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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 11/7/2019 1160165 Ondrej Kase struggles to find balance between his 1160199 How a five-person committee shaped the Stars’ Winter fearless style and staying healthy Classic uniforms 1160200 Inside how the Stars and Predators designed their 2020 Winter Classic jerseys 1160166 'Boring' hockey? Arizona Coyotes fire back at Canadian columnist after controversial story Red Wings 1160167 We’re sorry that the Coyotes are too ‘boring’ for you 1160201 brings former 1st rounder Robby Fabbri to in trade 1160202 Detroit Red Wings blasted again, this time by the New 1160168 Tuukka Rask’s awful Tuesday in Montreal still feels like an York Rangers, 5-1 outlier 1160203 'The Russian Five': NBC Sports will show documentary 1160169 A questionable replay marred a fast and physical after Wednesday's Red Wings game showdown between the Bruins and Canadiens 1160204 Game recap: Detroit Red Wings fall to , 1160170 Zdeno Chara enjoys rare nice moment in Montreal 5-1 1160171 Zach Senyshyn could be an NHL player for Bruins yet 1160205 Rangers use big second period to extend Wings' losing 1160172 Bruins still atop NHL Power Rankings in Week 6 skid to 12 of 13 1160173 Chara praises 'very classy' Habs fans' for ovation in his 1160206 Red Wings send de la Rose to Blues for Fabbri 1,500th NHL game 1160207 Red Wings' Dylan McIlrath fired up about return to NHL, 1160174 Tuukka Rask: 'Puck felt like it was a golf ball out there' facing old team during tough outing 1160208 Red Wings acquire Robby Fabbri from Blues for Jacob de 1160175 Claude Julien lauds Canadiens fans for honoring Zdeno la Rose Chara despite ugly history 1160209 Red Wings lose fourth in row, 5-1 to Rangers 1160176 LeBrun: Why the Bruins haven’t missed a beat, plus early 1160210 DeAngelo, Lundqvist lead Rangers to 5-1 win over Red trade rumblings Wings 1160177 As Sabres' Johan Larsson returns to , he 1160211 champions teach Edmonton Oilers a lesson remembers a historic day in the park 1160212 Edmonton Oilers Snapshots: Ryan O'Reilly great 1160178 Non-Swedes on Sabres enjoying excitement of team's acquisition for St. Louis Blues native sons 1160213 Willis: The unlikely goalie performances underpinning the 1160179 How defenseman Henri Jokiharju is proving to be wise Oilers’ hot start acquisition so far 1160214 Wheeler: Analyzing Jesse Puljujarvi’s play in to 1160180 After double hip surgery in April, Sabres prospect Ukko- see what he could offer as an NHLer Pekka Luukkonen is back on the ice 1160215 Lowetide: How far away is Evan Bouchard and what role will he play with the Oilers? Flames 1160181 Peters rips into Flames for poor play: 'Why we'd be where we are at this stage of the year, I don't know' 1160216 A year ago, the Blackhawks fired Joel Quenneville. The 1160182 Game Day: Devils at Flames Panthers have taken full advantage 1160183 Shift by shift: A night in the life of Flames forward 1160217 Kings head to Ottawa seeking to improve upon improving 1160218 Jonathan Quick can’t hide his frustration after latest Kings 1160184 Five observations from the Canes’ 4-1 road loss to the loss Flyers 1160219 4, IOWA 0 – PETERSEN, STRAND, STOTHERS 1160220 NOVEMBER 6: PRACTICE NOTES, HISTORICAL 1160185 At 36, Duncan Keith leads the Blackhawks in ice time by a CONTEXT, PROSPECT TALK, NEWS LINKS wide margin: ‘He looks like he could play the whole 1160221 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: NOVEMBER 6 1160186 Blackhawks’ bad dump-and-chase habit is killing their 1160222 PREVIEW – ONTARIO @ COLORADO, 11/6 offense 1160187 Boeser, Canucks to play Blackhawks in Chicago 1160188 Never a dull moment for Blackhawks on road trip 1160223 Western Conference battle pits San Jose against 1160189 Blackhawks re-assign Dennis Gilbert to Rockford Minnesota 1160190 One year after coaching change, Blackhawks have 1160224 Wild has less to fear on West Coast trip this season regressed under Jeremy Colliton 1160225 Wild-San Jose preview 1160191 Four takeaways: Blackhawks turn in another clunker 1160226 South St. Paul native Alex Stalock helping Wild turn things against Sharks around 1160192 A year ago, the Blackhawks fired Joel Quenneville. The Panthers have taken full advantage 1160193 Off Beat: Group texts, May-December bromances and 1160227 Canadiens Notebook: Jesperi Kotkaniemi hopes to play making friends in an NHL dressing room against Flyers 1160228 Stu Cowan: Gallagher can't avoid shot, but Canadiens dodge a bullet 1160194 What Avalanche must fix to end 5-game skid: “We’re just 1160229 It’s only November, but the Canadiens are starting a looking for a spark” critical stretch of their schedule 1160195 Avalanche make roster moves, will shake up lines in search of an offensive spark 1160196 Some of Blue Jackets' top players off to slow start 1160197 Golden Knights 2, Blue Jackets 1 | 3-2-1 breakdown 1160230 Predators forward Austin Watson's girlfriend opens up 1160260 Mark Madden: The good and bad with the Penguins about addiction, his arrest, mental health 1160261 Penguins announce Pride Night for 2020 1160231 Inside how the Stars and Predators designed their 2020 1160262 Jim Rutherford likes the direction of this Penguins team Winter Classic jerseys 1160263 Yohe: Geno still needs to be Geno for Penguins to thrive 1160232 How Dan Hamhuis copes with having the longest 1160264 Marshall: Why is John Marino so good so early in his drought in the NHL career? 1160265 ‘You can do stupid s—’: Why life on the road can be good for NHL players 1160233 Devils’ Jack Hughes signs endorsement deal with Gatorade 1160234 How Devils’ saw key steps from Jesper Boqvist, Nikita 1160266 San Jose Sharks start to see what they can be Gusev in win over Jets 1160267 Sharks need Timo Meier, rest of young core to get going 1160235 How NJ Devils got 'the monkey off the back' in shootout offensively win against Jets 1160268 How Sharks' Radim Simek made his presence felt in win 1160236 From small towns in Canada to New Jersey, Damon vs. Blackhawks Severson doesn’t let family get too far 1160269 Sharks takeaways: What we learned in San Jose's 4-2 win vs. Blackhawks New York Islanders 1160237 Islanders expect Penguins to be looking for payback after St Louis Blues being swept in playoffs 1160270 Blues trade Fabbri to Detroit, obtain forward Jacob de la Rose New York Rangers 1160271 Blues soar to their sixth win in a row, move to 7-0-1 vs. 1160238 Rangers score 3 in second period to cruise past Red Western foes Wings 1160272 Blues do it in regulation this time, beat Oilers 5-2 1160239 adjusting to new Rangers’ goalie 1160273 Blues trade Fabbri to Detroit for de la Rose schedule 1160274 Blues' penalty kill unit helped bail them out against 1160240 Rangers bounce back by destroying awful Red Wings Canucks 1160241 James Dolan urged to sell stakes in Knicks and Rangers 1160275 Schwartz finishes 3-on-0 to lift Blues over Canucks in OT by investor 1160276 Robby Fabbri hoped for more opportunity, but holds no 1160242 Rangers know how they should have responded to hard feelings after Blues deal him to Detroit Senators wake-up call 1160277 Replacing Tarasenko: An updated look at the Blues’ best 1160243 Postgame analysis: Tony DeAngelo continues offensive line combinations with Vladi out surge in New York Rangers win 1160244 NY Rangers lineup: Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal return; Mika Zibanejad still out 1160278 Why are the Lightning in Sweden? 1160245 Rangers bounce back with solid play at both ends in win 1160279 Lightning employees make the trip to Sweden as fans over Red Wings 1160280 Swedish hockey experience is a different world 1160246 Henrik Lundqvist trying to adjust to making fewer starts 1160247 Rangers bump Ryan Lindgren from lineup, allowing Marc Maple Leafs Staal to return 1160281 Frederik Andersen is more than a goalie – he’s the Maple 1160248 ‘It’s nice when we take care of business like that’: Henrik Leafs’ rock Lundqvist turns back the clock to help Rangers reb 1160282 Mike Babcock’s Maple Leafs aren’t quite sure who they 1160249 How Adam Fox is quietly becoming one of the Rangers’ are after bittersweet 16 most valuable pieces 1160283 Maple Leafs on the bubble scratch and claw for ice-time scraps 1160284 Why Mitch Marner chooses to make a difference in the 1160250 Bagnall: Can Senators break early pattern of historically lives of kids like Kade Foster low attendance? 1160285 Leafs visit veterans at Sunnybrook 1160251 Gameday: Los Angeles Kings at Ottawa Senators 1160286 Leafs sweat who'll get chopped 1160252 PATIENT APPROACH: If at first you don't succeed, try, try 1160287 Leafs - Golden Knights Game Day and try again 1160288 Leafs' Kerfoot hoping to put an end to sin of taking up 1160253 The view from Belleville: Goaltending woes coupled with a residence in the penalty box thin blue line add up to a slow start for B-Sens 1160289 Andersen saving Maple Leafs grief Vancouver Canucks 1160254 Flyers penalty kill (surprise, surprise) is thriving under new 1160297 Canucks' Roussel getting closer to return from knee assistant Mike Yeo surgery 1160255 Flyers rookie Joel Farabee continues to impress in win 1160298 Canucks send Sautner back to Utica over Carolina Hurricanes 1160299 Ed Willes: Canucks pass significant test against bruising 1160256 Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom helping Alain Vigneault Blues make his own 'list' with Flyers 1160300 Canucks closing in on new deals with assistant coaches 1160257 Flyers recall Mikhail Vorobyev, send down German 1160301 How Tyler Myers has exceeded expectations and fit in Rubtsov seamlessly on Vancouver’s top pair 1160258 Matt Niskanen giving Ivan Provorov, Shayne Gostisbehere a 'force' they didn't have last season 1160259 Why Flyers are shuttling back and forth to Allentown to fill fourth line Vegas Golden Knights 1160290 Defenseman Nic Hague hopes to stay in Golden Knights lineup 1160291 The play that shows why the Golden Knights think Nic Hague can be a top-tier NHL defenseman 1160292 The Caps want to play heavy, and others are sharing the weight with Tom Wilson Websites 1160302 The Athletic / By the numbers: How projections can be wrong and why that’s OK 1160303 The Athletic / What it’s really like to grow up the child of a pro hockey player or coach 1160304 The Athletic / Off Beat: Group texts, May-December bromances and making friends in an NHL dressing room 1160305 The Athletic / ‘You can do stupid s—’: Why life on the road can be good for NHL players 1160306 .ca / Loss to Blues shows that Oilers are not deep enough yet 1160307 Sportsnet.ca / Analyzing Taylor Hall's early impact and the Devils' difficult decision 1160308 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rookie Notebook: Jack Hughes heating up for Devils 1160309 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Nate Thompson continues to surprise after working on speed 1160310 Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: What's next in 'complicated' Byfuglien situation? 1160311 TSN.CA / Tavares eager to have Hyman’s ‘consistency’ in lineup 1160312 TSN.CA / missing something on special teams 1160313 TSN.CA / Frank Seravalli identifies heartbeat player for each Canadian NHL team 1160314 USA TODAY / Jets' gets 25-30 stitches to close laceration after errant shot to head Jets 1160293 Jets should make visiting teams as miserable on ice as survey suggests they are off it 1160294 New team, new outlook 1160295 Lots of concern over Little's health 1160296 JETS NOTEBOOK: Little needs 25-30 stitches, spends night in neurological ward after taking puck to head SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1160165 Anaheim Ducks the injuries extended to his shoulder as a torn labrum suffered in January ended Kase’s 2018-19 after just 30 games played.

There isn’t any question about his offensive ability. Over the last three Ondrej Kase struggles to find balance between his fearless style and years — which include Kase’s 20-goal, 38-point breakout year in ’17-18 staying healthy — his 0.58 points per game is third on the Ducks behind Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell. The problem is Kase has played in 32 fewer games than Getzlaf and 55 fewer than Rakell over those three years. By Eric Stephens Could that injury history have spooked Ducks general manager Bob Nov 6, 2019 Murray enough to put him in a potential trade for top-four defenseman Justin Faulk? A vocal part of the fanbase was thrilled when the deal fell

through as Faulk turned down a big contract offer and refused to waive ANAHEIM, Calif. — Can Ondrej Kase play at full throttle and engage in his no-trade clause for Anaheim. But the “If only …” question around the nightly battles as he usually does without opening himself to potential Kase still applies. injury? “He can be a difference maker for us on any night,” said Henrique, whom The ebullient Ducks right wing doesn’t hesitate to offer a confident retort. Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins put back with Kase and Nick Ritchie in what’s been a familiar trio. “Going back a bit, a couple years ago, I came “Yeah. I think I still can do it,” Kase said. “Sure, I was injured a couple in and played with Nicky and him. We seemed to find that chemistry. It times. But it’s in my head. I still want to play the same way.” seemed he was scoring all the time.

Kase, who turns 24 on Friday, does not hesitate on the ice. If it looks like “At any given time, you can put him out there with anybody and he’ll he is in perpetual motion, it’s because he is. Former coach Randy Carlyle create for you. Get that energy and momentum. Whatever you need. He took to commonly referring to Kase as an “Energizer bunny,” and current sees the game well. He’s certainly fun to play with.” Anaheim boss Dallas Eakins has followed suit with that characterization. When it comes to the willingness to be involved in the fray, Kase does How do you keep him out there? And how do you do it without slowing not pause or hold back. the boundless energy and compete level that makes him the effective player he is on many nights? Eakins has the same message for all of his And that may be part of how he winds up in precarious situations where players. Protect yourself and avoid putting yourself in positions that leave injury has resulted. He only knows one way to play. you vulnerable to hits. As well as knowing the line and not taking advantage of a compromised player when being the one delivering the Without fear. hit. “That’s my play,” said Kase, who has worked hard to grasp his It is a tricky one. command of the English language. “I like to be everywhere. Win the pucks and battle everybody. It doesn’t matter who it is. (Zdeno) Chara or “It’s experience,” Eakins said. “And then you got to watch the messaging, somebody else. I just like to win the puck. When I don’t have the puck, I too. You don’t want them bailing out of every play or you’ll never have the want to get it.” puck. It’s a wicked tightrope that you’re trying to walk, and it’s jiggling the whole way. You’re not sure which way you’re going to fall. The Ducks can be a more dangerous team when Kase is on the ice. They should be. When he is in the lineup, he is often a possession “It’s an interesting one. It’s a tough one, right? You don’t want him to hound. That was the case Tuesday night against Minnesota. Natural Stat expose himself and get dinged all the time. And then you certainly don’t Trick had Kase with a 70 percent Corsi-for rating, which included being want him playing on the outside because then he’s not effective.” on the ice for five high-danger scoring chances versus just one against. Hampus Lindholm dealt with concussion issues on a couple occasions And while he had just four shot attempts and one that forced Wild goalie early in his pro career. When it came to learning how to better avoid Alex Stalock to make a save, Kase was involved in his 17:26 of ice time. vulnerable situations, the Ducks defenseman picked up some valuable He found linemate Adam Henrique on the other side of the Minnesota net advice he carries to this day. and would have had an assist had Henrique been able to tuck the puck in behind Stalock instead of clip the post. He got in the ’s line of “It’s something that (Scott) Niedermayer actually told me,” Lindholm said. sight enough to provide an effective screen for Jacob Larsson to put in a “If you pass the puck, always take one stride in the direction where you long-distance wrist shot for his first NHL goal. have your eyes. Because if you pass and you’re looking (down) where you’re passing without turning your head that way, that’s when you get “You can see it right away,” Henrique said. “He’s got energy all over the the straight-on collisions when you’re not ready. And when you’re not ice. He skates so well. He’s hungry on the puck. He does so much stuff ready, your body’s all relaxed and that’s when you get usually real out there well. Creates a lot of space. Creates for us, his linemates. His banged up. That was real good advice that helped me through a lot. energy is contagious. “Take the extra stride. It’s going to save you a lot of trouble in your “It’s big to have him back. I’m sure for him it’s nice to get that first one career.” kind of under his belt. Now we just go from there. … Whatever the combinations are, he’s certainly a huge part of this team and makes us Even in this contact sport, there are those players in the NHL that never deeper.” appear to get hit with full force. Some of it is God-given ability. Being able to skate so well that the opposition can’t catch you square. Anaheim would let a 2-0 lead that was created in just 25 seconds slip into a 4-2 defeat. A perfect 8-0-0 record when holding a lead after two periods And some of it is the small little movements that help one avoid those was ruined. It was just the second time that they failed to gain any points dangerous situations. Lindholm believes Kase can do that. in their nine home games at Honda Center. “He’s a smart player,” Lindholm said. “Anytime he has his eyes, he sees But the Ducks were glad to have Kase on the ice. Keeping him on it has them. The time that he gets dinged — and I know it was the same thing been the winger’s main issue over his four seasons. He was back in with me — any guy that skates and has their head this way (Lindholm action Tuesday after missing the previous five games, the cause being a turns his head to the right), there’s no way he’s going to see what’s bruised jawbone suffered when he was on the wrong end of a center ice coming. It’s impossible. collision with the bigger and very fast Dallas center Roope Hintz. “So, any time you’re skating, be aware of your surroundings. It’s not that It is hits like that he hasn’t been able to avoid, and it brings instant often you actually get caught when you’re looking (one way) and you concern whenever he gets up slowly from one. Some have put him on want to go (the other) away. But if you want to go that way, it doesn’t the shelf. really hurt if you take one (more) stride and then go that way.”

One documented concussion put him out for an extended time during his Kase remains a valuable asset for the Ducks, one worth protecting. first pro season with the AHL’s . Another sidelined him Murray vocalized his relief when announcing last week that his winger for 10 games during 2016-17, his most productive season. A hit and cleared all of the concussion tests the club put him through. The extent of subsequent scuffle involving Kings defenseman Drew Doughty during a damage from the Hintz hit was a swollen joint that connects the jawbone preseason game put him out for the first 18 games of last season. And to his skull. But with all the need for protection, the Ducks also don’t want to quell what’s in his nature. He is a fearless player who relishes being within the action.

“If I play and I’m looking, I’d be there one second late,” Kase said. “I want to be in the battle.”

“Right from day one,” Eakins recalled, thinking back to when he had him in San Diego while coaching the Gulls. “It was interesting too because when he showed up, he couldn’t speak but four words of English. But I go back to it. He just gives everything he has on the ice all the time. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a morning skate or him coming back and starting to skate by himself there a little bit with the extra guys to full-on practice or in games. His energy and his passion for the game is off the charts. And he loves the game so much.

“That’s where you get to the fearlessness and the compete level. I really believe you can move him around on different lines and he will ignite or inspire the line.”

Jakob Silfverberg feels his teammate has been unfortunate and that the injuries aren’t a result of his full-tilt style. But there are times where discretion can be applied. If it doesn’t look like that puck is reachable, it might be better to take the step back or the quick pause and survey the situation than diving right in.

But then Silfverberg caught himself. Again, it’s about not neutralizing what Kase is — a spirit that is boundless and infectious.

“He’s a super energy player that’s always going 110 percent no matter what’s going on,” Silfverberg said. “Sometimes that might catch you in a bad position and you don’t have time to react. But I think, for him, as soon as you start thinking about it you’re toast.

“A player like him, you just got to go with your instincts. More times than not, that’s going to lead you out of trouble. As soon as you stop and start thinking, you’re either going to be waiting, too slow and not get the puck or you’re going to end up getting caught even more so.

“It’s tough. For a player like him, I think he just got to keep playing the way he does and hopefully stay out of trouble that way.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160166 Arizona Coyotes The column also contains several major contradictions. Spector ridicules the Coyotes for inexpensive ticket plans that include admission, a hot dog and a beer — but ignores that he wrote earlier in the piece that the 'Boring' hockey? Arizona Coyotes fire back at Canadian columnist after Coyotes offer "low value for the ticket buyer." controversial story The story also contains a quote from Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse categorizing the game as "not boring," despite a headline that describes the Coyotes' play as "boring." Richard Morin, Arizona Republic "Just a lot of inaccuracies," Cohen said. "We're sick of hearing this stuff. Published 5:24 p.m. MT Nov. 6, 2019 We're not going to sit back and be the lowly Coyotes who are the punching the bag. We're proud of who we are. We don't apologize for

that. We don't feel shame for that." Did the Coyotes just experience their "bunch of jerks" moment? One-timers The Coyotes seem to have adopted a new rally cry after a Canadian --Coyotes defenseman Jordan Oesterle is day-to-day with an upper-body hockey columnist described their playing style as "boring" earlier this injury after taking a hit to the head from Oilers forward Zack Kassian on week. Monday in Edmonton. His status for Thursday's game against the Writing after the Coyotes defeated the Edmonton Oilers by 3-2 in Columbus Blue Jackets is questionable. overtime, Sportsnet's Mark Spector called the Coyotes "low event, low --Center Brad Richardson (upper-body) is also questionable for excitement" in response to the Coyotes' defensive containment of Oilers Thursday. He did not travel with the team on the just-completed road trip forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. through the Canadian province of Alberta. Reached by phone Wednesday, Coyotes President and CEO Ahron --Coyotes minor-league goaltender Erik Kallgren cleared waivers on Cohen cleared the air about how the Coyotes felt about the column. Wednesday and will return to Sweden. His contract has been terminated. "We're not going to get in the business of responding to every negative story or tweet," Cohen said, "but with this you have a misinformed story from a Canadian journalist that doesn't bother to look at all the positivity Arizona Republic LOADED: 11.07.2019 we've built in this Arizona community."

"We take a lot of pride in who we are and what we stand for here in Arizona. I'm proud to be part of the Arizona Coyotes and I know everybody else here is, too."

The situation was reminiscent of last season when Canadian hockey commentator called the Carolina Hurricanes a "bunch of jerks," a moment that resulted in the Hurricanes turning the insult into a marketing campaign and chip on their shoulder amid a run to the playoffs.

The Coyotes, embracing their newly minted playing style, began not-so- subtly began taking jabs at Spector's column on Tuesday through their Twitter account.

After a 4-3 overtime loss to the on Tuesday, Cohen took it a step further by publicly calling out Spector, a prominent figure in Canadian sports media and former president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA), and offering a sardonic invitation to Gila River Arena.

"Back 2 AZ where our hot dogs, beer and boring @ArizonaCoyotes hockey await, all for just $20!" Cohen wrote on Twitter. "Rather than writing lousy articles, I’d invite @SportsnetSpec 2 come visit AZ, but I’m sure he’s busy doing non-boring things in Edmonton...like curling."

Cohen said he wanted to echo how Coyotes fans came to the defense of the organization in wake of the column, adding that the team is curating plans to utilize the "boring" motif.

"When we saw the story," Cohen said, "you're damn right I'm going to say something and defend our players, coaches, team and our entire organization and great fans. We're going to have some fun with it, and maybe we'll even make some t-shirts. That's kind of our thing, so we'll see."

The Coyotes were displeased with several claims made in the story, including the labeling of the Coyotes as a "a perennial low finisher" in the league standings. The story made no mention that the Oilers have a point percentage below .500 in nine of the past 10 years and have made the playoffs just twice in the past 15 seasons.

The "low event, low excitement" claim also fails to hold water when you consider that the Coyotes have scored more goals per game (2.87) than the Oilers (2.81) this season. The Coyotes, who are around league- average or better in most offensive metrics, have also been averaging more shots per game (31.2) than the Oilers (28.4) in 2019-20.

Regardless, Spector continues by taking shots at the Coyotes, calling them the NHL's "welfare state" while mocking their attendance numbers and ownership turnover. 1160167 Arizona Coyotes

We’re sorry that the Coyotes are too ‘boring’ for you

BY HABOOB BLOG

NOVEMBER 5, 2019 AT 11:20 AM

UPDATED: NOVEMBER 5, 2019 AT 3:22 PM

We would like to issue an apology on behalf of the Arizona Coyotes.

You know, that team that’s 9-4-1 and beat the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night with a goal off the rush in overtime. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector explained to us the Coyotes, while they emerged victorious, were too boring.

Even a defenseman on the Oilers thought so. Another one wouldn’t go as far as to call them boring, but I mean, they are boring. Arizona is about middle-of-the-pack in the league in shots per game, but they’re still just not high-flying enough. Just look at them. The Coyotes are averaging more goals per game than Edmonton, but their defense is just so darn obnoxious.

Boring? Calling the Coyotes boring does a disservice to tedium. It’s like calling the Stanley Cup a spittoon.

The Coyotes work hard, which might be entertainment enough when you’re spending $20 for a hockey ticket, a hotdog and a beer in the desert. But at Canadian prices, watching the Coyotes roll through your town and squeeze the excitement out of the game like a bartender squeezing a lemon is, quite plainly, a ripoff.

We’re sorry, Mark.

We’re sorry that the Coyotes had the audacity to clog up the neutral zone and the blue line and play defense. In the future, they should consider playing defense, but, just … I don’t know, just do it differently.

We’re sorry that, as you correctly pointed out, the Coyotes are not only boring now, but they’ve been boring for years. Yes, a recent coach of theirs was Dave Tippett, who now coaches the team who you posit as the victim of allegedly-boring play. But I mean, so what?

The Coyotes don’t get enough attendance or their ownership was too unstable, or something about how they’ve had issues since they left Canada. And they could’ve avoided all that if they weren’t so stingy defensively.

The Coyotes should be more like the Edmonton Oilers, who have been the model franchise the past decade by finishing with a sub-.500 point percentage nine of the last 10 years and getting the first overall draft pick four times since 2010.

As you note, Mark Spector, the Coyotes haven’t had a history of abundant playoff success. They should take after the Oilers, who have been to the playoffs twice in the last 15 seasons.

Both the Oilers and the Coyotes have had good starts to the season, but only one has done so with any honor or integrity.

Mr. Spector, we are sorry. And the Coyotes should be, too.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160168 Boston Bruins Even Rask, who fell from first in the NHL to third in goals-against average (1.88), and first to fourth in save percentage (.936). Quelle horreur.

Did the ghosts of the old Forum play a role? If you want to assign Tuukka Rask’s awful Tuesday in Montreal still feels like an outlier physical powers to such mysticism, know that Rask allowed nine goals in his previous six starts in Montreal (6-0-0), dating to 2015. His trouble with the Habs mostly came early in his career, when he was on the winning By Matt Porter Globe Staff end just four times in 22 regular-season starts overall (4-15-3).

November 6, 2019, 7:22 p.m. If there’s a concern with Boston’s netminding, it’s slight, and it rests mostly with Halak, who has allowed four goals in each of his last three

starts. He wasn’t terrible against Pittsburgh on Monday, giving up all four Tuukka Rask learned a long time ago that life is easier when you own in a second period in which the Bruins forgot to tie their skates, but his your mistakes. Standing in front of a locker stall Tuesday night, he was previous two were a bit leaky — twin .862 save percentages against the as frank and forthright as ever. Rangers and Leafs. Despite this recent sag, the Bruins still rank third in goals-against average (2.33). They have one of the best goalie tandems Sometimes, he explained, the puck looks like a golf ball. You wake up in the game, as evidenced by last month, and last year’s 107-point feeling OK, prepare as you normally would, but once you face your first season and Stanley Cup Final run. (If you want to relitigate Game 7: It shots, it all goes south. wasn’t Rask’s fault; that’s our story, we’re sticking to it.)

The eyes aren’t tracking well enough, the limbs aren’t firing quickly Across the league, teams have allowed five or more goals about 20 enough, and by night’s end, Canadien loyalists are toasting to your percent of the time. In Boston, 6 percent. Once in 15 games. That was misfortune in the bars near the Bell Centre. Tuesday, when Rask spit the bit in Montreal.

So what gives? If he starts in Detroit on Friday, and Red Wings fans leave wondering why the Bruins lured Andre “Red Light” Racicot out of “Hey, if I knew,” Rask shrugged, “it probably would never happen.” retirement and handed him No. 40, then we’ll start to worry. Fair enough. Everyone’s allowed a bad day. But don’t expect it. First of all, the Wings aren’t any good. And believe it Saying that isn’t to absolve him, even though he and Bruins cohort or not, Rask is. Jaroslav Halak had been swatting away beach balls in this 11-2-2 start.

Rask is paid $7 million to suffer the slings and arrows, no matter how outrageous the fortune. The standard is high — championship or bust — Boston Globe LOADED: 11.07.2019 because this town demands it, and he and his cohort have proven it should be.

We’re about 18 percent of the way through the season, and the Bruins have two regulation losses. If the NHL’s video replay system was kinder to them, they might have zero. But officiating angst aside, that game in Montreal was winnable, unless you’re dyed-in-the-wool enough to believe the system is rigged.

Tuukka Rask reacts after allowing a goal against the Canadiens during the second period of Tuesday’s game in Montreal.

The Bruins scored four times. Five, if officials had granted Charlie Coyle possession as he entered the zone on the disallowed third-period goal that would have given the Bruins the same 5-4 lead the Habs celebrated when time ran out.

They just didn’t have the goaltending. Rask’s numbers — five goals on 31 shots — were his worst of the season. He hadn’t allowed more than three all year, and he only did that at Vegas and versus Tampa Bay. The Bruins took three points from those two games.

They left Montreal empty-handed. Victor Mete slipped one short-side from the high slot, though Rask was compromised by Joel Armia cross- checking Torey Krug into him.

“You can’t challenge a non-penalty call,” coach Bruce Cassidy noted.

There was more to pick apart. Tomas Tatar beat Rask from the circle, low glove, on a quick-developing 2-on-1. Paul Byron got him through the five-hole. Those two were on Rask.

He had little chance to stop Mete’s second, which made it 4-3 in the second. Zdeno Chara shoved Nate Thompson into the netminder, which brought no pity from referees Francois St. Laurent and Marc Joannette, two men who won’t be cheered when they work their next game in Boston.

The third-period winner, from above the dot on a shot by defenseman Ben Chiarot, was a backbreaker, simple and plain.

“I saw it,” Rask said. “It hit my glove, and it bounced off my leg. Middle of the net. You know.”

Cassidy did, too. As well as his ace had been playing, he figured one of those nights was coming.

“And it was tonight,” he said. “He wasn’t as sharp. We battled back, so it would have been nice to get that last save. But he’s human. He’s been real good for us. So that’s going to happen to everybody.” 1160169 Boston Bruins ■ It was a tough night for Rask, who entered Tuesday as the league leader in goals-against average (1.49) and save percentage (.949). He allowed four goals on his first 25 shots, his worst performance of an A questionable replay marred a fast and physical showdown between the otherwise sparkling season. Bruins and Canadiens “It’s one of those nights you feel like instead of a hockey puck, it’s a golf ball,” Rask said. “Just not tracking it well. Tough night for me. I thought we battled well. Could have easily won the game. But I couldn’t really By Matt Porter Globe Staff make a save.”

November 5, 2019, 10:15 p.m. ■ The first goal wasn’t Rask’s fault. Running around in their own zone, the Bruins fell down, 1-0, just 1:13 into the game. Mete cleaned up a bad

bounce to the slot, a play that began with a killer cross-zone pass form MONTREAL — The Bruins lost in regulation for the second time this Max Domi, who didn’t get credit for an assist for all the ping-ponging. season. Both setbacks left them sour at the NHL’s video replay system. ■ Pastrnak tied the score at 14:55 of the first by setting up in his left- They dropped a 5-4 decision to the Canadiens at Bell Centre Tuesday circle digs, hammering a Torey Krug feed off a Bergeron faceoff win, and night after believing they escaped a sloppy 40 minutes with a lead, beating Carey Price far side. It took all of five seconds. thanks to a Charlie Coyle goal early in the third period. ■ The Bruins have scored a power-play goal in 11 of 15 games, and The review showed Coyle to be a few snowflakes offside on a zone had the top PP in the league (30.6 percent entering Tuesday). The assist entry. was Krug’s 300th career point.

You could argue, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said, that Coyle had ■ Krug nearly hit that milestone twice in the opening minutes. The possession of the puck as he entered the zone. But that wasn’t his beef. Bruins had a good chance off a Danton Heinen feed to a pinching Krug, the defenseman forcing Price to make a save on a short-range bid. Krug “The rule was put in place specifically for egregious [calls],” Cassidy said. also hit iron several minutes later, after Jake DeBrusk stole the puck at “They’re over there [reviewing] for three minutes. You think, well, what is the Habs’ blue line. the purpose of this rule? Either you find something or you don’t. ■ The Canadiens, however, mashed the pedal through the neutral “Three minutes. So now you’re looking for something for it to be offside. zone, gaining numerous odd-man rushes against a team that allowed You know it’s going to go the other way, and it did. That’s where my beef plenty to Pittsburgh the night before (yes, the legs had to be a bit tired, comes from. Intent of the rule. You always want to get it right, but there playing a rival on the road in the second of a back-to-back). The Bruins was kind of a change this summer, punishing the coaches if they got it were outshot, 13-6, in the first, and the Habs scored three first-period wrong, for this reason. They didn’t want three-minute reviews. goals against them for the first time since Dec. 16, 2010.

“Anyway, it was a big part of the game. Didn’t go our way, so that’s the ■ At 16:45, Tomas Tatar sneaked one past Rask, on a quick-developing way it goes some nights.” two-on-one against Charlie McAvoy. Chara was caught out of position in the neutral zone and Brett Ritchie was making an ill-advised line change. A matter of minutes later, defenseman Ben Chiarot made it 5-4, Rask allowed another one 31 seconds later, Paul Byron slipping one five- Montreal, by powering a shot off Tuukka Rask’s trapper at 9:06 of the hole off the rush. third. ■ Down, 3-1, to start the second, the Bruins killed hooking minors to In a fast, physical affair worthy of a Saturday night showcase, David stars Bergeron and Pastrnak before Clifton made it a 3-2 game with an Pastrnak scored his league-best 15th goal of the season, and the Bruins’ outstanding individual effort. The rookie defenseman, his game quiet of dazzling power play (1 for 2) continued to shine. Connor Clifton and Sean late, stretched high to grab a puck at the blue line. With no play, he made Kuraly scored their first goals of the season, in a game Zdeno Chara was one, stepping up, dangling through traffic, and whipping a wrister over recognized — and given a standing ovation in the unfriendliest of Price at 7:17 of the second. territories — for playing his 1,500th game. “I think this was my best game so far,” Clifton said. “With the puck, After falling behind, 3-1, after the first period, and being outplayed by the without the puck, my feet were going and I was making plays.” speedy Habs for long stretches, Boston (11-2-2) thought it had its first lead of the night at 5:23 of the third, when Coyle jammed home a loose Clifton also stepped into Brendan Gallagher in the opening minutes, puck rookie Zach Senyshyn found. knocking the Habs sniper off his feet and drawing boos from the home crowd. But the Bruins lost another offside challenge when video replay determined that Coyle’s skate blade was millimeters ahead of the puck ■ Ritchie, dogged by poor routes to the puck and that bad change, took on the zone entry. a seat in the second period. Coach Bruce Cassidy opted to double-shift Pastrnak. Ritchie’s lack of awareness is noticeable on a team filled with The Bruins, playing their third game in four nights, made Montreal sweat intelligent players. with Rask out of the net in the final minute. Nate Thompson blocked a Patrice Bergeron chance, and Bergeron missed with another bid. ■ Dangerous (and uncalled) play by Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry, cross-checking the debuting Zach Senyshyn from behind. If Senyshyn Other thoughts and observations: was six inches closer to the boards, he’s in trouble. That was one of ■ The Bruins fell behind by two goals after one period, and had it tied at several chippy moments the officials let go uncalled. 18:13 of the second, but went into the third down a goal. A wild two ■ The Bruins tied it for the third time at 3:03 of the third with a fourth-line minutes at the end of the second saw Anders Bjork chip home a loose goal. Chris Wagner and Kuraly outworked and out-thought Mete, Jeff puck to make it 3-3, but the Bruins give it right back 42 seconds later. Petry, and Joel Armia down low. Kuraly, who only scores important ones, ■ Victor Mete’s second goal of the night, with 1:05 left in the second, stuffed it home while Price was looking the other way. had Rask angry and the Canadiens celebrating a 4-3 lead. Mete found space with his long drive because Rask was tangled with Thompson. The Bruins seemingly did not challenge for goaltender interference because Boston Globe LOADED: 11.07.2019 Chara pushed Thompson into the netminder.

Rask cooled after an official told him that Chara pushed Thompson. He told Cassidy the same. “He’s basically telling me, ‘You’re an idiot if you challenge,’ ” Cassidy said. “It was one of those nights . . . There was a lot of stuff going on at both ends of the end, and none of it really went our way.”

Montreal’s Victor Mete celebrates one of his two goals Tuesday night. 1160170 Boston Bruins

Boston Herald LOADED: 11.07.2019

Zdeno Chara enjoys rare nice moment in Montreal

By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: November 6, 2019 at 3:45 pm | UPDATED: November 6, 2019 at 4:43 PM

You just knew honoring Zdeno Chara in the Bell Centre was going to be a little dicey. And when the announcement of Chara’s 1,500th game came during the second media timeout in Tuesday’s game, it first sounded like the boos were going to rule the day. But soon the applause started to fill in and, when Chara acknowledged the crowd by standing and waving, he got an appreciative roar.

After the game, Chara said the feeling was mutual.

“Obviously that felt really nice. I really appreciated that,” said Chara. “It was very classy and it’s something I will definitely remember.”

It may not have matched the poignancy of the night in 1942, when the Habs and Bruins players came together to carry Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer on their shoulders in that famed line’s final game at the Garden before going off to World War II. But there aren’t many other moments vying for second place in this heated rivalry.

In this current iteration of the rivalry, Chara has been the face of the Bruins to many of the Canadien fans. When he drove former Hab Max Pacioretty into the Bell Centre stanchion back in 2011, he became public enemy No. 1. Many even wanted him to be arrested.

Claude Julien, now in his second term with the Habs, was behind the Bruins’ bench that night and for 10 years, all of which he had Chara in his prime.

“We know he’s strong, we know he’s got long reach, but he’s worked on his quick feet and everything else. You saw him tonight — lots of ice time, still a good player,” said Julien. “But where I think I’ve got to give most of the credit is to our fans. … I remember when I was on the other side with that incident with Pacioretty. I know and I can stand here today on the Montreal side and say there was never intent to injure that player. That’s not his style. It was an unfortunate accident, but he was not a very well-liked player here in Montreal. But the class of our fans to do what they did tonight in giving him not necessarily a standing ovation but clapping and looking at what he’s accomplished in his career just says a lot about our real fans. I was really impressed and glad that they did that. I know him personally and I think what he got from our fans was well- deserved.”

Ottawa-born Bruce Cassidy was a die-hard Bruins fan before he became their coach.

“I thought it was great, classy,” said Cassidy. “This is an , right? They’ve got a lot of classy fans in Montreal. Just because it’s a Bruins-Habs rivalry and I don’t happen to like the Canadiens, it doesn’t mean I dislike their fans. They’re good people and they know hockey. I was glad to see it.”

Clifton engaged

In the B’s 5-4 loss in Montreal, Connor Clifton not only scored his first goal of the season, the third-pair defenseman was much more involved all night, dishing out five hits.

“He was just more engaged,” said Cassidy. “We had a little conversation with Cliffy. I think he’s been fine without the puck, but I don’t think he’s played — we always say it — Cliffy Hockey. He hasn’t gotten involved, being assertive, playing with confidence, and that may be by design. He was trying to find his balance. But for him to be effective, he still has to get those timely hits or don’t be afraid to move your feet and get into space. If teams are going to back off and give you space, take it. That’s what he did.”

After getting benched for much of the second period, Brett Ritchie had a team-low 8:15 in ice time.

“Brett, we’re still learning about three in four nights. We’ll have to address that. Our team is a working team, an energy team and we expect to play well in these games and find our legs. And we did,” said Cassidy. 1160171 Boston Bruins Boston, mostly as a bottom-six player. He proved he could be an asset to a good team, and he’s got the Stanley Cup ring to prove it.

It was only one game, and the B’s will be faced with a roster glut when Zach Senyshyn could be an NHL player for Bruins yet everyone’s healthy (Senyshyn was, for now, sent back to Providence on Wednesday). But Senyshyn showed on Tuesday that he just might be ready to take the next step in his career. By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: November 6, 2019 at 3:30 pm | UPDATED: November 6, 2019 at 6:20 PM Boston Herald LOADED: 11.07.2019

MONTREAL — Zach Senyshyn can never go back in time and justify where he was chosen in the 2015 draft — 15th overall — and he doesn’t have to. That was not his mistake and that’s not his job.

What is his job is to find the niche that will get him to the and keep him there. And in the Bruins’ entertaining but frustrating loss in Montreal on Tuesday, Senyshyn showed the first tangible signs that he just might do that.

In a highly competitive rivalry game, Senyshyn was one of the Bruins’ best players. He fought through checks. His speed drew the penalty that led to the B’s first goal. He was instrumental in keeping the play alive in the offensive zone on Anders Bjork’s goal that tied the game at 3, earning an assist after the fact. And had common sense prevailed, he would have gotten the primary assist on Charlie Coyle’s would-be go- ahead goal that was taken off the board after a lengthy video review determined Coyle’s zone entry was offside.

While his AHL career, going on its third year now, has not been as promising as his junior career, when he scored 87 goals in his last two seasons with the Soo Greyhounds, Senyshyn has not looked out of place in the three NHL games he’s played, especially the one on Tuesday.

The Bjork-Coyle-Senyshyn combination was the one line coach Bruce Cassidy left alone for the night.

“They were our most effective line,” said Cassidy.

When Senyshyn, the third of three first rounders drafted in ’15, was taken after Jakub Zboril and Jake DeBrusk, there were hopes that he would be a game-breaking, top-six wing. He certainly has the speed for it. But it soon became clear that the 6-foot-1, 192-pound Senyshyn had to learn how to deal with the grittier aspects of the pro game.

While he’s had some trouble with consistency in Providence (even this season) and hasn’t exactly lit it up in terms of scoring down there — he’s got 28 goals in 144 AHL games — the organization has thus far been patient with him and he seems to have been patient with the process as he’s learned how to play down in a lineup. In Montreal, he showed that he’s learned a thing or two.

“I try to take it one day at a time and show them what I learned down there,” said Senyshyn, as polite and respectful as the day he was drafted. “The reason I got here was learning those little things in my game and bringing my speed and what I’m naturally good at. I think that’s what I tried to focus on, playing to my strengths and showing them that I’m able to play that complete game.”

Senyshyn is now a filled-out 22-year-old who seems ready to make a push for an NHL spot.

“I have a lot more confidence this year in my offensive abilities and being able to push the play, using my speed and size to make guys cough up pucks on the forecheck and being able to take pucks to the net, use my speed and size,” said Senyshyn. “But I think what I’ve learned over the past couple of years is all the little intangibles in the game, like getting pucks off the wall in the D-zone and making sure I’m using my speed not only on offense but on the track as well and forcing guys to make bad plays.”

Senyshyn got a thumbs-up from his centerman.

“I thought he played well. He was doing the little things, just playing a hard game, simple game,” said Coyle. “That’s what we need and that’s how you stick up here when you get called up like that.”

What or who Zach Senyshyn will be in the NHL remains to be seen. He may never be the impact-type player like Mat Barzal, or Thomas Chabot, the three players taken immediately after him. But there would be no shame in being, say, the next Daniel Paille, taken 20th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2002. Paille eventually found his role in 1160172 Boston Bruins 21. Dallas Stars: It’s actually amazing that group of personnel has struggled to score, especially on the power play, as much as they have.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets: Perhaps not as bad as we may have thought Bruins still atop NHL Power Rankings in Week 6 in the offseason, but the Jackets still haven’t done to prove they’re a playoff contender.

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald 23. Florida Panthers: If only there was a high-priced superstar goalie to cure the 29th best goals against in the league. November 6, 2019 at 6:00 am 24. New York Rangers: There’s too much talent for the Rangers not to level out, but some of their performances have been just brutal.

The top of the NHL has been the same for a couple of weeks now, and 25. San Jose Sharks: It appeared the Sharks had made some strides, the Bruins remain at the top of the league with yet another stellar week to but a bad loss to Ottawa then a brutal showing in Boston shows there is begin November. Throughout the league, some surprises have dropped a long way to go. off, but there’s a couple that might be worthy of our attention. 26. Detroit Red Wings: There’s nothing good about the Red Wings. 1. Boston Bruins: Nothing seems to slow them down, and their past few games have been an absolute clinic. When will they face a challenge? 27. New Jersey Devils: Having a…. Hell of a time (yes this has been used before but there’s not much new to say about the Devils). 2. Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin is playing like Alex Ovechkin, and the entire offense is clicking as much as anyone in the NHL. 28. Chicago Blackhawks: They can’t score or stop anyone, which is a bad combination. 3. Buffalo Sabres: Might this be different than the Sabres flash-in-the-pan 10 wins in a row last season? It’s too early to say, but a 9-2-2 start is still 29. Los Angeles Kings: That they haven’t gotten off to a worse start nothing to sneeze at. allowing four goals per game is a wonder.

4. Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes, as it turns out, not a fluke 30. Minnesota Wild: Wildly bad.

5. Colorado Avalanche: Sans two of their top line players, the Avs have 31. Ottawa Senators: Actually had a couple of flashes of looking slowed a bit but they’re still playing well enough as the best team in the competent but remain the Senators. West.

6. Edmonton Oilers: Unlike the Sabres, the Oilers for sure, definitely, Boston Herald LOADED: 11.07.2019 totally cannot keep this up. Banking on James Neal to continue like he has and being chill with a defenseman as the fifth leading scorer will not cut it.

7. Nashville Predators: They’re scoring goals and the power play looks good. All seems well in Pred-land, including their fire Winter Classic jerseys.

8. St. Louis Blues: The Blues got things together a bit after a rough-ish start, but going without Vladamir Tarasenko could be enough to sink them.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins: Now fully healthy, we finally get a chance to see what this Penguins team is all about.

10. Vegas Golden Knights: Now imagine if Marc-Andre Fleury got some support.

11. Vancouver Canucks: Maybe it’s time to believe in the Canucks. Unlike the other surprising teams so far, they have some solid depth that should be encouraging now and in the long term.

12. Calgary Flames: There are dozens of red flags for a Flames team that doesn’t seem to have overcome its surprise first round exit last season.

13. New York Islanders: They don’t give up goals. The Barry Trotz magic is real.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs: Are the Leafs in trouble? It’s early, and it’s not like they’ve gotten off to a horrific start, but October wasn’t exactly the tear they hoped for.

15. Montreal Canadiens: Special teams are burning a Habs team that’s all over the map with good wins and bad losses.

16. Arizona Coyotes: Maybe they are actually Good

17. Anaheim Ducks: They’ve come back down to earth a bit but certainly appear to be a better team than they originally got credit for.

18. Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning look…. average. That’s a far cry from what was expected.

19. : Their narrative remains having no one on defense, and still plugging along. At some point, though, their team is what it is and they need to start accumulating points.

20.Philadelphia Flyers: Once again we ask the question, Are the Flyers not bad? 1160173 Boston Bruins

Chara praises 'very classy' Habs fans' for ovation in his 1,500th NHL game

By Joe Haggerty

November 06, 2019 9:06 PM

MONTREAL – It wasn’t surprising that the first-class Montreal Canadiens organization opted to acknowledge Bruins Zdeno Chara playing in his 1500th NHL game on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

Any player getting to 1,500 games played is worthy of recognition and Chara is just the sixth NHL defensemen in league history to get to that mark, with only Nicklas Lidstrom, Ray Bourque, Larry Murphy, Scott Stevens and Chris Chelios still ahead of him on the all-time list. When Chara popped up on the jumbotron with the 1,500 games played graphic, there was a smattering of boos with the cheers for a player that has routinely been booed at the Bell Centre during the Bruins/Canadiens rivalry.

Tuukka Rask on loss to Canadiens: "Puck felt like it was a golf ball"

But it quickly became a loud, long ovation from Canadiens fans with Chara standing up at the Bruins bench, waving, clapping to the fans and mouthing the words “thank you” during the TV timeout.

It was a remarkable, meaningful moment given how much bad blood has gone on between Chara and Canadiens fans in his career, and it was duly noted by the Bruins captain following Boston’s 5-4 loss.

“Obviously, that felt really nice. I really appreciated it and it was very classy,” said Chara. “It’s something that I will definitely remember. [The boos in the past] just shows that they are very passionate fans and they support their team. It’s pretty normal for Canadien fans to show so much support for their team. We’ve had some good battles and it’s a good rivalry. There’s a lot of history with both teams, so it’s always fun to play in these games.”

It was a short eight years ago when Chara knocked Max Pacioretty into the stanchion at the Bell Centre and caused a massive uproar with Habs fans that flooded Quebec 911 lines calling for his arrest for assaulting the Montreal forward. That was probably the height of his role as a villain in the rivalry and led to him getting booed lustily each time he touched the puck for years after that.

Clearly, that’s now water under the bridge with Chara’s career on track for the Hall of Fame once he decides to stop playing, and milestones like the 1,500 games played coming with more regularity as he keeps on going at 42 years old. Chara’s teammates and the Bruins coaching staff have obviously been in awe of his longevity for a while and were happy that the knowledgeable Habs fans showed their respect for his 20-plus year career as well.

“I thought it was great…classy,” said Bruce Cassidy. “Listen, this is one of the Original Six right here and they’ve got a lot of classy fans in Montreal. Just because it’s a Bruins/Habs rivalry and if they like the Canadiens it doesn’t mean I dislike their fans. They’re good people and they know hockey, so I was glad to see it.”

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Tuukka Rask: 'Puck felt like it was a golf ball out there' during tough outing

By Joe Haggerty

November 06, 2019 9:03 AM

MONTREAL – Tuukka Rask had been the best goalie in the NHL for the entire first month of the season.

It’s why he was leading the league in both goals against average and save percentage entering the month of November, and part of why the Bruins were atop the NHL as a team.

Unfortunately, it would be pretty much impossible for Rask to keep up the pace of his great start in October and that’s how things played out in his worst game of the season on Tuesday night in Boston’s 5-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

It was bad timing as Rask was one of the few fresh Boston players on the ice as the Bruins were playing their third game in four days, and second of a back-to-back after digging deep to come back against the Penguins 24 hours prior in Boston.

Rask gave up all five goals on 31 shot attempts to the Habs to drop all the way to third in the league in goals against average (1.88 GAA) and fourth in save percentage (.936), and saved some of his worst for last as Habs D-man Ben Chiarot beat him for the game-winner in the third on a routine wrist shot from the face-off circle that Rask simply missed with his glove hand.

“I saw it,” said Rask. “It hit my glove and then bounced off my leg and into the middle of the net.”

Combine that with a couple of soft goals allowed in the first period as well when Rask allowed two goals in 31 seconds to Montreal after the Bruins had tied the game early, and it was the Boston netminder’s worst night of the season by a long shot.

“For me it was,” said Rask, when asked if it felt like a battle during the game. “It was one of those nights where instead of a hockey puck you feel like it’s a golf ball out there. I just wasn’t tracking it well, so it was a tough night for me. I thought we battled well and we could have easily won the game. But I couldn’t really make a save.

“It’s just one of those nights that you’re not tracking it well. That’s it.”

The good news for Rask is that he’ll get a chance to right the ship this weekend with a couple of games, though it wouldn’t be surprising if backup Jaroslav Halak gets the call against the Red Wings on Friday after Rask spit the bit against the Habs. It sure sounds like Rask will get the benefit of the doubt from the Bruins coaching staff after a great first month of the season when the B’s No. 1 netminder usually struggles out of the starting gate.

“Yeah there was, and it was tonight. He wasn’t that sharp,” said Cassidy, when asked if there was bound to be a night when Rask wasn’t as good as he’d been in the first month of the season. “We battled back so it would have been nice to get that last save, but he’s human. He’s been really good for us, so that’s going to happen for everybody.”

The Bruins have to hope that their goaltender can bounce back to superhuman mode pretty quickly, though, given how important elite level goaltending is to the overall success of their hockey club this season.

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Claude Julien lauds Canadiens fans for honoring Zdeno Chara despite ugly history

By Darren Hartwell

November 06, 2019 7:55 AM

Claude Julien could have seen it going either way.

The Montreal Canadiens head coach was with the Boston Bruins when defenseman Zdeno Chara dangerously checked Habs winger Max Pacioretty into a stanchion during a 2011 game at the Bell Centre.

Chara's hit made him Public Enemy No. 1 in Montreal, with some even calling for his arrest. But when the 42-year-old returned Tuesday night to play in his 1,500th career game, Canadiens fans gave him a much different welcome.

The moving moment wasn't lost on Julien, who praised Habs fans for showing Chara love while adding a defense of his former player for that 2011 hit.

"I think I've got to give the most credit to our fans," Julien told reporters after the Bruins' 5-4 loss, via Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I remember when I was on the other side of that incident with Pacioretty. I know I can stand here today on the Montreal side and say there was never any intent to injure that player. That's not his style. It was an unfortunate accident.

"He was not a very well-liked player here in Montreal. But the class of our fans to do what they did tonight in giving him not necessarily a standing ovation but clapping and looking at what he's accomplished in his career, (it) just says a lot about our real fans.

"I was really impressed and I was glad they did that. I know him personally and I think what he got tonight from our fans was well- deserved."

Talking Points: Controversial offside call dooms Bruins

Julien coached Chara for nine-plus seasons in Boston and won a Stanley Cup with the ironman defenseman in 2011, so he certainly knows his history.

For his part, Chara seemed humbled by the fans' kind reaction.

"Obviously that felt really nice," Chara said, via the Bruins' website. "I really appreciate that. It was very classy and it's something that I will definitely remember."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160176 Boston Bruins for their promising prospects to make the jump. So some veterans on the Kings will be dealt over the next year or two to make way for those kids.

Toffoli is 27, not 30-something. But my sense of the situation right now is LeBrun: Why the Bruins haven’t missed a beat, plus early trade that the Kings are more likely to pass on trying to re-sign him and will rumblings look to trade him before the Feb. 24 deadline.

Of course, if you’re agent Pat Brisson, and Toffoli is his client, if that’s By Pierre LeBrun indeed the path the Kings take, you’re wanting him moved sooner rather than later so that the winger can go to a playoff contender and improve Nov 6, 2019 his stock in a contract year …

For the Kings, however, the best deal is probably closer to Feb. 24 because so many teams are at the salary cap or in LTIR. It’s hard for So much for the Stanley Cup final hangover, right? them to absorb salary right now (his cap hit is $4.6 million). The Bruins are off to a torrid 11-2-2 start to the season after working I do think Toffoli is an excellent candidate to bounce back in new around a short summer. surroundings. He may very well be one of this season’s sneaky trade Sure, not every win has been a work of art; they were probably fortunate deadline pickups, especially given his Stanley Cup resume. to beat Pittsburgh on Monday night. But largely the Bruins have been Carolina and Buffalo are in similar positions with depth on D although I fantastic, led by rock-solid goaltending and the NHL’s hottest forward think the Hurricanes are more ready now to act. line. It also speaks to the tremendous leadership in that dressing room that this team was this ready despite the short turnaround. Both clubs would be willing to move a blueliner for a forward, although again, I think Carolina would be ready to listen now whereas I think What intrigued me this week was finding out that the Bruins studied the Buffalo has to wait until it’s healthy and gotten over its crazy November Cup finalists from the past 4-5 years to see how those teams fared the schedule. More on that in a moment. following season and try to decipher any lessons from it. My sense is the Hurricanes would move either of Trevor van Riemsdyk or What I think the Bruins saw was that many of those teams started strong Haydn Fleury depending on the offer. TVR, 28, is earning $2.3 million in October, the memories fresh from June about how to play the right and will be a UFA on July 1, while Fleury, 23, is a bargain at $850,000, way. But then later in the season came either the mental or physical he’ll be an RFA come summer. fatigue or the injury bug, but either way most of those teams hit a proverbial wall. Carolina covets a top-nine forward.

It jives with what Blues GM Doug Armstrong told me during training camp Buffalo also hopes to eventually add some an offensive forward, when I asked him how the defending champs would try to avoid the Cup according to sources. But before moving any D, I think they need to get hangover. through this month.

“My experiences and talking to people and just watching and observing, Once they return from Stockholm, the Sabres play 10 games in 17 days the hardest month I think is November,” Armstrong told me on Sept. 10. from Nov. 14-30, including five games in the final seven days. They may “I think October, you’re playing on last year’s emotion, especially a team need all the depth they can carry for a while. like ours that’s bringing back 22 of the 23 guys. There’s still a high through camp because there’s still celebrations, there’s the banner Marco Scandella isn’t that far off from returning from injury and Zach raising, there’s the ring ceremony, there’s a lot of things that artificially Bogosian is skating, which is a good sign. If they can avoid losing any keep you motivated. And then all of a sudden, all that dies down and blueliners to injury over the next month, at some point they will be 9-10 you’re in November. What we have to do is turn that page as quickly as deep at the position, which teams around the league are very much possible with our group and understanding that we’re going to have to keeping an eye on. create our own energy and make sure we secure those points.” I reported earlier this season that the pending UFA Scandella is an option There’s probably almost no way around the eventual hitting of the wall; to move and I suspect the same is true for fellow pending UFA Bogosian. the players are human beings who got less time to recover last summer Winnipeg screams trade partner for either Carolina or Buffalo but again, than everyone else in the league. All you can do is plan as best possible. so much depends on how the Dustin Byfuglien situation plays out and Paramount for the Bruins is load management for the players, not just in what kind of cap implications face the Jets on that front once there’s preparation for the season but in how they plan throughout the year. I more clarity. think Boston will look for signs of players wearing down and to be proactive before it leads to nagging injuries or diminished energy levels. The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 I don’t know if that means seeing Zdeno Chara or Patrice Bergeron sit out a game later in the season for load management reasons. Good luck convincing them of that. There’s so much pride in those guys. But I think it’s about managing their minutes in games and their practice time on off days.

The Bruins were among the first teams to embrace the idea the load management for goalies; it was a good idea for Tuukka Rask which is why Jaroslav Halak was signed last year, played a ton, and a healthy and energy-bound Rask took the playoffs by storm.

Halak already has six starts this season.

Eyebrows were certainly raised last week when Tyler Toffoli was a healthy scratch for the Kings. This isn’t a player past his best-before date. He’s 27.

Yes, his production dipped big time last season (34 points in 82 games) on a Kings team that was a trainwreck in general.

But Toffoli scored 31 goals in 2015-16 and had 24 goals in 2017-18. He knows his way around a net.

The question is where exactly does he fit into the Kings’ plans? Toffoli is a pending UFA July 1. Everyone knows the Kings are in full rebuild mode. They will be getting younger over the next few years, making room 1160177 Buffalo Sabres Larsson spent time Wednesday doing an interview with veteran Swedish journalist Marie Lehmann of SVT, the national public television network that is similar to the BBC.

As Sabres' Johan Larsson returns to Sweden, he remembers a historic They were laughing about the Sabres' big rivalry with the Toronto Maple day in the park Leafs, in part because Buffalo's Nov. 29 home game against Toronto will be on national television in Sweden. With a 4 p.m. faceoff in Buffalo, it will only be 10 p.m. here. By Mike Harrington Lehmann has covered many World Junior Championships, including the Published Wed, Nov 6, 2019|Updated Wed, Nov 6, 2019 2012 tournament. She said she learned of the plan for the rally in Stockholm after the gold medal, but there were only business class fares

remaining and she could not make it home in time. STOCKHOLM — Even as the sun shines brightly on Stockholm this "But something happened we would not have seen had we left quickly," week, it's chilly in Kungstradgarden and not nearly as crowded as the she recalled. "We were in the hotel in Calgary and all the staff that had city's most popular downtown park is in the summer. Small children been rooting for Canada, who didn't make it to the gold-medal game, stumble around the park's ice rink, carrying tiny hockey sticks because, gathered together for Team Sweden. They lined up and the team left well, they start them young here like they do in Canada. (through the lobby) and they were all cheering for Team Sweden. It was Sabres center Johan Larsson last week encouraged anyone who asked so cool. I still get them, the goosebumps, thinking about it." about the park, even without its famed cherry blossoms, to check it out Larsson is one of the forgotten Swedes on this trip, overshadowed by the during the team's trip for the NHL Global Series. Nearly eight years ago, star power of Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman and Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin, he spent one afternoon there as a national hero. as well as the emergence of Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson. On Jan. 5, 2012, Larsson was the captain for Team Sweden at the World His post-World Junior career has been much the same, with bouts of Junior Championships in Calgary. Playing the gold-medal game against uneven play marking his time in Buffalo. , Sweden pulled out a 1-0 victory on an overtime goal by current New York Rangers star Mika Zibanejad to win its first championship "Johan was the captain and he was important, but there was only one since 1981. goal in the (gold-medal) game," Lehmann said. "That was Mika. He is the big star today. Everyone in Sweden knows about that goal, the only goal. "It was an unbelievable moment. The World Juniors were getting bigger And now he plays for the New York Rangers, one of the most popular and bigger in Sweden, and we had a lot of good years but were never teams in Sweden, and he's a big star on that team." able to win again," Larsson said. "For us to finally do it and then to come home and see how many people were following it was amazing. It's Larsson has just one goal and one assist this year for the Sabres but has something I'll remember forever." helped lead a bounce-back for players on the same Buffalo line, along with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo. The Swedish roster included Vegas' William Karlsson, Nashville's Filip Forsberg, Anaheim's Rickard Rakell and Dallas defenseman John "Larsson is definitely a player who is exemplary in the way he executes Klingberg. They beat a Russian team that included current Tampa Bay on and off the ice," coach Ralph Krueger said here Wednesday. "When standouts Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, as well as former we started this journey on the ice, there were a lot of principles and Sabres prospects Viktor Antipin, Mikhail Grigorenko and Andrei Makarov. concepts bringing into the group to understand the responsibility we have It was Makarov who played goalie in the deciding game ahead of without the puck and with it. Larsson and his line have really been helpful Vasilevskiy. in bringing these concepts into our group."

The players headed out of Calgary and were told there would be a Larsson said he's enjoyed his first three days in Stockholm but that the reception of some sort when they got to Stockholm. They had no idea Sabres will have a much different approach starting with Thursday's open what was coming. practice, expected to be attended by a few thousand fans. The business trip portion of the journey really kicks in. "We landed and there were a lot of people at the airport and you were surprised," Larsson said. "You're thinking, 'Whoa, there's people waiting Still, the team had time in the city Wednesday night and will have some for us.' But then they had a bus for us to go into the city and we get there before and after Thursday's practice, which doesn't begin until 3 p.m. and there's 20,000 people waiting in the park to celebrate. It was crazy. local time. The bars and restaurants of Kungstradgarden are available to Just crazy." them.

The scene is well-known in recent Swedish sports history. The small "It's a beautiful park, a beautiful place to walk around," Larsson said. "In stage at one end of the park still remains, often used for summer Stockholm, the Old Town section and that park are special places. speeches and concerts. The players later met members of the royal Certainly are for me." family at the Royal Palace. On that cold day, Larsson's team was the center of attention.

"The whole park was filled up. From the stage to the other end," he said. Buffalo News LOADED: 11.07.2019 "It was amazing."

Larsson grew up in Lau, a tiny locale on the island of Gotland located in the Baltic Sea. It doesn't produce many hockey players and certainly not many who become NHLers and earn national acclaim on the international stage.

"You have to take a ferry three hours or a 30-minute flight," he said. "Lau is super small farm country, but it's a nice vacation spot in the summer. I always enjoy spending time there."

