a start. But again, the GM resisted any temptation.

A three-point cushion over Anaheim atop the Pacific Division. Jockeying Kris Versteeg, 32, all-around good guy and fan favourite, was in a similar with Central Division heavyweights Nashville and Winnipeg for first in the situation to Stajan. A pending UFA, from Southern Alberta, who wanted Western Conference. It begs the question, how did we get here? to play here. While the heart may have said re-sign him, the head said no. Treliving listened to his head. For the others hanging near the top, it’s where they’ve been for a while. Current frontrunner, Tampa Bay, finished third overall last year. The It was time, especially at forward, to change the mix. Get younger, get second-place Jets, even in points with Calgary but with a game in hand, faster, get deeper, but most importantly, get different. were second last season. The Predators, also even in points but behind the Flames due to one less regulation/overtime win, won the Presidents’ 3. Repair (not necessarily replace) the goalie position Trophy a year ago. This wasn’t an issue in need of fixing for a long time last year. For two- Calgary, on the other hand, is coming off a season in which they finished thirds of the season, it was a strength. Veteran puck stopper Mike Smith 20th overall and missed the playoffs. was arguably the team’s MVP. David Rittich, his first-year Czech sidekick, also played great when he got the tap every couple weeks. So how did general manager Brad Treliving turn things around? How has this club risen so rapidly into the top three, from the depths of mediocrity Goaltending wasn’t a problem until it suddenly became a major just eight months ago? headache in February. First, Smith got hurt. Next, Rittich stumbled badly when thrust into the spotlight of being the No. 1. Prospect Jon Gillies got The seven secrets to success: a shot, but faltered also. When Smith returned, he then tried too hard to do it all himself. He could not regain his form from earlier, or even close 1. Replace the coach to it. All in all, the last couple months were a train wreck. In his fifth season at the helm in Calgary, Treliving is on his third head So the Flames needed better goaltending, no question, but how do you coach. He inherited the first one, Bob Hartley, only to fire him two years go about addressing that? Especially when you’ve got two guys on one- later. That same fate was met by Glen Gulutzan, Treliving’s first hire, who way contracts already and all the seats in the minor leagues are taken. exited the organization in April after two seasons. It was a conundrum. Do you spend more assets (e.g. prospects or draft As a GM, you only get so many chances to hire your own coach. It was picks) to bring in a new goaltender or two? Or do you stick with what you imperative for his own future that Treliving get the decision right this time. have and hope that with a new coach, behind an improved team, that in a He knew what he wanted, too. Having witnessed both ends of the yet-to-be-determined split in playing time, you get the status-quo spectrum, a stern taskmaster like Hartley and a players’ coach in performance from how last season began, not how it finished? Gulutzan, it seems he has found a compromise in Bill Peters, who has elements of both. They chose the latter and right now, it’s looking like the right decision. With that year of NHL experience under his belt, Rittich has bounced What was interesting about the hire is the conviction in which Treliving back nicely. He’s been consistently good all season and looks in line to went after Peters, despite the latter having not made the postseason in get at least an equal share of playing time moving forward. his four seasons as head coach in Carolina. Let me get this straight, you’re looking for a coach that can get Calgary over the hump and turn And if that’s what unfolds, that could positively impact Smith. It reduces them into a perennial playoff team, yet you’re entrusting that job to a guy the workload on the veteran, who turns 37 in March, while also alleviating with zero postseason experience? the weight on his shoulders of thinking he needs to win games all by himself, because that’s just not the case anymore. But Treliving knew what he wanted and in a summer in which there were big-name candidates out there like Alain Vigneault and Darryl Sutter, he Calgary’s high-octane offence is really firing these days. On most nights, was focused on one guy and went right after him. Peters was someone run support has not been the issue. Keep the opposition to two or three he got to observe and know when both were with Team Canada when goals and you’ve got a great chance to win, even if one of them is a they won gold at the 2016 IIHF World Championships. stinker.

Peters and his penchant to press all the right buttons has been a big It took a while to get here, but the Flames goaltending is in a pretty good reason behind the team’s success. His lineup decisions, player usage, in- place right now, all things considered. Smith is on a six-game winning game adjustments, willingness to do the unconventional thing — like streak and Rittich, 11-3-1 on the season with a .925 save percentage, deploy an all-rookie D pairing, or change the lineup after a win, or start has continued his solid play. 4. Unleash the captain Similar story with Garnet Hathaway. A meat and potatoes energy guy. He was a healthy scratch the first four games this year, now he’s a mainstay Mark Giordano is three points back of his point total from a year ago. in the lineup because he, also, has established himself as one of Peters’ He’s played 50 fewer games. main penalty killers. Hathaway’s numbers, while shorthanded, are even Last year, paired with Dougie Hamilton, they were regarded as one of the more gaudy. In 41:34 of shorthanded ice time, the 27-year-old has only best pairings in the NHL. It’s becoming clear who was doing all the heavy been on the ice for one power play goal against. lifting. 6. Fix the power play

While Hamilton, now in Carolina, has seen his offensive production drop The man advantage is a critical piece these days. Fifteen times last off considerably, Giordano is absolutely on fire. season, the Flames lost by one or two goals and in those games, got Instead of Giordano being the guy minding the store while Hamilton skunked on the man advantage. freelanced, now he’s getting the chance to be that dynamic presence on To repair a power play that finished 29th last season, Dave Cameron the back end, constantly yet responsibly, jumping up in the rush while his was fired as the assistant coach in charge under Gulutzan and was former D partner turned current D partner again, TJ Brodie (by no replaced by Geoff Ward, who came to Calgary with a history of coincidence enjoying his best season since he last played with Giordano) constructing successful power plays in Boston and New Jersey. is trusted to stay behind. While it took some time to get going, naturally, with the players learning a LAST YEAR AFTER 82 GAMES: new system, it’s really taken off in recent weeks.

– GIORDANO, 13-25-38, EVEN On the power play, Calgary sits ninth in the NHL at 23.3 per cent. Since – HAMILTON, 17-27-44, PLUS-1 Nov. 1, they’re operating at 29.8 per cent, which is fifth best.

THIS YEAR THROUGH 32 GAMES: It’s not just Ward’s handiwork, though. Treliving deserves credit for giving Ward more tools to work with. Specifically, left/right centre options for – GIORDANO, 6-29-35, PLUS-21 both PP units, so regardless of which dot the faceoff is taking place, they have a centre on the ice, who can take the draw on his strong side. – HAMILTON, 3-7-10, MINUS-11 Going hand in hand with that is having more right-hand shots up front. INTERPRET HOW YOU WANT, BUT IT CERTAINLY STIRS Last year, it was Troy Brouwer and that’s all. Right-shot weapons this CONVERSATION. year include Lindholm, Austin Czarnik and Derek Ryan. — DARREN HAYNES (@DARRENWHAYNES) DECEMBER 17, 2018 7. Empower youth 5. Put players in roles that fit What’s going on with the Flames blueline is really incredible. For context, Brodie is a perfect example of not overthinking something. this could be the first time in 35 years that Calgary will get at least 50 games each from two rookie defencemen aged 22 or younger. The last He’s said often that his preferred side is the right side, which for the left- time? Al MacInnis, 20, and Jamie Macoun, 22, back in 1983-84. Before handed shooter, is his off-side. Historically, his best seasons have come that, it was Charlie Bourgeois, 22, and Steve Konroyd, 20, in 1981-82. with playing on his off-side. There’s comfort there, he likes how he sees the ice from that side. It’s where he’s had success. This not-seen-in-a-long-time embracing of youth began when Rasmus Andersson, 22, and Juuso Valimaki, 20 opened the season as the third Gulutzan came in two years ago and promptly stuck him on the left side, pairing. They were both fixtures in the lineup until Valimaki suffered a and when he struggled and struggled, he left him there flailing. lower-body injury. No problem. In stepped Oliver Kylington, 21, who has taken over for Valimaki and has already played 10 games alongside Despite a surplus of right-shots — Travis Hamonic, Michael Stone, Andersson and played well. Rasmus Andersson — one of Peters’ first orders of business was getting Brodie back on the right side. The bad reads, the miscues, the seemingly What’s happening right now is not very common at all. Brett Kulak and nightly grumbling from fans, has all but disappeared. Playing with Tyler Wotherspoon are recent examples of guys that the team never had Giordano is a huge part of it, absolutely, but don’t underestimate the the trust to play in the NHL at a young age. Safe to say there’s a talent influence of Brodie’s return to his natural side. disparity, too, between those two and the three this year, but the bottom line is Calgary has embraced the youth and given them an opportunity, Also with Brodie, another notable change is that he’s no longer on the rather than gone out and found ‘safe’ options like Nicklas Grossmann, power play, other than two games last week when he filled in for Matt Bartkowski, Corey Potter, Shane O’Brien and Derek Smith, to Giordano, who was suspended. Brodie doesn’t have a very dangerous reference the Flames’ recent past. shot, yet he had been a fixture on the power play for years. Now he’s a penalty killer instead and with different personnel quarterbacking the Age 22-or-under rookie Flames defencemen to play > 50 games power play, it’s thriving. 2011-12 | TJ Brodie, age 21, 54 gm Neal playing most of the season on the third line is another example in a roundabout way. From when training camp began in China to when the 2005-06 | Dion Phaneuf, age 20, 82 gm team returned to North America for the rest of the preseason, Neal had 1999-00 | Robyn Regehr, age 19, 55 gm plenty of opportunities to win a job on the top line and on the No. 1 power play. But he didn’t do so. He got widely outplayed by Lindholm for both 1998-99 | Denis Gauthier, age 22, 55 gm spots. 1997-98 | Derek Morris, age 19, 82 gm While some will point to Neal’s three goals (tied with Alan Quine, one behind Garnet Hathaway) and seven points and say that it’s not working, 1987-88 | Brian Glynn, age 20, 67 gm you need only look at the club’s record and see that there’s really nothing 1985-86 | Gary Suter, age 21, 80 gm to see here right now. 1983-84 | Jamie Macoun, age 22, 72 gm Credit to the Flames for sticking with what’s working and not disrupting everything to try and force Neal into a spot he hasn’t earned. Opportunity 1983-84 | Al MacInnis, age 20, 51 gm will arise as injuries hit, just like on Sunday when he got the chance to play on the second line with the injury to Sam Bennett, but for now, stay 1981-82 | Charlie Bourgeois, age 22, 54 gm the course. Lack of offence is hardly an issue for this team right now. 1981-82 | Steve Konroyd, age 20, 63 gm

Usage of Mark Jankowski is another example. Last year, he was on the The days of old, slow guys on the third pairing are behind us. third line and got some power play time. Now he’s bouncing between the third line and fourth line, so in that way, a demotion, but he is impacting There is a youth movement going on and it’s working. The young guys games more now, having established himself as a relied-upon penalty are proving capable and are providing Calgary with quality minutes, while killer, who has been on the ice for more shorthanded goals (four) than at the same time growing and developing their games to make them power play goals against (three) in his 49:40 of PK ice time. even more formidable in the future. Up front, Dillon Dube, 20, was a standout in training camp. Instead of just sending him down just because he had no pro experience, they kept him up and kept on playing him — giving him 20 games before deciding to demote him. Again, not something that would have happened in past years when there was a tendency to opt instead for guys like Freddie Hamilton, Linden Vey and Ben Street. It’s about keeping the players that give you the best chance to win and it’s as if they’re getting it now.

The latest to get a chance was Andrew Mangiapane, 22, who got into seven games before being sent back down. Not ready yet, but at least you can’t say he never got a legit chance.

Put it all together and the Flames are a hockey team playing with swagger not seen in a long, long time.

Sure Calgary went to the Stanley Cup final in 2004, but that team, that finished third in their division, sixth in the conference and 12th overall, wasn’t as good as this one.

How strong is that belief?

You need not look any further than the number of comeback victories. Seven times, most in the NHL, Calgary has come back to win a game in which they trailed after two periods. That’s in two and a half months. They only pulled that off a total of nine times over Gulutzan’s two years behind the bench.

You now see that confidence when they take to the ice at the Saddledome, too, where they are 7-0-1 in their last eight and 11-3-2 on the season, compared to last season’s ugly 17-20-4 record on home ice.

On the 30th anniversary of the debut of a show about nothing, we’re nearing the holiday break in a season that for the Flames has been about everything — the new skipper, the influx of new faces, the young, exuberant Czech in net, the Norris-worthy play of Giordano — the team’s superman — guys in the right roles, a lethal man advantage and a cast of young players, barely old enough to shave, who are blossoming at the NHL level.

Seven secrets to success that at this point, aren’t so secret anymore.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121678 Carolina Hurricanes “I know I haven’t seen any cases show up in the locker room yet,” Faulk joked. “Maybe there’s some big import fee or something. Seems like someone could drive a case down here.” Canes’ Calvin de Haan knows more about good defensive hockey play De Haan laughed, saying, “With all the tariff stuff going on I don’t know if than brewing up a beer I can get it here. Maybe one day.” Hockey business BY CHIP ALEXANDER Until then, he will go about his full-time job of playing hockey. De Haan, 27, isn’t a flashy type with a cannon of a shot. He’s steady, positionally sound, the kind of D-man who can be the goalie’s best friend, and his RALEIGH-Truth be known, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Calvin de plus-7 rating is the best plus/minus on the team. Haan is not a true beer connoisseur. “We communicate well and try to make the game easier for each other,” “No, not really,” he said. “I’m the part-owner of a brewery back home.” Faulk said. That would be Carp, , population 2,000, about 20 miles outside De Haan had perhaps his best game of the season on Sunday, finishing Ottawa. That’s where you’ll find Ridge Rock Brewing Co., located in a plus-3 in the 3-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes. He had five of the Canes’ building that dates to the 1860s and can hold up to 150 patrons,. season-high 48 hits and helped thin out the traffic around goalie Petr Mrazek, who had 23 saves in his first shutout of the season -- Mrazek It’s a popular place. De Haan said the taps have “run dry” a time or two in was named the first star of the game and de Haan the second star. the brew pub, which may be an exaggeration, but demand is high. De Haan had two assists, the second on a quick pass out of the neutral “We’re having a hard time keeping up right now, which is a good problem zone that set up Sebastian Aho for his 12th goal of the season and a 3-0 to have,” he said. lead. De Haan said his personal beer options for a long time were two-fold: “He was physical, which he needs to be, and had a little bit of edge to his “Bud Light or Bud.” But he has gotten past the red and white of game,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He contributed on the Budweiser to sample some of the craft beers that are so plentiful in offensive end but that’s secondary to what he needs to do, which is to be Raleigh and the state, not that he knows a lot of the names or has any noticeable defending.” real favorites. De Haan recently took a stick under his helmet shield from William “When I go to the market I always try to grab a random six-pack, Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs, just missing his left eye and something like Trophy Wife by Trophy (Brewing),” he said. “If something causing a gash under the eyebrow that took six stitches to close. He was has a cool label or something, I might try it. It’s a nice little treat. left with a black eye that has given him a pugilistic look. “I have come to appreciate craft beer more. I don’t think I’ll drink Bud For de Haan, it’s all part of the business. His hockey business, that is. Light or Bud anymore to be honest. I really liked it but I’ve learned to appreciate the craft and the time and the effort that goes into the process News Observer LOADED: 12.19.2018 of brewing craft beer. It’s not an easy job to do it. It’s a grind.” Beer business When de Haan signed a four-year, free-agent contract with the Hurricanes in July, the beer story was an easy hook. The Canes promotional people soon had him at Lynnwood Grill & Brewing Concern sampling various craft beers. TV interviews with de Haan can lean in the same direction. But de Haan, more than anything, is a businessman and investor when it comes to beer. A Carp native, he joined with three good friends -- Jake Sinclair, Jason Lalonde and Ryan Grassie -- in opening Ridge Rock Brewing Co. and is anything but an absentee, silent partner playing professional hockey some 800 miles away. “I get the (financial) reports and everything,” de Haan said. “I have to know if things are going well. I do have a voice and I feel like I need to know what’s going on.” And things are going well, he said. Ridge Rock’s blonde beer and amber have been the two big sellers in the first few months. “We’re making money, which is good,” de Haan said, smiling. “We haven’t gone under yet, which is good.” High demand While the partners in Carp run the place, de Haan said a new employee has been a valuable addition: de Haan’s father, Bill. Deciding 35 years in the landscaping business was enough, Bill has become a handyman, the fix-it guy at Ridge Rock. “He can fix anything, from like a lawn mower to an airplane,” de Haan said, “We needed a guy like that and he loves it.” De Haan said Ridge Rock opened in September with a simple business plan: sell a lot of beer. “The demand in-house has been pretty wild so far,” he said. Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Calvin de Haan is part owner of the Ridge Rock Brewing Co., in Carp, Ont., that opened in September 2018. About two weeks ago, de Haan said, the first cans “went out the door” and distribution of the beer began. That should be welcome news to Canes’ Justin Faulk, de Haan’s defensive partner this season. 1121679 Carolina Hurricanes I’ve heard many stories from European teammates, but it wasn’t until I played there that I could truly appreciate how different the relationship was between fans and players. The fans feel like they’re a part of the The history, rules and benefits of a Hurricanes-style victory celebration, team in Europe. from someone who has taken part “It means a lot to them … It’s important that the players respect our fans,” said Augsburger Panther owner Lothar Sigl. “I feel it’s a nice gesture when the players go back on the ice after the game to show their By Jordan Samuels-Thomas Dec 18, 2018 appreciation.” Needless to say, seeing Carolina engage in the same type of fan-friendly celebration that I experienced as a player in Europe was shocking. It also I remember the first time I experienced a post-game celebration similar to crossed my mind that this display wasn’t very “NHL.” Not that I disprove what the Carolina Hurricanes have been doing this year in Raleigh. It or think that it doesn’t belong, I just had never seen it done before in was at the conclusion of my first home game in Europe. My team – North America. Mlada Boleslav – had just lost to Czech powerhouse Sparta Praha. Zbynek Michalek — who I played against in the AHL a season prior — But filling the stands in some NHL arenas can be a struggle. The was one of their top players. Hurricanes organization works tirelessly to attract people to their games and building a connection with their fans through these types of As we met in the handshake line – which is customary in European celebrations makes perfect sense. professional play – Michalek greeted me with a smile. “This is a lot different huh?” “I miss the beach,” I said, having just arrived in the Czech Why isn’t a league like the NHL – the least popular amongst the four Republic from San Diego a few days prior. major sports – doing more to engage and expand their audience? Why haven’t we seen the NHL reflect its diverse player group? “We’re not playing in the Pacific Division anymore,” he said. We wished each other luck and continued down the line before I started making my It makes sense that an organization like the Hurricanes were the first to way toward the dressing room. try this type of post-game fan interaction. Their location in a smaller hockey market requires greater efforts in securing and sustaining fans. “JST. Where you going?” yelled Brandon Maxwell, our goaltender and Interaction like this goes a long way in building rapport with fans. the only other English-speaking player on the team. I paused while he made his way over and explained that our time on the ice wasn’t finished. Also, consider who the faces of the franchise will be going forward. Europeans Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen lead the Hurricanes “We stay out for the fans after games here. Win or lose. You’ll get used offensive attack and have shined so far this season. to it.” “I think that it’s important to engage the young hockey demographic in As I hurried to join the rest of the team, I quickly realized that this wasn’t the USA,” former NHLer Ryan Garbutt, who now competes in Germany’s going to be your ordinary “stand in the middle of the ice and raise your top professional league, said. “I remember playing at All-State Arena in stick to salute the crowd” situation. Once together, our team captain led Illinois while playing for the Chicago Wolves and seeing how a pregame the group of tired and sweaty players on a slow lap around the rink to firework show would engage the fans and kids especially. I think clap in appreciation for the fans in every section of the rink. (Carolina’s) European style ritual serves the same purpose.” That was nothing compared to what happened after winning our next “It’s nice,” Jacob Larsson said. Before playing with the Anaheim Ducks, game on home ice. the defenceman spent three seasons in the SHL. “It’s good for the fans and it will probably sell some tickets.” The same lap occurred but this time we gathered in the middle of the ice at the conclusion of the lap. The player of the game – decided by the While Carolina fans seem to have embraced the new festivities, not guys on the team on the spot – led the team on a sprint to the blueline everyone has. In an interview on The Fan 590, Brian Burke said that the that concluded with each player sliding on their bellies. Not too far off team’s antics were “absurdly amateurish, pee-wee garbage stuff.” Carolina’s Kayak-inspired celebration. Adding, “I don’t think it’s professional.” As we rose to our feet, Maxwell – the player of the game – repeatedly In the framework of the traditional NHL, you can see where Burke is waved his hands up and down to pump up the already excited crowd. As coming from. But implying that the Hurricanes are engaging in child-like I stood on the ice looking around, trying to understand what in the hell activities is a bit of a contradiction, considering they are playing a game. was going on, I locked eyes with my wife in the crowd and saw she was just as confused and entertained as I was. “Coming from the NHL, it can definitely surprise you the first time you experienced it over here,” Garbutt said. “But I think it allows the fans to Her face suddenly lit up in amazement when Maxwell began doing feel like part of the team, especially young fans. Kids can come down to summersaults for a now raucous crowd. After two or three flips we finally the glass and really join the excitement of the win.” got off the ice. Hockey, even at the professional level, is a child’s game. The players at I get my helmet, gloves and jersey off before I notice a couple guys begin the highest level – including myself – appreciate the fact that they get to to make their way back toward the ice. After taking a brief pause trying to make a living playing the game they fell in love with. figure out where they were going I continued getting changed before noticing that more guys had made their way toward the ice. “Hockey is our life and job, but it is still a game. Enjoy the good times and have fun with it,” Hurricanes captain Justin Williams said. As I reached toward my skates, Maxwell – who was my lifeline during this learning experience – told me to keep them on. Can this display of post-game fan interaction really hurt? For Carolina, it provides their faithful followers with an engagement experience unseen “You hear that?” in North American professional sports. I stared at him with a confused look on my face, even though the fan’s Jhonas Enroth, a veteran of 153 NHL games, has experienced this type decibel level hadn’t decreased. of fan interaction during his time in the SHL before making his move to North America. The current KHL goaltender falls somewhere in the “Grab your jersey. The fans want an encore, we’re heading back out,” middle in his opinion on Carolina’s celebrations. Maxwell said. “I don’t’ love it, but I’m okay with it,” Enroth said. “I don’t think it’s I was a bit rattled at this point. The game had ended almost 20 minutes unprofessional (for Carolina). I just think they are trying to interact with ago and my feet were killing me. I just wanted to go home. But after a the fan base in a new way which I think is good for a team that has few more claps, laps and flips the celebration was over. struggled to get people in the stands.” I don’t think post-game celebrations will ever make it that far in North In Europe, a win at home is a celebration for all in attendance. You see America, but the Hurricanes conscious effort to include their fans in the players taking laps around the ice with their kids and after they have team’s celebration has certainly gotten the attention of many around the finally finished and have changed into their street clothes, fans can again NHL. The Skol clap, the surge, it’s hard to keep up with the fun this team interact with them outside the arena. is having. They’ve engaged in a European influenced post-game demonstration that allows the fans to be a part of the celebration. In the same interview, Burke makes a quip about fans staying longer to get another beer to catch the celebration as if it was something Many North American sports fans have seen the visuals of European insignificant. Sometimes after a hard days work, the fan needs a win too. soccer fans passionately supporting their local teams. That passion and When I played in the DEL, I was greeted with by a fan with a beer by fan engagement – though in smaller numbers – burns just as strong for outside the dressing room and had post-game meals in the team hockey clubs across Europe. restaurant with my wife while fans stop by to say congratulations or offer some pointers. It can’t be overlooked what a few extra minutes of time can do in making a fan’s day or making them feel involved and invested in the team. That’s what a business like the NHL is built on. The players in this story have experienced hockey culture on both sides of the Atlantic and believe this type of fan interaction fits well in a market like Carolina. But can this type of interaction spread across the NHL? “I can’t see any other teams adopt this celebration,” Enroth said. “ I just think it works for them.” “I don’t really see it spreading,” Garbutt said. “I can talk all day about how it should, but I don’t see it really fitting into the North American culture.” I agree with Enroth’s belief that this type of interaction works for the Hurricanes and them alone. The original-six teams have their history and most other NHL teams have already adopted some form of ritual that fans can identify with. Carolina’s post-game interaction works for them like shooting a cannon does in Columbus. There’s also something to what Garbutt said about North American culture. North Americans always seem to be in a rush to go somewhere. The home team could be down – or up – three goals with nine minutes left on the clock and it’s a dash to the parking garage to beat traffic. In Europe, the place to be is at the game. Win or lose. For now, let’s just enjoy the harmless fun that the Hurricanes are bringing to their fans and the NHL. Even if it is a little “childish,” we call hockey a game for a reason. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121680 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks find some fire in 2-1 win over Predators

Jimmy Greenfield

The Predators’ Colton Sissons figured he could take a couple extra whacks at the puck just as it settled into Blackhawks goalie Cam Ward’s pads. Patrick Kane wasn’t having any of it, not today and definitely not against this team. Kane quickly moved in and shoved Sissons far away from his goaltender, giving him a shot under the chin for good measure. It was a minor moment in the Hawks’ 2-1 win over the Predators Tuesday night at the United Center but it reflected how raw they still are from losing Corey Crawford to a concussion 48 hours earlier, and from a thumping they took in Nashville earlier this month. The Hawks will be without Crawford for at least four games after he was involved in a collision on Sunday that resulted in the back of his head striking a goal post. On Dec. 1, the Hawks fell behind the Predators 3-0 in the first 4 minutes, 11 seconds in just one of a long line of games this season where they trailed early and couldn't recover. “Think we had a good start,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “Second period was excellent. Third period, obviously they had a little push against us and would have liked to spend a little more time in their end. Don't want to put yourself under so much pressure, you're kind of at the mercy of the bounce. “But credit to the guys, they played really hard and when we do that then we're really competitive.” The compete was there from early on against the Predators, but the ability to finish wasn’t. The Hawks had several missed opportunities in the first period, including 20 seconds into the game when Jonathan Toews sent a cross-ice pass to Dominik Kahun who just missed getting a stick on the puck with an open net in front of him. Despite the Hawks playing a solid first, the Predators took a 1-0 lead on Kevin Fiala's sixth goal of the season with 33 seconds remaining. If the second period wasn’t the Hawks’ best of the season, it wasn’t far off. They outshot the Predators 16-7 and took a 2-1 lead on on Gustav Forsling’s unassisted goal with 4:38 left and an Erik Gustafsson power- play goal that deflected off Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis less than two minutes later. “Right from the start, we battled hard,” Gustafsson said. “We stick together as a team and when we (got) tired, we stuck together in front of Wardo. It was a team win tonight.” Late in the second, Marcus Kruger went head first into Ryan Hartman's elbow and began bleeding profusely. Afterward, Colliton said Kruger suffered a concussion and will not make the two-game road trip to Dallas and Denver. The Predators pulled goalie Pekka Rinne with 2:29 remaining and had several great looks to tie the game but they couldn’t slip the equalizer past Ward, who made 30 saves. “Every game is huge and our thoughts are obviously with Crow and our hopes and prayers that he’s back healthy sooner than later," said Ward. “I think for him, he’s got a family and you’re obviously very concerned. We want to continue to grow as a team with him on our minds and play for one another. “But he’s not gonna be forgotten and I’m not Crawford out there. I’m just going to try to give this team a chance to win every time I get the opportunity.” LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121681 Chicago Blackhawks

Henri Jokiharju leaves Blackhawks to join Finland at World Junior Championships

Jimmy Greenfield

Blackhawks rookie Henri Jokiharju has left the team to play for his native Finland at the upcoming World Junior Championships, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Hawks announced the decision to loan out the 19-year-old defenseman on Tuesday, the same day they activated defenseman Gustav Forsling after he missed nearly two weeks because of a shoulder injury. Jokiharju started quickly this season, but his scoring and playing time have decreased over the last few weeks. With the Hawks down in the standings, it made sense to give Jokiharju a breather from the rigors of his first NHL season and allow him to compete for his country. “It’s a great opportunity we think for him but also for our team,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We’re thinking about what kind of player he’s going to be months and years down the road. It’s a chance for him to go there and be, if not the top player, one of the top players, and help lead them to success.” When opportunity calls Nobody ever wants to get a chance to play because of another player’s injury, but that’s the situation goalie Collin Delia is in. The Hawks called him up from Rockford to replace Corey Crawford, who suffered a concussion on Sunday. “The circumstances are less than ideal, but a lot of times that’s when guys break through,” Colliton said. “They get opportunity through circumstances that are sometimes negative. It’s an opportunity for him.” Cam Ward started Tuesday night against the Predators, but Delia should be in net later this week when the Hawks play back-to-back road games against the Stars and Avalanche. “I'm going to prepare in a high-quality way every night to make contributions,” Delia said. “If my number gets called, I’m sure I’ll be ready.” One-timers: Artem Anisimov (concussion) was activated from injured reserve. ... Alex DeBrincat celebrated his 21st birthday Tuesday. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121682 Chicago Blackhawks They changed that team policy at the start of this season and now reveal where on the body the injury takes place, which falls in line with the majority of NHL teams. Blackhawks Q&A: Which players return next season? Who gets the What current roster players do you see in a Blackhawks uniform next starts with Corey Crawford hurt? season? — Ian C. Instead of listing who will be around, I'll list who I don't expect to be Jimmy Greenfield around since it's a shorter list. OK, here we go: Marcus Kruger, Chris Kunitz, Andreas Martinsen, Brandon Manning, Brandon Davidson, Jan Rutta and Cam Ward. Corey Crawford’s injury put a serious damper on what had been the first All those players — except for Manning — are unrestricted free agents at positive week for the Blackhawks in a long time. the end of the season. Manning's cap hit is $2.25 million so he'll be hard to move but with a bunch of young defensemen ready for the NHL it's After reading this week’s questions, please take a minute to join the hard to see where he'll fit in. He's been a frequent healthy scratch Tribune’s Blackhawks Fans Facebook group. already this season. I would expect the Hawks to do whatever they can to move him before this year's trade deadline. If Corey Crawford decides that it's in his best interest to retire, how dire does the situation become for the Blackhawks, who would have yet As for players who are under contract, the likeliest trade target will be another hole to fill in their path back to contention? — @lukestanbery Artem Anisimov. His $4.55 million cap hit through the 2020-21 season shouldn't be too hard to move. According to capfriendly.com, he has a It's understandable that people are wondering if this is the end of the line modified no-trade clause and starting with this season had to provide a for Corey Crawford because of his history with concussions. list of 10 teams he can be traded to. But it's important to take a step back and let this play out. Every Should the Blackhawks attempt to trade their “aging” stars to enable concussion is different, so there's no way of knowing what the future them to finish with a winning team and enjoy one more moment holds. It's also possible Crawford and the Hawks will be overly cautious competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs before retirement? — George D. even if his symptoms go away sooner rather than expected. Do you think there is any chance Patrick Kane will ask to be traded to a As for how dire the situation would be for the Hawks without Crawford, contender? I am hoping this is NOT the case! — Sandy S. remember that things got pretty dire even with Crawford. Not that I'm blaming him in any way for the current state of the team, it's just that he There's been a variation on this question every mailbag, and as we get hasn't been able to be a difference-maker this season with a defense in closer to the trade deadline I'm sure they'll become even more frequent. front of him that has been so consistently poor. To be clear: the Hawks will do what's best for the Hawks. They're not in a I'm not going to go too much into the salary cap ramifications if Crawford position to deal valuable assets for any reason other than it's good for the is forced to retire and goes on long-term injured reserve. But it's not as organization. simple as just getting back his $6 million cap hit to use as they please. This doesn't mean a player like Duncan Keith can't get traded if he As for who would be the starting goalie if Crawford can't play, that's a chooses to waive his no-trade clause but it will only happen if the Hawks great question. Right now, Kevin Lankinen is the only goalie they have get back what they consider to be fair-market value. under contract for the 2019-20 season besides Crawford. As for Kane, he's not going anywhere. He's still one of the best players in However, Collin Delia and Anton Forsberg are both restricted free agents the NHL and it's just hard to imagine Hawks chairman Rocky Wirtz after this season and neither would be likely to get an offer sheet from allowing Kane to be traded if general manager Stan Bowman came to another team. him asking to do that. The return would not only have to be extraordinary, but Kane, who has a full no-movement clause, would have to approve Looking ahead to the off-season, there are some interesting players who the deal. will be unrestricted free agents. The Oilers' Mikko Koskinen, Penguins' Casey DeSmith and Islanders' Robin Lehner are all having good seasons Before the season, Bowman made it seem like they were playoff bound and should be reasonably priced. and last year was a fluke. As we see now, that’s clearly not the case. Do you think Bowman tried to downplay how bad he knew they were going But the best scenario for the Hawks — aside from Crawford being to be or did he truly have no idea? Either way, do you think that’s enough healthy — is to have Delia prove he can be a starting goalie in the NHL. reason to let him go? Considering he either fibbed or doesn’t know what With Crawford hurt, do you think Cam Ward takes the majority of starts? he’s talking about. Thanks! — Collin M. — Teddy G. I'm not going to try and climb inside Bowman's head and decide if he's It's hard to come up with a scenario where the Hawks are better off been dishonest about how he viewed this team entering the season. starting Ward more often than they are starting Delia. No GM in his right mind is going to declare a season over before it starts Let's assume the Hawks accept that they are not going to make the so I won't hold it against him for saying he believed in the team he put playoffs this season, and the games are more about preparing for next together. season and beyond. In this situation, Delia should get the majority of the However, if you go back to free agency and see who Bowman added I starts to give him experience and help the Hawks see if his AHL success think that offers the strongest clues to how he viewed this season. He will carry over to the NHL. signed a backup goalie, a 39-year-old forward and a third-pairing If the Hawks aren't willing to go there yet, it still makes sense to start defenseman who was sometimes a healthy scratch. Delia because Ward hasn't been very good this year. Sure, he's had a The free agent haul was, shall we say, lacking. Cam Ward, Chris Kunitz few starts where he's played well and recaptured his youth but overall he and Brandon Manning are all terrific guys to have in the locker room but has an .883 save percentage and a 4.17 goals-against average. With the Hawks needed far more than that after a last-place finish. There was numbers like that it you'd want to see what the 24-year-old who is leading simply no sense of urgency to right the ship for the 2018-19 season. the AHL with a .933 save percentage can do. To the question of whether Bowman should lose his job, I've been firmly The Hawks have a lot of respect for Ward and they may want to give him in the camp that when you've been the architect of two Stanley Cup the first start in Crawford's absence. They have back-to-back games later champions — I'll give Dale Tallon the bulk of the credit for the 2010 Cup this week against the Stars and Avalanche, and Delia is certain to play — you should be cut some slack. one of those. Then they’ll play the Panthers on Sunday before Crawford is eligible to return Dec. 27 against the Wild. It's difficult with the team falling to such miserable depths but, to get back to the original question, I don't think this was entirely unexpected. Last year at this point — after Crawford was hurt the last time — all we heard was "an upper-body injury." Now we already know it's a Thanks for all the questions. Until next time. concussion. Should we credit this to Jeremy Colliton or is it a league policy about second injuries? Or is it anything else? — Margaret L. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 There is no league policy about how teams need to reveal injuries. You're correct in noting that the Hawks used to refer to all injuries as either upper-body or lower-body injuries. 1121683 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks C Marcus Kruger sidelined by concussion, out vs. Dallas, Colorado

Jason Lieser

Concussions continue to wreck the Blackhawks’ lineup, and center Marcus Kruger is the latest to go down. He will not travel for the team’s upcoming trip to Dallas and Colorado. Kruger left the ice in the second period of tonight’s 2-1 win over Nashville after taking an inadvertent elbow to the face from Ryan Hartman. He was bleeding as he skated off and did not return to the bench. “I don’t know how many stitches, but he was bleeding pretty good,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. In the past two weeks, the Hawks lost starting goalie Corey Crawford and center Artem Anisimov to concussions. Anisimov returned Tuesday; Crawford is on Injured Reserve and won’t play again until at least Dec. 27. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121684 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Jeremy Colliton believes Erik Gustafsson can be 'top player' in NHL

Madeline Kenney

Defenseman Erik Gustafsson continued his hot streak on Tuesday in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators at the United Center. With the Hawks on the power play in the second period, Patrick Kane took the puck down the boards and passed it to Gustafsson, who fired off a quick shot down the middle. “Saw the lane, shot it and saw it go in,” Gustafsson said. He made it look as easy as 1-2-3. Gustafsson said his confidence has grown significantly over the last week, and it’s shown on the ice. He’s notched four points (two goals, two assists) in the Hawks’ last four games. Coach Jeremy Colliton said he’s not surprised with Gustafsson’s recent explosion of productivity. “He’s always had the ability,” Colliton said. “He continues to battle the puck decisions, engagement defensively. He’s got the world at his feet if he wants as far as his ability to contribute in this league at a high level. He’s going to make … those special plays. “But it’s raising the minimum level that he plays at. If he does that then he can be a top player on top teams.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121685 Chicago Blackhawks

While Cubs prepare to launch Marquee, Hawks, Bulls & Sox return to NBCSCH

Jeff Agrest

With the Cubs heading out on their own to start a new network, the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox will return to NBC Sports Chicago next year, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times. The Cubs will operate their own regional sports network, to be called Marquee, with Sinclair Broadcast Group. Next season will be their last with NBCSCH. The network’s contract with the teams ends in October 2019. NBCSCH, previously called Comcast SportsNet Chicago, has had broadcast rights to all four teams since 2004. It’s unclear how many games the Cubs will carry on their network. Many still will be available nationally on Fox and ESPN. The Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox have had a longstanding TV relationship. Bulls and Sox chairman and Hawks chairman Rocky Wirtz also co-own the United Center. Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM (670) first reported that the three teams would return to the network. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121686 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks beat Predators 2-1 as Cam Ward shines in Corey Crawford's place

Jason Lieser

Every piece of Corey Crawford’s gear was set up perfectly in his locker before Tuesday’s home game against Nashville, likely to go as untouched as a museum exhibit for a while as the Blackhawks move on without him. Veteran backup Cam Ward gave them a major boost as he stepped in Tuesday with his best game of the year. He was exactly what the Hawks needed after losing one of their stars, and they beat Nashville 2-1 at the United Center. “I felt confident, but I think that confidence grows with the team and the way that they were playing in front of me,” Ward said. “You see guys battling like they were tonight and you don’t want to let your teammates down.” He stopped 30 of 31 shots, including some rockets near the end, for a season-high .968 save percentage. It was big for the Hawks as they desperately hope to make any kind of run this season, but bigger for Ward. When Crawford went down with a concussion early in Sunday’s game against the Sharks, Ward came in and allowed five goals on 35 shots in a 7-3 loss. It was an ominous start to what could be an extended absence for Crawford, who is out until at least Dec. 27. “If I’m going to do that, then I need to respond and do my thing on the ice,” Ward said. Done and done. He shut down 10 shots to open the game before Predators winger Kevin Fiala got him in the final minute of the first period. Fiala fired from the right faceoff circle and whistled it stick-side over Ward’s right shoulder. It was one scuff on an otherwise sparkling performance, and the Hawks made it count thanks to goals by Gustav Forsling and Erik Gustafsson. Ward was steaming about the San Jose game, but didn’t show it leading up to Nashville. Throughout the day, he had the same steady, seen-it-all presence the Hawks have seen throughout the year. “He’s predictable,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “You know what you get every day. That’s why he’s won a cup and has had a nice career.” The defense did its part, too. The Hawks came in allowing the fourth-most shots on goal per game in the NHL and let their goalies get pelted with 42 or more in the previous three games. They held Nashville to seven in the second period, when Gustafsson and Forlsing scored, and aesthetically it was this team’s best stretch in a long time. “For the most part, we were committed to playing a simple game when it was necessary,” Colliton said. “We want to make as many plays as we can. When you have time and options, let’s be clean. “When it’s not there … we want to play in their half of the ice, get a forecheck going, force them to make plays under pressure and then we have a chance to control things more. That’s where we have to get as a team and long term will help us win.” The Hawks’ goalie situation will be tested further as they head into a back-to-back at Dallas and Colorado starting Thursday. That might prompt Colliton to give Collin Delia his first opportunity of the season. He’s an unknown at this point, but has come a long way over the past year or so. He made two starts for the Hawks late last season and allowed seven goals on 63 shots, then went into this year splitting time with Anton Forsberg on the Hawks’ top minor league affiliate in Rockford. He had a .933 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average in 17 games. “He’s kind of picked up where he’s left off down in Rockford,” Colliton said. “Excited to get him here, of course. The circumstances are less than ideal, but a lot of times that’s when guys break through.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121687 Chicago Blackhawks

Landlord vs. tenant: Blackhawks' Connor Murphy faces Ryan Hartman tonight

Jason Lieser

Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy finished morning skate, stripped off his pads in the locker room, then moved on to some personal business. He walked down the corridor to the visiting locker room at the United Center carrying two Whole Foods bags full of mail to his landlord, Nashville right wing Ryan Hartman. Murphy owed some back rent payments, too. When the Hawks traded Hartman to the Predators last year, he kept his three-bedroom Lincoln Park condo and eventually leased it to Murphy. Landlord and tenant will square off tonight when their teams meet for the second time this season. “I have to be physical on him, but not too physical where he’s bumping my rent up,” Murphy said. “It’s always fun to compete against guys you know. When you get in games you don’t really think about being friends with anyone, but after it’s funny to share some laughs.” It’ll be contentious on the ice because their positions pit them directly against each other and the Chicago-Nashville rivalry remains feisty, but there won’t be any grumbling about the condo. Murphy described Hartman as the model landlord, citing a recent example when the sink was clogged and Hartman got a plumber there immediately. NHL players: They’re just like us. Because Nashville played at Ottawa on Monday, and went overtime at that, Hartman didn’t get a chance to check on in his tenant after landing in Chicago. Their arrangement has a few quirks beyond the way mail gets relayed. Rather than the conventional monthly payments, Hartman told Murphy to give him a check whenever the teams play. The next time they’ll settle up again when the teams meet Jan. 9 in Chicago and for the season finale in Nashville on April 6. “He said it’s just easier to pay him in person,” Murphy said. “It’s simple stuff. Just whenever I run into him. He knows I’m good for it. “It’s pretty funny. But I like renting a place where you know the guy, so you don’t have some crazy landlord.” Their bond comes from playing together last season. Hartman began his career with the Hawks in 2014, and Murphy arrived from Arizona in a trade during the 2017 offseason. Hartman, who was dealt for Victor Ejdsell, plus a first- and fourth-round pick, has nine goals and four assists this season. Ejdsell is the only one of the three players the Hawks acquired to appear in a game for them, logging six games last season. He’s with the Rockford IceHogs this year. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121688 Chicago Blackhawks

Jeremy Colliton sees world junior tourney as chance for Henri Jokiharju to grow

Madeline Kenney

Rookie Henri Jokiharju will be playing for Finland at the end of the month. One of the Blackhawks’ most dependable defensemen, Jokiharju was given the OK to play in the IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held in Vancouver from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Coach Jeremy Colliton thinks the move is “the best thing now for our team” and Jokiharju’s long-term development. “We’re thinking about what kind of player he’s going to be months down the road and years down the road,” Colliton said Tuesday. “It’s a chance for him to go there and be, if not the top player, one of the top players and help lead them to success, being a leader and being a top, top guy.” With Jokiharju expected to play a key role for the Hawks for years to come, Colliton hopes that he embraces a leadership role in the tournament. “It’s a lot of responsibility for him,” Colliton said. “It can really help him grow as a person and a leader and a player. He’s got to embrace the opportunity, but I think he will, and it can be a great experience for him.” Jokiharju, 19, a native of Oulu, Finland, has 11 assists in 32 games. At last year’s world junior tourney, the 2017 first-round pick had two goals and two assists in five games. With Jokiharju on leave, the Hawks activated center Artem Anisimov and defenseman Gustav Forsling from injured reserve. Anisimov, who’s sixth on the team with 15 points (six goals, nine assists), missed four games with a concussion. Forsling, 22, started the season on injured reserve after offseason wrist surgery but was most recently on IR with a shoulder injury. He only had played in 11 games, notching five points. Forsling also played in five games with Rockford. Signs of improvement The Hawks have shown some positive signs recently. In their last three games before hosting the Predators, they scored six goals in the first period, while only giving up four. In the nine games before that, they only scored five goals in the first period and allowed 21. Forward Alex DeBrincat said the Hawks only had themselves to blame. “A lot of times, we put ourselves in that position,” he said. “We’re playing our best hockey, and then we give up two goals in the first 10 minutes of that stretch there. It’s kind of us creating our own problems. “We try to stay positive. In each game, we have a lot of good things that happen and a few bad things, obviously, like this stretch we’re going through. But we’re trying to take the good things and build off them and keep moving forward.” Cat turns 21 DeBrincat, who turned 21 Tuesday, had scored the seventh-most goals by a Hawk before turning 21 — 42 in 116 games. He trailed Jonathan Toews (58 goals) and Patrick Kane (53). Hawks broadcaster heads the list, scoring 65 in 228 games before his 21st birthday. Colliton believes this is only the start for the budding star, saying, “There’s no reason why he can’t keep getting better.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121689 Chicago Blackhawks

Ward makes 30 saves in Blackhawks' victory over Preds

John Dietz

No one is about to argue that Cam Ward has a better resume than Blackhawks teammate Corey Crawford. But the 34-year-old veteran certainly put together one of the most impressive performances -- both on and off the ice -- Tuesday night at the United Center. First, Ward stopped 30 of 31 Nashville shots to lead the Hawks to a 2-1 victory over their division rivals. Moments later, he delivered some heartfelt words about Crawford, who is out indefinitely with a concussion. "Our thoughts are obviously with Crow, and our hopes and prayers (are) that he's back healthy sooner than later," Ward said. "He's got a family and you're obviously very concerned. We want to continue to grow as a team with him on our minds and play for one another. "But he's not going to be forgotten and I'm not Crawford out there. I'm just going to try to give this team a chance to win every time I get the opportunity." Ward certainly did that against the Predators, turning away all 20 shots Nashville threw at him in the final 40 minutes. The Predators led 1-0 after one period, but Gustav Forsling and Erik Gustafsson scored less than two minutes apart in the second period to give the Hawks (11-19-6) a lead they would not relinquish. Gustafsson now has 7 goals on the season, with 6 coming in his last 12 games. This was the first time Ward allowed fewer than 2 goals since March 26, when he was still in Carolina. He gave up 5 after relieving Crawford in a 7-3 loss to San Jose on Sunday. "I kind of voiced my displeasure after (that) game," Ward said, "and if I'm going to do that, then I need to respond and do my thing on the ice." Said coach Jeremy Colliton: "Really nice for him to come in and play as well as he did. Thought he was really good. So happy for him." • Marcus Kruger suffered a concussion after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Ryan Hartman in the second period. Kruger will not travel on the Hawks' upcoming road trip to Dallas and Colorado. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121690 Chicago Blackhawks in trouble. I know how all of (that) works. You can't ask too many questions. The more questions you ask, the hotter the water gets around you. You want to be a good, little soldier. Former teammate and friend Carcillo hopes Blackhawks' Crawford gets "That's the reason I am so aggressive because I know guys have Twitter proper care for latest concussion accounts and whether they like my stuff or not, I'm sure they see it. … That's why I do what I do -- to educate parents, kids, police officer, firefighters, military veterans. John Dietz "I use the NHL as a platform, but for the most part it's to get to millions of other people." Moments after Daniel Carcillo left for a trip to Cincinnati on Sunday, the There are plenty of other athletes -- some retired, some still playing -- former Blackhawks forward received a text message that asked if he'd who Crawford could lean on for advice. One of them is Colliton, who was seen what happened to Corey Crawford. forced out of the game at age 28 after playing just three games in Sweden in 2013. Carcillo immediately asked his friend to pull the car over, then watched Crawford's head crash into the goalpost after he was bowled over by "I had a couple in a short time," Colliton said. "Just didn't recover after teammate Dylan Strome. that. I did everything I could to try and come back and play. At some point, it just wasn't happening. "As a friend -- when you see something like that -- it makes your heart hurt," Carcillo said. "Had to be smart." The Hawks, who placed Crawford on injured reserve with a concussion Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 Monday, shed little light on how badly their goaltender is injured before taking on Nashville at the United Center on Tuesday. All coach Jeremy Colliton said is that Crawford is "in the concussion protocol and we'll go from there." Exactly what is that protocol, though? When Carcillo suffered his seventh and final concussion in 2015, he said his instructions were to go home and "when you're symptom-free, you can start on a bike." "I remember my 2015 concussion and it was a really, really dark place," said Carcillo, who retired soon after the Hawks won the Stanley Cup. "It takes you to a darkness that I don't want anybody to have to experience." Since retiring, Carcillo has been extremely outspoken in his belief that the NHL doesn't do enough to help players suffering from brain injuries. He is part of a lawsuit filed by former players that alleges the league knowingly held back how dangerous brain injuries are and that fighting was encouraged. Carcillo's good friend, enforcer Steve Montador, died at age 35 on Feb. 15, 2015. It was later determined that Montador, who finished his career in 2012 with the Blackhawks, suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Crawford turns 34 on Dec. 31, and the last thing Carcillo wants to see is another tragedy unfold. "I want nothing but the best for him," said Carcillo, who began his NHL career in 2007 and played 90 of his 429 games for the Hawks. "I want nothing but the best for Kristy (his fiancee) and Coop, his (1-year-old) son. … I just hope he gets the right diagnosis and care." During training camp, Crawford told me it was a hellacious road back from his last concussion. Two weeks earlier, I asked him if he ever considered retiring. He almost admitted it, saying: "When it lingers that long ..." Crawford then paused and said: "I don't know. I was still into it. … It didn't really creep into my mind that much." At this point, though, retirement has to be a possibility. During Crawford's last recovery, Carcillo spoke with his friend about the Carrick Institute in Florida, where Carcillo has gone to receive treatment. "They make you a personalized program, because like a snowflake, each concussion/brain injury is different in everybody," Carcillo said. "They identify the areas that are injured. Those areas have dead neurons. "You can't make your neurons alive again. But you can identify those areas that are shut off and stimulate them and get them back online again. (Then you) build new neurogical pathways around those dead neurons." Carcillo reached out to Crawford after Sunday's incident, but he didn't want to go into details as to how the Hawks' goalie is feeling. What Crawford ultimately decides to do will be up to him, but Carcillo understands why the decision to retire can be so difficult. "Not many people can do what we do," Carcillo said. "It's also fear of the unknown and fear of what lies ahead. He's young. I'm young too. I'm turning 34 on Jan. 28 and imagine me dead in a year because of CTE. … "My advocacy work is aggressive. It's very truthful and I don't try to make people laugh about it, so it makes people upset. I've tried to keep my distance from Corey and the other guys because I don't want them to get 1121691 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks' Jokiharju to miss at least 8 games while playing for Finland

John Dietz

With the Stanley Cup playoffs all but out of reach, the Blackhawks decided to take the long view Tuesday by loaning defenseman Henri Jokiharju to the Finnish national team so he could play in the IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver. The tournament runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, meaning the 19-year- old Jokiharju will miss at least eight games. "We're thinking about what kind of player he's going to be months down the road and years down the road," said Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton. The World Juniors is a high-profile tournament that brings together the best young hockey players across the globe. The Hawks believe Jokiharju will not only gain confidence in his game, but that he'll also grow as a leader on and off the ice. "They're so excited to have him," Colliton said. "It's a lot of responsibility for him. … He's got to embrace the opportunity, but I think he will and it can be a great experience." Jokiharju got off to a fast start with the Hawks, racking up 8 assists while averaging 21½ minutes of ice time in his first 15 games. Like many rookies, though, he's slowed down of late. Jokiharju has just 1 assist in his last 11 games and has played less than 20 minutes in his last seven. "I was talking with him the other day and I know how hard it is your first year," fellow D-man Connor Murphy said. "Just the schedule, the ups and downs. In the NHL, you're playing every other day and so many back-to- backs. It's different in junior, playing on the weekends." That's why Murphy believes we'll see a different Jokiharju upon his return in early January. "He's an unreal player and I just think about how much he's going to dominate that tournament," Murphy said. "It'll be pretty cool to see. … It'll be awesome for him to go and dominate and come back and be even better." The United States (2013, '17), Finland ('14, '16) and Canada ('15, '18) have won the last six IIHF titles. Delia arrives: With Corey Crawford (concussion) on injured reserve, 24-year-old Collin Delia will back up Cam Ward in net. Delia began last season in the ECHL, but earned a promotion to Rockford and was a big reason behind the IceHogs' run to the Western Conference final in the Calder Cup playoffs. "It definitely helped (my confidence)," Delia said Tuesday. "Just experience, just continue to build on the games played stat. I think that's one of the most important stats for goaltenders -- playing games and seeing different situations, so that was huge." Delia has picked up where he left off, posting an AHL-best .933 save percentage in 17 appearances. The Hawks haven't decided how much playing time Delia will receive, but he figures to start either in Dallas on Thursday or Colorado on Friday. Slap shot: Artem Anisimov (concussion) and Gustav Forsling (shoulder) were activated from injured reserve and played against Nashville at the United Center on Tuesday. Chris Kunitz, Andreas Martinsen and defenseman Brandon Manning were the Hawks' healthy scratches. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121692 Chicago Blackhawks — Jonathan Toews (58 in 146 games) — (55 in 177 games) Four takeaways: Blackhawks turn in complete effort, wrap up homestand — Denis Savard (54 in 129 games) with win — Patrick Kane (53 in 181 games)

Of those seven players, DeBrincat ranks fourth in goals-per-game (.362). By Charlie Roumeliotis December 18, 2018 And the best is yet to come. "It's a nice weapon to have in your lineup," Colliton said. "He's probably exceeded expectations that people had for him when he first came to Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 2-1 win over the Nashville training camp a year and a half ago. But there's no reason why he can't Predators at the United Center on Sunday: keep getting better." 1. The Full 60 Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 The Blackhawks have been preaching playing a full 60 minutes ever since Jeremy Colliton took over as head coach. Heck, even before then. And they turned in arguably their most complete effort under their new head coach against a Predators team that came in tied for second in the NHL with 46 points. Even more impressive, the Blackhawks shut the door in the final 40:33 and gave up one or fewer goals for the first time since Nov. 18 in a 3-1 victory over Minnesota — a span of 15 games. Cam Ward was a big reason for that, stopping 30 of 31 shots for a save percentage of .968 to pick up his first win in almost a month. It was a well-deserved win for the Blackhawks, who earned five out of a possible eight points during their four-game homestand. "I thought our guys competed and worked really hard all 60 minutes," Ward said. "Defensively we didn’t give them a whole lot and it’s a credit to the guys for the way that they played. We kept it much more simple and executed and, to be quite honest, we could have had more goals if it wasn’t for [Pekka] Rinne. He made some big saves and it was tight right till the end." 2. Contributions from the back end With Henri Jokiharju being loaned to Finland for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, a void opened up on the Blackhawks blue line. But with that comes opportunity for others. Gustav Forsling, who returned after missing six games with a shoulder injury, scored his second of the season to put the Blackhawks on the board at the 15:22 mark of the second period. And 1:54 later, Erik Gustafsson made it 2-1 when he scored 17 seconds into a power play. Despite deserving better fate in the first period, the Blackhawks stayed with it and responded with two goals and outshot the Predators 16-7 in the middle frame to hand Nashville its first loss of the season when leading after one period (10-1-0). "We always want to score," Forsling said. "But I think the most important thing is not to get scored on and we did a good job at that too." 3. A strong start spoiled The last time the Blackhawks clashed with the Predators, they allowed three goals in the first 4:11. It wasn't great. Perhaps motivated by revenge, the Blackhawks were ready to play from the moment the puck dropped this time around, outshooting the Predators 12-11 and generating 13 scoring chances, according to naturalstattrick.com, in the opening frame. But the Predators spoiled their good start when Kevin Fiala scored with 32.2 seconds left. It's the 15th straight game the Blackhawks allowed a first-period goal, although this is one they can't get too worked up about. '"We talked about it before: we've got to be ready," Gustafsson said. "Nashville's a great team. We know they're going to come out hard. Right from the start, we battled hard, we stuck together as a team and when we [got] tired, we stuck together in front of [Ward]. It was a team win tonight." 4. Alex DeBrincat is in good company The Blackhawks celebrated a birthday on Tuesday, with DeBrincat turning 21 years of age. It's weird to think he's only 21, but at the same time it feels like he's been around for a while now and has become part of the core. There are only six players in Blackhawks history who have scored more goals than him before turning 21: — Eddie Olczyk (65 in 228 games) — Jeremy Roenick (58 in 146 games) 1121693 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks loan Henri Jokiharju to Finland for 2019 World Juniors

By Charlie Roumeliotis December 18, 2018

Henri Jokiharju has been one of the Blackhawks' most reliable defensemen this season. He ranks fourth on the club in even-strength ice time and is tied for second among team defensemen with 11 assists. But at 19 years of age, he's eligible to play in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship for one last time and the Blackhawks loaned him to Team Finland on Tuesday to do exactly that. It's a chance to go up against the elite players at his own age from around the world and play in every situation. "It's a great opportunity for him but also for our team," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We're thinking about what kind of player he's going to be months down the road and years down the road. It's a chance for him to go there and be, if not the top player, one of the top players and help lead them to success, being a leader and being a top, top guy. You don't get those chances very often. He'll have the opportunity to be a big part of their team and make a lot of plays. "He's a confident kid, but get more swagger in his game. Then when he comes back here he can contribute even more to our team." Jokiharju recorded four points (two goals, two assists) in five games for Finland during last year's tournament; his four points ranked tied for first on his country's blue line. Finland's run ended in disappointing fashion, getting upset by the Czech Republic 4-3 in a shootout in the quarterfinals. Jokiharju is expected to be a leader on this year's team, which is hoping to bounce back in a big way and make a real run at the championship. And the Blackhawks like that idea for his development, even though it takes away a key part of their back end. "We're going to build this team to the highest level we can," Colliton said. "It's the best thing now for our team and also for him. If we're going to win, we need him to be a big part of our success, and so this is the right thing for his development. Then it's a no-brainer. "He wants to be here. He wants to play in the NHL. It's the highest level. But he gets the chance to play for his country. Like we told him, they're so excited to have him. It's a lot of responsibility for him. It can really help him grow as a person and a leader and a player. He's got to embrace the opportunity, but I think he will and it can be a great experience for him." The tournament will run from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, 2019 in Vancouver. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121694 Chicago Blackhawks “It’s different going from playing 12-13 minutes a night to 19 the last couple of games,” Strome said. “It’s definitely nice to have the coach’s trust and confidence. I’m still working on my defensive play, and I want to The Wraparound: Dylan Strome busting out of bust label in the early get my plus-minus up a little bit and obviously I want to get the team going with Blackhawks some wins. But I’ve been pretty happy individually. You can never be satisfied, though. I still can do a lot more. I still can bear down on some chances, and my faceoff numbers (45.7 percent since the trade) can be better. There are always things to work on, and you can’t be satisfied By Mark Lazerus Dec 18, 2018 with where you’re at.” The primary thing to work on, of course, is his skating. That’s always been the knock on Strome, the reason he hasn’t ascended the way so Dylan Strome laughed, because, really, it was a stupid question. A stupid many others in his draft class have. He simply doesn’t have the question he’s heard countless times, mind you — directly and indirectly footspeed to keep up in the modern-day NHL, which just seems to get — but a stupid question, nonetheless. faster and faster every year. One team source described Strome as a Does the Blackhawks center, the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NHL draft, worry “vision guy, a playmaker first and foremost,” who wants to slow the game about the “bust” label? After all, much of the hockey world already has down but simply can’t get away with it because everyone else is too fast. slapped him with it. Strome is constantly working on his skating, but he’ll never be able to fly “I’ve never even played a full year yet,” Strome chuckled. “I feel like it’s like McDavid. Few, if any, can. But given the right situation, with the right tough to judge someone on a career without them having played a full wingers? It doesn’t have to be a big issue. year yet.” “I think he fits well here,” said longtime buddy and teammate Alex He’s right, of course. He’s only 21 years old. He’s only played 59 games DeBrincat. “A lot of offensive players and a lot of skill (on this team), so over three seasons. But when you’re the guy taken right after Connor he can find anyone and find the open players as good as anyone. It’s McDavid and Jack Eichel — already two of the best players in the world good to have him here.” — and ahead of Mitchell Marner (fourth), Mikko Rantanen (10th) and Mat That Colliton split up Strome and DeBrincat on Tuesday is a sign of the Barzal (16th), among others, pundits and fans alike tend to get a little growing confidence he has in him. Colliton (and Strome, for that matter) impatient. feels he no longer needs the chemistry crutch of DeBrincat to be Strome was starting to get impatient in Arizona, too. productive. “That’s the media, that’s sports, that’s what comes with being a high “He wants to make a play,” Colliton said. “He wants to make a difference pick,” Strome said. “You’ve got to produce, and that’s all it is. But you’ve in the game, and that’s the first thing you notice. Very calm with the puck, got to play, too.” and when he gets the puck with any time at all, he seems to do something good with it. Big body, so he comes up with a lot of 50-50s. And in Arizona, Strome wasn’t really playing all that much. He got in Not super physical, but he’s a big man, and that’s going to serve him seven games at the beginning of the 2016-17 season before being well.” returned to the OHL’s Erie Otters. He played just 21 games last year in three separate NHL stints, spending most of the season in the AHL. And Despite his reputation as a playmaker, the assists haven’t been coming while he was a regular in the lineup this season for the Coyotes, he yet. But the goals are. The Blackhawks — who have too many players averaged just 13:29 of ice time per game — 17th on the team. Only who spend far too much time on the perimeter — certainly will take that. winger Lawson Crouse averaged less even-strength ice time per game “I”m trying to go to the net more,” Strome said. “I’ve been playing with than Strome’s 11:02. such skilled players, so you find ways to try to produce in other ways, Since the Blackhawks acquired Strome and Brendan Perlini for Nick whether it’s going to the net or a tip goal or whatever it is. You’ve got to Schmaltz — their own underperforming first-round pick — Strome has go to the net to score goals in the league.” been averaging about 16 minutes per game, including 14:07 at even- It’s far too early to declare the Schmaltz trade a smashing success — strength. And as he’s earned Jeremy Colliton’s trust, he’s gotten more Perlini finally got his first goal on Sunday, and Schmaltz has enjoyed his and more ice time — topping the 19-minute mark in three of the previous own change of scenery with four goals and five assists in 11 games with six games before playing 17:54 in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over the the Coyotes — but it’s also silly to write off Strome as mediocre, as a Nashville Predators. bottom-six guy at best, as a bust. Sometimes it’s not really about the “change of scenery.” It’s about the Not that it’ll stop people from doing it. Not that Strome cares. change of opportunity. And whether the playing time is boosting his production, or his production is boosting his playing time, Strome is “To say someone has had a bad career or whatever when they haven’t starting to look like the top-six center the Coyotes hoped he’d be when played even a full season, I don’t know,” Strome said with another they drafted him. Through his first 12 games with the Blackhawks, chuckle. “You’ve just got to keep learning and keep getting better every Strome has five goals and an assist. He’s showing the playmaking flair day. Sometimes a new opportunity arises and you’ve just got to run with that drew (admittedly very optimistic) comparisons to Joe Thornton as a it. That’s what I’m trying to do.” draft prospect, and using his sturdy 6-foot-3 frame to go hard to the net, either with the puck or in search of rebounds. 2. No news is bad news on Corey Crawford, an unfortunately familiar refrain after the star goaltender missed the second half of last season He didn’t score Tuesday night, but he had a strong game — generating with a concussion. The Blackhawks moved him to injured reserve, and his own chances and creating some for others while centering Artem there’s no way of knowing if and when he’ll play again. Anisimov and Patrick Kane. In the second period alone, he had a hand in three quality scoring chances for the Blackhawks. Take a look: “(He needs) time to get better,” Colliton said. “Obviously, (we) feel for him and want him, first of all as a person, to get back to 100 percent as quick First, he had enough wheels to catch up to the play and made a nice as he can. Until then, we’ll keep battling.” cross-ice pass to Kane, who was only denied by a pad-stacking save by Pekka Rinne: Concussions derailed Colliton’s career about five years ago. A second- round pick of the New York Islanders in 2003, Colliton played 57 NHL Less than six minutes later, Strome positioned himself at the net, games over five seasons before finishing his career with three games in allowing Anisimov to draw both defenders before taking a pass for a tuck- Sweden, then transitioning to coaching. in attempt. After fishing out his own rebound, Strome makes a lunging, perfect pass to Anisimov for another opportunity, gets another rebound, “I had a couple in a short time, and just didn’t recover after that,” Colliton and makes another pass into the slot for one last chance. said. “I did everything I could to try to come back and play, but at some point, it wasn’t happening. I had to think of being smart.” Late in the period, he executes a nice give-and-go with Kane — watch how he’s ready for the return pass before Kane even receives the initial 3. Sunday was an awful night for the Blackhawks, as they lost Crawford pass — to give himself some space for an uncontested shot from the to the concussion and then — seemingly devastated and deflated by the right circle. injury — got crushed 7-3 by the Sharks. But with Cam Ward stepping into the starter’s role, the Blackhawks bounced back with one of their most Strome has been making smart, efficient plays like this since he arrived complete efforts of the season in the 2-1 win over the injury-riddled in Chicago. It’s a small sample size, of course, and he has a long way to Predators. go before he finally entrenches himself in a major role in the NHL. But the early returns are very promising. Ward made 30 saves in a stellar goaltending duel with Pekka Rinne (34 saves). “I think it’s fair to say that, yeah,” Ward said when asked if it was one of better feel as a hockey player. You know when you’re playing well and the Blackhawks’ best games of the season. “I thought our guys competed when you’re not.” and worked really hard all 60 minutes. I think defensively we didn’t give them a whole lot, and it’s a credit to the guys for the way that they 7. Marcus Kruger suffered a concussion in the second period and will not played. I thought we kept it much more simple and executed and, to be make the trip to Dallas and Denver. He took an apparently inadvertent quite honest, we could have had more goals if it wasn’t for Rinne.” elbow from Ryan Hartman in the face. Colliton did not expect the Blackhawks to recall anyone from Rockford, so either Chris Kunitz or Gustav Forsling and Erik Gustafsson scored for the Blackhawks, who still Andreas Martinsen will play in his absence. clearly have Crawford on the mind. 8. DeBrincat turned 21 on Tuesday, but if he had any wild postgame “Our thoughts are obviously with Crow, and our hopes and prayers that plans, he wasn’t sharing. he’s back healthy sooner than later,” Ward said. “He’s got a family and you’re obviously very concerned. We want to continue to grow as a team “Not yet,” he said after the morning skate. “No, nothing. I think we’ll worry with him on our minds and play for one another. But he’s not going to be about the game and then maybe something will come. I don’t know. I forgotten, and I’m not Crawford out there. I’m just going to try to give this don’t foresee anything happening.” team a chance to win every time I get the opportunity.” No, these aren’t your 2010 Blackhawks off the ice, either. The Blackhawks went 2-1-1 on the homestand following their second The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 eight-game losing streak of the season. 4. The Blackhawks loaned defenseman Henri Jokiharju to Finland for the upcoming World Junior Championship. The fact that they were willing to part with their No. 2 defenseman for a few weeks in the middle of the season is as sure a sign as any that the organization is fully aware of how unrealistic their playoff hopes are. The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn’s model gives them a mere 1 percent chance of making the postseason. So the Jokiharju move is about letting him play major minutes on a big stage and further building his confidence (not that the 19-year-old Finn has ever been hurting for confidence). So while it might look like something of a white flag on the 2018-19 season, the move is more about the seasons to come. “We’re going to build this team to the highest level we can,” Colliton said. “It’s the best thing now for our team and also for him. If we’re going to win, we need him to be a big part of our success, and so if this is the right thing for his development, then it’s a no-brainer.” Colliton said Jokiharju wanted to stay with the Blackhawks, but said he needs to “embrace the opportunity” to make it “a great experience for him.” 5. The Jokiharju move also allows the Blackhawks to kick the can down the road a bit on defensive roster decisions. With Forsling returning to the lineup on Tuesday (partnered with Brent Seabrook), the Blackhawks have eight defensemen, counting Jokiharju. Brandon Manning was a healthy scratch for the third straight game, as Carl Dahlstrom continues to make his own play at a permanent roster spot. 6. I found it interesting that Strome pointed to his plus/minus as an important stat, especially given his age. Most people in the hockey world have moved far beyond the plus/minus, an incredibly flawed stat that is a poor measure of a player’s worth. Most scouts, executives and pundits have moved on to more advanced metrics. But players still stubbornly cling to the old-school plus/minus stat. You’ll often hear players, particularly older ones, frustratingly cite their plus/minus after a game — particularly when they’re minus-2 or worse. It’s the first thing they look for on the postgame stat sheet in the dressing room. “It’s something that every player wants to have a good number in,” Strome said. “You don’t want to be the guy who’s known for going out there and getting scored on.” Even Kane, one of the few Blackhawks who has at least heard of possession-based metrics, doesn’t write off the stat completely. “Obviously it’s a good stat to judge a guy, if you’re plus-20 or minus-20,” Kane said. “You can get a good read on the way guys are playing. Sometimes there are some tough stretches, though. Last year, it seemed like we were always behind in games and we’re trying to catch up, and sometimes you catch some empty-net minuses, which are never a good feeling. Those can add up.” Kane said he tries not to get too lost in the stats — old-school and new- school alike. “I couldn’t tell you what anyone’s Corsi or anything is in here,” he said, though he acknowledged it can make a difference for guys in contract years, or fourth-liners fighting for playing time. For Kane, the best measure of his play is his own internal hockey sense. “For sure,” he said. “I think if you’re playing hockey and you’re playing well and you’re creating chances, it seems like you have the puck more often, seems like you’re in the offensive zone more often than the defensive zone, and I think that kind of tells the story right there. Obviously, there might be some numbers on that, and stats to kind of prove that — whether it’s shots against when you’re on the ice, or shots for — but sometimes those can tell a different story, too. I think you get a 1121695 Chicago Blackhawks hard to believe those numbers haven’t dropped as the Bulls are off to a 7-24 start dominated by organizational dysfunction.

Sports Media Watch also reported that the Blackhawks had a major Can a new TV deal help the White Sox land Manny Machado or Bryce ratings decline last season. They averaged a 2.39 rating on NBC Sports Harper? Can Chicago support two RSNs? Chicago, a 28 percent drop from the previous season and the team’s smallest average since their first playoff season under Joel Quenneville in 2008-09. Again, their TV audience isn’t growing with the Hawks in By Jon Greenberg Dec 18, 2018 next-to-last place in the Western Conference. So the White Sox spending on Machado or Harper would make good business sense despite the sticker shock of their contracts. (The White With the Cubs going out on their own to find fortune in the TV business, Sox could obviously use the ticket sales revenue as well. They averaged the other teams in town, the Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawks, are 19,862 fans per game in 2018.) Then again, Eloy Jiménez, Luis Robert, finalizing a five-year TV deal to remain partners with NBC Sports Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease, among others, should help both Chicago after their current pact expires in 2019, according to The Athletic ratings and attendance by 2020. sources. It had been reported the Cubs were talking to Sinclair about a distribution The Cubs are countering with an individual sports network called deal. Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney had been Marquee. touting the Cubs’ looming TV independence for years. NBC and the four teams each hold a 20 percent share in the current “We have a big passion for controlling our own destiny,” Kenney said at network, with Bulls and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf the largest the 2018 Cubs Convention. “It’s sort of like conversations about the real- shareholder at 40 percent. estate market. We like controlling our own destiny. Some days, we think we actually know where we’re going. You start adding partners and it The Score’s Bruce Levine first reported the teams were breaking up in a becomes more complicated. story published Tuesday afternoon. “I’d say Jerry (Reinsdorf) has been a great and amazing partner, as has The Sun-Times’ Jeff Agrest broke a story of the Cubs calling their Comcast. It’s been a very successful thing. If it made the ultimate sense proposed network “Marquee.” He reported the Cubs are partnering with to stay together, we would. But I’d say at the moment, we’re probably 80 Sinclair Broadcast Group, a large chain of local TV stations that nearly percent inclined to do it on our own.” merged with WGN earlier this year, though Levine later reported the Cubs told him nothing was official and that “industry sources” said The Cubs hired Mike McCarthy — a former chief operating officer for the Sinclair was only a “front runner” to become partners. A Cubs source Milwaukee Bucks and vice chairman/CEO with the St. Louis Blues, who confirmed that to The Athletic on Tuesday evening. once ran MSG Network in New York — as a consultant over the summer. In recent years, Sinclair has become known nationwide for its right-wing The Cubs have been ramping up Cubs Productions, an in-house political slant as a company and forcing its individual TV stations to air operation that gets the kind of unique behind-the-scenes access a local hard-right commentary. While Joe, Marlene, Pete and Todd Ricketts are TV station could only dream about. all heavily involved in conservative politics, a source told me earlier this year that any Cubs TV partnership would be for distribution, not content. One question that will arise is who gets the on-air talent. Ubiquitous media maven David Kaplan hosts pre- and post-game shows for the The name Marquee would be fitting because of the famous, landmarked Cubs and SportsTalk Live, the daily gabfest with local sports reporters. marquee outside of . In 2017, the Ricketts family created a He also hosts interview shows and essentially serves as the face of the holding company Marquee Sports & Entertainment for its “premier, network. He would naturally fit with the Cubs’ plans. (Both his ESPN group, meeting and event sales opportunities” in and around Wrigley radio and NBC Sports TV deals are up after the 2019 Cubs season, Field. which means he could conceivably jump ship to The Score, the radio home of the Cubs, for true synergy.) While the Cubs have time to wait to finalize their agreements, the other teams don’t because the 2019-20 hockey and basketball seasons start A Cubs source believes Ryan Dempster, who currently works for the before the 2020 baseball one does. Their deal was expected to be done team and as an analyst on MLB Network, could also have a big role. by the end of the month or just after the first of the year. While everyone knew this was happening, the big question right now is: how does it affect Then there is reporter Kelly Crull, who has been on Cubs broadcasts for the White Sox’s chase of Bryce Harper and/or Manny Machado? years and is now doing the Bulls. Both stations could bid for Crull, who had NBA reporting experience in Oklahoma City before coming to Given that a source told us the shorter length of the deal — the teams Chicago. Behind the scenes are talented producers and bookers who signed a 15-year deal when the original station, Comcast SportsNet should be able to garner raises as well. This split is certainly good news Chicago, launched in 2004 — it wasn’t known if the teams will get any for local media. kind of upfront money for a new contract, though one industry source said he would be surprised if they do, considering those teams have But remember, with two RSNs in town, it’s the fans with cable bills who ratings issues. Furthermore, the RSN business doesn’t look too rosy will be paying for this split. across the country, with Disney reportedly struggling to sell the Fox Sports Network stations it got in a deal with Fox. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 But the teams owned by Reinsdorf will get a larger chunk of revenues from the station, given that the Cubs won’t be a part of it and that the majority of their games will be on the station, rather than split up with over-the-air WGN. The games broadcast on cable TV are much more profitable for the teams. Since the post-2019 NBC Sports Chicago station will miss the steady ratings they get from Cubs games, a Machado or Harper signing would increase ratings and boost the station’s revenues significantly. Industry experts think that is part of the appeal for Reinsdorf, who has never spent more than $68 million on a White Sox free agent. Albert Belle’s $55 million deal, signed in 1996, is still the fourth-largest free-agent contract ever given out by the team. At midseason in 2018, White Sox games on NBC Sports Chicago were doing an 0.83 average rating. Only the Oakland A’s (0.67) had a worse mark in baseball, with even the Marlins (1.01 rating) putting up better numbers. While ratings shouldn’t matter to fans, they do mean a lot to teams who own their RSN and charge for advertising. Without the Cubs, the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to viewership right now. Last season, according to Sports Media Watch, “the Bulls had their lowest rated season on NBC Sports Chicago in a decade, averaging a 1.81 rating (-9 percent).” It’s 1121696 Chicago Blackhawks ML: All out of positives already? We could have mentioned Alex DeBrincat’s emergence as a genuine star and even Dylan Strome’s strong start to his tenure in Chicago, but OK, let’s ditch the optimism for Tape-to-tape: Looking on the bright side of a miserable 2018 for the nostalgia. I had my first (and only) 1-on-1 with Quenneville last January Blackhawks on the Western Canada swing, and it was the same thing — as he was sitting down at the table at the restaurant in Calgary, he said it was “like going to the dentist.” I’m still amazed that he has made no public comment since the firing — not an ad in the newspaper, not an email By Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus Dec 18, 2018 from a publicist, nothing. He just went to Colorado to go skiing. That’s Quenneville, though. He doesn’t ever want it to be about him. Gotta

respect that. Mark Lazerus: As December draws to a close, all the scribes here at The Unfortunately, the best stories I have of Quenneville are all second-hand, Athletic Chicago have been tasked with writing year-in-review stories. But from current and former players (most of them from reporting my book). I asking Blackhawks fans to simply re-live 2018 — a year that began with always liked hearing fourth-liners talk about him, and the way he the Blackhawks battling for a playoff spot and will end with them battling managed a bench. Jets coach Paul Maurice mentioned this a couple for 31st place, a year that will forever be remembered for the weeks ago, too. Quenneville had an uncanny ability to know which unceremonious firing of Joel Quenneville, a year book-ended by Corey players were feeling it on a given night, and he’d boost their ice time Crawford concussions and concerns about his future both on and off the accordingly. Colin Fraser told me Quenneville could make any fourth- ice — would be particularly cruel. liner “feel like a first-liner” on any given night. That’s a rare ability. So, Scott Powers, let’s try something different here. Let’s try to find the But first-hand? Not much. I stood inches away from him on a nearly daily positives in the franchise’s worst calendar year since Duncan Keith and basis for 8-10 months every year, and really didn’t have any kind of Brent Seabrook were breaking into the league. This could be a very short personal relationship with him. Nobody did. He kept everybody at arm’s story, but hey, it’s worth a shot. length. Which is totally fine — it’s not as if he played favorites with the I’ll start at the top: Jonathan Toews looks like Jonathan Toews again. I press. spent all last season pointing to Anze Kopitar’s MVP-caliber performance But that was all show. Beneath that purposely inscrutable demeanor, as reason for hope that Toews could again become a dominant player in behind closed doors, away from the cameras and the recorders and John the NHL — similar styles, similar ages, similar heavy mileage — but I Dietz’s notebook, Quenneville is universally hailed as a warm, fun guy to don’t know if I honestly expected Toews to be this good. He looks faster, be around. You’d see it from time to time when former Whalers would he looks stronger, he’s moving well, he’s on pace for 38 goals and he come through the United Center — guys like , for example — hasn’t let up defensively. This is arguably the best he’s looked since the when he’d walk away from his press scrum and instantly flip a switch and lockout-shortened 2013 season. And he’s only 30. become this chatty, gregarious guy. I’d see it on the road from time to I know the NHL keeps skewing younger and that a player’s prime is now time, running into him at a casino or a hotel bar. I do actually have a in his early 20s, but with the way Toews takes care of himself, it’s easy to couple of good Q stories, but they were very much off the record in those envision him playing at a high level into his mid-30s. That’s a massively settings, so I’m afraid I can’t share them here. But when he let his guard encouraging sign for a team that’s probably a couple of years away from down, you could see why players loved and worshipped him, and would being truly competitive again. The worst-case scenario is that Toews and run through walls for him. Patrick Kane fall off a cliff just as the next wave of prospects comes into So what do we make of Jeremy Colliton? In terms of covering him, I like its own. The way the two linchpins are playing this season is reason to him. He’s witty, more direct than Quenneville, and always seems to say believe they can still be effective, top-six players when the games start to the right thing. On the ice, it’s too early to tell how much of a difference matter again. his systems will make, and the string of poor first periods has to be at OK, Scott: Sunshine and rainbows. Whaddya got? least partly an indictment of the team’s preparation. But after a rough start (and excluding a lousy effort Sunday night against the Sharks), the Scott Powers: First off, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Blackhawks have shown some fight and some character under Colliton. Year and so on. With that out of the way, yeah, what a shitty year it was It’s encouraging that the team isn’t just rolling over most nights. for the Blackhawks. I’m not sure the first half of 2019 will be much better either. But the player providing potential sunlight for next season and I still think he’s been put in an untenable position — given a poorly beyond is a 19-year-old Finnish defenseman. It doesn’t seem that long constructed roster that his bosses publicly declared a playoff team at his ago there was another Finnish 19-year-old providing similar hope. (Teuvo own introductory press conference. He’s signed for three years, so he’s and I will always have our uncomfortable lunch in Helsinki that will bond not going anywhere. But it could be a case of a guy getting a job too us.) quickly. He was always going to be Quenneville’s successor. I just don’t think anyone expected it to be so soon. The newest Finnish hope is, of course, Henri Jokiharju. It’s partly about the player he’s already become as a teenager — he’s been one of the SP: Sorry, I did quickly abandon our original plan of bringing cheer to Blackhawks’ best defensemen this season and has reenergized Duncan 2018. Why can’t it be 2020 already and Max Shalunov be here? That’s Keith — but it’s also about what he represents for all the franchise’s up- when the real festivities will begin. and-coming defenseman prospects. It may be naive to think Adam Anyway, Kane and Toews do have a combined 31 goals and 68 points in Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin and Ian Mitchell can all make that same smooth their age-30 years. That’s something that should really be a big deal for jump to the NHL next season, but that isn’t stopping many from the Blackhawks this season and potentially going forward, but it feels so wondering. Whether the Blackhawks can break off their current losing wasted considering this team is already out of the playoffs. They have a path and rediscover a winning one likely depends on how quickly they 1 percent chance of making the playoffs as of Monday, according to Dom can get their defense sorted out. The most logical way for that to happen Luszczyszyn’s model. DeBrincat and Brandon Saad are producing. is for their prospects to pan out. It’s still too early to say whether the next Saad’s revitalization is significant too. But again, it’s all irrelevant wave will live up to expectations, but Jokiharju’s arrival and emergence considering where this team is. It’s so easy to get trapped back into why certainly helps provide optimism. 2018 was unkind to the Blackhawks. Switching gears, this year will always be remembered for Quenneville’s By the way, readers, let us know what you want to read going forward. firing. Do you have a favorite story or two of Quenneville? I felt like I got a There are only so many doom-and-gloom pieces to go around. I just deeper understanding of him by reporting on that oral history piece this booked an exciting trip for February — it’s top secret — and I hope to get year (glad we didn’t hold onto that one too long). Most of the research out and see some prospects in the coming months. But overall let us was done by talking to other people, but Quenneville also agreed to do a know what you’d like to see more or less of. We’ll try to oblige. On a 1-on-1 with me. It was the first time I sat down with him since I began the personal note, 2018 was great in that Mark joined The Athletic and we’re beat in 2013. Overall, he was fine and gave decent quotes, but it wasn’t now sharing this beat. I feel like we’re just getting a handle on how we as if he was loose or enjoying the experience. I think he walked into the can best serve you, and we’ll continue to improve and evolve. room saying, “I told (our spokesperson) this was the last fucking time I do this.” He was joking, but he also wasn’t. It’s been strange covering a OK, what do you think Blackhawks fans should look forward to for 2019? different coach because you got so used to Joel and his way. Even now, I’m as curious about the defensemen as everyone, but I think something it’s weird that Jeremy Colliton asks us how our day is. Joel kept a distinct that could play out in the coming months is a better sense of whether boundary. You never knew if he really knew your name. You also learned Collin Delia is the Blackhawks’ future goalie. Another Corey Crawford to decipher his way of saying things and just how he thought about concussion isn’t how you wanted Delia to get his next NHL opportunity, hockey. He was a unique coach to cover. Anyway, please tell us a story, but the Blackhawks were going to have to recall him at some point to Mark. give him a longer look at this level. Delia’s arrow is pointing up right now. He’s quickly developed and likely will continue to improve. He leads the AHL in save percentage and he’s just 24 years old. Crawford settled into the NHL at 25. I also wonder when John McDonough makes a definitive decision on the future of Stan Bowman. That needs to be done sooner than later because there are roster decisions soon to be made that will likely determine the course of this franchise for many years ahead. ML: Since you brought it up, it has indeed been great working alongside each other rather than against each other. I left one of the best newspaper jobs in America and started at The Athletic a little more than three months ago, and it’s been so much fun to stretch my legs a bit and write more opinion, more deep-dives, more X’s-and-O’s analysis, and the like. And once things normalize a bit on the Blackhawks beat — it’s been a tumultuous month-plus since the Quenneville firing — I’m looking forward to getting back to telling more stories about the human side of the players and the quirky side of the sport. Hockey’s fun, even when the team isn’t. As for 2019, Delia very well might be the goalie of the present. There’s no way of knowing if or when Crawford will play again, but given the severity of his last concussion, he needs to put his long-term health and well-being first, as you wrote Sunday night. And while Cam Ward is a perfectly capable short-term No. 1 goaltender, there’s no reason to not have him at least split time equally with Delia. Delia is a pretty remarkable story; he started last season in the ECHL and made it all the way to the NHL. A lot of goalies are late bloomers — Crawford himself spent five seasons in the AHL — and Delia could be the guy. Might as well see what you have in him. And as for Bowman, I think we’ll get some clarity one way or the other after the Winter Classic; Bowman is a Notre Dame grad and was a driving force behind the Blackhawks holding training camp in South Bend in the past. Once that passes, assuming the Blackhawks are still struggling mightily, McDonough will have to either make a move or give Bowman a vote of confidence. I think staying quiet would be unfair to Bowman and to Blackhawks fans. After that? Well, you have another trade deadline at which the Blackhawks will be sellers. Another mostly meaningless March. Another long, quiet spring. But the draft should be interesting — a top-five pick could be in the offing — and on July 1, the Blackhawks will be able to make their biggest free-agent splash in years, should they be so inclined. Then you have a potentially fascinating training camp with Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell hoping to unseat some veterans. So there’s definitely some intrigue in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime? Well, uh, pitchers and catchers report in just 56 days. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121697 Colorado Avalanche

J.T. Compher, with concussion protocol in rear-view mirror, looks to further develop as one of the Avalanche’s top forwards

By MIKE CHAMBERS | December 18, 2018 at 4:52 PM

Five games into the season, second-year Avalanche forward J.T. Compher suffered a concussion, suddenly putting a halt to a year with with so much promise. He missed 16 games from Oct. 16 to Nov. 21, returning the day after Thanksgiving at Arizona during which he scored shorthanded — twice — on the same Coyotes’ power play. Fast forward to Monday, 12 games after his return to the lineup and Compher logged a season-high 21:20 as the Avs’ second-line center and power-play specialist. Compher respects how the team treated his concussion, an injury that has no time-table on when you can play again. “It tests your patience a little bit,” Compher said. “I did a good job of pushing myself to get back but also being patient with the process and being as involved with the team as I could. I was definitely excited to be back once the time came around and I was healthy.” Compher is now the fifth element to Colorado’s top power-play unit, usually playing in one of the offensive circles or between them. Star center Nathan MacKinnon is usually on the left wing, NHL leading scorer Mikko Rantanen on the right side, Gabe Landeskog down low and Tyson Barrie quarterbacking the bunch from the point. Forwards Tyson Jost, Colin Wilson and Sven Andrighetto previously had the power-play role Compher currently covets. “I played there a little last year, so I’m kind of familiar with how they like to play,” Compher said of the unit that features the NHL highest-scoring line in MacKinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog. “They make it real easy. Great communication makes it easy for me to come in there. It’s a big opportunity. I’m just trying to take advantage,” Send a question for the Avs Mailbag Compher centered Jost and Andrighetto in Monday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders but that line could change for Wednesday’s game against visiting Montreal. Expected back is second-year forward Alex Kerfoot — the Avs’ sixth-leading scorer who has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury. Colorado, 1-3-1 in its last five games, hosts Chicago Friday to conclude a four-game homestand. “Should be a good challenge,” Compher said of the upcoming home games. “For us, with this stretch we’re going through, I think we’re worried about ourselves first — playing the right way and getting back to our game, which is more desperate, more competitive.” Philipp Grubauer has been named the starter in goal for the Avs, who have allowed 33 goals in their last seven games (4.7 average). Footnotes. MacKinnon didn’t practice Tuesday, taking a “maintenance” day. … Rookie defenseman Conor Timmins continues to practice with the Avs in a red non-contact sweater. Timmins, 20, has yet to make his NHL debut because of concussion-like symptoms. Denver Post: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121698 Colorado Avalanche

Alexander Kerfoot is ready to help the struggling Avalanche

AJ Haefele

It was a pretty slow at Avalanche HQ down here in Centennial today as the Avalanche practiced and welcomed Alexander Kerfoot back into a regular jersey on the ice. Kerfoot took Nathan MacKinnon’s spot, who took the day off after another night of heavy lifting on the top line. Following practice, there was no clarity about any of the things we usually like to get into. Kerfoot confirmed he was indeed feeling better as he worked his way back from an unspecified upper-body injury. “Everything feels good,” Kerfoot said. “Obviously, me not skating for a couple of days, it takes a little while to get back up to speed but I feel good on the ice and it’s about getting the conditioning back and we’ve done a real good job of that the last few days.” Kerfoot last appeared in the disaster in Tampa Bay where the Lightning smoked the Avalanche in a 7-1 beatdown that triggered the current 1-3-1 slide they’re on right now. “It was kind of just lingering before that,” Kerfoot said. “And when we got back from the road trip it kind of got a little worse and we just kind of wanted to be cautious with it. Everything feels good now.” That he was hurting before sitting out the previous four games might help explain his demotion to the fourth line and why he was scoreless in his last seven games. Despite not contributing on the scoresheet since the November 24 home game against the Dallas, Stars, Kerfoot is still sixth on the Avalanche in scoring with 18 points. Kerfoot is looking to get back into a lineup that could use his injection of offense as all lines outside of the top line have really struggled to generate offense in the last week. In Kerfoot’s eyes, consistency is key for such a young team. “I just think it’s about consistency for us,” he said. “You obviously talk about that over a long season but it’s not even just game in and game out. Sometimes in games, I think we can be a little bit inconsistent. We’ll have a great start to the game and then we’ll have lulls and let teams back in it or we’ll give up a lead and turn it on in the second half and are able to come back in games. It’s about doing it for a full 60 minutes. Obviously, that’s easier said than done but that’s what we’ve got to focus on.” Where Kerfoot will slot into the lineup remains a mystery as coach Jared Bednar did not specify any particular lineup changes for tomorrow beyond naming Philipp Grubauer as the starting goaltender. The rest of that information will have to come tomorrow at the morning skate. In just a quick side note, Conor Timmins skated again before and after practice in a non-contact jersey. He continues to ramp up the on-ice activities he is participating in as he works his way back from a concussion. There is no official timetable on when they expect him to actually get involved in full practices or even games but the steps he’s taking now can only be seen as positive. BSN DENVER LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121699 Columbus Blue Jackets

Artemi Panarin expected back 'very soon'

Brian Hedger

Artemi Panarin isn’t expected to be out long because of the injury that kept him out of the Blue Jackets’ lineup Monday. The Jackets’ co-leading scorer missed a 1-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights because of an undisclosed lower-body injury, but agent Dan Milstein told The Dispatch on Tuesday that Panarin’s injury is “minor” and he should be ready “very soon.” Panarin, who’s status is day-to-day, used the morning skate Monday to test out the injury. He left Nationwide Arena expected to play but returned later with a different prognosis. >>Join our Columbus Blue Jackets Fans Facebook group for the latest news, updates and to join in on the conversation. Anthony Duclair skated in his spot at left wing on the top line, and coach John Tortotella also decided to reconfigure the second and third lines. The Blue Jackets didn’t practice Tuesday, and the team didn’t issue any further updates about Panarin’s availability for practice Wednesday or the next game Thursday against the New Jersey Devils — the finale of a season-high, six-game homestand. As for Panarin’s unresolved contract situation, Milstein said it was not discussed during a recent meeting in Russia with Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. After meeting last month in Detroit, Milstein said they reconnected during the recent Channel One Cup tournament held last week in Moscow. “We discussed various subjects, including free agents,” Milstein said. ”(There was) no discussion regarding Panarin. We (will) discuss it after the NHL All-Star (weekend).” In November, following his previous meeting with Kekalainen, Milstein said he would meet with Panarin during the Jackets’ mandated bye week (Jan. 20-24) to discuss business. That week leads into the All-Star weekend. Kekalainen, who’s still in Russia, could not be reached. Prospect update Milstein is also the agent for Vladislav Gavrikov, a 23-year-old Blue Jackets prospect playing his second season with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League. Gavrikov, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman, was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL draft. He’s in the last year of his KHL contract and will meet with Milstein at the end of the season to discuss his future, which could include a transition to North America for the Blue Jackets. Gavrikov, a left-handed shooter, has three goals and nine assists in 35 games this season, along with a rating of plus-33. Last year, he finished with five goals, 14 points and a plus-21 rating in 50 KHL games, and played in two international tournaments — helping the Olympic Athletes of Russia win gold at the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121700 Columbus Blue Jackets

Shuffled forward lines get results

By Brian Hedger

Hard decisions are the kind NHL coaches love to make, because good teams are usually the ones facing them. In a nutshell, that is where we find Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella 33 games into the season. His roster is rich with skilled forwards, but there are only six spots to fill on the top two lines — leaving little to zero room for Alexander Wennberg, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Anthony Duclair. “I don’t think you want to put (Duclair and Bjorkstrand) onto a line like a (Boone Jenner-Nick Foligno-Josh Anderson) line,” Tortorella said, referring to a trio of forwards who have dashed and mashed their way into becoming an atypical second line. “I think they fit with a (Wennberg), a playmaking center, or a (Pierre-Luc Dubois), who basically does a lot of things. That’s the problem sometimes, is there’s not enough room when there’s some other guys going.” It’s a good problem to have, if you ask a coach or general manager, but it’s still a problem nonetheless. Previously this season, Tortorella has said he’s not fond of Wennberg centering a third line with Duclair and Bjorkstrand on the wings — citing their skill-based playing styles as a poor fit for a checking line. At the same time, spreading them over the third and fourth lines has also been an issue. They’ve been outmuscled on both sides of the puck, and their puck-possession has lagged. So, what’s the solution? Tortorella took another stab at it Monday in a 1-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, using Artemi Panarin’s unexpected lower-body injury to reconfigure his top three lines. Duclair, who had expected to be a healthy scratch, skated in Panarin’s spot on the top line. Wennberg moved up to center the second line, playing with Foligno and Anderson, while Jenner moved to the middle of the third line with Lukas Sedlak and Bjorkstrand. The results were noticeable. The Jackets dominated puck possession, despite missing Panarin, and they scored the only goal when Foligno’s persistence paid off 40 seconds into the third period. Duclair and Bjorkstrand each contributed positively, including Duclair filling in admirably for Panarin, and Tortorella acknowledged it afterward. “I do think they played good tonight, and I think they’re certainly mindful of how hard they have to play,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll make hard decisions and they continue to try to play the right way.” Earlier in the day, he acknowledged how difficult it’s become to find the right combination for the third line — which has most often featured Wennberg at center. Flanking him with Duclair and Bjorkstrand hasn’t clicked yet, but breaking up the other three lines doesn’t seem like the best answer either. It’s like having three sides of a Rubik’s Cube complete and the fourth a mishmash of color. “It’s not an ideal line, as far as makeup of a line, but I’m comfortable with the other three,” Tortorella said. “So, it falls out that way a little bit. I’m not sure where we go with it.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121701 Columbus Blue Jackets The welt was courtesy of Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland, who was penalized two minutes for crosschecking and appeared to apologize to Foligno immediately after it happened. Blue Jackets 1, Golden Knights 0 | Five takeaways “Never fun to get your face hammered into the glass,” Foligno quipped. No, but scoring a clutch game-winning goal in career game No. 800 was Brian Hedger probably enjoyable – even though that’s not the milestone the Jackets’ captain wants most.