Larsson is one of six Swedes on the Buffalo roster having a homecoming for this weekend's games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The teams play here Friday and Saturday nights, which will make them matinees in Buffalo.

"It's been really good to do this," he said after practice Wednesday in Ericsson Globe. "It's a little bit of a weird feeling coming here in the middle of the season because you never do that. But now that you're here, you're walking around, and it feels like home. I just walked around on our off day, got coffee, did some shopping and was watching people." 1160178 Buffalo Sabres The Sabres' practice Wednesday started at 5 a.m. Buffalo time and lasted roughly an hour. Krueger restored Victor Olofsson to the top line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and Jimmy Vesey served as the extra Non-Swedes on Sabres enjoying excitement of team's native sons forward. Still, lines in practice often aren't a big deal after a day off and two days before the next game.

The Sabres and Lightning will have public practices in the arena on By Mike Harrington Thursday and that may serve to be a better gauge on how the lineup will look for Friday night's opener here. Published Wed, Nov 6, 2019|Updated Wed, Nov 6, 2019 "You could feel this morning we're coming into a narrower window,"

Krueger said. "We want to kind of get the work going. This kind of STOCKHOLM – The non-Swedes on the Buffalo Sabres' roster are launched it after the travel, the practice day a couple of days ago and the getting a kick out of watching the club's six Swedish players return to day off. Now we really reel it in getting ready for Friday." their homeland for this week's NHL Global Series. By the time the Sabres take the ice Friday, it will have been six days Casey Mittelstadt is Rasmus Dahlin's roommate in Buffalo and said he since their last game. The travel has been long but Krueger hopes the sees how much this trip means to his friend over the team's standard break from the frenetic schedule serves his team well. roadies in North America. "This mental freshness should show up in our game on Friday," he said. "He's got a lot of extra jump in his step," Mittelstadt said after practice "We should get very close back to our 'A' game. That's what we're Wednesday in Ericsson Globe. "It's funny how I haven't seen him a lot expecting here. The atmosphere has been good. The good weather and since Monday. He's been running around town with his family and the sunshine has helped. girlfriend. We all get to go home in Canada and the U.S. and you don't "Everyone seems to be in a really good place and I'm sure both teams really think about never doing it. Now these guys finally get their chance are feeling that way. People here should expect some very high-speed, here. It's been fun for sure." world-class hockey here on the weekend." Dahlin, Marcus Johansson, Johan Larsson and Victor Olofsson will be on Tampa Bay was off on Wednesday, secure in the knowledge that the ice for Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's uncertain defenseman Victor Hedman likely will play Friday. Hedman, who has which of the two games here will be played by goalie Linus Ullmark, or if missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, practiced fully here coach Ralph Krueger will use recalled defenseman Lawrence Pilut in Tuesday. He is Tampa Bay's lone Swede and is the featured attraction of either game. Pilut has yet to play for Buffalo this year. these game to most Swedes, ever far above Dahlin. "They're excited. You don't get that experience too often in your career," Krueger coached seven years in Austria, with Swedish stars Bengt-Åke said defenseman Brandon Montour. "Anytime you get to play close to Gustafsson and Thomas Rundqvist playing in five of them (Gustafsson home or close to family and friends where they can come to visit, it's played more than 600 games for the Washington Capitals from 1979-89). definitely nice." Krueger also played for three years in the late '70s in Dusseldorf, "They're excited, as they should be," said winger Jeff Skinner. "We've got Germany, with Roland Eriksson, a player he termed "one of the national a lot of them and we can feed off that energy. It's going to be a fun night heroes." Eriksson was a two-time 60-point man in the '70s for the for everyone but obviously, for them, it's going to be extra special." .

Montour recalled how his family in Southern Ontario didn't make many "I have a lot of past with Swedish players in my career," Krueger said. trips to Anaheim to see him play because he was so far away, so he "To come here and having some Swedish blood around has definitely knows what the Swedes go through. been good for the way my past evolved me as a coach, with some North American and European elements. Having Swedes there has been a "My parents and family and friends are now two hours away," Montour really good thing." said. "I got that experience of playing at home getting traded to Buffalo."

How did the Sabres spend a rare day off made more rare by the fact they were overseas 4,000 miles from home? Buffalo News LOADED: 11.07.2019

There were shopping trips around Stockholm on Tuesday, card games in the hotel, dinner for the players and another for the coaches and staff. Strolls through the city's famous Old Town area were the most touristy things the team did.

Both the Sabres and the Lightning are staying in the opulent Grand Hotel, just off the city's famous Old Town area. The hotel dates to 1874 and has a waterfront view, with a strait that eventually empties into the Baltic Sea. It is the place where guests routinely include Nobel Prize laureates in town to be honored at the annual dinner, diplomats and celebrities. President Barack Obama took up residence there in 2013 and again when he spoke at a conference here in June.

It is walking distance from virtually all the major attractions in the city and surrounded by restaurants and shops.

"It was a relaxing day, nice day in the sun in Stockholm and nice jog along the water," said Krueger.

"It's been good but a little chilly," Montour said of Stockholm. "The city's nice but it's really good to have a nice spa in the hotel. I walked around, checked out some shops, checked out the area."

The weather has been bright and sunny, although the temperatures haven't made it out of the 30s and there was a cold wind on Tuesday. You have to relish that sunshine when you can because there's only about eight hours of daylight, with sunset in the 3:30 p.m. range each afternoon.

"It's been great. No complaints here," said Mittelstadt. "It's cold, but I know it will be cold in Buffalo soon, too." 1160179 Buffalo Sabres At a minimum, though, it seems as if Buffalo found a depth defender on the market for a relatively cheap cost. And that depth defender might have made another asset in Scandella salvageable, whether the Sabres How defenseman Henri Jokiharju is proving to be wise acquisition so far look to move his expiring contract at the trade deadline or not.

So far, this deal has been a big win for Jason Botterill.

By Travis Yost

Published Wed, Nov 6, 2019 Buffalo News LOADED: 11.07.2019

Travis Yost has been involved in the world of hockey analytics for a decade and is part of TSN's Hockey Analytics team. Prior to joining TSN, Yost was a contributor at the Ottawa Citizen, the Sporting News and NHL Numbers, and he has been a consultant for an NHL franchise. He will be contributing breakdowns on the Buffalo Sabres for The Buffalo News this season. Follow Yost on Twitter: @travisyost.

When the Buffalo Sabres acquired defenseman Henri Jokiharju from the Chicago Blackhawks, it was an acknowledgment that the blue line sorely needed more capable puck movers.

Jokiharju appeared to have that skill in spades during his 38-game rookie season in Chicago, but there were legitimate questions about the rest of his skill set. How would the 20-year old hold up over a full season? Would his relatively unpolished off-puck play be a detriment to Buffalo’s performance, especially in the defensive third? And could Buffalo find a slot for him on an increasingly crowded blue line?

The new Buffalo coaching staff hasn’t been afraid to use him early, and he’s fit in seamlessly. Jokiharju has played 15 games, averaging more than 16 minutes a night, playing predominantly with veteran Marco Scandella. And, surprisingly, the duo have created one of the better third pairings in the entire league. If not surprising because it’s a 20-year old that’s leading the charge, then because we have shockingly entered Scandella’s renaissance years. Scandella, though, is sidelined for now after being placed on injured reserve before the Sabres left for Sweden.

But this is the beauty of hockey. Sometimes you can find players whose skill sets complement one another – Jokiharju’s north/south transition game has been the perfect balance for Scandella, who plays an extremely disciplined positional game but has seen his offensive skill set really diminish with time. And although their role is an insulated one relative to the other team’s pairings, they are driving results from an area where Buffalo has historically struggled.

Season to date, Jokiharju has played almost exclusively with Scandella and a very balanced blend of the Buffalo four lines:

It’s interesting to see Buffalo’s third pairing getting relatively equitable minutes with all Buffalo’s lines – generally speaking, we tend to see third pairings play a large proportion of their minutes with the bottom-six, though that’s not the case here. I think more than anything it speaks to Krueger’s attentiveness to rolling four lines and his increasing affinity for the play of his third pairing.

The performance piece is one that I think is worth emphasizing. Consider the flow of the shots, scoring chances and expected goals with the third pairing on the ice, and contextualize it against the pairings each individual played on during the 2018-19 season. Both players – Jokiharju and Scandella – played further up the lineup, but that also meant drawing against tougher competition. The change in deployment and the change in results are noticeable:

The on-ice goal differential from the Jokiharju-Scandella pairing will be fleeting – they own eight of the 10 goals scored while on the ice, which is certainly on the right side of the hockey gods. But the key thing is that this group is territorially dominant in a way last season’s pairings weren’t. The Scandella-Ristolainen pairing last season effectively never left the defensive zone and had a whale of a time retrieving loose pucks and transitioning the puck. The Jokiharju-Duncan Keith pairing had a tremendous problem in terms of limiting dangerous scoring chances against the Blackhawks.

Make no mistake, this does matter – especially for a Sabres team that’s been ripe with depth issues for seemingly close to a decade. That the Sabres can get some sort of production when their top guns are off the ice already differentiates them from the 2018-19 season, even if there are still some obvious combinations that are not working out right now. 1160180 Buffalo Sabres I saw you in Buffalo during the NHL Draft Combine in late May already walking around – how long were you on crutches?

It was surprisingly short time on crutches. I don’t remember the exact After double hip surgery in April, Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka number of days or weeks, but I was surprised how fast I could be without Luukkonen is back on the ice the crutches and do those kinds of things. Just still getting back to normal walking and getting back to normal mobility in the hips and getting back to normal again, that took a while, but I was off the crutches quite quickly. By Joe Yerdon What kind of therapy was it? Lots of gym time or weights or what? Nov 6, 2019 It was mostly like we had to start really slow and get back to walking and just doing things with your own body weight. (It was) putting a lot of specific time with that and just getting back to feeling good and doing Since undergoing double hip surgery in April, Sabres prospect Ukko- normal stuff day to day like just walking and getting in and out of a car. Pekka Luukkonen’s literal road to recovery has been included plenty of And not just specifically that, but just trying to get to the normal stage and miles. The 20-year-old goaltender’s travels have taken him from feeling in that area of life was treated first. But first we didn’t introduce offseason rehab in Buffalo to Rochester to Cincinnati and back to any weights or anything. It was more using my own body weight, but Rochester again. quite quickly still we were able to — week-to-week — add weight or reps After a brilliant 2018-19 season in the OHL with Sudbury and a gold to whatever we were doing. It was a long time where we had to do the medal in the World Junior Championship with Finland, he’s back on the same things where we were adding weight. ice playing games again. Entering his first full professional season, he’s Play-wise, are you doing anything different now, physically, after surgery getting the grand tour of the Sabres system. Regardless of where he’s than before it? playing, the plan for how to get him back into form is the same whether he’s in the ECHL or AHL. Not really. I still play like I did before. It doesn’t change any of that. It actually makes it easier now to play when there’s no pinching or pain “We’re going to wait a little bit to get him into back-to-backs be it in involved because of the hips. There’s no point of changing anything and I Cincinnati or be it in Rochester.” Cincinnati Cyclones coach Matt Thomas don’t have to change anything now because of the surgery so that’s said. “I think there’s that element of it, but there’s certainly a games good. played threshold the organization would like to see Carter Hutton play, (Linus) Ullmark play, (Andrew) Hammond play, (Jonas) Johansson play, So what’s the plan now? Have they talked about workload with you? (Michael) Houser play, and Upie play. There’s six guys and hopefully you can spread (those) out. And obviously there’s things like injuries and It’s no set amount of games or what is the plan, but I just try to focus on lackluster play or solid play or above average play that can put things off the day-to-day, like practices and games. There’s still a lot to do, even the rails a little bit at times, but there’s certainly a plan in place that we’ve though I’m feeling good. There’s still a lot to get back to games and fully discussed theoretically.” into the game schedule. There’s still a lot to get used to again.

Luukkonen’s season started with Cincinnati on Saturday, when he made How did it feel to get back and play again? 25 saves in a 4-1 loss in Brampton. We spoke with him after his first It was real fun to get back on the ice. Even though we lost — it wasn’t a weekend with the Cyclones to find out what life has been like since perfect game by any means — I was happy about my performance and surgery and how he feels about where things are headed now that he how well I played after seven months of being out. I’m happy with the can get started with life as a pro hockey player. game.

How does everything feel post-surgery, post-rehab? You sure do seem excited to be back. How does this all feel?

Everything is feeling real good now. Everything went as expected and as The amazing thing is, just being out for that long is something that is new it was planned so it’s been a long process for six, seven months that I’ve to me. I’ve never been in that situation and now being back here, they been out now but as I said I’m feeling good now. I’m happy to be back. have a great team here (in Cincinnati) and great guys. It’s easy to come What was the name of the surgery? to a team like this. It’s just real exciting to get back to playing games and playing the schedule again. That’s a really good question. I have no idea about that (laughs). It was some kind of big surgery, I’m sure there’s some kind of specific name for How much are you watching World Junior teammate Henri Jokiharju in it, but I don’t remember it right now. Buffalo?

About the injury, you said it happened in World Juniors…? A lot. We text a lot and we’re in contact and asking how each other are doing. I’m always watching how he plays and how he’s doing so it’s real It didn’t strictly happen then. It was something that built up over time and nice to have another Finn here. I’m a good friend of his and he’s a good probably didn’t happen in a certain context. It’s something that built over friend of mine. time and after World Juniors we decided to take a look at it because that’s when it started really bothering me. Surprised by how well he’s played?

So it happens then and you still finished the season in Sudbury and still Not really, I’ve played many, many years in the junior national team with played a game in Rochester. Didn’t that hurt while playing? him and he always has been real good in every game I actually have played with him. It doesn’t matter if he has a big or a small game, he’s A little bit. During the game and especially afterwards and off the ice it always the same. I’m not surprised at all how he’s doing. was more of problem for me. During the game, I don’t have too much time to think about those things. We planned that we wanted to do the He’s been good to talk to and a good help for me when I haven’t been surgery after the season once I was done. I knew that after Christmas able to play. When I spent a lot of time before I moved to Rochester from when we validated it. It was a problem for me on and off the ice, but Buffalo, it was nice to hang out with him there. It was a big help for me. when I made the decision that I will play I didn’t let it bother me too much. We made the decision with the guys in Sudbury. The trainers in Sudbury and the coaches, they helped me a lot. It wasn’t a too big of a problem The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 to get to the surgery at the end of the season.

How do you treat an ailment like that during the season?

It’s just more like mobility and making sure you’re not tight from your muscles and take as good care of your body as you can. There’s something you can take from your habits, like you stretch out a lot and do those kinds of things or not to be stretching certain parts of your body and just making the right decisions on and off the ice. Kind of let the pain or place that’s in pain be and not bother it too much. 1160181 Calgary Flames Peters noted that he’d like to see the workload spread around, that he’d like to get more of his players involved. He wants his players to be realistic about the plays they make. Simple, sometimes, is better.

Peters rips into Flames for poor play: 'Why we'd be where we are at this “There are times when you’re at the end of a shift, it’s two-versus-three stage of the year, I don't know' and you’ve gotta get it in and gotta get it deep and make their ‘D’ turn and get off,” Peters said. “That’s a good play. It’s not a sexy play. It’s not going to show up on the box score. Kristen Anderson, Postmedia “But that’s the play.” November 6, 2019 8:53 PM MST The goaltending — between (8-4-2, 2.79 goal- against average and .915 save percentage) and (1-3-0, 2.85 goals- against average and .899 save percentage) — has not been the problem. The message from was loud and clear on Tuesday night. Neither has their penalty kill, shockingly, considering they are the most- And, a day later, it was still loud and clear. penalized in the NHL at the moment. It’s operating at a tidy 87.9 per cent (the fourth-best in the league before Wednesday’s action) but, arguably, The Calgary Flames head coach was fuming after his club’s 4-3 overtime their lack of discipline has been disrupting the general flow of their victory against the Arizona Coyotes — yes, you read that correctly: games. fuming after a victory — and is still demanding more from his group which still has many holes in its game, one of which is a penchant for not So, what else? putting an entire 60-minute effort together on a regular basis. “We know we have a lot of areas to clean up,” Giordano said. “It seems See Tuesday’s end result. Apart from five minutes in the third period, it we’re giving away some high-danger chances, whether that be was a game they had no business winning. breakaways or two-on-ones. We just have to simplify and execute when there are plays to be made. I’ve always said it, though: it starts in our “I like our team a lot,” Peters said following Wednesday’s practice when end. If we can come out clean and make plays as D-men to our forwards asked to further explain his strong post-game analysis. “I don’t love the and have speed, that’s what gets our game going.” way we’re playing. That’s obvious, right? The aspects … I don’t like are our starts. Our emotional engagement. Our physical engagement. And Peters said it’s up to the players to change it themselves. our execution with the puck.” Right now, they’re gripping their sticks. This is not a breaking news story. “(They’re better when they’re) loose and driving and chirping and having The Flames (9-7-2) have struggled with all of the above through their first fun and out-working the opposition,” he said. “So, you can hang your hat 18 games of the 2019-20 National Hockey League campaign. on that each and every day when you go to work. You know the guy to the left and to the right and across from you is going to show up and put They’ve been well-known for their ability to come back in games, the work in. notching their 34th victory since the 2014-15 season when trailing after two periods, but as Peters said Tuesday night, that is “not a recipe for “That’s a comfortable feeling.” success, long-term.” Interesting. “Let’s not be hanging our hat on that,” he added. Part of Tuesday’s post-game roast was that the Flames look “too This story continues to be a developing one. comfortable.”

During Tuesday’s game, Peters broke up the team’s defensive pairings He clarified. starting with his top duo and TJ Brodie. He put Travis “It’s a comfortable feeling when you know the guy to the left of you, the Hamonic with Giordano; skated with ; guy to the right of you and across from you is going to work,” Peters said. played with Brodie. “That gives you comfort. It’s uncomfortable when you don’t know what Afterwards, he singled out their team defence as an issue. He indicated the player to the left of you, to the right of you, or across from you is the Flames need “more out of veteran guys.” He said they couldn’t pass going to do. That’s where we’re at right now — that’s where we’re at. We the puck — “It’s the National Hockey League,” he said. “You’ve gotta be know that. They know that. We have to change it. I have to change it. able to make a pass.” — he said their play-making and decision-making Better starts. Different lineups. Earn your opportunity. were too slow. “Watch us play … why we’d be where we are at this stage of the year, I “We were not good enough last game,” admitted Andersson, who don’t know.” finished the game with two assists in 21:53 of ice time. “We talked about it (Wednesday) morning and we all need to get a little more engaged in here and it starts with the ‘D’ men. We usually make the breakout passes Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.07.2019 and all that kind of stuff. If we’re not crisp, it’s hard for the forwards to be crisp as well.

“There were too many passes in the feet (Tuesday) and we just have to be more sharp back there and maybe we needed a little shake-up (Tuesday).”

Peters gave four players the day off — Giordano, Hamonic, and — noting they are players who have done some of the heavy lifting lately. Lindholm is on an eight-game point streak with five goals and five assists in that span while Giordano logged 28:22 of ice time on Tuesday and had a game-high nine shots on net. Monahan was 72 per cent in the face-off circle (winning 13-of-18 face- offs).

Giordano said he was unsure if the lineup would stay altered or not, but they have to be prepared for change.

“I don’t know,” said the Flames captain. “(Thursday) we’ll come in and at the morning skate, we’ll have an idea of who we’ll be paired with. But it’s up to us. Coaches, they’re not going to keep pairs and lines the same if it’s not working. They’re going to shake it up and try to help us win.

“It’s up to us to be prepared, to be ready and execute well.” 1160182 Calgary Flames

Game Day: Devils at Flames

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia

November 6, 2019 4:30 PM MST

Calgary captain Mark Giordano already does the heavy lifting for the Flames when it comes to defensive match-ups. But after Tuesday’s turnover fest against the Arizona Coyotes, there is an emphasis to tighten up from the blueline out. That might not be a good thing for Taylor Hall, who is on a six-game point streak with one goal and seven assists in that span. Hall leads the Devils with 13 points (two goals and 11 assists) in 13 games.

FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME

CHANGE ‘EM UP

Flames head coach Bill Peters put his defence pairings in a blender in Tuesday’s game to try and get something going. Could they still stay shaken up versus New Jersey? It was tough to read during Wednesday’s practice as D Mark Giordano, D , RW Elias Lindholm and C Sean Monahan were all given recovery days. But the pairing that remained from Tuesday’s game was Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson.

POWERPLAY WOES

Calgary’s powerplay went 2-for-6 on Tuesday but the fact they were able to score on their man advantage — finally — doesn’t paint the full picture as they gave up too many short-handed chances. At the moment, the powerplay is 21st in the league and operating at 17.2 per cent. Prior to Tuesday, they’d gone 0-for-10 and hadn’t scored on the powerplay since the Heritage Classic game against the Jets on Oct. 26.

GOAL JOHNNY GOAL

LW ended a 12-game goalless drought Tuesday with his second-period powerplay marker. Twelve games was the second- longest scoring drought of Gaudreau’s career, just two games away from the longest of his NHL tenure — a 14-gamer from Jan. 29 to March 3, 2015, his first campaign in The Show. “It wasn’t the way I wanted it to go but it’s part of hockey and I’ve been through it before,” Gaudreau said after Tuesday’s game. “But as long as I’m getting my chances, you can’t be really too frustrated. I had a lot of chances (Tuesday) but it was nice to find the net.” Gaudreau had seven shots on net, by the way.

THE DEVILS YOU KNOW

The Devils scrapped practice on Wednesday after Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout win in Winnipeg, their second consecutive victory … New Jersey has points in six of its last seven games and has gone 4-1-2 in that span … They’re currently amid a five-game road trip which sees them play Edmonton on Friday and Vancouver on Sunday … Common sense would dictate G Mackenzie Blackwood would start Thursday, after turning aside 32 of 33 shots on Tuesday. Blackwood has started the previous three games.

THIS N’ THAT

Calgary won both meetings against the Devils last season: a 2-1 decision at New Jersey on Feb. 27 and a 9-4 win at Calgary on March 12 … They’ll meet again on March 19 at New Jersey … Flames LW wrapped up his two-game suspension Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes and will likely draw back in Thursday. Lucic skated on a line with and on Wednesday … Tuesday was Calgary’s third win when trailing after two periods and the second time in the last four games … Flames D Mark Giordano played 28:22 on Tuesday and had a game-high nine shots on net.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160183 Calgary Flames At the start of the game when the team was introduced, the first thing I noticed is that Mangiapane was one of the last to hit the ice. He came on right after his pal, Rasmus Andersson, who he was teammates with at Shift by shift: A night in the life of Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane Barrie (OHL) and Stockton (AHL) and now sits beside in the Flames dressing room. I wondered if there were any superstitions at play.

Turns out, nope. It’s as simple as the two of them being beside each By Darren Haynes other and seated farthest away from the door that leads to the ice.

Nov 6, 2019 After the two anthems, in which he’s on the bench standing between and , he sits down and gets ready for another night at

the office. The wait for the first shift wouldn’t take long. Standing up on the bench, leg straddling the boards. Fidgeting, waiting, First period anticipation building. Andrew Mangiapane was ready. Shift 1 | 0:17 to 0:38, 21 seconds After all, was his guy. The other two-thirds of the overtime unit had changed — Rasmus Andersson came on for Noah With just 17 seconds having passed, the second line hops the boards for Hanifin after a 45-second shift, came on for Elias a faceoff to David Rittich’s left. Backlund’s line being tasked with a Lindholm after a 57-second shift. Tkachuk, who had started his shift at defensive zone start is nothing new, of course. Also not new is Backlund 3:15, same time as the others, was surely running out of gas by now, too, being tossed from the faceoff circle, as was the case again this time. as he had been out for over a minute. But with Calgary cycling the puck Enter Mangiapane, 25 percent at the dot on the season (3-9), whose in the offensive zone, and despite the bench being oh so close, as success rate promptly falls to 23.1 percent when he’s outduelled by Tkachuk skated just outside the blueline in the direction of the home Christian Dvorak. bench and the anxiously awaiting fresh legs, he veered to his right and reentered the zone for one more try. Not a lot goes on this shift, in which Calgary doesn’t make it past centre. Mangiapane and Dvorak, who would have been OHL rivals a few years At the same time Andersson is feeding the puck into Backlund on the back, end up closely covering each other. In one sequence, Dvorak boards, Tkachuk cuts across the slot toward them. Backlund drops the bumps Mangiapane in the back as he’s trying to receive a breakout pass. puck, Tkachuk gets it, pivots sharply to face the net and fires a shot that Seconds later, Mangiapane returns the favour, drilling Dvorak into the gets past Antti Raanta. Game over. Three-goal late-game comeback sideboards. complete. Tkachuk’s game-ending shift officially clocked at 1:11. “Mangy’s a hound. He’s an aggressive guy,” said Peters. “He’s a little guy Postgame, when I sat down beside Mangiapane at his locker, and asked with a chip on his shoulder, that’s kinda the way he plays.” if he was going to give Tkachuk heck for taking such a long shift, the $715,000 man chuckled at the suggestion, instead graciously deferring to Shift 2 | 6:02 to 7:02, one minute the guy making nearly 10 times that, who was holding court just 25 feet Mangiapane and linemates make their first foray into the offensive zone away with a throng of media. but the Coyotes get the puck back quickly and exit with ease. After “I’m ready just in case the puck goes the other way and maybe I can defending for a bit, back come the Flames, but again, the puck is turned backcheck and catch the guy,” Mangiapane said, explaining his mindset over and Arizona leaves its zone without issue. Third time approaching at that point. “But I guess he still had energy. I don’t know how it went in, the visitors’ end, the puck is dumped in and with a whole lot of nothing but I was happy that he got that one.” accomplished, Mangiapane heads for the bench and a change.

While I opened with the shift that didn’t happen, it was the 21 shifts that Shift 3 | 8:01 to 8:29, 28 seconds | Arizona scores did unfold for Mangiapane that I delved into next as my rather ambitious It starts off well. With control in the offensive zone, Mangiapane sends a idea was to document a night in the life of Mangiapane by breaking down pass back to Mark Giordano at the blueline who wrists a shot toward the — with his assistance — his evening’s 14:08 of work. net. It’s knocked down by a stick and kicks out right to Mangiapane at the Shift by shift, what happened and why? Not all shifts are created equal, side for a dangerous chance, but the puck hops over his stick and away some are nondescript, they just come and go with the most notable thing go the Coyotes. being the 40 seconds that came off the clock, but it made for an Eventually, Giordano regains the puck for Calgary on the end boards and interesting look at a night at the office for one of the Flames’ most he outlets the puck to Mangiapane, who heads up ice with the puck, exciting young players. Backlund joining him. But before crossing the blueline, a stray drop pass Tuesday’s game felt like a good choice considering Mangiapane was just is intended for Backlund is intercepted by Conor Garland. He quickly promoted to the Flames’ second line less than a week ago. Making just a dishes it to Nick Schmaltz, who goes cross-ice to Clayton Keller and his smidge above the league minimum, but playing in the top six, there’s lots one-timer beats Rittich. Arizona leads 1-0. of value to be had there if it continues and it seems that at least short “One bad turnover and it could be in the back of your net and that’s term, that’s the case. exactly what happened there,” said Mangiapane.

“That’s the plan right now,” confirmed Bill Peters after morning skate on Peters was not happy postgame with his team’s sloppy play all night, this Tuesday. “He’s been good. He’s been generating offence consistently for one included. a long time this year in limited minutes. Now the opportunity is there to do it in three or four minutes or more minutes per night.” “The first one we turn it over then all of a sudden we’re in the D-zone and all of a sudden, it’s bang and in the net. I mean seriously. It’s a little too Taking Michael Frolik’s spot beside Tkachuk and Backlund is something easy to get to our net. It’s a little too easy to ring up quality chances.” the 23-year-old is excited about. He says an extra four minutes of ice time may not seem like a lot, but it is. Mangiapane accepted the blame.

“I feel more into the game,” Mangiapane said. “When you’re playing on “That was a little miscommunication on our part,” said Mangiapane. the fourth line, it’s not really about the lines, it’s about power play and PK “(Backlund) was yelling, ‘behind, behind, behind’. He was talking about due to the fact that if you take a lot of power play, you take a lot of PK there being a guy behind me, I guess. I knew I had time and I knew I had and if you’re not playing on either of them, you’re sitting for a while. space, but when I heard, ‘behind, behind, behind’, I’m thinking that he That’s where the tough parts come in with the minutes. wants it, so that’s when I gave it to him. I thought maybe someone was coming down on me, so I was like OK, gotta trust my centreman. So “When you’re playing and you have a constant flow in the game, you feel that’s a brain fart on both of us, but mainly me.” better than if you roll lines for a bit, then you sit for a bit, then you go back out there. That’s where the difficult part comes in. Just staying ready.” Shift 4 | 11:17 to 12:13, 56 seconds

So away we go. Rewinding to the start of the game and a first period that In a perfectly executed breakout, T.J. Brodie rims the puck around the as Mangiapane admitted and as Peters fumed postgame, didn’t start off boards to Tkachuk on the sidewall, who steers the puck into the slot — so well. catching a pinching Coyotes — and onto the waiting stick of Backlund who is heading up ice full speed. Ahead, Backlund spots Mangiapane in behind Jakob Chychrun, but his pass doesn’t quite In the midst of a long break for Mangiapane, which included a couple of connect, partially deflected by the Arizona defenceman. TV timeouts as well as a PK, he uses one of those TV timeouts to climb over the boards and go for a quick twirl. “Backs made a nice play, sauced it, think it hit Chychrun’s stick. I was almost able to corral it again,” said Mangiapane. “I was full stride, I was “If there’s a lot of PKs or power plays if I’m not on the power play, I’ll do going to be off to the races there. I was kinda hoping that it would get that just to get the legs going, test the edges,” Mangiapane said. “You’re through, because I would have had him beat. I was behind him.” not really doing any hard strides. Just to feel the ice, type of thing, just keeping my mind in it, I think it helps me.” Potential scoring chance squandered, Mangiapane then loses an edge in the corner (more on this later) and the Coyotes gain possession and Shift 9 | 11:24 to 13:04, one minute and 40 seconds (PP) break out. Finally back on the ice, Mangiapane’s return comes on the back end of a Shift 5 | 15:22 to 15:38, 16 seconds power play with the Flames down 2-0. Soon after, he gets his first shot on goal. After Backlund seals off a clearing attempt, the puck ricochets As Backlund regains possession of the puck in the high slot of his own into the slot where Mangiapane skates onto it and from the top of the end, Tkachuk is sent flying — and his stick helicopters into the air — faceoff circle, fires a shot that Raanta kicks out with his pad. Bennett is when he is knocked from behind by 6-foot-2 Russian defenceman Ilya right there for the rebound, but he can’t control it. Lyubushkin. The referee’s arm goes straight up, a penalty for interference is coming. “That was an OK shot. I think could have gone a little bit more right,” Mangiapane said. “I just wanted to get it off, but he made a good save. I When the play stops, Mangiapane makes a point of tracking down the was hoping Benny was going to rebound in, but it was bouncing much larger Lyubushkin, grabs him and gives him a shove. Welcome to and spinning. Just the way it was going for us tonight.” life on a line with Tkachuk — it’s never dull. There was plenty of more possession time, but no dangerous chances “I don’t mind it. It gets you into the game,” said Mangiapane. “Either you created. When play headed up ice, Mangiapane then ended up stuck on throw a big hit or you take a big hit. It kinda wakes you up. If you’re in a for a long shift as Arizona possessed the puck and applied some scrum, or he’s starting a scrum, you’re going to go help him. It gets you pressure. into the game and I’m OK with that.” Shift 10 | 15:28 to 15:50, 22 seconds Shift 6 | 17:01 to 17:39, 38 seconds (PP) Zone time in Arizona’s end enables Mangiapane to showcase his puck In the absence of Milan Lucic the last two games, a suspension the retrieval skills that Peters often raves about. With the puck knocked into veteran acknowledged on Tuesday he doesn’t agree with, his spot on the the corner as part of an intense board battle behind the net, Mangiapane Flames second power play unit has gone to Mangiapane. The first continues to pursue it and outnumbered two to one, he still manages to chance for PP2, though, didn’t go so well. emerge with the puck and slip a pass to Tkachuk driving to the net, who First, they went offside on their zone entry attempt. Then came a bad is hauled down by Carl Soderberg, drawing a hooking penalty. turnover. Backlund transitions the puck up ice and feeds it to “I’m hard on pucks, being tenacious, being hard on the forecheck. Mangiapane as he crosses the Arizona blueline. Mangiapane carries it Making their D turn the puck over. Holding the puck down low. I feel like down the sideboards, before stopping and feeding it back to Brodie at the that’s a big part of my game,” Mangiapane said. blueline. Brodie receives it fine, but in attempting to go cross-ice to Sam Bennett, his pass is intercepted by Michael Grabner, who darts up ice on That sequence was a great example of the attributes that earned a two-man shorthanded breakaway. But Rittich makes a huge save. Mangiapane the promotion.

Second period “I like the fact that he looks to make plays. He’s got a good creative mind offensively,” Peters said. “He’s fearless going to the net. He scored a Shift 7 | 1:16 to 1:37, 21 seconds goal in Washington with a low drive across the front of the blue paint and With Tkachuk having started the period with the Flames on the power tucked it in the far side. You need a little bit of confidence to be able to do play, the first shift of the second period sees Michael Frolik fill in for that and he was able to do that in the , the Tkachuk on the second line. The short-term promotion for Frolik doesn’t and I think he’s going to be able to do it as we go very well though as he takes a cross-checking penalty, his eighth go along here in the National Hockey League.” minor penalty of the season. It means rest time for Mangiapane, who Shift 11 | 17:16 to 17:45, 29 seconds doesn’t play on the penalty kill. Right after Gaudreau’s power play goal narrows the deficit to 2-1, Peters Shift 8 | 4:09 to 5:03, 54 seconds goes back to his second line, but with Tobias Rieder in Tkachuk’s spot With Arizona having just scored to go ahead 2-0, Peters turns to after he was just on the ice for the man advantage. It’s a good shift in Backlund’s line for that all-important first shift after a goal against, hoping terms of keeping the momentum building as it’s spent predominantly in they can get momentum turned back in Calgary’s favour. Two-thirds into the Coyotes end with Arizona not getting the puck over centre. the shift, Backlund slips a pass to Mangiapane, who hits the Coyotes Third period blueline with speed and goes wide on the defenceman. However, as he attempts to turn sharply and set up a play, he loses an edge and crashes Shift 12 | 1:28 to 2:08, 40 seconds into the corner boards. That allows the Coyotes to clear out the puck. Down a goal, it’s a solid shift for the Flames with the second line That’s two noticeable falls already by Mangiapane, who said he had hemming Arizona in its own end and wearing them out with some strong skate issues all night. play along the end boards. Mangiapane, being his usual self, is relentless on the puck and for a majority of this shift, he and Chychrun really battle “I don’t know what was going on with my blades today, I think I changed each other down low. them four times,” he said. “Talking to Ozzie (Corey Osmak, assistant equipment manager), he was saying there were a lot of nicks out of it. I But in the opinion of the officials, Mangiapane gets a little too exuberant don’t know what was happening, but I kept blowing an edge. I don’t know at one point. The arm goes up and he’s penalized for holding. why.” He doesn’t agree with the call and hates the optics — an offensive zone The good news is the process is simple. Osmak keeps players’ extra penalty in the third period of a close game. blades sharpened, organized and nearby. The process of popping the blades out and putting the new ones back in only takes about 10 “Just battling. poking, holding. I don’t know what it was, really, I don’t seconds. know what he called me for either. I think it was just a battle in the corner,” pleaded Mangiapane. “We’re in the offensive zone, it was 2-1, “It happens, but it’s never happened four times. Usually it’s once if you you’re pressing for a goal and I’m just trying to forecheck. Just trying to step on something. That was weird,” Mangiapane said. get the puck. Doing whatever I can to get it. It happens, but it sucks.”

Quick stretch He says it’s tough to helplessly sit in the penalty box and watch in those instances.

Shift 13 | 4:08 to 4:27, 19 seconds This shift was listed officially as 19 seconds but in actuality, it was less Shift 21 | 1:28 to 2:14, 46 seconds than five seconds as upon exiting the penalty box, Mangiapane ripped across the ice to the home bench where the Flames, now on the power On his weak side for a D-zone draw, Backlund loses the faceoff and it play, got the rest of their first power play unit on the ice. leads to a stressful 46 seconds of puck chasing and hanging on for dear life for the OT trio of Backlund, Mangiapane and Andersson. Shift 14 | 5:16 to 6:22, one minute and six seconds “We didn’t get the draw and then they’re cycling, cycling, cycling,” Still down one, no shots allowed this shift, but the only shot generated Mangiapane said. “It’s the faceoff. If you don’t win that first faceoff, if you was a harmless 45-foot slapper. More time slips off the clock. don’t come out with that possession off the first faceoff, then you’re playing from behind and trying to get it back and it’s hard with all that Shift 15 | 7:56 to 8:51, 55 seconds space.”

Showing the type of offensive confidence that makes Mangiapane In one stretch in which Arizona nearly wins it. Rittich stops Chychrun, dangerous, he receives a long diagonal pass from Andersson — from the denies Dvorak on the rebound and Vinnie Hinostroza has a great chance Calgary blueline to the Arizona blueline — and Mangiapane proceeds to for his second of the game but he shoots it high and wide from 25 feet neatly elude defenceman Jason Demers, deke around Lawson Crouse out. and then keep Christian Fischer at bay, in the process creating a dangerous scoring chance with the puck in the middle of the ice and a “(Ritter) had some nice saves. I think we gave him too many chances. crowd in front. Breakaways and all that, a little too many of those, but he’s a good goalie. He’s been great. I’ve been with him for a while now. I’m used to It doesn’t lead to a goal, but showcases Mangiapane’s skill. what he’s doing.”

“If you’re on the blueline and you’re by yourself, you may need to chip it It wasn’t a game that Mangiapane will look back on as one of his best. in. Take a hit, chip it in, do whatever it may be. Obviously, you’re No. 1 He had just one shot and never ended up on the scoresheet. The second priority is to get it in deep,” Mangiapane said. “But if you can make a 2- line didn’t produce any goals. Then there was his turnover and potentially on-1 play out of it, chip it down low, whatever it may be. Chucky or Backs costly penalty. coming through with speed, then make the play, but most importantly, you’ve got to get it deep.” His tough night with his skate blades didn’t help. After the dressing room had emptied out after the game, Mangiapane was still chatting with Shift 16 | 10:31 to 11:10, 39 seconds Osmak about what the heck was going on with his blades.

Again, right after an Arizona goal, this time making it 3-1, Peters turns to But in glimpses, you saw all the tools; the reasons why the organization the Backlund line. They don’t accomplish a whole lot this shift, but in is excited about the player Mangiapane will become. Those are tools terms of field position, they do draw an icing from the Coyotes, which fans will see more and more now as his ice time continues to climb, enables Peters to put his top line back on for an offensive zone draw, which comes with top-six deployment and special teams time. which is important given the score in the game. Heck, maybe next time, it will be Mangiapane looking off Tkachuk and Shift 17 | 13:50 to 14:47, 57 seconds staying on the ice in OT to score the game-winner. In that case, though, Things are starting to look bleak for the home side. Frustrations show at you know Tkachuk won’t pass up the opportunity to get in a dig. the end of this shift with players on both sides coming together and barking at each other. Earlier in the shift, Lyubushkin clobbered Mangiapane into the boards. When play stops, that’s the main point of The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 discussion as Tkachuk makes a point of grabbing the Coyotes defenceman, who earlier in the game had taken that interference penalty against him.

Shift 18 | 16:30 to 17:05, 35 seconds

With the Flames back to within one at 3-2 after Tkachuk’s power play goal, it’s back to the second line again for the ensuing draw — this time with Bennett in place of Tkachuk.

The temporary trio generate a couple of chances, too. First, Hanifin’s shot is stopped. When the rebound kicks out the other direction, Backlund’s shot is also stopped by Raanta who slides across. It’s a good shift, that keeps the buzz in the Saddledome going.

Shift 19 | 18:08 to 18:21, 13 seconds

With the game tied 3-3 now, the second line is not on the ice for long, but Mangiapane gets in fast on the forecheck (before losing an edge again and crashing into the boards) and his pressure leads to the Coyotes icing the puck. Back out comes the Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm line for another offensive zone draw.

Shift 20 | 19:27 to 20:00, 33 seconds

In the final shift of regulation time, it’s more time spent in the offensive zone. As the buzzer goes, there’s a small melee in front in which Mangiapane and Chychrun meet up again and exchange whacks. Then Crouse, a giant man at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, gets in Mangiapane’s ear.

“Played against Crouse in junior and in the American League. Nothing was really going on. I couldn’t even hear anything, the crowd was yelling,” said Mangiapane.

Mangiapane reiterates that he’s not afraid of bigger guys. His whole hockey upbringing has been spent playing against bigger guys.

“I’ve been playing against them my whole life. I’ve always been on the smaller side of things, so I’m just used to it now.”

Overtime 1160184 Carolina Hurricanes News Observer LOADED: 11.07.2019

Five observations from the Canes’ 4-1 road loss to the Flyers

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

NOVEMBER 06, 2019 10:02 AM

Here are five observations from the Carolina Hurricanes’ 4-1 road loss Tuesday to the Philadelphia Flyers:

1. CANES NEED MORE UGLY GOALS

Forget “cute.” Think “grind.” That’s the message Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour sent out after the loss. The Canes, he said, were playing well Tuesday but added, “I’ll be blunt. We’ve changed our group this year a little bit and we’re talented but that doesn’t win if you don’t get to the net, be first and grind out the goals first -- that mentality.”

The Canes’ goal had some artistry to it, Martin Necas using his speed to get to the puck in the offensive zone, making a nice cross-ice pass to Trevor van Riemsdyk, who set up Lucas Wallmark for the score. But as Brind’Amour said, the Canes need more ugly ones.

Added Wallmark: “We need to play our game and it’s not fancy every time and I think first of all we need to shoot more.”

2. NUMBERS DON’T DECIDE THE GAME

Those looking only at the analytics of the game probably would have thought the Canes came away with the win. The Canes had more scoring chances (21-18) and high-danger chances (12-7), according to the Natural Stat Trick analytics site. They had the better of the Corsi and Fenwick stats, with 61 total shot attempts to the Flyers’ 43.

But statistics lie and the numbers don’t decide the game. Flyers goalie Carter Hart, up and down this season, was up Tuesday, stopping 33 of 34 shots. Canes goalie Petr Mrazek allowed four goals on 28 shots -- three on 13 shots in the third period.

3. MISSING ERIK HAULA

The Canes aren’t the same team without center Erik Haula in the lineup and his availability -- in practices and games -- moving forward is an immediate concern.

Brind’Amour said Wednesday that Haula, who underwent major surgery on his right knee last season, was experiencing some issues with the knee and his status is “day to day.” Brind’Amour said there was no structural damage to the knee that would require further surgery but that he did not know when Haula, who leads the Canes this season with eight goals, could return.

4. CANES STILL DEVELOPING AS A ROAD TEAM

A big part of the Canes becoming a playoff team last season was winning on the road, finishing 22-16-3 in the 41 games. It helped having that wise old head, Justin Williams, in the lineup and in the room, and the Canes became a very tough out.

The Canes are 3-3-1 on the road through the first seven games this season and don’t have Williams. But also to remember: they were 3-3-1 after the first seven a year ago and developed into a strong road team.

5. MORE ICE TIME, LESS PRODUCTION

Dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen resulted in center Sebastian Aho getting 22:21 of ice time and winger Teuvo Teravainen getting 22:04. Brind’Amour had two of his best players on the ice more but the production wasn’t there, only 22 minutes of wear and tear.

Forward Jordan Martinook, who has missed the past 11 games with a core muscle injury, has been skating and might be able to rejoin practice soon. The Canes need that extra forward and more specifically need Martinook.

For now, Eetu Luostarinen will get a look. The Finnish forward, signed to an entry-level contract in May, was recalled Wednesday from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL and should make his NHL debut Thursday against the New York Rangers. 1160185 Chicago Blackhawks “Now, can he do it for 82 games? That’s maybe not the best situation, but certainly with Murphy out, he’s had to take more responsibility and he’s been great for us.”

At 36, Duncan Keith leads the Blackhawks in ice time by a wide margin: Murphy will likely return this month, but Keith has no desire to see his ice ‘He looks like he could play the whole game at times’ time reduced. He doesn’t even credit Murphy’s injury with creating a chance for him to play more. As he sees it, his team is struggling and needs more of him. Not less.

By JIMMY GREENFIELD “When you’re defending a lot, it’s tough to look great,” Keith said. "When you’re in your own end a lot, when you’re constantly coming back and CHICAGO TRIBUNE defending, who’s going to look good? We’re not the Harlem Globetrotters NOV 06, 2019 | 4:18 PM out there right now. Maybe one day we will be if we keep working.

“I feel good, I feel quick, I feel fast and this year my energy’s there. So I feel like I can do anything that’s asked of me.” No matter how hard Duncan Keith trains or how much he believes in his abilities, age will eventually catch up to him. The Hawks sent rookie defenseman Dennis Gilbert to Rockford after he played in two games in his latest NHL stint. He has no points in three Father Time comes for everyone, no matter what line of work you’re in, games this season. but for most professions it doesn’t happen in public as it does for athletes. The Hawks had been carrying eight defensemen since recalling Adam Boqvist from the IceHogs last week. Few have been as devoted to staying in shape and fending off the inevitabilty of aging as the 36-year-old Keith, whose commitment to Connor Murphy (groin) won’t be eligible to come off long-term injured preparing for every shift, every game, every season is legendary. reserve until Nov. 16, when the Hawks visit the Predators.

And it’s ongoing.

“I trained hard this summer,” Keith said. “I believe in myself. I know what I Chicago Tribune LOADED: 11.07.2019 can do. I know as you get up there, people want to talk about your age. I feel better than I did five or six years ago. I’m being honest.

“I’ve put a lot of work to get to this point and feel like I can play those extra minutes that the team needs to be out there and have an impact on the game.”

The Hawks have needed Keith for every one of his 15 seasons, but when this one began, it seemed he might be on the verge of taking a reduced role after playing a career-low 23 minutes, 1 second per game last season. The emergence of Erik Gustafsson and offseason trades for Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta indicated Keith might be part of the mix rather than the Hawks’ go-to defenseman.

3 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 4-2 loss to the Sharks, including Jonathan Toews describing the team as being ‘timid’ »

The first 14 games have altered those expectations. Keith again leads the Hawks in ice time by a wide margin, and his 24:51 average ranks 13th in the league. He’s playing nearly four minutes more per game than Patrick Kane and nearly five minutes more than any other defenseman.

And for the first time during coach Jeremy Colliton’s tenure, Keith is quarterbacking the first power-play unit.

“It feels good,” Keith said. “I want to be that guy.”

The joy of returning to the top power-play unit is plainly evident, but the hurt of not always being “the guy” anymore is still fresh. Keith wants his coaches to ask a lot of him, his teammates to rely on him and the fans to expect the most out of him.

Most of all, Keith just wants to do his job. When he’s not on the ice at crucial times, that isn’t possible. And it hurts.

“I was the guy for three Stanley Cup-winning teams,” Keith said. “It’s different when you’re sitting on the bench. You’re not the guy. How do you think that feels? Doesn’t feel good. You want to be the guy that makes the plays to help win the game. Clutch player. I pride myself on that, being on the ice the last minute of the game. There’s a human element that goes into a lot of this.”

Even before Colliton replaced Gustafsson with Keith on the power play, he had been asking more from Keith. Connor Murphy went down with a groin injury last month, and Keith’s ice time increased.

He was averaging 24:18 with Murphy in the lineup and 25:16 since the injury, including the game in which Murphy was hurt and Keith logged 28:03. The 28:43 he played Nov. 2 against the Kings was his most ice time in nearly two years and most under Colliton.

“He looks like he could play the whole game at times out there,” Colliton said. “He’s been excellent. He loves it too. Everyone says they want to play more, but he really seems to thrive off it. 1160186 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 11.07.2019

Blackhawks’ bad dump-and-chase habit is killing their offense

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Nov 6, 2019, 5:42pm CST

During the first two periods of the loss to the Sharks on Tuesday, the Blackhawks dumped the puck into their offensive zone 31 times.

They gained possession on just seven of those dump-and-chase attempts.

Not coincidentally, those two periods were about as hapless and hopeless as an NHL team can play, especially a team with as many talented, proven forwards as the Hawks have.

“I don’t think we were doing anything of that really well,” Jonathan Toews said. “Our rush game was pretty much non-existent. If we chipped the puck in, it was always to the goaltender, and they just seemed to get the puck and get above our forwards and off they go.”

“We’re backchecking, and it ends up in our zone, and we can’t get it out. It’s pretty straightforward.”

The shot production was abysmal: By the second intermission, the Hawks had mustered just 17 shot attempts and eight on goal.

In the third period, the Sharks dialed back their neutral zone press to protect their lead, and the Hawks found more urgency and generated more chances. But that “score effects” dynamic occurs pretty universally, even for teams such as the Senators. And the Hawks have too much invested to accept playing like the Senators, even if they are only two points ahead of them.

Offensive zone entry attempts are typically classified into two categories: dump-ins and carry-ins, the latter type also including passes across the blue line. Carry-ins have a higher success rate leaguewide.

Last season, the Hawks were at the forefront of a movement toward transition offense, leading the NHL in percentage of entry attempts that were carry-ins. But this season, with Jeremy Colliton’s emphasizing a conservative, defense-first system, the Hawks have shifted more toward dump-ins because they limit opponent counterattacks.

But there’s one problem: They don’t work very well. They especially don’t work well against the Sharks.

Through the first two periods, the Hawks attempted the 31 dump-ins with a 23 percent success rate. They had a 70 percent success rate on carry- ins but attempted only 10.

The Sharks, meanwhile, operated with comparable success rates on their methods of entry — 84 percent on carry-ins, 28 percent on dump- ins — but attempted 25 carry-ins and only 18 dump-ins.

Naturally, the Sharks dominated the game.

Colliton noted after the game that the Hawks weren’t crossing their defensive blue line cleanly, either, making it difficult to pursue the dump- ins at the other end of the rink. Many of the Hawks’ dump-ins also were straight ahead instead of cross-corner or rimmed around the boards, a small modification that gives the weak-side winger a head start on his forecheck.

“Getting back to the forecheck, I thought we were late a lot early on, so they were making a lot of plays because we were kind of halfway,” Colliton said.

The reality remains that if the Hawks want to improve their 29th-ranked offense, they simply must begin carrying or passing the puck into the zone more often. Their conservatism clearly isn’t working, with only four wins in 14 games.

“We could hang on to the puck and, if we are going to dump it in, make some better decisions on where we’re putting it,” Patrick Kane said. “Not just giving it to their goalie or giving it to them where they have easy chances to break out. There’s a lot of different things we can do.” 1160187 Chicago Blackhawks

Boeser, Canucks to play Blackhawks in Chicago

Staff Report

By

Posted

11/7/2019 7:00 AM

Vancouver Canucks (9-3-3, second in the Pacific Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4-7-3, sixth in the Central Division)

Chicago; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks host the Vancouver Canucks.

The Blackhawks are 3-3-3 in Western Conference games. Chicago has given up nine power-play goals, killing 80.4% of opponent chances.

The Canucks are 3-2-1 against opponents from the Pacific Division. Vancouver has scored 52 goals and ranks sixth in the NHL averaging 3.5 goals per game. Brock Boeser leads the team with seven.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting this season for the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Patrick Kane leads the Blackhawks with four goals, adding nine assists and totaling 13 points. Alex DeBrincat has recorded 7 points over the last 10 games for Chicago.

Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks with 20 points, scoring six goals and adding 14 assists. Bo Horvat has totaled six goals and six assists over the last 10 games for Vancouver.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160188 Chicago Blackhawks After 14 games, there's little doubt who the Hawks' starting goalie is at this point. It's Robin Lehner, and it's not even close.

Lehner's save percentage (.935) ranks fifth in the league, while his goals- Never a dull moment for Blackhawks on road trip against average (2.33) ranks 12th. Even more remarkable, Lehner has stopped 39 of 41 shots while the Hawks have been short-handed.

Meanwhile, Corey Crawford's save percentage (.892) ranks 39th and his John Dietz goals-against average (3.74) ranks 48th.

Follow @johndietzdh Until he stumbles -- if he ever does -- Lehner figures to get the majority of the starts going forward. Updated Coming home: 11/6/2019 7:48 PM Before the Hawks departed on their four-game road trip, I commented on

Twitter that 4 out of 8 points would have been acceptable. They got 3, What a bizarre road trip the Blackhawks just finished Tuesday, huh? going 1-2-1.

They were gone for just eight days but certainly kept fans' heads spinning So it wasn't a complete disaster, but there are still plenty of disturbing with big news and big decisions seemingly every day. signs. Chief among them is the Hawks' inability to effectively exit the defensive zone and their maddeningly weak attempts at dumping the Here's my take on all of it as they prepare to face the red-hot Vancouver puck into the offensive zone. Canucks on Thursday at the United Center. Combine these two issues with weak D-zone coverage and it's no Seabrook's scratches: wonder Colliton's team was outshot by a combined 170-105 at Nashville, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose. The decision to sit Brent Seabrook against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 27 certainly raised some eyebrows. But the decision to do it again The Hawks need to right the ship, and fast because the upcoming two nights later in Nashville turned some heads in "Exorcist"-like fashion. schedule is downright nasty.

For better or worse, this was a defining moment for coach Jeremy My gut says they need to play at least .500 hockey over the next eight Colliton. games, then figure out a way to rattle off 5 straight victories over Dallas (twice), Colorado (twice) and St. Louis. In one fell swoop, he sent a clear message to the entire roster: Your salary and history guarantees nothing. If you're not performing, your ice If they do that, the playoffs are still a possibility. time will suffer. If it continues, you'll sit for a game. Or two. Or perhaps longer. If not, odds are they'll be hoping the Ping-Pong balls bounce their way come April. To be sure, it was a bold move. But did Colliton lose Seabrook -- and a veteran or two -- along the way?

There's no doubt Seabrook was not happy with the decision, so it will be Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.07.2019 interesting to see how it affects his play. As for perhaps waiving his no- movement clause, Seabrook told Scott Powers of The Athletic: "I think I've got a lot to offer this team. I want to be in Chicago, help this team. I think I've still got a lot in the tank.

"It's obviously frustrating when you're not playing. Like I said, I feel like I've got lots to offer this group, and I want to be here in Chicago."

Case closed? Only time will tell.

Dach's docked:

A day after losing 3-0 at Nashville, the Hawks announced that Kirby Dach would be sticking around all season. In many ways, that seems like a shortsighted decision.

Dach's game figures to improve this season, but there's nothing to suggest that he's going to post numbers like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, , Nico Hischier or Brady Tkachuk did during their rookie campaigns. Five of those six notched 20 goals in their first year, and the only reason McDavid (16G in 45 games) didn't is because he was injured.

Sending Dach back to juniors would have been difficult on management - - especially considering the mounting pressures to right this ship -- but there's a strong possibility it would have been better for his long-term development.

Boqvist on board:

Next came the somewhat shocking news that Adam Boqvist was promoted from Rockford.

Boqvist hasn't looked at all out of place and is doing a fine job quarterbacking the Hawks' suddenly potent second power-play unit.

The guess here is he gets shuttled back and forth to Rockford for a good chunk of the season. His first ticket back to the IceHogs might come as early as mid-November when Connor Murphy is eligible to come off long- term injured reserve.

Leaning on Lehner: 1160189 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks re-assign Dennis Gilbert to Rockford

By Rob Schaefer

November 06, 2019 5:28 PM

Wednesday evening, the Blackhawks announced that they have re- assigned Dennis Gilbert to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.

The move makes sense from the team's perspective, especially given the immediate success Adam Boqvist has found since being called up.

Gilbert appeared in three games for the Blackhawks in this, his most recent NHL stint, racking up 17 hits and one shot on goal in the process.

The Blackhawks now have seven defensemen on the roster out of 22 total skaters.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160190 Chicago Blackhawks In many ways, the Blackhawks are in a worse position than they were last season because no general manager was more active in the offseason than Stan Bowman.

One year after coaching change, Blackhawks have regressed under The Blackhawks landed the No. 3 overall pick and drafted Kirby Dach, Jeremy Colliton added a pair of defensive-minded defensemen in Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta, reacquired Andrew Shaw to add some sandpaper to the mix, traded for then signed Dominik Kubalik for scoring depth, took a flyer on former No. 8 overall pick Alex Nylander and brought in Vezina Trophy By Charlie Roumeliotis finalist Robin Lehner to pair with a two-time Stanley Cup champion in November 06, 2019 3:45 PM Corey Crawford between the pipes.

This is the year the Blackhawks were supposed to build things back up after missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Internally, they One year ago today, the Blackhawks made a franchise-altering decision expected to make the playoffs after retooling on the fly. by relieving Joel Quenneville of his head coaching duties and replacing him with 33-year-old Jeremy Colliton. Instead, the Blackhawks have regressed under Colliton and there are even more questions than answers from when he took over behind the It’s a move that was — and still is — highly controversial among the bench exactly one year ago. Chicago fanbase because it marked the end of an era with the dismantling of a dynasty-type leadership group.

One side felt that the roster wasn’t good enough and Quenneville took Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 the fall for it. The other side felt that it was time for a fresh voice in the locker room. It’s fair if you found yourself somewhere in the middle.

But one thing that many of those fans didn't expect going into this season is the Blackhawks would take a step back when you consider the team was on a 100-point pace from January and on last season.

When they fired Quenneville, the Blackhawks were 6-6-3 and sat only two points out of a wildcard spot. Fast forward one year and the Blackhawks are 4-7-3, have the fewest wins in regulation (two) of any NHL team and are nine points out of a wildcard position, albeit with a few games in hand.

Beyond the standings, the Blackhawks haven't taken strides in several key statistical categories. Here's where they rank in some of them, as of Wednesday, according to Natural Stat Trick:

— Points percentage (.393): 26th

— Goals for per game (2.36): 29th

— Goals against per game (3.07): 17th

— Power play percentage (11.9): 28th

— Penalty kill percentage (80.4): 19th

— Shots per game (30.1): 21st

— Shots allowed per game (35.6): 31st

— Scoring chances for percentage at 5-on-5 (46.3): 30th

— High-danger chances for percentage at 5-on-5 (44.0): 28th

— Expected goals for percentage (45.3): 29th

Now this is where the Blackhawks ranked in those areas at the end of the 2018-19 season:

— Points percentage (.512): 20th

— Goals for per game (3.26) 8th

— Goals against per game (3.55): 30th

— Power play percentage (20.2): 15th

— Penalty kill percentage (72.7): 31st

— Shots per game (32.5): 12th

— Shots allowed per game (34.8): 30th

— Scoring chances for percentage at 5-on-5 (47.3): 25th

— High-danger chances for percentage at 5-on-5 (42.8): 31st

— Expected goals for percentage (45.8): 29th

The only improvement has come in the goals against and penalty kill department, where the the latter has seen an eight percent success rate increase following a historically bad season. Every other category has stayed the same or gone backwards, with the offense and power play production most notably dropping off significantly. 1160191 Chicago Blackhawks

Four takeaways: Blackhawks turn in another clunker against Sharks

By Charlie Roumeliotis

November 05, 2019 11:50 PM

Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Tuesday:

1. Blackhawks finish road trip same way they started

The Blackhawks kicked off their four-game road trip with a forgettable 3-0 loss to Nashville in which they were outshot 51-20. They followed that up by coming away with three of four points against Los Angeles and Anaheim and put themselves in a position to return home with five out of a possible six points on the California swing.

But the Blackhawks turned in another clunker against a Sharks team that was sitting in the basement of the Western Conference. The Blackhawks were outplayed in every category, including shot attempts (58-38), shots on goal (32-21), even-strength scoring chances (20-16) and even- strength high-danger chances (9-6) to finish the road trip the same way they started: in embarrassing fashion.

2. A battle between two vulnerable teams

The Sharks entered Tuesday's matchup ranked 27th in goals per game (2.40) and 28th in goals against per game (3.73). They had also lost five straight in regulation and were outscored 22-8 over that stretch. This is a team that was vulnerable.

But so were the Blackhawks, who were outshot 32-21 by the Sharks and have been outshot 209-131 over their last five games for a differential of - 78.

3. Where is the offense?

The most alarming part of this Blackhawks season is the fact that the offense simply hasn't been there. They had only three shots on goal at the midway mark of the game and were on the verge of being shut out for the third time in six games before Brandon Saad and Duncan Keith scored two goals in 1:08 in the final three minutes of regulation.

It's one thing to give up a lot of shots and scoring chances, but it's even worse when you're not generating any of your own as well. The Blackhawks are struggling to find their way on both ends of the ice right now.

4. Top-six goes quiet

The first line of Alex Nylander, Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews and second line of Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome each had positive possession numbers at even strength against Anaheim, but the top-six didn't do its part against San Jose.

The Saad-Toews-Nylander trio had just one shot attempt for and nine against at 5-on-5 while the DeBrincat-Strome-Kane line had four shot attempts four and 14 against, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Blackhawks need their top guys to play like it if they want to turn their fortunes around quickly.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160192 Chicago Blackhawks friendship never wavered. When Quenneville hit the open market, it was natural for the Panthers to come calling.

As the Panthers’ disappointing 2018-19 season unfolded, the talk of A year ago, the Blackhawks fired Joel Quenneville. The Panthers have Quenneville joining Tallon in the sunshine heated up a bit, although taken full advantage nothing happened publicly. The two sides spoke in the final days of the season, and a handshake deal was reached.

On the morning after Florida’s season ended with them 12 points out of a By George Richards playoff berth, Boughner was fired. News of Quenneville’s probable arrival came quickly. Florida’s players gathered for an end-of-season golf outing Nov 6, 2019 that Sunday and phones were buzzing.

Forward Troy Brouwer, who played for Quenneville in Chicago and was CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Joel Quenneville was in a sunny mood on part of the Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup championship since 1961 when Wednesday morning. they won it in 2010, said he was the most popular guy on the golf course as his teammates rushed to find out what they were getting in their new After a hard practice, he held his daily media session before taking a coach. moment to speak with a local television station about his team’s Movember initiative. “He is an intense guy, a really good coach, and I think he is going to do really well here,” Brouwer said a few hours before Quenneville was A number of his players are growing facial hair to raise awareness of officially announced as Florida’s new coach on April 8. men’s health issues and, well, one cannot truly do a story on mustaches in hockey without asking Quenneville about his. “Guys are excited to get to know him, start to work for him. … He is a great guy who will go to bat for his players, always has their back. He’s “You have to water it,” he said with a chuckle. really intense. You will hear a lot of yelling on the bench, but that’s just his competitiveness.” A year ago, Quenneville was in a much more somber mood. Quenneville signed a five-year deal with the Panthers worth an estimated On Nov. 6, 2018, he went in to work at United Center and was greeted by $6 million per season, making him the second-highest paid coach in the Chicago Blackhawks team president John McDonough and general NHL behind Toronto’s Mike Babcock. It is, by far, the most the franchise manager Stan Bowman. has ever spent on a coach. The Blackhawks were off to a 6-6-3 start but had lost their last five As such, his arrival in South Florida was a huge media event. It is not games including all three on a trip to Western Canada. every day the local hockey team hires the second-winningest coach in There was no practice for the team, but there would be plenty of news on the game, one who won the Stanley Cup three times this decade. this day. The team even made a commercial out of Quenneville arriving in Fort After 10 seasons behind the Chicago bench, Quenneville was fired. Lauderdale via private jet and players, while expressing disappointment in the firing of Boughner, were excited about the new start. The hockey world was in a state of shock at the dismissal. Although Quenneville was said to be on the hot seat, the news still came as a Now a month into their first season, that vibe has not worn off. surprise to many. Florida goes into its game against Washington on Thursday 7-3-4. Their Quenneville, after all, took over a Chicago team in 2008 just starting to 18 points are good enough entering Thursday for fourth place in the show signs of life and brought the Hawks to the top of the hockey world. Atlantic Division and a playoff spot. Three times. “We knew this would be a new opportunity to learn from someone who is If Quenneville knew Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of losing one of the best coaches to ever coach the game,” defenseman Aaron a job he loved in a city that loved him just as much, he did not show it. Ekblad said.

“Thanks for reminding me of that,” he said with a laugh. “That part was exciting, is exciting. I am lucky to be here in Florida and be here to learn from such a great coach. It has 100 percent been what I “We know, in the coaching business, that’s one of the tough things that expected. Everything is different. I feel so much more confident in my goes along with it. But that is how it works. We were in one place for the game now, playing the way they have been teaching us. We are reaping longest time and loved every minute of it. the rewards right now.

“It was a good situation there, but now we’re here and have some work to “We have had, realistically, one or two bad games so far where we didn’t do. I am excited about where we’re at and knowing there is a lot of work play the right way from the start. But we responded well after those to be done to reach the goal of where we want to get to.” games, and I think that shows resiliency, but it also shows what good Quenneville says he is not one to mark anniversaries such as these. He coaches we have here.” will admit, though, it has been a crazy year. Quenneville quickly put his stamp on the team, working with Tallon Not only for him, of course, but for the Florida Panthers as well. during the summer to formulate a plan in free agency.

The Panthers were one of the first teams to be linked to Quenneville Although the signing of Sergei Bobrovsky to a seven-year, $70 million upon his dismissal from the Blackhawks even though they had a coach in contract rightfully got the headlines, also adding players such as Brett Bob Boughner who was in his second season. Connolly, Anton Stralman and Noel Acciari were big additions to the solid squad that piqued Quenneville’s interest in the first place. The day he was fired, a USA Today headline suggested that Quenneville would be “the Blackhawks’ gift to another team.” As it turned out, the Signing veteran Brian Boyle once the season started was another Q- Panthers were indeed the ones on the receiving end. esque addition.

“It is great to have him here,” Florida forward Frank Vatrano said. “You “We are a work in progress,” Quenneville said Wednesday when asked know, everything happens for a reason and he is in a great spot now. He how he thought the season was going. is really going to help us be successful and win games.” “I thought coming into it, we have a whole new group getting adjusted to Quenneville and Florida GM had been friends for years and how we’re playing, how individuals are coming together in their own worked together briefly in Chicago. It was Tallon who hired Quenneville games as linemates, D-partners and . Put it all together and to be a scout for the Blackhawks and then put him behind the bench there is progression, which you like to see. … when he fired Denis Savard four games into the 2008-09 season. ”We’re excited about where we’re at. When you’re winning, you have way Tallon was replaced as GM by Bowman that offseason and later made more fun and enjoy things more. But as a coach, the real enjoyment his way to Florida’s front office. The two never lost touch, and their comes in seeing players do the right things and improve on the little things.” Quenneville has his team working hard and fast.

Most practices only last 45 minutes or so, but the Panthers are skating almost the entire time. Defensive problems the team has faced in the past are starting to disappear, and bad habits are popping up less and less.

“In talking to guys before the season, I did not hear one bad thing (about Quenneville),” Vatrano said. “He brings a real energy to the rink every day, and everyone knows what he expects out of you. He holds himself to that same standard. He makes sure we are doing the right things.

“It has been fun to be coached by him, and it is fun coming to the rink every day. You know you’re going to work hard every single day. Every game and every meeting, we’re prepared. You cannot be halfway here. You have to be all-in and committed to the way he wants to play, to doing the right things and taking care of yourself off the ice. There’s accountability here and we need that.’’

As for the yelling Brouwer warned about, the Panthers have not really seen that side of Quenneville yet.

Sure, players say, he has raised his voice a time or two, but Quenneville can get his mood across with just a look.

Ekblad, for instance, said instead of screaming after a loss or focusing on “all the bad things we did,” Quenneville has focused on how to do things better and improve as a team.

The Panthers seem to have taken to that approach.

“After a bad game sometimes, you come into the room and you can feel that depression,” Ekblad said. “Right now, it is not like that. There is no ‘Screw you guys!’ There is a lot more optimism, more of a positive outlook, and each day you come to the rink with a fresh outlook and almost a new lease on life.

“He wants us to fix our mistakes, not dwell on them and continue to think about them and lose confidence in what we’re doing. I wouldn’t say he is a yeller at all, but he has a real optimistic approach to teaching. He wants us to find a way to be better. It’s a ‘moving forward’ mentality, not a look- back one. It really works.

“It is so different around here and so exciting. It really is awesome.”

The Panthers will continue to be without center Vincent Trocheck as he works his way back from an injury sustained blocking a shot Oct. 19 at Nashville.

Trocheck did not practice with the team again Wednesday, and he will not play against the Capitals on Thursday at BB&T Center.

Florida will also be missing Acciari, its fourth-line center, after he pulled something at practice on Monday.

Both players, Quenneville said, are day-to-day and expected to travel with the team to New York this weekend.

Defenseman Mike Matheson has been cleared to play and will be back in the lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury. The Panthers sent Riley Stillman back to AHL Springfield.

“Certain guys jumped in and played well in (Matheson’s) absence,” Quenneville said. “I thought he was playing well before getting hurt, and watching him today, he looks ready to go.’’

With Acciari out, the Panthers recalled Dominic Toninato from Springfield. Toninato was one of the final cuts of the preseason as he impressed the team with his speed and the way he handled himself on the ice.

In Springfield, Toninato had four goals and six points in 12 games. He will take Acciari’s spot on the fourth line alongside Colton Sceviour and Dryden Hunt.

“I thought I had a good preseason, but obviously things did not work out the way I hoped they would,” said Toninato, who appeared in 39 games with Colorado over the previous two seasons. “But that’s OK. I went down, worked on my game and got the call.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160193 Chicago Blackhawks AHL. But the group text is the easiest way to keep 23 guys on the same page.

Well, once everyone gets around to putting all the new numbers into their Off Beat: Group texts, May-December bromances and making friends in phones, at least. an NHL dressing room “That was pretty funny in Prague — I didn’t have every number from all the new guys, so it’s just number, number, number, number, no names,” Gustafsson said. “I was just like, ‘Come on. Can’t everyone just say their Mark Lazerus names so I can save it all?’”

Nov 6, 2019 The Blackhawks’ group text isn’t terribly active most nights. On the road, if a player is headed out to dinner somewhere, he’ll fire off a quick text

that he’s leaving for Italian food at 7:30. Meet me in the lobby if you want This is the fifth edition of Off Beat, an occasional series peeling back the in. If someone can’t find Ommen’s most recent email, he’ll ask the hive curtain to show the human side of professional sports, and the little mind what time the bus leaves for the rink. On a Thursday night in mid- quirks of hockey culture. You can find the first four editions here and here October, a few guys were talking about the Patrick Mahomes knee injury and here and here. on Thursday Night Football.

On his way out of the Blackhawks’ dressing room one afternoon last And this being hockey, there’s naturally some chirping going on. Mess up month, Alex DeBrincat announced to nobody in particular that he was a drill in practice, and you’ll hear about it on the group chat the rest of the going to see “Joker.” day. And yes, again, Shaw is the loudest one in the chat.

“Wait up, I’ll come,” Patrick Kane said. “He talks to himself half the time,” Toews said. “I’m not even joking.”

“Hey, me, too,” Alex Nylander said. It’s the smaller group chats that can get a little livelier. The Snapchat group was overloaded with family photos and artfully presented dinner And that’s how a 30-year-old found himself at the movies with a couple of tables over Canadian Thanksgiving. The resident hockey nerds of the 21-year-olds. One of the most famous people in Chicago and two guys team — Kane, DeBrincat and Dylan Strome — have their own little group who could walk into just about any restaurant in the city and not get text, and they’ll fire off power-play analysis while watching the same noticed. A 13-year veteran, a third-year standout and a rookie on a new game in their respective homes. Shaw, who quickly bonded (and team in a new city. Two Americans and a Swede. annoyed) DeBrincat and Strome while they were briefly linemates at the start of the season, still chimes in with them every now and then. (And no, DeBrincat didn’t get carded for the R-rated film. “I got the tickets for him, so he snuck in,” Kane said.) There’s also Instagram, of course.

Spend enough time around Chicago — or 30 other cities across North “I don’t comment much, but I comment on Shawzie’s pics a lot,” America, for that matter — and you never know which combination of Gustafsson said. “And I think I follow DeBrincat’s dog. No idea why. Hit Blackhawks you might run into. Oh, sure, you might see longtime BFFs follow one time, I guess, and now it’s following me.” Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook together. But you also might run into Jonathan Toews and Marcus Kruger braving the cold to walk to a mall in During their first Stanley Cup run in 2009-10, the Blackhawks were downtown Calgary. What on Earth do they have to talk about? You might inseparable. They rolled 15 to 20 strong to the bar on the road, went out see DeBrincat out to dinner with Seabrook, Cam Ward and Chris Kunitz for massive, late-night team dinners after home games, and everyone in Anaheim; or Strome with Artem Anisimov at the MGM Detroit hung out with everyone. When they did split up for smaller dinners on the steakhouse. What could they possibly have in common? Maybe you’ll road, you didn’t pick your dining partners based on whom you liked, you find Brandon Saad and David Kampf grabbing a quick bite. Wait, what? picked based on what food you wanted. After all, it didn’t matter who was Or you might have spotted Brendan Perlini and Slater Koekkoek catching coming with you, because you liked everyone. a flick in Vancouver. Does Koekkoek even like European soccer? In 2015-16 and 2016-17, that was no longer the case. There were the old How do these groupings come about? How are friendships forged in the guys and the young guys, the Swedes and the Russians, the Czechs and NHL? How does the new guy become just one of the guys? Well, it turns the Slovaks. And the groups didn’t really mix all that often. So in the fall out an NHL dressing room isn’t all that different from any other office of 2017, Toews — who occasionally has to double as social mediator setting. Throw a bunch of people into close quarters for hours on end, and cruise director as team captain — and the rest of the leadership every single day, and friendships will form, cliques will materialize and group declared that the cliques had to go. No more Core and Everyone merge, and inside jokes will build. Those things matter, too, because the Else, no more young guys and old guys. closer you are as an office, the better you’ll feel going to work every day From now on, they were all just Blackhawks. And it worked. Under-the- — and, ideally, the better you’ll perform. surface tensions dropped away, and even though the team struggled on “That’s the biggest thing about a team,” Toews said. “Everyone wants to the ice, there were few conflicts off it. feel like whatever contribution they’re making, however big or small, it’s “Especially the last two or three years, we’ve been trying not to have so being noticed and it’s valued. And hanging out together, spending time many cliques on the team,” Kane said. “Try to make it one big group with together, that’s a good way to do that — to make sure guys feel like and everyone together. I mean, obviously I’m really close with Duncs and know that they’re part of a team, and that their impact matters.” Seabs, and Crow and Tazer. With everything we’ve been through, it’s Andrew Shaw has wasted no time reintegrating himself into the great to hang out with them. But it’s also good to see what other guys are Blackhawks’ social scene. (David Banks / USA Today) up to, too.”

Every workplace has the Reply-All person. It’ll probably shock absolutely Kane is the most obvious clique-buster on the team. Over the last few no one that Andrew Shaw is the Blackhawks’ Reply-All guy. seasons, he’s gravitated toward the younger guys — staying out in practice longer to work on skills development, lingering in the locker room Just before training camp opened in September, strength coach Paul to geek out over stats, and yes, taking the kids to the movies. First, it was Goodman blasted out a text to more than 50 players with ice times, Nick Schmaltz, Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza. Now it’s DeBrincat, weight-room times and conditioning-test times. Strome and even Nylander and Kirby Dach, who was 6 years old when Kane made his NHL debut. “And Shawzie replied to all of the guys,” Erik Gustafsson said, shaking his head. “Just dumb. But Shawzie is dumb, so … ” “I’ve always enjoyed when younger guys come into the locker room,” Kane said. “I think it’s good for the team, especially for us older guys, to Like with any social network, the group text has become a staple of talk to them about certain things. Not just hockey things, but lifestyle communication in the NHL. While official team business is usually things, too — how they live their life. I enjoy that. They have a lot to offer, covered with email — director of team services Tony Ommen sends out too. They’re so skilled, so talented, they’ve been training the right way, daily emails with practice times and travel reminders and the like — the with personal trainers and personal skill guys and things like that. Even players themselves mostly keep in touch through texts. A few of the talking to a guy like Kirby, there are things you can take from the way he younger guys on the team have their own Snapchat group. Perlini said the Tucson Roadrunners used a WhatsApp group when he was in the trains and the way he works on the ice in the summers. They help you nice. Obviously, when the game comes around, that’s when it gets feel younger, too.” serious. But you need that. You need to come to the rink and have a little fun once in a while. That’s why you love hockey.” The result is all these odd couples and groupings you see about town sometimes. Sure, Seabrook is 13 years older than DeBrincat. But they It can be hard to be the new guy. And there are a whopping 10 new guys both like eating steak the night before a game, so you’ll usually find them on the Blackhawks roster this season. They were all made to feel and a few others in a steakhouse on the road (if you’re wondering, yes, welcome right away. Seabrook downplays his behind-the-scenes role, sometimes Seabrook picks up the check, but usually they do the pick- but there’s a reason you’ll never hear a Blackhawks player, on or off the someone’s-credit-card-out-of-a-hat game). If someone mentions he has record, bemoan Seabrook’s contract. an errand to run after a practice, or plans to go shopping in Beverly Hills on an off day in Los Angeles, any one of the other 22 guys might join In that room, he’s worth every penny. him. “I don’t know, you talk to him,” Seabrook shrugged, talking about his “Some teams are definitely grouped,” said goaltender Robin Lehner, outreach efforts to any given player. “You try to get to know him on a who’s on his fourth NHL team in the last six seasons. “This team seems personal level. It’s all about having fun and helping them feel as to be not that grouped. It’s different from team to team. It depends on the comfortable as they can.” personalities you have, how long they’ve been together, how many new Getting integrated into a new team is a different experience for every guys you have — all of these things come into account. But this team player. For Kampf, who spoke little English when he first came to isn’t grouped. It’s very friendly.” Chicago, it was difficult at times. He clung to Michal Kempny, who also In fact, some younger players go out of their way to hang out with the occasionally had to serve as his interpreter. older guys. You never know what pro tip you might learn, or what “I knew enough English to understand,” he said. “But I can’t say some hilarious tale of yesteryear you might hear. long story, you know, or something like that. A small sentence was OK. “You always go to dinner with different guys and get to know new guys But that’s it.” and hear new stories,” Strome said. “Lehner’s an interesting guy to talk Kampf roomed with DeBrincat on the road, but they mostly just watched to, so I’ll hopefully get to go to some dinners with him on the road. I their respective Netflix shows with headphones on. (For the record, mean, I never knew any of these guys before I came here. Seabrook nearly every player will tell you that a quiet roommate is a perfect always has awesome stories, so I like going with him, and he loves going roommate.) But Kampf’s English has improved tremendously over the to good places. And Duncs usually follows Seabs around, so it’s always past year, so now he’s just one of the guys. fun.” “I was a little bit nervous the first time, but after that, it was great,” Kampf That’s not to say there aren’t players that are especially close with said. “Every guy on the team is very nice.” others. Strome and DeBrincat are the new Keith and Seabrook. David Kampf kept close with Dominik Kahun last year, and has quickly bonded DeBrincat was just a kid when he cracked the NHL. So trips to Las with Dominik Kubalik — “The Czechs never leave each other’s sides,” Vegas were particularly stifling. While all his teammates went out for Saad said — and Shaw bought a house right around the corner from his drinks and blackjack, he was literally doing homework, finishing up his longtime buddy Saad. high school career. But it didn’t take long for him to get over the age difference. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of team chemistry as a whole. Now there are May-December bromances all over the roster.

“It happens naturally, especially when you’ve got guys from different “It wasn’t too weird,” DeBrincat said with a laugh. “Once the year goes countries,” Toews said. “You can’t have cliques, you’ve got to make an on, you see the child in every one of these guys.” effort to go out with different guys on the road and stuff like that. But it Perlini and Strome came to Chicago together in the Schmaltz trade last still happens naturally. If you think about it, if you were playing in Russia, year, so that eased their transition. But Perlini, who was traded to the you’d probably hang out with your Canadian or American buddies, too. Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 28 and will start the getting-to-know-you You’ve got to allow some guys to do what makes them feel good, and process yet again, said it was easy to make friends and feel comfortable what makes them feel comfortable.” right away. And that’s always been a part of Toews’ mandate, even when he was a “It’s not as hard as people think,” he said. “I went to five different schools slightly overwhelmed 20-year-old captain. No man left behind. in five years as a kid, so I got used to moving. It’s just your common “I’m not one of the loudest guys, the biggest talkers in the room,” he said. attractions — what do you like outside of hockey, like golf or whatever. “But you do it in your own way. You’re an individual and you’ve got your You’re around each other every day, so you chat about things and you own problems and your own game to worry about, so it’s not always bond that way. The guys in here are great, so it’s really not that hard.” easy. But when you notice a guy that can use some help or to be “It’s like anything in life,” Lehner said. “You get what you take, you know? included, and you just do something or say something to make him feel If you don’t try to socialize and get to know people, you don’t get to know comfortable and part of things, I think that goes a long way. And I think a people. If you put your foot in the water, good things usually happen.” lot of guys have done a good job of that.” All that said, of course, it’ll never be like 2010 again. Back then, nearly Perhaps nobody more than Seabrook, the Blackhawks’ one-man the entire roster was young and single. These days, the family room welcoming committee. down the hall from the locker room is bursting with babies, toddlers and The hockey world is a small one, and it seems like everybody has elementary schoolers. crossed paths with just about everybody else at some point along the So the days of lingering in the locker room for hours on end or huge, late- way to the NHL. But anytime you walk into a new workplace for the first night dinners are few and far between. At least at home. time, it can be a little intimidating. “You’ve got to pick your spots,” Seabrook said. “For me personally, with Enter Seabrook. kids, it’s definitely tougher to get out whenever you want. You can’t just “If you come into this locker room, Seabrook is going to make you feel do what you want whenever you want. You’ve got to make a plan. You’ve welcome right away,” Kane said. got kids, and they might have school or baseball or hockey or some kind of activity the next day. You want to go on dates with your wife. So it’s He won’t casually sidle up to you and ask how you’re doing. He’ll catch picking your spots and trying to find time. That’s the biggest challenge.” you from across the room, his booming voice echoing in every stall. If you don’t already have a nickname, you’ll have one within minutes. If you That’s the case for some of the new guys, too. It’s not always about do already have one, you’ll probably get another one. And it will be needing a restaurant or bar recommendation. Sometimes it’s about worse. needing a doctor or a school recommendation.

Toews is the captain, but Seabrook is the paterfamilias. “Being a guy who’s comfortable living in Chicago, you don’t really think about certain things after a while,” Toews said. “You just kind of come to “He’s awesome,” Olli Maatta said. “He’s always really friendly, always training camp and settle in. For other guys, there are a lot of new things has something going on, and he keeps it really light in the room, which is you don’t maybe quite think about. That’s where you can be helpful.” However, even in the clique-free, carefree Blackhawks dressing room, there are limits to how much help you can get. Getting out of the house to hang out with your buddies and bond with your teammates is important. Critical, even, to a team’s success.

But it’s not always easy.

“We don’t share babysitters,” Seabrook said. “They’re a hot commodity around here. There might be some fights over babysitters.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160194 Colorado Avalanche

What Avalanche must fix to end 5-game skid: “We’re just looking for a spark”

By KYLE FREDRICKSON | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: November 6, 2019 at 3:49 pm | UPDATED: November 6, 2019 at 7:08 PM

Caldara: The Beatles top charts again as our greatest (and perhaps only) cultural connector

Throw out what you know about the Avalanche line combinations and defensive pairings. Five consecutive losses has the roster in flux. What will it take for Colorado to break its funk?

“There will probably be a little bit more experimentation,” coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday.

The Avs (8-5-2) host the Predators (9-4-2) on Thursday night and the easy excuse for why Colorado has scored only two goals in its past three games is the continued injury absence of forwards Gabe Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Colin Wilson. Bednar said the team continues “waiting and watching” the progress of their rehabilitation. All three will not be available Thursday, and it’s not clear when they’ll return.

The Avalanche won’t lean on injuries as an excuse for the evaporation of their hot start. Here are three ways the team is addressing its offensive skid after beginning the season with an eight-game points streak.

1. Personnel changes. The Avalanche recalled forward T.J. Tynan from the AHL-affiliate Eagles on Wednesday and reassigned forward Jayson Megna.

Tynan, 27, signed a one-year deal with Colorado in July and recorded two goals and 10 assists in 10 Eagles games this season. The former 2011 third-round pick of the Blue Jackets has three career NHL game appearances with Columbus from the 2016-17 season.

Megna averaged just over 5 minutes of ice time in four games with two shots on goal since being called up last week.

“(Megna) was fine, he didn’t get a lot of opportunities,” Bednar said. “We were chasing games and we were trying to double up some of our regular guys that have provided offense for us, especially in the first 10 games and give them more opportunity. We’re just looking for a spark.”

2. Improve communication. A major indictment of Colorado’s offensive inefficiency is the giveaway rate. The Avs have averaged nine giveaways over their past five losses. Bednar said far too many “fancy” passes through defensemen are being easily blocked with Colorado in need of a stronger forecheck. Better communication is key.

“Our forwards are disconnected with our D and our five-on-five play,” Bednar said. “There’s too much D working on their own and forwards working on their own. We’ve got to bridge the gap in the space between our forwards and our D and get more connected as a group.”

3. Power-play advantage. The Avalanche are a combined 3-of-25 on power-play opportunities through their slump.

“We’ve got to play every play like it’s the most important play of the game,” Bednar said. “I didn’t feel like we were doing that.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160195 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche make roster moves, will shake up lines in search of an offensive spark

By Aarif Deen

November 6, 2019

Coming off their fifth straight loss (0-4-1), the Avalanche and coach Jared Bednar are looking for an offensive spark. Colorado (8-5-2) has scored just two goals in its last three games, and seven over the past five after storming out of the gate as the highest-scoring team in the NHL early on.

“We had a few slow starts, even last night we make a few mistakes right away on the first goal and then we get into penalty trouble,” Bednar said. “Finding some offense is going to be a key for us for sure but still making sure we’re putting enough importance on the checking aspect of it too because we haven’t been great in that area either.”

The Avs had an optional practice after getting back from Dallas late Tuesday night. With just a number of players skating, Bednar was unable to test out any new combinations, but he says he will continue to experiment with different lines in order to spark the offense.

Bednar also announced that the Avalanche sent down forward Jayson Megna to the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League, replacing him with T.J. Tynan, who will make his season debut and play his first NHL game since 2016-17 when the Avalanche host the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

“(Megna) was fine,” Bednar said. “He didn’t get a lot of opportunity because we’re chasing games. We’re just looking for a spark.”

Megna was scoreless in four games with the Avalanche. Tynan, 27, joins the Avs after leading the Eagles in scoring with 12 points in 10 games.

Other than the Megna-Tynan swap, the Avalanche will dress the same forward group, meaning injured forwards Mikko Rantanen and Colin Wilson are still out, joining Gabe Landeskog who is out long-term.

“There is no new information on them we’re just waiting and we’ll let you know when they progress,” Bednar said. “Hopefully they’ll get back sooner than later.”

Colorado’s contest against the Predators will begin a two-game homestand before heading back on the road for five games. Looking to get back into the winning column, the Avs will need a more consistent effort than they have had in recent games.

“Playing 60 minutes is the first and foremost,” Bednar said. “Making sure we’re emotionally and physically engaged in the game and we sustain that for 60 minutes to give ourselves the best chance of winning.”

milehighsports.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160196 Columbus Blue Jackets “I got to play old-timers hockey with a lot of guys I didn’t know, which was fun,” he said. “I made some good friends, and I got to watch my son play hockey.”

Some of Blue Jackets' top players off to slow start Gallant, who coached Vegas to the Stanley Cup finals in its inaugural season two years ago, has fond memories of his time with the Jackets.

“Obviously there was a lot of excitement the first year (in Columbus)," he Henry Palattella The Columbus Dispatch @hellapalatella said, “With it being an expansion team, (the arena) was full every night. We didn’t have a great team, we had a hard-working character team, but Nov 6, 2019 at 5:29 AM there was a buzz every night. It was a lot of fun, and I’m sure it’s the same now.”

Last season, the Blue Jackets' playoff hopes were nearly dashed by a When the Blue Jackets recalled Markus Hannikainen on Oct. 31, it losing streak. looked as if the Finnish forward would get a chance to crack the Jackets’ rotation after failing to make the team out of training camp. That hasn’t During a three-week stretch in January and February, they lost five been the case, as Hannikainen has yet to play since his return. straight games, a skid that dropped them to fourth in the Metropolitan Division. The Jackets responded well, however, going 19-11-1 the rest of “He has to earn a spot,” Tortorella said. “That’s where we’re at right now the way to squeak into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed. with the guys we have.”

The Jackets entered a game Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Tuesday marked another change in the Jackets defensive six, as Markus Knights having lost four games in a row. And while no one in the Jackets Nutivaara was back in the lineup in place of Scott Harrington. dressing room is panicking, they know that to climb out of this hole, they're going to need to make some changes to their game. Players and coaches have blamed the losing streak on familiar antagonists like a lack Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 of energy or bad luck, but one of the biggest reasons is the lack of production from many top players.

Seth Jones is working through an uncharacteristically slow start. Through 14 games, the seven-year defenseman had seven points and a minus-4 rating.

“(It has been) a little bit of a struggle just trying to find my game and not forcing things,” Jones said. “When you’re struggling, you want to make more plays and do more, so I’ve been battling that a little bit.”

Jones has made no attempt to hide from his below-average play, and that's one of the reasons coach John Tortorella thinks Jones will turn it around soon.

“I don’t need to say one word to him,” Tortorella said. “He’s such a great evaluator of his game. He’ll get through it. He’s still a really good player when he’s struggling, that’s how good he is.”

The losing streak started nearly two weeks ago at the Philadelphia Flyers when the Jackets blew a 4-2 third-period lead in a 7-4 loss. After falling to the Edmonton Oilers four days later, the Jackets opened November with an overtime loss at the St. Louis Blues followed by their most recent misstep, a 3-0 loss Saturday to the Calgary Flames.

During that time, Jones and defensive partner Zach Werenski both had a minus-5 rating.

“Obviously with Jones being a leader and Werenski being a good buddy, you're so close with those guys,” Cam Atkinson said. “Guys know who's struggling. We're just trying to pick each other up and be a good teammate, stay positive. That's what we kind of talked about before practice, just being a good teammate.”

One of the other veterans struggling is captain Nick Foligno, who hadn't recorded a point in more than three weeks. Even though he only had five points — one goal, four assists — Foligno wasn't letting it impact his confidence.

“We shouldn't be in this situation, but that's part of learning and not putting too much pressure on yourself,” he said. “Don't put the whole weight of the world on your shoulders just because we lost a few games here. When things are going well, it's not always patting your back, right? So why are you beating yourself up if things aren't going well?"

Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant is no stranger to the Blue Jackets, having begun his coaching career as an assistant for four seasons before being named coach on Jan. 1, 2004.

“I loved it here. I was fortunate enough to be here for seven years when they started the franchise,” Gallant said. “There’s great ownership, great people here. I love the city.”

Gallant went 56-76-4 before being fired 15 games into his third season. Gallant was the Jackets coach during the 2004-2005 season that was lost to a player lockout, but during that time, he drew closer to the Columbus community and his family. 1160197 Columbus Blue Jackets It was Jackets’ fourth short-handed goal allowed this season, in addition to the Knights’ fifth short-handed goal, most in the NHL.

"It's just a turnover. Nick's trying,” Torotrella said. “Trying too hard." Golden Knights 2, Blue Jackets 1 | 3-2-1 breakdown 3) Penalty kill was strong

The special teams in general for the Blue Jackets have been every bit of Jacob Myers The Columbus Dispatch a work in progress entering game No. 15. The power play was 25th in the league and the penalty kill 26th. Nov 6, 2019 at 5:30 AM Against the league’s fifth-best power play, the Jackets looked much more composed. They committed a penalty just 1:58 into the game when Josh Anderson went off for hooking, and they started both the second and For a third time in four games, the Blue Jackets offense sputtered out third periods on the penalty kill. with fewer than two goals as the top scorers continued to struggle. Korpisalo made the saves when he needed to, but there weren’t a lot of Goalie Joonas Korpisalo kept the Jackets in a 2-1 loss to the Vegas issues in clearing the puck out of the zone. Golden Knights with 23 saves, which included some from close range and on odd-man rushes. The offense just couldn’t make up for the two Two questions plays that decided the game and the Jackets were left wondering, again, when they are going to have an offensive breakthrough. 1) How did Smith score the first goal?

“We're close,” coach John Tortorella said, “but that doesn't put you in Look at the replay five times. OK, another five times. Did you see it? No? the win column.” Well, neither did Korpisalo.

The Jackets (5-7-3) had plenty of chances to put the first goal on the "I have no idea where it was,” he said. “It just bounces. It sucks, but we board. Zack Werenski had a tip in front of the net on goal off a great pass have got to keep going on." from Sonny Milano. Cam Atkinson had two shots from the right circle on Reilly Smith has now scored a goal against every NHL team!!!! the power play, with the last one popping out of Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove and trickling wide. It’s baffling to think that one scored when the many that got behind Fleury in the crease stayed out. Korpisalo thought a few of them would certainly There were plenty of later chances. At this point, the Jackets are just set off the horn. begging for them to go in. Here is the 3-2-1 from the Jackets’ loss to Vegas on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena — three takeaways, two "You see the puck near the goal and you're like, 'yes,’ then it's 'no,’” he questions and one more thing to know: said while reenacting his raising of his arms in celebration then quickly putting them down. “It's like a roller coaster.” Three takeaways 2) Who is going to step up, and when? 1) A couple of bounces Fans at Nationwide Arena that have patiently waited for the Blue Jackets’ It’s cliche to say a couple of bounces this way or that would have scoring funk to end should be feeling uneasy. When the final horn changed the game. That type of analysis is often used for a deflection sounded, there was no surprise the Jackets couldn’t muster another goal from the truth. But it couldn’t be truer to describe how the Jackets lost. over a period and a half to tie the score and force overtime. Down a goal, the puck went through Fleury at least three times but never Tortorella said top players like Bjorkstrand, Gustav Nyquist, Atkinson, crossed the goal line. Seth Jones, Werenski and others have to lift the Jackets out of this rut. Foligno was practically in the crease when he tried to jam the puck past The longer this goes on, the more restless the fans and team will Fleury, but it missed the net. Milano had an open net on the right side of become. the goal and practically whiffed as the puck slid across the crease at a The Jackets played better than the night before, but it still wasn’t enough. nearly 180-degree angle. "I'd be lying if I said it's not frustrating when you're not winning and it's not In the third period, the Jackets had four shots on goal on a power play going in, but we can't let that get to us,” Nyquist said. “We have another that began with 6:54 remaining. Defenseman Dean Kukan’s shot from game coming up here in a couple days (at Arizona), so it's another the point — Fleury never saw it — clanked off the left post, and it stopped chance to get back at it.” under Fleury’s backside. One more thing to know Oliver Bjorkstrand had a clear shot on a rush when he came off the bench, and Fleury narrowly turned it aside. Before that, Werenski’s shot Defenseman Markus Nutivaara left the game in the second period after went behind Fleury. Atkinson dove to poke it in but was barely beat by a catching a puck on the right side of his face. He went down on the ice Vegas defenseman. and play was stopped.

Then, on the other end in the first period, there’s the bouncing puck that Nutivaara skated off to the dressing room. Tortorella did not have an somehow found its way past Korpisalo. update after the game. It was the defenseman’s first game back after being a healthy scratch in the previous two games. "We got to keep building here,” said Boone Jenner, who had the Jackets’ lone goal. “Obviously, we have got to find a way to put those chances in.”

2) Turnovers hurt the most Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 The Jackets had all the momentum sapped from their bench and the arena when Reilly Smith scored his second goal of the game.

Just 48 seconds after Jenner tied the score, Knights left wing Tomas Nosek was called for hooking. As unsuccessful as the Jackets’ power play has been, they still had a man-advantage shortly after an electrifying goal with a chance to take the lead.

Instead, a turnover and a three-on-one rush led to the winner for Vegas with 12:24 to go in the second.

Under pressure, Foligno passed the puck to the center of the ice, where Vegas defenseman Nick Holden gave it to William Karlsson, who flipped a pass over Werenski’s stick to Smith, who finished it easily past Korpisalo. 1160198 Columbus Blue Jackets “I got to play old-timers hockey with a lot of guys I didn’t know, which was fun,” he said. “I made some good friends, and I got to watch my son play hockey.”

Some of Blue Jackets' top players off to slow start Gallant, who coached Vegas to the Stanley Cup finals in its inaugural season two years ago, has fond memories of his time with the Jackets.

“Obviously there was a lot of excitement the first year (in Columbus)," he Henry Palattella The Columbus Dispatch @hellapalatella said, “With it being an expansion team, (the arena) was full every night. We didn’t have a great team, we had a hard-working character team, but Nov 6, 2019 at 5:29 AM there was a buzz every night. It was a lot of fun, and I’m sure it’s the Nov 6, 2019 at 7:20 AM same now.”

When the Blue Jackets recalled Markus Hannikainen on Oct. 31, it looked as if the Finnish forward would get a chance to crack the Jackets’ Last season, the Blue Jackets' playoff hopes were nearly dashed by a rotation after failing to make the team out of training camp. That hasn’t losing streak. been the case, as Hannikainen has yet to play since his return.

During a three-week stretch in January and February, they lost five “He has to earn a spot,” Tortorella said. “That’s where we’re at right now straight games, a skid that dropped them to fourth in the Metropolitan with the guys we have.” Division. The Jackets responded well, however, going 19-11-1 the rest of the way to squeak into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed. Tuesday marked another change in the Jackets defensive six, as Markus Nutivaara was back in the lineup in place of Scott Harrington. The Jackets entered a game Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights having lost four games in a row. And while no one in the Jackets dressing room is panicking, they know that to climb out of this hole, Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 they're going to need to make some changes to their game. Players and coaches have blamed the losing streak on familiar antagonists like a lack of energy or bad luck, but one of the biggest reasons is the lack of production from many top players.

Seth Jones is working through an uncharacteristically slow start. Through 14 games, the seven-year defenseman had seven points and a minus-4 rating.

“(It has been) a little bit of a struggle just trying to find my game and not forcing things,” Jones said. “When you’re struggling, you want to make more plays and do more, so I’ve been battling that a little bit.”

Jones has made no attempt to hide from his below-average play, and that's one of the reasons coach John Tortorella thinks Jones will turn it around soon.

“I don’t need to say one word to him,” Tortorella said. “He’s such a great evaluator of his game. He’ll get through it. He’s still a really good player when he’s struggling, that’s how good he is.”

The losing streak started nearly two weeks ago at the Philadelphia Flyers when the Jackets blew a 4-2 third-period lead in a 7-4 loss. After falling to the Edmonton Oilers four days later, the Jackets opened November with an overtime loss at the St. Louis Blues followed by their most recent misstep, a 3-0 loss Saturday to the Calgary Flames.

During that time, Jones and defensive partner Zach Werenski both had a minus-5 rating.

“Obviously with Jones being a leader and Werenski being a good buddy, you're so close with those guys,” Cam Atkinson said. “Guys know who's struggling. We're just trying to pick each other up and be a good teammate, stay positive. That's what we kind of talked about before practice, just being a good teammate.”

One of the other veterans struggling is captain Nick Foligno, who hadn't recorded a point in more than three weeks. Even though he only had five points — one goal, four assists — Foligno wasn't letting it impact his confidence.

“We shouldn't be in this situation, but that's part of learning and not putting too much pressure on yourself,” he said. “Don't put the whole weight of the world on your shoulders just because we lost a few games here. When things are going well, it's not always patting your back, right? So why are you beating yourself up if things aren't going well?"

Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant is no stranger to the Blue Jackets, having begun his coaching career as an assistant for four seasons before being named coach on Jan. 1, 2004.

“I loved it here. I was fortunate enough to be here for seven years when they started the franchise,” Gallant said. “There’s great ownership, great people here. I love the city.”

Gallant went 56-76-4 before being fired 15 games into his third season. Gallant was the Jackets coach during the 2004-2005 season that was lost to a player lockout, but during that time, he drew closer to the Columbus community and his family. 1160199 Dallas Stars “We had no idea what Nashville was doing,” Stuchal said. “They kept each of us completely separated when we were designing. Obviously, the designers at Adidas knew, so maybe that was their idea. I would have to think that Nashville, I don’t know this, but I’m guessing they came How a five-person committee shaped the Stars’ Winter Classic uniforms to the table talking about their own hockey heritage in the same way.”

While the Stars did include the city’s history, they didn’t include their past as the Minnesota North Stars. The franchise moved to Texas in 1993-94 By Matthew DeFranks after spending 26 seasons in Minnesota, losing in the Stanley Cup Final 6:27 PM on Nov 6, 2019 twice. Outside of the retired numbers in American Airlines Center and the walkway at Comerica Center in Frisco that lists the franchise’s accomplishments, odes to the North Stars and their brand are sparse.

FRISCO — Across 85 days, with a video chat meeting that banned the “Using the brand has been something that we’ve really tried to get away use of cell phones and a five-person committee that included the owner from,” Stars president Brad Alberts said. “We’re really trying to focus on and four pillars of design laid out by the team, the Stars arrived at their what is our Dallas history, because that’s what our fans know and are Winter Classic uniform. used to. So we’ve really steered away from promoting and showcasing Minnesota North Stars brand, yet still honoring the history.” Unveiled on Wednesday morning, the Stars revealed an aesthetic that drew from the city’s hockey history as the Dallas Texans in the 1940s Perhaps the Stars could try to bring back the design from 1998-99, when and steered clear of any reference to the franchise’s past in Minnesota. the team won its only Stanley Cup, a uniform that was dark green and The Stars will play the Predators in the Winter Classic on New Year’s black with a star spanning the shoulders and abdomen. Did they consider Day in the Cotton Bowl, the southernmost outdoor game in NHL history. that?

The Stars will wear a Victory green jersey with a white yoke along the “Oh yeah,” Stuchal said. “We discussed it. We definitely discussed it, but shoulders and a crest on the chest that features a large “D” with the word I think the general feeling was it looked a little too modern for a classic “Stars” through the middle of the letter, although the “A” in Stars is a five- game, just the way that star was sublimated on that jersey. That just pointed star. The helmet will be green. The gloves will be caramel. The didn’t seem to fit a classic look for classic hockey.” pants will be beige. Instead, the Stars will use the same shade of green they rebranded with “Our primary goal, the one that we gave to Adidas and the NHL from the in 2013-14: Victory Green. When the Stars redesigned the logo and color outset was: We want a classic hockey look that is uniquely tied to scheme to get rid of the dark green and gold palette, it landed with a Dallas,” Stars senior vice president of marketing Dan Stuchal said. “That brighter green, though Alberts said the team also thought about blue, red, was the mantra we gave them.” white and blue, or even black.

The logo is reminiscent of the Texans’ design from the 1940s, when they “We looked at the whole and those guys were kind of like ‘Are you guys played first in the minor-league American Hockey Association and then in crazy? Green is yours. Own it,’” Alberts said. “I remember having that the United States Hockey League. They stopped playing after the 1948- discussion six years ago, and the decision to own it has been right dead 49 season. on.”

Wednesday was the 78th anniversary of the Texans’ first game on Nov. “It’s become uniquely ours,” Stuchal said of Victory Green. 6, 1941, against the St. Paul Saints. Here are other tidbits about the uniform: Stuchal was part of the five-man team for the Stars that worked in tandem with the league and Adidas to help design the uniform. Also -- The patch on the left sleeve of the state of Texas with a D on it was not included were owner Tom Gaglardi, creative director Jeff Neal, director of part of the original Texans look, but was important for the Stars to merchandise Kris Smith and color commentator Daryl “Razor” Reaugh. include. The jersey will also have Texas’ flag on the inside of the back collar. After the team was awarded the Winter Classic from the league on Nov. 19 (it wasn’t announced publicly until Jan. 1), the committee held its first “That came loud and clear from our director of merchandise,” Stuchal meeting Dec. 5, had a video meeting with Adidas in early January and said. “He said people are always asking for it. It’s true. It sells better than finalized the design on Feb. 28. other things, so having that Texas connection to it was important at the end of the day.” There were four items the Stars wanted to make clear: -- The gloves and pants don’t match, and that’s something the Stars 1. They didn’t want a black design. understood they might not be able to match, and actually like having different looks. “We didn’t feel like black worked in an outdoor game that is going to be so festive and alive,” Stuchal said. “It just didn’t seem to fit.” “It screams retro,” Stuchal said. “It screams something that you might have seen back then. … We knew that we couldn’t match them. We 2. They wanted to have their signature Victory green integrated in some actually sort of like the fact that they don’t match.” way. -- The Stars will wear the uniform twice more in the regular season: Jan. 3. Didn’t feel like this was the place for a North Stars connection. 29 against Toronto and Feb. 21 against St. Louis, both at American “While that’s a part of our history and a really big part of our history and Airlines Center. Feb. 21 will double as Jamie Benn bobblehead night, it’s something that we feel a lot of ownership of because it is our when the bobblehead will be wearing the Winter Classic uniform. franchise and we had several players who went on from Minnesota to The only difference between the one on Jan. 1 and the ones later in the play crucial roles with our championship team here, we just didn’t feel like season is that the Winter Classic patch will be removed after Jan. 1. this was the place or the time to do anything like that,” Stuchal said. -- Jerseys are available to pre-order now online but won’t be available 4. They were open to different color helmets, gloves, pants and skates. until Nov. 15. According to The Hangar website, “due to production After the video chat meeting, Adidas sent back four designs that the issues,” Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Miro Heiskanen and blank jerseys will Stars cobbled together into the finished product. They discussed whether be available Nov. 15 while John Klingberg, Alexander Radulov, Ben to have a yoke or not, whether to place the Winter Classic patch on the Bishop and Roope Hintz jerseys will be available Dec. 15. sleeve, the shoulder or the chest, where to place the numbers, whether Customizable jerseys are not available. or not to have laces on the collar. -- The team does not have current plans to make the Winter Classic The final design will feature felt fabric for the logo and numbers with uniforms their third uniforms next season, with Alberts saying the use of silver stitching to give it a retro feel and look. Like Dallas, Nashville will the uniforms is a “small window right now.” also be wearing uniforms winking to its city’s hockey history as the Nashville Dixie Flyers. But the two teams did not work in concert with “There are no plans for us to wear it beyond those two other times,” each other. Stuchal said. “We can always have that discussion. But I think a lot of it will depend on what fans think of it and how our team likes playing in it and everything else.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160200 Dallas Stars It was finalized on Feb. 28. Throughout the process, the Stars brain trust never saw what the Predators were working on for their jersey design. From conception to design, it was a three-month process in Dallas.

Inside how the Stars and Predators designed their 2020 Winter Classic According to Stuchal, it became important during the process to involve jerseys the state of Texas in this jersey. That’s why the left sleeve has the outline of the state while the inside collar has the colors of the Texas flag. When it comes to Stars merchandise, things that tie into Texas pride typically sell best. By Adam Vingan and Sean Shapiro The push for a classic look also included the equipment Dallas will wear Nov 6, 2019 with the threads. The Stars will wear green helmets to match the jersey and caramel-colored gloves – a throwback to older leather equipment – and beige pants. The socks are green with a solid white stripe to match Last December, the Dallas Stars assembled a brain trust to discuss the jersey. concepts for the 2020 Winter Classic jersey that was unveiled Wednesday morning. Stars goalie Ben Bishop said on Monday that he was looking forward to creating a new look that went well with the jersey, and he met with the It was still three weeks before the league would announce the game was equipment staff and his mask designer on Monday afternoon. coming to the Cotton Bowl and two months before the announcement that the Nashville Predators would be the opponent on Jan. 1. The logo and numbers also have more of a felt feel, similar to that of a varsity jacket lettering, to create a throwback feel as well. Getting the jersey right was important to the Stars, who are trying to prove that the NHL made the right decision in awarding them the first There were similar feelings in Nashville as the Predators worked with Winter Classic in a southern market. Adidas to design a vintage-style jersey without any NHL history prior to 1998. The Stars’ brain trust behind the jersey included owner Tom Gaglardi, Senior Vice President of Marketing Dan Stuchal, Director of Merchandise “We quickly landed on pulling inspiration from previous Nashville hockey Kris Smith, Director of Creative Jeff Neal and Stars broadcaster Daryl uniforms,” said Matt Beeman, a senior designer at Adidas. “We used past Reaugh. teams’ powerful classic striping to create a heritage aesthetic that is authentic to hockey and unique for Nashville’s first appearance in the Stuchal said it was important to build a group that provided a range of NHL Winter Classic. Next, we worked backward in time to transform the insight and perspectives. He said Reaugh was included as someone who current Predators logo into a completely new form that sits perfectly with played in the NHL and could provide a player’s insight, while Smith and the heritage look.” Neal were key as they often hear what fans are looking for. The sweater, which features a white base with navy and gold striping “Smith hears that every day in our stores,” Stuchal said. “They come to across the middle, is a nod to the minor-league Nashville Dixie Flyers, a him nightly, at our games, to say, ‘When are you going to do this? Why member of the Eastern Hockey League from 1962 until the franchise don’t you do that?’ So he has his finger on the pulse of what the market folded in 1971. (The Nashville Knights were part of the ECHL from 1989 likes.” to 1996 before relocating to Pensacola, Fla.).

Adidas asked the Stars for specific guidelines and non-starters before “The Preds may not be the oldest team, but there is plenty of hockey working on initial designs. history to look back on in Nashville,” said Eric Bodamer, also a senior designer at Adidas. “What a cool opportunity to pay tribute to the origin of The list included no black in the jersey, and the necessary integration of hockey in Nashville and combine it with the Predators, who have made the Stars’ Victory Green color. Nashville one of the best hockey cities in the world.” “We just didn’t feel that black worked in an outdoor game that is going to The script lettering is also reminiscent of the Dixie Flyers. The Predators’ be so festive and alive,” Stuchal said. “It just didn’t seem to fit. So that primary logo was re-imagined to give it a faux-back look. It will be worn was a non-starter for us.” on the left shoulder, with the Dallas-themed Winter Classic on the other. The Stars also didn’t want any ties to the Minnesota North Stars in this “We weren’t around in the 50s, the Stars weren’t around in the 50s,” jersey. Stuchal said the North Stars are an important part of franchise Predators president and chief executive officer Sean Henry told history, but the Winter Classic was not the “time or the place to do reporters. “But the idea was, ‘How do we take our great game and have anything like that.” fun with our logo a little bit?’ That’s what the patch is for. It really makes “You know, it’s been something that we have really tried to get away you think you’re wearing a varsity jacket in the 50s.” from, and we really are trying to focus on what is our Dallas history because that’s what our fans know and are used to,” Stars team president Brad Alberts said. “So we’ve really steered away from The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 promoting and showcasing the Minnesota North Stars brand yet still honoring the history.

“We want a classic hockey look that is uniquely tied to Dallas,” Stuchal said. “That was the mantra we gave them.”

That mantra was part of the reason the Dallas Texans are honored in the design and the logo. The Texans were the first professional hockey team in Dallas and debuted in the American Hockey Association in 1941. Wednesday was the 78th anniversary of the Texans’ first game.

The old Texans logo provided a template for the Stars’ Winter Classic logo, but eschewed the red color scheme the Texans used.

Adidas took these concepts to their designers, who worked with mockups and ideas that were presented to the Stars in a video conference about a month later. It was a meeting where Stars employees present were ordered not to pick up their phones and take pictures. Based off the feedback in that video meeting Adidas went back and created four base designs.

“We worked to sort of Frankenstein the best ideas of all of these designs into one,” Stuchal said. “And that’s where we came up with this.” 1160201 Detroit Red Wings

Steve Yzerman brings former 1st rounder Robby Fabbri to Detroit Red Wings in trade

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 12:07 a.m. ET Nov. 7, 2019 | Updated 12:11 a.m. ET Nov. 7, 2019

NEW YORK — The Detroit Red Wings have another former first-round pick to audition as they try to revive their season.

General manager Steve Yzerman traded for Robby Fabbri Wednesday night, acquiring the 23-year-old forward from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Jacob de la Rose. De la Rose, 24, was picked up on waivers in the fall of 2018.

Fabbri has one goal in nine games with the Blues. He was drafted 21st overall in 2014. Last month Yzerman acquired forward Brendan Perlini, the 12th overall pick in 2014, from Chicago in exchange for defense prospect Alec Regula. Perlini was drafted three spots ahead of .

Fabbri has 32 goals and 41 assists in 164 games with the Blues. He had a promising rookie season with 18 goals and 19 assists in 72 games, but has struggled to replicate that early success and has battled injuries.

The Wings are trying to find a way to generate offense — 17 games into the season, only Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Larkin are in double digits in points. Those three and Daren Helm are the only players who have tallied at least four goals.

It is the fourth trade Yzerman has made since taking control of the Wings in April. He traded for Adam Erne in the offseason, and acquired Perlini and defenseman Alex Biega in October.

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Detroit Red Wings blasted again, this time by the New York Rangers, 5-1

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 10:48 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 | Updated 10:49 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019

NEW YORK —The Detroit Red Wings trailed by three goals by midway through the game.

Their outing against the New York Rangers Wednesday at Madison Square Garden was another disappointment — they didn’t defend well, couldn’t score, and failed on special teams. The 5-1 final marks the 11th time in 13 gamest the Wings have lost after starting the season 3-1, and dropped them to 4-12-1 overall.

It’s the fourth straight game the Wings have lost by at least four goals. The Rangers struck on power plays, at even strength and most egregiously, during a Wings power play in the third period with the game at 3-1. Greg McKegg scooped up a loose puck after Tyler Bertuzzi failed to clear it, and put it behind Jimmy Howard.

The Wings were desperate enough to pull Howard with more than five minutes to go in regulation. Artemi Panarin took advantage to score an empty net goal.

Wings fall behind

There wasn’t much going on in the first period, at ether end of the ice. The Wings’ best chance among seven shots on net was Darren Helm striking the crossbar. The Wings fell behind in the second period. They squandered a power play and then gave up a goal with seconds to spare on a penalty kill, allowing Tony DeAngelo to stuff Brendan Lemieux’s rebound at 4:25 (with one second left on a penalty to Adam Erne). The Rangers moved ahead 2-0 at 6:03 of the second period on a goal from Chris Kreider and 3-0 when Ryan Strome converted on a power play.

More: Detroit Red Wings look awful. What has gone wrong, and who bears blame?

Filppula hits milestone

Valtteri Filppula scored in his 500th career game with the Wings. He and Andreas Athanasiou raced off on an odd-man rush in the second period. Athanasiou passed to Filppula, who redirected the puck for his second goal of the season. Athanasiou just scored his first goal of the season Monday against the Predators, and has five points in his last six games.

Wings look to McIlrath

With veteran defensemen Danny DeKeyser, Mike Green and Trevor Daley sidelined, the Wings opted to call up Dylan McIlrath and insert him into the lineup. The 6-foot-5 former first round pick by the Rangers (10th overall, 2010) added penalty-killing experience. McIlrath, 27, has been in the Wings organization since 2016-17, spending most of the time with the . The organization likes the space McIlrath provides for defense prospects. McIlrath worked hard, but he couldn’t mask how weak the Wings are defensively.

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'The Russian Five': NBC Sports will show documentary after Wednesday's Red Wings game

Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press

Published 1:48 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 | Updated 1:51 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019

The world will get another chance to remember, and perhaps learn even more, about one of the great periods of Detroit Red Wings hockey.

"The Russian Five," the documentary covering the first all-Russian group to play in the NHL that debuted at the 2018 Detroit Free Press Film Festival, will be shown on NBC Sports Network after Wednesday's Red Wings/Rangers game that begins at 8 p.m.

The film tells the story of how these star Russian hockey players began to reach the NHL near the end of the Cold War. It goes deeper into how the Red Wings drafted , and Slava Kozlov and traded for and Slava Fetisov and explains how when all five took the ice together, it wrote a new chapter in NHL history.

That group was a key part in the Wings' success in the 1990s, culminating with the 1997 Stanley Cup championship. A few days after that win, Konstantinov, a new member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, was critically injured in a limo crash, ending his hockey career.

The documentary grossed six figures at the box office since hitting select theaters in March. NBC Sports acquired the rights to the film, according to Deadline.com, so expect to see it a few more times throughout the hockey season.

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Game recap: Detroit Red Wings fall to New York Rangers, 5-1

Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press

Published 10:55 a.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 | Updated 10:39 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019

Detroit Red Wings (4-11-1, 9 points) vs. New York Rangers (5-6-1, 11 points)

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York.

TV: NBC Sports Network.

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1; other radio affiliates).

Game notes: Jimmy Howard ordinarily plays well against the Rangers. And for the Wings, they have to turn around their fortunes at some point this season, right? Or at least win a game, which they haven't done in their last three?

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160205 Detroit Red Wings “We have to step up and make better plays,” Blashill said. “We have to be better on the (penalty) kill.”

The Wings were able to get one back, just 52 seconds after Strome’s Rangers use big second period to extend Wings' losing skid to 12 of 13 goal, with Filppula scoring his second goal.

Filppula and Andreas Athanasiou broke free on what amounted to a 2- on-0 rush inside the zone, and Filppula swept in Athanasiou’s pass past Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Lundqvist.

Published 10:49 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 | Updated 12:35 a.m. ET Nov. 7, McKegg made it 4-1 with a shorthanded goal at 8:44 of the third period, 2019 his first goal.

McKegg rushed up ice, and his shot was stopped by Howard high, the puck falling into the slot. Howard had no idea where the puck was, and New York Rangers center Ryan Strome (16) scores a goal past Detroit McKegg raced to the loose puck and snapped a shot past Howard. Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) during the second period. “Good teams, when they’re on the power play, they put the puck in their New York — The losses keep mounting for the Red Wings. hands and make plays,” Larkin said. “That’s on the five guys on the ice. When is it ever going to end? We have to look after the puck and find a way there to get a goal and get our team back in it and make a late push. The Red Wings lost again Wednesday — what else is new lately — falling 5-1 to the New York Rangers. “That was a dagger for sure.”

It was the Wings’ fourth consecutive loss and extended their stretch of Panarin scored his seventh goal, into an empty net, at 17:23, after the losing to 12 of 13 games — all after the Wings (4-12-1) had won their first Wings pulled Howard for an extra attacker with over 5 minutes left. three of four.

“It’s tough, the toughest stretch any of us have been through,” forward Detroit News LOADED: 11.07.2019 Justin Abdelkader said. “But we have to make sure we’re coming to work each and every day and we have to get better.”

During this 13-game segment, the Wings have been outscored 57-21.

It’s the first time the Wings have lost four consecutive games by four or more goals since January 1984.

“We have to find a way to get out of this,” forward Dylan Larkin said. “None of us have gone through anything like this. We don’t have the answer right now but we have to find a way to get through this.”

As usual, special teams were a significant liability. The Wings were scoreless on two power plays, while allowing the Rangers (6-6-2) two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal.

“We have to get our special teams figured out,” Red Wings coach said. “We have to find a way to get better than that. Our power play has to be better. When you look at both of them (special teams) that’s what crushed us.”

Valtteri Filppula had the Wings goal.

Tony DeAngelo (power play), Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome (power play) scored Rangers goals 4:24 apart in the second period, ending a scoreless game. Greg McKegg added a third-period, shorthanded goal, and Artemi Panarin scored into an empty net.

What usually turns out to be a goaltending masterpiece between Jimmy Howard and the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist turned out to be an afterthought this time around.

Howard again struggled with one big snowball effect, allowing the three- second period goals. Howard stopped 26 shots, while Lundqvist — who has struggled similarly to Howard this season — stopped 35 shots.

Those three quick Rangers goals changed the complexion of the game.

Justin Abdelkader says the Wings have to continue to dig deep despite this losing streak. The Detroit News

“When things went bad, it just went bad, and we couldn’t stop the snowball effect,” Larkin said.

The Rangers’ barrage began with Adam Erne in the box for holding.

With two seconds left on the power play, DeAngelo banged in a rebound of Brendan Lemieux’s attempted jam in close, his fifth goal, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 4:25.

Kreider made it 2-0 at 6:04, Kreider’s third goal, beating Howard off a rush from the dot.

The Rangers capped the explosion with another power-play goal — Abdelkader was in the box for roughing — Strome scoring his fifth goal, at 8:49, the puck bouncing off Strome off an Adam Fox shot and past Howard. 1160206 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings send de la Rose to Blues for Fabbri

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News

Published 11:55 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019

The Red Wings made another move to find offense late Wednesday night.

They traded forward Jacob de la Rose to the St. Louis Blues for forward Robby Fabbri.

De la Rose, 24, was acquired on waivers last season but never found a permanent home in the Wings lineup.

In 16 games this season, de la Rose had a goal and three assists, while mainly centering the fourth line.

In Fabbri, the Wings are getting an offensive forward who hasn’t yet reached his potential.

Fabbri, 23, was a 2014 first-round pick of the Blues.

In four seasons with St. Louis, Fabbri (5-foot-10, 190-pounds), a center, had 73 points (32 goals, 41 assists) in 164 games. Fabbri has also played in 30 playoff games, including 10 last season, with one goal.

This season, Fabbri has one goal and no assists in nine games with the Blues, with a minus-4 rating.

Detroit News LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160207 Detroit Red Wings “It was my first opportunity as a free agent and it was an easy choice (to stay) because they expressed their feeling to me that they like me in the organization, whether it’s in Grand Rapids or helping out the Wings.”

Red Wings' Dylan McIlrath fired up about return to NHL, facing old team Rough start

Forward Frans Nielsen wasn’t sure after the morning skate if he’d miss Wednesday’s game after he blocked a shot Monday in the knee area. Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News It would be another frustrating part to a season where Nielsen is still Published 2:55 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 searching for his first point after 13 games.

“You just come in with a positive attitude and go out and work as hard as you can,” Nielsen said. “The worst thing I can do is start cheating for New York – This couldn’t have worked out better for defenseman Dylan offense, and doing that kind of stuff. I try to be really focused on being McIlrath. me and keep playing my game, even when it hasn’t gone the way I McIlrath was called up from Grand Rapids on Tuesday and was to make wanted. his NHL season debut Wednesday night – against the team that drafted “The one thing I’ve learned is the only way to get out of this is work hard him. and keep being yourself. As frustrating as it is, I can’t get away from Coach Jeff Blashill confirmed McIlrath would be in the lineup against the being me.” Rangers. Nielsen consistently has brought an air of professionalism to the Wings’ McIlrath, 27, was a 2010 first-round pick of the Rangers, but has since locker room the last several years, and Blashill has seen it this season bounced around to the Florida Panthers organization, then to the Wings. despite the offensive struggles.

“When you get the call, no matter the circumstances, you’re happy,” “He’s trying, he cares,” Blashill said. “It’s not going his way. Can he be McIlrath said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “Especially to come back better? Yes. But it’s not from a lack of care, a lack of trying. to MSG (Madison Square Garden), where it started for me, and it’s “Some of the things he takes pride in (power play, penalty kill), it’s not special to be back here. happening right now. It’s a long year; he’s got to find a way to make “I’m just trying to enjoy it all. I never know when my last NHL game will himself impactful and I believe he will.” be. I just want to take it all in because this opportunity doesn’t come Ice chips around every day.” With McIlrath in the lineup it was expected Alex Biega would be a healthy The Wings need what McIlrath can supply, as he is a burly 6-foot-5, 231- scratch. pounder. … Goaltender Jimmy Howard was expected to get the start against the McIlrath adds size and a physical element to the lineup, but he’s also an Rangers. effective penalty killer. And one thing about the Red Wings this nearly first-quarter of the season – they haven’t been great killing penalties, ranking near the bottom of the NHL at 68.6 percent. Detroit News LOADED: 11.07.2019 “Dylan played real well for us at the end of last season, he was a real good penalty killer for us, and obviously our penalty kill hasn’t been very good,” Blashill said. “He also brings an element of physicality and size on our defense corps. Right now, we don’t have enough size on defense, and as a team, we haven’t brought enough physicality.

“We need to be harder to play against, and Dylan embodies that. Can he come in and play real good? I hope so.”

McIlrath was sent to Grand Rapids near the end of the exhibition season and began the season slowly. But the Wings have received good reports lately, as McIlrath had three points (all assists) in 10 games, with 15 penalty minutes.

“He struggled a little bit after he got sent down, it hurt him a little bit, but he’s played well of late and I hope he can come in and do a real good job,” Blashill said.

McIlrath played well for the Wings in a brief, seven-game look-see in March, posting a plus-2 rating.

That provided a bit of confidence for McIlrath, who has played 50 NHL games, and hopes to impress the Wings enough to earn a longer stay this time around.

“I just want to build off what I finished last year,” McIlrath said. “I came in with nothing to lose and playing my game has really helped me this time around. The team is struggling, but I’m not going to go out of my way and do something extraordinary that isn’t within my means. I’m just going to help the team in whatever way I can.”

McIlrath was an unrestricted free agent this past summer, but chose to re-sign with the Wings’ organization for two years, rather than seek an opportunity elsewhere.

“I wanted to be in this organization,” McIlrath said. “Top to bottom it has good people, a great staff that wants to develop and are patient with guys, and that’s been huge with me.

“I’ve been able to play a lot and I love it in this organization. 1160208 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings acquire Robby Fabbri from Blues for Jacob de la Rose

Updated 2:05 AM;Today 11:38 PM

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

The Detroit Red Wings acquired center Robby Fabbri from the St. Louis Blues late Wednesday night in exchange for center Jacob de la Rose.

Fabbri, selected in the first round by the Blues in 2014 (21st overall), has one point (a goal) in nine games this season and 32 goals and 73 points in 164 NHL games since 2015-16.

The 5-10, 190-pound center was averaging only 9:42 in ice time this season for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Fabbri’s career began well; he had 18 goals and 37 points in 72 games as a rookie in 2015-16 and tied for the team lead with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 20 playoff games. He was limited to just 83 games over the next three seasons and missed the entire 2017-18 campaign due to knee injuries.

Fabbri appeared in 32 regular season games (two goals, four assists) and 10 playoff games (one goal, no assists) last season for the Blues.

Fabbri, 23, is in the final year of his contract ($900,000 cap hit). He will be a restricted free agent without arbitration rights after the season.

This is the third trade made by general manager Steve Yzerman since the start of the season. He acquired defenseman Alex Biega from Vancouver for forward prospect David Pope, and he landed left wing Brendan Perlini from Chicago for defense prospect Alec Regula.

The Red Wings now have three players selected nine spots apart in the 2014 draft -- Perlini (12th by Airzona), Dylan Larkin (15th) and Fabbri (21st). Fabbri was a teammate of Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi on Guelph’s 2014 OHL Championship team.