“I always look at 1,000 (games),” he said, thinking of the 1,018 games They’re still not converting a lot of scoring chances, but all it took was that his dad, Mike, played for five NHL teams over 16 seasons. “My dad one for the Blue Jackets to win Monday night at Nationwide Arena. had the silver stick in our house and I got to be a part of that celebration as a kid, and I always thought that was pretty cool. It’s a big deal to hit Thanks to a shutout effort in net by Sergei Bobrovsky and captain Nick 1,000 games, so I think that one’s big. I want a Stanley Cup. That’s a Foligno’s eighth goal of the season, in his 800th career NHL game, the cool milestone.” Jackets prevailed 1-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Both are still within sight. In a way, it was the perfect rebound from a 2-1 overtime loss Saturday to the Anaheim Ducks in a similar game that had a sour ending. This is how 4) A new way to win the Blue Jackets would like to play now, defensively sound, even if it means more nail-biters that keep everybody on edge. The Blue Jackets have played some wild games this season and they’ve won most of them. They’ve won by scores of 6-3, 7-4, 7-3, 7-5 and have And, if things get a little crazy, they’ll take wins that way too. also lost 8-2 and 9-6 in one that we shall soon never speak of again, a couple weeks ago against Calgary. “To compete in this league and be a good team in this league, you’ve got to be able to play in both situations,” coach John Tortorella said. “You’ve They’ve also played 12 games in which seven combined goals were got to be able to play in close games and sometimes it gets wacky. scored and went 8-3-1 in them. You’ve got to be able to handle those types of ebbs and flows and momentums of the game. I think we have the ability to do both.” What we’re seeing right now, however, is Blue Jackets 2.0, post “reset button” version. Since the other game that we shall soon never speak of They proved it Monday, improving their record during this homestand to again, a hideous 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals to start the current 2-2-1 with one game left Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. homestand, this has been a different team altogether. Here are five takeaways from it: This version actively works to cut down on mistakes that lead to odd-man rushes and numerous goals allowed. This version is tougher through the 1) The Panarin situation neutral zone, trying to create turnovers going the right direction. This version is more disciplined defensively, but also less likely to score goals Artemi Panarin, the Jackets’ star left wing and co-leading scorer, – so far, anyway. participated fully in a morning skate at Nationwide Arena. There were no outward signs of an injury, even though he was testing something out. The Jackets have still created scoring chances the past four games, but Upon his return to the rink in the late afternoon, the decision was made to they might not be the same brand of scoring chances they generated sit him with an undisclosed lower-body injury. playing all that fast-break hockey to start the season. Anthony Duclair drew back into the lineup, skating in Panarin’s spot at It’s a tighter game they’re playing now, which is ultimately a good thing left wing on the top line, and Tortorella decided to make a couple other because it’s a more sustainable style over the long-term. It takes line changes too. patience, though, and a lot of belief that key goals will go their way. Winning 1-0 in a game they dominated could be a good first step in that “There was a question mark during the (morning) skate,” coach John direction. Tortorella said. “We didn’t think it was going to come to this. I talked to (Duclair) and had him go for warmup, but we found out about an hour or “The belief starts to come in,” Foligno said. “I think it’s always been there, so (before the game). When (Panarin) came in, we listened to him and but you need to be rewarded when you’re going through that. You just just had him tell us how he felt - and he wasn’t going to play.” want something good to happen, but you can only do it by playing the right way. You can’t hope for it to happen. You have to go out and do it. I Panarin is day-to-day, so it’s thought to be a relatively minor issue. thought slowly we’ve started to get that message across and tonight we 2) Duclair has a night reaped the benefits of it. It’s huge for our morale.” The effect part of the cause-and-effect attached to Panarin’s absence 5) Bobrovsky’s big third was Duclair, who played one of his strongest games this season. Despite This was Bobrovsky’s first shutout of the season and 25th of his NHL not scoring a goal, he didn’t look out of place on a line with two skilled career, all since the Blue Jackets traded to get him from the Philadelphia players – center Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson – and he was Flyers in 2013. around the net a lot. Unlike a number of the first 24, this one was pretty straight forward until Duclair finished with two shots, including a mini-breakaway stuffed at the the latter half of the third period. That’s when the Golden Knights made left post by Malcolm Subban, and played a solid 16:36 on 20 shifts. their last-gasp push to tie it, trailing 1-0. Duclair had been scratched the previous two games and expected to sit in a third straight. His plans changed quickly. According to the website naturalstattrick.com, Vegas dominated puck- possession and scoring chances in the third period. The Golden Knights “I got to the rink and they told me I was going to do warmups,” Duclair outshot the Blue Jackets 14-10 in the third, took almost 65 percent of all said. “I didn’t even think (playing) was a possibility. I didn’t even know shot attempts in the period and had a 12-5 edge in scoring chances. about (Panarin’s) injury. When I got the call, I was a bit surprised but I just had to be ready for it.” Bobrovsky turned them all away in a game they needed him to be perfect. Duclair’s situation wasn’t the only change in the forward lines. Tortorella also moved Alexander Wennberg up to center a line with Foligno and “He played outstanding tonight,” Foligno said. “Anytime he’s playing like Josh Anderson, while moving Boone Jenner into the center slot of that, you just feel so confident and comfortable when he’s back there. It Wennberg’s former line – skating with Lukas Sedlak and Oliver was no different tonight.” Bjorkstrand. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2018 ″(Panarin’s injury) gave me the opportunity to change the lines a little bit, trying to get Wenny going putting him in more of an offensive position,” Tortorella said. “I probably wouldn’t have changed the lines if we didn’t have the injury, but I think it made it easier to change the lines ... I think it did add some freshness to us.” 3) Mr. 800 is Mr. Clutch Foligno wore a Blue Jackets baseball cap on his head and a big red welt on his right cheek after the game, the result of being mashed headfirst into the end boards in the second period. 1121702 Columbus Blue Jackets Dimon McFerson, the former CEO of Nationwide Insurance, woke to headlines of stinging defeat on the morning of May 7, 1997:

“ ‘No’ to arena tax; Issue 1 falls hard, 56%-44%” read The Columbus The epic tale of Nationwide Arena: How its construction put life in the Dispatch. Blue Jackets and a heart in downtown Columbus Below the fold, another headline stated: “NHL hockey franchise dead …”

For the fifth time in two decades, Franklin County voters had rejected an Tom Reed Dec 18, 2018 arena tax issue. The latest proposal, a three-year, 0.5 sales tax, would have helped finance a downtown arena and soccer stadium on the site of the old Ohio Penitentiary. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Less than 48 hours before Tim McGraw and Faith Hill opened Nationwide Arena on Sept. 9, 2000, a soundcheck was being What made the setback more crushing was the NHL’s plan to add four conducted by men who didn’t know a mixing console from an amplifier. clubs that would have included Columbus if voters had approved a publicly funded venue. On the virgin ice surface, a morning skate was underway that didn’t involve any Blue Jackets, but men with no hockey experience or blades Just weeks before the league’s expansion committee was to make its on their feet. final recommendations, the city had no arena and the team’s potential lead investor, Lamar Hunt, was in concession mode. “I don’t even know if I’m supposed to say this, but we just partied,” said Jeff Asman, president of The Painting Company and one of the hundreds “This will make it impossible for the National Hockey League to come to of workers who helped build Nationwide Arena. “We got some beer. I Columbus,” Hunt, who owned the city’s MLS team, told The Dispatch. “I’ll went out to my vehicle and grabbed some CDs and just cranked the say again, we were at the 99.9 percent level as far as certainty of getting music while some of the guys just slid across the ice.” a franchise if the issue had passed.” In the wee hours of Sept. 8, after the last bolt had been tightened and The MLS was in its infancy with no assurance of survival. Despite its final coat of paint applied, project manager Jeff Beitel brought nearly two growing population and affluence, it appeared Columbus would not years of endless labor to a halt. It had been Beitel’s task to coordinate shake its “cow town” reputation. The city’s biggest sports rivals would the schedules of 50 to 60 subcontractors to ensure they delivered a continue to reside in small towns such as Ann Arbor, Michigan, and West finished product on time. Lafayette, Indiana. The 18,144-seat building, with its stunning brick and glass facade, was “Arena vote confirms (Ohio State’s) status as king,” boasted a Dispatch complete. In the years to come, it would anchor a district that drew column headline May 8. suburbanites back downtown and brought captains of sports industry McFerson wanted one more shot at salvaging the project. from across the nation to learn how Nationwide Realty Investors had Without any timeouts, he was about to lead the greatest two-minute drive managed such a triumph of urban renewal. in Columbus sports history. But no such thoughts crossed the minds of Beitel and his 15 to 20 “It was one of the most fun and foundational days in my life,” McFerson workers who were still in the building at 1:30 a.m. Hours before city and said of the morning after Issue 1’s defeat. “Our offices were on the 36th state leaders would speak to the public and media, Beitel just wanted his and 37th floors of the Nationwide building. I was talking with our chief men to celebrate. investment officer, Bob Woodward, and we were commiserating and Asman played the role of Andy Dufresne, the prisoner who breaks into saying how wonderful it would have been for this side of town. It would the Shawshank office to commandeer the public address system and have taken a blighted area that needed redeveloping and done release the sound of sweet music to the masses. Down below, at event something spectacular with it. level, the workers frolicked on the ice, intoxicated not as much by the “I said, ‘Woody, we need to find a way to do something ourselves.’ ” alcohol but the tremendous sense of accomplishment. Two years ago, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella famously described Some stadiums age faster than sitting presidents. Twenty years after Zach Werenski’s decision to return to a playoff game despite a facial ground was broken in 1998, Nationwide Arena remains one of the NHL’s fracture as having “balls the size of the building.” best-preserved venues. Built at the cost of $175 million, it serves as a monument to good planning and craftsmanship. Tortorella would have loved the buccaneering McFerson. “We were like the perfect team, like the ’85 Chicago Bears,” said Charlie The CEO convinced his Nationwide board to privately finance the arena, Steitz, whose Sauer Group Inc. installed the ventilation, heating, cooling provided an ownership group for the hockey team was willing to pay an and plumbing. “Every person was the perfect person for their job.” $80 million expansion fee and agree to the terms of the lease. The party broke up just before 5 a.m. The bleary-eyed Beitel and others “Frankly, it took a lot of guts to make the proposal that he made on a went to breakfast at Tee Jaye’s and a few returned to the arena for the conference call to our board,” said Brian Ellis, president and COO of morning dedication. Later that evening, workers were encouraged to Nationwide Realty Investors. “I don’t know if I have ever seen a gutsier bring their families for a free tour of a place that had become like a move by a CEO.” second home. The 120-year-old Ohio Penitentiary was closed in 1984, but some had Before the McGraw and Hill concert; before the chaos of the Doug hoped to preserve a section of the building. (Courtesy of Columbus MacLean era; before the arrival of NCAA Tournament basketball games Landmarks) and UFC cards; before Mick Jagger sang of getting no satisfaction and before Nick Foligno supplied it with a Blue Jackets playoff overtime- The arena site had a bizarre and controversial history. The abandoned winning goal, the men and women who built Nationwide Arena had one and fire-damaged penitentiary, which closed in 1984, had become an last communion with it. eyesore. But a group of preservationists had hoped to keep the southern portion of the complex, with its striking Gothic facade, standing. Some “It’s funny but you build these buildings and you can go anywhere any marched in protest. “Save the Pen” T-shirts were created. time,” Steitz said. “You own the building for two years. Then, all of a sudden, one day they put new locks on the doors and you are not Others could not wait to demolish the prison. On Aug. 1, 1990, former allowed to go anywhere anymore. It’s a weird feeling. I walk around the mayor Buck Rinehart took controls of a wrecking ball with the intent of arena now and I know what’s behind so many doors but I don’t have flattening part of the 120-year-old penitentiary. access to them.” “I’m going to go punch a hole in that place,” Rinehart was quoted as This is the story of the people who unlocked those doors and opened up saying in The Dispatch. The mayor’s staff frantically tried reasoning with the prosperous Columbus district, one that attracts an estimated 6 million him, noting the city didn’t have legal title to the property. The mayor visitors annually. It’s the story of the labor they put into a project and the responded: “It’s in the middle of our town. That’s good enough for me. I’ll rewards they got out of it — some of which they literally took to their declare martial law.” graves. By 1997, the prison was gone and the site cleared, but a push for a Robert Woodward, Dimon McFerson and Brian Ellis were instrumental downtown arena had gained little traction. Ohio State University was in figures in developing the Arena District. (Courtesy of Nationwide Realty the process of building the Schottenstein Center, home to Buckeyes Investors) sporting events and major concerts, and the school’s leadership didn’t see a need for a second new arena in Columbus. The facilitator McFerson was running out of time. The NHL had set a June 4, 1997, “This was one of the first arenas to crack the bowl open,” said HOK deadline. architect Christopher King, who worked on the arena project with another firm, NBBJ. “It connects the inside and the outside of the building. It Just as the Nationwide CEO thought he had his ownership coalition in connects what’s going on inside the building with what’s going on in the place, Hunt expressed serious reservations. His group balked at the 25- street and that hadn’t been done before.” year lease proposal, according to court documents, arguing the expansion club would lose millions because of it. Nationwide Arena also became one of the first venues to offer a variety of wrinkles in terms of seating, particularly at the club levels. It introduced McFerson found himself almost out of options by the morning of May 30. terrace tables and a “party tower” for large groups. The structural framing He turned to a self-made billionaire, a man who grew up in a rural West of the tower reduced the roof span at one end of the building. Virginia home without electricity or indoor plumbing. A man who secured a $600 loan for a single load of steel in 1955 using his ’52 Oldsmobile as The arena also became the first in the NHL to include a practice rink — collateral. the brainchild of John P. McConnell, according to Ellis. From humble origins, John H. McConnell, founder of Worthington “That was a really smart idea,” King said. “Lots of teams have practice Industries, built an empire during the next half-century that employed facilities in the suburbs or miles away. This was considered a major 8,000 workers in 69 locations with about $3 billion in annual sales. competitive advantage. Players didn’t have to travel all over the city. McConnell also had agreed to take a small stake in the hockey team if They were using only one locker room for practices and game days.” Issue 1 passed. Ellis honored McFerson’s lone request. The Nationwide Boulevard side “I knew John had planned to be a (minority) partner,” McFerson said. “I of the venue is covered in glass, offering fans a window to the city. There just called the family and said I would like to come up and talk to you are 60,000 square feet of glass in the arena, and King believes few, if guys and tell you where we are.” any, stadiums of that era could match the total. McConnell agreed to a meeting that afternoon. McFerson hopped into his “We wanted to leave as little to the imagination as possible,” Ellis said. “It car and readied his pitch. He knew the terms of the lease would be a was all about making a great first impression.” tough sell even to a man with deep pockets and a philanthropic heart. Ellis began looking for an arena architect in the fall of 1997. He met with But McConnell was willing to take one for the team and his city. How all the big names in the field but was turned off by hearing their vision for many chances do you get to bring a major-league product to your Columbus. The Nationwide contingent wanted someone willing to work adopted hometown? with its ideas. “Mr. Mac looks at me and says, ‘This is important to the city,’ ” McFerson Ellis chose a smaller firm, Heinlein Schrock Sterns, based in Kansas recalled. “He said, ‘if Lamar won’t do it, I’ll do it.’ Those were his exact City, and he partnered it with NBBJ. For a businessman keen on initial words. I stood up and said, ‘Are you serious, John?’ And he said, impressions, Ellis was willing to overlook an awkward first encounter. ‘Absolutely. I’ll take what Lamar was going to take.’ That was it. We just shook hands.” “The Heinlein Schrock Sterns office was in a redeveloped area,” he recalled. “We walked in and there’s nobody greeting us. There is no John P. McConnell, the son of the steel magnate, confirmed the receptionist. We are walking in and literally trying to find these guys. It framework for an agreement was brokered in one afternoon. McConnell was like, ‘We’re here from Nationwide for the interview’ and this guy we agreed to pay $80 million to become majority owner. run into says, ‘Oh, let me find George (Heinlein).’ These guys weren’t ready for us. We ended up getting our own coffee.” McFerson took his last-second deal to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on June 2. The league announced on June 17 that Columbus, Atlanta, Once the meeting began, however, Ellis loved what he heard. He wasn’t Nashville and St. Paul, Minnesota, had been tentatively awarded just building a 685,000-square-foot arena, but also developing a district expansion franchises. with bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, office space, parking garages, hotels, condos and apartments. The team would begin to play in the 2000-01 season. There’s been more than $1 billion in investment into the district in the “Dimon was adamant about finding a way to move this forward,” said past two decades. John P. McConnell, who became the Blue Jackets majority owner after his father died at age 84 in 2008. “We were impressed that he took it on The Arena District has seen more than $1 billion in investments in the so quickly … past two decades. (Screenshot courtesy of Nationwide Realty Investors) “There was urgency around this because the NHL needed to have an Ellis was fanatical about ingress and egress — the flow of people and answer for their 2000 expansion teams. So there was the phone call and traffic. He knew the Blue Jackets probably would lose their share of then the meeting and Dad agreed to buy the team. It was a pretty big day games in the early seasons and the last thing he wanted was angry fans and amazing when you think of the timeline.” waiting 35 minutes to get out of a parking garage and onto a highway after a 5-0 thumping at the hands of the Predators. Now, McFerson needed to find someone to build him an arena — one with a view of the city. “There was lots of thought into where people were going to park and where they were going to enter the arena,” King said. “There were very The visionary detailed analyses of traffic movement. Brian wanted to know how long it Brian Ellis spent the summer of 1997 traveling across the nation, would take to dump a garage.” searching for ideas inside of NHL, NBA and multipurpose venues. Ellis loved creative tension as a means of drawing out the best in his He found his greatest inspiration, however, in baseball parks. designers. He constantly questioned ideas and didn’t mind having architects rip up plans and start over. Visits to Cleveland’s then-Jacobs Field and Baltimore’s Camden Yards spoke to him more than any tours of hockey and basketball facilities. The red brick-clad district is filled with little secrets and symbolism. It is Such is the essence of Ellis, an unconventional and uncompromising Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code” come to life. developer. Arena District designers incorporated remnants of the old prison in the He was 35 years old when Nationwide handed him the biggest project. These cell doors hang on the Moline Plow Building. (Tom Reed / assignment of his career. While he had worked on big projects in the The Athletic) past, Ellis had no experience with stadiums or arenas. Ellis made visitors walk downstairs into Buca di Beppo because the But a lack of expertise and a tight deadline did not force him into rash restaurant’s name in Italian roughly translates to “Joe’s basement.” decisions or staid building designs. Throughout the district, visitors can find remnants of the old penitentiary. “What we loved about those baseball stadiums is the way they spilled out Two cell doors hang on the west side of the Moline Plow Building. Prison from the (lower) bowl into the concourses,” Ellis said. “So they open up stones are used in the low walls of and a structure in and create an experience before you get through the vomitory.” Daniel Burnham Square. Picture yourself walking into the left-field entrance at Progressive Field The trestle in Ludlow Alley, which carries thirsty patrons from the arena and being immediately greeted by the sight of the diamond. Now, to the R Bar, was not specially designed for the district. Workers found it envision your arrival at a Blue Jackets game through the Front Street abandoned in a field and decided to incorporate it. entrance and seeing the lower bowl. “Brian believed there was never a bad time to make a good decision,” King said. “They knew where every dollar made the most impact. They challenged every decision we made and usually for the better. Brian work, Myers drove past the arch. He envisioned yoking the city’s past made me a better architect.” and its future. Not bad for a guy who had never built an arena. What he didn’t realize is the arch could no longer be disassembled. When it was moved the first time from North High to Hickory Street, Keith Myers made significant contributions to the Arena District project. workers had filled it with mortar never considering someone might want One of the most audacious was his desire to move the Union Station to relocate it. arch to its current location. (Tom Reed / The Athletic) Myers and his consultant Bob Loversidge decided the risk was worth the The arch mover reward. They marveled at the sight of the Dingey boys digging beneath In the spring of 1999, Keith Myers woke one day to the sight of his career the arch’s foundation. flashing before his eyes. “I remember telling one of them, ‘that takes a lot of courage to be working Amid all the bold planning that went into the Arena District, perhaps under there, you could be crushed,’ ” Myers said. “The kid looked at me nothing was as audacious as the architect’s desire to move the Union and said, ‘Nah, working for my dad is a lot scarier.’ ” Station arch more than 2,000 feet to the head of McFerson Commons. Bill Dingey was known for his gruff facade. When a member of a local Myers understood the massive risks involved and needed the blessing of preservation society, interested in uprooting his house, asked for the mayor’s office before the project could be greenlighted. Any mistake references, Bill Dingey replied: or damage to the 489-ton terra-cotta tile and concrete structure could “Don’t need references. You drop a house (and) word gets around.” sink his small firm. After weeks of prep work, the arch was loaded on the dollies. The 2,000- He felt good that International Chimney, the company that relocated the foot trek took the moving company two days to complete. They had to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, had won the bid for the job. What Myers pay the railroad $10,000 to reroute train traffic, disconnect overhead didn’t know is International Chimney had opted to subcontract the work. power lines and build a ramp over the tracks. “I go out there looking for International Chimney and I see this trailer — A host of media members and curiosity seekers assembled to witness and I can’t make this up — that says, ‘Dingey Movers from Zanesville,’ ” the engineering feat. Bart Dingey remembered seeing spectators Myers recalled. “I am like ‘holy shit, Dingey Movers.’ I’m expecting guys standing on rooftops with cameras. in white coats and calculators, engineers everywhere, and I’ve got Bill Dingey in bib overalls.” Myers brought his family to the site and watched a few hours of work before taking his kids to Cincinnati for the weekend. He couldn’t bear the There’s an entire generation of central Ohio residents who have only thought of seeing the top-heavy arch crumble to the ground. seen the arch in its current home across from the arena on Nationwide Boulevard. Designed by the legendary Daniel H. Burnham in the beaux- The architect returned to his office Monday and found a note from his arts classicism style, the arch is a popular backdrop for wedding photos project manager on his desk. and modeling shoots. “It read, ‘good news and bad news on the arch,’ ” he recalled. “‘The bad Fans on their way to the arena, Huntington Park and Express Live can news is it’s not parallel to Nationwide Boulevard. I thought, ‘well, shit, stop and read about the history of the monument. They can learn it was we’ll figure that out.’ I flipped the note over and it says, ‘He missed by an part of the North High Street arcade that formed a grand entrance to inch and a half.’ Union Station. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson delivered his first speech on the Treaty of Versailles after World War I in front of the “Bill Dingey was incredible. He jacked it up, rolled it over railroad tracks, arcade. Visitors also can discover how the arch was saved from the moved it 2,000 feet and put it down and missed by an inch and a half. wrecking ball by a federal judge’s court order in 1976 after the demolition Smartest son of a bitch I’ve met in my life.” of Union Station had begun. They can read how the salvaging of the arch Jeff Beitel served as the arena’s project manager for Turner and its move to Hickory Street spurred the birth of the city’s historical Construction. His wife, Diane, said despite 12-hour days over two years, preservation movement. Jeff almost never missed family functions, which included coaching their What’s not on the placards is the colorful tales and the sleepless nights daughters’ basketball teams. (Courtesy of the Beitel family) surrounding the arch’s second move across two sets of railroad tracks on The conductor the back of 12 dollies. In the final days before the arena opened, Jeff Beitel excitedly phoned Dingey Movers of Zanesville was in charge of relocating the 489-ton city his wife with a bizarre request. landmark in 1999. (Courtesy of Keith Myers) The Turner Construction project manager asked her to look out the front “That thing wasn’t strapped in, the weight of it just sat there,” said Bart window of their home to see if she could see a beam of light in the night Dingey, the son of Bill. “If a hydraulic line had snapped, that thing was sky. They were testing the spotlight on the top of the arena’s AEP Tower, coming down in front of all those television cameras. The stress was which shines during Blue Jackets game nights. overwhelming.” “I told him, ‘No, I can’t see it, but we live in Powell,’ ” Diane Beitel said of And to think Myers had begged Ellis to be part of the Arena District the suburb, which is a 20-minute drive from downtown. project. Beitel thought anything was possible with enough hard work and “Keith wanted to meet with me,” Ellis said. “I didn’t know him that well. He planning. It was an attitude that made him a perfect choice for a difficult came into my office and said, ‘I need you to know how important this is task. for me. This is going to be the most significant thing someone in my position could ever do in his hometown. And you have to let me do it. I’ll The Ohio State graduate worked at Turner for 27 years and mastered do it for free if I have to. You cannot give this to anybody else.’ ” many tough assignments. A big personality with a competitive streak that runs longer than the Scioto River, he liked to say he was “undefeated” in Ellis named Myers the master-plan architect and paired him with a more the face of project deadlines. seasoned designer. Myers had sketched out his vision for the district, but on the day of a crucial meeting with Ellis and other project executives, he This one, however, came with a huge penalty if he fell from the ranks of allowed the more experienced architect to show his rendering. the unbeaten. The NHL was prepared to assess a $10 million fine if the arena wasn’t ready for the start of the 2000-01 season. The group did not like what they saw. Sensing his big chance slipping away, Myers reached into his briefcase and pulled out his plan, which Myers and others had heard Ohio State administrators expected that the included a park across from the arena. They loved it. arena would never be done on time and that the Blue Jackets would have to play at least a few games at the Schottenstein Center. Twenty years later, as the 62-year-old Myers sat at a conference table — he’s now Ohio State’s vice president of planning and real estate — he Beitel proved them wrong. began to cry while recalling the meeting. “This is my crown jewel job,” he loved telling people. “I took that drawing and put it in a frame and gave it to Brian on the night the arena opened,” Myers said. Beitel worked 12-hour days but never neglected his family during the two years of arena construction. He coached youth basketball for his three His original plan did not have a showcase piece at the head of the park. daughters and almost never missed a game during the project. Myers didn’t want to erect a fountain or statue. He wanted “something heroic.” He was dreaming big — 489 tons of big. Every day on his way to Steitz said Beitel possessed a rare gift for someone in his position of prominence. He could be both demanding of his workers and understanding of their plights. Every day, he met with subcontractors and broadcaster and cancer survivor Bill Davidge reached out to Trevor in an mapped out strategies so they could work effectively and efficiently in effort to buoy his spirits. different parts of the arena. Davidge has watched Sandy and Trevor become involved in the There were welders, electricians, painters, plumbers, surveyors, charitable Blue Jackets Foundation and donate money to his fundraisers. bricklayers, glass makers, maintenance crews. So many moving parts to track. “They are good people,” Davidge said. “It goes beyond a love for hockey. They go that extra mile with the financial support.” “The management by Turner was extraordinary,” said Alex Johnson of the Ardit Company, which installed the terrazzo flooring throughout the Attending Blue Jackets games with his daughter has helped Trevor in his concourses. “Jeff was one of the good guys. There was a tremendous recovery process. Among his favorite memories was a between-periods amount of coordination going on there. From day one, we were working Zamboni ride that Sandy arranged. overtime and he managed to keep all the schedules straight.” “It’s been so gratifying for me,” Trevor said. “It’s not a religious Rick Lombardi, vice president and general manager of the local Turner experience, but in some ways, I feel born again. We go to games. We go Construction office, said not a single worker was killed or seriously to Blue Jackets functions. That kind of stuff would have never happened injured on the project — the first in central Ohio to require mandatory if we were still in Philadelphia, drug testing. “It’s beyond father-daughter now. It’s like we are friends of hockey.” Inside Beitel’s trailer hung a sign that read: “Is 99 percent good enough?” Sandy Doyle-Ahern was introduced to hockey by her father, Trevor, in Steitz said it listed examples of what happens when people like heart Philadelphia. After Trevor moved to Columbus six years ago, his surgeons and automakers “almost” get it right. daughter turned him into a Blue Jackets fan. (Courtesy of the Doyle- One deadline after another was met. When the arena’s skeleton was Ahern family) complete, many workers received commemorative pucks with the Sandy has been a season-ticket holder since the club’s inception. She inscription: “Structural Steel Topping Out — Oct. 22, 1999.” Those pucks has four tickets for family and two others that she raffles off to fellow became treasured mementos for everyone on the project. EMH&T employees. “Jeff was the driving force behind it,” Steitz said. “He came out of the field The family has watched the club grow through difficult and even tragic and he never lost touch with what it took to build things. He was the times. Sandy and her husband, Michael, were in the building March 16, ultimate team player, the guy who understood everyone’s role. He was 2002, when a deflected puck flew into the stands and struck a young fan, like a symphony conductor.” Brittanie Cecil, in the left temple. Brittanie died two days later at age 13. Charlie Steitz loved to tease Jeff Beitel about a plot to bury a Pittsburgh The incident led the NHL to require mandatory netting at both ends of Penguins card beneath Nationwide Arena. (Tom Reed / The Athletic) rinks to protect fans seated in the end zones. Beitel was serious about his work, family, golf and poker. Those under “I can’t imagine the unspeakable tragedy her family went through and it’s his watch, however, could still joke with him. so sad for them and for the legacy of the arena,” said Sandy, who has two teenage daughters. “… I’m glad the reaction was to take care of Steitz is a Pittsburgh native and a lifelong Penguins fan. He loved to reducing the fan risk, and if anyone ever complains that it makes it hard threaten Beitel with a plot to bury a 1972-73 Penguins trading card under to see, it’s a pretty easy explanation why (the nets) are there.” the concrete slabs. Sandy’s favorite player is Cam Atkinson — not only for his scoring ability “A lot of project managers stay in the trailer and some of the workers but also his community outreach. Atkinson has played a major role for a have no idea who he is,” Steitz said. “Jeff had this amazing ability to be franchise that’s qualified for the postseason in each of the past two hands-on one minute and pull back and offer a 10,000-foot view the years. next.” But Sandy’s favorite moment involves another player. She was at A day after the workers’ party on the ice, Beitel had 100 tickets to the first Nationwide Arena on April 23, 2014, as Foligno scored the overtime McGraw-Hill concert. He invited almost everyone he knew. winner that knotted the Blue Jackets’ series against the Penguins at two games apiece. “We would go to Blue Jackets games and he would just look around the building with a smile, look around at the good time everyone else was Many interviewed for this story list Foligno’s goal as the arena’s greatest having,” Diane said. “He was so proud of that building and the work that highlight. went into it.” “I was with my wife and 20,000 of our closest friends,” Brian Ellis The surveyor and the survivor recalled. “I can’t remember a more exciting feeling. It was our first home playoff win and nobody wanted to go home. I think we all ended up at the Sandy Doyle-Ahern loved pro hockey long before her surveying and civil R Bar.” engineering company began work in the Arena District in the late 1990s. She learned the game at the knee of her father, Trevor Doyle, who took Sandy and Trevor are hopeful even better nights lie ahead. Trevor, who young Sandy to Flyers games when they lived in suburban Philadelphia. emigrated from England to Canada in 1956, has quite the hockey history. He’s lived in Toronto, Montreal and Philadelphia at times when those While the president of EMH&T Engineers has become a diehard Blue cities won titles. Jackets fan, you don’t need to rummage too deep into her closet to find the Rick Tocchet No. 22 Flyers jersey she wore throughout high school. Imagine a Stanley Cup parade down Nationwide Boulevard. “My father was a textile dyer and he bought chemicals and dyes from a Bill Dingey might have to reinforce the arch’s foundation. gentleman who also worked as a penalty-time keeper at the old Spectrum,” Sandy said. “We hung out at an arena restaurant where the Mark Greiner has worked at Nationwide Arena since it opened in 2000. players would drop in and it gave me a chance to grow up around the He’s tasked with the building’s maintenance. (Tom Reed / The Athletic) Flyers in the 1980s.” The fixer When Nationwide Realty Investors chose to build an arena, she was Mark Greiner begins every workday walking through the entire facility thrilled for the new fans who would get the opportunity to attend games listening for trouble. and concerts, and enjoy the benefits of the surrounding district. Before the first player or coach enters Nationwide Arena, the 61-year-old Sandy had no idea, however, she would have the chance to repay Trevor assistant general manager of operations takes advantage of the for introducing her to hockey and bringing her so close to the game. morning’s stillness to hear whether the building is talking back to him. Her elderly parents relocated to Columbus about six years ago to be near Is that motor above the ceiling in the upper concourse making a funny Sandy and her growing family. Not long after their move, Trevor was sound? What’s that squeaky noise near the cooling units? diagnosed with lung cancer. “I tell my doctor I get my 10,000 steps in and he says, ‘that’s good, Mark,’ “We almost lost him because he got pneumonia,” Sandy said fighting and I say, ‘No, I get my 10,000 steps in by noon,’ ” Greiner said. “Since I back tears. have been here, I have had two knees and a hip replaced from all the Trevor, 80, fought through the adversity thanks to great medical care and walking and stairs. I hate stairs.” the support of his wife, Sylvia, and Sandy’s family. The Columbus hockey Upon its completion, Nationwide Arena was lauded for its architectural community also provided a secondary assist. Longtime Blue Jackets design. In recent years, many of the compliments are reserved for its maintenance. It doesn’t look or feel like a stadium that’s 18 years old. Hollywood starlets aren’t as well preserved or chemically enhanced as opened. The 81-year-old Mormon lives in St. George, Utah, surrounded the arena. Greiner is the one in charge of the Botox. by children and grandkids. Among his crew of 11 workers, two men are assigned to paint every day. McFerson attended an Ohio State football game before taking a carload That’s right, every day. The minute Greiner spots a chip in a wall or scuff of friends to the Arena District. He showed them the home of the Blue mark, he grabs his walkie-talkie and notifies a painter of his location. Jackets, the baseball stadium and the commons that bear his name. He couldn’t help but smile. People around the NHL have taken note. “It got developed just the way we thought it would with five- and six-story “What’s impressed me about Nationwide is how modern it’s looked from brick buildings with a traditional look that will last forever,” McFerson day one,” said Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock, who spent parts of four said. “I think we moved the center of town four blocks north for a couple seasons with the Blue Jackets. of decades.” Greiner was hired by former team president Doug MacLean not long after Not everything went according to plan, however. the building opened in 2000. Lamar Hunt, who died in 2006, was right. The 25-year arena lease His crew’s responsibilities used to include arena changeover — the became a financial burden to ownership and the franchise. And, transformation of the event floor from a concert setting or a basketball eventually taxpayers. The Blue Jackets couldn’t draw on traditional court to a hockey rink. In those days, Greiner prayed the Blue Jackets did revenue streams such as parking and arena naming rights, which were not get an unfavorable carom off the glass or boards in the first game owned by Nationwide. The team’s chronic losing over the first decade after a changeover. drove down attendance and, unlike other major sports leagues, the NHL “Oh, you would hear about it from Doug if there was a bad bounce,” has no lucrative American television contracts to help prop up needy Greiner said. “But the thing about him is he always apologized.” teams. Greiner grew up playing hockey. So have his kids. He loves the sport and Club officials acknowledged losing $80 million over a seven-year stretch those who are a part of it. in 2009. Three years later, the arena transitioned from private to public ownership as the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority bought Last spring, former Blue Jackets coach Gerard Gallant invited Greiner to it and agreed to allow the Blue Jackets to remain rent-free in exchange Las Vegas to attend a Stanley Cup Final game. Gallant’s expansion for the promise of staying through 2039. Golden Knights reached the championship round, and he wanted his buddy — the two families became close during the coach’s time in The cautionary tale has not stopped other cities from visiting the Arena Columbus — to experience the atmosphere. District to gain insight into developing their own projects. Officials from Detroit, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Sacramento to name a few have Greiner has been to games in other NHL markets, but he rarely finds toured the area. himself watching the action on the ice. He’s too busy looking for potential maintenance issues. “That is the ultimate compliment: We love what you have done here and how can we do it in our city?” Ellis said. “My answer is there’s no magic Brian Johnson, who’s worked in the arena for 18 years, is a floor formula. It’s specific to every market and it’s hard to replicate it.” technician. He operates three floor scrubbers. (Tom Reed / The Athletic) Among the great ironies is that two decades after voters rejected plans The operations manager isn’t the only one who takes pride in for a downtown arena and soccer stadium, it appears Columbus will have Nationwide’s appearance. both. New Crew SC ownership is expected to move the club into a $230 million soccer stadium as part of a public-private venture. It will anchor a “I’m trying to go full-go every day,” said Brian Johnson, a floor technician new “Confluence Village” that’s adjacent to the Arena District. who works under another maintenance supervisor. “Hard work is a good habit.” Alex Johnson, who helped lay the terrazzo in Nationwide Arena, is amazed at how the area has grown up around the arena. One of the Johnson operates floor scrubbers that look like mini-Zambonis. Hardly a evergreen perks, he said, is when his involvement in the project comes day passes when you can’t find workers in the concourses tending to up in casual conversation. some project. “It’s an extraordinary accomplishment for the community,” he said. “It’s Not that there isn’t room for improvement. allowed the city to grow beyond the image that it was a cow town. The arena received an unfavorable review in a recent ESPN report that “When you get the opportunity to say, ‘I had a little part in that,’ you pick rated all 111 North American pro stadiums on food-safety inspections at your shoulders up a little bit. You push your chest out a little more.” concession stands. Nationwide had the third-worst mark among NHL arenas. The names of almost every worker who had a hand in the arena’s construction appear on a giant wall display that hangs in the main Those responsibilities, however, do not fall under Greiner’s watch. His concourse near the Front Street entrance. job is to keep mechanical operations humming. “It’s one of the sharper-looking buildings in the league,” Blue Jackets Columbus City Council recently approved a 5 percent ticket tax on local center Brandon Dubinsky said. “You see some of these places and they sporting and entertainment events that will generate an estimated $2.4 are ugly and gray and spacey-looking kind of buildings. Having been million for arena repairs. (Ohio State sporting events are not subjected.) here as a fan for concerts, they have done a great job with the setup and Blue Jackets president Mike Priest supported the measure for the seating and the amenities that went with it.” Nationwide Arena tickets because the money would go toward capital expenses needed at the venue. Jeff Beitel, a big Blue Jackets fan, didn’t live long enough to see his club’s rise to respectability and perennial playoff contention. Arenas are like homes. There’s always something that requires fixing. Greiner’s biggest fear is freezing pipes during the cold-weather months. In the summer of 2008, he was suffering debilitating headaches on a And so he keeps his eyes and ears open for the first signs of problems. family vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Weeks later, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. “I know more about doors than I ever thought I’d have to know,” Greiner said. Beitel, who became a vice president at Turner, worked until a month before he died on Aug. 17, 2009. He was 50. “(Former team executive) Jim and (former assistants) Rick Wamsley and Gord Murphy will come into town and say how good the He is survived by his wife and their three daughters: Shannon, Brittany building looks. They say it still looks the way it did in the first five years.” and Stephanie. Of course, there are a lot of new parts since 2000. Just ask Greiner’s Diane no longer attends Blue Jackets games, but in the couple’s orthopedic surgeon. bedroom, she keeps an 11-by-18 picture of her husband and other Turner employees standing in a semicircle at center ice. HOK architect Christopher King is one of many who worked on the Nationwide Arena project to keep the commemorative pucks given out by “After the Nationwide job, he was given the chance to work on the Turner Construction. (Tom Reed / The Athletic) renovation of the Horseshoe,” Diane said. “He was an Ohio State grad and he loved Buckeyes football. It was a big assignment. But nothing in The credits terms of work ever meant more than being a part of building Nationwide Arena. A few months ago, Dimon McFerson returned to Columbus for the first time in three years. He retired from Nationwide not long after the arena On Aug. 20, 2009, hundreds of mourners gathered at Rodman Neeper Funeral Home. They expressed condolences and shared their favorite Jeff Beitel stories. They talked about the party on the night before the arena opened. As the crowd inside the parlor thinned, Charlie Steitz made a request to Diane. Steitz and Beitel had been good friends. He was the one who teased Beitel about burying the Penguins card in the arena. Steitz reached into his pocket and grabbed one of the commemorative pucks given to so many Nationwide Arena workers. He placed it inside the casket. (Top photo courtesy of Nationwide Realty Investors) UPDATE: This story was updated after publication to reflect it is Dimon McFerson. An earlier version was not correct. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121703 Dallas Stars Val's chances: Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin had a handful of chances Tuesday night to score the first goal of his season, but couldn't break through. Stars coach Jim Montgomery saw intent in Calgary's Garnet Hathaway's After a quick adjustment to the lines, Nichushkin found himself playing hit on Tyler Seguin in Tuesday's second period with Denis Gurianov and Devin Shore, and they helped generate offensive opportunities. In the first period, Nichushkin carried in on the rush and got a backhand shot on goal. He later had a rebound chance Matthew DeFranks after Shore shot, and drove to the net after a Gurianov feed. In the second period, Nichushkin couldn't bury an Esa Lindell rebound, and he sent another backhand wide. Nichsuhkin has not scored in any of The Stars took a penalty, but coach Jim Montgomery was content. his 26 games this season. Late in the second period of Dallas' 2-0 win over Calgary on Tuesday "I thought he was great," Montgomery said. "We were talking about him night, Stars defenseman Roman Polak was tagged with a two-minute attacking the net, and the first period, he had two rushes where no luck, roughing minor for going after Flames fourth-liner Garnet Hathaway. but he's getting there. Then the third period, he had that rebound chance. Hathaway had just finished a blindside hit on Stars center Tyler Seguin in If the puck comes with his stick, he has an open net. He keeps playing the neutral zone away from the play, and Polak decided to step in. like that, he's going to get goals, obviously it's going to be good for our secondary scoring for our team." But Polak admitted he didn't see the hit, but recognized that Hathaway was the same player who clipped Stars goaltender Ben Bishop behind Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.19.2018 the net, sending him out of the game temporarily for league-mandated concussion protocol. "I didn't see the play, so maybe it was a stupid penalty by me," Polak said. "I just saw the same guy that hit Bish in the first place." Polak dropped his gloves and grabbed Hathaway, but Hathaway refused to engage him. So Polak was hit with the two-minute minor and Hathaway escaped a possible interference call. Calgary went on the power play. "I don't know if you watched the replay, but there was an intent there by Hathaway to run into Seggy on purpose, who had no idea that he was going to get hit," Montgomery said. "Good job by Roman Polak, but we know what a great teammate he is." Earlier in the game, Hathaway chased a puck behind the Stars net, where his left shoulder caught Bishop high. Bishop said he got hit in the chin and Montgomery (via head athletic trainer Dave Zeis) would soon get the call from the concussion spotter in the league that Bishop needed to come out the game. Bishop left the game with 6:23 left in the second period, relieved by Anton Khudobin. Bishop returned for the third period, and said the tests didn't end until the beginning of the second intermission. "Got me decently good, but obviously was able to go in there and do the tests and pass," Bishop said. The league installed concussion spotters in 2016 to assist teams in removing players with possible head injuries from the game, helping to prevent possible further damage. That doesn't make it easy for athletes to come out of the game. "It is what it is," Bishop said. "I guess it probably helps in the long run." Center shuffle: Jason Spezza missed Tuesday's game with Strep throat, his first absence this season. In his place, Montgomery inserted Devin Shore as his second-line center between Valeri Nichushkin and Alexander Radulov. Shore has started one game at center this season (Oct. 13 vs. Anaheim) and has won 15 of his 29 faceoffs this season (51.7 percent). The Stars could have moved Radek Faksa back to center in Spezza's absence, but instead kept him at wing with center Martin Hanzal and winger Tyler Pitlick. Faksa had not played at wing this season, and has primarily centered Dallas' shutdown line. "I really liked Faksa on the wing yesterday in practice," Montgomery said. "He seemed to be a little more creative offensively and, to me, Faksa's strength is he's a great forechecker. As a winger, you get on top of the forecheck even more often. We try to just play him to his strengths there. Obviously, he's a natural center and he's really good for us." Faksa scored his sixth goal of the season in the second period on Tuesday night, skillfully working a backhand around Flames goalie David Rittich. Faksa said Hanzal helped him adjust to wing by directing him where he needed to go and what to do. "I thought the board battles would be difficult, the defensive zone will be difficult and the position and the movement," Faksa said. "After faceoffs, the forechecking was hard too." Montgomery added postgame: "He had incredible poise on walls. He had great strength on walls. I love how heavy that line is with the two of them together." 1121704 Dallas Stars Roman Polak approached Hathaway and dropped his gloves, but Hathaway again did not engage. Polak was given a two-minute minor for roughing, while the Flames went on the power play. Stars find their 'mojo,' a full 60 minutes in win over Calgary, snapping Calgary pumped 12 shots in the third period, but couldn't pierce the Stars four-game losing streak and Bishop. "Kind of one of those bend, don't break type mentalities," Bishop said. "I Matthew DeFranks think the last couple third periods on the road, we broke a couple times. Obviously, they're going to have a push, all teams do. It's about absorbing it, and if they do get one, a little bit of a bend, but not break and let the floodgates go open." Sometimes, the scoreboard can lie. It can tell the story of fortunate bounces or a glut of time shorthanded. Sometimes, the scoreboard Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.19.2018 doesn't care about your line combinations or your faceoff plays or your forecheck. During the Stars' now extinct four-game losing streak that ended with Tuesday night's 2-0 win over Calgary, sometimes the scoreboard lied. It hid a pretty evenly played game in San Jose in which Dallas exited pointless. It couldn't disguise the inconsistency of a horrid first period followed by two strong ones in Colorado. The refrain from the Stars players and coaching staff was simple: "If we play the way we did the last few games, we deserve better results," Tyler Seguin said following the loss to Colorado. In a return to Dallas and the friendly confines of American Airlines Center, the Stars played that way again. They dominated the Flames in the first and second periods, receiving goals from Jamie Benn and Radek Faksa and outshooting Calgary 26-12 after two periods. The Flames pushed in the third period down two goals, but never seriously threatened the Stars' lead. "Even though we lost all those games on the road trip, we had some good periods there and put ourselves in good situations," goaltender Ben Bishop said. "It came down to 20 minutes each game that hurt us. We were able to put a full 60 together tonight. It's about that consistency and doing it night in, and night out." The Stars are now 11-3-1 and have won their last five games on home ice. They are 6-11-2 and have lost their last four on the road. "We had two days off where everyone got to say hi to their kids, their wives and got to enjoy the great weather here in Dallas," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "You come with a new refreshed mentality and I think it showed right from the start. We were a different team." Bishop survived a second-period hit behind his own net to earn the victory and hand the red-hot Flames just their third regulation loss in the last 15 games. Dallas also beat the Flames in overtime about three weeks ago. On Tuesday night, the Stars (17-14-3) owned the net-front, setting up both Benn and Faksa's goals. Seguin fed Benn in the first period on the doorstep, and the puck clanked off Benn's skate past Flames goaltender David Rittich. It was Benn's 14th goal of the season, and moved him into fifth place in franchise history with 268 career goals, passing Bill Goldsworthy. Faksa corralled a loose puck in front of the net after Martin Hanzal's shot was deflected. Faksa deftly moved to his backhand and slid the puck past Rittich. "I thought we were playing with mojo," Montgomery said. "I thought that forecheck was really good, our reload by our forwards and our d-men were five guys in the picture together. It led to turnovers and it led to easy breakouts, which allowed us to, I thought, in the first two periods, overwhelm them 5-on-5." A strong penalty kill went 4-for-4 against Calgary and the Stars posted their third shutout of the season, and the first combined shutout in franchise history. The scoreboard did not lie on Tuesday. The Stars also showed some feistiness on a pair of occasions with Flames fourth-liner Garnet Hathaway. Hathaway was the one who clipped Bishop behind the net, knocking him to the ice, and temporarily out of the game. Anton Khudobin filled in for Bishop during the final 6:23 of the second period but Bishop returned for the third period. After the play, Benn grabbed Hathaway by the collar and shook him. Hathaway did not engage. Towards the end of the second period, Hathaway was a target again when he blindsided Seguin away from the puck, a play that should have resulted in an interference penalty but instead went uncalled. 1121705 Dallas Stars Smith has played 14 games for Dallas and three for Boston this season. He has two goals and an assist.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.19.2018 19-year-old Miro Heiskanen is reminding Stars coach Jim Montgomery of an NHL Hall of Famer

Matthew DeFranks

Stars coach Jim Montgomery wasted no time in his answer Tuesday morning. Does teenage defenseman Miro Heiskanen remind you of anybody? "Niedermayer," Montgomery quickly said. "Scott Niedermayer." Heiskanen has been a revelation this season for the Stars, who have entrusted more than 23 minutes a night to the 19-year-old former first- round pick. He's responded by wowing with his smooth skating and effortless acceleration, plus chipping in on the offensive end. Heiskanen has seven goals and 10 assists, and his 17 points are tied for fifth among all NHL rookies. Niedermayer is the Hall of Fame defenseman with New Jersey and Anaheim who won four Stanley Cups, a Norris Trophy and a Conn Smythe Trophy. Known as one of the best skating defensemen in NHL history, Niedermayer played 18 seasons in the league, with 740 points in 1,263 games. "The feet and the skating ability and the smarts, at both ends of the ice," Montgomery said. "His stick, he breaks up plays just like Scott did. His ability to jump in [the rush] and be the fourth guy, and not even look like he's trying to be the fourth guy and just be separating from forwards backchecking." Heiskanen's speed has allowed the Stars some freedom this season. They've designed faceoff plays around his speed by sending him down the wall, and forcing either a winger or a static defenseman to pick him up. They've encouraged him to join play in the offensive zone because he can get back to the defensive zone in time. Montgomery said he first recognized the parallels between Niedermayer and Heiskanen over the summer, when he would Watch video of Heiskanen. "It's God-given ability," Montgomery said. "That's what it is. That play that Niedermayer scored for Jersey where he went in, rushed back, broke up a play and went back down and scored. We've seen Miro do that three or four times this year already." -- After being in the lineup for two games, Julius Honka is a healthy scratch again. Joel Hanley will replace Honka on the Stars defense. Hanley cleared waivers Tuesday morning and will be on the third pairing with Taylor Fedun. Hanley's situation is an unusual one because of the upcoming holiday roster freeze. In the NHL, no teams can waive, trade or loan players from Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. until Dec. 28 at 12:01 a.m. But to create space for John Klingberg's return later this week, the Stars had to make a move before the freeze. So they waived Hanley on Monday, and he went unclaimed. Hanley does not have to be assigned to the AHL simply because he was waived. Technically, he can play up to 10 games and spend up to 30 days on an NHL roster before he must be passed through waivers again. Hanley, 27, has played a career-high 15 games for the Stars this season, averaging 13:46 of ice time per game. Honka will be a healthy scratch for the 12th time this season. "As a coaching staff, we were just more comfortable with what we were getting consistently from that six, and that's what we were winning with," Montgomery said. When dressing Esa Lindell, Heiskanen, Gavin Bayreuther, Roman Polak, Hanley and Fedun, the Stars are 5-2-1. -- The Bruins waived former Stars forward Gemel Smith on Tuesday, opening up the possibility of a return to the Stars organization. The Stars waived Smith on Dec. 5, and lost him when Boston claimed him the next day. According the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement, if the Stars are the only team to claim Smith tomorrow, they can assign him to the AHL without sending him through waivers because they were the original team that waived him. Smith could add forward depth to the organization, should he go unclaimed by other teams. 1121707 Dallas Stars

Benn, team defense bust Stars out of four-game slump in shutout of red- hot Flames

BY PETER DAWSON

DALLAS=Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Especially when you’ve lost four games in a row. The Dallas Stars’ first goal against the Flames at American Airlines Center on Tuesday night certainly fit that description. In the middle of the first period, Tyler Seguin stole the puck behind the net in the offensive zone and slung it across the front of the goal mouth. It wasn’t a particularly elegant pass, but it managed to find its way off the skate of Jamie Benn and into the back of the net. Dallas was both lucky and good throughout its 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames. In the process, Jim Montgomery’s team snapped its worst pointless streak of the season. Before the most recent road trip, the Stars had claimed eight points in four games. As a result, they were right in the thick of the playoff race in the Central Division and Western Conference standings. But on the road a four-game slide followed and so did their place in the standings. Entering Tuesday, Dallas occupied fifth place in the division and 11th in the Western Conference. The Flames are also entered the tilt as one of the hottest teams in the NHL. In their previous 15 games they were 12-1-2. But, for all of their struggles on the road, the Stars have been dominant at home. They’re now 11-3-1 at AAC, the best mark in the Western Conference and second-best mark in the NHL (the Tampa Bay Lightning rank first). Against Calgary, Montgomery’s group finally rebounded with a strong effort and victory. Tyler Seguin, Alexande Radulov and Benn, the Stars’ three best forwards, were ice cold on the road trip. During the first three games, the trio combined for just three points (a goal by Radulov and assists from Benn and Seguin). Collectively, the three were also a brutal minus-8. When the Stars visited the Avalanche on Saturday, the three finally came through, totaling six points (three goals and three assists). Benn’s goal off the pass from Seguin continued a positive trend, even though Radulov was separated from his typical linemates. But the team’s effort on defense might’ve been equally important. Tuesday’s game wouldn’t have been complete without another Ben Bishop injury scare. In the second period he took what appeared to be a deliberate stick to the head and was forced to head to the locker room for a medical evaluation. The team’s No. 1 netminder returned for the third, and together he and Anton Khudobin stopped 24 shots combined to blank the Pacific Division- leading Flames. Star-Telegram LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121708 Dallas Stars They outshot the Flames 14-6, had a 6-1 edge in high-danger chances, and with the exception of a Calgary power play it felt like the entire opening stanza was played in the Flames defensive zone. Stars 20/20: Combined shutout and Radek Faksa, now a scoring winger, And Dallas really should have led by more than one after 20 minutes. help Stars end skid Miro Heiskanen had the best chance and beat Flames goalie David Rittich with a wrist shot on the rush, but it clanked off the elbow of the By Sean Shapiro goal where the post and crossbar meet. Valeri Nichushkin also had a couple grade-A chances, but was unable to elevate the puck and finish. DALLAS — The Dallas Stars snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 shutout win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. 6. The lone goal of the first period came when Tyler Seguin banked the puck off Benn’s skate. Jamie Benn and Radek Faksa scored for the Stars, while Ben Bishop (21 saves) and Anton Khudobin (three saves) combined for the Stars’ third Dylan Nadwodny shutout of the season. @dnadders 1. This wasn’t a must-win, but it was a game the Stars really needed after · 8h a dropping four straight on the road. Tyler Seguin gets a pass to Jamie Benn from just below the icing line In the last game on the road, the Stars were missing an identity and and it goes in off the captain's skate. players were struggling to find the words to explain what was going wrong. DAL 1 - 0 CGY Returning home was a spark and a reminder of how the Stars want to Embedded video play. They played with aggression, they pressured the puck, and they actually attacked in waves for the first time in a long time. Dylan Nadwodny Doing so against Calgary, one of the better teams in the Western @dnadders Conference, should be a building block moving forward. Look from behind the net at Benn's goal: pic.twitter.com/M6n6bGC6Dl 2. Bishop was leveled by Garnet Hathaway midway through the second 2:08 AM - Dec 19, 2018 period when he stopped the puck behind the net and made a short pass to Miro Heiskanen in the corner. Twitter Ads info and privacy Dylan Nadwodny Embedded video @dnadders See Dylan Nadwodny's other Tweets Hathaway catches Bishop up high near the chin, and Calgary goes to Twitter Ads info and privacy the box for two for goaltender interference. 7. Even with Jason Spezza missing the game due to strep throat, the 12 Stars still moved Radek Faksa to the wing and put him on a line with Martin Hanzal. 2:54 AM - Dec 19, 2018 “I think Hanzal’s a little bit of a role model to Faksa and also, I really like See Dylan Nadwodny's other Tweets Faksa on the wing yesterday in practice,” Montgomery said. “He seemed Twitter Ads info and privacy to be a little more creative offensively and to me Faksa’s strength is he’s a great forechecker and as a winger, you get on top of the forecheck Bishop remained in the game for another three minutes before he was even more often and you try to just play him to his strengths there. pulled by the NHL concussion spotter, who alerted head trainer David Obviously, he’s a natural center and he’s really good for us but it’s just Zeis that the Stars had to remove the goalie. Back in the locker room trying something else to try and generate a little more offense for us and Bishop went through the test, which lasted the remainder of the second also balance on the line.” period and he was cleared during the second intermission. And the decision paid off when Faksa doubled the Stars lead in the During the intermission Stars coach Jim Montgomery asked Bishop if he second period with slick hands in front of the net after a whiffed pass or wanted to return to the game and goalie made the decision to return. shot from Hanzal. Because of the timing, Bishop was able to come out fresh to start the third period, which made it easier to re-set after getting taken out. Embedded video “It was easy with the intermission there, tougher when you have to go Dylan Nadwodny right back out there,” Bishop said. “It was easy to regroup there and get @dnadders ready for the third.” A puck goes off a Flames defender and Faksa is right in front with the When Bishop returned to start the third period and stopped all 12 shots silky hands to put it past the Flames goalie and double the lead. he faced in the final frame. DAL 2 - 0 CGY 3. Because he didn’t play the full game Bishop wasn’t officially credited with a shutout. 18 In the record book it officially goes down as a team shutout and neither 3:11 AM - Dec 19, 2018 Bishop nor Anton Khudobin gets to add one to his numbers. See Dylan Nadwodny's other Tweets It was the first combined shutout in franchise history and the 67th time in NHL history that two goalies have combined for a shutout. Twitter Ads info and privacy In another interesting twist, if the Stars had allowed a goal in the third “It was a great touch,” Faks said. “The guys battled hard and there were period and won 2-1, Khudobin would have been the official goalie of two guys going with (Hanzal) so I tried to go to the net and it bounced record. over to me and I saw the goalie went for the poke check and I got kind of lucky I made it.” 4. Khudobin did his part to keep the Stars ahead in the six minutes, 23 seconds he played. 8. Heading into the game Faksa thought it was going to be a difficult transition to the wing, but he was surprised at how comfortable he felt He only had to make three saves, but two of them were high-danger away from his natural position. chances, and he helped the Stars kill a penalty at the end of the second period. “The guys they made it easy on me because I didn’t play wing for so long,” Faksa said. “Marty especially he made it easy on me, he told me 5. The Stars dominated the first period. what to do. Where to go. It was way easier and I thought very good today.” Before the game Montgomery talked to Faksa about playing his game, him play Thursday, but then send Gurianov down when Klingberg is but being aware of where he needed to be as a winger. A lot of that activated. started with winning and battling on the boards, which Montgomery praised after the game. 14. I asked Montgomery if there were any nervous moments about potentially losing Hanley on waivers when he was planning on using him “He had incredible poise on the walls, he had great strength on the walls in the lineup Tuesday. and I love how heavy that line is with the two of them together,” Montgomery said. “Well, more nervous for him, I’m sure, than us but for sure,” Montgomery said. “It’s part of the NHL, right? And we’re all professionals, we 9. Denis Gurianov and Nichushkin were put on the same line late in the understand it and we just move on and we’re confident he’ll be ready first period and the two young Russians played well off each other. tonight and play a good game for the Dallas Stars.” For a team that’s really lacked speed and pace lately, Gurianov and While Hanley was the one on waivers, he’s still higher on the coach’s Nichushkin were both straight-line players who attacked the net and depth chart than Julius Honka, who was once again a healthy scratch created while in transition. after playing the last two games. “I thought that was the fastest we’re looked in a long time as a team,” “I think as a coaching staff,” Montgomery said, “we’re just more Montgomery said. comfortable with what we’re getting consistently from that six (defensemen) and that’s what we were winning with.” 10. In addition to hitting Bishop, Hathaway also had a neutral ice collision with Seguin in the late in the second period. 15. Speaking of waivers, former Star Gemel Smith was placed on waivers by the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. It was a play the Stars weren’t happy with and Roman Polak chased down Hathaway after the hit and was called for roughing. The Stars have no plans of claiming Smith as an NHL player, but they do have the option of bringing him back to the organization as a boost for “I just saw the same guy that hit Bish in the first place,” Polak said. “So I the AHL-affiliated . thought he hit something again. So that’s why I went.” If the Smith isn’t claimed by any other NHL team, the Stars have the “Don’t know if you watched the replay, but there was an intent there by ability to claim Smith and place him directly in the AHL. Hathaway to run into Seggy on purpose, who had no idea that he was going to get hit,” Montgomery said. “So good job by Roman Polak but I While it’s an option, I’m pretty confident it’s an option the Stars are not mean, we all know what a great teammate he is.” going to pursue. Even though it put the Stars on the penalty kill, the team said Polak’s 16. Klingberg was one of three injured defensemen to take part in the action was a momentum-building point that helped propel them into the morning skate on Tuesday, as Stephen Johns and Connor Carrick each third period. took part in a formal team skate for the first time in almost a month. 11. Emotion was a big word in the locker room after the game. Carrick, who is recovering from a hairline fracture in his ankle, is expected to return soon after the Christmas break. There is still no After looking lackadaisical at times during a four-game losing streak the timeline for Johns’ recovery from post-traumatic headaches, but seeing Stars showed energy throughout the game and to use the go-to cliche him actually skate with the team is an encouraging sign. from Tuesday’s postgame, “They played a full 60 minutes.” Johns has been seeing several specialists and trying almost everything 12. The Stars started with this lineup: to feel normal. Some days are better than others, but he has yet to have Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Denis Gurianov a really good string of good days that would indicate he could even try to play a game. Valeri Nichushkin – Devin Shore – Alexander Radulov 17. The high-praise for Heiskanen continues to roll in this season. Radek Faksa – Martin Hanzal – Tyler Pitlick On Tuesday Montgomery was asked which player he would compare the Mattias Janmark – Jason Dickinson – Blake Comeau teenager too. Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen “Scott Niedermayer.” Gavin Bayreuther – Roman Polak Why? Joel Hanley – Taylor Fedun “The skates, the feet, the skating ability and the smarts at both ends of the ice. His stick, he breaks up plays just like Scott did and his ability to Overall it was a night when the lines actually stuck together for much of jump in and be the fourth guy and not even look like he’s trying to be the the game. Radulov and Gurianov were flipped, but aside from that it was fourth guy and just be separating from forwards backchecking.” a rather cohesive look throughout the game. “It’s God-given ability,” Montgomery added. “I mean that play 13. Hanley’s inclusion in the lineup was an interesting one after he Niedermayer scored for Jersey where he went in, made a play, rushed cleared waivers at 11 a.m. Tuesday. back, broke up a play and went back down and scored, we’ve seen Miro do that three or four times already this year.” Hanley was put on waivers because the NHL roster freeze goes into effect at midnight on Wednesday and the Stars will need to open a roster Here is the play Montgomery was talking about with Niedermayer. spot for John Klingberg during that freeze. By putting Hanley on waivers the Stars created more options for who to send down when Klingberg 18. The Stars power play struggled in both opportunities on Tuesday, but plays. the penalty kill was markedly improved in killing off four penalties. If the Stars didn’t bring the roster down to 22 players before the roster 19. Benn’s goal was his 268th career goal and he now has recorded the freeze, they would have had to send Gurianov down when Klingberg was fifth-most goals in the history of the franchise (1967-present), moving out activated since he had been called up after Dec. 11. That’s a requirement of a tie with Bill Goldsworthy. When it comes to Dallas records Benn is under the CBA, if you get to more than 23 players during the holiday second behind Mike Modano with 434 goals for the Texas-based freeze and have a player who was called up after Dec. 11, you are franchise. required to return him to the AHL. 20. Here is how the Stars did in the various elements of Montgomery’s So by waving Hanley and potentially sending him to the AHL on process: Wednesday, the Stars were making a move to potentially protect Gurianov’s roster spot when Klingberg returns. The Stars also couldn’t Win 56 percent of faceoffs: Passed. The Stars won 57 percent of the put Hanley on waivers on Tuesday, because players on waivers are not draws. eligible to play while on waivers, hence he was waived Monday. Zero undisciplined penalties: Failed. So here is the decision the Stars will have to make before midnight Three or fewer odd-man rushes: Passed. Wednesday: Win net-front battle: Passed. They can send Hanley to the AHL, but if Klingberg isn’t ready for Thursday they’ll have to play the six defensemen they currently have Win special teams: Passed. I’m calling it a win because of the work on including Julius Honka. Or the Stars could keep Hanley around and have the penalty kill. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121709 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings extend winless streak with latest debacle in Philly

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 9:53 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 10:01 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Red Wings scrambled — first to replace a teammate, then to challenge their opponent.

They didn’t do well at the latter Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center, giving up odd-man rushes and generating little in the offensive zone. That led to a 3-2 loss, leaving the Wings winless in their last four games and 2-5-2 in their last nine games.

Dennis Cholowski and Jacob de la Rose scored but the Wings trailed all game, even as they faced 20-year-old goaltender Carter Hart, who was making his NHL debut. The Wings have won just once in Philadelphia (on Nov. 8, 2016) since Game 2 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Final, going 1- 13-1.

When Jimmy Howard’s back seized up during warmups, Jonathan Bernier assumed duties as the starter. Then it came time to dress a backup.

Standard protocol when a visiting team can’t get one of its own goaltenders in time for a game is to use the home team’s emergency goaltender (every arena has one — at Little Caesars Arena, Josh Block or Dominic Franca are at games in case either team needs an emergency goaltender).

Justin Kowalkoski is a geologist by day, played at Colgate from 2004-08, is a beer-league goalie two-to-three times a week, and occasionally a fill- in at Wells Fargo Center. He dressed for the Penguins last season but did not see game action. Kowalkoski wore no. 30 for the Wings — Chris Osgood’s old number.

After failing to convert for seven straight games, the Wings converted a power play for a second straight game when rookie defenseman Dennis Cholowski got a shot through from the high slot at 5:12 of the second period. James van Riemsdyk had scored with 1:27 to go in the first period, and restored their lead at 8:52 of the second period when Radko Gudas scored while van Riemsdyk was in front Bernier.

Shayne Gostisbehere scored off an odd-man rush at 15:17. The Wings had a little spurt of activity in the offensive zone near the end of the period but overall they did not look good, and were outshot, 20-14 after two periods.

De la Rose scored two minutes into the third period, his second goal since the Wings picked him off waivers Oct. 17 after he was discarded by Montreal. That didn’t lead to a shift in momentum, though — the Flyers were still the ones generating the better chances after the goal. Halfway through the period, the Wings were being outshot, 7-2. Bernier was pulled with 1:45 to go for the extra attacker.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121710 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings face emergency after losing Jimmy Howard

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 7:28 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 8:10 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Red Wings lost one of their most important players during warmups Tuesday.

Goaltender Jimmy Howard, who has been a key reason the Wings are hunting a playoff spot, was not able to play after his back seized up before the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

There was no immediate word on Howard's status. He received treatment during the game. The Wings next play Thursday at Carolina, but if Howard is unable to practice Wednesday, the Wings are expected to call up either Patrik Rybar or Harri Sateri from Grand Rapids. Rybar (2.52 goals-against average, .902 save percentage in 13 games) is having the better season but Sateri (3.32 goals-against average, .878 save percentage in 16 games) but Sateri has nine games of NHL experience.

The Wings had to use Philadelphia’s emergency goaltender as backup — standard protocol for visiting teams when one of its own goaltenders cannot be recalled in time. Justin Kowalkoski, a geologist by day, served as Jonathan Bernier's backup. He dressed last season as Pittsburgh's backup, but did not see any game action.

More: Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina will go to World Juniors

Howard has played 23 games for the Wings (14-15-5), going 10-7-4 with a 2.69 goals-against average.

His play is better reflected by his .922 save percentage. Howard was one of the Wings’ most consistent performers as they struggled through a 1- 7-2 start, and last week was the reason they beat Los Angeles, thanks to Howard's 42 saves.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121711 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina will go to World Juniors

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 10:56 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 2:45 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

PHILADELPHIA — The agent for Detroit Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina said he will be going to World Juniors.

Darren Ferris told the Free Press on Tuesday afternoon Zadina is expected to play Wednesday for the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Wings agreed in early December to release Zadina to represent his native Czech Republic at the 2019 World Junior Championship, which runs Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.

Zadina, 19, has eight goals and nine assists in 26 games with the Griffins. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft left Saturday’s game with a groin/hamstring injury, casting doubt to his availability.

Ferris said the injury turned out to be minor. The Wings hoped Zadina would be able to play in the tournament, because of how it could benefit his confidence during his first year of pro hockey.

“If he’s able to go, I think it puts him in a situation where he can be a real go, go, go-to guy, and hopefully be in a position where he can have the puck a ton and have a lot of offensive success," Wings coach Jeff Blashill said after the morning skate Tuesday in preparation to face the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

“I think any time you transfer into pro, it’s hard. I don’t care if it’s the or the NHL, it’s hard. So to be at a level where he is more even with his peers in terms of age, if anything he’d be in the upper echelon of that at this point.”

Zadina dominated at last year’s event, scoring seven goals among eight points in seven games. Zadina wants to be at World Juniors again — he told the Wings as much as they debated whether to release him from the Griffins. Camps started Dec. 10, but the Wings compromised and told the Czechs that Zadina could join them Dec. 20.

Defenseman Filip Hronek was teammates with Zadina in Grand Rapids until he was called up by the Wings last week.

“He progressed from the start,” Hronek said. “He was struggling a little bit but then he was playing pretty well.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121712 Detroit Red Wings

Game thread: Detroit Red Wings fall to Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 5:56 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 9:41 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

Detroit Red Wings (14-15-5, 33 points) at Philadelphia Flyers (12-15-4, 28 points)

Turbulent times: The Wings face an opponent coming off a coaching change — the Flyers fired Dave Hakstol on Monday and named Scott Gordon interim coach. The Flyers have lost seven of their past nine games, and are 0-3-1 in their past four.

The Flyers also called up highly-touted goaltender Carter Hart from their AHL affiliate and placed Anthony Stolarz on IR. Hart joins Michal Neuvirth, as Brian Elliott is also on IR. Hart will make his NHL debut against the Wings, and is the sixth goaltender to play for the Flyers this season.

Sizing up the opponent: The Flyers score an average of 2.97 goals per game and allow an average of 3.74 (the latter ranks 29th in the NHL). Their power play (12.9 percent) ranks 29th and their penalty kill (73.5 percent) ranks 30th. Claude Giroux leads the team with 28 assists and 39 points. Sean Couturier has 13 goals. Nolan Patrick, the second overall pick in the 2017 draft, has five goals and five assists.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121713 Detroit Red Wings But the Wings were again way too passive, only generating eight shots at Hart in the third period, and never coming close to tying the score.

“It’s his first game, in the highest league, you want to get pucks to the net Red Wings lose Howard, game in rough night in Philadelphia and get bodies to the net,” Cholowski said. “We didn’t do that enough.”

James van Riemsdyk, Radko Gudas, and Shayne Gostisbehere had Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Flyers goals.

Published 9:53 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 5:29 a.m. ET Dec. 19, 2018 Detroit News LOADED: 12.19.2018

Philadelphia — The news was discouraging for the Detroit Red Wings before the game and didn’t get better as the evening unfolded.

The Red Wings lost goaltender Jimmy Howard in pregame warm-ups, then pretty much lost every other aspect of their game Tuesday, in a 3-2 setback against the Philadelphia Flyers.

In a season that is suddenly getting ugly again, the Wings didn’t show much in this loss.

“We had guys with their ‘B’ and ‘C’ games, not even close to enough with their ‘A’ games,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “When you’re shorthanded (with available players), guys have to rise to the occasion and play their ‘A’ games on a nightly basis and it wasn’t even close.

“Whether handling the puck, or execution, or turnovers, or poor defensive zone coverage, as a group were slow in the D-zone. Guys have to rise up and play better than they did.”

Howard injured his back, which forced Jonathan Bernier to get the start. Blashill said Howard will get checked out Wednesday, and the Wings will determine whether to call up a goaltender from Grand Rapids.

“He had issues in warm-ups and couldn’t dress, couldn’t play,” Blashill said. “We’ll see how he is (Wednesday). We’re trying to find a goalie for practice (Wednesday in Raleigh, ahead of Thursday's game against Carolina).

“I would call it day-to-day. I don’t think it’s anything bigger than that. I would call it day-to-day.”

Needing a healthy backup for this game, the Wings picked up Justin Kowalkoski, who is the Flyers’ emergency goalie. Kowalkoski, 34, played four years of college hockey at Colgate (2004-08) and currently plays up to three games a week in a beer league.

Kowalkoski is a geologist at Roux Company and dressed for the Pittsburgh Penguins last year in a similar situation but didn’t get into the game.

He didn’t get into this one, either, but watched a Wings team that didn’t put nearly enough pressure for most of the night against Carter Hart, who was making his NHL debut.

Hart only saw 22 shots, a rather easy evening.

“You want to take advantage of that as much as you can and make sure it’s hard for him,” said Niklas Kronwall of Hart. “Pucks to the net, more traffic. I don’t think we did enough of that.”

Dennis Cholowski (power play) and Jacob de la Rose scored for the Wings, who are winless in four games (0-3-1) and have only won twice in the last nine games (2-5-2).

The Wings dropped to 14-16-5 (33 points), while the Flyers (13-15-4, 30 points) ended a four-game winless streak.

Some key injuries — Mike Green, Danny DeKeyser, Anthony Mantha, Darren Helm — have hurt, but in their absences, other players aren’t stepping up.

Michael Rasmussen hasn’t scored in 15 games, Andreas Athanasiou hasn’t scored in 10 games, Thomas Vanek has one goal in 10 games, Frans Nielsen one goal in his last seven games, Tyler Bertuzzi hasn’t scored in seven games. Martin Frk has one goal for the season.

“We need a lot more from a number of guys,” Blashill said. “Again, when you are missing some guys, others have to rise up and be way better. They weren’t (Tuesday).”

The Wings cut the lead to 3-2 on de la Rose’s second goal, at the 2:00 mark of the third period. 1121714 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings' Howard injures back, Bernier gets start in Philadelphia

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News

Published 7:25 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

Philadelphia — The Red Wings are hoping this doesn’t turn into anything bigger than this.

Goaltender Jimmy Howard hurt his back during warm-ups Tuesday night and didn’t make the start against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jonathan Bernier, who was expected to be the backup, started instead.

The Wings had an emergency goalie serve as the backup: Justin Kowalkoski, a geologist at Roux Company.

Howard has been having an outstanding season, with a 10-7-4 record, 2.69 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

Detroit News LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121715 Detroit Red Wings Zadina suffered a minor hamstring injury Saturday and missed one game with the Griffins.

Blashill talked Tuesday morning about how important it could be for Filip Hronek returns to Red Wings more confident, comfortable Zadina to play, and dominate, in the tournament.

“It puts him in a situation where he can kind of be a real go-to guy and Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News hopefully be in a position where he can have the puck a ton and have a lot of offensive success,” Blashill said. “Anytime you transfer into pro, it’s Published 3:55 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 3:56 p.m. ET Dec. 18, hard. I don’t care if it’s the American League or the NHL, it’s hard. He’ll 2018 be at a level that he’s more even with his peers in terms of age (at the world juniors).

“If anything, he’d be in the upper echelon at this point.” Philadelphia — Filip Hronek is happy to be back, and glad to get another opportunity to show what he can do. Philadelphia will start goaltender Carter Hart, 20, one of its top prospects in the organization, Tuesday against the Wings. The last time, in October, didn’t go as planned as injuries decimated the Red Wings’ defense, and Hronek was part of a replacement crew that Hart is one of the few young goalies in recent years who has been simply was too young and inexperienced. drafted high in the draft — Hart was a second-round pick — and found his way onto an NHL roster. Hronek went back down to Grand Rapids and played extremely well. Blashill sees a landscape in the NHL these days of elite goaltenders are Now, with Mike Green (lower body) out for about a month, Hronek gets who aren’t losing their jobs, and not many youngsters capable of another chance to show he is NHL ready. assuming those few jobs available. “I feel good,” Hronek said Tuesday after completing his morning skate. “Certainly there’s a reason why there’s not been many, it’s only been a “I’m happy I’m back here and I have a chance to show them I can play.” few special ones that have come in at that young age,” Blashill said. Hronek was chosen to replace Green because they have similar “Guys don’t give their jobs up and it doesn’t seem like there’s been a offensive styles. But Hronek also was playing at an elite level for the whole bunch of abundance of young guys taking them. Griffins. “The other thing with a goaltender different from any other position is you Hronek, 21, had an eigtht-game point streak from Nov. 23 to Dec. 7, and an ease guys into other spots. You can ease guys in as a defenseman, had points in nine of his last 10 games in the AHL. you can protect them. You can protect them by playing them on the power play, same thing as a forward. Hronek tied a Griffins’ team record with assists in eight consecutive games. “You can’t do that with a goalie. The goalie has to be ready when he plays, and certainly confidence is a huge thing at every position, but it’s In 20 games with Grand Rapids, Hronek had 18 points (five goals, 13 paramount at the netminder position.” assists), leading all Griffins defensemen and ranking ninth among AHL defensemen.

Being around the Wings that month of October — Hronek played in six Detroit News LOADED: 12.19.2018 games with three points (one goal, two assists) — has helped Hronek then, and now.

“I learned a lot,” Hronek said of his time around defensemen such as Green, Niklas Kronwall and Trevor Daley. “You can see guys like Kroner, Mike Green, how they prepare and how they work. They helped me for sure, a lot.

“It helped me (being in the NHL). I know the guys more, so that helped me a lot.”

Similar to the Wings, the Griffins started slowly (most of their defensemen were with the Wings, forcing them to play with ECHL defensemen from Toledo), but have rebounded to get back to playing .500 hockey.

“The start, we were struggling a little bit, but then we stepped up a little it,” Hronek said. “Guys came back and we were playing pretty well.

“We have a pretty good team down there.”

Coach Jeff Blashill has mentioned several times since Hronek returned last week how important it was for Hronek to play with confidence and continue his progression from Grand Rapids.

“Early in the year, he struggled a little bit and got overly hard on himself,” Blashill said. “That’s a good quality and bad quality. Being self accountable is good, but when you cross the line and being to hard (on yourself), sometimes that’s bad.

“He just needs to come up and play. He’s a good hockey player. His game is probably better than his skill set. Just do the things you’re real good at and if he does that, he’s an NHL player. It’s just a matter of when, and hopefully it’s right now.”

Forward Filip Zadina practiced Tuesday in Grand Rapids and told reporters he expects to play with the Griffins on Wednesday, then travel to Vancouver later in the week for the world junior tournament.

Zadina’s native Czech Republic team will practice and have an exhibition game before the tournament begins Dec. 26. 1121716 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit News LOADED: 12.19.2018

State approves $10M loan for Joe Louis Arena demolition

Candice Williams, The Detroit News

Published 11:49 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 4:57 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

The Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Michigan Strategic Fund board voted Tuesday to approve a $10 million loan for the demolition of the vacant Joe Louis Arena site in Detroit for future development.

The board also approved the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority’s request for a Brownfield Act 381 Work Plan that would capture local and school taxes to repay the loan.

“We know redevelopment of the site will be coming in the near future just because it’s such a high-profile site in the city of Detroit,” said Greg Tedder, chief community development and marketing officer for the MEDC.

According to a briefing memo from the MEDC, the city of Detroit will use the funds from the low-interest, performance-based loan as well as other sources to pay for the demolition, which is estimated to cost about $13 million. The project includes environmental work including asbestos abatement and site preparation.

The brownfield work plan will allow the city to be reimbursed for those costs through tax increment revenues generated from whatever future development sits on that site.

The $10 million loan was the maximum available to the city for the project, $2 million less than officials initially said they would request.

"That should fit our budget," said John Naglick, Detroit's chief deputy chief financial officer and finance director. "Now that we have this loan in place, we're able to do the remediation and prepare it for the development that will follow."

This latest loan, as well as the $250 million in tax-exempt bonds the fund board granted to the city in 2014 to build the Little Caesars Arena, was integral in moving toward the redevelopment of the Joe Louis Arena site, Naglick said.

"Both of those required support from the Michigan Strategic Fund," he said. "We’re very thankful for it."

City officials have said that demolition preparation for the arena would begin early next year and could take up to two months. A teardown of the building was projected to begin in June.

Joe Louis Arena was a city-owned facility that was a concert venue and former home of the Detroit Red Wings. The venue closed in the summer of 2017. The Wings moved to Little Caesars Arena on Woodward that fall.

The arena and its adjacent parking garage were given to bond insurer Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. under an agreement struck in Detroit's Chapter 9 bankruptcy case. The New York firm was a major creditor that lost $1.1 billion in the bankruptcy.

FGIC seeks to recoup its money by developing the arena land after the venue is demolished. Under the deal, Detroit is required to facilitate the arena's razing.

Under a mediation settlement reached in the bankruptcy court, FGIC was granted an extension for its development plan until Jan. 15, 2020.

Neither FGIC nor the company it set up to develop the site, Gotham Motown Recovery, returned messages seeking comment Tuesday.

From that date, the bond insurer has 12 months after acceptance of the development plan to close on the property. The company then has 12 months to begin construction and 36 months to complete the project.

It's proposed that a revenue-generating project would be developed on the site by 2024, according to Detroit Councilwoman Janee Ayers.

Currently, the city is paying $600,000 annually in holding costs for the arena site to cover security and utilities. 1121717 Edmonton Oilers

Unclaimed $68,000 Oilers 50/50 prize carried over to Saturday's game

TREVOR ROBB

Updated: December 18, 2018

Sometimes, just sometimes, the number of goals on the scoreboard at Rogers Place play secondary to a larger prize.

That will surely be the case on Saturday when an unclaimed 50/50 prize of more than $68,000 will be carried over when the Edmonton Oilers take on the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 50/50 was carried over from Nov. 29 when the Oilers played the Los Angeles Kings.

The last time there was a 50/50 rollover was on Oct. 30 when the Oilers played host to the Minnesota Wild. The 50/50 that day started at more than $46,000 and reached $210,358.

The 50/50 draw is split between the winner, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and the charity volunteering to sell tickets at the game. A limited number of tickets to Saturday’s game are still available.

The record purse for a 50/50 at an Oilers game is $336,995 won by David and Tanya Idzan in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121718 Edmonton Oilers I play my game, if I play how I can create room for others and go to the net, that’s when great things happen for me.”

This season, Khaira has been effective using his size and strength to Edmonton Oilers forward Jujhar Khaira takes centre stage against St. protect the puck. Playing with Nugent-Hopkins has brought out his Louis Blues offensive side. His play has impressed Hitchcock to the point where he is being used in key situations.

Derek Van Diest “I don’t know if it’s so much to impress the coach,” Khaira said. “I think at the end of the day, I just have to do what got me here. Just getting back to that and fighting for the guys in this locker room, having the support of the guys in the locker room and giving my support back, that’s my main Jujhar Khaira has been given a new role with the Edmonton Oilers. focus.” The power forward is being asked to carry his own line after weeks of improved play under head coach Ken Hitchcock. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 Khaira was moved to centre between Drake Caggiula and Jesse Puljujarvi against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, after playing on the wing all season.

“When was in junior, he was a centre and he sees himself as a centre,” said Hitchcock prior to the contest. “When we bring him up here he plays as a left winger, but if we’re going to get to another level and expect to be playoff team and do damage in the second half of the season, we need more participants. That’s why we made the changes we did, we talked it over with the players (Monday), we have to get more players participating for longer minutes in the game.”

Khaira has seen an increase in ice time as his offensive production improves.

Heading into the contest against the Blues, the Surrey, B.C., product had two goals and seven points in his previous nine games. He had five assists in his first 23 games, and was a healthy scratch on three occasions.

He had an assists in the 4-1 loss and then took a major penalty in the third period for a retaliatory cross-check on Blues defenceman .

“I feel like it’s heading in the right direction. I feel like every game I’m playing, I’m a little bit more confident in different areas of the game,” Khaira said, prior to the contest. “It’s one of those things that I want to keep growing my game. I’m happy with it right now, just being consistent is the main thing I have to work on. That’s something that I want to keep focusing on game-by-game.”

Khaira’s offensive success of late has come riding shotgun with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. With centre Ryan Spooner getting pulled out of the lineup after struggling to produce offensively since coming over in a trade from the New York Rangers in exchange for Ryan Strome, Khaira was moved into the middle.

“He (Khaira) and (Jesse) Puljujarvi are two of the guys that we look at that can bring even more. We have to get them in a position where he can take advantage of it,” Hitchcock said. “We’re going to try him at centre and see how he looks. But the big plan is, whoever the 12 (forwards) are, we need more participation going forward to get to the next level. Right now we’re relying on too few players and at the end of the game, especially in really intense, playoff-type games like the one in Vancouver was, we had some people who were worn down and had played too many minutes and it showed in their play. We have to get more guys helping us in a better way and he’s one of them.”

Coming through the system, Khaira had been a centre. He was selected by the Oilers in the third round — 63 overall — of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Khaira, 24, is in his second full year with the Oilers. He had 11 goals and 21 points in 69 games last season.

“I’ve played center in the past. I’ve played in junior and in the minors and I’ve played a little bit up here,” Khaira said. “It’s something that I’m familiar with. I haven’t played it in a little bit, but I have two great linemates that are going to help me out. I’m comfortable playing with both of them and I know if I’m a little slow in one area, I’ll have them for help.”

The Oilers have been struggling to get offence from the bottom half of their lineup. The line of Milan Lucic, Kyle Brodziak and Zack Kassian have six goals all season. Lucic has not scored since the season opener in Sweden.

“It’s one of those things that I know I can play offensively, it definitely comes with confidence and it comes with ice time,” Khaira said. “I think if 1121719 Edmonton Oilers “They made the right call (offside). The guy would have had to touch the puck while the guy was changing there. We thought he had the one foot on the ice, but he didn’t, it was the right call by the linesman,” said Blues beat Oilers on disputed third-period goal Berube.

The former Oilers winger Perron, who played 116 games for them after the Magnus Paajarvi trade, fired a shot past Talbot’s blocker from 35 feet Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal out after he tucked the puck into the feet of Oiler defenceman Kevin Gravel and let fly. When it went in, Perron had one of those “how did that

happen?” looks on his face as he skated past to the bench. It was the Former Oilers winger Patrick Maroon didn’t get a video tribute for his time sixth goal in 32 career games against the Oilers. here but he was involved in the biggest, most confounding play of the Fourth-line centre Ryan Spooner was a healthy scratch for the first time game Tuesday as the struggling St. Louis Blues left town with a 4-1 win. since the Ryan Strome (Rangers) trade a month ago. He had a minor With David Perron scoring in the first and Jesse Puljujarvi matching that injury in Dallas two weeks ago and sat out. Spooner has three points in goal in the second period, Blues’ rookie Robert Thomas drove the net his 15 Oilers games, and while he’s shown flashes, only once has he had two minutes into the third. With a mosh-pit in the crease, the NHL’s double figures in minutes played in the last 10, with 6:25 Sunday in Situation Room determined from a different camera angle than anybody Vancouver. “We need more players participating,” said Hitchcock, who on TV or in the building here saw, that the puck had somehow crossed moved Khaira into the centre slot. the line. Maroon, Tyler Bozak, Puljujarvi and Jason Garrison were all This ’n that: Caleb Jones got his first NHL point in his third game on crowded into the blue paint with Oilers goalie Cam Talbot as he tried to Puljujarvi’s goal. “I was actually trying to get the puck to (Drake) Caggiula get his mitt or pad on the bouncing puck. down the wall,” said Jones, who fanned on the pass, then with a second The refs on the ice — Garrett Rank and Kyle Rehman — blew the play chance got it to Khaira … The Oilers have given up 10 empty-netters this dead but they got a call from the War Room that they wanted to look at it season … Hitchcock and Berube both had birthdays Monday. Berube, frame-by-frame. Maroon got credit for the winner, only his second goal of who played junior for Hitchcock in Kamloops, turned 53. Hitchcock turned the year. 67 … The 50-50 for Saturday’s Tampa game at Rogers will start at $68,000 with a carry-over from the Nov. 29 home against Los Angeles Vlad Tarasenko added an insurance goal with a bullet past Talbot’s Kings. blocker later in the third on a power play after a stick foul by Jujhar Khaira. And Jaden Schwartz got one into the empty cage with Talbot pulled for an extra skater. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 So, the Oilers, in their 14th game over the past 25 days, have lost their first home game in the Ken Hitchcock regime after six straight Ws at Rogers Place. And they’ve dropped two in a row against Vancouver and the Blues, who were drilled 7-2 at home to the Calgary Flames Sunday.

“Special teams were big, we scored a big power play goal, the penalty kill was excellent. The Guys did a great job on the McDavid line, whoever was out there against them. I thought (Colton) Parayko and (Joel) Edmundson did a great job against those guys tonight,” said Blues coach Craig Berube.

“The game was 1-1 after two periods which was where we wanted it but we were the first team to crack,” said Hitchcock. “We lost the game in the second period, on our special teams (four power plays and not a sniff). Then in the third, their second goal seemed to deflate us.”

Khaira, arguably the best Oiler on the night — he set up Puljujarvi for his third goal of the season — got tossed for an ill-timed cross-check to the head of Vince Dunn in front of the Blues’ net midway through the third period. That foul might get the attention of the NHL’s Player Safety department. Dunn also got a cross-check to Khaira before the Oiler retaliated.

Restraining fouls, what fouls?

The Oilers had five power plays but none for a hook or a hold on McDavid — one for too many men, one for shooting the puck over the glass, one for a Maroon slash, one for a wrong coach’s challenge and a bench minor — so the refs obviously didn’t get the memo to watch for fouls on the Oiler captain. The Oilers power play was awful with four shots in 10 power-play minutes on Jake Allen.

Continuing arithmetic education

If the Blues are counting on getting back into the playoff picture, their math has to drastically improve along with their goals for and against. For the 10th time in 33 games, they got caught with too many men on the ice just after Oskar Sundvist almost tucked one past Talbot in the second frame. That’s seven times under coach Craig Berube since he replaced Mike Yeo 13 games ago.

Where’s the justice?

Berube challenged Pujujarvi’s goal for offside (line change) but after the NHL’s Situation room looked at it for two minutes, they decided t wasn’t and the goal stood. They determined that Ty Rattie exited the playing surface and executed a legal line change (within five feet of the bench, no matter if one foot was off the ice at the time) with Khaira prior to Puljujarvi touching the puck in the offensive zone. Because you now get a team penalty for disallowed offside debates, Perron went to the box. 1121720 Edmonton Oilers There’s no comparison, at this point, with the inconsistent season Talbot is having in his attempt to put together a bounce-back year from his excellent 42-win campaign in 2016-17 or match his career numbers 134- JONES: Oilers look sluggish in loss to cellar-dweller St. Louis Blues 104-23/2.55/.916.

Talbot went into the game with a 7-9-2 record, 3.22 goals against average and an .894 save percentage. Terry Jones While it’s ridiculous to hang that loss on Talbot, the bottom line at the moment is that this hockey team, for reasons unknown, plays better in front of Koskinen. It was the kind of a performance you sometimes see from a team coming off the Christmas break after consuming copious amounts of turkey, It’s another loss for Talbot. And Koskinen is back in until further notice, dressing, gravy, egg nog and the like. quite possibly sometime in 2019.

Except this was a week before Christmas. This night, Hitchcock guessed wrong.

And it may have spoiled what would have been a cool yule. Had they kept on the roll Ken Hitchcock had them on since he returned from retirement to coach his hometown team, they’d have put themselves in a Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 perfect position to make a real move toward the top of the tables.

As was the case two nights earlier in Vancouver, the Oilers played so poorly they made a cellar dweller look like a power.

If the Oilers had beat the skidding St. Louis Blues, they’d have taken a seven-game home-winning streak into Saturday’s game here against the league’s top team in the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Instead they opened a five-game home stand with an especially poor performance and wasted a chance to make a move on a night when the out-of-town scoreboard had some encouraging results.

It was a butt ugly 4-1 loss where they were outworked and lost a plethora of little races and battles.

It was a night when Connor McDavid had been put into more focus than usual with the comments by his coach regarding the mauling he’d been subject to behind the play.

While none had a connection to McDavid, the Oilers were awarded five power plays in the first two periods compared to one by the Blues and had only 17 shots to show for the 40 minutes and 23 for the entire game.

There was no indication of any of that this night, but No. 97 had one of his most ineffectual games of the season.

Oh, he hit a goalpost and had his chances here and there.

But on a night when he could have made some history, McDavid failed to produce a point. The captain needed one assist to reach 200 in his career and become the eighth fastest in NHL history in his 243rd game.

For a while there it looked like Hitchcock’s magic wand was still working.

That was when Jesse Puljujarvi pulled the trigger to tie the game 1-1. It was Hitchcock who rescued Puljujarvi from the minors to become his personal development director. The Finn was on a nine-game scoring drought.

And for a while there, Cam Talbot was making Hitchcock’s decision to go with him in goal look inspired, as well.

Throughout his first month here, Hitchcock has been consistent in repeating that the strength of this team he’s set about coaching in his old hometown is its goaltending.

But saying it and playing it are two different things and this was a game where the just-turned 67-year-old head coach felt he had to show Talbot that he believed that with deeds not just the words.

It had to be tempting to start Mikko Koskinen.

I mean, it was a home game, the first of five in a row at Rogers Place. Koskinen doesn’t lose in Edmonton. Period.

The six-foot-seven foot Finn is 7-0 at home with a 0.92. goals against average and ungodly .970 save percentage.

The $2.5 million backup from the KHL who didn’t get his first start until the Oilers sixth game of the season, Koskinen is tied for 15th in the NHL with 11 wins and has the second best goals against average (2.18) and save percentage (.928) among goaltenders with at least 10 games.

Koskinen’s three shutouts, all at home, rank behind only Marc-Andre Fleury’s five with Vegas. 1121721 Edmonton Oilers

Going home to St. Louis most important for Pat Maroon

Derek Van Diest

Pat Maroon had little desire to leave when traded by the Edmonton Oilers last season.

Yet, as an impeding free agent, the two sides were unable to come together on a contract prior to the NHL trade deadline, and Maroon was dealt to the New Jersey Devils.

This off-season, Maroon decided to sign with his hometown St. Louis Blues where he could be closer to his family and in particular his son, Anthony.

“It’s been a privilege, it’s been great in St. Louis,” Maroon said prior to facing the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. “There are good guys in the room and I think I made a good choice. Obviously putting that St. Louis Blues sweater every night means so much to me and being home with my family means a lot.”

Maroon signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract to play with the Blues. He reportedly turned down bigger offers in order to play at home.

Tuesday was his first visit to Edmonton since being traded by the Oilers last season to the Devils in exchange for forward J.D. Dudek, currently at Boston College, and a third-round pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

“It’s good to be back, it’s obviously weird walking into the room (Tuesday) morning,” Maroon said. “I made some really good friends over there and I enjoyed my time in Edmonton. I had my best years here in Edmonton, there are a lot of good memories here in this building, so it’s good to be back.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121722 Edmonton Oilers “I think it’s just consistency,” said Blues defenceman Colton Parayko. “I think it’s playing full games. I think we kind of tend to get away from some games and that’s where we kind of lose it. I think once we start St. Louis Blues forward can sympathize with Connor McDavid losing, it just goes down a little bit, but we have good games and when predicament we play good games, we’re a good team. That’s the exciting part, we know we’re a good team and we just have to put it together consistently.”

With the Blues struggling, trade rumours are swirling around the club like Derek Van Diest vultures around a dying carcass.

Yet the Blues are tying not to let impending trade rumours get them off their game as they try to climb the Western Conference standings. Pat Maroon has been on both sides of the Connor McDavid debate. “No not at all. That happens in sports, it’s part of the game, it’s part of the The St. Louis Blues forward understands the Edmonton Oilers’ frustration job,” Blues forward Jaden Schwartz said. “That’s going to happen when with McDavid being impeded, often illegally, while officials turn a blind your team is not exactly where they want to be. There is no talk of that in eye. Maroon rode shotgun with McDavid for parts of three seasons in here at all and that doesn’t affect us.” Edmonton.

But now with St. Louis Blues, Maroon expected to be doing his share of impeding when the two teams faced each other Tuesday at Rogers Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 Place.

“When I was on his side I hated it, but now if I’m out there against him, I’m going to try to hold him,” Maroon said with a smile prior to the contest. “He’s a good player and people are trying to find ways to slow him down. Obviously the game is changing, but any way you can frustrate and slow him down, it’s good. But it’s hard to do, that’s why he’s the best player in the league and he’s an elite player and we have to watch for that.”

The constant clutching and grabbing on McDavid finally set off Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock. After a 4-2 loss, on the road, to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, Hitchcock tore into the officials for neglecting to punish interference on his star player.

“He’s the best player in the league right now, him and (Sidney) Crosby are the targets out there,” Maroon said. “When you’re trying to defend him, it’s tough to slow him down, and obviously, Connor is the fastest guy in the league. Sometimes you need to hold and grab him a bit and sometimes you have to because it’s tough to slow him down because he’s an elite player. He’s the best player in the league and he continues to show that every night.”

After a successful season with the Vegas Golden Knights, David Perron had a choice of teams to play with as an unrestricted free agent.

The former Oilers winger decided to go back to where his career started, signing a four-year, $16-million contract with the Blues. Perron, 30, broke in with the Blues and spent six seasons in St. Louis before being traded to the Oilers prior to the 2013-14 season.

“I love it there, it’s great,” Perron said. “It’s great for my family and that’s the biggest thing for sure. I’ve moved around a lot in the last four or five years and it’s definitely a team that gave me an opportunity to play in the league and I’m always going to be grateful for that. I grew up there, I was 19 when I got there. It’s been a tough season team-wise, but family-wise, it’s been great to be back in St. Louis and we enjoy life there for sure.”

St. Louis has been so good for so long, it was tough to envision them struggling this season, particularly when pegged to be near the top of the Western Conference standings again.

Heading into the contest Tuesday, the Blues were 11 points and four teams back of the Oilers for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

They went into Edmonton having been pounded 7-2, at home, by the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

“We had high expectations going into the season and it’s rare that you meet them when they’re so high like that,” Perron said. “I was pretty cautious myself, just talking about it, there are so many teams that feel they’ve improved so much over the summer, that it’s hard to pick one or two and say they’re going to win the Cup.

“That’s kind of almost what we had labeled on us. We haven’t met that right now and we just have to work really hard to get back in the hunt and put ourselves back in the race and you never know what can happen if we do that.”

The Blues fired head coach Mike Yeo 19 games into the season and replaced him with interim Craig Berube. Heading in against the Oilers, the Blues were 5-6-1 under Berube, having sustained big losses against the Winnipeg Jets (8-4), Arizona Coyotes (6-1), Vancouver Canucks (6- 1) and Flames (7-2). 1121723 Edmonton Oilers McDavid has played 33 games and has drawn only 16 minor penalties, which is, if my math is correct, one every two games. And he has the puck all night.

Edmonton Oilers Game Day: St. Louis Blues limp into town Coaches harp on players moving their feet to draw penalties, but nobody’s feet move faster than McDavid’s.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal This is the same scenario Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux went through, of course, where if it’s not barbed wire they’re trying to get through, it’s a chain-link fence to the scoring areas.

St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers: Rogers Place, 7 p.m., TV: Sportsnet Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, left, and St. Louis Blues West, radio: 630 CHED defenceman Colton Parayko reach for the puck during NHL action on Dec. 5, 2018. Five Oilers keys to the game

1. Keep winning at home Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2018 The Oilers have won six straight at Rogers Place, with their last loss here Nov. 18, 6-3 to Vegas.

In those six games, all starts by Mikko Koskinen, they’ve given up six goals and scored 18.

The Blues have one of the six worst NHL road records (4-6-2) and have played the fewest games in enemy rinks (12). They’ve scored just 26 goals in their dozen road games.

2. Getting Talbot back on track

Koskinen hasn’t lost a home start (7-0-0) but the Oilers may be going with Talbot because head coach Ken Hitchcock wants to keep both of his goalies in the loop.

Talbot also had a strong game against Blues in St. Louis, in a 3-2 shootout win 10 days ago.

Talbot, fifth in games played (214) in Oilers history, is closing in on Andy Moog for fourth spot in Oilers career minutes played for goalies. He’s at 5,776 and Moog finished with 6,049.

3. St. Louis is singing the blues

On paper, the Blues are a strong team, especially up front, but they’ve been one of the NHL’s most disappointing stories as Christmas draws near.

They got pasted 7-2 at home by Calgary on Sunday, drawing the ire of head coach Craig Berube, who didn’t like their compete level at all.

GM Doug Armstrong’s phone is ringing off the hook with teams calling on his players. Pretty much everybody is available but winger Vladimir Tarasenko’s name has come up the most. He has nine goals in 31 games and is minus-13.

It would take lots to get him out of St. Louis, though. There aren’t many scorers like him.

4. More of Puljujarvi

Jesse Puljujarvi’s has poor stats (two goals, three points) in 23 games, but there may be light at the end of this tunnel.

He was very good in Vancouver, driving the net, forcing players to turn over pucks, using his size to make stuff happen.

He got a sniff on McDavid’s line to start the third as a reward, and he has Hitchcock firmly in his corner.

On Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’s second-period goal, he boxed out Josh Leivo in front of the net, allowing Nugent-Hopkins room and time to score. He deserved more than a “also helping out on the play.”

5. About that third line …

If Ryan Spooner is the team’s No. 3 centre and Kyle Brodziak is No. 4, which is certainly debatable, Hitchcock still needs a line that is going to play more than minimal minutes.

Brodziak’s banging line with Zack Kassian and Milan Lucic may not be able to score but they keep the puck in the other team’s end ad nauseum.

Spooner has been better of late but his line has to show signs of some domination. 1121724 Edmonton Oilers Perhaps the two biggest Hitchcock events that caused tremors among the fan base (the good tremors) relate to his defence of McDavid (quote above) and his handling of young Jesse Puljujarvi. Oilers fans connect to Lowetide: Ken Hitchcock and the Oilers fan base that is intoxicated by draft picks because they represent the future and taking the team as far the words of the great communicator from the past as quickly as possible, so a player like Puljujarvi is wildly popular if only because of his potential.

Hitchcock had him recalled to the NHL and put him in the lineup. What’s By Allan Mitchell more, he is using him in a range of situations. Hitchcock: “I really trust him. I trust his conscience. He’s got a tremendous stick and you don’t get Dec 18, 2018 to be as good on angles and stick positioning and being able to hide your stick like he is unless you’re well coached at a young age.” Puljujarvi is showing signs of improvement, especially on the forecheck where he is There are times in life when events conspire to place an individual in a turning pucks over at an impressive rate. perfect situation. Sports provides countless examples, including one from the Edmonton Oilers’ own past: Glen Sather’s arrival in Edmonton as a Finding the players and finding the wins player (WHA Oilers head coach at the time of his arrival was Bep Ultimately, it comes down to finding good players and plugging them into Guidolin) in 1976-77 and then as coach/general manager in the quarter the right spots. An organization that has wasted myriad first-round picks of a century that followed. over the years looking for the perfect beast appears (in the early days) to That “perfect fit” of personality to organization and city appears to have be satisfied with using these youngsters in areas they can flourish. That’s once again happened in Edmonton. Lightning struck last month, as the on Hitchcock, in my opinion, as previous coaches were very rigid on all team made a change in the coaching position with the arrival of a man manner of prospects dating back to Jani Rita, Jason Chimera, Kyle just eight years Sather’s junior. Ken Hitchcock might be a later-in-life Brodziak, Nail Yakupov and others. Puljujarvi is not the plug-and-play coaching option, but for the Edmonton Oilers and the organization’s forward Edmonton anticipated at the 2016 draft but that’s different than many fans, he arrived right on time. saying he can’t help a team win.

John Muckler, Behind the Moves: Glen was a great motivator and The single greatest positive arrow for the Hitchcock Oilers (long term, handler of people, a communicator. He led those kids. Glen formed the short term it’s the wins) are the performances of young players like personality of the team. Puljujarvi, Jujhar Khaira and (in a very small sample size) Caleb Jones. The Oilers have no cap room but they do have opportunities for young When Sather took over the WHA Oilers as coach (late in the 1976-77 players in the system who can help in at least one area and grow in season) he began building the Stanley Cup champion teams brick by others. brick. In that first full season as coach, Slats found Dave Semenko, a man who would hang around for a couple of championships and carve Ken Hitchcock, like Glen Sather before him, is a man of vision. A great out his own story in the lore of Oilers hockey. The Oilers before Sather motivator and handler of people. A communicator. A leader. A man who arrived in Edmonton were touch and go to make the playoffs and weren’t can form the personality of a team. Can he do it for these Oilers before considered a league powerhouse (the Winnipeg Jets flattened them spring? A lot will depend on the kids, just as it did in 1978. It’s a fantastic regularly). The mid-70s Oilers needed a lot of things and Sather provided story already. the organization with a vision and a driving force. It would be 2000 before The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 Sather left Edmonton for New York—and the impact he had on the team and city can be found across Edmonton and in the pages of NHL history.

On the day Edmonton hired Ken Hitchcock, problems could be seen everywhere. The team was not in a playoff position, fans were getting restless, the giant Finnish phenom was in the minors, radio open line shows hummed with outrage — half of the callers were angry general manager Peter Chiarelli wasn’t trading for immediate help; the other half frightened Chiarelli would trade for immediate help, further bleeding assets.

Into that hornet’s nest walked a local, a famous hockey coach named Ken Hitchcock. Fans were beyond familiar with him, having seen him bring NHL teams to the city and beat the locals senseless over several decades. I can recall the feeling when finding out about Hitch being hired (“What? Well, that’s interesting”) and in the almost 30 days since he has remodelled the coach-fan relationship and ripped off nine wins and 20 points in 14 games.

In the weeks leading up to the 1978-79 season, Hockey Digest gave a perfect overview of the WHA Oilers in what would be the league’s penultimate season: “The Oilers spent much of the summer trying to lure Mark Napier away from Birmingham, but will rely on lesser veterans and finish around .500.” That effort to grab Napier was typical of Edmonton at the time. The club was desperate to acquire an impact scorer, something it would accomplish in November of 1978 (via Jim Matheson at the Edmonton Journal). Sather was instrumental as coach, recruiter and eventually general manager in acquiring enough talent to turn the struggling WHA Oilers (they were about the same spot as a team like the Florida Panthers in these years) into the Stanley Cup champions in 1984.

If you made a list of grievances “Festivus” style about the Oilers on Nov. 19, they would have included the won-loss record, sudden and ghastly losses in team structure, the slow progress of young players who were not yet established in the NHL, Connor McDavid’s handling by officials throughout the league and several other issues.

Hitchcock has addressed them all, beautifully. McDavid is brilliant but there’s more there, because “his recovery rate, cardio-wise, is astounding” while the team would have more structure because “I use concepts and ideas more than I use flat-out Xs and Os but there’s no negotiation when the other team has the puck.” 1121725 Edmonton Oilers stretches in the early season. Management, its hand forced, assigned Puljujarvi to the AHL.

He didn’t stay there long. Ken Hitchcock replaced McLellan behind the Under Ken Hitchcock, the Oilers may be moving away from the yo-yo bench on Nov. 20 and Puljujarvi was recalled four days later. It was a approach to development risky decision, and with only two points in 12 games Puljujarvi isn’t out of danger yet.

By Jonathan Willis One key difference is that Hitchcock has been vocal that he wants Puljujarvi around, a viewpoint McLellan clearly did not share. Another is Dec 18, 2018 that Hitchcock has a clearly expressed plan for the player, one he laid out Dec. 10.

“I really trust him,” Hitchcock said when asked about playing Puljujarvi in Different NHL teams take different approaches to developing players. the final minute of a game against Calgary. “I trust his conscience. He’s Some are extremely cautious, forcing prospects to excel for long periods got a tremendous stick. I’ve said this before: you don’t get to be as good at lower levels before promoting them. Others are aggressive, advancing on angles and stick positioning and being able to hide your stick – and he prospects quickly in the hope that higher-level competition will speed up did it again in the last part of that thing, he hid his stick and then popped growth. it out – you don’t get that stuff unless you’re well coached at a young Regardless of the specific method, one thing most teams try to avoid is age. So someone along the line, when he was 13, 14, 15, 16, at a very the development yo-yo, that unsettling recall/demotion cycle that young age, taught him proper body positioning on checking. prevents a prospect from getting into a rhythm at any level. “I don’t know where his offensive numbers are. When you see him at Edmonton’s development history is mixed, but the team tries to take a practice, you saw him again today at practice, he scores every time. merit-based approach. Back in September Scott Howson, the team’s vice You’re hoping that leads into stuff in the NHL, but right now he’s a trusted president of player development, was asked for the Oilers’ stance on player for me. starting first-year pros in the majors and made it clear decisions were “We’re working really hard with him on killing penalties. We’re trying to made on an individual basis. get the swoop out of killing penalties, but if we get that then we’ve got a “You earn what you get,” he said. “If they’re ready to play – this league’s real top line third-line player to start his career right now and we can build trending younger and younger – and if a young player is ready to play it from there. I would think the progress he’s made in the next couple of there will be room for him.” weeks he’ll be out there killing penalties and now you’ve got a complete guy that you can play 15, 16 minutes every night.” Asked to expand on the difference in minutes between playing in the NHL versus playing in junior, Howson outlined several different tacks a The first paragraph is the kind of thing Hitchcock has specialized in since team could take, everything from junior to the AHL to careful NHL arriving in Edmonton. No matter how beleaguered the player, the new handling, with Ales Hemsky cited as a specific example. His bottom line, coach has made a point of highlighting his strengths when speaking to though, was the same as it had been in his initial answer. the media, as well as the way those strengths will factor into his use of the player. “Really what happens with these young players is they come in and they have to prove they’re ready and it’s the best thing for them and for the In Puljujarvi’s case, the message is clear: this is a player with defensive team.” ability, and that’s how the coach is going to use him.

Hemsky, barely 19 when he made his Edmonton debut under then-coach That message is reinforced in the second paragraph, the one which Allan Craig MacTavish in 2002-03, played 59 games and averaged just 12.1 Mitchell wrote about last week. As Mitchell highlighted, Hitchcock’s minutes per game. He scored 30 points in those sharply limited minutes. comment also served to reset immediate offensive expectations for Over the next few seasons his ice time and the level of opponent was Puljujarvi, buying him time to find his scoring game. ramped up, and by age 22 he was leading the team in scoring and Yet it’s the final paragraph that really tells us the plan. Training Puljujarvi playing against top lines. to kill penalties is an obvious step given his size and speed, and time on In some ways, the Hemsky approach mirrors what the team tried to do the PK should improve his overall game in the defensive zone in all with Jesse Puljujarvi at age 19 in 2017-18. Unlike Hemsky, Puljujarvi situations. started in the minors and was an everyday player when he made the But most importantly, it fits with the development approach: get Puljujarvi jump, but in both cases the minutes were fairly consistent month to to a place where he can consistently deliver a third-line performance and month. then build him up from there. The key difference was that Hemsky’s game improved, while Puljujarvi’s Once that floor is set, Puljujarvi will be free from the threat of AHL regressed. demotion, because he will be a reliable contributor even if he isn’t Hemsky didn’t score his first goal until January as a rookie. Sixteen of his scoring. The rest of his game can then afford to grow at a more gradual 30 points were scored in March. Like most young players, there were pace. peaks and valleys, but the overall sense was one of steady progress. He’s older than Hemsky was, and the approach is a little different, but Puljujarvi, in contrast, had nine points of his 20 points in December of his fundamentally this is the same method that the Oilers used with their first full season. Eight of his 12 goals were scored before Jan. 1; he budding right winger back in 2003: establish a foundation and then build would tally just four more over his final 43 games as a 19-year-old. from it.

When Howson mentioned Hemsky, he was fielding questions on a series It should not be a surprise that Hitchcock’s game plan for Puljujarvi gels of players. He was asked specifically about Ethan Bear next, but his with the development philosophy that Howson outlined. After all, answer to that question broadly applies to any prospect trying to make Hitchcock was the coach in Columbus when Howson was hired as that the jump to the NHL. team’s general manager. That is just one of several preexisting ties to the Oilers’ front office that Hitchcock had before he was hired and it makes “It’s a little different because (Bear’s) got a year of pro,” Howson said. sense that his perspective on player development would be broadly “He had a little taste last year. We all saw him have some success and compatible with the organization’s overarching viewpoint. we all saw him have some trying moments. He’ll have to again prove that he’s ready to play and that he can sustain it. Development will be a key part of Hitchcock’s mandate. The Oilers’ cap situation is tight and the team has a fairly good group of ripening “You don’t want a player to come up here and play for two games and prospects which will be graduating in the near future. then drop off. You’ve got to be able to sustain it. Is he ready to sustain it? He’ll answer that.” As Edmonton goes through that process, it will be important not to yo-yo players between the minors and majors the way Puljujarvi has been over When a player is recalled before he can sustain an acceptable level of much of his entry-level contract. play, he falls victim to the development yo-yo. It is what happened with Puljujarvi under Todd McLellan, who ended up scratching him for long Marody is a real prospect, despite concerns about his skating. Not yet 22, he has 16 points in the 13 AHL games he’s played this year. He is scoreless in six NHL games, though shots are 24-16 in Edmonton’s favour when he is on the ice and he hasn’t yet been on for a goal against.

The Oilers are in a bit of a tough spot in that Marody is clearly playing well enough to be recalled, and prior to slotting Ryan Spooner on what has become the fourth line, they didn’t really have an offensive centre for that group. Ideally, though, they would give him some stability.

That’s one of the reasons teams keep older prospects and pros around. Having Brad Malone spend half his season in the airport isn’t ideal either, but it doesn’t carry a development cost. The same is true for recalling an older prospect, like Patrick Russell or current Condors scoring leader Joe Gambardella.

Injuries and circumstances play a role in that too, of course, which is why it’s going to be very interesting to see how Caleb Jones is handled in his first NHL recall.

At some point the Oilers are going to get Oscar Klefbom and Kris Russell back, but in the moment they have to choose between playing older veterans like Jason Garrison and Chris Wideman or prospects like Jones or Ethan Bear. It’s a classic balancing act between team need and player need.

So far, the team has taken a laudably cautious approach. The veterans got first crack at regular work, and rather than bringing up multiple prospects the team settled on Jones alone. Hitchcock has made the adjustment easier by playing him with former AHL teammate Kevin Gravel and keeping him on his off-side.

“Caleb’s played all right (side) this year,” the coach explained prior to Jones’ NHL debut against Philadelphia. “He’s played on the right side and that was by design, organizational design. He played on the right side right from Day 1 and he’s stayed on that side.”

Jones isn’t necessarily in the NHL to stay, even as Bear wasn’t when he was recalled last year, but it makes sense that kind of handling would be good for his development. It’s a good balance between addressing team need and player need, and as a second-year pro an NHL look is a natural evolution anyway.

In the longer term, Kailer Yamamoto will be a player to watch. He’s an important prospect for the team, but in seven AHL games he has just one goal, four points and 14 shots, so he isn’t exactly breaking down the door for a major-league recall. With 21 NHL games on his record already, the smart play here would seem to be giving him a nice long AHL run and get him scoring regularly against professionals.

In all cases, the main goal is consistent, steady progress, an aim best served by consistent, steady treatment. It’s something Edmonton has been better at doing since the coaching change, though it’s still early.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121726 Florida Panthers Brouwer broke his 12-game goal drought to tie the score at 1-1 midway through the second period. Jared McCann missed wide on a shot from the point and the puck bounced off the end boards to the right side of the Four-goal third gives Panthers comeback win over Sabres net, where Brouwer banked it in off of Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton’s skate.

The Sabres took the lead back less than two minutes later when Rasmus BY JONAH BRONSTEIN SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD Ristolainen skated through Aaron Ekblad’s stick check and slipped the puck between Luongo’s glove and the right post from a tight angle. DECEMBER 18, 2018 09:58 PM The Panthers emphasized being the aggressors on the road, “to create

your own storm that they have to weather,” defenseman Mike Matheson BUFFALO, N.Y. said following the morning skate, but it was the Sabres who forced the action early. The third period was the charm for the Panthers in Tuesday night’s 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Florida didn’t put a shot on goal in the first three minutes and Buffalo’s forechecking against the Panthers’ top defensive pair led to 1-0 Entering with the NHL’s worst scoring margin in third periods, 42-23 advantage 3:48 into the game. through the first 31 games, the Panthers piled up four goals in the final frame to open a critical road trip with their second consecutive win. Sam Reinhart took the puck away from Aaron Ekblad along the end boards and Yandle allowed a clear path for the NHL’s second-leading “We’re learning from our mistakes,” coach Bob Boughner said. “I think we scorer Jeff Skinner to receive a pass from Jack Eichel in front of the net are getting more mature in those situations.” and lifted the puck over Luongo’s left pad for his 25th goal.

Evgenii Dadonov had two goals and an assist during the third period surge, Aleksander Barkov and Frank Vatrano had the other goals and the Panthers improved to 13-13-6 overall and 3-6-2 in when trailing after two Miami Herald LOADED: 12.19.2018 periods.

“We just wore them down,” Vatrano said. “We kept it a simple game. Got pucks deep, were solid in our defensive zone. I think it was just a simple game that we played, which was why we were so dominant.”

Troy Brouwer had a goal in the second period and Roberto Luongo made 30 saves as the Panthers beat the Sabres for a seventh time in a row.

Coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Panthers have won consecutive games for the first time since going on a five-game streak at the start of November. Tuesday started a stretch of four games in six days that continues Thursday at Toronto and concludes with a weekend back-to-back at Detroit and Chicago.

“It’s huge,” Keith Yandle said. “We know we’ve got to string together games here and we know it’s a tough trip. We’ve got business to take care of before the Christmas break.”

Starting the third period on a power play that began with 51 seconds left in the third, the Panthers scored three times in as pan of 3:44 to turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead.

Barkov deflected Yandle’s shot past Hutton for the tying goal in the opening minute of the third period. It was the only power play goal in three chances for the Panthers, who lead the NHL in converting 28 of 83 opportunities (33.7 percent) with the man-advantage since Nov. 1.

Dadonov put the Panthers ahead 3-2 on a penalty shot 3:30 into the third period. After stripping the puck from Buffalo’s star rookie defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Dadonov was tripped by Dahlin on a breakaway. He then beat Carter Hutton with a close-range snap shot that got stuck in the goaltender’s pads before squirting into the goal.

“Sometimes it takes a bounce to get your team going and I think that one really helped us,” Yandle said.

Vatrano made it 4-2 just 1:12 later when he drove the net and knocked in a backhand off the rebound from Dadonov’s looping wraparound shot.

Dadonov batted the puck from the blue line into an empty net for with 2:30 remaining to pass Barkov and Mike Hoffman for the team lead with 16 goals.

The Panthers killed three penalties in the first two periods and haven’t allowed a power-play goal over their last seven games.

“We talk about it before every game,” Vitrano said. “Special teams can win you a hockey game.”

Luongo stopped 16 shots in the second period to keep the Panthers in the game. His best save came on an early Sabres power play when spun around swiped the puck off the goal line with his glove after Sam Reinhart poked it between his pads. Luongo made another spectacular stop later in the period when he kicked away a Jack Eichel one-timer with his right pad. 1121727 Florida Panthers

Panthers score four goals in third period to rally past Sabres

Mark Ludwiczak

Evgenii Dadonov had two goals and an assist to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

Troy Brouwer, Aleksander Barkov and Frank Vatrano also scored for the Panthers, who scored three goals in a span of 2:44 in the third period. Roberto Luongo made 30 saves.

Jeff Skinner and Rasmus Ristolainen scored for Buffalo, which lost to Florida for the seventh consecutive time. Carter Hutton made 30 saves.

The game turned late in the second period following a tripping penalty by Skinner on Barkov.

Barkov briefly left the game and defenseman Keith Yandle went after Skinner, dropping his gloves and drawing a roughing penalty as Skinner backed off.

Both players — and the Panthers as a team — responded to open the third period. As Yandle was booed loudly, the defenseman's long shot was deflected into the net by Barkov for a power-play goal 58 seconds in to make it 2-2.

Less than two minutes later, Dadonov converted on a penalty shot after he was taken down by defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on a breakaway. Dadonov's shot was initially stopped by Hutton, but he never secured the puck and between his legs and it trickled past the goal line to make it 3-2.

Vatrano completed the flurry 4:42 into the third. After Dadonov circled around the Buffalo net, Vatrano buried Dadonov's rebound to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead.

Dadonov added an empty-net goal with 2:30 remaining.

Skinner opened the scoring on his 25th goal of the season 3:48 into the game, finishing a feed from the corner by Jack Eichel. With the goal, Skinner topped his goal total from last season (24) in just 35 games.

Eichel and Skinner extended their point streaks to seven games on the opening goal.

Brouwer evened the score midway through the second period off two fortunate bounces in the Buffalo end. After Jared McCann's initial shot on a 3-on-1 went behind the net, Brouwer flung the rebound off Hutton's skate and into the net from a hard angle.

Ristolainen made it 2-1 with 8:52 left in the second on a misstep by Luongo, tucking a shot inside the near post from close range.

Sabres veteran Jason Pominville was injured six minutes into the third period after an accidental collision with Ristolainen. Pominville made his way slowly to the locker room and did not return.

NOTES: Sam Reinhart recorded his 100th career assist on Buffalo's opening goal. Panthers coach Bob Boughner played in 177 games for the Sabres from 1996-98. D Nathan Beaulieu and LW Remi Elie were scratched for Buffalo. C Colton Sceviour, Nick Bjugstad and D Bogdan Kiselevich were scratched for Florida. The next meeting between these teams will be Jan. 3 in Buffalo.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121728 Florida Panthers Keith Yandle — who drew loud boos every time he touched the puck after body-slamming 25-goal scorer Jeff Skinner — fired a puck at the goal that hit Sasha Barkov’s leg at the doorstep and went in to tie it less Winging it: Roberto Luongo wins in Buffalo again as Panthers run past than a minute into the final period. Sabres Moments later, Florida had its first lead of the night when Evgenii Dadonov scored off a strange penalty shot in which Hutton made a save before adjusting his body, losing the puck and watching it slide into the By George Richards net.

Dec 18, 2018 By the time Frank Vatrano made it 4-2, the Panthers had scored three goals within a span of 3:44 in the third period to take the Sabres crowd

completely out of the game. Dadonov ended it with an empty-net goal. BUFFALO, N.Y. — Roberto Luongo is as committed to fitness and his Yet none of this would have been possible had it not been for Luongo. physical health as any athlete this side of the Olympics. “That’s the sign of a good team, right? The goalie makes some saves, Yet, when he visits Western New York, he’s willing to give in to the and the team goes out and gets rewarded by scoring some goals and temptation of the saucy chicken wing for which this region is famous. getting a win,” Luongo said. Could it be the tangy deep-fried chicken that holds the key to Luongo’s “I made some mistakes today, we made some mistakes, and at the end run of success in Buffalo? of the night, it didn’t cost us. It’s a team game.” “Yeah, that would be a no,” Luongo said with a laugh after beating the Buffalo had chance after chance to blow this thing open in the first two Sabres here again on Tuesday night. periods and couldn’t do it. “Obviously, the (Sabres) have struggled for a little while here, but they Although Luongo would have loved to have gotten another chance at the have a good team now. It just, for whatever reason, feels good to play Rasmus Ristolainen goal that made it 2-1, he stopped a pair of here. Some buildings are like that, and you cannot explain it. This is shorthanded chances which could have turned the tide. definitely one of them for me. I just want to keep it going. Winning is fun and losing sucks.” Luongo also looked a few years younger than he is when he was forced to make a couple of sprawling saves in the second. Luongo seems to love Buffalo. Tuesday night, Luongo did what he usually does at the Sabres’ arena, as he made 30 saves in leading the “He’s the backbone of our team, plays well every night for us,” Yandle Panthers to a come-from-behind 5-2 victory at KeyBank Center. said. “I don’t know what his record is in this building, but what I do know is he brings it every night for this team. For a guy who — is he 40 yet? The win was Luongo’s sixth in seven starts at Buffalo since he rejoined No? 39? — is 39, he’s definitely a nimble guy who battles more than the Panthers in 2014, as Florida has now won seven straight over its anyone. I’m glad we could get this one for him.” division rivals. Added Boughner: “He was great when we needed him to be. The save In his career, Luongo has appeared in 31 games against the Sabres. He he made on our power play, the shorthanded save, that’s a game-saver. has won 20 of them, including five shutouts. It could have changed momentum. If we give up that one, it’s probably Compare that to the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota, where Luongo hard to come back from. The great goalies make the great saves at the cannot purchase a victory. right time to give you a chance. That’s what Lu does.”

“It’s one of those things. Every goalie has a building or two that, no Yandle drew the ire of Buffalo fans late in the second period when he matter how they feel, they know once they get out there they are playing fought Skinner in retaliation for Skinner briefly knocking Barkov out of the with a lot of confidence,” goalie coach Robb Tallas said. game.

“This is one of those buildings for him. On the flip side of that, we all have Skinner refused to fight Yandle, who went after the high-scoring winger a building that no matter what we do, we don’t feel like we can win in shortly after he escaped the penalty box. there. Goalies just have that. There’s a building where you know you’re Yandle, in turn, picked up Skinner and threw him to the ice — drawing going to get the ‘A’ game.” just a two-minute penalty. Yandle admitted he watched the replay of the Soon after the game ended, Luongo headed to the medical room for an Skinner penalty, and it looked like nothing really happened. IV but said all was well and he would be ready to play Thursday at Oh, and Barkov — thankfully for the Panthers — came back onto the ice Toronto. pretty quickly and stayed in the rest of the night. “It’s because I’m old,” he joked. Yandle and Barkov then hooked up for the game-tying goal early in the The Panthers have needed him. They certainly did so again on Tuesday. third to get Florida rolling.

Since a lackluster 5-1 loss last week at Minnesota which led to coach “Killing the penalty was huge because it probably wasn’t the best time for Bob Boughner lighting a fire under his charges, the Panthers have won me to do that,” Yandle said. “And, looking back, all he did was trip him. their last two games. He really didn’t do anything. It’s one of those things where I thought something different happened. But it was a huge kill for us.” Interestingly, the victories have come against two of the top three teams in the Atlantic Division, with Florida getting another look at Toronto on Bjugstad close Thursday. Nick Bjugstad traveled with the Panthers this week and was on the ice “We needed this win, needed to put some back-to-back wins together,” and out of his non-contact jersey for Tuesday’s morning skate. Boughner said. “We have to start rolling now, but we have a real tough Bjugstad has been out with an undisclosed upper-body injury for the past one on Thursday.” five games. Bjugstad left the game on Dec. 4 against Boston after taking In this one, Florida trailed 1-0 less than four minutes in, before Troy a hit to the head but returned the following game. Brouwer banked a long rebound off the end boards past Buffalo goalie On Tuesday, Boughner said Bjugstad is not likely to play Thursday in Carter Hutton at 9:17 of the second. Toronto — the team will not practice Wednesday — but could be in Florida gave up another less than two minutes later and went into the Saturday at Detroit depending on how his workout goes on Friday. third down 2-1. Elsewhere in the lineup, Boughner went with the same names Tuesday The Panthers came into the night 2-6-2 when trailing after 40 minutes, as he did in the 4-3 overtime win against Toronto on Saturday. That left yet for once, they were the aggressors in the third and completely took Colton Sceviour out for the second consecutive game with defenseman over the game. Bogdan Kiselevich scratched for the fourth straight night.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121729 Los Angeles Kings The Jets got to the Western Conference finals last year, continuing their steady buildup. If the Kings are looking to reassemble themselves, Winnipeg might be a good model. Beginning in 2011, the Jets hit it big on The young and the old combine to lead the Kings to an impressive win six consecutive first-round draft choices: center Mark Schiefele, defenseman Jacob Trouba, defenseman Josh Morrissey, left wing Ehlers, left wing Kyle Connor, and right wing Laine. They also pilfered right wing Blake Wheeler from Boston and still have center Bryan Little, By MARK WHICKER | [email protected] | Daily News their top draft from 2005. PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 at 11:47 pm | UPDATED: December Of course, the Jets could afford patience because Winnipeg was too 18, 2018 at 11:48 PM enchanted with its second shot at an NHL team to demand immediate mastery. The Jets were the Atlanta Thrashers until the 2011-12 season. The original Jets, who went back to the World Hockey Association days, LOS ANGELES — The learning finally began to curve for the Kings on became the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes in 1996-97. Tuesday night. The Kings don’t want to do the losing that it will take to assemble all Rookie Austin Wagner scored twice. Rookie Matt Luff shook off an those first-half-of-the-first-round draft picks. For one night anyway, their offside, which nullified a goal after Winnipeg called for a replay, and young guys played beyond their pedigree. sprung Wagner loose for his second goal. Rookie Daniel Brickley fired the puck from the left point that Wagner redirected for the first goal.

If you’ve been following this so far, you might get the impression that the Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2018 Kings scored more than once. In fact, they beat the Jets 4-1. It might have been the Kings’ best game of the season. Certainly Winnipeg, which came in tied for the Western Conference lead with 46 points, is the best team the Kings have beaten.

It was only their third win since Nov. 26, but it broke a four-game losing streak. In doing so, the Kings reached back for memories, with Jonathan Quick playing at a Stanley Cup-winning level and with Anze Kopitar looking much more like himself.

But the kids, whom the hockey world has largely judged unworthy to be a part of the Kings’ rebuild, were imprinting themselves in all three periods.

One can imagine how uncomfortable it must be for the rookies, trying to get themselves situated in a room with ring-bearing veterans, and wondering how much they’re to blame for this 12-20-3 record.

“It’s been a little bit of both,” Luff said. “It’s exciting to be in the NHL and get playing time, but at the same time, L.A. is a winning organization. It’s not accustomed to losing games. We’re just trying to help out, chip in with our play in all three zones, and just try to contribute.”

Luff was maybe a centimeter away from going into the Jets’ zone legally. The puck found its way to Jake Muzzin on the left point, and Muzzin cranked if off a Winnipeg stick and past goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

The Jets called for another look and the goal was disallowed. Or maybe the Jets were just suspicious because the Kings had actually scored on a power play.

The Kings got their 2-1 lead anyway when Kopitar slid his way into the slot and fed Drew Doughty, whose shot was guided in by Alex Iafallo.

With 1:52 left in the second period, Luff got control of a rebound in his zone and fed Wagner, who was already streaking down the middle. When Wagner beat Hellebuyck, the Kings had a two-goal lead that they refused to surrender, with Quick making a gasp-worthy save on Nikolaj Ehlers.

Wagner’s speed has been a conversation piece all season, and Luff, an undrafted free agent, had goals in four consecutive games earlier this season.

“We’ve known each other from previous years, playing together,” Luff said. “He’s probably one of the top guys in the league in speed. I just threw it out there. He was wide open and made a great play. He made my job a lot easier.”

“You know that’s a really good hockey team over there,” Wagner said, “so to get that win was awesome.”

Winnipeg has the league’s best power play, with the lethal Patrik Laine setting up on the left side in the manner of Alex Ovechkin. But here they went 0 for 3 in 4:16 of power play time and also came up empty in the final 2:34, with Hellebuyck on the bench.

Kopitar won 16 of 23 faceoffs for the Kings, who rarely let Winnipeg frolic in the offensive zone. Jets coach Paul Maurice noted that L.A. blocked 18 shots, four by Adrian Kempe.

“I thought the Kings played a hell of a game,” he said. “Not a lot of easy ice out there for either side. The Kings worked hard to put themselves in front of pucks. They played a real strong game and it was tight.” 1121730 Los Angeles Kings Wagner loved being able to use his speed.

“Luffer gave me a great pass and just put my head down, skate hard, drive hard to separate myself and create some space and I was fortunate Austin Wagner’s two goals lead Kings past Jets enough to put the puck in the net there,” he said.

Luff said he wasn’t worried that any of the Jets would catch up to By ROBERT MORALES | [email protected] | Press Telegram Wagner.

PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 at 10:31 pm | UPDATED: December “It was a good play by him to get going, and it was a good result,” he 18, 2018 at 11:55 PM said.

The Kings held in check a team that came in averaging 3.64 goals, third- best in the league. The Jets’ top line of Nikoalj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele LOS ANGELES — Fresh off a frustrating trip in which they went 0-2-2, and Blake Wheeler has 114 points this season but had none on Tuesday. the Kings needed something good to happen Tuesday when they hosted the high-flying Winnipeg Jets, who entered the game tied with Nashville Doughty, the Kings’ top defenseman who has been so vocal and has and Calgary for the most points in the Western Conference. played so hard to try and get his team out of its funk, was thrilled.

The something good was rookie forward Austin Wagner. He scored two “Everyone played well,” he said. “Every single player in our lineup made goals to lead the Kings to a 4-1 victory over the Jets before 17,405 at a difference out there tonight. Our (third) line stepped up and had some Staples Center. big goals for us, and I thought just everyone played well and we competed. Alex Iafallo also scored for the Kings, as did Nate Thompson into an empty net as time was winding down. Goalie Jonathan Quick was “We played a good defensive game as well, which we’ve been lacking.” splendid, stopping 27 shots. Hellebuyck, who stopped 27 of 30 shots, complimented the Kings.

The Kings (12-20-3, 27 points) still have a long way to go, but this kind of “They worked hard, they played a good game, so we have to give credit win over an outstanding team is a start. The Jets (22-10-2, 46 points) had to them,” he said. “They played a pretty good defensive game. We had won five consecutive games and nine of their previous 10. our chances and they had theirs and, unfortunately, this is just one of Wagner’s goals were his second and third of the season. As he sat at his those that we have to chalk up as they played well.” locker afterward, beads of sweat on his face, he basked in the glory of "The boys played great tonight. We battled and got a win." the first two-goal game of his young career. "Not only did we play well defensively and Quickie played well, but I “It was a good feeling, but the bigger thing was we won the game,” thought we did well on all ends of the ice. We really controlled that game Wagner said. “It’s a really good hockey club over there, so to get that win start to finish." tonight is awesome.”

Wagner gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 13:00 of the first period. Daniel Brickley took a long shot. With the puck in the air, Wagner deflected it Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2018 toward the net. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made the initial save, but when he did the puck went airborne. As Hellebuyck tried to surmise its whereabouts, the puck landed, bounced behind him and crossed the goal line.

Brickley had the only assist for his first point in his second game after being recalled from Ontario of the AHL.

The Jets tied the score less than two minutes into the second period on a deflection of their own. Bryan Little took a shot from just outside the far edge of the right faceoff circle, and teammate Mathieu Perreault deflected it past Quick for the equalizer at 1:52. It was No. 8 for Perreault.

Not long after, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty covered the goal for an out-of-position Quick and Doughty knocked down an incoming shot that appeared as though it would have been a goal.

Wow what save by Drew Doughty.

The Kings went on the power play at 4:59 and appeared to have scored, but the goal was disallowed after the Jets challenged that the Kings were offside.

When Kings interim coach Willie Desjardins was asked what he liked best about his team’s performance, it centered on their response to that moment.

“I liked lots of things,” he said. “I thought the best was probably when the goal got called back on the offside, that we stayed with it. It didn’t affect us and we kept playing hard.”

Undaunted, the Kings took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Alex Iafallo at 9:08 of the period. Anze Kopitar looked like he was going to shoot directly in front, but he passed off to Doughty, who took a shot from an angle. Iafallo stuck his stick in there at the last second and got the goal.

It was No. 7 for Iafallo. Doughty and Kopitar had the assists.

Wagner scored his second goal of the game at 18:08 of the second for a 3-1 lead. The speedy Wagner received a pass from Matt Luff in the Kings’ end, got ahead of the defense and came in all alone on Hellebuyck, depositing the puck into the left side of the net. Luff had the only assist. 1121731 Los Angeles Kings The Petersens were sold on L.A. after they met with goaltending coach Bill Ranford, a former Stanley Cup champ in Edmonton, and developmental coach Dusty Imoo.

Cal Petersen passed his Kings audition, and the main stage awaits “They had a plan in place,” Eric said. “They told Cal they really liked his game but that he would have to make some changes. Cal was very technical in college, and now the Kings have brought the athleticism out By MARK WHICKER | [email protected] | Daily News of him. We looked at their track record and didn’t feel Cal could go to a better place.” PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 at 8:33 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2018 at 8:35 PM The Kings sometimes develop goalies for other teams. Jonathan Bernier was traded and so was Martin Jones. Now Quick is 32 and does not

have a no-trade clause, and the Kings thirst for young talent or draft EL SEGUNDO — A pair of shiny new Koho goalie pads sat under the picks. The problem is that most contenders have solid goalie situations (if Petersen family tree, 15 years ago. they didn’t, they wouldn’t be contenders).

The dad, Eric Petersen, had played goal at Bethel, a Division III school in Either way, one suspects Petersen will be house-shopping in Los St. Paul, Minn. The son, Cal, was only eight. He already had an eye on Angeles, which, from a current hockey standpoint, is neither Iowa nor the net and all the cool equipment that comes with it. Eric wasn’t so sure. heaven.

“It’s such a tough position,” Eric said, from his home in Waterloo, Iowa. “You can’t have an off night. You have to bring it every night, and a lot of Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2018 things depend on you. But my wife pulled an end-around on me.”

“She basically told my dad to let me do what I wanted to do,” Cal said Tuesday, at the Kings’ pre-game skate.

One level led to another, and Petersen was called into the Kings’ net on Nov. 13, against the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goal-scoring orchestra

He stopped 15 of 16 pucks. Three nights later he won his first start, against Chicago. Three nights after that he got his first shutout, against St. Louis.

Jonathan Quick returned, but Petersen had left a mark. He had a .927 save percentage and he went 4-4-1.

Petersen probably will return to Ontario in the AHL when Jack Campbell gets healthy, but he would seem to be the centerpiece of any extreme makeover the Kings might consider.

“They talk about how much faster the game is,” Petersen said. “That first game with Toronto was very fast. After that, I was able to slow it down and make it manageable. The biggest thing for me was realizing I could play on this level, that I could be comfortable. It’s just a matter of making my reads and trusting the plan.”

Confidence radiates from Petersen. He was the captain at Notre Dame, a rare distinction for a goaltender on any level. Jeff Jackson, the Irish coach, was also a goalie, and together they got to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2017.

After one year of high school, Petersen went to Chicago to play for the Young Americans, an elite AAA team that played and won tournaments all over.

“The first year, we found a house to rent there and we’d take turns staying with him,” Eric said. “I’d come up on my weekends and his mom and his aunt would be there during the week. The next couple of years, he stayed with a family and then he stayed in a hotel.”

Father and son agree that the fates were good to Cal, putting a United States Hockey League franchise in Waterloo.

The USHL is a full-fledged junior hockey league. Joe Pavelski played on the Waterloo Blackhawks team that won the Clark Cup, the USHL championship. But Petersen would sit in Young Arena and train his eyes on Brian Regan, the goalie who wound up at the University of New Hampshire and then in the Boston Bruins’ system.

“We had season tickets,” Petersen said. “The night they won the title is one of my great memories. But having the arena there was great because that’s where my dad and I would go and practice.”

“You’d have to get there at 6 a.m. to get ice time,” Eric said. “We had a backyard rink, too, but I’d try to pull a few strings and get us in there early.”

Later Petersen would play for the Blackhawks, where the Ducks’ Brandon Montour was a teammate. Petersen was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres but became a free agent and signed with the Kings. He said it would have been irresponsible not “to do my due diligence,” and the Sabres were in the midst of management transition. 1121732 Los Angeles Kings “I have no problem. He’s been great for us.”

Doughty had a minus-11 ratio for the season before Tuesday. But that’s on a team with only a few players on the plus side. Defenseman Jake Kings’ Drew Doughty took loss at Pittsburgh hard Muzzin had a plus-6, and that led the team.

Doughty is a plus-82 for his career, now in its 11th season. He was plus- By ROBERT MORALES | [email protected] | Press Telegram 23 this past season.

PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 at 7:50 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2018 at 7:51 PM Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2018

LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Tanner Pearson crept up on former Kings teammate Drew Doughty, who had the puck in the Kings’ end. Pearson stole the puck from Doughty, who went down to the ice as Pearson moved in and scored on Jonathan Quick for a 3-1 Penguins lead in the second period on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

It was that play right there that evoked the fury from Doughty after Phil Kessel scored in overtime for a 4-3 Penguins victory over the Kings. Doughty broke his stick over the crossbar in disgust as Pittsburgh celebrated.

“We should have won that game … and I (expletive) up on that goal,” Doughty said Monday after practice. “It should have been 3-2, so put that loss on me.”

Doughty, whose team hosted Winnipeg on Tuesday night, said he was disheartened by the loss.

“But I was more frustrated that as a big part of the team, I need to play well and I can’t be making mistakes like that,” he said. “Third goal’s all my fault. We should have won it 3-2 in regulation.”

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Doughty said he was still peeved about it, but that he knew he’d wake up Tuesday morning knowing it’s a “new day, new game.”

It’s hard to fault Doughty for anything because it’s obvious he has been doing plenty to try to help the Kings pull out of their season-long slump. They entered play Tuesday with a league-low 25 points and a record of 11-20-3.

“Oh, I mean, I’m trying my hardest and maybe sometimes I try too hard and try to do too much,” said Doughty, one of the league’s top defensemen who, with 18 points, was second on the team to forward Anze Kopitar’s 21 before Tuesday. “But I feel like I’ve gotten that in check the past couple of months. I think I’ve played really well. But …”

Doughty just couldn’t let go of the blunder with Pearson, who was traded to Pittsburgh on Nov. 14 for Carl Hagelin.

“I’m going to make mistakes out there,” Doughty said. “I’m human, that’s the bottom line. Everybody makes mistakes. But in a big situation like that … and I mean, it was such an easy mistake, too. That’s what (irritates) me. There’s no reason for me to make that mistake.

“I didn’t even really do anything. I just didn’t expect him to be on me that quick and, I don’t know, it’s just really frustrating. Minus-3 in a big game, in a game I was so excited to play against Sidney Crosby and try to shut him down.”

Doughty knows he can’t get it back, so he must move forward.

“Sometimes you’re going to fail and you’ve just gotta learn how to come back from that,” he said.

One thing’s certain. Interim coach Willie Desjardins has no issue with the way Doughty has performed since he took over the controls on Nov. 4 after John Stevens was relieved of his duties.

“He’s playing great,” Desjardins said. “He’s done a lot of things, just as much in the room as on the ice.”

He doesn’t want Doughty to change what he’s doing, either.

“That’s always a tough one when you try to say he’s trying to do too much,” Desjardins said. “Sometimes you do need to stay within your structure a little bit. But all and all, you’d way rather have a guy who’s trying to do too much to make things happen than a guy who didn’t care and wasn’t doing enough. 1121733 Los Angeles Kings “Carts looked at me the other day and he says, ‘I promise you, you’re going to score another goal in NHL, Tyler,’” said Toffoli, who has gone 16 games without scoring.

Jeff Carter doesn’t ‘want to go anywhere’ via trade, but is that the right What I’ve come to appreciate is Carter’s leadership skills. In tough times, move for the Kings? he is one of the players stepping forward and saying what is needed to be said. You didn’t see him around as much in the dressing room when the Kings were winning. By Lisa Dillman He’s been more visible during what has been a season of discontent. In Dec 18, 2018 his mind, he would still like to be part of the picture when the good times return.

News and Notes It is still to be determined what is going to happen in Los Angeles – and when – but Jeff Carter wants to be part of the eventual solution, not the • There were Ilya Kovalchuk, Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford piece traded away by the last-place Kings. (concussion symptoms) sightings on the ice at practice on Monday. Kovalchuk, who underwent an ankle procedure (bursectomy) on Dec. 2, Carter’s name has been at the forefront of trade speculation for many was wearing a red-jersey which signifies non-contact, as was Clifford. reasons because the veteran center carries a reasonable cap hit and has the winning pedigree (two Stanley Cup championships and an Olympic “He (Kovalchuk) got skating which is a good sign,” said Kings interim gold medal) that teams crave. coach Willie Desjardins. “There’s nothing structural, so it’s not like it will take him awhile to get (going). They just want to make sure it’s fully The risk for potential suitors goes beyond Carter’s age (33), primarily the healed before he goes.” lingering impact of last season’s injury – a cut ankle tendon requiring surgery. He has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) but one goal in his Campbell (knee surgery) had been skating with Dusty Imoo, the past nine games and one goal at even-strength since Oct. 11. organization’s goaltending development coach, when the Kings were on their four-game trip last week. What is interesting, and potentially attractive, is that the payout in the final three years of Carter’s 11-year, $58-million contract is $7 million, as Desjardins thought Campbell might return at some point after Christmas, he is signed through 2022. His cap hit is $5.272 million and he is making adding: “We don’t want to rush him right now. We just want to make sure $5 million this season. he’s ready to go.”

But what does Carter have to say about all of this? • Defenseman Alec Martinez (upper body) has been out since getting injured on Dec. 8 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Kings general “When you’re not winning, that’s the nature of the beast,” Carter said. manager Rob Blake said on Monday that Martinez will be out for “a “We’ll see what happens. Obviously, I don’t want to go anywhere. couple of weeks still.” “I’ve been traded before – a couple of times.”

Carter spent the first six seasons of his career with the Philadelphia The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 Flyers and was devastated by the trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to reports at the time.

He played 39 games for the Blue Jackets in 2011-12 and was dealt to the Kings, for defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick just before the trade deadline that season.

Nearly six years later, the circumstances of Carter’s personal life are much different. He and his wife Megan have two young children, a boy and a girl, and are solidly entrenched in Southern California.

“It’s the first time in my career I’ve had a family and kids, so it changes it,” Carter said. “Like I said, I can’t really control much of that. When you’re not winning games, that’s how it goes.

“I’ve been on teams like that before. We’ll see.”

Last week, Athletic colleague Fluto Shinzawa addressed the tangible benefits of what Carter could bring to the Boston Bruins, fitting in possibly as a third-line center behind Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

With Kings’ management facing tough questions, many of us have been examining the roster and the contracts with microscopic intensity. Carter’s contract doesn’t carry clauses preventing the Kings from moving him should they choose to do so.

But Carter, quite possibly, has his own stop sign. He said in our chat that he doesn’t want to leave Los Angeles. That’s the rub for the Kings. If they want to rebuild, and teams are interested in Carter, they would have to find a way of making it attractive for Carter to accept a move elsewhere.

Carter has a made a lot of money in his career, accomplished quite a bit and it isn’t out of the question he could walk away if the circumstances aren’t to his liking.

(We will save the inner workings/discussion about cap-recapture penalties for another day. There are only so many hypotheticals to be absorbed right now.)

Longtime linemate Tyler Toffoli appreciated the guidance Carter has been providing during a season that has been a struggle for Toffoli as well. 1121734 Los Angeles Kings night, so tonight was a good team effort on both ends of the puck and that’s why we won.

Doughty, on whether tonight’s win is a boost to the team’s confidence: DECEMBER 18 RAPID REACTION: KINGS 4, JETS 1 In order to get that confidence, we got to work hard and compete out there, and get things to start coming to you. I felt like we finally did that JESSI MCDONALD tonight and that’s why we got the two points. But, you know, we can’t get ahead ourselves. That’s one win in the last however many, so we need to DECEMBER 18, 2018 get on a roll here. But it was a good start tonight.

Doughty, on what they did to shut down Winnipeg’s top two lines:

Post-game Quotes Just try to out-work ‘em and out-compete ‘em. We know what they’re all about, played them many times before, and a few of those guys are stars Willie Desjardins, on what he liked most about the team’s performance: in this league, so we just have to play them as hard as we possibly can. I liked lots of things. I thought the best was probably when the goal got Not give them any space, try to frustrate ‘em and not give them much on back on the off-side that we stayed with it and it didn’t affect us and we the power play. I thought the PK was good, but the main part was staying kept playing hard. There were lots of guys that sold out. We had some out of the box. I think we only had two or three kills, so that’s really good. big blocked shots. Doughty blocked a couple big shots. I thought our third Doughty, on tonight’s game being a strong response to the most recent period was good, as well. road trip: Desjardins, on whether Nikita Scherbak’s lack of usage was due to It’s huge. It’s our first home game we’ve had in a little while here and I coach’s decision or injury: think we go back on the road, so it was a big match for us. Yeah that No, it was a coach’s decision. road trip for us was frustrating. There was a few games we thought we could’ve won and we didn’t come away with them and tonight I don’t think Desjardins, on whether Kyle Clifford will draw back into Saturday’s game there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that we should’ve won that hockey at San Jose: game and we played a full 60 minutes and that’s really good Kings’ hockey right there. And we need to do it again. And again. We’ll see. I don’t know if he’ll draw in Saturday or not, but I just want to make sure he’s good. He’s had some issues before, and I just want to Austin Wagner, on using his speed to score on the breakaway: make sure everything’s good with him. Luffer gave me a great pass and I just put my head down and skated Desjardins, on whether there was a reason Scherbak’s ice time was hard and tried to separate myself and create some space and I was limited: fortunate enough to put the puck in the net there.

No, he’s a young guy, and sometimes young guys, maybe they don’t Wagner, on what the team has done to start scoring more goals: have the best game. I think he’s a talented player, but I think guys are responsible, they have to play at a certain level too to get to play. I didn’t I think we’ve been good in our D-zone. We’re breaking pucks out and think he was at that level tonight. He’s played well in other games, but we’re getting lot of chances by doing that so when we’re breaking out tonight I didn’t think he was there. clean and we’re not turning over pucks we’re creating a lot of offense so we’re playing well right now and we’ve just got to keep it going. It’s just Desjardins, on the importance of generating this response after a one win, but the next task at hand is San Jose on Saturday and then “frustrating” road trip: Vegas on Sunday so we’ve just got to keep marching along and keep pushing. Our road trip, we didn’t get the points, but our chances in all those games were pretty good. The Buffalo game we lost a couple D and got in Wagner, on having played with Luff in Ontario and whether that trouble. The Detroit game we played well. The Pittsburgh game we out- chemistry carries over: chanced them. Three out of those gour games we were pretty good, but we weren’t good in the Co[lumbus game. Our team’s been playing better It helps to play with them down there last year a little bit, but you know, lately, but this was a nice win to come back. We haven’t played well at we know where each other going to be so the line’s working right now home, so it was good to come back and play well at home. and I think we’ve just got to keep playing hard and playing our way not to change a thing and just keep going for Saturday here. Desjardins, on how to build off the win: Wagner, on Luff: I think the guys know if we play our game we can play well against anybody. We’ve got some tough games coming up, so we’re going to I think he’s assisted on every one of my goals this year, so that says have to be ready if we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win. something, but he’s playing well and Mods is playing great. The team played awesome tonight. You look at that game and we found a way to Desjardins, on Austin Wagner not getting a lot of third period ice time: win, which is the biggest thing. That’s a real good hockey club over there, like I said, in Winnipeg and it’s a great feeling. I thought that line was good, but when I went down to three lines, Thompson’s another faceoff guy, so it gives me two faceoff guys on that Matt Luff, on how they can keep the momentum from tonight’s win going line. Maybe right now he might be a little bit defensively than Wagner. forward: He’s got a lot more experience in the league. But I thought Luff and Wagner, they’ve been good. All year they’ve played well for us. I thought this overall game was huge for us. I think you’ve just go to — the room was great before the game, the atmosphere was good and we Doughty, on if he ever considered playing goaltender when he was came off the plan, I think we executed perfectly, so coming into San Jose growing up: we’ve got to have the same game plan and carry the pace for the whole game and shut down their top guys and when we’re playing LA Kings Yeah, I know. To be honest I always wanted to be a goalie. When I was a style hockey we’re a tough team to play against I think. kid playing Triple A, I wanted to switch back and play goalie and my parents obviously weren’t too keen on the price of pads, so that didn’t Luff, on what he saw on his pass that led to Wagner’s breakaway goal: happen, so I went to my next resort and played in net in soccer. I think anytime Wags is tied with a guy or a little bit ahead, not to worry Doughty, on what he liked most from the team tonight: about catching up with him because I know he’s going to be gone so it was good play by him to get it going and I think it was a good result. The Just I think everyone played well. I think every single player in our lineup puck flipped up there and I was like, ‘Uh oh,’ but he did a good job and made a difference out there tonight, you know our fourth line stepped up I’m happy for him. It’s a big two goals for us and it helped us with a huge and had some big goals for us. I thought just everyone played well and win today. we competed. We played a good defensive game too, which we’ve been lacking. As much as we want to create more offense or talk about this Post-game Notes and that, we’ve got to keep pucks out of our net and we haven’t been doing that lately. We can’t rely on our goalies to do that every single –With the win, Los Angeles improved to 16-7-8 all-time against the Winnipeg franchise, a record that includes a 10-1-4 home mark. The Kings’ one regulation home loss to the Jets or Thrashers was a 2-1 home loss on November 22, 2017. Each team is 1-1-0 in the season series with one game remaining on March 18 at Staples Center.

–With the win, Los Angeles improved to 7-11-1 against the Western Conference, 3-6-0 against the Central Division, 6-11 in three-goal games, 10-3-1 when scoring first, 4-0-0 when leading after the first period, 9-1-1 when leading after two periods and 4-8-1 when outshooting their opponent.

–Austin Wagner (2-0=2) recorded his first NHL multi-goal game. The last time he recorded a multi-goal game at any level, he did so in back-to- back outings on April 15 and 17, 2017 in Game 6 and 7 wins during Regina’s second round series win over Swift Current in the WHL Playoffs.

–With a second period goal, Alex Iafallo (2-4=6) extended his point streak to a career-long five games. This is the longest streak by a King this season.

–Daniel Brickley assisted on Wagner’s first period goal, marking his second assist in three career NHL games.

–Drew Doughty finished with a game-high four blocked shots.

–The Kings attempted 52 shots (31 on goal, 8 blocked, 13 missed). The Jets attempted 57 shots (28 on goal, 18 blocked, 11 missed). Tyler Toffoli led all skaters with six shots on goal.

–Los Angeles won 26-of-50 faceoffs (52%). Adrian Kempe won 3-of-8, Michael Amadio won 2-of-5, Anze Kopitar won 16-of-23, Nate Thompson won 2-of-5 and Jeff Carter won 3-of-9.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121735 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 35: LOS ANGELES VS WINNIPEG

JESSI MCDONALD

DECEMBER 18, 2018

GAME THREADS

Los Angeles Kings 4, Winnipeg Jets 1

SOG: LAK – 31; WPG – 28

PP: LAK – 0/3; WPG – 0/3

First Period

LAK – Austin Wagner (2) (Daniel Brickley); 13:00

Second Period

WPG – Mathieu Perreault (8) (Bryan Little, Josh Morrissey); 1:52

LAK – Alex Iafallo (7) (Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar); 9:08

LAK – Austin Wagner (3) (Matt Luff); 18:08

Third Period

LAK ENG – Nate Thompson (3) (Dustin Brown); 19:55

Los Angeles Kings (11-20-3) vs Winnipeg Jets (22-9-2)

Tuesday, December 18, 2018, 7:30 p.m. PT

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Referees: #37 Pierre Lambert, #40 Steve Kozari

Linesmen: #66 Darren Gibbs, #77 Tim Nowak

Fox Sports West, FOX Sports GO, LA Kings Audio Network

LAK starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Derek Forbort, D Drew Doughty, LW Alex Iafallo, C Anze Kopitar, RW Dustin Brown

LAK scratches: D Paul LaDue, D Dion Phaneuf, FWD Kyle Clifford

WPG starters: G Connor Hellebuyck, D Ben Chiarot, D Dustin Byfuglien, LW Nikolaj Ehlers, C Mark Schiefele, RW Blake Wheeler

WPG scratches: D Joe Morrow, FWD Nic Petan

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121736 Los Angeles Kings

REPORT: VILARDI RULED OUT FOR WORLD JUNIORS

ZACH DOOLEY

DECEMBER 18, 2018

TSN’s Mark Masters has reported that Kings prospect Gabe Vilardi has been ruled out for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships, which begin later this month. Vilardi had been returning to action from an injury that caused him to miss the final of his five games on a conditioning stint with the AHL’s Ontario Reign earlier this month.

Vilardi was previously reported to have been a full participant in practice two days ago on December 16, though he received treatment and missed Monday’s skate. Vilardi’s absense leaves forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan – who was doubtful as recently as a month ago after undergoing surgery on his wrist and is expected to make the team if healthy – and defenseman Markus Phillips as Los Angeles’ two prospects to represent Team Canada at this year’s event, which will be held in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. between December 26 and January 5.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121737 Minnesota Wild A leaguewide roster freeze went into effect at midnight, and it’ll last until midnight Dec. 27.

During this time, players on an NHL active roster, injured reserve or with Ryan Suter is healthy and eager for more minutes nonroster and injured nonroster status are prohibited from being waived, traded or loaned — although there are a few exceptions. By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune Players can be recalled during this stretch, and a player who was recalled after Dec. 11 may be loaned through 11:59 p.m. local time Dec. DECEMBER 18, 2018 — 11:47PM 23 if he doesn’t require waivers.

For about the first 10 games of the season, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 paid attention to how much he deployed defenseman Ryan Suter since he was working back from a severe ankle injury and appeared in just one preseason game. But now, more than two months into the schedule, the Wild can rely on Suter as much as it wants — a resource that may help the team ease the sting of Matt Dumba’s absence because of injury. “He’s fine now,” Boudreau said of Suter. “If we give him 30 [minutes], he’s going to want 35. We give him 35, he’s going to want 40. He’s a special athlete, and we know that. He’s one of the smartest players, so he can adjust to whatever ice time he gets.” It’s been almost nine months since Suter was hit into the boards March 31 by the Stars’ Remi Elie in Dallas, a collision that broke his talus and the outside of his right fibula, and it certainly looks like he has regained his form on the ice. Entering play Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center against the San Jose Sharks, he averaged a team-high 25 minutes, 47 seconds and boasted five assists in his previous three games. Going back even further, he was contributing at a point-per-game pace with a goal and 10 assists the past 11 times he suited up. He played 29 minutes Tuesday night. “I’m finally starting to feel a little bit better now,” Suter said. “The first couple months I was kind of worried. I didn’t know if things would get back. They’re starting to fall into place, and I’m starting to feel more comfortable out there.” Last Saturday, in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, the 33-year-old logged a season-high 29:49 — this despite serving a five-minute major for fighting, just the third fight of Suter’s career and the first since 2009. Suter squared off with Flames winger Sam Bennett, the third of three fights in the first period; Dumba’s tussle with winger Matthew Tkachuk started the parade, and that period was the only one Dumba played before leaving the game. He’ll be out at least a week with an upper-body injury. “I didn’t want Dumbs to have to do it again,” Suter said of his fight. “They were kind of targeting him, so I had to help out my buddy.” Dumba had been skating alongside Suter before he was hurt, but the new-look Wild defense that debuted Tuesday featured a reunion on the top pairing between Jared Spurgeon and Suter since the two have been paired together extensively in the past — even this season. Greg Pateryn was promoted to work next to Jonas Brodin, and Nate Prosser joined Nick Seeler on the third pairing. The forward group also had a different setup, as captain Mikko Koivu returned to the lineup after missing four games because of a lower-body injury. But while Dumba is sidelined, the focus will be on the defense to determine how it recalibrates without its top goal scorer. Having the option to roll Suter out for nearly half the game, if not more, could help buoy the Wild until it’s back at full strength. “The more you’re on the ice, obviously the more you’re into the game,” Suter said. “Obviously, you don’t want to see guys get hurt. If something like this happens, you gotta be ready to stand up and help out.” Familiar faces Spurgeon matching up with Suter wasn’t the only familiar duo the Wild turned to with Dumba out. Seeler and Prosser were together last season when Seeler made his NHL debut. “He’s really easy to play with, so I’m excited to be back with him,” Seeler said. “ … We’re similar players, too, so I don’t think it’s going to be too much of a change. I’m sure we’ll get back to our old ways just like last year.” 1121738 Minnesota Wild

Wild-San Jose game recap

DECEMBER 18, 2018 — 11:43PM

STAR TRIBUNE’S 1. Martin Jones, Sharks: The goaltender posted 26 saves for his first shutout of the season. 2. Logan Couture, Sharks: The center scored twice. 3. Tomas Hertl, Sharks: The winger set up two goals. BY THE NUMBERS 0 Goals for the Wild, shut out for the second time this season. 2 Sharks goals in 29 seconds in the second period. 4 Losses for the Wild in its past six home games.

SARAH McLELLAN Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121739 Minnesota Wild

Offense dries up as Wild closes out homestand with loss to Sharks

By Sarah McLellan DECEMBER 18, 2018 — 11:24PM

Goal droughts don’t tend to sting as much when chances are being created because players hold that up as proof they’re still doing what it takes to score. But after getting shut out 4-0 Tuesday by the Sharks at Xcel Energy Center, the Wild seemed to take little solace in its collection of missed opportunities – emphasizing its lack of execution amid a string of close calls. “We had our looks early,” center Eric Staal said. “I had a couple I'd like to cash in on, and I think it's a different game the other way.” After rounding out its last road trip with just two goals in two games, it looked like a return home recalibrated the Wild’s offense since it accumulated 12 goals through the first half of a four-game stint in St. Paul; one of those games featured a season-high seven tallies. But that production has waned ever since; the team was limited to just one goal last Saturday by the Calgary Flames, and it was even less effective Tuesday despite 26 shots on net – a handful of which were dangerous. “It's a little frustrating,” winger Jason Zucker said. “But at the same time, it was something that we felt if we kept going the same way we're going to keep getting chances and keep pushing back. Then we were down two.” The Wild has two more chances to rediscover its scoring touch before the league pauses for the holiday break, starting Thursday in Pittsburgh against the Penguins, and don’t be surprised if the team rolls out new lines that game to try to spark the offense after coach Bruce Boudreau scrambled the team’s look against the Sharks. “I didn’t think at the end of two [periods] that we were generating enough,” he said. “That’s why I switched the lines around maybe hoping to find lightning in a bottle a little bit.” In his first game back from a lower-body injury that cost him four games, captain Mikko Koivu logged a second shy of 13 minutes and put two pucks on net. “His shifts were pretty short in the first period,” Boudreau said. “As time went on, I thought he got better. I thought he was pretty determined. I thought he was the most determined guy today.” Although this two-game test before the break isn’t enough time to catapult the team into a much more comfortable position in the standings, it’s still important for the Wild to generate momentum because the need for a lengthy win streak only seems to increase amid its current hot-and- cold pace. “We’ve got to start playing 60 minutes and not 45 or not 50 and not 52,” Boudreau said. “To win and to win consistently, that’s what you’ve got to do. And obviously at some point pretty soon, we’re going to have to put a run together of five or six or seven games together.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121740 Minnesota Wild

Jones shuts out Wild, Couture scores 2 in Sharks' 4-0 win

By BRIAN HALL Associated Press DECEMBER 18, 2018 — 11:35PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sharks coach Peter DeBoer never doubted going back to Martin Jones in net, even after he allowed three goals on seven shots before getting pulled in the first period of San Jose's previous game. Jones has always bounced back quickly and he did it again Tuesday night as the Sharks continued their December roll. Logan Couture scored twice and Jones made 26 saves for his first shutout this season and the 20th of his career in San Jose's 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild. "I knew after the Chicago game, I wanted to come right back with him," DeBoer said. "In my time with him, he's always responded after a game like that with a big game, every time. I was confident we were going to get that type of game out of him tonight." Joe Pavelski added his 21st goal for San Jose, which has won five straight games and seven of eight. Sharks rookie Lukas Radil had an empty-net goal and one assist. "Everyone has tough games," Couture said of Jones. "That was a tough one for him, but we have all the confidence in the world in him that he was going to rebound, and he played very well tonight." Devan Dubnyk stopped 21 shots for Minnesota, which has lost seven of 10. "Overall, we had our chances tonight," Wild forward Jason Zucker said. "It's not like we didn't get to the net. It's not like we didn't have our chances. We had chances, we just didn't bear down and bury them." A lethargic start for both teams turned in San Jose's favor in the second period as Couture and Pavelski scored 29 seconds apart. Radil sent a no-look pass from behind the Wild cage out front to Couture, who was crashing the net and buried a one-timer. Tomas Hertl sprung Pavelski on a breakaway for the second goal. Pavelski has eight goals in the past 11 games. Hertl had two assists and has multiple points in four of the last five games. As the Sharks took control in the second, Minnesota went without a shot for 12 minutes as the Wild's struggles continued. Minnesota was shut out for the second time in six games. "Even we get chances and they look like wide-open chances, and then you'd turn around to the other coaches and say, 'Did that not go in? How did that not go in?'" Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "That seems to be something that's happening on a regular basis." Couture added his second goal and fifth in six games just 51 seconds into the third. "I thought from a team standpoint, it was probably one of our most solid games from start to finish; the way we defended, the way we kind of shut down the rush was solid tonight," Jones said. NOTES: Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu returned after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Zucker was back in the lineup after missing a game with an illness. ... The Wild were without D Matt Dumba, who sustained an upper-body injury in the previous game against Calgary. Dumba leads NHL defensemen with 12 goals this season. Nate Prosser took Dumba's spot in the lineup. Prosser had been scratched the previous eight games and was playing just his third game of the season. ... San Jose forward Timo Meier fought Minnesota D Greg Pateryn in the second period. It was Meier's first career fight in 147 games. ... The Sharks are 14-1-2 when leading after two periods. ... The Wild have killed off all 13 of their penalties over the past seven games. They entered second in the NHL with an 85.6 percent rate on their penalty kill.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121741 Minnesota Wild

Too many lapses, too little offense as Wild falls to Sharks

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune DECEMBER 18, 2018 — 11:56PM

Points weren’t usually among the parting gifts the Wild doled out last season to visitors. But the team has morphed into a much more gracious host. After the Sharks were the latest to get comfortable, treading water until they pounced for a 4-0 win Tuesday in front of an announced crowd of 18,870 at Xcel Energy Center, the Wild has lost as many home games in regulation this season (six) as it did all of last. And the team’s knack for falling behind seems to be a reason why. “It’s difficult to get the building going when you’re down 1-0, down 2-0, down 3-0,” center Eric Staal said. “You need one. You need one to get it energized.” The Wild dropped to 10-6-2 in St. Paul and of those eight setbacks, it surrendered the first goal in six of them — an ill-advised recipe for trying to duplicate the prowess the group had in 2017-18 when it went an impressive 27-6-8 on home ice. Tripping into an early hole, however, isn’t a problem limited to home games; this was the 23rd game the opposition capitalized first, and while the Wild was resilient earlier in the season, its pluckiness has faded to position it 11-11-1 in rally mode. “The reality is you give up the first goal [in a] majority of the games, it’s a tall task to continually have to climb your way back,” Staal said. “I think any team is better when they have the lead and force the other team to make mistakes.” This misstep was unique because the Wild could have easily been the one setting the pace. It had the better opportunities early — including a shot off the post by Staal — and since every line had a turn testing the Sharks, hemming them in their own zone, it seemed like it would only be a matter of time before someone delivered. Jason Zucker was at the helm of a few odd-man looks, defenseman Jonas Brodin blanked on an open net and Zach Parise and captain Mikko Koivu couldn’t connect in tight. “They look like wide-open chances,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Then you’d turn around to the other coaches and say, ‘Did that not go in? How did that not go in?’ That seems to be something that’s happening on a regular basis.” This was a nonissue just days ago when the team outscored the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers a combined 12-2 for two decisive success stories. But one goal the past two games siphoned the optimism out of that start, as the Wild ended its homestand 2-2. “Right now, the shoulders are slumping, and guys are starting to feel sorry for themselves a little bit,” Boudreau said. And that lack of execution left the door open for San Jose to take over in the second period, which it did in a breezy 29 seconds. Logan Couture buried a behind-the-net feed from center Lukas Radil at 9 minutes, 49 seconds and then on the very next shift, Tomas Hertl sprung captain Joe Pavelski for a breakaway at 10:18. Only 51 seconds into the third, the Sharks scored five seconds after their power play expired when Couture tucked a shot between goalie Devan Dubnyk and the near post. The Wild didn’t receive a single opportunity with the man advantage. Radil deposited a Nino Niederreiter turnover into an empty-net goal with 2:15 to go. “It’s too hard in this league to continually play from behind,” Staal said.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121742 Minnesota Wild

Wild closes out homestand vs. Sharks without Matt Dumba

By Sarah McLellan DECEMBER 18, 2018 — 11:20AM

The Wild started this four-game homestand without everyone available, and that’s how the team will finish it. Although it’ll welcome back captain Mikko Koivu, who sat out the previous four games with a lower-body injury, the Wild will be without defenseman Matt Dumba when it hosts the Sharks Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center. Dumba is out at least this week with an upper-body injury. “We’ll make up for it,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Somebody goes out, somebody goes in. I was looking at the injury report today, and there’s some teams that have eight guys out and nine guys out. We’ve got one. He’s a good player, but let’s move forward and not worry about injuries at this stage.” At 2-1 so far during this home stint, the Wild will have plenty to keep it busy if it wants to bank a third win. San Jose in on a roll of late and won the previous meeting between these two teams 4-3 Nov.6 in California. “They sure have balance,” Boudreau said. “When you have Joe Thornton on your third line, one of the greats players of all time, you know your work is cut out for you, and they’re fairly healthy – let alone the back end that they have. They were, at the beginning of the year, thought to be one of the best teams in the league and to vie for the Stanley Cup, and now they’re starting to play like it. “It’s a great test. But, hey listen, when you succeed in a test, you usually feel pretty good.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121743 Minnesota Wild between-the-legs pass to Hertl, who dished to Couture. He beat Dubnyk short side, and the Sharks were in command.

“If we don’t score the first goal, you know, right now the shoulders are Wild lose 4-0 as habit of falling behind costs them again slumping and guys are starting to feel sorry for themselves a little bit,” said Boudreau. By Brian Murphy | [email protected] | Pioneer Press After winning the first two games of this four-game homestand handily over the Canadiens and Panthers, Minnesota stumbled against two of PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 at 10:22 pm | UPDATED: December the Western Conference’s powerhouses. 18, 2018 at 11:10 PM The Wild travel to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins on Thursday before returning home for a Saturday tilt against Dallas, their last game before their four-day Christmas break. Falling behind used to be a nuisance for the Minnesota Wild before it became a crisis, a trend that is pushing them further out of playoff Four more points on the table. The Wild need to scoop them up fast or contention as the season grinds to the Christmas milepost. the league will dig their grave. San Jose scored twice in a 29-second span midway through the second period to break open a tight game and send the Wild reeling to their seventh loss in 10 games as the Sharks prevailed 4-0 and boos rained Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.19.2018 down at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota trails Vegas by four points in the Western Conference wild- card race and is six points shy of Colorado in the Central Division. Unable to gain any ground, the Wild lost consecutive home games for the first time since early October. Moreover, they allowed the first goal for the 23rd time in 33 games, falling to 11-11-1 under those unfavorable conditions. “We’re playing from behind it feels like almost every game,” lamented center Eric Staal. “It’s too hard in this league to continually play from behind.” Especially against team as lethal and balanced as the Stanley Cup- contending Sharks, who have won five straight and seven of their past eight. “We’ve got to start playing 60 minutes and not 45 or not 50 and not 52,” said coach Bruce Boudreau. “To win and to win consistently, that’s what you’ve got to do. And obviously at some point pretty soon we’re going to have to put a run of five or six or seven games together.” The Wild are 40 percent through their schedule, their identity already baked in. They are a grind-it-out team that can ill afford to squander scoring chances or make mistakes on defense. Staal hit a post early in the first period that could have changed the trajectory of the game. Jonas Brodin misfired from a sharp angle in the second period while Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was out of position. Jones stymied Jason Zucker on a third-period breakaway. And Mikael Granlund fanned on a slap shot in the waning minutes. “We had chances, we just needed to bury them,” said Zucker. “I know I passed up a few shots that I thought I could have shot on as well. When you’re having a good period like that, you’ve got to try and bear down score a couple goals.” Minnesota was shut out for the second time in two weeks after losing 2-0 to Calgary on Dec. 6. After scoring 12 combined goals against Montreal and Florida, the Wild have managed only one in their last two losses to the Flames and Sharks — Pacific Division stalwarts. The Wild welcomed back captain Mikko Koivu, but he was handcuffed along with the rest of the offense. They also played their first game without star defenseman Matt Dumba. Boudreau shuffled his lines and defense pairings to accommodate the personnel changes, but after falling behind, he quickly demoted Jordan Greenway and put Zucker back onto the top line with Staal and Granlund. “I didn’t think at the end of two that we were generating enough, that’s why I switched the lines around maybe hoping to find lightning in a bottle,” Boudreau said. “We get chances and they look like wide-open chances, and then you’d turn around to the other coaches and say, ‘Did that not go in?’ How did that not go in?’ That seems to be something that’s happening on a regular basis.” It was scoreless until 9:49 into the second period, when Couture struck first. Lukas Radil made a blind behind-the-back centering pass to Couture, who whacked it past Devan Dubnyk. A half-minute later, Joe Pavelski slipped behind Wild defenseman Josh Brodin in the neutral zone, Tomas Hertl sprung him on a breakaway, and suddenly it was 2-0 Sharks. Couture needed only 51 seconds to expand the Sharks’ lead in the third period. Defenseman Erik Karlsson gained the zone and made a 1121744 Minnesota Wild “If it’s the only way you’re going to play, you’re going to thrive in it because if you don’t thrive you wouldn’t be here,” said Boudreau. “His mental strength is really good. He practices really hard. And when he Wild defenseman Ryan Suter: ‘I’m starting to feel more comfortable out gets the opportunity to play, he usually makes the best of it.” there’ BRIEFLY San Jose star defenseman Brent Burns played his 996th game Tuesday By Brian Murphy | [email protected] | Pioneer Press night. The 2003 first-round pick of the Wild played his first 453 games in Minnesota before being traded to the Sharks in 2011. PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 at 12:43 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2018 at 8:01 PM Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.19.2018 Ryan Suter was slow to recover from April ankle surgery, and the Wild’s best defenseman wondered whether he would be the same player who was a three-time all-star and Norris Trophy candidate. “The first couple of months I was kind of worried,” Suter said before Tuesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. “I didn’t know if things would get back. But they’re starting to fall into place. I’m starting to feel more comfortable out there. Just walking around, it’s a lot easier now.” The Wild need Suter more than ever after losing his defense partner, Matt Dumba — who leads all NHL defensemen with 12 goals — for at least a week with an undisclosed upper body injury. Suter played a season-high 29 minutes, 49 seconds in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Calgary after Dumba went down. He might eclipse 30 minutes per game with Dumba sidelined and Minnesota missing its most dangerous power-play weapon. That would be fine by Suter. “I just feel the more you’re on the ice, the more you’re into the game,” he said. “Obviously you don’t want to see guys get hurt, but if something like this happens you’ve got to be ready to step up and help out.” Suter was injured March 31 at Dallas last season when he crashed leg- first into the end boards, ending his season just as the postseason was about to start. It snapped his streak of 242 consecutive regular-season games, the third-longest in franchise history. He had four goals and 22 assists this season entering play Tuesday. Quarterbacking the power play and playing against opponents’ top forwards are his nightly assignments. Coach Bruce Boudreau knows Suter can be greedy when it comes to ice time, and he acknowledged reining him in early in the season. But the 33-year-old can be unleashed. “He’s fine now. If we give him 30 (minutes), he’s going to want 35,” Boudreau said. “He’s a special athlete. We know that. He’s one of the smartest players coming along, so he can adjust to the amount of ice time that he gets.” Suter raised eyebrows Saturday when he dropped the gloves to fight Flames forward Sam Bennett — just the third fight in Suter’s career and first since Feb. 19, 2009, against Detroit’s Marian Hossa, according to hockeyfights.com. “I do remember it,” Suter said of his previous fight nine years ago. “Wasn’t much of a fight. I guess this one wasn’t much of a fight either. But I didn’t want Dums to have to do that again. I thought they were kind of targeting him. I had to help out my buddy.” Dumba apparently was injured during his first-period fight with Matthew Tkachuk. He did not play the final two periods. Suter, who is now paired with Jared Spurgeon, said Dumba’s loss is an opportunity down the roster. “Obviously everyone has to be on top of their game now, every night, every shift,” he said. “When you lose someone of his talent, it’s tough. Hopefully it’s not too long here.” Nate Prosser has a difficult job, even if he rarely works in games. Prosser works his tail off during practice, often staying afterward for conditioning drills aimed at keeping him in shape for an opportunity — such as replacing Dumba in the lineup. The Wild defenseman, who had been a healthy scratch for 30 of Minnesota’s previous 32 games, took Greg Pateryn’s place alongside Nick Seeler on the third unit after Pateryn moved up to play with Jonas Brodin. Suter and Jared Spurgeon are the top pairing. “Obviously excitement’s the first word getting back into the lineup,” said Prosser. “I just want to play my solid game and help the team have a little bit of success tonight. We’ve three games before break that’s what we’re focused on — finish out this homestand the right way. It’s a thankless job being sidelined night after night but Prosser understands his role and the privilege of still having an NHL job. 1121745 Minnesota Wild Just 29 seconds later, Tomas Hertl connected with Pavelski on a perfect headman saucer pass as the Sharks captain got behind Brodin. Dubnyk couldn’t make the save on the breakaway. Russo: Final day before the NHL’s trade freeze, and Wild prove again Just like that, 2-zip San Jose and the game basically felt over. they need a finisher or two It definitely was over when Couture made it 3-0 less than a minute into the third period. By Michael Russo It was the 23rd time in 33 games the Wild surrendered the first goal. Dec 18, 2018 Early in the season, we made a big deal how impressive it was that the Wild kept coming back in these games. No offense to Santa Claus, but it’s never a good sign when the loudest They’ve won 11 times when chasing from a 1-0 deficit. applause at a home game comes when Santa’s bearded mug and round It has absolutely caught up with them. frame flash across the center-ice scoreboard’s HD screen in the middle of the third period. “The reality is we give up the first goal the majority of the games,” Staal said. “It’s a tall task to continually have to climb your way back. I think It was nice of St. Nick to travel all the way to St. Paul a week before any team is better when they have the lead and force the other team to Christmas, but the least he could have done was deliver the Wild a make mistakes and capitalize the other way. Unfortunately for us it’s too finisher or two. many times the other way where we’re chasing the game.” Instead, the offensively challenged franchise continued its steep slide It’s a shame because the Wild played a fast, strong first period in which down the Western Conference standings Tuesday night by being shut they got pucks behind the Sharks and barely gave up a scoring chance out for the second time in six games, this time by a 4-0 score to the to a team that’s been scoring a bunch of goals lately and giving up few. scorching-hot, very stingy San Jose Sharks, who have won five straight. But, as Boudreau said, when the Wild continually waste scoring chances After such an optimistic start to a four-game homestand with two victories and then give up a goal, they’re a fragile team. and 12 goals fired past not-exactly star netminders like Antti Niemi and James Reimer, the Wild disappointed yet again by following all that silly “Right now, the shoulders are slumping and guys are starting to feel sorry talk of a rebound with consecutive losses and one measly goal. for themselves a little bit,” Boudreau said. A 2-2 homestand isn’t devastating. What’s disconcerting if you’re a Wild fan is the Wild have become an average team at home. But it’s certainly not good enough for an alleged playoff contender that has lost seven games in regulation in the past 10 games overall. Since From after Christmas last season to Nov. 13 this season, the Wild had winning 10 of 12 games to climb to the second spot in the West, the Wild two regulation losses in 32 home games (22-2-8). Since Nov. 13, the have dropped 10 of 16 games — all in regulation — to plunge to 10th in Wild have lost six games in regulation in their past 11 home games (5-6). the conference and three points out of a playoff spot. The Wild aren’t a good enough team on the road to make the playoffs if “We’ve got two more games before Christmas,” coach Bruce Boudreau they don’t fix their home woes. said. “We’ve got to start playing 60 minutes and not 45 or not 50 and not 52. To win and to win consistently, that’s what you’ve got to do. And It’s that simple. obviously at some point pretty soon we’re going to have to put a run “I don’t think the vibe’s that different,” Staal, who hit two posts, said. “This together of five or six or seven games together.” is still a great place to play. It’s a great atmosphere when we’re going. It’s In the first of what could be many games without injured sharp-shooting difficult to get the building going when you’re down 1-0, down 2-0, down defenseman Matt Dumba, the Wild’s offensive ineptitude reared its ugly 3-0. You need one. You need one to get it energized. head once again by fumbling chance after chance after chance to ruin a “I wish I would have been able to get that one tonight because it would good first half of the game. have been I think a different type of game. We had some looks. We were Jason Zucker, who potted a career-high 33 goals last season but hasn’t buzzing pretty good early. It’s just you gotta find a way to get it in.” been nearly as lethal this year, seems to always forget he’s the goal Boudreau juggled the lines in the last half of the game in an effort to find, scorer and not the playmaker every time he leads an odd-man rush. what he said, “lightning in a bottle.” Almost nightly, Zucker leads two-on-ones and three-on-twos and they way too often end with the Wild not even getting a shot off. They found a little life at the end of a second period in which the Wild went almost 12 minutes without a shot at one juncture. That was certainly the case continually Tuesday, and Zucker acknowledged after, “We had chances, we just needed to bury them. I Again, the odd-man rush inefficiency continues to be aggravating. know I passed up a few shots that I thought I could have shot on as well.” “We practice it every day,” Boudreau said. “And when you don’t get the Eric Staal had a couple of first-period chances he wished he could have opportunities off of it and you see another team get one opportunity and back. Joel Eriksson Ek, who routinely has chances he wishes he could they make good on it, it’s frustrating.” have back, couldn’t bury two scoring chances on successive opportunities in the second period. And the final shining example of this Simply put, nothing worked on this night. not being the Wild’s night came when defenseman Jonas Brodin had a “We get chances and they look like wide-open chances, and then you’d loose puck slide to him in the left faceoff circle in the same period. turn around to the other coaches and say, ‘Did that not go in? How did Martin Jones, who played well en route to a 26-save shutout, had no idea that not go in?’” Boudreau said. “That seems to be something that’s where the puck was for several seconds. Brodin had a wide-open net to happening on a regular basis.” shoot at, and he shanked it and never got a shot off. Now, the Wild head to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins are struggling big “The puck was like rolling. It was just a bad bounce,” Brodin said. “Yeah, time. those are pretty hard shots, bad angle.” Of course, the Wild have lost four of five games there since the 2012-13 No excuses, Boudreau said. lockout, allowing 24 goals. “Just shoot it in the net. Jones had no idea where it was,” Boudreau said. The holiday trade freeze, which lasts until Dec. 27, starts Wednesday at “But again, we took a little too much time and it didn’t happen.” 11:59 p.m. The game was scoreless at that point. Maybe Santa — or GM Paul Fenton — will deliver a finisher. Soon after, it was 2-0 Sharks thanks to goals by actual finishers Logan The Wild could sure use one or two. Couture and Joe Pavelski on back-to-back shifts.

Defenseman Ryan Suter got completely lost in the defensive zone and The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 basically was in Devan Dubnyk’s grill when Couture received a perfect pass from Lukas Radil in front of the goalmouth. 1121746 Minnesota Wild when he becomes a shooter. As Spurgeon attempts to get into position to block a shot, he stretches down with his legs — Tkachuk firing the puck through — a screened shot that Devan Dubnyk never sees. Wild Walkthrough: Wild must figure out their third periods or they’re in Looking at that period as a whole, the Wild produced much more quality trouble on the offensive side, with an expected 1.02 goals at 5-on-5, according to MoneyPuck.com, versus the Flames’ expected 0.084. But as Boudreau said, it’s that singular mistake that can come back to haunt you. By Evan Sporer “Those are the games, especially at home where you sit there and go, Dec 18, 2018 ‘We have to win these games,'” Boudreau said. “And we have to. You look pretty soon and you’re going to be at the halfway point of the season, and you’re going to be looking up and saying, ‘OK, you have to do a whole lot more to succeed.'” No matter if the scoreboard reflected the level of play or if the process matched the results, the Wild found themselves in a familiar and Of course, in other instances, it’s taken more than one mistake for the undesirable position Saturday in Saint Paul. Wild to skate away from a third period with nothing to show for it. When Matthew Tkachuk scored at the 8:45 mark to break a 1-1 tie, it There was the Nov. 27 loss in which the Wild led the Coyotes 3-1 proved to be the final goal of the afternoon. The Wild would outshoot entering the third, only to concede three times in the opening 8:39 of that Calgary 8-2 the rest of the way, widening their full-game margin to 35-26, frame, one in which they were outshot 7-5 over the final 20 minutes to but it wasn’t enough to skate away with two points, or even force lose 4-3 in regulation. overtime for that matter. That loss came on the heels of nearly blowing a multiple-goal lead The Wild, who entered play that day two points behind the Vegas Golden against the Ottawa Senators (the Wild saw a 4-1 advantage in the third Knights with three games in hand, walked away empty, despite entering turn into a 4-4 game, before winning 6-4 thanks to Eric Staal’s winning the third period at home tied. goal) and a 2-1 third period lead against the Buffalo Sabres turn into a 3- 2 regulation loss. Both Sabres goals came over the final 7:02 of Plain and simple: 1-1, third period, at home … the Wild must win that regulation. game. All three of those games were at home. Yet, they rarely have this season. “Unfortunately, you go through these little things at one point in the year Given how tight the standings are in the West, these points constantly and hopefully we’ve done it,” Boudreau said after the loss against the being left on the table are beginning to pile up. Even if it doesn’t cost the Coyotes. “This has been a painful lesson for us. That’s what we’re hoping Wild in the long haul, it’s a troubling trend overall. for. I think the guys got the message.” There have been seven games this season where the Wild lost despite It’s not apples-to-apples, but if you’re looking for an overall trend, it’s either being tied or leading by at least one goal at any point in the third lapses in moments that lead to blown leads. period. Five of those came in regulation. The Wild have allowed 91 goals-against this season; 36 came in the third Out of a possible 14 points in those contests, the Wild collected two, or a period or overtime. points-percentage of .143. It also doesn’t help that the Wild can’t stretch these games into overtime for at least a loser point. The Wild have not It’s not exactly like the Wild bleed shots on goal in the third period, either. been to overtime since Oct. 20, losing 11 times in regulation since. Of the 944 shots the Wild have conceded the entire season, 256 were surrendered in the third period (an average of eight shots on-goal against And with the season 32 games old, nearly a quarter of Minnesota’s per third period). Across the first two periods of games, Minnesota has season has been spent on the wrong end of results where it was at the allowed an average of 21 shots on goal. very least on even footing in the third period. Dubnyk’s third-period save percentage currently sits at .887, which ranks The Wild currently sit in ninth place, three points back of Edmonton and 44th among 48 goaltenders in the NHL (minimum 100 shots faced). four back of Vegas (yes, with games in hand on both). But in a conference where the fourth team overall and the 11th team overall are That is a massive problem. currently separated by eight points, the Wild could be in a much more favorable spot if they had just taken care of business in the third period. Dubnyk’s combined save percentage in every other scenario sits at .923. For a team filled with veterans and a core that’s been around for quite And there are times where the goaltender certainly seems at fault: some time, it’s certainly a puzzling trend. And others where the goaltender could have used some help from his “It’s crazy. We made one mistake in the third period, and it was in,” said friends: coach Bruce Boudreau, dissecting the loss to the Flames. “I don’t know what it is. You can’t play perfect hockey, but we made one mistake.” No matter how you slice or frame it, the Wild certainly have room to grow in third periods. When the stakes are getting higher and each moment Again, bear in mind the Wild really got the better of play in that period, more important than the last, you’d expect to clamp down, minimize not only up to that point, but from there on out. But when you’re at that mistakes and tighten up in all aspects of your game. phase of the game, all it takes is one mistake to be the difference in coming away with anything in the standings. In surrendering an average of eight shots on goal in third periods, it feels like a stretch to say the Wild have struggled overall in that phase of the The mistake Boudreau is referring to began with a Joel Eriksson Ek game and have been pinned in their end of the ice. turnover behind the Flames’ net. But to Boudreau’s point – and how the data reads and what the eye test Calgary quickly transitioned. shows – it can be that singular mistake or the rough few minutes that can change the outcome of a game. The Flames carry this puck over the line, and the Wild have this pretty well defended for the most part: a hat on a hat. At the far side of the And as Boudreau said, it’s one of those things that, if it doesn’t get blueline, though, you can see Tkachuk all by himself. corrected, will leave you looking up maybe after Game 82. That isn’t a problem (yet), but as this rush continues to develop, both Eriksson Ek and Nick Seeler go to James Neal. It’s a tough ask for Eriksson Ek as a forward skating hard on the backcheck to pick up The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 someone behind him. And it’s that little wrinkle that frees up Tkachuk in the high slot. Because when Neal goes to center this pass, both Luke Kunin and Jared Spurgeon (more in the center of the frame) have to stay with their respective mark. With two forwards driving the net, defending them is more pressing. Behind the play, you can see Marcus Foligno trying to catch up as the fifth Wild skater. Foligno never makes up the distance, though, and both Kunin and Spurgeon don’t have a chance to sag off and make a play on Tkachuk 1121747 Montreal Canadiens

Victor Mete ready to show Canadiens what he learned in Laval

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: December 18, 2018

DENVER — Victor Mete was at his downtown condo in Montreal Monday night when his phone rang about 10 minutes after the Canadiens had lost 4-0 to the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre. The defenceman was getting called back up to the Canadiens after playing seven games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, posting 1-3-4 totals with a plus-2. “I got a call saying the flight leaves at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning,” Mete said after practising with the Canadiens Tuesday afternoon at a Denver University rink. “Today I was supposed to have a Christmas party there in Laval. I was lucky enough to come here. … A bit of a scramble. Late-night packing, early morning get-up, but it’s all good.” While Mete was packing his bags for Denver, Noah Juulsen was unpacking his after being sent down to the Rocket. Juulsen struggled in the four games played with the Canadiens since missing nine games with a fractured cheek bone. “He’s been there for three weeks,” Canadiens coach Claude Julien said about Mete’s stint in Laval. “I’m told he’s played well. Those are guys that we can easily move back and forth if need be (because they both don’t have to clear NHL waivers). I think Juuls since coming back has struggled, so we’re going to allow him to go there and play a lot and gain his confidence and fix his game as well. From what I’m told, it worked well for Meat and we’ll probably get a chance to see him sooner than later on this trip.” In 23 games with the Canadiens before being sent down to Laval, Mete posted 0-4-4 totals and was plus-5 while averaging 15:10 of ice time. But in his final game — a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 27 at the Bell Centre — Mete only played 12:21 and was minus-2. Mete said playing about 25 minutes a game in Laval and in all kinds of situations — including the power play and penalty-killing — really helped him. “I wasn’t too mad about it,” Mete said about getting sent down. “I know for the long-term it would probably benefit me. I was just sitting (with the Canadiens) … playing like 12 or 13 minutes. I wasn’t really playing in any roles. I was kind of just playing. So to go down and get big minutes under me, gain some extra confidence I think it will help me. “I can easily bring what I learned there,” he added. “A lot of the practices there were a lot of battling drills and that’s kind of what they wanted me to work on was battles in tight and D zone. That’s pretty much I would say 90 per cent of the practices is one-on-one battles down there. I thought it helped me out a lot and I can just add it to my game now.” Mete said he was paired mostly with Karl Alzner in Laval and added he was impressed with Rocket coach Joël Bouchard. “He’s a great coach,” Mete said. “He keeps everyone honest. No one has priority over anybody. He just wants you to work hard. If you work hard and you give it your all then he’s happy. “It’s good to be back, obviously,” Mete added. “But I thought I learned a lot in the three weeks I was there. I really worked a lot in practice on closing on guys and kind of stick on puck.” One thing Mete certainly won’t miss about playing in Laval is the traffic getting to Place Bell for games and practices. “The drive was really long,” he said. “I live downtown, so there’s a lot of traffic. You have to really plan your day ahead. Earlier mornings than usual and to the games, too. Sometimes it took me an hour and 15 minutes.” The flight from Montreal to Denver took just over four hours on Tuesday, but Mete certainly wasn’t going to complain about that.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121748 Montreal Canadiens Tomas Tatar said Tuesday’s type of practice was exactly what the Canadiens needed.

“He’s just trying to help us,” Tatar said about Julien. “In a big game like Stu Cowan: Habs coach Claude Julien sends strong message at practice that (against Boston), they were two huge points and we just weren’t ready for the game. I think our fans deserve better and we’re sorry. But it’s our fault. We have to be better and that’s why we worked hard today STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE and we want to bounce back.” Updated: December 18, 2018 We’ll see what happens against the Avalanche.

DENVER — After the Canadiens lost 4-0 to the Boston Bruins in an Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2018 absolutely brutal performance at the Bell Centre Monday night, Claude Julien said it was the type of game a coach needs to sleep on and let the emotions settle down before making decisions on what to do next. So, what was Julien thinking about then on Tuesday morning when he woke up and maybe had a cup of coffee before heading to the airport for a 10 a.m. flight to Denver, where the Canadiens play the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday night (8:30 p.m., SN, SN360, RDS, TSN 690 Radio)? “It was what you saw today,” Julien said after the Canadiens held an afternoon practice at a Denver University rink. “We just needed to have a practice where we compete a little harder and try and adjust the things that are our Achilles heel right now. It’s just been one of those things where when we don’t survive or we struggle it’s because we don’t compete. We need to bring that back to our game.” The practice started with Julien addressing his players for about 20 minutes as they huddled near one of the benches. Then assistant coach Luke Richardson spoke with the players, followed by associate coach Kirk Muller before the Canadiens were put through a fast-paced practice that lasted more than an hour and focused mainly on speed and different types of one-on-one battles. They also spent some time working on a power play that is 0-for-25 in the last eight games and ranks 30th in the NHL with a 12.0 per cent success rate. “I spoke,” Julien said about his pre-practice speech. “Then Luke and those guys explained practice. Mine was nothing about strategy.” What did Julien talk about? “We’re a team that came into this season with the intention of changing the perception of our hockey club and what’s expected of us,” he said. “And the only way we could do that was to go out and compete hard and that was the No. 1 thing we wanted to do and that’s the No. 1 thing I think people appreciated from our team. We’re a fun team to watch, we competed hard, and lately it’s just been on and off. We can’t think that all of a sudden we’re a skilled team and we can get away with just half efforts because this is too good of a league. With the parity, you’re not going to survive that way.” The Bruins moved one point ahead of the Canadiens with Monday night’s win and into the first wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens still hold the second wild-card spot, but there are reasons for concern following a 7-1 blowout loss in Minnesota last Tuesday and then the inexplicable no-show against the Bruins six nights later in which the Canadiens made a mind-boggling 24 giveaways while being outshot 35-22. The loss to the Bruins brought back memories of last season, when the Canadiens were both bad and boring, getting shut out 12 times while finishing 28th in the overall NHL standings and with the Bell Centre half- empty by the end of games with fans leaving early. The Bruins were able to manhandle the Canadiens on home ice with two of their best players — Patrice Bergeron (rib) and captain Zdeno Chara (lower body) — out of the lineup. The Avalanche will provide a much bigger challenge than the Bruins with the best forward line in the NHL, which has Nathan MacKinnon at centre between Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. The line has combined for 58 goals and 150 points in 34 games this season. If the Canadiens play like they did in Minnesota or against the Bruins, it could get very ugly. Paul Byron said the losses to the Wild and Bruins were “totally separate” incidents, but added the Canadiens need to remember what has brought them success this season. “I think every time we win or get a couple of games winning streak we start to get comfortable a little bit and I think we forget what gives us success and we start playing a bit more skill game and that’s not our identity,” Byron said. “We’re a team that we attack, we compete, we hound pucks, we make life really tough for the other team and we didn’t do that last night. So that’s what we did today in practice and that’s what we’ve got to do to have success.” 1121749 Montreal Canadiens His work on the power play was mostly ineffective, and though it’s probably indicative of a weak strategy given that the Rocket struggle mightily on the man advantage, Mete’s shot selection was rather poor. Video analysis: Victor Mete’s time in Laval should improve his confidence He also made quite a few bad decisions when it came to starting in the NHL offensive rushes. In the following play, we see him get away with a questionable pass through the neutral zone that was partially intercepted, and then a lack of defensive awareness as the play quickly ends up in his By Marc Dumont own zone for an uncontested goal against. Dec 18, 2018 Though a player with Mete’s skill set should be encouraged to drive the offence, this is an issue we’ve seen time and time again in the NHL. He tends to join the rush at inopportune times. Victor Mete’s tenure in Laval has come to a close, for now, after a seven- Here’s a perfect example of taking an unnecessary risk. Mete jumps into game stint with the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate. the play to attempt to snuff out a zone exit, but is unable to create a turnover, and the puck quickly finds itself in the Laval net. Mete joined the Rocket at an interesting time, given that at one point the blueline had over 1,100 games of NHL experience between himself, Karl You want your defenders to jump into the play whenever possible, but Alzner, Xavier Ouellet and Simon Després. Cale Fleury was also with the very important caveat that the forwards must be able to cover for reinserted in the lineup after recovering from an undisclosed injury, giving them when the opportunity arises. head coach Joel Bouchard by far his strongest defensive group of the year. Though, if Bouchard were to nitpick, the biggest issue on the club in In this particular situation, the forwards were way too deep in the terms of personnel is not a lack of quality defencemen but rather a dearth offensive zone to efficiently help out their defence. of skilled forwards. Of course, it wasn’t all bad. Here’s an example of a smart defensive play Still, the defencemen, led by Mete, improved an already strong defensive initiated by Mete in the offensive zone. There’s no gap in his coverage, team, as evidenced by perhaps the easiest shutout Etienne Marcoux will meaning he can use his skating to outwork his opponent and break up ever have, a 12-save blanking of the North Division-leading Syracuse the controlled exit. Crunch on Saturday afternoon. Overall, Mete’s time in the AHL should be considered a success, as he And even though the blueline was crowded, as promised, Mete did see a logged a lot of ice time and focused on fixing his play in his own zone. If significant uptick in ice time compared to what he had received in the he can keep up his tight coverage and not allow too much gap at the NHL. On most nights he played over 20 minutes, including a heavy dose NHL level, he should earn more confidence from his head coach. of shifts on the power play. For the most part, he played on the left side with Brett Lernout, though he did play two games to the right of Alzner. And though he certainly can improve his decision making, he’ll need more time to do so. At 20 years old, Mete has been thrust into The goal for Mete during his time with the Rocket was to work on his professional hockey in an unusual baptism by fire, caused by a lack of defensive zone coverage, as well as gaining confidence in case Claude quality options on the Canadiens’ left side of the defence last season. Julien decided to give him another opportunity in the Canadiens top four. Ideally, Mete would have spent the 2017-18 season in the AHL, working on developing his game at a reasonable pace for a 19-year-old. But NHL As is the case with most young players, Mete showed the good and bad rules prevented him from taking that path; he was too good for the OHL, side of his play while in Laval. We’ll get into the latter further down in the but not quite ready for top-four NHL action. article. To start off, we’ll explore what went right. Now, it’s all about gaining experience at the NHL level, in a crucial role. This is an area of Mete’s game that didn’t need much work, though he did need more opportunities to gain confidence in his offensive No one should reasonably expect that seven games in the AHL are capabilities, especially since he’s still searching for his first NHL goal. remotely close to enough to fix what needs fixing with a 20-year-old player. But they certainly helped. From the get-go, it was clear Mete’s value in the offensive zone was beyond normal AHL defenceman levels. He scored a goal and added In other words, he’s coming back a more confident Victor Mete, but he’s three assists in his seven games. His vision and passing were excellent. still Victor Mete. In the following clips, Mete will be wearing jersey No. 8.

His assist on Nikita Jevpalovs highlight-reel goal showcased his offensive instinct, and even though he put a little too much weight behind his The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 pitching wedge, he clearly identified a scoring opportunity while maintaining proper defensive coverage in his own zone. And finally, there was his first professional goal, which unfolded exactly how many would have predicted: Mete saw an opportunity to jump into the play, exploited open ice, avoided the defensive coverage, retrieved the puck and scored into a wide-open net. Gap control One of my consistent criticisms of Mete’s game is his gap control, or lack thereof. He tends to give opponents way too much space to either enter the offensive zone with control of the puck or find open space to use for high-danger scoring chances. This is the area of his game that he improved the most during his time in Laval. He did a great job closing on forwards, not allowing them much time to make decisions. He also supported his defensive partners quite well when the situation called for it. He improved his ability to hold the blueline, which is something he’s been prone to give away easily while playing in the NHL. If opponents did manage to gain the zone with control of the puck, Mete took advantage of his elite skating and strong stickwork to prevent the play from resulting in a high-danger chance against. While Mete clearly worked hard on his play in the defensive zone, which is exactly what Julien instructed him to do while he was in Laval, he did make his share of mistakes when it came to decision making. 1121750 Montreal Canadiens certain he’ll never forget this game when he later added his first NHL goal), who passed the puck to Backes who quickly dropped it to an uncovered Joakim Nordstrom, in the slot (as Chaput watched helplessly) Melnick’s GBU: The Canadiens say goodbye to 2018 by partying like it and an early 1-0 Boston lead. On the next shift Tomas Tatar had the was 2017 puck in the neutral zone before lazily dropping a back pass to nobody and the Bruins took control. Early in the second period, Phillip Danault carried the puck over the Boston line with Tatar to his left, uncovered and streaking to the net. Danault mistimed the pass and the puck slid By Mitch Melnick harmlessly past the blade of Tatar’s outstretched stick. Danault, coming off a strong night against Ottawa, was especially horrid in all three zones. Dec 18, 2018 Maybe he was lost without his usual assignment against Boston – checking his idol Bergeron. (And please. The next observer who compares Danault to Bergeron in any way, shape or form, should give up Did the Canadiens hold a players-only Christmas party Sunday night and watching hockey until their respective careers are done.) Brendan forget to drink plenty of water? Gallagher already called himself out. But his game was puzzling. Lining up against Brad Marchand should bring out the best in him, not the worst. I get that there are going to be nights when a team is flat. But really, last I know they became buddies during the gold medal win by Team Canada home game of the year against your most storied rival that you lead by at the 2016 World Hockey Championship, but it’s time to rekindle the one point in the standings, and you sleepwalk through 60 minutes? Like, hate. David Schlemko was no better than Jordie Benn. Not sure if seriously, WTF was that? Schlemko’s poor night led directly to the recall of Victor Mete from Laval. It’s as if they all decided – standings be damned – to preserve their But the Habs did the right thing by sending Noah Juulsen down. He’s energy and just defer to the better team once the puck was dropped and been a shell of the player we saw before he took a puck to the face. He head out west, where they will be sucking plenty of that thin air in Denver needs to play more productive minutes and regain some of his swagger, on Wednesday night. as difficult as that might be while wearing a full mask. In the opening minute of the third period Shea Weber and Brett Kulak were headed to Yes, the Bruins are a better team. Especially when Patrice Bergeron and the bench on a terrible change, Kulak without his stick, when Gallagher Zdeno Chara are healthy. But the Habs got them while they’re still turned the puck over in the neutral zone and a mad dash off the bench by banged up and after they had played and lost an emotional game to Petry resulted in a human version of the 7-10 bowling split, as Petry’s Buffalo the night before. desperation dive to fend off a 3-on-0 break took out Tatar and left David Krejci and Marchand alone at either side of Price. Charlie McAvoy Two obvious conclusions here: The Bruins are a much more difficult smartly fed Krejci who could have counted to 10 while putting the puck opponent than the Ottawa team the Habs had just run over in the third upstairs and the Bruins took a stranglehold on the game. The only period on Saturday. And the Canadiens are a much easier opponent than question remaining, much like what happened to the Habs in the Sabres. Minneapolis, was how many more goals Boston would score. As it turned Boston is a well-coached team and planned a perfect road game against out, on a Boston power play, after Chaput coughed up the puck, it was a normally quick transition team. But the Habs need to be able to adjust David Pastrnak’s turn with Marchand to be left alone in front of Price. when their opponent cuts off the middle of the ice, as the Bruins expertly Pastrnak was in tight so he made a neat backhand pass to Marchand did. It’s one thing to muck up execution from the very first shift of the who had an empty net to shoot at while Schlemko, arriving late, took out game. It happens. Like it recently did in Minneapolis. But it’s something Pastrnak who fell into Price. (What is Schlemko doing on the penalty kill else entirely when you’re in your own building and it’s combined with the anyway? That’s not why they got him.) It was a perfect ending to a energy level and commitment of an inmate on death row. perfectly awful night for almost everybody in red. But at least they owned up to it. THE UGLY THE GOOD · Jonathan Drouin and Max Domi: Tough to single anybody out but Montreal’s most talented forwards were MIA. They weren’t much better · Quotes: Even well before the post-game media sessions, Shea Weber against Ottawa. But this was a total no-show of troubling proportion. I nailed it during a first intermission chat with TSN’s John Lu when he said don’t think it’s possible to spook a Domi but I can’t recall an earlier night “We’re too slow right now. They’re outplaying us all over the ice.” Forty- that featured such little drive and passion from him. In Drouin’s case, we five minutes later it was Brendan Gallagher’s turn, “It’s embarrassing. It’s did see it earlier in the season. It’s not completely out of his system. It’s tough for me to . . . comment on my teammates when I personally played like a bad shift early in the game sent them into the Twilight Zone. the way I did. I might have played my worst game in the NHL.” Jeff Petry: “We weren’t ready to play . . . they wanted it more.” Carey Price: “I think · Power Play: And so it goes. Now 0-25. A quick Google search for everybody in this locker room knows that was a piss-poor effort.” Claude “historically bad power plays” led me to an image of Julien “I just explained (in French). I have no explanation.” And back to holding a hockey stick. But that’s an issue for Mr. Google. Are the Habs Weber, after the game, “There’s no reason in a game of that approaching some kind of record for futility? It’s getting there. This is magnitude…why we didn’t show up tonight.” unconfirmed but the 2013-14 New York Rangers, who went 36 consecutive power plays without scoring, might be the current record- · Carey Price: Forget the fact that he was denied a milestone win on holders. You remember that team, don’t you? Hello there, Chris Kreider. home ice. “He’ll get his 300th win”, said Weber. “It’s more about the team The Rangers went 10 straight games without a power play goal. winning games here.” And then he added, “He held us in there tonight. Montreal’s last power play that clicked was in the third period of a win There’s no excuse (for what happened).” No kidding. One guy came to over, wait for it, the Rangers (when Tomas Tatar scored). That was on play. Visibly angry (“I don’t like losing.”) after the game, Price had to December 1, or 8 games ago. And while Julien’s team had a rare awful watch turnover after turnover in front of him like an 8-year-old on night at equal strength, a decent power play might have kept them in it. Christmas morning after unwrapping their first Easy Bake Oven. He was There were multiple opportunities to tie this game, from the moment often defenseless while his teammates exhibited way too much Marchand took an offensive zone high sticking penalty shortly after the tenseness in a performance that quickly turned senseless. And don’t Bruins had opened the scoring, through consecutive over the glass delay think for a second that the presence of the guy in front of the other net of game calls to Noel Acciari and Pastrnak. At one point, Petry had the didn’t add insult to injury. Price deserved better. “We’re going to have to puck on stick at the Boston blue line and for some reason he decided to park that one real quick and come out with a better effort against just loft it in the air to – what, see if Halak was still awake? After the Colorado.” And then he entered the real world. Bruins goaltender easily caught the puck for a faceoff, Petry was quickly summoned to the bench. Julien’s patience has clearly run out. After the · Jaroslav Halak: Back on top of the Montreal seesaw after four straight game, when asked (again) about the continuing issues, he said his losses to his former team. Only Kenny Agostino managed to beat him in players have to “decide whether they want to just pass or (do) they want the second period when the Habs winger found himself alone in front of to score.” He then added, “They’re your best players . . . they gotta start the Boston net and got the puck around Halak’s left pad, only to watch it performing and start scoring goals.” The return of Shea Weber was slide into the goalpost. It was beyond a satisfying shutout in his first supposed to help solve their woes. But instead, it’s just gotten worse. appearance against the Habs in a Bruins Jersey. But it’s hard to believe Price, perhaps also fed up by now watching this nightly misadventure he’s had an easier game this season. Or, perhaps, ever. unfold from 200 feet away, and on the receiving end of more bumps and THE BAD collisions than a popular amusement ride, said, in an almost exasperated manner, “just get the puck towards the net and just (shaking his head) · Almost everybody: Where to start? Michael Chaput, who impressively JAM it in.” Ok, so make it much more difficult on the opposing net minder. won a board battle in his own zone with David Backes before inexplicably Besides, Weber might have a tougher assignment than trying to sending the puck into traffic in the middle of the ice before crossing his straighten out the power play with a slap shot or two. Montreal can only own blue line. An early Christmas gift to rookie Colby Cave (who made hope that their final home game of 2018 is not some kind of foreshadowing of what we’ll see more of in 2019. As his team embarks on a six game road trip, it’s Weber’s first real test as captain.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121751 Montreal Canadiens 75 percent of Price’s goals against were scored on high-danger shots, and Price’s save percentage on those shots was only 69.1 percent, compared to the league average of 74.5 percent. Performing more than 5 The deeper numbers that help explain Carey Price’s numbers percent below league average on the most difficult shots is what’s sinking Price’s numbers, and what separates him from the upper tiers of goaltending quality this season. By Paul Campbell Price’s trouble with high-difficulty shots is certainly being intensified by the way the defence plays in front of him. One of the highest-percentage Dec 18, 2018 shot types comes following a slotline or “royal road” pass, one that crosses an imaginary line extending from the middle of the net to the top

of the circles. The last time we checked in on Carey Price’s numbers, they were, shall Through Nov. 30, Montreal had allowed the third most slotline passes of we say, not ideal. any team in the league, remarkable considering the team’s otherwise By mid-November, both his basic and advanced statistics pointed to the average defensive numbers. This ups the difficulty of the high-danger same conclusion: Price was performing poorly, and there was no real shots Price faces, and accounts in part for his low save percentage on evidence his defence was to blame. Carrying forward to November 30th, those shots. Again, however, Price is not helping his own cause here: things hadn’t improved. According to moneypuck.com (with thanks to whereas the league average save percentage on slotline passes is 69.2 Sean Tierney @ChartingHockey for retrieving the historical data), Price percent, Price has only managed to stop 65.8 percent of the ones he’s had allowed 12 more goals than should have been expected given the faced. quality of the shots against him. That’s 0.68 goals per game above Again, Monday night’s game showed these trends continuing: expectation, a number that would be disappointing for any goaltender, let alone the most highly paid goaltender in the NHL. This is a deadly slotline pass, and the shooter has so much time he’s able to settle the puck and aim before picking his spot. This is a After the last article was published, at least two readers pointed out a key remarkably difficult stop for any goaltender, but Price’s execution doesn’t feature that the various expected goals models couldn’t account for, one help him as he jams his skate on the far post and tips forward, also losing that might make the quality of the shots Price was facing much higher: his stick, making a very hard save even more difficult. A team that allows pre-shot movement. The NHL’s play-by-play and shot location records, a high number of dangerous slotline passes in front of a goaltender who the data sources that underpin most advanced statistical work, don’t is below average at stopping them is a recipe for failure. note, for instance, if a puck was passed before a shot, nor how far, nor whether the pass was east-west (lateral) or north-south. As any So, what does it all mean? When pre-shot movement is factored into the goaltender will tell you, a clear shot from the face-off dot when you’re set evaluation, Montreal’s defence has to shoulder more blame for their is far, far easier to stop than a shot from the same location preceded by a goals against than we’d previously assumed, and Price gets saddled with long, hard lateral pass from the other side of the ice. somewhat less blame. Given the difficultly of the environment he plays in, Price is meeting the expectations of an average goaltender. He’s been It certainly looked to a lot of Canadiens fans and media that the Habs well below average at stopping the most difficult shots, however, and were allowing many high-quality chances, missing assignments and allows goals on shots coming from slotline passes at a troubling rate, leaving vital cross-ice seams open. Monday night’s game against the especially given that his team allows them in high volume relative to the Boston Bruins featured some excellent, horrifying examples: rest of the league. It looked like Price was being exposed to more difficult situations than The actual expectations on Price, of course, are stratospherically higher many other goaltenders, but without some statistical evidence, it would than the statistical average. By any measure, he has a long way left to be impossible to say with any certainly, bias being what it is. climb to satisfy the demands his previous success, reputation, and salary Fortunately, there is at least one group keeping track of pre-shot all carry with them. movement, and their evaluation of Price’s performance is interestingly different from the others. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 Clear Sight Analytics (CSA), headed by CEO Steven Valiquette, a broadcast analyst for MSG and former NHL goaltender, gathers vital information the NHL does not. I recommend reading Arthur Staple’s Q&A with Valiquette for a thorough overview of the on-ice situations the company records. To name a few of the most important, pass types and distances, screen types, own-player defections, and the path of the puck- carrier are all tracked leading up to each shot. The result? A thorough and robust goaltender evaluation model that bases its expectations on the results of 250 000 shots, using previous results to determine how likely a given shot is to go in. An unscreened wrister from the blue line? Less than a 1 percent chance of scoring. A clear breakaway? About a 30 percent chance. A screened deflection? 32 percent. Looking at Price’s performance through Nov. 30 using all-situations CSA data, we can see that his 88.2 save percentage lags behind the league average of 89.6 percent. The league average save percentage is so much lower than the NHL’s official average of 90.7 because CSA removes “phantom shots” that were recorded by the league, but which actually never made it to the goal, as well as “dump-in” type shots that happen to roll in on goal, but which pose a negligible scoring threat. Where the data becomes more interesting is in Price’s expected goals totals. Whereas other models had (and still have) Price significantly underperforming expectations, CSA has him performing a touch over his expected save percentage of 87.9. Scoring 0.3 percent better than you’d expect from a league-average goaltender certainly doesn’t meet Price’s lofty expectations, but it does at least put him in the CSA category of “Capable Starter,” making the saves he should, but nothing more. A close historic comparable was Corey Crawford in the 2015 season; Crawford won a Stanley Cup by precisely meeting, not exceeding, statistical expectations. His team was strong enough that this was all they needed. Price’s expected save percentage of 87.9 was the 23rd lowest in the league on Nov. 30, meaning that 22 other starters are playing in easier environments than he is. Price faces a higher percentage of high-danger shots than average, 27.9 percent vs 26.8 percent. The 1.1 percent difference doesn’t seem like much, but in this case, it makes a difference: 1121752 Nashville Predators

Tuesday's recap: Blackhawks 2, Predators 1

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 10:09 p.m. CT Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 1:39 a.m. CT Dec. 19, 2018

CHICAGO - The Predators won eight straight away from home to start the season, a franchise record. They've lost eight straight on the road since, the latest by a 2-1 count to the Blackhawks on Tuesday at the United Center. In the process of falling to 0-6-2 in their last eight away games, the Predators' three-game winning streak was halted. And Colton Sissons was helped to the dressing room late during the third period after he appeared to roll his right ankle after he was hit along the boards by Duncan Keith. Kevin Fiala's sixth goal of the season was recorded with 32.2 seconds left in the first and put the Predators ahead 1-0. But Gustav Forsling banked a shot off the post and past Pekka Rinne with 4:36 left in the second to tie it 1-all. Erik Gustafsson's power-play goal 17 seconds after Rocco Grimaldi was sentenced to two minutes for tripping gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead. Blackhawks goalie Cam Ward made 30 saves, while Rinne made 34 stops. The Predators fell to 22-11-2. Bignumber: 23. Points in the last 25 games going into Tuesday by Predators defenseman Roman Josi, who had five goals and 18 assists during that span. Notable: P.K. Subban, who skated for the second straight day Tuesday, has missed the last 17 games with an upper-body injury. Viktor Arvidsson, who hasn't played since Nov. 10, also skated for the second day in a row. Predators GM David Poile talked injuries over the weekend. Quotable: "No. We need to be better. If we start accepting mediocre performances than we’re not holding ourselves to a high enough standard." - coach Peter Laviolette on whether his team could take any positives from its loss to Ottawa on Sunday.