De la Rose, who had been Detroit’s fourth-line center, was held out of Wednesday’s 5-1 loss at the New York Rangers. He had one goal and three assists in 16 games this season and four goals and nine assists in 76 games since the Red Wings claimed him off waivers from Montreal early last season.

Michigan Live LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160209 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings lose fourth in row, 5-1 to Rangers

Staff Report

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist in New York’s three-goal second period, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 35 shots during his first start in 10 days, and the Rangers beat the struggling Detroit Red Wings 5-1 Wednesday night.

Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome also had a goal and an assist apiece, and Chris Kreider and Greg McKegg scored to help New York win for the fourth time in six games. Lundqvist, after sitting out the previous three games, made 24 saves over the final 28:06.

Valtteri Filppula scored and Jimmy Howard finished with 26 saves, but the Red Wings' fourth straight loss dropped them to 1-11-1 in their last 13 games. Detroit won the previous five meetings with the Rangers.

Trailing 3-1 in the second, the Red Wings picked up the pressure. They outshot the Rangers 15-3 over a 16½-minute stretch, but couldn't beat Lundqvist.

McKegg then pushed the lead to 4-1 at 8:44 of the third with his first goal for the Rangers on their third shot of the period. With the Red Wings on a power play, McKegg brought the puck up the left side and sent a shot that went off the shaft of Howard's stick. With the goalie unaware where the puck was as it lay in front, McKegg skated in and quickly put it in for New York's third short-handed score of the season.

Panarin added an empty-netter with 2:37 left for his seventh goal and 14th point, both team highs.

After a scoreless first period, the Rangers took control with three goals in the first 8:49 of the second — including two on their first three shots.

DeAngelo got New York on the board with a power-play goal with one second remaining on a holding penalty to Adam Erne. Brendan Lemieux took a pass from Pavel Buchnevich on the right doorstep, and his shot rebounded off Howard's pad to the left to DeAngelo, who quickly put it in for his sixth at 4:25.

Kreider made it 2-0 as he got a cross-ice pass from Buchnevich and beat Howard up high on the glove side from the right side for his third at 6:04.

The Rangers made it 3-0 with their second power-play goal of the period as Adam Fox's shot deflected off Strome's right shoulder and past Howard at 8:49. Strome, who had a six-game point streak snapped in New York's 6-2 loss to Ottawa on Monday night, got his fifth goal and 10th point in the last eight games.

Just 52 seconds later, Athanasiou got past Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba on the left side for a 2-on-0 rush, cut in toward the net and passed to the right to Filppula, who put the puck past Lundqvist to pull the Red Wings to 3-1.

Michigan Live LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160210 Detroit Red Wings

DeAngelo, Lundqvist lead Rangers to 5-1 win over Red Wings

By VIN A. CHERWOO AP Sports Writer

5 hrs ago Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist in New York's three-goal second period, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 35 shots during his first start in 10 days, and the Rangers beat the struggling Detroit Red Wings 5-1 Wednesday night.

Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome also had a goal and an assist apiece, and Chris Kreider and Greg McKegg scored to help New York win for the fourth time in six games. Lundqvist, after sitting out the previous three games, made 24 saves over the final 28:06.

Valtteri Filppula scored and Jimmy Howard finished with 26 saves, but the Red Wings' fourth straight loss dropped them to 1-11-1 in their last 13 games. Detroit won the previous five meetings with the Rangers.

Trailing 3-1 in the second, the Red Wings picked up the pressure. They outshot the Rangers 15-3 over a 16½-minute stretch, but couldn't beat Lundqvist.

McKegg then pushed the lead to 4-1 at 8:44 of the third with his first goal for the Rangers on their third shot of the period. With the Red Wings on a power play, McKegg brought the puck up the left side and sent a shot that went off the shaft of Howard's stick. With the goalie unaware where the puck was as it lay in front, McKegg skated in and quickly put it in for New York's third short-handed score of the season.

Panarin added an empty-netter with 2:37 left for his seventh goal and 14th point, both team highs.

After a scoreless first period, the Rangers took control with three goals in the first 8:49 of the second — including two on their first three shots.

DeAngelo got New York on the board with a power-play goal with one second remaining on a holding penalty to Adam Erne. Brendan Lemieux took a pass from Pavel Buchnevich on the right doorstep, and his shot rebounded off Howard's pad to the left to DeAngelo, who quickly put it in for his sixth at 4:25.

Kreider made it 2-0 as he got a cross-ice pass from Buchnevich and beat Howard up high on the glove side from the right side for his third at 6:04.

The Rangers made it 3-0 with their second power-play goal of the period as Adam Fox's shot deflected off Strome's right shoulder and past Howard at 8:49. Strome, who had a six-game point streak snapped in New York's 6-2 loss to Ottawa on Monday night, got his fifth goal and 10th point in the last eight games.

Just 52 seconds later, Athanasiou got past Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba on the left side for a 2-on-0 rush, cut in toward the net and passed to the right to Filppula, who put the puck past Lundqvist to pull the Red Wings to 3-1.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160211 Edmonton Oilers “They’re a pretty experienced team that will jump on any mistakes you make,” said Nugent-Hopkins. “They got those two (power-play goals) which definitely hurt us and from there on it seemed like we were clawing our way back into the game.” Stanley Cup champions teach Edmonton Oilers a lesson Zack Kassian scored his fourth of the season with eight minutes to go in the game, turning a 3-1 deficit into 3-2, but that was as close as the Oilers got. Robert Tychkowski After a 7-1 start, the Oilers are 3-4-2 in the last nine. November 6, 2019 10:56 PM MST After getting goals in three straight games from players other than

McDavid, Draisaitl and James Neal, the Oilers desperately needed In what was billed as a statement game against the defending Stanley somebody else to chip in against St. Louis. They got it when Kassian Cup champions, the Edmonton Oilers made one Wednesday: They are scored his first in 14 games when he ripped one over Allen’s shoulder in still very much a work in progress. the third period, but the bottom six was invisible again. The Oilers have been held to two or fewer goals eight times in the last 10 games. They’re a scrappy group that can hang with some of the best teams in the league, but there are too many holes in their game to be anything “I look at myself as a guy who needs to get going secondary-scoring more than a good team that had a great start. wise,” said Nugent-Hopkins, who extended his goalless streak to 10 games. “Those guys are getting big goals for us almost every game. We Unless things change, the next level will remain out of reach. have to find a way to help them out.”

It’s nothing they didn’t already know, but the visiting St. Louis Blues Dave Tippett had been going with the two-on, two-off formula with his pounded that point home anyway, capitalizing on those holes to stake a goaltenders, but he went back to Mike Smith after one Mikko Koskinen 3-1 lead after 40 minutes and then close the door with a pair of empty start, the 3-2 overtime loss to Arizona. Smith was 5-16 with a 3.54 GAA netters for a 5-2 victory. and .883 save percentage for his career against the Blues. It was not one of his better nights. “This was a lesson for us,” said defenceman Oscar Klefbom. “This was a playoff game and obviously we have a long way to go. We have to find a way to win these games because there are going to be many of them this year.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.07.2019

It had the makings of a true heavyweight battle — the first-place team in the Pacific Division (10-4-2) versus the first-place team in the Central (10-3-3), but aside from a frantic seven-minute stretch in the third period, the Blues, despite being exhausted and short-staffed, controlled the night.

“You see who measures up and who is not up to the standard,” head coach Dave Tippett said of evaluating his team against a strong, veteran opponent. “(You find out) how many players you have in that standard.”

And how many do they have?

“It was not enough,” said Tippett. “There are some guys who can play better. We have lots of guys looking for a lot of extra ice time and extra opportunities, but there is not much happening.”

A lot of the issues that have troubled the Oilers throughout their recent history were on display again in the loss. The penalty kill gave up a couple of goals. The only time the Oilers looked at all dangerous was when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were out there. They were reluctant to shoot. They had a mid-game sag. The goaltending wasn’t great. Lack of discipline cost them. They couldn’t generate offence.

That they overcame all of that to make it 3-2 in the final minutes is a testament to their spirit, but a resilient comeback loss is still a loss.

“There’s no let up from us, which is important, but one thing we’ve done too much this year is put ourselves behind,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “Good teams start to be on top a lot and make other teams come to you.”

With Jake Allen in goal, Vladimir Tarasenko injured and the Blues playing on short rest after finishing up an overtime game Vancouver 19 hours earlier, St. Louis was ripe for the picking. And the Oilers looked poised for the upset, scoring on their second shot of the game, a relatively harmless offering from McDavid that somehow managed to find the back of the net.

That’s two games in a row now that McDavid has scored on his first shift of the game.

But, as was the case against Arizona, nothing much happened for them after that.

The momentum went the other way just a few minutes later when an offensive zone penalty to Tomas Jurco set up power-play goal from Jaden Schwartz and it was 1-1 after 20.

Speaking of bad penalties, Leon Draisaitl took another one in the second when he laid out Sammy Blais nowhere near the puck in full view of the referees, who had no choice but to make the easy call. Sure enough, the Blues scored on the ensuing power play to take a 2-1 lead. 1160212 Edmonton Oilers game-day skate Wednesday and might be ready to play Friday against New Jersey. If they come off IR, Oilers will have 16 forwards, two over what they want to keep. Then two guys will be going on waivers to go to Bakersfield. Possibilities could be Colby Cave, Jurco, Markus Granlund Edmonton Oilers Snapshots: Ryan O'Reilly great acquisition for St. Louis and Patrick Russell. Cave and Russell have two-way contracts. Granlund Blues ($1.3 mil) makes the most on a one-way … Riley Sheahan, shaken up in Columbus a week ago, sat out against Blues but he’s ready to play.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.07.2019 November 6, 2019 10:47 PM MST

St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong is one of the NHL’s pre-eminent wheeler- dealers but no trade has worked out better than acquiring Ryan O’Reilly from Buffalo in the summer of 2018 evenif he gave up a truckload on the surface — forwards Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka and prospect Tage Thompson and a first-rounder this past June and a second in 2021.

He managed to hang on to his best two forward prospects Robert Thomas and Kim Klostin, sacrificing the six-foot-five centre Thompson instead, good horse-trading.

O’Reilly, 28, won the Conn Smythe trophy last spring in Blues march to the Stanley Cup with 23 playoff points and went into Wednesday’s game with the Oilers leading the Blues with 16 points in 16 games. He has 90 points in his 108 games for the Blues, including post-season.

O’Reilly, who won more face-offs than anybody in the NHL last season with a 56.9 success rate, currently has taken the most draws (339) and he’s winning 57.5 per cent of them.

Berglund left $11.5 million on the table after quitting the Sabres, disgruntled with NHL life, and he returned to Sweden where he’s currently playing well for Djurgardens.

Thompson is in the AHL with Rochester — lots of size, good minor- league stats, not enough consistency at the NHL level so far — and Sobotka has three points in 15 Sabres games. Buffalo also drafted defenceman Ryan Johnson with the Blues first-rounder; the son of former NHLer Craig Johnson is a rookie with U of Minnesota.

“I had (three-time Selke award winner) Jere Lehtinen for years when I was coaching Dallas and you could put a whole coaching tape together as to how to play the game by watching him. O’Reilly is like that.”

On O’Reilly’s first shift he ripped a 25-footer by Mike Smith’s head and Smith appeared to have a few words for him. Maybe he was questioning if it was a get-your-attention high shot.

Swiss centre Gaetan Haas struggled through camp and was sent to Bakersfield for two games but he’s getting the hang of the best league in the world. His speed and hockey savvy are winning over Tippett. He might be the No. 3 C they’re looking for.

“His main attribute is his speed. He can make plays and he’s a smart, smart player. You watch him on videotape and he’s in the right positions a lot of the time. He’s never played with the intensity of the games and the strength of the NHL players before but I give him credit. He’s learning how to deal with a more physical game, the awareness that people will hit hit you over here,” said Tippett.

NHLers are growing their ‘staches in support of prostate awareness but Tippett, who used to wear a duster for years and years, is clean-shaven now.

“I put in my years as a moustache guy. I had one for about 25 years. I feel I’m past that now,” laughed Tippett.

FRIENDS, WHAT FRIENDS?

James Neal is playing on the same line as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins but jokingly says all is not right with the duo because of the Oilers fantasy football. “Nuge is the commissioner our league and I got kicked out at the start of the season. He didn’t do something right and I couldn’t pick my team so Nuge and I aren’t on good terms with fantasy football. I gave my money away and just quit,” said Neal.

This ’n that: Smith got his first Oiler assist, helping on Connor McDavid’s power play goal in the first … Tomas Jurco was back in against the Blues after sitting out three games. He was strong in camp but his regular- season game has dropped off in the coach’s eyes … Joakim Nygard and Josh Archibald, both on injured reserve, were flying around at an optional 1160213 Edmonton Oilers Koskinen’s modest accomplishments and based on historical comparables Edmonton needed Koskinen to overachieve to make the contract palatable.

Willis: The unlikely goalie performances underpinning the Oilers’ hot start That’s what makes his start encouraging. His .917 save percentage through eight games is within the range of possible outcomes for goalies with his history. He had higher highs and lower lows last season, so the trick will be maintaining that number. If he can, it’s not much of a step By Jonathan Willis from 1B to 1A, and his contract isn’t ridiculous if he’s able to hold down Nov 6, 2019 that job.

Nothing about that is going to be easy. Projected as Edmonton’s starter in the offseason, he rated dead last among goalies in Craig Custance’s Entering 2019-20, skepticism about the Oilers’ goalie duo was proper. If preseason survey of NHL executives. When “oof, don’t like him” is the doubt remains 16 games into the season, that too is entirely goalie coach quote that gets run, it’s not a great sign. Chalk up his understandable. Yet both Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen have started October performance as a modest step toward proving the group along a course which, if maintained, will eventually convince even the consensus wrong. most hesitant observers. Between Smith and Koskinen, the Oilers have a team save percentage of Not that their teammates are numbered among the skeptics. .927 at 5-on-5, the ninth-best number in the NHL. They’re at .919 in all situations, which ranks them eighth. Nobody expected this tandem to be “Those two have been amazing all season,” Leon Draisaitl acknowledged a top-10 goaltending duo in the NHL, and despite their results in October, before Monday’s game against the Coyotes. “They’ve been great. they still shouldn’t. What seems more possible now, though, is that the They’ve kept us in games we probably shouldn’t have been in. It’s very two can keep Edmonton hovering close to the league-average, which comforting and nice to have them back there. They’ve been great for us.” would be a remarkable achievement. Edmonton’s current goaltending situation comes close to being a true There’s something to be said too for the value of keeping both goalies partnership, with Smith starting nine games to Koskinen’s seven. rested. Last season, not long before the Oilers traded Cam Talbot and Occasionally it appears that Dave Tippett has a slight preference for Ken Hitchcock started riding Koskinen like he was exiting the scene of a Smith, his long-time Coyotes starter (Smith got the nod on opening night train robbery, the then-coach talked about the value of a tandem, and Tippett also broke-up the two games on/two games off rotation to especially for a team like Edmonton. give Smith the start in a specific contest). Nevertheless, the usage has been pretty even, and that’s by design. “It’s different in the East than it is in the West,” he explained. “You can’t play a one-goalie system in the West. There’s too much travel; it’s too “Coming into the season we thought we had two guys,” Tippett observed hard. There’s too many late nights. You’ve got to have a focus on using in late October. “I haven’t been on too many teams where you say, ‘OK, two guys.” you got a No. 1 and a No. 2.’ We don’t really have a No. 1 and No. 2, we have 1A and 1B and they’ve both played like that. We feel like we can There are other benefits to a true tandem. It fosters internal competition. put them in positions where they’re rested, have enough practice and are It also provides redundancy in the event someone gets hurt. For Smith dialed right in so they can play well. (Goalie coach) Dustin Schwartz has and Koskinen, there’s the added advantage of familiarity: it was the usual done a great job with them so far and we’ve got quality goaltending in setup for Koskinen in the KHL and has been Smith’s reality for much of every game.” his NHL career. At this point, it seems to be bringing out the best in both players. Smith’s early work has been especially notable because he’s bucking a trend. Goalies who fall apart at 36 don’t typically rebound; the most Last week my colleagues Mark Lazerus and Dom Luszczyszyn common outcome is that they get worse. It might be a stretch to say that presented a fascinating hypothetical: an alteration to the NHL schedule, he’d be out of the league if he hadn’t played so convincingly in last designed to reduce travel as much as possible while fostering regular spring’s playoffs, but he’d probably be making less money and perhaps season rivalries. It struck me as a really good idea, and since have been pegged as a pure backup rather than a tandem option in the Luszczyszyn had already gone to the trouble of writing up a schedule for summer. all 31 teams I asked him if he’d be good enough to pass on the Edmonton version. His strong play doesn’t carry a lot of long-term upside for the Oilers: he is slated to be a free agent on July 1, at which point he’ll be 38. It might Nobody who has ever played around with the logistics of schedule- mean Smith gets to extend his NHL career, though. Dwayne Roloson making thinks that this stuff is simple or easy, and Luszczyszyn pointed played 40-plus games every year from age 37-42, and although he’s an out that if he were to do it again, he’d tweak it to avoid front-loading a extreme outlier on the NHL goalie longevity scale he does serve as a team’s home or away games. The hypothetical slate of contests here is a precedent. little too home-heavy early, with 20 of the team’s first 27 being played in Edmonton. If the league ever enacted something like this, it would In the short-term, he’s delivering quality goaltending on a budget: a $2- probably be watered down and as Luszczyszyn notes would avoid that million base salary with up to $1-million in regular-season bonuses based sort of imbalance. on games played and an additional $750,000 in potential playoff bonuses. The regular season bonuses trigger at five-game increments Nevertheless, this does demonstrate the basic idea, which effectively between 20 and 45 games played and right now he’s on-pace to trigger creates mini-tournaments during the season. The playoffs are fun for lots all of them. There’s also a distinct possibility that he cashes in on at least of reasons but one of them is the way that familiarity breeds both some of the playoff money, which I feel confident saying Edmonton animosity and adaptation. Playing three straight at home against any would be OK with, even if it leaves them with a minor cap penalty for next division rival is going to ratchet up the intensity. season. There’s another upside: Edmonton travels just under 58,000 km under One caution: Smith’s October save percentage of .919 over eight games this scenario, down from just under 79,000 km. That drops the Oilers to matches his best month from last season. When he did it last February it roughly the same level as the Islanders or Rangers currently travel. The was preceded by a .888 save percentage in January and followed by a New York-based teams see their travel fall, too, so this doesn’t even the .908 save percentage in March. If he’s truly rejuvenated, he’ll duplicate playing field, but it does reduce the travel disadvantage that comes with the feat or come close, but it’s also still possible that he falls off in playing in the West. November and this story takes a turn for the worse. His 51-save performance against Pittsburgh to start the month tilts the scales toward In brief optimism. In his press availability on Tuesday Tippett said that both Josh Archibald If Smith’s turnaround is well outside the ordinary, the recovery of and Joakim Nygard were close to a return and when they (along with Koskinen is somewhat less surprising. It’s also far more important. Riley Sheahan) come back the Oilers will be at 16 forwards. That may be bad news for Markus Granlund and Tomas Jurco, two offseason signings Right before the Oilers fired Peter Chiarelli last January, they signed who have struggled with both scoring and minor penalties in the early Koskinen to a reckless three-year extension at a $4.5-million cap hit. The going. It will be good news for team speed. timing was bizarre, the dollars and term were too high for a goalie of The Oilers are 6-0-2 in one-goal games and 4-4 in games decided by more than a single goal. What this sort of thing means, usually, is less that a team has winning character and more that it’s been lucky enough to have things break its way when the score is close. A few coaches tend to have good records in these situations, but usually it’s because they’re aggressive with the goalie pulls, meaning they either tie the game or lose by more than one. Winning all the close ones isn’t a strategy; it’s a blinking warning light.

While we’re parsing the record, it’s worth noting that the Oilers have one regulation win in their last eight games. They won seven of their first eight (six of those in regulation) and look good overall because of those points in the bank. With the coaches juggling lines and calling out individuals for poor execution, it’s clear they’re aware of the team’s mini- slump.

Joel Persson, one of those players in the cross-hairs, was benched in Monday’s game against the Coyotes. Tippett was blunt about his difficulties with NHL pace in the aftermath. He’s been hurt and he’s adjusting to North America, but even so, his shot metrics are the worst on the blue line despite a quality partner, soft zone starts and spending 37 percent of his 5-on-5 time with McDavid. Edmonton has been out-shot 33-14 and out-attempted 57-29 when Persson is out with McDavid, which is the biggest reason the overall stat picture is so rough.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160214 Edmonton Oilers Maybe the biggest strength in his stride is the way his north-south push blends with his size. Puljujarvi is able to push through holes and past physical confrontations with sheer strength, which helps him avoid slowing down when he’s trying to get to his spots. Watch the way he Wheeler: Analyzing Jesse Puljujarvi’s play in Finland to see what he splits two JYP forwards and still gets his stick available to receive a pass could offer as an NHLer and create the shot here:

Puljujarvi’s actual straightaway top speed is plus-level powerful and he’s able to generate decent pull-away acceleration pushing up the ice off the By Scott Wheeler rush. Nov 6, 2019 Watch the way he pushes past an opposing back checker (after picking up the puck from a relative standstill) here:

A few weeks ago, I asked Karpat general manager Tommi Virkkunen for Or the way he accelerates quickly to win the race to his own rebound his honest evaluation of Jesse Puljujarvi’s early play with his club. here:

This is what he said: Puljujarvi also generates above-average (again, particularly for his size) acceleration through his crossovers, which gives him another way to “His skating, I think that’s the best part of his game. His straight skating, build speed. Watch the way he accelerates into open space to get open that’s definitely at the NHL level, for sure. For him, it seems like he’s with his edges here: getting confidence. We’re now seeing some of the moves that he was making as a kid. And maybe not all of what we saw a few years ago but Or the way those crossovers create the necessary spacing for this in my opinion, I think the coaches can help him be better. He has more scoring chance: time and can focus here compared to the NHL where you just play and The hiccup is in his mechanics. Puljujarvi still skates with the so-called there’s no practice. The year here could be really good.” ‘pitchfork.’ As the NHL’s Dec. 1 deadline for signing a contract approaches, the idea You can see it in action here, as he sways his way up the ice, expending that Virkkunen put forward — that Puljujarvi benefits more from a full year too much energy through his shoulders (that side-to-side push) instead of than a partial one — is about to be put to the test. using his body to power through otherwise strong lower-body strength: Both he and the Oilers have to decide what’s best. His decision to pursue There, it’s some deft puck skill (the corral of the pass) and a lateral cut a return to the NHL should come down to whether or not his career (not that creates the shot, rather than the efficiency of his north-south skating. the here and now, but the whole of it) is better served by an immediate mid-season return, or by playing the long game and attempting a return Look for that pitchfork from more of a standstill here, too: next fall. The Oilers’ decision carries a little more immediacy to it. Ultimately, they have to decide whether they think he is an upgrade right There, Puljujarvi wins the puck back with his stick, not because his A-to- now or as an asset via a trade. Because a return to bouncing in and out B skating won the race. of the lineup is in nobody’s best interest. Though I wouldn’t say it’s prohibitive (he uses some timely cuts into And so I went back and watched nearly every shift Puljujarvi has played space to get open effectively for his shot), it’s definitely noticeable. Look in Liiga this season (more than 300 of them) in an attempt to answer for it again on this chance: those questions. Or in the push into this pass reception and shot: Here, through an evaluation of that footage, I’ll break down what I saw in Or in this race for a puck, which he manages to win with that man-on- his game — and whether he looks ready to make an impact on an NHL man strength I talked about, not with his pure speed (which is in part roster. hampered by that pitchfork again): First, though, let’s take a look at his numbers and build a baseline from Again, though, I think it’s still worth pointing out that Puljujarvi isn’t (and which to evaluate his play. Here’s where Puljujarvi sits through 18 shouldn’t be at the next level) limited by his skating off the rush. It’s games, with some added context relative to his Karpat team (given how definitely a strength. strong they are relative to most of their competition, I think that’s important): There aren’t a lot of 6-foot-4 wingers who can hit open space or seams as effectively as he does: The first thing that will leap out at you is Puljujarvi’s ability to generate shots and goals relative to the rest of the league. He’s not lighting the Puck protection league on fire from a raw points perspective (you’d expect him to be a top-five scorer) but he has proven to be its most dominant shot creator. Puljujarvi’s biggest strength is unquestionably his ability to hang onto the In fact, his 130 individual shot attempts are way ahead of the field (the puck off the rush, in tight spaces (this is definitely noteworthy given the nearest players is at 105) despite the fact that he’s not playing huge aforementioned size) and on the cycle. minutes. Puljujarvi has been able to generate shots at such a high level in Liiga Factoring in age (while considering that most elite players aren’t still in this season because of the way he has used his size to out-maneuver Liiga at 21), his 1.11 points per game is the second-best under-22 Liiga (or, occasionally, just outmuscle) opposing players with his body or stick. production of the last decade, narrowly trailing Mikael Granlund’s U20 That’s true on the cycle, where defenders often won’t even attempt a pace of 1.13 and narrowly leading Sebastian Aho’s U19 pace of 1.00. physical battle because of his length, allowing him to make little plays From a statistical perspective, that leaves me with two thoughts before I along the boards as he did on this goal (nice job rotating off of the cycle dive into the video analysis: to the slot too):

From a shooting/scoring lens, it looks like Liiga is below Puljujarvi. The two little plays he makes along the boards contributed to this net- front finish, too (again, nice job rotating into a scoring area off of the On the whole, though, while he has quite clearly become a dominant cycle): player in a top pro league, his play hasn’t been so far ahead of the pack as to not merit a more serious evaluation of whether he deserves another More than that, Puljujarvi has also shown a willingness to use his size to NHL shot — or what kind of role he’s capable of playing if he gets it. initiate contact, rather than waiting for it. Watch the little bump play he uses here to protect against the forechecker and win the puck before Skating making a play while falling:

I want to start with a frank evaluation of Puljujarvi’s skating because I When Puljujarvi drops his shoulder along the cycle, he’s a lot to handle. don’t think it’s quite as strong as Virkkunen described. The play below is one of the better he has made all season for that reason. I’ll let you watch it first: If his skating is broken down into three component parts (stride mechanics, power/push and acceleration), I think he checks favourably in What exactly happened there and why is it so impressive? two of the three boxes, especially for his size. Watch how he protects the puck with one hand on his stick and uses his Other times, a low shot can create an assist on a redirect: lead hand to guard against the defender. Or it can surprise a goalie: Check the nifty little pass he makes to the slot. And while I wouldn’t say Puljujarvi is a major one-time threat (he prefers Great job pursuing that shot when it squirts into the corner, where, for the a snapshot), he is comfortable using it: second time, he uses his size to edge in on the defender and corral the puck. Ultimately, though, I think his success on an NHL power play, or his success as an NHL scorer, will likely be driven by where and how he is Nice job keeping the cycle going by swinging the puck back down low. utilized.

That familiar rotation to the slot, where he caps off an impressive 15 Puljujarvi is better suited as a high shot threat on the man-advantage seconds with a tip on the point shot for a primary assist. than he is as a net-front guy.

Again and again, Puljujarvi has done a really good job recognizing when And though he’s willing to drive the net with his size to score, as he does to use his size to take the play to the opposing team, or when to pull up: here …

His ability to hold onto the puck that extra second, even under pressure, … you’ve probably noticed that most of his chances and goals come from isn’t just an asset along the wall, either. Puljujarvi consistently here: demonstrates an ability to stickhandle through traffic and make a play, rather than rushing a pass or a shot, too. Though a lot of this analysis has focused on his three greatest assets, there’s more to Puljujarvi’s game that I think is worth highlighting. Here, watch how he uses his hands to box out the opposing players from effectively reaching in, before making his pass and getting open to score One of those things is his defensive zone awareness and effort, which (a trend): needs some work.

He hangs onto the puck an extra split second through the middle to Though he does have an impressive positive plus-minus (22 goals for to create this chance: just five goals against at evens this year, for a plus-17 rating that is good for third in the league) and Corsi For percentage, some of that is driven The sequence below puts all of those pieces together: by playing on the second-place team in a 15-team league.

The tight space control to be able to cut through a seam to the middle. There have been some lapses this year, including this sequence where, high in the defensive zone, Puljujarvi has three chances to make a play The poise to turn back instead of handing it off to the defender. on a pass and doesn’t really attempt to intercept any of them:

The shading back to the middle while keeping the puck out wide on his There are some positive qualities to his game that also fly under the forehand, preventing the checker from reaching in to make a play. radar, though.

In some situations, Puljujarvi’s ability to generate has come down to a Given all the attention he gets as a shooter in Liiga, he has done a nice combination of his skating and his puck protection. Part of his league- job using that to his advantage. Watch the way he draws the defender to leading results in possession is driven by the way he pursues and wins him below the goal line before throwing a nifty pass across his body for a pucks or that outmuscling I hinted at. primary assist here:

This play is a perfect example of that: There are a lot of eyes on Puljujarvi there and that’s a great play.

There, not only does Puljunjarvi need the strength to be able to close the He also has some sneaky-good reflexes. gap in pursuit, he also needs the power to win the battle, the puck protection skill to hang onto the puck with one hand and the skating Try to ignore the rush chance in the sequence below and instead look for ability to edge in on the defender and attack the net. the way he quickly reaches out to touch a bobbled puck back to himself in the neutral zone: Here, after doing a nice job to support the play as the high forward into the offensive zone, watch the way Puljujarvi tracks the puck to get it back In the end, I think Puljujarvi has looked and played like his got his mojo when the ensuing shot misses the net, before ultimately setting up back. He looks like the confident, puck-possession, puck-protection, another goal: powerful shot-threat he looked like in his draft year.

Though I think both his ability to skate (given his size), protect the puck, And though there are some kinks in his game (a pitch-fork stride that he’s overwhelm on the cycle and create shots for himself are all transferable probably not going to correct at this point and some defensive lapses), I skills, he’ll need to actually finish those chances if he wants his second still think he deserves another NHL shot. crack at the NHL to turn out better than his first. What would that team be getting? That’s a little more complicated, Though his 17 goals in 139 NHL games doesn’t inspire a lot of because I think he’s well-suited in a specific role on the power play, and confidence in his ability as a finisher, I think Puljujarvi has more to offer that you need to play him in an offensive role at even-strength to get the as a scoring threat in a couple of ways. most out of him. Despite the fact that he’s excellent on the cycle, Puljujarvi isn’t the kind of player who’s going to excel on a fourth line, or The first thing I like about Puljujarvi’s approach as a shooter is his when he’s asked to chip-and-chase. He needs a role where he can be willingness to shoot low (that was a trend across almost all of his shot allowed to play a little looser than that, rely on strong offensive tools — attempts this season). where his ability to shoot and score can come to the forefront.

Karpat has used him on the point on the power play (a role he never He’d be a low-risk, high-reward gamble on a cheap deal for a team in played with the Oilers) and he has done an excellent job keeping his need of some size and scoring punch down the wing. And while it’s kind shots low. This is relatively uncommon for young players who have been of ironic that the Oilers seem to fit that mold pretty well, they’re not alone. picking flashy corners their entire hockey-playing lives, but it’s a skill more should adopt because:

You can still score goals low! The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019

Rebounds!

The choice to shoot low on his first attempt below contributes to the availability of the second attempt, which he scores on.

When attempting to score from bad angles, the decision to shoot low can contribute to goals in situations where a high shot would likely wrap around the glass. This is a good example of that.

Just as the decision to shoot low is the right call when the goalie is peaking over traffic, as he did here: 1160215 Edmonton Oilers This season, Edmonton is running four defencemen over 18 minutes a night at even strength: Darnell Nurse (20:21), Bear (19:09), Larsson (18:48) and Oscar Klefbom (18:40). In the discipline, these men represent the Oilers’ top-four defencemen. Larsson has played only one Lowetide: How far away is Evan Bouchard and what role will he play with game, but his usage in that game is consistent with his NHL career. If the Oilers? everything breaks right, Bouchard will replace Larsson (when healthy) or Bear at even strength.

On the penalty kill, Edmonton deploys four men in major roles. Larsson By Allan Mitchell (3:31), Klefbom (3:18), Russell (3:05) and Nurse (2:01) all play major Nov 6, 2019 minutes, with Bear (1:32) usurping Benning’s minutes during shorthanded situations. Bouchard’s skills are a stronger fit for the other special team than this one, but he might land here if his quality of play warrants it. In 2015, the Edmonton Oilers defensive depth chart was ‘the Leftorium’, populated by lefties as far as the eye could see. Beginning with the On the power play, the Oilers employ one major player (Klefbom, 3:38), drafting of Ethan Bear and John Marino in 2015, followed by Filip and a few others who are auditioning. They include Nurse (55 seconds), Berglund and Vincent Desharnais (2016), Phil Kemp (2017), Evan Bear (39 seconds) and Persson (18 seconds). This is Bouchard’s Bouchard and Michael Kesselring (2018), the club aggressively pursued wheelhouse. I can’t tell you how long it will take for him to become a right-handed defencemen in every draft. From 2015 to 2018, Edmonton feature power play quarterback upon NHL arrival, but it won’t be long. His chose seven righties among its 27 selections (26 percent). skills are built for the role.

The results are beginning to find their way to the NHL. Bear is playing a Are we there yet? prominent role with the Oilers and Marino made his NHL debut this fall with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Edmonton’s current depth chart on right traditionally slow plays prospect progress, so we can use defence, when everyone is healthy, would be a four man crew at the NHL Bear’s timeline as a starting point. Bear played 100 AHL games level. Adam Larsson, currently injured, along with rookies Bear and Joel (including playoffs) over two seasons in the minors. Based on draft Persson and young vet Matt Benning represents a massive improvement pedigree and his substantial offensive talents, I think we can estimate from the state of affairs in the days after the club dealt Jeff Petry to the Bouchard’s arrival coming in somewhere this side of fall 2021. Montreal Canadiens at the 2015 trade deadline. Will it come during the 2019-20 season? I think it will, but the Oilers are The team also signed Swedish defenceman Persson, who was signed in ideally situated to populate the right side for the full season without 2018 but didn’t arrive in North America until 2019’s training camp. The needing Bouchard. The current right side depth chart is Bear, combination of his arrival, Bear’s emergence and Evan Bouchard turning Persson/Russell and Benning. Once Larsson is healthy, it’s likely to pro has created something of a logjam for the organization. It’s a good become Larsson, Bear and Benning. After that, it comes down to trade problem to have, but when Bouchard arrives — and he isn’t far from (Benning, Russell) or running the depth chart with a ridiculous amount of being NHL-ready — something will have to give. depth (Benning as No. 7 defenceman).

How far away is Bouchard? There are two things we know today: First, Bouchard is the top prospect in the minors and his recall will impact the NHL roster immediately. He is Bouchard posted three points (1-2-3) in two games against the Ontario going to play a regular shift on the first night he arrives, and add power- Reign the first week of November and his early boxcars (11, 3-4-7) have play minutes in the days after. Second, we know, based on the body him near the top among AHL rookie defencemen in 2019-20. Offence language of the team and the math we have available, that Bouchard isn’t the reason he’s in the minors. Oilers management wants to see isn’t yet ready for steady NHL work. Bouchard improve his urgency and efficiency in defending against AHL competition. That’s important to know. Why? As an example, if Bouchard were NHL- ready now, it raises the possibility of a trade involving one of Benning or Early numbers have him doing well in some areas, middle of the pack in Russell, perhaps included with Jesse Puljujarvi. One of the things others. He’s holding his own in even strength goal differential compared Edmonton would be looking to accomplish in a Puljujarvi deal during the to other regular Condors blue: season is include another player with cap dollars that match the returning assets. For instance, if Chris Kreider or Pavel Buchnevich are the targets Jake Kulevich 8-4, +4 from the New York Rangers, Edmonton will need to send substantial cap Dmitri Samorkov (rookie): 6-4, +2 along with Puljujarvi to make it happen.

William Lagesson: 4-4, even Bouchard’s NHL landing is on an unknown flight pattern. We know he’s going to be in Edmonton in the next few months and we suspect it will be Evan Bouchard (rookie): 7-8, -1 this season. It does not appear to be in play surrounding the Puljujarvi Caleb Jones: 8-11, -3 Dec. 1 deadline, but could be an item of interest around the trade deadline. That brings Benning and Russell into the conversation. Keegan Lowe: 3-9, -6 Who could have seen this abundance in the spring of 2015? It’s possible Kulevich and Samorukov are playing depth minutes; third pairing to project a right side depth chart of Larsson, Bear and Bouchard for the defenders often display superior possession and goal differential fall of 2020. There’s no hurry, beyond using assets to build a Stanley Cup numbers due to quality of competition. Among the heart of Bakersfield’s contender. I expect Bouchard is here before the trade deadline. current top-four defence (Lagesson, Bouchard, Jones, Lowe), Bouchard is performing reasonably well.

How long will it take for the Oilers to elevate Bouchard? That’s a difficult The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 question to answer. However, based on the team’s stated wish that he improve away from the puck, and the fact even strength goal differential is a rare and valuable metric available to us, tracking these numbers now through Christmas and beyond offers us insight into progress.

What role will he play?

There are several projects this season tracking Condors prospects, drilling down on things of value that are not publicly available. One of the projects (WheatNOil) is tracking several important defensive measures. For instance, Bouchard leads Condors with 64 percent controlled exits. That has value. He is also estimated to be playing 17 minutes at even strength, a minute on the penalty kill and three minutes on the power play per game — that’s a rough sketch of a complete right-handed defenceman, the rarest player type of all. 1160216 Florida Panthers friendship never wavered. When Quenneville hit the open market, it was natural for the Panthers to come calling.

As the Panthers’ disappointing 2018-19 season unfolded, the talk of A year ago, the Blackhawks fired Joel Quenneville. The Panthers have Quenneville joining Tallon in the sunshine heated up a bit, although taken full advantage nothing happened publicly. The two sides spoke in the final days of the season, and a handshake deal was reached.

On the morning after Florida’s season ended with them 12 points out of a By George Richards playoff berth, Boughner was fired. News of Quenneville’s probable arrival came quickly. Florida’s players gathered for an end-of-season golf outing Nov 6, 2019 that Sunday and phones were buzzing.

Forward Troy Brouwer, who played for Quenneville in Chicago and was CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Joel Quenneville was in a sunny mood on part of the Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup championship since 1961 when Wednesday morning. they won it in 2010, said he was the most popular guy on the golf course as his teammates rushed to find out what they were getting in their new After a hard practice, he held his daily media session before taking a coach. moment to speak with a local television station about his team’s Movember initiative. “He is an intense guy, a really good coach, and I think he is going to do really well here,” Brouwer said a few hours before Quenneville was A number of his players are growing facial hair to raise awareness of officially announced as Florida’s new coach on April 8. men’s health issues and, well, one cannot truly do a story on mustaches in hockey without asking Quenneville about his. “Guys are excited to get to know him, start to work for him. … He is a great guy who will go to bat for his players, always has their back. He’s “You have to water it,” he said with a chuckle. really intense. You will hear a lot of yelling on the bench, but that’s just his competitiveness.” A year ago, Quenneville was in a much more somber mood. Quenneville signed a five-year deal with the Panthers worth an estimated On Nov. 6, 2018, he went in to work at United Center and was greeted by $6 million per season, making him the second-highest paid coach in the Chicago Blackhawks team president John McDonough and general NHL behind Toronto’s Mike Babcock. It is, by far, the most the franchise manager Stan Bowman. has ever spent on a coach. The Blackhawks were off to a 6-6-3 start but had lost their last five As such, his arrival in South Florida was a huge media event. It is not games including all three on a trip to Western Canada. every day the local hockey team hires the second-winningest coach in There was no practice for the team, but there would be plenty of news on the game, one who won the Stanley Cup three times this decade. this day. The team even made a commercial out of Quenneville arriving in Fort After 10 seasons behind the Chicago bench, Quenneville was fired. Lauderdale via private jet and players, while expressing disappointment in the firing of Boughner, were excited about the new start. The hockey world was in a state of shock at the dismissal. Although Quenneville was said to be on the hot seat, the news still came as a Now a month into their first season, that vibe has not worn off. surprise to many. Florida goes into its game against Washington on Thursday 7-3-4. Their Quenneville, after all, took over a Chicago team in 2008 just starting to 18 points are good enough entering Thursday for fourth place in the show signs of life and brought the Hawks to the top of the hockey world. Atlantic Division and a playoff spot. Three times. “We knew this would be a new opportunity to learn from someone who is If Quenneville knew Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of losing one of the best coaches to ever coach the game,” defenseman Aaron a job he loved in a city that loved him just as much, he did not show it. Ekblad said.

“Thanks for reminding me of that,” he said with a laugh. “That part was exciting, is exciting. I am lucky to be here in Florida and be here to learn from such a great coach. It has 100 percent been what I “We know, in the coaching business, that’s one of the tough things that expected. Everything is different. I feel so much more confident in my goes along with it. But that is how it works. We were in one place for the game now, playing the way they have been teaching us. We are reaping longest time and loved every minute of it. the rewards right now.

“It was a good situation there, but now we’re here and have some work to “We have had, realistically, one or two bad games so far where we didn’t do. I am excited about where we’re at and knowing there is a lot of work play the right way from the start. But we responded well after those to be done to reach the goal of where we want to get to.” games, and I think that shows resiliency, but it also shows what good Quenneville says he is not one to mark anniversaries such as these. He coaches we have here.” will admit, though, it has been a crazy year. Quenneville quickly put his stamp on the team, working with Tallon Not only for him, of course, but for the Florida Panthers as well. during the summer to formulate a plan in free agency.

The Panthers were one of the first teams to be linked to Quenneville Although the signing of Sergei Bobrovsky to a seven-year, $70 million upon his dismissal from the Blackhawks even though they had a coach in contract rightfully got the headlines, also adding players such as Brett Bob Boughner who was in his second season. Connolly, Anton Stralman and Noel Acciari were big additions to the solid squad that piqued Quenneville’s interest in the first place. The day he was fired, a USA Today headline suggested that Quenneville would be “the Blackhawks’ gift to another team.” As it turned out, the Signing veteran Brian Boyle once the season started was another Q- Panthers were indeed the ones on the receiving end. esque addition.

“It is great to have him here,” Florida forward Frank Vatrano said. “You “We are a work in progress,” Quenneville said Wednesday when asked know, everything happens for a reason and he is in a great spot now. He how he thought the season was going. is really going to help us be successful and win games.” “I thought coming into it, we have a whole new group getting adjusted to Quenneville and Florida GM Dale Tallon had been friends for years and how we’re playing, how individuals are coming together in their own worked together briefly in Chicago. It was Tallon who hired Quenneville games as linemates, D-partners and goaltenders. Put it all together and to be a scout for the Blackhawks and then put him behind the bench there is progression, which you like to see. … when he fired Denis Savard four games into the 2008-09 season. ”We’re excited about where we’re at. When you’re winning, you have way Tallon was replaced as GM by Bowman that offseason and later made more fun and enjoy things more. But as a coach, the real enjoyment his way to Florida’s front office. The two never lost touch, and their comes in seeing players do the right things and improve on the little things.” Quenneville has his team working hard and fast.

Most practices only last 45 minutes or so, but the Panthers are skating almost the entire time. Defensive problems the team has faced in the past are starting to disappear, and bad habits are popping up less and less.

“In talking to guys before the season, I did not hear one bad thing (about Quenneville),” Vatrano said. “He brings a real energy to the rink every day, and everyone knows what he expects out of you. He holds himself to that same standard. He makes sure we are doing the right things.

“It has been fun to be coached by him, and it is fun coming to the rink every day. You know you’re going to work hard every single day. Every game and every meeting, we’re prepared. You cannot be halfway here. You have to be all-in and committed to the way he wants to play, to doing the right things and taking care of yourself off the ice. There’s accountability here and we need that.’’

As for the yelling Brouwer warned about, the Panthers have not really seen that side of Quenneville yet.

Sure, players say, he has raised his voice a time or two, but Quenneville can get his mood across with just a look.

Ekblad, for instance, said instead of screaming after a loss or focusing on “all the bad things we did,” Quenneville has focused on how to do things better and improve as a team.

The Panthers seem to have taken to that approach.

“After a bad game sometimes, you come into the room and you can feel that depression,” Ekblad said. “Right now, it is not like that. There is no ‘Screw you guys!’ There is a lot more optimism, more of a positive outlook, and each day you come to the rink with a fresh outlook and almost a new lease on life.

“He wants us to fix our mistakes, not dwell on them and continue to think about them and lose confidence in what we’re doing. I wouldn’t say he is a yeller at all, but he has a real optimistic approach to teaching. He wants us to find a way to be better. It’s a ‘moving forward’ mentality, not a look- back one. It really works.

“It is so different around here and so exciting. It really is awesome.”

The Panthers will continue to be without center Vincent Trocheck as he works his way back from an injury sustained blocking a shot Oct. 19 at Nashville.

Trocheck did not practice with the team again Wednesday, and he will not play against the Capitals on Thursday at BB&T Center.

Florida will also be missing Acciari, its fourth-line center, after he pulled something at practice on Monday.

Both players, Quenneville said, are day-to-day and expected to travel with the team to New York this weekend.

Defenseman Mike Matheson has been cleared to play and will be back in the lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury. The Panthers sent Riley Stillman back to AHL Springfield.

“Certain guys jumped in and played well in (Matheson’s) absence,” Quenneville said. “I thought he was playing well before getting hurt, and watching him today, he looks ready to go.’’

With Acciari out, the Panthers recalled Dominic Toninato from Springfield. Toninato was one of the final cuts of the preseason as he impressed the team with his speed and the way he handled himself on the ice.

In Springfield, Toninato had four goals and six points in 12 games. He will take Acciari’s spot on the fourth line alongside Colton Sceviour and Dryden Hunt.

“I thought I had a good preseason, but obviously things did not work out the way I hoped they would,” said Toninato, who appeared in 39 games with Colorado over the previous two seasons. “But that’s OK. I went down, worked on my game and got the call.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160217 Los Angeles Kings

Kings head to Ottawa seeking to improve upon improving

By ANDREW KNOLL

PUBLISHED: November 6, 2019 at 2:41 pm | UPDATED: November 6, 2019 at 2:41 PM

After seeing one of their steadiest efforts of the season go to waste in Toronto, the Kings ramble on to Ottawa to face the rebuilding Senators on Thursday.

The Kings (5-10-0) stumbled versus the Maple Leafs after standing their ground against the high-octane Leafs for more than 50 minutes of action Tuesday. Two goals in 30 seconds late in the third period signaled the Kings’ undoing in a game where they generally played with poise and structure.

Though turnovers proved costly for the Kings, the flow of the game was relatively even. Puck management, discipline and defensive diligence were relatively solid aspects of the Kings’ game.

“We have to stay within (our structure), because if we wander from it, you saw what happened tonight, the few mistakes we made wound up in our net,” Kings coach Todd McLellan told reporters, referring to the first and third Toronto goals, which came off Kings giveaways.

McLellan said his team checked effectively, was largely disciplined and had a stronger performance on special teams.

“We may not have won the game tonight, but we did get better in some areas,” McLellan told reporters. “When you compare what happened tonight to Game 2 or 3 of the regular season, we’re getting better.”

This trip through Ontario will see eight Ontarians on the Kings’ roster travel to their home province. Drew Doughty was among them, and he visited his former Kings defense partner and childhood friend, Jake Muzzin, now with Toronto. Kings wing Tyler Toffoli, who grew up in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, will next revisit his junior-hockey home in Ottawa, where he played four seasons for the 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Senators (4-9-1) lost the 2017 Eastern Conference finals in agonizing fashion as they dropped Game 7 in double overtime. Since, they have charted a sinuous but swift course to the bottom of the league..

Gone are stars like defenseman Erik Karlsson, right wing Mark Stone and left wing Mike Hoffman. Their replacements are a much less- seasoned crew under first-year head coach D.J. Smith.

Ottawa’s top eight scorers are all 26 or younger, including defenseman Thomas Chabot – the centerpiece of the Karlsson trade with San Jose – and wing Brady Tkachuk. Defenseman Erik Brannstrom may not be prolific yet, but he was the fulcrum of the trade that sent Stone to Vegas.

Promise has yet to materialize for the Sens, who were most recently beaten convincingly by the scorching hot New York Islanders. Ottawa had the NHL’s worst goal differential last season and its worst record. Worse yet, they had traded their 2019 first-round draft pick to Colorado in an ill-fated deal for Matt Duchene, a forward who has since played for two other franchises following an ephemeral stint in Ottawa.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160218 Los Angeles Kings a game. He stood on his head. He had big saves for us, and we can’t put him in a position like that.”

One of the quality saves that Martinez was referencing was this third- Jonathan Quick can’t hide his frustration after latest Kings loss period denial of Auston Matthews.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar correctly assessed the game: “We’re certainly not playing awful but we’re not playing to the level that we need By Lisa Dillman to play to win games. That’s the bottom line.”

Nov 6, 2019 He did have a thought on the Kings’ proclivity to give up goals in bunches.

“It seems like we want to get it back within the 25 seconds, and then you TORONTO — Jonathan Quick let it be known that the growing sense of give up another chance and another goal,” Kopitar said. “Then you’re frustration isn’t limited to a certain older group of Kings players. really behind the eight-ball. We’ve just got to keep our composure, keep Only Quick made the point in his own distinctive way with a mixture of our cool. well-worn cliches and edgy profanity after the Kings fell 3-1 to the “At that point, there were six or seven minutes left. There’s still lots of Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night for their fifth loss in the last six time.” games. The Kings inhabit last place in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference, and they are behind the pace of last season after Hello to an old friend 15 games by one point. So much of the talk the last couple of days centered around the first A relatively benign observation — that it must be hard for the veterans on game between the Kings and Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin, a team struggling to find its footing — prompted this pointed analysis who was traded to Toronto in January. from the Kings goaltender, who is 2-7-0 with a 4.40 goals-against average and an .859 save percentage. What would his friend and former teammate Drew Doughty say to him? The Kings defenseman was questioned about that and seemingly almost “Not for the veterans,” Quick said. “It’s for everyone. You want to win. everything he has said this season in various Canadian markets. Everyone wants to win. It’s fucking, this bullshit, you guys saying, ‘Veterans, young guys.’ We’re all together. No one in here likes to lose. Muzzin did take one minor penalty, but it was an interference infraction against Ilya Kovalchuk, not Kopitar or Brown. He said afterward that the “The only people that can do something about it is us. We’ve got to keep experience was “weird.” working and find a way to win some hockey games.” “A couple of chirps, a couple of laughs,” Muzzin said. “At the end of the This almost felt like a flashback to a terse night in Pittsburgh last season. day, you’re still trying to do your job, play hard. Some funny moments. Quick memorably unleashed a few expletives in the dressing room after Some serious ones. It was funny.” an overtime loss to the Penguins, saying, “Fucking effort is not enough.” There was this late in the first period when Doughty blocked Muzzin’s But that game was in mid-December, 34 games into the season. The shot. reality is that the Kings aren’t even at the 20-game mark, and the language of frustration already is taking hold. Jonas Siegel of The Athletic had a deeper look at Muzzin’s impact in Toronto, calling the January trade an imperfect win for Maple Leafs GM It’s one thing to talk about the prospect of pain and losses in Project Kyle Dubas. Rebuild. That’s a remote concept in the summer. After the game, Muzzin and Doughty chatted in the hallway between the Living it and playing through it in November is another story. teams’ dressing rooms. Kings forward Trevor Lewis, who is the godfather to Muzzin’s daughter, Luna, went over to visit them for dinner on Monday Dustin Brown, in fact, spoke about the frustration on Monday and how night. there is no way to speed up the lessons, thereby shortcutting the process. He also creatively summed up the team’s current frustration: the “She’s six months,” Lewis said smiling. “She’s built like Muzz. She’s got “pissed-offness.” some chubby cheeks, really cute. I’ve been with Muzz for a long time.

Quick’s method, in good times and in bad, is to view the season in the “I don’t think he changes. He is who he is. He’s a fun guy and always most compact way possible. loud and brings a lot of energy, too. I think he is a great pickup for these guys.” “We’re not looking at the (longer) road. We’re looking at one game at a time,” he said. “That’s the only way you can approach this game. I’ve been lucky to play in this league for a long time. I know that’s the only way. If you’re looking at the road, you’re fucked. The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019

“We’re just focusing one game at a time and it’s got to continue to get better.”

Fortunately, no one brought out the words “moral victory” with Quick. The Kings had a one-goal lead beyond the middle of the second period and were playing a decent road game (tied 1-1 in the third) until they unraveled and surrendered two goals in 30 seconds.

Much earlier, they did escape giving up a goal on a Toronto power play when captain John Tavares inexplicably missed a wide open net.

For the Kings, so often the first puncture or first error has brought on a flurry of mistakes. Instead of tightening up after allowing a goal, the Kings are prone to give up another one on the next shift, like they did on Tuesday.

“I don’t really know the reason for it,” Kings defenseman Alec Martinez said. “I know that it’s happened far too much this year. I would say that it’s probably happened five times, maybe more. You can’t afford to have lapses like that, especially against a team that you’ve got over there.

“They’ve got a lot of guys that, if you give them enough opportunities, they’re going to capitalize. It’s not on Quickie. Quickie played one hell of 1160219 Los Angeles Kings so I think that helped. The power play looked good that first time out, got us a big goal, and that’s what you need to do, you need to do well on your special teams. Games are usually too tight, so if you can chip in with the odd power-play goal and do a good job shutting down their PP, ONTARIO 4, IOWA 0 – PETERSEN, STRAND, STOTHERS usually things work out.

On the pair of 5-on-3 penalty kills

ZACH DOOLEY Well, here’s a stat for you. How many times have we been short two guys, so 3-versus-5, and how many times have we had a 5-on-3? We NOVEMBER 6, 2019 can only think of one when we had a 5-on-3 and so we were talking about it after the first one we got and then bang, we got another one. [Reporter: Full two minutes too.] Full two minutes, yeah. So I don’t have The Colorado curse has been broken – For the first time in six tries, the an answer for that. It’s not the ideal situation, but we had a good job from Reign skated to a victory at Budweiser Events Center, a 4-0 win over the our PK and usually your best penalty killer is your goaltender and Cal Colorado Eagles on Wednesday evening. was phenomenal.

Goaltender Cal Petersen earned his league-leading seventh victory of On Matt Luff’s play with two assists tonight and playing in all situations the season as he posted a 23-save , his second of the 2019-20 campaign. Petersen made several big saves despite a lighter than usual Luffer’s been good. He had a little bit of a slow start for him, maybe there workload. Forwards Martin Frk (2-0-2) and Matt Luff (0-2-2) each was a little bit of a disappointment for not sticking up longer with the collected two points in the win, as the Reign improved to 7-3-2 on the Kings or not staying with them, and that’s not uncommon. He worked season. hard in the summer and he wanted to make it, he didn’t, so it takes a little bit of time to get adjusted and I think we’re now seeing the Luffer that we Special teams turnaround was key for Ontario tonight. 24 hours after saw in the past. It’s only a matter of time and I’m sure he’ll be back up. going -2 in the special teams battle, Ontario was +1 tonight, courtesy of a power-play goal in the first period. Tobias Bjornfot started the play by On Austin Strand and Sheldon Rempal returning to the lineup leading a rush up ice and entering the zone with speed, something the Obviously it’s a difficult situation to sit anybody out, but you hope that Reign PP unit has struggled with recently. Bjornfot then fed Luff, who when they get back in, it’s going to be a positive contribution and I think went cross-ice to Frk for the one-timer from his favorite spot on the ice, both of them did real well. They all want to play, so that’s a good thing. the left-hand circle. Ontario threatened more on its other looks as well It’s nice to see Strander get on the board and I thought Remps had some then had been the case over the last few games. good jump to himself tonight. Hopefully, we can take that into Iowa with The Reign PK was also clutch, with two 5-on-3 opportunities killed off, us. including a full two minutes in the second period. Mikey Anderson played nearly the entire 120 seconds on the second one, blocking a couple of shots in an instrumental kill with the score 1-0, while Petersen made a LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.07.2019 highlight-reel right-pad save to keep the Reign ahead.

After a travel day and a practice day, Ontario now moves on to Iowa for the only two road games this season outside of the Pacific Division. The Reign and Wild will square off on Saturday and Sunday in Des Moines.

Austin Strand on returning to the lineup and getting that first goal out of the way

It’s huge. I’ve kind of been thinking about it a little bit and it was nice to get it out of the way. [Hopefully] keep it rolling.

On being able to contribute with a goal as he returned

It felt huge. I felt like I had a lot of trust with Hajter, he was putting me out a lot, starting lineup, it was really nice to be able to play with Claguer. Me and him, growing up in Calgary together, train together in the summer, we’ve always talked about playing with each other and then finally [it happened] tonight. He’s back on his natural left side, I think he loved that, and then we just both play a similar way of always being open for each other and being both pretty solid puck-moving defensemen.

On pairing two puck movers together, as opposed to the usual puck mover/stay at home guy pairing

I think we both have a good mindset in the d-zone, a very similar mindset in the d-zone as we do in the o-zone. Always making tape-to-tape plays and I think that works as well in the d-zone as it does in the o-zone. Tonight, we were just out of our zone. I think we had maybe one or two shifts where we were kind of getting hemmed in, but for the most part, I thought as long as one of us had it, we were getting it out of the d-zone and into the o-zone.

On what direction he got when out of the lineup from the coaches

Quite a bit – Me and Hajter were working on the d-zone, just being a little bit more simple. Sometimes in the d-zone, I over-complicate things, so we were working on goalie handles and just zipping it right up the wall, and I think it happened three or four times this game, so it was in the back of my mind a little bit more naturally, so that’s good.

Mike Stothers on the power play tonight and the power-play goal in the first period

We just talked about it last night, right? 24 hours later, it’s crazy how it works really. We didn’t spend as much time in the penalty box in the first period tonight, which gave us some energy, we still had some legs in us, 1160220 Los Angeles Kings It’s still a very early discussion here, but obviously Sam Cosentino is among those with the best information towards evaluating each year’s draft class, so give ‘er a look and argue about it for the next eight months. NOVEMBER 6: PRACTICE NOTES, HISTORICAL CONTEXT, PROSPECT TALK, NEWS LINKS I’ll join tomorrow night’s radio and TV broadcasts to talk about North America-based prospects, both draft-eligible and those whom the Kings own the rights of. There’ll be an interesting discussion on the Alex Turcotte and Cole Hults early season match-up, plus scouting updates JON ROSEN on goaltending prospect David Hrenak and top NCAA-based draft NOVEMBER 6, 2019 prospect Dylan Holloway, a teammate of Turcotte’s at Wisconsin. The 2020 draft is shaping up as more CHL and Euro-centric NHL Draft than the 2019 draft, which practically read out HOME OF THE BRAVE with the first letter of every third kid picked. More to come from that and the Good evening from the Ottawa suburbs. The LA Kings practiced at -based Karjala Tournament, which began today and Kings nearby Canadian Tire Center at noon; everyone was accounted for, and figures are represented at. no changes to any lines or pairings were apparent. The skate opened up with the closest thing we’ve seen to Calvinball. “It was everybody-on- everybody,” Todd McLellan said. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.07.2019 “A little two-puck scrimmage. Mix it up. There’s another form of warming up and having fun. I think the guys were a little bit surprised that that came out, we haven’t done it before. And it inevitably ends up being about 12-versus-1 in one end and 12-versus-1 in the other end, but we had fun.” And once the legs and lungs were going, McLellan delved into more teaching as they continued to hammer down structural and special teams detail.

Notes!

— And onward we go. There was the commonly held realization between coaches, players and media that the team had played a solid, in control, relatively event free game in Tuesday’s loss. “First time all year we’ve won the special teams battle and lost the game. I don’t think that happens really often, but it did last night,” McLellan said.

And there was the continued clarification that they’re thirsty for wins and aren’t satisfied with moral victories. But the fact that they “moved the needle forward,” as McLellan has encouraged, provided some solid footing. For Anze Kopitar, that came in the form of sharper defensive zone play and reduced scramble-and-react situations.

“Every team’s going to play in your zone. Every team has good players that are going to make plays,” Kopitar said. “We didn’t give up a whole lot. The one thing on PK, [John] Tavares shot it over the net, OK. But eventually those breaks can go our way, too. We’ve just got to find a way.”

Tavares obviously had a glorious look, but there were still advancements made in shorthanded play in that they weren’t burned by their mistakes, which they minimized. “I think they performed with a little more confidence,” McLellan said. “That’s a dangerous power play there. They have guys that can shoot it in little holes, and they move it really quickly. The quarterbacks have some pace, so just overall, [we improved] a little bit on the forecheck, certainly in the zone, but it generally speaking improved a bit.”

As he has shared a few times, McLellan doesn’t usually address the team after games, preferring instead for them to self-evaluate and channel any lingering emotions themselves. Last night was the same, as was today’s response to another difficult result.

“Disappointing part is we’ve given up a few goals really quickly,” he said. “When we fall behind, it seems like that dagger comes faster than we want it to. Had we kept it at two, maybe we could’ve pushed a little bit more, at least pushed it to overtime. So that’s the disappointing part of the night, but the overall presentation of the team, they were good today, they were alert in practice.”

— Historically, at 5-10-0 we’re looking at the worst start by a Kings team in at least 32 years. (They were 5-9-1 through 15 games last season.) The 1987-88 team wasn’t anything to write home about and also opened up the season with 10 points in 15 games by virtue of a 4-9-2 record. They finished with 68 points in 80 games but did not benefit from the looser point distribution of the modern game. L.A. also compiled 9 points (4-10-1) through 15 games in 1986-87, 7 in 1985-86 (3-11-1), 10 in 1983- 84 (3-8-4), 7 in 1971-72 (3-11-1) and 7 in 1969-70 (3-11-1).

— And because it’s never too early, November, 2020 NHL Draft rankings.

::deep, deep sigh, deeper than anyone has ever sighed:: 1160221 Los Angeles Kings

WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: NOVEMBER 6

JON ROSEN

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

The LA Kings fell 3-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night in a largely well-executed inverse to their recent formula. They were beaten five-on-five yet won the special teams and goaltending battle, but just couldn’t generate enough volume or quality to accompany their effective defending and defusing of some of the league’s most high-profile stars. The game plan was carried out and the work ethic remained steady, but there just wasn’t much created at all by Kings forwards, who recorded seven shots on goal during five-on-five play. It sounded like that was a part of that plan, with McLellan describing Toronto’s proclivity to place bodies in the middle of the defensive zone and open up some low-to-high opportunities. While the Kings didn’t get the deflections they’d looked for and largely played a smart, contained, in-control game, they were still out-chanced, as would be inevitable from a game on the road against one of the team’s deepest offenses. But there were encouraging signs. Encouraging signs don’t add wins to the standings but do provide an unquantifiable and modest net positive from the day and stand as the essence of what their season will be judged by: growth. Hopefully for the group there will be greater leaps of growth on this trip.

Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire

Five minutes and 40 seconds of Toronto power play time, only three shots on goal. That’s an improvement, as was taking only three penalties through the first 59 and a half minutes of game action. Their power play is no longer helmed by Jim Hiller, but the Leafs still own an embarrassing array of offensive skill and finishing ability amidst its evolution, so that’s a good night at the office – though one that benefited from uncharacteristic John Tavares rustiness. Los Angeles’ man advantage cashed in on its second shot on goal during a disjointed power play, the first coming off Ilya Kovalchuk pressure that wasn’t as much of a shot as it was a poke check Frederik Andersen shoveled aside as if it was snow. And because this game was the inverse, negative-image model of their recent play, of course they went on to score when Alex Iafallo, using good hands, played a puck near the goal line that had been skulled well wide by Anze Kopitar.