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As Subban, Arvidsson inch closer to return, Preds GM Poile says team has to 'weather storm'

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 7:13 p.m. CT Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 10:31 p.m. CT Dec. 18, 2018

CHICAGO - Because of their fair - or unfair - share of injuries this season, the Predators have tried pushing a variety of buttons. A button the team hasn't touched, though, is the one marked "panic." Despite not having top-line winger Viktor Arvidsson since Nov. 10, when he broke his thumb. Despite not having All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban since Nov. 13, when he left with an upper-body injury. Despite not having top-scorer and top-line winger Filip Forsberg since Nov. 29 because of a hand injury. General manager David Poile acknowledged that extended absences can have a profound impact on a season. But given the timing of the injuries and the best start in franchise history, trying to "weather the storm" with pieces already in place, Poile said, was the Predators' best option. "It's on an individual basis. It depends who is hurt," Poile said. "It's way harder to replace a first-line player - pick a name that’s out - versus a fourth-line player. It depends how good your team is, how much depth you have, where are you in the season, how close are you to the trading deadline." Arvidsson and Subban both skated Tuesday morning at the United Center, a day after participating in the morning skate with the team in Ottawa. Poile said Saturday he didn't think it would be long before Subban came back. Arvidsson, who was supposed to be out six to eight weeks, will reach the six-week mark Saturday. Forsberg could return around the new year. "We got off to a terrific start," Poile said. "We've got to somehow weather the storm. It also is an opportune time to see what we have. We said we have depth." Poile pointed to defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who was added during the offseason for emergencies such as this. Same with Ryan Hartman, who signed a one-year deal during the summer to prove himself. He's getting that opportunity on the top line of late. Eeli Tolvanen was called up for help and some seasoning. In other words, the Predators haven't lost much ground with their men down. The Predators are 9-8-2 in their last 19 games without Arvidsson; 8-8-1 minus Subban; and 5-3-1 without Forsberg. That's a combined 24 goals and 23 assists missing on the offensive end. They were tied for the second-best record in the league going into Tuesday's game against the Blackhawks, which they lost 2-1. Predators captain Roman Josi said he expects the transition once players such as Subban return to be much easier than when they went down. "That won’t take long at all," Josi said. "(Subban's) been here for quite a bit now. He knows everybody well; we know him really well. He’s going to come back and be smooth."

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Ryan Hartman 'showing his stuff' for Predators

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 6:00 a.m. CT Dec. 18, 2018

The record books ultimately rejected Ryan Hartman's assist against the Canucks on Thursday. Instead, the play will be preserved in GIFs and memes and videos. And Hartman's memory. The Predators forward's nifty no-look pass, which defenseman Roman Josi deposited into the net, briefly put his team ahead by three goals in the second period. But the score – and the pass – were erased from the record books upon video review. Along with what would have been Hartman's first assist since Nov. 1. "It hurts to see that one not go your way, but we still got the two points," Hartman said of the eventual 4-3 overtime victory. "You have to be happy about that." The Predators were, especially after going on to finish 3-0 on their homestand before hitting the road for four games in six days leading into the Christmas break, including a familiar stop for Hartman on Tuesday in Chicago (7:30 p.m., NBC SN). The Predators also are happy about Hartman's contributions, especially in light of a rash of injuries that have left them without some of their top players – Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, P.K. Subban. Their absences have elevated Hartman to the top line with Ryan Johansen and Kevin Fiala, who is filling in for the aching Filip Forsberg. Hartman's nine goals are tied with Craig Smith for the team lead among players not on injured reserve. He has the attention of coach Peter Laviolette, who said Hartman plays "on the edge" but with discipline. "He’s really showing his stuff right now," Laviolette said. "It’s an opportunity that’s been given based on injury. With opportunity you have to earn the next game, the next shift. Right now he’s (on the) power play, penalty kill and he’s playing big minutes on the line with Johansen and Fiala. He’s done a really good job." Hartman played a season-high 20:27 in Saturday's shootout victory against the Devils. Coming soon? According to the Predators' Twitter account, Arvidsson (broken thumb) and Subban (upper body) both were on the ice Monday for the morning skate in Ottawa. Predators general manager David Poile told the Tennessean on Saturday that Subban could return soon from the injury that had kept him out of 15 straight games going into Monday's game at Ottawa. "I don’t think it’s going to be that long. But he’s not playing tomorrow," Poile said. Arvidsson and Forsberg are expected to return around the first of the year or even before then. In the meantime, the Predators will try to make better on their recent 0-5- 1 stretch on the road. "The schedule is what it is," Laviolette said. "We can't call and change it. The schedule has been good to us. We know we have four road games. Our guy are usually pretty focused. They understand there’s a holiday and they understand there’s work to do."

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New Jersey Devils vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: LIVE score updates and chat (12/18/18)

Updated December 18, 2018 at 7:03 PM; Posted December 18, 2018 at 7:00 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected] NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, Brian Boyle, Keith Kinkaid and the New Jersey Devils will host Auston Matthews, John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Prudential Center in Newark. Hall will return to the lineup after missing the past two games with lower body soreness. Devils' lines vs. Leafs

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3 takeaways from NJ Devils' 'unacceptable' loss to Maple Leafs

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 11:33 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

NEWARK — John Hynes didn’t have much to say after the Devils’ 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night but he had one word that effectively summed up his impressions of the game: Unacceptable. Coming off two hard-fought games against Vegas and Nashville, Hynes clearly expected his team to look different than they did Tuesday night at Prudential Center. But a somewhat listless performance had the coach upset with the outcome and promising better for Thursday night against the Blue Jackets. “Tonight was unacceptable,” Hynes said. “We’ve got to review it tomorrow, we’ve got to talk about some things, we’ve got to work on some things and we’ve got to make sure that we are, for sure, a better team against Columbus.” Here are three takeaways from the loss. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save on New Jersey Devils left wing Brett Seney (43) during the second period at Prudential Center. The opening goal scored by former Islander John Tavares was a direct result of a turnover. Mistakes happen but this one could have possibly been prevented if Nico Hischier had just shot the puck on a developing 2- on-1 instead of passing off to Sami Vatanen. The puck was intercepted and Tavares capitalized after a slick passing sequence by Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri. Hynes often preaches about having a “shot-first mentality.” If Hischier had just shot the puck it may have led to offensive generation in the form of a rebound or a tip. The Devils don’t have the same offensive firepower as the Maple Leafs so they need to be advantageous when using their speed in situations like the one Hischier found himself in. “Just use his speed and be more direct and be more assertive,” Hynes said. “He’s a real good player and he’s got great speed. Sometimes in those situations, you’d like to see a different decision made.” Hischier did later score, but it was too little, too late. Puck mismanagement Smart puck management helped New Jersey rally in the two games prior to the one Tuesday but it was the mismanagement of the puck that gave the Leafs an advantage. Devils’ captain and top-pairing defenseman Andy Greene said he felt like he was going back to get the puck all night with the Devils unable to generate any sustained offensive pressure. “If I have to do that every single shift, every single game, at the end you’re just kind of like, ‘Man, why am I still going back here? Can we force something else or do something better?’” Greene said. The Devils, a speedy team with skilled puck movers, don’t like to dump the puck into the zone but they know it’s necessary at times. But despite the necessity, they’ve still been hesitant to do it. Using Mackenzie Blackwood allowed goalie Keith Kinkaid, who will have to play at least two more games this week, to get a reprieve and it also gave the Devils something to work with when it comes to their rookie goaltender. It was Blackwood’s NHL debut so he was able to see the speed of the game and get some video to learn from. “It was an opportunity for Blackwood to get in the net, get his first action, get some saves and give us something to work with,” Hynes said. “Gets us some video with him so we’ll see if we can get something going.” Prudential Center unveiled their new Lofts section Tuesday. The open- concept suites include two bars and multiple boxes with features like couches, replay monitors and the ability to turn a box into a private suite are already selling out throughout the Devils’ season and the Prudential Center concert season. The section is now open for all Prudential Center events.

Bergen Record LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121757 New Jersey Devils Notes This was the second time this season the Devils gave up six or more goals to Toronto. … Brian Boyle celebrated his 34th birthday with the Maple Leafs steamroll Devils in another ugly loss helper on Vatanen’s goal. … The Devils allowed three goals in the third period for the second straight game, doing so for the second straight time at home. According to NHL Stats, the last time the Devils allowed three Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer goals in the first period in two consecutive home games was December 19, 1986, against Washington and December 26 of the same year Published 9:42 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 10:32 p.m. ET Dec. 18, against the Rangers. … Tavares had two points to register his fourth 2018 career multipoint game against New Jersey. … The Devils scratched Drew Stafford, Egor Yakovlev and Steven Santini.

NEWARK -- The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs were at Prudential Center, the Devils were skating off the ice as a playoff team. Bergen Record LOADED: 12.19.2018 How times have changed. There were bad bounces and bad breaks for the Devils, but ultimately they dug themselves into a hole too deep against one of the best teams in the league in a 7-2 loss. Mackenzie Blackwood made his NHL debut, taking over for Keith Kinkaid at the start of the third period but he didn't exactly have a clean slate to work with. The Devils were already down 5-1 when Blackwood took over after Morgan Reilly scored with one second left in the second period. He was left untouched at the top of the circle and beat Kinkaid with a one- timer. Blackwood stopped eight of 10 shots in the third period, including a breakaway by Zach Hyman. "Gets you into the flow of play," Blackwood said. "Whenever you get into a game and you're thrown in you start to make a couple saves it gets you into the rhythm." Kinkaid made just 16 saves over 40 minutes. "I thought Keith had had enough at that point," coach John Hynes said. Kinkaid has been shouldering a hefty load for the Devils all season with Cory Schneider struggling and now injured and the skaters in front of him didn’t make his job any easier in the first period. The Leafs scored twice in the first eight minutes with former Islanders’ forward John Tavares opening the scoring and the Devils lost a challenge on the second goal. Auston Matthews finished off a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-0 at 7:58, but the Devils challenged the call saying the Toronto center interfered with Kinkaid by shoving Damon Severson into him. But the NHL Situation Room determined, “Matthews’ contact with Severson did not by itself impact Kinkaid's ability to make the save,” and the call on the ice stood. New Jersey fell behind 3-0 at 13:38 in the first after Patrick Marleau slipped a rebound from a shot by Nazem Kadri under the pad of Kinkaid. It was almost too easy for Marleau, who was right on the doorstep. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save on New Jersey Devils left wing Brett Seney (43) during the second period at Prudential Center. Sami Vatanen cut the lead to 3-1 with 16 seconds left in the first when he rocketed a point shot past goalie Frederik Andersen, his former Anaheim Ducks teammate. But Mitch Marner scored 1:45 into the second period and the Devils never recovered. Nico Hischier made it 5-2 with 5:13 left but, Tyler Ennis scored twice to push the game well out of reach. After rallying to tie their last two games (an overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 14 and a shootout loss in Nashville against the Predators the following night) the Devils were sure they would be able to do the same against the Leafs. But they're own bad puck decisions led to their undoing. "We knew that if we could get the puck back we'd have some momentum going," captain Andy Greene said. "But it seemed like every time we had a good shift or two, all of the sudden we'd have a breakdown and we'd let the momentum get away." It was yet another ugly loss that followed a streak of two good games for New Jersey, highlighting their inability to string together consecutive wins. “It’s something that’s been kind of plaguing us all year and we’ve got to find a way to fix it,” Greene said. “You can’t do that in this league. You can’t sit there and take one or two steps forward and then three backward, especially with the position we’re in. It would be one thing if we had banked a lot of equity and had a lot of points early but we didn’t, so now we’re trailing and every point is critical.” 1121758 New Jersey Devils

What NJ Devils' John Quenneville needs to prove in NHL

Abbey Mastracco, North Jersey Record Published 1:03 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 6:52 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

NEWARK — While Devils fans have been familiar with John Quenneville for a few years now, the rest of hockey caught up with New Jersey in September, when the burgeoning forward was featured heavily on NHL Network’s version of “Hard Knocks” called “Behind the Glass: Training Camp with the New Jersey Devils.” The gregarious and confident Quenneville was featured early and often, mic’d up on the ice during the early days of training camp and touted as the Devils’ next big thing. Quenneville made the team out of camp, making the Devils, and NHL Network to a lesser extent, look smart. But it wasn’t Quenneville’s first rodeo and it wouldn’t be his last. Yet again, he failed to stick with the big club and was sent back to Binghamton of the American Hockey League for some seasoning, this time with the notion that he was closer than ever to becoming a full-time NHL player. Quenneville produced at a rate of a point per game during 19 games in Binghamton, more than earning this most recent call-up. He played so well in his first game back from the minor leagues the Devils promoted him to the top power play unit, giving him a chance to flex his muscle and show his best assets. “I’ve got a good shot, I can score from different angles and make plays,” Quenneville said. “I try to manipulate the penalty kill and make the right play. I like to capitalize and be a threat.” The Devils want him to do that as well, but the problem is they may not have room for him on the power play, especially with Taylor Hall returning after a two-game absence. “Sometimes it’s tough to find room for guys to get on the power play,” coach John Hynes said. “He’s a strong power play player, he understands it. But we’ve got a lot of those guys so he may or may not get some opportunity there.” The puck is shown by the stick of John Quenneville, of the Devils, during the third period. Thursday, October 11, 2018 Now, back up with the Devils again, he needs to prove that he’s more than just a power-play specialist. He needs to prove that he can use all of his tools to play a two-game at any strength. Quenneville can’t be a “passenger,” to steal a term from Hynes. “He’s one of those guys we needed to see that consistently, like having an affect on the game positively whether or not he’s on the power play,” Hynes said. “I think he’s done that the last two games.” The Binghamton version of Quenneville showed that he’s capable of producing at any strength. Only two of his nine goals came with the man- advantage. “I’ve been trying to dominate offensively,” Quenneville said. “I’m trying to have the puck on my stick and make plays.” Though it’s improved in recent games, the power play isn’t exactly winning any games for New Jersey right now. So maybe Quenneville could be a boost. But until they find room for him, he has to show that he can produce at even strength. “We did like his game, I thought he had some real quality chances 5-on-5 and when he was on the power play he made good decisions and he was responsible defensively,” Hynes said. “So it’s nice to see his game continue to grow.” The Devils still do not have a firm timeline for Cory Schneider (strained abdominal). Stefan Noesen remains on injured reserve with an illness, though he has practiced in full with the Devils this week.

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How they line up: Taylor Hall takes part in NJ Devils' morning skate

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 12:03 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 | Updated 12:11 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018

NEWARK -- Good morning from Newark, where the MVP is skating once again. After missing the Devils’ last two games with a lower-body injury, Taylor Hall will return Tuesday night when New Jersey hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs at Prudential Center, coach John Hynes confirmed. Hall practiced with the team in full on Monday and took line rushes with the team in an attempt to “test” the injury on Tuesday and he appears to have passed the test with flying colors. Recent American Hockey League call-up Mackenzie Blackwood will serve as Keith Kinkaid’s backup. Hynes said they haven’t made a decision for the back-to-back games Thursday and Friday but it sounds like the team plans to ride Kinkaid for as long as they can, though Hynes said they wouldn’t “hesitate” to use Blackwood. William Nylander has returned since the Devils last saw the Leafs, during Hall of Fame Weekend in early November. Nylander’s dynamic skating and playmaking is a game-changer for a team already better than most in the Eastern Conference.

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Devils overwhelmed by John Tavares and the Maple Leafs

Staff Report By Associated Press December 18, 2018 | 9:58pm | Updated

The Leafs put on a show for the Devils, and ex-Islanders captain John Tavares provided the opening act. In a 7-2 rout of the hosts Tuesday night at Prudential Center, Tavares got the scoring started 6:01 into the first period. He added an assist in the second period and seemed right at home in his first game back in the New York City area since leaving the Islanders to sign with his hometown team in the offseason. “I think tonight we came out ready to play,” said Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who also scored a goal. “We know they’ve got a good team over there … so we knew coming in here was going to be a hard match and I think we came in, got the puck behind them which is what we needed to, and that’s why we were successful.” It wasn’t much of a game after Tavares, Auston Matthews and Patrick Marleau scored in the opening 13:38. Nazem Kadri matched his career high with three assists, Marner and Morgan Rielly added second-period goals and Tyler Ennis had two in the closing minutes as Toronto embarrassed the Devils for the second time this season. The win was their seventh in 11 games (7-2-2). Sami Vatanen and Nico Hischier scored for the struggling Devils, who are 3-6-6 in their last 15 games. Keith Kinkaid gave up five goals on 21 shots before being lifted with New Jersey down 5-1 after 40 minutes. “Our group in here, we can’t take nights off. Tonight was not our best,” Devils forward Taylor Hall said. “When we don’t play our best, unfortunately right now, we’re not going to get wins.”

New York Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121761 New Jersey Devils One of Lamoriello’s stipulations when he was in charge of the club was that the broadcasters did not fly on the team’s chartered plane. With that restriction now lifted, traveling is a much easier and less stressful part of Beyond the broadcast: A wild weekend on the road with Devils radio the job, other than the times when they need to hustle to reach the bus. icons Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch On this day, the Friday of the back-to-back, Loughlin wakes up at 7:45 a.m. and leaves home for The Rock two hours later. His drive to the arena sometimes includes a stop at Dunkin Donuts, depending on time By Corey Masisak and traffic. The Devils’ morning skate starts at 10:30 and afterwards both Loughlin and Resch are in the locker room chatting with players and Dec 18, 2018 collecting intel for the night’s game against the Golden Knights. Resch sits down with Pavel Zacha and then Nico Hischier. Loughlin interviews Marcus Johansson and joins the Cory Schneider scrum, NASHVILLE, Tenn. — “Good show. We’ve got 12 minutes to get to the because the goaltender is making his first home start of the season and bus.” that’s going to be a prominent storyline. “Oh boy, that’s all?” After the skate is over, Loughlin shoots a pregame video. Typically for Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch finish their postgame show Saturday home games, he goes home for a few hours to complete his preparation. night, after the Devils lost in a shootout to the Nashville Predators at On this day, he stays and works in the media room at Prudential Center. Bridgestone Arena and, after all the preparation to put together two He’s got a to-do list: hockey broadcasts in about 28 hours, the time left to catch the team bus Loughlin then has to make a quick adjustment because Vegas becomes the most important number of the moment. announces at 1:20 p.m. — well after the morning skate and coach Loughlin and Resch sign off from New Jersey’s digital radio broadcast at Gerrard Gallant’s media scrum — that Max Pacioretty is not going to play 10:33 p.m. and, after a couple of quick thank yous to the two local men in the game that night. who helped engineer the show, it’s time to navigate the 300 levels of the Every broadcaster has game charts, a way to organize loads of arena and find the quickest route downstairs to the bus. information that can be accessed in real time on the air. Loughlin has a “They will wait for Taylor Hall, but they won’t wait for Matt Loughlin or template he uses for every game, but he likes to write down the Chico Resch,” Loughlin says. information instead of just typing it up on a computer and printing it out. Loughlin became the radio voice of the Devils 13 years ago and has He typically spends two-and-a-half to three hours creating the charts for been around the team for a quarter of a century. Resch was the starting each game, but that’s usually spread out over a couple of days. The goaltender when the Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey in 1982 charts for the game Saturday in Nashville have to be done in pieces and is in his 20th season as an analyst for the club — the first 18 were on ahead of time because of the back-to-back, so he works on it when he television before a three-year retirement and a return to the radio booth can — like Friday afternoon and later that night when the team is at the with Loughlin last season. airport waiting for the chartered plane to be ready for them. This past weekend was a unique one on the Devils’ schedule, and for the One of Matt Loughlin’s game charts for New Jersey’s game against team’s broadcasters. New Jersey played the Vegas Golden Knights on Nashville. (Corey Masisak) Friday at Prudential Center, before a quick trip to Nashville for a Saturday Between completing the written and audio preparation for the pregame night on Broadway. show and the game broadcast, Loughlin and Resch spend a lot of time NHL teams have plenty of back-to-backs each season, but the Devils talking to people. They meet up with each other to go over their own don’t have many that include a trip to a Western Conference city. Even talking points, but they’re also chatting with broadcasters from the other the home game against Vegas provided a wrinkle for Loughlin and Resch team, other members of the media, and just about anyone else they because it’s only the third game in Devils history against the sophomore might run into in the media room when dinner is being served. franchise. The pregame show starts at 6:50 p.m., but Loughlin likes to get to his The Athletic spent the two days shadowing Loughlin and Resch to seat well before that to clear his head and go over everything one last witness up close how they handled the weekend, and how they are time, as the fans begin to fill up the areas down by the ice for warmups. settling in as broadcast partners in their second season working together. Loughlin and Resch start the pregame show with a quick recap of the Loughlin is a New Jersey native and a proud Seton Hall alum. His career California road trip and update the lineups for the game. Taylor Hall is out path led him away from radio and into television and, while he spent the for the Devils and Paul Stastny is returning for the Golden Knights. better part of 15 years hosting pre- and postgame shows for the Devils, “Sometimes it sets up where the odds are so stacked up against you, but Mets and Nets, his desire to be a play-by-play announcer did not go that is just when you win,” Resch says. away. Before the game, Resch had taken part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with He had chances to fill in, particularly with the Devils when Mike “Doc” members of the Devils ownership group in honor of the opening of the Emrick had national network responsibilities, but when the New Jersey William Hill Sports Lounge, a sports betting haven connected to the radio job opened in 2006, Loughlin saw it as an opportunity for his big Prudential Center. The duo discuss the impact of Hall’s absence on the break. That meant an interview with the Devils general manager at the Devils and Schneider’s first home start. time, Lou Lamoriello. Their location at Prudential Center — at the back of the lower concourse “It’s not intimidating, but I can’t count on one hand … well, maybe both — provides them with a great view of the game. It also gives fans sitting hands … in the 25 years I’ve been associated with the Devils that I was in the sections nearby or hanging out behind them the type of access in his office,” Loughlin said. “I was walking into the inner sanctum, so to they wouldn’t typically get, if Loughlin and Resch were up in the press speak. The door closes behind you and Lou doesn’t B.S. It was, ‘Why do box above the seats. you think you can do this? You’ve done TV mostly and radio only early in your career.’ He had some questions. I guess I answered them well “He’s a man of the people,” Loughlin says of his partner. “And they all enough.” want a piece of him. They’ll come to our booth and we’re on the air, but it’s OK. They’ll yell, ‘Chi-cooooo,’ and he’ll acknowledge them so that’s A couple of days later, Lamoriello called Loughlin and asked for another cool.” meeting in his office. Vegas opens the game with the first five shots on goal and a 1-0 lead. “I walk in and he says, ‘I want to offer you the job,’” Loughlin recalled. “I Then the Knights also score on shots Nos. 6 and 7, turning this first said that’s great and we talked about some terms, which were all period into what’s become an all-too-familiar situation for Schneider this agreeable on his end. But he said, ‘You can’t leave without telling me yes season. or no.’ I said, ‘Well, this is a pretty big change I’m making’ and he said, ‘You should have thought about that before you applied. I’m offering you “This is the worst-case scenario,” Resch says. “If I had asked you this the job.’ He also tapped a pile of resumes, or what I assumed were morning what could be the worst-case scenario, this is what you would resumes, and he goes, ‘I’ve got to let these people know, one way or have said.” another.’ Blake Coleman fails to score on a 2-on-1 in the second period and, when “Of course I took it, but I walked out of there wondering, ‘Does he do that Resch notes during a commercial break that Coleman could have passed with players, too?’” to Miles Wood, Loughlin immediately tells his partner they’re going talk about that. Resch breaks down what he thinks Coleman could have done coming After a coffee and some more work on his game charts, Loughlin heads out of the break and, in a fateful twist a few minutes later, Coleman over to the Predators’ morning skate. The Devils do not skate because of passes to Wood for a goal. the quick turnaround, but Loughlin takes in Nashville coach Peter Laviolette’s presser before speaking with a few players in the Predators’ “Well, it didn’t work the last time, but Coleman found Wood on that one!” locker room. Loughlin says. Loughlin chatting with Predators forward Kevin Fiala. (Corey Masisak) After a second intermission interview with Jesper Bratt, Loughlin has time during the commercial break to say hello to his son and son’s friends who He talks with Nick Bonino about growing up in Connecticut, and with are at the game and have come over to their booth. Resch also has Kevin Fiala about his Swiss roots. There will be five Swiss players in this family at the game and spends some time with them during the game, including Hischier and Mirco Mueller from the Devils, which is an intermission. anecdote Loughlin wants to work into the broadcast. That Fiala says one of his idols growing up was ex-Devils forward Jaromir Jagr is an added The Devils rally to tie the game in the third period and send it into bonus. overtime, where Nico Hischier seals one of the biggest wins of the season with a highlight-reel goal. It’s the first time this season the Devils Loughlin also waits for goaltender Pekka Rinne, who isn’t playing have won a game after regulation. Saturday night so he stays out on the ice longer with the other scratches. Rinne is one of the goaltenders who had the same hip labrum surgery “A miracle has just happened at the Prudential Center!” Resch opines. that Schneider had this past summer, so Loughlin seeks out his insight During the postgame show, Loughlin and Resch talk with Brett Seney, on the procedure and potential reasons for Schneider’s current struggles. who scored the tying goal. Seney tells them his linemates, Drew Stafford After the skate comes lunch, and this one has a little extra meaning. and Brian Boyle, probably have more combined NHL experience than he Loughlin is reading a book called “Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of has years alive. the Movement.” One of the co-authors of the book, Civil Rights advocate Following the interview, Loughlin notes that Stafford is in his 13th year John Lewis, went to college in Nashville and helped stage a famous sit-in and Boyle in his 12th. at Woolworth’s diner on Fifth Avenue to protest segregation. “By my grammar school math, that’s 25 years and Seney is 22, so I think The department store is long gone, but Woolworth’s on Fifth has he’s correct,” Loughlin says. reopened as a diner replicated from that era. The walls feature many photos from when Lewis was there and there’s a sign outside recognizing “Brett knows the analytics on that one,” Resch responds. “That was a the sit-ins as important moments in Nashville’s history. great answer.” Loughlin’s post-lunch routine on the road usually includes last-minute After airing highlights and part of Devils coach John Hynes’ press alterations to his charts or notes for the night and time spent walking conference, Loughlin recalls their pregame discussion about Hall being around. The Devils skipping the afternoon skate gives him an opportunity out and other players needing to step up. to explore some of the places he’s read about in Lewis’ book, but also adds a little extra work for him just before showtime. “The best bonding is winning,” Resch says. “This is the type of win that creates bonding.” Loughlin interviewing Kyle Palmieri before the game in Nashville. (Corey Masisak) The bus is leaving for the airport at 10:30 p.m., and there is plenty of time to reach it. The Devils get to Newark Airport at about 11:10 and take off Hynes speaks with the media just before 5 p.m. and Loughlin interviews for Nashville right around 11:45. Kyle Palmieri, leaving little time for Lachot in Phoenix to have sound from both conversations ready for the pregame show. Loughlin and Resch sit next to each other on the plane. Resch and Loughlin both catch up with Pete Weber, the longtime “Chico and I are old school. We actually talk to each other,” Loughlin Predators announcer, before the game. Resch might be a master says. storyteller, but Weber has one for him that he doesn’t know, from the days when Weber was working for the Los Angeles Kings and Resch They discuss the Vegas game and which parts to work into the pregame was a goaltender for the Islanders. They begin discussing the 1980 trade show or the game broadcast the following day in Nashville. Loughlin gets that brought to , considered one of the to his room at the Nashville hotel at 2 a.m. CT. signature moments in franchise history that helped launch a dynasty. Loughlin’s first radio partner was former Devils player Tom Chorske. Both “This is how different things were back then,” Resch says. “Pete told me were new for the 2006-07 season, but Chorske decided to return to he was the one who drove Butch to the airport in Montreal after the trade Minnesota with his family after just one year. Sherry Ross, who had happened. I had never heard that before.” worked as an analyst for the team from 1992-95 before joining the New York Daily News, returned to the booth to join Loughlin in 2007. During the pregame show, Loughlin plays part of his pregame interview with Palmieri and part of Hynes’ media scrum before they recap the wild “Sherry came in, and she had done it previously,” Loughlin said. “It Friday night at the Rock. worked out really, really well in terms of her professionalism, her knowledge of the team, her knowledge of the medium.” “I called it the Miracle on Mulberry Street,” Resch says. “Not just because of the comeback, but because they also finally won a game in overtime Resch then came out of retirement to join Loughlin last season. What’s and they might have needed a miracle to do it.” quickly become evident about their chemistry is how expressive they are during game action — and not just on the airwaves. That shared trait has Resch making some last-minute additions to his game chart. (Corey helped them develop on-air rapport to match their off-air friendship. Masisak) “(Working with Chico) has been awesome. His knowledge of the game is Once the game starts in Nashville, it’s clear it’s going to be a very superb,” Loughlin said. “He knows everybody. He’s been in the game different type of contest to broadcast. Loughlin and Resch didn’t need forever. There was a little bit of a transition from TV to radio because much filler material the previous night because Schneider’s struggles there’s nobody talking in your ear, no producer. But he’s picked it up well. dominated the first period and the wild comeback win filled the rest of the He’s got some good stories. He’s self-deprecating. The thing I love about evening. him is he’s all about stories and people. It’s been a blast. I’ve learned a lot about hockey history from him, and we get along really well.” Saturday becomes the type of game where they need to rely on their research and rapport a little bit more. Resch notes that Keith Kinkaid Loughlin awakes at 7:30 a.m. CT on Saturday. He listens to a local seems to be freezing the puck more, likely to give his teammates extra podcast about the Predators and then goes for a walk to get some time to get their legs up to speed with Nashville looking like the quicker coffee. He runs into Devils general manager Ray Shero, who’s also team. enjoying the slightly warmer Tennessee morning after a few cold days in New Jersey. One of Nashville’s best early chances goes off the right post. They chat informally about Shero’s old boss, Predators GM David Poile, “The bells are ringing for Keith again,” Resch says. “That tip had him beat who’s going to be Loughlin’s intermission guest that night. Poile was but the post said, ‘I’ll take care of that, Keith.'” inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame three days earlier, and Shero was at the ceremony. “That’s all Keith gave him, right?” Loughlin replies. “Isn’t that what you goalies always say?” “I try to recognize when it’s time to talk to business and it’s time to just say, ‘How are things going?’” Loughlin says. “You are learning, Matty” Resch retorts. Hischier is the first guest during the intermission. Loughlin ties in parts of his talk with Fiala from earlier in the day, discussing with Hischier the rise of Swiss hockey and former Islanders captain Mark Streit leading the charge. Then Poile joins him in the makeshift radio booth for a chat about his Hall of Fame induction and the growth of hockey in Tennessee. For Resch, if you think the travel means he doesn’t have admirers stopping him or shouting to him like he does in New Jersey, think again. At one point during the second intermission, Resch is standing near the entrance to the section where their booth is located, talking to a man with a customized Predators jersey that reads “Predxican” on the back. “Oh, that’s Ivan,” Resch says afterwards. Resch stopped to chat with Ivan, a diehard Predators fan. (Corey Masisak) “Here is the best thing about Chico,” Loughlin says. “He is a man of the people, but many years ago he mentioned that everyone has a name and everyone likes to be called by their name. He tries to learn everyone’s name and talks to everyone from the top organization down to someone who may be very important but is a ticket-taker or an usher. He wants to know what their day has been like and talk about their kids. That’s one of his great traits.” At one point early in the third period, Loughlin notes that the crowd is pretty quiet, but that it won’t be on Broadway after the game. “It was buzzing over there before the game,” Resch says of the honky- tonk filled street. They talk some more about how great Nashville is as a city. Then, Loughlin points out something Hynes had told him earlier in the day, which he said he’d read somewhere — that Nashville is host to a crazy number of bachelorette parties each month. “When it’s a 1-0 game, you get into these kinds of discussions,” Loughlin tells the audience. Later, the Devils have a great chance to tie the game but Marcus Johansson fails to connect with Hischier on a pass. The duo immediately dives into a discussion about how Johansson was in a great position to shoot, but after seeing a replay they come back from a commercial break and Resch points out that Hischier got caught watching Johansson and not driving to the net as hard as he could have. It evolves into an exciting game, with Brian Boyle scoring a 6-on-5 goal in the final moments of regulation, back-and-forth overtime and a shootout. It was the moments before that when Loughlin and Resch found ways to be insightful and entertaining during a game that, by Loughlin’s own admission “was not exactly a barnburner” in terms of displaying their talents and chemistry. In the aftermath of the Devils’ 2-1 shootout loss, the two have to improvise a bit during the postgame show because they don’t have a player to interview (that happens sometimes after a loss on the road). Plus, there aren’t a lot of highlights to break down from this one. They focus on the Devils getting three out of four points during a weekend without Hall, and look ahead to a critical upcoming stretch of the season. “Saros is one of the smallest goalies in the league but he came up big tonight,” Resch says. “I don’t think the Devils coaches will find much fault in their play from this one. “Someone has to be a hero every night. Last night it was Nico. Tonight it was Ryan Johansen and he wears the wrong jersey for the Devils.” After that, Loughlin signs off and the race to catch the bus is on.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121762 New York Islanders

Robin Lehner stops 35 shots and Islanders beat Coyotes for third straight win

Staff Report THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | DEC 19, 2018 | 12:00 AM

Robin Lehner stopped 35 shots, Anthony Beauvillier scored his fourth goal in five games and the Islanders beat the struggling Arizona Coyotes 3-1 Tuesday night. The Islanders beat Colorado 4-1 the night before, yet had more jump after Arizona scored the opening goal. Arizona's Mario Kempe scored in the first period, but Joshua Ho-Sang answered and Brock Nelson put the Islanders ahead with a goal early in the second. Beauvillier made it a two-goal lead and Ryan Pulock had two assists for the Islanders, who withstood a late power play to win their third straight. Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots for the Coyotes in their sixth loss in seven games since a four-game winning streak. Kempe scored by carrying the puck into New York's zone, circling back and beating Lehner glove side on a shot through traffic. Lehner prevented it from being 2-0 Arizona later in the period with a sprawling save on Conor Garland's rebound attempt after stopping Clayton Keller's initial shot. Ho-Sang scored shortly after a crisp power play expired in the first period, slipping in a loose puck from a sharp angle past Kuemper for his first of the season. Nelson, who was injured against Colorado on Monday night, put the Islanders up 2-1 in the second by gathering a loose puck and beating Kuemper from between the circles. Beauvillier made it 3-1 midway through the second, one-timing a pass from Josh Bailey after Arizona turned the puck over in its own end.

New York Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121763 New York Islanders

Robin Lehner dominates as Islanders snag another road win

Staff Report By Associated Press December 19, 2018 | 12:29am | Updated

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Islanders were a step slow and gave up an early goal — not the best way to start the second game of a back-to- back. Once the Islanders scored, they started buzzing and rolled to their second win in two nights. Robin Lehner stopped 35 shots, Anthony Beauvillier scored his fourth goal in five games and the Islanders beat the struggling Arizona Coyotes 3-1 Tuesday night. “They came out really well, I think they were the better team the first 10 minutes,” Lehner said. “After that goal, after 10 minutes we started playing better.” The Islanders beat Colorado 4-1 the night before, yet had more jump after Arizona scored the opening goal. Arizona’s Mario Kempe scored in the first period, but Joshua Ho-Sang answered and Brock Nelson put the Islanders ahead with a goal early in the second. Beauvillier made it a two-goal lead and Ryan Pulock had two assists for the Islanders, who withstood a late power play to win their third straight. “It’s big on the road like that, a couple good teams, to get those wins is important to us,” Pulock said. “We knew we had to buckle down and be a little better, and these two games we’ve done a pretty good job.” Arizona had the early jump and finished strong, yet came away with another loss thanks to a shaky second period. Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots for the Coyotes in their sixth loss in seven games since a four-game winning streak. “The goals they got, it’s just execution, a couple bad passes,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “In this league, you have to be able to make an 18-foot pass and we didn’t.” Kempe scored by carrying the puck into the Islanders’ zone, circling back and beating Lehner glove side on a shot through traffic. Lehner prevented it from being 2-0 Arizona later in the period with a sprawling save on Conor Garland’s rebound attempt after stopping Clayton Keller’s initial shot. Ho-Sang scored shortly after a crisp power play expired in the first period, slipping in a loose puck from a sharp angle past Kuemper for his first of the season. Nelson, who was injured against Colorado on Monday night, put the Islanders up 2-1 in the second by gathering a loose puck and beating Kuemper from between the circles. Beauvillier made it 3-1 midway through the second, one-timing a pass from Josh Bailey after Arizona turned the puck over in its own end. “A 1-1 game going into the second and you leave it 3-1, that was definitely the difference,” Kuemper said. “Guys are working hard and that’s all you can ask. Mistakes are going to happen and right now they seem to be costing us.” Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey did not play after going hard into the boards with his back against Colorado.

New York Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121764 New York Islanders

Islanders top Coyotes for third win in a row

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday Updated December 19, 2018 12:10 AM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Islanders avoided any potential obstacles on Tuesday night with another impressive team performance. They showed no ill effects of playing on back-to-back nights. Goalie Robin Lehner, who’s lost playing time to injuries and Thomas Greiss’ better play of late, allowed a soft early goal and then was stout the rest of the way. And top-line center Brock Nelson went from being a game-time decision because of an apparent thigh issue to one of the Islanders’ better players in a 3-1 win over the Coyotes at Gila River Arena. The Islanders (17-12-4), who have won the first two games of this four- game trip, have won three straight for the first time since a season-high five-game winning streak from Oct. 27-Nov. 3. They won for just the fourth time in 17 tries at Arizona. Defenseman Ryan Pulock had two assists and Lehner finished with 36 saves. Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots for the Coyotes (14-17-2), who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games. The trip takes a tougher turn on Thursday night at Vegas against last season’s Western Conference champions as an expansion team. Lehner’s previous victory was on Oct. 30, when he exited after two periods with back spasms in a 6-3 win at Pittsburgh. The Islanders scored just a combined 10 goals in his next seven appearances before Tuesday. “We haven’t given him much run support and I think that’s probably playing on him a little bit mentally,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said before the game. “Don’t have the victim mentality. Have sort of the wolf mentality. I’m not saying he has that victim mentality but we haven’t given him much run support. Don’t worry about that. Just worry about stopping the puck. “I thought he was really coming around and playing really well and getting results and then he got hurt and then it’s hard for him to get any traction,” Trotz added. But the Islanders did give Lehner a rare lead to work with in a two-goal second period and he stopped the last 30 shots he faced. Nelson, who exited Monday night’s 4-1 win at Colorado when he took defenseman Ian Cole’s knee to his thigh, snapped a shot from inside the left circle for his 11th goal of the season at 3:38 to give the Islanders a 2- 1 lead. Anthony Beauvillier, with his 11th goal and his fourth in five games, took Josh Bailey’s feed for a one-timer from the right circle to make it 3-1 at 8:29. The Coyotes had taken a 1-0 lead at 9:14 of the first period as Mario Kempe beat Lehner over his glove to the short side from the right circle on a shot in which he was slightly out of position. But Lehner kicked out his left pad to stop Derek Stepan’s partial breakaway at 1:52 and made a sprawling save on Conor Garland’s rebound try from the slot after stopping Clayton Keller’s initial shot from the right circle. Josh Ho-Sang, the 28th overall pick in 2014 trying to prove to Islanders’ management he’s ready to stick in the NHL, tied the score at 1 at 17:04 of the first period on a sharp angle shot on the left for his first goal in three games since being recalled from Bridgeport on Dec. 9.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121765 New York Islanders

Brock Nelson plays for Islanders against Coyotes

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday Updated December 19, 2018 1:12 AM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The only lineup shuffle Islanders coach Barry Trotz was forced to make for Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over the Coyotes at Gila River Arena was inserting defenseman Luca Sbisa for the injured Thomas Hickey. Top-line center Brock Nelson was able to play after taking defenseman Ian Cole’s knee to his thigh in Monday night’s 4-1 win in Colorado. “It got better in the morning,” Nelson said after scoring his 11th goal of the season and taking a team-high five shots. “It was above the knee, so it was tight and pretty sore. The flight probably didn’t help.” Hickey, appearing dazed, exited the game with an upper-body issue at 17:26 when he went hard into the side boards back first and could have suffered either a head or neck injury. The Islanders did not update his status other than Trotz saying he was being evaluated. Nelson, limping, followed Hickey to the Islanders’ room 29 seconds later on Cole’s penalized hit. But after being a game-time decision, Nelson extended his consecutive games streak to 128, the Islanders’ second-longest behind captain Anders Lee’s 151. An NHL roster freeze is in effect from 11:59 p.m. Wednesday until 12:01 a.m. Dec. 28 but that will not preclude the Islanders from recalling a player from Bridgeport (AHL) if necessary. Trotz was not anticipating such a move. “No, I think we’re OK,” Trotz said. “The only thing would be the Hickey situation. Lou [Lamoriello], he’s on that.” Isles files Defenseman Johnny Boychuk had five of the Islanders’ 23 blocked shots … Defenseman Scott Mayfield fought Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse, also 6-4, at 2:15 of the third period … Bridgeport center Stephen Gionta was suspended three games for a boarding incident against Wilkes- Barre/Scranton on Sunday … Forwards Ross Johnston and Tom Kuhnhackl remained healthy scratches.

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Production from Jordan Eberle crucial to Islanders' success

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday Updated December 18, 2018 7:08 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz.— Barry Trotz believes his Islanders are more than just efficient when the top-six forwards are producing consistently. “When the production is there from the top six, I think we’re a more dangerous team because we’ve been defending pretty well and our special teams are giving us a goal here or there now,” the coach said. And how top-line right wing Jordan Eberle produces goes a long way toward determining how dangerous the Islanders can be. The Islanders continued a four-game road trip on Tuesday night against the Coyotes at Gila River Arena after Eberle snapped a 10-game goal drought in Monday night’s trek-opening 4-1 win at Colorado. Eberle also added a power-play assist as the Islanders went 2-for-4 with the man advantage, only the second time this season they’ve connected for more than one power-play goal in a game. “You always worry about producing, that’s what you’re paid to do,” said Eberle, who entered Tuesday night’s game with seven goals and eight assists after compiling 25 goals and 34 assists last season, his first with the Islanders. “There’s been extra incentive on being on the right side of the puck and I think it’s translated into wins,” Eberle added of the Islanders’ improved defense under Trotz. “That’s going to bring offense down. At the same time, you need to put the puck in the net. I hold myself accountable for that for sure.” Eberle can be a creative whiz with the puck, such as when he knocked the puck off the net to himself and nearly scored on a wraparound against the Avalanche. But he’s also bought into Trotz’s demands when it comes to the team’s defensive play. Last season, the Islanders allowed a league-worst 293 goals, the most any NHL team has allowed since 2007. Still, the Islanders had been struggling to score before Saturday night’s 4-3 shootout win over the Red Wings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. The team tallied just 14 goals in a 2-4-2 stretch from Nov. 26 through last Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to Vegas at Barclays Center. The Islanders did not score a five-on-four power play goal during that stretch. “It’s difficult if you know you’re not getting anything on special teams or from the top six,” Trotz said. “If you get one goal, you say that one goal is all you’re going to get so we’ve got to win this game, 1-0. That can put a lot of pressure on a lot of players. But we’re getting comfortable playing the way we do and in close games. “We’re managing the game a little bit better,” Trotz added. “We’re not just playing the same way no matter what the score is. You don’t want to be a high-event team when you’ve got the lead. You want to make sure the events are happening in a predictable order for you.” What Eberle cannot predict right now is how his contract situation will be resolved. He is in the last season of a six-year, $36-million deal he signed with the Oilers. The Islanders can re-sign Eberle starting Jan. 1. The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 25. “You don’t focus on that,” Eberle said. “You think about it. It’s your future. But when I’m playing hockey, I don’t think about it.”

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John Tavares praises Islanders organization, fans and Coliseum in return to metro area to face Devils

By Mark Herrmann [email protected] @markpherrmann Updated December 18, 2018 10:30 PM

NEWARK — On his first official day back in the New York area, John Tavares acknowledged the trail of hard feelings he left here. He knows what many Islanders fans think about him and what they likely will tell him at the top of their lungs when he comes to Nassau Coliseum Feb. 28 for the first time as a visitor. He understands. But, before he led his Maple Leafs against the Devils Tuesday, he said that he agonized over his decision more than people know and he defended the work he did in every minute as an Islander. “I tried to approach it the best way I could and I understood the dynamic of the situation. But at the end of the day, I had to make a decision that I felt was best for my career, best for my life,” Tavares said at Prudential Center Tuesday morning. “For a long time, I wasn’t really sure, but I had to come to that decision. I can’t control everyone’s opinion and what everyone sees, but I know how much I gave in my nine years on Long Island, how hard I played, how much I enjoyed playing there, how much I cared.” When he was asked how life is now, he responded in the upbeat manner he always showed as an Islander, saying, “It’s great.” He added it has been a “whirlwind” chain of free agency, getting married, clearing out his Long Island home over Labor Day weekend, joining the new team “and now getting ready for Christmas.” His play and persona have been gifts to Toronto, his hockey-crazy hometown starving for a contender. He has done his part on one of the better teams in the NHL. Tavares scored his team-leading 21st goal and had an assist Tuesday in the Maple Leafs' 7-2 win. “I think in John’s case, he has surpassed even my expectations of what he brings, not only on the ice but probably just as important, off the ice,” Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. “He has been excellent in every regard.” As focused and confident as Tavares always is, though, he admits it will be disorienting when he goes up against the Islanders’ crest in Toronto on Dec. 29. “I’ll just try to treat it, the best I can, like any game,” he said. “Will it be like that? I don’t know. It’s hard to say. There are a lot of good people over there, a lot of old friends.” Even more volatile will be the Leafs’ visit to Nassau Coliseum, which he also still considers an old friend. “I always tell people that’s one of the great buildings in our game. A great place to watch a hockey game, a great environment. Islander fans are a big reason why,” Tavares said. “It should be a lot of fun — a lot of great memories, from my first goal, my first game, my first playoff series there, a lot of Islander-Ranger games there. So I’m sure there will be a lot of emotions.” “He understands the pressure, especially in Toronto,” said Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott, 21, also from Ontario. “Once you meet him, you have no doubt he’s the type of guy who can handle that stuff. Just being able to see him and play with him every day is an honor.” Maple Leafs fans respect their hometown superstar for the type of person he has become. “There is no question the major reason for that,” Tavares said, “is the time I spent on Long Island.”

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Kevin Hayes' goal rallies Rangers late to down Ducks

Staff Report THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | DEC 18, 2018 | 10:40 PM

Kevin Hayes scored on a short-handed breakaway with 40 seconds remaining and the Rangers rallied to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Tuesday night. Vladislav Namestnikov had a goal and two assists, and Filip Chytil added an empty-netter in the Rangers' three-goal third period. Alexandar Georgiev, called up on Sunday after a stint in the minors, stopped 14 shots to help the Rangers win for the second time in eight games (2-3-3). Pontus Aberg scored on a deflection in the second period for the Ducks, who had won nine of their previous 10 games. Chad Johnson, claimed off waivers from St. Louis on Dec. 11, finished with 21 saves in his Anaheim debut. With Chytil in the penalty box for interference on Johnson, Hayes skated up the left side, cut in and fired a shot that the goalie got a piece of, but the puck got through and across the goal line for his ninth. It gave Hayes four goals and 10 points in his last five games. Filip Chytil reacts after scoring an empty net goal. Chytil then came out of the box and scored into an empty net with 19 seconds remaining to seal the win. Trailing 1-0 after two periods, the Rangers came out aggressive in the third period and outshot the Ducks 14-1 over the final 20 minutes. After falling short on several chances in the first half of the period, the Rangers broke through near the midpoint. Brett Howden brought the puck along the boards on the left side, skated toward the corner and sent a centering pass to Namestnikov, who cut between two Anaheim players and beat Johnson from the left side for his fourth at 9:52. The Rangers finished 0 for 3 on the power play, and the Ducks were 0 for 5. Neither team could muster many chances through the first two periods, with Anaheim holding a 14-10 edge on shots on goal. Mats Zuccarello was denied by Johnson on a tip try in front 1:07 into the second. Georgiev stopped an attempt by Getzlaf from the left circle about seven minutes later. Boo Nieves had a breakaway with about nine minutes remaining in the middle period, but his shot from the right circle was gloved by Johnson. Chris Kreider also had a chance from the left circle, but fired the puck right into the Ducks' goalie with 6½ minutes to go. Anaheim got on the scoreboard with 5:51 left as Aberg's centering pass from behind the goal line went off Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad's skate and past Georgiev for his 11th of the season. The Ducks had a chance to double the lead as Getzlaf passed the puck off his skate to Ondrej Kase cutting to the net, but Georgiev made a nice sliding save to his left with just under four minutes remaining in the middle period. Keifer Sherwood hit a goalpost for the Ducks 3:13 into the game, and Nieves did the same a little more than seven minutes in. The Rangers’ best chance in the first came as Kevin Hayes missed wide from the right side on a short-handed rush with 5:48 left, and Vladislav Namestnikov got the rebound off the end boards on the left side, but his backhand try was stuffed by Johnson.

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David Quinn really wasn’t happy with the officiating

By Brett Cyrgalis December 19, 2018 | 2:44am

The Rangers’ 3-1 win over the Ducks on Tuesday night at the Garden was one of those nights as coach David Quinn might have held his tongue just enough not to get fined. In another regrettable performance from referees Frederick L’Ecuyer and Jean Hebert, the first huge mishap was the offsetting double-roughing minors on Vlad Namestnikov and Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf at 14:15 of the first period. As Namestnikov was trying to jam a loose puck in at the left post, Getzlaf bull-rushed him then gave him a little shot with his leg when Namestnikov was down on the ice, then numerous cross- checks once he got up. Namestnikov tried to fight back, never taking his gloves off, and ended up with the much larger Getzlaf on top of him. “I don’t think Vladdy is looking to fight Getzlaf,” Quinn said. “I guess the instigator fighting rule is just to take up ink in the rule book, apparently.” Then with just 2:35 remaining in regulation in what was a 1-1 game, Filip Chytil was called for goalie interference when he drove the net and ended up slamming into Chad Johnson. On the subsequent Ducks power play, Kevin Hayes scored a shorthanded goal with just 40 seconds remaining that stood as the game-winner. “All I’ll say about that is I think it was justice we got a shorthanded goal,” Quinn said, “and I’ll leave it at that.” Alex Georgiev needed to make just 14 saves in his eighth start of the season (ninth game), with Henrik Lundqvist backing up. The 22-year-old Georgiev had spent the past two weeks with the Wolf Pack, starting five games while getting back into the groove of playing games before returning Monday. Lundqvist, 36, was under a barrage of high-danger attempts in Sunday’s game and was visibly upset during and after the loss. “It’s big picture, too,” Quinn said. “We have a young goalie we think a lot of, he needs to play, we want him to play at this level as much as we can. Giving Hank a mental break and physical break also factors into it. You also have to be prepared that, god-forbid, anything happens to Hank, we’ll have a goalie that’s played and had success at his level and his teammates have confidence in him. There’s a lot that goes into these decisions.” Brendan Smith returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for three of the past four games. He replaced Freddy Claesson. Boo Nieves switched to center while Lias Andersson moved to the left wing of the fourth line, and they were quite a bit better as a unit (especially in the first period) than they were Sunday. Yet Quinn limited their ice time over the final two periods, with Nieves finishing with 7:29 total and Andersson just 6:09.

New York Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121770 New York Rangers been the team’s best player for the past two years. All teams — even, or perhaps especially, ones in the Rangers’ position — need linchpins.

When you find them, you don’t send them away. You don’t sacrifice your Rangers can’t let unfair system force them into tearing up team few known quantities for a roll of the dice. That would represent a full measure that would leave me empty. By Larry Brooks December 19, 2018 | 1:35am New York Post LOADED: 12.19.2018

This has been a half-measure season for the Rangers, who did not wipe out the roster and have not been either consistently bad enough or gotten enough questionable goaltending to be in a prime pre-lottery location. There is, however, plenty of time for them to descend to that destination, even in light of Tuesday’s conscientious 3-1 Garden victory over the Ducks that represented the Rangers’ ninth regulation-time win of the year, tied with the Kings for second-fewest in the league behind Detroit’s seven. The paltry 60-minute win total, more than the camouflaged 15-13-4 record that is bolstered by a league-best five shootout victories, reflects the team’s relative strength. The fact that the Rangers are only four points out of a playoff spot the week before Christmas is indicative of the misleading nature of the NHL’s nobody-really-loses point system. Understand this, too. The Rangers are five points ahead of the 28th- overall Flyers and seven up on the 29th-overall Blues (pending St. Louis’ match at Edmonton on Tuesday night) following this victory that gave the team a 3-5-3 record for this 11-game quadrant that is a reasonable facsimile of the opening 3-7-1 getaway. It is the 9-1-1 spree separating the first and latest subsections of the season that is the aberration. If you want to label the Rangers’ play since Thanksgiving as a television series, you could call it “This is Us.” For, honestly, despite good intentions and, for the most part, good work habits, the Blueshirts are not big enough, strong enough, fast enough or talented enough to hang in through a winter that doesn’t even begin for another two days. The schedule, both in terms of quantity and quality, has been a piece of cake. Distractions as they relate to noise anticipating a second consecutive trade-deadline sell-off have been kept to a minimum. But the schedule picks up, 26 of the final 49 are on the road — where the 4-9-2 Rangers have won only via the shootout — and deadline chatter will increase and seep into the room. I will say this, not for the first time and certainly not for the last: It is terribly unfair to penalize teams who are not good enough to win anything for trying to put representative lineups on the ice during a rebuild. The draft, even with a lottery system that makes it dicey for clubs to go into full tank-mode, is unfair. Front offices should not face implied pressure to gut their teams and force season ticket-holders to pony up big bucks to watch an intentionally bad team. It is unfair when a team like the Rangers can lose for winning. But that is the reality. There is no need for another Letter. The course was charted last February. Even if the Rangers manage to elevate and exceed expectations over the next two months, ownership/management will not deviate from the plan in order to satisfy a sweet-tooth craving to shock the world and qualify for the playoffs. Not happening. But neither should the plan include stripping the team bare and going into a Starting All Over mode. That approach would make this an entirely Lost Season. Because if management goes down that road now, what then was the point of signing Vlad Namestnikov and Ryan Spooner (who became Ryan Strome) and trading for Adam McQuaid? What was the point, then, of starting Henrik Lundqvist in 25 of the first 32 games? The Rangers sure could have been awful, just awful, if that was the plan. They could have had an entire 2018-19 that was a copy of the post- deadline 2017-18 by having AHL players masquerade as big-leaguers. But not only would that have been terribly unfair to the folks who pay the heavy freight of attending games in , neither does it represent a sure-shot blueprint for success. I will say this again, too, not for the first time and certainly not the last: The Rangers should not trade Kevin Hayes, whose shorthanded goal with 40 seconds remaining broke a 1-1 tie, unless the impending free agent’s ask on a new contract is completely unrealistic or an interested third party offers a young, first-pair right defenseman (see: Cale Makar, UMass/Colorado) in exchange for No. 13. Both of these hypotheticals are unlikely. I don’t care whether the team is ready to contend in two years or four. This building process will not be aided by trading the center who has 1121771 New York Rangers

Rangers snap out of funk thanks to dominant third period

By Brett Cyrgalis December 18, 2018 | 9:48pm | Updated

If you walked into the Garden just for the final 20 minutes — really, just for the final 10 minutes — that would have been more than enough. After what Rangers coach David Quinn called “a very blah hockey game for the first two periods,” his team came out in the third period and dominated. No joke, the slumping Rangers dominated. They allowed only one harmless shot on net the whole period — wonder how Henrik Lundqvist feels about that in the game he backed up Alex Georgiev — and they even righted a wrong in a night full of them from the woeful officiating crew. That would be Kevin Hayes scoring a shorthanded goal with 40 seconds remaining in regulation after a borderline goalie interference penalty on Filip Chytil, giving his team a 2-1 lead that Chytil’s subsequent empty- netter would make a 3-1 final over the Ducks on Tuesday night. “To be able to overcome the first two periods and play with the purpose and the pace that we did, with a little bit of an edge to our game, is a testament to our guys,” Quinn said. “The mental aspect of this game, that’s what this is. You’re not going to feel great every night, you’re not going to have your ‘A’ game. But you better be mentally tough enough [so] that when you have an opportunity to recover and win a hockey game, you have to be able to do it. And we did that tonight.” The Blueshirts (15-13-5) came into this game riding a difficult stretch of 2-5-3 since Thanksgiving. Just on Sunday night, Lundqvist was bombarded by the Golden Knights in what would be the second of consecutive 4-3 overtime losses. But Georgiev could have taken a nap for most of this third period, when Brandon Montour’s 53-footer at 7:30 was the only puck he had to turn away, the Ducks (19-12-5) looking weathered and weary after having played Monday night in Pittsburgh, their fourth straight win. “I don’t remember the last time I had 15 shots on net. Probably a few years ago in Europe,” said Georgiev, who just returned from a two-week run with AHL Hartford and got his first NHL start since Dec. 1. “We got the win, and that worked for us. Hopefully we keep playing great like that.” It’s hard to say Georgiev was even beaten on the one puck that got behind him, a centering feed from Pontus Aberg that deflected off the skate of Mika Zibanejad to give Anaheim a 1-0 lead at 14:09 of the second period. “That’s on me to not put it in your own net,” Zibanejad said jokingly. “But I think we were more aware [in the third period]. We did a better job playing through them, staying on top of them. Maybe in the third — not an excuse on their side — but they played last night and we wanted to take advantage of that. I think you could see that the energy was a little bit more towards our side.” The Rangers never tried to do too much and really didn’t do too much themselves all throughout the slog of the first two periods. That enabled Vlad Namestnikov, playing the most assertive hockey of his short Rangers tenure, to finish a great feed from Brett Howden at 9:52 of the third to tie it 1-1. Namestnikov had been part of a first-period “scrum” — maybe assault might be a better word — at the hands of Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf. But he stood up for himself, and the team was able to come through for what has to be their most satisfying victory in almost a month. “We haven’t felt great about ourselves for a while,” Quinn said. “It’s been duly noted we’ve been in a bit of a spiral here, have blown some leads, played some good hockey but not good enough and found ways to lose. But tonight was a feel-good moment for us.”

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Rangers rally past Ducks with three goals in third

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph Updated December 19, 2018 12:40 AM

In the aftermath of their overtime loss against the Vegas Golden Knights in their last game Sunday, the Rangers bemoaned the fact that they played so poorly in the first two periods of that game, and didn’t play with energy and purpose until the final period. You can’t win hockey games playing just one period, they said then. And then, Tuesday night against the red-hot Anaheim Ducks, the Rangers once again didn’t do much in the first two periods, and again, played their best hockey in the third. This time, 20 minutes of inspired hockey was enough for the Rangers to pull off a stunning come-from- behind, 3-1 win over a Ducks team that had won four in a row and nine of 10 coming in. “We haven’t felt great about ourselves for a while,’’ said Rangers coach David Quinn, who naturally, was in a much better mood than he was on Sunday. “It’s been duly noted that we’ve been in a little bit of a spiral here; we’ve blown some leads; we’ve played some good hockey, but not good enough, and found ways to lose. But tonight was a feel-good moment for us. We didn’t play great in the first two, we didn’t play poorly; it was a very ‘blah’ hockey game, I thought, for two periods. And to be able to overcome the first two periods and play with the purpose and the pace that we did, a little bit of an edge to our game, is a testament to our guys and the mental aspect of this game.’’ Wearing their road white jerseys as visiting Anaheim wore a retro Mighty Ducks of Anaheim look, the Rangers trailed 1-0 entering the third period, but got goals from Vladislav Namestnikov, Kevin Hayes and Filip Chytil to snap an 0-2-1 skid and earn their first win since Dec. 8, and lift their season record to 15-13-5. Hayes scored the winner, shorthanded, on a breakaway with 40.0 seconds remaining, with Chytil in the box for goalie interference after he ran into Anaheim goalie Chad Johnson with 2:35 left in regulation. Hayes skated up the left wing on a clean breakaway and took a wrist shot that was stopped by Johnson, but then leaked over the goal line for Hayes’ ninth goal of the season. “I knew they had a backchecker, so I didn’t want to deke and overhandle it,’’ Hayes said of the game-winner. “I tried going low glove and I thought he stopped it. And it kind of trickled through.’’ Chytil added the empty-netter with 18.6 seconds left to seal the result. Alexandar Georgiev, starting in goal to give Henrik Lundqvist a rare night off, made 14 mostly routine saves, just one in the third period, as the Rangers outshot Anaheim 14-1 in the third. “I don’t remember the last time I had 15 shots on net,’’ said Georgiev. “Probably a few years ago in Europe. But we got the win, so that worked for us.’’ The only goal Georgiev gave up was a centering feed by Anaheim’s Pontus Aberg that Rangers center Mika Zibanejad dropped to his knees to try and block. The puck deflected off Zibanejad and in to give Anaheim the lead at 14:09 of the second period. But Namestnikov, one of the more energetic Rangers all night, tied the game with his fourth goal of the season, finishing a Brett Howden pass from the left wing from the high slot at 9:52. For Namestnikov, it was a nice reward after he had been attacked by Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and challenged to a fight after trying to jam in a rebound late in the first period. Somehow, Namestnikov, who was only doing his job on that play, got the same four-minute, double roughing minor penalty as Getzlaf did.

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Lias Andersson still growing into being consistent for Rangers

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph Updated December 18, 2018 8:53 PM

Since rugged veteran winger Matt Beleskey got sent down to AHL Hartford Sunday night, the Rangers are not currently carrying an extra forward, which means that Lias Andersson, who was scratched for Friday’s OT loss against Winnipeg, was in the lineup and will remain there until something changes. “This is all part of his growing process, and developing,’’ coach David Quinn said of Andersson, the team’s first of two first-round draft picks in 2017 (No. 7 overall). “I thought he did some good things the other night (Sunday against Vegas).’’ Andersson, 20, failed to make the team out of training camp, but played well in Hartford and got called up in early November. He played left wing on the fourth line Tuesday, with Boo Nieves at center and Ryan Strome on the right. Meanwhile, Filip Chytil, who was the Rangers’ other first- round pick in 2017 (No. 21 overall) played on the first line against the Ducks. “He’s done some good things in every game he’s played,’’ Quinn said of Andersson. “But at this level, it’s not about doing some good things some of the time, it’s about doing good things all the time. And that’s every young player’s challenge, is to be consistent. And he’s no different.’’ D Brendan Smith was back in the lineup after missing three of the previous four games. Fredrik Claesson was scratched. “He’s a good player,’’ Quinn said of Smith. “He’s had some good stretches, so far, this year. And I thought he’s had a couple good practices. Like I said, we feel like we’ve got seven 'D' that can play, and he’s certainly one of them. ‘’ All three of the Rangers’ first-round picks this summer – Vitaly Kravtsov (Russia), K’Andre Miller (USA) and Nils Lundkvist (Sweden) – are on their respective country’s teams for the World Junior Championships in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia this month. Russia and Sweden faced each other in a preliminary game Tuesday and the U.S. will play Russia Thursday in its first preliminary game. Two other 2018 Ranger draft picks, third rounder Joey Keane (USA) and fourth rounder Nico Gross (Switzerland) are playing in the tournament.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121774 New York Rangers of that mold are more sheltered than their teammates. It’s also not surprising that Quinn and his assistants often pair their more offensive backs with a more defensive partner, like stalwart Staal with offensive Goldman: What we’ve learned from David Quinn’s player usage and Pionk and Fredrik Claesson with Shattenkirk, since that’s a more systematic decisions so far traditional and cautious approach that some coaches favor. Speaking of Claesson, he surprisingly has the highest zone start ratio of the team. Claesson may be a depth defender, but he’s quietly effective By Shayna Goldman and exactly what this struggling defense needs. He’s quite possibly the best shot suppressor on the blue line and provides the stability that they Dec 18, 2018 crave. Claesson’s also used in “blowout deployment,” meaning he doesn’t see the ice as much in close games, but when the Rangers are

down by a lot or up by a lot, similar to his time with the Senators. David Quinn has now been behind an NHL bench for 32 games with the Skjei sees more time when the Rangers have the lead, especially a two- Rangers heading into Tuesday’s matchup with Anaheim at Madison goal lead. Staal also plays more while the Rangers are either tied or Square Garden. trying to maintain a lead. DeAngelo, on the other hand, is used most Since there weren’t too many roster changes this offseason, most often when the Rangers are down in a game. Smith plays more while the players had a clean slate under Quinn after the Alain Vigneault era. That team is down in a game, and that percentage of time severely decreases started immediately, when youngsters Filip Chytil and Brett Howden both when they have a lead. found themselves on the opening night roster. Lias Andersson has since On offense, Zuccarello’s minutes trend up with the Rangers score; if joined the team, as the Rangers have integrated rookies into their lineup they’re down by a goal, tied, or have a lead, his usage increases. The at a much more rapid pace than under previous coaches. bigger the deficit, the more Kreider is put on the ice. Andersson doesn’t From the time Quinn stepped behind the Rangers bench, we’ve heard play too much when the Rangers are tied or are trying to maintain a lead, from both coaches and players about the changes that have been while Chytil is used the most when the Rangers are down or up by more implemented. But coach speak and what actually happens sometimes than a goal. can be two different stories. The final moments of a game can be the most crucial, and Quinn’s With that in mind, let’s focus on Quinn’s actions and dive into what we’ve deployed some of his younger players in those situations instead of only learned about him so far this season – starting with the players he’s leaning on veterans. Players like DeAngelo, Chytil, and Buchnevich, for leaned on. example, have been trusted in the final minutes of games as well as in overtime. In all situations, Neal Pionk leads the team with an average ice time of 22:52. Pionk didn’t start at the top, though. While the Rangers were Along with Quinn’s usage, his coaching can be defined by systematic rotating eight defenders earlier this season, he was scratched for two decisions. The Rangers coaching staff had their work cut out for them games. Since returning to the lineup, he’s been a mainstay and moved going into the season. 32 games later, it’s incredibly clear that they still up the ranks with his usage. do. Behind Pionk is Brady Skjei, who in recent games has also had a few The Rangers defense was a train wreck last season. A chaotic system stints in the press box. While he emerged as the Rangers’ number one paired with questionable personnel decisions was a recipe for disaster. back in terms of minutes to start the year, his ice time has trended down Considering how much had to change, as well as the current group of as he hasn’t met expectations. defenders available to this coaching staff, a lackluster defense was still to be expected. Marc Staal on the other hand, has seen his time trend up since the start of the season. He’s currently sixth on the team in all situation minutes Has there been at least some improvement from Quinn and Co.? after reaching the 20-minute mark in all but two of his last ten games. To The middle of the ice, particularly in front of the crease, was exposed last start, it took him 12 games to reach that marker. Staal’s also the only season, and that was something this coaching staff was looking to defender to play all 32 games this season. remedy by better protecting the middle. This season, the Rangers are On offense, the forward that’s leaned on the most is Mika Zibanejad, who better protected in the middle, but still exposing their goaltenders to a lot is averaging a career high of 19:51 this season in all situations. His of quality chances – hence the fact that they’re expected to allow 2.59 career high, which was reached last season, was 17:57 before this goals against per 60 at 5-on-5, which is the fourth worst in the league. season’s increase. Behind Zibanejad is Mats Zuccarello at 19:18 and The reason their actual rate of goals against is lower is because of some Kevin Hayes at 19:14, who are also both key special teams players. stellar netminding, mainly by Henrik Lundqvist. Conversely, the defender that’s leaned on the least in all situations has On the other side of the ice, like many coaches, Quinn instructs his been Adam McQuaid (16:00 average), while Cody McLeod was on players to get pucks on net. Last year, the Rangers weren’t firing enough offense before being sidelined with injury (7:22 average). nearly enough shots even though they were finding quality chances. This year, the story is somewhat similar. At 5-on-5, Skjei leads the Rangers with an average of 17:39. With players like Pionk, Tony DeAngelo, and Kevin Shattenkirk to quarterback The Rangers are currently the fourth worst team at generating shots. a power play, he hasn’t seen as much time on the man advantage; They’re actually expected to score more based on the quality of chances instead, he primarily plays those 5-on-5 minutes and is utilized on the they’ve gotten, but aren’t capitalizing on all of those attempts. penalty kill. Pionk, who plays in all situations, is second with an average Shots are still being taken up close on the opposing goaltenders, but they 5-on-5 ice time of 16:42. Tony DeAngelo’s had more opportunities this have a lower volume of shots from the middle ice compared to last year. season and is interestingly next with an average of more than 16 minutes But the Rangers are below league average in the shots they’ve taken a game. McQuaid is again the lowest ranked defenseman in terms of further out down the middle, and that’s a scoring area they should be minutes, with an average of just 13:50. trying to shoot from far more often. Up front, two forwards that play in all situation minutes lead the team at To their credit, the Rangers lost key forwards to injury earlier this season, 5-on-5, Zibanejad (13:52) and Hayes (13:38). Zuccarello, who is second including Zuccarello, Pavel Buchnevich, and Namestnikov, that left them in all situation ice time on average, is seventh in 5-on-5 minutes with without much of their depth on the wings. Still, they’re not doing what all 13:07. McLeod once again is the lowest on the team (6:55). coaches including Quinn strive for, which is getting pucks on net. By Another way to gauge how a player is leaned on is the situation they’re firing more pucks towards the net, the Rangers could create a better used in. offensive dynamic that has more dimensions than what they had last year and to start this year. McQuaid is the most trusted in defensive situations when considering all zone starts, while Staal is tapped for the fewest offensive zone starts. His Another aspect of Quinn’s coaching – maybe the one that’s been talked frequent partner, Pionk, also sees a lot of defensive minutes. about the most – is accountability. Namestnikov is the forward most often utilized in defensive minutes. Seven of the eight Rangers’ defensemen have spent at least a game in Zibanejad’s starts are somewhat mixed, but lean more towards his own the press box as a healthy scratch. Only Staal has come out unscathed end. Hayes isn’t starting that much more in the offensive zone than last from each game this season. There have been some scratches up front year, he’s just starting less in his own zone. as well, including Namestnikov, Andersson, and Buchnevich. Within games, players have been stapled to the bench for stretches as well after Kevin Shattenkirk leads the team with an offensive zone start percentage costly errors. that’s upwards of 70 percent. It’s not too surprising since many defenders Quinn certainly seems to push all of his players harder both in practice and in games than the previous coaching staff, and expects the same effort from young players and veterans. So far it seems that he’s held his players accountable for three primary reasons: egregious mistakes, effort, and not playing up to expectations. DeAngelo’s practice habits were criticized earlier this season, while Skjei’s been scratched for not playing up to the level that’s expected of him, even though he hasn’t been the worst blue liner this season. If Quinn’s system of accountability continues to differ from Vigneault’s, it can be more productive. All players have to be held accountable no matter their status on the team, and there has to be communication between the coaches and players on what went wrong and what they expect moving forward. But there still has to be a balance between penalizing and motivating a player, or risk stifling their creativity in fear of making a mistake. While Quinn’s emphasis on accountability and hard work has been evident all season, what hasn’t been is whether he still values the analytical side of the game. With Boston University, Quinn considered both the statistical side as well as the traditional approach. Based on some of his decisions, that isn’t clear. While the Rangers were streaking and winning games, their underlying numbers were trending down. Left unadjusted, the team subsequently started trending down as well. Through 32 games, Quinn is building an identity behind the Rangers’ bench with qualities that are both encouraging and concerning. While there’s been a lot to learn from this start to his season, the real test is how he adjusts and leads moving forward. Quinn can only take this team so far with this roster, so how can he stop the team from spiraling out the same way they did last year? How does Quinn keep the wheels from falling off again? As much as we’ve learned about Quinn at the NHL level so far, we still have a lot to discover.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121775 NHL

KEXP to handle in-arena music for Seattle’s new NHL team

By Alex Iniguez Seattle Times assistant sports editor

Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” already seemed like a natural fit for Seattle’s new NHL team’s goal song. And with Tuesday’s announcement that radio station KEXP will handle all in-arena music for the new franchise, chances seem to have increased that the grunge anthem will blare after the new team scores a goal at renovated KeyArena in 2021. KEXP, on the air since 1972 and a KeyArena neighbor in Seattle Center since 2016, instantly lends some local flair, culture and cool to a franchise looking to build an identity from scratch. The station will be able to promote local music — and specifically “new and emerging artists whenever and wherever possible,” per the announcement email — while providing the soundtrack to goals, penalties, in-game breaks and more. “Music is a wonderful part of life in Seattle and it is going to be a big part of how we present our games,” Tod Leiweke, NHL Seattle CEO and president, said in a news release. “We could not have a better partner than KEXP in shaping our music platform. From anthems to goal songs to live music we will leverage the great expertise and music passion of KEXP.” Take note of “live music” from Leiweke there. How that will fit in with live sports is an intriguing opportunity for some creativity — or maybe it’ll just provide for a handful of postgame concerts. Other teams use house bands to play between periods. The Seattle Times has reached out for more clarity on that detail. “We hold a deep belief in the power of music to connect and inspire,” said KEXP Chief Content Officer and Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole. “This partnership with NHL Seattle is a remarkable opportunity to create new traditions, connect fans with our incredible local music, and bring a new sound to professional sports in Seattle.” While we wait for more details on NHL Seattle’s partnership with KEXP, we kicked around some other ideas for appropriate arena songs. Maybe the new team should be named the Seattle Grunge.

Seattle Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121776 Ottawa Senators In its lawsuit, CSMI pulled back the curtain to reveal inner workings of RendezVous, including details about negotiations with the NCC and the City of Ottawa. UPDATED: Ottawa Senators make proposal to salvage downtown arena Ruddy yanks the curtain right off the rod in his response filed in court, deal, developer files $1B counterclaim alleging that Melnyk was persistent in trying to get a free ride on a downtown arena. JON WILLING According to the statement of defence, CSMI and Melnyk wanted the City of Ottawa or Trinity to fund and build the $500-million arena for the Senators with the hockey club getting 30 years of free rent. CSMI also wanted power over the naming rights “and an unreasonable degree of Eugene Melnyk is ready to let business partner John Ruddy build the control over the LeBreton project,” the statement of defence alleges. entire LeBreton Flats project and pocket all of the revenue, so long as Melnyk’s Ottawa Senators can run the arena. In Ruddy’s version of events, CSMI and Melnyk were still trying to get others to pay for the arena as late as last month. The offer emerged during a public back-and-forth between the two warring RendezVous LeBreton partners Tuesday — the same day Ruddy The statement of defence says Melnyk suggested on Oct. 4, 2018, that was filing a $1-billion counterclaim against Melnyk. Trinity fund and build the arena while Melnyk would pay annual rent of $1. That would be in exchange for Trinity’s becoming master developer Ruddy’s company, Trinity Development, didn’t say no, but it appears to for the entire project, the statement of defence says. be cool to the idea. Ruddy’s statement of defence suggests the two sides had a deal in That leaves the future of the plan to bring the Senators downtown and to October to make Melnyk a tenant of the arena, but Melnyk then didn’t turn a swath of contaminated land into a bustling new community more want to pay rent. doubtful as the days inch closer to a National Capital Commission meeting next month. CSMI was trying to remove itself from the RendezVous partnership but still get to use the arena for virtually nothing, the statement of defence The two businessmen, who are the main partners of RendezVous says. LeBreton Group, have the exclusive rights to redevelop the Flats, but their plan for an arena surrounded by a new mixed-use community has The statement of defence says CSMI sent a term sheet in November been cast into doubt by their imploding partnership. calling for Trinity to guarantee $500 million for the arena, while the City of Ottawa would pay half of the arena construction costs. CSMI would get Artist’s rendering of the 18,000-seat arena that would be a new free rent and have power over the naming rights, the statement of home for the Ottawa Senators, and the showpiece of the RendezVous defence says. LeBreton development. RENDEZVOUS GROUP “The proposed withdrawal conditions were commercially unreasonable,” On Tuesday, Melnyk’s company Capital Sports Management Inc. publicly the statement of defence says. “They were made in bad faith.” released its proposal after Ruddy had filed the counterclaim to an earlier $700-million lawsuit from the Sens owner. (Mayor Jim Watson has said repeatedly he won’t support municipal tax money going to build a downtown arena). THE INITIAL LAWSUIT: Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk suing partner over ‘failed’ downtown NHL arena bid Judging by the lawsuit and statement of defence, the relationship between Ruddy and Melnyk was sour from the time the NCC selected In a written statement, CSMI proposed to assign its interest to Trinity for RendezVous as the preferred proponent for the LeBreton redevelopment the residential, retail, commercial and recreational elements of the in April 2016. LeBreton Flats plan. Trinity would collect all the revenue. Ruddy’s statement of defence describes “outbursts” by Melnyk against In exchange, Trinity would finance the $500-million arena, instead of CSMI consultant and RendezVous project manager Graham Bird, CSMI. Any profits from the massive redevelopment of LeBreton Flats “culminating in an incident” at the NCC’s public announcement of would be Trinity’s alone under the CSMI pitch. RendezVous having preferred status. The statement of defence doesn’t describe the incident. CSMI fired Bird, who was then hired by Trinity. CSMI proposes to pay for the operating and life-cycle costs of the arena during the lease term. CSMI has named Bird as a defendant in the lawsuit. Bird has said the allegations are all false. Trinity swiftly criticized CSMI’s idea. According to Ruddy’s statement of defence, CSMI tried to dump Trinity “Our court filings today made clear that Mr. Melnyk and CSMI have been two months after RendezVous was named preferred proponent. demanding a free arena courtesy of local taxpayers and Trinity,” Trinity said in a written statement. “Mr. Melnyk’s letter does little more than By September 2017, Trinity and CSMI’s lawyers nailed down financing confirm that fact. On its surface, it appears nothing has changed.” for the LeBreton project, but CSMI and Melnyk failed to sign the term sheet, the statement of defence says. Meanwhile, the legal manoeuvring continued. Ruddy alleges a lack of money on CSMI’s end is driving its lawsuit. Ruddy’s counterclaim alleges the hockey magnate’s company is on shaky financial footing and has been the main reason why their LeBreton “CSMI’s conduct compels the inference that CSMI’s strained financial Flats redevelopment partnership is ruined. circumstances underlie this litigation,” the statement of defence says. “This best explains its strategic attack on Trinity. It has admitted lacking While CSMI’s original lawsuit alleged it was kept in the dark about a the cash to contribute to its joint venture obligations.” Trinity-involved development planned across from LeBreton Flats at 900 Albert St., Ruddy’s statement of defence alleges CSMI and Melnyk knew The statement of defence says CSMI has been evading its financial about the multi-tower project all along, pointing to Senators former chief obligations under the original Trinity-CSMI agreement to form executive Cyril Leeder as being “well informed” about the future 65- RendezVous. CSMI wouldn’t pay for half of the municipal planning fees, storey complex. the counterclaim says. The latest renderings by TIP Albert GP show the developer’s plans to Under Ruddy’s counterclaim, he alleges he has swallowed expenses tied build a three-tower complex with buildings of 65, 56 and 27 storeys at to the LeBreton project and he wants compensation from Melnyk and 900 Albert St. TIP ALBERT GP/CITY OF OTTAWA CSMI, to the tune of $1.005 billion. Most of the amount is tied to alleged abuse of process by CSMI and Trinity’s alleged loss of opportunity, future CSMI accuses Ruddy of using the LeBreton Flats project to bolster the profits and goodwill. 900 Albert development, but Ruddy’s statement of defence calls that poppycock. The project at 900 Albert would be “complementary” to the According to the counterclaim, Trinity has sunk about $3.8 million on the LeBreton Flats redevelopment, the statement of defence says. LeBreton project so far. Trinity has spent millions of dollars on the LeBreton Flats project and “it The legal standoff between Ruddy and Melnyk could become a sideshow would be logically absurd and financially self-destructive for Trinity to to the NCC’s job at hand: breathing life into LeBreton Flats. somehow undermine LeBreton via 900 Albert,” the statement of defence says. The NCC board of directors is scheduled to decide what to do about RendezVous during a meeting in January. The NCC will get a new CEO, None of the allegations made during this legal battle has been tested in Tobi Nussbaum, just days after the meeting. Nussbaum is replacing Mark front of a judge. Kristmanson. The runner-up in the NCC’s LeBreton Flats redevelopment competition, Devcore Canderel DLS, has indicated it’s ready to take over the project if the NCC dumps RendezVous. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121777 Ottawa Senators

Thomas Chabot's unintentional 'sick celly' a hit with Senators fans

Don Brennan

Thomas Chabot was three years old when Vince Carter — then with the Toronto Raptors — signalled victory was his at the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk contest by waiving his arms like an umpire’s “safe” sign and mouthing the words: “It’s over.” Chabot duplicated the move, then threw himself into the glass, after scoring his first NHL overtime winner on Monday night. Kids loved his “sick celly.” BRENNAN: “I have no idea where that came from, to be honest. It happened so quick,” said Chabot, who pulled back into the scoring lead among all NHL defenceman with the goal, his 36th point of the season. “From the goals I’ve scored this year (now 10), I never did one celly. I don’t know, for some reason, (Monday) night I did one. It’s not something I was thinking about or anything. “People liked it, but it wasn’t intentional.” Chabot said he saw Carter’s “it’s over” on the internet, but never thought of copying it. Nor does he plan on coming up with other cellys. “I’m not really that type,” he said. “I scored last night, we won the game and it just happened. I don’t why. Probably an emotional moment and I got into it. We’l have to see if it ever happens again.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121778 Ottawa Senators hands. He might have just been trying to whack me because he was mad. That kind of stuff happens.”

But isn’t it like going after a guy’s knee after he’s had major surgery on it? BRENNAN: "It's kind of a dumb thing to do," Ryan says of Turris slashes “Yes and no,” Ryan said. “I mean, it’s a weird situation because hands are kind of the laughing stock. Everybody makes fun of my fingers and Don Brennan hands already, so I’m very well used to it. I don’t correlate it to a major body part like a knee.

“But it’s kind of a dumb thing to do, yeah.” I believe Bobby Ryan to be a truthful man. And probably not very wise for a guy with his hand history and just But I don’t believe him for a second when he says the fight he had with coming off a concussion to fight. former teammate Kyle Turris on Monday night was all about a gutless slash or two to his hands. “You forget, right?” Ryan said. “You don’t even think. You get caught up in what’s going on, the emotion that’s happening, then your adrenalin That’s part of it, of course. Ryan had every right to be livid. But it sure kicks in. Hands and concussions were the last thing on my mind at the feels like there’s more to the story. moment, that’s for sure.” This was the first time Ryan and Turris had played against each other Ryan was asked if the scouting report on him should now include his since the latter was traded to the Nashville Predators 13 months ago. ability to land punches as a southpaw. Ryan missed the two games against the Predators last February because of one of his many hand injuries. Turris missed last week’s “I’m left-handed in everything I do but hockey … The only person who game in Nashville because of an unspecified ailment. knows that is (Senators winger Ryan Dzingel) because Zings lived with me,” he said. “I kicked his ass a few times.” Just past the 12-minute mark of the second period on Monday, Turris gave Ryan a couple of hacks near the Senators’ blue-line. Finally, Ryan Defenceman Mark Borowiecki joked that Ryan ended the bout when he finally turned around and cleaned his clock. gave Turris a “Stone Cold Stunner.” What was he thinking as he watched them duke it out? It’s bizarre to see teammates of four years go at each other like that. Especially non-fighters. It never happens. “They’re both pretty good buddies of mine. I was like, ‘No one get hurt, please,’” Borowiecki said, laughing. Did the altercation have anything to do with the divide in the Senators locker room last season caused by the feuding spouses of Erik Karlsson “I kind of saw it developing a little bit. They were giving some whacks and and Mike Hoffman? Possibly. It’s thought the Ryans and Turris were on stuff. Then it just kind of came out of nowhere. It’s one of those things. different sides. An emotional game, it boils over. It’s the way she goes, man.” Could it be two of the Senators top offensive players from 2013-17 — Senators head coach Guy Boucher also shrugged off the fight as no big linemates through much of that time — never actually liked each other? deal. That wouldn’t be a surprise. They are polar-opposite personalities. Ryan “I’ve been on the ice since i’m three years old. I’m 47. It’s been 44 years speaks his mind. He’s a guy you’d like to sit down with for a beer. Turris I’ve been in this game, so I’ve seen quite a few things,” Boucher said. is quiet and conservative. No one is less quotable. He comes across as a “There’s worse things that happen between brothers in the living room. milk and cookies type. I’m more scared of February, when we meet Calgary. Hope the Tkachuks “I had no issues with Turrey,” Ryan insisted after Tuesday’s practice. and the Stones don’t get at it because then both mothers will come after “You’re not always as close with people that you play with all the time. me.” We were teammates, did a lot of things together, played a lot of games, But to slash an ex-teammates hands when he knows full well the functions … I wouldn’t say we were overly close, but we were cordial, problems and frustrations he’s had with them? that’s for sure. “Former teammates are enemies when they get on the ice,” Boucher “Never had any issues,” he repeated, “so there’s really nothing to read said. “That’s what it is. You want to win, they want to win. I’ve got some into, fellas.” great friends in coaches and, when we go at it, we’re not friends during Perhaps the story would have been put to bed the night before had it the game. That’s how it is. It’s a business where you want to win, and all been addressed after the Senators’ 4-3 overtime victory over the the people that are in the NHL are highly, highly, highly competitive. I Predators. But, when Turris was asked about the scrap, he essentially don’t even let my kids win at table hockey. It’s not just for me, it’s for offered up no comment. everybody. You do whatever you can to win. When the game is over, it’s over. And then you can laugh about whatever, but, during the game, “It is what it is,” he said when a “just the emotions of a game” reply would nobody’s laughing.” have made you think that was all it was. Ryan and Turris weren’t laughing as they sat in the penalty box, jawing at Ryan declined media requests late Monday night. When he did stand each other. before a scrum the next day, he was not as comfortable and smooth as he usually is in such a setting. His body language suggested he’d rather “Christmas stuff, Christmas greetings,” Ryan fibbed. “I asked him what be elsewhere or discussing just about any other topic. the kids and wife were doing, he asked the same of me. Yeah … no. Just continuing the emotion from the fight.” “We just kind of got into it,” Ryan said. “Felt like he slashed me in the hands, gave him a push, he gave me another push … and it turned into a Ryan did get a charge out of the reaction from the crowd, which cheered fight. Nothing more to it, really, to be honest.” when the big screen showed him sitting in the box. Ryan played all but one game of the 2015-16 campaign. In his other four “It was cool,” he said, noting that rookie Brady Tkachuk was “fired up” as seasons with the Senators, he has missed significant time with broken well. “You can feel that energy in the building … I didn’t know I was on fingers. the screen until I looked up. To have the people excited about something like that, it’s a different part of the game that I don’t do much, so to feel “I didn’t like the slash,” he said. “(Turris) knows the history, right? He’s differently about it was fun.” been here. Felt like he got me right on the the fingers. He gave me a whack, I gave him a whack. Just kind of traded back and forth until it Has a score been settled now? became more. ” “Not for me or (Turris), no,” Ryan said, holding firm to his story. “Nothing Did it surprise you he’d go after your hands? needed to be settled, really.” “No. It wasn’t a surprise to me at all,” Ryan said. I don’t believe that for a second. It wasn’t? Why? [email protected] “Because I stole the puck from him, and Turry is always a guy that has Ryan and Turris fight cards his stick going,” Ryan said. “He’s always whacking. I don’t know if he was NHL regular-season/playoff fights for Bobby Ryan (6-foot-2, 209 pounds), mad at the play, that I came back and got the puck or whatnot, but he according to dropyourgloves.com gave be a whack. And I don’t even know if he was trying to go for my Bobby Ryan, then with Anaheim, fights Edmonto’s Steve Staios on Punches thrown/landed: None March 31, 2009. Postmedia files Outcome: Loss March 31, 2009. Anaheim-Edmonton Dec. 14, 2016. San Jose-Ottawa Opponent: Steve Staios (6-1, 200 pounds Opponent: Marc-Edouard Vlasic (6-1, 205 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: Ryan 2/2, Staios 7/3 Punches thrown/landed: None Outcome: Draw Outcome: Win Jan. 5, 2010, Detroit-Anaheim May 4, 2017. Ottawa-New York Rangers Opponent: Todd Bertuzzi (6-3, 229 pounds) Opponent: Tanner Glass (6-1, 213 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: None Punches thrown/landed: None Outcome: Draw Outcome: Loss Oct. 11, 2010. Anaheim-St. Louis Dec. 17, 2108. Nashville-Ottawa Opponent: David Perron (6-foot, 200-pounds) Opponent: Bobby Ryan (6-2, 209 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: None Punches thrown/landed: Turris 3/0, Ryan 12/2 Outcome: Draw Outcome: Loss Dec. 1. 2011: Anaheim-Nashville Career Record: 1-4-2 Opponent: Mike Fisher (6-1, 216 pounds) Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.19.2018 Punches thrown/landed: Ryan 0/0, Fisher 1/0 Outcome: Draw Feb. 29, 2012. Buffalo-Anaheim Opponent: Patrick Kaleta (6-1, 198 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: None Outcome: Unfair March 22, 2013. Detroit-Anaheim Opponent: Brendan Smith (6-2, 195 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: None Outcome: Loss March 5, 2014. Ottawa-Calgary Opponent: Kris Russell (5-10, 170 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: Ryan 7/2, Russell 3/1 Outcome: Win Dec. 17, 2018: Nashville-Ottawa Opponent: Kyle Turris (6-1, 190 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: Ryan 12/2. Turris 3/0 Outcome: Win Career Record: 2-1-4 (one “unfair) NHL regular-season/playoff fights for Kyle Turris (6-1, 190 pounds), according to dropyourgloves.com Dec. 7, 2008. Phoenix-Chicago Opponent: Kris Versteeg (5-foot-11, 176 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: Turris 6/2, Versteeg 5/2 Outcome: Draw Jan. 7. 2012. Ottawa-Philadelphia Opponent: Daniel Brière (5-9, 179 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: None Outcome: Draw May 5, 2013. Montreal-Ottawa Opponent: P.K. Subban (6-foot, 210 pounds) Punches thrown/landed: Turris 2/0, Subban 6/3 Outcome: Loss Dec. 9, 2013: Philadelphia-Ottawa Opponent: Sean Couturier (6-3, 211 pounds) 1121779 Ottawa Senators The recovery from groin injuries can be tricky, though, and there’s always a danger of pushing too hard, too soon.

“You’re always worried about that stuff, but, if you have the right routine Matt Duchene's new stage: Senators forward delivers as a musical act and the right maintenance, (the injury) shouldn’t come back,” Duchene said. “I’ve had some really good people around me, helping me out with this.” Ken Warren If there’s any remaining hesitation about the upcoming weekend, it’s that the games against the Devils and Capitals come on consecutive nights. After playing Washington on Saturday, the Senators don’t play again until If you hung around Canadian Tire Centre late enough on Monday, you Dec. 28 against the New York Islanders. might have seen Matt Duchene play. “It would be nice to have a day in between (games),” Duchene said. “But, Not hockey, mind you. with the amount of time I’ve been off and feeling as good as I do right now, that extra time (off) should fit me for a back to back.” While the Ottawa Senators star centre is optimistic the injured groin that has sidelined him for the past six games will be sufficiently healed for him Senators head coach Guy Boucher says Duchene won’t play at all if to play Friday against the Devils in New Jersey and back home Saturday there’s any concern that he won’t be able to play in both games this against the Washington Capitals, Monday’s action came on a different weekend. stage. “That’s the thing right now,” Boucher said. “If he’s in Friday, it’s because Following the Senators’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Nashville the back-to- back won’t matter.” Predators, Duchene picked up a guitar and stood behind a microphone at Bert’s bar along with the James Barker Band, which had also performed Boucher is also cautiously optimistic that defenceman Dylan DeMelo, during the first intermission. who has five games because of an upper-body injury, could also return against the Devils. BRENNAN: The Senators are 3-2-1 without Duchene and 2-2-1 minus DeMelo. Reviews were generally positive. “It has been really tough to sit and feel helpless watching the team play, “It was a lot of fun, I love it,” Duchene said of the post-National Hockey but the boys have done a good job in a lot of those games,” Duchene League game gig. “It’s a rush, for sure. I’m a big country music fan. It’s said. always fun to get up and play, especially with a talented band like those guys. Indeed, it was music to Duchene’s ears to hear the excitement following Monday’s win. The music-loving crowd at Canadian Tire Centre was in a “This was the first time I’ve heard them live. They were outstanding. It better mood, too. was really fun to play with them.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.19.2018 Senators fans are familiar with Duchene’s slick stickwork, but, when he takes a break from skating and puck handling, he likes nothing better than plucking away on a six-string. As for performing live, he acknowledged having butterflies on Monday night, but they floated away eventually. “I don’t do it (perform in front of crowds) too much, so there were a little bit of nerves,” Duchene said. “It would kind of be like playing one hockey game a year. You’re going to have nerves. But I do play quite a bit around the campfire in the summer. I really enjoy it. My dad and my grandma love playing, too. They’re both good musicians and they have no fear going up there, so I guess they passed that on to me.” Too much fun playing with the @jamesbarkerband after the game last night! Thanks for having me up boys, can’t wait to see what’s next for you guys 🤘🏻 @ Canadian Tire Centre https://t.co/6UWEDehLCP — Matt Duchene (@Matt9Duchene) December 18, 2018 As enjoyable as the live band experience was the other night, Duchene said he was more anxious to get back to his regular job. Following Tuesday’s workout, which focused primarily on skill development and for which head coach Guy Boucher and his assistants didn’t appear on the ice, Duchene said his goal was to travel with the Senators to New Jersey on Thursday. If he plays Friday, he will be far ahead of the original timetable for his recovery. During a Dec. 6 contest against the Montreal Canadiens, Duchene abruptly slowed after chasing a puck down the ice and limped to the bench in apparent discomfort. There were concerns that he could be out for an extended period of time. Two days later, general manager Pierre Dorion officially announced the problem was a groin injury and suggested Duchene could be out for “weeks.” At that point, the general assumption was that Duchene wouldn’t return before Christmas. “I’ve never pulled a groin like that,” he said. “It was kind of strange. Sometimes, there are some mechanical issues going on with your body (and) you’re out of alignment a little bit. We got that sorted out and I got some great care from our therapists here. It looked a lot worse at the start. The biggest thing is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Duchene actually resumed skating last week. At one point, he contemplated playing Saturday in Montreal against the Canadiens, then held out hope of playing Monday against the Predators. He even participated in the morning skate that day. 1121780 Ottawa Senators

HEADING BACK DOWN: Senators send Drake Batherson to AHL

Ken Warren

Drake Batherson is taking a step back, but Matt Duchene is convinced the move will eventually allow the 20-year-old winger to leap forward. “He’ll get a chance to go down there and be a stud on that team in Belleville,” the veteran National Hockey League forward said of the Ottawa Senators’ Tuesday to re-assign Batherson to the American Hockey League on Tuesday. “If he goes down there and has one more little bit of development process, I’m sure the next time he comes up, he’ll be here full time.” Batherson scored three goals and five assists in nine home games with the Senators, but had zero points in eight road games. Senators head head coach Guy Boucher says Batherson already has the defensive skills and awareness to be a reliable NHL player, but he could become dominant if he adds another layer of offensive confidence. “It’s important for him to get high minutes, with high-end pressure,” Boucher said. Before joining the Senators on Nov. 15, Batherson led AHL rookies with seven goals and 13 assists in 14 games. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121781 Ottawa Senators Tuesday’s news — and when a $1 billion lawsuit is involved, it’s going to get headlines — is yet another ring added to the circus that has unfolded over the past year, almost to the day. Eugene Melnyk sued for $1 billion while Senators fans start to stay away “Melnyk picked the wrong guy to have a fight with” was the way one from Canadian Tire Centre prominent member of the Ottawa business community put it. First thing that comes to mind is “don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.” By Chris Stevenson Dec 18, 2018 So, as both the attendance at Canadian Tire Centre and the hopes for a timely plan for a downtown rink slowly dwindle, we are left with Trinity’s allegations (none of which have been tested in court) that Melnyk does not have either a) the financial wherewithal to finance a new rink or b) the The other shoe dropped into the toxic swamp that is the LeBreton Flats willingness to fork over what money he might have as long the possibility redevelopment project Tuesday. of somebody else paying for the rink exists. The first shoe to fall was the $700 million lawsuit launched Nov. 23 by The latter looks dead which makes the former the default position until Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who sued his partner in the doomed proven otherwise. RendezVous LeBreton coalition, Trinity Development Group and honcho John Ruddy, over Ruddy’s big development adjacent to the LeBreton That’s pretty much what Trinity’s statement of defence and countersuit footprint. claim: “CSMI’s conduct compels the inference that CSMI’s strained financial circumstances underlie this litigation. This best explains its Melnyk and his Capital Sports Management, Inc., accused Ruddy and strategic attack on Trinity. It has admitted lacking the cash to contribute Trinity of using insider information in the development at 900 Albert, a to its joint venture obligations.” project CSMI said it didn’t know about and will undermine the value of the LeBreton Flats project. So, after saying CSMI doesn’t have the cash to float its share of the LeBreton deal, Trinity accused Melnyk of trying to get Trinity or Ottawa That shoe looks like a ballerina’s slipper after Ruddy dropped a steel- taxpayers to foot the bill for the rink. toed construction boot with his $1 billion countersuit against Melnyk and his Capital Sports Management, Inc. (CSMI) on Tuesday. “CSMI’s and Melnyk’s true aim is to have the City of Ottawa or Trinity fund and build the $500 million event centre for the Ottawa Senators Ed Belfour would be proud. hockey team, with the Senators getting 30 years’ free rent. CSMI also wants the valuable naming rights and an unreasonable degree of control By the time Tuesday afternoon rolled around, Melnyk and CSMI had over the Lebreton project,” the lawsuit alleges. offered what was called a “resolution to the impasse on the LeBreton Flats project.” That’s not a good look given taxpayers have already forked out $2 billion and counting for the Confederation Line of the LRT which will service Under the heading “Putting Our Capital First,” CSMI put out a media LeBreton Flats and potentially carry hundreds of thousands of hockey release in which it said it would assign the profits it was going to realize fans to and from Senators games on the site. from its share of the retail, office, residential and recreational components of the real estate project (projected at about $450 million to Not to mention what the National Capital Commission has already spent $500 million), which was going to use to help fund half the cost of the on surveys, consultations, negotiating with various stakeholders and arena, to Trinity in exchange for Trinity building the arena. figuring out what it’s going to cost to clean up the site before construction can begin. The thinking: if 900 Albert is going to be complementary to the LeBreton Flats project and enhance the value of both projects, as Trinity contends Not that I blame Melnyk for asking somebody else to foot the bill for his in its lawsuit, then it should jump at the chance to grab CSMI’s share of new rink. If you can get somebody else to pay for it and give you a the profits. sweetheart lease for 30 years, why not? In exchange, Melnyk wants to play at the rink rent-free. He’d pick up all The worst they can do is say no, which is what both have done, to this the expenses that come with the upkeep and the running of an NHL team point. out of the building. Given we are about one year removed from the nadir of Melnyk’s CSMI pointed out Melnyk would never have owned the arena. It would ownership, which occurred with his threat on the eve of the NHL’s have been owned “by an arms’ length, not-for-profit entity known as a showcase Centennial outdoor game to move if attendance didn’t Municipal Capital Facility, that is separate and unrelated to the Senators improve, it is interesting to note attendance at Canadian Tire Centre is and Eugene Melnyk. The idea was never to fund a property owned by down about 1,000 fans per game, on average, from last season. Eugene Melnyk or CSMI, but to reinvest funds into a venue whose purpose was to revitalize and serve the community.” The Senators averaged 14,335 fans through 18 home games this season, down from an average of 15,422 last season (which was down Because of the proximity of the 900 Albert project, CSMI has held the about 1,300 a game in the regular season from the 2016-17 season). value of its share of the LeBreton development would be diluted and there wouldn’t be enough profit to fund the arena. CSMI said if Trinity Here’s a look at Senators attendance over the years: argues 900 Albert will complement and enhance the value of the LeBreton project, then it should be willing to accept the deal. (Source: Ottawa Senators Media Guide) The CSMI proposal basically challenges Trinity to put its money where its According to Vividseats.com, the average price of a sold ticket for a lawsuit is. Senators game is $93 US (which seems high, but I digress), a decline of 15 per cent from last season (only the Edmonton Oilers, New York From the press release: Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils have experienced greater declines). Something like this had been kicked around since early October. According to the statement of defence filed by Trinity on Tuesday, The actual number of tickets that are paid for isn’t made public, but given Melnyk, in a meeting that included the mayor and the NCC’s CEO, the offers season ticket holders were given for free or massively proposed Oct. 4 that Trinity spend $500 million US to build a new rink discounted tickets, it’s a good bet the paid attendance is significantly less with the Senators paying annual rent of $1. The claim says Melnyk than the announced attendance. proposed Trinity become the master developer of the project. Even if we are to take the attendance figures at face value, the Senators The next day, the two sides agreed to negotiate CSMI’s withdrawal from are down about $125,000 CDN a game (not to mention the other revenue the RendezVous LeBreton Group and become a tenant in the proposed like parking and concessions that go with each fan in attendance). arena. But three days later, Trinity alleges, Melnyk advised he “would not Project that over a 41-game home schedule and that’s a hit of about $5 be submitting any terms beyond requiring a rent free arena.” million in lost revenue, just from ticket sales alone. On Oct. 16, Trinity proposed a deal in which it would use some of its And that’s being quite conservative. profits from the master development to defray CSMI’s rent, but Melnyk was holding out for a rent-free deal. If this season was another referendum on Melnyk’s ownership (as if another was needed) Senators fans have voted with their wallets. If, as Trinity didn’t go for it in October and it’s not going for it now. Its statement Trinity’s state of defence claims, CSMI has “strained financial Tuesday: circumstances,” the plunging attendance can only be worsening the situation. The NCC has a meeting scheduled for January where it will decide what to do next. Devcore Canderel, the runner-up to the RendezVous LeBreton bid, is just waiting for the tap on the shoulder. Ruddy said Tuesday he’s willing to work with anybody to make this project happen: the NCC, the City of Ottawa and the community. Melnyk has challenged Ruddy to stand by his belief 900 Albert is a complement to LeBreton and not a couple of towers that will put LeBreton in their shadow, but Trinity isn’t biting. LeBreton is flat. And it doesn’t appear like there is any higher, common ground. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121782 Philadelphia Flyers “He communicates well with his players,” said Travis Sanheim, who'd played for Gordon at Lehigh Valley. “He tells them what he expects from them. It was obviously a different situation down there. There are McCaffery: For new Flyers coach Gordon, another challenge to survive younger players. They need that communication. And he'd work with them, go over video, little things like that. That's what I remember of him. And he definitely helped me out a lot.” By Jack McCaffery That's Gordon's reputation, and it is a good one, that he communicates with players, before games, after games, during games. He has been known to connect, too, with the fans, through his open, public personality. Not that it was the reason he failed, but Hakstol showed none of that. VOORHEES, N.J. — Scott Gordon was made to play 23 games in the NHL. That would have been him in a goalie mask and pads, the ultimate So, the usual: Change. That would begin with the Flyers promoting victim of Quebec Nordiques teams that won 12 times one year and 16 Gordon's Phantoms goalie, Carter Hart, to the Flyers at the age of 20. times the next. That would have been him ducking. That would have been him, just trying to survive. Fair? Fair? Who's to say? Who's to say? Major-league reality? Major-league hockey reality? Of course. Of course. “We need to get everybody going,” Gordon said. “That's the objective of any coach.” “I live my life day to day,” said Gordon, who one year was 2-8 for the Nords, the next 0-8. “I don't worry about the future. I didn't have that That, and trying to survive. benefit when I was playing. I always felt that I was the next cut. As it is in coaching, we are hired to be fired.” Delaware County Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 With that Tuesday, Gordon established a record, even in the NHL, where pucks and coaching careers whistle by in a hurry. He'd just coached the Flyers through one morning skate, not a game, not a game, not a game, and already he was bracing for the inevitable. At some point, he will wind up like Dave Hakstol, who was fired Monday and replaced by Gordon. Technically, Gordon is an interim coach. Aren't they all? Bill Barber's retired No. 7 hangs from the Wells Fargo Center ceiling, and he was given 136 games as the Flyers' coach before being shouted out of the building by his players. Craig Berube, who tried to win Stanley Cups for the Flyers with his chin first, was fired. Career coaches have been fired. Newcomers. Hakstol, who'd been a college coach. Peter Laviolette, who had won a Stanley Cup coaching Carolina, was fired here all of three games into a season. So why should Gordon stress over the reality that he won't necessarily be around the Skate Zone long enough to become a franchise legend? All he knew Tuesday was that he was back in the NHL, where he'd once played to horrid results, and where he once coached the New York Islanders without much more success. As recently as the weekend, Gordon was coaching the Phantoms, trying to salvage whatever was left of 's eternal plan to rebuild. There, in Allentown, he'd been successful, winning 47 games last season and finishing first in the AHL's Atlantic Division. But if the call he'd received Sunday wasn't enough of a message, he figured he'd receive one Tuesday night, when he'd coach the Flyers against the visiting Detroit Red Wings. That order: Win. Not develop. Not find out about players. Not try to learn on the job. Win, as Ed Snider used to say. “It was unexpected,” Gordon said. “Obviously, there was a lot going on. You hear about it. But it didn't involve me. Finally, I got a call just before we went on the ice to practice from Chuck (Fletcher) and asked me about the coaching position.” By then, there were already printed reports that Joel Quenneville would ultimately coach the Flyers, making it one more stop on his way to the Hall of Fame. When the money and the timing are right, the Flyers are expected to go that way. Why not? Quenneville has won one more Stanley Cup as a coach than they have won in their history. But Gordon will have the first opportunity to remake the Flyers into contenders. So that was him on the ice early Tuesday, in a morning skate that almost seemed more like a practice. “The first thing I did was talk to all the captains, and a couple guys I knew from previous years, like JVR (James van Riemsdyk) and A-Mac (Andrew MacDonald), who I knew from the past,” said Gordon, once an assistant with the Maple Leafs. “I wanted to know what they thought was going on. I think the biggest thing is I don't want to complicate things right now.” The way the Flyers have it figured, their path back to contention is not that complicated. They felt all along that they had the right mix, and that even though they'd won three of their last 14, a new voice would help. The 1990 Quebec Nordiques, they are not. And even if they were straddling expectations and development, Gordon was a reasonable replacement for Hakstol, a former NHL head coach with the practical, immediate connection to their top farm team. And, really, could it be worse? 1121783 Philadelphia Flyers As quiet as the game had gone, however, when the Red Wings pulled goalie Jonathan Bernier in the final-minute, it was time for Hart to shine. Just as Gordon thought he would. Flyers' Hart, Gordon both heading in right direction after dual debut "My heart was really racing when they pulled the goalie," Hart said. "Maybe at the beginning, too, and then once I got that first save out of the way I just kind of settled in." By Rob Parent That first game out of the way, it remains to be seen if the young goalie should start feeling comfortable here. He's up because of injuries to Brian Elliott and Anthony Stolarz, and even though Michal Neuvirth is back and PHILADELPHIA — He might be working with an "interim" label sewn to healthy enough to back him up this game, well, let's just say Hart should his blazer, but Scott Gordon knew why he was at Wells Fargo Center be busy over the holiday season. For the Flyers, they need all the Tuesday night - to provide direction to his budding star goalie and to a support they can get from him, too. team he still needs to get to know better. "He made some saves to kind of motivate us," Claude Giroux said of For starters, Gordon seemed to do just that in what became a 3-2 win Hart. "For a 20-year-old goalie, it’s pretty impressive how calm he is in over the Detroit Red Wings. His top student, Carter Hart, who essentially there. I know it’s only one game, but he was solid." came up from the Phantoms with Gordon, held strong late in the third period with a couple of critical saves to become the youngest goalie ever Delaware County Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 to win his debut game in a Flyers uniform. For the past three months in the Lehigh Valley and now with both wearing Flyers garb and titles, Gordon has offered guidance to Hart, the most hyped prospect here in years, even if you'd never know it to talk to him. Gordon talked to him after he pulled Hart twice this season. He talked to him again after their first Flyers practice Monday, telling him twice that day that he was going to be the Tuesday night starter. But Gordon's guidance can sometimes range just a bit outside. "Driving here last night, I was speaking to the captains and a couple of players that I knew," Gordon said. "I was into the conversations so much that I looked up and I see a casino in front of me. I had driven to Atlantic City on the way to Voorhees. "So it's been a bit of a whirlwind here." Fooled by a GPS that didn't know one Skate Zone from another didn't faze Gordon, it just delayed his arrival a bit. But he had little doubt that Hart's arrival was going to be perfectly timed. "I thought Carter's best hockey was the last two weeks," Gordon said of Hart, who fashioned a 4-1 record with a 1.80 goals-against average and .930 saves percentage over his last five Phantoms games. Gordon added that he was against the idea of Hart being promoted before that recent uptick in the goalie's game. But now, "the way he's playing, it was a better time. Is it the right time? We'll find out down the road here. But certainly that was a great first game for him." As he responded positively to the times that Gordon pulled him from the crease then talked about it afterward, Hart responded similarly to this challenge, shaking off early nerves to make 20 saves en route to the win. "It was something special tonight, just to be out there," Hart said. "I was trying not to think about it too much before the game and just prepare like it was any other game. But now it's starting to sink in a little bit. When I saw my mom on TV there and my billet Parker and my dad, they all made the trip, I'm just lucky that I got to share this experience with the people that have supported me my whole life and have sacrificed a lot for me." Hart's support group of his parents and "another grandfather" billet Parker Fowlds flew in from Edmonton and Seattle, respectively. As for that other familiar supporter, well, Gordon was driving here anyway. Eventually. Despite it being his first game as an NHL head coach in more than eight years, he said he wasn't lost in the moment. "I guess it's because there's been so much going on," he said. You could say that. The Flyers had won just three times in their prior 14 games. They were coming off an ugly western road trip that opened new general manager Chuck Fletcher's eyes to how often this club makes bad mistakes in its own zone and has a team-wide confidence as fragile as Gordon's GPS. So Dave Hakstol's eventual firing was expedited to Monday, and with goalie injuries mounting the dual arrivals from up the Northeast Extension found themselves in one of the most spotlighted Flyers games of this shaky season. Which seemed fine with the kid goalie. "I didn't really sleep much last night," Hart said. "I just kind of tried to follow my routine and try to keep a quiet mind come and prepare the same as I always do, and the boys did a really good job of shutting them down." 1121784 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers Notebook: Carter Hart hype can't mask Flyers' air of desperation

By Rob Parent

PHILADELPHIA — There was plenty of pre-game video hype and a perceptible feeling of anticipation in Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night, which had to have had something to do with the fact that the Flyers had finally fired head coach Dave Hakstol the day before. But the NHL debut of wunderkind goaltending prospect Carter Hart was really stirring the senses. And considering the huge (read: desperate) Christmas ticket sales push being put on by the organization, don't think it was an accident that the presence of the Phantoms goalie grad and his head coach there/current interim head coach Scott Gordon coincided with the Flyers' first home game in 12 days. "It'll be nice to see what the kid can do," Wayne Simmonds had said of Hart after Monday's practice. "But it starts in front of him. We know he can stop the puck; he’s been doing a great job.” For this game, ludicrously hailed in the Twittersphere as a "NEW ERA OF FLYERS HOCKEY!" on the team account and on the club's top Twitter cheerleader NBC Sports Philadelphia (known during its more objective days as Comcast SportsNet), there was still one bottom line beneath all the happy news about the new guys in the room: The Flyers were going into this game against Detroit riding almost off the rails with a backslide of 11 losses in 14 games. That had left the Flyers at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. "It's been, I think, the weirdest season in my career since I entered the league," said Jake Voracek, who was playing in his 800th career game at the age of 29. "In talking about it with the guys, I think it's rock bottom. So right now we can just (go) up." They were hoping to do just that in the 32nd game of the season against the Red Wings, who at 14-15-5, 33 points coming into the game were actually overachieving. The Flyers, 12-15-4 coming into Tuesday, haven't terribly underachieved no matter what they've looked like of late. Last Dec. 16, they took down Dallas in Game 32 for their sixth straight win and a 14-11-7 mark. So a win over the Red Wings would leave them five points off their pace of a year ago. Remember, that's with an inordinate (yes, even for the Flyers) string of goalie injuries, which besides this sagging organization's need to sell tickets and get itself at least somewhat back into the city's sports psyche, was the main reason Carter Hart was making his NHL debut Tuesday night. Hart's start made the Flyers the first team in NHL history to start six goalies in the first 35 games of a season. "I really believe that we weren’t far off," Claude Giroux said. "Obviously, our record doesn’t speak (to) it, for itself. But we've played some strong games and we just couldn’t get that one bounce or that one win to kind of get us going. "We’ve been in this position before. We’ve climbed out of it before. Obviously, there’s a lot of things going on right now in management and coaching and all that stuff, but for us, we just go back to work, get a win, and get our confidence back." Travis Konecny echoed that sentiment. "As a player, you've kind of just continue to go about your job," he said. "I don't think we did a good enough job with that. It's gut-check time. We'll see how we are. We definitely have to step up to the plate." Delaware County Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121785 Philadelphia Flyers Gostisbehere took the pass from Nolan Patrick and placed it perfectly over Bernier's shoulder.

It was Gostisbehere's first goal in 16 games and it's my firm belief that he Flyers 3, Red Wings 2: Carter Hart provides needed jolt in NHL debut gains confidence from his offense and that carries over into his defensive play. By John Boruk December 18, 2018 Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018

Clinging onto a one-goal lead over the final 18 minutes of regulation, rookie Carter Hart made the game-clinching save with seven seconds remaining in regulation. Hart won his NHL debut Tuesday night as the Flyers snapped a four- game losing streak by beating the Red Wings, 3-2. It was also interim head coach Scott Gordon's Flyers debut. Which defenseman stepped up and what were Hart’s biggest saves of the game? Hart watch First period Hart faced one shot in the opening 11 minutes and did a solid job of redirecting shots to the boards. He looked very composed and confident in net. Best save: On a Dylan Larkin snap shot from the high danger area between the circles. Carter Hart is gonna have to get used to this pretty quickly. God awful clear attempt by Gudas on the penalty kill ends up with a prime chance for Larkin, and then Carter Hart with a big time save in his debut pic.twitter.com/B5i9wejeeB

— Jordie  (@BarstoolJordie) December 19, 2018 Second period Hart allowed his first NHL goal on a Red Wings power play. The Flyers' PK collapsed, which left a lot of open real estate between the top of the circles and the blue line. That allowed Dennis Cholowski to skate in and fire a perfectly placed shot past Hart's blocker. Credit goes to Thomas Vanek for shielding Hart, who couldn't make the split-second adjustment. Best save: Came in the final minute when he denied Gustav Nyquist on back-to-back shots. The first one was a big blast from the left circle. Until that sequence, Hart went nine minutes without making a save. Third period Considering this was the Flyers' first two-goal lead since the Calgary collapse, the Flyers had a poor response to start the opening two minutes of the third period when they could have put the game away. Phil Varone sent the puck up the boards but couldn't get it out of the zone, which led to Detroit's second goal. That allowed a centering pass to Jacob de la Rose from behind the net and a Red Wings goal that Hart didn't have much time to react to. Hart got away with one when he rimmed the puck along the boards, a pass that was intercepted. Only a misfire from Tyler Bertuzzi prevented this from being a tied game. Best save: Came when Hart kicked out the left pad on Martin Frk's big blast from the right circle with 10:15 remaining in regulation. Here are the rest of my observations from the game: • The Flyers took a lead into the first intermission for just the second time in 15 games after James van Riemsdyk redirected Claude Giroux's shot from the point, but I give Travis Konecny much of the credit. Konecny cleared out the area in front of Jonathan Bernier, taking defenseman Niklas Kronwall with him and allowing JVR to slide into the low slot for the easy deflection. JVR STRIKES! Flyers are up 1-0. pic.twitter.com/kZQ2jEwH3D — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 19, 2018 • Could it be that Travis Sanheim is the Flyers' most confident defenseman right now? It sure seems that way. I don’t see much hesitation in his game. It was also good to see Gordon keep Sanheim out there with Ivan Provorov in the final minutes to protect the lead. • In the second period, the Flyers perfectly executed a 4-on-2 rush with Shayne Gostisbehere, the trailer, coming down the middle of the ice. 1121786 Philadelphia Flyers In Game 32 of the 2018-19 season, Carter Hart, at 20 years old, wins his NHL debut, stopping 20 of 22 shots, including a big save in final seconds.

Chuck Fletcher is GM. Scott Gordon is head coach. Flyers' Carter Hart makes exciting NHL debut at Wells Fargo Center Truly a new era of Flyers hockey, huh?

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 19, 2018 By Jordan Hall December 18, 2018 "It has been a while since we've heard some 'Let's Go Flyers' chants, so it's pretty nice. The kid is giving us something right now. He's giving us It was Carter Hart mania at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night. some energy, a jolt, something this team desperately needed." The prized prospect deemed goalie of the future made his NHL debut at - Shayne Gostisbehere on Carter Hart at second intermission just 20 years old. — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 19, 2018 And while the Flyers have struggled and gone through a roller-coaster Carter Hart. pic.twitter.com/ENyaMVVDEM ride of changes — resulting in an emptier arena compared to years past — fans were noticeably excited to see Hart grace the net. — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 19, 2018 He received loud cheers when he was announced as the starting goalie. Carter Hart made a save. The crowd cheered. His mom looked relieved. After puck drop, a Carter Hart chant broke out in one section. His first #flyers save drew applause and his mother Shauna was emotional as she watched during the first period. — Taryn Hatcher (@TarynNBCS) December 19, 2018 Hart finished with 20 saves on 22 shots and made a big stop in the final Carter Hart taking the ice for his NHL debut#LetsGoFlyers seven seconds to secure the Flyers' 3-2 win over the Red Wings (see pic.twitter.com/Zxf2tA2hUx observations). — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 19, 2018 It was a fun atmosphere.  Carter Cam  Hart warms up for his big NHL debut! Watch on NBC Let's take a look at the sights and scenes: Sports Philadelphia or stream on the #MyTeams App. https://t.co/S7tLqRLKQ3 Carter Hart's mom is crying so now we're crying. — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 18, 2018 She was overwhelmed with emotion watching her son make his NHL debut ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zWoNiFCvSp .@Flyers goaltender Carter Hart takes the ice for his @NHL debut. #gottahavehart pic.twitter.com/6hFGfFPsFU — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 19, 2018 — Michael Barkann (@MBarkannNBCS) December 19, 2018 Carter Hart makes a save and his mom reacts accordingly  pic.twitter.com/jSGxaVIufK IT’S ❤️❤️ TIME pic.twitter.com/hOJaXqNaVx — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 19, 2018 — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 19, 2018 We know you all watched it live, but in case you want to see it again, F U T U R E . #DETvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/atpYbBu5Gu here's all the action from Carter Hart's successful NHL — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 18, 2018 debut.https://t.co/xwyh2bXLGZ  Hot off the press.  pic.twitter.com/cSoCCntsQG — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 19, 2018 — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 18, 2018 20 year old Carter Hart is youngest Flyers goalie ever to win NHL debut Carter Hart color vs black & white pic.twitter.com/erSYJ5lotH His parents came from Canada to see his debut. They were emotional seeing him for the first time after the game — Kate Frese (@KateFresePhoto) December 19, 2018 “Im so proud of you. Sorry I’m crying. I’ll keep it together”#LetsGoFlyers Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 pic.twitter.com/vFSFSnDYCy — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 19, 2018 Our Hart's are so full at this moment. See more in the next #FlyersTV Original. pic.twitter.com/Y4l3gKrPih — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 19, 2018 First game. First win. First star. #DETvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/oY8GM8WIvq — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 19, 2018 The future is here... and he brought a W. pic.twitter.com/6Xt8i7GIjg — Taryn Hatcher (@TarynNBCS) December 19, 2018 You only get one first win. Enjoy it. #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/YrVrjIOkgk — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 19, 2018 "He's got ice in his veins." - James van Riemsdyk on Carter Hart pic.twitter.com/IW2nb9N54z — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 19, 2018 Carter Hart is youngest goalie in Flyers history to win his NHL debut (20 years, 127 days), 5th-youngest goalie since 1996-97 to win NHL debut, and youngest since Carey Price (20 years, 55 days) on Oct. 10, 2007. — Tom Dougherty (@todougherty) December 19, 2018 1121787 Philadelphia Flyers • Have a minus-20 goal differential • Have 4 power-play goals in 35 chances Flyers vs. Red Wings: Live stream, storylines, game time and more — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 18, 2018 • The Flyers, on a four-game losing streak, have not lost five straight this season. Over the four-game skid, they're allowing 5.5 goals per game. By Jordan Hall December 18, 2018 Projected lineup

Forwards For the first time since Oct. 8, 2015, Dave Hakstol will not be behind the Flyers' bench for a regular-season game. Claude Giroux-Nolan Patrick-Travis Konecny Instead, the Scott Gordon era (if we can call it that) begins Tuesday night Wayne Simmonds-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek when the Flyers (12-15-4) host the Red Wings (14-15-5). James van Riemsdyk-Scott Laughton-Michael Raffl Let's look at the essentials: Oskar Lindblom-Phil Varone-Dale Weise • When: 7 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live at 6:30 p.m. Defensemen • Where: Wells Fargo Center Travis Sanheim-Ivan Provorov • Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia Robert Hagg-Shayne Gostisbehere • Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the NBC Sports MyTeams app Andrew MacDonald-Radko Gudas • Familiarity with the organization was a major reason why general Goalies manager Chuck Fletcher wanted Gordon for the Flyers' interim head Carter Hart coaching job. Michal Neuvirth The fact that he's been in the organization I believe will allow him to get up to speed quicker than bringing in somebody from the outside. Yet, he Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 wasn’t here on a daily basis, so there's some distance — if that makes sense. Close enough, yet far enough away. I think that brings, hopefully, an opinion that we need, a voice that we need. Bringing in a coach on the fly during the thick of a season is never easy, but one that has some history with the current players is a plus. Nine players in the Flyers' projected lineup Tuesday have played at least one game for Gordon at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. But the familiarity doesn't end there. Gordon was an assistant with the Maple Leafs from 2011 to 2014. James van Riemsdyk scored 30 goals for Toronto in 2013-14. "We also want to get JVR going, he's a big guy for us," Gordon said Tuesday after morning skate. "I coached him in Toronto, I know how good he can be." Van Riemsdyk has three goals and four assists through 15 games this season. At times, he's been hardly noticeable on the ice. Last game, he played just 13:32 and was a minus-3 in the 5-1 loss to the Canucks. Having Gordon understand van Riemsdyk's strengths should only help spark the Flyers' winger, but we'll have to wait and see what he can do differently with JVR. • Since Nov. 23, the Flyers' penalty kill has ranked seventh in the NHL at 86.2 percent. Still, it sits 30th overall at 73.5 percent and has been a problem since 2014-15 under assistant coach Ian Laperriere. With time, could Gordon have an impact on the PK? According to Tony Androckitis of InsideAHLHockey.com, Gordon used a penalty-kill style that had some unorthodox qualities and was predicated on understanding pressure. In his overall system, Gordon said he doesn't want to throw too much at once at the Flyers. "We did a couple of things today that we'll try to implement tonight," Gordon said Tuesday, "and then we'll see where we're at after the game." • In terms of noteworthiness, Carter Hart's NHL debut will trump Gordon's Flyers debut. That's because Hart is viewed as the goalie of the future and is only 20 years old (see story). There will be a buzz tonight at the Wells Fargo Center solely because of Hart. • Here's a look at where the Flyers have been since Nov. 13, trends that ultimately led to Hakstol's firing. Since Nov. 13, the #Flyers ... • Haven't won consecutive games. • Are 3-8-3 with 9 points. 1121788 Philadelphia Flyers

Notable comparisons for Flyers goalie Carter Hart's path to NHL at 20 years old

By John Boruk December 18, 2018

VOORHEES, N.J. — This has always been the goal for the man in goal. Carter Hart will make his much-anticipated NHL debut Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. It’s a moment he will never forget, but one he feels he’s been prepared for following a remarkable and distinguished four-year career with the of the . “It’s something I’ve dreamt of as a kid,” Hart said Monday (see story). “I’ve always wanted to be an NHL hockey player since I was 4 years old.” Hart has long considered Montreal’s Carey Price as a measuring stick of how he views his NHL path. Here’s a comparison of Hart and other notable goaltenders around the league: Hart makes his NHL debut 127 days into his 20th birthday. Maxime Ouellet was the youngest in franchise history at 19 years, 112 days. Ouellet played two games with the Flyers in 2000 and was out of the NHL at the age of 24. If Hart’s NHL debut doesn’t go as planned, then his coach Scott Gordon, a former NHL goalie, can provide some insight into the struggles of an up-and-coming goaltender. Gordon surrendered five goals in his first NHL game at the age of 26. A week later, on his 27th birthday, Gordon was ripped apart for 12 goals against the Washington Capitals. NHL goaltenders develop differently. Hall of Famer Patrick Roy needed just one AHL game in his illustrious career while current Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne played 145 games over three seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. No Flyers goaltender has ever won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. Ron Hextall came the closest in 1987 when he finished second to Luc Robitaille. More recently, Sergei Bobrovsky was seventh in Calder Trophy voting in 2011. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121789 Philadelphia Flyers summer of 2017. He has denied wrongdoing in the reported cocaine ring. The report from MTV says police raided Lehterä’s cottage in Tampere over the summer. How much difference can a new voice in Scott Gordon make for Flyers? “I just want to say you guys are gonna see I haven’t done anything wrong,” Lehterä said back in September. Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 3:04 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2018 The NHL opened its own investigation on the matter at that time and there is no update on it. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Courier-Post the “investigation remains open and ongoing.” VOORHEES — Most interim coaches come in without much knowledge It is unclear how the Flyers will proceed as Lehterä is reportedly due in of the players they are about to coach. Scott Gordon’s scenario taking court on Dec. 31, when the Flyers are set to play the Carolina Hurricanes over as bench boss of the Flyers was much different. on the road and in Nashville the following day. Lehterä was a healthy scratch Tuesday and has played in one of the last three contests prior to In previous organizations he had coached James van Riemsdyk and Tuesday’s game against the Red Wings. Andrew MacDonald. He coached eight more players on the Flyers’ roster when he was with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and same goes for Courier-Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 Corban Knight and Anthony Stolarz, who are on injured reserve. Gordon replaced Dave Hakstol on Monday and, as general manager Chuck Fletcher put it, Gordon is “Close enough, yet far enough away,” to the Flyers to both have a running start and bring fresh perspective. “It’s gonna be a big challenge, absolutely, but I think he’s the right guy to do it,” said Robert Hägg, who played two seasons under Gordon in Lehigh Valley. “He’s gonna do it his way. Him and Dave are completely opposite of each other, I would say. Scott shows more emotion on the bench and in the dressing room and I think that’s what we need right now. We need something to spark. I think this will work good.” “I think as a coach you have to be who you are,” Gordon said. “It’s a little bit different when you’re dealing with younger players because a lot of the younger players that are down in the American League have never been told no. Sometimes they are hard conversations, but you have the players’ best interest at heart. Hopefully they find value in what you’re saying.” Entering Tuesday’s game, the Flyers were eight points out of a playoff spot and had won only three of their previous 14 games. In that span they have fired a head coach, assistant coach, general manager and assistant general manager. All four positions were replaced. They also used five goalies in that time span and Carter Hart, the second-youngest to ever be between the pipes for the Flyers, made it six with his debut Tuesday. Blink and you’ll miss something, either on the ice or off. “I don’t think it could get any weirder than, this but it all ends up with the players in this room,” Hägg said. “If we won every single game, there wouldn’t be anything different. We need to start winning games, otherwise it’s just going to keep staying this way and it’s just gonna get weirder.” As the players are auditioning for Fletcher, who keeps saying his evaluations are with the February 25 trade deadline in mind, Gordon is auditioning to have the interim tag removed from his title. “I don’t worry about the future,” he said. “I didn’t have that benefit when I was playing. I always felt like I was the next cut, so as it is with coaching, we are hired to be fired.” Such is life with the Flyers these days. They have a huge hill to climb to get back into a playoff race, even in the worst division in the NHL. Thirty-six points is enough for third place in the Metropolitan Division these days where every other division requires at least five more points for third. So the pressure is on, but Gordon wants to see how much he can tone that down because, “I don’t think anybody performs well when there’s forced pressure.” On the fly, he will try to implement some tweaks and systems changes in limited practice time amid a busy schedule with three more games before the Christmas break. “I think the biggest thing is I don’t want to complicate things right now and overload them with changes that maybe might not be necessary,” Gordon said. “I want to get a feel of what’s going on live. My message to the team — and to all the guys’ credit, they feel good about the group which is encouraging. You’re not coming into a situation where everyone is beat up and woe is me, that type of mentality. I was encouraged by the things the guys had to say. We just have to find a way to right the ship.” Lehterä reportedly due in Finnish court Flyers forward Jori Lehterä is soon due in court in his home country of Finland, according to a report from Finnish news service MTV. Lehterä, who turns 31 on Sunday, was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in the 1121790 Philadelphia Flyers Goalie 35-Jimmy Howard Flyers vs. Red Wings: Game 32 preview, line combos, broadcast info (45-Jonathan Bernier) Injuries/suspensions Dave Isaac, Dec. 18, 2018 D Mike Green – ankle injury, out three to five weeks RW Anthony Mantha – broken hand, out four to six weeks The Flyers will play the first game of the Carter Hart Era Tuesday against D Danny DeKeyser – hand injury, out four to six weeks the Detroit Red Wings. LW Darren Helm – shoulder injury, out six to eight weeks Tonight: Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings Courier-Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 Site: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia Pa. Time: 7 p.m. TV/Radio: NBCSP, 97.5 FM Records: Flyers 12-15-2 | Red Wings 14-15-5 Last game: Flyers lost 5-1 in VAN on Sat. | Red Wings lost 4-3 to NYI on Sat. Bovada odds: Flyers -1.5 | O/U 6.5 It will be a night of firsts as Carter Hart is expected to make his NHL debut and his coach, Scott Gordon, follows him from the AHL to the NHL to take over for Dave Hakstol. It's another attempt at a shake-up for a Flyers team that finds itself dead last in the Eastern Conference. "Obviously as players we’re the ones going out on the ice and performing every night," Wayne Simmonds said. "To be quite frank, it hasn’t been good enough this year. As a result of that, a man loses his job and you feel bad. We’ve got to take responsibility in that, too." FLYERS PROJECTED LINEUP Forwards 28-Claude Giroux, 19-Nolan Patrick, 11-Travis Konecny 93-Jake Voracek, 14-Sean Couturier, 17-Wayne Simmonds 25-James van Riemsdyk, 21-Scott Laughton, 12-Michael Raffl 23-Oskar Lindblom, 44-Phil Varone, 22-Dale Weise Defense 9-Ivan Provorov & 6-Travis Sanheim 47-Andrew MacDonald & 3-Radko Gudas 8-Robert Hägg & 53-Shayne Gostisbehere Goalie 79-Carter Hart (30-Michal Neuvirth) Injuries/suspensions G Brian Elliott – lower-body injury, week-to-week G Anthony Stolarz – lower-body injury, out two to four weeks F Corban Knight – collarbone surgery, out two months D Samuel Morin – surgery to repair torn ACL, injured reserve F Pascal Laberge – hip surgery, season opening injured reserve RED WINGS PROJECTED LINEUP Forwards 14-Gustav Nyquist, 71-Dylan Larkin, 8-Justin Abdelkader 72-Andreas Athanasiou, 51-Frans Nielsen, 70-Christoffer Ehn 59-Tyler Bertuzzi, 41-Luke Glendening, 27-Michael Rasmussen 26-Thomas Vanek, 61-Jacob De La Rose, 42-Martin Frk Defense 21-Dennis Cholowski & 83-Trevor Daley 55-Niklas Kronwall & 3-Nick Jensen 52-Jonathan Ericsson & 17-Filip Hronek 1121791 Philadelphia Flyers His style is both innovative and adaptive. San Antonio Rampage assistant coach Ryan Ward, who was Gordon’s video coach in Long Island, said Gordon is as self-sufficient and forward-thinking as any What the Flyers can expect from new coach Scott Gordon coach he’s ever come across. Not only was he someone who was tracking shot attempts back during his coaching days in Providence long before the use of such metrics By Katie Strang Dec 18, 2018 became part of the mainstream, Gordon was always someone who kept himself ahead of the technology so that he could find new ways to present information to his players, doing digital video off Adobe before any of the video editing software available to coaches now was ever in It was a Saturday night after a game in Providence, with one particularly use. aggrieved player blowing off steam about his lack of ice time. That player was directing his ire at Scott Gordon, complaining to his head coach He’s also a collaborative worker who believes that growth and success about his diminished role and demanding to know why he wasn’t getting can be found by thinking outside the box and challenging conventional the sort of opportunities he felt he deserved. thought. Throw out an idea, a play, a systemic suggestion, and he’ll often come back with a “why” or “how”. Not because he’s doubting the input, It was a heated exchange, one in which Gordon could have easily fired but because he wants to hear the thought process behind it. According to back some ill-advised remark and sent the player on his way. Instead, he Ward, Gordon’s someone who thrives on generating that sort of came back with this: constructive back-and-forth dialogue and is constantly looking for new If you want to know why you’re not playing, come in on Monday and sit ways to help his team. down with me. I’ll not only tell you why, I’ll show you as well. He’ll never promote himself or gravitate toward attention; in fact, those Gordon spent the following day cutting video, isolating shifts and who do not know him well can find him guarded or clinical, but he works preparing notes so that when the player returned on Monday, still tirelessly and never cheats his teams, Ward said. smarting from the weekend but at least open to some honest feedback, “His No. 1 priority in hockey is the development and success of his Gordon was able to clearly explain his decision-making, as well as how players, and he works tirelessly to try to get them to reach their full that player could gain more ice time in the future. potential on the ice. You see the players that he has worked with at the “He doesn’t go off half-cut,” said Rob Murray, Gordon’s former assistant early stages of their career, and the proof is in the pudding,” Ward said, coach with the AHL’s . “There’s no lying in Scott, no citing the likes of John Tavares, Josh Bailey, David Krejci, Patrice pussyfooting around. I think players appreciate that. He doesn’t make Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk, and all the young guys in Philly’s system excuses.” now. “I believe that he is excellent at developing players because he has the ability to be simple and concise with his message, never leaving grey He won’t always tell players what they want to hear, Murray said, but his area on what a player needs to do to grow into a role or niche. honesty and willingness to put in the work are almost always, even if grudgingly, respected. He doesn’t cut corners, and his players know that. “Players always come away with a solid ‘This is what I have to do to be successful’ answer when they leave the coach’s office. Obviously It’s a salient trait that has followed Gordon throughout his coaching sometimes players do not like what they hear or have a different vision career, along with an almost-surgical precision when it comes to the for themselves, but Flash won’t beat around the bush. The player will minutiae and subtle nuances of the game. Which makes sense always know where he stands and what is expected of them, which is considering one of the most significant takeaways from Flyers GM Chuck really what elite athletes should want.” Fletcher’s recent press conference explaining the decision to replace head coach Dave Hakstol: He felt the team needed more attention to And while Gordon has established a reputation for himself in guiding and detail. expediting the development of young players, his approach is not lost on veterans, either. On Monday, Gordon was named the Flyers’ interim coach, his first NHL head coaching gig since the two-plus seasons he spent with the New Former Islanders defenseman Mike Mottau was a fan of Gordon and was York Islanders from 2008-10 (he was fired amidst an awful stretch in impressed by how he led the team in his first NHL coaching gig. November of the 2010-11 season). Following a three-season assistant “Very progressive thinking, hard working coach. Always trying to coaching stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Gordon spent the past adapt/innovate effective style of play,” Mottau texted when asked to three-plus years guiding the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley. Both provide a scouting report of what the Flyers should expect. his record and reputation earned him interest elsewhere in the NHL — the New York Rangers were eyeing him for an assistant job as part of Even those that have been around Gordon at the lowest levels found his David Quinn’s staff but Gordon wanted to be patient in hopes of landing hockey vision unique. another head coaching job — and now he’ll have a chance to reprise that role. “What always struck me was that you don’t see former goaltenders as head coaches very often,” said television analyst , himself a What sort of chance he’ll get remains to be seen, especially with rampant former NHL goaltender. “Most of us ended up as analysts, not head rumors about the possibility of former Chicago Blackhawks head coach coaches.” Joel Quenneville linking up with the organization in the future (Fletcher and Quenneville have both denied this notion). But those who know Eliot, whose son Mitch recently signed an entry-level deal with the Gordon — those who have played for him or coached with him — won’t Vancouver Canucks, coached AAA hockey with Gordon when their sons underestimate his chances of sticking on after this extended 51-game played together on a team in suburban Atlanta following Gordon’s audition. dismissal in New York. Eliot recalled talking with Atlanta Thrashers assistant coach Steve Weeks, another former goaltender, about how If the Flyers need a detail-driven coach with the accountability to steward Gordon deployed his players, especially running different plays off a young, developing team, there are plenty who believe that Philly faceoffs, which was unique at the time. already has their guy. “He had his third guy (forward) really high in the zone because his Murray, a former NHLer who now is the head coach of the Tulsa Oilers of defense was so aggressive down the boards, which is what everybody the East Coast Hockey League, said he previously heard the term does now,” Eliot said. “attention to detail,” but never knew quite what it meant until he met Gordon. “I hate to use that term ‘thinking out of the box,’” Eliot said, but perhaps Gordon’s view of the game as a goaltender made an impact on his “One of the biggest things I learned from him is, as a coach, you make coaching style. sure you prepare the team and give them all the info they need. You don’t ever skimp and not do something. You give the guys all the info Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald has firsthand experience with they need to be successful; as a coach, you can sleep at night knowing Gordon, having also played under him in Long Island. MacDonald was you did everything you could to prepare the team,” Murray said. “I one of several young players on a team undergoing a painful and carried that with me as a coach ever since.” daunting rebuild. Those Islanders teams were poorly constructed and injury-riddled — Gordon had an unsightly 64-90-23 record during his time According to Murray, Gordon’s practices are uptempo — brisk, but rarely there — but certain young guys, like MacDonald, still managed to thrive. over 45 minutes long. They incorporate system and skill work, but also meticulous “build” plans, to drill in increments, building on foundational “He’s got some creative ways of thinking the game,” MacDonald told philosophies bit by bit. reporters on Monday. “We had a really young team in New York when I was there — transitioning from an older team to a younger team. It was kind of a tough situation for him. He was trying to bring in new ideas with speed and some of his philosophies. I really liked Scott as a coach. He’s a good man, he’s got good systems and I think he’ll do a good job for us.” Those Islanders teams share a similar aspect as this Flyers one, insomuch as that there is an abundance of questions about the team’s goaltending. Gordon is no stranger to that sort of controversy, and it very well may dictate how real of a shot he gets in his second chance at the NHL level. “I think when the goaltending is not great and you’ve got a young group, there’s a lot that can not go right. They’re fragile,” said one NHL scout of the current Flyers group. Gordon’s first NHL head coaching job was probably not an ideal one and entering this spot as an interim coach may not be the way he envisioned getting back behind an NHL bench, either. But he will have familiarity with some of Philly’s key young players and he’ll have the benefit of hindsight. Gordon would likely be the first to admit that he had his hiccups along the way in Long Island. His critics would likely harp on how much information he delivered to his players while underestimating the importance of simplifying some of those concepts. He’s not a fire-and-brimstone guy either, so if the Flyers need someone barking incessantly to provide a John Tortorella-type jolt, Gordon does not satisfy that mold. However, Gordon has made significant strides in how he can distill those philosophies and communicate those concepts effectively. Yes, he sees the game differently than others — he’s a former goaltender after all — but the Flyers could use a fresh eye and a different perspective. Gordon just might be the guy for the job. “I think he’s the sanest goalie I’ve ever met,” Murray said. “He doesn’t fit the stereotype. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121792 Pittsburgh Penguins element of physicality to our game because that’s how we become a more difficult team to play against.”

Jonathan Bombulie Tom Wilson not Penguins' primary focus vs. Capitals Tribune Review LOADED: 12.19.2018

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, 7:43 p.m.

Capitals right wing Tom Wilson pushes Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner during the first period Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Washington. If attitudes about fighting hadn’t changed dramatically in the NHL over the last decade or so, you could have set your watch to it. A few minutes after 8 on Wednesday night, the puck will drop between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. A few minutes after that, the gloves would have dropped between Jamie Oleksiak and Tom Wilson. Wednesday night’s game is the first regular-season meeting between Wilson and the Penguins since the controversial Washington winger gave Zach Aston-Reese a concussion and broken jaw with an illegal hit during a second-round playoff series last season. The Penguins and Capitals already have met twice this season, but Wilson was suspended for both, sitting out a 20-game ban that later was reduced to 14 games for a violent hit on St. Louis’ Oskar Sundqvist in the preseason. In the past, the Penguins’ most skilled fighter, Oleksiak in this case, immediately would have sought revenge on a player who injured a teammate with such a violent check. That still might happen Wednesday night, but it’s no sure thing. Now, players are more likely to let on-ice officials and the league office hand out retribution than seek it themselves. On top of that, Wilson doesn’t seem to be all that interested in fighting anyway. In 13 games this season, he has nine goals and only one fighting major: a tilt with Minnesota’s Marcus Foligno in November. And besides, the Penguins might have more pressing concerns than Wilson at the moment. They’ll wake up Wednesday on the fringes of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, having gone 5-2-1 in their previous eight games but not engendering much optimism about their immediate future with a penchant for giving up dozens of shots and squandering two-goal leads. The Capitals, meanwhile, have shaken off an early season Stanley Cup hangover to win five in a row and 12 of their last 14. “I think it’s a new season,” Oleksiak said earlier this year when asked if the Penguins still had unfinished business with Wilson. “There’s obviously going to be emotions with the history of the two teams have had, but at the end of the day, you want to win. Our focus here is to do what we can to win games. Whatever happens after that usually takes care of itself. Winning is the first priority — as well as the safety of our players.” Whether a heavyweight tilt happens or not, the level of physicality should be high when bitter rivals like the Penguins and Capitals meet. Looking only at the numbers, the Penguins should feel perfectly comfortable in that environment. In a surprising statistical development, they actually lead the NHL in hits this season with 1,008. Washington, by way of comparison, ranks 17th with 695. That stat is misleading, though, on a number of levels. First, the Penguins haven’t ditched their skill-based identity for a bruiser’s mindset. Their hit total is likely a result of the stat being tabulated more liberally at PPG Paints Arena. “I think because what constitutes a hit is so different in every building, it’s very difficult to take that stat at face value and try to learn something from it,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “The way the league tracks that stat, everybody’s completely different on what they (consider) a hit and what isn’t a hit.” Even if the stat weren’t subject to interpretation, it’s a double-edged sword. All things considered, the Penguins probably would rather not be leading the league in the category. “Obviously we’d like to have less hits because that’s an indication that we have the puck more and we’re controlling territory and we’re controlling possession,” Sullivan said. “But having said that, we want to have an 1121793 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins send Jean-Sebastien Dea back to AHL as forwards get healthy

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, 10:00 a.m.

The Penguins’ Jean-Sebastien Dea scored one goal during his call-up. With a couple of key forwards closing in on a return from injury, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent forward Jean-Sebastien Dea back to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton of the AHL and placed winger Garrett Wilson on waivers Tuesday. Patric Hornqvist and Dominik Simon skated on their own before the Penguins held their morning skate Monday. Coach Mike Sullivan said Hornqvist, out with an upper-body injury, was “getting a lot closer” to a return. Simon, out with a lower-body injury, is considered day-to-day. The Penguins visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Dea played three games after being called up Dec. 7 when Simon was placed on the injured list. He scored a goal Dec. 8 at Ottawa. Wilson has played six games in his most recent NHL stint, recording an assist. If he clears waivers, he could be assigned to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton on Wednesday. An NHL holiday roster freeze begins at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday and extends through Dec. 28. During the freeze, players may not be traded and may be sent to the minors only under specific circumstances. Tribune Review LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121794 Pittsburgh Penguins Zooming out a bit, the Penguins have not scored multiple power-play goals in a game in more than a month. Since Nov. 17, they have scored eight power-play goals, which, yeah, isn’t bad. Until you remember they Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins' power play: 'We need to score' Peter coughed up five shorthanded goals over that span. Diana/Post-Gazette So Sullivan often went with an inverted look on their power plays against Anaheim. MATT VENSEL Malkin typically hovers somewhere along the right wall, with Phil Kessel across from him in the left circle. Crosby roves around the net, usually somewhere off the right post. Sullivan had them line up on opposite sides Monday, perhaps trying to shake up that group. The Penguins had the Anaheim Ducks right where they wanted them Monday. That was not a new look. The Penguins have busted it out sporadically this season. While it made it difficult to tee up one-timers from the circles Down one goal, their fans on their feet and Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin since it put Kessel and Crosby and/or Malkin on their strong sides, it and Co. getting nearly four minutes of power-play time, including 17 seemed to encourage a more downhill approach. seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage. The results were mixed, in part because the Ducks made it difficult for OK, fine. They still would have preferred to have the lead and probably them to get anything set up in the first place. The Penguins got just nine about 15 more shots at that point. But after a 2-0 lead became a 3-2 shots on goal when up a man. deficit, they got a great opportunity early in the third period to tie up a game they had little business winning. “We try change. Today we changed sides, me and Phil,” Malkin said. “We scored [the] first power play and not again. We tried to play casually. “The true testament to a real good power play is scoring at the right We [played] easy, you know? I don’t know.” times,” coach Mike Sullivan later said. “Our guys know that, and they’ve been so good at it for so long.” Malkin said they must shoot more and support each other when pressured. He also thinks they need to work on their zone entries, which Ducks right wing Daniel Sprong unleashes a shot against his former were a big factor in the Penguins, with these same players, setting a team on Monday night. franchise record for power-play percentage last season. Jason Mackey He compared their recent struggles entering the zone to a “ping pong game.” 20 Penguins Thoughts: The truth about why Daniel Sprong was traded Sullivan, however, is choosing to focus on the positives, at least publicly. About four minutes into the third, Ducks winger Ondrej Kase headed to He pointed to their winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings on the penalty box to feel shame. The Penguins, as has been the case fairly Saturday. Scored by Kessel on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime, that often the past several games, struggled to get their power play set up came on a busted play, though they earned it with a little hustle. Malkin and failed to generate consistent pressure. beat a couple of Kings to a loose puck and poked it to an open Kessel. But after the Penguins attempted just two shots during the first 1:43 of “When you look at their overall body of work, I think they’ve improved as that penalty, defenseman Josh Manson hauled down Olli Maatta and of late,” Sullivan said Monday. “They had some good looks in [Saturday’s went to keep Kase company. 4-3 win]. They scored in the overtime. But even in regulation at 5-on-4, The Penguins started to threaten. Malkin fired a slapshot as Kase was they had some really good looks. We had some good looks again escaping the box. Jake Guentzel pushed a puck just wide of the post a [against the Ducks] and we scored on one of the power plays.” moment later. After a Ducks clear, he had their best chance yet when he All that said, though, Sullivan noted expectations are higher here, where was left alone inside the right circle. But Ducks goalie and Whitehall the Penguins trot out four All-Stars and another 20-goal scorer in native John Gibson gobbled up Guentzel’s rising shot from 18 feet. Guentzel or Hornqvist. Derick Brassard, leading the second unit, made a nifty play to get off a The Penguins rank 11th in the league for scoring on 22.8 percent of their snapshot from the right faceoff dot. Gibson got that one, too, and the power-play opportunities. That’s still pretty good. But last season, they Ducks killed the second penalty. converted on a team-record 26.2 percent — a significant factor in the That opportunity squandered, the Penguins went on to lose, 4-2, at PPG Penguins finishing second in the Metropolitan Division. Paints Arena. Plus, when this group is clicking, they seem to more often than not bury “There’s not much power play every game. A couple of power plays,” goals — and their opponents — when they give them power plays in said Malkin, who got a power-play tally in the first period. “And to help the critical moments, like the Ducks did. team win we need to score.” “We’ve got a chance to tie the game there and I think those critical Malkin’s goal, the lone one the Penguins scored on their four power plays moments are important for power plays,” Sullivan said. “It’s not always Monday, was nothing spectacular. Malkin simply fired the puck past a about the numbers. Sometimes it’s about rising to the occasion at the key Guentzel screen and it squeezed under Gibson’s glove. Where Malkin times when your team needs a goal.” aligned on that play, however, was noteworthy. He added: “I thought in the third period that was a missed opportunity for Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist (72) tries to get off a pass as he is us.” checked to the ice by Philadelphia Flyers' Robert Hagg (8) during the Post Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2018 second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. Jason Mackey Penguins reassign Jean-Sebastien Dea; Patric Hornqvist return appears likely The Penguins power play has grown stagnant of late. And with Patric Hornqvist out of the lineup and unable to give the unit some grit and sustained possession, it has mostly looked out of sorts. They have gone just 2-for-16 with him out the past six games. Their power play has connected at 22.6 percent in the regular season with Hornqvist since they acquired him in 2014. That rate plummets to 16.2 percent without him. “He just brings intensity and a work ethic that I think is important to any power play,” Crosby said recently. “Usually your power play has a lot of skill. But I think the work ethic and outworking the penalty kill that you’re playing against is always a really important thing.” Go to section 1121795 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins reassign Jean-Sebastien Dea; Patric Hornqvist return appears likely

JASON MACKEY

The Penguins on Tuesday morning reassigned forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, an indication that Patric Hornqvist is likely to return Wednesday in Washington. Dean, 24, was a healthy scratch Monday in a 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at PPG Paints Arena. The other two healthy scratches — Juuso Riikola and Chad Ruhwedel — are defensemen. Hornqvist, who has missed the past six games with an upper-body injury, took Monday’s morning skate in a non-contact capacity. The Penguins do not practice Tuesday. Instead, their schedule lists a travel day as they make the trek to Washington, D.C. Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm checks Penguins center Evgeni Malkin off the puck Monday Dec. 17, 2018 at PPG Paints Arena. Matt Vensel What's going on with the Penguins' power play? Hornqvist has 12 goals and 19 points in 24 games this season, and he’s a huge component of their power play. That could be big against a Washington team that ranks 27th in penalty killing at 75.2 percent. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121796 Pittsburgh Penguins 4. Sprong is a lot of things — a terrific shooter and a goal-scorer at every level of hockey — but he’s not going to impress anyone with his all- around game. It’s average at best. 20 Penguins Thoughts: The truth about why Daniel Sprong was traded Sprong’s fit within the framework of what Sullivan wanted the Penguins to do was never going to be easy, and because of the logjam ahead of Sprong on the depth chart, the young winger would have to score his JASON MACKEY way into the lineup. Sprong didn’t. 1. One of Jim Rutherford’s fears may be coming true. And as the Penguins transformed themselves into a speed-based team, Sprong actually became less of a fit and was forced to develop his all- A big reason why the Penguins general manager waited so long to deal around game in the American Hockey League. Daniel Sprong was because Rutherford worried the 21-year-old right wing would go somewhere else and start scoring. According to what the Penguins have told us, Sprong (mostly) did that, although he was never able to solve what ultimately became a Catch 22 With three goals in six games with the Anaheim Ducks, Sprong has situation. seemingly rediscovered his confidence and offensive abilities. Sprong never scored enough to force Sullivan’s hand, and Sullivan — And while Rutherford has probably been shaking his head at the again, whose way of doing business netted the Penguins a pair of Cups highlights, the GM also must be glad he kept Sprong until he was able to — never felt compelled to promote Sprong. land Marcus Pettersson, who appears to have delivered equal value. It’s basically this: You can have Sullivan and a pair of rings, but someone Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm checks Penguins center Evgeni like Sprong isn’t coming along for the ride. Malkin off the puck Monday Dec. 17, 2018 at PPG Paints Arena. Go to section Matt Vensel 5. Here’s another point … Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins' power play: 'We need to score' When Rutherford said over the summer that Sprong would be a part of Rutherford isn’t alone in combating consternation relative to this the Penguins’ top-nine in 2018-19, it was spoken more out of optimism particular trade. Penguins fans have felt it, too, the dissenters not at all than anything. shy about voicing their opinions. It wasn’t a guarantee, as many interpreted it. The Penguins trading Sprong remains a polarizing topic among their fans. Some were fine with it, viewing Sprong as expendable. Others “I really believed he would be in our top nine,” Rutherford said the day he blamed the entire thing on coach Mike Sullivan, saying he refused to give traded Sprong. “I think Sully gave him a good chance, where he put him Sprong a chance. with Sid for preseason games, hoping that would get the momentum started and the confidence to do what he does best — and that’s score. So, what ultimately led to the Penguins trading Sprong and moving on He didn’t. Then he moved in and out of the lineup.” from one of their best prospects? That’s a topic worth exploring. And to do so, it’s best to start at the beginning. Had Rutherford tempered his enthusiasm, maybe this would’ve been different. But he didn’t. And I wouldn’t look for Rutherford, who’s 69 years 2. The Penguins selected Sprong in the second round of the 2015 NHL old, to change the way he conducts himself any time soon. Draft (46th overall). If you remember, that was the draft where Rutherford pushed for Phil Kessel — only to leave South Florida empty-handed. 6. Another thing that should not be discounted is how little Sprong fit with Crosby and Malkin, and how even they weren’t enamored with having Less than a week later, Kessel became a Penguin. him on their wing. While that trade netted the Penguins a player who would play a gigantic Crosby has always fared well with — and preferred — wingers who can part in helping them win two Stanley Cups, it blocked Sprong from play a give-and-go game, use their speed, work some in the corners and meaningful NHL duty when you also take into account Rutherford’s trade operate in a straight-ahead sort of mode. at the previous draft for Patric Hornqvist. Think Pascal Dupuis. The Kessel trade rarely gets attached to Sprong, but it absolutely changed the calculus relative to the opportunity Sprong would get in That’s, uh, not Sprong, who relies on his shot and never grew Pittsburgh. comfortable supporting the play or doing anything remotely resembling dirty work alongside Crosby. Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist (72) tries to get off a pass as he is checked to the ice by Philadelphia Flyers' Robert Hagg (8) during the Sullivan has long wanted Malkin to shoot more, and the only exception second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 1, he’s really made to this is deploying Kessel with him. While one day 2018. Sprong might get there, he never did enough to make the Penguins comfortable choosing him over Kessel alongside Malkin. Jason Mackey Couple that with the fact that they’d prefer Hornqvist to play in the top-six Penguins reassign Jean-Sebastien Dea; Patric Hornqvist return appears — he’s a premium cap hit wasted if those on his line don’t generate likely enough trash for him to clean up — and it’s an imperfect equation. 3. Why is that? Had Sprong meshed with one of the Penguins’ third-line centers after Nick Bonino left, primarily Riley Sheahan and Derick Brassard, maybe Well, because neither Kessel nor Hornqvist are willing/able to play the Sprong would still be a Penguin. But he never did. left side, the same for Sprong even though he insisted he could early on during his tenure here. 7. That left Rutherford with a difficult decision: continue to play Sprong in a system and role that’s not suited to his skill set or pull the plug and try Then later that year, in December 2015, Rutherford fired Mike Johnston to address another area of need. and replaced him with Sullivan. Rutherford chose the latter by adding Pettersson, who gave the Penguins While Sullivan would inject some much-needed life into the Penguins and another good, young defenseman, although the back end of that has implement a style that helped them score an NHL-high 175 goals from looked ugly since Sprong got off to a hot start with his new team. Dec. 14 — his first game — through the end of the 2015-16 season, it meant Sprong would have to adapt his game to a style of play for which “When you play a lot, it gives you confidence,” Sprong said Monday he’s not totally suited. morning. “You try to make plays. It feels good to be out there and try to help the team win. It gives you more confidence to make plays. You start Say what you want about Sullivan, but his boldness and belief in how believing again in your own strengths and what you can bring to the things should be done netted the Penguins two Stanley Cups and helped table.” ensure success when it came to the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin Era. 8. Sprong isn’t wrong. He’s taken to the Ducks’ system and has been It also rewarded young, hard-working players who could play a speed firing shots that probably would’ve gotten him benched in Pittsburgh. game, think quickly and operate with a sense of defensive responsibility. It’s easy to say Sullivan should’ve just acquiesced and catered to Sprong, but again, it was hardly an ideal situation. Add to that the fact that Dominik Simon — a player who’s much better Andy Saucier had other plans. suited to play with Crosby and actually fits within Sullivan’s system — has matured some, and the Penguins’ need for Sprong was significantly The Penguins video coach walked across the parking lot to Nassau less than when they drafted him. Coliseum, made sure his setup for the next day’s game was exactly perfect and started sifting through more video. 9. When we look back on Sprong’s time here, we should be more surprised there was ever optimism this would work instead of an alarming Like equipment manager Dana Heinze and his staff, Saucier logs amount of incredulity that it did not. countless hours at the rink, distilling games into teachable moments and making sure that everyone is armed with the proper video to try to get a After all, it is possible for Sprong to be a capable NHL player, for Sullivan little better. to be the right coach for this team and for the two of those things to be completely unrelated. “I think Sauce is an all-star,” Sullivan said Saturday night. “It’s a great opportunity for both guys,” Sullivan said. “Certainly Marcus 15. While Saucier’s work comes mostly behind the scenes, he’s been has helped us. We think we’re a better team with Marcus in our lineup. … front and center lately, as the Penguins have enjoyed a recent run of We think he’s a real good young defenseman who’s only going to get successful coaches challenges. better. Sullivan challenged a Los Angeles Kings goal that took one away from “We acknowledge the price we paid to get Marcus. Daniel is a good Tyler Toffoli Saturday night, the third victory for the Penguins in that shooter and has the ability to score goals and has a great upside as well. department in an 11-day stretch. “The way I look at it, sometimes those types of trades are great “He’s really good at what he does,” Sullivan said. “He’s terrific at breaking opportunities for both players and both organizations.” down those situations.” 10. Moving on … The process for challenging a call, however, involves more than just Saucier, a Boston University graduate who’s been with the Penguins The pessimist will look at Jack Johnson and see the goal he was on the since 2012. ice for Monday, when he overplayed Carter Rowney and left Kiefer Sherwood all alone. But that shouldn’t discount the success that he and 16. During the summer, Sullivan assembled his coaching staff — he Pettersson have had together. usually does this on a retreat over golf, cigar and beers — to discuss how to best approach such decisions. After Johnson was on the ice for 27 goals-against in his first 25 games as a Penguin, he’s been on the ice for just three over the past eight games Saucier would handle offside calls while goaltending coach Mike Buckley, — and Monday’s actually came with Pettersson on the bench. seated in the press box, would offer input on goaltender interference calls. Sullivan would have the final say in whether to challenge. “The style of play suits me very well,” Pettersson said of coming to Pittsburgh. “I like to move the puck quickly, we have so many skilled “We’ve defined a criteria on what we’re going to challenge and when forwards, and we just have to get the puck to them quickly. Things will we’re not,” Sullivan said. “We’ve tried to define a criteria as clearly as we work out.” can. Now everybody has a role and a responsibility.” 11. In addition to moving the puck quickly, Pettersson has helped the 17. For the season, Sullivan has been successful on four of his six Penguins — and the pairing with Johnson — with his crazy-long reach. challenges. He’s won three in a row now, starting with a goaltender interference call Dec. 4 against Colorado. The run continued with an Pettersson is a tall-and-lanky 6-foot-3, and like Brian Dumoulin, he knows offside call that was missed Dec. 8 at Ottawa, the same that occurred how to use his stick to his advantage. against the Kings. Having that as an asset, Johnson said, has helped that pair spend less Seated around all of the equipment he had to set up on Long Island, time in their own zone, thereby tamping down the likelihood that they’re Saucier will suggest to Sullivan if he thinks something looks offside and going to get scored on. whether to challenge it. “It makes him very effective defensively,” Johnson said. “He can cover a Knowing that if he’s wrong the Penguins could incur a minor penalty (for lot of ground and helps break up a lot of plays in the neutral zone.” offside challenges), Sullivan will weigh the potential risk and decide whether to challenge. 12. Johnson has also been good for Pettersson off the ice, instilling a sense of calmness in a young player who’s still not fully developed. Lately, Saucier has been on a hot streak, and it’s played a pivotal part in a couple of their wins. Whether that’s been talking more or getting Pettersson the puck in situations where he can do something with it, Pettersson said working “Ultimately I have to make the decision on whether or not we’re going to with Johnson has been a huge help for him. take the risk associated with those types of decisions,” Sullivan said. “But I have the utmost faith and trust in Sauce. I just think he’s an all-star.” “He’s a really smart player,” Pettersson said. “He has tons of experience. He knows what it’s like to play with a young guy who maybe doesn’t 18. Saucier first charted this path for Sullivan’s college coach, Jack know all of the things that he knows. He’s just a steady, all-around Parker, back in 2004. He did it in college and then picked it up again after player. starting law school, realizing he still had the itch for hockey. “He can skate out of most situations. He never puts me in a bad spot. “It wasn’t on purpose until after I graduated college,” Saucier told me a He’s always composed. He has experience and great hockey sense.” couple years ago. “Then I kind of realized it could be a career path and something I wanted to do.” Go to section In addition to his game-night duties, Saucier has a lead role in pre-scouts 13. I wasn’t the only one who was surprised Sullivan went with Casey — watching video of the Penguins’ upcoming opponents and pointing out DeSmith over for Monday’s game. tendencies. He catalogs the video he watches to make it easier to search Although DeSmith has certainly gotten good results of late, I thought it and can give the other coaches what they need within minutes. was time to get Murray another game and help him re-establish himself During games, Saucier’s eyes become even more critical because, as as the Penguins’ No. 1 goalie. Sullivan said, “We don’t get a good enough look on the bench.” So It will be interesting to see what Sullivan does here, and I wouldn’t rule Saucier tells Sullivan and the others what he sees. They’ve learned it’s out the possibility of Sullivan simply alternating starts between the two awful smart to listen. netminders over the next little while. 19. Stat of the week: 16 That would allow them to dictate which direction Sullivan should go when That’s the number of regular-season home losses for the Penguins under it comes to determining the workload for both the rest of the way. Sullivan — including Monday — when they score first out of 72 games. There’s also no sense in overplaying Murray and risking something going They’re 56-10-6. awry with his lower-body injury. 20. Non-hockey thought of the week 14. Last Sunday on Long Island, after a longer-than-expected travel day No 20 Thoughts next week because of Christmas. Hope you understand. out of Ottawa that included an hour-plus flight delay on the runway, many coaches and players arrived at their hotel looking to take it easy and I’d like to leave you with my top five Christmas movies: 1. “Christmas watch a little football. Vacation”; 2. “Home Alone”; 3. “Home Alone 2”; 4. “Elf”; 5. Tie: “The Santa Clause”; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”; and “Four Christmases.” No, no “Christmas Story.” Sorry, just don’t get it. Feel free to blast me in the comments or on Twitter. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121797 Pittsburgh Penguins Other than that, whenever Blueger asks the Pittsburgh organization what more he can do to reach the NHL, he said they’ve told him to stay the course. Teddy Blueger is frustrated, but remains hopeful for a chance in the NHL “You learn to stay patient. On the bright side, I’m here getting a lot of minutes, working on special teams and gaining experience,” Blueger said. By Tom Venesky Dec 18, 2018 Still, every time Blueger watches a former teammate playing in Pittsburgh, the inevitable thought always surfaces. Throughout his career, Teddy Blueger has watched his Wilkes- “You can’t help but wish it was you,” he said. Barre/Scranton teammates go up to Pittsburgh and play in the NHL. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton notebook Every time, the same thought crosses his mind. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins center Sam Lafferty has 18 points (five “It’s hard not to wish it was you in their shoes,” Blueger said. goals, 13 assists) in 29 games this season (KDP Studio) After spending the last two seasons putting up numbers that indicate he’s • Rookie Sam Lafferty has been impressive this season, trailing Blueger ready for an NHL look, Blueger has yet to don a Pittsburgh jersey. The for the team scoring lead with 18 points. On Dec. 15, the product from center in his third professional season came close last season, earning a Brown University displayed another rather surprising element to his trip to Pittsburgh in February, but never made it into the lineup and was game: fighting. In the second period against Lehigh Valley, Lafferty sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 11 days later. tangled with veteran blueliner T.J. Brennan. The pair dropped the gloves, and Lafferty quickly gained the upper hand with a flurry of punches Blueger went on to post career highs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last before Brennan ducked to the ice. Before the officials could intervene, year, totaling 21 goals and 45 points in 70 games. When Pittsburgh’s Phantoms’ defenseman Mark Friedman skated over to challenge the need for a center became glaringly apparent late last season, Blueger rookie. Lafferty greeted Friedman with a series of rights before he hoped his time had arrived. But then the parent club traded for Derick dropped to the ice with Brennan. Brassard on Feb. 23, followed by the signings of Matt Cullen and Derek Grant in the summer. At the same time, Will O’Neill was busy landing punches on Taylor Leier, who wisely turtled, making for a wild scene. Blueger admitted it was “a little bit frustrating” to watch Pittsburgh add to its center depth as he was coming off a career year in the AHL. Afterward, Lafferty was anxious to see the reaction from his teammates after his first pro fight. It wasn’t what Lafferty expected. And this season, as Pittsburgh called up a forward from Wilkes- Barre/Scranton on five occasions, Blueger remained in Wilkes-Barre, still “I came into the room, and the guys were all fired up. I thought it was for waiting for his chance. me, but it was for Will. I had no idea Will was fighting too,” Lafferty said. How does he feel now? For as well as Lafferty did with the fight, he talked about the incident like a veteran enforcer. “It’s been really frustrating. It seems like it’s been a while now that I’ve been really close, but haven’t gotten a call-up yet,” Blueger said. “Brennan didn’t really want it, so Friedman came in, and I guess it was nice to actually get a real fight in,” Lafferty said. This season, Blueger is again putting up numbers that would seem to favor a trip to the NHL. He leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in goals (nine) • In the same game, Ryan Haggerty recorded the second hat trick of his and 21 points in 29 games. He remains strong on faceoffs, has played pro career. The first goal came when he finished off a 2-on-1 rush with his hallmark two-way game to near perfection and has displayed a Adam Johnson. Minutes later he swept home a loose puck in front, and skating ability that is built on power. the third goal occurred in the final minute after Lehigh Valley pulled goaltender Carter Hart. Haggerty gained possession in the neutral zone At times, Blueger’s skill and poise on the ice make it seem too easy. and skated into the Phantoms’ end all alone, carrying the puck right to the crease. “I didn’t want to miss. The puck was rolling, and I was like, During a Dec. 15 game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Blueger ‘Oh no.’ But I knew no one was behind me, so I just carried it all the way took a pass from Thomas Di Pauli and churned down the ice for a short- in,” he said. handed breakaway. With two Phantoms’ players in pursuit but not gaining ground, Blueger neatly slid the puck between the goaltender and Haggerty signed an NHL deal with Pittsburgh at the start of the season, the post for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s first goal. and until the hat trick, he had one goal in 22 games. Last season, Haggerty registered 16 goals in 47 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins would go on to win the game, 5-2, and head coach Clark Donatelli credited Blueger’s goal for getting things started. • While the Penguins don’t have anyone near the AHL lead in scoring (Blueger is the closest, 51st overall), Ethan Prow is climbing the ranks “He’s skating really well coming through the neutral zone, he’s doing it among defensemen. Prow is tied for eighth with 16 points, but he ranks with a lot of speed and making good decisions with the puck,” Donatelli third among all blueliners with eight goals in 29 games. Prow’s previous said. “He’s really stepped up his game.” career high for goals was four, set last season. But he has yet to step on NHL ice. Prospect tracker While Blueger admits to being frustrated over the lack of a call-up, he Here’s a glance at all the Penguins’ prospects, as well as other minor also said it’s a tough situation because he wants to see the teammate leaguers on NHL contracts who aren’t currently on the NHL roster. who did get the chance, succeed. Players are listed with their statistics to date this season: Garrett Wilson is a good example. Forwards Wilson and Blueger have been teammates for the last two-plus seasons. Defensemen Wilson earned his first trip to Pittsburgh this season and has fared well with two assists in 13 games while playing on the fourth line. Goaltenders “’Willie’ is a great player and he deserves it. He’s a friend of mine, so I Note: Lauzon has yet to play this season due to injury. wish him nothing but the best,” Blueger said, adding that it’s important not to let his disappointment get in the way of hoping his teammates play The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 well when they get to Pittsburgh. “I’m happy to see it. But at the same time, when you watch those games and see those guys doing well, you can’t help but think, ‘I could probably do that too.’” Perhaps the biggest hurdle between Blueger and the NHL is his skating ability. While his powerful stride serves him well at the AHL level, Blueger feels he can become a better skater. He has spent the majority of the last two summers focusing on that aspect but said there’s still room for improvement. 1121798 San Jose Sharks “I liked him in training camp,” DeBoer said. “It looked like he was close through exhibition games. He was a tough cut at that time because of the camp he had and I wanted to keep him on the radar. He fits that fourth Takeaways: Sharks rookie is going to be hard to bump from the lineup line mentality. He’s a big-heavy guy. He wins battles. He gets around the rink pretty well and he’s not afraid to make some plays.” Lukas Radil has earned five points in five games since he rejoined the Sharks lineup on Dec. 8. Now, Radil needs to show that he can maintain his level of play when the buzz of realizing the NHL dream wears off and the grind of the dog days of winter sets in. By Paul Gackle | December 18, 2018 at 9:21 PM Does Radil feel like he belongs in the NHL after racking up five points in five games.

“No,” Radil said with a laugh. “I’m still pretty excited. I try to work hard ST. PAUL, Minn. — The corner is clearly being turned. and we’ll see what happens.” After an up and down opening two months of the season, things are 2. The Sharks’ European signees continue to thrive. starting to fall in place for the Sharks (19-11-5), who picked up their seventh win in eight games Tuesday by beating the Minnesota Wild. Radil isn’t the only Czech rookie who made an impact on the game Tuesday. In the process, the Sharks extended their season high winning streak to five games and completed a quick two-game road trip through the upper Radim Simek continues to be a stabilizing force on the blue line, earning Midwest with a perfect record. a pair of secondary assists against the Wild. Erik Karlsson extended his longest point streak as a Shark to six games, Simek and Radil’s emergences are just another reminder of the quality making a world-class play to set up his team’s third goal. Stuck in a work the scouting department has done in finding talent in the European straightjacket along the side boards, Karlsson slipped the puck through professional leagues. The Sharks lineup featured European signees on his legs and a pair of Wild defenders with his back turned away from the three of four lines Tuesday with Joonas Donskoi, Marcus Sorensen and play, finding Tomas Hertl, who passed it along to Logan Couture for his Melker Karlsson joining the Czech rookies on the ice. second of the night. “It’s kept our team competitive,” DeBoer said. “Without a lot of (high) draft “That was nasty,” Couture said. picks and trying to win a Stanley Cup for the last 15 years, that’s not easy to do. It’s been critical to keeping the depth in the organization. Passing game:  pic.twitter.com/UOVqEhRZG5 3. Martin Jones bounces back with his first shutout. — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 19, 2018 Jones’ best asset might be the even-keeled mindset that keeps him out Here’s what we learned as the Sharks picked up a 4-0 win in Minnesota’s of the highs and lows of goaltending in the NHL. capitol: After getting yanked just 13:53 into Sunday’s win over the Chicago 1. It’s going to be hard to bump Lukas Radil out of the Sharks lineup. Blackhawks, Jones bounced back by pitching his first shutout of the season with 26 saves. Radil might need binoculars to see the finish line with the way he’s playing. He got a piece of Eric Staal’s breakaway chance in the first and bailed out Erik Karlsson later in the period when he fell in the defensive zone, After Radil fulfilled his childhood dream by scoring his first NHL goal with leading to an odd-man rush. In the second, he got across the crease to the game winner in Arizona on Dec. 8, he said, “I hope it’s not the finish get a glove on Joel Eriksson Ek’s chance off an end board rebound. line” of his hockey odyssey, which includes seven season in the Czech Extraliga and three years in the KHL. The performance should be encouraging for the Sharks, along with Jones’ .936 save percentage in his last seven starts. Right now, it looks like the race is just getting started for the 28-year-old NHL rookie. As the Sharks game rounds into form, the biggest concern is whether Jones can regain an elite edge to give the squad the type of goaltending Radil recorded the primary assist on the game-winning goal Tuesday and it will need to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup this spring. then added an empty netter with 2:15 left on the clock, giving him five points in five games since he rejoined the lineup in the desert that night. DeBoer, who didn’t hesitate to throw Jones back in net after he coughed up three goals on four shots Sunday, think his goalie’s performance is No one in the Sharks room really knew what to expect from Radil, who correlated to the play of the rest of the team. looks like a prototypical fourth line with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. Well, no one except Hertl, who’s familiar with Radil’s game as a Czech “Everybody’s better than early in the season,” the Sharks coach said. native. “There’s no doubt that he was left exposed by the game in front of him. We’re all better in here right now.” “Hertl always said after we signed him that he’s a really good player,” Logan Couture said. “He said watch out for him. Hertl knew, I didn’t. But San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2018 Hertl knew.” Radil showed Sharks territory what Hertl saw back in his homeland when he helped break a scoreless tie at 9:49 of the second. At the time, the Wild’s defense was taking the ice away and it looked like the Sharks would need to score a dirty one to solve goalie Devan Dubnyk. Instead, Couture broke the tie by putting his 11th under the crossbar after he received a highlight reel pass from Radil, who threw a no-look backhander into the slot from below the goal line. “Honestly, I saw Melker (Karlsson). He was going to the net,” Radil said. “I just tried to pass it.”

.@Logancouture right there when you need him!  pic.twitter.com/APy66PrNaQ — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 19, 2018 Regardless, it worked. Couture jumped on the ice, replacing Barclay Goodrow at the end of a long cycle shift by the fourth line, giving the unit four goals since DeBoer reformed the 52-23-68 combination on Dec. 8. Like the rest of the team, the fourth line is finding its mojo after sputtering throughout the months of October and November. Radil is playing a big hand in that development. 1121799 San Jose Sharks

Sharks complete perfect road trip with shutout win over Wild

By Paul Gackle | PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The corner is clearly being turned. After an up and down opening two months of the season, things are starting to fall in place for the Sharks (19-11-5), who picked up their seventh win in eight games by beating the Minnesota Wild 4-0 in St. Paul Tuesday night. In doing so, the Sharks completed a quick two-game road trip through the upper Midwest with a perfect record, extending their winning streak to a season best five games. Logan Couture broke a scoreless tie at 9:49 of the second, burying a feed from Lukas Radil in the slot after he jumped on the ice in place of Barclay Goodrow as the fourth line worked the cycle game at the end of a long shift. Radil, who’s helped change the course of the fourth line’s season since he rejoined the lineup on Dec. 8, found Couture with a no-look backhanded pass from below the goal line. The 28-year-old rookie also scored an empty-netter with 2:15 left in the third, recording his first multi- point night, giving him five points in five games. The Sharks added to the lead just 29 seconds later. Joe Pavelski scored his 21st off a breakaway after Tomas Hertl sent him in alone with a stretch pass through the neutral zone. Couture scored his second of the game and 12th of the season in the opening minute of the third, benefitting from a pair of highlight reel passes. First, Erik Karlsson slipped a no-look pass over to Tomas Hertl with his back turned away from the play and two defenders putting him a straightjacket near the side boards. Then, Hertl flipped a backhander over to Couture, giving him a open look on the left wing. Martin Jones rebounded from his worst start of the year by pitching his first shutout of the season. Head coach Pete DeBoer pulled Jones from the game after just 13:53 Sunday, the result of surrendering three goals on the first four shots he faced. Jones made 26 saves in the win. Timo Meier dropped the gloves in his first NHL fight at 5:05 of the second, mixing it up with Greg Pateryn. Radim Simek, who skated in his eighth straight game after making his NHL debut on Dec. 2, earned a pair of primary assists. The Sharks will return to action at SAP Center Thursday, opening a three-game homestand against the Winnipeg Jets. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121800 San Jose Sharks were some young players in the system that needed to move up. That’s just part of the game.”

The decision isn’t working out for the Sharks just yet. Antti Suomela, who Things to know: Erik Karlsson admits he’s feeling more comfortable with was expected to center the third or fourth line, is down in the minors with Sharks the Barracuda and DeBoer has already passed on Dylan Gambrell and Erik Karlsson is ranked third in scoring among NHL defensemen since Rourke Chartier once. Now, he’s giving another audition to Barclay Nov. 13 with 15 points. Goodrow, a move that’s produced results over the last four games. Fehr, meanwhile, is bringing the same intangibles to the Wild that he gave the Sharks down the stretch last winter. He’s scored four goals and By Paul Gackle |December 18, 2018 collected nine points in 32 games, winning 53.3 percent of his faceoffs and playing on the top unit of a penalty kill that’s ranked second in the NHL. ST. PAUL, Minn. — Erik Karlsson is starting to hit the right notes with his “I still think he’s going to be able to chip in 10 goals by the end of the new band. season and he wins some important faceoffs,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s done a good job.” As Karlsson struggled to find his groove through his first six weeks with the Sharks, it became clear that the two-time Norris Trophy winner 3. Last year in training camp, DeBoer called out Joonas Donskoi as a needed time to figure out how to make music with his new teammates player who would need to step up to help fill the void left by Patrick and vice versa. Marleau’s departure to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Heading into game No. 35 against the Minnesota Wild Tuesday, Karlsson Donskoi struggled through a sophomore slump in 2016-17 after playing a acknowledged that he’s feeling more comfortable with his new team. At key role in the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final the year before. He the same time, he insists his best hockey is yet to come. delivered last seaosn, but now he’s backsliding, having recorded just four points in 16 games while skating in a top-six role alongside Joe Pavelski “I’m feeling better and better,” Karlsson said. “We’re playing good and Evander Kane. hockey, at times. We’re progressing as a team. That’s the most important part. Whether I feel like I’ve played my best hockey yet, I don’t think so. I If the Sharks are going to make another run this year, they’ll need have a lot more to give.” Donskoi to round back into form. If Karlsson can still reach another level — look out. He’s playing pretty “We do,” DeBoer said. “It’s never work ethic. He always shows up and is darn good right now. The 28-year-old Swede is currently riding a five- ready to work. But he’s always been a little streaky. The highs and the game point streak, his longest with the Sharks, and he ranks third among lows are a little too high and a little too low. He would be the first to admit NHL defensemen in scoring since Nov. 13, collecting 15 points in 16 that. For him, it’s just feeling that confidence again. Get one to go in games. Karlsson also ranks first on the team in Corsi percentage (59.13) however it looks and build on that. He works so hard you know it’s among players who’ve skated in at least 10 games. around the corner. You just need it sooner than later.” But this isn’t about numbers. It’s a story of chemistry and adjustment. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2018 Karlsson needed to figure out how to blend his creativity into the context of the Sharks systems and the team had to find a way to mesh with one of the most unique players in the NHL. Now, Karlsson is making the type of plays that raise eyebrows in the press box on a nightly basis. “We had to learn how to play with him and what his qualities are and he had to learn to play with us. Now, you see a team coming together,” Joe Thornton said. “He’s so high-end. Most of the guys didn’t know how to play with a high-end player like him. He’ll hold onto the puck and make plays when you’re not expecting them. At first, you’re like, whoa, he can make that play. Now, you know he’s going to make that play and you’re ready for it.” In addition, Thornton thinks Karlsson is more comfortable asserting himself on the ice with his new team. In the beginning, he wanted to blend in without stepping on toes. “You don’t know the team, the structure, how the team plays, how we’re used to playing,” Thornton said. “Certain guys can do this, certain guys can’t. It’s a learning process.” 2. Eric Fehr admits that he was disappointed when the Sharks decided to cut ties with him last summer. Regardless, he’s grateful that the opportunity allowed him to land another job in the NHL. Fehr’s NHL career appeared to be circling the drain last winter after the Toronto Maple Leafs loaned him off to the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate, where he suited up for 34 games without getting a taste of NHL action. But his career got resuscitated when the Sharks went shopping for a fourth line center in late February. Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer let the front office know just how good Fehr looked when his squad played against the San Diego Gulls. As a 13-year veteran with a Stanley Cup ring, he fit the mold of what head coach Pete DeBoer was looking for. “It was huge for me, just to get a chance to play back in the . It’s a privilege,” Fehr said. “I was excited to get another opportunity.” The Sharks fourth line took off after Fehr joined the club, producing eight goals during the Sharks eight-game winning streak in March. Fehr wanted to stay with the team, but the Sharks decided to let him walk on July 1, keeping their books open to make a stab at signing John Tavares in unrestricted free agency. The veteran forward eventually inked a one- year, $1 million deal with the Wild. “I would have loved to have kept it going. Our line was having a lot of fun. We were playing some good hockey,” Fehr said. “But I understood there 1121801 San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks fans: Here’s how to get half-price beers

By Linda Zavoral |PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018

So many food and drink deals these days involve downloading apps and jumping through hoops. This one’s a snap. If you are attending any one of the San Jose Sharks games from now through the end of December, you can get craft beers, glasses of wine and cocktails for half-price. All you have to do is show up early — at least 30 minutes before face-off. That’s it! No other strings attached. It’s called Happy Hour at SAP Center, and the promotion by the Sharks and Aramark will apply to the Dec. 20, Dec. 22, Dec. 23 and Dec. 27 games. All start at 7:30 p.m. The idea is to get fans through security and in their seats before the puck drops, team officials say. As all fans know, you won’t get seated at an NHL game while the puck is in play, so timely arrivals are a big deal. From the time the SAP doors open until 30 minutes before face-off, the price of libations will start at $5. That’s craft beers, wine and well drinks. Happy hour pricing will be in effect from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. for all Sharks fans, and a bit earlier (6 p.m.) for Sharks 365 members. Find details at this NHL/Sharks news link. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121802 San Jose Sharks

Martin Jones shuts out Wild, Logan Couture scores 2 in Sharks’ win

By Brian Hall Published 10:47 pm PST, Tuesday, December 18, 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer never doubted going back to Martin Jones in net, even after he allowed three goals on seven shots before getting pulled in the first period of San Jose’s previous game. Jones typically has bounced back quickly, and he did it again Tuesday night as the Sharks continued their December roll. Logan Couture scored twice and Jones made 26 saves for his first shutout this season and the 20th of his career in San Jose’s 4-0 victory over the Wild. “I knew after the Chicago game, I wanted to come right back with him,” DeBoer said. “In my time with him, he’s always responded after a game like that with a big game, every time. I was confident we were going to get that type of game out of him tonight.” Joe Pavelski added his 21st goal for San Jose, which has won five straight games and seven of eight. Sharks rookie Lukas Radil had an empty-net goal and an assist. “Everyone has tough games,” Couture said of Jones. “That was a tough one for him, but we have all the confidence in the world in him that he was going to rebound, and he played very well tonight.” Devan Dubnyk stopped 21 shots for Minnesota, which has lost seven of 10. “Overall, we had our chances tonight,” Minnesota forward Jason Zucker said. “It’s not like we didn’t get to the net. It’s not like we didn’t have our chances. We had chances. We just didn’t bear down and bury them.” A lethargic start for both teams turned in San Jose’s favor in the second period as Couture and Pavelski scored 29 seconds apart. Radil sent a no-look pass from behind the Wild cage out front to Couture, who was crashing the net and buried a one-timer. Tomas Hertl sprung Pavelski on a breakaway for the second goal. Pavelski has eight goals in the past 11 games. Hertl had two assists and has multiple points in four of the last five. As the Sharks took control in the second, Minnesota went without a shot for 12 minutes as the Wild’s struggles continued. Minnesota was shut out for the second time in six games. “We get chances and they look like wide-open chances, and then you’d turn around to the other coaches and say, ‘Did that not go in? How did that not go in?’” Minnesota head coach Bruce Boudreau said. “That seems to be something that’s happening on a regular basis.” San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121803 San Jose Sharks

Martin Jones rebounds from benching to lead Sharks to fifth straight win

By Chelena Goldman December 18, 2018

Through the first few months of the NHL season, the spotlight on the San Jose Sharks has spent a lot of time focused between the pipes. Even after Martin Jones’ game turned around at the start of December, his critics were back out in full force last Sunday when he was pulled in the first period after giving up three quick goals to the Chicago Blackhawks. Clearly, Jones needed a turnaround performance on Tuesday when Peter DeBoer sent him back out to start against the Minnesota Wild. No. 31 did just that, standing tall as he notched his first shutout of the season and helped the Sharks extend their winning streak to five games with a 4- 0 victory. “Everyone has tough games, and obviously that was a tough one for him,” Logan Couture said, referring back to Sunday’s game in Chicago. “But we have all the confidence in the world in (Jones) – that he was going to rebound. He played very well tonight.” Things did look dicey at the start of Jones’ return to the crease on Tuesday when a long shot by Minnesota's Eric Staal rang off the post. While the puck didn’t find the back of the net, it was a scary sight given Jones had given up three goals on four shots just a couple nights before. (Namely that rough game-opening marker by Alex DeBrincat that trickled right past the netminder’s pad.) After that chance by Staal, however, Jones stood on his proverbial head to keep the Wild’s trickiest shots from finding the back of the net. DeBoer said he knew from Jones’ body of work over the last couple of seasons that he could have a rebound performance like he did. “I knew right after the Chicago game I wanted to come right back with him,” the Sharks coach said. “In my time with him, he’s always responded after a game like that [against Chicago] with a big game. Every time. I was confident we were going to get that type of game out of him tonight.” Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Sharks also put up a strong defensive effort in front of him. There’s no denying that stretching a detailed game out over a full 60 minutes and not giving Minnesota any room made Jones’ job a bit easier to do. It’s the kind of defensive effort the Sharks admitted they lacked earlier in the campaign. “There’s no doubt he was left exposed by the game in front of him,” DeBoer said of San Jose’s woes from earlier in the season. “I think everyone is better than early in the season.” Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say Jones’ game is coming around at the right time. The Sharks will now head home to host the Winnipeg Jets, who are without a doubt the hottest team in the whole league right now. San Jose might’ve been more concerned heading into a contest with the Central Division juggernaut back in November when they were giving up more goals than they were scoring. Martin Jones’ successful rebound performance, though, showed the Sharks are ready to take on anybody. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121804 San Jose Sharks

Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 4-0 win vs. Wild as streak hits five

By Chelena Goldman December 18, 2018

There wasn’t a lot of room out on the ice between the Sharks and the Minnesota Wild at the start of Tuesday evening's contest. Then San Jose, broke through thanks to a two-goal evening from Logan Couture and a magnificent performance from goaltender Martin Jones. After a solid 60 minutes, the Sharks emerged victorious, 4-0. Here are three takeaways from San Jose's fifth straight win: Nice rebound for Jones Jones needed a rebound performance on Tuesday evening. After a string of solid starts following his victory over the Canadiens in Montreal on Dec. 2, the netminder was pulled after giving up three goals on four shots Sunday in Chicago. Jones didn’t just prevent those trickle-in goals that eluded him on Sunday. He stood tall against a Wild team that skated in low, and put plenty of pucks on net. He was particularly good when Minnesota began peppering him with shots in the start of the second period, keeping the Wild off the board. Speaking of that frame … Another stellar second stanza This was the second game in a row where the Sharks have come alive in the second period. After a tight opening 20 minutes, San Jose tried to create some space for themselves. The result was Couture’s first goal on the evening, which was set up by an amazing behind-the-net pass from rookie winger Lukas Radil. The stretch of strong second periods is a real testament to how much the Sharks have turned their overall game around. Instead of jumping out with a strong start and then getting relaxed, they’ve taken over the pace of the game. Plus, they’ve also stayed strong in the third period. Quality apples The goal-scorers usually get all the glory, but three of San Jose’s goals on Tuesday were owed to highlight-reel assists. Following Radil’s crafty pass to set up Couture’s game-opening goal, Tomas Hertl made an amazing saucer pass to Joe Pavelski, who notched the second goal on a breakaway 29 seconds after Couture's. Both of those goals manifested thanks to plays created by newcomer Radim Simek in the Sharks’ zone. Spin move, top shelf. The Big Pavelski abides. pic.twitter.com/JGMam3jSQj — Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 19, 2018 In the third period, Couture added to the Sharks' lead after receiving the puck from Hertl on a crazy play created by Erik Karlsson. Yes, the same Erik Karlsson who now has a six-game point streak. Scoring is so nice, Cooch did it twice. pic.twitter.com/0DbRaJEpBo — Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 19, 2018 The first two goals showed how much more defensively sound the Sharks are playing, and how they’re translating that into offensive production. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121805 San Jose Sharks

Sharks vs. Wild watch guide: Projected lines and defensive pairs

By Chelena Goldman December 18, 2018

The San Jose Sharks will look to make it five in a row as they close out their two-game road trip with a visit to Minnesota to take on the Wild. Team Teal is coming off of a come-from-behind victory over the Blackhawks in Chicago last Sunday. After Chicago roared out to an early 2-0 lead, San Jose rallied to a 7-3 victory with all but five skaters tallied points in the contest. The Sharks now sit in third place in the Pacific Division, two points behind the Anaheim Ducks and five points behind the Calgary Flames. Those same Flames beat the Wild 2-1 on Saturday in a fight-heavy contest. Top-scoring Wild defenseman Matt Dumba exchanged punches with Calgary bruiser Matthew Tkachuk just 40 seconds into the game, then didn’t play in the second or third period because he sustained an upper-body injury. It’s a big blow to Minnesota’s depth, which will be tested by a Sharks team coming in with four straight wins. This is the second time this season the Sharks and the Wild will meet. In their previous meeting in San Jose, the Sharks won 4-3. Sharks projected lines and pairs: Evander Kane – Joe Pavelski – Joonas Donskoi Tomas Hertl – Logan Couture – Timo Meier Marcus Sorensen – Joe Thornton – Kevin Labanc Melker Karlsson – Barclay Goodrow – Lukas Radil Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun Radim Simek – Brent Burns Brenden Dillon – Erik Karlsson Martin Jones – projected starter Aaron Dell Wild projected lines and pairs: Jordan Greenway – Eric Staal – Mikael Granlund Zach Parise – Charlie Coyle – Nino Niederreiter Jason Zucker – Mikko Koivu – Luke Kunin Marcus Foligno – Joel Eriksson Ek – Erik Fehr Ryan Suter – Jared Spurgeon Jonas Brodin – Greg Pateryn Nick Seeler – Nate Prosser Devan Dubnyk – projected starter Alex Stalock Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121806 San Jose Sharks Regarding Radil, who nearly made the team out of training camp, DeBoer said: “He fits that fourth line mentality. He’s a big, heavy guy, wins battles, he gets around the rink pretty well and he’s not afraid to Even after rough outing, Sharks goalie Martin Jones’ game could be back make some plays offensively. You saw it in camp, but (you never know if to where it needs to be that translates) in the regular season.” While the contributions from guys like Radil and Simek are a bit of a surprise, the emergence of another guy on the roster really isn’t. By Kevin Kurz Dec 18, 2018 Erik Karlsson extended his assist streak to six games, including one dazzling play that resulted in Couture’s second goal of the evening early in the third period. Karlsson somehow slid the puck to an open Tomas ST. PAUL, Minn. — On its face, the Sharks coaching staff’s decision to Hertl in the offensive zone, and Hertl shoveled it to Couture, who found start Martin Jones rather than Aaron Dell on Tuesday night in Minnesota daylight on Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk’s short side. was one that could have been questioned. PASSING GAME:  PIC.TWITTER.COM/UOVQEHRZG5 Dell, after all, looked much better Sunday night in Chicago than Jones, who gave up a soft goal early and was eventually pulled in the first period — SAN JOSE SHARKS (@SANJOSESHARKS) DECEMBER 19, 2018 after allowing three goals on just four shots. Karlsson has seven points in his last six games, all assists. Since Nov. Giving each goalie a start on a two-game road trip would have made 13, the only defensemen in the NHL with more points than Karlsson’s 16 plenty of sense, too. are Calgary’s Mark Giordano (19) and Washington’s John Carlson (17). But Pete DeBoer said Tuesday morning at Xcel Energy Center that he Couture succinctly summed up the latest highlight reel play from the two- likes the way Jones’ game has been trending. The numbers backed him time Norris Trophy winner. up, as Jones was 4-1-0 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in his previous five games, including the poor outing in “That was nasty,” Couture said. “I saw him take the puck, skate across Chicago. the line, kind of skate in the opposite direction, and then the puck came through his legs. Crazy.” DeBoer was going back to his No. 1 against the Wild. It was the right move. DeBoer said: “He’s been playing great. He makes a couple of those a night. That one ended up in the back of the net, but I really like his game Jones played arguably his best game of the season in posting a 26-save right now, where it’s at.” shutout, while the Sharks — who might have played their best game as a team, too — increased their winning streak to five with a 4-0 blanking of On Tuesday morning, Karlsson was asked about his comfort level on the the Wild. ice with his new team. “I knew after the Chicago game I wanted to come right back with “Whether I feel like I’ve played my best hockey yet — I don’t think so,” he (Jones),” DeBoer said. “He’s always, in my time with him, responded said. “I think I’ve got a lot more to give, and that’s the way it should be.” after a game like that (in Chicago) with a big game. Every time. I was If that’s the case, and the Sharks continue to get contributions from up confident we were going to get that type of game out of him tonight.” and down their lineup as well as steady goaltending, well, this could be Jones, as he is wont to do, credited the team in front of him, as the the Stanley Cup contender that many figured it would be at the start of Sharks have played a much more responsible game all over the ice the season. during their run of seven wins in the last eight overall. They’ll get a heck of a test Thursday against the Central Division-leading “It’s a team game, as silly as it sounds. When we play like that, it makes Jets, before closing out the pre-Christmas break portion of their schedule everybody’s job easier,” said Jones, who now has 20 shutouts in his with the Kings on Saturday afternoon and Coyotes on Sunday. All three career. “We’ve got the puck more, we’re in the O-zone more, we’re not games are at home, where the Sharks are 11-3-2. giving up the rush chances that maybe we were at the start of the year. Their game is in as good as a place as it’s been all season. So, it’s everybody has stepped up their game and we’re starting to get rewarded.” “From a team standpoint it was probably one of our most solid games start to finish, the way we defended and the way we shut down the rush Still, a scoreless game turned early in the second period shortly after was really, really solid tonight,” Jones said. “So, it was great.” Jones made a key save on Joel Eriksson Ek, who played a puck off of the end boards and tried squeezing it through the near post. The puck As was the goalie, who didn’t let a rough outing against the last-place met Jones’ right pad 2 1/2 minutes into the middle frame. Blackhawks derail him from his overall upward trend this month. From there, the Sharks generated nine of the next 11 shots on goal, “Everyone has tough games, and obviously that was a tough one for including scores by Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski just 29 seconds (Jones),” Couture said. “We had all the confidence in the world in him apart to stake the visitors a 2-0 lead. that he was going to rebound, and he played very well tonight.” Jones, who now has a .936 save percentage in his last six games, is The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 seemingly making more timely saves like that stop on Eriksson Ek lately, allowing his teammates to get away with errors and breakdowns, which will happen to any team on a given night. That, combined with fewer grade-A chances overall, is the biggest reason the Sharks seem to finally be finding their stride after two months of inconsistent hockey. “I think it’s a little bit of everything,” DeBoer said. “Our attention to detail has been better, and when we do have breakdowns, we’re getting a big save at the right time.” The contributions from the depth are helping, too. Fourth line winger Lukas Radil continues to impress, setting up Couture’s goal with a slick pass from the end wall and later scoring an empty net goal. He now has five points in his last five games, giving a boost to what is a suddenly a very effective fourth line. Defenseman Radim Simek posted a pair of assists for his first career multi-point NHL game, and he has four points in the last four games, too. “(Radil) has done a good job. The other two have played well, as well,” Couture said of the fourth line. “It’s not a one-man line, by any means. I think the three of them meshed well together. (Barclay Goodrow) played well and (Melker Karlsson has) made some great plays. When they go out there, they’re creating momentum for us, and those good shifts bleed into each other.” 1121807 St Louis Blues The three Blues on the injured reserve list — forward Robby Fabbri (shoulder) and defensemen Alex Pietrangelo (hand) and (upper body) — accompanied the team on this trip. Ex-Blue Brodziak finds a home -- and Hitchcock -- in Edmonton All three skated in varying degrees during the morning skate Tuesday. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2018 Jim Thomas

EDMONTON, Alberta • The last thing Kyle Brodziak expected when he hitched on with the Edmonton Oilers last July was another round with “Hitch.” That would be Ken Hitchcock, the former Blues coach who returned to the NHL coaching ranks at age 67 when he replaced the fired Todd McLellan on Nov. 20. “I honestly couldn’t have even imagined it,” Brodziak said, laughing. “I didn’t think there was a possibility. I woke up that morning to quite a few text messages.” Among those early inquiries were some from his Oilers teammates. “All the young guys were coming up and asking me questions of what to expect, and they seemed a little worried about it,” Brodziak said. Hitchcock, of course, has a reputation of being a hard, uh, driver. “But, if he’s on you it’s probably because he sees something in you,” Brodziak said. “It’s a good thing if he’s getting on you. So that’s kinda the only message that I tried getting back to them is don’t worry about it if he starts getting on you.” Brodziak spent 1½ of his three seasons in St. Louis with Hitchcock as his coach. Since Hitchcock arrived in Edmonton, he’s getting a couple of more minutes a game. Tuesday against St. Louis, he centered the Oilers’ third line. “He’s calling me ‘Old Man’ all the time because I’m the oldest guy on the team,” Brodziak said. “So he likes to make fun of my age (34) and my speed around here.” Brodziak had three goals and two assists in 32 games with Edmonton entering Tuesday’s contest, and was minus-8 for the season. Brodziak was a stalwart on the Blues’ fourth line during his three years in St. Louis. That was especially true last season when he scored 10 goals with 23 assists and was plus-13. The 10 goals marked his highest total since the 2011-12 season in Minnesota; the 23 assists matched his career high. Because of injuries to others, and the quality of his own play, Brodziak frequently was pushed up a line or two over the second half of the season. In fact, he centered the second line over the final 15 games of 2017-18, usually flanked by Patrick Berglund and Alexander Steen. Getting a chance to return to his hometown area, and getting a two-year deal (for $2.3 million total), were the main factors in Brodziak’s decision to leave the Blues via free agency. He grew up in the town of Vegreville, about 45 minutes from Edmonton. His mother still lives there. His brother owns a restaurant near downtown Edmonton called the Local Omnivore. And his wife’s parents moved to suburban Edmonton about a year and a half ago. “Just to be around family and friends and have the kids grow up in one spot, kind of make a home for them, is pretty nice,” he said. He has three young sons. As for his former team, Brodziak is surprised at the Blues’ struggles. “Yeah, obviously their expectations were pretty high going into the year,” he said. “It’s tough for me to comment because I’m not around. I don’t really know what’s gone on. But yeah, it’s definitely been a bit of a surprise to see them not higher up in the standings than they are, but we still know what kind of team they are and what they’re capable of.” BLUENOTES Forward Zach Sanford re-joined the Blues after spending the weekend with San Antonio; he had a goal and an assist in one game with the Rampage. He was a healthy scratch Tuesday for the Blues against Edmonton, as was defenseman Jordan Schmaltz. 1121808 St Louis Blues Again, the Blues killed this one off, stemming the Oilers’ momentum and quieting the crowd.