Kevin Sousa/NHLI

The Kings aren’t nearing that event horizon from which return is impossible but will still be challenged to remain in unity, in focus and drawing from those intangibles that help players both maximize their abilities and insulate them from the broader reality that 60-something games remain in a tough slog. Playing catch-up is draining, and while I’m not aware of anyone stirred by fever dreams of a Cinderella season, this is the first time since 1987-88 they’ve claimed only 10 points from the first 15 games. At some point they’re going to have to start stringing together some wins so that the players that have bought in and whose work ethic and focus have been praised don’t lose the faith or suffer drops in composure or approach, as happened last year. That shouldn’t happen – all early indications are that this is a team that will be held more accountable by Todd McLellan and his staff. It is obviously better, when the time comes, to incubate younger players in an environment free from the burdens of a team with little to play for. It’s a hard, long road to 82 if you’re in the Land of Opportunity, and the Kings need to start earning some points.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160222 Los Angeles Kings

PREVIEW – ONTARIO @ COLORADO, 11/6

ZACH DOOLEY

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Reign and Eagles are back in action tonight at Budweiser Events Center in Colorado. The two teams square off to conclude a back-to-back set, following Colorado’s 4-0 victory yesterday evening in Round 1.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ontario’s lineup is a bit cloudy for this evening – On the ice late were forward Jacob Doty, defenseman Ryan Stanton, who is listed as day-to-day, and goaltender Cole Kehler, which still leaves one more scratch this evening. Sheldon Rempal, who was scratched yesterday, skated with a partial Reign group this morning but did not stay on late for extra work. Expect Cal Petersen, who did not skate, back in net – More information to come closer to game time.

SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE: Colorado won the special teams battle last evening, as the Eagles tallied twice on their six power-play opportunities yesterday and Ontario was unable to find the back of the net in three chances. The Eagles entered yesterday’s action with a league-low three power-play goals and a second-to-lowest 7.9%, but jumped to 11.4% with pair of goals in the Round 1 victory.

TWO FOR GAME TWO: While Ontario has yet to win in Loveland as a member of the AHL (0-4-1), the Reign have fared better in the second game in both of their previous trips to Colorado. After a pair of lopsided defeats last season, the Reign fell 5-3 with an empty-net goal against and 3-2 in overtime in their second games against the Eagles. With better adjustment to travel, altitude and a good atmosphere in Colorado, the Reign will look for a better performance here tonight.

NOT PETERING OUT: Reign goaltender Cal Petersen continues to be a workhorse in net for his team – Petersen leads the AHL in minutes played, shots faced and saves, as he has started every Ontario game this season. With a 6-3-2 record from 11 games played, Petersen has faced 104 more shots than his nearest competitor (Springfield’s Chris Driedger) and his six wins are tied with Kaapo Kahkonen for the AHL lead.

ROAD WARRIORS: Last night’s defeat for Ontario was its first of the season on the road. The Reign had entered last night’s action at 4-0-0, with wins in Bakersfield (x2), San Jose and San Diego. Even with last night’s defeat, Ontario is tied for third in the league with a .800 winning percentage away from home this season.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Colorado netminder Adam Werner posted the first shutout of his AHL career yesterday evening, as he turned aside all 30 Ontario shots thrown his way. Werner now has a 5-3-0 record this season, with the bulk of games played so far for the Eagles. Offensively, forwards Logan O’Connor and Sheldon Dries each tallied a goal and an assist in yesterday’s win, as did forward T.J. Tynan, who leads the team with 12 points (2-10-12).

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160223 Minnesota Wild

Western Conference battle pits San Jose against Minnesota

By The Associated Press Associated Press NOVEMBER 7, 2019 — 2:15AM

Minnesota Wild (5-9-1, seventh in the Central Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (5-10-1, seventh in the Pacific Division)

San Jose, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST

The Sharks are 3-6-0 against Western Conference opponents. San Jose serves 12.7 penalty minutes per game, the most in the NHL. Barclay Goodrow leads the team serving 35 total minutes.

The Wild are 3-6-1 in Western Conference play. Minnesota has given up eight power-play goals, killing 83% of opponent chances.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting of the season for the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tomas Hertl has recorded 14 total points while scoring five goals and collecting nine assists for the Sharks. Evander Kane has eight goals and three assists over the last 10 games for San Jose.

Eric Staal leads the Wild with five goals and has 11 points. Mats Zuccarello has three goals and three assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 4-5-1, averaging 2.5 goals, 4.5 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game with a .903 save percentage.

Sharks: 3-6-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.9 assists, 4.9 penalties and 12.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game with a .885 save percentage.

Sharks Injuries: Melker Karlsson: day to day (upper body), Dylan Gambrell: out (upper-body).

Wild Injuries: None listed.

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160224 Minnesota Wild Duplicating the puck movement that helped the Wild overcome a two- goal deficit would be a smart springboard, as the Wild’s behind-the-net retrievals and offensive-zone possession — which involved the defense — were the catalysts for its four straight goals takeover. Wild has less to fear on West Coast trip this season And it’s by concentrating on the building blocks that turn strong shifts into productive periods that the Wild can start to chip away at the hole it’s found itself in, a resurgence that could begin to take shape against clubs By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune NOVEMBER 7, 2019 — 1:00AM also trying to rebound.

“There’s a lot of games left,” Parise said. “It’s not going to happen SAN JOSE, Calif. – When he coached the Ducks from 2011 to 2016, tomorrow, but [Tuesday] night was a start. Let’s play [Thursday] and Bruce Boudreau always would study the schedule of visiting teams keep trying to keep climbing. That’s gotta be our approach.” traveling through California. Star Tribune LOADED: 11.07.2019 Typically, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose were lumped together for a West Coast trip, and Boudreau preferred to be the last stop on the three-game tour.

“It’s usually three games in four nights,” he said. “It was a tough stretch. We always knew that if we got the team first that that was going to be their best game of the trip. If we got the team second, they were usually coming off a loss [so] we better dig in the first period because they were going to be adamant from losing the night before. They got a good rest, but they’re probably mad and they know they have to go into San Jose usually next.”

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Boudreau remembers most challengers finishing 0-3 or 1-2, a testament to just how grueling the stretch was earlier this decade when each team was among the most talented in the NHL.

But as the Wild continues its four-game trek out west, with the second leg Thursday in San Jose, the itinerary doesn’t feel as daunting as it did in the past.

Instead, many of the foes facing the Wild on this 10-day expedition are in the same position it is — trying to restore their reputation as a competitive threat.

“It’s just a little different,” winger Zach Parise said. “You’re so used to seeing those other teams at the top.”

After the Wild (5-9-1) kicked off its week with a 4-2 comeback win over the Ducks on Tuesday, the stiffest test remaining on its agenda isn’t even in California.

The Coyotes, at 9-4-2, are the best of the rest, ahead of the Sharks and Kings.

San Jose is off to a miserable start, sitting 5-10-1 — a baffling turnout considering the team was just in the Western Conference finals earlier this year, had a spot in the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 and overall has been a playoff participant in 14 of the previous 15 seasons.

Los Angeles (5-10) is one point worse as it wears the growing pains of rebuilding with a veteran core, even one that was crowned champions in 2012 and 2014.

Even Anaheim, which was a perennial division winner under Boudreau after claiming the 2007 Stanley Cup, is retooling by getting younger after missing the playoffs last season. And despite Tuesday’s loss to the Wild, the early returns for the Ducks at 9-7-1 have been the most encouraging among its intrastate neighbors.

“This is a tough league,” center Eric Staal said. “There’s a lot of good teams, and every single night anybody can win. That’s just the reality of the way the game’s gone.”

Subconsciously, players are aware of the bigger picture at play, Staal said, but the focus in the locker room must be narrow — an outlook that would be especially prudent for the Wild at this juncture.

“Regardless of where you’re at, I think [everyone’s] focus — whether you’re way ahead or way behind — is daily,” Staal said.

Spirits were upbeat Wednesday in Anaheim, where the Wild practiced before departing for San Jose, but Boudreau emphasized the Wild needs to repeat that type of performance to start progressing.

“It’s good to be happy,” he said. “But let’s keep everything under control. We didn’t win the Cup [on Tuesday] night. We won one game.” 1160225 Minnesota Wild

Wild-San Jose preview

Sarah McLellan

Preview: The Wild takes on the Sharks for the first time this season during its second stop on a four-game road trip. Last season, the Wild dropped all three matchups vs. San Jose. If backup Alex Stalock returns to the crease Thursday after making 29 saves in the 4-2 rally over the Ducks on Tuesday, it’ll be Stalock’s second career appearance against his former team. His only start came Dec. 10, 2017, a 4-3 overtime win for the Wild.

Players to WATCH: Wild F Mats Zuccarello’s three-game goal streak is tied for the longest of his career. F Eric Staal has six points during a five- game point streak. Sharks F Evander Kane has a goal in each of his past two outings during a three-game point streak.

Numbers: Staal’s three game-winning goals are tied for the third most in the NHL. The Wild has won on four of its past six visits to SAP Center. San Jose’s penalty kill is tops in the league at 90.2%.

Injury: Wild D Greg Pateryn (core muscle surgery) is out. Sharks F Dylan Gambrell (hand) is a game-time decision. F Melker Karlsson (upper body) is day-to-day. Ds Dalton Prout (upper body) and Jacob Middleton (upper body) are out.

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160226 Minnesota Wild

South St. Paul native Alex Stalock helping Wild turn things around

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alex Stalock sat exasperated in his crease for nearly 45 seconds last week, contemplating how the heck the once- promising game against the Dallas Stars got away from him so quickly.

After looking so sharp for nearly 40 minutes of play, the Wild’s backup goaltender watched things unravel over the final 20 minutes of play, punctuated by a trio of own goals in the Wild’s frustrating 6-3 loss.

“You look back at the game and throughout I actually felt really comfortable,” the 32-year-old South St. Paul native said. “It would’ve been a nice game to win. But a few bounces there and it’s like, ‘Holy cow. This game is over.’ ”

As the backup to starter Devan Dubnyk, Stalock usually would have had to wait at least a couple of weeks to get back in the crease. But because Dubnyk is struggling mightily at the moment, coach Bruce Boudreau went with Stalock for Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

That proved to be the right call as Stalock overcame a 25-second debacle midway through the game and backstopped the Wild to a galvanizing 4-2 victory.

“He’s confident in his game,” Boudreau said. “He made that big save when he was 3-2 right from the slot. You see that and know things are turning our way a bit.”

Just getting that opportunity against the Ducks was a blessing for Stalock, especially considering how the game against the Stars played out.

“It’s never fun to be sitting there stewing for a couple of weeks or something like that,” Stalock said. “That’s always been the hardest part for me, so it was beneficial to get right back in there.”

As a career backup, Stalock has gotten familiar with the waiting game over the past decade. Just look at last season, for example, when he only started 16 games, sometimes going nearly a month between starts.

As tough as that was for Stalock, he never complained, understanding his role on the team, and trying to do it to the best of his ability. That positive attitude has paid off this season as Stalock has put together solid numbers for the Wild: a 3-3-0 record, 2.42 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

“My job has always been to step in and give the team a chance,” Stalock said, adding that getting regular reps this season has helped. “You get back in there and it’s not like, ‘Holy cow. This game is fast.’ You’re just back at the speed.”

While the uptick in playing time for Stalock initially came as a result of Dubnyk suffering a minor injury last month, he has taken the opportunity and run with it over the past few weeks. To this point, Stalock has vastly outperformed Dubnyk, who is 2-6-1 with a 3.68 goals-against average and .883 save percentage.

In fact, Stalock has emerged as such a steadying force between the pipes that it wouldn’t shock anyone if he started Thursday’s game against the Sharks in San Jose.

“He made a lot of key saves at the right time (against the Ducks),” veteran center Eric Staal said. “You can’t say enough about how important that is. You need that in order to get wins in this league.”

More than anything, though, Stalock was simply happy to prove that trio of own goals last week was a fluke.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “To get back in there and feel the puck again kind of gave me the confidence that that kind of thing is not going to happen every night.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160227 Montreal Canadiens When asked if he had a few anxious moments after Petry left the ice, Julien said: “No, because I didn’t really see it. Sometimes as a coach you’re watching the other team’s lines that are coming up and stuff like that. So I didn’t quite see what happened, but I was told he’s gone and I Canadiens Notebook: Jesperi Kotkaniemi hopes to play against Flyers saw him coming back. When I spoke to him after the game yesterday he said he was fine and today it’s a typical therapy day. He’ll be fine

tomorrow.” STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: November 6, 2019 Not easy to watch, but Jeff Petry gets his leg twisted underneath him.

He needed some help leaving the ice. pic.twitter.com/gEBCxGLlNC— If it was left up to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, he’d be in the Canadiens’ lineup Scott Matla (@scottmatla) November 6, 2019 Thursday night when they play the Flyers in Philadelphia (7 p.m., TSN2, Juggling the defence RDS, TSN 690 Radio). Julien juggled his defence pairings against the Bruins, putting Weber with Kotkaniemi has missed the last three games with a groin injury and was Ben Chiarot to help shut down the Bruins’ No. 1 line of Patrice Bergeron placed on the injured-reserve list last Sunday. The 19-year-old centre with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, while Petry played with Victor took part in Wednesday morning’s practice at the Bell Sports Complex in Mete. Brossard and said he was “feeling good.” Could we see those same pairings Thursday night against the Flyers? “So from my side, I think I should be ready to go,” added Kotkaniemi, who has 2-1-3 totals in 12 games this season and is minus-1 while “We’ll see,” Julien said. “I haven’t decided on that. But there’s a good averaging 13:02 of ice time and winning 43.1 per cent of his faceoffs. chance you’ll see those two paired up again at some point, Weber and Chiarot. Especially against lines like last night or big, heavy lines where it Kotkaniemi hasn’t played since last Wednesday in Arizona, when the benefits Ben to be there more than it benefits Meat, and then Meat — like Canadiens beat the Coyotes 4-1. you saw yesterday — is able to utilize his speed against other lines and When asked if he suffered the injury during that game, Kotkaniemi said: with a partner that is just as mobile as he is. So, it turned out well. It “I think it has been there a little bit longer, but it just went a little worse doesn’t mean it’s going to turn out well every night. But we look at those there, I guess. But now I’m feeling good. as possibilities.”

“For me, it was a little rest at this point,” he added about the time off. “I’m Praise for Thompson feeling fresh now, so I’m good to go.” The 35-year-old Thompson continued to impress against the Bruins, The Canadiens’ medical staff and coach Claude Julien will decide logging 17:16 of ice time and finishing plus-1 with two shots on goal while whether Kotkaniemi faces the Flyers on Thursday. If he does play, going 8-for-14 in the faceoff circle (57 per cent). The Canadiens as a another player would have to be dropped from the 23-man roster. team only won 40 per cent of the 60 faceoffs in the game.

“It’s his first practice and (the medical staff is) going to see how he feels “Obviously, he’s been good,” Julien said about Thompson. “Yesterday he and we’re going to evaluate,” Julien said about Kotkaniemi. “He’s day-to- was one of our top centremen there when we were trying to win some day now … first practice with the team. He’s making the trip (to draws in our own end. But he’s been good everywhere. His pace has Philadelphia) and we’ll see how things are going with him.” been good throughout the start of the season so far. His line’s been good … they’ve been producing. You’ve seen him make great plays, very When asked if it’s possible Kotkaniemi could come off the injured-reserve reliable. Everything you want from a guy that has that role, he’s given us. list on Thursday, Julien said: “He’s capable … on paper he’s capable and So definitely real happy with his professionalism on the ice and off the we’ll see how it all turns out here after his practice and the evaluation that ice. He’s doing his job well in both areas.” our medical staff gives us.” In 15 games this season, Thompson has 0-5-5 totals and is plus-1 while Poehling impresses coach winning a team-best 55.7 per cent of his faceoffs.

Ryan Poehling got called up from the AHL’s Laval Rocket after Coup de bâton? Kotkaniemi was placed on the injured-reserve list and played his first game this season with the Canadiens in Tuesday night’s 5-4 win over the Lady Byng candidates? Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre. Surprisingly, Brendan Gallagher and Max Domi both have zero penalty Poehling had a team-low 9:20 of ice time and finished plus-1 with two hits minutes 15 games into the season. Last season, Gallagher had 49 and three blocked shots while winning only one of the six faceoffs he penalty minutes, while Domi led the team with 80. took (17 per cent) as he took Kotkaniemi’s spot at centre on the third line “You never want to be in the box,” Gallagher said after practice between Artturi Lehkonen and Paul Byron. Wednesday. “I think the big thing is really just not being lazy. You avoid “I thought he was good,” Julien said about Poehling after Wednesday’s all the stick penalties and the other stuff. Eventually, I’m going to practice. “He got his nose dirty, he played hard. We kind of need that assume, I’m not going 82 games without a penalty here. Don’t hurt your kind of a presence with our club. We talk about (Joel) Armia, you know, team … you can’t help your team when you’re in the penalty box. It’s nice big guys and big bodies. I think he plays a pretty heavy game with (Nate) for the time being. But, like I said, it probably won’t last.” Thompson. Obviously, wasn’t great on draws … that’s the NHL and our What’s next? team as a whole needs to get better there. But everything else I think he did well. I liked his first game. As I mentioned to you guys before, I really The Canadiens have a morning skate scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday think the game at the NHL level seems more adapted to his kind of play at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center before facing the Flyers Thursday and he just seems to blend in a lot easier here.” night (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). The Canadiens will fly home after the game and then enjoy a day off on Friday before facing the Los Come meet @max_domi on Nov. 10 at the Bell Centre!#GoHabsGo | Angeles Kings Saturday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., CITY, SNE, TVA @tricoloresports— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 6, Sports, TSN 690 Radio). 2019 Next week, the Canadiens will play the Columbus Blue Jackets on Therapy day for veterans Tuesday at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) then Veterans Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Nate Thompson all took therapy travel to Washington to play the Capitals on Friday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, days on Wednesday and weren’t on the ice for practice. TSN 690 Radio) before wrapping up the week Saturday at the Bell Centre against the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m., CITY, SNE, TVA Sports, The Canadiens got a scare during the second period of Tuesday’s game TSN 690 Radio). when Petry’s right leg twisted awkwardly under him as he slid on the ice and tried to sweep check the puck away from the Bruins’ David Pastrnak. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 11.07.2019 Petry went to the locker room, but didn’t stay there long before returning to action and logging a team-high 24:41 of ice time, finishing the game with two assists and a plus-2. 1160228 Montreal Canadiens defending. But the biggest thing is through the neutral zone — that’s usually the biggest key. You have to come through there with speed, which I think we did a pretty good job of. And then you enter well and you limit the turnovers. You limit their fast-break chances. Once you get in the Stu Cowan: Gallagher can't avoid shot, but Canadiens dodge a bullet offensive zone, then you just let your instincts take over.”

Gallagher credits Don Hay, his junior coach with the Vancouver Giants, for teaching him the importance of playing a 200-foot game. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: November 6, 2019 “The biggest thing when I was 16 is that … the only way to get in the

lineup is if you were able to kill penalties, you were able to block shots Brendan Gallagher insists he did not cry. and you were able to be solid defensively, because you were in a third- or fourth-line role and we had a pretty good team,” Gallagher said. “At “I didn’t cry … I was yelling,” Gallagher said after the Canadiens that point, you know you’re forced to learn if you want to get into the practised Wednesday morning at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard. lineup. That’s kind of a part of my game that I appreciate from the “You can ask G (head athletic therapist Graham Rynbend) … I was younger years in junior.” yelling stuff, but there were no tears.” Canadiens fans appreciate Gallagher’s game and are thankful he’ll be Gallagher was talking about what happened during the third period of back in the lineup Thursday against the Flyers in Philadelphia (7 p.m., Tuesday night’s 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre when TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). he went to block a shot and the puck struck him hard on the left hand. They might have been in tears if he wasn’t. The same hand Gallagher has already fractured twice — requiring surgery both times — after getting hit by pucks. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 11.07.2019

The first time was when Gallagher blocked a slapshot by the New York Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk during a game on Nov. 22, 2015. The second time was when Gallagher was hit by a blast from teammate Shea Weber on Jan. 4, 2017. Gallagher was sidelined for 17 games the first time and 18 games the second time, but has now played in 204 consecutive games. Max Domi (212) and Jeff Petry (210) are the only two Canadiens with longer ironman streaks.

So Gallagher’s reaction Tuesday night was understandable as he immediately left the ice, smashed his stick and almost hit Rynbend — who was following him to the locker room — in the head with it.

“I had no idea … I owe him one,” Gallagher said Wednesday about Rynbend. “I’ve had a few moments with G over my seven or eight years, whatever it is so far. Yeah, I apologized to him and I’m happy I didn’t hit him. … I was pretty upset.

“I was scared …. I was scared,” Gallagher added. “I didn’t really want to look at it. It was just a different feeling. It was really the first time I got hit with a pretty hard shot right on the plate (that was surgically inserted to repair his hand) so it was a different feeling through the hand. I didn’t really know what to expect. But a minute later when you’re in the room … I knew it wasn’t like the other ones. So it was a good feeling.”

Gallagher had X-rays taken in the locker room and before getting the results figured he was OK.

“I remember what it was like last time — as they were moving it around it hurt,” he said. “This was fine. I figured out I probably overreacted a little bit.

“I’ve taken whacks and I’ve obviously been bumped,” Gallagher added about his left hand since the last time it was fractured. “That was the first shot I took, I guess. It was just a different feeling. Tough to describe, but it just felt different. So it was a little scary for me but, about a minute later, I knew it was good.”

Gallagher wears extra protection on his hockey gloves and figures that saved him this time.

The Canadiens can’t afford to lose Gallagher, who has become the heart and soul of this team with his desire and work ethic, plus the fact he is on pace for his third straight 30-plus goal season with 7-6-13 totals after 15 games.

Brendan Gallagher takes a shot off the hand, and he does not seem happy about it. pic.twitter.com/yfdIneqp5x— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) November 6, 2019

Gallagher didn’t score Tuesday against the Bruins, but played a huge role in the victory along with linemates Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar, who were assigned to shut down Boston’s No. 1 line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. Pastrnak scored a power-play goal, but his line finished the night with a minus-2 rating, while Tatar scored an even-strength goal with Gallagher picking up an assist.

When asked how his line is able to balance it’s defensive responsibilities with creating offence, Gallagher said: “It’s always been the same for us. You want to play in the other end. Those top guys usually hate 1160229 Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils twice each plus games against the Kings, Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, with the Senators and Rangers playing in Montreal on the second game of a back-to-back. It’s only November, but the Canadiens are starting a critical stretch of their schedule The Canadiens have beaten St. Louis and Toronto twice each as well as handing the Bruins their second regulation loss of the season Tuesday. But they have also lost games this season to San Jose, Minnesota and Detroit, three of the five worst teams in the NHL as of Wednesday By Arpon Basu Nov 6, 2019 11 morning. This tendency to play down to the level of their competition is an issue they need to address very quickly because, well, their upcoming competition is playing at a bit of a low level so far this season. Hockey people hate talking about this. They always have, but never more so than now, when parity rules in the NHL. “You know what? You beat teams that you didn’t know you were going to beat and you’ve got teams you should have beaten and you didn’t,” Looking at the schedule and thinking anything other than, ‘Any team can Julien said. “So that’s what parity does and that’s why we demand from win on any given night’ is simply asking for trouble. There are no easy our players to be ready to bring their A game every night the best they games. Take nothing for granted. Every team in the NHL is a good team. can, and that’s what we do.” We get all that. The reason why these three weeks to close out the month are so But no one can argue that every NHL team is as good as every other important is because of the final five weeks of the Canadiens’ schedule team. Some are better, some are worse and you have games on your to close out the season. They will play 10 of their final 15 games on the schedule you should reasonably expect to win if you play to your road and here is a sampling of their opposition over that span from the potential. beginning of March onward: New York Islanders (twice), Nashville Predators (twice), Buffalo Sabres (twice), Florida Panthers (twice), The Canadiens have reached a point in their schedule where they have Tampa Bay Lightning and a 10-day, four-game swing through California many of those games coming up. But Claude Julien, quite predictably, is and Denver in mid-March, a trip that is never easy no matter the level of not willing to look at it that way. competition. “The one thing I can tell you honestly is you have to be careful about In other words, playing even at .500 over those final 15 games will be an those kinds of things,” he said before the Canadiens took off for enormous challenge, so if the Canadiens want to make the playoffs they Philadelphia after practice Wednesday. “I can remember early in the year will need to build a considerable cushion by the end of February. There is L.A. came in our building last year. You watched their game from the no other portion of their schedule that is nearly as favourable to building game before, I think they were in Ottawa, and you say, ‘Wow, they’ve got that cushion as the one they are embarking on now. They play 15 games a loose gap, they’re this, they’re that’ and we prepared for that game. in 29 days in February. They play 10 games in the first 18 days of Yet, when the game started, they were in our face, they were hard, they January. They play seven straight games on the road, including a were tight, they were a totally different team.” Western Canada swing, straddling the Christmas break in December. Julien’s memory is a bit foggy – the Kings played in Winnipeg before The time for the Canadiens to strike is now, whether they are willing to visiting the Bell Centre on Oct. 11 of last season and played their next admit it or not. game in Ottawa – but it’s otherwise pretty sharp. The Jets outshot the Kings 39-17 and came away with a 2-1 win only because Jack Campbell The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 was a wall in net for L.A. The Kings came to Montreal, got two first period goals, got another 40 saves from Campbell and shut the Canadiens out 3-0.

The Kings would lose their next six games in a row. The Canadiens won their next three games. Point taken, Claude.

“You’ve just got to be ready for every game, is what I’m trying to tell you,” he continued. “You can’t take anything for granted. You can’t say, ‘What a great setup this week, these are teams that we should beat.’”

To be fair to Julien, it would appear this is not merely lip service and he does not, in fact, look at the schedule in wide swaths.

“He puts a lot emphasis on, not a short series, but the next little stint of games,” Brendan Gallagher said. “When we went on the (last) road trip he was talking about nine good periods, try to have nine good periods. Then you come back and you kind of reset and look at this week’s games and you have another three games, so you try to put together a three- game segment and you go from there. So it’s I guess a little bit bigger picture than one game, but still pretty short term goals.”

So now that the caveat is out of the way, it is impossible not to see the next three weeks on the Canadiens’ schedule as critical to their playoff hopes. Over their next 11 games, eight will be played at home, the Canadiens will be rested in nine of them and in their two back-to-backs, the teams they will be facing will also be playing their second game in as many nights with travel. They will have two tired opponents in games where they are rested, and another opponent will be playing the front end of a back to back.

And we haven’t even mentioned the opponents yet, so Julien can’t get overly upset because with that information alone, the Canadiens are in a good position to succeed through the end of November.

Plus, using Wednesday morning’s standings, the Canadiens will face two teams – the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins – in these next 11 games who are in a playoff position. The combined records of the teams the Canadiens will face over these 11 games is 68-63-25, but if you take out the Capitals and Bruins the combined record in the nine other games becomes 46-59-20. In those nine games, the Canadiens face the 1160230 Nashville Predators occurred a few weeks after Watson shared his experiences with mental health, depression and addiction in a post on Instagram.

Guardino went on to say on the podcast that she and Watson are in a Predators forward Austin Watson's girlfriend opens up about addiction, good place now. his arrest, mental health "I'm proud to say I'm an alcoholic and an addict and a recovering human being," she said. "I'm in a good place. ... Choosing alcohol over being with her (daughter) was my breaking point. I saw addiction at its finest Paul Skrbina, Nashville TennesseanPublished 3:31 p.m. CT Nov. 6, 2019 and it just broke me. ... I'm a better mother because of it now." | Updated 3:43 p.m. CT Nov. 6, 2019 How to get help

One in four women will be a victim of domestic abuse in her lifetime. In Jennifer Guardino opened up Wednesday about her relationship with 2018, Metro Nashville police responded to over 25,000 domestic violence Predators forward Austin Watson, his arrest last summer on a calls. misdemeanor domestic violence charge and her struggles with addiction and mental health on "Off Ice with Ida & Julie," a podcast hosted by the The latest Violence Policy Center report finds that Tennessee ranked fifth wives of Watson's teammates Kyle Turris and Mattias Ekholm. in the nation for the rate of women killed by men after an analysis of 2017 data, a year where nearly 2,000 women were killed under those Guardino, Watson's girlfriend and mother of the couple's young daughter, circumstances. spent a lot of the podcast discussing her own childhood struggles, how she was bullied and lived in a toxic environment that led her to turn to If you know or suspect that a family member, friend or work colleague is drugs and alcohol during her late teens. experiencing domestic violence, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. She also addressed Watson's arrest last summer, when it was alleged that he struck her outside a Shell gas station in Franklin. Nashville's Family Safety Center on Murfreesboro Pike offers victims of domestic and sexual violence, child and elder abuse, and human "I think to this day the hardest thing for me to get over in regards to that trafficking free and confidential services from a variety of providers. Walk- incident is the way that Austin and myself were viewed," Guardino said ins are welcome. Call 615-880-1100 for the Family Safety Center or visit during the podcast. "You know things from that day will follow him forever ofs.nashville.gov. and kind of, in a sense, haunt him. You can also call the YWCA to speak with someone at any hour of the "It breaks my heart because he is such a loving man. He's a phenomenal day through their Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-334-4628. father and works so hard to create safe environment for me and (our) daughter. It's hard for me to say I would take anything back because Tennessean LOADED: 11.07.2019 today him and I are in such a bitchin' place ... and are so strong from what happened.

"I think a lot of people were expecting us to part ways and not know what to do."

Guardino said in October 2018 that Watson did not commit domestic violence against her.

"Austin Watson has never and would never hit or abuse me," Guardino said then. "My behavior and state of intoxication led to the police being involved that day."

Watson was suspended by the league for the first 18 games of last season for the arrest, to which he pleaded no contest. He returned in mid-November. He was suspended again by the league in late January for an alcohol-related relapse, leaving him to wonder, once again, whether his career was in jeopardy.

"At points last year I wasn’t really quite sure of where my career was going or if it was going to continue," Watson said after signing a three- year, $4.5 million contract extension Oct. 31. "To have some job security here, I’m just super grateful for the organization, the guys. I’ve been through a lot and they’ve been through a lot with me. This is definitely a good day."

Guardino credited Watson with helping her deal with issues she said began during her childhood, when she said she was bullied, had an unstable home life and developed an eating disorder that quickly led to her addictions.

"Austin has helped me a lot with that," Guardino said during the podcast. "I get emotional talking about him because he's the first man that I've ever truly trusted and that loves me for who I am, even on days when I don't even know who that is. "

She said Watson asked her to move to Nashville for the summer of 2016, when she had been sober for six months and was living in a "sober house" in California. She ended up staying and was pregnant soon after.

"I tell Austin this all the time," Guardino said. "I was so happy. Oh my God, this life. When I moved here I kind of had the idea in my head that the Jenn before all that would disappear. She didn't exist. I didn't have an addiction problem anymore. I didn't have mental health (issues). ... So I kind of erased her. I actually believed I could drink again."

Guardino said she relapsed in January, when Watson was suspended indefinitely, and called that the "breaking point" for her. Their relapses 1160231 Nashville Predators According to Stuchal, it became important during the process to involve the state of Texas in this jersey. That’s why the left sleeve has the outline of the state while the inside collar has the colors of the Texas flag. When it comes to Stars merchandise, things that tie into Texas pride typically Inside how the Stars and Predators designed their 2020 Winter Classic sell best. jerseys The push for a classic look also included the equipment Dallas will wear with the threads. The Stars will wear green helmets to match the jersey and caramel-colored gloves – a throwback to older leather equipment – By Adam Vingan and Sean Shapiro Nov 6, 2019 24 and beige pants. The socks are green with a solid white stripe to match the jersey.

Last December, the Dallas Stars assembled a brain trust to discuss WINTER CLASSIC THREADS. ❄️ #GOSTARS concepts for the 2020 Winter Classic jersey that was unveiled PIC.TWITTER.COM/Y4GYGM2HE1 Wednesday morning. — DALLAS STARS (@DALLASSTARS) NOVEMBER 6, 2019 It was still three weeks before the league would announce the game was coming to the Cotton Bowl and two months before the announcement Stars goalie Ben Bishop said on Monday that he was looking forward to that the Nashville Predators would be the opponent on Jan. 1. creating a new look that went well with the jersey, and he met with the equipment staff and his mask designer on Monday afternoon. Getting the jersey right was important to the Stars, who are trying to prove that the NHL made the right decision in awarding them the first The logo and numbers also have more of a felt feel, similar to that of a Winter Classic in a southern market. varsity jacket lettering, to create a throwback feel as well.

The Stars’ brain trust behind the jersey included owner Tom Gaglardi, There were similar feelings in Nashville as the Predators worked with Senior Vice President of Marketing Dan Stuchal, Director of Merchandise Adidas to design a vintage-style jersey without any NHL history prior to Kris Smith, Director of Creative Jeff Neal and Stars broadcaster Daryl 1998. Reaugh. “We quickly landed on pulling inspiration from previous Nashville hockey Stuchal said it was important to build a group that provided a range of uniforms,” said Matt Beeman, a senior designer at Adidas. “We used past insight and perspectives. He said Reaugh was included as someone who teams’ powerful classic striping to create a heritage aesthetic that is played in the NHL and could provide a player’s insight, while Smith and authentic to hockey and unique for Nashville’s first appearance in the Neal were key as they often hear what fans are looking for. NHL Winter Classic. Next, we worked backward in time to transform the current Predators logo into a completely new form that sits perfectly with “Smith hears that every day in our stores,” Stuchal said. “They come to the heritage look.” him nightly, at our games, to say, ‘When are you going to do this? Why don’t you do that?’ So he has his finger on the pulse of what the market The sweater, which features a white base with navy and gold striping likes.” across the middle, is a nod to the minor-league Nashville Dixie Flyers, a member of the Eastern Hockey League from 1962 until the franchise Adidas asked the Stars for specific guidelines and non-starters before folded in 1971. (The Nashville Knights were part of the ECHL from 1989 working on initial designs. to 1996 before relocating to Pensacola, Fla.).

The list included no black in the jersey, and the necessary integration of “The Preds may not be the oldest team, but there is plenty of hockey the Stars’ Victory Green color. history to look back on in Nashville,” said Eric Bodamer, also a senior designer at Adidas. “What a cool opportunity to pay tribute to the origin of “We just didn’t feel that black worked in an outdoor game that is going to hockey in Nashville and combine it with the Predators, who have made be so festive and alive,” Stuchal said. “It just didn’t seem to fit. So that Nashville one of the best hockey cities in the world.” was a non-starter for us.” The script lettering is also reminiscent of the Dixie Flyers. The Predators’ The Stars also didn’t want any ties to the Minnesota North Stars in this primary logo was re-imagined to give it a faux-back look. It will be worn jersey. Stuchal said the North Stars are an important part of franchise on the left shoulder, with the Dallas-themed Winter Classic on the other. history, but the Winter Classic was not the “time or the place to do anything like that.” “We weren’t around in the 50s, the Stars weren’t around in the 50s,” Predators president and chief executive officer Sean Henry told “You know, it’s been something that we have really tried to get away reporters. “But the idea was, ‘How do we take our great game and have from, and we really are trying to focus on what is our Dallas history fun with our logo a little bit?’ That’s what the patch is for. It really makes because that’s what our fans know and are used to,” Stars team you think you’re wearing a varsity jacket in the 50s.” president Brad Alberts said. “So we’ve really steered away from promoting and showcasing the Minnesota North Stars brand yet still The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 honoring the history.

“We want a classic hockey look that is uniquely tied to Dallas,” Stuchal said. “That was the mantra we gave them.”

That mantra was part of the reason the Dallas Texans are honored in the design and the logo. The Texans were the first professional hockey team in Dallas and debuted in the American Hockey Association in 1941. Wednesday was the 78th anniversary of the Texans’ first game.

The old Texans logo provided a template for the Stars’ Winter Classic logo, but eschewed the red color scheme the Texans used.

Adidas took these concepts to their designers, who worked with mockups and ideas that were presented to the Stars in a video conference about a month later. It was a meeting where Stars employees present were ordered not to pick up their phones and take pictures. Based off the feedback in that video meeting Adidas went back and created four base designs.

“We worked to sort of Frankenstein the best ideas of all of these designs into one,” Stuchal said. “And that’s where we came up with this.”

It was finalized on Feb. 28. Throughout the process, the Stars brain trust never saw what the Predators were working on for their jersey design. From conception to design, it was a three-month process in Dallas. 1160232 Nashville Predators As fate would nearly have it, Hamhuis’ wrist shot from the left point in the second period of the Predators’ 6-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings entered the net through a mass of bodies. Nick Bonino redirected the puck as it traveled toward the goal, but for a split second, it appeared the How Dan Hamhuis copes with having the longest goal drought in the drought had ended. (Hamhuis did earn his first point this season on the NHL play, though.)

“Toward the later part of his career, he’s been specified as a more defensive-minded defenseman, but he still has the tools to jump up in the By Adam Vingan Nov 6, 2019 4 play and create,” said goaltender Pekka Rinne, who has been teammates with Hamhuis during both of the defenseman’s stints with the Predators. “I think those are more matter-of-time things. I’m sure in his DETROIT — Last Saturday, Dan Hamhuis played his 1,100th NHL game, head, that’s a long time, almost 100 games, but hopefully sooner than becoming the third active defenseman and seventh player to reach that later, we get to celebrate his goal.” milestone. The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 “I feel pretty lucky to be able to have played that long in the league,” Hamhuis said Monday. “When I started, Game No. 1 was a surprise and exciting to get into (in 2003). I never would’ve dreamed of playing this long. I just love the game, love being around the guys. I think that motivates you to keep doing what you can do to stay in the game.”

Hamhuis’ longevity is worth appreciating, but he is also the current holder of a less remarkable record.

At 96 consecutive games, Hamhuis is in possession of the longest goal drought in the league. He took over the top spot when Montreal Canadiens defenseman Victor Mete scored his first NHL goal Oct. 17, ending a 126-game drought to start his career.

“It’s not a huge focus,” Hamhuis said. “If it happens, it happens as a result of the process. My focus is contributing to the team game with the minutes I get (by being) solid defensively, not giving up any chances. I feel like I’ve had some chances, a few shots here and there, so maybe the points will come, but it’s more about just playing well in the team system.”

It was Feb. 9, 2018, when Hamhuis last scored, blasting a slap shot past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray as a member of the Dallas Stars. In his younger days, Hamhuis, though never the most dynamic defenseman, played a bigger part in his teams’ offenses and overall game plans, averaging 0.35 points and 22:36 of ice time per game in his first 10 seasons with the Predators and Vancouver Canucks.

If faced with a lengthy goal or point drought, 25-year-old Hamhuis would’ve been bothered by it. But present-day Hamhuis, who turns 37 next month, sees things differently.

“I think when I was younger, I certainly enjoyed getting points more, and it was more of a focus,” said Hamhuis, who is the seventh oldest skater in the league this season. “As you’re starting out your career, you’re just trying to create that identity of what kind of player you are. I think I’m pretty confident and comfortable with the role that I have now. But it’s definitely different than it was 10, 12 years ago.”

Hamhuis’ dry spell is reflective of how a player’s role can change. Since returning to the Predators last year, Hamhuis has been used in a diminished, defense-oriented capacity, playing third-pairing minutes against mostly bottom-six players with average results. His 14:31 of ice time through 13 games — he has been scratched twice — is the lowest average of his career by more than 90 seconds and down from 19:22 two seasons ago.

“Part of being around in the league for a long time is you’ve got to learn to adapt and be flexible,” Hamhuis said. “Coming here, the last couple years, playing less minutes than I had in previous (places), it was a change, and there were some adjustments. It wasn’t real easy. Being used to playing 22 minutes a night in all situations to dropping down to 16 minutes a night, there’s a lot of mental adjustments to make, being OK with it. It took a little while to adjust.

“It’s always exciting to put the puck in the net. Sometimes, I take just as much pride in making a really good defensive play, stopping a two-on- one or breaking up a pass or even just a breakout, being able to look a couple guys off with some patience and throw a nice pass to one of our players. That sometimes gives me just as much or more pleasure than scoring.”

At the end of a conversation Monday morning about his lack of goals, a reporter joked that Hamhuis would definitely score that night. Hamhuis quipped that he might get two. 1160233 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Jack Hughes signs endorsement deal with Gatorade

By Chris Ryan

Michael Jordan. Derek Jeter. Sidney Crosby. Patrick Kane.

The list of world-class athletes tied to Gatorade is long and breathtaking. Now Devils rookie Jack Hughes can add his name to the club.

Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Devils, signed an endorsement deal with Gatorade, as first reported on NJ.com’s Devils Insider, making him the first Devil to ever have a sponsorship with the company.

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“You see the list of athletes that are part of the Gatorade family, this is the premier brand in the business,” Hughes told NJ Advance Media. “To be a part of it is really special. It’s something I definitely I wasn’t going to pass up on. I’ve been drinking Gatorade my whole life. It’s been a big part of me growing up playing hockey, so to be a part of the Gatorade family now is pretty special."

Two other recent former NHL No. 1 picks represented Gatorade while Hughes was growing up, and they were two players Hughes looked up to. One was Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the other was Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks.

A lot of Hughes’ game is modeled off Kane, but when it comes to Gatorade, Crosby was the one Hughes always associated with the drink.

“Crosby’s kind of been the face of Gatorade hockey for a lot of years," Hughes said. "So I mean growing up, it was always, ‘Crosby’s drinking Gatorade, I should too.’”

Buy Jack Hughes gear: Fanatics, NHL.com, Lids, Dick's Sporting Goods

Along with doing the usual ad work while representing Gatorade, Hughes will also benefit from Gatorade’s sports scientists, who can aid him with fueling and recovering during NHL seasons. When Hughes first joined Gatorade, he sat with scientists from Gatorade’s lab to learn more about how their products can aid his growth as an athlete.

And even though Hughes is still just 18 years old, his deal with Gatorade follows the company’s track record of teaming up with young talent.

“We think he has tons of potential to do some pretty special things, but again it’s not unlike some of the partnerships we have, like a Mallory Pugh, Christian Pulisic, a Jayson Tatum, a Zion Williamson, Todd Gurley, Bryce Harper,” said Jeff Kearney, Gatorade’s head of global marketing. “All of whom we signed very early in their careers because we want to grow with them.

“As the presumptive No. 1 pick for more than a year, it was hard to miss him. We take pride in identifying young talent, especially people who believe in what we’re doing as a brand, and he’s a terrific addition to our roster that includes some other No. 1 draft picks, some iconic athletes, some MVPs, and we think he’s going to be a great addition.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160234 New Jersey Devils

How Devils’ saw key steps from Jesper Boqvist, Nikita Gusev in win over Jets

By Chris Ryan

The Devils had a long streak they wanted — and needed — to break. Since Nikita Gusev scored on the team’s first shootout attempt of the season on opening night against the Winnipeg Jets, the Devils failed to convert on nine straight opportunities, leading to three shootout losses.

So when they entered another shootout, again facing the Jets on Tuesday at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, the Devils turned to Gusev and fellow rookie Jesper Boqvist.

Gusev scored on the team’s first attempt, and after Boqvist scored on the second, goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made his second save to seal a 2- 1 victory.

Gusev is now 2-for-3 on the season in shootouts, and Boqvist converted on a his first career NHL attempt. Given all the talent in the Devils’ forward group, it might have been odd to watch coach John Hynes run out two rookies to start the shootout lineup, but it wasn’t just a gut call.

“When those two guys are in the lineup, Gusev has excellent numbers from the KHL,” Hynes said. “We’ve practiced it quite a bit and he scores all the time in practice. Boqvist had some good numbers in Sweden, but most importantly, he’s a guy that has been excellent in practice. Since training camp he’s scored quite a few times. In practice numbers, he’s at like 44 percent. So we knew coming in he was going to be a guy we were going to try. It wasn’t on a whim. We knew these two guys were good in shootouts and that’s why they got the first two shots.”

Shootout aside, Tuesday served as a key game for both Gusev and Boqvist, both taking steps in regulation to show they can provide quality minutes while in the lineup.

Gusev played for the first time after being a healthy scratch for three straight games. After Gusev spent nearly a week working on his defensive game and play without the puck in practice, Hynes saw a more well-rounded game from the Russian forward.

“He was harder on pucks, he played with a little bit more pace,” Hynes said. “He was working to get the puck back. Still doesn’t play with it as much as I think he or we would like him to, but I definitely saw a step in his game toward what he’s going to need to do to be a more productive player for us.”

Boqvist, playing in his second straight game and fourth overall this season, saw his biggest share of ice time at 13:12, including 12:54 at 5- on-5 in regulation. Outside of the first shift of the game, where Miles Wood took his spot with Travis Zajac and Blake Coleman for the opening face-off, Boqvist wasn’t sheltered. Hynes didn’t hesitate to run him out against some of Winnipeg’s best lines.

Most importantly for Boqvist’s game, the 21-year-old forward didn’t shy away from battles along the boards. Even as a smaller player, he used his body to shield pucks and gain possession along the walls.

“I feel more comfortable almost every shift. I feel like I can do more stuff every game,” Boqvist said. “I can help my teammates create some chances and stuff.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160235 New Jersey Devils against you so you just go out there and battle and do the best you can. No one expects you to be perfect in overtime. Crap is going to break down and stuff is going to happen. So you just battle and try and do as best you can.” How NJ Devils got 'the monkey off the back' in shootout win against Jets Gusev, a 27-year-old KHL veteran, missed the last two games as a healthy scratch. While he might be a prolific scorer, his defense and play without the puck were problematic. But he was able to shore up some of Abbey Mastracco, NHL writerPublished 8:43 a.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 those problem areas against the Jets.

“I thought Goose took a step tonight and it was nice to see,” Hynes said. WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Jesper Boqvist was surprised to hear his name “He was harder on pucks, he played with a little bit more pace, he was called in the shootout. working to be able to get the puck back. Still probably doesn’t play with it as much as he or we would like him to but I definitely saw a step in his John Hynes wasn’t surprised he scored. game more towards what he’s going to need to do to be a more productive player for us.” Boqvist and Nikita Gusev, two players trying to make the adjustment from playing in Europe to playing in hockey’s highest league, were the first Improved play from Gusev and Boqvist is important and Blackwood's shooters for the snakebitten Devils against the Winnipeg Jets on contributions cannot be understated, but the biggest thing the Devils are Tuesday at Bell MTS Place. They got the job done to lift New Jersey past taking away from this one is momentum. They’re 4-1-2 in their last seven Winnipeg 2-1 for their first shootout win of the season and their second games. They’ve been able to identify their weakness and strengthen straight road win. them. They’re playing good hockey right now and finally getting the outcomes they feel they deserve. “It’s like the monkey off the back, you know?” goalie Mackenzie Blackwood said. “Hopefully guys stop gripping their sticks so tight and try “Sometimes when you’re in a rut you have to get your play better first,” and put some pucks in the net like they did tonight. That was awesome to Hynes said. “And sometimes you might play better and not win, but once watch.” you come out of it you have an opportunity to win some games. It’s nice that we did it. We’ve got a long week ahead of us with some real big Winnipeg Jets goalie (37) makes a save on a shot by games and I think we try to build off this one.” New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall (9) during the first period at Bell MTS Place. Bergen Record LOADED: 11.07.2019 It might be easy to look at the 0-3 shootout record the Devils carried to Winnipeg and say the coaches were just looking to mix things up. But the team has long viewed these two offensive-minded players as assets for shootout situations.

So they utilized them.

“Gusev has excellent numbers from the KHL and we’ve practiced it quite a bit. He scores all the time in practice,” coach John Hynes said. “Boqvist had some good numbers in Sweden but most importantly, he’s a guy that has been excellent in practice. Since training camp he’s scored quite a few times and in our practice numbers he’s at like 44 percent, so we knew coming in he was a guy we were going to try and it wasn’t on a whim.”

How they won

Nothing is coming easy for the Devils right now and this game was no different. A good second period was highlighted by Nico Hischier’s second goal in as many games. Just 4:44 into play, Taylor Hall’s shot on the doorstep drew goalie Connor Hellebyuck out to the post. Hischier caught a rebound and poked it into the net.

But Jets capitalized on a bad turnover in the New Jersey zone to tie the game in the second period. The third was choppy but the Devils were able to successfully limit the Jets off the rush. Between a much-improved transition defense and the stellar play of Mackenzie Blackwood, they were able to keep the game tied through the third and through overtime and give themselves a chance to win in the shootout.

The Devils gave up too many odd-man rushes in their last game, a win against the Carolina Hurricanes, and their goal in this game was to prevent the Jets from getting any. They were fairly successful.

New Jersey Devils forward Wayne Simmonds (17) attempts to deflect the puck past Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the first period at Bell MTS Place.

“We know all of the teams we’re playing on this trip are very good off the rush,” Hynes said. “The responsibility of the guys who were high in the offensive zone were good but I also think the two low forwards in the O- zone, there was no time off, it was a five-man unit. A lot of times you saw us coming back from the top of the offensive circles to our blue line and that’s what you need to be a harder team to play against.”

Takeaways

Blackwood has some momentum after playing three straight. He had his work cut out for him in overtime when Winnipeg had a few quality opportunities right away but he made the saves he needed to make.

“Overtime is like that all the time. It’s mayhem,” he said. “It’s kind of like the most wild form of hockey there is so you expect lots of Grade-As 1160236 New Jersey Devils “It was like a fish to water. He just loved it,” Doug said. “Starting even in initiation hockey, they moved him up to novice, and he would always play up a level with older players. I think it was a benefit because it wouldn’t always come easy to him. And he would play with kids his own age, too. From small towns in Canada to New Jersey, Damon Severson doesn’t let It was funny, when I was coaching his Atom team, the Pee Wees asked, family get too far ‘When are you going to schedule your playoff games? Because we’ll schedule ours around that so Damon can come play for us, too.’ He was

playing lots of times with two different teams and playing well.” By Corey Masisak Nov 6, 2019 9 Doug continued to coach multiple sports in Melville, and Damon excelled at others beyond hockey. Baseball was his favorite. He had a summer job at the local batting cages, and spent a lot of down time getting in WINNIPEG — Damon Severson’s first steps in his hockey career were some extra swings at the office. He played shortstop, pitcher and inauspicious. Evidence of the talent and drive that would propel him to catcher, but hitting was his top tool on the baseball diamond. the highest level of the sport came later. It’s a sports family. Damon’s youngest sister, Kylie, won a gold medal at Severson was born in Brandon, Manitoba. His first time on skates, he the High School Badminton Championships in mixed didn’t have to travel far from home. His mother, Donna, bought him a pair doubles last year in Grade 11. She’s also on the volleyball team, and of used skates, and two-year-old Damon took to the ice at the local they’ll be competing in the regional tournament this coming weekend. outdoor rink. Normally, when the Devils are in town, the Seversons all make the drive It wasn’t pretty at first. from Melville to Winnipeg to watch him play. They’ve been fortunate in years’ past with Devils-Jets games being scheduled on weekends. The “He went out there with a little chair and was pushing it around,” said mid-week game this year conflicted with the family’s volleyball Severson’s father, Doug. “When he started skating, I said, ‘Oh my god, commitment — Kylie’s a player and Doug is a co-coach — and, with the he’s never going to amount to much as a hockey player.’ His one leg was season entering a critical stage, they couldn’t make Damon’s game. just awful.” “I had that exposure at a young age to just play every sport I could After the brief session was over, Severson’s father diagnosed the possibly play,” Damon said. “I was never turned down by my parents. I problem. was never told, ‘you can’t play this’ or ‘you shouldn’t play this.’ My dad “When we went back inside, I looked at his skates and the one was was big into coaching us and anything we ever needed help with, he completely bent,” Doug said. “He couldn’t push off with that one at all. So helped us. We were lucky that way. then I thought, maybe we’ll see if he can play some hockey. His stride “He coached me at everything and it wasn’t like he was really ever the that first time was all off. It was like, ‘Ay yi yi.’ head coach. He was usually the assistant. He was always the positive Damon Severson eventually found his way on skates, all the way to the guy, never had anything negative to say. Just always had a smile on his NHL. At 25, he’s become a key member of the Devils’ defense corps. face, and he was kind of the guy that everyone loved to see when they New Jersey is trying to bounce back from a slow start to the 2019-20 came to the rink.” season and return to the playoffs for the second time in three years. The Severson remains passionate about baseball. While other players kick Devils’ trip to Winnipeg to play the Jets, a 2-1 shootout victory Tuesday around a soccer ball to get loose before games, he plays catch with night, is a chance for Severson to reconnect with his roots. assistant equipment manager Nate Belliveau. He still looks for baseball When Severson first started skating as a toddler, his father, a teacher, games to join during the summer and has been a regular in the accepted a job at Cormorant Lake School, almost 400 miles north of HOMEBASE charity slow-pitch softball game in Kelowna, B.C. Brandon. Life in the small, isolated town took some getting used to. But, in Melville, the NHL became his dream. Playing up a level and Cormorant had 400 residents in 2001, according to the census that year, doubling up on games fed Severson’s thirst to play the sport he loved. and it dipped to 244 in the most recent count (2016). It’s even 50 miles Over the years, he became one of the top amateur players in the country, northeast from where the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Blizzard, the competing for Canada in the U-17 and U-18 world championships. northernmost junior team in the province, play. Some of his best skill work growing up came right at home in the Doug Severson quickly immersed himself in the community, coaching a basement. variety of sports including cross country, volleyball, basketball and track and field. “Every night after supper he’d want to go down to the basement,” Doug said. “I’d tell him to give me a half hour to relax if I didn’t have to go back “The kids were always looking to do all kinds of different things. I to the school to coach one of the sports. Then we’d go down there and remember going in right off the bat coaching cross country,” Doug said. he’d come back up just soaked. He’d shoot and shoot and he’d make me “The big meet was at this place called Snow Lake.” put pads on. It was a lot of fun.” When they arrived in Snow Lake, Doug asked the kids on the team a Severson’s exploits in Melville did not register with some Western simple question: Had any of them ever seen a golf course before? They Hockey League scouts, in part because his local team was not playing at shook their heads, so he took them to the local course. the highest level of competition for his age group. He did get selected by “They just kept touching the green, like the putting green right by the Kelowna in the WHL bantam draft in 2009, but not until the ninth round clubhouse,” he said. “They were in awe. They were like, ‘Is this fake?’ (No. 192 overall). They couldn’t believe it.” Before the WHL beckoned, Severson spent a year with the Yorkton Doug still has a photo at his desk of a 42-inch lake trout he reeled in Harvest, a AAA Midget team about 25 minutes from Melville. He moved during a successful day of fishing that school year. Those memories in with a billet family. Severson later told the Yorkton This Week that his linger, even though the Seversons spent only one year in Cormorant. As year with the Harvest was critical for his development. Doug put it, his wife told him in April of that year that if he wanted to Kelowna has a rich history of developing NHL-caliber defensemen. spend a second school year up there, it might be on his own. Before Severson got there, and his junior career took off, he had another “Oh, it’s cold. It was really cold,” Doug said. “One time we went out ice slight hurdle to clear. fishing and they had this auger that I think went down three feet and, like, “I remember his first training camp with Kelowna, and he had never we still had ice. It wasn’t big enough to get through to the water. That flown. Not once,” Doug said. “We drove to Denver once to watch a was pretty crazy. That’s how cold it was there.” couple NHL games and went skiing. We always drove. But when he had So he began searching for a new teaching position and, of the three to go to Kelowna, it was either a 16 ½ hour drive or a two-and-a-half hour openings Doug applied for, he liked the one in Melville, Saskatchewan flight. That was a pretty easy decision.” best. The Seversons moved again, and Melville was where Damon’s Severson’s success with the Rockets and his play for Canada at the hockey career began to take shape. It didn’t take long for people to international level raised his status as an NHL prospect. The Devils recognize his talent. tabbed him in the second round (No. 60 overall) of the 2012 draft. He matured into one of the best defensemen in the WHL, yet was the last grandmother when the team arrived on Monday, and they stayed to see defenseman cut from Canada’s 2014 world junior championship team in him play Tuesday night. Sweden. The following season, Severson earned a spot on New Jersey’s roster during training camp and became an NHL regular at 20 years old. “I was still able to have a home-cooked meal,” Severson said. “It was a great night.” The Devils were rebuilding and able to play Severson more than a contender might have. His skating ability, heavy shot and offensive The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 acumen helped him reach the NHL, and his game has only improved during his time with the club.

This past season was Severson’s best. He locked down a spot on New Jersey’s top pairing and set career highs in goals, points and time on ice per game. He also earned a spot on Canada’s roster for the world championships, his first opportunity to represent his country at the highest level.

His girlfriend, Drey Anna, and Donna went to Slovakia in May for the second half of the tournament. Hockey Canada pays for each player to invite a couple of family members or friends to join them after the team has settled in. Doug couldn’t be there, but the tournament still provided a lasting memory for him.

In the quarterfinals, Severson scored with 0.4 seconds left in regulation to tie the game against Nico Hischier’s Switzerland team. The Canadians won in overtime and went all the way to the championship game, earning runner-up to Finland.

“It was hilarious because I had a Grade 8 math class at the time and we were in the library,” Doug said. “I had the game on the computer and I think more kids were watching the game than there were doing the math they were supposed to be doing. When he scored, everyone yelled.”

During his first few seasons in the NHL, he returned home to Melville in the summers to skate and train. But he and Drey were already thinking about where they wanted to settle down together.

“Halfway through the summer (in 2017), when I was negotiating the (six- year, $25 million) contract, we bought the house in Kelowna,” he said. “That was always where my girlfriend and I wanted to be. She went to school in Calgary and worked in Calgary for a couple of years, but she was able to get a job that’s tough to get in Kelowna at the hospital. I just told her, ‘If you end up getting this job, then we’ll go on the house hunt right away.’ Her mom’s a realtor, so it worked out that she was showing us some places. Melville is my family’s home, but Kelowna is probably going to be my permanent home for the rest of my life. We’ve got a house there, it has everything that we want, so we’ll probably be posted up there for a long time.”

In Kelowna, Severson has access to better facilities and can train with a larger pool of NHL players who live nearby. It makes the pickup shinny games there in the summer among the best in the league.

Severson does like to mix up his offseason training. Taking a cue from his sister, he enjoys the workout he gets from playing high-level badminton. Away from the gym and the rink, he likes to spend time on the water. He and Drey purchased a boat this past summer and enjoyed their latest passion, wake surfing.

Drey still works at a hospital in Kelowna, but is able to spend about 40-50 percent of the season in New Jersey. There is time to enjoy Kelowna, of course. Doug joined Damon in a charity golf tournament this summer, and reminded him that sometimes, the teacher can still be the master.

“I used to always outdrive him by 30, 40 yards, but the tables have changed and he hits the ball pretty consistently way further than me now,” Doug said. “But there was one hole with a longest drive contest. I went up there first and I hit it for everything I was worth. Then he goes up and hits it. We go see them, and both of our balls are probably 50, 60 yards past everyone else, but on that one hole I beat him by maybe three yards and I got the longest drive in the tournament. I laughed and laughed. I don’t get those bragging rights too often anymore.”

“Yeah, he got me by about five yards. He’s a good golfer, though,” Damon said. “We both just went up there and swung as hard as we could. I’m surprised he didn’t throw his back out, because this guy … I mean, he swung hard. Of course everyone in our group was razzing me, giving me a tough time, telling me, ‘Oh, your old man’s still got it on you.’ I said, ‘Well, he golfs quite a bit more than I do, but no excuses. Next year, I’ll be all over it.”

While his immediate family couldn’t make it to Winnipeg this time, Damon still had the opportunity to reconnect and reflect on how his family helped get him here. He met up with his aunt, who lives in Winnipeg, and his 1160237 New York Islanders

Islanders expect Penguins to be looking for payback after being swept in playoffs

By Andrew Gross

The Islanders know the Penguins’ mentality heading into Thursday night’s game at Barclays Center. It’s exactly the same mindset they had facing the Hurricanes for the first time this season since being swept in the second round of the playoffs.

“When you play teams in the playoffs, there is a little bit of a rivalry that becomes of it,” coach Barry Trotz said after Wednesday's practice in East Meadow.

The Islanders can extend their winning streak — the second-longest in team history at 10 games after Tuesday night’s 4-1 victory over the Senators in Brooklyn — when they meet the Penguins for the first time since their first-round playoff sweep.

“You always remember, for at least a couple of years,” defenseman Johnny Boychuk said.

“They’re going to come hard,” left wing Anthony Beauvillier added. “That’s what our mentality was, kind of payback, against Carolina. We couldn’t do it. It’s in the back of their head for sure and they’re going to come out strong against us.”

The Islanders lost 5-2 at Carolina on Oct. 11, which left them at 1-3-0. They haven’t lost since.

The franchise mark is a 15-game winning streak from Jan. 21 to Feb. 20, 1982 in the midst of the Islanders’ run of four straight Stanley Cup championships.

That streak ended when the Penguins of Rick Kehoe, Randy Carlyle, Pat Boutette and goalie Michel Dion beat the visiting Islanders, 4-3, on Feb. 21, 1982, after losing four times previously to them during the streak.

But perhaps one of the keys to the current Islanders’ success is they’ve paid little attention to their history, be it this streak or the one they are now chasing.

“The No. 1 thing is whatever is in the past, is in the past,” Trotz said. “It doesn’t change anything. The only thing that you can have influence on is the future and the future is the Pittsburgh Penguins. The future is practicing the right way today. That’s been our mindset.”

The Islanders beat the Penguins by an aggregate 14-6 in their playoff sweep, including a 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was held to one assist in the four games.

“They’re playing as good as any team in the NHL right now,” Trotz said. “This will be a real good challenge for us.”

Notes & Quotes: Trotz confirmed defenseman Nick Leddy (lower body) will miss his third straight game and rookie defenseman Noah Dobson would be in the lineup for a third straight game for the first time in his career…Leddy and forwards (illness/neck) and Matt Martin (injured reserve/lower body) all skated on their own before the Islanders’ practice…Left wing Andrew Ladd (long-term injured reserve/knee), out since late March, completed his three-game conditioning stint with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport as the Sound Tigers beat visiting Springfield, 1-0, on Wednesday. Ladd did not have a point as Bridgeport went 2-1-0. “The plan was to get him to the point where he can start playing,” Trotz said. “The plan is to see where he is and plan from there.”

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Rangers score 3 in second period to cruise past Red Wings

By VIN A. CHERWOO

Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist in New York’s three-goal second period, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 35 shots during his first start in 10 days, and the Rangers beat the struggling Detroit Red Wings 5-1 Wednesday night.

Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome also had a goal and an assist apiece, and Chris Kreider and Greg McKegg scored to help New York win for the fourth time in six games. Lundqvist, after sitting out the previous three games, made 24 saves over the final 28:06.

Valtteri Filppula scored and Jimmy Howard finished with 26 saves, but the Red Wings' fourth straight loss dropped them to 1-11-1 in their last 13 games. Detroit won the previous five meetings with the Rangers.

Trailing 3-1 in the second, the Red Wings picked up the pressure. They outshot the Rangers 15-3 over a 16½-minute stretch, but couldn't beat Lundqvist.

McKegg then pushed the lead to 4-1 at 8:44 of the third with his first goal for the Rangers on their third shot of the period. With the Red Wings on a power play, McKegg brought the puck up the left side and sent a shot that went off the shaft of Howard's stick. With the goalie unaware where the puck was as it lay in front, McKegg skated in and quickly put it in for New York's third short-handed score of the season.