The Blues killed off their fifth penalty of the night to begin the third period, Blues surprise Oilers with 4-1 win then there was more controversy, this time ending in the Blues’ favor. A scrum in front of the Edmonton goal ended with the net off its mooring, Jim Thomas game officials whistling the play dead, no goal, and Tyler Bozak of the Blues pointing to the puck under Talbot’s skate. After a lengthy review, the call was changed and the play ruled a Blues goal. It was originally credited to Robert Thomas, then changed to Maroon. EDMONTON, Alberta • Just 13 days after squandering a 2-0 first-period lead in St. Louis, eventually losing 3-2 on Connor McDavid’s shootout Hitchcock responded by challenging — to no avail — that the Blues were goal, the Blues returned the favor Tuesday at Rogers Place. guilty of goaltender interference. It didn’t take a shootout. Or overtime. But there were plenty of Blues “I just saw it laying there,” Maroon said. “I just tried to jab my (stick) at it. penalties — that seems to be a thing these days, doesn’t it? And what And right when I hit it I could tell it went right in. I made sure to tell appeared to be a controversial call that gave the go-ahead goal, and (referee) Kyle (Rehman) to look at it.” game-winning goal, to former Oiler Pat Maroon. It meant a lot for Maroon, not only because it came against his old team, So the predictably unpredictable Blues, fresh off Sunday’s 7-2 drubbing but it was only his second goal of the season. by Calgary, wished the Oilers a Merry Christmas with a surprising 4-1 victory. “It means a lot,” Maroon said. “Obviously I’ve been struggling this year a lot. I haven’t been going to the net as much. I haven’t been finding ways “That’s a performance that we should expect out of ourselves and our to put the puck in the net, so it’s nice to break through tonight.” group nightly, keep ourselves to high standards,” said goalie Jake Allen, who stopped 22 of 23 shots. “It was a whirlwind couple days. It was That goal, giving St. Louis a 2-1 lead, came with just 2:19 expired in the emotional. Guys were fired up. It wasn’t a good mood around the room third period. The Blues got some cushion after Edmonton’s Jujhar Khaira the last couple days. got a five-minute crosschecking major and a game misconduct for striking Vince Dunn in the head and knocking him to the ice. “But we had a good meeting (Monday) and regrouped ourselves. We wanted to finish off this trip before Christmas in the right way. It’s a good On the ensuing power play, Vladimir Tarasenko ended a seven-game start.” scoring drought with his 10th goal of the season at 11:43. Jaden Schwartz scored an empty-net goal to make it a 4-1 finish and a happy The Oilers (18-14-3) had been 9-3-2 under ex-Blues coach Ken flight to Vancouver for Thursday’s game with the Canucks. Hitchcock entering Tuesday’s contest. But the Blues began a three-game road trip with a bang, snapping Edmonton’s six-game home winning St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2018 streak. Most everybody has given up on the Blues, but that hasn’t crept into the locker room. “Should we give up?” David Perron said defiantly. “I think there’s a lot of hockey to be played. You look at the standings, we’re not where we want to be. We have some games in hand on some teams. And we can do some damage if we start playing the right way.” On one level, they played the right way, keeping the wraps on Oilers star McDavid, clearing the puck out of their own zone quickly and generating quality chances against Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot. “It was a real solid team effort,” interim coach Craig Berube said. “Man to man, everybody was dialed in and played a real solid game for 60 minutes. Special teams were big. We scored a big power play goal, penalty kill was excellent. “The guys did a great job on the McDavid line, whoever was out there against them. I thought (Colton) Parayko and (Joel) Edmundson did a great job against him.” McDavid, who entered the game with 19 goals and 30 assists in 33 games, had only one shot on goal and four total attempts. But there were times when the Blues, now 13-15-4, won almost in spite of themselves. They were whistled for six penalties, five of which led to Edmonton power plays. And one of those infractions was the Blues’ 10th penalty of the season for too many men on the ice — and the seventh in 13 games under Berube. “I’ll take the blame on the line change, OK?” Berube said. “But we gotta do a better job (on penalties).” As was the case when the teams met Dec. 5 in St. Louis, the Blues took the early lead. This time it was Perron with a wicked wrist shot that beat Talbot high and glove side for his 11th goal of the season at the 8:12 mark of the first. The Blues kept killing penalties and nursing that 1-0 lead into the second period, when Jesse Puljujarvi beat Allen glove side on a one-timer from the right faceoff circle at the 7:25 mark of the period. The Blues challenged the goal on the basis that Edmonton was offsides (making a line change) at the start of the sequence. But the call stood, the score was tied 1-1, and per league rule the Blues were penalized because of the unsuccessful challenge. “They made the right call,” Berube said. “The (Oilers) guy would’ve had to touch the puck while the guy was still on the ice changing there ... but they made the right call.” 1121809 St Louis Blues tend to flip-flop. . . .Obviously I'm excited to play with those two. It's been a while since all three of us have been together, so we're all looking forward to it." Another turnabout as Blues beat Edmonton 4-1 The Blues have scored two goals or fewer in five of their past seven games. Jim Thomas MAROON HOMECOMING Forward Pat Maroon attracted the most attention among the plethora of Edmonton media members following the Blues' morning skate, and with EDMONTON, Alberta • The Blues got a goal that they weren't expecting good reason. thanks to a replay review and Vladimir Tarasenko broke a seven-game scoring drought with a goal as the Blues started a three-game trip with a Maroon, the St. Louisan from Oakville High, spent parts of three seasons 4-1 win over Edmonton on Tuesday. with Edmonton _ scoring 49 goals with 37 assists in 154 games. He was traded from Edmonton to the New Jersey Devils last Feb. 26, and then Coming off a dismal performance on Sunday in a 7-2 loss to Calgary, the signed with the Blues via free agency last July. Tuesday marks his first Blues got their third win in four games and fourth in six games as they try game in Edmonton since the New Jersey trade. to pull themselves back into the playoff race. "I had my best years here in Edmonton," Maroon said. "A lot of memories The go-ahead goal was credited to Pat Maroon, just his second goal of in this building so it's good to be back." the season, though what exactly happened remains a mystery. It was ruled no goal on the ice as the puck caromed off Edmonton's Jesse Thirteen days ago, when the Blues and Oilers met in St. Louis, Maroon Puljujarvi and disappeared under goalie Cam Talbot's pads, and no talked about having extra motivation when playing against Edmonton. publicly available replays ever showed the puck crossing the line, but the "You always want to beat your former team and you always want to do league office in Toronto apparently saw something and, after a long good against your former team," Maroon said. "Give 'em a reason why review, called it a goal. Edmonton challenged for goalie interference and, they miss me over there." again, the ruling went in the Blues' favor, with the goal standing. Maroon, obviously has struggled in St. Louis with just one goal and That was early in the third period, though the length of the reviews made seven assists in 25 games with the Blues. He's a team-worst minus-15. it seem much later. With 8:17 to go in the period, Tarasenko, playing on a line with Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz, fired in a wrist shot from But he's hoping for better puck luck individually, and better days ahead outside to give the Blues a two-goal lead. It was the 10th goal of the playing for his hometown team. season for Tarasenko, who last scored on Nov. 30. The Blues had a three-minute power play after Edmonton's Jujhar Khaira got a five-minute "Putting that St. Louis Blues sweater on every night means so much to penalty and a game misconduct for a cross check on Vince Dunn, who me, and being home with my family," Maroon said Tuesday. "Obviously, got a two-minute penalty. it's not where we want to be right now. But I believe in this group. We have a good group of guys in here. We have a really good team on Schwartz scored into an empty net with 1:51 to play to close the win out. paper. We've gotta find ways to put it all together now. Schenn had an assist on that play, giving him three in the game. "We haven't turned it around yet, but I feel it's coming here soon. We're The Blues had their obligatory too-many-men penalty in the first period, gonna turn this thing around and good things are going to happen for this but managed to kill the two-minute power play. Seventy-seven seconds group. I believe in them." after the power play ended, Perron put the Blues on the board, taking a pass from Jay Bouwmeester in his own, skating the puck off ice and SECOND TIME AROUND scoring with a quick shot from the right side that went in off the post and The Blues played all three teams on this western Canada swing _ made it 1-0. Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary _ over the past 13 days in St. Louis. Puljujarvi scored to tie the game 7:25 into the second period. The Blues The familiarity from playing them so recently helps in preparation, starting challenged that Edmonton was upheld, but the goal was upheld, a ruling Tuesday against the Oilers. the Blues didn't agree with, that also gave the Oilers a power play, but "For sure," Berube said. "We know what they're like and what they're the Blues killed that penalty, their third kill in as many tries. gonna play like. What's coming at us here. So we're prepared for that." Jake Allen stopped 22 of 23 shots he faced. The chore against Edmonton, of course, is keeping a lid on Oilers star TARASENKO BACK WITH SCHENN, SCHWARTZ Connor McDavid, who has 19 goals and 30 assists in 33 games this season. In the never-ending search for goals and victories, Blues interim coach Craig Berube is putting the band back together Tuesday night against "They've got one of the best players in the world over there," Berube said Edmonton. of McDavid. "He's tough to handle, so it takes everybody on the ice to do a good job against him. Namely, Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will skate together on a line against the Oilers. "Their team under Ken Hitchcock is a lot harder to play against in my opinion. They're forechecking harder and getting on you. They love that "Obviously they were a really good line at points of the year last year," three-quarter ice game, so we have to do a good job with that." Berube said. "They're familiar with each other and did a lot of good things together, so hopefully a little magic happens." McDavid played a whopping 28 minutes 1 second on Dec. 5 when the Oilers defeated the Blues 3-2 in a shootout at Enterprise Center. Over the first half of last season, the Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko line McDavid had an assist in regulation in that one, plus the game-winner in was among the hottest in the NHL. But then Schwartz went down with a the shootout. fractured ankle Dec. 9, 2016, in Detroit. After he returned in late January, the line was never quite the same _ at least not for extended periods. "It's a lot of minutes, so it takes more than one line and more than two 'D' (against McDavid)," Berube said. "We used two lines against him last "Obviously we had some chemistry and we want to try and get back to time, different people in situations. It's awareness when you're out there that as much as we can," Schwartz said. "We know we've done it before, against that line, you gotta do a good job." so it gives us the confidence going in. I think it just starts with work ethic for us three." BLUES PROJECTED LINEUP The trio was together for six games this season in late October and early Forwards November under since-fired coach Mike Yeo. The Blues were 3-2-1 in Schenn-Schwartz-Tarasenko those games with the line combining for five goals and five assists in that span. Steen-O'Reilly-Perron But then Schenn missed the next four games with an upper-body injury. Maroon-Bozak-Thomas One game after Schenn's return, Schwartz was sidelined for 11 games with a hand/finger injury. So now, three games after Schwartz's return, Nolan-Barbashev-Sundqvist Berube is putting the trio back together. Defensemen "Our job's just to play no matter who we're playing with," Schwartz said. Edmundson-Parayko "When you lose games, you're not scoring as much, that's when things Bouwmeester-Bortuzzo Dunn-Butler Goalie Allen OILERS PROJECTED LINEUP (Per Edmonton Oilers radio analyst @Bob_Stauffer) Forwards Chiasson-McDavid-Draisaitl Rieder-Nugent-Hopkins-Rattie Lucic-Brodziak-Kassian Caggiula-Khaira-Puljujarvi Defensemen Nurse-Larsson Gravel-Jones Garrison-Benning Goalie Talbot St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121810 St Louis Blues But the ex-NHL head coach believes that with Pietrangelo’s career body of work, along with the upside of Parayko, Dunn and Joel Edmundson, the Blues have a good base on the blueline. Judging the pros and cons: Just how attractive is the Blues’ coaching “They weren’t getting the overall defensive coverage they wanted (earlier job? in the season),” the ex-coach said. “Goals were going in and they weren’t scoring goals. It’s hard to stop the spiraling. I think it’s there, it just didn’t come together at the same time. But you’ve got the D to be a great By Jeremy Rutherford Dec 18, 2018 defensive team.” In net is the biggest question, with Jake Allen carrying a record of 11-9-4 with a 3.14 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. That When a report surfaced recently that Joel Quenneville would soon be situation can’t be seen as a positive to a prospective coach, especially named the new coach in Philadelphia, the fantasy of a reunion between with the 28-year-old Allen having two seasons left on his contract at a the Blues and their all-time wins leader seemed squashed. $4.35 million annual average value (AAV). Quenneville may indeed end up a Flyer, but three days later, no “Building his consistency, that’s been the thing on him the last three announcement has been made and he’s even told a few close to him that years,” the ex-coach said. “You’ve got to be consistent in this game.” it’s untrue. Another former NHL coach agreed that there are no issues with the “I was texting him and I was like, ‘Everything is blowing up on TV that roster that would cause someone to pause before taking the job. you’re going to be coaching in Philly,'” a former NHL coach told The Athletic. “He just said, ‘No, bad scoop.'” “The foundation of a very good team is in place,” the second coach said. “From the outside looking in, a few tweaks could create an attractive Those who know Quenneville well insist that the 60-year-old will wait until team to come to and you would not have to use the word ‘rebuild.'” after the holidays to make a decision on his future, which theoretically means the Blues are still an option. It’s believed they have considered The two coaches also felt that the Blues’ prospect pool, which includes him a candidate since firing Mike Yeo on Nov. 19, but whether the forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, was another plus. interest is mutual, and whether the Blues would pony up to free him up from his contract with Chicago, remains unanswered. “Yeah, especially skating-wise,” the first coach said. “The league has changed so much, the speed, and you’ve got to keep building on your “Joel is in the driver’s seat and is going to make the decision he wants,” speed.” the former NHL coach said. “He’s going to be able to pick whatever team he feels has a great possibility of winning a (Stanley) Cup. He’s “There are lots of assets,” the second coach added. comfortable (in St. Louis), he likes the area, but I don’t know.” But what about the problems inside the Blues’ locker room? For two In the meantime, there has been nothing new to report on a Blues’ seasons, The Athletic St. Louis has reported issues regarding cliques coaching search that is now a month old. But that is half-expected within the roster, claims that have gone uncontested, and that would because general manager Doug Armstrong indicated when he promoted seem to raise a red flag to an incoming coach. Craig Berube to interim head coach that naming a permanent Well, there was disagreement between the ex-coaches on that debate. replacement could take until late in the year or even the offseason. “One thing about coaching that people don’t understand, you don’t take There have been five firings in the NHL this season, including St. Louis, over jobs for first-place teams,” the first coach said. “No one gives you a but three of them — LA, Chicago and Edmonton — have been filled. That first-place team. Very rarely do you get those jobs. There’s always going leaves the Blues and Flyers as the lone vacancies for now, but with more to be problems. Your job is to solve them. There’s always a solution. likely coming in the summer, the competition for Quenneville and others Sometimes it’s a very minimal thing. will be stiff. “The No. 1 thing is you just address it right out of the gate. I come right in In a season of misery in Missouri, The Athletic St. Louis wondered what and meet with the players and find out what’s going on. When I was with the pros and cons were with the Blues’ coaching job and just how (one Western Conference team), I went right after them, ‘What’s the attractive it is viewed around the NHL. We spoke with a few former head problem here?’ You have to. I addressed it right in front of the team, and coaches and gauged their thoughts on the roster, reports of locker room they were great that way. You can’t be afraid.” issues, concerns of control with Armstrong, and the overall desirability of the position. But the second coach, perhaps more familiar with the Blues’ personality differences, said the drama would need to be addressed. The Blues were believed to have their deepest and most talented top- nine group of forwards in quite some time going into this season, but it “Yes, it’s a concern,” the second coach said. “I’ve heard it and it would has not played out that way. They are ranked No. 20 in the NHL in goals have to be dealt with certainly before anyone takes over.” per game (2.88) and only one player (Ryan O’Reilly) among the top 113 point producers in the league. Meanwhile, anyone would be enticed to St. Louis by the fact that the Blues have a stable, local ownership group that has spent to the salary Vladimir Tarasenko, who ranked 23rd last season with 33 goals, is tied cap since taking control of the franchise in 2012. That includes having for 78th this year with 10. Brayden Schenn, last year’s leader in points one of the largest payrolls in the league this season at approximately $80 with 70, was on pace for 50 before a three-assist game against million. Edmonton Tuesday. Jaden Schwartz has 14 points in 19 games, but he’s missed 13 games with injuries this year and will play just 69 if he doesn’t But one potential fear among fans that could prevent Quenneville from miss another. And the same for Robby Fabbri, who has missed 19 and coming to St. Louis is control within the organization. In Chicago, where counting and is currently out with another injury. he won three Stanley Cups, Quenneville had a power struggle with Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman, which eventually led to the coach’s “You can’t manufacture guys (like Tarasenko),” the former NHL head ouster. coach said. “He wants to score the big goals, things just aren’t going his way. He feels the pressure and he hasn’t scored lately, so it puts more There haven’t been any battles to that level between Armstrong and pressure on everybody. He’s just got to keep shooting and battling and recent Blues’ coaches, at least that are widely known. But the GM makes playing better defensively and then everything will start turning his way. every significant decision, including hand-picking Pietrangelo as the club’s captain and assembling the past few staffs, including the current “For me, the forwards just aren’t having a typical year. Look at who’s one with Berube, Steve Ott and Mike Van Ryn. injured there — Schwartz and Fabbri. Schwartzy works hard consistently every night and Fabbri is a big part of the equation there. There’s a lot of “I think the relationship is huge, being on the same page,” the first coach points. It’s a collective thing. You get Schwartz going, Fabbri going, said. “Most coaches and GMs talk about that in the (job) interview, what Schenn going … I think there’s a lot of good pieces there.” they expect, how often are they going to meet? Are they going to meet after games? Are they going to talk twice a week about the foundation Defensively, it has been an unspectacular season for a few players, moving forward? That’s a big thing, you have to be on the same page. I including captain Alex Pietrangelo and especially Jay Bouwmeester. The think when a coach and GM are on the same page, it shows throughout team’s top pairing the past few years, Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester because it starts at the top.” were a combined plus-13 in 2017-18 and are a collective minus-19 this year for a difference of 32. Meanwhile, Colton Parayko has made a few So the slumps of some players, the need for consistency from the major errors this season, and Dunn hasn’t been as good as a sophomore starting goaltender, and the locker room issues loom large for any coach as he was in his rookie year. looking at the job, but otherwise, the coaches we spoke with deemed the opening desirable. At least one made an appeal for Berube. “I want Chief (Berube) to get the job there,” the first coach said. “I’ve known him for a long time and I respect him a lot. It’s a great opportunity for him and his staff. You’ve got ‘Otter,’ he’s a winner; you’ve got ‘Ryno’ there, he’s an up-and-coming young guy; and you’ve got Larry Robinson overseeing it. I think it’s a great opportunity for (Berube) and his staff to prove to Dougie that they can do the job. They know moving forward what intangibles they have to fix.” But if not Berube, there should be significant interest in the job, a third former NHL head coach believes. “I think it is desirable because of its history,” the third ex-coach wrote in a text. “If I wasn’t laid out with (health issues), I would throw my name in there. I think it’s very much high on everyone’s list.” However, if Quenneville is still unspoken for, then continued pursuit of him by the Blues is a no-brainer. “I think JQ would be an easy decision,” the second coach said, “if he would want it.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121811 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning top Canucks in messy, chippy game

By Diana Nearhos

VANCOUVER—It got messy, but the Lightning pulled out a 5-2 win over Vancouver on Tuesday … after a combined 58 penalty minutes. There were two official fights, one nasty-looking blindside interference call and umpteen scrums after the whistle. But we'll dive into that in more detail in tomorrow's story. For now, let's take a look at how the Lightning won. Nikita Kucherov got it started in the first period. Brayden Point won a faceoff straight back, and Kucherov took a fraction of a second to settle the puck before sending it past goaltender Anders Nilsson. Tyler Motte tied it up 37 seconds later, tipping Troy Stecher's shot just outside of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy's out-stretched glove. It took about two minutes for Cedric Paquette to put the Lightning back on top. Danick Martel made a sharp pass off a spin move to set Paquette up out front. Martel, in his first game since Nov. 10, wasn't even supposed to play. Ryan Callahan was ruled out with an undisclosed "upper-body" injury between warmups and puck drop, and Martel took his place. Adam Erne added what turned out to be the game-winner at 8:37 of the second period, tipping Paquette's shot pas Nilsson. It was a game of tips, though, as Christopher Tanev deflected Antoine Roussel's shot past Vasilevskiy 5:46 into the third period to bring the Canucks within a goal. Steven Stamkos added an insurance goal late in the third period, a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot – where else? Then, Ondrej Palat landed an empty-netter shortly there after. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121812 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning focusing on defense, can’t miss plays

By Diana Nearhos

VANCOUVER—The Lightning wants more. The team wants more from itself defensively, and it comes from looking ahead to where Tampa Bay wants to be in the end. "There are some areas we need to tighten up to be where we want to be going forward," assistant coach Derek Lalonde said after practice on Monday. He didn't specify where the Lightning wants to be going forward. But Vancouver coach Travis Green did before Tuesday's game did when he called Tampa Bay a team looking for the Stanley Cup. The Lightning has been to the Eastern Conference championship the past two years, but is still looking for that Cup. "Where we want to be, we're not going to be able to just turn it on and off," Lalonde said. "There are times we get very loose, we rely on our offense, and it's lacking some detail. It's going to come back to haunt you." The Lightning spent time working specifically on the defense during Monday's practice, one of two sessions it has between last Thursday's game against Toronto and this Thursday's at Calgary. Coach Jon Cooper said it was, for the most part, a matter of keeping the rhythm with the players when you can get practice time in. It was also a chance to work on a few things he felt were exposed in the overtime loss to Winnipeg. The Lightning played a good game offensively, probably good enough to win, but gave Winnipeg as many chances. The previous game, the Lightning needed goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to come up big to beat Toronto. Before that, Tampa Bay had outplayed its mistakes. There were turnovers or missed plays in the defensive zone, but they did enough things right that those plays didn't register as much. That's what Lalonde was referring to turning on and off. Overall, the Lightning are in a good place. That should be obvious for a team at the top of the league, but specifically, Tampa Bay is allowing fewer quality scoring chances on average than when it was atop the NHL a year ago. Qualify scoring chances is a bit amorphous, but the coaches evaluate where shots come from to determine the difference between shots on goal, shot attempts and quality chances. On a good game, the Lightning is typically in the 11 to 14 range for chances against and in the mid-to-high 20s chances of their own. "What's frustrating is we'll go seven, eight minutes, then have that defensive mishap," Lalonde said. "Against a good team, like Winnipeg, that ends up in the back of your net. It's probably a lesson learned." Some of the accountability falls on the forwards. The Lightning is an offensive team, the coaches give forwards a lot of leeway to play with. The players enjoy that room to work with, but it catches them every once in a while, in a lack of detail defensively. "There's that fine line of playing offense, instinctively playing offense, but not giving up on the other end," Lalonde said. "We cross it at times. It's a constant battle on this team, but it's a good battle." He credited the Lightning players with being receptive to the criticism. They know they need to limit the chances. Steven Stamkos said it after the Toronto game: the Lightning can't put that much on the goalie. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121813 Tampa Bay Lightning

Time in the AHL good for NHL coaches

By Diana Nearhos

VANCOUVER — Philadelphia made a move familiar to the Lightning when it became the sixth NHL team this year to fire its head coach. The Flyers looked to their AHL affiliate for a new coach. That's what then-general manager Steve Yzerman and Tampa Bay did when it hired Jon Cooper in 2013. It's also what Vancouver did in hiring Travis Green two years ago. Philadelphia took a little bit of a different tact, naming Scott Gordon coach for the rest of this season. But in the meantime, he's 1oth current NHL coach to get his first job as a head coach directly from the club's AHL team. Hiring from the AHL isn't exactly uncommon, but its less typical than that number (or the 24 of 31 coaches with AHL experience) makes it seem. Teams are more likely to follow Edmonton's example of hiring Ken Hitchcock, a proven NHL coach. Both Green and Cooper were clear that time in the AHL was a good thing for them as coaches. "Coaching in the AHL definitely makes you a better coach," Green said. "You're adapting to a lot with players coming in and out of your lineup, and you still find ways to develop players and still find ways to win." "I never saw one player be hurt by going to the American league and it's the same for a coach," Cooper said. "You learn the pro game and it prepares you for situations we're in right now." He has often referred to the AHL as a mostly necessary element of development. He believes he wouldn't be here now if it weren't for the AHL. Cooper also specified that it's even better if you can stay in the same organization considering the base of knowledge of prospects and the team. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121814 Toronto Maple Leafs Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.19.2018

Tavares, Matthews score as Maple Leafs embarrass struggling Devils

TOM CANAVAN

The Toronto Maple Leafs put on a show for the New Jersey Devils. They came out fast, got contributions from all four lines, their defence and goaltender, and routed the Devils 7-2 on Tuesday night. “I think tonight we came out ready to play,” said Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who scored a goal. “We know they’ve got a good team over there … so we knew coming in here was going to be a hard match and I think we came in, got the puck behind them which is what we needed to, and that’s why we were successful.” This wasn’t much of a game after John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Patrick Marleau scored in the opening 13:38. Nazem Kadri matched his career high with three assists, Marner and Morgan Rielly added second-period goals and Tyler Ennis had two in the closing minutes as Toronto embarrassed New Jersey for the second time this season. The win was their seventh in 11 games (7-2-2). Frederik Andersen made 27 saves as the Maple Leafs finished a five- game trip with a 2-2-1 record. “For us, we hadn’t been getting the results we’ve wanted to get over the past week, week-and-a-half, and it was about time for us to stand up and I thought we responded well,” Kadri said. Sami Vatanen and Nico Hischier scored for the struggling Devils, who are 3-6-6 in their last 15 games. Keith Kinkaid gave up five goals on 21 shots before being lifted with New Jersey down 5-1 after 40 minutes. “Tonight is not something you can just look past,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “We have to dig into it and get some answers.” The Maple Leafs took the lead just seconds after the Devils’ killed off Blake Coleman’s penalty. Hischier led a 2-on-1 break into the Toronto zone that Rielly broke up, triggering a 3-on-1 counterattack. Matthews sent a pass to Kadri in the right circle, and he found Tavares coming down the middle for his 21st goal at 6:01. Matthews doubled the lead less than two minutes later, depositing a loose puck into an open net. The Devils challenged the call, saying Matthews created the chance for his 17th goal by pushing defenceman Damon Severson into Kinkaid. The goal stood. Marleau made it 3-0 with 6:22 left in the period when Kadri’s pass from the sideboard was mishandled by Vatanen and Kinkaid for a tap-in. “I don’t know if we maintained it for 60 (minutes) but we really started good, came out, got on the cycle and scored some big goals,” Toronto coach Mike Babcock said. “Good win for our team.” Vatanen scored on a rising slap shot with 1:16 left in the first period but Marner pushed the lead back to three goals, putting in the rebound of Tavares’ shot that banged off the goalpost. Rielly scored from the left circle with less than a second left in the second period. Mackenzie Blackwood, who was called up from Binghamton on Monday when Cory Schneider was placed on injured reserve with an abdominal strain, made his NHL debut gave up the two late goals to Ennis. “Our group in here, we can’t take nights off. Tonight was not our best,” Devils forward Taylor Hall said. “When we don’t play our best, unfortunately right now, we’re not going to get wins. Notes: The Leafs are 13-5-1 on the road. … Marleau’s goal was the 544th of his career, tying him for No. 30 in NHL history with Maurice Richard of the Canadiens. … Tavares has 14 of his 21 goals on the road. … Marner has 16 points in the last 11 games. … Hall returned to the lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury. … Vatanen’s goal was his first in 19 games. … Devils have been outscored 13-3 by the Leafs. UP NEXT Maple Leafs: Open three-game homestand against Florida on Thursday. Devils: At Columbus on Thursday. 1121815 Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner has been heeding a message from the coaching staff to shoot a bit more. He’s still a pass-first player, third in the NHL in assists with 35, and it’s hard to argue with the results. But three goals on 14 Game Centre: Tavares show, Marleau milestone spark Leafs past Devils shots over his last two games offer a hint of his finishing skills. | The Star Toronto Star LOADED: 12.19.2018

By Mark Zwolinski

Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock normally gets his point across with authority when he wants players to work or compete harder. Prior to Tuesday night’s 7-2 dismantling of the Devils in New Jersey, Babcock said he’d like to see them play “machine-like” hockey rather than a brand that’s “fun to watch.” The message obviously sunk in big time, and the Leafs won for the second time in six games. John Tavares opened the scoring for the Maple Leafs, who led 5-1 after two periods on the way to a 7-2 victory over the Devils in Newark on Tuesday night. December has seen them produce some solid performances and lose, including a 49-shot defeat against Tampa. There was a sense that they were slipping after a strong November. They had allowed 15 goals in the previous four games, were in a 1-for-22 slump on the power play entering Tuesday, and were facing questions about toughness. Tuesday night was the kind of game the Leafs are capable of, and Babcock wants to see more often. “Machine-like” means consistency. The Leafs had earned more than 50 per cent of the available points in each of the first six five-game segments of the season. They had managed just one point after the first three games of the seventh. They still haven’t lost three games in a row, and are now a league-best 13-5-1 on the road. MARLEAU’S MILESTONE Patrick Marleau scored in a three-goal barrage in the first period as the Leafs built an early lead and controlled the puck 62 per cent of the time. Marleau now has 544 career goals, tied for 30th on the NHL list with Maurice (Rocket) Richard. Next up is Michel Goulet at 548. RIELLY’S PACE In another assault on the record books, defenceman Morgan Rielly scored Tuesday and now has 36 points in 34 games. He’s the first Leafs D-man to be on a point-a-game pace this late in a season since Bryan McCabe, who had 49 points after 49 games in 2005-06. Rielly is in the thick of Norris Trophy conversation and tied with Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot in scoring by defencemen. He also turned in a nice play in the first period, breaking up a two-on-one opportunity by New Jersey that reversed the flow and led to the game’s opening goal by John Tavares. Rielly’s impact on and off the ice has also revitalized the discussion about who should captain the Leafs, when they choose one. Auston Matthews, if he signs a long-term contract as expected, would be the leading contender, but Rielly continues to emerge as a legitimate option. CENTRE STAGE Tavares, Matthews and Kadri give the Leafs the NHL’s deepest set of centres and they dominated this game. Tavares scored his team-leading 21st goal and now has at least 20 in each of his 10 seasons in the NHL. Fourteen of those goals have come on the road. Matthews also scored and now has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in nine games since returning from a shoulder injury. Kadri, meanwhile, tied his single-game high with three assists, something he’s done three times now. BROWN TIMES THREE Babcock had the opportunity to praise his top players after the lopsided win, but chose to single out Connor Brown, who notched three assists — matching his career best. Two of those assists came on Tyler Ennis goals — the first just moments after New Jersey’s second goal. All around, a great night for the unheralded fourth line of Brown, Ennis and Par Lindholm. MARNER THE SHOOTER 1121816 Toronto Maple Leafs Dubas defended his team’s toughness and blue line depth but did say he would not hesitate to improve the team’s defence should the right opportunity present itself. Kyle Dubas’ signing of John Tavares worth every penny for Maple Leafs | “We’re always looking to improve the team where we can and would like The Star to continue to move the puck better from our own zone,” Dubas said. “I think some of that falls on our forwards to get open and available and By Mark Zwolinski on the defence to execute when they are open and available. And it is an area we want to continue to improve upon. It is an area we can make great gains and continue to improve as a club. If that isn’t something that’s happening as we get closer to the end of February, I think we’ll For Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, the free-agent acquisition certainly look to improve.” of centre John Tavares this past off-season has been worth every penny, and more. Toronto Star LOADED: 12.19.2018 Dubas, in a scrum with the media at Monday’s practice, praised Tavares’ contributions to the organization as part of a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the Leafs. Signing the former long-time New York Islander, who scored his team- leading 21st goal in the Leafs’ 7-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, was a coup for Dubas. He landed the summer’s most prized free agent over several other teams who had strong interest in the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft. Dubas’ pursuit of Tavares paid off and began paying dividends almost immediately. The GM, though, couldn’t be certain how the all-star would perform under the microscope that is the Toronto hockey market after signing the seven-year, $77 million (U.S.) deal. Tavares also bought into Dubas’ sales pitch, which included highlighting a hockey operations department now considered among the best in the league. “Any time you engage in that type of commitment to a person, and you bring them in, you hear all these different things about them,” Dubas said. “You know that they’re a great person. You know that they can bring leadership with their preparation and of course how they play. But until you actually go through a season and the process day in and day out, I think it’s tough to actually know what you’re getting and whether that person can live up to that. “I think in John’s case, he’s surpassed our expectations and even my expectations of what he brings not only on the ice but, just as important, off the ice and how he can help guide our group and educate our young players and support our veteran group that’s already here as we continue to move along. So he’s been excellent in every regard. His play on the ice speaks for itself, but it’s the other stuff in the locker room with our younger players that’s certainly been noted by me.” When Tavares first hit the ice in training camp, it became apparent the Leafs were going to make him the focus of their power play. Tavares helped the Leafs’ power play get off to a sizzling start, but the importance of his leadership sunk in as the season progressed. With Tavares and other veterans like Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey leading by example, the team was able to build a winning record despite the loss of star centre Auston Matthews to a shoulder injury and a contract impasse that cost William Nylander the first 27 games of the season. Veteran leadership and its impact on the team is clearly evident; Toronto leads the league in victories while getting outshot (14) and is 14-0 when leading after one period and 17-0 when leading after two periods. A year ago, Toronto posted a 31-5-1 record when leading after one period, and was 31-3-2 when leading after two. “He is, every day and in every single thing that he does,” Dubas said, about Tavares being a consummate pro. “You read about all these players in different sports and how much they put into maintaining their level of play. And when you’re in a seven-year agreement with somebody, to know they’re doing that every day and they’re going to continue to do that and they have an aspiration to maintain that level for a long time, it makes you feel pretty confident. “Certainly with us, we’re very happy that John’s here and the way he’s performed thus far.” The Maple Leafs GM remains committed to improving his club as the season approaches the trade deadline in February. 1121817 Toronto Maple Leafs “We felt there was a lot of talent there,” said Treliving, “that he was capable of producing more than he has, and he’s taken off this year.”

So have the Flames. Over The Boards: Flames spark hope in season of surprises | The Star Around the rinks

The Colorado Avalanche’s top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko By Kevin McGran Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog combined for 148 points, the most by an NHL unit through 33 games since Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis amassed 203 for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96. The book on the Calgary Flames the last few years was simple: a good Rantanen (56 points) and MacKinnon (52) were the first NHLers to reach team on paper, but not always on the ice. 50 points this season, the fifth set of teammates since 1981-82 to manage that trick — joining Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (2009-10), The book is getting rewritten. Lemieux and Jagr (1995-96), Wayne Gretzky and Glenn Anderson (1985-86) and Gretzky and Jari Kurri (1983-84). “It’s not like we’re just The Flames are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, on a 9-2-1 run hot,” MacKinnon told the Denver Post. “We’re just good players who heading into Tuesday’s road date with the Dallas Stars. Their 19 wins have good chemistry.” were the second-most through 30 games in franchise history. They were also tied for top spot on points in the Western Conference, the first time CALL IT! New Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock thinks it’s absurd that Connor they’d been that far north in the standings since 1993. McDavid was credited with just 36 penalties drawn over 82 games last season. He thinks the number should have been much higher. He wasn’t “We’ve been on a good stretch here, but you’re always cautious,” general blaming his captain, but sees it as a problem with officials not calling manager Brad Treliving told the Star in a phone interview. “When things interference. “When you look at players like Connor, it’s where they are aren’t going well, you’re miserable. When things are going well, you’re stopping him,” Hitchcock told the Edmonton Journal. “They can’t stop him worried about them going the other way, so you’re consciously trying not around the net, so they try and stop him before he gets into the play and to be miserable. that bothers me. I just want this to be a fair fight.” “But we’re playing well. Our top guys have been terrific. We’re getting STATS AND FACTS: The Ottawa Senators are the only Eastern contributions from a lot of guys and, like a lot of teams, we’re battling Conference team with a win over the Nashville Predators … After racking some injuries. So far, so good.” up nine goals and seven assists over his first 14 games, Senators rookie The Flames have been one of the better stories in a season of surprises, Brady Tkachuk was held without a goal over his next nine games, with including: one assist in the span. He finally scored on Monday … Flyers sophomore centre Nolan Patrick, drafted second overall in 2017, has one point in his The emergence of the Buffalo Sabres in the Atlantic Division. last 14 games. The firing of coaches in St. Louis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Edmonton FROM THE CWHL: The Markham Thunder returned from a three-game and, most recently, Philadelphia — after a season during which no trip to Shenzhen, China with five points and a lot of memories — coaches were fired. including a visit to the oil-painting village of Dafen and dining on local fare. “It was so much fun to experience hot pot with everyone,” forward A surge in offence, with 19 players on pace for 100 points (three Kelly Gribbons told thechwl.com. “It was a great end to the trip to watch reached that threshold last season) and 49 on a point-a-game pace, some teammates struggle with the spicy side of the pot.” ... With a 13-2-1 nearly double the number from the same point last season. record, the Calgary Inferno head into the holiday break atop the CWHL Perhaps the Flames are not that big a surprise. Maybe it’s just that they standings. don’t get a great deal of the spotlight in Canada. The Maple Leafs FROM THE KHL: Two of Russia’s biggest teams, SKA and CSKA, will dominate, with a healthy dose of Connor McDavid and the up-and-down meet Saturday in St. Petersburg at Gazprom Arena, built for soccer with Oilers, the feel-good story of the Winnipeg Jets, and the always a retractable roof. The game should break the league attendance record newsworthy Ottawa Senators. The Montreal Canadiens are making a of 17,645. Russia beat Finland 5-0 in an international game at Gazprom surprising push for a playoff spot, while the Vancouver Canucks have laid on Sunday before 71,000 fans – the most to take in a hockey game in the groundwork for a solid future with a bevy of promising youngsters. Russian history. Treliving doesn’t mind. FROM THE OHL: head coach Trevor Letowski earned “Shhh,” he joked. “Nothing to see here.” his 100th win on Sunday, a 4-3 overtime victory over the Saginaw Spirit at the WFCU Centre. Letowski is in his fourth full season as a head Not true. There’s a lot to see with the Flames. coach … Kingston rookie defenceman Anthony Aguanno scored his first OHL goal on Sunday … Owen Sound rookie goalie Andrew MacLean Captain Mark Giordano, for example, is finally getting some recognition won all three starts last week, including a shutout, with a goals-against- as a Norris Trophy candidate, a conversation long overdue. Through average of 1.67 and save percentage of .953. Monday he had six goals, 29 assists, was plus-21 and led the team with 24 minutes and 28 seconds of ice time a night. Toronto Star LOADED: 12.19.2018 “He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves,” said Treliving. “Until you’re around him every day, you don’t realize how good he is. He’s one of those rare guys that touches every part of the game. Five-on-five, he’s playing top players every night. Power play, penalty kill, three-on-three — you name the situation, he’s touching it.” Goaltending has been better than expected with the tandem of Mike Smith — who struggled early, but has found his game again at age 36 — and David Rittich. Smith won six straight to climb to 8-6-2 overall. Rittich was 11-3-1. “Both have given us the chance to win each time they’re in the net,” said Treliving. “Quite frankly, in the West you need two goalies with the way the schedule is — the travel, all the rest. It’s hard not to have two guys.” What might truly drive the Flames, though, is their offence, which can keep up with anyone. Adding Elias Lindholm (17 goals, 20 assists) — in a summertime trade with Carolina — to the top line with Sean Monahan (20 goals, 19 assists) and Johnny Gaudreau (15 goals, 30 assists) has given the Flames a formidable force. “Gaudreau and Monahan have been top offensive players since they entered the league, but … last year we felt if they didn’t do it, we didn’t have that underneath push. Our goal was to become deeper up front.” Lindholm was the guy, another skilful player who plays all roles and was perhaps underutilized with the Hurricanes last year. 1121818 Toronto Maple Leafs MEAN MACHINE When he reviewed video of the Devils’ last two games, taking three of a possible four points from Las Vegas and Nashville, Babcock was struck Maple Leafs spread scoring around to end road trip on winning note by a couple of things. “They’ve been above the puck, they’re not giving away anything for free,” Lance Hornby he said. “(His Leafs) work for sure as a group, but when we don’t, it’s obvious. This league is so simple. The team that works the hardest wins most nights. When you’re blessed with a little skill, you might be able to cheat a little bit, but in the end, to get what you want in life, your work NEWARK – There is no generation gap on these Maple Leafs. ethic has got to come first. When they hit rough patches, such as in the first four games of their most “The guy who grinds harder and longer has more fun in the end because recent road trip, the varied demographic on this club talks it out and they get to do the winning. We have to show that. It’s great that we’re fun makes the needed course correction. to watch, I hear that on a nightly basis, but when I hear we’re machine- like to watch, I’ll be a happy guy.” On Tuesday that resulted in the most comprehensive effort shown by Toronto this term, at least on the scoreboard. Oldest to youngest, Tavares was asked to define that last superlative. forwards Patrick Marleau, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews all scored in the same game for the first time this season as “He does not suggest any particular team (to emulate), it’s just not getting the Leafs routed New Jersey 7-2. complacent and not getting away from small details that bring you success. It’s a lot of commitment, a lot of hard work every day and Add a goal by Morgan Rielly to keep him prominent in the league points hoping to be in the best (playoff) position possible. To have that same race for defencemen, three primary assists for Nazem Kadri, three mentality to find that on a daily basis, especially when there are 31 teams helpers for Connor Brown and two goals by fourth-liner Tyler Ennis. trying to do the same thing.” Toronto heads home with a record of 2-2-1 on the trip. They lost some POWER SURGE Rielly leads the Leafs in power-play points with 12, 11 heavily hyped contests against Tampa Bay and Boston, but did not let of those assists. He could be the first defenceman to do that for the Leafs those setbacks impact the good thing they have going in the dressing since Tomas Kaberle in 2009-10. room or let bad habits form. Tavares has been impressed by what Rielly has shown him, the team “We need to try and bottle all that up and find some consistency in that,” and the league in his short time here. said Brown of the team’s big night at the office and 22 wins in 34 games. “That was the type of game we wanted to play – in their end and play “He’s very comfortable in his own skin and matured into a really good heavy.” leader. I wasn’t here before, but he has a great presence in the locker room. He keeps things light, likes to have a lot of fun, but is a competitive Indeed, coach Mike Babcock had to like the way many of the Leaf goals guys with a great skill set. You can kind of see his game get better and were engineered; digging for loose pucks, winning corner battles, gaining better as the season goes on.” the zone, the fluid defence jumping in and everyone hungry for rebounds. It was the “machine” analogy he’d brought up earlier in the day. CLASS REUNION The goal that might have pleased the headmaster most was Matthews The 2009 draft was held in Montreal, but might as well have shifted to bowling over defenceman Damon Severson to make it 2-0, shoving him Hogtown that year. into starting goalie Keith Kinkaid in a determined puck hunt. When Tavares signed with the Leafs this past summer, the former first “That one, and on the first (Tavares) goal, he drove the net, too,” overall choice of the Islanders became the fifth player in the first round to Babcock said. “On Marleau’s goal, he was physical on the forecheck. have wound up with the Leafs. The others were Carter Ashton (Tampa That’s why I really liked our start.” Bay), Tim Erixon (Calgary), Peter Holland (Anaheim) and Jared Cowen (Ottawa). Toronto’s choice was Kadri at seventh – and the booing with Rielly’s fine attention to detail regarding his regular job in his own end general manager Brian Burke and Kadri on stage was deafening. was shown on the opening goal. Nico Hischier had an early chance to put Jersey in the driver’s seat, but couldn’t lose Rielly in his side view One who didn’t drift into Toronto’s orbit was winger Marcus Johansson. mirror. Choosing to pass instead of shoot, the play was broken up by Selected by Washington and now a key member of the Devils, he has Rielly and went right to the tail end of the Leafs power play, still on the vague recollections of Tavares and the others parading up and down to ice; Tavares, Kadri and Matthews, with Tavares getting his 21st. the draft floor at the Bell Centre. “(Rielly) has got way better, his stick, his feet in the D zone, his “I know there are some very good players from my draft year,” said awareness,” Babcock said. “We all knew he was good offensively.” Johansson of Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene and Evander Kane, who went two through four, “and the previous one” (Steven Stamkos and With an eighth of a second to go in the second period, Rielly finished off Drew Doughty, 1-2). a rush by Brown and Kadri with the goal that knocked Kinkaid out for rookie Mackenzie Blackwood. Toronto ran up the score to 12-3 on the “I think all I remember about it is what the whole experience was for Devils in two meetings so far this year. yourself. You’re trying to live in that moment (with his parents from season).” Frederik Andersen, who had some tough breaks in the two Florida losses, solidified his hold on the conference lead in goaltending wins with Tavares, who was anointed No. 1 long before that draft, was probably his 18th. With the Leafs only up three, he stuck a big mitt in front of Kyle doing a slew of national TV interviews as the others heard their names Palmieri’s breakaway and though Taylor Hall fought off Nikita Zaitsev at called. the Leafs net to set up Hischier, the Leafs’ fourth line responded with pressure and Ennis’s sixth and seventh. “As you get older, you kind of realize that it doesn’t matter where you’re drafted,” Tavares said. “At the time, you hope to get drafted as high as Toronto has seven of its next eight at Scotiabank Arena trying to re-gain you can. For me I was fortunate to go No. 1 and that was a special thing. some ground that Tampa Bay opened up while the Leafs had their road But you get older you look at the guys who were able to sustain it and issues. have a very good career and continue to be productive. (Johansson) is one of those guys.” PAT ON THE BACK LOOSE LEAFS Marleau’s goal was noteworthy for two reasons, his 544th career, tying the great Maurice (Rocket) Richard for 30th in NHL history and his 106th The Devils’ immediate goaltending fate is with Kinkaid and Blackwood game winner, both announced by Babcock afterwards in case anyone after Cory Schneider’s struggles were compounded by injury. “We had missed it. believe in our goalies, no matter what’s happened this year,” Devils forward Taylor Hall said. “We’ve seen what Keith can do when he gets “Growing up, I’d look at all the hockey cards and all the books,” said the rolling, he was the main reason we made the playoffs last year, the last 39-year-old Marleau of the stars he’s passed on the list of late such as 20-25 games he played … Once asked ex-Leaf and Devil Alex Mogilny . “You read about the great players and think it’s pretty cool to how the Santa Claus myth played out to kids in the old Soviet Union from be in that same company. where he defected. “Does he live in the north? I don’t know where the hell he lives, really. They never told us. Maybe he’s in one of those “Tonight, we got our grind game going, which is something we talked government project buildings. But he comes from somewhere” … w also about.” led the Leafs with three hits. LANCE HORNBY’S TOP FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED Willy not chilly Though he didn’t get a point — despite all the big guns seeing their names on the board — William Nylander was in the vicinity of good chances and employed on faceoffs won 10 of 13. Linemate Nazem Kadri says people should look at some of those stats before grumbling about lack of production. Let’s get physical Those nervously watching Auston Matthews when he gets hit had to be impressed by how he asserted himself on the second Toronto goal, determined to get at a loose puck. He did have to escape a possible goalie interference call. Rielly rated high At 21:40, defenceman Morgan Rielly led Toronto players in ice time and was credited with a couple of takeaways in addition to his impressive one-timer snap for a goal, extending his career best to 11. Babcock credits Rielly’s partner Ron Hainsey with positive influence that’s gone under-appreciated. Power sour Rielly was holding out hope that Tavares’s goal was going to be counted on the power play, but alas, the Leafs are now in a 1-for-25 struggle. But with all that firepower, something has to turn their way, even for the second unit. Shooting is contagious All Leafs got in on the act with shots on goal Tuesday, with the exception of Hainsey and believe it or not, Kasperi Kapanen. Nikita Zaitsev’s leap in to the action to kick start the second goal was another sign that all six defencemen can contribute. Toronto had 31 in all. Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121819 Toronto Maple Leafs

Taylor Hall back as Devils try to dump Leafs

Lance Hornby

NEWARK–The Devils are Hall together again — which could spell trouble for the Maple Leafs ending their five-game road trip here tonight. Without Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall in the lineup, the Devils took three of four points from Las Vegas and Nashville and now look to atone for a 6-1 loss in Toronto last month as Hall gets back at first line left-wing from a lower body injury. “It’s important for him to come back and get to the game we need him to play right off the bat,” said Jersey coach John Hynes. “When you add a player like him back to your lineup, the rest of the team has to continue to do their job. Playing those back-to-back games, we were hard on the puck. Systematically, we were really good.” Hall said getting back to face the Leafs is good timing for himself from a motivational standpoint. “It’s great to see our team play well, but you want to get back in there. Against a team like the Leafs, you’re always excited.” The Devils’ pack mentality, which included a season-high for shots against the Golden Knights, is the recipe a couple of teams used to thwart the Leafs in what has been their flattest span of the schedule to date, four losses in the past five games, three on this road trip, one in overtime. “Last two games I’ve watched, (Jersey) they’ve worked hard, been above the puck,” head coach Mike Babcock noted. “They’re not giving away anything for free. The last (Leaf blowout win) will have no bearing. “We work for sure as a group, but when we don’t, it’s obvious. This league is so simple. The team that works the hardest wins most nights. When you’re blessed with a little skill, you might be able to cheat a little bit, but in the end, to get what you want in life, your work ethic has got to come first. “The guy who grinds harder and longer has more fun in the end because they get to do the winning. We have to show that. It’s great that we’re fun to watch, I hear that on a nightly basis, but when I hear we’re machine- like to watch, I’ll be a happy guy.” Toronto had no apparent lineup changes after an optional practice at the Prudential Center. Its high-powered offence has been limited to 11 goals in the four road games, but rather than face a veteran ace goalie in Tuukka Rask, Andrei Vasilevskiy or Roberto Luongo, they have the lesser known Kevin Kinkaid, backed by farm call-up Mackenzie Blackwood with the slumping Cory Schneider now hurt. “We believe in our goalies, no matter what’s happened this year,” Hall said. “We’ve seen what Keith can do when he gets rolling, he was the main reason we made the playoffs last year, the last 20-25 games he played.” Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock during a team skate at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday December 10, 2018. (Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun) Entering his seventh game since re-signing, William Nylander has yet to score. Babcock is still firmly in his corner. “I just know when you’re used to being magic, used to having pop, used to being able to do things with the puck and it won’t go in for you, it’s starts wearing on you, no matter who you are. You have to take a deep breath and give yourself a break, understand the situation you’re in and move on.” Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121820 Toronto Maple Leafs Some of the characteristics were timed (i.e. how much time a player spends gliding on two feet in a shift). Others were about frequency (i.e.

how many times a player turns left or right). How Kasperi Kapanen’s brilliant skating is propelling him to a breakout The insights were telling. Players Dr. Bracko characterized as “high-point year in a changing game scorers” didn’t necessarily skate faster than “low-points scorers” — or fast at all. Some players did. The Steve Kaspers and Mark Recchis of the world, in their heydays. But others didn’t. Wayne Gretzky didn’t. Neither By Scott Wheeler Dec 18, 2018 did Mario Lemieux, really.

“It was interesting because one of the things that we found was that high- point scorers spent more time gliding with the puck than the low-point NEWARK, N.J. — Once upon a time, Travis Dermott and Connor Brown scorers,” Dr. Bracko explained on a recent phone call. played with Connor McDavid, the fastest player the two had ever seen — and maybe the fastest ever play hockey. Years later, Dr. Bracko took his findings and brought them into practice in his hometown of Calgary, where he now works as a skating coach for Then they met Kasperi Kapanen and second-guessed themselves. NHL clients ranging from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Florida Panthers “His turn back … like no defenceman in the league can stop him when he — and teaches or speaks on everything from conditioning, fitness, nails his turn back at top speed. It’s just not possible I don’t think. There’s biomechanics and the physiology of female hockey players. no way to read a guy’s mind that quick, send the idea from my brain to These days, everything he teaches is influenced by his findings. my feet to turn with him and be even close by the time he actually commits to it,” Dermott said. There are two pillars to a great skater.

“Honestly, I’d say Kappy’s quicker off the gun. Connor’s really good top The first is a simple one. speed evasiveness. It might just be Kappy’s start that looks really fast off the start. It is pretty damn fast but I think I’d give Kappy the trophy.” “Everyone talks about quick feet and fast feet and first three strides. Well, all of that is a function of muscle power. And muscle power is developed There are others. The Islanders’ Mathew Barzal comes to mind as by doing strength and conditioning. All of the fast players, one of the someone Dermott says he struggles to defend off the rush. reasons they’re fast is because they have a lot of power in their legs and their quads and all of the muscles they use when they’re accelerating or But Kapanen … whew. striding. They were either born with a predominance of what’s called fast- “Barzal’s quick and he’s evasive but I don’t think anybody you can say twitch muscle fibres or they have trained so hard to develop their muscle has the same thing Kappy has. I don’t think there’s anyone like him. power,” he said. There’s a lot of guys who are dangerous with their evasiveness but I “Like when it comes right down to it, that’s the reason they’re fast: They think if he keeps working on what he’s bringing with the top-end speed have more muscle power than a comparable forward.” and the quickness and the evasiveness, he’s going to be pretty hard to stop – as he already is,” Dermott continued. The second is a little more complicated.

Brown describes McDavid as a little more ‘zig-zaggy’ in the way he uses “The other one is they have really good biomechanics. You could have a his crossovers to generate speed versus Kapanen’s straight-line speed. player who has got really good power but not very good biomechanics. Biomechanics involve a lot of things. Arm movement, leg movement, “Kapanen’s speed is what sets him apart. He can fly. Not only that but it’s knee bend flection, trunk flection, a whole bunch of things. They don’t his balance out there. He’s right over his toes. And he’s got that fast think about it. It’s like a computer program where they turn it on and they twitch, just like fast sprinters do, but he’s also really efficient. His push is go,” Dr. Bracko said. already starting before he even lands. There’s not much of a glide phase when he’s skating forward, it’s like he’s running. And then he gets so For Dr. Bracko, Kapanen’s skating advantage comes down to a much out of each push too. He’s a strong guy and he loads from his hip,” combination between the former and the latter. Brown said. “Kapanen likely just has more muscle power. One of the ways I can “It’s pretty flawless.” identify that objectively is the players now are lower and have more knee flection, which allows them to have more power than the players in the But what really makes Barzal so evasive? Or McDavid unlike anyone ’90s,” Dr. Bracko said. else hockey has ever seen? Or Kapanen so fast? “And then players like McDavid or Kapanen don’t seem to glide that Dermott can’t really put his finger on it. much anymore — not like Gretzky did. They’re lower and in a more “It’s crazy almost. It’s not like he’s extending one leg further than the biomechanically effective position for them to accelerate not only from other and it’s making him faster that way. You just watch him and he’s stationary but also from a two-foot glide.” got that quick twitch and it’s just so fast. Once it’s out it’s back and The coaching pushing again like so quick. He gets them going so fast that his quickness off the bat is just as impressive as his top speed. Both of those Lari Joutsenlahti has worked with his fair share of Finnish skaters. together – there’s a lot of guys that are fast once you get going and a lot Among others, he’s the architect behind the effortless stride of Dallas of guys that are quick and can’t get up to that fast a speed. He’s got both Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen. pretty much down pat,” he said. But when most Finns come home from the NHL to work on their strides in And while few in the hockey world can put a finger on it, or a stick on him, the summer, Kapanen has never been among them. He comes home, some know better than others just what makes Kapanen and the world’s but he works with his dad, Sami, who he credits as one of the best best skaters so fast. skaters ever.

The science This summer, though, Joutsenlahti put one of his best skaters, former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Alexander Ruuttu, against Kapanen. The After a junior hockey career in the AJHL and the BCHL, an NCAA career stakes were simple: a 20-metre skating test. with the University of Illinois-Chicago and a cup of coffee at a Calgary Flames camp “100 years ago,” Mike Bracko became a doctor. Kapanen won, but it was basically a tie.

Just not the clinical kind. “It’s a funny story. Sami asked the boys after the race why are they starting chest first and many players are starting with their hips to the Instead, he earned an undergrad, a master’s and a doctorate in exercise side and Ruuttu and Kapanen told him they learned that from me for the science and biomechanics. For his dissertation, he identified and first stride,” Joutsenlahti said, laughing. “So that was good feedback.” analyzed 28 skating characteristics in 1990s NHL forwards (it took so much time that he couldn’t do the defencemen too), breaking their strides Longtime skating coach Marianne Watkins, who has worked with NHL down into quarter-second increments. players in just about every organization, has tried to model her approach after European coaches like Joutsenlahti, who she says have figured out how to take players like Kapanen and make them even faster — something a lot of skating coaches in North America haven’t quite figured well backwards as forwards. Reinhart is “wise about his speed” and an out. exceptional skater who picks his spots rather than being the fastest player to the wrong spot, storing his energy along the way and “turning “We still have deficiencies. I’m in Pittsburgh where they’re not doing on the jets only when he needs to.” hockey skating specific movements. Like skating is unique. It’s a one- legged explosion from side-to-side through the hips and most guys their And Kapanen is all of those things. There are elements of Bure in him, hips are so tight and restricted that it prevents them from getting and of Reinhart, according to Aidelbaum. maximum technique. The Europeans start them so young. At 5 they’re doing off-ice stuff. That’s what I’m trying to develop here in Pittsburgh, is “In order to do that, you have to have perfect weight distribution. There’s off-ice skating-specific hockey movements so that they’re developing the no room for error when you’re sprinting to try to get to top end speed in right muscle memory,” she said. such a small space. Kapanen’s always in a good stance. He always has tension in his core. If you don’t have that tension you miss a beat. He “Even at the AHL, when I used to go in and work with all of the teams, never does. He can just pop into first, second, third gear immediately. they’d say ‘get him a step faster’ and when I saw how restricted their hips And one thing with him too is that he skates at really high speeds and his were I’m like ‘that’s not going to happen.’ They’re so restricted in the hands can keep up with his feet. Some players in the AHL that are trying physical movement that they couldn’t get more out of their technique. to make the jump they can skate super fast but their hands don’t keep The European influence helps because they do all that crazy edgework. up. With him, it’s just up and down and his hands move at whatever I’ve been over there and the coaches will not let them glide or slow down speed they need to,” she said. so it’s all about the edges and using them more efficiently than we do over here.” The video

The biggest difference between players like Kapanen and the top young All of these things, from the science to the coaching observations and players of yesteryear (Watkins began as a skating coach with the tips, can be tracked through video of Kapanen’s game. Peterborough Petes) is the way he crosses over. A review of his games from the last month (all those dating back to Nov. “The first word that comes to my head is efficiency. Back in the day, 15) reveals each of them again and again. commentators on TV used to always talk about the first six steps. That On Tuesday night, in the Leafs’ 7-2 win over the Devils, Kapanen lost (by doesn’t exist anymore. With players opening their hips, it’s way more my count) just one foot race. efficient because you can change your mind quicker if you have to change directions. It used to be cross over, cross over, cross over. The Here, while shorthanded, watch how he changes directions to track back North American version versus the European version, we still scrape to the puck and come from behind to win the foot race and chip the puck through stuff and slow down to do that transition when you don’t have to,” out of the zone to Mitch Marner for a shot at the other end (and pay Watkins said. particular attention to that balance Joutsenlahti talked about in the way he stays on his feet despite using his momentum to spin away from “You have to use your edges better and your hips better. Most guys have contact): to slow down to do a tight turn at high speeds. You can’t do that. You have to plant that outside edge and use it. You have to get more distance And now look for the same thing here (the off-balance spin after the out of each push. Back in the day it would take like seven crossovers the straightaway speed), to disrupt the play at the blueline: whole width of the ice to turn and get back. Kapanen’s doing it in two big While he and Nikita Zaitsev didn’t end up getting credited with assists on giant crossovers and then he’s back into stride.” Auston Matthews’ goal because a Devils player touched the puck in the In Finland, the edge work and off-ice training Watkins talks about is the crease, look for the way Kapanen tracks from the right wing to the left focus. wing to retrieve the puck before using those crossovers Watkins talked about (three, not the seven she says players used to use) to gain some Joutsenlahti says 50 per cent of what they work on are off-ice exercises separation at the top of the zone before making the play ahead of the that mimic skating or edge work. Everything has to be transferrable from goal: training to the ice. That’s why Joutsenlahti believes Kapanen’s time spent in the AHL, learning how to use his skating in different ways, has real While it wasn’t needed on the play below thanks to a heads-up play by value. Ron Hainsey, watch Kapanen’s brilliant straightaway speed at work on this backcheck (you’ll notice he starts below the top of the offensive zone “You must know how to stand on the blade and where to push the stride circle and Marcus Johansson is at the blueline and he still catches him): and have the right core-hip balance and use your hands,” he explained. And here’s that selective speed and the value of using it to cut to the “(Kapanen’s) a really amazing, fast skater. North American is middle that Aidelbaum talks about: so different from Europe. If you’re a defenceman you don’t have to be as fast in the first two strides as Kapanen but everything is important. I think It’s this skating, more than anything else, that has led to Kapanen’s the balance and the edgework is more important nowadays than the breakout season (despite the fact that he still isn’t back on the second technique. Ice hockey skating is a different skill than anything else, speed power play unit). skating and figure skating included. It’s a unique technique, a different Earlier in the week, when Kyle Dubas spoke about the importance of world in hockey skates.” having the Leafs’ forwards carry the puck up ice with control (the area he When longtime NHL skating coach Barb Aidelbaum takes on a new said the team can make the most gains in), he also highlighted Kapanen client, the first thing she does is talk to their strength and conditioning for exactly that. The Leafs didn’t need toughness, they needed more coach to make sure they have “excellent core strength and the ability to, speed. “We want to be fast,” Dubas said. off ice, drive his hips in a square position or with one hip leading, More than once recently, Babcock has echoed that sentiment, saying isolating different parts of the body.” that he has moved Kapanen around on lines (even for a stint with John The second thing she does is measure, again in an off-ice setting, the Tavares) because the team needs to get everyone playing at his pace. dexterity of the player’s ankles and their ability to change directions That pace translates into offence. (which is pivotal to “snap his edges from one way to the other in order to shift laterally.”) It’s often necessary to correct a player’s issues in a Bure’s ability to get up to full speed in 15 feet? Kapanen showed that on dryland setting before taking them to the ice. his 4-on-4 goal against the Sharks, exploding from a standstill behind the centre-ice line to get to his top speed by the top of the centre-ice circle: By the time a player’s on the ice, she has five boxes she looks for them to tick (when a player doesn’t tick one of them, that’s where she focuses Or in the way he exploded off a tight carve and into his sprint on the her attention). Her first client to tick all five was Pavel Bure. He could go shorthanded goal he scored in the same game: from zero to top speed in 15 feet (or roughly the space between a faceoff dot and the top of the circle), he could move explosively in all four Or in the way he backed off the defenders in overtime in Buffalo to create directions and he could stop and start on both edges. space for Matthews’ game-winning release:

Players like Kapanen, Steven Stamkos and Sam Reinhart tick those And the balance on his edges they all talk about, or the way Brown boxes in today’s game. Stamkos, she insists, would look like a described him as on top of his toes? defenceman if you didn’t know he was a forward because he skates as It helped him shrug off contact to maintain his speed against the Blue Jackets:

And it helped him outmuscle Victor Hedman ahead of his goal against the Lightning:

The magic

“I’m pretty basic,” Kapanen explained when asked for his secret to skating.

The truth is, he doesn’t have a quirky skate sharpening technique or angle. There’s nothing about his skates that are different from anyone else’s while his offseason training focuses on weightlifting and track-and- field sessions with his dad that are geared toward agility and explosiveness.

“I found a pair that I like and I’ve been using Bauer since I was 4 years old and I’ve never switched so I’m not going to switch now. As long as they feel comfortable and they feel light that’s all I need,” he said nonchalantly. “I’ve been using the same stuff for many years and the same that my dad’s using and it worked for him and it’s working for me.”

Not everyone’s that lucky, though.

“I’ve changed maybe 10 times during my career so it’s not easy to find. You just have to notice that it’s wrong and you have to change it and try some stuff instead of just going with the same. I’ve been Bauer, Easton, CCM. I’ve been trying everything. If you don’t find it the first time you just have to see what’s out there,” Andreas Johnsson said, laughing about how easygoing Kapanen is about his gear.

“He’s just really powerful in his muscles. He’s a good skater too but those together make him as powerful as he is.”

Kapanen chalks it up to how hockey’s newer rules have been catered to him and his skills, a luxury his dad was never afforded.

“The game has just advanced to where you can’t hold on to guys anymore, you can’t hook them and everything is a speed game so if you’re trying to go around the D-man and he hooks you it’s going to be a two-minute power play or he’s not going to hook you and you have a chance to score, which is awesome for me. I mean, I love it,” he said.

“You watch McDavid when he skates, he’s always moving and once he gets the puck he just goes from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat and that’s a key element in hockey so I’m always trying to work on it. You don’t really see anybody standing still on the ice anymore. So if I’m in a glide and someone flips the puck to centre ice, I see that puck and that’s my puck. That’s my bread and butter.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121821 Toronto Maple Leafs Nylander, slot pass to Johnsson) and added one of his own. The goals didn’t matter to the bottom line, but you love to see the bottom line

contribute when given more minutes anyway. Leafs Report Cards – Game 34 at New Jersey 䈏䈏䈏䈏

Jake Gardiner – The Good, The Bad and The Gardiner By Dom Luszczyszyn Dec 18, 2018 Really liked Gardiner’s game tonight, especially the effort on Matthews’ goal to keep the puck in at the line. He also had a nice stretch pass to Kadri for a breakaway (I think, I didn’t see the exact number, but I saw a Dominant. That’s all that really needs to be said here. 1 and it sure looked like a Gardiner play – tell me I’m wrong in the The results haven’t been there for the fully powered Leafs yet, but the comments if applicable) and was once again excellent at breaking the underlying numbers suggested the team was playing better than it puck out. He did lose position though on Hischier’s meaningless goal, in looked. Tonight was a culmination of that where the team was sick of typically hilarious Jake fashion I should add. It didn’t mean much, but it having nothing to show for their effort, turning it on against the lowly was enough to bump him down a star. Sorry, Jake. Devils with a commanding 7-2 victory. The Leafs put their collective foot Patrick Marleau – One goal to tie The Rocket all-time down early and kept it that way, controlling the game from start to finish and executing decisively. That’s 544 career goals for the old goat. Not bad. Not bad at all. It was an easy rebound goal, but Marleau had a nose for the net to make it count One or two words to describe how the team looked and was instrumental on the forecheck to start the play. On the Devils’ Mechanical — Long live “The Machine.” Babcock said he wanted the opening goal he did leave his post on the point open and lo and behold Leafs to be less fun and more machine-like, and the prototype of that that’s where the goal came from, so minus points there, but otherwise a looked pretty damn fun from this end. The Leafs were clinical tonight and solid effort for the veteran. He had a great power play feed to Ennis that if this is what Babcock meant, then I’m fully on board with The Machine. almost went in off a redirection.

Gotta hear both sides Connor Brown – One secondary assist, two garbage-time assists

Glass half-full: Game 1 of “The Machine” was pretty fun. Had an assist tonight off a dump-in – it does not get more Connor Brown than that. Then with the game already put away he adds two more Glass half-empty: Let’s see them do it against a real team. assists on two Ennis goals with the first being primary and on what was his best shift of the night. Great hustle and forecheck to retrieve the puck Player Reports and maintain possession, and then a slick pass to Ennis right in front. 䈏䈏䈏䈏䈏 䈏䈏䈏 Best player on the ice: Nazem Kadri – 15.6 minutes, three assists Mitch Marner – Marner won’t score many easier goals than the one he That was probably one of Kadri’s better games of the season, an got tonight, that’s for sure, though it did start with his end-to-end rush. exceptionally strong offensive showing. Kadri had three assists tonight Usually it’s the other way around for him where he’s the one setting up and all of them were primary, created from his vision. The first and last others for the tap-ins – I’m guessing he’ll take it. Aside from that play were the best, though, as he gifted Tavares an easy one-timer goal off a though he was pretty quiet to be honest. smart cross-seam pass on a 3-on-1 rush, while the former came from a Travis Dermott – A solid plus-five Corsi, a point on Marleau’s goal and puck retrieval off the boards and then a curl to find a pinching Rielly. some terrific zone exits including a breakaway stretch pass to Hyman. Kadri could’ve made it a four-point night with a breakaway chance of his Not a bad game overall, though he didn’t help much on the first goal own, but couldn’t convert. helping Ozhiganov lose the battle down low. John Tavares – 17.8 minutes, one goal, one assist, plus-eight Corsi to Frederik Andersen – Can’t fault him much for either goal and he was lead team calm, cool and collected otherwise on a night where the Leafs didn’t Tavares was dominant tonight with some excellent shot differentials and really need him to be anything special. The breakaway stop while the a couple points on the scoresheet. His goal was another easy one, a team was up 4-1 was crucial, but he wasn’t tested much otherwise. one-timer off a royal road pass, but his assist made up for it as he only Nikita Zaitsev – A solid and unremarkable game from Zaitsev which is all barely missed a top-corner snipe of his own, hitting the crossbar before you can really ask for. Did snow angels on the Devils’ second goal, but at Marner tucked in the rebound on the doorstep. that point of the game who really cares. Almost had a primary assist Auston Matthews – 18.6 minutes, one goal, one assist, four shots tonight, but the scorekeepers decided not to give that to him on Matthews’ goal. An excellent opening frame is enough to coast afterwards all the way to five stars. That’s the beauty of being an elite player. Matthews grabbed Kasperi Kapanen – Speed was very evident tonight as Kapanen was the two points in the first period, the first off a smart play to go to the net as a fastest player on the ice. Had some good moments in transition that screen on a 3-on-1, making the royal road pass possible. The second turned into rush opportunities thanks to that speed, though not much was as easy as it gets in terms of goals as Matthews just had to tap it in came of it. His plus-seven Corsi tonight was second on the team behind after muscling his way into the crease. His four shots tied for the team Tavares. lead with Ennis tonight. Zach Hyman – Took a penalty on a backcheck. Drew a penalty on a Morgan Rielly – 21.7 minutes, one goal, plus-four Corsi forecheck. What goes around comes around for Hyman who had a classic Hyman game: good on the forecheck, barely noticeable and a A pretty Norris-worthy performance from Rielly tonight – he was excellent breakaway that everyone in the building knew had zero chance of going in all three zones tonight. He put up some solid possession numbers, did in. well in transition and scored a beauty of a goal, a top-corner snipe off a pinch, to cap the game after two periods. Don’t forget the first goal 䈏䈏 started with him blocking a 2-on-1 pass on the power play before the William Nylander – In previous Leg-Finding games Nylander has looked Leafs transitioned the puck up ice on a 3-on-1 of their own. noticeable with flashes of future brilliance. Today? Not so much in what Tyler Ennis – 11.7 minutes, two garbage-time goals, four shots, two looked like one of his lesser efforts since returning. He took a penalty Grade-A power play passes that should’ve been goals after Hall got a step on him and there was a moment where he got way too cute with the puck in the defensive zone slot and lost possession. Full disclosure, I started writing these up when it was 5-1. The game was Wasn’t as electric in transition tonight either and was one of only two over. Ennis started at three stars, but made me re-evaluate quickly in Leafs below 50 per cent Corsi tonight (Johnsson was the other). garbage time with two meaningless goals to make it 6-2 and 7-2. Both times he did well to get in front of the net into a great position to get a Worst player on the ice: Igor Ozhiganov – At what point does Justin Holl goal. He deserved them though based on his play with the man (exactly one game played) get some reps in? Yeesh. Oz’s Corsi was advantage where he created two terrific chances (slick backdoor pass to great tonight, sure, but I imagine much of that was thanks to Dermott’s ability to exit the zone because Ozhiganov wasn’t doing much in that department. On the Devils’ first goal he lost a battle down low right off the faceoff that forced everyone out of position. The cherry on top was having a chance against a down-and-out Kinkaid and still not scoring. That’s a gimmie!

Did He Even Play Tonight or am I Blind?

Andreas Johnsson – Had one power play chance that he muffed. Otherwise, rather invisible.

Par Lindholm – Had two zone entries tonight. Nothing of consequence happened after. Got an assist tonight on the sixth goal, but who cares.

Ron Hainsey – I didn’t notice Hainsey at all tonight … and that’s probably for the best.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121822 Toronto Maple Leafs “I can’t say enough good things about Luke Schenn,” McGuire said. “Just the physical impact — this is Adam Foote, this is a one-man search-and-

destroy type of a guy, and you build defencemen like this, Bob.” How did Luke Schenn go from can’t-miss prospect to 29-year-old minor- “And what the NHL scouts really like about this guy is that he knows he’s leaguer? not a great offensive defenceman,” McKenzie responded. “He knows his limitations. He knows that he’s a defence-first guy, and he doesn’t try to do too much with the puck, but what he does with the puck is highly By Jonathan Willis Dec 18, 2018 efficient … This is a guy who knows his job and knows how to do it.”

Myers and Schenn were fundamentally different bets. In Myers, the Sabres rolled the dice on a player with impressive physical tools and At 18, Luke Schenn was a prized prospect, a fifth overall pick. At 19, he underwhelming results, gambling less that he was never going to be a played a whopping 21:37 in the NHL, and led his team in average 5-on-5 two-way defender and more that, for a variety of understandable ice time. At 23, he was traded in a one-for-one deal for James van reasons, he just hadn’t put it all together yet. In Schenn, the Leafs Riemsdyk, who would average 31 goals per 82 games over the next six grabbed a player who wasn’t really expected to post big offensive totals years. by anyone; his value down the line was explicitly defensive. A few weeks after he turned 29, Schenn was cut by the Anaheim Ducks Defensive defencemen are tricky to judge. Points are an imperfect and exposed to waivers. Nobody claimed him and he was assigned to measurement of offence, but they at least capture actions directly related the AHL. to scoring and provide a widely understood benchmark. Defence has DUCKS PLACE LUKE SCHENN ON WAIVERS TODAY WITH THE historically been measured by the absence of opposition offence, or by IDEA THAT IF HE CLEARS THEY WANT TO GET HIM MORE ICE actions less obviously correlated with defensive success, like hits and TIME IN SAN DIEGO blocked shots.

— PIERRE LEBRUN (@PIERREVLEBRUN) NOVEMBER 17, 2018 The problem with hits and blocked shots is that both require the defender to not have the puck. Obviously that’s going to happen to every team at How does that happen? How does a can’t-miss prospect, a player good some point – and when you don’t have the puck getting in lanes, and enough to top 20 minutes per game in the world’s toughest league as a being able to hold the front of the net and knock players off pucks can be teenager, end up unwanted by 31 teams before he is even 30? very helpful – but to a lot of top hockey minds in the modern game, once Schenn was originally drafted by Toronto in 2008, a year famous for its a team is at that point, it’s already made a mistake. defencemen. Twelve defenders went in the first round that summer, Even someone like Darryl Sutter, whose championship-era Kings were a including two future Norris Trophy winners (Erik Karlsson and Drew physically dominant, defensively strong hockey team, made that point Doughty) along with a two-time all-star (Alex Pietrangelo) and the No. 1 when Los Angeles acquired Marian Gaborik in 2014. defenceman on the most recent Cup winner (John Carlson). Roman Josi, 315 points in 514 career games, slipped to the second round. “The big thing in today’s game is you have to be able forecheck and backcheck, and you have to have the puck,” Sutter said, as quoted by Schenn was in the initial cluster of four that went immediately after first the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson. “You can’t give the puck up. We overall pick Steven Stamkos; in order Doughty, Zach Bogosian, don’t play in our zone, so there’s not much defending. Pietrangelo and Schenn. Despite the lofty company, it was immediately apparent that something separated Schenn from that early cluster, “I’ve coached in three decades now and this stuff where they said Marian something which gave him more in common with other defenders taken had to play in Jacques (Lemaire)’s system is a bunch of bull-crap. The later in the first round. game’s changed. They think there’s defending in today’s game. Nah, it’s how much you have the puck. Teams that play around in their own zone Points-per-game is a pretty blunt tool, especially for defencemen, but it is (say) they’re defending but they’re generally getting scored on or taking also occasionally useful. Four players drafted in the first round stand faceoffs and they need a goalie to stand on his head if that’s the way apart from their peers and all have had solid careers: Doughty and they play.” Pietrangelo obviously, Bogosian to some degree (and one discounts the effect of injury in his career at their peril) and even the somewhat one- Sutter’s comments echo those of another coach renowned for running dimensional Del Zotto, who has averaged 20:35 per game over his 588 tight-checking, defensive teams: Dave Tippett. major-league contests. Speaking to Dan Brickley of the Arizona Republic in 2012, Tippett At the other end of the spectrum are the five defencemen who scored far recalled a story from his days as an IHL head coach/general manager in less in junior. Schenn and Sbisa have had long careers. Teubert and the 1990s. Cuma washed out without hitting the games-played limit for Calder “We had a player that was supposed to be a great, shut-down eligibility. defenseman,” Tippett said. “He was supposedly the be-all, end-all of Only Tyler Myers, the 6-foot-8 converted forward who scored very poorly defensemen. But when you did a 10-game analysis of him, you found out early on in his WHL career, stands out from the pack. In addition to his he was defending all the time because he can’t move the puck. size and positional change, it should probably be noted that Myers was a “Then we had another guy, who supposedly couldn’t defend a lick. Well, right-shot defender playing on the same team as Schenn and a third he was defending only 20 percent of the time because he’s making good prominent righty, Tyson Barrie. plays out of our end. He may not be the strongest defender, but he’s only “There’s a lot of projection in this guy,” an unnamed scout told The doing it 20 percent of the time. So the equation works out better the other Hockey News prior to draft day. “He doesn’t show it right now, but there way. I ended up trading the other defenseman.” is room for a lot of development in his game. He has pretty decent Comments like those of Tippett and Sutter are commonly accepted now, talent.” but represent a changing perception of what defending means in the Schenn was not a big-swing projection like Myers. At 18 he was already modern NHL. We can see the shift in a few different ways if we compare polished enough to play defence (along with Doughty) for Canada’s gold what an NHL defenceman in 2007-08 looked like, opposed to a player at medal-winning entry at the world juniors. In most years, those positions the same position a decade later. are dominated by 19-year-olds, but Schenn was impressive enough as a The modern defenceman is smaller, younger and taken earlier in the defensive defenceman to be an exception. draft than his counterpart of a decade ago. When Toronto traded the seventh overall selection and a pair of other In 2007-08, the average NHL defenceman was 28.2 years old. He stood picks to the Islanders to move up to fifth overall, they knew they were not 73.8 inches tall and weighed in at 209 pounds. The average drafted landing a high-end offensive talent. The TSN panel that day spoke highly player to make the cut was selected 87th overall. of Schenn – Pierre McGuire, in particular, described him as a “franchise player” – but the most telling moment in hindsight was an exchange In 2017-18, the average NHL defenceman was 27.2 years old, a whole between McGuire and Bob McKenzie. year younger than he had been in 2007-08. He was almost the same height, at 73.7 inches tall, but significantly lighter at 203 pounds. The average drafted player to make the cut was selected 74th overall. Schenn, listed at 74 inches and 216 pounds in his draft year, would would have happened under a different coach or different development eventually rise to a listed playing weight of 221 pounds. He was on the plan, so it’s hard to make ironclad statements. heavy side for a defenceman a decade ago, but he’s a monster by modern standards: 18 pounds heavier than the average defenceman, The evidence here is suggestive and points to problems not so much in who shares similar height. development as in drafting. Schenn was a consensus choice at the spot where Toronto took him, so this isn’t so much a “the Leafs don’t draft We might infer from the data above that playing style has shifted. The well” conclusion as it is an “NHL scouts, in general, overvalued this decrease in age and weight, and higher overall draft position suggest that player.” more emphasis is placed on speed and skill than it was a decade ago. We can go further and say that NHL teams have overvalued this type of We see those points confirmed when we look at how much offensive player. Obviously these players have some value: Schenn played more impact the defenceman of 2017-18 had at 5-on-5 vs. his counterpart in than 700 games and most of his peers on the list above are still playing 2007-08. in the league. Nine of these 12 made the majors, which is something.

Games last season were far busier for the average top-six defencemen Where the valuation went wrong was in assuming that a player with than they were a decade ago. The 15 percent-ish increases in hits and Schenn’s limited offensive skillset could be a franchise cornerstone in the hits taken might superficially be seen to favour a physical defenceman NHL’s current era. It’s the same mistake Ottawa would make a year later like Schenn, but even they point to a quicker game than the one into with Cowen, and the same mistake that Colorado would make with which Schenn was drafted. Siemens two years after that.

More than that, the offensive demands on the typical defenceman have Fortunately for Toronto, Philadelphia duplicated the mistake when they increased dramatically. In just a decade, defencemen have increasingly accepted Schenn as the trade return on James van Riemsdyk in 2012. become part of the attack, with goals, assists, points, shots and shot attempts all up a significant amount. It’s the kind of mistake which still happens more frequently than it should.

Maybe the most interesting item on the chart above is the way the In 2015, Edmonton dealt the Mathew Barzal pick (along with a second- increase in defencemen goals (up 43 percent) has outpaced the increase round selection as a sweetener) to the Islanders for low-scoring in total shots (up just 16 percent), which would suggest that defencemen shutdown defender Griffin Reinhart. In 2017, even more embarrassingly, are either evolving as shooters or simply firing from better locations. As recently reinstalled GM Dale Tallon protected both Petrovic and Pysyk in odd as it sounds, neither appears to be correct. The average top-six the expansion draft and worked out a deal with Vegas where the Golden defenceman in 2017-18 scored on 4.6 percent of his 5-on-5 shots, as Knights could have Jonathan Marchessault if they took Reilly Smith along opposed to 4.2 percent in 2007-08 and more critically 3.9 and 4.1 percent with him. respectively in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The number so far this year is 4.0 Those mistakes should sting more than Toronto’s initial selection of percent. Schenn because the targeted players were older and had even less room As I read it, the shooting percentage spike in 2017-18 is a little for growth. misleading, and we are better off looking at the more modest spikes in The league does seem to be learning, though. The first round used to be other statistics. filled with these kinds of picks, but in 2017 and 2018 there weren’t any Even confining ourselves to those smaller spikes, we see gains in major junior defencemen taken in the first round that didn’t have good everything. Defencemen shoot more, pass more and score more in offensive totals. The last one which really qualifies was Winnipeg’s addition to hitting more and being hit more (at least, according to the selection of Logan Stanley 18th overall in 2016. official NHL data, which despite its flaws should be reasonably consistent What we haven’t touched on much is Schenn playing 21:32 per game as year-to-year). Things happen faster and the need to skate and process a 19-year-old in the NHL. Surely that says something about his quality? plays quickly is vital. Yes and no. The first point that needs to be made is that playing heavy With that in mind, the one negative paragraph in The Hockey News’s minutes at 19 is a surprisingly rough barometer for eventual NHL ability. largely positive article on Schenn back in 2008 makes for interesting On a per-game basis (min. 1,000 total minutes), three 19-year-old reading. After quoting Kelowna GM Bruce Hamilton as saying that defencemen played more than 23 minutes per game between 2005-06 Schenn would be a more vocal leader with time, writer Rob Vanstone and 2015-16: perennial Norris candidate Drew Doughty, Myers, and took note of what Schenn himself felt he needed to get better at. current Wild No. 4 Jonas Brodin.

“Improvements are also warranted, according to Schenn, with regard to When a forward is a big scorer at 19, NHL stardom is basically assured. his quickness afoot and his anticipation.” The same is not true for NHL defencemen logging heavy minutes at 19, Those were intelligent goals for Schenn, but he was hampered by his which perhaps also speaks to the evolving game and the difficulty in starting point. We have already touched on the crude tool that is draft assessing defence. year points-per-game, but if we look back on drafted WHL defencemen There is also the matter of performance. Of Toronto’s eight regular between 2006 and 2011 who scored at a similar level to Schenn it does defencemen in 2008-09, Schenn ranked seventh by on-ice shot share, not take long to spot a pattern. ahead of only Jonas Frogren. He was sixth by total on-ice goal If we adjust league-wide scoring in each of those WHL seasons to the differential. same level (3.5 goals per team per game), and only consider top-100 A year later, the Leafs’ coaches would slash his ice time down to a more picks who scored within 0.1 points-per-game of Schenn in their first year realistic 16:53 per game, and in a third-pairing role, Schenn’s results of draft eligibility, we end up with 11 names to compare to Schenn: improved markedly. Both shot share and goal differential moving north of Of the dozen players on this list, Schenn was drafted highest and ranks 50 percent. Those are good numbers in a depth role at age 20 — first in games played and total points. When we look at scoring rates and numbers in line with an eventual 700-odd game NHL career. average ice time, Schenn is a good fit for virtually all of the successful Which, it should be added, is quite an achievement, and would be widely NHL players on this list: Cowen, Sbisa, Pysyk, Petrovic, McNabb and recognized as such if Schenn hadn’t been so over-hyped as a 17-, 18-, Stone. and 19-year-old.

The premise for this piece was “what happened to Luke Schenn” but a The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 chart like this offers an obvious answer: nothing happened. When players who score like this in junior make it, this is what a successful career looks like.

It would be nice to be definitive on that point. Toronto has been criticized for bringing Schenn along too rapidly and perhaps there is something to that. Ron Wilson was raked over the coals for his failure to develop Schenn and others, and maybe there is something to that, too. But we don’t have access to some alternate universe where we can see what 1121823 Toronto Maple Leafs something else down the road? Because sometimes those type of conversations can open other doors, obviously not involving Nylander

anymore, but something else? LeBrun: Q&A with Kyle Dubas on the Nylander negotiations, deals for Right, I think for us it was educational. You learn a lot. Especially with my Matthews and Marner and offer sheets inexperience in this position, you were able to watch Lou (Lamoriello) and learn from Lou, but you go from that and actually being on and handling the calls; you learn about other managers and their style of By Pierre LeBrun Dec 18, 2018 dealing with these things. I don’t think any of the knowledge gained from that could hurt at all. So you learn a lot about what the teams are wanting

to do as the season goes on or the type of players they’re looking to TORONTO — Kyle Dubas wasn’t doing the “floss” when I walked into his acquire or the players they would potentially move to get them. So I think office at the team’s practice facility Monday morning. But the 33-year-old that knowledge should help us and I think it was good for relationships Maple Leafs GM does give you the impression he’s enjoying every with the other teams in the league as well. minute of his high-profile gig, despite some tense moments recently So you come up for air after the Nylander thing is done and the first courtesy of the William Nylander contract saga. His outlook on life and question is, “What about Matthews and Marner now?” That’s the market work served him well during that tough negotiation. As it will with two you’re in… more prominent negotiations that lie ahead. (Interjecting) Hey, and that’s fair. Where I’d like to start is asking you how comfortable you feel in this role compared to the day you took over. From the outside looking in, it looks Obviously, that’s a priority now to get both those players signed. Marner’s like you’re awfully comfortable. It seems like you’re having fun. We’ve agent, Darren Ferris, has been on record a few times saying they would seen you dancing in the box during a game here and there… prefer to wait until after the year. So how do you proceed now on both of these fronts? Well we try to always have fun. My wife’s only concern when taking the job was that it wouldn’t change the amount of enjoyment that you have Well, I think with Mitch and Darren, Darren has said that publicly that they every day doing this. I think our staff plays a big role in that. Not just the don’t want it to be a distraction for Mitch in the season and we fully coaching staff or Brendan (Shanahan) or Laurence (Gilman) or Brandon respect that. We still have discussions with Darren of course on that and (Pridham) but our staff at large, whether it’s our medical people, our other matters. Things can always change during a season. There are equipment people, public relations, our office staff — it’s a fun group to breaks during the schedule and different points and obviously once the be around and I think that makes it easy when you walk in each day, to season ends, well, it’s our top priority now never mind when the season enjoy yourself. Even though there are certain times when the focus and ends, to continue to work toward an agreement with either of those the pressure proverbially goes up, it’s still coming in every day and being parties. There have been lots of situations where either the team or the very, very fortunate to be with this team and being able to watch NHL player in the history of sports say, “We’re going to wait.” The team might hockey each day. So when things do seem like they’re a little bit say, “We’ll see how the market shakes out.” Or the player says, “We turbulent, it’s easier to just ride the wave knowing that we’re in a pretty don’t want to be distracted.” And then lo and behold something finds itself fortunate spot as a family and to be able to work with the people we do. to the middle between them. We remain hopeful. I certainly respect their wishes. How was that frame of mind tested during those negotiations with William Nylander, which literally went down to the wire? And with Auston and (agent) Judd (Moldover), we continue to have discussions with Judd throughout. Obviously they’re very important That’s where, people say, you have to build a great team. I think that’s players, they’re good players, and we just have to keep working our way where having guys like Brendan, Brandon and Laurence in the room, to finding something that’s fair for them and works for our program. when you have all of their experience and their views on the matter. Laurence in dealing with the same thing repeatedly in Vancouver, This idea has been thrown out there a lot lately, and to some degree, I Phoenix and Winnipeg; Brandon with his vast knowledge from the league get a kick out of it because we rarely see it, but the idea that you guys and then Brendan in his role having the playing experience, having gone could fall victim to an offer sheet come July 1. And I guess part of it is the through contract negotiations, having been through everything we’ve situation you guys will be in cap-wise. But I assume you have a pretty experienced here, I think all that combines to help. We had a process standard response for that? that we were going through and working with (agent) Lewis Gross and William, though everyone wishes it had gotten done far in advance, that Listen, offer sheets are completely permissible within the NHL. They’ve the process had been sound and we didn’t have an unrealistic framework been used rarely, especially of late, that said this summer there’s an of what would get a contract done. Unfortunately, it had to go right to the influx of very highly talented restricted free agents. So I understand that wire. But was it was still calm overall. the narrative and the conversation surrounding them is increasing. However, I do find it interesting that there’s roughly a third of the teams in You went out to Switzerland to meet with William in the middle of all that, the league which are going to have a very prominent restricted free agent why did you feel that was important? coming due, some teams with more than one, including us, but we’re the only team that’s going to have one of our players receive an offer sheet I think it’s safe to say at that point he had missed six games and training (smirks). That part I find to be interesting. I think it builds a rather camp, I think were 5-1 at that point, it was very clear when you have a interesting (media) narrative around our talks and negotiations. player of that calibre who is not at training camp and has missed the exhibition season and the beginning of the season, that things have not It’s been interesting talking to other GMs in the league and they sort of gone according to plan. I think players will always say, “My agent takes reiterate that, that it’s bizarre it’s only Maple Leafs players that can care of this, my agent takes care of that.” But when things get to that receive one. And I get it. It’s part of the marketplace and the fact the point, I think it is important — especially when you have a personal team is doing well and the players are playing well. I think it’s more a by- relationship with the athlete — that you’re going in and having a product of things going well than it is people just trying to stir up stuff discussion with them. Hearing from them, one on one, what their issues about the team and the process. But we’re well-situated regardless of are, being able to explain how we’ve operated and how we’ve gone what happens with the players. Our absolute ambition and goal would be through everything; I just thought that was an opportunity for us to do to have a negotiated agreement with the players as soon as we can. that, for William and I to sit together and have those conversations. They’re going to be key parts of our team, we hope, for their entire careers. They’re key, core parts of our team right now. I’m disappointed that even despite that we weren’t able to move it along quicker and it took another six weeks. But I think it was important for me As I said with the William signing, we don’t want to be in the business of to hear from William, what his issues were, and where he was coming seeing young, very talented, special people walk out of here. So, we’ll be from. And for me, people around that time were saying, “Look at their able to keep the players regardless. record, they don’t need him.” Our belief was even though things had started well, we weren’t ever going to be at our full potential until we got What about the ability of your players, and your coaching staff, to keep him back and playing up to full speed. things focused on hockey in a year in which there’s so much fascination with the math of the salary cap — because that’s the business we’re in, And I know during that process you have to go around and field calls that’s the NHL economics — but have you been impressed by that? It from teams (on Nylander) just in case as a Plan B, as a precaution. doesn’t seem to have affected the on-ice product. Could those type of discussions with teams end up planting seeds for Yes, especially in the last couple of weeks of the Nylander negotiation, and just really the whole season with John (Tavares) coming in and then the William matter, the team playing well and expectations increasing on the team. I think the credit for that has to go to the veterans of the group, being able to keep our guys focused. So that’s John, Patty Marleau, Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey, those guys have been outstanding just in terms of keeping the team rolling along.

One guy who does get a good amount of credit but I don’t think enough, that’s Fredrik Andersen, the way that he has played right from Day 1 of the season. When your goaltender plays that well and is that stoic and calm and prepared each day, it does a lot to calm the waters of the team. Especially when it’s the goaltender. I think that’s an understated factor. And the coaching staff has done an excellent job throughout the season of just keeping the team rolling along; you go through a stretch without Auston and without William, the team continues to win games and find a way and go about its business each day and continue to improve. The credit for that has to go to the players and to the coaches.

Your fan base is excited about this season, the chance to win, and the years beyond as well, which gets me to this question: you have a lot of flexibility at this year’s trade deadline, really to do whatever you want, and yet you also know what lies ahead in the years to come (cap-wise). I suppose the easiest thing would be to go get a rental player, although you kind of hate giving away assets for a guy who won’t be around after this year?

Sure. And I think going back to those contracts (Matthews, Marner), if we have some certainty or some relative certainty about where the contracts for Auston and Mitch are going to come in, and we have more certainty at that time for where the salary cap will be for next season, we may be able to add players that are more than just rentals, that do have some term, whether it’s one, two or however many years left on their contracts. I think all those pieces kind of have to fit together. I don’t really look and see many pure rentals that really change the dynamic of our group. So anything that we’d be looking at would be players that probably have some term. That’s why it’s important for us to continue to work on those agreements with Auston and Mitch so we can have some cost certainty with them, so that we can look to improve our team this season and beyond.

Thank you, Kyle. Appreciate your time.

Thanks, Pierre.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121824 Toronto Maple Leafs 5. It has been suggested you would sleep with your sticks on the night before a big game: Did you ever name them, too?

MS: No, I never named them. But in the playoffs, and growing up through 20 Questions with Marc Savard: On nearly becoming a Maple Leaf, even Oshawa, I would take my sticks home. And they might jump in the sleeping with sticks and his $19,000 ‘meal’ bed the odd night, but it was just something where I was really close to my sticks. I always say, at the end of every show that I do: Be good to your sticks, and they’ll be good to you. By Sean Fitz-Gerald Dec 18, 2018 6. In separate incidents, Darcy Tucker and Daniel Carcillo both accused you of biting their fingers, but you said they rammed their hands into your mouth: What does a sweaty NHL glove taste like? Four minutes into a video deconstructing how Maple Leafs centre John Tavares tapes his stick, there is a sudden moment of revulsion from the MS: (laughs) Not very good. The Darcy Tucker one, my arms were tied host. Tavares appears to prefer leaving the small plastic plug in the top of up. I ask this of most people: If your arms are tied up and someone his shaft, and the video host blanches: “JT has the nub in there — ugh, fishhooks you — which is basically what he did to me — how do you get he’s got the nub in there, folks.” out of that? There’s no way out of that, besides clamping down. So that’s what happened in the Darcy Tucker incident. And the same thing in the The host recovered, then soldiered on to recreate the hockey player’s Carcillo incident. He reaches across, my hands are in a melee and I can’t tape pattern with lovingly intricate detail. It has been almost eight years get my arms up. The guy’s hands in your mouth. There’s nothing else to since Marc Savard taped one of his own sticks for a regular season do but to bite down. I didn’t go out looking to bite a guy. game in the NHL, but he has used his particular expertise to recreate the tape work of dozens of players on his YouTube channel. 7. Adjusted for inflation, the one-game suspension you got for the Tucker incident cost you $19,000 in Canadian currency … that is a lot of hockey “It’s like a guy with his tools, I guess,” he said with a smile, leaning on a tape. boardroom table deep inside Sportsnet’s downtown Toronto headquarters. “It’s pretty unique.” MS: A lot of hockey tape, and the most expensive meal I’ve ever had. I’ve got to be honest with you. The web series — “Marc Savard Taping Twigs” — is one in only a row of ventures and sidelines the former Boston Bruins forward has pursued 8. Just between us: Do you consider it biting, then? since fighting through the fog of the concussions that drove him into early retirement. He has coached minor hockey and he has landed in the MS: No. If your hands were tied up, and someone who was the member media, working with Sportsnet 590 The Fan on its coverage of the Leafs. of another team was fish-hooking you, what would you do? You would have to clamp your teeth down, right? You don’t want to lose your cheek. Savard has also founded Project 91, selling branded apparel online with I don’t know where he was going with it. I’d never had a hand in my the goal of raising $20,000 for Canadian-based concussion research. He mouth at that point. said the project is close to its goal, and that he and his wife, Valerie, will match with a $20,000 donation from their own funds. 9. In June 2010, there were reports Leafs GM Brian Burke was interested in acquiring your rights, and that you were willing to waive your no-trade In between all of that, Savard (MS), the Oshawa Generals’ all-time clause: How close were you to moving to Toronto? leading scorer, sat down to field 20 Questions from The Athletic, talking about the time he almost became a Maple Leaf, sleeping with his sticks, MS: It was I guess the start of the Phil Kessel era here in Toronto, and I and being forced to pay $19,000 for a ‘meal.’ had hooked up with Phil in Boston and we had lots of chemistry. We got along well. I had been asked by my agent, at one point, if I would come 1. If universities granted degrees for taping sticks, what degree would to Toronto, and I openly said yes to him. I would definitely come near Marc Savard hold? home and play. This was my team growing up, even though I’m from Ottawa, originally. Obviously, an opportunity to come to Toronto — with MS: (smiles) I think I’d have the top degree. I’d be at Harvard. I don’t fool every one of my friends, Toronto is their favourite team — would be a around when it comes to taping twigs, that’s for sure. real honour. It never ended up happening, and I’m glad of where I 2. How would you grade the tape job that John Tavares, the second- finished my career, being a Boston Bruin. leading scorer in Oshawa Generals history, gives to his sticks? 10. What does your commute to work look like these days? MS: I’d have to give him at least a B-plus. From the time he played in MS: It’s a lot different than jumping in a car, or just walking across the Oshawa — and I heard this from Bryan Boyes, (the equipment manager) Causeway, to go to the Garden. It’s an hour and 40 minutes here into the in Oshawa — that he used to fool around with the sticks that I left there. office. It’s something that I’m enjoying. Late-night, going home, I can get And his tape job is very similar to what I used when I played in Oshawa, home in about an hour and 10 minutes, if there’s no cops watching me. and he’s kind of kept that throughout his career. He used to fool around (smiles) I’m enjoying it. I’m having a good time, and I’m in a good place. with my sticks before the games. Bryan said he would go in and stickhandle with them to get prepared before he played for the Generals. 11. It is 1987 and I’m an opposing coach at the novice tournament in Quebec: What is my best hope for stopping that little forward from the 3. At the risk of having you storm out of here in disgust: What is so wrong Belair Blues? with keeping the nub in the top of your stick? MS: (laughs) That’s a long time ago … We were playing California in the MS: (laughs) I don’t know. It’s just something that I never grew up using. semifinals, and I scored seven goals and we won 7-0. I got interviewed Obviously, wood sticks never had that option. And then, as the newer after the game, and I still have that videotape. I was on the old Beta, or ones came in, they didn’t even have them made. And then when they whatever they called them. finally came in, I just thought, ‘what a waste of a piece of plastic, to put on the end: Who’s going to use this?’ I’ve always taped over the end, 12. What do you tell hockey parents who are convinced their little novice anyway. So that’s why I’ve kind of made fun of the nub on my YouTube star is the next Marc Savard? channel. But a lot of guys use it. And then, as I kind of continued to play in men’s league — I play one game a week — I noticed that sometimes, MS: That’s a tough one. And there’s a lot of parents who think that. Pretty your finger goes in that little hole. Even though you have the tape on much every parent on the team. It’s different today. Back in the day, I there, it can kind of stick in there a little bit. So maybe the nub is more played street hockey every day. I rarely break up a game of street useful than I give it credit for. (smiles) hockey now. It’s more video games and stuff like that. I’d get home from school, the books would go in the house, and I’d go right out on the 4. What is the worst mistake beer leaguers make when we tape our street. My mom would have to come drag me off to have dinner, and then sticks? I’d go right back out. The winters in Ottawa, too, we had a ton of outdoor rinks. And I was always on the outdoor rinks. I would tell them just to put MS: Just no consistency. Just kind of throwing tape on there to say you the extra time in, and put the video games away. Let them get that hand- have tape. I’ve watched guys tape over tape, which makes me feel sick eye. Play with a tennis ball. It helped me so much. to my stomach. There’s some ugly ones out there, for sure. And right off my own team, some guys just don’t put the time in. 13. How would you have done in the game today, without the clutch-and- grab and the dead puck ethos? MS: I think it would be great, obviously. I was an offensive player. I watch Mitch Marner, and I compare my game a lot to him. He has more speed, I think, but we see the ice similar, and we make the same kind of plays. I think I would prosper in today’s game, for sure. It’s kind of sad that I didn’t get an opportunity, where I could have played. But I’m really enjoying the game today, and where it’s headed.

14. Who is the model for your coaching style?

MS: I played for a lot of coaches. You really don’t have one. You take from each, and you kind of put yours together. And that’s the great opportunity that you’ve had. Playing through my NHL career, I’ve played for so many, I’m able to take tidbits of each guy and kind of put that into my work.

15. What does a 41-year-old Marc Savard tell an 18-year-old Marc Savard waiting to make the NHL?

MS: My slogan growing up — because I was a smaller guy, and I played through an era where the big guy was the one to get drafted right away — was, ‘if you believe, you can achieve.’ And I always believed in myself, even though the doubters were there. The year I got drafted into the NHL, I had 139 points in the OHL. I led the league in scoring. And still, there was that, ‘he’s too slow, he’s too small,’ and I ended up going in the fourth round … I share that with my kids today: It doesn’t matter where you get drafted, or if you get cut from a team. As long as you believe in yourself, and you never lose that belief, the sky is the limit.

16. Who said this to the Ottawa Citizen in March 2010: “If I would have been there, I would have hit him myself.”

MS: (furrows brow, repeats quote under his breath) I don’t know.

17. It was your mom.

MS: (laughs) Oh. Ok. Yeah. Wow. That’s unbelievable. My mom. I would have never thought that. It’s an amazing revelation there.

18. What do you say if you wind up next to Matt Cooke in the buffet line at an NHL Alumni event?

MS: I don’t know. I’ve really never thought of that moment. Very tough one, obviously. I don’t know if I would say much. I would probably wait for him to engage, or say something. But I don’t think I would be too interested in having a conversation with him. It’s just kind of gone that way. There’s been no reach-out on his part. I don’t know what he’s doing today, or where he even lives. I don’t think there would be much communication.

19. When you officially retired in January, you said, “I’m the healthiest I’ve been in a long time.” What symptoms are you still dealing with?

MS: I am now the healthiest I’ve been in a long time. I’ve got some anxiety from it. I ended up on some medication for that, to help. Obviously, memory — more short-term, than long-term. And just, on an everyday basis, feeling comfortable in public. That’s why it took me so long to resurface again. I kind of stayed out of any public eye.

20. Complete the following sentence: “By the time I’m done …”

MS: By the time I’m done, I just want to give back to the game.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018

1121825 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights players join fans in Fortnite ‘Battle Royale’

By Ben Gotz / Las Vegas Review-Journal

Chants of “Suuub!” filled the arena as Malcolm Subban triumphantly rose to his feet. He had been knocked down — but not out. All that was left to do was to stage a heroic comeback surrounded by his teammates, only this time the Golden Knights backup goaltender’s pads and stick were absent. In their place: A chicken suit and shotgun. Subban and teammates William Karlsson and Alex Tuch faced off in a different competition Tuesday when they visited the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor to play the massively popular game Fortnite “Battle Royale” with fans for about an hour. “It was fun,” Subban said. “I got carried by a couple great teammates.” Each Knight was paired with two advanced Fortnite gamers. The online video game pits individuals or teams in a fight to be the last one standing out of a group of up to 100 participants. It features a multitude of customizable weapons and outfits for players to choose, one reason for the game’s wide appeal. Fortnite is also well known for its dances and celebrations. When his team earned a “Victory Royale” as the last ones standing, Subban was happy to demonstrate one by flailing his arms and legs wildly for the crowd. “I do it all the time,” Subban said. “It’s my favorite. I love that dance, it’s hilarious.” Subban also did not hesitate to talk trash during the game with Tuch, even though the forward’s team also recorded a victory during the session. “Tuch is trash,” Subban said after watching Tuch’s character die. “Only three words in his vocabulary,” Tuch retorted. All three Knights admitted they weren’t as good as their teammates, some of whom are working their way up the professional ranks. Subban said he just plays the game “a decent amount” and has played a lot less during the season. That’s probably music to Knights coach Gerard Gallant’s ears. Fortnite’s usage among athletes has come under scrutiny as its popularity soars. The Vancouver Canucks banned players from playing the game on the road because they were afraid logging too many hours online was affecting their performance. The Knights have no such ban, and Gallant admitted earlier this season he knew little about the game. “I’m not going to ban nothing,” Gallant said before the team’s first road trip in October. Big fans of the game like Karlsson, who dressed as a Fortnite character for Halloween, likely appreciated Gallant’s restraint. And he and two of his teammates got to enjoy the game guilt-free during their off day in front of fans as Knights television broadcasters Dave Goucher and Shane Hnidy called the action. Well, Karlsson did admit to one crime during game play. “I just killed a guy,” he announced.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121826 Vegas Golden Knights

Personalized goal songs would be smash hit with Golden Knights

By David Schoen / Las Vegas Review-Journal

The hockey community was buzzing last week thanks to a promotion by the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. The top minor league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes is allowing players to choose their own goal song for when they score at home. “I think it’s unreal,” Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves said. “I’ve made that suggestion many times.” It’s not the first time players have doubled as DJs. The Vancouver Canucks also had a similar policy as recently as last season. The musical possibilities are endless, from Top 40 club beats to cheesy love songs to German industrial metal. Anything but Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2,” right? So, what would the Knights’ players pick for their song? Here is what a few of them had to say: Reaves: “Oh, man. Off the top of my head, it would probably be a J. Cole song. Like, ‘Can’t Get Enough.’ It was either my favorite artist or something just ridiculous. “Mambo No. 5” or something.” Nate Schmidt: “I did ‘Sweet Emotion’ when I was in high school baseball, and that was super cool. It was sweet. You walked up, you felt a little juice going, a little flow. I think it’s great. Maybe something like a Buster Poindexter “Hot Hot Hot.” I love that song. I’m feeling hot, hot, hot.” Reilly Smith: “Off the top of my head, I don’t have anything. I think I would do something just to pump up the fans a little bit.” Paul Stastny: “I think like around December I’d have a Christmas song and then, you know what? I just like the 80s. I like the 60s, too, so there’s all different things. I’d kind of play with it, maybe like what month it is and what’s going on in the world. I wouldn’t go anything new. I’d always throw it back, kind of like old-school hip-hop or rock or 80s rock.” Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (as teammate Jonathan Marchessault walked past): “It wouldn’t be the same as Marchy for sure, because his music is trash.” Entering Tuesday’s schedule, the Knights are second in the league with 368 takeaways, behind only Carolina (375). The Knights are one of four teams taking the puck from its opponents more often than they give it away, joining the Hurricanes, Minnesota and St. Louis. The Knights’ plus-22 differential in takeaways vs. giveaways (368-346) is second in the league behind St. Louis, which is at plus-41 (249-208). The Knights were off Tuesday and did not provide an update on the status of left wing Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty exited Monday’s loss midway through the second period. Video replays showed Pacioretty banged skates in a collision with Columbus’ Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Pacioretty’s left leg was in an awkward position at the end of the play. Pacioretty missed four games in late October and early November with a suspected concussion, though the team never confirmed that injury. He also missed the Dec. 4 game against Washington after he “tweaked something” and was held out of Friday’s game at New Jersey for precautionary reasons with an undisclosed minor injury.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121827 Washington Capitals reach closer to $9 million per year or more, depending on how sentimental the Capitals front office feels at the time of the signing.

Those figures would raise some interesting questions about both players' GM says Capitals might get ‘sentimental’ on next Backstrom, Ovechkin feelings about cutting a deal with the Caps, however. Backstrom has contracts. What might that look like? been providing one of the NHL’s best values while on his current contract, and it’s not unthinkable he might want to make the most of his last, best free agency offers. And it figures there would be plenty of By Neil Greenberg interest in a center with his leadership and passing abilities, which could drive up his price tag. A $9 million a year salary would equate to a pay December 18 at 4:09 PM cut for Ovechkin. Presently, the top 35-plus contracts belong to Ilya Kovalchuk (age 35, $6.25M cap hit), Patrick Marleau (38, $6.25M cap hit) and Mikko Koivu Keeping a Stanley Cup-winning team together is hard. It becomes harder (35, $6M cap hit). None of them has topped 30 goals or 60 points in the when two of the core players, such as Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas past three NHL seasons. If Ovechkin and Backstrom continue to produce Backstrom, are among the best players in the league and are advancing as they currently are, even building in some regression, you can bet in years and will both require new contracts ahead of the 2021 season. they’ll shatter those high-water marks. As these two enter their twilight seasons, General Manager Brian

MacLellan sounds open to making sure both stay in the Washington sweater for years to come, even if it means straying from an objective Washington Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 valuation of their future production. “We’re going to be sentimental with Ovi and Nicky for sure,” MacLellan said to The Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan for a recent story on the Capitals' window of contention. “Because they’ve been here forever and they’ve done what they’ve done. I think you have to be. They’ve defined this franchise. You can’t be that cold.” Ovechkin, of course, has been paid like an elite star ever since he signed his 13-year, $124 million mega deal in 2008 but Backstrom has been a bargain for the team — he has carried a $6.7 million cap hit since inking his 10-year, $67 million deal in 2010. Given those starting figures, what might their next contracts entail? A quick look shows that being “sentimental” could cause some headaches for the Capitals when it comes to future roster construction. Washington has to be careful handing out contracts to players who are at or beyond their 35th birthday. To prevent salary cap circumvention, the individual cap hit for a player in that group counts against the team’s cap hit regardless of whether, or where, the player is active. While that wouldn’t apply to Backstrom for his next contract, any long-term deal for Ovechkin, who turns 35 in September 2020, would be a notable leap of faith. But even committing substantial money on a short-term basis to the tandem could greatly complicate Washington’s ability to put a title- contending roster around those two should their skills start to decline. Putting aside Ovechkin’s current mastery over Father Time, that is the case for most NHLers after age 30. Looking to the past we can find a few examples of teams who have owed a similar title-winning debt to their prominent aging stars. By then comparing those salaries as a percentage of the total salary cap we can start to see the kind of figures we might be discussing when Backstrom and Ovechkin approach free agency. For example, the Detroit Red Wings gave star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (another outlier in the aging department) a one-year, $7.6 million deal when he was 36 before the 2006-07 season, which accounted for more than 17 percent of the team’s salary cap. Detroit did it again for the same amount a year later, only this time it took up 15 percent of the team’s cap space. The Red Wings then extended him a two-year, $14.9 million contract which covered the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, and then two more one-year deals at $6.2 million each over the next two campaigns. That last one accounting for less than 10 percent of Detroit’s available resources. At age 36 Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche agreed to three separate one-year deals, worth $5.75 million, $6.75 million and $6 million in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, with the last year’s cap hit nearly 11 percent of the total salary cap. In 2014 a 34-year-old Pavel Datsyuk and the Red Wings agreed to a three-year, $22.5 million contract, with the first year’s salary pegged at $10 million. The life of the contract, however, carried just a $7.5 million cap hit, about 10 percent of the space available in 2016-17, the last year of the deal. Among this group, a 10th of the cap space available appears to be the standard for “sentimental” contracts but it is unknown what the actual salary cap will be at the start of the 2020-21 season, the year Backstrom becomes a free agent, or in 2021-22, the year Ovechkin’s contract expires. If it remains the same at $79.5 million, each player could be looking at an $8 million cap hit over the subsequent years, which would leave the team approximately $18 million in cap space in 2020-21 with an additional 13 roster spots to fill and nearly $26 million in cap space a year later with 14 other vacancies. If the cap continues to rise as it has over the past few years (likely) Ovechkin and Backstrom could be looking at deals that 1121828 Washington Capitals following season. Those two offseasons appear to be when the Capitals will set aside their dispassionate objectivity regarding the roster.

“We’re going to be sentimental with Ovi and Nicky for sure,” MacLellan Capitals aim to keep contending in an NHL that’s dragged recent champs said. “Because they’ve been here forever and they’ve done what they’ve to the bottom fast done. I think you have to be. They’ve defined this franchise. You can’t be that cold.” By Isabelle Khurshudyan The last time the Capitals’ window appeared to be closing was after the 2016-17 season, when Washington had several contracts expiring at the December 18 at 2:44 PM same time the league faced its first expansion draft in 17 years. “I think you’ve got to keep the right guys,” MacLellan said, and for him that meant retaining right wing T.J. Oshie. Though Oshie was 30 at the When the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice time, MacLellan signed him to an eight-year, $46 million deal, gambling Wednesday, they’ll together account for the past three Stanley Cups, on the salary cap continuing to rise and Oshie remaining productive well both appearing in every postseason all but once since 2008 — and into his 30s. But what reassured him it was the right decision was that they’re the exceptions, rather than the rule. In this age of increased parity Oshie’s presence in the locker room would stay the same and be well in the NHL, with new challengers rising rapidly and old powers falling off worth it, even if his scoring eventually drops off. That contract has equally fast, the Capitals and the Penguins are the rare consistent arguably already been validated with a Stanley Cup. contenders. Washington has seven players signed beyond 2021, so as those players A tight salary cap prevents the best teams from retaining all of their top get older, “you’ve always got to have young guys coming in,” MacLellan talent, while a wave of new stars has propelled the league’s worst teams said. “I mean, we have Vrana, Burakovsky [and center Evgeny back toward the top at an accelerated pace. Keeping a championship Kuznetsov] and then we’re going to need another level after that if we window propped open rests on managing team pay structure to afford want to keep it going.” With that in mind, the Capitals have been more superstars without sacrificing depth. conservative in trading away draft picks or prospects over the past year, mindful of restocking the cupboard. When the Penguins won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, they became the first team to do so in 19 years. As the Capitals now hope to “You have a window where you can create depth and max out your parlay their first Stanley Cup into another, they have to weigh decisions salaries, and then you’ve kind of got to regroup after that,” MacLellan to win now with what’s best for the organization’s future and sustaining said. success long term. Perhaps they can learn from some of the missteps of other past champions. But regrouping doesn’t have to come at the cost of winning. Pittsburgh has built around superstar centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, “It seems that teams can make a jump faster than they used to be able to and the pieces flanking them have been mostly been young, cheap and by a couple key guys and making the right moves,” Capitals General expendable if the team needs a change. Kris Letang, Patric Hornqvist Manager Brian MacLellan said. “It goes the other way, too, where teams and Phil Kessel have become mainstays, but the Penguins have stayed do one or two things wrong and they’re gone. They’re at the bottom of contenders because they’ve managed to plug in other players around the league. The shifts are more dramatic than I think they’ve ever been.” their core, like speedy wingers Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel, both drafted in the third round. Pittsburgh has made the playoffs in 12 straight The Chicago Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups in six seasons from seasons, but there was no shortage of change along the way, often the 2010 to 2015. But as the team repeatedly ran into salary-cap constraints, consequence of a top contender occasionally falling short. it traded away talent to get out of some bad contracts while the players left on the roster got older and slower in a league that’s skewed younger “In Pittsburgh over those nine years, we may have won three times, but and faster. The Blackhawks fired Joel Quenneville, the second- the roster got flipped a few times and a few coaches and a few GMs,” winningest head coach in NHL history, in early November and they have said forward Chris Kunitz, who played on all three of those Cup-winning the second-fewest points in the league through Monday’s results. The Penguins teams. “People look at the number and say it was a success, only team worse? The Los Angeles Kings, who won Stanley Cups in and every time we were there, they were trying to put a team on the ice 2012 and 2014 but then also got caught with an aging and expensive to win a Stanley Cup. It wasn’t just to get to the playoffs, and roster. expectations were high. Those years you didn’t win were disappointments, and I think there’s a certain echelon of teams that that’s “You don’t really see the so-called dynasty too much more in the NHL,” their expectation and that’s their goal. If you didn’t finish it like that in the Chicago forward Patrick Kane said. “That’s probably more geared toward end, it wasn’t looked upon very kindly and there was changes to be other sports. … It’s a little bit different than when I first came into the made.” league. I don’t want to say you had some easy matchups, but going into some games, you knew that you were better than the other team. Now, The Capitals have joined the Penguins in that echelon of expectation, teams are so even.” and they now hope to model similar Cup-winning results. That means making the most of this window with Ovechkin, Backstrom and Holtby Maybe this down cycle for both the Blackhawks and the Kings is just the before worrying too much about the next one. cost of winning multiple championships, in which case both might argue it was worth it. A common thread was awarding big-money contracts to “The decisions for us are immediate,” MacLellan said. “You’re still looking keep Cup-winning core lineups together, and while some of those deals to the future with Vrana and these guys, but we need to do the best with may have seemed reasonable at the time, they didn’t age well. Chicago the team we have right now for those guys.” defenseman Brent Seabrook, whose play has declined to the point where he was a healthy scratch in one game last season, is under contract through 2023-24 with a $6.875 million salary cap hit. Los Angeles has five players over 30 making at least $5.25 million for two more seasons Washington Post LOADED: 12.19.2018 after this one. MacLellan avoided getting wrapped up in Stanley Cup sentimentality this summer when he let longtime center Jay Beagle sign with the Vancouver Canucks in free agency. Committing to Beagle, who’s 33, for multiple seasons might have created a salary squeeze in Washington next summer for upcoming restricted free agents Jakub Vrana and Andre Burakovsky. MacLellan also chose to trade veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik at the NHL draft in a move that created cap space to re-sign John Carlson. While Orpik ultimately ended up back in Washington anyway, dealing away a locker-room favorite was a bold move just two weeks after the team won a championship. But emotion will play into decision-making at some point. MacLellan sees the current Stanley Cup window as this season and next, when goaltender Braden Holtby, center Nicklas Backstrom and captain Alex Ovechkin are all still under contract. So the objective in the meantime is to surround those three with a good supporting cast. Holtby and Backstrom are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, and Ovechkin’s contract is up after the 1121829 Washington Capitals Reirden said. “We still have a lot of growth to do with Madison. He’s in the process right now of still getting better.”

At 74 career games, entering Wednesday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Madison Bowey now part of Capitals' winning formula Penguins, Bowey is far from that “ceiling” point. Reirden also pointed out that he’s no longer the young guy, but now the vet helping out a rookie — Siegenthaler. Bowey knew Siegenthaler from their days at AHL affiliate By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times Hershey and called him “a great kid.” Tuesday, December 18, 2018 “Like myself, we’re still improving, but I think he’s made a lot of great strides for him in his first few weeks here,” Bowey said. “I know I’m just trying to make it as easy as it is for him, if it’s off the ice or on the ice, I’m just trying to make everything an easy process for him so he feels ARLINGTON — Alex Ovechkin has hogged the spotlight recently for his comfortable coming to the rink every day and coming to work.” torrid scoring streak — and deservedly so — but the Washington Capitals play defense, too. Reirden wasn’t ready to commit to Bowey remaining in the top three pairings once his teammates got healthier. The Capitals are only 18th in the NHL in goals allowed per game, but over the last 14 games, in which they’ve gone 12-2-0, they have given up “This is an important year for him. He’s getting a lot of opportunity,” only 2.79 per game. They’ve done so without the services of defensemen Reirden said. “We need him to keep growing. It’s tough to find Brooks Orpik and, more recently, Christian Djoos, who have been hurt. defensemen, right-handed shot defensemen that can skate like that and have the ability to shoot the puck and defend and have a little bit of edge Orpik and Djoos made up Washington’s third defensive pairing during its to their game. We need him to keep developing here.” Stanley Cup run last spring. Madison Bowey had to look on.

Now, Bowey is working to make the most of his opportunity to be part of the Capitals‘ top six defensemen. Washington Times LOADED: 12.19.2018 “Any player in this league would be wrong if they said they didn’t want to play every night and be in the lineup every night,” Bowey said. “That was my goal going into this year, obviously. It was going to be harder with who we had coming back. I think it’s tough to see injuries happen, but opportunities opened up for a lot of guys on our team this year.” Bowey played 51 regular season games as a rookie last season, but the Capitals felt they needed to bolster their blue line and traded for Michal Kempny a week before the trade deadline. Bowey didn’t see game action the rest of the year, as Kempny assimilated quickly and teamed up with John Carlson to make a formidable pairing. Looking back, Bowey isn’t upset that he didn’t get to play during the Capitals‘ run to the Stanley Cup. “I was ready to go if something ever happened. Then we’re fortunate enough to keep everyone not injured and we had a great run,” he said. “But at the same time, you want to be a part of it and being a competitive guy growing up, I always wanted to be a guy that’d be in those big situations. That was a little hard to kind of get used to that, but I trusted the guys and it was just an amazing run all-around and a great experience for me.” The injuries arrived in the new season. Orpik is on long-term IR and had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee before Thanksgiving, though he recently started skating by himself. Djoos was hurt Dec. 11 and ended up needing surgery on his left thigh, which will keep him out for weeks. Bowey paired with Djoos once Orpik was hurt. With Djoos out, rookie Jonas Siegenthaler moved into Bowey’s pairing. Bowey said he wanted to make sure he got “back to playing my style” this year. “I’m playing with urgency, being a hard guy to play against in our D zone, and then also when it comes to the offensive side of things, just trying to be up on that rush, up in the forwards’ faces and kind of being able to just have a good game all-around and close quick and play fast and move my feet and play my game that really got me here,” Bowey said. Bowey is at a plus-6 rating so far this year after finishing 2017-18 at minus-3. He also has four assists through 23 games, the first of which came Nov. 11 against the Coyotes when he executed a clearing pass diagonally across the neutral zone to Ovechkin, setting up a pass to Nicklas Backstrom and a goal. When the Capitals drafted Bowey in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, they told him they wanted him because he had potential as a two- way defenseman. “My main focus is always to keep the puck out of our own net and be a hard guy to defend against, but with our team and the skill we have up front,” Bowey said. “But with the skill we have up front I know it makes it a lot easier, I guess you could say, for us to hop on the score sheet just by getting the pucks into those forwards.” Coach Todd Reirden, a former NHL blueliner himself, has been happy with Bowey’s “poise” in his sophomore NHL year, saying he doesn’t see the same “panic level” in the Winnipeg native that he used to, whether he has the puck or not. “For me, I felt, having played the position, once you get to 200 games in this league then you’re probably at where your ceiling is gonna be,” 1121830 Washington Capitals

What’s Christmas like in North Pole, Alaska? Cold, says Pheonix Copley of his hometown

By J.J. Regan December 18, 2018 2:08 PM

Ever wonder what Christmas at the North Pole is like? Just ask someone who’s been there like Capitals goalie Pheonix Copley. Copley calls the North Pole home. North Pole, Alaska that is. North Pole is a small town outside of Fairbanks (population of 2,232). Copley wears two candy canes on the bottom of his goalie mask in tribute to his hometown. As you would expect, Christmas is a big deal back home, not just in December but year round. Santa Claus Lane cuts through the center of town and visitors can see the Santa Claus House located on St. Nicholas Drive. “They definitely try and make it a theme in the town,” Copley said. “Light poles and stuff are candy canes, Christmas lights year round at places, businesses.” Christmas itself, however, is more low-key for the people there than you would expect, according to Copley. As fun as the town name may be, there is one big drawback to December in North Pole: the weather. “It's so cold up there, it's like not much really to do outside [at Christmas],” Copley said. “They do do ice sculptures and stuff so they go a little bit with it, but it's so cold and dark that not a whole lot going on up there.” According to The Weather Channel, the forecast for Christmas day calls for a high of -8 degrees. That is a veritable heat-wave considering it is not supposed to get above -13 degrees in the five days leading up to Christmas. You can also expect there to be less than four hours of daylight. That may sound miserable to some, but Copley always enjoyed making the trip home for the holidays. “Especially growing up when I first started leaving, I was going home at Christmas and it was nice to see the whole family again and get to celebrate the holidays and stuff,” he said. “For myself, Christmas has always been a fun time. Just being from North Pole, I always get a lot of jokes and stuff about it.” Now on the other side of the country and with only a few days between games, Copley will not make the long trip back home during the team’s Christmas break. Instead, he will remain in D.C. and, as he admitted, will enjoy a warmer Christmas. But he still wouldn’t mind a little snow.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121831 Washington Capitals comfortable going term on him because we believe in the player, we believe in the person.”

“When the GM and the organization reach out and are willing to do a The Capitals see so much more in Tom Wilson than just the physical play long-term thing, it’s pretty exciting and makes you feel good,” Wilson said. “That being said, it’s responsibility to continue to improve and help the team win because at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.” By J.J. Regan

December 18, 2018 7:00 AM Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2018

The Capitals raised eyebrows over the summer by signing forward Tom Wilson to a six-year, $31 million contract. That’s a hefty contract for a goon whose only contribution to the team are some big hits. But general manager Brian MacLellan sees a lot more to Wilson’s game than just the physical play. In him, MacLellan sees a top-line line player who is a leader on and off the ice. That was evident during the team’s run to the Stanley Cup and that’s why the team made such a sizable commitment to him in the offseason. Wilson has a certain reputation around the league because of his physical style of play and his past run-ins with the Department of Player Safety. But that only tells you part of the story. When you look at Wilson’s entire skillset and body of work, it soon becomes clear why the Capitals have so much faith in him. Washington recognized Wilson’s potential early on, making him a first- round draft pick in the 2012 NHL draft. “Our amateur scouts had a high opinion of him -- the skating, the physicality, the character – and I think they thought there was some upside there offensively that we could tap into,” MacLellan said in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Washington. “He did score some at the junior level, but they thought he could get to a different level as he turned pro.” But because of how he was utilized when he first entered the league, no one knew Wilson had that extra level to his game. In need of a physical presence to plug into the lineup, head coach Adam Oates gave Wilson his NHL debut in the 2013 postseason. Rather than return him to his junior team the following season, the Caps elected to keep him in the NHL. Oates, however, only utilized him in a fourth-line enforcer role and that’s how Wilson’s reputation began to grow. Wilson worked hard at developing other aspects of his game, but it was hard to show those with fourth line minutes. No one saw the work he was putting into his game, all they saw was highlights of fights or big hits. “He came in originally as a fourth line energy player, might have started in the league a year or two early or not depending on your opinion,” MacLellan said. Wilson’s real breakout season came in the latter half of the 2017-18 campaign when Barry Trotz elected to make him a top line player. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov are two of the most talented offensive players in the NHL, but they are not nearly as good in their own zone. Rather than just load the top line with offensive skill and thus limit the situations in which it could be used, Trotz looked for someone who provide some defensive balance while also be able to keep up with the offensive skill of his line mates. Wilson seemed like an odd choice initially, but only because most did not know how strong a skater he was. Most did not know his offensive upside. Most did not know the type of leader he was. But the team did. It didn’t take long for the top line to take off with Wilson playing on the right wing. “From the last 60 games and into the playoffs, I think his game hit a different level,” MacLellan said. “He played well on the first line with Kuznetsov and Ovechkin. [He] brings a lot to our team, brings a lot of energy to our team and I think at the point there in the playoffs that if we don’t have Tom Wilson, I don’t think we’re winning the Stanley Cup. He was that effective down in a couple of those series.” If a general manager views a player as being that important to his team’s success, a big contract won’t be far behind. It was a small sample size, but Wilson was only living up to the potential the Caps always knew he had and so a long-term deal seemed like a no- brainer. “We felt confident and wanted him to be around here for as long as we could get him,” MacLellan said. “Both parties could have wanted a shorter term just to test the comfort level, test where he’s going to be skill wise and the impact he’s going to have on our team, but I think we were 1121832 Washington Capitals grown a lot in that department. I think I’m a lot more consistent now because I’m able to pick myself up after a bad game or find something new to look for or try to do to get me into the next game. It’s a good time to be John Carlson — Caps’ D-man talks life on and off My next question was going to be: What is the biggest lesson you’ve the ice learned during your career? Is that it? Yeah. You’re going to make bad plays – the best players always do, just By Chris Kuc like everyone. It’s just the cleaner you can come out of it the better you’ll be. I think I had a tendency to have a couple of good games and then a Dec 18, 2018 bad one, a good one, a bad one. I’m just trying to keep my level as high as possible for the longest duration I can.

How did winning the Stanley Cup change your life? On a team that features perhaps the NHL’s brightest star in Alex Ovechkin, it’s not all that difficult to fly under the radar – even if you are I don’t know if it changed my life at all. Certainly, in my mental space it’s among the highest-scoring defensemen in the league. nice to achieve one of the goals you’ve dreamed about. But my kids (Carlson has two young sons) still love me the same. So in that sense, I So while reporters flocked around Ovechkin’s stall following the Capitals’ don’t think it’s changed much. But it is nice to not have to answer to it all practice on Monday and hung on the captain’s every word, John Carlson the time. sat across the room and unlaced his skates away from the maddening crowd. What do you do to unwind away from the rink? At age 28 and coming off a career season that resulted in a fifth-place I just like being at home with my family. I’m a little bit more of a finish in 2018 Norris Trophy-voting, Carlson has reached yet another homebody than some guys I would say. I’m just trying to soak it in with level to his game. He is tied for the lead in scoring among NHL the young ones as much as I can because it’s going by quick. They’re defensemen with five goals and 30 assists in 31 games, and tops all both at good ages now that they have personalities and have fun in skaters with a sparkling plus-21. different ways. Carlson signed a massive eight-year, $64 million contract in the summer So this is a good time to be John Carlson? that cemented the Natick, Mass., native as a cornerstone of the franchise. Yeah, it’s a good time for me. The Athletic sat down with Carlson to get his take on life on and off the ice. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 You’re tied for the top spot among NHL defensemen in points. Do you keep track of where you are among the leaders? Obviously it’s nice to be there, but I’m worried more day to day about what I’m doing versus some benchmark. What’s been the key to your offensive output? It seems like our team is just moving the puck well. We have certain things that we like to do to attack teams and goalies, and we’re carrying those goals out pretty well. Ovechkin is feeling it but he’s not the only one. We’re going into every game thinking that we can score four or five goals. When you have confidence it helps. Is the key to the Capitals’ high-octane offense you activating it from deep in the defensive zone? That’s everyone’s job, really. I think league-wide certainly it happens a lot more than in years past because it’s so useful, whether you’re just joining the rush to be an extra attacker to give them a different look or you get the puck and you have to make the play. But, yeah, when we break the puck out well it gives our defensemen a lot of room to get up the ice and be a part of the attack. We can play in the offensive zone, too, and activate from in-zone, but I think the majority of it starts when we break the puck out and force teams to play differently. We can have our ‘D’ activated into the play versus just the normal situation in the offensive zone. You had a career season in 2017-18 when you had 15 goals and 53 assists. Do you believe you’ve reached yet another level to your game this season? It’s tough to quantify. I feel like I can get a lot better. I don’t know if I have or have not. I’m just trying to do things the right way and contribute as much as I can to the team. When things are going good for the team it seems individually things go a lot better. Earlier this season, Nicklas Backstrom said you were robbed of the Norris Trophy last season. Do you feel that way? No. I mean, it would be nice but I don’t think I got robbed. So you don’t yearn for recognition as a top NHL player? It’s obviously a nice thing to have if you can but certainly I don’t lose sleep over it. If I can get my game to that level then I certainly want to do that. You signed a $64 million contract to become a long-term core member of the Capitals. Does knowing you’re going to be around for a long time ease any pressure to come up big every night? I think it’s just as an age thing of where you are mentally and how you look at the game, the ups and downs of it. The past couple of years I’ve 1121833 Winnipeg Jets them. We’ve been playing so well but it’s going to happen, we’re going to lose games," said Perreault.

His goal only seemed to inspire the Kings, who took over the period. Jets start West Coast swing with 4-1 loss to lowly Kings Defenceman Jake Muzzin scored a few minutes later on the power play, but the Jets successfully challenged that Los Angeles had gone offside on the zone entry a few seconds earlier. By: Mike McIntyre The tie was restored, but not for long. Alex Iafallo re-directed a shot from Posted: 12/19/2018 12:18 AM | Last Modified: 12/19/2018 1:42 AM Doughty that appeared to be heading in the net anyways, after a great | Updates pass from Anze Kopitar who patiently waited out Connor Hellebuyck and got the Jets goaltender out of position.

Then the speedy Wagner struck again, sneaking in behind the Jets LOS ANGELES - The Winnipeg Jets followed up a big victory over the defence, receiving a feed from teammate Matt Luff and beating best team in the NHL with a baffling defeat to the worst team. Hellebuyck on a breakaway with just under two minutes left in the period. Austin Wagner led the way with two goals as the Los Angeles Kings The Kings shut it down perfectly in the final period, giving the Jets very skated to a 4-1 win Tuesday night at the Staples Center. Mathieu little time and space. Nate Thompson sealed with an empty-netter in the Perreault scored the lone goal for the Jets, who began the night having final seconds. won five straight games and nine of their past 10 – including Sunday's thrilling 5-4 overtime triumph over the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning. Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers pulls away from Los Angeles Kings defenceman Jake Muzzin, bottom, and centre Anze Kopitar during None of that mattered to the lowly Kings, who showed they still have the third period in Los Angeles, Tuesday. The Kings won 4-1. plenty of pride despite occupying the basement of the league standings and winning just once in their previous seven games. They improve to Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers pulls away from Los Angeles Kings 12-20-3, while Winnipeg drops to 22-10-2. defenceman Jake Muzzin, bottom, and centre Anze Kopitar during the third period in Los Angeles, Tuesday. The Kings won 4-1. "Oh I thought they played a hell of a game. I thought that had everything to do with it," Jets coach Paul Maurice said of what the biggest difference This one had a similar feel to their only previous loss in the past 10 was in his mind. games, a 1-0 defeat at Bell MTS Place to St. Louis on Dec. 7 in which the Blues threw up a brick wall. Winnipeg has been skating like the wind in recent games, but seemed a step behind the play through most of the night as they kicked off a three- "Very similar to be honest. In the St Louis game we did have our chances game western road trip heading into the Christmas break. They couldn't and we just couldn’t score. Some nights they’re not going in for you. generate any sustained offensive zone time, passes regularly missed You’ve just got to deal with it. We’ve been in a good stretch here, just lost their mark and they had no answers for a pretty stifling defensive effort one here," said Perreault. from their opponent. Hellebuyck finished with 27 saves. Winnipeg went 0-for-3 on the power "There wasn’t a whole lot of easy ice, we had 18 shots blocked and they play, while Los Angeles was 0-for-3. worked hard to get in front of those pucks. So they played a real strong game. It was tight, not a lot of offence, certainly easy offence to be had A few notable point streaks came to an end. Mark Scheifele (14 points in for either team," said Maurice. his past five), Dustin Byfuglien (nine points in his past five), Blake Wheeler (eight points in his past five) and Patrik Laine (six points in his "(Los Angeles) earned it. They competed on every puck, battled hard, last five) were all kept off the scoresheet. back checked, their back pressure was outstanding. We weren’t crossing through the neutral zone at all, it was straight lines. They did a real "We worked hard. They played a good game so we’ve got to give credit effective job of breaking the puck off. We got off our forecheck, we didn’t to them. They played a pretty good defensive game. We had our get nearly as much as we normally do. They were good. They played a chances and they had theirs. Unfortunately this is just one of those we hell of a game." have to chalk up as they played well," said Hellebuyck. "I think we’ve got to learn from it. We played well, but there’s more to give. Myself included. Goalie Jonathan Quick, limited to just a dozen previous starts due to We all want more, we want better. We’ve had a good run of games. injuries, showed he can still be a big-game player in stopping 27 of the Things have been well. But we gotta continue getting better." 28 shots he faced. He got plenty of help from his defenceman, including Drew Doughty preventing a sure goal from Winnipeg's Mason Appleton that would have given the Jets a second-period lead. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2018 "It was a bouncing puck, so I really didn’t get much on it. I don’t know, I guess he made a good play on it. But if I get all of that puck, there’s no question that’s in the back of the net. It’s just a tough bounce," Appleton said of being robbed of his first-career NHL goal. "We didn’t fill the back of the net like we do on most nights. It was a tough, pack-it-in game and that’s how they like to play. We’ve got to find a way to produce when they’re such a defensive-minded team. I thought they did a really good job. They played hard and they competed really hard. And they scored when they needed to. Hats off to them." Up front, the Kings had plenty of pluck as they've inserted a number of skilled young players in the lineup who are hardly household hockey names. One of those would certainly be Wagner, who opened the scoring with nifty first-period deflection off Daniel Brickley's point shot, scoring just the second goal of his NHL career which is now 23 games- old. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck got a piece of the puck with his blocker, but it went straight up in the air, fell down into the crease and trickled over the goal line. "That’s crazy. I’m kind of sick of that happening. But I guess I have to put myself in a better position," said Hellebuyck. Perreault tied it up early in the second when he got a stick on Bryan Little's shot. The veteran winger has now scored a goal in five straight games and has eight on the season. Josh Morrissey had the other helper. "It’s going to happen. All season you’re going to run into a hot goalie every now and then. It’s kind of (Tuesday's) story. He played well for 1121834 Winnipeg Jets making smart plays and that’s really allowed us to stay out of the box — solid puck management. Having the puck helps a lot. You’re usually not going to be taking too many penalties when you’re on it and when you Jets benefiting from fewer trips to sin bin have it." Lemieux could be the poster child for change. Since getting suspended for his dangerous actions in Finland, the power forward who admittedly By: Mike McIntyre plays with an edge has just one minor penalty in his 10 games since returning to the lineup — and none in the past nine games. Posted: 12/18/2018 8:03 PM | Last Modified: 12/18/2018 8:42 PM | Updates "You've got to be smart. I've been a little bit more thoughtful, a little bit more cautious, yes," said Lemieux.

The Jets have two of the top players for drawing penalties in their lineup LOS ANGELES — They didn't go to boot camp or reform school. But the in Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers. Both are in the top 10 in that Winnipeg Jets have certainly cleaned up their act of late, spending far department, according to the Natural Stat Trick website. less time in the penalty box while making other teams pay dearly for their on-ice sins. The fourth line, with Lemieux, Jack Roslovic and Mason Appleton, has also drawn a handful of infractions lately through hard work, even in their Consider this: in the first month of the 2018-19 NHL regular-season, no limited minutes. team took more penalty minutes than the Jets. They were the NHL's resident bad boys, with 50 minors, four majors, five 10-minute "Just want to keep it simple, play hard, try to bring something to the table. misconducts and one game-misconduct in their first 13 games, which You gotta be smart," said Lemieux. "People who want to paint a picture took them through the end of the Global Series trip to Finland. about that emotion or playing over a line, there's none of that. You make mistakes, you play hard and want to bring physicality. Sometimes you Frankly, there were times they appeared unhinged, such as the fourth step over it. But emotion, if you're getting emotional you're going to get game of the regular season when the Jets gave the Nashville Predators yourself in deep trouble." eight straight power plays in the first two periods. There was also Brendan Lemieux's blindside hit in Helsinki, which earned him a two- With those emotions clearly in check, it appears that spells trouble for game suspension. opponents who can no longer count on the Jets simply beating themselves. But since they returned to North American ice, the Jets have been mostly calm, cool and collected. They are the second-least penalized team in the league in that span, with 55 minors, two majors and one 10-minute misconduct in the19 games before heading into action against the Kings Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2018 Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It's been especially noticeable over the past 11 games, with the Jets giving opponents 22 power plays. By comparison, Winnipeg has had 38 power plays in that stretch. Not surprisingly, they've gone 9-2-0 in that time, with just a pair of one-goal losses, to the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. "I think we’re trying to move our feet. Typically when you have the puck it’s harder to take a penalty. I think if you’re chasing games and behind it, it’s a little harder to stay on top of it and out of the box," Jets captain Blake Wheeler said Tuesday morning of the change in behaviour. "You try to play as hard as you can within the rules. And then from there the officials, they do a great job of trying to call the game evenly. Typically in the past we’ve found ourselves a little bit on the wrong side of that equation. I think we’re getting better at it, and knowing where we could lay off a little bit and knowing the areas we can still be hard." Winnipeg Jets' head coach Paul Maurice sums up the reason for his team's decline in penalties lately: "We’re skating better." Winnipeg Jets' head coach Paul Maurice sums up the reason for his team's decline in penalties lately: "We’re skating better." Jets head coach Paul Maurice believes the key is not getting caught out of position and flat-footed as much as they were in those first few weeks of the season. "I think we’re better defensively. And it’s the original positioning on that, so we’re not in behind it. We haven’t been chasing a whole lot of games. And I think some of that is patience, too. We’re just a little more relaxed playing the defensive game, we’re not on the wrong side, we’re not cheating offensively, we’re scoring some goals, so there’s some confidence there. So that you’re not in a deficit position all the time," said Maurice. "And I also think we’ve skated. I think coming off that Finland trip, our legs got better and stronger and we’re skating better." Special teams have played a huge role in the Jets' success, especially with their top-ranked power play coming up big more nights than not. But even when they do find themselves short-handed — an increasingly rare sight of late — the penalty kill has been more than adequate and currently ranks 13th in the NHL. "Early on in the year, we were getting a lot of trips and a lot of stick infractions, where you’re maybe a little careless with your stick where you don’t need to be. Now it seems like we’re skating and we’re getting above pucks and we’re not really putting ourselves in positions where you have to take penalties," said forward , one of the key penalty killers on the team. "That’s a good sign that we’re managing the puck well, we’re not turning pucks over in areas that are going to be detrimental to the team. We’re 1121835 Winnipeg Jets "So, now we’ve got a better performing group of six because (Josh) Morrissey, (Jacob) Trouba and (Tyler) Myers got pushed into some really big numbers and now, when (Dustin Byfuglien) came back and our other Lowry enjoys a little home cooking injured defencemen came back, those guys got into a better rhythm and got their confidence. They’re playing well. It improved our individual defencemen’s play during those injuries and now that they’re back, they’re playing pretty strong." By: Mike McIntyre A Los Angeles-based Finnish television crew, at the rink Tuesday to do a Posted: 12/18/2018 8:00 PM feature on Jets forward Patrik Laine, asked Maurice whether a contract would get done soon with the pending restricted free agent.

"That is so far above my pay grade," Maurice said with a smile, before LOS ANGELES — It's always a game he circles on the calendar, a quickly adding "I don’t have to pay it and I don’t have to get the deal chance to enjoy a visit with his parents and a little home cooking while on done, so I sleep all right on that." the road. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff's slumber might not be so But Adam Lowry said that when the puck drops at Staples Center, he peaceful, with Laine, Kyle Connor and Jacob Trouba all set to be RFAs blocks out the fact his Winnipeg Jets are taking on his second-favourite and needing new contracts next summer. team, the Los Angeles Kings.

"When it comes to game time, it’s like any other game. We’re trying to win and trying to continue this roll," Lowry said Tuesday morning prior to Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2018 the latest head-to-head meeting between the clubs. Lowry's interest in the Kings is rooted in family as his father, Dave, is an assistant coach in Los Angeles. Lowry said he's a bit surprised at how difficult things have been for the Kings, who sit last in the NHL standings and replaced head coach John Stevens with Willie Desjardins earlier in the season. "I don’t think anyone saw that they were going to be struggling this much. They’ve missed a lot of guys at various times. Any time your goalie is out for an extended period of time and you lose your backup, too, that’s going to hurt. They have a long list of injuries and that’s kind of played a factor in some of their struggles this year," said the Jets centre. "But they still have a lot of good players and good pieces over there. Just like approaching the games against Chicago, you have to be ready to play an NHL game, they’re not just going to gift you the two points. They have a few different weapons that can hurt you." Jets head coach Paul Maurice said the Kings are playing with "anger" these days, which can make them dangerous. "We don't spend a whole lot of time worrying about how they played in their last two games. It's what's this team is capable of. They're really strong on the walls, and they're driving and they're angry when they play now, they're frustrated. It's no different than the game (last Friday) in Chicago for us. You've got Stanley Cup champions who aren't happy with where they're at. They're going to push real hard and give you all you can handle," he said. Professional athletes are creatures of habit, so it will be interesting to see how a change in routine impacts the Winnipeg Jets. The team opted not to skate Monday prior to flying to Los Angeles to start a three-game road trip, then had an off-ice workout Tuesday morning instead of the traditional morning skate. It's unusual to go 48 hours between stepping on the ice, as the Jets did when the puck dropped Tuesday night. "Rest is the premium that we’re looking for right now. Recovery is real important but we also want to be able to handle this, to do an off-ice workout in the morning and get our legs right in the warm-up and then be out and be good and on time. And if not, fight hard to get to good, quick. So it’s an unusual situation but something we want to learn how to manage," said Maurice. Forward Andrew Copp is close to taking the next step of his recovery and getting in some physical contact at practice. The Jets winger was sidelined for three games by a concussion, returned earlier this month for two games in New York but then had symptoms return. He's missed the last eight games. "Feeling good, skating. We’re just being real cautious with this now before he gets into bumping. He’ll start light contact (soon)," said Maurice . Joe Morrow has been the other recent injured player for the Jets but is now considered fully healthy. However, he remains sidelined with the Jets opting to go with the six defencemen they had slotted in when the season began. "Really important, but the bigger story is getting some big minutes pushed on guys when we had the three or four defencemen out of our lineup. Their game elevated and when the players got healthy, their game stayed. It didn’t fall off," said Maurice. 1121836 Winnipeg Jets

Jets guarding against royal flush in the court of NHL's worst

By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 12/18/2018 2:53 PM

LOS ANGELES — Beware the wounded animal. That will be the mindset of the Winnipeg Jets tonight as they kick off a three-game road trip tonight against a reeling Los Angeles Kings squad that has just one win in the past seven games, two in the past 10 and now occupy the basement of the NHL standings with a record of 11-20-3. "We do our prep maybe differently. We don't spend a whole lot of time worrying about how they played in their last two games. It's what's this team capable of. They're really strong on the walls. And they're driving and they're angry when they play now, they're frustrated," Jets coach Paul Maurice said this morning at Staples Center. "It's no different than the game (last Friday) in Chicago for us. You've got Stanley Cup champions who aren't happy with where they're at. They're going to push real hard and give you all you can handle." The Jets (22-9-2) are going in the other direction, with five straight wins and nine in their past 10, including a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory Sunday night against the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. Winnipeg is tied with Nashville and Calgary for top spot in the Western Conference, with a game in hand on both clubs. They'll go with the same lineup as last game, meaning Connor Hellebuyck in goal and Nic Petan and Joe Morrow as the two healthy scratches. Andrew Copp also remains out as he recovers from ongoing concussion symptoms. The Jets opted to hold an off-ice workout this morning rather than the traditional morning skate. "We have a certain skill set, a certain way we have to play. It's going to be challenged here tonight because we didn't skate yesterday and we didn't morning skate. We're going to have to skate here tonight. It's an NHL game. The only chance we have to win here tonight is we have to outskate that team," said Maurice. Red-hot Mark Scheifele will be looking to continue where he left off. He has 14 points in his past five games (five goals, nine assists) including back-to-back overtime goals against Chicago and Tampa Bay. His streak includes three straight three-point games, and four in his past five. Jets forward Adam Lowry watches the Kings closely, as his father, Dave, is an assistant coach with the club. "I don’t think anyone saw that they were going to be struggling this much. They’ve missed a lot of guys at various times. Anytime your goalie is out for an extended period of time and you lose your backup, too, that’s going to hurt. They have a long list of injuries and that’s kind of played a factor in some of their struggles this year," said Lowry. "But they still have a lot of good players and good pieces over there. Just like approaching the games against Chicago. You have to be ready to play an NHL game, they’re not just going to gift you the two points. They have a few different weapons that can hurt you. We’re going to look to stay on this roll that we’re on right now." The road trip continues with games Thursday in San Jose and Saturday in Vancouver.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2018 1121837 Winnipeg Jets that’s a pretty strong number. Again, they got in front of a bunch (of shots), real good sticks, knocked a lot of our passes down.

“Oh, I thought (the Kings) played a hell of a game. I thought that had Jets fall flat against Kings everything to do with it. There wasn’t a whole lot of easy ice, we had 18 shots blocked and they worked hard to get in front of those pucks. So they played a real strong game. It was tight, not a lot of easy offence to Ken Wiebe be had for either team.” The Jets, who slipped to 22-10-2 on the season, continue a three-game road trip on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, who are riding a five- LOS ANGELES — There is little doubt the match-up fit the bill as a game winning streak of their own after a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota prototypical trap game. Wild. After going toe-to-toe with the best team in the NHL and finding a way to Jets centre Mark Scheifele is going through one of the best scoring win in overtime for a third consecutive game against the Tampa Bay stretches of his NHL career, so it was natural for some questions to be Lightning, you could understand how a meeting with the last-place Los asked about how the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft got more Angeles Kings wasn’t going to get the juices flowing for the Winnipeg comfortable in a shooting role. Jets. Scheifele entered his first training camp as more of a pass-first player But going into the contest, there was plenty of discussion about not and remains an impressive playmaker, but he has grown into the trigger- taking the Kings lightly and identifying the ample weapons they had at man on his line with Blake Wheeler — though the Jets captain doesn’t their disposal — even while dealing with a plethora of injuries to necessarily agree with the assessment. important players. “I don’t necessarily agree. He might have got more assists than he The Jets even had some experience dealing with this issue recently, scored goals,” said Wheeler. “I don’t know what his junior numbers were, gearing up for a pair of games against the Chicago Blackhawks last but I know coming in he always had a pretty wicked release. I think it’s week. something he’s obviously worked on over time. I think that’s a skill that comes naturally for him. He shoots the puck as well as anyone. It’s On this night, the Jets were not as sharp offensively or clicking on all impressive how little space he needs. You can see it with our really good cylinders, while the Kings top guns were a major factor — and goal scorers, how quick they can get open. The tiny little bit of space they complementary piecenamed Austin Wagner chipped in a pair of goals in need to get a shot off. And that’s the difference.” a 4-1 Kings triumph. Maurice said the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs were part of Couple that with 27 saves from Jonathan Quick — who was aided by two the awakening for Scheifele when it comes to taking more shots. critical saves in the crease by defenceman Drew Doughty — and goals from Alex Iafallo and Nate Thompson, the Kings snapped the Jets five- “It’s what playoff hockey will teach you,” said Maurice. “If you go back game winning streak at Staples Center on Tuesday. and look at shot attempts for the first three games of the Minnesota (Wild) series in spring, he realized then that in the playoffs, you’re not “You have to be ready to play an NHL game, they’re not just going to gift going to get the chance to decide not to shoot the puck and then pass you the two points,” said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “They have a few the puck, the play is gone. He just went more to shoot when I think I different weapons that can hurt you.” should right away (mentality). He made that decision and broke an NHL Those pre-game thoughts from Lowry proved to be prophetic. record. The playoffs were a really important eye opener for him that he is going to have to shoot the puck because there won’t be enough time to in Let’s be perfectly clear, this wasn’t an effort issue for the Jets and the the playoffs.” Kings looked nothing like a team that entered the contest in last place in the NHL. And it’s not like Scheifele has lost his passing ability. Doughty’s first save came against Jets forward Mason Appleton, who “Mark has got really good vision on the ice and he sees other options appeared to be on the verge of scoring his first NHL goal in his 10th NHL always,” said Maurice. “So, when you’re young, you defer. The other game. piece would be that after enough times (when) Blake Wheeler has put it on your tape, you realize that maybe we should leave the passing to “It was a bouncing puck, so I really didn’t get much on it,” said Appleton. Blake at times and I should shoot. Now, they’re both capable. Mark could “I don’t know, I guess he made a good play on it. But if I get all of that be an elite passer, but there’s no sense in both of them doing that. One puck, there’s no question that’s in the back of the net. It’s just a tough of them has got to get it off his stick.” bounce.” It’s been more than a month since the Jets have dealt with any real Doughty also came to the rescue moments after Jets forward Nikolaj discipline issues. Ehlers rattled a backdoor chance of the post, using his chest to stop Mark Scheifele from a sharp-angle. Since a pair of undisciplined penalties taken by forward Brendan Lemieux were quite costly in a loss to the Florida Panthers in the finale of “It was a huge chance, a great pass from (Scheifele) and it’s one of those the Global Series in Finland, the Jets have been on much better that you want to bury. Then it’s a 2-2 game. It’s tough,” said Ehlers. behaviour. “Their goalie made some saves, some pretty big ones. It was one of those games where you work hard – and I think we did that for a full 60 In fact, they’ve flipped the script and been the team drawing more minutes – but you don’t get rewarded. We played against a good team penalties than they’ve taken recently. tonight and we deserved a little more than that, but that’s how it goes.” What’s changed? Wagner’s first goal opened the scoring and was a bit of a strange one, as “Just being aware of our sticks,” said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “Early on he redirected a point shot from Daniel Brickley. in the year, we were getting a lot of trips and a lot of stick infractions, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made the save, but the puck caromed where you’re maybe a little careless with your stick where you don’t need high into the air, landed behind him and rolled over the goal line. to be. Now it seems like we’re skating and we’re getting above pucks and we’re not really putting ourselves in positions where you have to take “It’s weird. I get the whole thing and then it lands, from what I saw, in the penalties. middle of the crease and takes a weird spin backwards. That’s crazy,” said Hellebuyck, who finished with 27 saves. “I’m kind of sick of that “That’s a good sign that we’re managing the puck well, we’re not turning happening. But I guess I need to put myself in a better position.” pucks over in areas that are going to be detrimental to the team. We’re making smart plays and that’s really allowed us to stay out of the box – The Jets top-ranked power play was held off the board, going zero-for- solid puck management. Having the puck helps a lot. You’re usually not three, though one of the man-advantages lasted only 16 seconds. going to be taking too many penalties when you’re on it and when you have it.” With the Kings taking a bench minor for having too many men on the ice with 6:34 left in the third period, the Jets were unable to convert, Jets head coach Paul Maurice believes the change is two-fold. snapping a streak of five consecutive games with a power-play marker (the Jets went nine-for-19 during that span). “I think we’re better defensively. And it’s the original positioning on that, so we’re not in behind it,” said Maurice. “We haven’t been chasing a “What happens is when you’re running at whatever we are in the last 10 whole lot of games. We’ve given up the first goal, or didn’t score first a (games), at 40 or 45 %, you start to think that’s the way it looks every fair amount this year and it hasn’t affected our wins. I think we’ve won as night. And it doesn’t,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “At 30 %, many when we score first as not. So our original positioning, and I think some of that is patience, too, we’re just a little more relaxed playing the Maurice wasn’t ready to suggest which game, but going back with defensive game, we’re not on the wrong side, we’re not cheating Hellebuyck on Thursday against the Sharks and having Brossoit play offensively, we’re scoring some goals so there’s some confidence there. against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday makes a great deal of sense. “We’ve had pretty good possession numbers, and we’ve controlled the puck fairly well. And I also think we’ve skated. Coming off that Finland That would allow Hellebuyck to get some additional time to recharge trip, our legs got better and stronger and we’re skating better.” before getting back in the net on Dec. 27 against the Calgary Flames, while Brossoit would be making his third start in the past two weeks. On most days, Lowry has a bit of a soft spot for the Kings, which is no surprise when you consider his father, longtime NHLer Dave Lowry, is an Brossoit is up to nine games (eight starts) this season and the tentative assistant coach for Los Angeles. plan is to get him somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20 starts and the numbers so far mean that remains a possibility. Lowry remained on staff after Willie Desjardins took over as head coach on an interim basis after the firing of John Stevens. Hellebuyck made his 26 start of the season on Tuesday and hasn’t been overworked of late, though he’s gearing up for a busy stretch coming out The Kings find themselves in unfamiliar territory, as they entered of the break. Tuesday’s action in last place in the NHL, a far cry from the days as a Western Conference powerhouse and two-time Stanley Cup champion “We’re back to a number (of starts, games) that we’re comfortable with,” since 2012. said Maurice. “I don’t think anyone saw that they were going to be struggling this much,” said Adam Lowry. “They’ve missed a lot of guys at various times. Anytime your goalie (Jonathan Quick) is out for an extended period of Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.19.2018 time and you lose your backup (Jack Campbell) too, that’s going to hurt. They have a long list of injuries and that’s kind of played a factor in some of their struggles this year. But they still have a lot of good players and good pieces over there. You have to be ready to play an NHL game, they’re not just going to gift you the two points. They have a few different weapons that can hurt you.” The Kings do some plenty of high-end talent, but they’re one of the teams that could impact the trade market in the coming months, should they decide to make a couple of moves for the future. One of the players that is sure to attract some interest is Kings blue-liner Jake Muzzin, a left-handed shot, had three goals and 13 points in 34 games while averaging 21:37 of ice time going into Tuesday’s action. Muzzin, who is signed through the 2019-20 season on a deal that carries an average annual value of $4 million, has spent a good chunk of time playing alongside Drew Doughty during the past several seasons. He’s defensively reliable and would bring plenty of playoff experience, as he has 50 games on his resume to go along with one championship ring, from 2014. Tuesday marked the seventh consecutive game the Jets dressed their top-6 on the blue line and Maurice has been happy with the way the group has been playing. Interestingly enough, Maurice believes the rash of injuries sustained earlier this month actually provided a boost to several players on the back end. “It’s been a nice luxury,” said Maurice, who is always hesitant to answer questions about the health of his club, for fear of injuries occurring. “Really important, but the bigger story is getting some big minutes pushed on guys when we had the three or four defencemen out of our lineup. Their game elevated and when the players got healthy, their game stayed. It didn’t fall off. “It improved our individual defencemen’s play during those injuries and now that they’re back, they’re playing pretty strong.” The Jets are happy with the depth on the blue line, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they decided to add a defencemen, especially one with experience. Although the arrival of the NHL trade deadline is still more than two months away, it’s never to early to start speculating who could be on the Jets’ radar. As it pertains to Muzzin, his contract for next season at $4 million, could be viewed as both a blessing and/or a curse — depending on how you look at it. On one hand, the uncertainty surrounding Jacob Trouba (pending restricted free agent one season away from unrestricted free agency) and Tyler Myers (pending unrestricted free agent) means the Jets could be interested in adding a D-man with a bit of term to guard against a possible departure. On the other hand, if a long-term deal can be reached with Trouba or Myers, the $4 million cap hit for Muzzin would be a challenge to fit under the salary-cap ceiling with new deals coming for several prominent restricted free agents. Although everything is subject to review, Maurice said prior to the game that the tentative plan was to get a start for backup Laurent Brossoit before the Christmas break. 1121838 Vancouver Canucks Said Horvat: “It felt like a playoff game. You want to be in those games and you want to to play the top team and there was a lot of fire in our group. You take the positives out of it . This was huge for our group.” Canucks Post Game: Growing up in a ‘man’s game,’ avenging Stecher Coaches usually profess to know little about goaltending. hit, Nilsson’s dilemma Sometimes there’s a set plan on who starts. Sometimes it’s easier when there are back-to-back games, but that’s not always a slam-dunk. Ben Kuzma Sometimes it’s the track record against the opposition. Sometimes it’s a just a gut feeling.

Which brings us to Anders Nilsson. Points to ponder as the Canucks found themselves in a fight for victory and in two fights for morale — Antoine Roussel taking on Yanni Gourde On an encouraging early-season road trip, he beat the Bolts on Oct. 11 in and Ben Hutton fighting Cedric Paquette — before they fell 5-2 to the Tampa Bay and then the Panthers on Oct.13 and the Penguins on Oct. league-leading Lightning on Tuesday at Rogers Arena: 16. He hasn’t won since. That’s zero wins in his last eight outings (0-7-1) and there are many theories at play as to why he’s 3-7-1 as the backup Not allowing anyone to go quietly into night to Jacob Markstrom. There’s winning and losing. There’s calling it a night and there’s never He’s getting tough starts. He’s not getting enough run support — seven calling it quits. goals in six-straight setbacks before the Canucks scored four in Nashville last Thursday and then just two Tuesday — or enough of the net to make And while no coach likes moral victories, Travis Green should like what sure his game is sharp. And without support goals, his margin of error is he saw Tuesday. And he did because it had more to do with just the final minuscule. score. It had to do with push back and punches and resolve because two fights and 19 penalties for 58 minutes wasn’t just the sub-plot. It was the He has also faced Washington, Winnipeg and San Jose this season. story. “I knew they were going to make plays and you have to be on top of your “You hate losing, but I like he way our team is coming together,” started game and they scored a few glove side tonight,” said Nilsson. “I know the the Canucks coach. “We’re sticking together and battling hard and this last goal (Steven Stamkos) I let in, put the team in a bad spot after we was a man’s game out there tonight. I was enjoying this game and I told fought our way back.” our group you have to love playing in these games. The Bolts purposely shot glove side Tuesday because that’s where “If you don’t like playing when it gets intense, you’re probably not going to Nilsson was beat for the first two goals against the Preds. But it wasn’t be much of a winning player in the NHL. Good teams know when the just that. It was the lightning-quick Bolts who caused eight turnovers and heat is being turned up. It’s a complement to us that they’re walking away passed pucks with such precision off speedy rushes, or got quick shots thinking this wasn’t an easy game.” away, that more than tested Nilsson. On a night where the Canucks learned some hard lessons against the There was Nikita Kucherov quickly picking the short-side side glove after league-leaders — turning pucks over too often, being a step behind and Jay Beagle lost a defensive-zone draw to Brayden Point. There was mesmerized by blind passes and quick releases but pulling to within 3-2 Nilsson left alone when Martel got behind Gudbranson, and with Hutton — we learned something else. also to one side, a cross-ice, backhand feed found a streaking Paquette. The Canucks aren’t soft. Far from it. They come to play — all the way. “It doesn’t matter who you play against, my job is still the same,” stressed Nilsson. “You still play the same, but Nashville and Tampa are very “We wanted to be faster and harder to play against and we were all of offensive and you have to be extra aware of guys and what their that tonight,” added Green. tendencies are and do more pre-scout.” It took a questionable second-period hit by Danick Martel on Troy With Markstrom holding a 25-11 edge in starts, it stands to reason that Stecher — a blow that targeted the head of the Canucks defenceman — fatigue is a real factor for west-coast clubs and trying to balance to be the catalyst for mayhem and mosh-pits and punches. After all, performance with rest and recovery isn’t easy. Nilsson will play either on Stecher was slow to get up from the ice and so woozy that he had to be merit of when Markstrom needs a break. helped to the room for concussion protocol and did not return. “That’s the role he’s in right now,” Green said of Nilsson. “We’re hoping When Martel returned, he was first targeted on the sideboards by Jake he can steal a game and that’s a tall order to ask when you’re playing Virtanen and the ensuring scrum saw Eric Gudbranson land a gut punch against Tampa and Nashville. But he’s a battler and wants the net in and Josh Leivo enter the fray. That wasn’t it. Cedric Paquette then saw fit these games. to run Elias Pettersson hard into the end boards and that shot was greeted by Brock Boeser getting the Bolts centre in a headlock before “You have to play two goalies. Marky has played well but part of it is that Ben Hutton dropped the gloves with Paquette. we’ve given him a break. Physically, I don’t mind a goalie playing back- to-back, but mentally it’s a grind.” For the record, it was Hutton’s third career scrap — he fought Devante Smith-Pelly last season and Eric Gryba in 2016-17 — and it showed Put it this way. another side of the defenceman, one that you had to admire. It’s not just a challenge in Vancouver. Listen to Edmonton Oilers bench “We did a tremendous job sticking up for our teammates tonight,” said Bo boss Ken Hitchcock. Horvat. “Stecher is a really tough kid and if it was a clean hit, he would have been back. From what I hear, it was a head check and it’s in the “You need two goalies who can stop the puck and if you don’t have two, league’s hands now to take care of it. if it was a head check, there’s no you can’t win,” he said. “There’s too much travel and hard games — too place in the game for it. I hope they make the right decision.” many three in four nights with big travel. You need competent guys and your back-up has to get you 18 to 20 wins. Gudbranson thinks it’s a no-brainer for the Department of Player Safety. “If you don’t have two, I don’t believe you can make the playoffs in the “Our whole bench saw it check all the boxes, a blind-side hight hit that west. We’re lucky and we have a No.1 and a No.1A and I don’t even contacted the head and that’s really dangerous stuff,” said Gudbranson. know who it is week to week.” “Our response is something to take from it (hit), to know if something shitty happens to you on the ice, the next guy is coming in flying.” Green talked to his team after the second period and said he loved the Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 way they were playing. And he had to love how his young players weren’t shying away from contact. Good teams target good players and Pettersson was in the crosshairs of the Lightning but didn’t wilt under the pressure — even thought he was held pointless for the first time in eight games. “It wasn’t a viciously dirty game, minus a couple of plays, but we’re going to try to be physical on their skilled guys and that’s part of the NHL,” said Green. “The intensity level is what I liked for our young guys in how intense it can get and what happens when it does and there’s bad blood boiling and forming.” 1121839 Vancouver Canucks The Canucks’ power play had six opportunities, including a long five on three, but came away with no goals.

“It wasn’t good enough, all the way around,” Horvat said. Canucks at Night: A rumble-tumble game out of nowhere leaves Canucks fuming Lightning coach Jon Cooper called his penalty killers “outstanding.” “I thought the game plan the boys put together was great.” Patrick Johnston If there’s a guy who you want with the puck on his stick with the game on the line, one of them is Bo Horvat.

So his misfire late in the third on a puck that came to him in the slot was The Canucks lost 5-2, but the scoreboard tells so little of the story on this pretty surprising. night. “I’m a left-handed shot; if i’m a rightie, I get a better shot off,” he said. “It The hit on Troy Stecher left the Canucks fuming and the Tampa Bay was in that area called the triangle where you can’t really get good wood Lightning shrugging their shoulders. on.” From where he was sitting on the Canucks’ bench, Erik Gudbranson said It’s not often we see a dejected Anders Nilsson. he had a clear view of it. The Stamkos goal surely stung. It wasn’t a great shot, but it still got “Very dirty, really dirty,” he said. through the Canucks goalie. Antoine Roussel had a similar view. “Tough to lose. We played pretty good,” he said. “They are a very good “I thought it was awful… I thought he could have had five minutes for team. I felt pretty good. Tough to lose.” that,” he said. He won the game in Tampa in October with an outstanding performance. Gudbranson said he believed it was a hit the league would take a look at. He was looking to repeat that performance. “That’s pretty much standard when it comes to blind side, high hit, direct “I was confident going into the game, I thought we had a good chance of head contact,” he said. “That checks all the boxes.” beating them.” “(Head of player safety) George Parros is a former teammate of mine Antoine Roussel fights with Tampa Bay Lightning centre Yanni Gourde and a good buddy and no doubt he has no time for stuff like that, I’d during the second period. imagine. We’ve had seminars and they take a look at stuff every night so Antoine Roussel was just playing his game, he said, when he threw a big I’m sure that’s going to be one of them.” hit near the end of the Tampa bench on Yanni Gourde. Travis Green was mad about it too. (See more on that from Kuze.) The Lightning players said Roussel jumped him. Jon Cooper said he didn’t see it, relying on other members of staff with The Canuck, of course, had his own perspective. video to tell him what happened. “I’m just trying to hit him. It’s a hockey play but he wasn’t happy about it,” “Honestly I didn’t see it. All the guys in the room said it was shoulder to he said. shoulder, a little on the backside, so they look at hits like that but in no way did our guys say it was head contact. Hopefully he is okay.” “He’s comes at me, seems like he wants to fight. You gotta know you’re playing against.” Martel, no surprise, thought it was a clean hit. The timing here is important. It happened after the hit on Stecher — but “The way it felt on my shoulder it was really a shoulder. I tried even to also after Martel was confronted by Virtanen and Gudbranson. cross my foot in front of his and go for the puck. I know my elbow came up at the end but I think when your shoulder hits the guy, your elbow I asked Jon Cooper about it post-game. He said it was about Martel, who always comes up. I think it was a good hit. I had the puck after, that’s was playing just his second NHL game and who was told he was playing what you want, and I got jumped but I protected myself and I was ready just 15 minutes before game time, sticking up for himself. for it.” “Tough stuff happened to him in the corner there with Virtanen and Hockey fans look on as members of the Vancouver Canucks fight Gudbranson, with a little bit of a two on one. A 5’8″ guy stuck up for members of the Tampa Bay Lightning during second period NHL action himself. He did a good job sticking up for himself. You know it’s tough at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. when you’re staring up at some of these guys. He kinda got the worst of it, so I was just saying good job.” After the wild second period, the third was notably calm, especially given the Canucks lost Stecher for the night. Martel on the heat he took: “Even after I wanted to show I am not scared. I am going to play however I need to play to prove I could be playing in The chorus rang out from the Canucks about keeping their cool with the that league and I am not scared about it and that’s what I did in second game still there for them. ad third period.” Alex Edler: “We’re down two goals going into the third, we talked about Familar item here: TBL defenceman Braydon Coburn was a healthy just sticking to our game.” scratch. Bo Horvat: “We want to win the hockey game, the best way to stick it to Asked about it, Cooper said people shouldn’t draw a negative them is to win the hockey game.” connotation from a scratch all the time. Roussel: “You still have to win the game.. it’s fun to fight, it’s fun to be It’s big-picture stuff, he said. It was a chance to give a young pesky, to go out there and play really hard but at the same time you try to defenceman in Erik Cernak another game. win the game.” You’ve already seen this because JPat is such a good tweeter, right? The Canucks were chasing the game, so they should come ahead on shot attempts. But it’s so good, let’s look again. That’s a great-looking second period. Not sure they’ll be happy with how Quote of the night things turned against them in terms of shot attempts in the third. I wasn’t there but the guys who went into the Tampa room (Woodley, for Also, 23 shot attempts in just 10:53 of even-strength ice time in the one) came away a bit surprised by Steve Stamkos’ thoughts about the second period is a helluva effort. ice: Individually, most Canucks were close to even in terms of attempts for “Everything settled down except the puck. That was the worst ice I have and against, but Gudbranson was in his own end a lot in the third, as he ever played on in my life. It was tough out there. We were not only was leaned on to pick up Stecher’s minutes after Stecher left the game fighting the opponent, we were fighting the puck tonight. That’s the first late in the second following the ugly hit by Martel. time I’ve seen pucks going flat and then hit something and no one’s stick was there so it was tough. We knew the ice was tough in the third so we Alex Edler played 30 minutes on the night, driven by a ton of power play tried to simplify.” time, and was another who was leaned on heavily after Stecher left.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121840 Vancouver Canucks “I was just trying to hit him. It’s a hockey play. He wasn’t happy about it. There you go.”

The Canucks, however, were happy about their response. Future games Ed Willes: Canucks and Lightning party like it’s 1989 will reveal if it has any meaning. “We haven’t been in many of those games so it’s tough to gauge the Ed Willes response but that’s hockey,” said Gudbranson. “We all wear the same jersey and we’re all together every single day. It was good when those situations came about and guys got right in there.” Antoine Roussel fights with Tampa Bay Lightning centre Yanni Gourde Better had it come in a win, but sometimes you take your victories where during the second period. you can. For a while, it appeared Antoine Roussel had become a reformed man. A penalty waiting to happen through the first two months of the season, Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 the Canucks’ rambunctious winger had settled down in recent times playing a more controlled, disciplined style which resulted in one puny minor over an eight-game span. With the the mind-mannered Tampa Bay Lightning coming to town, it seemed Roussel would pass another uneventful night, devoid of mayhem and disorder. At least that’s the way it seemed. We can only assume the man was bored. With the Canucks trailing 3-1 in the second period, and having a frustrating night of it all the way around, Roussel touched off a chaotic sequence on Tuesday night which resulted in three separate scrums, a suspension-worthy head shot on Troy Stecher from Tampa’s Danick Martel, 46 minutes in penalties and, of course, a fight involving Ben Hutton. Party like it’s 1989, boys. When the smoke had cleared, the Bolts were 5-2 winners but the Canucks maintained a larger purpose had been served. Right Antoine? “I loved it, to be honest,” Roussel said. “I thought we played a really good game. We battled hard to come back and we had our chances.” Ah yes. The game. The Canucks did record 38 shots at Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilievskiy and had a couple of chances to tie the contest in the third period. They were also undone by a power play that went 0-for-7 and a Tampa team that kind of has the best record in the NHL. Now back to the fun stuff. Roussel, as is his wont, set fire to a relatively peaceful game shortly after Tampa’s Adam Erne gave the visitors a 3-1 lead midway through the second. With the Canucks killing a penalty, he laid a heavy body check on 5-foot-9 Yanni Gourde, then dropped his gloves when Gourde took umbrage with the hit. Roussel ended up with the extra minor. The Canucks killed off the five-on-three. And the carnival had started. Three minutes later Martel caught Stecher in the head from the blind side, a hit that inexplicably earned a simple minor but will be assessed by Player Safety. A couple of minutes after that, Jake Virtanen jumped Martel along the boards, precipitating another scrum. Then Cedric Paquette hit Elias Pettersson which led to Paquette against Hutton in the main event. “I thought we had a good response,” Roussel said. “That’s what you want to see. It’s too bad we lost but it’s something we’re going to carry for a long time. “It felt like a playoff game where everything was on the line.” Stecher, meanwhile, didn’t return after the Martel hit, a development which was the Canucks’ main talking point after the game. “Dirty, really dirty,” said Erik Gudbranson. “High hit, blind side, direct head contact. That checks all the boxes obviously.” “I knew we’d react like that,” Horvat said. “A lot of guys saw the hit and weren’t happy with it. I thought we did a good job of getting in there and letting them know we weren’t happy about it. I think it sparked us.” Maybe. In the third, Chris Tanev scored to make it a one-goal game and the Canucks had some chances, particularly Alex Edler with an open net and Horvat on a Virtanen rebound. But the Bolts didn’t exactly wither and die and they had their own thoughts about the extracurriculars. “You see Roussel going after (Kucherov) like he did in the first 10 minutes.” said Paquette. “The word was on the bench, stick with each other and play hard. That’s what we did.” Which is the way the Canucks saw things. Here was Roussel’s description of the hit on Gorde. 1121841 Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser was the first to confront Paquette, but Tampa’s Anthony Cirelli as well as the Canucks’ Ben Hutton were quick to arrive.

Hutton ended up paired with Paquette in a fight and he landed a solid Lightning 5 Canucks 2: Season’s beatings in drama-filled game punch or two. The crowd approved. Patrick Johnston Chris Tanev has goals in two of the last three games, after somehow threading a third period shot through traffic. It’s been said more than once in these pages that all the Vancouver Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who had a solid game, couldn’t find Canucks had to do this season, one meant for pushing out some new the puck in his pads and when he discovered the puck nuzzling the goal faces, was at least be fun. Win or lose, just don’t be boring. line behind him, managed to poke it in instead of swiping it away. Tuesday night was another for the fun file. Even though the Canucks lost A long series of cliches could be rolled out: “he’ll take it” “they all count” to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 at Rogers Arena, the game had plenty of “some guys have all the luck” etc. drama. Death by a thousand turnovers There were fisticuffs. There were angry moments. There was fury at the Good teams will bury their chances, so turning the puck over and giving referees. them bonus chances really shouldn’t be done. And yes, there were goals. Boeser tried to carry the puck out halfway through the second period but The Lightning came flying out of the gate and got the game’s first goal, coughed up the puck. Nikita Kucherov firing home his 15th goal of the season. The puck ended up on Adam Erne’s stick, who potted his fourth goal of But just 37 seconds later, the Canucks’ fourth line had a strong shift, and the season. Tyler Motte fired into a nearly-wide-open net after a gorgeous centring Where the PP goes… pass by Troy Stecher. Three Canucks power plays in the first period but not much doing, other Tampa took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission on a goal by Cedric than the Canucks leading the shot count 16-12. Paquette. Against a high-flying squad like the Lightning, that’s not going to do much Tampa then stretched their lead in the second period, getting a goal from for you. Adam Erne. The power play’s been excellent of late. So has the penalty kill. The But the Canucks persisted. The game got feisty in the latter half of the Canucks have been winning in large part because of both. second, as Antoine Roussel got his side fired up with a hit and a fight. A high hit on Stecher only added fuel to the fire. Chris Tanev’s goal early in the third gave the Canucks hope but they Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 couldn’t find an equalizer. Tampa captain Steven Stamkos iced the game with a wrister that made its way through an otherwise-solid Anders Nilsson. Ondrej Palat got an empty netter to seal the game. Here’s what we learned: For everything that happened on Tuesday night, the most worrisome was the blow to the head that put Stecher down on the ice. Danick Martel, playing his second National Hockey League game, threw the hit. Stecher had been looking down at the ice, trying to collect the puck. Martel was whistled for interference on the play, drawing the ire of the crowd and Canucks coach Travis Green. Green, understandably, was furious about seeing just a two-minute penalty handed to Martel after a woozy Stecher had to be helped off the ice. He did not return. It was 1987 all over again The second period stretch that started with Roussel and Yanni Gourde getting into a fight and continued with a Jake Virtanen shorthanded breakaway — he didn’t score — was followed by 2-on-1s in each direction. Then came a rather physical scrum. And then there was Virtanen going after Martel for the earlier hit on Stecher. It was a sequence rarely seen since the late 1980s and it was very, very fun. That 80s sequence wasn’t the only old-time flavour in the second. With just under a minute to go in the middle frame, Tampa winger Cedric Paquette took a run at Elias Pettersson in the corner. The puck ended up in Nilsson’s glove not long after and then all hell broke loose, again. The Canucks were criticized in many corners — though not this one — earlier in the year for not responding to the Mike Matheson hit on Pettersson. In that case, the hit on the young star happened well away from the play. On this night, it was right in front of everyone. 1121842 Vancouver Canucks

Spotted: CanucksArmy writers in Canucks press box

Patrick Johnston

An eyebrow-raising quartet of faces — in a good way — were spotting on press row Tuesday night before the Canucks host the Lightning at Rogers Arena: CanucksArmy writers Ryan Biech, Darryl Keeping, Jeremy Davis and Harman Dayal. (Biech and Dayal also write for The Athletic; your author here used to write for CanucksArmy.) It’s notable because there was a time when CanucksArmy were persona non grata at Rogers Arena. Even under the stats-friendly regime of Mike Gillis, requests for media access were denied. But the tone has softened in recent seasons. Thomas Drance, the former managing editor, was allowed some access under Sportsnet’s banner before he left the writing game for Florida’s sunshine. Beginning in 2016-17, JD Burke, Drance’s successor as Canucks Army head honcho, as well as Biech were allowed access to practices and were given passes to occasional games. But to see four at once was a surprise. They were tight-lipped about what they were doing there, simply saying they were there “as guests of the Canucks.” They weren’t there to cover the game, since media members either have a season’s pass or are accredited on a per-game basis. Draw your own conclusions. Whatever they were doing, it’s good to see smart thinkers of the game getting some exposure. Biech and Davis chatted during the first intermission with the Canucks’ front-office analytics duo of Jon Wall and Aiden Fox. Asked what they discussed, Biech simply said “sports.” Several previous CanucksArmy writers are now employed by NHL teams, primarily for their analytical talents: Josh Weissbock, Cam Lawrence and Rhys Jessop by the Florida Panthers and Cam Charron by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dimitri Filipovic, who hosts a popular podcast and now writes for Elite Prospects and ESPN, worked for an undisclosed NHL team for a year.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121843 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi done for the year after knee surgery

Patrick Johnston

Olli Juolevi will get another preseason chance to impress the Canucks after he returns from his knee injury. The Vancouver Canucks have confirmed that blue-line prospect Olli Juolevi is done for the season after having surgery for a tear in his knee meniscus. Juolevi visited a specialist in Vail, Colo. on Monday and had surgery Tuesday, Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning said. His expected recovery time is six months. The young blue-liner suffered a meniscus tear, Benning confirmed, which usually means a shorter recovery time than six months. Given the six- month recovery period suggested by Benning, it seems clear there was more to the injury than he was willing to reveal. Benning was pressed for further detail but said he wouldn’t get into specifics. “It’s knee surgery. He’ll be out for six months,” he said. (An example of a meniscus tear that has a long recovery time is a “bucket-handle tear” of the medial meniscus, which can be related to an anterior cruciate ligament tear.) On Dec. 3, Benning said he didn’t think Juolevi would require surgery and that the 20-year-old defenceman was expected back in the lineup by the end of the month. “There was a chance through rehab that he would be able to play this season,” he said Tuesday when asked about his previous comments about Juolevi not needing surgery. He admitted losing three-quarters of a season’s worth of development time was disappointing. “He was playing well (before the injury),” Benning said. “He was playing in all situations.” Juolevi was injured by a hit in a game for the Utica (N.Y.) Comets on Nov. 17. According to Benning, the defenceman said the knee didn’t feel right afterward. The Utica Observer-Dispatch’s Ben Birnell said Juolevi practised with the Comets on Nov. 20. He was scratched the next game, on Nov. 21, and TSN 1040 radio reporter Jeff Paterson said it was only thought to be a “minor knock.” However, the Canucks decided to fly him to Vancouver shortly thereafter. Juolevi rehabilitated his knee “for a couple weeks” in Vancouver and had an MRI. He tried another brace just over a week ago and then skated a handful more times but was still feeling discomfort. “He (specialist) laid out the options,” Benning said. “We don’t want to take any chances. The best order of business was to get him ready for next year.” And while Benning said the plan was for Juolevi to play a few NHL games in the second half of this season, the GM isn’t concerned about the path Juolevi is on. “When we drafted him we knew he was a smart player,” he said. “We want to develop him properly. I wanted him to be ready for the NHL. He was working on a few things. This doesn’t change that plan.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121844 Vancouver Canucks out? It’s going to be him. Those guys are hard to find. It’s why he has a ring on his finger.”

That playoff run piqued the Canucks’ interest. Henrik Sedin had retired Ben Kuzma: Hard-working Beagle brings his bite every night for Canucks and who knew if Elias Pettersson could transition to the middle from wing in the Swedish Hockey League. The Canucks needed skill, but also needed the will. Ben Kuzma “He’s a great pro,” said coach Travis Green. “We knew what we were getting and he has come as advertised. He understands his role and some nights it’s not glorifying and he accepts it and does a great job of In Jay Beagle, you get a three-level championship pedigree, an enviable doing whatever is asked of him. face-off presence, penalty-kill prowess, shutdown superiority and a voice of reason on the ice, on the bench and in the room. “He has won at every level (ECHL, AHL, NHL) and he’s not the most gifted player, but he is certainly effective. He does it through smarts, hard What you don’t get is the fake stuff. work and character.” The free-agent acquisition could have gone all rah-rah to impact impressionable young players on a transitioning club. And while the Vancouver Canucks’ centre can deliver a frank focus or keep the mood Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 light, his play has done the talking. He doesn’t need pompoms. “It’s just my natural personality and I don’t ever try to be something I’m not,” Beagle said Tuesday before facing the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena. “As soon as you do that (rah-rah), you’re trying too hard. “I am who I am and have been like that even with the Caps — just a positive and upbeat person, who takes every day in the NHL as a blessing. That kind of comes across to enjoy a great group, because you never know what to expect with a new group.” Beagle is a big reason the improving penalty kill was on a 12-for-12 roll the previous five games. His shutdown stature with Markus Granlund and Tyler Motte was instrumental Sunday in keeping the Edmonton Oilers in check. And his understanding of what it takes to build a winning culture — without flashing his Stanley Cup ring — is why the 33-year-old Calgary native has done more than fill a niche in six seasons with the Washington Capitals and his first here. A four-year, US$12-million contract raised eyebrows because of the term, but the early returns are encouraging. The Canucks were 8-3-1 with the undrafted Beagle in the lineup entering Tuesday’s tussle — he missed 24 games with a fractured forearm after blocking a shot in Florida on Oct. 13 — and they now have a stronger bottom-six presence to add bite and frustrate. “I knew he was a good two-way player who works his ass off,” said Granlund. “He plays the same way every night and so it’s pretty easy to play with him. “He’s a fast skater, gets to pucks and wins battles. You need guys who have been there and he talks a lot and wants his linemates to stay on the same page. Every younger guy can look up to him and how hard he works every day. He’s been good for us.” Beagle has but three points (1-2) in his dozen games, which included a short-handed breakaway goal on Thursday in Nashville, but it’s his work with Granlund and Motte that’s intriguing. Granlund is an unsung hero and Motte beat the odds in camp and the preseason to earn a roster spot. “I played with Motte before I got hurt and started to gain chemistry,” added the 6-3, 210-pound Beagle, who has a 52.6 efficiency rate in face- offs and is averaging 12:56 of time per outing. “And Granny, I didn’t know much about him, but I’ve got two guys who like to work and compete hard.” The Canucks won 4-1 on Oct. 11 in Tampa, but the true test of Beagle’s worth came last spring with the Capitals. The seven-game Eastern Conference Final with the Lightning was taxing, but propelled Beagle to a bigger role in the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. He was out in the final minutes to protect a lead in Game 2 and set up two goals in Game 3. Getting past the Lightning was like a mini-Cup triumph for Beagle, who had to shut down Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point. “It was a war,” recalled Beagle. “If you don’t get the puck behind their defence and make it hard on them, their transition game is the best in the league. They’ll hurt you because they have tremendous speed throughout the lineup and great depth and they don’t give up much.” Lightning coach Jon Cooper certainly saw enough of Beagle. “You can’t say enough at playoff time about guys who accept roles,” he said. “When you have a one-goal lead, who is going to close a game 1121845 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Game Day: Lightning strikes often, power-play progress, Roussel reels it in

Ben Kuzma

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point lines up for a faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Sun., Dec. 16, 2018. If Bo Horvat is matched against Steven Stamkos in another supreme shutdown test, Jay Beagle will probably see a lot of diminutive speedster Brayden Point. The 5-foot-10, 166-pound Calgary native has 21 goals and 43 points and was 10th in league scoring after 34 games. He also centres fleet-footed Tyler Johnson and triggerman Nikita Kucherov (14- 34-48), who was fourth in league scoring following a 5-4 overtime loss in Winnipeg on Sunday that snapped the Lightning’s eight-game win streak. Point also leads Tampa with nine power-play goals and because Beagle also draws into the top penalty-kill pairing, he could have a busy night if the Canucks don’t adhere to what they’ve done lately — playing hard and with discipline to stay out of the box. FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Win the big even-strength battle The Bolts are first in goals scored, even-strength goals, first-period goals and second-period goal differential. They’re also second in second- period goals and third in third-period goals, so forget about playing catch- up. The Canucks had third-period comebacks for a win in Columbus and overtime loss in Nashville, but this will be tougher. Tampa is second when leading after one period (11-1-1) and leading after two (17-2-1). Elias Pettersson was tied for 15th after 30 games with a dozen even- strength goals while Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat have 10. 2.Power play must find its way The Canucks had five power-play chances against Edmonton on Sunday and two of them were from drawing interference and hooking minors. Alex Edler, Boeser and Pettersson all struck on the power play, the first time the Canucks bagged that many this season. There have been many PP1 alignments and rotations, but Sunday was going back to what works. It was Boeser’s quick and accurate wrister for his sixth goal in the last five games and Pettersson passing up a pass to wire his 17th. The Bolts have the fourth-ranked penalty kill. 3. Roussel can really reel it in Antoine Roussel has gone away from taking bad offensive-zone penalties. He’s second in league minors, but has been assessed but one minor in the last seven games and two in the last 10. On Sunday, he drew a holding minor that led to a PP goal, had two scoring chances and helped shut down Connor McDavid’s line. 4. Tanev can play hurt, play hard Chris Tanev was struck on the hip by a puck on Oct. 24, missed five games and has played in pain. It hasn’t stopped the top-paring defenceman from being fourth overall with 75 shot blocks. He had four Sunday to go with three shots and a hit in 20:06 of ice time. 5. Penalty kill has been a thrill The Canucks have gone six-straight games without allowing a power- play goal and the 12-for-12 showing has a lot to do with the return of Jay Beagle, set and effective pairings and taking the heat off Bo Horvat to better manage minutes.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121846 Vancouver Canucks “Some players are mean. They are stupid. “He should be the player who backs off and we have to protect him.” The Athletties: The Exorcist thing, the Roussel arrival, the fist bump and BEST REQUEST a Juolevi investigation Roussel: “Virtanen and Gudbranson, fuck that was fun.

“You see the crowd tonight?” By Jason Botchford I did. I did.