Panarin added an empty-netter with 2:37 left for his seventh goal and 14th point, both team highs.

After a scoreless first period, the Rangers took control with three goals in the first 8:49 of the second — including two on their first three shots.

DeAngelo got New York on the board with a power-play goal with one second remaining on a holding penalty to Adam Erne. Brendan Lemieux took a pass from Pavel Buchnevich on the right doorstep, and his shot rebounded off Howard's pad to the left to DeAngelo, who quickly put it in for his sixth at 4:25.

Tony DeAngelo, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings.

Kreider made it 2-0 as he got a cross-ice pass from Buchnevich and beat Howard up high on the glove side from the right side for his third at 6:04.

The Rangers made it 3-0 with their second power-play goal of the period as Adam Fox's shot deflected off Strome's right shoulder and past Howard at 8:49. Strome, who had a six-game point streak snapped in New York's 6-2 loss to Ottawa on Monday night, got his fifth goal and 10th point in the last eight games.

Just 52 seconds later, Athanasiou got past Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba on the left side for a 2-on-0 rush, cut in toward the net and passed to the right to Filppula, who put the puck past Lundqvist to pull the Red Wings to 3-1.

NOTES

Panarin extended his point streak to six games (three goals, five assists). He also has eight goals and 10 assists in 11 career games against Detroit. ... Rangers C Mika Zibanejad missed his fourth straight game with an upper body injury. ... New York scored at least one power-play goal for the fourth time in five games. ... Detroit entered last in the NHL on the penalty kill, giving up 16 goals in 51 power plays for its opponents, and allowed two in three chances to the Rangers. ... The teams meet two more times this season in a home-and-home on consecutive nights: Jan. 31 back at Madison Square Garden, and Feb. 1 in Detroit. ... C Frans Nielsen was a last-minute scratch. ... The Red Wings have been outscored 55-24 over the second and third periods this season.

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Henrik Lundqvist adjusting to new Rangers’ goalie schedule

By Brett CyrgalisNovember 7, 2019 | 1:15am

It wasn’t an exact number, but it was close.

Rangers coach David Quinn made it pretty clear how he wants to break up his goaltending duties for the season, saying that Henrik Lundqvist is likely to get around 60 percent of the starts, while 40 percent will go to his backup, currently Alexandar Georgiev, with Igor Sheshterkin not too far away while excelling with AHL Hartford.

“Most teams are going with a two-goalie situation where one might play 60 percent and the other plays 40, and I think when the dust settles, that’ll be the case for us,” Quinn said after Lundqvist returned to the nets after sitting for the previous three in the team’s 5-1 win over the Red Wings on Wednesday night at the Garden. “He’s handled it well and he’s played well.”

Lundqvist, 37, knew the decreased workload was going to be an adjustment, likely the biggest adjustment of his 15-year career. But he focused on his preparation, and came in to stop 35 of 36 shots in what he called “probably the best game I’ve had in front of me all year.”

There is a very good chance he could also start the second leg of this back-to-back, Thursday night against the Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C.

“I knew going into this year, it would be a little different, I wouldn’t play as much,” Lundqvist said. “Throughout my entire career, I’m looking to get into the flow where you don’t have to work as hard to prepare because you’re playing so many games and you’re just in it. That’s going to change. I just have to work harder to prepare.”

Veteran defenseman Marc Staal returned the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past three games, replacing rookie Ryan Lindgren.

“I don’t feel great about sitting Lindgren, he’s done some good things,” Quinn said. “But we wanted to get Staalsy back in, he deserves to get back in. Looking at the rest of the ‘D’ corps, just felt that was the move we were going to make.”

Quinn said he thought Staal had a “solid night,” playing 18:19 mostly paired with Adam Fox.

Top-line center Mika Zibanejad missed his fourth straight with the upper- body/neck injury suffered Oct. 27, and he did not make the trip to Raleigh. Zibanejad did take part in most of Wednesday’s morning skate, and Quinn said, “He’s getting closer.”

Forward Greg McKegg drew back in after being scratched for three straight, and he scored his first goal as a Ranger, shorthanded, to make it 4-1 at 8:44 of the third period. His insertion made Lias Andersson a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

“I thought Lias had a little bit of a drop in play [Monday] night,” Quinn said. “He’s a 20-year-old kid that’s had a good run here, played some good hockey. But it’s just a choice we made.”

New York Post LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160240 New York Rangers

Rangers bounce back by destroying awful Red Wings

By Brett CyrgalisNovember 6, 2019 | 11:03pm | Updated

There had to be moments when they thought about it, when the fresh memories of the most recent debacle crept up and shook the ground under the Garden ice. But if these Rangers are going to show progress this season, and show growth and maturity, they’re going to have put the bad nights behind them.

Which is exactly what they did when they bounced back from Monday’s brutal loss by beating the worst team in the league, taking a 5-1 win over the Red Wings on Wednesday night at the Garden.

“We had to have a performance like this after what happened last game,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made 35 saves in his first start back after sitting for three straight. “You can learn from our ups and downs, and I think we did.”

Now the Rangers (6-6-1) can begin to put the 6-2 loss to the Senators from Monday behind them, when they had a terrific opening 11 minutes and then utterly collapsed. The message was clear that there really aren’t any easy games in this league — well, except maybe against the Red Wings (4-12-2), who have now lost 11 of their past 12 and struggling to look like they belong in this league.

But despite the Rangers having a 3-0 lead turn into a 3-1 with Detroit then on the power play midway through the third period, there was no collapse this time. A shorthanded goal from Greg McKegg, his first as a Ranger, and an empty-netter from Artemi Panarin made it 5-1 and wrapped it up.

“For us, there is only one level to play to win games consistently, and that’s we have to keep it simple, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Lundqvist said. “A top team or a team that’s struggling in the bottom of the standings — there is one way to play this game, especially for us. Today, I thought we did that. We played our style.

“Simple game, let the skill take over when there’s an opportunity. But don’t force it.”

Learning to do that with all of the influx of talent over the summer has been difficult, and it has led to very frustrating moments. The emotions ran over on Monday, while it was a cold-blooded performance against the Red Wings right from the start.

“Good response,” said Chris Kreider, who scored his third goal of the season when he beat goalie Jimmy Howard on a right-wing snap-shot at 6:04 of the second period to make it 2-0. “We took what we did for 11 minutes at the start of the other night and were able to do it a little longer.”

It helped that the Blueshirts also sandwiched Kreider’s goal with two power-play tallies, the first coming from Tony DeAngelo at 4:25 of the second, the blueliner’s fifth goal of the season to make it 1-0; and then an Adam Fox wrist shot that bounced in off the back of Ryan Strome and went in to make it 3-0 at 8:49.

But it did get dicey when the Rangers took their foot off the gas for a few minutes late in the second, giving up a two-on-none odd-man rush that Valtteri Filppula burred at 9:41 to cut the lead to 3-1 going into the third period.

“Every team is going to have a push,” Kreider said. “But when that happened, I think we did a much better job — and we talked about it in the room — of staying in our structure and limiting chances, even when they were tilting the ice a little bit. So that was encouraging.”

It was encouraging for the Rangers just to get over the mental hump of what happened, showing that they can build on that scar tissue — and will have to keep doing it, continuing with Thursday night’s game against the Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C.

“We played more simple,” Panarin said through an interpreter, “and no ruthless mistakes.”

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James Dolan urged to sell stakes in Knicks and Rangers by investor

By Josh KosmanNovember 6, 2019 | 9:52PM

Pressure is building on New York Knicks owner James Dolan to pump up the value of the failing basketball team by selling off stakes to wealthy investors.

On Wednesday, activist investor Clifton S. Robbins said he’s been prodding Dolan’s Madison Square Garden to score minority buyers for the Knicks and Rangers ahead of a planned spinoff that will separate MSG’s sports teams from its other assets, like Radio City Music Hall.

Robbins, whose Blue Harbour Group hedge fund owns a 4 percent stake in MSG, said he thinks the Knicks and Rangers combined should be worth $7.2 billion, far higher than the $5.55 billion price tag they have been given by Forbes. And he suggested they might get closer to that value if Dolan would get off the sideline and find new investors ahead of — or in conjunction with — the 2020 spinoff.

Robbins revealed the push in an interview with Bloomberg News just three days after The Post exclusively reported that buyout firm Silver Lake Partners has approached MSG with just such an offer.

Silver Lake, which already owns close to 10 percent of MSG, has proposed taking a bigger stake in MSG’s sports teams than it will otherwise get when they are spun off in the first quarter, as The Post reported Nov. 3.

It’s not the first time Dolan, who’s notoriously unpopular with fans, has been urged to loosen his grip on the Knicks, as he himself admitted in a 2017 video he made for Deadspin.

“You know, I own a basketball team. For most people that would be a dream. For a trust fund kid, it’s a living hell. Always some a–hole telling me to sell,” said Dolan, who’s the son of Cablevision’s founder.

Dolan will continue to control the Knicks and Rangers under the spinoff, which gives MSG’s current shareholders two-thirds of the new stock, because his one-third stake will come with supercharged voting powers, company filings show.

MSG, which declined to comment, has previously said it’s open to selling some of the one-third stake it plans to retain so it can invest in its other businesses, including the futuristic, orb-like entertainment globes Dolan is building in Las Vegas and London.

Shares of MSG, which Robbins said should be worth $400 a piece, closed up 1.6 percent, to $275.72.

New York Post LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160242 New York Rangers “As a team, I think our focus is always to be physical,” Lemieux said. “I think just playing the right way, and in that is physicality.”

New York Post LOADED: 11.07.2019 Rangers know how they should have responded to Senators wake-up call

By Brett CyrgalisNovember 6, 2019 | 2:31PM

Brendan Lemieux took a short moment to think, and measured his words. But the message was clear from the Rangers winger that he didn’t like the edgy way Brady Tkachuk was playing — without ever accepting the invitation to fight — when the Senators came into the Garden on Monday and took a 6-2 victory, raining on the Blueshirts’ parade by ending a two- game winning streak with a rude and physical contest.

“I don’t appreciate guys that don’t back it up,” Lemieux told The Post before Wednesday night’s primetime Garden match against the Red Wings. “But to each their own.”

Lemieux had quite a few kerfuffles during that game, including a first- period fight with Mark Borowiecki that helped turned the tide towards Ottawa and seemed to perpetuate the Rangers’ collapse after a terrific first 11 minutes. But Lemieux could never get Tkachuk to engage more than grabbing and shoving, and the frustration was clear — even if Lemieux said that Tkachuk didn’t bother him more than “any other player on their team.”

“He’s a good hockey player, and he did a good job of sparking their team,” Lemieux said. “Our group just didn’t respond the way that we should have. That could be a different game if we respond the right way, we just didn’t. That’s all there is to it.

“It’s not about the actual nature of what goes on or who does what; after the whistle, the fights, all that. I think it’s more about how we respond — by playing hockey. At the end of the day, we’re here to win hockey games, and we didn’t respond the right way.”

Coach David Quinn has preached the need for his team to be physical from the beginning, far more than his turn-the-other-cheek predecessor, Alain Vigneault. But Quinn was clearly agitated with the way his team responded after Lemieux’s fight, having emotion turn into frustration without the game results that matter.

“It’s managing your emotions and gearing your energy in the right direction. One of the things I thought that happened the other night was I thought we geared our energy and our physicality in a negative way,” Quinn said. “Physicality has to have between the whistles, not after the whistles. I thought emotions got the best of us. It was a frustrating night.”

That is not something that any of Quinn’s players would disagree with, Lemieux included. The 23-year-old son of former NHL legend Claude came to the Rangers in a trade with the Jets last season and, as a restricted free agent this summer, signed a one-year, $925,000 deal. He had no goals and three assists through his first 11 games of this season, and he wants to produce more offensively.

But he knows his game is more than that, and he wants to help the team win in every way he can.

“Outside of getting penalized, I play as physical as I can, within our structure and conserving the right amount of energy,” Lemieux said. “But I want to be a hard guy to play against. Those are overly physical guys. I have the capability and the body to do it, so that’s what I try to do.”

Lemieux said his focus is always on playing the game the right way, so he doesn’t necessarily think there needs to be a distinct line drawn between being physical and possibly getting frustrated. But that type of play is always circumstantial, depending on the game.

“If we’re up in a game, I’m going to respond to the other team’s physicality and meet it,” he said. “But sometimes there are times to pick your spots.”

Really, he just wants to contribute to a winning team, and Quinn wants everyone on the roster to play to his own identity. This team already has six fights through the first 12 games, on pace for more than they’ve had in each of the past three years. But the focus is only on using the physical side of the game to get the results — no matter how much an opponent can get under the club’s collective skin. 1160243 New York Rangers Brett Howden set McKegg up to get a shot off on Howard, who lost track of the rebound. McKegg followed the puck, skating in between two Detroit players and finishing the play for his first goal with the Rangers.

Postgame analysis: Tony DeAngelo continues offensive surge in New "It's in the back end of your head," McKegg said of trying to prove he York Rangers win should remain in the lineup. "You try not to think of it like that and you just try to put your best foot forward any way you can to help the team. But I mean, no one likes sitting out, and everyone wants to play each and every night. And the thing is here we got a lot of good players." Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writerPublished 10:35 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 | Updated 12:05 a.m. ET Nov. 7, 2019 Let’s start with this… I love everyone’s passion. I really do. The fans are a big part of what makes this job a lot of fun. I try to respond as often as

possible, and I try to get answers to your questions when they’re well New York Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo (77) scores a goal thought out and within reason. That’s why I’ve repeatedly asked about against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) during the line combinations, the use of analytics and Andersson’s ice time. But I second period at Madison Square Garden. told you Staal was coming back in the next time the Rangers lost, and I think it's fine that Andersson watched one game from the press box in the NEW YORK - Tony DeAngelo may be seeing dollar signs floating around first of a back-to-back. (It could even be a good thing, either because he in his head — he's just wisely not willing to come out and say it. saw the game from a different perspective and/or if it serves as motivation.) He’ll almost certainly be back in for Thursday night’s game in The right-handed defenseman tried to squeeze as much as he could out Carolina, as will Lindgren. (We’ll get to who might come out for Lindgren of the Rangers this offseason, holding out a week into training camp in a moment.) The only difference in the lines against Detroit, as opposed before reluctantly accepting a one-year, $925,000 offer. The 23-year-old to the lines we saw against Tampa Bay, Nashville and Ottawa, is that will be a restricted free agent again this summer, and he's playing like a McKegg centered the fourth line instead of Andersson. Is that really a big man with a chip on his shoulder. deal for one night? It seemed to work out fine against a not-so-great DeAngelo scored the Rangers' first goal and assisted on another in the team. Rangers' 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden I’m also not sure I understand the paranoia about the Rangers ruining on Wednesday, helping the Blueshirts (6-6-1) bounce back from an their youth. We’re a long way away from being able to judge how they've embarrassing 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday. done developing this flock of young players. I get it — Andersson is a "I think I kind of proved myself last year and I'm just trying to build off former first-round pick who is buried on the fourth line. I’m surprised he that," DeAngelo said. "I'm not too worry about anything. I think whatever hasn’t gotten a look on a different line yet, too. And if you want to say the it is contract-wise, it is what it is right now. I’ll take care of it in the Rangers should incorporate more analytics, that's fair. (Although it's still summer, so I’m not too focused on it. Obviously, I want to have the best unclear how much weight they actually do put in the numbers. It might be year I can, but right now we're just worried about trying to win games." more than we think, even if Quinn seems to be more of an "eye-test" guy.) But the Rangers have seven players who are 21-or-younger on this He's up to 11 points (five goals and six assists) through 13 games, with team, so this notion that they aren’t giving the kids a chance is a serious nine of those points coming in his last seven games. reach. And if you’re going to criticize Quinn (or the front office or DeAngelo's goal came on a power play early in the second period. whoever) for not playing Andersson enough, do they get credit for what Brendan Lemieux did a nice job of working in close to get a shot off on they did with Chytil? It’s hard to argue that sending him to AHL Hartford Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard, and DeAngelo came streaking in from the to begin the season wasn’t the right move. It worked exactly how they backside to clean up the rebound. hoped — he only missed a brief amount of NHL games, and he came back a much better player. "It's part of my game," DeAngelo said. "I need to put up points, and so far so good with that category. But there's other parts of my game I want to New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) defends against Detroit continue to work on here, and I think that'll even help the points keep Red Wings center Andreas Athanasiou (72) during the first period at coming — working defensively and making sure we get pucks out and, Madison Square Garden. and obviously I'm at my best in the O-zone." With all that said, Quinn should get Lindgren back in there against the DeAngelo's goal began a stretch of three in less than five minutes for the Hurricanes. He admitted that Lindgren deserves to be in, and even Rangers. though Quinn said Staal was "solid" against Detroit, there were others who made more glaring miscues. I think Staal will stay in for at least one The second goal came after Filip Chytil made a nice play to recover a more game, with either Libor Hájek or Brady Skjei getting a night off. lost puck and found DeAngelo, who took advantage of a gap in the middle of the ice. He carried the puck through the neutral zone and found It'll be interesting to see how Quinn handles this juggling act with seven Pavel Buchnevich, who made a cross-ice pass to Chris Kreider. Kreider defensemen for six spots. I asked him if he'll rotate depending on who's gathered it with his skate and beat Howard top shelf to make it 2-0. playing well (and who's not). "Yes, it’ll definitely be that," Quinn said. "It’ll be the guys that play well, and maybe the leash is a little shorter for guys The third goal was the Rangers' second on the power play. Rookie Adam because I’m comfortable with (all) seven. Maybe there were times where Fox, who replaced DeAngelo on the top power-play unit, set a wrister if you don't feel great with all seven, a guy doesn't have a good night, you high toward the Red Wings' net and Ryan Strome tipped it in for his fifth give him another chance. Well, I think that might be a little bit different goal of the season. now with seven guys that I'd like to see play."

After a rare stretch of three straight games with the same lineup, I'm guessing Micheal Haley comes out for Andersson. Can't take your Rangers coach David Quinn shook things up a bit Wednesday night. boy McKegg out after earning the Broadway Hat.

Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal — the two longest-tenured Rangers — Don't be surprised if Lundqvist is back in there against Carolina, too. He both returned after sitting out for three straight. Staal replaced rookie played a good game with 35 saves after the long layoff. Quinn said they Ryan Lindgren, who has impressed since his return from AHL Hartford. were still undecided about Thursday's goalie, and Hank said, "If he gives me an opportunity, I’ll play, for sure." "I don't feel great about sitting Lindgren," Quinn said before the game. "I think he's done some good things, but I want to get (Staal) back in. He Lundqvist talked about adjusting to the extra time off and how it affected deserves to get back in, and looking at the rest of the 'D' corps, I just felt his play. "It was not so much the three games (off)," he said. "I think just that there was the move to make." the whole start, the first two months, the way the schedule’s been. We didn't play many games early on, just sitting here and there. I knew going Quinn also decided to give 21-year-old Lias Andersson a night off after into this year it would be a little different — I wouldn’t play as much. For what he called "a little bit of a drop in play" against Ottawa. He inserted me, throughout my entire career, I'm lucky to get into that flow where you Greg McKegg, who played limited minutes but did make a nice play to don't have to work as hard to prepare, playing so many games and score the Rangers' fourth goal short-handed. you're just in it. This year, that’s going to change."

Bergen Record LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160244 New York Rangers "He’s playing with a lot more swagger right now," Quinn said of Kakko. "I think there's much more of a pace to his game. He's getting into battles, as opposed to being around them. And usually when you've got that type of talent and you do those things, you're going to be productive NY Rangers lineup: Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal return; Mika offensively. I never worried about him offensively. We need to focus on Zibanejad still out what he's doing shift in and shift out, and what his approach is within each shift."

If Kakko stays on the top line, expect to see Jesper Fast take his right Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writerPublished 12:25 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 wing spot on the third. | Updated 12:34 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019 Henrik Lundqvist back in goal

After sitting for three games in favor of Alexandar Georgiev, veteran NEW YORK - After making it through three games with the same lineup goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will return to the ice against Detroit. for the first time all season, it was clear that the Rangers were planning changes following an ugly 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday. "I expect a good night out of him. That’s why he’s in there," Quinn said. "I think he’s had a good year. He’s done a good job adapting to a reduced With the Detroit Red Wings in town for an 8 p.m. puck drop Wednesday, workload, which I think is just the way the league’s going and the coach David Quinn went over a series of updates and decisions for game situation we’re in. I think he’s going to benefit from it long term." No. 12 of the 2019-20 regular season. Lundqvist is 2-4 in six starts, with a 3.58 goals against average and a Mika Zibanejad has missed the last three games with an upper .906 save percentage. His last start was his worst of the season, allowing body/neck injury, and Quinn confirmed he's going to miss at least two four goals in two periods in the 7-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 27. more. Bergen Record LOADED: 11.07.2019 The Rangers' top center won't play against Detroit or Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. They'll reevaluate after that.

"He took another step forward today," Quinn said. "So, he’s getting closer. He won’t come on the trip (Thursday), but he’s getting closer. ... Every day is a new answer to how he’s feeling. I didn’t really have a timetable set."

Marc Staal returns after three-game hiatus

The Rangers called up rookie defenseman Ryan Lindgren from AHL Hartford prior to last Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, inserting him into the lineup in place of veteran Marc Staal for three consecutive games.

Quinn said Staal would get back in at some point, which will come Wednesday at Lindgren's expense.

"I don't feel great about sitting Lindgren," Quinn said. "I think he's done some good things, but I want to get Staal back in. He deserves to get back in, and looking at the rest of the 'D' corps, I just felt that there was the move to make."

How consistently Staal plays moving forward remains an unknown. Quinn talked about the areas where the 32-year-old needs to improve.

"Just a little bit quicker, a little bit more assertiveness, a little bit more physicality," he said. "Everything was OK (before he got taken out), but I think there's another level for him to get to, and he knows that. He's worked hard at it over the last week, and I expect him to have a good night tonight."

Lias Andersson a healthy scratch

After Quinn highlighted his play during the brief two-game winning streak, Lias Andersson struggled in the loss to the Senators and will not play against the Red Wings.

Greg McKegg will step in as the fourth-line center after sitting the previous three games.

"I thought Lias had a little bit of a drop in play the other night," Quinn said. "He’s a 20-year-old kid that’s had a good run here and played some pretty good hockey, but it’s just a choice we made."

D pairs set; line combos TBD

Quinn confirmed that Staal will be paired with rookie Adam Fox, while the other two defensive pairings will remain the same — Jacob Trouba with Libor Hájek, and Tony DeAngelo with Brady Skjei.

Quinn said he's still undecided about the line combinations, specifically where rookie Kaapo Kakko will play. He's been used mostly on the third line with Brett Howden and Brendan Lemieux of late, but he was elevated to the top line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome for the final 25 minutes of Monday's loss to Ottawa.

Kakko enjoyed perhaps his best game against the Senators, scoring his third goal of the season and notching the first multi-point game of his young NHL career. 1160245 New York Rangers

Rangers bounce back with solid play at both ends in win over Red Wings

By Colin Stephenson

After the way they played in an ugly loss to the Ottawa Senators at the Garden on Monday, the Rangers were badly in need of a bounce-back performance Wednesday against the lowly Detroit Red Wings.

And with No. 1 center Mika Zibanejad missing his fourth straight game — still unable to play because of an upper-body injury the Rangers have said for 11 days was a day-to-day issue — the Rangers did get that bounce-back they were looking for, taking care of business with a 5-1 victory in the front end of a back-to-back that continues Thursday in Carolina against the Hurricanes.

Two power-play goals and a shorthanded goal powered the Rangers, who improved to 6-6-1. Detroit, which entered the game tied with the Senators for the fewest points in the league (nine), fell to 4-12-1.

“It was really important,’’ forward Artemi Panarin said when asked how important it was for the Rangers to bounce back after the Ottawa loss. “It was a second test for us.’’

Panarin scored his seventh goal of the season, into an empty net with 2:37 left, to provide the final margin. The Red Wings trailed 4-1 when they pulled goaltender Jimmy Howard for the extra skater with more than five-and-a-half minutes left in the game.

Henrik Lundqvist started in net for the Rangers for the first time since Oct. 27, when he played the first two periods against the Boston Bruins. He entered Wednesday with a 2-3 record, .906 save percentage, and a 3.58 goals-against average.

Against the Red Wings, Lundqvist was sharp — he made 35 saves — and stopped all 16 shots he faced in the third period.

Coach David Quinn, who had said at the morning skate that there was “a chance’’ Lundqvist could play again Thursday, wouldn’t tip his hand on whether Lundqvist would play Thursday. He said would talk about it with goalie coach Benoit Allaire.

Lundqvist, asked after the game if he would be up to the challenge of playing again Thursday, said, “If he gives me an opportunity, I’ll play.’’

Neither team generated much in the first period, which featured no goals, no penalties and not much action at all. But the Rangers got three goals in a span of four minutes, 24 seconds early in the second period to take command.

Two of the goals came on the power play, on which the Rangers were 2- for-3. Defenseman Tony DeAngelo, dropped to the second power-play unit after Adam Fox took his place with the first group, converted a rebound of a shot by Brendan Lemieux for his fifth goal, at 4:25, one second before a penalty to Detroit’s Adam Erne expired, to open the scoring.

Chris Kreider snapped in his third goal of the season to make it 2-0 at 6:04 of the period, and the Rangers made it 3-0 with their second power- play goal of the game, this one credited to Ryan Strome at 8:49, after Fox’s shot bounced in off him and got behind Howard. The goal was Strome’s fifth of the season.

Detroit got one back less than a minute later, when former Islander Valtteri Filppula scored his second goal of the season at 8:41, finishing a two-on-none pass from Andreas Athanasiou, after Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba gambled unsuccessfully when he tried to strip the puck from Athanasiou in the neutral zone. That pulled Detroit to within 3-1 and it finished the second period with a flurry.

Micheal Haley’s tripping penalty early in the third period put Detroit on the power play, but Greg McKegg, returning to the lineup after sitting out the previous three games, scored a shorthanded goal, his first goal as a Ranger, to make it 4-1 at 8:44 of the third period.

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Henrik Lundqvist trying to adjust to making fewer starts

By Colin Stephenson

Henrik Lundqvist was back between the pipes for the Rangers Wednesday, starting in goal against the Detroit Red Wings at the Garden, 10 days after his last appearance. That kind of layoff isn’t at all what the 37-year-old is used to. In fact, this whole season, so far, has been anything but business as usual for Lundqvist.

It began with the declaration at the start of training camp by Rangers president John Davidson – echoed by coach David Quinn – that Lundqvist’s ice time would be reduced this season. The team’s rationale is it wants to keep Lundqvist fresh for a potential playoff run, while also giving Alexandar Georgiev a chance to play enough to continue his development. Then, there was that crazy early season schedule that saw the Rangers start with three games in the first 14 days. Finally, Lundqvist had to sit and watch while Quinn rode a hot Georgiev for three starts in a row.

“I know it's going to be different this year, but also the schedule has made the whole thing very different,’’ Lundqvist said following Wednesday’s morning skate. “Like I’ve said, when you're not playing, you try to just be focusing on what you do in practice and how you prepare yourself. That's all you can do — not think too much when you're about to play. It's more about the preparation and what you can control.’’

Lundqvist clearly isn’t controlling as much as he used to this season. The Rangers may have turned the corner on the rebuild they announced in February 2018, but they’re not ready to contend just yet. They’re still a young team – the youngest in the league, in fact – with seven players on the roster 21 years old or younger, including three 21-year-old rookie defensemen. So, while the additions of Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, and 18-year-old Kaapo Kakko have greatly improved the roster, the Blueshirts are still in for a roller-coaster ride this season. And Lundqvist knows it.

“Yeah we added a couple players, but a big part of our team is a lot of young guys trying to learn and get that experience,’’ he said. “And if you look at our game so far, it is a little up and down, and I think that comes with the learning process. But hopefully we can improve that and be very consistent. I think that's how you win and get points in this league. It's being consistent, and not have your great game and then you fall down.’’

Lundqvist entered Wednesday with a 2-3 record, a .906 save percentage, and a swollen 3.58 goals-against average. He didn’t finish his last start, coming out after two periods (four goals allowed, on 31 shots) in an ugly 7-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 27. Despite the numbers, though, Quinn said he thought Lundqvist has “had a good year.’’

“I think he’s done a good job adapting to a reduced workload (and), just the way the league’s going and the situation we’re in, I think he’s going to benefit from it, long term,’’ Quinn said.

Quinn said on Monday that though Lundqvist had to sit for a while as Georgiev strung a few starts together, he will get his turn to go on runs, too. In fact, Quinn said at Wednesday’s morning skate that Lundqvist could be back in goal as soon as Thursday, as the Rangers complete a back-to-back with a road game in Carolina against the Hurricanes.

“We'll see how tonight goes, see what type of game develops,’’ the coach said. “There's a chance he could play (Thursday).’’

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Rangers bump Ryan Lindgren from lineup, allowing Marc Staal to return

By Colin Stephenson

David Quinn knew he wanted to get veteran defenseman Marc Staal back into the lineup after sitting the 32-year-old alternate captain for three straight games, but the question the second-year coach was faced with was which defenseman would he take out to create an opening for Staal?

He settled on taking out Ryan Lindgren, the 21-year-old rookie who had been the one who bumped Staal out of the lineup in the first place.

“I don't feel great about sitting Lindgren – he's done some good things,’’ Quinn said. But I wanted to get ‘Staalsie’ back in. He deserves to get back in. And looking at the rest of the ‘D’ corps, I just felt that that was the move to make.’’

Lindgren had an assist and was a plus-3 in his three games in the lineup. He was one of only two players to have a plus rating (+1) in the 6-2 loss to Ottawa on Monday.

Lias Andersson, the 21-year-old, fourth line center, also came out of the lineup, replaced by veteran Greg McKegg who, like Staal, had been scratched the previous three games.

“I thought, you know, Lias had a little bit of drop in play the other night (against Ottawa), and he's a [21]-year-old kid that's a good run here, and played some pretty good hockey,’’ Quinn said. “But it’s just the choice we made.’’

Zibanejad misses fourth straight game

Mika Zibanejad took part in the morning skate, but did so wearing a red (non-contact) jersey and ultimately missed his fourth straight game with an upper body injury. The 26-year-old center did not make the trip with the team after the game to Raleigh, N.C. for Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“He took another step forward today, so he's getting closer,’’ Quinn said of Zibanejad. “Just every day is a new answer to how he's feeling so I didn't really have a timetable set. And when he's healthy, he'll be ready to go.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160248 New York Rangers “For us, there’s only one level to play, for us to win games consistently, and that’s we have to keep it simple, no matter who we play — a top team or a team that’s struggling and in the bottom of the standings. There’s one way to play this game, especially for us, and today I thought ‘It’s nice when we take care of business like that’: Henrik Lundqvist turns we did that. We played our style, and a simple game — let the skill take back the clock to help Rangers rebound over when there’s an opportunity, but don’t force it.”

He also said, “It’s nice when we take care of business like that.”

By Rick Carpiniello Nov 6, 2019 47 And they did. Quinn has more difficult decisions ahead of him, regarding Lundqvist and others. But he doesn’t have a problem in goal. The King,

the face of the franchise, is on board with the plan. NEW YORK — So let’s unplug the Rangers’ goalie controversy for a little “He understands why we’re doing it,” Quinn said. “It certainly isn’t while. punishment. It’s just load management, game management, whatever There’s going to be a decision, and it’s going to be really difficult at some you want to call it, for someone his age and for the way the position has point regarding the Rangers goalies when top prospect Igor Shesterkin is kind of changed a little bit. Most teams are going with a two-goalie tossed into the mix. It doesn’t need to be made until after this season, or situation where one might play 60 percent and the other guy 40, and I before next season perhaps, even as Shesterkin dominates the AHL. think when the dust settles that will be the case for us. So he’s handled it well, and he’s played well. He’s played well. As I said to him when last But there was always this understanding for this season: It will only be a year ended, ‘We want you to have a good season, not a good half,’ and I problem if Henrik Lundqvist doesn’t play well. think this will help him do that.”

So there is no problem here and now. Nevertheless, it’s an adjustment.

After sitting out three in a row while Prince Alexandar Georgiev, the 1B, “Yeah, for sure,” Quinn said. “And I think as you get older in your career played, the King, or 1A, was back in goal Wednesday for a fairly tidy 5-1 there’s a lot of adjustments you have to make. So he’s embracing it, he win over the season-on-fire Detroit Red Wings (4-12-1). understands it. I’m sure he doesn’t love it. I’m sure he wants to play 65- 70 games. And I wouldn’t want a goalie not wanting to play 65 or 70 In another season, Lundqvist wearing the ball cap on the bench for three games. So, he’s a smart guy and he understands the changes and in a row would have been a gigantic story. Now, as he closes in on age adapting as you move further in your career.” 38 in March, it’s different. He and coach David Quinn, and goalie whisperer Benoit Allaire, are going to do it differently this season. Thoughts Lundqvist is going to play less. He knew it going into the summer, he knew it before the season, and he knows it now. Georgiev will play more 1. Lundqvist didn’t see much early, other than a bunch of long shots that than a backup usually plays, Lundqvist less than he usually plays. But if he calmly gloved, and a Darren Helm shot off the left post. Lundqvist plays well enough, he’s still 1A and will start more games than 2. The nicest thing you could say about the first period was that it wasn’t Georgiev — who was a bit off against Ottawa two nights earlier after the last 50 minutes of the Ottawa game. And really, the Rangers winning his previous two. defended quite well in the first. But I about cracked my head on the press Still, it was odd to see Lundqvist sitting out three in a row. box table when I nodded off.

“It was not so much the three games,” he said. “I think the whole start, 3. Lundqvist also got an Academy Award nomination when he, shall we the first two months, the way the schedule’s been. You know, we didn’t say, embellished after Brady Skjei bumped Adam Erne into him post- play many games early on. I’ve been sitting here and there. And I knew whistle early in the second. going into this year it would be a little different — I will not play as much. 4. By the way, this was no gimme, not with Jimmy Howard in Detroit’s “For me, you know, throughout my entire career, I’m looking to get into net. The Red Wings had won five in a row over the Rangers (four of them that flow where you don’t have to work so hard to prepare because in the skills competition after the hockey game ends). Howard came in you’re playing so many games, you’re just in it. That’s going to change, 10-3-3, 1.77, .948 against the Rangers; plus five of the past six, six of so I just have to work a little harder to prepare. It’s new. I don’t know how eight, nine of 13 games between these teams had gone to OT or the many games I’m going to play this year, but I was excited to be out there skills competition. Twenty of the past 22 had been decided by one goal. today and play and try to help the team to win.” 5. Good Tony, Bad Tony: With Adam Erne in the box, Brendan Lemieux Quinn, after the game, wouldn’t commit to playing Lundqvist again, some made a move to his forehand down low and was stopped by Howard, but 20 hours later, in Carolina Thursday. Quinn smiled and said he hadn’t yet Tony DeAngelo — as he does so well — drove to the left post and potted discussed it with Allaire or his goalies. the rebound for his fifth of the season, one behind Artemi Panarin’s team lead to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. But it’s a pretty good guess that Lundqvist will be back in net in Raleigh because of his absurd numbers in regular-season back-to-backs. He’s WELCOME BACK TO THE SCORESHEET, TONY DEANGELO played in both ends of 84 of those in his career, going 53-23-8 with a (@TONYDEE07)! #WNH 2.12 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage and nine . However, he hasn’t played a back-to-back since Oct 16-17, 2018. : HTTPS://T.CO/XS75TCXXSA @NHLONNBCSPORTS PIC.TWITTER.COM/C7Q10RWKXD I asked him whether he wants to play again. — NHL (@NHL) NOVEMBER 7, 2019 “If he gives me the opportunity,” Lundqvist smiled, “I’ll play for sure, yeah.” 6. Filip Chytil made a play in the defensive zone, supporting Brady Skjei along the wall, and got the puck to DeAngelo, who took it up ice and This was Lundqvist’s first game this season in which he allowed fewer gave it to Pavel Buchnevich. Kreider was in stride up the right wing, took than two goals. A lot of the blame for that goes to the team in front of Buchnevich’s pass and rifled a shot over Howard’s shoulder on the short him. You know, the youngest team in the league that’s been up and side for a 2-0 lead. down like a toilet seat through the first 13 games. You know, when odd- man rushes were given out like M&Ms on Halloween. CHRIS KREIDER ZEROED IN ON THIS SHOT.  #WNH

“I think that was the most structured game I’ve had in front of me so far : HTTPS://T.CO/OVHTLDHF9N @NHLONNBCSPORTS this year,” Lundqvist said. “It felt good to play when you feel that we’re in PIC.TWITTER.COM/HYGXS9M5TS the right place and the few chances they had. I felt like we were there to help out on rebounds and didn’t give them too much room. This was a — NHL (@NHL) NOVEMBER 7, 2019 game — we had to have a performance like this after what happened last 7. Lemieux drew a penalty to fellow pest Justin Abdelkader and the game (a terrible loss to another terrible team, Ottawa). We need to learn second power-play unit made it 3-0. Adam Fox’s long shot went in off from our ups and downs, and I think we did. Ryan Strome’s body for Strome’s fifth of the season. And that, kids, is how you keep up that unsustainable shooting percentage that everybody’s always complaining about. 8. Kakko-Meter: By the way, that first power-play unit is kinda like 17. Still no Mika Zibanejad (neck injury), and he wasn’t making the trip to Groundhog Day, isn’t it? The puck goes left point to right half-wall, back Carolina for Thursday’s game, either. And good gosh do the Rangers to Kakko in the right circle, and instead of one-timing a shot he half-times miss him. a pass toward the left post that misses everything. Otherwise, his game is really headed in a good direction. He had a robust 19:32 of ice time in 18. Speaking of which how was that hit on Zibanejad not illegal? I mean, a game in which the Rangers didn’t have anybody over 20:00 – the first first of all, it’s high, always. Usually to the head. Second, the guy who’s time that’s happened for the Rangers since ice time began being tracked being hit doesn’t have the puck, so it’s interference at best. And it should in 1997-98. be a penalty because of the way shoulder pads are now shoulder weapons. There’s no good reason why it’s allowed. But it is. This is the 9. The shutout didn’t last but 50 seconds after the Strome goal, as a NHL. Tap a guy on the gloves, it’s a penalty. Crank him to the skull, play colossal breakdown, with Libor Hajek trapped up ice, resulted in a two- on. on-one that Jacob Trouba somehow turned into a two-on-none by choosing to play Andreas Athanasiou at the blue line. Athanasiou just 19. Thinking back to the Ottawa stinker, and a lot of talk about how the blew past him and set up Valtteri Filppula for a no-chancer against two fights charged up the Senators with the Rangers in control. Well, the Lundqvist to cut the Red Wings’ deficit to 3-1. Garden, on the big scoreboard, showed repeated slow-mo replays of DeAngelo and Lemieux landing punches. The Senators were watching ATHANSIOU SENDS A ROYAL ROAD PASS TO FILPPULA, WHO this from their bench. Did that fire up the Senators? I think it might have. GETS THE RED WINGS ON THE BOARD 52 SECONDS AFTER THE Things like that do. I know it used to tick off the Rangers when the Flyers NYR'S THIRD GOAL PIC.TWITTER.COM/MNR6CPEZ6Y did it in Philly.

— SHAYNA (@HAYYYSHAYYY) NOVEMBER 7, 2019 My Three Rangers Stars

10. Cue up the “Benny Hill” music for the fourth Rangers goal, which Henrik Lundqvist occurred while the team was short-handed in the middle of the third. Micheal Haley was serving a tripping penalty — he actually stuck out his Tony DeAngelo leg and tripped Tyler Bertuzzi — and when the whistle blew, he bee-lined Brendan Lemieux to the box. Brett Howden sent Greg McKegg up ice for a short shot that hit the nob of Howard’s stick. Howard couldn’t locate it, and Bertuzzi went The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 to clear it but blew a tire and slid right out of the play, leaving McKegg with a wide-open shot from the slot. And I don’t think he got much on the shot, but it went in for a 4-1 lead. Of course, Quinn put McKegg back into the lineup knowing he’d score.

11. Lemieux drew another penalty against former Rangers first-rounder Dylan McIlrath — playing in his 51st NHL game after being recalled from the minors. McIlrath also played the PK. Not sure why you’d recall a minor-league defenseman and then dress seven defensemen? But I’m sure if Quinn did that, Rangers Twitter would burn down (again). Of course, there’s not much left of it after Wednesday’s lineup decisions.

CHEERS TO YOUR FIRST AS A RANGER, KEGGER. PIC.TWITTER.COM/JJV9VNOEI3

— NEW YORK RANGERS (@NYRANGERS) NOVEMBER 7, 2019

12. Daily Bread: Panarin had an assist earlier, and when Detroit coach Jeff Blashill pulled Howard with more than five minutes left, Panarin added an empty-netter to pad his team-leading goal tally with No. 7. Strome and Marc Staal assisted on the goal.

13. Quinn Bin: Man, the world nearly ended earlier in the day when Quinn let it be known he was scratching Lias Andersson and Ryan Lindgren. The Lindgren decision wasn’t easy – but Staal was coming back into the lineup as soon as the Rangers lost. It was never the plan to sit him for three straight, but they won the first two, so that’s what it became. It could have easily been Brady Skjei who came out. It likely wasn’t going to be Libor Hajek. So Lindgren got the hook, though Quinn admitted he didn’t really deserve it.

14. And with Lindgren here — and yes, Staal is going to play, even if it’s not every game — those decisions could be more difficult for Quinn, who now has seven defensemen (plus Brendan Smith). It’ll be a case in which a defenseman who played well one game might be out the next.

“Yes, it will definitely be that,” Quinn said. “There will be guys that play well and maybe the leash is a little shorter for guys now because I am comfortable with seven. So maybe there were times where if you don’t feel great with all seven, a guy doesn’t have a good night, you give him another chance. Well, I think that might be a little bit different now with seven guys I’d like to see play.”

15. And as for the “Andersson is, or has been, better than Brett Howden” stuff, just stop. He hasn’t been. I like Andersson, I think he’s been good at times, other times not so good. I think he’s going to be a fine NHL player, though a bottom-six center.

16. Staal, back in, after sitting out three in a row – the first time in his career he’s been a healthy scratch – became the fourth Rangers defenseman to reach 850 games (Brian Leetch, Harry Howell, Ron Greschner). 1160249 New York Rangers And Fox has managed that transition while rotating defense partners, starting with Libor Hajek for a rookie pair in the first game, to Brady Skjei, Marc Staal, and Ryan Lindgren’s right.

How Adam Fox is quietly becoming one of the Rangers’ most valuable On the surface, it may not seem like Fox, a defender known for his pieces offensive impact, has had a solid start with three points in 12 games, which trails defenders Tony DeAngelo, Jacob Trouba, and Brady Skjei, as well as rover Brendan Smith.

By Shayna Goldman Nov 6, 2019 26 Points don’t tell the full story for defenders— neither do some of the other more traditional approaches used to evaluate defenders like average

time on ice or plus-minus. That’s why it’s important to look below the A big part of the Rangers’ rebuilding plans was acquiring Adam Fox’s surface to best explore a defenseman’s effectiveness. While it’s a small draft rights from the Carolina Hurricanes in April. Though it’s only a sample, Fox has been quietly been effective on both ends of the ice, month into the 2019-20 season, Fox has been a highlight to open the even though he has just three points. year, both elevating the defense and giving a glimpse into the future of Let’s start by exploring his offensive impact. this blue line. At 5-on-5, the Rangers aren’t generating a high volume of shots, ranking Along with replenishing future assets lost from years of contending, 28th in the league with a shot rate of 50.38 per 60. All shots aren’t building the blue line is an essential part of the Rangers’ process. It’s an created equally, though. Expected goals assigns a value to each shot to area that’s lacked both at the NHL level and through their prospect assess how likely it is to become a goal, factoring in variables such as pipeline. With stockpiled assets, two draft picks were flipped to add Fox a shot distance, angle, and shot type. The Rangers rank 11th with an year before his draft rights expired in the hopes that he could develop on expected goal rate for of 2.32 per 60 because they’re making the most of their defense for the future and help the team right now. Not only did he the shots they do take. bolster their prospect pool this summer, but since debuting at the NHL level, has been a skillful addition. With Fox on the ice, the Rangers are shooting more — a rate of 54.88 shot attempts per 60. Relative to his teammates, Fox increased their shot Let’s start from the top. Why Fox and why would a rebuilding team move attempts for per 60 by 4.75. He also slightly boosts the team’s expected future assets after putting so much effort into accumulating draft picks? goal rate for when deployed. Fox’s offensive abilities were on display throughout his NCAA career as a Fox’s offensive generation doesn’t stem from a dangerous shot or part of the Harvard Crimson. In his first season, the Flames’ 66th overall powerful, speedy skating. It’s how he sees the ice, reacts to a situation, pick in 2016 tallied six goals and 34 assists in 35 games, which put him and best uses his skill set. at a scoring rate of 1.14 points per game. The following year, he just fell short of a point-per-game pace with 28 in 29 games. As Quinn noted, Fox’s poise with the puck makes him stand out. The fact that he’s maintained that even in his first NHL experiences is particularly In his junior year, Fox reached career highs of nine goals, 39 assists, and impressive. From how he weaves through skaters with the puck on his 48 points in 33 games. While his raw totals of 48 points ranked fourth in stick, to how he can calmly maintain possession while assessing his next the NCAA, his 1.45 point per game rate led the way for skaters. He was move, even in a tight situation, highlights a maturity to his game and the first defender to lead the NCAA in scoring rate since 1995. His stellar decision-making. That ability to hold on to the puck and make a play, season landed him as a finalist for the 2019 Hobey Baker Award. instead of rushing to get the puck off his stick in a bind, is what will lead While players usually don’t carry their NCAA scoring rate to the NHL, a to more offensive chances while he’s on the ice. number of defenders who scored at similar rates to Fox in college, Unlike Jacob Trouba, another right-handed defender the Rangers added including Zach Werenski, Jake Gardiner, and Alex Goligoski, and have via trade this summer, Fox isn’t as much a shooter as he is a distributor. gone on to succeed in the NHL. He’s shot the puck just 36 times in all situations so far this season. But The Rangers were swinging for upside with Fox, even though he’s with his passing, the Rangers are able to create more offense with him undersized at 5-foot-11. He joins a growing club of young defenders who on the ice. can thrive in the NHL despite not reaching the six-foot mark, like Quinn To move the puck up the ice quickly, Fox can spot his teammates for Hughes, Sam Girard, Victor Mete, and Will Butcher. stretch passes. When in the zone, he can move the puck deeper or But they could have waited. Fox’s draft rights were set to expire after this laterally, whether it’s parallel to the blue line to alleviate pressure from season, which would have given them the opportunity to sign him as a opposing forecheckers or across the royal road, which makes a save free agent — just as they did with Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey. But more challenging for a goaltender. The defender’s ability to draw the the sooner they got him in their lineup, the sooner he could refine his opponent to him before dishing out a pass, and his willingness to make a game at the NHL level. There wasn’t much more for him to accomplish in riskier play, show why his vision and puck-moving abilities are such a the NCAA to develop his game. strength.

A second and conditional third round pick (which is bound to become With Fox, there weren’t many questions about how he’d contribute to the another second round pick, as he’s 19 games away from meeting that Rangers’ offense. The questions were more focused on how he’d defend, condition) is a lot for a rebuilding team who has been focused on especially on a team that struggles in their own zone. replenishing assets, not draining them. But along with their prospects, the The Rangers allow the highest rate of 5-on-5 shots against in the league Rangers still need young, NHL-ready players now. In the 21-year-old, with 67.21 per 60. Unfortunately, the quality of those shots also put them they’ve added a player who can contribute now and for years to come. last with a 3.1 per 60 expected goals against rate. Fox, just 12 games into his NHL career, has already been effective for Fox isn’t a particularly physical defender and he isn’t a frequent shot the Rangers. blocker. But, as Quinn explained, “there’s a lot of different ways to “His poise really continues to impress me night in and night out, a guy defend.” that can step in and play with his poise and his deception. His compete “I love his anticipation. He competes when he’s in a battle, regardless of level is higher than maybe a lot of people would anticipate, and when we the size advantage or disadvantage. He’s got quick feet, a good stick and traded for him there was a question of, was he going to be able to he’s aware of his body position. So for a guy that young to be able to put compete at this level right out of the gate, and was his skating going to himself in those positions and understand that so quickly is pretty allow him to play right away? He answered those two questions quickly,” exciting.” David Quinn said. While Fox doesn’t lead the blue line with his offensive underlying “We’ve always liked his instincts, his offensive play. He’s got a great numbers, he’s the only Ranger to actually break even in shot share — ability to get us out of our own end. The thing I’ve liked, and I’ve said this and much of it has to do with his 54.8 per 60 shot rate against, which is before, people were wondering how quickly he could adapt to the NHL the second best on the team. As with any numbers through 12 games, level from a defending standpoint and a skating standpoint. Easy would we have to be aware of small sample sizes and how they can skew data. be the wrong word, but it’s been a quicker transition I think than anybody had anticipated.” Relative to his teammates, he’s decreased shot attempts against by 12.8; the only player who rates higher on the team is Jesper Fast (-15.5). Along with suppressing shots, Fox is helping limit quality chances against; his 2.19 expected goals against per 60 is the second best on the team.

Chart via HockeyViz

On the above visuals, red areas represent where teams allow more shots relative to the league average, while blue shows where a team isn’t allowing their opponent to generate as many shots. Again, sample size, as well as shot location issues in NHL data for the Rangers’ first three games can influence these charts. But even with both considerations, there’s still a drastic change between when Fox is and isn’t on the ice.

With a shared spotlight between numerous new faces, there’s been less pressure on Fox to start his NHL career. And that’s allowed him to be one of the more quietly effective players over the last month — especially since many of his contributions haven’t been just what he’s created, but what he’s stopped opponents from creating.

The questions moving forward for Fox are whether he’ll maintain this level of play, how much he’ll progress this season, and just how much support he’ll have around him. His development will also raise questions about the defense as whole, as this is the time to assess before more prospects make the jump to the NHL. But it won’t be where Fox fits, it’s who will fit around him in the future.

All data via Evolving-Hockey.com, and is adjusted for score and venue. The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello contributed to this report.

*Note: an issue in NHL play-by-play tracking data with shot locations affected some of the shot-based metrics that were used here. While the error was fixed beginning with Oct. 16 games, others prior to were not retroactively corrected. Counsel with Evolving-Hockey resulted in our use of this year’s data in comparative means only.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160250 Ottawa Senators Assuming the Senators can get their paid attendance back up to at least 14,000 per game this year, that could still represent more than $5 million in lost revenue compared with the 2017-18 season. The potential losses might be smaller depending on what percentage of seats sold are in the Bagnall: Can Senators break early pattern of historically low attendance? more expensive rows closer to the ice surface.

Can Melnyk cover additional losses?

JAMES BAGNALL Updated: November 6, 2019 In recent years, he has certainly been careful with his cash. The Senators’ payroll, according to capfriendly.com, is significantly below the

amount permitted under NHL rules. A year ago, Melnyk aggressively This can’t be the start Eugene Melnyk envisioned for his Ottawa sought an arrangement that would have seen him pay relatively little Senators. Fourteen games into this young NHL season, the Senators are upfront for a new arena on LeBreton Flats. More recently, the Senators’ near the bottom in league standings and their fans appear to be slipping owner has been defending himself vigorously against a lawsuit launched away. this summer by a Connecticut casino that is attempting to recover $1 million US in gambling debts and related interest. The team closed out a three-game home stand Oct. 27 by drubbing the San Jose Sharks 5-2. But just 9,740 spectators were on hand to witness While Melnyk’s liquidity does not appear to be as strong as when he ran it. During the seven home matches to date, attendance at the Canadian Biovail more than a decade ago, he’s not lacking in assets. He bought Tire Centre averaged 11,260, according to official game reports. That’s the Senators in 2003 out of bankruptcy court for a bargain $93 million less than 60 per cent of capacity. Whether it’s spectators or percentage US, and the team and arena are now worth an estimated $450 million US of seats filled, the Senators rank 31st in a league of 31 teams. The next plus. Most years the Senators lost money, causing the debt to rise from home game — on Thursday against the L.A. Kings — seems unlikely to $45 million US to an estimated $200 million US. Despite those losses, break the pattern. Melnyk has netted roughly $200 million US in additional assets during his tenure with the Senators. Even so, Melnyk isn’t about to panic. Looking ahead, the Senators owner can also anticipate improved “Our goal is to show our fans we are very serious about building a revenue streams from broadcasting rights. The NHL’s multi-year deal contender here in Ottawa and that means doing it the right way, which with NBC expires in 2021, and according to Forbes will generate isn’t always the easiest or fastest,” he noted in an emailed response to substantially more cash for each team — up to $400 million US annually multiple queries from this newspaper. “I do find it inspiring to see split among the 31 teams, or double the current arrangement. (Even underdogs succeed, as I think all sports fans do.” more lucrative deals featuring and TSN do not expire until 2025.) Melnyk can also look forward to a piece of the $650 Indeed, given the strange alchemy of professional sports these days you million US franchise fee to be paid by Seattle, which begins play in the would be foolish to draw hard conclusions from dispiriting early season 2021-22 season. results. The Washington Nationals this year launched their baseball season by losing 62 per cent of their first 50 games, yet persevered to All of which suggests Melnyk may be biding his time while rebuilding the win the World Series. The St. Louis Blues began 2019 ranked dead last team with inexpensive young talent. in the National Hockey League, then flipped a switch. The team won its first Stanley Cup in June. Except the slumping attendance figures suggest a somewhat obvious danger with this approach. The Senators, too, know something about how momentum can shift. Two years ago, despite a 12th-place finish in the regular season, they came From the beginning, Melnyk has understood the national capital region is within one goal of qualifying for the Stanley Cup final. a tough sell for professional hockey. It’s a small market — one-quarter the population of greater Toronto — in which the biggest employer, the But even during this entirely unexpected drive for a championship, a federal government, discourages its workers from accepting tickets to waning enthusiasm could be discerned. Tickets for playoff games went games. And Ottawa remains the only Canadian city without a downtown unsold and regular-season attendance slipped significantly from the year NHL arena. before. Little wonder that Senators’ ticket prices are the lowest among Canadian In fact, the Senators have seen their fan base shrink for four consecutive teams. seasons, from 18,246 per game in 2014-15 to 14,553 last year — a drop of 20 per cent, according to hockeydb.com, a popular website for hockey Melnyk also suffers a political disadvantage compared with owners in enthusiasts. Unknown, of course, is what percentage of these tickets other small-market cities. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson shares with his were purchased on discount or simply given away. counterparts in Toronto and Montreal the conviction that municipal taxpayers shouldn’t contribute to NHL teams. Among the other Canadian NHL franchises, only the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens have seen attendance slip over the same four-year And yet, until recently, the team has consistently filled seats. The initial period — by a relatively modest three per cent and one per cent fan enthusiasm related to reacquiring an NHL franchise carried the team respectively. And last year (2018-19) all six of the other Canadian teams through the 1990s. By 2002-03, the Senators were attracting full houses reported at least 95 per cent capacity. Arenas in Winnipeg and Toronto based on talent. That season, the team led the league in the regular were standing room only. season in points and came within one game of reaching the Stanley Cup finals. The Senators, in sharp contrast, attracted fans for just 76 per cent of available seats. That was also the year the Senators slipped into bankruptcy for reasons that had nothing to do with on-ice performance. When Melnyk acquired All of this suggests a worrisome disconnect between the team and its fan the team and arena for a song in August 2003, a Cup seemed just a base. According to estimates provided by Forbes Magazine, the team matter of time. Led by captain Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators had a barely broke even in the 2017-18 season when 85 per cent of the seats profound connection to the community. were filled. And that was before Melnyk included spending on capital improvements and interest on some $200 million US worth of debt. Best The team topped 100 points in 2006-07 for the fourth straight season — guess: the Senators suffered a net annual loss in excess of $10 million when more than 19,000 fans filled the stadium on average each night. US. And now, two years later, they’re attracting even fewer fans. That was the year the Senators reached the finals only to lose to the Anaheim Ducks. It would be the last time the team topped 100 points in The loss of spectators represents serious money. Forbes estimates gate the regular season. It has yet to earn another spot in the Cup final. receipts accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the Senators’ $124 million U.S. in revenues two years ago, with television and radio rights, Enthusiasm ebbed. Trips to the playoffs were no longer a given. Alfie left advertising and other revenues accounting for the rest. in 2013. Then, in 2016-17 the fans began to drift away.

The Senators organization is well aware that more fans are staying Melnyk did not help his cause by musing late in 2017 that he might home. Melnyk noted that ticket buyers in coming weeks will be treated to consider moving the team to another city if the economics became a “an enhanced experience” involving theme nights, live music and fresh “disaster.” offerings of food and beverages. In his email Tuesday to this newspaper, Melnyk distanced himself from that sentiment, noting, “I have been very clear about my commitment to the city and the hockey club,” adding that “I plan to be in Ottawa for the duration of the journey towards winning a Stanley Cup.”

Assuming he does stay, it may take a little time for Ottawa residents to look past the collapse this year of the Rendezvous LeBreton partnership — selected by the National Capital Commission to remake LeBreton Flats with an NHL arena as its centrepiece.

Last February, 69 per cent of Ottawa residents surveyed by Ekos Research Associates said they believed Melnyk was “very responsible” for the impasse over the development of LeBreton Flats while just 38 per cent felt the same was true of Melnyk’s then-partner, John Ruddy.

Whether that’s a fair perception or not is beside the point. In a small market such as Ottawa-Gatineau, many things have to go right for the franchise to succeed. It starts with a solid, real connection between the team and its fans, and this includes players, managers and owner. The team must also offer an experience worth making the drive to Kanata, one that at least offers hope the wins will come.

Those empty seats suggest hope is not yet there. But Melnyk remains convinced the fans will return “as they come to know this young team both on and off the ice.”

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160251 Ottawa Senators Mark Borowiecki-Dylan DeMelo Goaltenders

Anders Nilsson Gameday: Los Angeles Kings at Ottawa Senators Craig Anderson

Kings Gameday Lines Bruce Garrioch Forwards

Carl Grundstrom-Anze Kopitar-Jeff Carter Ottawa Sun Sports Hockey Ottawa Senators Ilya Kovalchuk-Blake Lizotte-Tyler Toffoli Los Angeles (5-10-0) at Ottawa (4-9-1) Alex Iafallo-Adrian Kempe-Dustin Brown Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre, TSN5, TSN 1200 AM, Unique 94.5 FM Kyle Clifford-Mike Amadio-Trevor Lewis

SPECIAL TEAMS Defence pairs

OTT: PP 7.7% (31st); PK 79.7% (21st) Alec Martinez-Drew Doughty

LAK: PP 10.3% (29th); PK 69.8% (29th) Ben Hutton-Sean Walker

THE BIG MATCHUP Kurtis MacDermid-Matt Roy

Jean-Gabriel Pageau vs. Anze Kopitar Goaltenders

Playing the No. 1 centre role with an injury to Colin White, Pageau is on a Jonathan Quick three-game point streak with 3-1-4 on the club’s recent road trip. He is plus-15, has embraced his role as an alternate captain and is helping Jack Campbell leading this team on a nightly basis. Kopitar is still the Kings best player INJURIES and has played a pivotal role. OTT: Rudolfs Balcers, Logan Brown, Christian Wolanin, Colin White FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME LAK: Derek Forbort 1. Home sweet home Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.07.2019 Coming back from a three-game road trip, the Senators have a 3-4-0 record in seven home games at the CTC. It would make sense to go back to Anders Nilsson after his win Monday in New York, but Craig Anderson can’t be fingered for the 4-1 loss Tuesday in Brooklyn.

2. Bring Brannstrom back in

Push will come to shove where the 20-year-old is concerned, but it will be interesting to see what he’s able to do after sitting down for a game Tuesday. The Senators are trying to make sure he has confidence and he’ll get more if he can start producing some points.

3. Open the scoring

The Senators are 1-5-1 when allowing the opponent to score the first goal this season and getting on the board first would be a boost of confidence. The Senators are 3-4-0 when they open the scoring. Would be a good start against the Kings.

4. Keep the streak alive

The Senators have won two straight against the Kings coming into this one and this would be the second time in franchise history that Ottawa has won three straight against L.A. The Kings are in a rebuild and are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Leafs Tuesday in Toronto.

5. Get back on track

Centre Chris Tierney has been one of the club’s best and most consistent players in the first five weeks of the season but he was held pointless on the recent road trip. The Senators have to have him contributing offensively again.

Senators Gameday Lines

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Anthony Duclair

Tyler Ennis-Chris Tierney-Vladislav Namestnikov

Nick Paul-Artem Anisimov-Connor Brown

Mikkel Boedker-J.C. Beaudin-Bobby Ryan

Defence pairings

Thomas Chabot-Nikita Zaitsev

Erik Brannstrom-Ron Hainsey 1160252 Ottawa Senators It’s all a test of patience for players, as well as Senators fans. BACK TO THE FUTURE: On that front, Senators associate coach Jack

Capuano, whose chief responsibility is handling the club’s defencemen, PATIENT APPROACH: If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again can’t help but compare the current state of the team to the former state of the Islanders.

Capuano was head coach of the Islanders 2010-17, when a similar Ken Warren process was in the place.

“This reminds me a lot of the Islanders,” Capuano said. “I like the rebuild. I like the teaching process. I like what D.J. has to say and we’ve got to be NEW YORK – When the losses start piling up, how do you adequately patient with where we are now. I like the team we have now and like measure the effectiveness of a rebuilding effort? depth of the organization.” After dropping two of three on the most recent venture away from home, It helps that Capuano has a talent like Chabot to work with. including being suffocated in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders in Brooklyn Tuesday, the Senators now have 10 losses in 14 outings before “He’s going to make his mistakes, but we can’t take away his offensive meeting the Los Angeles Kings Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre. abilities,” Capuano said of Chabot, who has one goal and eight assists in 14 games, but has also had his share of defensive breakdowns. That’s not good, but it shouldn’t be surprising, either. “We’ve been working with him on his gap (the room given to opposition If and when the Senators finally do turn the corner, joining the Islanders forwards as they break out), his stick positioning and his angling. We’re and Boston Bruins of the world in being able to wear down opponents not giving him 10 things, but he’s very coachable. There’s a lot of themselves, most of the current crew in the dressing room will be long positivity with him right now.” gone, replaced by the next wave of speed and youth. Naturally, Chabot wasn’t happy with allowing the Islanders to pull away in The future isn’t going to feature a fourth line with Mikkel Boedker and the latter stages Tuesday – he was on the power play for the back- Bobby Ryan on the wings. The defence likely won’t include current breaking shorthanded goal midway through the third period – but he also veteran mentors such as Mark Borowiecki and Ron Hainsey and recognizes what their success is all about. goaltender Craig Anderson could very well be retired in Florida by the time the Senators join the NHL’s elite squads. It’s about patience.

For now, it’s all about building the foundations for long-term success with Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.07.2019 the group that is here, learning coach D.J. Smith’s system on the fly.

Losing stinks, but here’s a nugget of optimism: The past three-game road trip, including Monday’s 6-2 win over the New York Rangers and Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to Boston, was a marked improvement from the previous three-game stretch away from home, when the Senators were pretty much run over by the Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes and Dallas Stars.

Against the Bruins, Rangers and Islanders, however, they had some bright moments and only fell apart in selected stretches.

“It’s not just the road trip, but we are playing much better,” Hainsey said after the defeat to the Islanders.

Hainsey says the signs of improvement were evident in the 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks that concluded the past homestand.