“They’ve been sleeping for 30 games but tonight, it was a little chippy The Vancouver Canucks finally exacted revenge on Florida. and everyone in the building woke up. They got the wrong team but in late December, two months after “It gives us energy. Matheson-on-Pettersson, it didn’t matter. “Make sure they read that. This was more than a spirited 5-2 loss to the league’s most loaded team, which was far closer than the score suggests. This was more than a “And if they do, tell them I said this: group of young, skilled players standing up for one another, though that “Can you please tell them to do that more?” mattered. Consider it done. This was more than the intensely thick atmosphere, generated by one Antoine Roussel and fuelled by his teammates, opponents and the most BEST THAT’S HOCKEY rollicking crowd in Rogers Arena of the season STAMKOS: “If (Roussel) wants to get under Kuch’s skin, so be it, and This was an exorcism. then he jumped Gordo there and it just escalated from there. Demons had been haunting this Canucks since an October night “That’s hockey. Pettersson was run by an overpaid defenceman who, the NHL suggested, was pushed over his mental edge after being beaten by “Sometimes that happens on the ice. As long as both teams are going to nothing more than sweet Petey Dekes. stick up for their teammates, for themselves. I thought we responded well as a unit.” The Canucks dishearteningly flatlined in the moment, claiming they didn’t see a thing. And all these weeks later it still never sat right. To them or BIGGEST PUNCH most of us. And with the glove still on Guddy? Those who applauded the do-nothing reaction said “what did you want Oh boy. them to do?” BEST SUMMARY “What could they do?” ROUSSEL: “The boys did great, it sucks we lost. But Edler just missed Tonight, all of you finally got your answer. the net at the end. The net was wide open. It happens. This. “But we score there, we take a point and move forward.” And that answer will echo. BEST DESCRIPTION People wanted them to do this and they’re clearly capable of it. GUDDY: “I saw it. It was directly in my line of vision. There was so much noise, colour, fun, ferocity, danger and risk swirling “It was dirty, really dirty. I think that’s pretty much standard when it comes the ice surface it should be hard to pick one moment which will resonate. to blindside, high hit and direct head contact. But it’s not. “That checks all the boxes, honestly.” The image of Brock Boeser risking his mane, standing up for his friend, I know people are going to slow this next angle down and claim he hit his roommate and the centre he hopes to play years with on the same Stecher’s shoulder. line is one which will sear deeply into the fabric of Vancouver’s emerging new core. Just stop. “I thought it was great,” Bo Horvat would say later. It was a head shot. “You have one of your best players getting hit, and then one of your other BIGGEST CRITICISM best players doing everything he can to stick up for him.” I listened to Stamkos and he wasn’t joking. Of course, all of us would feel completely differently if this punch had landed and done what it could have easily done, and that’s breaking He legitimately believed this was the worst ice he’s played on. At least he some face. thought that moments after the game. But that’s hockey. The near misses are often as important as the hits. That’s something because he plays in Florida and has spent many nights playing hockey in warm weather at home and on playoff runs. ROUSSEL: “I loved it. It goes a long way.” This is December in Vancouver. If the ice was really that bad it’s hard for BEST ENERGY me to believe it wasn’t by design. This was the game Roussel arrived in Vancouver all of his agitating, “Everything settled down (in the third) except the puck,’ Stamkos said. pulse-pumping and line straddling glory. “That was the worst ice I’ve ever played on in my life.” He was aggravating, exhilarating and, quite honestly, a refreshing Really? change of pace for a team that’s trended toward soft and lifeless too many times in the past three seasons. “Yes. It was tough out there. We were not only fighting the opponent, we were fighting the puck tonight. You sign Roussel and you know you are going to get games like this. “That’s the first time I’ve seen pucks start going flat and hit something He delivered both on the ice and off it, relishing in his role and what it and no one’s stick was there. means, especially for players like Elias Pettersson. “It was tough. “You have to experience games like this,” Roussel said. “I was talking to Pettersson and I asked if he had any games like that in Sweden. “We knew the ice was tough, so in the third we just tried to simplify.” “He said ‘Not often.’ So they changed their game to overcome the shitty ice. “For him, it’s good. He knows what emotion is. He can sense the Was that part of a Canucks plan? intensity. We told him, he has to protect himself out there. The ice was in here all weekend. There wasn’t a concert, a basketball Goldy is too slow to read the play. game or lacrosse. Do the Canucks need a new defence? How about we call it, bad ice which was accidentally on purpose. BEST INVESTIGATION BEST OH NO HE DIDN’T Olli Juolevi’s development curve crash landed suddenly Tuesday with BEST PLAY startling news about knee surgery and an excruciatingly long six-month recovery timeframe. Yes, this is Elias Pettersson without a stick controlling the puck with his skate along the boards and then executing a nearly flawless breakout BENNING: “(Juolevi’s) knee didn’t feel right a few weeks ago. pass. “The medical staff thought, if he rehabs it and gets back to skating he BEST RUSH could get through the year. Does EP look fast? “We tried the conservative approach first until the surgery.” BEST PEARL CLUTCHING Juolevi consulted with a specialist Monday in Colorado, a month after he last played. BEST AD And here is where things get interesting. BEST COMMENTARY In the days following his last game, the Canucks were telling people it BEST FAKE OUTRAGE was a minor knee bump keeping him out of the lineup, not a big deal. This was long after the hit on Stecher. But this time, Martel had fought, In fact, Juolevi practised Nov. 20. got pounded and fought some more and been pounded. But on Nov. 24, a week after his last game, JPAT broke the story. BEST MAKES YOU THINK From there, several media attempted to pinpoint the injury’s origin story BEST HE’S SHOOK but it proved elusive. Tampa’s PR team wanted nothing to do with the Vancouver media. On Nov. 27, Utica head coach Trent Cull explained awkwardly. They coordinated head coach Jon Cooper’s press availability post-game On Nov. 30, Ryan Johnson explained it and it was a little confusing. to happen at the exact same time as Travis Green’s. On Dec. 3, Benning said it this way: This is unusual, mostly because the visiting coach usually goes first. But that’s especially true in the Green era because Travis waits longer than “It was a knee and he got hit in the game. He felt like something wasn’t any coach I’ve ever seen before doing post-game availability. quite right so we brought him here (to Vancouver). (I’m not complaining, just facts). “We had our doctors look at him. Everything is good. He doesn’t need surgery. He’s going to take a couple of weeks off to rest and see where So to wait this long in a visitor’s barn is something else, and Tampa PR he’s at and then we go from there.” had an eagle eye zeroed in on Green’s podium. On Dec. 11, Trent Cull said this after Juolevi returned to Utica to practice: When Travis was ready, Cooper was finally beckoned. The hope, and this is my opinion, was that no one from the Vancouver media would Juolevi went from practising in Utica to significant surgery a week later. show up to grill Cooper. The news it will keep him sidelined an estimated six months shook up the Canucks market. PJ — Patrick Johnston of The Province — was the hero Canucks Twitter needed tonight. First and foremost, your heart should go out just a little for Olli. Benning made the point he was progressing this year, putting up points, playing a And, uh, this Cooper answer is worth listening to. major role for Utica. Tune in at the 2:37 mark to hear a coach totally knocked off his mark by It’s not a small accomplishment for a player who had back surgery in a question he quite clearly never saw coming. June and lost 10 weeks of his offseason training program in recovery. PJ: “You gave Martel a fist bump there. You gave Martel a little fist bump For him to overcome this, return to playing professional hockey and play at one time on the bench.” well in the minors sure suggests he put a lot of work into it. COOP: “Uh, well, anytime our players, you know, eeeeg … In my Oh, and he does have talent. opinion, he, uh, stuff happened to him in the corner there with Virtanen and Gudbranson. It was a little bit of a 2-on-1. To have that start upended by this knee surgery feels incredibly heavy, daunting and possibly damaging to Juolevi’s development and the “He’s a 5-(foot)-8 guy who stuck up for himself and I said ‘Good job for chances in establishing himself as an NHL regular in the next year. sticking up for yourself.’ People will the question the timeline. They will question the medical staff. “It’s uh, that’s uh, it’s tough when you’re staring up at some of these guys and he kind of got the worst of it. Again. “I was just saying good job for hanging in there.” But things like this aren’t entirely unprecedented. They do happen. I’m not saying he’s wrong. He’s not. In June, Shea Weber underwent a knee scope and his world was subsequently turned upside down. I am saying he was shook. He was. As someone in Montreal said to me: Hit the 2:37 mark of this clip. “They went in to clean it up a little, a routine scope, and found a tear If you’re running Tampa PR and you’re in Vancouver, check Canucks while they were in there so they repaired it. Twitter next time to see what your coach is going to be asked about. “He went under thinking it would be three weeks and woke up to find it Because here we do fake outrage better than anywhere. was six months.” WORST DEFENCE Weber’s story mirrors Juolevi’s in a couple of ways. How much time do the Canucks have to set up their defence before the He was complaining about irritation. There was an MRI. The results didn’t second goal? show significant damage. How about forever. The Canucks would be wise to take note of the next part of Shea So how does this happen? Weber’s story. Or not. All this time to prepare and Guddy gets smoked at the blueline. Like Vancouver, Montreal’s medical staff was being questioned and the team was being accused of lacking transparency. Hutton spins way out of position. Montreal made Dr. David Mulder, the club’s head physician who has It is the blueprint for how and why the Vancouver Canucks should be been associated with the team since 1963, available and he gave a 17- deploying their backup on the expiring contract, Anders Nilsson. minute press conference on Weber which took all speculation out at the, uhm, knees. The foundation of the idea, at its core, is a pretty simple concept driven by an inescapable conclusion. What follows is what he said on the knee and it’s pretty enlightening. It’s time for Thatcher Demko. Give him his NHL games. Give him a leash. “During the recovery, we talked to Shea and he’d had an episode of Give him a chance. some problem with the right knee, I think initially in November of last season. He’s done enough in the minors, proven capable at every turn, and is thriving despite going through three goalie coaches in three seasons and “And he said: ‘Let’s look into it.’ one debilitating concussion. “So we did an MRI, which is a special X-ray of the knee, and we found This NHL myth that it takes goalies longer to develop than forwards is that he had what we thought were some loose fragments, or a partial tear antiquated, delusional and misguided. of the medial meniscus. Demko is 23 years old. When is he going to get his chance to be a “So we all discussed with him and suggested during the recovery period starter? At 26? it would be a good time to try and fix the problem with the knee. And then what? “That was done on, I think, after consultation with Dr. (Robert) LaPrade at the Steadman Clinic in Vail (same as Juolevi). Cory Schneider is 32 years old. His career is legitimately in jeopardy. He’s been a No. 1 goalie for an NHL team for all of four seasons. The next part seems important. It’s maddening when you know how talented he was, his peaks as high “All three radiology people agreed that it was a minor (knee) injury, it as anyone in the past five years. could be fixed with a clean-out or a lavage. And that was carried out. Project Cable Box would see the Canucks cherry pick starts for Nilsson, “And at the time of that operation, Dr. LaPrade discovered that the medial to artificially increase the so-called “Nilsson Ratings” (his save meniscus was more seriously injured, was detached at the edge, and percentage), setting up a February trade. required more complicated surgery, which was done very successfully, and Shea is now home (in Kelowna, B.C.) and making a good recovery.” It would see him start in games against some of the league’s bottom- tiered offences. This will get lumped together with the other perceived Canucks medical mishaps over recent years, but the team tried a conservative approach to Edmonton is a good start. avoid invasive surgery. There’s a game against St. Louis this week. Check, please. It hardly matters it was done now instead of three weeks ago. There’s the Oilers again next week and the Devils on New Year’s Eve. Either way, he has lost a season and an important one for his Next month, the Canucks have games against the Oilers, the Coyotes development at that. and the Red Wings. BEST QUESTION Give them all to Nilsson and watch his save percentage get to .915. How different will the Canucks defence look next year? There’s just one problem with Project Cable Box. The Canucks want BENNING: “It depends on what Quinn Hughes decides to do.” nothing to do with it. BEST UPDATE In fact, they stick Nilsson with what must be the most difficult lineup in terms of stars-faced-per-start. The Canucks have had no talks with Edler’s agent to this point. Look at his games played. It doesn’t mean that can’t change because it did for Erik Gudbranson who wasn’t expected to be re-signed in December, only to get a multi- The Patcast has dubbed it a goaltender’s murderer’s row. year extension in late February. Drink this in for a moment. Benning said he’ll try to hash out Edler’s future with the Canucks during JPAT: “He’s faced a murderer’s row, are you mindful of the quality of the the team’s pro scout meetings in January. opponents?” “I guess if (signing him) is the direction we would need to know before GREEN: Laughs and looks right at me. “Yes, I am.” the trade deadline,” he said. Oh snap. BEST EL-OH-EL GREEN: “That’s sometimes the role of where he’s at right now. We’re BEST REALITY hoping he can steal a game. That’s a tall order to ask when you’re Well, this will sober you up for the holidays. playing the Tampas and the Nashvilles. BEST SNITCHING “But he’s a battler. He wants the net on these games.” Oh no he didn’t. Where is he at? Oh yes he did. Getting the ugly end of the stick, that’s where. The fish hit and hit hard. And it doesn’t sound like that’s going to change. WORST SNITCHING But that won’t stop Project Cable Box. Come on, I appreciate fake outrage can be the good times but do we need to tell the league about the fist bump? The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 OK, maybe we do. BEST WAIT, WHAT? The Jets call before the holiday freeze and offer Trouba for Juolevi-and- something but the Jim-and-Johns say “Nah, we’re good there?” Wait, what? BEST PLAN It is dubbed Project Cable Box and it would be Vancouver’s next big thing if it didn’t keep getting derailed at every single station. 1121847 Vancouver Canucks But I really do think it’s their player development that sets them apart from the rest. Every year, they seem to have some new guy flying around out there who leaves me wondering just where in the hell he came from. 10 thoughts on the Canucks, including a special teams turnaround and (The Lightning tend to favour high-skill forwards who aren’t necessarily the search for Horvat’s long-term linemate the biggest but they compete hard for every puck.) This is what the Canucks are going to need. The future can’t all be built on first-rounders. They’re going to need names like Zack MacEwan and By Jason Brough Lukas Jasek to pan out. And not just pan out and survive, but pan out and thrive. Dec 18, 2018 5. Alex Burrows is a perfect example of a diamond in the rough that helped turn a team into a contender. The Canucks gave Burrows a chance to play with the Sedins and they ended up with an undrafted first- 1. How have the Vancouver Canucks turned it around? The answer is line winger. special teams. This is also why I like to think in terms of duos up front, as opposed to And probably some other stuff! trios. Once you find a good duo, the third guy doesn’t have to be able to But mostly it’s special teams. drive a line by himself; he just has to complement the duo. The third guy can even be a rotation of players, depending on the opponent or recent It’s hard to argue with the numbers. When the Canucks were mired in form. that 13-game slump, their power play went 6-for-45 (13.3 per cent) and their penalty killing was horrific, allowing 15 goals with a success rate of Right now, for example, if we’re to assume that Elias Pettersson and 68.8 per cent. Brock Boeser are going to remain together, I think one of the biggest challenges facing the Canucks is finding a winger to form a consistent Since the slump ended, the Canucks have gone 5-0-1 in their last six partnership with Bo Horvat. games. During that stretch, the PP has scored five goals on 18 tries and the PK is a perfect 13-for-13. Keeping in mind that the goal is to build a roster that’s capable of winning a Stanley Cup, when it comes to a reliable linemate for Horvat, I have to Slump: Combined special teams of 82.1 per cent. admit that I’m not sold on anyone that the Canucks currently have. Since slump: Combined special teams of 127.8 per cent. Fortunately, if I’m right in my skepticism, the top of the 2019 draft features a bunch of wingers, including Kaapo Kakko, Vasili Podkolzin Conclusion: Special teams are pretty important! and Raphael Lavoie. Perhaps there’s a long-term solution in that group. 2. It’s a small sample size, but the return of Loui Eriksson to the PK 6. I realize that free agency hasn’t been kind to the Canucks the last few appears to be helping. In hindsight, he probably shouldn’t have been years. There have been some poor decisions, and unless a bad team taken off it in the first place. Based on goals and scoring chances overpays, it can be hard to get the quality UFAs interested at all. against, Eriksson has been one of the Canucks’ best penalty-killing forwards since he signed in Vancouver. But with Horvat, Pettersson and Boeser in the mix now, I think the overpayment excuse should be retired. The 4-on-5 numbers from the last two-and-a-half seasons, via Natural Stat Trick: Case in point, when Mikael Samuelsson signed in 2009, it wasn’t just the money that convinced him. There’s always context to consider when analyzing the penalty kill. Quality of competition is a big one, i.e. are guys out there against the top “Obviously that was a key, I shouldn’t lie,” he said, per The Globe And units or the second units? Quality of teammates is another important Mail. “(But) hopefully I get a little more ice time and some more factor. So is goaltending, obviously. opportunities offensively.” Still, I think it’s safe to conclude that Tim Schaller and Markus Granlund The Canucks were admittedly further along back then compared to now. have not been good while shorthanded. Schaller has been a massive However, as more and more cap space league-wide is allocated to disappointment overall, and now that Jay Beagle is healthy again and players in their mid-20s, and as long as the team keeps improving and can take faceoffs, I don’t really see the point of giving Granlund (who Vancouver becomes an attractive destination again, there could be some can’t win a faceoff anyway) as much PK time as he continues to receive. bargains to be found in the UFA bin. Four forwards — Eriksson, Beagle, Antoine Roussel and Tyler Motte — seem like the best bets, with Granlund and Bo Horvat getting whatever 7. The Edmonton Oilers’ rebuild (pre-Connor McDavid) has to be one of time’s left. the most fascinating case studies in NHL history. To any aspiring authors out there, I would love to read a book about it. 3. When the Canucks signed Schaller on July 1, I got a text from a writer back in Toronto saying how much Canucks fans were going to like the I’ve even thought up a title: Toxic Culture (Or Maybe Just Bad Centres guy. Apparently, Schaller was a real physical presence in the Leafs- and Bad Defencemen). Bruins series, including this controversial running of Mitch Marner: For the record, I believe in the importance of a strong culture. I’ve worked I don’t know what’s happened to Schaller. Maybe he overachieved last for places with a weak culture and it’s a brutal experience. So I don’t season. Maybe he got paid and lost some motivation. Maybe there’s doubt that the Oilers had a culture problem. What Andrew Ference said some bad luck involved, what with all 26 of his shots failing to find the recently should not be dismissed. Just because we can’t quantify a back of the net. problem doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. What I do know is that Travis Green likes to ask, “What do you bring to That being said, here are the Oilers’ centres from 2006 (after they went the table?” Is it scoring? Is it penalty killing? Is it a physical presence on to the final) to 2015 (before they drafted McDavid): the forecheck? And here are their defencemen from that same time period: And right now, Schaller isn’t bringing anything. They also didn’t have very good goalies! 4. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in town Tuesday, and even though they 8. Look, I’m not trying to make excuses for the Oilers players. Ference haven’t won a Cup with their current core, this is an organization that the was right to be frustrated. The part where he said guys were acting “too Canucks should be trying to emulate at every turn. cool” to practise hard must’ve been infuriating for fans to read. I’m not an To me, the Bolts are a perfect blend of high-end draft talent and Oilers fan and it made me mad. complementary pieces that were developed in the AHL. And it’s those I can’t say I was surprised to read it, though. When a team keeps losing complementary pieces — Yanni Gourde, Anthony Cirelli, Ondrej Palat, and losing, year after year, isn’t it just a natural defence mechanism to Tyler Johnson, Matthieu Joseph, etc. — that allow a team with a stop caring? Why put all your effort into something that’s bound to turn promising core to evolve into a contender. out badly in the end? Way easier on the ol’ ego to act like you don’t care, Now, granted, the Lightning also hit massive home runs by drafting Nikita and way more fun to hit the bars. (After all, if there’s one place a Kucherov and Brayden Point in the second and third rounds, professional athlete can win, it’s the bar.) respectively, thus allowing them to get away with whiffing on a few of Again, it’s not the right attitude. It’s not something that should’ve their first-rounders. happened. But the main reason that the Oilers were bad is that they didn’t have enough good players. And that, if I had to guess, was a key contributor to the toxic culture. 9. I hope somebody in the Canucks organization (possibly the owner?) The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 took the time to read Tyler Dellow’s article on the next generation of data in the NHL. Once puck- and player-tracking is up and running, it’s the teams that are preparing for it now that will be in the best position to capitalize. Writes Dellow: Teams that take advantage of this data will be able to simply hand their coaching staffs dossiers of video, showing what the night’s opponent tends to do and what’s worked from other teams in shutting them down. It will free up the coaching staff to spend less time plowing through video looking for breakouts or whatever and more time worrying about finding solutions to the problems that a given opponent presents. Away from the ice, one of the real challenges of hockey is allocating credit or blame between players. This is particularly true when dealing with players who play with superstars – every partner Nicklas Lidstrom ever had posted great numbers – or players who are playing on particularly good or bad teams. The ability to better isolate what players are contributing away from their linemates will result in much better evaluations of players who are in unusual circumstances. This has the potential to be transformative, both in terms of player evaluation but particularly in terms of how players get paid. An early prediction from me: I suspect that ten years from now, we’ll have concluded that the current NHL salary structure doesn’t make a lot of sense, with the salaries that a lot of players draw being more of a product of their circumstances than anything. I have my doubts that the Canucks will be among the leaders in this area. But they are a big-money franchise. They have no excuse to let others gain a competitive advantage in any area. 10. The rehabilitation of Ben Hutton is a good story, and I’m glad the Canucks didn’t trade him away for pennies on the dollar this past summer. At the same time, I also think, now that his stock has risen, that the Canucks should at least be open to trading him for fair value. Recently, I reached out to Boy Genius (a.k.a Harman Dayal) for some data on Hutton’s passing ability, and what BG wrote back helped confirm a lot of my observations: Going through his entire NHL career, Ben Hutton’s never been a particularly great playmaker. Even during his rookie season when he scored 25 points, his expected point production using Ryan Stimson’s model was bottom 20th percentile of NHL defenders. Those numbers are driven largely by passing data, and throughout his time in Vancouver, Hutton’s never been great at setting his teammates up with passes. I’ve tracked the majority of Canucks’ games this season and Hutton is ahead of only Erik Gudbranson in terms of passes directly leading to shots (otherwise known as primary shot assists). Narrow the picture to just danger primary shot assists and Hutton’s the only defender who hasn’t registered one for the season in my tracking. Both these metrics correlate closely with assists, so it’s not a surprise that the bottom line isn’t there. When examining why, I’d say Hutton’s vision in the offensive zone is really limited. To go along with that, from what I’ve seen he struggles at using deception to open up passing lanes and isn’t particularly accurate win the feeds themselves. Hutton doesn’t walk the line very well, so as a defender it’s easy to tell what his next decision with the puck is going to be. Read more: Andre Burakovsky is an attractive trade candidate for the Canucks, but at what cost? On a good team, I see Hutton as a fifth defenceman — maybe a fourth, as long as his partner is solid. There’s value in that, sure, but his abilities are limited, and I can’t say I view him as a core piece going forward. On the other hand, J.D. Burke makes a solid counterpoint in his mailbag when he writes of a potential Hutton trade: “I’m just not sure it’s in the Canucks’ best interests to run a left side of Juolevi, Hughes and a free agent signing to be determined this summer. If there’s one area of weakness in this year’s UFA pool, it’s left-handed defencemen. The Canucks are going to need someone there next year who can help show the younger players the ropes. Based on the way Hutton trained last summer, and has performed this season, he seems like the perfect guy for the job.” So it’s a good debate. And the best news is that, thanks to Hutton’s hard work, we can actually have it. Enjoy the games, everyone!

1121848 Vancouver Canucks to just to establish how much of their current production is independent. According to Oppenheimer, players will have a high betweenness score if: Andre Burakovsky is an attractive trade candidate for the Canucks, but at The player scores and assists on a lot of goals; what cost? The player scores and assists on many distinct players’ goals;

A player’s teammates rely on the player for their scoring, such that the Dec 18, 2018 teammates’ goals and assists tend to only occur with that player directly By Harman Dayal involved; The player fulfills some combination of the above requirements more than that player’s teammates do. Speed, skill and size are as coveted a combination as it gets in the hockey world and in Andre Burakovsky, the Washington Capitals have a Burakovsky’s had a positive betweenness score for the past three player who possesses all three qualities in spades. seasons at even strength and was actually the team’s leader in 2017-18. But the 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger has failed to put it all together and Notice how someone who’s reliant on playing with talented players to has his name swirling in the rumour mill after sitting out as a healthy produce offence in Tom Wilson ranks low by this score. It doesn’t mean scratch for a third consecutive game. The Vancouver Canucks, for their Wilson’s a bad player, it’s just important to realize he’s a complementary part, have already inquired on his availability per Sportsnet’s Chris piece that doesn’t create offence on his own. Johnston. When examining Burakovsky’s microdata profile, it’s easy to see why he "His name has been out there on the trade market and one of the teams produces with virtually anyone he plays with. that’s inquired about him is the Vancouver Canucks." Elite in transition and a consummate offensive driver Long term, the Canucks need impact scoring on the wings, and with Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson have been catalysts for the Canucks in Burakovsky there are certainly signs of untapped upside. terms of creating offence on the rush. Rest assured that Burakovsky When just looking at the boxcar stats, it’s easy to scoff at Burakovsky’s would fit that bill perfectly if he ever came to Vancouver. production and immediately write him off as a difference maker. Burakovsky is excellent at transitioning the puck up ice — ranking among If the success of the Vegas Golden Knights has taught us anything the league’s best forwards when it comes to possession exits out of the though, it’s that production is often just as much a product of opportunity defensive zone and possession entries into the attacking end. as it is talent. When you couple Burakovsy’s neutral zone performance with his work in A lot of people believe there’s a significant advantage to playing for a the offensive zone, you have a pretty deadly package. It’s a pretty rare contending team like the CapitaIs, but in Burakovsky’s case, it’s actually combination and when you examine players with similar profiles, it’s pushed him down the depth chart. In fact, when you account for ice time, more or less a laundry list of elite offensive players. he’s actually scored points on a per hour basis commensurate with the The list above includes NHL forwards in the 80th percentile or better for 83rd percentile of NHL forwards over the past three seasons — controlled exit %, controlled entry %, shot assists and shot contributions definitively within first line range. between 2016 and 2018. To ensure there were no unfair comparisons, For context, that’s better scoring efficiency than every current Canuck players were exempt from this cohort if they finished in the 90th aside from Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser in that same three-year percentile or higher for every category, or if they were in the 99th range. percentile for multiple stats. This took out the league’s truly elite transition players like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Taylor Hall and Nathan A big reason why the counting stats don’t jump off the page is because MacKinnon, among others. he’s averaged just 13 minutes per game since he entered the league and just 11 and a half this season. Moreover, with Washington’s stacked first Even so, it’s gaudy company for Burakovsky to keep and it makes sense unit, he’s averaged only 1:36 on the man advantage per game since he to see him among these names when you consider the skill evident in his entered the league. game. The other factor to consider, of course, is who a player lines up with on Why is it that these specific microstats matter? Well, creating offence is a the ice. For a prime example of its importance, look no further than lot more effective if a player has control of the puck through the neutral Jonathan Marchessault and his production with various centres in Florida zone — possession entries into the offensive end yield roughly twice as before he arrived in Vegas. many shots and goals per Eric Tulsky’s study. Marchessault scored at a prolific first-line rate when paired with On the exit front, Burakovsky would be a huge addition for a team that Aleksander Barkov or Vincent Trocheck, had mediocre results with a struggles to break the puck out of the defensive zone. Earlier this decent third-line centre in Nick Bjugstad and simply couldn’t score with season, I broke down why the forwards deserve their fair share of blame Colton Sceviour. for the breakout issues. Similarly, when you look at Burakovsky’s decreased scoring both this Burakovsky was the second-highest ranking winger on the Capitals year and last, it’s easy to identify his fit with Lars Eller as a big reason behind T.J. Oshie last season with 9.5 possession exits per hour — a why. rate that would rank behind only Pettersson if one were to juxtapose it into my sample of tracking this season. When the 23-year-old’s played with Nicklas Backstrom, he’s been an excellent scorer with the duo controlling a high ratio of shots, scoring Shot assists, meanwhile, are passes leading to shot attempts. Passing is chances and a whopping 81 per cent of goals. extremely important in improving offence because it creates pre-shot movement that prevents the goaltender from being able to get set. It’s no The Canucks don’t have a centre like Backstrom on their squad, but Elias surprise then that primary shot assists are almost three times better at Pettersson or Bo Horvat sure wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. predicting future primary assists than past assists themselves. In other words, shot assists are a reliable and predictive tool in measuring At the same time, I’m sure you’re wondering how good Burakovsky is on playmaking and with Burakovsky he’s set his teammates up at a his own. How much of his scoring is dependent on playing with elite borderline first-line rate to go along with above average shot attempt players? numbers, too. For starters, it’s interesting to note that in 2016-17 — his career high year Historical comparables for points per game — he did most of his damage alongside the aforementioned Eller. In fact, for his career, Burakovsky has actually Burakovsky’s scored points during 5-on-5 action at a first-line rate since scored at a first-line rate (1.9 points per hour) with the 29-year-old Dane. entering the league and has an underlying profile to support that It isn’t a coincidence that Burakovsky’s offensive slow down with Eller production, but what are the chances he can thrive with a bigger has coincided with a decline in the latter’s overall play. opportunity? A more sophisticated way to look at offensive dependency is by looking It’s tough to say as an outsider, but if there’s one thing that can usually at a model called Betweenness, by Evan Oppenheimer. Betweenness provide a general guideline, it’s historical precedence. To establish this, I essentially tries to measure which players drive offence on their own searched for forwards since 2007-08 like Burakovsky who scored 1.9-2.1 while being least reliant on their linemates to produce. Players at the top points per hour in their first three NHL seasons while averaging just 11- of the list won’t necessarily be the team’s best players — the premise is 12 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time per game. I also ensured that cohort members were at least 19 years old during their rookie season to defence — owning elite numbers in forcing the opposition into dump-ins establish a similar age range. The results that came back were that are far less dangerous than carry-ins. interesting to say the least. Hutton’s raw underlying numbers aren’t particularly great, but a big Jakub Voracek and Blake Wheeler are legitimate stars and David Perron reason for that has been his partnership with Erik Gudbranson. The two has been a consistent top-six scorer. On the other hand, Tyler Kennedy just don’t work well together and you can see that Hutton owns an and Cody Hodgson aren’t in the league anymore while Ryan Spooner is extremely encouraging underlying profile away from Gudbranson, who’s a replacement level forward. proven to be a drag on virtually every Vancouver defender’s play. It’s hard to properly evaluate Hodgson given that he suffered from an Hutton’s also produced great results alongside Chris Tanev in nearly 300 undiagnosed genetic disorder called malignant hyperthermia, but with minutes together since last season — the latter’s numbers drastically Spooner there have been signs of inflated production ever since he broke worse when playing without Hutton. into the league. Ben Hutton with Chris Tanev since 2017-18: The Athletic writer Ryan Stimson has developed an expected primary points model based on passing and shooting data that’s manually Shot share (CF%): 51.3% tracked. The model is a better predictor of future scoring than points and Scoring chance share (SCF%): 51.5% shots. Spooner’s point totals have always been high, including 41 points in 59 games last season despite his expected primary points rate Goal share (GF%): 66.7% suggesting he should be scoring at a bottom-six rate (35th percentile). Sure enough, Spooner’s raw production has fallen off accordingly with Hutton might not drive a drive a pair on his own, but he’s proven that he just five points in 31 games this season. can deliver great results with a competent partner in the top four. At this point, I’m comfortable with saying that he’s a good No. 4 defenceman, I bring this up because as you can see on the left side of the above chart, which is valuable to a Canucks team that lacks bonafide NHL Burakovsky’s been a significantly better offensive driver throughout his defencemen. career — a factor that bodes well for his long-term projection. On the other hand, the Canucks already have a glut of wingers fighting to A more recent template of success can be found in Vegas Golden prove themselves as long-term top-six players in Nikolay Goldobin, Josh Knights’ forward Erik Haula. Leivo, Sven Baertschi and Jake Virtanen. Add Jonathan Dahlen to the mix as well as Antoine Roussel, who is also an option for the top two The 27-year-old exploded for 29 goals and 55 points in 76 games last lines, and the Canucks already have a surplus of middle-six wingers. season after never having hit 35 in a single season in his career. Looking at his 5-on-5 production rate though, Haula was always an efficient even- Burakovsky could certainly wind up being better than that in a bigger role strength scorer with the big difference in Vegas being the fact that he got like Goldobin has, but it’s not a guarantee and isn’t worth it if it comes at more ice time, including power play time he never had in Minnesota. the cost of a No. 4 defenceman on a porous back end. Give a more talented offensive player like Burakovsky a similar increase Having said that, there’s a difference between how outsiders like myself in power play and 5-on-5 ice time and I’m sure his counting stats would evaluate players and how management makes decisions around increase accordingly. preconceived plans that differ. In other words, the Canucks could very well believe Hutton’s not part of their long-term future — a possibility If there’s a concern with Burakovsky however, it’s that his scoring fell last echoed when I spoke with colleague Jason Botchford. year and has taken another step back this season. I don’t think last season was a decline as much as it was a normal regression because if “There’s been fairly widespread speculation for about a year that the you look at some of his underlying numbers from 2016-17, his individual Canucks would look to move Hutton,” said Botchford. points percentage jumps out as abnormally high, which suggests luck aided him. “The team is anxious to reconstruct this defence and that also includes making room for Hughes and Juolevi. They know it has to have a That would make sense as his 2016-17 production on a per hour basis different look.” was among the 95th percentile of forwards, which seems a tad high regardless of how highly I think of Burakovsky. Last year’s regression still “But look at it from their point of view. If Juolevi and Hughes are the left left him comfortably within second-line territory in terms of points per side D on the second and third pair, who is playing the left side on the top hour. duo? Would they trust Hutton there? Possible I guess but unlikely.” This year’s drop off is a little more concerning and while it’s only a 29- If the Canucks plan on moving Hutton at some point anyway, then yes, game sample, he’s seen his shot rates slip for a second consecutive Burakovsky is the type of player that makes sense coming back. season. I’d go as far as to say that it’s exactly the type of return Jim Benning Again, I believe Eller’s underperforming play has something to do with would be looking for given his explicit desire for players with speed, skill this, especially given that Burakovsky’s had no problems producing with and size. The 23-year-old Swede possesses all those attributes and has Backstrom, but the former first-round pick can’t be absolved of all blame the offensive profile of a player just burning for a larger opportunity. either. It’s tough to tell how much of the blame should be apportioned to Only time will tell if that chance will come in Vancouver. Burakovsky himself, particularly when I don’t have access to playmaking and transition numbers for this season, so it’s something Canucks’ management will need to look at. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 Does a trade make sense for the Canucks? It’s rumoured that the Capitals are looking for current roster pieces back for Burakovsky and with left-handed defenceman Christian Djoos out of the lineup indefinitely with an injury, you wonder if Ben Hutton would be the name being discussed as the return piece. A team might be inclined to make this trade if they’re lacking wingers, but not only are the Canucks chock full of middle-six wingers looking for minutes, they’re extremely weak on the back end. I’m also higher on Hutton than most in the market. He won’t drive a pairing on his own, but he’s typically been a valuable transition player and he’s gotten even better with improved fitness. Hutton leads regular Canuck defenders in possession exit efficiency while also standing as the only blueliner with a failed exit ratio below 20 per cent in the games that I’ve tracked. Breaking the puck out of the defensive zone is among the most critical assets for defencemen, especially when you consider that about 24 per cent of all 5-on-5 goals begin with a failed exit attempt. As the work of CanucksArmy’s Darryl Keeping can attest as well, Hutton’s among the league’s best defencemen in terms of neutral zone 1121849 Vancouver Canucks For some reason that Hendrickson goal always seemed worse than the Lidstrom one. Probably because there was something extra demeaning about an extra from the Messier years being the guy to wield the dagger. Back to the Future: Alex Auld and the 2004 playoffs Harry York, Brandon Convery, Steve Washburn, Bert Robertsson, the Messier years truly had some eclectic names come through town. So for Darby Hendrickson to be the guy to put the Canucks away felt like one last cross-check by the bench from Messier. By Wyatt Arndt Now, not only do the Canucks lose that series, they had to sit back and Dec 18, 2018 watch Minnesota score a grand total of one goal against Anaheim. I kid you not, the Wild only managed to score one goal in an entire series

against the Ducks. One of the things I really wanted to do this year was talk to former One. Single. Goal. Canucks about big moments they were a part of. Whether it was an important goal, a huge hit, or something small that stood out in a game, I If only Bertuzzi had been around to warn Minnesota fans about buying knew it would be interesting to get the players perspective on it. tickets for the third round. One such moment in Canucks history was the 2004 playoff series And yes, the Canucks had defensive issues that year. They allowed a against the Calgary Flames. It was a series battled under the shadow of defensively minded, trap-loving Minnesota team to beat them, so god the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore incident, a series that really ended up knows what they would have done against the upgraded form of the Wild being the final hurrah for the West Coast Express era. One player who in the Ducks and Devils. But you still couldn’t help but feel the Canucks was surprisingly in the middle of it all? Young Alexander Auld, a goalie would have done better against Anaheim, even if it was going up against who wasn’t even supposed to play in that series, let alone be the goalie J.S. Giguere playing out of his mind, using various king size mattresses who would face Calgary in Game 7. It was a game that ended in for goalie gear. heartbreak, but there is so much more to that series than just Martin Gelinas’ goal. All of which brings us to 2004. Now 2004 was a year ripe with expectations. The Canucks had blown a 3-1 series lead the year before, Before we get to Auld’s thoughts, we need to set the scene for this but again, this was a WCE era team that was always learning painful playoff series. For fans who weren’t around for 2004, or don’t remember lessons and constantly learning from them. Every year they were getting that series, or who simply blocked it out of their minds to preserve their closer to the Stanley Cup. happiness in life, it’s important to know what the mindset of the city was at that particular time. The Canucks were in the midst of their Except then Todd Bertuzzi punched Steve Moore and altered the powerhouse West Coast Express years. The evolution of the WCE was Canucks course of history forever. in full flight, with every playoff run getting longer and longer. For the city, it felt like this was a natural path of growth, one that would lead itself right With the resulting Bertuzzi suspension, gone was a giant part of their to the doorstep of the Stanley Cup. success. How was the West Coast Express going to roll out if they were missing a wheel? You have to remember, the Bertuzzi incident happened That evolution began in 2001. That year they had a spirited showing in a March 8 and the trade deadline was the very next day. The Canucks, 4-0 sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche. Sure, they didn’t win lucky to still be in a position to trade for players, had to scramble to bring a game, but they took Game 3 to overtime, and I kid you not, that was a in some offence to help replace Bert, which they did in the form of Martin huge accomplishment for a team that was just finally starting to get the Rucinsky and Geoff Sanderson (honourable mention to the Canucks Mark Messier stench off their clothes. Just being in the playoffs that year bringing in Marc Bergevin, too). So there was kind of a sombre mood was enough to keep the fans happy. If you were in the stands for Game heading into the playoffs, because no offence to Rucinsky, but he was no 3, the first playoff game in Vancouver since 1996, you would remember prime Todd Bertuzzi. The city had also just seen itself become the focal Richard Loney singing the anthems. You would remember him patiently point of a huge debate of violence in sports, in which Vancouver was belting out the American anthem. Then you would remember him featured in the starring role. It wasn’t quite the same as the “us against whipping off his coat just before he sang the Canadian anthem to reveal them” 2011 mentality, but there was definitely a unique vibe in the city a Canucks jersey underneath. The roar from the crowd when he took off that year, equal parts defiance, equal parts sadness. his jacket to show that Canucks logo is one of the loudest ever recorded in Rogers Arena history. I tell you all of this history because this is where a young Alex Auld found himself heading into the 2004 playoffs. A team with the weight of the The next season, that evolution continued when they showed gumption world on its shoulders, with an entire city nervously watching. The third- in a series loss against Cup favourite Detroit, losing 4-2 after … “The string goalie who thought he was going to be watching Hedberg and goal.” Cloutier do their thing somehow ended up playing in Games 5, 6 and 7 of a fierce rivalry against the Calgary Flames and nearly 15 years later was Yes, 2002 is mostly remembered for that Lidstrom goal. It’s like American kind enough to reminisce with us about that time in Canucks hockey. Pie after all; sure, the overall experience was fun, but at the end of the day, all you can remember is what Jim did to that poor apple pie. But that What was it like when you first got called up by the Canucks for the series deserves more than just a passing mention in an ultimate NHL playoff run that year? fails compilation, because it really was the first time the West Coast Express era team looked like they might be able to hang with the big For me personally, I was in Manitoba with the Moose to finish the season boys. Against Ray Bourque and the Avalanche, everyone knew so when I was called up to be the third goalie I was just pumped to be off Vancouver stood no chance in the face of “Mission 16W” which to this a bad AHL team and going to the NHL for the playoffs. For me it was just day remains one of the most insufferable sports mission statements of like, “Oh thank god I’m not in Manitoba anymore” because that was a my lifetime. brutal year. That’s the year Sean Pronger writes in his book, the Fedorov/Bieksa fight and Stan Smyl is at his wit’s end … (Fedor) But against Detroit? The Canucks went up 2-0 in the series! Against a Fedorov was so good but didn’t care, Kirill Koltsov was the same way. It team that had Datsyuk, Chelios, Fedorov, Holmstrom, Hull, Robitaille, was just a weird dynamic there. I think for all the guys who got called up, Shanahan, Yzerman, Hasek, and of course who can forget, Jiri Slegr! For you’re just like “thank god, we’re going to the NHL to hang out for a bit.” the Canucks to not only put up a fight, but actually scare Detroit, it felt But it is crazy to go from being the third goalie and having not a care in like the Canucks were one moral victory away from putting it all together. the world to all of a sudden playing in Game 5, 6, 7. Alas, Steve Yzerman on one leg was able to figure the Canucks out, but still, confidence was never higher heading into 2003. So obviously the situation heading into the 2004 playoffs was a unique one, as it’s not often a star player is suspended for the year like that. Did And 2003, looking back, was probably the best chance the Canucks any of the vibe from the city seep into the room at all? What was it like in WCE era teams had at winning the Cup. They came back from a 3-1 the locker room, how did you guys handle the entire Bertuzzi situation? series deficit against St. Louis Blues. They went up 3-1 on the Wild. The series was in the bag and Bertuzzi, ever the gentleman, told Wild fans Having Bert out, I think the players had come to terms with that internally not to buy tickets for Game 6 because the Canucks would be closing out in the room, because it was so far before and the team had done a the series in five. That is just straight up great customer service! decent job of making it seem like we’d replaced some offence, bringing in Sanderson and Rucinsky. Cooke had done a pretty good job filling in. But the Wild won Game 5 7-2. Then they won Game 6 5-1. Then they Obviously he wasn’t Bert, but we still had two scoring lines. I don’t know won Game 7 4-2, with Darby Hendrickson scoring an ugly game-winner if I would have felt the same way as a 10-year vet, I think you look at from the blueline, straight out of the nightmares of evil clowns. We all things differently when you’re an older player. float down here. OK so in Game 3, Dan Cloutier gets hurt and is done for the series. Johan Hedberg, whom Crawford had infamously called “terrible” after a game during the season, probably wasn’t his biggest fan. Were you he kept skating. I remember being on the bench when we scored, it was surprised when you got the nod in Game 5? just chaos on the bench. Everyone’s jumping but then I’m like “there’s time left, I have to get back on the ice. I have to get through!” and I’m Game 3, I was in the press box crushing popcorn, wearing my glasses. trying to get through everyone to get back in net. I don’t even know if I Luckily I had grabbed my contacts right before I left the hotel (laughs). saw Jovo’s reaction in the moment. I’d be curious if any of the guys But yeah, the day before Game 5 I was doing extra work with goalie noticed his reaction. I think when you see the videos later, you can see coach Ian Clark. He kept saying to be ready and that you never know the moment Jovo realizes “OK shoot, I’ve still got how many minutes left when your name might get called. I remember going to bed that night in my penalty?” and sits down. That was the biggest thing for us, survive thinking something was up. I actually didn’t find out until after the morning the penalty kill and then we can go all night. We’re the ones who just won skate the day of the game. Crow told everyone to get off the ice after a game like this, so we can outlast them. skate so that no one was staying out doing extra work. It was really hush- hush. Crow told me privately that I was starting because he believed I OK, we have to talk about. Martin Gelinas. Crusher of dreams. He scores could get the job done. He also told me not to tell anyone … Especially to win the series in overtime, ending your playoff run. my brother, who lives in Calgary. He didn’t want any word leaking to the Flames. I don’t even know that the rest of our team knew outside of the So after the game, your season is over, how do you process it? leadership group until we got back to the rink for game time. It’s like I was I don’t even remember the handshake line that year. It’s very quiet in the some sort of secret weapon or something. I, of course, told my wife, room afterwards. Slowly guys start to leave. What stands out me the parents, and my brother, but swore him to secrecy. most, all of a sudden some guys start shaving. Slowly over time guys go You lose Game 5, but you get the start again in Game 6. What do you in the steam room and just start shaving. It’s such a random thing but it’s remember about that game? part of losing out. I remember thinking after we went up 4-0 that we had the game in the I’d have to imagine that was a crazy scenario to be thrown into at that bag. Then they started to come back. It’s pretty crazy how hard they point in your career, having to try and win out a series like that. pushed since they still had a Game 7 in their back pocket. Shows how I reminded Crow of it the next season, I went for coffee with him and we badly they wanted to avoid going back to Vancouver for Game 7. were talking about it. And he asked me about it and I said well it didn’t Do you remember much about that game? Like do you remember the really surprise me (playing in the series) because he’d done it before. players who scored against you were, did that burn itself into your mind? And he’s like “what do you mean?” And I said, “you did that in Quebec with Jocelyn Thibault.” And he looked at me like he’d forgotten. He’s like Funny, I don’t remember the goal scorers, but I do remember that at least “Did I? You’re right, you’re right!” I feel like then he said something like three of them were five-hole, possibly all of them. Not necessarily bad “And that didn’t work then either!” goals, but tipped point shots and screens etc. When the fourth goal went in I remember the roof came off the Saddledome. It was the most I’d ever Final question: I led with that picture of you with hair in a Canucks jersey, “felt” a goal. The whole ice was shaking, my insides were shaking. It was I believe one of the very few pictures of said hair in existence. You pretty intimidating. Somehow I kept it together. tweeted out that you hate that picture and threatened to withhold this interview because I’d used it. Explain the origins of that picture, sir. What else do you remember about that game? I have the Athletties tonight! I will go over the McJesus vs Elias I remember as the Flames were mounting their comeback that the fans Jesusersson matchup, as well as an interview with @alexjauld about the decided that Auld should have two syllables. “AU-ULD” chants rang 2004 playoff series against the Flames. Also, I found a picture of him in down. My sister the next day was dumbfounded by that, that they added Canucks gear with hair and it freaks me out. syllables in. It wasn’t even intimidating. I remember thinking that in the moment, that it was just kind of silly. One thing they never tell you at your first training camp: “By the way, when you have to be at the rink for 6:30 a.m. for fitness testing on Day 1, Brendan Morrison scores in the third overtime. Cuthbert’s call on it, “the you will also get a headshot taken that will live online forever. So do your silencer” was magical. hair.” That hairdo and the fact I wore glasses had Crow calling me Scott Oake. The call on the winner was great, but my favourite was when Marty Gelinas got a breakaway. “Gelinas, for the series, poke check Auld!” I do remember seeing that play (Morrison OT goal) happen and thinking we had a chance, but then not believing we’d score because Kipper had The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2018 been so good. I think when you look at the shots considering how many minutes I had, I didn’t have a ton, I didn’t even get to 50. I feel like we had way more and it almost seemed like we’d never score. When that play unfolded, I feel like I just stood there with my hands in the air for a couple of seconds and then sprinted down the ice to get into the pile. What I remember the most was just how getting on the plane everyone was just so pumped. Everyone was high fiving. It’s funny, I could have had the exact same game and given up one more goal and been the goat. You played 102 minutes of hockey that night. That’s the longest game I’ve ever been a part of, playing or backing up. It was awesome. Looking back on it now, I had been in the playoffs every year and now there I was, actually playing in them. You just always think there’ll be another opportunity. Game 6 was my first and only NHL playoff win. You never know when it’s your one shot. Who knows what happens if we win that series, not just for the team, but for me personally. Game 7, in Vancouver. Take us through that game. It was a lot tighter game. No one wanted to make a mistake. The last time we were in the playoffs we blew Game 7 at home, so there was probably bigger overtones than I realized because I was young and I wasn’t there all season. When you’re young you probably don’t realize the history and the demons guys are facing. Down 2-1 with under a minute left. It looks like it’s all over. Then a miracle happens. Matt Cooke ties the game up. Cuthbert with another amazing call. Jovo losing his mind in the penalty box. Fans crying in the stands, shaking the glass so hard it looked like it was going to break off in their hands. It was pandemonium. I remember seeing the jersey being thrown and being like “oh my god, I can’t believe someone did that” and the way it all unfolded. Iginla fell … I bet you Nazzy wasn’t expecting to have that much ice. He’s probably coming up thinking he has to make a move and then the seas parted and 1121850 Websites The power play was unplugged after going 3-for-5 in Sunday’s impressive 4-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers, who had also arrived in Vancouver on a hot streak. Sportsnet.ca / Canucks prove they won't be pushed around despite loss “We had a hard time on the power play today,” Canucks defenceman to Lightning Alex Edler said. “I think it’s just a matter of simplifying things. We’ve got to work hard to get possession, whether it’s off a faceoff or an entry, and from that just get pucks to the net and bodies (to the net).” Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet Sportsnet NOW gives you access to over 500 NHL games this season, December 19, 2018, 2:16 AM blackout-free, including , Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the entire 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. VANCOUVER – Criticized earlier this season for not sticking up for one The Canucks’ 8:21 of power-play time included a 58-second five-on-three another physically, the Vancouver Canucks were all-in Tuesday that began at 6:03 of the first period. Soon after killing the two penalties, responding to an injured teammate and did everything they could to push Nikita Kucherov opened the scoring for Tampa at 8:40 on a quick shot back against the Tampa Bay Lightning. from a faceoff after Gudbranson iced the puck. They just weren’t good enough to win the game, which Canucks leader Vancouver agitator Antoine Roussel tried to engage the talented Bo Horvat said would have been the best payback. Kucherov on the ensuring faceoff at centre, and later pounced on five- foot-nine Lightning forward Yanni Gourde, who circled into the Canuck But almost nobody beats the Lightning on the scoreboard these days, as after taking a heavy hit along the side glass. the National Hockey League’s best team is 9-0-1 in its last 10 games and had too much speed and too many scoring chances for the Canucks to Roussel upset the Lightning as much as Martel did the Canucks. handle in a 5-2 loss at Rogers Arena. Tampa led 3-1 when Roussel jumped Gourde 2 ½ minutes before But the Canucks, whose own 6-0-1 streak ended, pushed within a goal in Martel’s head shot on Stecher, who left the game. the third period after punching at the Lightning in the second before a late goal by Steven Stamkos made it 4-2 and was followed by Ondrej Palat’s Chris Tanev’s screened shot leaked through Tampa goalie Andrei empty-netter. Vasilevskiy to bring the Canucks within one goal at 5:46 of the third period. “That’s hockey; we all wear the same jersey,” Canucks defenceman Erik Gudbranson said of the hostility. “We’re together every single day and it’s “It was pretty much directly in my line of vision,” Gudbranson said of good when those situations came that guys got right in there.” Martel’s hit. “It was a tough hit. The response was huge. That was a team sticking together and you need that.” The situation was a hit to the head by Tampa minor-league call-up Danick Martel that injured Canucks defenceman Troy Stecher at 14:26 of “Roussel does what he does in a game and was trying to stir things up a the second period. little bit and then it probably went downhill or uphill — however you want to look at it — from there,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “You are not Referees Dan O’Rourke and Reid Anderson assessed only a minor advocating things either way about the rough stuff. But you want your penalty for interference and when Martel, playing the sixth NHL game of guys sticking up for each other and it looked like two teams sticking up his four-year professional career, emerged from the penalty box, he was for each other.” charged after the whistle by Jake Virtanen. And most of the other Canucks on the ice. Lightning forward Cedric Paquette, who had by then set up one goal and Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 scored another as Tampa built a 3-1 lead, tried to run over Canucks super rookie Elias Pettersson about five minutes later. Paquette was ready to fight the first responder, who happened to be Canucks sniper Brock Boeser. So Vancouver defenceman Ben Hutton peeled away Paquette and dropped him with a straight right. The Canucks’ combativeness came two months after Florida Panthers defenceman Mike Matheson threw Pettersson to the ice behind the play, injuring the then-19-year-old Swede. Canucks players were unsure after that third-period incident how Pettersson had been injured and, encouraged by coach Travis Green to maintain their focus and win the hockey game, did just that on a late goal by Horvat. The fundamental difference Tuesday was everyone saw Martel blindside Stecher with a shoulder, and Paquette take a run at Pettersson. So the response was visceral and immediate. “I knew we’d react like that,” Horvat said. “A lot of guys saw the hit and weren’t happy with it. It’s a bad hit. I thought we did a good job getting in there and letting them know we weren’t happy about it. In the third, it’s different. You want to try to win the hockey game; that’s the best way to kind of give it back to them. We stayed composed and battled but unfortunately came up short. “Enough was done to let them know we weren’t happy about what happened. I think it was a good response there right afterwards. We talked about it between the second and the third that we wanted to come out and win the hockey game. The best way to stick it to them is to go and win the game. Unfortunately, we came up short but I thought it was a great job by us staying composed, and trying to win and doing whatever it took.” The Canucks might have pulled it off had their power play been better than 0-for-6. They failed to make Martel pay on the scoreboard, and couldn’t turn pressure into a goal when Paquette was assessed an extra minor on the Pettersson bombing run. 1121851 Websites Yep, he’s going into the Hall. “It’s incredible, actually, just to even think about it,” Babcock said. “Other things about tonight I thought were positive were [Connor Brown] getting Sportsnet.ca / Takeaways: Leafs dismantle Devils with mechanical three assists and [Tyler Ennis] getting a couple of goals. All those things efficiency for confidence are great for people.” Let’s start a GoFundMe page for Kinkaid, shall we? Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox Poor Keith Kinkaid, the Devils’ starter on a backup’s salary. December 18, 2018, 10:21 PM Here’s an incredible statistic: Cory Schneider’s last regular-season victory occurred on Dec. 27, 2017. The goaltender Lou Lamoriello once gave away the right to draft Bo Horvat for returned to the IR this week The only difference? This time the Maple Leafs not only scored the after going 0-15-3 in his last 18 starts. touchdown but converted the extra point as well. Once considered among the elite, Schneider has a .852 save percentage Hours before puck drop in New Jersey Tuesday, Mike Babcock called the and 4.66 GAA through nine appearances this season. He still has four Devils the “perfect team to be playing here today” as his bunch found years remaining on a contract that carries a $6 million cap hit. itself dealing with a minor bout of adversity. Much like his previous outing against what he described as a “high- Toronto’s special teams had taken a dive, its work ethic had been spotty, octane” Toronto outfit, Kinkaid got blasted again, giving up five in two and the assimilation of William Nylander had been less than seamless as periods, including a backbreaker to Rielly with 0.8 seconds left in the the Leafs entered play having dropped four of their past five. second period. Nothing like drawing an opponent with 10 fewer wins, one you shellacked As solid as the undrafted, goodnatured, emoji-loving Kinkaid has been, 6-1 the last time you met, to get back on track. asking a club to make the playoffs without its $6-million goalie winning a game over a calendar year is simply too much. “We should be biting to get back out there,” John Tavares figured after going 0-fer on the Mothers trip to Florida. Kinkaid is now backed up by Mackenzie Blackwood, a 22-year-old who made his NHL debut in third-period relief and allowed two goals to Tyler Ya think? Ennis. The Maple Leafs put this one to bed early, opening a 3-0 lead in the first Hall is back, but is he enough? No. No, he’s not 13:38 and cruising to a decisive 7-2 victory. Taylor Hall returned to action Tuesday after sitting out two games with a So what if Toronto’s struggling power play is now 1-for-25? The Leafs “nagging” lower-body injury, but the reigning league MVP can’t do it all dominated at even strength, underscoring the gulf between one of the himself. conference’s best teams and one of its worst with a dismantling that was mechanical in its efficiency. “I hate missing games,” Hall told reporters after the morning skate. “Against a team like the Leafs, you’re always excited to play them.” “It’s great that we’re fun to watch. I hear that all the time,” Babcock said. “When I hear that we’re machine-like to watch, I’ll be a happy guy.” Hall set up a Nico Hischier strike in garbage time, but beyond New Jersey’s excellent top line (already 82 points combined), there’s simply Even the coach should crack a smile after this one. not enough talent up front to make a difference. No stranger to having a goal called back due to goaltender interference, “His game has really taken another step,” Tavares said of Hall. “He’s Auston Matthews shoved defenceman Damon Severson in the crease their leader, a guy they look to for production, but also a guy who sets the and pounced on the loose puck to jam home his 17th of the season in the tone. He’s fiery and competitive.” first period. Only the spiraling Flyers rank lower in the Eastern Conference standings Like the rest of us, Matthews admitted he wasn’t quite certain if the goal than New Jersey. Hall stated that the time for moral victories is over, but would hold up once New Jersey challenged, saying he was “thankful” to even one of those eluded the Devils on this night. see the original ruling stand.

In a statement, the league confirmed that Matthews’ contact with Severson “did not by itself impact [Keith] Kinkaid’s ability to make the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 save.” Rule 69.7 states, in part, the goal should be allowed because “in a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.” Tavares scores on the rare all-centre 3-on-1 A day after Kyle Dubas raved that free agent prize John Tavares has exceeded even his new GM’s own high expectations, the superstar registered his eighth multi-point game as a Leaf and his 21st goal, finishing off the ultra-rare 3-on-1 passing play involving three centremen (Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri drew assists). Credit Morgan Rielly for triggering the transition goal by breaking up a Devils rush the other way. “We can’t give them easy offence,” Taylor Hall warned earlier in the day. Um… Tavares has never enjoyed a 40-goal NHL season. Thriving in his initial return to the New York City area, he’s now on pace for 51. “I can’t control everyone’s opinion and what everyone sees,” Tavares told reporters, “but I know how much I gave in my nine years on Long Island, how hard I played, how much I enjoyed playing there, how much I cared.” As Patrick Marleau, now skating on Kadri’s third line, eyes his 16th 20- goal campaign, the dressing-room mentor notched his 544th career goal by driving net-front and converting a Kadri pass. This one tied Marleau with Maurice Richard for 30th on the all-time goals list and made it 3-0 Leafs. 1121852 Websites Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers wasting Talbot's resurgence with clumsy power-play effort

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec December 19, 2018, 1:04 AM

EDMONTON — They’re into Phase 2 of the new coach now in Edmonton. The new-car smell has worn off. So when Ken Hitchcock goes off for two days on the state of officiating around his team, it doesn’t result in three power-play goals like it might have 10 days ago. Instead, Edmonton squandered all five power plays it received in the opening 40 minutes Tuesday against St. Louis, and lost a game 4-1 to a team everyone else is beating. Yes, everything isn’t coming up roses for Hitch and his childhood team anymore, further illustrated by one of the stranger video review goals you’ll see in the third period. That goal, credited to St. Louis winger Patrick Maroon, stood up as the game-winner in a Blues win that marked the second straight loss by Edmonton, both to clubs that sit well below them in the standings. “When they called it a goal, I thought for sure they would call it back. I felt like my pad was pushed in,” said Oilers goalie Cam Talbot. “But, Kyle (Rehman, the referee), give him credit. He thought the puck had crossed the line before my pad was pushed, and gave me an explanation. It just didn’t go our way tonight.” If you know Talbot, you know that video review almost never goes his way. “Not so much,” he admitted, a raw topic for Talbot. “Sometimes those calls don’t go your way, but a lot of times they don’t go my way.” Despite the fact Connor McDavid did not draw a penalty on the night, the Oilers received five power plays to St. Louis’ three. The Blues scored on one of theirs, however, where the Oilers power play was borderline inept. “We lost it on special teams, on the power play,” Hitchcock surmised post-game. “Our problem is that we’re too slow on the flanks. We don’t have enough movement on the flanks and we’ll get that changed. We’re standing still outside the dots and trying to make plays instead of being in attack mode. “It’s a 1-1 hockey game — exactly where you want it at home — and we were the first team to crack. That’s unfortunate.” This is an Oilers club that has embraced its new coach with mostly adrenaline, climbing into a playoff spot while barely having a chance for Hitchcock to install any of his systems in real time on the practice ice. What they’ve learned, they’ve learned in the film room and on the white board. Perhaps that’s why cracks have begun to show, in a 4-2 loss at Vancouver on Sunday and this 4-1 decision at home. So they’ll get a day off on Wednesday, and have two full film and practice days on Thursday and Friday. Then Tampa Bay visits for Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, a late game that could be wildly entertaining heading into the Christmas break. “We finally get a chance to get two full team practices with Hitch, and a day off,” said Milan Lucic. “I think the two practices are more important than the day off. It’ll be good for Hitch, and for all of us as players.” What Talbot needed, however, was a ‘W.’ He’s now 7-10-2 this season, despite having rehabilitated his game after a poor start. He gave his team every chance on Tuesday, but the team just would not respond. “I thought I had a pretty good game,” he said. “You take that one (reviewed goal) out of it, and it’s two (goals) out of 29 (shots). You don’t have a terrible stat line. Instead, you’re three out of 29, and I’m right back where I don’t want to be.” It’s been a tough year for Talbot, who endured a personal nightmare last season. Now he’s playing well — and his team musters just 23 shots and one goal at home. Them’s the breaks. “It’ll star to turn for me at some point, ‘cause I feel like I’m playing pretty good hockey right now.” 1121853 Websites The Maple Leafs are maybe the most dynamic offensive team in the NHL, but that starts with a lot of hoping and praying. They elect to use the stretch pass to exit their zone more than any team in the league and Sportsnet.ca / Identifying each Eastern Canadian NHL team’s biggest they are actually the worst team in the league at completing those weakness passes. Their 12.6 failed stretch passes per 60 minutes are three more than the next worst team in the league: the Detroit Red Wings. This is a big Andrew Berkshire reason why the Leafs spend a bit more time in their own zone than you would expect of a team with that much offensive talent. December 18, 2018, 11:17 AM The Leafs do win more than their fair share of contested pucks in the neutral zone and have the seventh-best puck battle win rate there in the NHL. But the problem is puck battles are infrequent in the neutral zone Approaching the mid-point of the season, we identified the biggest and possession is far more often gained by a player simply getting to the weaknesses for each of Canada’s Western Conference teams that they puck first. So as a result, though their neutral zone puck battle stats are could possibly address via trade. strong, Toronto overall recovers less than 50 per cent of loose pucks in Shifting over to Eastern Canada, we’ve got an expected contender, a this zone despite being great battlers. surprisingly strong playoff bubble team, and Ottawa. Here are each of Aside from simply losing the puck and seeing teams come right back at their weaknesses: them on the counterattack, the Leafs also lead the NHL in 5-on-5 icings OTTAWA SENATORS with 6.53 per 60 minutes. That’s a hair over six and a half extra defensive zone faceoffs per 60, meaning Toronto’s 51.8 per cent faceoff winning The Senators are barely below .500, and a big reason for that is Craig percentage is put to the test on plays that don’t need to exist. Anderson. His .907 save percentage looks about league average this year, but he’s faced absurdly tough shots all season long. My guess on why the Leafs employ this strategy is that they see the benefit of a completed stretch pass getting to their talented forwards as In picking out a weakness for Ottawa, there were loads of different stats worth far more than a failed one on the stick of an opponent. They could to choose from, but I thought it made the most sense to keep it simple. be right, too, but I have a feeling this strategy is a big reason why the Surprisingly, the Sens are a pretty good offensive team, they move the Leafs, despite all their talent, continue to tread water in statistics like puck well and have a few high-end scorers who can make things happen Corsi, where they’re rarely ever far above 50 per cent despite the without much help from Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. obvious talent on the team. Where they struggle is defending. They give up by far the most scoring chances in the NHL, and not just at 5-on-5. Making matters worse is the Senators are extremely exploitable in their own zone on passing plays, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 which means Anderson has had to be active in making reaction saves. No team gives up more scoring chances with pre-shot movement than the Senators, and they’re also bottom five in allowing chances off the rush, chances off the forecheck, and high danger chances. All that combines to make it a really tough gig for goalies. The trouble for Ottawa is that I don’t think this is an area they can address with one trade. Part of it is going to be systemic, but a larger part is that the roster, especially the defensive depth, is just awful. Unless you’re a brilliant GM with a bunch of great prospects, that’s not getting solved in one season. Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the country’s most beloved game. MONTREAL CANADIENS The Canadiens are riding high this year after the expectation coming into the season was that they would be amongst the league’s worst teams, with the only saving grace possibly being a return to form from Carey Price. While Price has certainly been better than last season, he hasn’t been great by any stretch, and the Canadiens are firmly within the playoff picture. A big reason for that have been hot starts from new acquisitions Max Domi and Tomas Tatar, but established vets such as Brendan Gallagher, Jeff Petry, Jonathan Drouin, and others have been big boosts as well. In terms of differentials, the Canadiens are a very strong team. With Price rounding into form and Shea Weber finally healthy, things are looking up, but not everything is rosy. The Canadiens’ biggest problem has been an issue that has plagued them for years now: they have a lot of trouble disrupting passes in their own zone and keeping those passes to the outside. Like the Senators, they give up a ton of chances off the cycle, which forces Price to always have to make saves in motion. And while Anderson gets 21 shots from the perimeter to boost his save percentage, Price gets just 17 — the Canadiens limit shots well, just not the right ones. Those factors are a big reason why I’m not buying the whole “Carey Price is done” narrative. He’s got a really tough situation to deal with, and while he hasn’t been great, no goaltender has faced a higher percentage of their shots as back door chances over the past two years. Only so much can be expected from one person, and the Canadiens need to find a way to be better in their own zone if they’re going to make the playoffs. One way to improve the Canadiens’ results quickly would be to get at least one left-handed defenceman who isn’t best suited for the third paid — they haven’t had one of those since Bergevin let Andrei Markov go. Maybe Victor Mete will get there by the end of the season. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 1121854 Websites Wills and analyst Kelly Hrudey did the broadcast seamlessly, leaving Sportsnet Fan 960 colour man Peter Loubardias to do the radio broadcast solo, which he too handled brilliantly. Sportsnet.ca / Takeaways: Flames run out of third-period miracles in So, who do you start in Thursday’s top-gun showdown at the ‘Dome Dallas against the Tampa Bay Lightning? Rittich is (still) red-hot as one of the NHL’s most dependable goalies this Eric Francis | @EricFrancis year and carried the mail admirably for all three games on the Flames’ road trip through Minnesota (W 2-1), St. Louis (W 7-2) and Dallas. December 18, 2018, 11:51 PM Rittich stopped 13 of 14 shots in the first period, beaten only by a redirect into the net by Benn’s skate. All told, he made 26 saves as the Flames best player all night. (The most animated too, as he was seen rubbing The Calgary Flames were due for a clunker. the post as a thanks for one of two close calls off the iron by the Stars.) And on that front, they delivered. He’s played lots of hockey, which is new to him, but has responded well. After going 9-1-1 and winning five of six on the road, the Flames ran out Yet, the coach wants to make sure Mike Smith gets in right away, as he of third period miracles in Dallas, dropping a 2-0 decision to the Stars. was 6-0 in his last six decisions before getting hurt late in his last start and missing one game. The high-powered Flames posed very little threat to break Ben Bishop’s shutout in a game the Flames were outplayed and out-shot 28-24. Smith was on the bench the last two games and needs to get in soon to continue his momentum, but is Thursday the time to get him his first In the Flames’ third road game in four nights, Sean Monahan’s top line game action in more than a week? Peters rewarded his troops for back- wasn’t permitted to enter the zone well or buzz around the Stars’ zone to-back road wins on the weekend with the day off in Dallas Monday, much — it was almost as if Ken Hitchcock still coached Dallas. meaning Smith was denied a chance to get some rust off in practice. The Flames certainly controlled more of the play in the third, a period in The Flames also aren’t practicing Wednesday, making it hard to believe which they’ve outscored opponents by 28 goals this year. they’d stray from Rittich for their first meeting with the NHL’s eastern In a scene eerily similar to the team’s most dramatic comeback last week juggernaut. Perhaps the best way to ease Smith back, following a rest for against Philadelphia, in which a Rasmus Andersson point blast with 68 “general soreness,” is Saturday afternoon at home against St. Louis. seconds left got the Flames within one, an Andersson blast with one The optimal situation is (obviously) that both goalies remain hot, which minute left Tuesday rang off the crossbar. means both have to split the net. Alas, Bishop continued his recent mastery over a team he has long dominated. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 One trend remained for the Flames, which was their month-long string of alternating between high-scoring shootouts one night and tight games the next. Some takeaways from the night: Flames winger Garnet Hathaway may face disciplinary action after he prompted Bishop to leave the game with a possible concussion. Bishop was playing the puck behind his net when Hathaway clipped the unsuspecting netminder as he skated by. One of the principle points of contact made by Hathaway’s shoulder was Bishop’s head, which is what prompted concussion spotters from the league to pull Bishop from the game with six minutes left in the second period. Hathaway was whistled for interference. Bishop came back to start the third, spelling off Anton Khudobin (who stopped three of three shots), which will be taken into account as the league delves into the hit. Already unpopular with the Stars for the hit, Hathaway was jumped by Roman Polak late in the second after a mid-ice collision with Tyler Seguin that seemed accidental. Polak was assessed a roughing penalty for it, which the Flames obviously didn’t capitalize on. We’ll find out Wednesday how the league feels about the hit. James Neal was scratched due to the puck he took in the face late in Saturday’s win. He joined Sam Bennett (upper-body injury suffered Saturday) in the press box, prompting Bill Peters to ice a lineup with seven blue liners, including Dalton Prout. Up front they played one forward short, which mattered little in the third when Peters went to his traditional three lines anyway. With Neal and Bennett out, Austin Czarnik drew the coveted second-line job alongside Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk, but was quiet all night as the free-agent signing is still struggling to find his way in Calgary. Czarnik was on the ice for a Jamie Benn goal and another by Radek Faksa. The lines were put in a blender late, to no avail. Speaking of playing hurt, Sportsnet play-by-play veteran Rick Ball lost his voice and wasn’t able to do the broadcast, prompting a call from the radio bullpen for Derek Wills. 1121855 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' Connor McDavid stays in his lane when asked about officiating

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec December 18, 2018, 3:18 PM

EDMONTON — Patrick Maroon enjoyed a career year on Connor McDavid’s left wing back in 2016-17, scoring 27 goals while watching over the Oilers prodigy when teams tried to mess with him. Tonight, as a member of the visiting St. Louis Blues, it all changes. "Connor’s probably the fastest guy in the league, and sometimes you need to hold or grab him a bit," reasoned Maroon. "When I was over on (the Oilers) end I hated it. Now that I’m against him, if I’m out there against him I’m going to try to hold him." Seriously? "Aw, I won’t be able to catch him anyways." Tonight, referees Kyle Rehman and Garrett Rank might as well bring a broom and dustpan to Rogers Place, as they’ll walk into the mess set out by Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock’s complaints over how opposing teams have been allowed to illegally restrain McDavid. "Connor is a very unique player. You can’t stop him at the puck," Hitchcock said on Monday. "Where you stop him is before he gets involved in the play. That’s the part that bothers me. A lot of what happens is way behind the play." As for McDavid, he stayed right in his lane Tuesday when asked about how he is officiated. "I don’t like to talk about the refs. I never have," McDavid said. "I don’t think anything good is going to come from it. It’s a tough job they have — certainly one I wouldn’t (want) to have." Does he notice what Hitchcock notices? "The games have been tight checking — (a 4-2 loss in) Vancouver especially," he said. "A lot of teams try not to let me build any sort of speed, so they try to get above me." The solution? "Keep skating. Keep working hard." That’s what you get from McDavid when it comes to the referees. He may have learned this lesson the hard way somewhere along his hockey path, but if he did it was long before he came to Edmonton. Here, he has steadfastly avoided critiquing the zebras. "Nothing good is going to come from getting in their face, calling them out or doing all that stuff," he said. "It’s an extremely tough job. The plays happen fast. They’ve got to somehow watch every play that’s going on out there — even away from the puck. "It’s something that I definitely wouldn’t want to have to do. I think they do the best job that they can." That’s the smart thing to say. No argument there. "He just plays," said Hitchcock. "He’s like any other player in the game — he wants his space, and it’s my job to whine and complain. And I’m good at it, so…"

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121856 Websites A good move for a team that has speaking French as a prerequisite to being the head coach. If Ducharme is Julien’s heir apparent, might as well make him a part of the organization and groom him accordingly. Sportsnet.ca / 18 memorable Montreal Canadiens moments from 2018 Also, Ducharme’s a good offensive strategist, as evidenced by the Canadiens being among the top teams in even-strength scoring this season. Eric Engels Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and December 18, 2018, 9:56 AM fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the country’s most beloved game.

14. Canadiens hire Joel Bouchard to coach the Laval Rocket MONTREAL — Let’s be honest: 2018 might go down as the most forgettable year in the 109-year history of the Montreal Canadiens. The announcement of Bouchard’s hiring, which came three weeks after Ducharme was hired, coincided with the firing of Sylvain Lefebvre, who Those early days were particularly gruelling, as the Canadiens were in had failed to bring the team’s AHL affiliate to the playoffs more than once the process of spiralling towards an embarrassing 28th-place finish in the over his six-year tenure. standings. Double win for the Canadiens, who were adding a fierce competitor with By March, injuries had rendered the team virtually unrecognizable, and a very successful track record in Bouchard. Someone who, by all all the losing in months prior had damaged the brand — and affected accounts, has a bright future in the organization. ticket sales — considerably. 13. Canadiens hire Luke Richardson to coach the defence April through August was no picnic for the team’s faithful, either. They first suffered through an unpalatable press conference owner Geoff The July move shored up the Canadiens’ bench and wrapped up a Molson and general manager Marc Bergevin held to close the 2017-18 summer’s worth of significant change in the team’s hockey operations debacle, in which the players — who were held accountable over the department. course of 82 games of mostly losing — were blamed for having a poor attitude while neither executive indicted himself for why things turned out The reviews of Richardson’s performance since the pre-season got as they did. underway have been all positive. And then there was the Max Pacioretty situation, which was a seemingly “When I make a mistake, he just keeps it positive and tells me to move interminable standoff between the Canadiens and their captain that bled on,” said 20-year-old defenceman Noah Juulsen earlier this season. through the summer months. “We’ll watch it later on tape, but during the game he really keeps everyone calm and focused.” But today we’re going to focus on the positive memories. Considering how much bad there was, it was surprisingly easy for us to find 18 good That can’t be a bad thing. things to come out of 2018 for the Canadiens. Moments on and off the 12. The world is introduced to ‘Tatar Guy’ ice that caught our attention, some of which will have a lasting impact on the franchise for years to come. That would be a young Canadiens fan named Derek Toulouse, who stumbled in front of a Hockey Night in Canada camera earlier this season We’ve made our list and checked it twice. and gave us the gift that keeps on giving: Enjoy! True story: Bell Centre announcer Michel Lacroix has since changed the 18. Matthew Peca’s hidden piano talent wows teammates and fans alike way he pronounces Tatar’s last name on goal calls. A professional hockey player finds a piano in a Chicago hotel lobby, sits 11. Paul Byron signs a four-year, $13.6-million extension down, and proceeds to slay a perfect, note-for-note rendition of the How could you not be happy for a guy who was originally claimed off introduction to Outkast’s “Roses”? waivers by the Canadiens? We’re here for this. Byron recorded 20 goals for a second straight season in 2017-18 and 17. Carey Price gets huge ovation for passing Jacques Plante for most played out the string on a bum shoulder. Off-season surgery to fix it was appearances by a Canadiens goaltender supposed to keep him out for the first month of the 2018-19 season, but he rehabbed so aggressively that he was able to start training camp with It was Price’s 557th start with the Canadiens, setting a franchise record no restrictions. towards the end of the worst season of his career. Byron’s reward? A big payday at 29 years old and some well-earned It was a season that saw him booed on several occasions. A season that security with the team that values him so much it later named him an saw him mock-cheered many times, too. assistant captain. That’s why it meant so much to Price, on April 3, when the Canadiens 10. Price passes Roy for second on the all-time Canadiens wins list played a tribute video with Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden congratulating him for reaching the milestone and the fans gave him a massive ovation Posting a 33-save shutout to pass your boyhood idol as you climb up the for passing the legendary Plante. ranks and get within reach of becoming the winningest goaltender in the regular season in Canadiens history? Priceless. We won’t soon forget that scene, nor will we forget Price saying how much he actually needed that support. When Price did this on Oct. 27, it was certainly one of the best moments for the Canadiens in 2018. And it was unquestionably the best moment of 16. Brendan Gallagher hits the 30-goal mark for the first time in his the year for him. career Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, With five games left in the 2017-18 season, Gallagher scored twice to Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown reach — and surpass — the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. It was a nice story. Especially since Gallagher’s two prior campaigns 9. Shea Weber named 30th captain in Canadiens history were marred by horrific hand injuries that left him short of the 20-goal mark in both seasons. It was on Oct. 1 that the Canadiens etched the fabled captain’s ‘C’ on Weber’s jersey, putting him in an elite club with the likes of Maurice “Those 30 goals are well deserved,” said Canadiens coach Claude Julien Richard, Jean Beliveau, Bob Gainey and Saku Koivu among others. on Mar. 26. “It’s an example of what hard work and perseverance and commitment and dedication is all about. He never complains about It was a special moment that left Weber somewhat speechless, as anything. He goes about and does his job. That’s what you expect from Bergevin sat next to him and said the decision was unanimous among your leaders.” the Canadiens’ brass. 15. Canadiens hire Dominique Ducharme as assistant coach 8. Bergevin trades Pacioretty for Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second- round pick It was on April 27 that Bergevin announced the man who had coached Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Championship Considering how untenable it was for the Canadiens to hold on to was joining the Canadiens’ bench. Pacioretty after attempting to trade him and making it clear they wouldn’t renew his contract upon expiry in 2019, Bergevin shocked the hockey Considering how Kotkaniemi has fared in his first season, we’re thinking world with the return he got for his former captain on Sept. 10. it would be hard to find a Canadiens fan who would want Bergevin to go back in time and reverse the decision. It looked like a win for Montreal when an A-level prospect in Suzuki — who was drafted 13th overall in 2017 — and a 2019 second-rounder were recouped from the Vegas Golden Knights for the perennial 30-goal scorer who was a year away from unrestricted free agency. Now it looks Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 like a slam-dunk win with Tatar on pace to shatter his previous career highs and out-producing Pacioretty in every category while Vegas still pays some of his salary. 7. The Canadiens pull out a thrilling 6-4 win over the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre After a year’s worth of mostly terrible games at the Bell Centre, the Canadiens exploded in the third period to come back from down 4-3 and beat the reigning Stanley Cup Champions on Nov. 1 of this season. It was a back-and-forth, hard-hitting affair that featured four lead changes, some miraculous saves and some beautiful goals. It was arguably one of the most exciting games ever played at the Bell Centre. 6. Jesperi Kotkaniemi scores his first goal as a Montreal Canadien It was in that wild win for the Canadiens over Washington that Kotkaniemi became the youngest player in the NHL to score a goal this season. The first of his career got the Canadiens on the board. It was a rising wrister from the left faceoff circle. A goal Kotkaniemi — and his fans — will likely remember forever. 5. The Canadiens move up a spot at the 2018 Draft Lottery The odds were that after finishing 28th the Canadiens would be picking fourth overall at the June Draft. But when the lottery balls fell into place on April 28, the Canadiens moved up to third, which was essentially the best thing that happened to them between September and May of last season. 4. Kotkaniemi officially makes the roster We’d have never thought it possible after watching him stumble through his first appearance in a Canadiens uniform, when he looked completely lost in a rookie game against the Ottawa Senators. But with each passing day after that, Kotkaniemi showed he could handle playing in the NHL as early as this season. And on Sept. 29, the Canadiens made it official they were keeping him. 3. The Canadiens trade Alex Galchenyuk to the Arizona Coyotes for Max Domi The fans were apoplectic about this deal on June 15, with their Canadiens moving a former 30-goal scorer for a player who’d had only 36 goals over his career. Little did they know this would be one of the best things that would happen to their team over 2018, with Domi moving to centre and recording more than a point per game over the first 30 of the 2018-19 season. We didn’t predict Domi would be that good, but we had an inkling this trade might work out far better for the Canadiens than people expected. The 23-year-old has been Montreal’s best player through the final three months of 2018. 2. Weber returns after 345-day absence Off-season knee surgery, which followed a radical ankle procedure, was supposed to keep Weber on the sidelines until at least mid-December. There was a chance the newly minted captain, who was officially shut down in December of 2017, wouldn’t play a game in 2018. Instead he returned on Nov. 27 to rousing ovations at the Bell Centre, and he played over 25 minutes in what ended up being a 2–1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes that night. His presence made a considerable difference, however, with the Canadiens registering a season-high 93 shot attempts in the game. 1. The Canadiens take Kotkaniemi third overall at the NHL Draft They caught some people by surprise picking Kotkaniemi as high as they did (check the reaction of the Canadiens fan at 1:40 of the video below): We’re not sure why. Throughout Bergevin’s six-year tenure as GM, he spoke ad nauseam about not being able to trade for or sign an impact centreman. How anyone could think he was going to pass on taking the consensus best centre available at the 2018 Draft is a mystery to us. 1121857 Websites If you watched our Sunday night Hometown Hockey broadcast you may have caught our story on Brandon Tanev who took a path to the NHL like no other. Sportsnet.ca / Is Jets sniper Patrik Laine becoming a setup man? 'I hope Tanev’s skill was evident from a young age, but it all came crashing not' down in his teenage years when the players around him began to sprout and Tanev didn’t. By the age of 15, Tanev was less than five-feet tall resulting in him being cut from his triple-A team. Sean Reynolds Crushed, Tanev quit the pursuit of his hockey dreams and instead played December 18, 2018, 2:22 PM shinny with his friends and a little bit of high school hockey. Suddenly at the age of 18, Tanev had a growth spurt, shooting up to his current height of six-feet. To be the best you gotta beat the best and Winnipeg did just that this past weekend. The Jets rode the Lightning and came out on top, putting At 19, Tanev attempted a walk-on at the Junior A level and made the cut. an end to Tampa Bay’s eight-game winning streak with a thrilling 5-4 He played 46 games that year with the Markham Waxers of the OJHL overtime victory that sent the crowd into hysterics. and 58 games the following year with the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL. That earned him a ticket to Providence College and a four-year journey The teams traded chances back and forth all night, combining for a total that ended in the Friars’ first-ever national championship and an offer of 89 shots. It was the kind of pressure the vast majority of NHL teams from the Winnipeg Jets. would wilt under, speaking to the resiliency of both squads. It also made for one of the best hockey games Jets fans have seen since the NHL Nice to see that hustle paying off for Tanev, whose relentlessly direct returned to Winnipeg. style has him sitting fifth on the Jets in goal scoring. At one time Winnipeg hockey fans dreamed of watching NHL-level hockey back in their own building, but Sunday’s game was at another level. Having grown up going to Jets games in the old arena, I’m familiar Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 with a city whose legends amount to first round playoff losses or championships in less-respected leagues. We are in uncharted territory here as no team from this city has maintained a level of excellence this high for this long at the NHL level. Assist: Laine’s dirty word Mark Scheifele’s dominance is rightfully commanding a lot of the attention these days, so it comes as a bit of a surprise for some when they realize Patrik Laine is on a five-game point streak. The big Finn is on a rare stretch that’s seen him put up more assists than goals. When I asked him about the apples he’s collecting and if the goal-scoring success of his teammates is turning him into an assist man, he responded with classic Laine humour. “Nope. I hope not,” he said. “I’m going to take a few assists every once in a while, but I don’t want them too often.” Laine’s joking of course, but in a way he’s not. It’s clear in practice and games Laine has a shoot-first mentality. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. What’s surprising is he doesn’t get more assists based solely on rebounds. Part of that would be the confidence he has in his accuracy. Shot graphs I’ve seen make it clear: Laine shoots for the inside of the posts whereas other scorers get pucks through goaltenders and into the meatier part of the net with more frequency. So when Laine’s shot is off it’s often more likely to miss the net than hit the goalie. Secondary scoring surge Lost behind the common heroics of the Scheifeles, Wheelers and Laines are some pretty stellar performances by the Jets’ supporting cast. Having a lot of depth is one thing, but having so many of those players at the top of their game is not so easily done. The Jets are making it look simple. It starts on special teams where the Jets’ secondary unit has five power play goals in its past five games. Mathieu Perreault is responsible for three of those — he has goals in four straight games and points in five straight. Josh Morrissey is also on a tear. Give him eight points over his past five games. Morrissey’s been outdone over that stretch by fellow defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, who has nine points over his past five games. That surge has him operating a hair under a point-per-game pace at the ripe age of 33. When the league slowly turned smaller and faster and bigger players couldn’t keep up, a lot of people believed Byfuglien would be one of the casualties. Instead he’s thrived. In a league with shrinking players Byfuglien’s size advantage only grows, but it wouldn’t work without his skating ability. Head coach Paul Maurice marvels at the big man’s agility and endurance. Since Maurice took over behind the bench in 2014, he says Byfuglien has come to training camp in better shape than the previous season every single time. For those searching for the fountain of youth, the legends say it’s to be found right here in Winnipeg. You’ll just have to go through Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler to get to it. 1121858 Websites The Maple Leafs are maybe the most dynamic offensive team in the NHL, but that starts with a lot of hoping and praying. They elect to use the stretch pass to exit their zone more than any team in the league and Sportsnet.ca / Identifying each Eastern Canadian NHL team’s biggest they are actually the worst team in the league at completing those weakness passes. Their 12.6 failed stretch passes per 60 minutes are three more than the next worst team in the league: the Detroit Red Wings. This is a big Andrew Berkshire reason why the Leafs spend a bit more time in their own zone than you would expect of a team with that much offensive talent. December 18, 2018, 11:17 AM The Leafs do win more than their fair share of contested pucks in the neutral zone and have the seventh-best puck battle win rate there in the NHL. But the problem is puck battles are infrequent in the neutral zone Approaching the mid-point of the season, we identified the biggest and possession is far more often gained by a player simply getting to the weaknesses for each of Canada’s Western Conference teams that they puck first. So as a result, though their neutral zone puck battle stats are could possibly address via trade. strong, Toronto overall recovers less than 50 per cent of loose pucks in Shifting over to Eastern Canada, we’ve got an expected contender, a this zone despite being great battlers. surprisingly strong playoff bubble team, and Ottawa. Here are each of Aside from simply losing the puck and seeing teams come right back at their weaknesses: them on the counterattack, the Leafs also lead the NHL in 5-on-5 icings OTTAWA SENATORS with 6.53 per 60 minutes. That’s a hair over six and a half extra defensive zone faceoffs per 60, meaning Toronto’s 51.8 per cent faceoff winning The Senators are barely below .500, and a big reason for that is Craig percentage is put to the test on plays that don’t need to exist. Anderson. His .907 save percentage looks about league average this year, but he’s faced absurdly tough shots all season long. My guess on why the Leafs employ this strategy is that they see the benefit of a completed stretch pass getting to their talented forwards as In picking out a weakness for Ottawa, there were loads of different stats worth far more than a failed one on the stick of an opponent. They could to choose from, but I thought it made the most sense to keep it simple. be right, too, but I have a feeling this strategy is a big reason why the Surprisingly, the Sens are a pretty good offensive team, they move the Leafs, despite all their talent, continue to tread water in statistics like puck well and have a few high-end scorers who can make things happen Corsi, where they’re rarely ever far above 50 per cent despite the without much help from Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. obvious talent on the team. Where they struggle is defending. They give up by far the most scoring chances in the NHL, and not just at 5-on-5. Making matters worse is the Senators are extremely exploitable in their own zone on passing plays, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2018 which means Anderson has had to be active in making reaction saves. No team gives up more scoring chances with pre-shot movement than the Senators, and they’re also bottom five in allowing chances off the rush, chances off the forecheck, and high danger chances. All that combines to make it a really tough gig for goalies. The trouble for Ottawa is that I don’t think this is an area they can address with one trade. Part of it is going to be systemic, but a larger part is that the roster, especially the defensive depth, is just awful. Unless you’re a brilliant GM with a bunch of great prospects, that’s not getting solved in one season. Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the country’s most beloved game. MONTREAL CANADIENS The Canadiens are riding high this year after the expectation coming into the season was that they would be amongst the league’s worst teams, with the only saving grace possibly being a return to form from Carey Price. While Price has certainly been better than last season, he hasn’t been great by any stretch, and the Canadiens are firmly within the playoff picture. A big reason for that have been hot starts from new acquisitions Max Domi and Tomas Tatar, but established vets such as Brendan Gallagher, Jeff Petry, Jonathan Drouin, and others have been big boosts as well. In terms of differentials, the Canadiens are a very strong team. With Price rounding into form and Shea Weber finally healthy, things are looking up, but not everything is rosy. The Canadiens’ biggest problem has been an issue that has plagued them for years now: they have a lot of trouble disrupting passes in their own zone and keeping those passes to the outside. Like the Senators, they give up a ton of chances off the cycle, which forces Price to always have to make saves in motion. And while Anderson gets 21 shots from the perimeter to boost his save percentage, Price gets just 17 — the Canadiens limit shots well, just not the right ones. Those factors are a big reason why I’m not buying the whole “Carey Price is done” narrative. He’s got a really tough situation to deal with, and while he hasn’t been great, no goaltender has faced a higher percentage of their shots as back door chances over the past two years. Only so much can be expected from one person, and the Canadiens need to find a way to be better in their own zone if they’re going to make the playoffs. One way to improve the Canadiens’ results quickly would be to get at least one left-handed defenceman who isn’t best suited for the third paid — they haven’t had one of those since Bergevin let Andrei Markov go. Maybe Victor Mete will get there by the end of the season. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 1121859 Websites Head coach Tim Hunter says the staff will re-evaluate the goalies after the second game before deciding how to approach the final pre- tournament test on Sunday against Finland. TSN.CA / Vilardi out, Lafreniere in as Canada prepares for Swiss Last season, Evan Bouchard became the first defenceman to ever lead the storied franchise in scoring. He lit up the OHL to the tune of 25 goals and 87 points before getting picked 10th overall by the Mark Masters Oilers in June’s NHL draft. Needless to say, his shot is a big weapon. In fact, it’s so good it already has its own nickname.

When Bouchard scored his first NHL goal with Edmonton in October, Team Canada hoped that Gabriel Vilardi could play a big role at the fellow Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod sent a congratulatory tweet with the World Juniors even though the Kingston right winger had suited up in just hashtag, #BouchBomb and some fans followed suit in various social four games this season. And things looked promising on Sunday when media posts. So, where’d the name originate? Vilardi, who sat out the selection camp scrimmages, skated on a line with Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Nick Suzuki at practice. But Vilardi missed “I don’t know,” Bouchard said with a sheepish smile. "I guess it started Monday's skate to get evaluated off-site and on Tuesday Hockey Canada when I was in Edmonton and (McLeod’s) never going to let me hear the announced that the Los Angeles Kings first-round pick in 2017 will be end of it." unavailable for the tournament. Even his new World Junior teammates have joined in on the fun. Vilardi has been plagued by a nagging back injury, which has sidelined him for most of the last two seasons. He had recently returned to game "Some of the guys were getting on me a little bit," Bouchard action in an AHL conditioning stint with the Ontario Reign when the issue acknowledged. flared up again. Hockey players tend to be pretty modest and Bouchard didn’t seem sure "We were working hard with Gabe, getting medical assessments, seeing what to make of the moniker. where he was going to be at and unfortunately the timelines don't match "A lot of people say it," noted Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward for the World Juniors," said Shawn Bullock, Hockey Canada's director of Morgan Frost. "I don’t know if he likes it or not. If I had a nickname for my men's national teams. "Coming in, we knew what a quality player and shot that was 'The Bomb' I’d probably be pretty happy." person Gabe was and we were optimistic we'd have him back in time, but the timelines didn't work out." So, what exactly makes Bouchard's shot so worthy of such a description? Due to the uncertainty surrounding Vilardi, Team Canada kept an extra Frost laughs. forward beyond the final selection camp scrimmage on Friday. Rimouski's Alexis Lafrenière was told he would be released if everyone "It's pretty hard," he says. "That’s definitely a given. He gets it through was healthy enough to play. Now the 17-year-old is poised to become like all the time, it’s pretty crazy. It’s definitely a weapon and a lot of times the ninth-youngest player to ever suit up for Canada at the World Juniors. penalty killers are probably not going to want to block that so it’s nice to have the #BouchBomb on our side for sure." "Laffy's been with us the whole time for a reason," Bullock said. "We knew this situation could arise. We made sure we had Laffy here and Nick Suzuki has felt the pain of a Bouchard shot and lived to talk about it. being a part of all the team activities and on the ice with the guys and "I've blocked a couple," said the centre. "Luckily I got being ready to jump in if called upon." them right in the shin pad, but they still stung." Lafrenière is set to become the first 17-year-old to play for Canada since Suzuki’s teammate Kevin Hancock wasn’t so lucky as a #BouchBomb Connor McDavid. The only players to make our national junior team at a broke his hand in a game on Nov. 24, 2017. younger age were: Jay Bouwmeester, Sidney Crosby, Jason Spezza, Eric Lindros, McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Paul Kariya and Mike Ricci. What makes Bouchard’s shot so effective is even if you want to block it, it’s not easy to get in the way. Is Lafreniere ready for the pressures of playing on the World Juniors stage? "When I’m on the PK against him in junior, it’s almost like you’re just waiting for him to shoot and he waits an extra second and gets it through How big of a blow is the loss of Gabriel Vilardi for Team Canada? Is 17- you," Suzuki said. "He’s got a ton of patience back there. He seems kind year-old Alexis Lafreniere ready for the pressures of playing on the World of casual back there, but he always knows what he’s going to do." Juniors stage? The TSN Hockey panel weighs in. That's one of the reasons why Hunter has Bouchard quarterbacking Anderson-Dolan was also an injury concern when Canada's camp Canada's top power play unit. opened, but the Kings prospect has practiced the last three days with contact and looks likely to play on Wednesday. It would be his first game "He can bring a guy to him and then make a play and a real good play at since breaking his wrist in a WHL game with Spokane on Oct. 27. that," Hunter noted. "And not a lot of guys have that patience threshold. They like to get somebody five or six feet away from them and then Meanwhile, there's a new health issue that has cropped up in recent days they’re making a play. He can drag a guy right to two or three feet from for Team Canada. Prince Albert's Brett Leason blocked a shot off his him and make a play. And he’s got a real heavy shot. Heavy wrist shot, hand in the third period of Friday's final selection camp scrimmage heavy snap shot and a real heavy slap shot as well.” against the U Sports all-stars and has been unable to go through a full practice since. However, the winger did skate on his own before Bouchard averaged 4.4 shots per game last season in the OHL. This Tuesday's workout. The 19-year-old, who led the WHL in scoring when season he’s been slightly better, averaging 4.5. he left for Canada's camp, is considered day-to-day. "It's just a threat every time from the top of the point," Suzuki marvelled. "We're positive that he's heading in the right direction," said Bullock. "Somehow he can hammer it and still have deadly accuracy." Leason is unlikely to play in Wednesday's pre-tournament game against Part of it, Bouchard theorizes, has to do with his upbringing as the Switzerland. second youngest of four boys in his family. Team Canada dealt another blow with Vilardi being ruled out of WJC “I had three brothers so I guess they were always the hyper ones and I was the calm one so that might be a part to it," he said. Gabriel Vilardi was expected to play a big role for Team Canada at this year's World Juniors. At Sunday's practice he slotted in as the second Of course, that may be simplifying matters a bit. Bouchard has put in the line right winger, but then he missed Monday's workout to see a work and is now reaping the benefits. specialist off site, and on Tuesday the news broke that he would not be ready for the start of the tournament. Mark Masters has more. “I think a big part of it is knowing your ability with the puck and, for me, being poised is a stronger part of my game so I just came to really trust I Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro will start Wednesday while Maple can do it," Bouchard said. Leafs prospect Ian Scott will get the call on Friday against Slovakia. In the second half of last season, Bouchard took his game to another "Definitely excited, but not overthinking it," said DiPietro. "Want to put a level after the reloading Knights traded away some key players and good foot forward for the coach, but it's about applying the systems we've made the defenceman their captain. worked on the last three days. And, for myself, it's about keeping things simple, being on pucks and taking things one puck at a time. It's an "The #BouchBomb has probably been developing over the last few exciting time, but also just another step in the process." years," said Suzuki. "Played against him and with him so I get to see it a lot." "Growing up, I practiced it a lot," Bouchard said, "and I think getting out early (in practice), especially back in London, to make sure it stays above par is important." As for the nickname. "I’m not sure he likes it that much," Suzuki says with a grin, "but hopefully it can translate to something bigger." Indeed, if the #BouchBomb is trending this Christmastime that can only mean good things for Canada. Opponents beware, the #BouchBomb is coming to the World Juniors When Evan Bouchard scored his first NHL goal with Edmonton in October, fellow Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod tweeted his congratulations with the hashtag, #BouchBomb. Many fans used the same hashtag and a nickname was born. And it certainly seems to fit. Last season, Bouchard became the first defenceman to ever lead the London Knights in scoring. He lit up the OHL to the tune of 25 goals and 87 points. Mark Masters has more. Last year at this time, Suzuki was on his way home from Team Canada’s selection camp after being one of the final cuts. "Leaving last year and not being on the team was really tough," the London, Ont. native admits. "I took it as motivation and I really wanted to get back to this point and to now be on the team is really special. It feels really good." Getting cut is tough, but getting traded isn’t easy either, especially when the deal comes on the eve of training camp. Suzuki, who has 43 points in 28 games this season, credits the Canadiens for helping get him on track quickly after he was shipped north from Vegas in that blockbuster deal for Max Pacioretty. "I've really improved on my skating and trying to play with that fast pace," Suzuki said. "That’s something Montreal sent me back with, ‘Keep playing with the high pace in junior,’ and I think that’s translated well in the selection camp and these practices. I feel more prepared this year and I’m ready for the tournament." Suzuki didn’t just make Team Canada this year, he’s expected to play a key role as one of the top two centres. "My expectation for myself is to try and have a big tournament for this team," he said. "I have a lot of versatility and the coaching staff can use me in a lot of situations." Habs pushed Suzuki to push the pace: 'I feel more prepared this year' One year after being a final cut at the selection camp, Nick Suzuki is expected to play a big role for Team Canada at the World Juniors. Traded to the Canadiens on the eve of the season, the Owen Sound centre credits the Canadiens with pointing him in the right direction. Specifically, they told the 19-year-old to get quicker and push the pace with his skating. As a result, Suzuki is confident he can be an impact player in Vancouver.

TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2018 1121860 Websites “It was a good test for us to be ready and a gut check,” said Rielly. “But it’s important we come out ready to play from the start and down the stretch we’re not in that situation. But it was a good response. Moving TSN.CA / Babcock says work will lift Leafs out of slump forward, it’s not something we want to do every night.” When Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas met with media on Monday, he identified Dermott and Igor Ozhiganov as players the Leafs want to Kristen Shilton see more from. “I expect a lot from us, personally,” Dermott said Tuesday. “Even as a third D pair, I think we can really prove ourselves to be impactful. I think TSN Toronto reporter Kristen Shilton checks in daily with news and notes that’s the same as the team – we’re trying to find that best game we can on the Maple Leafs. The New Jersey Devils held a 10:30 a.m. morning play and try to work towards that.” skate at Prudential Center, followed by the Maple Leafs’ optional morning skate. Reaching that point often takes longer than young players would like, but Dermott is willing to be patient. The Maple Leafs have lost four of their past five games, but head coach Mike Babcock thinks he has the answer to pull Toronto out of it. “You just have to trust the process,” Dermott said, repeating a shop-worn phrase of his GM. “Finding that perfect game is part of the process. “To get what you want in life, your work ethic has to come first,” Babcock Finding yourself, finding out how to work well with your D partner, your said after the Leafs’ optional morning skate on Tuesday at Prudential forward companions and stuff like that, it’s just a matter of time.” Center. “It’s great that we’re fun to watch; I hear that all the time. When I hear we’re machine-like to watch, I’ll be a happy guy. The guys who grind William Nylander is in a similar boat. Tuesday will be his sixth game back harder and longer have more fun in the end because they get to do the since signing a contract extension on Dec. 1, and the winger is still winning.” without a goal (but does have two assists). Progress might be slow, but Babcock has encouraged Nylander to be patient with himself. It’s not about just working hard for Babcock. It’s about being able to sustain that commitment for an entire game. “When you’re used to being magic, when you’re used to having pop, you’re used to being able to do things with the puck, you’re used to the “The [difference between] good and great is the ability to keep on digging puck going in for you and it doesn’t, it starts to wear on you,” Babcock in, keep on digging in,” he said. “We didn’t show that [recently]. We have said. “Doesn’t matter who you are. And so you have to take a deep to show that on a nightly basis.” breath and give yourself a break. You have to understand the situation you’re in and move on.” The idea of being “machine-like” is something Babcock has stressed repeatedly to his players, who have made their own determinations about Babcock expects Nylander to continue putting in his best effort and that its meaning. the results will follow. From Tavares’ perspective, those shouldn’t take much time to materialize. “I think it’s just not getting complacent and not getting away from a lot of the small details that bring you success that maybe aren’t always the “You see his poise out there,” Tavares said. “He’s got a really good shot, most enjoyable or the most fun,” said John Tavares. “It’s a lot of and as he starts to feel more comfortable and starts to feel more like commitment and a lot of hard work every day over an 82-game season to himself and get into that rhythm, that will only get better and be more get the results you want.” consistent. It’s still a feeling out process. I think we all knew that. I’m sure he did too. He has a lot of expectations for himself and challenges him to “It’s just finding our best game and realizing the potential of how good we be at a higher level but he’ll be there very soon I’m sure.” can play,” opined Travis Dermott. “And understanding that and working towards being like that every night. That’s a sign of when a really good Taylor Hall has only missed two games for the New Jersey Devils due to team finds its groove, and that’s when stuff gets really exciting.” lower-body soreness, but it was enough to make the NHL’s reigning MVP feel a little blue. Dermott couldn’t say how far away the Leafs are from finding their groove, (“You get close some games, and then you get further away “As a hockey player, when you’re not playing games and you’re away some other games”) but the Leafs appear committed to reaching their from the team, you kind of feel a bit lonely,” Hall said after the Devils’ fullest capabilities. morning skate. “I’ve learned over the years you can’t force it and you can’t rush it, but at the same time you just want to get back and play.” “[Babcock] wants us to be ready, wants us to be consistent, wants us to play well every single night,” said Morgan Rielly. “As players, you want to Hall was forced to leave Devils’ practice last week when something in his do that and you want to be able to be relied upon by your coach and your body didn’t feel right, and from there learned he’d need to be fully teammates, so it’s important we come ready to go.” removed from action. Mike Babcock wants to see his team 'dig in' on a more consistent basis, “[It was] just a little bit of a nagging injury,” Hall said. “You come into the he's heard that they are fun to watch, but he wants to hear that they're rink and you feel a little something, which is not abnormal for hockey 'machine-like' and then he'll be satisfied. The team knows they can't be players, there’s always going to be nicks and bruises, but it’s something complacent and need to ramp up their consistency if they want to excel that got a little bit worse and worse to the point I couldn’t finish a practice. down the stretch. So hopefully tonight goes well, but it felt really good this morning.” Being forced to stage a comeback in the third period is never a good sign It’s not such good news for the Leafs that Hall is back, considering the for a team. But when it happened on Saturday against Florida, where the respect they have for his game. In a down year for the Devils, Hall is on a Leafs rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime, the club found a spark it more than point-per-game pace (31 points in 29 games). hopes to carry over into Tuesday’s tilt. “He’s really taken off in the last few years,” Tavares said. “He’s a guy “There are two ways to look at that [comeback],” said Babcock. “[What’s] who’s their leader and they look to for production and a guy who sets the really positive for us, we had skill when we did it right, when we got on tone for them. Extremely fiery and competitive kind of guy. He’s going to their D, and when we spent time in the o-zone I think it went really well be at his best and I’m sure he’s excited to get back in the lineup.” for us. That said, I think there were some minutes in the game that were missing and that’s not the approach we want to have.” Still, in a stretch where the Leafs have gotten so few desired results, TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2018 battling back to secure even one point was a reminder of what Toronto is capable of when they execute well. “We just seemed to find our legs and some energy, and you just try to build some momentum from that,” said Tavares. “We kind of fed off line after line. Obviously some desperation, trying to get ourselves back and give ourselves a chance to get the win. We did that, but didn’t finish the job in overtime.” The 4-3 decision in Florida’s favour was the Leafs’ second overtime loss in the past five games, and in both instances they had to erase a multi- goal deficit just to reach the extra frame. It may not be ideal, but being in that pressure-packed environment can teach the Leafs valuable lessons. 1121861 Websites “You get caught up in what’s going on, the emotion that’s happening and then the adrenaline kicks in. The hands and concussion were the last thing on my mind,” said Ryan. “You can feel that energy in the building. TSN.CA / Ryan gives his side of surprising fight with Turris It’s a very cool thing to have people excited about something like that. It’s a different part of the game that I don’t do much, so to feel differently about it was fun.” Ian Mendes Senators’ players were seen tapping their sticks against the boards in approval of Ryan after the fight and the buzz from the fight was still being talked about inside the dressing room on Tuesday. A day after dropping the gloves with Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan felt like “Obviously they’re both really good friends of mine,” said Mark tossing a few playful jabs when asked about the fight with his old Borowiecki. “Those are the kind of fights that, regardless of what side of teammate. the fence you sit on fighting-wise, you have to be okay with those ones. It’s an emotional game. It’s a heated game and sometimes it’s going to When asked about television cameras catching the two stars jawing at boil over. It wasn’t staged. It was just two guys going at it.” each other from the penalty box after their second-period fight, Ryan said he and Turris were simply exchanging holiday pleasantries. “It was Christmas greetings. I asked what the kids and wife are doing. He TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2018 asked the same of me,” joked Ryan. “No – it was just continuing the emotion of the fight.” Ottawa fans have seen fights involving a Senators player and an ex- teammate in the past. The Chris Neil-Zdeno Chara tilt from the 2011- 2012 campaign is the one that comes to mind the most in this market. But those two were NHL heavyweights when they squared off, while the Ryan-Turris bout on Monday night featured a pair of skilled forwards who had each fought six times in their respective NHL careers. Naturally, many fans felt like there had to be a backstory to this fight involving off-ice dynamics between the players. The two left a lot of room for interpretation on Monday night when Ryan declined to speak to the media and Turris refused to comment. “It is what it is – and leave it at that,” Turris said when asked about the fight on Monday night. “I’m just not going to talk about it.” On Tuesday, Ryan tried to pour cold water on the theory that his fight with Turris had anything to do with their relationship away from the rink. “I had no issues with [Turris]. You’re not always as close with people you play with all the time. I wouldn’t say we were overly close, but we were cordial that’s for sure,” said Ryan. “Never had any issues, so there’s nothing to read into.” At one point, Ryan was asked if anything was settled between the two ex-teammates on Monday night. “Not for me or him, no. Nothing needed to be settled,” he said flatly. But Ryan did seem a little irked that Turris slashed him across the hands in the moments leading up to the fight. Ryan, who has missed significant time in each of the last five seasons with hand or finger injuries, believes Turris shouldn’t have been so careless around his hands. “I didn’t like the slash. He knows the history, right? He’s been here,” Ryan said. “I felt like he got me right on the finger. So I gave him a whack and he gave me a whack. We just traded back and forth until it became more.” He was then asked by a reporter if he was surprised that Turris would intentionally target his oft-injured fingers if he was well aware about Ryan’s injury history. “No. No it wasn’t a surprise to me at all,” said Ryan. Ryan clarified his remark a few moments later, saying he felt that perhaps Turris was just frustrated that he lost a puck battle with him, which preceded their fight. And the Sens winger did stop short of accusing Turris of purposely targeting his hands by saying this wasn’t akin to seeing a player purposely take out an opponent with a knee-on-knee hit. “It’s a weird situation because hands are like the laughingstock – everybody already makes fun of my hands and fingers already, so I’m really used to it,” says Ryan. “So I don’t really correlate it to a major body part like a knee, but it’s kind of a dumb thing to do.” Ryan, whose most recent fight prior to this one with Turris was a tilt with Kris Russell in March of 2014, said he’d never had the experience of dropping the gloves with an old teammate. “That’s a first for me – but no it wasn’t weird. You kind of forget who it is when you’re in that moment,” he said. Ryan just returned to the Sens lineup last week after missing a week with a concussion. But he said his injury history wasn’t on his mind when he decided to drop the gloves with Turris on Monday night. 1121862 Websites

USA TODAY / NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico to host NHL's Winter Classic and All-Star Game

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Published 3:34 p.m. ET Dec. 17, 2018 | Updated 3:34 p.m. ET Dec. 17, 2018

When NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico was a sixth grader at P.S. 79 in Queens, N.Y., in 1979, he thought his future might include professional hockey. He remembers having an easy time choosing a subject when asked to write a report on what he thought he’d be doing in 25 years. “I knew I wanted to be in TV, and my goal was to be the voice of the New York Rangers,” Tirico said. “I followed the Rangers religiously as a little kid, and I would listen to the non-televised games. I always liked the West Coast trip because I’d stay up to listen to the games against the Kings and Vancouver.” Tirico’s television career followed a different path, but now he has been able to cross hockey broadcasting work off his career to-do list. NBC will announce today that Tirico will be the host of the Winter Classic on New Year's Day (1 p.m.) from Notre Dame Stadium and the All-Star Game in San Jose (8 p.m.) on Jan. 26. The Winter Classic will be between the Bruins and Blackhawks. “This is great for me,” Tirico said. “It’s a great opportunity to be around the sport, and hopefully as my time at NBC goes on, as we continue our great coverage of the league, I will get more opportunities to fit this into my schedule." Tirico, 52, said the Indianapolis 500 is now the only major sporting event he would like to broadcast and hasn't. As the host of NBC’s prime-time Olympic coverage and Football Night in America, Tirico’s presence is synonymous with the network’s major sports coverage. Tirico made his NHL debut last June when he was the host of Games 1 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. “What better place to return to the NHL than Notre Dame Stadium, where Mike was our play-by-play voice for the Fighting Irish during their undefeated run,” said Sam Flood, executive producer and president of production, NBC Sports. NBC announced the Winter Classic for South Bend, Ind., during a Notre Dame football telecast. “The history of Notre Dame will make this a really cool experience,” Tirico said. “I think everyone involved, from the teams to the fans who attend, are going to enjoy being on one of the legendary college campuses and in a stadium that is American sports history.” Tirico is a hockey fan. He lives in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is seen at University of Michigan games and Red Wings games when his schedule permits. "I have a passion for it," Tirico said. "As everyone says, it's still the best in-the-building experience of any of the major sports." When Tirico worked at ESPN, he was known for always using the catchphrase, “Now the night on frozen pond” when introducing highlights on SportsCenter. “It was only catchphrase I ever really had,” Tirico said. “And at that time, everyone had a catchphrase because everyone was in want-to-be-Chris- Berman mode.” As a Michigan resident, Tirico won’t need any briefing about how temperature can impact the Winter Classic. “I’ve spent enough time in South Bend to know how cold it can get there,” Tirico said, chuckling. “And I went to school at Syracuse. One thing I never miss on is being prepared for cold weather.”

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