“We came out and competed well in Boston, competed well (against the Rangers) and competed well (against the Islanders).

“The team play…and you can now see the players instinctually going to the places where they are supposed to go. There’s much less thinking than there was the first week and a half, two weeks of the season.

“If you’re out there thinking, it’s very, very difficult when the other team is humming along. We have continued to improve.”

Indeed, the Islanders are rolling, riding a 10-game winning streak. It’s not hard to see the influences of general manager Lou Lamoriello and coach Barry Trotz on a structure that Anderson describes as “death by patience.”

It’s not pretty, but it’s effective, serving as a handy role model for the Senators to follow, similar to the message the Bruins delivered a few days earlier.

“We seem to have this conversation a lot, about playing 40 minutes or 50 minutes of great hockey,” said Anderson. “We’re growing in the right direction.”

But they’ve got a ways to go to find the 60-minute solution.

The bonus for Smith is he has time to try and put the house in order.

It’s hard not to look ahead at a potential future that could see left winger Brady Tkachuk regularly playing with currently injured centre Logan Brown or one of the top selections in the 2020 draft – maybe Maxime Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield?– where the younger core gets stronger.

Where might Thomas Chabot be in a few years, after continuing to fine- tune his defensive game with experience? 1160253 Ottawa Senators on the guys on the team. They need to score two goals not to fall behind right away. It puts pressure on me because if I let in the third, I’m on the edge of getting pulled from the net, too,” he said.

The view from Belleville: Goaltending woes coupled with a thin blue line “That’s the biggest thing I need to work on now. When I get into the add up to a slow start for B-Sens game, everything goes well and I play my game. It’s just those starts I have to work on.”

He’s been trying to simulate the start of the game in his warmup so when By Chris Stevenson Nov 6, 2019 the game starts, he feels like he’s already got a few minutes under his belt.

“I didn’t have trouble with it in the preseason, it’s just since the season BELLEVILLE — The Belleville Senators are off to a scrambly 4-6 start, sit started,” he said. “I’m trying to be even more focused and do more in seventh place in the AHL’s Northern Division and are already seven warmup. I’m trying to be like I’ve already played a period and I’m really in points out of a playoff spot (with a game in hand). the game. My head has been a little bit of a blockage for me. We haven’t It’s not hard to figure out why: they are last in the division with 43 goals got the wins for the team and I come in for the second game of the week allowed. and there’s always pressure that we need to win to split the week.

The two big reasons are the lack of depth on the blue line, and, more “I think that’s been a part that’s bothering me too in my brain. I just need disconcerting, a poor start for two of the franchise’s blue-chip prospects, to forget about that and just do my thing. After those two goals, then I goaltenders Marcus Hogberg and Filip Gustavsson. have nothing to lose, just play the game. When I just play my game, it goes really good.” First off, they are playing behind a makeshift defence. Saturday against the first-place Hartford Wolf Pack the only defensive prospect playing in Gustavsson gave up the first goal again on Saturday, but he was solid the game was Max Lajoie. Christian Jaros is out with a groin injury and after that. Hartford tied the game 3-3 with a goal three seconds after a Andreas Englund is out for at least a month with a lower-body injury. Belleville penalty expired. He made a sharp save with his right toe off a faceoff with 7:50 to go in the third period. Stuart Percy, signed to a PTO on Oct. 21, might be out for months with a dislocated elbow. After Cole Cassels, who’s on a PTO with Belleville, scored to give the Senators a 4-3 lead, the Wolf Pack tied it with their goaltender on the That left the Senators with four defencemen on AHL contracts (Jordan bench for an extra attacker. In the overtime, Gustavsson made a couple Murray, Jack Dougherty, Hubert Labrie and Jonathan Aspirot) and Frank of good saves with Hartford on the power play and it was off to the Corrado, who is on a PTO. shootout.

The shoulder injury sustained by Christian Wolanin just before training Gustavsson looked especially strong on Hartford’s second shooter, Vinni camp put a big dent in the Senators’ depth. If Wolanin was healthy, Erik Lettieri, moving across the net and not giving him any daylight. Brannstrom is probably in Belleville. Given a healthy blue line (which hasn’t been the case, it seems, since the Senators have been in the Bay “I remember last year I had a lot of goals that went in five-hole. I kind of of Quinte) a first four of Brannstrom, Lajoie, Jaros and Englund doesn’t opened up when they did a big move and I just try to keep it more look too bad. compact and be a little bit more on my edge and just follow the players more,” he said. “I think I did a pretty good job this shootout.” But for now, Senators coach Troy Mann is scrambling. Gustavsson will get another shot to try and polish up his starts this “We’ve just got to pick up sticks,” he said, noting that his counterpart in weekend. The Senators are on the road for their next four games Ottawa, D.J. Smith, is dealing with the same issues. “We’ve got to box including a three-in-three (Syracuse, Hartford, Bridgeport) this weekend. out better. I think we can get underneath sticks better. That’s something D.J. talked about in training camp. “We’re only 10 games into the season and I think last year at this time we were 5-5 after 10 games,” Mann said. “We’ve got a lot of young players. I “We preach it a lot here as well. Whether it’s the forwards or the defence, know the team is going to grow together and I know each player we have to do a better job of boxing out and getting underneath sticks. specifically our higher-end prospects are going to continue to get better It’s the goalie’s job to find those pucks, as well. We’re not out of the in this league. That hopefully will make for more wins as we move woods by any means. I do think that area has to get way better for us to forward.” make the playoffs.” One of those higher-end prospects is rookie forward Jonathan Which brings us to the goaltending. Davidsson, who scored his first AHL goal in Saturday’s win.

Hogberg, who was a stud down the stretch last season during the playoff SOUVENIR PUCK! #FORTHEB PIC.TWITTER.COM/2M9MJONSJG run that came up just short, has been struggling with his rebound control. He is ranked 51st in goals against average and 49th in save percentage. — BELLEVILLE SENATORS (@BELLEVILLESENS) NOVEMBER 3, Not a good look for the 24-year-old who has a one-way deal next season 2019 and is expected to be in Ottawa. The 22-year-old, who was part of the trade with the Columbus Blue Gustavsson, the 21-year-old second-round pick in 2016 (No. 55 by the Jackets for Matt Duchene, got off to a slow start. He had one assist and Pittsburgh Penguins) who came over in the Derick Brassard trade, has four shots in his first six games and was a scratch for another two. three of the four wins despite trailing in all his starts. He has given up the Part of the problem was the adjustment to playing on the North American first goal in all of his starts and the first two goals in two games. rink for the first time. However, he did have an encouraging performance on Saturday against With some call-ups and a trade (Jack Rodewald was moved to the the Wolf Pack. He made 33 saves and stopped all three Hartford Florida Panthers), Davidsson got a chance to move up in the lineup. He shooters in the 5-4 shootout win. played his two best games of the season this past weekend on a line with “He got the job done,” was all Mann would concede. “We’ve got to cut Alex Formenton and Jordan Szwarz. our goals against. We gave up four again (Saturday). I think our offence He also had an assist in a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Marlies on Friday. now is five straight with three or more goals. We felt all along the offence would be a big part of our DNA because of the skill and speed that we “I thought (Saturday) was by far his best game,” Mann said. “He’s getting had, but we’ve got to find a way to cut our goals against down. That goes a little bit of his confidence. He’s got good speed and a good shot. He’s not only for our defence, but from our goaltending.” just getting used to the systems and the size of the rink. It’s just been an adjustment. It’s taken some time. It usually takes four or five weeks. All of Gustavsson’s starts have been in the second game of back-to- backs. He admitted he hasn’t been dealing with the circumstances very “Whether you’re going over to Europe or coming over here, it’s an well. adjustment. I’ve been happy that that line this weekend probably in the course of both games was our best line.” “I still have trouble with the start of the game. I think almost every game we’ve been two or three goals in the first period. It puts a lot of pressure Here’s Davidsson’s goal: CLEANING UP THE 🗑️ FOR HIS FIRST AHL GOAL #FORTHEB PIC.TWITTER.COM/VMBAKY0XTW

— BELLEVILLE SENATORS (@BELLEVILLESENS) NOVEMBER 3, 2019

Cassels, the son of former NHLer and Ottawa 67’s star Andrew Cassels, is making the most of his second PTO with a goal and an assist in his debut in the win over Hartford. The 24-year-old was released from a PTO after training camp and signed on with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

With Logan Brown and J.C. Beaudin up in Ottawa, the Belleville Senators had just two natural centres and brought Cassels back on Friday. He made a solid contribution on the team’s fourth line with Parker Kelly and Andrew Sturtz.

“He’s got some AHL experience and we’re running basically two centres,” Mann said. “We felt it was important to get someone in here. He’s a right shot and he’s a good penalty killer. Any time you can get your fourth line to contribute two goals, it’s important because it adds depth to your scoring. That’s something we can get moving forward here.”

Cassels was a third-round draft pick (No. 85) in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks and won the Memorial Cup in 2015 with the Oshawa Generals (coached by D.J. Smith). He became a free agent when his entry-level deal with the Canucks expired and he played last season with Grizzlys Wolfsburg (yes, named after the Grizzly Adams character) in the DEL.

“My goal is still to play in the NHL. I think with some work and effort I can get there eventually,” Cassels said. “I went overseas last year and now it’s time to get my feet back on the ground and I’m thankful for the opportunity Belleville is giving me. Hopefully, I can take it and run with it.”

He’s off to a good start.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160254 Philadelphia Flyers Unhappy with the fourth line’s play in Tuesday’s win, the Flyers sent center German Rubtsov to the Phantoms and recalled Misha Vorobyev from Lehigh Valley. Vigneault said he wants to get more production from the fourth line and better balance in the lineup, so he dropped left winger Flyers penalty kill (surprise, surprise) is thriving under new assistant Mike Raffl to the fourth line and moved Carsen Twarynski to the third unit. … Yeo The Flyers (7-5-2) have outscored opponents in the third period, 23-12, including 3-0 against Carolina. … The Flyers much-improved power play

(fifth in the league at 24.1%) will try to exploit Montreal’s suspect penalty by Sam Carchidi, kill, which entered Wednesday 30th in the NHL, killing at just a 68.9% rate. The host Canadiens (8-5-2) ended Boston’s six-game winning streak Tuesday with a 5-4 victory. ... During a break in practice Wednesday, the Flyers lifted their sticks as a salute to the more than 100 The Flyers penalty kill, maligned for its poor play in recent years, has military members watching from the stands. made major strides in the season’s first five weeks, and it has been perfect in six of the last seven games. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.07.2019 Directed by new assistant coach Mike Yeo, the penalty kill is 13th in the NHL (83.7% success rate) and is 23-for-25 (92%) over the last seven- plus games. The Flyers’ PK finished 26th with a 78.5% success rate last season and has been so-so to awful in the last six years.

“I think Mike’s done a pretty job of having a consistent system," left winger Michael Raffl said after Wednesday’s practice in Voorhees. "Everybody’s on the same page; everybody knows what to do. He pays attention to details and the stickwork. Obviously, your best PKer sometimes has to be the goalie, and we’ve had great goaltending on the PK.”

Goalie Carter Hart, who keyed Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Carolina and will get the start Thursday against visiting Montreal, deflected the praise. The PK was 3-for-3 against the Hurricanes.

“I thought our PK was really strong; they kept the chances to the outside,” Hart said about Tuesday’s victory.

On one sequence, defenseman Justin Braun fell on the puck and there was a scramble in front.

“The puck was under him and I tried to cover it, and I kind of put a hand on his butt,” Hart said. “And he told me his three-year-old daughter said, ‘Daddy, he kept touching your butt.’ I thought that was pretty funny."

Hart said his penalty killers have a “willingness to compete and get pucks down [the ice] and block shots.”

In a recent game against Toronto, defenseman Matt Niskanen was especially effective as he blocked a shot during the penalty kill, Hart noted.

“He went face-first and the puck hit his shoulder,” Hart said. “They’re wearing way less equipment than [goalies], so that was pretty [gutsy] of him. You’ve got to respect how much he cares and how much he wants to win.”

Making the PK work even more impressive: Scott Laughton, one of the team’s top penalty killers, has missed the last five games because of a broken finger.

Defensemen Niskanen, Braun, Ivan Provorov, and Travis Sanheim have had the most ice time during the penalty kill, along with forwards Kevin Hayes, Sean Couturier, Oskar Lindblom, Raffl and Claude Giroux. Niskanen, Braun, and Hayes are new Flyers this season.

Is there anything different with the PK this year, or a different mentality?

“We had a few changes compared to last year, but mostly everyone is buying into details and sacrificing" their bodies, Provorov said. “Everyone’s on the same page. When you have time to pressure, you can’t do it by yourself. It’s got to be all four guys.”

“I think we know when to go and when not to go, as far as the pressure points on the ice,” Raffl said. “If they’re set up, we’re kind of more passive, but as soon as the puck bounces somewhere, everybody knows that we can go. Everybody knows their role, and we’ve done a pretty good job this year.”

Coach Alain Vigneault, noting Yeo and the penalty killers have spent extra time together at practice, said there’s a “process and an understanding of what you’re going to see from the opposition and what you have to do against that and what you may be willing to give up as far as chances.”

Breakaways 1160255 Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.07.2019

Flyers rookie Joel Farabee continues to impress in win over Carolina Hurricanes

by Erin McCarthy

Joel Farabee skated just outside the crease, grabbed his own rebound on the edge of his stick, and slammed the puck into the net before the Carolina goaltender could react, giving the Flyers a two-goal lead midway through the third period and sending them well on their way to a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Not bad for a teenager.

After celebrating with his teammates on the ice Tuesday night, the 19- year-old returned to the bench and watched the replay on an iPad, worried the score might be negated by an offside penalty, as his would- be first NHL goal was two weeks ago (he got his first one, for real, on Friday).

“I was kind of shaking a little bit,” he said afterward in the locker room. “Thought maybe it was off.”

The winger has a lot on the line.

Tuesday’s win marked Farabee’s eighth game with the Flyers, and he’s inching closer to the 10-game mark, at which point he’ll burn a year off his entry-level contract and move closer to free agency.

The Flyers' Joel Farabee talking to reporters during rookie camp in September.

“I’d have to say that as far as poise and being able to win puck battles and to make the right play on the wall, he’s probably one of our better players on our team right now,” coach Alain Vigneault said after the game. "I got a lot of trust and faith in what he’s doing on the ice.”

“I think he’s only gonna get better,” the coach added. “He’s a good young man who wants to work.”

Even without Vigneault’s endorsement, Flyers fans could see Farabee trending in that direction, quickly going from a Phantoms call-up to a crowd and team favorite, playing Tuesday for the second time on a line with center Claude Giroux and left winger James van Riemsdyk. When Farabee was promoted from the AHL last month, he played on the Flyers’ third line.

Being on a line with two veterans has allowed Farabee to take more chances, he said, and boosted his confidence.

“Playing with them, there’s always a play to be made,” he said.

And just being around fellow Flyers, whether in practices or games, has also made him better, he said.

During his few weeks in Philadelphia, the upstate New York native focused on becoming a better 200-foot player, a threat on both offense and defense, for strategic reasons.

“I think I can get more playing time that way,” Farabee said. “If I’m strictly offensive, late in the game I’m not going to get as many minutes, so I think just having that good defense that leads to offense is really important.”

He often reminds himself not to let the moment, with the bright lights and Jumbotron graphics and crowd noise, prevent him from playing his best. He doesn’t want to get complacent, he said, to convince himself he’s made it when he still has to keep proving myself.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. Farabee said there isn’t one thing that allows him to play within himself. Sometimes, it simply comes down to not thinking too much.

“At the end of the day, you just got to go out there and play hockey,” he said. “I think you’ve got to focus on hockey and not really anything else, and do what you can to help the team.”

If he keeps playing like he did Tuesday, he might get a lot more opportunities to do just that. 1160256 Philadelphia Flyers “He wants the sure play, like the 100 percent play that is going to help us win. Whether it is chip it in, whether you make a hockey play, you get in and see somebody open, you try to make the play. You better hope it at least gets through, you don’t want it to get picked off. But other than that, Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom helping Alain Vigneault make his own there are no real guidelines to exactly what you have to do. He wants you 'list' with Flyers to play hockey, he wants you to have fun, but make sure you’re doing the right play for the team.”

Age be damned, Konecny and Lindblom have done a lot of the right By Jordan Hall November 06, 2019 10:57 PM things.

“As a coach, you’re looking to be able to trust your players,” Vigneault Travis Konecny is 22 years old and playing a career-high 17:14 minutes said. per game during his fourth NHL season. He leads the Flyers in scoring Trusting his young players in Philly has been no big deal, just like his with 15 points through 14 games on a team not lacking established thoughts on that perception in New York. players. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 Oskar Lindblom is 23 years old and playing three more minutes per game than he did last season, his first full year in the NHL. He is second on the Flyers in scoring with 12 points and tied with Konecny for the team lead in goals at seven.

The two developments are the Flyers’ biggest positives to the start of 2019-20, a season with heightened expectations because of last season’s costly failures. The two developments also don’t jive with a narrative from head coach Alain Vigneault’s final days in New York, where, at times, his ability to coach younger players was maligned and his willingness to play them was doubted.

So far, the play of Konecny and Lindblom has laughed at the notion. Both players have blossomed in Vigneault’s system and appear poised for breakout seasons. The Flyers haven’t shown any reluctance to playing rookies, suiting up seven and even placing four in the lineup at once. Joel Farabee, a 19-year-old prospect, is playing on the team’s top line and first-unit power play just eight games into his NHL career.

The Flyers are 7-5-2 with 16 points, matching their highest total through the first 14 games of a season since 2014-15. Vigneault has said he’s a firm believer in “talent has no age” and you’d be hard-pressed to claim he hasn’t backed up his words during the early stages of his first season as Flyers head coach.

Following practice Wednesday, Vigneault was asked about the Flyers’ youth taking immediate strides under his watch contradicting the can’t- coach-kids perception.

At some point, someone is going to give me a list of all those young players that I’ve screwed up — I’m not saying I’m perfect — but that have left my coaching and gone to somewhere else and become these incredible players. In [Vancouver], there were three players that [people] were on me constantly — none of them really turned out to be these amazing players.

In New York, I would really like to have that list. I know I’m not perfect and I never pretended to be, but I don’t know a lot of players that left our coaching, my coaching, and did go somewhere else and become these great players. I look at the Chris Kreiders, I look at the Derek Stepans, the Ryan McDonaghs, the Jesper Fasts, and I go on. All those guys when I got to New York, they were just the same as all these young guys. And they’re all turning out to be pretty good players.

Sometimes there’s a perception — sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong. For me, it’s no big deal. I’ve just got to go do my job.

Vigneault has a valid point about his time with the Rangers, which we detailed here.

Konecny, a spirited winger who plays with pace and aggressiveness, has also made a point by racing out of the chute in Year 1 with his new coach. Vigneault’s teams play a style predicated on wearing down the opposition through an effort-based, possession-oriented attack.

The smart play is the best play — it doesn’t mean a 200-foot focus completely restricts creativity.

“He has an expectation for the team and that’s that — every player is accountable for their actions and we have to play the right way and do all the little things the same,” Konecny said. “It’s not one line that has to chip the puck in or play the right way in the D-zone. He’s got every single line, every single player doing the same stuff. And just over time, the consistency shows how dominant we can be. His style of play has worked elsewhere, so we trust it. 1160257 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers recall Mikhail Vorobyev, send down German Rubtsov

By Jordan Hall November 06, 2019 11:15 AM

Mikhail Vorobyev is back and German Rubtsov’s taste of the NHL is done for now.

The Flyers on Wednesday recalled Vorobyev from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley and sent Rubtsov to the Phantoms.

Rubtsov, a 21-year-old forward, made his NHL debut last week and played three games with the Flyers in limited fourth-line minutes. It’s not that he didn’t play well; the Flyers likely just want to see him continue to develop in a much bigger role in Lehigh Valley, where he was handling the puck and playing in all situations.

However, head coach Alain Vigneault was not pleased with his fourth line Tuesday night, which Rubtsov centered in a 4-1 win over the Hurricanes.

"[Playing more with the Phantoms] had something to do with it, but really it had more to do with giving our team the best chance to win," Vigneault said Wednesday after practice. "He looked … I don’t want to say … overwhelmed is not the right word, but he was fighting it a little bit with and without the puck."

Carolina outplayed the Flyers through the first two periods, often pinning the Flyers in their own end. Rubtsov ended up playing no more than two minutes in the third period.

“I thought for the first 40 minutes, Ruby’s line spent most of their time in our zone," Vigneault said.

In another effort to boost the fourth line, Vigneault shifted Michael Raffl down to the unit and bumped up Carsen Twarynski to the third line.

“I just didn’t feel we were getting what I needed from our fourth line, especially when we’re playing four games in six nights," Vigneault said. "I talked to Raffy about it, I told him I was looking for balance, I want to be able to play four lines right now and I think this gives us a better chance to do that.”

Vorobyev, a 2015 fourth-round pick, has played five games with the Flyers this season and is expected to center the fourth line. He has skill and penalty kill ability and the Flyers will want to see more consistency.

“Misha, originally when he got here, I thought I liked the way he was playing, his energy," Vigneault said. "It slipped a little bit, so we just made an easy change and hopefully Misha will be good for us [Thursday].”

It doesn't hurt, either, to let Rubtsov continue his development offensively in the AHL. With the Phantoms, he had six points in seven games. He opened the season in Lehigh Valley and has always been regarded for his defensive focus.

"The idea with him going to Lehigh Valley was to allow him to get more offensive puck touches, maybe play some power play, try to develop the offensive part of his game," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said last week. "That’s something we’ll want to be mindful of while he’s up here, but certainly we’re very confident that he can come in and play well away from the puck, compete and use his size and hockey sense to his advantage."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160258 Philadelphia Flyers

Matt Niskanen giving Ivan Provorov, Shayne Gostisbehere a 'force' they didn't have last season

By Jordan Hall November 06, 2019 7:00 AM

Ivan Provorov played fewer than 21 minutes only once last season and it was because of 12 penalty minutes accrued in one uncharacteristic game.

On Tuesday night, Provorov played 20:29. He wasn’t at his best with a pair of penalties, three giveaways and a quiet night on the power play.

Shayne Gostisbehere played 19:22 and had a power play assist. But he didn’t break out by any means, finishing with no shots and a minus-1 mark.

Those two playing OK was more than OK for the Flyers.

That’s because Matt Niskanen “was a force out there,” according to head coach Alain Vigneault, to help spearhead a 4-1 win over the Hurricanes, who the Flyers went 0-4-0 against last season (see observations). The 32-year-old veteran ate up 21:26 minutes, tallied two assists, was a plus- 2 and played on both special teams units.

“He made some great plays as far as killing opportunities and getting the puck out of our end,” Vigneault said.

“Winning is fun, boys. Let’s keep it up.” #CARvsPHI | #FlyOrDie pic.twitter.com/i8mjcrgBYE

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 6, 2019

Provorov, Gostisbehere and the Flyers’ defense didn’t have a luxury like Niskanen last season. They do now and his impact has been felt everywhere. The blueliner with a Stanley Cup title has two goals and six assists through 14 games. He leads the team’s defensemen in shorthanded ice time and is third in power play minutes.

He is a smart and skilled puck mover with a calmness to his game.

Seldom does he make a poor decision and the Flyers are 5-1-1 when he records a point.

In 2018-19, the Flyers put a lot on the shoulders of Provorov and Gostisbehere. Provorov came into last season at 21 years old and Gostisbehere was 25. There was nobody the caliber of Niskanen to take off some pressure or pick up any slack.

Niskanen was a plus-91 over his previous six seasons and owns 125 career postseason games.

"I've been fortunate to be on real good teams," he said in June when the Flyers acquired him. "I've been around and I know what good hockey looks like, I know what a good culture looks like. I'm not going to be a rah-rah guy, but I think with my résumé, my words hold a little bit of weight, especially with young players.

“I envision myself being a really good partner for one of these young studs. Trying to give them confidence to do the things that they do well, and I'll be right beside them.”

So far, that kind of presence has felt like a force.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160259 Philadelphia Flyers As it turns out, finding that last role isn’t an easy thing to do. “Usually fourth-line players are not guys that are going to be in your top

scorers but you want them to be dependable and you want them to play Why Flyers are shuttling back and forth to Allentown to fill fourth line the right way,” Vigneault said. “Those eight to 11 minutes a lot of time can make the difference in the game.”

Courier-Post LOADED: 11.07.2019 Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 2:49 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2019

Mikhail Vorobyev was recalled Wednesday for the second time this season. Neither he nor German Rubtsov have been able to hold down the fourth-line center role.

For the most part, the Flyers seem to be making progress.

Goalie Carter Hart has ostensibly turned the tide now that he’s found a game-day routine he’s more comfortable with and learned how valuable practices are at this level. Switching Jake Voracek and rookie Joel Farabee has improved both lines. The defense, while still working bugs out, has largely stabilized from the Western Canadian trip.

That leaves the fourth line, a unit that new coach Alain Vigneault said in training camp he wanted to have an identity.

So far, that identity is “on the move.”

The latest development was Wednesday when the Flyers swapped prospects, sending German Rubtsov back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after his first three NHL games and recalling Mikhail Vorobyev who has played five this season after a rocky 15 last season.

Neither has been able to adequately fill the role just yet.

“It’s his first games in the NHL,” said Slava Kouznetsov, the Flyers’ power skating coach, who translated for Rubtsov after Tuesday night’s game. “He’s trying to adapt so he understands it. He’s working through it.”

That work will continue with the Phantoms where more will be on his plate. The American Hockey League doesn’t make time on ice statistics available to the public, but there’s no question that both Vorobyev and Rubtsov are asked to do more with the Phantoms than the Flyers.

For one, there is no special teams role for either in Philadelphia. That’s a chunk of ice time right there. What’s left in the NHL needs to be good despite legs potentially going cold on the bench between shifts.

“I think what teams look for in the fourth line is players that can play anywhere from eight to 11 minutes,” Vigneault said. “That’s about the ice time that’s available. You need that eight to 11 minutes to be an efficient one, which is the right decisions through that neutral zone, spend some time in the other team’s end where you’re wearing down the defense. You might not maybe have…I shouldn’t say the skill set, but the offensive capabilities to get a lot of chances but what you’d like that fourth line to do is spend time in the other team’s end and you expect them to be real solid defensively.”

The Flyers are trying out prospects for this role because…well…they kind of have to.

With Scott Laughton out of the lineup after having surgery to fix a broken index finger and Nolan Patrick’s situation with migraines as vague as ever, there’s not a lot of cap space to work with and at least with Laughton it’s a temporary situation.

What’s the sense in trading for a center if the Flyers won’t need that player in three weeks? Once Farabee plays his 10th NHL game (which he’s slated to Saturday) the Flyers will be at 48 contracts against the limit of 50. They’re even tighter on cap space. According to CapFriendly.com, they have a projected cap space at the end of the season of less than $50,000.

The Flyers have been penny pinching to save cap space. According to the AHL’s transactions page, the Flyers sent Rubtsov, Carsen Twarynski and Phil Myers down to the Phantoms on Sunday’s day off and recalled them on Monday in time for practice but they didn’t announce either transaction. They were able to bank that cap space for a day as a result.

When Laughton returns, the Flyers could opt to put him in that fourth-line center role despite him playing wing for most of this season. If Patrick ever returns, the Flyers could role with a center group of Sean Couturier, Kevin Hayes, Patrick and Laughton. 1160260 Pittsburgh Penguins more than any Penguin, Bjugstad must do better. Entire games come and go with Bjugstad being inconsequential.

• The Penguins have regained the speed they had in the Stanley Cup Mark Madden: The good and bad with the Penguins seasons of 2016 and ’17. Brandon Tanev is more responsible for that than anyone. Jared McCann and Teddy Blueger aren’t far behind. The Penguins have a bottom six that is mostly effective. But Tanev shouldn’t be shackled to the fourth line. Not at six years, $21 million. Mark Madden Tribune Review LOADED: 11.07.2019

Brr! It’s cold in here! There must be refreshing Pittsburgh Penguins notes in the atmosphere! They warm you up as the temperatures drop!

• The Penguins have had a totally healthy roster for two periods this season. Staying afloat at 8-6-1 speaks to the team’s resilience and the organization’s depth.

• The Penguins have played well in most of their losses. It would help if that evened up via performing poorly while winning. Get some loser points, at least.

• Analytics tell us Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel produce more and get increased chances when Dominik Simon skates on their line. Well, Crosby and Guentzel have just three goals between them in the last eight games. What does that tell us?

• The Penguins’ commitment to defense has been noticeable and beneficial. But in Monday’s loss at Boston, a turnover by Kris Letang conceded a goal. Evgeni Malkin did a drive-by and left the zone without the puck on Boston’s goal that made it 4-4. Those old habits might die hard, but they need to die permanently.

• Letang has critics. They blow every mistake he makes out of proportion. That ignores the idea of risk vs. reward, not to mention that Letang placed sixth in the voting for last year’s Norris Trophy (top defenseman) and would finish higher this season. Here’s what Letang’s haters can’t answer: If the Penguins don’t have Letang, who plays his minutes and replaces his speed, physicality and offensive acumen? I’ll hang up and listen. (Remember, it’s not 2017. Jusso Riikola isn’t Trevor Daley.)

• Edmonton and Boston got winning goals in each of the Penguins’ last two losses when a Penguin shot wide and the carom got the foe’s attack going the other way. That’s not a mandate against trying to pick a corner. But when the game is close late, maybe the shooter could err on the side of caution (especially in three-on-three overtime).

• The Penguins’ goaltending mostly has been good. But it wasn’t at Boston. Matt Murray gets a pass because he has been solid so far. But Tristan Jarry played terrible in relief Monday, allowing two bad-angle goals that wasted the Penguins’ rally after trailing 3-0. Jarry’s performance casts doubt on his mental preparation, at least that night. Backups must approach each game as if they’re going to play. It’s cliched but true.

• Malkin has one assist and is minus-2 in two games since returning from injury. Alex Galchenyuk has one assist and is minus-3 in three games since coming back. The Penguins need much more from those two, and immediately. Bryan Rust has two goals, two assists and a plus-3 mark in four games since he got healthy. They’re professionals. If they’re healthy, they need to produce. There isn’t a grace period.

• Rust should stay at right wing with Malkin and Galchenyuk. His speed complements their skill, and vice versa.

• The Penguins power play gets decent looks, but is 0 for its last 21. Is that the absence of Phil Kessel? Yes, to some degree. The team’s improvement on defense is also partly because Kessel is gone. The man-advantage unit needs rhythm and a set five. It’s moot because Patric Hornqvist is hurt, but he should go back on the top group. Guentzel is a superior player. Hornqvist is a better pure net-front presence.

• It’s a shame Hornqvist is injured, but it’s good Dominik Kahun got back in the lineup. Kahun had two goals and two assists in the previous two games before being scratched Saturday when the rash of injuries cleared up. He returned Monday at Boston, netting the Penguins’ first goal. Coach Mike Sullivan wasn’t wrong to scratch Kahun. It was a tough call. But good play should be rewarded. Kahun might be a nice fit.

• Nick Bjugstad played well at Boston, scoring a goal. It’s about time. Bjugstad had been totally invisible to that point in the season. Perhaps 1160261 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins announce Pride Night for 2020

Haley Nelson/Post-Gazette

The Penguins have another Pride Night planned for later this season.

The team announced Wednesday that its 2020 event, part of the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative, will be held March 24 in conjunction with the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins are proud to host Pride Night on Tuesday, March 24 against Carolina as part of the NHL’s season-long #HockeyIsForEveryone initiative.

Learn more: https://t.co/kjOGc04V1I pic.twitter.com/W33pGXo4tS

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 6, 2019

Sticks with rainbow-colored tape used in pre-game warmups will be auctioned off to benefit “You Can Play,” a group that “works to ensure the safety and inclusion of all in sports — including LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans.”

Pride-themed merchandise will also be available for purchase.

Jim Rutherford likes the direction of this Penguins team

The club’s “Hockey is for Everyone” night last season featured free tickets for area LGBTQ youth. This will be the fourth season that the Penguins have held a themed night supporting the LGBTQ community.

Post Gazette LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160262 Pittsburgh Penguins Galchenyuk returned to the lineup last week after he suffered a lower- body injury in camp, tried to play through it then eventually sat down for a while.

Jim Rutherford likes the direction of this Penguins team “He didn’t want to tell anybody because he wants to have a good year,” he said. “He’s coming along. He’s moving in the right direction. But it’s slow. You can see the skill level there. I thought there seemed to be a little more chemistry with [Evgeni Malkin]. I don’t know if they’ll ultimately MATT VENSEL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette NOV 6, 2019 5:25 PM end up playing together.”

Kahun also started his Penguins career slow. But the young winger has NEW YORK — Fifteen games into the season, Jim Rutherford likes a lot scored in three straight games, including the game-winner in Dallas on about this Penguins team, which underwent significant change during the Oct. 26. offseason and has endured a bunch of injuries to important players over “It was a little bit of an adjustment for him,” Rutherford said. “And Sully the last six weeks. talked to him about some of the things he needed to do to get back to his He sees they are deeper up front. He believes they have more collective game and it was like magic. A game later, he was moving his feet more speed. They are responding to coach Mike Sullivan. Plus, their chemistry and was back to that quickness. … Over the last three weeks, his game feels “really good,” which is noteworthy considering he felt last year’s has really come on.” group never came together. The GM is pumped about the play of John Marino, the rookie There’s really only one thing the GM isn’t thrilled about: their record. defenseman who made Gudbranson expendable. He was also pleased with the early season contributions from young forwards Sam Lafferty, “The wins aren’t coming as much as they should be. So we’ve got to get Adam Johnson and Joseph Blandisi. over that hump. And I believe we will,” Rutherford told the Post-Gazette. “I would suspect, from what I’ve seen, that this team is going to do well in Lafferty is back with the team after a brief stint in the American Hockey the future.” League. Rutherford suggested Lafferty’s promotion on Wednesday, hours after Malkin sat out practice for a “maintenance day,” was about The Penguins are 8-6-1 after dropping two straight. The first came merit, not necessity. Saturday, when they put 52 pucks on net in a 2-1 overtime loss to Edmonton. Monday, they were the better team in Boston. But three soft “He’s that odd guy out because he doesn’t need [to clear] waivers. So goals cost them in a 6-4 loss. he’s a guy that we can move up and down. But when he came up, he continued to play well,” he said. “He’s probably going to be that swing If they start converting more of those moral victories into ones that guy most of the year.” actually count in the standings, Rutherford believes the Penguins will be sitting pretty. The Penguins still have a long way to go, both in terms of the schedule and their development as a team. Rutherford is keenly aware of that. But “We’ve got to get through this period because it becomes harder and a month into the season, the Hall of Fame GM believes something harder on the players when you’re playing the right way and playing well special might be brewing. [and don’t win],” he said. “We dominated the last two games and we’ve got one point to show for it. It’s just the way the game goes. But that will “There’s a lot of things I like about where we’re at now,” Rutherford said. swing in our direction.” “I feel more comfortable about where we’re at today than I have the last two years.” Getting a little more from Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry would help, he said. Post Gazette LOADED: 11.07.2019

“Our goaltending has been good at times,” he said. “We’re giving up some goals at key times that are stoppable that I think would have changed our record. We just have to get that consistency level. We have goalies who are capable.”

Rutherford raved about Sullivan, who got a contract extension this summer, and the rest of his staff for doing a “really good job” despite the many injuries.

“He has put a structure in place with a team that’s willing to follow it,” he said.

Injuries helped the Penguins stumble upon one of the NHL’s most obnoxious lines

Rutherford feels a sense of relief now that he was able to shed a sizable contract. He reiterated that the trade of Erik Gudbranson was mostly about money. With the blue-liner’s $4 million cap hit off the books, the Penguins can actually make call-ups, trades and other roster decisions with, you know, hockey in mind.

Yes, Rutherford now has the wiggle room to add a noteworthy player before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. But right now, he wants to let it ride with his team.

“I’m not working on anything now,” Rutherford said. “If somebody calls me today with some idea that makes sense for our team, I would have to look at it. But I’m not calling other teams. I’m satisfied with where we’re at. I don’t know if this will be the team after the trade deadline. We’ve got lots of time to look at it.”

That makes sense given the way the Penguins are playing, and also that they are still learning about Brandon Tanev, Alex Galchenyuk and Dominik Kahun.

Rutherford said Tanev “is what the doctor ordered.” He prioritized Tanev in free agency because he figured he would bring speed, energy and heart. He was right. The other two, acquired in trades, are still finding their place in Pittsburgh. 1160263 Pittsburgh Penguins summers, and is among the great Penguins and great players of all time. Trusting a great player to modify his game is significantly more appealing than making him into something he is not.

Yohe: Geno still needs to be Geno for Penguins to thrive Malkin is likely to thrive soon because of his greatness and because of Sullivan’s coaching. They chatted in Florida and Sullivan, no doubt, made it clear that he needs a different Malkin this season. But Sullivan also loves to say of his stars that, “We don’t want to take the stick out of their By Josh Yohe Nov 6, 2019 hands.”

In other words, players like Malkin and Sidney Crosby are special, and As all-time great players go, Evgeni Malkin is an easy target these days. the Penguins want to encourage them, not restrict them. Sullivan knows The Penguins are 0-2-1 with him in the lineup this season, they’ve played Malkin needs to change his game, but he’s smart enough to know that generally well without him and have adopted a “north-south” approach you don’t want Evgeni Malkin playing hockey like he’s Nick Bonino. Great that wildly differs from Malkin’s preferred brand of high-risk, high-octane players need the stage to be great. hockey. Thus, it’s up to Malkin to make subtle changes while still being a These realities present themselves fresh off the heels of last season dominant force. He’s done it before, and he’ll surely do it again. when Malkin, for the first time in his NHL career, didn’t look dominant. He The Penguins were at their very best in that second period in Boston. It wasn’t able to take control of games whenever the mood struck him, was their finest display of the season. That it was also Malkin’s finest which has long been among his many rare gifts. Malkin was a disaster at display of the season should not come as a surprise. In many ways, he is times last season, matching bad penalties with momentum-sapping their engine and always has been. Sometimes engines require some turnovers. minor repairs, but nothing more. The Penguins’ April swoon coincided with his return to the lineup, as they Malkin showed in Boston that his imagination and creativity are still found ways to win without him during much of March, but were a mess instrumental to the Penguins’ success. To handcuff him of such gifts — upon his return. even if they occasionally backfire — wouldn’t make any sense at all. Yes, it would be easy to criticize Malkin and to suggest that he must Practice tidbits profoundly alter everything about his approach. While there is some validity to this — the 2018-19 version of Malkin won’t do — plenty of • Malkin was given a maintenance day Tuesday and didn’t practice with evidence Monday in Boston suggested that Malkin need not change his the Penguins. Sometimes this means a player is banged up, while other ways significantly. times, it was merely a pre-planned day. Sam Lafferty, who played quite well during the season’s first three weeks, was recalled from Wilkes- Must he cut down on the turnovers and penalties? Of course. He knows Barre/Scranton on Tuesday perhaps as insurance, or perhaps because it. Mike Sullivan visited him in Miami during the summer, and it’s he has played so well that the Penguins are interested in having him something they discussed. I sense Malkin understands the importance of around the NHL team on a more regular basis. diminishing his bad habits. • No update was provided on Kris Letang’s status. Letang left early in the Still, he needs to be Malkin. You don’t take a future Hall of Famer and third period with what I’ve been told is a groin injury. It’s not currently make him change everything that makes him special and, on Monday, known if he will be able to play against the Islanders on Thursday. we were witness to a glimpse of the magic that remains. • Brian Dumoulin missed practice Tuesday because the team sent him The Penguins were down, 3-0, early in the second period and appeared back to Pittsburgh to spend time with his wife and new baby, Brayden, well on their way to defeat. Spotting a three-goal lead, on the road, to the who was born Monday. He is expected to play against the Islanders. NHL’s best team isn’t a recipe for success. However, the Penguins proceeded to put on a remarkable show in the remainder of the period, • The Penguins have a scheduled day off today. out-shooting the Bruins 20-7 and simply dismantling every defensive effort Boston made. Malkin was front and center of the Penguins’ The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 explosion.

More to the point, he made two extraordinary passes, both of the high risk variety. Or, at the very least, both were outside of the box of what the ordinary NHL player would even attempt to execute, let alone conceive.

The Penguins pulled off four breakaways against the Bruins in the second period, two because of outrageous Malkin passes.

With the Penguins having just fallen behind by three goals, Malkin caught the Bruins moving in one direction and located Alex Galchenyuk moving in another, springing him on a breakaway. Jaroslav Halak made the save, but it was a beautiful illustration of Malkin’s genius at work. Players locked into north-south hockey wouldn’t have made such a play. It also jumpstarted the Penguins.

There was nothing ordinary about that play. It was just Malkin at his creative best.

Then came the pass Malkin made to Bryan Rust later in the period. Malkin retrieved the puck just across the Boston blue line, slammed on the breaks and made a no-look, spinning backhand pass to Rust, sending him on a breakaway that resulted in the game-tying goal. Such passes, if not executed properly, can lead to trouble. They can produce odd-man rushes the other way. They can look foolish. They can sap the energy out of a push to tie the game.

They can also showcase the brilliance of a great player who has helped lead the Penguins to three championships.

“He’s still Geno,” Justin Schultz said.

Yes, he still is. Perhaps we’ve seen Malkin at his very best, as hockey players don’t typically peak at 33. Still, let’s keep in mind that Malkin came to training camp in considerably better condition than in previous 1160264 Pittsburgh Penguins I often talk about gap control when it comes to Marino, but I found a clip from the game against the Bruins that perfectly encapsulates what good gap control looks like. This is what Sullivan is referring to when he discusses Marino’s ability to “close on people.” As opposing forwards Marshall: Why is John Marino so good so early in his career? draw closer to the offensive blueline, the idea is to keep them in front of you at a decreasing level of stick length.

The general rule of thumb is the opposing skater should be three stick By Jesse Marshall Nov 6, 2019 lengths away when they cross their defensive blue line, two stick lengths away when they cross the red line and one stick length and/or physical contact made at your blue line. If you can consistently pull this off as a John Marino played his 13th professional hockey game against the defenseman, you’re going to be a real nightmare for opposing forwards. Boston Bruins this Monday night at TD Bank Garden, a mere hour and Remember, time and space are the most precious commodities in 20 minutes from his home in North Easton, Mass. hockey. This roadmap for gap control takes away both of those.

Throughout the course of the game, in front of his family and friends, he With these rules in mind, watch Marino’s work below: possessed the look of a defenseman who has been doing this for 13 years, not 13 games. I would refer to this as “Brian Dumoulin-like” work from Marino. It’s defense by the book; nothing flashy or fancy about it. Once Marino has a Marino, fresh in the NHL from the Harvard Crimson of the NCAA, made chance to get stick on puck, he takes it, keeping the opposing forward his homecoming in Boston his best display of skill yet. It wasn’t just about directly in front of him the entire time. scoring his first NHL goal (but we’ll still talk about that), it was the way in which he controlled the game at both ends of the ice and contributed to Marino keeps his feet moving here and lets momentum do all the work. what amounted to the most dominant 20 minutes of Penguins hockey this Because he got a full head of steam in the neutral zone when he pivoted season. in reverse, he can let that momentum carry him so he isn’t caught flat- footed at any point in the sequence. The Penguins didn’t win the game, but they may get a continued bump from their young defenseman, one who seemingly takes giant strides in Remember, this is the starting point for Marino. As I mentioned before, development on a shift by shift basis. Everyone knew Marino had these are skills that are only going to mature and get better with pedigree when the Penguins traded for him this summer, but I don’t think additional professional experience. That’s a rather tantalizing proposition anyone could have predicted the level of play we’re seeing on a nightly considering how good he’s already playing. Remember what Sullivan basis. This all seemed to culminate against Boston. said above, he’s closing his gaps as well as any defenseman on the team. Marino’s on-ice results have been pedestrian from a data perspective, but he’s also playing alongside Jack Johnson, a player that sank a lot of Impacting chance creation his colleagues from an analytical perspective last season. Marino hasn’t Defensemen can generally impact shot and chance creation by doing a just maintained, he’s found his own way to thrive, even if the data doesn’t few things, most notably jumping into the play themselves, or distributing reflect his personal contributions towards the teams’ success. the puck to players in high percentage areas. In this clip, we’ll get a taste So, with that in mind, I wanted to dive back into some video from of Marino doing a little bit of both, and then some. Marino’s performance against the Bruins to highlight a few key areas of I talk about data in hockey quite a bit, but I think it’s also important to try his game and the ways he impacted on-ice performance. and use video to quantify what players are doing on the ice to create the Breakout passing data sets we’re looking at. In this clip, Marino impacts possession and expected-goals individually by using all the skills I talked about above. “What’s really impressed us is his ability to make outlet passes. He’s got poise with the puck. He finds that little pocket option in the center under Let’s recap all the things Marino did to impact offense in this short pressure pretty well for a guy that is new to this league.” sequence. To start, he activated as a forward and joined the rush on the far side of the ice to start this possession. Malkin was regrouping and — Mike Sullivan needed support. His wingers were still exiting the offensive zone and finishing an in-progress line change. Marino recognized this and made This outlet pass to the middle of the ice has been one of the hallmarks of himself available for a breakout pass up ice, quickly putting the game in a Marino’s game so far, and it was on display against the Bruins this week. state of transition. To give a better picture of what Sullivan is talking about here, let’s take a look at a perfect video example. Once Marino gains the zone, he realizes he’s got help coming into the play late. He throws on the brakes and waits for that help. The Bruins This video shows the “pocket” that Sullivan is talking about. The have him pinned, he essentially gained the offensive zone by himself. If Penguins’ breakout swings wide to both sides of the ice. The Bruins he tries to do too much here, this is a situation where a turnover would be defense spreads out wide to take away those options. As the Penguins devastating. Instead, Marino holds the puck, waits for a lane to develop, forwards gain speed out of the defensive zone, one of them will cross to and takes it cross-ice to Alex Galchenyuk streaking into the zone. the middle of the ice. In this clip, that is Zach Aston-Reese. A final freeze-frame captures Marino pinching safely along the wall to Marino doesn’t force this puck to the wide side of the ice, he uses keep the puck alive. Look at the angle he takes towards this play; he’s patience to his advantage. He waits until Aston-Reese’s path up ice attempting to get stick on puck while simultaneously taking the body to takes him to the absolute center of the Bruins neutral-zone structure. remove the opponent from the equation. By my count, the Penguins have Take a look at where Aston-Reese is when he receives the pass. He’s in three high-quality looks at the net in this sequence thanks in part to the the middle of four, spread out Bruins players, none of them are anywhere work of Marino on the blue line. close enough to attempt to strip Aston-Reese of the puck or put any type of pressure on him. This kind of push into the zone and active presence up ice is something Marino delivered throughout the course of the game. It’s been one of the This one pass from Marino finds the pocket in the center of the ice that better parts of his game so far this year. When a lane presents itself, Sullivan was referring to. It also leads to a scoring chance for the Marino takes it and runs without hesitation. I find him to be very Penguins by Teddy Blueger. If Marino chooses to make that pass later or comparable to a player like Paul Martin with his ability to join the play and earlier, with no option under center, it’d be the equivalent of a rush up ice in a responsible way. quarterback forcing a pass before the receiver is finished running a crossing route. There’s an element of poise and Hockey IQ at work here Notice again how this second clip includes Marino pinching down the wall that are encouraging signs for the future. to keep the play alive. That also was an active element of his game against the Bruins. He forced them into icing the puck twice in the third Gap control period by activating down low and keeping a long possession alive for “He’s a real good defender. He’s a good, strong skater. He closes on even longer. people as good as any defenseman we have.” And finally, the goal — Mike Sullivan “I just skated as fast as I can. I just reacted, that’s the way it worked out.” — John Marino

If this was a pure reaction move from Marino, it was a good one. Take a look at what he does in on goal against Jaroslav Halak here. By taking the puck forehand-to-backhand, he opens up Halak’s pads and slides the puck five hole.

A pretty nifty move from a defenseman, if you ask me. I’d expect that kind of awareness from Jake Guentzel. To get it from your bottom pairing, rookie defender is an added bonus.

Playing in front of his friends and family seemed to provide an extra jump to a defenseman who has already impressed fans, teammates and the coaching staff. Marino’s ceiling might just be higher than we initially thought. If he can impact games like this now, imagine what the future might hold. I’d be paying extra attention to Marino heading into this next slate of games. This juice he exhibited against the Bruins might just carry over to future performances.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160265 Pittsburgh Penguins His description made sense after he explained how visiting players arrive in Chicago and drink until 4 a.m. or later, depending on how much planning had gone into stocking hotel rooms with adult beverages. Guerin recalled players not yet being hungover by the time of a morning ‘You can do stupid s—’: Why life on the road can be good for NHL skate, definitely “feeling the night before” by the time of the game, and players then after: “getting our butts beat by the Blackhawks and going out after the game and having a good time until our flight the next morning.”

When relayed that anecdote, the Colorado Avalanche’s Ian Cole widened By Rob Rossi Nov 6, 2019 his eyes. Shaking his head, he sheepishly offered that NHL road trips “are not anything like that nowadays.”

During his first few weeks in the Vegas Golden Knights dressing room Could they be? “I don’t think so,” Cole said. during the 2017-18 season, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury felt like a Should they be? “I’m not going there,” Cole said. stranger. “Look, everyone has their own lives at home,” Cole said. “I think on the Fleury’s longtime teammate in Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby, felt the same road is where a team can galvanize. Going to dinner. Doing lunches. way for a few weeks early this season, too. Hitting the movies. Anything… The Penguins had a home-heavy schedule in October. Aside from a “It’s just spending time together. I don’t think you need to do anything night in Saint Paul, Minn. and another in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the specific or special to create that. I think just having time together will do Penguins were in Pittsburgh for 18 of the first 20 days in October. that for a team.” Had it been any other season, Crosby would have looked forward to a Several players said teams’ charter flights provide opportunities for swing through NHL cities in Florida and Dallas — a five-days/six-nights bonding. Technological advances have allowed those who don’t fancy trip that included a day off in Dallas — as an overdue opportunity to get card games to bring gaming into the fold. some time with unfamiliar faces. Dominik Kahun, who was traded to the Penguins in the offseason after Problem was, the Penguins had broken training camp with four new spending his first NHL season with the Blackhawks, said he noticed a players and one of those was saddled with a long-term injury by the third difference between the teams’ cultures when traveling for his first regular-season game. By the time the Penguins took a three-game road preseason road game with Pittsburgh. trip late in October, there were still some unfamiliar faces in Pittsburgh, making that jaunt an important one. “In Chicago, we didn’t play much,” Kahun said of video-game competitions that Crosby is famous for extending well beyond the “I think it’s always good to get on the road,” Crosby said of the Penguins’ confines of an aircraft. “But here, most guys play Fortnite and some guys first significant time together away from Pittsburgh this season. “You get play NHL and FIFA (games). to know the guys, get to spend more time with them. Whether it’s at dinner, the hotel or on the bus, everything is a little more laid back and “I play only the sports games. But I always have somebody to play everyone’s on the same schedule, so you see everyone.” against.”

The road remains a place where the best stories are better lived through The medical community is best equipped to debate whether a night of but not told. heavy drinking or a day of intense gaming is more likely to leave a player worse for the wear. Each activity is good for breaking down social Which is not to suggest the modern NHL in 2019 shares anything in barriers, and each can help distract players from dwelling on a losing common with the early years of the league, in which players came to streak. know well each of the six hockey towns, or the 1980s, when the Oilers partied as well off the ice outside of Edmonton as they dominated on it. It While many extracurricular activities have changed over the years, one isn’t like that anymore in hockey. really hasn’t: pranks. And if one of hockey’s living legends of pranking has his way, that will never change. And just what was “that” like, anyway? In Pittsburgh, Fleury made it a point at least once each season to mess Well, during his contract dispute with the Oilers at the start of the 1987- with a teammate, and he brought his bag of tricks to Las Vegas. Neither 88 season, Paul Coffey was presented with an opportunity to join the changing franchises nor becoming a father of three has weakened his Penguins. He jumped at it, but not merely because those Penguins had enthusiasm for fostering a chummy culture by annually setting up a begun to assemble talent around a still-emerging Mario Lemieux. teammate or two for the good of the team. Coffey said he and the Oilers had always “had a lot of fun” — too much At some point this season, with the bright lights of Las Vegas far away, a fun, some people might say — when the road trips took them to Golden Knights player is going to walk off an elevator to find the entirety Pittsburgh in the early-to-mid 1980s. A local bar, Froggy’s, was famous of his hotel room has been moved to that floor’s lobby. It’s Fleury’s for serving stiff drinks, and Oilers players were happy to indulge in the greatest hit and to be a teammate of his is to expect it, to crave it. It’s not excess for a couple of nights in Pittsburgh. unlike Bruce Springsteen fans waiting for him to play “Born To Run” at a In between, they would manage to drub the Penguins. But Coffey said concert. those “great nights at Froggy’s” did a lot more for those Oilers than the “Flower’s room prank? Oh, it always kills,” Cole said. “You’d think it gets win at the old . old, but it doesn’t. At least, it didn’t when I was in (Pittsburgh). Does he “I don’t care what anybody says, you win as a team,” Coffey said. “We still do it in Vegas?” obviously had great players in Edmonton. But we were a team, all of us. Fleury’s Chesire cat grin gave away the answer to Cole’s question. He And I’m just being honest about it, but it’s when you get on the road — cautioned that saying anything would “ruin the surprise” of hockey’s when we’d get to a city like Pittsburgh, a place we knew where to go to worst-kept secret. blow off steam, to just be with the guys and bond away from the rink — that you become a team. It’s as important as going through hard times Why does he play so coy about his trademark road prank into his 16th together. NHL season?

“I think you remember the hard times and those times on the road as “To me, it’s important every season to be on the road and bring the guys much as the winning. I really do.” together — that’s a good way to build a camaraderie,” Fleury said. “And I think you can do that by doing anything or nothing, you know? But you Froggy’s closed its doors years ago. But the doors are still open at some can also do it by just doing stupid shit. famous NHL hot spots in cities like Montreal, New York and Chicago — the latter being a place former players recall with mixed emotions. “If it gets a little smile, I think that’s good for everyone. It’s not stupid if it brings that smile. That’s important in a long season. And it’s, like, you , who won the Stanley Cup twice as a player and is now can do stupid shit on the road because it’s just the guys.” general manager of the Minnesota Wild, once described Chicago as “the town you loved to get into and hated when you left.” The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019

1160266 San Jose Sharks “He was good,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said of Simek. “Good stick. He stepped up well in the neutral zone. His reads were very good for a guy that’s missed eight months.

San Jose Sharks start to see what they can be “He was able to read when it was an even man rush and when it was an odd-man, he was able to step-up and end plays in the neutral zone. On Sharks follow up stinker against Vancouver Canucks with solid defensive our blue line, I thought he stood hard, didn’t give their skill guys time performance vs. Chicago Blackhawks when they were entering or trying to enter with possession.”

The Sharks had allowed four goals or more in 10 of 15 games so far this season, including an unsightly 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: November 6, 2019 at 5:30 am | Saturday. Jones and backup goalie Aaron Dell had to take their share of UPDATED: November 6, 2019 at 5:13 PM responsibility for that, especially with the Sharks allowing the first goal 11 times.

SAN JOSE — The Sharks have talked about the need to play a tighter, But if the Sharks are able to stick with this approach to games, their more physical brand of hockey since they were walloped in back-to-back goalies will benefit. games to start the regular season. “Everybody was really solid tonight,” Jones said. “I thought we didn’t After following that formula in two of their last three games this month, really give them any speed through the neutral zone and we defended and seeing what kind of success it can bring, maybe those messages are hard in our own end. Even when they had some sustained pressure, we finally hitting home. were really solid back there. Good game all around.”

The Sharks allowed just 21 shots on net Tuesday, including eight in the Tuesday’s game was a bit reminiscent of Friday’s against the Winnipeg first two periods, and snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win Jets, when the Sharks had a huge advantage in shots on goal but were over the Chicago Blackhawks at SAP Center. Tomas Hertl and Timo unable to capitalize on a handful of chances. The Jets scored late in the Meier each had a goal and an assist. The other two goals were scored by third period and escaped with a 3-2 win. Evander Kane and Patrick Marleau, the latter playing in his 800th Against the Blackhawks, the Sharks were dominating shots-wise but only consecutive NHL game. had a one goal lead as forward Timo Meier was sent off for high-sticking The Sharks (5-10-1) continue their homestand Thursday against the at the 11:16 mark. Minnesota Wild, and there should be no ambiguity about how they have Then Brenden Dillon sent a puck around the boards from behind the to play if they want to pull themselves out of this mess. Sharks net that got past Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist at the “That’s been the message here for the last couple weeks, that we have to blue line. The puck slid toward the middle of the ice and into the be more engaged physically, that we have to be harder to play against, Blackhawks’ zone, where Kane picked it up and fired a wrist shot through especially around our net,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “We did a the legs of goalie Robin Lehner for a two-goal Sharks lead. good job defending tonight. We didn’t give them much. In the third, they “That took some pressure off because it was feeling like déjà vu with put a little bit of pressure on. that game,” DeBoer said. “It was nice to get the first one and play out “But I thought defensively, we worked really hard at it, and in the front, and it was nice to get that insurance goal.” offensive zone, we were harder too. We spent more time down there and This time the Sharks were rewarded. hung onto more pucks.” “The good news is two of our last three games, we’re starting to see the If you have not already, we strongly encourage you to sign up for a digital signs of what we’re capable of being as a team,” DeBoer said, “and the subscription, which gives you access to all content on the Mercury News way we want to play.” and East Bay Times websites. With your support, we can continue bringing these stories — and much more — to your screens. Here’s San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.07.2019 where to sign up for the season pass: Mercury News, East Bay Times.

At least some of the Sharks’ success Tuesday had to do with the return of defenseman Radim Simek, who didn’t waste much time getting involved, greeting Blackhawks rookie forward Kirby Dach midway through the first period with a hard hit just inside the Sharks’ blue line.

Dach’s upper body smacked against the glass just inside the Sharks bench, bringing a rise out of the announced crowd of 16,087.

It was exactly the type of play that Simek had become known for when he suited up for the Sharks last season, stopping offensive plays cold with a simple, physical approach.

He didn’t go out of his way to blast Dach, just took the body when the opportunity presented itself to shut down a potential Blackhawks rush.

“I thought he was great tonight, and he makes a big difference,” DeBoer said of Simek. “It’s not something we don’t know, but when he was in our lineup last year, we were a different team.

“The luxury of not having to overplay guys. Their minutes are more where they need to be, which allows us to hop over the boards with energy and defend harder.”

Simek played his first NHL game since March 12, as he spent the last several months rehabbing from reconstructive surgery on his right knee. He took his familiar spot alongside , and finished with 20 minutes and 35 seconds of ice time — third most among all Sharks defensemen. Only Burns (25:54) and Erik Karlsson had more (20:57).

In his 20-plus minutes, Simek had a team-high five hits and four blocked shots. There was some rust, to be sure, but the Sharks have to be excited what Simek will be able to bring once he gets more into midseason form. 1160267 San Jose Sharks

Sharks need Timo Meier, rest of young core to get going offensively

By Chelena Goldman November 06, 2019 4:57 PM

When Timo Meier scored an empty-net goal in the Sharks' 4-2 win over Chicago on Tuesday at SAP Center, you could see the look of relief on his face.

The Swiss forward has not been immune to the scoring woes that plagued the Sharks through the first month of the 2019-20 season. Since Meier signed a four-year, $24 million contract this summer, the pressure on him to produce has been greater than ever.

Meier isn't alone. The Sharks put a lot of stock into their young talent this season, wanting players like Lean Bergmann, Dylan Gambrell and Noah Gregor to step up and take on larger roles. That transition hasn't been easy and San Jose collectively has struggled, placing more pressure on other young players like Meier, Kevin Labanc, and Tomas Hertl even greater.

But the Sharks are finally getting an idea of what their roster is capable of, following a win Tuesday that was partially fueled by the return of defenseman Radim Simek. San Jose has a chance to right the ship that is, without a doubt, a perfect set-up for Meier, Labanc and Hertl to get going.

"Timo and Banker and those guys, those are guys who we're expecting a lot out of," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said last week. "They've got to take a step here this year. Some of those guys played in support roles in the past and benefited from playing behind some key guys. Now they're the key guys and with that comes some pressure to produce. They aren't the only guys, but I think we're expecting a lot from those guys and we're trying to hold them to that."

The results have been mixed through 16 games.

Labanc kept scoring during the Sharks' losing skids, but some of his defensive mishaps have him toward the bottom of the NHL in plus-minus. Dylan Gambrell began to find his footing after a less-than-impressive training camp but is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury.

Even Hertl, who took a huge leap once he started centering San Jose's second line, only has scored five goals this season. And then there's Meier, who has three goals through the first 16 games of the season when he had 12 goals at the same point last season.

Suffice to say, this isn't the start the Sharks hoped for. Fortunately for San Jose, it isn't too late for this contingent to take the next step.

The Sharks got a visible boost on Tuesday night from Simek's return, and the nudge from the defense resulted in more offensive-zone time for San Jose. If that kind of elevated defensive play continues, it gives the offense an opportunity to create more scoring chances. Plus, DeBoer's newly-configured line combinations appear to have given the team an added jolt, as both Meier and Hertl showed a spark on a line together on Tuesday evening.

If the Sharks' offense uses Tuesday's win as a jumping-off point, San Jose could still turn around the season.

Granted, the Sharks won't play Chicago every night. San Jose has the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers coming up on the homestand, and each of those teams can challenge the Sharks in different ways.

If there was ever a time for the Sharks' young core to grow into bigger roles, it would be now.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160268 San Jose Sharks

How Sharks' Radim Simek made his presence felt in win vs. Blackhawks

By Chelena Goldman November 05, 2019 10:25 PM

When Radim Simek was sidelined last March with a torn ACL and MCL, the Sharks insisted that they would be able to maintain their status as a dominant team in the defenseman's absence.

But in his return to game action Tuesday night, nearly eight months later, it immediately became clear what a considerable impact the young blueliner has when he's in San Jose's lineup.

"He makes a big difference," head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters after Team Teal's 4-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. "When he was in our lineup last year we were a different team."

The Sharks' defense played a big role in Tuesday's win, keeping Chicago out of their zone and limiting their chances. San Jose played heavier and harder in Simek's return, as he tallied four blocks and tied for the team lead with five hits. His first-period hit on rookie center Kirby Dach not only epitomized the grit that San Jose's blue line has been missing, but showed that his physical play is already where it needs to be.

Simek clocked 20:37 minutes of ice time in his first game back, just 20 fewer seconds than Erik Karlsson. Karlsson and Brent Burns have been logging heavy minutes since the start of the season due to multiple injuries and replacements proving unable to pick up the slack. With a healthy Simek back in the mix, the two Norris Trophy winners now can play more manageable minutes.

"It allows us the luxury of not having to overplay guys," DeBoer said. "Their minutes are more where they need to be, which allows us to hop over the board with energy and defend harder. So it was nice to have [Simek] back."

That improved energy on the blue line was evident throughout the game, as the Sharks' retooled defensive pairs controlled a good portion of the contest. Simek looked right at home reunited with Burns, while Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic recreated some of the chemistry they established playing together last season. Even the Sharks' new all-lefty combo of Brenden Dillon and Mario Ferraro had a good night and set up a short-handed goal in the process.

Now, of course, the Sharks need to harness that energy and play with that same kind of heaviness on a nightly basis.

While Tuesday's win helped snap a five-game losing streak, San Jose's journey isn't going to get any easier. The Sharks' homestand continues this week against a Minnesota Wild team coming off a win over the Ducks, and against a Nashville Predators squad that is sure to test San Jose's physicality. If the Sharks want to turn one win into the start of a streak, their defense is going to have to keep rolling.

With Radim Simek back in the mix, they have a better chance of doing that.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160269 San Jose Sharks

Sharks takeaways: What we learned in San Jose's 4-2 win vs. Blackhawks

By Chelena Goldman November 05, 2019 9:55 PM

For the second time this season, the Sharks faced off against the Blackhawks looking to snap a losing streak. And for a second time, they were able to put a tally in the win column.

San Jose put a much better effort on the ice than it did in its previous contest, although things got pretty interesting right at the end. Nevertheless, the Sharks snapped a season-long five-game losing streak and defeated Chicago, 4-2.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday's game.

New lines, new mojo

Sharks coach Peter DeBoer threw the lines in a blender ahead of Tuesday's game in an effort to give the offense a boost. While the goals didn't come in droves, San Jose's offensive play definitely looked improved. Sure, the Blackhawks aren't very good, but the Sharks did a much better job of maintaining puck possession and keeping the visitors on their heels.

The top two lines looked especially good, with centers Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl establishing the tone of the game. But the third line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Marcus Sorensen also had several productive shifts -- not bad for a line with two 40-year-olds on it. The fourth line didn't get anything going, but with players out with injuries, that group could get an upgrade in the not-too-distant future.

Radim's return

Radim Simek looked a wee bit rusty on his first few shifts since tearing his ACL and MCL on March 12, but he cleaned things up pretty quickly and had a positive impact on San Jose's game. He even had a nice block late that prevented a possible goal for Chicago.

Simek's return beefed up the depth on San Jose's blue line. Marc- Edouard Vlasic and Erik Karlsson reunited with positive results, and Brenden Dillon and rookie Mario Ferraro combined to set up Evander Kane's short-handed goal in the second period.

One player might not change an entire team, but Simek's presence clearly gives San Jose a better chance of winning.

Just one more stop

One issue that plagued the Sharks throughout their losing streak was that Martin Jones wasn't making enough timely saves. It certainly doomed them last week when the Winnipeg Jets buried the game- winning goal with less than two minutes remaining in the contest.

On Tuesday, Jones was much better -- well, until when he allowed two goals in just over a minute late in regulation. while the Sharks managed to pull out the win, the goaltending still needs to improve.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160270 St Louis Blues are restricted free agents after this season; de la Rose is arbitration eligible, Fabbri is not.

Here comes Binnington Blues trade Fabbri to Detroit, obtain forward Jacob de la Rose Don’t look now, but Jordan Binnington is approaching the level of play that he achieved in the 2018-19 regular season, when he led the NHL in goals-against average (1.89) and finished tied for fourth in save By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch 4 min ago 0 percentage (.927).

Binnington had the night off Wednesday, but over his past seven starts this season he’s 6-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .933 save EDMONTON, Alberta — Robby Fabbri began the night in the press box percentage. at Rogers Place as a Blues healthy scratch for the fifth game in a row, and the eighth time in 17 games this season. He ended Wednesday night Bluenotes as a Detroit Red Wing. Not that Berube is the superstitious type — OK, actually he is. The fourth Blues general manager Doug Armstrong informed Fabbri he had been line of Mackenzie MacEachern-Ivan Barbashev-Oskar Sundqvist started traded to the Red Wings for forward Jacob de la Rose after the Blues’ 5- for the Blues for the sixth game in a row Wednesday. During the Blues’ 2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. winning streak, Berube has sent them out first each game.

Armstrong told the Post-Dispatch that Fabbri had requested a trade last • It’s on to Calgary as the Blues continue one of their longest trips of the summer. year. Thursday is a travel day, Friday a practice day and the game against the Flames doesn’t take place until Saturday. “I asked him to be patient, and then he and I talked before this last road trip and we said if things don’t change I’ll certainly look to see what I can St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 do,” Armstrong said. “Our team was playing good and he wasn’t getting on (the ice). So I tried to help him out and we were able to find a good situation with Detroit. It took a little while to get it done but I’m really happy for Robby because it gives him a great opportunity.”

At this stage of his career, Fabbri, 23, needs playing time. With the emergence of Sammy Blais in training camp and the preseason, and the work of Mackenzie MacEachern on the fourth line, there was little to no room for Fabbri in terms of playing time.

That became especially clear once Vladimir Tarasenko was lost for at least five months because of a shoulder surgery, and Fabbri still couldn’t crack the lineup.

“He missed like a half year, then a full year,” Armstrong said, referring to knee injuries that required surgery. “Then he came back (last season) and he played 30 games. He needs to play. He’s at that point. He’s done unbelievable work in his rehab. But our team’s been functioning well and (coach) Craig (Berube) goes with the group that’s had success. It’s difficult for people to get in there and he fell into that group. But I understand that.”

Fabbri appeared in nine games with the Blues this season, with one goal (scored Oct. 17 against Vancouver) and no assists. Averaging 9 minutes, 42 seconds of ice time per game, Fabbri was minus-4, second-worst on the team ahead of Justin Faulk’s minus-5.

“I’m a big Robby Fabbri fan and I told him that,” Armstrong said. “I really wish him well. We have a lot of players, so for Robby to get this opportunity it’s going to be very good. When he came here as a 19-year- old, we went to the (Stanley Cup) semifinals. Then we won the championship with him. So all my memories with Robby Fabbri are really positive and I wish him nothing but the best.”

Fabbri scored 18 goals as a rookie during the 2015-16 season and was on a similar pace the following season, with 11 goals and 18 assists through 51 games before suffering his initial knee injury. But the first- round draft pick in 2014 out of Mississauga, Ontario, never regained his productivity after a second knee surgery. He had two goals and four assists in 32 games last season.

“I wish him all the best,” Berube said. “He’s a great kid and a hard- working guy. You know, he fell upon some injuries and stuff around here.”

De la Rose, 24, originally was a second-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 2013. He has appeared in 16 games this season for Detroit with one goal and three assists, and was plus-3. The native of Arvika, Sweden, had his most productive year in 2017-18 with four goals and eight assists in 55 games for Montreal.

“He’s a big player, 6-foot-3, (215 pounds),” Armstrong said. “Good skater. We know what he is — he plays in that 10 through 13 part of your (forward) group. I like his size, his skating and I think he’s gonna fit into our group well.”

Salary cap-wise, it’s basically a push between the two forwards. Fabbri and de la Rose both count $900,000 against the cap this season. Both 1160271 St Louis Blues Allen, making only his fourth start of the season but his second in four days, played what was easily his best game of the season, stopping 32 of 34 shots and robbing McDavid and Alex Chiasson among others.

Blues soar to their sixth win in a row, move to 7-0-1 vs. Western foes “He had a really strong game,” Berube said. “They made a good push in the third, he made some big saves. . . . When you’re not playing and in a rhythm, it’s hard. But he’s battled and got wins the last two games.”

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch Allen said: “I felt like I’ve been getting better every game. And that’s sort of the goal at the start of the year. I felt a lot more comfortable. It was

good to get a lot of action, and obviously the win. Guys battled hard. It EDMONTON, Alberta — The Blues’ tour of the Pacific Division elite was a tough back-to-back.” continued Wednesday. Plus their tour of ice rinks named “Rogers.” But the Blues are now 3-0 in the second game of back-to-backs, After a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory at Rogers Arena on Tuesday over continuing a trend from recent seasons. Vancouver, which is second in the Pacific, the Blues took on Pacific- “I was impressed with our energy tonight, “ Berube said. “I thought we leading Edmonton at Rogers Place. had really good puck movement in the first period. We roll everybody and Different team, different venue. Same result. The Blues stretched their use everybody in our lineup, and I think that really has a lot to do with winning streak to six games with a 5-2 victory over the Oilers, who — (success in) back-to-back games. stop if you’ve heard this before — viewed the contest as a measuring “We’re fresh, or fresher than we could be, and I thought our guys played stick for their progress. smart.” For his part, coach Craig Berube did not view the back-to-back victories The Blues were so good throughout the night on the penalty kill Tuesday over two of the Best in the West as any kind of measuring stick in early in Vancouver. On Wednesday in Edmonton — not so good. At least that November. was the case at the outset. “It’s just another game,” Berube said. “We got a lot of games ahead of It’s never a good idea to put the Oilers’ potent power play to work, but us. Lot of hockey.” that’s what the Blues did just 1:55 into the contest when Robert Thomas St. Louis improved to 11-3-3, continuing to sit atop the Western was whistled for holding defenseman Brandon Manning. Conference. The Oilers felt to 10-5-2. Fifty-one seconds later, the great McDavid got behind the St. Louis It’s the longest winning streak for the Blues since their franchise-record defense and whistled one past Jake Allen through the 5-hole for his 11-game streak last January and February sent them on the way to the eighth goal of the season. We know what you’re thinking. Why would you playoffs and the Stanley Cup. So far this season the Blues still haven’t let McDavid get behind you, especially on the power play? loss in regulation to a Western Conference team — they are 7-0-1 But that’s what happened as both Blues defensemen on the ice at the against that half of the league. time — Pietrangelo and Justin Faulk — got caught puck-watching and On a night the Blues traded Robby Fabbri to Detroit, they lost veteran creeping away from the St. Louis net. forward and alternate captain Alexander Steen to a left leg injury On this night, it turned out not to be a fatal error. Steen had to be helped off the ice favoring the leg in the closing seconds St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 of the second period. The injury occurred during an incidental collision with the Oilers’ Alex Chiasson. It was the 727th Blues game for Steen, tying him with David Backes for fifth on the team’s career list.

As usual, Berube offered no details or prognosis on the injury, simply saying: “We’ll check him out tomorrow.”

The game was closer — much, much closer than the final score indicated. Power-play goals by Jaden Schwartz and Alex Pietrangelo, plus and even-strength score by Robert Thomas, staked St. Louis to a 3- 1 lead entering the third period.

The Blues seemed to be in total control and the crowd at Rogers (of Edmonton) was cathedral-quiet.

That all changed when Zach Kassian got one past Jake Allen, high and farside, with 8 minutes 58 seconds left to play, narrowing the Blues’ lead to 3-2. It would be yet another tight finish.

With 2:28 to play, Brayden Schenn was whistled for delay of game when his clearing attempt in his own zone sailed over the glass. That sent out Connor McDavid, who scored the game’s first goal, and Edmonton’s third-ranked power play.

The 5-on-4 became a 6-on-4 when Oilers goalie Mike Smith was pulled with about 2 minutes left. But the Blues got not one, but two empty-net goals in the final 59 seconds. The first came on an improbable diving clearing shot by Tyler Bozak.

Three-fourths of the way down the ice, it appeared to be heading well wide of the empty, but the bouncing puck took an impromptu turn to the right and went into the net, giving the Blues a 4-2 lead and a chance to exhale.

Talk about the bounces going your way. Bozak, who fancies himself as a good golfer, maintained he put some English on the puck, resulting in the change of direction.

“I’ve been working on that one in the summer every year,” Bozak joked.

Ivan Barbashev then added another empty-netter, with just 33 seconds left to play for his first goal of the season. 1160272 St Louis Blues St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019

Blues do it in regulation this time, beat Oilers 5-2

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Blues won their sixth game in a row, a 5-2 win over the Oilers in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday night but may have lost forward Alexander Steen in the process.

Steen left the ice late in the second period after colliding with Edmonton's Alex Chiasson during a penalty kill and was helped to the dressing room putting no weight on his left leg. He did not return for the third period and coach Craig Berube said there was no update and he'll be re-evaluated on Thursday, which is a scheduled off day for the team.

After the game, the Blues announced that they had traded wing Robby Fabbri to Detroit for wing Jacob de la Rose.

The game was closer than the score indicated. The Blues scored two empty-net goals, one by Tyler Bozak and one by Ivan Barbashev, in the final minute to make it look like more than the one-goal game it was. Edmonton had a power-play with 2:28 to go after a delay-of-game penalty on Brayden Schenn, and then pulled goalie Mike Smith for a two- man advantage. But with 59 seconds to play, Bozak threw the puck down the ice on a clearance that was going wide but then made a turn to the right and went into the net. Twenty-six seconds later, with the net still empty and Schenn still in the box, Barbashev got his first goal of the season.

"He put some English on it," Berube said of the Bozak goal. "He's a good golfer so it could have been a little bit of a golf shot."

The win ended a string of three straight overtime wins for the Blues and five straight one-goal games. The Blues have won eight of their past nine games.

Alex Pietrangelo was originally credited with a goal in the first period, but on further review, it was given to Schwartz, who tipped the shot in front of the net.

But in the second period, on the Blues' second power play of the night, Pietrangelo took a sweet backhand pass from Ryan O'Reilly from along the boards into the high slot, and he drilled it past Mike Smith. It's the sixth goal of the season for Pietrangelo, who is third on the team in goals behind Brayden Schenn and David Perron.

It's the fourth time in the past eight games the Blues have had multiple power-play goals in one game. In the other four games, they don't have a power-play goal.

Later in the period, Robert Thomas, whose problem of late has been a hesitancy to take shots, took one and beat Smith at the far post to take the lead to two goals. It's the first time the Blues have had a two-goal lead since the Detroit game, which started their current five-game win streak.

Edmonton cut the lead to 3-2 on a goal by Zack Kassian with 8:58 to play, and after that, the pressure was higher on the Blues and goalie Jake Allen, who faced 15 shots in the third and stopped 32 of 34 shots in the game.

"He had a really strong game," Berube said. "They made a push in the third, he made some good saves. He was really solid. He just hasn't played a whole lot to be honest with you. When you're not playing and in a rhythm, it's hard. He's got wins the past two games."

Schwartz got the first goal for the Blues, his second in as many games, just 18 seconds into a power play after Tomas Jurco was called for tripping. Pietrangelo took a shot from outside that hit Schwartz on the way in. Perron also assisted on the play. It was the third goal for the season and the first time he had goals in back-to-back games since the end of the 17-18 season.

That goal evened the score and came 3:16 after Edmonton had taken a 1-0 lead on a goal by Connor McDavid. It was the eighth goal of the season for McDavid, whose shot from outside may have caught Jake Allen by surprise. Leon Draisaitl and goalie Smith had assists on the goal. Thomas was in the box for holding. 1160273 St Louis Blues

Blues trade Fabbri to Detroit for de la Rose

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Blues traded Robby Fabbri, a once-promising forward whose career was derailed by two knee surgeries, to Detroit for Jacob de la Rose, a 24-year-old Swedish left wing.

Fabbri was a healthy scratch for the eighth straight game on Wednesday and had played just once since Oct. 19.

"Wish him all the best," coach Craig Berube said. "A great kid, hard- working guy. He fell on some injuries. Wish him all the best. A real good guy."

De la Rose has one goal and three assists in 16 games for the Red Wings. He was a second-round pick of Montreal in 2013. In a six-season NHL career, he has 12 goals and 20 assists in 195 games. Detroit claimed him on waivers from Montreal on Oct. 17, 2018. He's never had more than four goals in an NHL season.

"He's a big center, winger, Swedish player," Berube said. "Smart hockey player, good skater. We'll see when he gets here, take a look at him, see where he fits in."

He may fit in pretty soon. With Alexander Steen hurting his left leg and leaving Wednesday's game with Edmonton, the Blues may have a spot for a forward open and Fabbri had been the team's only extra forward. The team does have an open roster spot to call someone up from San Antonio.

Fabbri had one goal in nine games for the Blues this season.

Berube, asked several days ago about Fabbri being scratched, said, "I just didn’t see enough I guess in the last game and went with a different guy. Blais is ready to go. He’s played well this year. He felt good and he was ready to go. And I like Mackenzie MacEachern and what he gives us. He goes out and forechecks hard. He skates. He gets on top of people. He’s an aggressive player and I’ve liked his game. So I kept him in there."

"I think those few games before I got scratched were kind of my best ones," Fabbri said at the time. "I felt fast, I felt good. I got on the scoresheet, which was nice. I'm just doing what I can control and that's how I play out there, playing my game and I've got no say over the rest."

Fabbri was the Blues' first-round pick in 2014, taken with the 21st pick overall. He made the club in 2015-16 rather than being sent back to juniors, and had 18 goals and 19 assists that season in a season that started when he was 19. But in the next season, he hurt his knee and missed final 31 games of the season. He had 11 goals and 18 assists at the time.

He was on the ice and ready to play at the start of the 17-18 season, but after one preseason game, he needed another knee operation and missed that entire season. He returned midseason but then lost time again with a shoulder injury. He played in 32 games last season, with two goals and four assists.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160274 St Louis Blues Dunn-Faulk Goalie

Allen Blues' penalty kill unit helped bail them out against Canucks EDMONTON PROJECTED LINEUP

(Per Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com) By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch Forwards

Draisaitl-McDavid-Gagner EDMONTON, Alberta — The Blues were playing with fire Tuesday in Vancouver, going on the penalty kill four times against the league’s ninth- Neal-Nugent-Hopkins-Kassian ranked power play. But they didn’t get burned, killing all four penalties en route to their thrilling 2-1 overtime triumph Jurco-Haas-Chiasson

“We’ve given up a few (power play goals) lately so we really wanted to Khaira-Cave-P. Russell bear down on that,” said Tyler Bozak, who logged 3 minutes 7 seconds Defensemen on the PK. “Again that starts with Binner (Jordan Binnington). Your goalie’s always your best PK guy. And he did a heck of a job again for Nurse-Bear us.” Klefbom-K. Russell Vancouver had six shots on goal on the four power plays, but no goals. Manning-Benning “PK’s been solid,” Binnington said. “The defensemen have been blocking shots and getting pucks out, so we’re gonna keep building on that. Stay Goalie humble, keep working hard, and keep moving forward.” Smith

The Blues, who rank 16th on the penalty kill (81.6 percent) had given up BLUE NOTES a power play goal in four of their last five games prior to Vancouver. • With tonight’s game against the Oilers being the second game of a “Our guys did a good job killing (against Vancouver),” coach Craig back-to-back, goalie Jake Allen is expected to make his fourth start of the Berube said. “For the most part, we did a good job with the seams. They season. like the seam plays, they got one-timers on each side with (Elias) Pettersson and (Brock) Boeser, but I thought we did a good job there. • The Blues already have had seven games this season go to an Had a couple good blocks, and our goalie made some good saves.” overtime or shootout. They didn’t reach their seventh such game last season until Jan. 15, a 2-1 OT loss in Brooklyn to the New York They'll need more of the same in tonight's 7:30 p.m. contest against Islanders. Edmonton, which ranks third in the NHL on the power play (26.7%). • The Blues were under 50 percent in faceoff wins for the third game in a STREAKING row, winning only 46 percent (24 of 52) against Vancouver.

The Blues take a five-game winning streak into tonight’s contest with St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.07.2019 Edmonton. The last time they won at least five in a row? You may remember. It was that franchise-record 11-game streak that began with a 5-1 victory Jan. 23 in Anaheim and concluded with a 3-2 overtime win over Toronto on Feb. 19.

LAST SEASON vs. OILERS

The Blues won two of three games against Edmonton in 2018-19, splitting two games in St. Louis and winning 4-1 on Dec. 18 in their only appearance in Edmonton.

Pat Maroon scored the game-winning goal against the Oilers, his former team, in that 4-1 contest. He’s now a former Blue, too. Also noteworthy in that game, Vladimir Tarasenko ended a seven-game goal drought, and the Blues were whistled for their 10th penalty of the season for too many men on the ice.

In St. Louis, the Blues won 7-2 on March 19 as they were bearing down on a playoff berth. Jaden Schwartz had his fourth career hat trick. David Perron (two goals, one assist), extended his points streak to 16 games.

Everything was different on Dec. 5 in St. Louis, when the Oilers claimed a 3-2 shootout victory on a Connor McDavid shootout winner. The Blues squandered a 2-0 lead in that one, falling to 1-5-4 in one-goal games. Berube, in his third week as interim coach, said after the game: “We’re a fragile group.”

BLUES’ PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Schwartz-Schenn-Thomas

Sanford-O’Reilly-Perron

Steen-Bozak-Blais

MacEachern-Barbashev-Sundqvist

Defensemen

Gunnarsson-Pietrangelo

Bouwmeester-Parayko 1160275 St Louis Blues The first period was scoreless but Vancouver had two great chances. Early on Pettersson turned Brock Boeser’s pass into a breakaway that was stopped by Binnington. Later on, J.T. Miller found himself alone in front but couldn’t beat the Blues goalie. Schwartz finishes 3-on-0 to lift Blues over Canucks in OT Pettersson had another chance in the second. He used his speed to distance himself from a pair of Blues chasing him and ripped a shot that Binnington got a piece of. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NOVEMBER 06, 2019 02:13 AM “Binner was good, made some nice saves for sure,” Blues coach Craig

Berube said. “We did a lot of good things offensively, too. As the puck slid up the ice with only St. Louis players in pursuit, Jaden “They are a good hockey team. It was a good game all around.” Schwartz found himself in the middle of a situation he’d never experienced before. NOTES: Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester played in his 1,200th career game. . Vancouver’s win over San Jose on Saturday gave the He certainly made the most of it. Canucks 20 points in 14 or fewer games for the fourth time in franchise Schwartz scored on a 3-on-0 break at 3:28 of overtime to give the Blues history. . The Canucks scored 45 goals in October, the third-best total for a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night. the month in franchise history. . Referee Ian Walsh was helped off the ice at 3:25 of the first period but was back on to start the second. “I am not even sure what happened,” Schwartz said after netting his second goal of the season. “I was a little surprised.” UP NEXT

With the teams playing 3-on-3, Vancouver’s Tyler Myers fired a shot that Blues: At the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. missed wide of the St. Louis net. A pair of Canucks collided in the corner, Canucks: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. and the puck went nearly the length of the ice with three Blues chasing. Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 11.07.2019 Schwartz finished off a tic-tac-toe play alongside Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden Schenn.

“You don’t really get a lot of 3-on-0 practices,” Schwartz said. “You don’t want to miss when you have that much time. I knew the goalie didn’t know what to do because there was so many of us. I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Hung out to dry, Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom smashed his stick in anger after Schwartz scored.

“Sometimes it can be frustrating when you’re playing well and you’re doing the right things and you don’t get rewarded,” Markstrom said.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who are 7-1-0 in their past eight games. All five wins in a row have been by one goal — four in overtime, including the last three.

Vancouver rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes tied the game at 1 with 3:35 remaining in the third period. After missing a game with a bruised knee, Hughes sent a fluttering shot from the blue line that went over the shoulder of Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington for his second NHL goal. Elias Pettersson was screening on the play.

Tyler Bozak scored his first goal of the season for the Blues. Binnington made 33 saves and is 6-1-0 in his last seven games.

Bozak said the Blues gained valuable experience during their championship run, which has benefited them in this string of overtime wins.

“Last year kind of helped us in moments like that to not panic and just stick with it and try and play our game,” he said. “That’s what we’ve done and luckily we’ve been on the winning end of them.”

Markstrom stopped 25 shots for the Canucks, who are 7-1-3 in the last 11 and have not lost in regulation at home this season.

The game had the feel of a playoff matchup. There were end-to-end rushes and big hits thrown by each team.

“That was a big-boy game,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said. “That’s a heavy team. They know how to win.

“I thought that game was probably the most physical game we’ve been in this season. I thought our team handled it very well.”

Vancouver had a chance to tie it earlier in the third when David Perron was called for cross-checking defenseman Chris Tanev at 5:44. The Canucks managed just one shot on the power play and finished 0 for 4 with the man advantage, mustering only six shots.

Jake Virtanen also came close in the third when he rang a shot off the post at 7:51. Brandon Sutter had a short-handed breakaway at 10:45 but couldn’t beat Binnington.

Bozak’s goal came at 3:37 of the second. Sammy Blais made a nice play in the corner, feathering a puck between two Canucks defenders to Bozak, who tucked it past Markstrom. 1160276 St Louis Blues “My heart was here. I’m a big team guy, and I’ve always been here for the boys. The guys were always great, so I was never a guy that wanted to mope around the rink or anything like that. This was my job, and whether I was playing or not, I was working on things.” Robby Fabbri hoped for more opportunity, but holds no hard feelings after Blues deal him to Detroit It’s tough to say, Fabbri said, when he saw the writing on the wall that led to Wednesday’s trade. That’s because when players asked to be moved, it’s no guarantee that Armstrong will be able to find a partner. In the case of former Blue Dmitrij Jaskin, he told the GM that he wanted out, but with By Jeremy Rutherford Nov 7, 2019 no deal available, the winger was placed on waivers months later and claimed by the Washington Capitals.

On the outside, Robby Fabbri was still the slick-haired, fashionably “It was kind of looking like that was an option,” Fabbri said. “I kind of kept dressed guy with the bright-white smile. On the inside, the 23-year-old that at the back of my mind, the mindset of controlling what I can control. Blue was frustrated. That was what I was doing at the rink every day and letting everything else fall into place.” After scoring his first goal of the season Oct. 17 against Vancouver, Fabbri was a healthy scratch two games later. Sitting at his locker stall, When it finally did, Fabbri said that he couldn’t focus on what might have he felt that his game was gradually growing, and it was hard to rationalize been if not for two knee surgeries less than six months apart, and the looking on from the press box again. long road to recovery. He broke into the NHL in 2015-16 and netted 18 goals and 37 points in 72, along with four goals and 15 points in 20 This is the player who told The Athletic in training camp that he was ‘tired playoff games that season, but never came close to being that player of watching.’ again.

“I just work here,” Fabbri said after being scratched against Colorado on “When I was going through those surgeries and rehabs, it was tough,” he Oct. 21. said. “But you can’t change the past, so I don’t really dwell on those things. That’s life, things happen. You get adversity and it’s about the He would play just one of the Blues’ next nine games, making you character you have to get yourself through it. That’s what drove my wonder if a trade was the way the story of the 2014 first-round pick, who determination and motivation to get back to where I was.” overcame back-to-back torn ACLs in the same knee, was going to end in St. Louis. There had been speculation that he had asked the club to Now even more motivated, Fabbri says don’t close the book on him yet. move him, and when he didn’t dress on the second night of back-to-back games in Edmonton Wednesday, it seemed inevitable. “I’m excited to get (to Detroit) and give them everything I’ve got right away,” he said. “I’m not going to let this opportunity slip away. There’s Then just moments after the Blues’ 5-2 win over Oilers, Fabbri learned still lots of the book that has to be written and this is just a new chapter. from general manager Doug Armstrong he doesn’t work here any longer. I’m excited to get there and meet all the guys and get things going with He was dealt to Detroit in exchange for Red Wings forward Jacob De La them. I’m excited to use this fresh start to do that.” Rosa, who was a second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2013. Like his close friend Joel Edmundson, Fabbri has now won a Stanley “He just told me that I got traded and we just had a little chat and that Cup with the Blues and been shipped out of town within months. was about it,” said Fabbri, who was speaking from his hotel in Edmonton Edmundson went to Carolina in a late September trade for defenseman before his flight to Detroit on Thursday morning. “I’ve got nothing but Justin Faulk. Late Wednesday night, Fabbri had yet to speak with respect for ‘Army’ and the organization, bringing me in when I was 18 Edmundson since his trade, but planned to do so. and making me feel at home, and giving me the chance to win the Stanley Cup with a great group. Everything he said meant a lot and it “I’ve been busy responding to text messages and talking to my family,” was nice to hear those things on my way out.” Fabbri said. “I’ve talked to him quite a bit since he left, and I’ll have some time at the airport (Thursday) to get the rest of the texts out and stuff like TRADE ALERT! #STLBLUES ACQUIRE JACOB DE LA ROSE IN A that.” TRADE WITH THE DETROIT RED WINGS. The Blues might be able to move them, but the club can’t take away the DETAILS: HTTPS://T.CO/UAJ9JGK3EF championship they won together with their teammates. PIC.TWITTER.COM/LHERDCXMRH “Exactly,” Fabbri said. “Like I said, nothing but respect for the — ST. LOUIS BLUES (@STLOUISBLUES) NOVEMBER 7, 2019 organization. I had a lot of fun, winning a Stanley Cup, going to the conference finals my first year in the league. It’s a hard place to get and Fabbri was asked point-blank if he had requested a trade from the Blues we did it right away. These guys here will be my friends forever. You and responded: “I don’t think I want to talk about that. That’s kind of always hear about how close this team is, and it’s true. I’m happy to be private stuff, if you don’t mind.” connected to this organization with the Stanley Cup.” The request likely goes back to last summer, but Fabbri didn’t let on in Blues coach Craig Berube was asked about Fabbri’s departure after the preseason when he came to camp with the mindset that a spot on the Wednesday’s game. Blues’ top two lines was his to lose. He was in the opening-night lineup, and played the first six games, but had no points and was a minus-4. His “We wish him all the best,” Berube told reporters. “He’s a great kid. He’s goal came in 6:01 of ice time in the seventh game of the season, but he a hard-working guy, and he fell on some injuries and stuff around here. soon found himself a healthy scratch. We wish him all the best. He’s a really good guy.”

“I was happy with how I was playing and I thought my game was coming The Blues are getting De La Rose in return from Detroit. The 24-year-old back,” Fabbri said. “I just didn’t get the opportunity I was hoping for to is a 6-foot-3, 216-pound forward who is a left shot and can play wing or help push myself to get back to where I was. If you ask any player, they center. The Swede, who was placed on waivers by the Canadiens and would love to get more opportunity or whatnot. But this team did great picked up by the Red Wings on waivers in 2018, has 12 goals and 32 things last year, and there’s guys that did fantastic things to get them to points in 195 NHL games. He had one goal and four points in 16 games where they were. There’s nothing I can do about that. It’s the way the this season and was a healthy scratch against New York on Wednesday business goes, and I totally understand that. I just tried to do my best to in anticipation of the trade. work through that. It didn’t happen, and it’s just the way the game goes.” “He’s a big center, winger, Swedish guy,” Berube said. “Smart hockey Fabbri tried to keep this frustration private. Like when he was player, good skater. We’ll see when he gets here. We’ll take a look at him approached by reporters recently and politely replied that he didn’t wish and see where he fits in.” to talk that day. Both Fabbri and De La Rose have salary-cap hits of $900,000 this “It’s never fun watching,” Fabbri said. “But all I did was put my head down seasonm and each is expected to become a restricted free agent this and work, and know that I was going to get an opportunity here or summer. somewhere else. That’s a big part of the game, being mentally strong, and I learned that the hard way pretty quick with those injuries. It was The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 frustrating, but there’s lots of guys that go through these things. 1160277 St Louis Blues 1.87 for, 1.44 against and a positive differential (+0.432 per 60 mins, 5v5). So this group is a keeper moving forward as well.

For the moment, that leaves us with: Replacing Tarasenko: An updated look at the Blues’ best line Sanford-Bozak-Thomas combinations with Vladi out Perron-ROR-Steen

To construct the other two forward combinations, we’ll have to create By Sean Tierney Nov 6, 2019 new combos. Splitting up Schenn and Schwartz will allow this lineup to spread out a couple of its best players, giving the Blues the best possible chance to drive play. The loss of forward Vladimir Tarasenko on Oct. 24 was a gut-punch for a Blues team that, despite a hot start in the standings, has certain To determine who goes where, we’ll turn to individual xG rates to see questions about their underlying performance. how the forwards have performed so far this year.

With Tarasenko expected to be out for close to five months, head coach As I noted last week, there have been concerns about the Blues’ 5-on-5 Craig Berube and his coaching staff have been tinkering with their line performance this year, and that is reflected in this chart. Every forward in combinations, seeking out forward trios that can compete in the absence this, including Tarasenko before his injury, has posted “dull” or “bad” of their premier scoring star. results. Above-average shooting and save percentages have helped to cover up some concerns regarding the team’s even-strength play. There’s no replacing Tarasenko, but as we know, Berube’s Blues have conquered daunting challenges in the past. But we know the best idea, based on Novet and Sprigings’ research, is to spread out the best players and insert complementary players around Here we’ll dig into the performance of the Blues’ line combinations so far them. this season, evaluating the options that have been used, examining some options that have yet to be tried and designing the best forward Using the rates of expected goals for and against here, we can project combos that analytics can build out. the following trios as the best combos:

Let’s get started … Schwartz-Oskar Sundqvist-Robby Fabbri

Spread the wealth Sammy Blais-Schenn-MacKenzie MacEachern

Before we dig in too far, there are a few pieces of research that are Here we achieve the goal of splitting Schenn and Schwartz to maximize important to bring into the picture and guide the roster construction. their impact across the lineup. Sundqvist (-0.84 xG per 60) and MacEachern (-0.24 xG per 60) have posted two of the worst expected In 2017, Alex Novet produced an article that described hockey as a goal differentials among the Blues’ forwards, so they’re split up as well to “strong links” game. It’s a great read. The basic premise is that the teams avoid creating a line that is likely to be caved in by the opposition. That that win the most games are teams that have the best player on the ice leaves Fabbri (-0.2 xG/60) and Blais, who has posted a surprising 5 most often. While that might sound a little obvious — the team with the goals and 7 points through 13 games but owns an expected goal best players wins! — the idea is a little more nuanced than that. differential of -0.39 per 60 minutes of 5v5 play. These two get split up as well. Hockey teams are at their best when they have the best player on the ice most often, which means that a coach is best off spreading his top All told, we wind up with an optimal Blues forward lineup that looks like players throughout the lineup rather than loading up a line with the this: team’s best players. For the Blues, this means looking to separate the likes of Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz and Ryan O’Reilly, rather than First, the “line” designations could be swapped around a little and should simply placing them on the same line. not be seen as a sticking point. The idea in the post-Tarasenko forward group is to spread out talent to give the Blues the best chance at being This idea was backed up in a presentation by Dawson Sprigings, now a competitive throughout each game. Accordingly, the recommended 5v5 hockey operations analyst with the Colorado Avalanche. Again, the idea ice time breakdown is very similar, line by line. I’ve given the first line 28 is that an elite player can carry a line all on their own and that a team is percent of the 48 minutes or so of even-strength play in the average NHL best off spreading their talent across the lines so that they have the best game. The second line gets 26 percent, the third receives 24 percent and player possible on the ice as often as possible. the fourth line receives 22 percent of the available 5-on-5 ice time. With talented players in each trio, Berube could roll four lines in this scenario This sets the backdrop as we look to build the ideal Blues lineup combos and trust that each group could be competitive. in the wake of Tarasenko’s injuries. With this setup, the Perron-ROR-Steen line would be expected to How should Berube deploy his forwards in a way that spreads out the produce a positive goal differential at even strength, which is a good talent yet remains practical given the current forwards on the roster and start. The Schwartz-Sundqvist-Fabbri and Blais-Schenn-MacEachern their preferred positions)? lines are relatively untested trios. Based on their individual results, we First let’s look at what Berube has done so far. We’ll again use the good, can project that these two groups might surrender slightly negative xG bad, fun and dull designations I described in last week’s column. differentials, but Schwartz and Schenn could ultimately prove capable of guiding these groups to better results. The Sanford-Bozak-Thomas line Before his injury, Tarasenko had spent almost all of his 5-on-5 time with has been very good in their limited time together already. I’d expect their Schwartz and Schenn. This trio managed 2.1 expected goals for per 60 very positive xG share to regress with more TOI sample, but as a “fourth minutes and 1.79 expected goals against, which was good for a positive line,” this group might also benefit from positive matchups as opponents expected difference of 0.43 expected goals. Their rates landed their logo struggle to cover each of the ROR, Schwartz and Schenn lines. in “dull” because both their rate of expected goals for and against fell below league average for both measures. So far this season, the Blues’ current roster has produced a negative share of expected goals, posting a league-low 1.84 xG per game and Unfortunately, Tarasenko’s injury happened early in the season, which allowing 2.26 xG against. means we’ll have to use some small time-on-ice (TOI) samples to come up with alternatives. The new forward group proposed here, deployed in this way, projects to produce a positive xG differential of 0.57, creating about 2.59 xG per In very short runs, veteran center Tyler Bozak, who scored his first goal game (a big improvement) and allowing about 1.96 xG against. Theory of the season in Tuesday’s win, has helped to drive positive results with rarely translates into practice so neatly, so a grain of salt is required, but several different groups. Most notably, the Bozak-Robert Thomas-Zach these positive indicators lend some optimism to the idea of spreading out Sanford trio posted great expected goal rates together. Again, we’re not the talent with the forwards group while the Blues hunt for internal working with big samples here, but in a post-Tarasenko world, we’ll have strategies to compensate for the loss of Tarasenko. to work with what we have. A final note: Young forward Ivan Barbashev is notably absent here. David Perron, Ryan O’Reilly and Alex Steen showed the ability to play Despite 14 goals and 26 points last season and his potential to develop quiet and responsible minutes together, too. They’ve posted xG rates of into a contributing member of the team, he has posted a rate of 1.8 expected goals for and 2.56 expected goals against so far this year. That -0.76 expected goals differential makes him a candidate to be the lineup’s 13th forward, switching in and out of the lineup with MacEachern or Blais over the course of the season without altering that line combo’s projections in a major way.

Ultimately, you cannot replace a player of Vladimir Tarasenko’s ability. The talented Russian winger was looking to post his sixth straight season with 33 goals or more. Elite goal scorers of his ilk are rare.

Instead, the Blues need to get creative to cover for Tarasenko while he recovers from injury. By giving O’Reilly, Schwartz and Schenn their own lines, trusting the Bozak-Thomas tandem to build on their early success and spreading out the 5v5 minutes equitably, Coach Berube could improve the performance of his team going forward.

With Tarasenko out of the fold for five months, a glimmer of hope like this offers a lot of appeal.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160278 Tampa Bay Lightning trip. It’s not nearly quid pro quo, but the Lightning can expect positives from earning recognition as a good partner.

The Lightning are a very different team since the Prague trip in 2008. Why are the Lightning in Sweden? Only forward Steven Stamkos and some of the support staff carry over from then. But this version of the organization does have similar Hint: It’s about more than meatballs, candy and the ABBA museum experiences.

Tampa Bay sent its AHL affiliate to Lyon, France for training camp in 2014 and 2015. BriseBois, who was the Crunch general manager at the By Diana C. Nearhos time, pushed to make the trips.

“We were doing player development at that level, but it’s also human STOCKHOLM — Opportunities like the Lightning’s trip to Sweden don’t development,” he said. “They’re young guys, just coming into adulthood. I come around often. always thought it was very valuable for us to go.”

They’re wandering Stockholm’s Old Town, taking in architecture. They’re There is a trade-off. The trip has an effect on the rest of a team’s checking out a museum housed in a re-constructed Viking ship. They’re schedule. When you have an 11-day span with only two games, the piper eating meatballs and candy, the latter being their resident Swede Victor has to be paid somewhere (like seven games in a 12-day stretch to start Hedman’s favorite. December).

They’re enjoying Stockholm to its fullest. But why are they even there? The Lightning look at the big picture. They expect the trip to enhance the life experiences for the 23 players, the 20 people in hockey operations In the most direct sense, the Lightning are in Sweden because they were and for the much larger group of staff and even fans in Stockholm this asked by the NHL to participate in this year’s Global Series with two year. games against Buffalo. The bigger answer has to do with both team and league marketing, plus a life experience for everyone on the trip. “Usually when you broaden your horizon, and you open yourself up to the world, especially people in our position, you get to be grateful for what we “This is a life experience,” coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s a privilege to have,” BriseBois said. “I think that makes us better people.” play in this league, but you don’t really leave the continent to play. Having been around Anton Strålman and Victor Hedman, guys from the Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 11.07.2019 country who you love, to see a little bit of their culture. This will be a great experience.”

The NHL’s history of overseas games goes back to 1938 when Detroit and Montreal went on a European tour with nine games across three cities in England and France.

In the more recent past, the league started its season in Europe 2007-11. The Lightning went to Berlin, Slovakia and Prague in 2008. The Global Series started in 2017 with a mix of preseason, season opener and regular-season games.

The Lightning were asked to participate this season because of Victor Hedman. But this wasn’t their first opportunity.

“We had been approached in the past and we didn’t think our team was ready for that,” general manager Julien BriseBois said. “Now, we thought this was good timing for us to go.”

When they said no, the Lightning looked to the future and wanting to make the trip with a more veteran team. They are down one Swede since then, having not re-signed Strålman this summer, but now they have a more established group.

The Lightning devote considerable resources to building their brand on the local, national and international levels. Team owner Jeff Vinik recently pointed to that expansion, seeing Lightning gear across the country, as one of the organization’s successes.

“We’ve had a long interest in playing in Europe,” team CEO Steve Griggs said. “If you look at how we’ve tried to elevate our brand, on a national and international level. We hosted the All-Star Game in 2018 and now the Global Series.”

Not all of those efforts have been as grandiose as the league’s marquee events. Smaller elements such as hosting the league’s playoff kickoff, including a concert by Cage the Elephant, contribute to building the brand.

The Lightning also recognize the Distant Thunder, as they call their far- flung fans at games. Last year, they brought Italian fan Fabio Sorini to Tampa for his first live NHL game.

The team also holds an interest in building the league’s brand, which serves as the primary purpose of the Global Series. The NHL’s teams benefit through increasing revenue streams such as European television rights.

“Part of it is us being really good partners,” Griggs said. “We’re able to build the brand of the NHL and hockey, to then do other things.”

Vinik’s interest in an outdoor game is well-documented, but the organization might also ask for other benefits in exchange for making the 1160279 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning employees make the trip to Sweden as fans

Several building employees joined a team-sponsored fan charter to Stockholm

By Diana C. Nearhos

STOCKHOLM — Carmen Varga has been to just about every Lightning home game for the last four years, but she had to travel to Sweden to see them play.

Varga works security at Amalie Arena. More specifically, she works the dressing room door. So she’s always there, but the best she can do is glance at the small TV Fox Sports Sun sets up in the hallway.

“This is my third season working with them at the locker room and I kind of feel like I’m part of the team,” she said. “They all have their little rituals they do and some of them, I’m part of theirs.”

Brayden Point taps her on the way out the door every time. Most players fist bump her on the way out, some also have to do it on the way back in.

When the Global Series was first announced, Varga wasn’t very interested. Stockholm sounded cool but it was never on her list of cities to see. Her son Kiel, who first got her into the Lightning, pointed out she probably wouldn’t get another chance, so she figured why not.

“Then the excitement built,” she said last month. “I’ve been packed for weeks.”

The Lightning worked with ByTown Travel to plan a charter of 120 fans to Stockholm. Varga was one of about eight in the building to buy their way onto the trip. Two others won tickets in a quarterly drawing.

Ivan Crawford has tremendous luck. He’s won something at every quarterly drawing: concert tickets, jerseys and other things. He swears he hasn’t fixed the drawings; HR takes care of the entries. This was his best win, though. Crawford, who is a supervisor in the maintenance department, has never been to Sweden.

“This is great,” he said. “I’m with the team. Things like this don’t happen.”

Crawford wants to see the museums and sights of Sweden, particularly the Ice Bar, but he’s most looking forward to the games.

Tyree Boone, an engineer in the building, is also looking forward to the Ice Bar and some of the other nightlife Stockholm is known for. He has also won a couple drawings (tickets to a Capitals game and an Xbox), but doesn’t have nearly Crawford’s luck.

“I’m grateful,” he said. “A trip out of the country, can’t beat that.”

Despite having lived in Toronto and Vancouver, Varga she didn’t get into hockey until the Lightning. Kiel and another son Jozef camped out for free tickets during the 2004 Stanley Cup run and brought her to playoff games. She’s been hooked ever since.

Varga has worked in the building for four years. She got bored after retiring from the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office in 2015 and applied for a job in security. She was stationed elsewhere in the building at first, but has worked the dressing room for three years.

Varga joined the trip solo. She offered to pay Kiel’s way but he was unable to get the time off from his job in the Sheriff’s Office. This is her first of a couple major solo trips.

After returning to the Sheriff’s Office temporarily as a school deputy while the school board hired permanent staff, she saved all of her earnings in a separate account for travel. After Sweden, Varga had planned an African safari hopes to go to Australia.

But first, she just wants to watch the Lightning play.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160280 Tampa Bay Lightning “NHL should be seen in America and Canada,” Tomas said. “If we cannot do it their way, we will not.”

Many other fans feel differently. Tickets for the Lightning-Sabres games Swedish hockey experience is a different world sold out in a matter of days, fueled by Swedes’ chance to see seven of their countrymen play, headlined by Hedman and Buffalo defenseman The NHL is growing in Sweden, but mostly to follow the Swedish players. Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft. Hometown teams still reign supreme. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman greets a fan in Stockholm during a meet and greet this week. Hedman remains a popular figure in Sweden, his native land, but fans also gravitated toward other Lightning players By Diana C. Nearhos this week. [Kinsey Janke | Tampa Bay Lightning]

Satellite and pay television brand Viasat Sweden has played a big role in STOCKHOLM — As Djurgarden took to the ice at the start of each game increasing the NHL’s popularity in the country. It broadcasts most games, at its home rink in Stockholm during last year’s Swedish league and the NHL now has a European game of the week, with at least one championship series, the entire arena broke out in song. weekend game airing in Swedish prime time.

Sjung för gamla Djurgår´n nu/sjung av hjärtat sjung! “You can see every game now, and that wasn’t the case 10 years ago,” Ekeliw said. “I think it’s about a million people watching (the prime-time Sing to old Djurgårn now/sing of the heart sing! broadcasts), and that’s pretty big in Sweden, a country of about 9 million people.” For a less hyped game, the entire arena may not be signing, but there’s always at least a core group of a few hundred to a thousand fans, There is something of a generational split in Swedish NHL fandom. rounding the corner at the end where Djurgarden shoots twice, leading Younger fans have grown up with more access to the league, not only the songs. through TV broadcasts but highlights online. Ekeliw said interest in the NHL could outpace that in the Swedish league in another decade or two. The atmosphere at a Swedish game isn’t comparable to one at an NHL game. The best comparison might be an SEC football game, but even For now, Swedish NHL fans mostly follow their favorite players. Detroit is that isn’t quite right. one of the most popular teams because for a while it had the most and best Swedish players. It doesn’t have as many as it used to, but people “(At an NHL game), you eat, you talk, you watch a little bit, and then you are used to following the Red Wings. get a beer, you come back,” said Jonathan Ekeliw, a Swedish journalist who co-hosts an NHL podcast. “(In Sweden), you have whole sections The Lightning are a more recent addition to the Swedish landscape. where people stand up and they have cheers. It can be a thousand Freddy Modin, with the Lightning from 1996-2006, didn’t tip the scales in people, and everyone knows the chants.” the era of Peter Forsberg with the Avalanche and Henrik and Daniel Sedin with the Canucks. Hedman has started to, however. Lightning Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman has never been to a college football game. He compares the Swedish hockey atmosphere to Hedman is one of the best Swedish players currently in the NHL. Ekeliw European soccer. Fans bring passion to the Swedish league games, the said the Lightning have moved from not much interest in the country a national team enjoys an ardent following, and there’s a Swedish women’s decade ago to being one of the top 10 teams that get attention. Along league. with Hedman, Steven Stamkos and Ryan McDonagh have been recognized by fans this week. “There are bigger arenas here, obviously,” said Hedman, whose team plays games against the Sabres on Friday and Saturday at the Ericsson “They’re more excited to see the guys that aren’t (Swedes),” Hedman Globe in Stockholm. “Back home (Ornskoldsvik), it’s a little smaller, more said. “They know Stamkos, (Nikita) Kucherov, (Andrei) Vasilevskiy.” loud. It’s like soccer with drums and everything.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 11.07.2019 Not every team has drums, though Hedman’s hometown team, Modo, and Djurgarden’s Stockholm rival Hammarby do. They all have songs.

Fandoms run deep in Sweden. Hedman wouldn’t entertain supporting any team other than Modo (he joked he’ll list his team No. 1 through infinity on a ranking of Swedish teams). Djurgarden fan Denniz Back said you can have friends who cheer for other clubs but you have to keep it quiet.

Back has season tickets at Djurgarden, but he doesn’t have much interest in games that don’t involve his team and won’t watch the Lightning and Sabres play.

“I would cry if the Swedish league did the same thing (as the NHL), played games in other countries,” Back said. “The NHL is more commercial. It’s a closed league. Here, we have the risk of falling out of the league (the league has a relegation process).”

Back follows the NHL only to see what Djurgarden alumni such as now- retired Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall have done and watching for younger players such as Capitals forward prospect Axel Jonsson Fjallby.

But the NHL is growing in Sweden.

Tomas Carlsson and his wife, Anica, are Djurgarden fans and Islanders fans. Stockholm native Bob Nystrom played for the Islanders from 1972- 86, winning four Stanley Cups, and hooked them on the team. Tomas doesn’t stay up to watch games that begin at 1 a.m. in Stockholm, but he checks the NHL app and Instagram for highlights.

About once a year, Tomas and Anica travel to North America to check out NHL games. They pick cities they’d like to visit. They saw the Panthers on a trip to Miami. They haven’t been to Tampa yet. Next year, they’re planning a ski and hockey trip to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. But they also are not going to the Lightning-Sabres games. 1160281 Toronto Maple Leafs talks up a blue streak, but afterward you look at your notebook and scratch your head while trying to find a quote. He is not terribly colourful, but that is not a crime.

Frederik Andersen is more than a goalie – he’s the Maple Leafs’ rock “He shows a little more emotion and fire on the golf course,” Muzzin said. “That is something for you.”

When asked about it, Andersen thinks for a bit. MARTY KLINKENBERG “I just like being out there,” Andersen says. “I like being active and to stay outside.”

TORONTO-As teammates watched anxiously on Saturday night, Da-dum. Frederik Andersen remained calm in the longest shootout in Toronto history. The Maple Leafs goalie stopped all but one point-blank shot in 11 He is the guy who settles everyone down in the middle of the maelstrom. rounds in a much-needed victory. “You have to be who you are,” Andersen says. “It works for me. There “I have had more success not thinking about what guys would do, so I are 23 guys in the room. Everybody can’t be the same.” tried to just stay in the moment,” Andersen said Wednesday at the team’s Globe And Mail LOADED: 11.07.2019 practice rink in suburban Etobicoke. “I am at my best when I keep things really simple.

"Less is more with me.”

The 30-year-old Dane is 6-0-2 over his past eight games and Toronto seems to be righting itself after a shaky start to the season. The team is 8-5-3 as it heads into Thursday night’s meeting with the Vegas Golden Knights (9-5-2) at Scotiabank Arena.

“The better he plays, the more confidence he gives us,” said Mike Babcock, the Maple Leafs coach. "He is a leader for us. The guys like him and play hard for him.

“It is nice when you make a mistake and it doesn’t end up in the net.”

A pleasant low talker, Andersen is like Muzak in the dressing room. He has a calming influence, which is a great quality for someone who faces a constant barrage of shots. An NHL’s goalie’s job is to manage mayhem as it swirls around him, and at that he is splendid.

He has 61 saves in the past two games, both narrow victories. Toronto trailed in both, before Andersen locked things down. When the Leafs fell behind the Flyers 3-2 on Saturday, Andersen told his teammates, “Enough is enough. We are going to win this one.”

"His demeanour in the net calms everyone down,” said veteran defenceman Jake Muzzin. “That is who he is. He has a calming effect on the team.”

Andersen played three seasons in Anaheim before he was traded to the Maple Leafs in June of 2016 for a first-round pick in that summer’s draft and a second-round choice the next year. The deal was a steal. In two of his first three seasons in Toronto, he faced more shots and made more saves than any other goalie in the NHL.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

He went 107-54-26 over that span and largely because of him the team reached the playoffs each year. It is the first time that has happened in three successive seasons since 2003-04. And with all respect to Auston Matthews and his 12 goals, Andersen has been the Maple Leafs’ best player overall this season. The fellow fans call Freddie has been steady, if not spectacular, in all but two starts.

“We have so much trust in him,” John Tavares said. “We know that if something happens, he will make a big save.”

The captain looked rusty on Tuesday night when he returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a broken finger. History suggests that should not be much of a concern. There have been a few pleasant surprises on an already talent-laden roster – namely that of Alexander Kerfoot and Russian rookie Ilya Mikheyev. Tyson Barrie has started slowly but is showing signs of life. The defenceman acquired from Colorado in the offseason drew some ahhs from fans on Tuesday as he skated rings around the Los Angeles Kings.

Andersen is under contract through the 2021 season at a very reasonable US$5-million a year. He carries the expectations of a team and city on his broad shoulders. He appears to be built for it; at 6 foot 4 and nearly 240 pounds, he is the size of an NFL linebacker.

It is his mental makeup that allows him to flourish when things appear to be deteriorating around him. And he is the same off the ice as on.

He is surrounded by the media in the dressing room almost every day. He is accommodating and patient and never rattled by inquisitors. He 1160282 Toronto Maple Leafs “As a team, you know when you’re getting there,” says Jason Spezza, the veteran hanging on the edge of the roster. “And it just comes. And you start getting results: you win close games, you win blowout games, you win. And it even doesn’t matter how the games are. You just know Mike Babcock’s Maple Leafs aren’t quite sure who they are after you lock down games. You know how to win games. And I think that’s bittersweet 16 when you really start feeling it.

“It should be Auston Matthews’s and Mitch Marner’s and John Tavares’s (team), and they’ll lead the way of how the group is going to be, and how By Bruce Arthur we find success will play itself out.”

So who are they trying to be? A team that pairs skill and tenacity is the “We’re not trying to be the Kings,” said Jake Muzzin, one day after his easy answer. Maybe that’s even the right one. A team that in the NHL is, current team beat his former team. “We’ve got to be the Leafs. And we more or less, grown up. are.” “I’d say we’re not there yet,” says Muzzin. “I think that you build it, you But who are the Leafs, and who are they trying to be? Sixteen games build it, you build it, and at the end of the year you find out who the Leafs into this season, the answer is both clear and muddied. Toronto’s record were. During the year there’s ebbs and flows, and it’s how we respond: is right in the middle of the great big pack. Their five-on-five puck Do we crumble, or do we fight back? I think we have a great group in possession numbers are borderline elite, but their expected goal here. A lot of good attitudes, a lot of good people, and we’re working the percentage — which takes into account where the shots come from when right way.” it’s not screwy, and which the team itself considers a less precise statistic So the Leafs will be the Leafs is what you’re saying. We’ll see what that — is hovering near the bottom third of the league. The special teams are is, exactly, when they do. junky. The goaltending hasn’t always inspired. Toronto Star LOADED: 11.07.2019 Watching Toronto, you sometimes see signs of a cohesive greatness, but more often feel something is missing. Coach Mike Babcock keeps saying: We need to figure out who we are. So who is that?

“I think just a winning team, winning culture, a team that comes every night, that I think other teams know that all four lines and all three D pairs are coming to play,” says forward Mitch Marner, whose entire season has been a search for what he was last year. “And nothing’s going to be easy, and nothing is going to be given.”

“We have a lot of skill, a lot of talent,” says Muzzin, whose old Kings teams played what was at times excruciatingly low-event, wallpaper-the- opponent hockey. “Working the right way — and working the right way is playing on the defensive side of the puck, checking properly, structurally sound, talking, all those defensive aspects of the game — when we do that first, and we allow the other team to make a mistake, and then we allow our skill and talent to take over like we did last night, then I think that’s the team we want to be.”

That doesn’t sound like a team that has been in the bottom eight in shots against for four years running now, does it? It is, however, what Babcock has been pushing forever. He loved the grinding 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday both because it was a hard test for a team that needs to learn to win more than one way, and because he enjoys puck possession hockey that chokes the other team to death, even if it doesn’t always create so many real chances. See: Team Canada senior men’s team, 2010-16.

But when you ask what this team is trying to be, nobody says the Leafs are trying to play slow, low-event hockey. Which is good, since a team with this much skill should be able to win high-event hockey games by giving themselves and their skilled players more chances to score. Toronto has the fourth-highest shot rate at five-on-five in the NHL, and still plays fast. It should. Even Babcock can’t drag this team to a complete halt, even if he truly wants to.

No, the biggest aspirational change on this strange team is the old hockey saw: effort. Sometimes that’s what people say when a team is just getting bad goaltending, and Toronto’s puck possession numbers aren’t a bad sign. It’s a handy catch-all, effort.

“I know we’ve got to play harder, for longer, every night,” says Babcock.

“I mean, I think every day we’re trying to get to a point where we’re a consistent team every single night that comes ready to play,” says Marner.

Maybe when we talk about the Leafs, sometimes we use the wrong words. When we say the Leafs need to learn to play defence, what we should say is they need to be even better at getting the puck and keeping it. When we say the Leafs need toughness, or effort, what we should say is they need to develop more consistent competitiveness. They could hound the puck more. They could get to the net more. They could click more.

Eh, maybe it’s all the same thing. This Leafs team might yet truly gel and look ferocious. It doesn’t yet. 1160283 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Star LOADED: 11.07.2019

Maple Leafs on the bubble scratch and claw for ice-time scraps

By Kevin McGran

There is a certain comfort an NHL coach gets when there’s stiff competition for lineup spots.

But it is not joy, according to Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.

“You enjoy everything except telling the guy he’s not playing,” said Babcock. “You want everyone to be their best playing, and being happy. The reality is on really good teams, though, that doesn’t happen all the time.”

The Leafs are already in that situation, with three healthy players scratched every night. Jason Spezza, Dmytro Timashov and Martin Marincin didn’t play in Tuesday’s win over Los Angeles despite performing well in Saturday’s victory over Philadelphia. The coach said they had done nothing wrong, but Nic Petan got a rare start and Trevor Moore played on the fourth line.

The stakes are likely to be even higher when Zach Hyman returns to the lineup. Unless there’s an injury or two between now and the forward’s return from knee surgery — which could happen in the next week — some players will have to be removed from the roster entirely. Three Leafs earning around $750,000 (all dollars U.S.) will have to waived and sent to the Marlies or traded to make room for Hyman’s $2.25-million cap hit.

“Nobody has said anything to me,” said Spezza. “I assume I’m here helping the group. And I don’t know if you’ve heard things that I haven’t heard, but for me, I’m trying to build and help this group out.”

Who stays? Who goes? Of the Leafs who have been healthy scratches, Petan has missed 11 games, Marincin nine, Spezza seven, Timashov has missed four, Nick Shore three, Justin Holl two. Moore hasn’t missed any, but hasn’t nailed down a line.

How does the coach choose?

“It’s all about the team, and what I mean by that (is): Do you do something that can help the team win?” said Babcock. “Do you have a skill set? In the National Hockey League your depth guys have to have skill sets that can (help). Are you a power-play guy? A penalty kill guy? A heavy guy? What do you do? So that’s what we’re trying to figure out as we get to know the group.”

Of the players who have been scratched, Shore has endeared himself to the coach the most. He wins faceoffs and centres a fourth line that Babcock has bragged about.

“Everybody has a role on this team,” said Shore. “And when you’re out on the ice, you’ve got to do your part. There’s a lot of competition, so it keeps everybody motivated.”

Petan has had a puzzling existence as a Maple Leaf. He was sent to the AHL’s Marlies over the weekend and had five points over two games, then was recalled in time to play on the top line Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was practising as if he would be a scratch on Thursday night, when the Golden Knights visit. What does he make of it all?

“In the dark as you are,” said Petan. “It’s been like that since day one, so play where you’re told, I guess, and try and stay positive at all times.”

Spezza has the biggest cheering section, because he’s from Toronto and for all that he’s achieved in 17 years in the league. The 36-year-old scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf on Saturday.

“When the coach puts you in, you play, and you don’t let your days you don’t play affect the days that you do,” said Spezza. “You have to be strong-willed.

“Over the course of my career, if anybody’s ever asked me advice on what to do (when you’re not in the lineup) I’d tell them to go to work and to keep working on your game, and to try to stay sharp. Now I have an opportunity to practice what I preached over the year. It’s important for me to stay ready and to be sharp when I do get in.” 1160284 Toronto Maple Leafs

Why Mitch Marner chooses to make a difference in the lives of kids like Kade Foster

By Kevin McGran

Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner was one of the first to wish Kade Foster a happy birthday after his father tweeted that no one came to his 11th birthday party in Corner Brook, N.L.

That moment of kindness — repeated by John Tavares, the Leafs’ social media feed, actors Mark Hamill and Ben Stiller and other celebrities — has morphed from a trend on Twitter to a national event.

The Fosters will be at Scotiabank Arena as guests of the Leafs for Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, flown in from Newfoundland for free thanks to Air Canada, a team sponsor.

Marner said he was happy to make a difference.

“You’ve got a big spotlight on you (as a Maple Leaf) to change people’s lives every day, and I think it’s your choice to try to do that,” said Marner. “I think if there’s an opportunity that you can do something great with it, try and do it.

“It wasn’t just me. I think our whole team really stepped up in that moment, I thought a lot of guys really stepped up and it was great seeing the world and, you know, everyone else step up and wish him a happy birthday. It was a super cool moment to see that and (I’m) super happy to offer support and give a holler to him and wish him a happy birthday. It should be cool.”

Marner seems to be a player with a heart of gold. He was very close to Hayden Foulon, a seven-year-old girl who was his superfan. She lost her fight against cancer just as the Leafs’ season began. Marner knew the girl, who was from London, from his days in junior hockey.

He’s also quick to pose with fans for selfies, sometimes when he’s on the ice for warmups.

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160285 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs visit veterans at Sunnybrook

Jack Boland

Toronto Maple Leafs alumni Wendel Clark summed it up best visiting Canadian veterans at Sunnybrook hospital by saying “veterans are the ultimate team.”

Clark, the hard-nosed tough as nails forward from Kelvington Sask., lauded praise upon the veterans at the event.

“They dealt with a lot more things than we did,” said Clark, who joked saying their biggest battle was with the Toronto media.

Leaf legends Ron Ellis and Clark along with current Leafs –– Alex Kerfoot, Fredrik Gauthier and Travis Dermott — were part of the visit for Remembrance Day celebrations, working the room signing autographs and taking pictures.

Jim Smoke and his dad Arthur, aged 95 — who served as a wireless air gunner on a Lancaster bomber in 1944, were excited Ron Ellis spoke with them.

“I congratulated Ron (Ellis) on his contributions with the Leafs for all those years,” said Arthur.

Arthur’s son said it was “fabulous” that the Leafs made time for the visit.

“It helps bring a lot of families together and hockey is a big common denominator in our Canadian culture,” said Jim.

Richard Ratcliffe, 88, who fought in the Korean War for the Canadian Navy aboard the destroyer HMCS Nootka, proudly raised up a donated Leafs jersey.

“When we went to action stations I was up on the gun director with three twin four-inch batteries (guns),” Ratcliffe said of his service.

Dr. Andy Smith, Sunnybrook president and CEO, told those in attendance in 1948 then Prime Minister William Lyon MacKenzie King “officially opened the hospital as Sunnybrook Military hospital.”

“Here we are 70 plus years working in close partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada remaining as Canada’s largest veteran’s hospital,” Smith said.

Thank you @Sunnybrook for having us today!

It was an honour to share stories, take photos and meet everyone who joined us for today’s ceremony at the Veterans Centre. pic.twitter.com/1xX3xDw2HZ

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 6, 2019

Sunnybrook vets number 475 residing in the “K” and “L” Wings from the Second World War and Korea.

On Monday, Remembrance Day, the ninth annual “Operation Raise a Flag” will see more than 47,500 Canadian flags planted on the grounds to honour those.

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Leafs sweat who'll get chopped

Lance Hornby

Leafs head coach Mike Babcock insists he gets no pleasure from telling anyone in the battle for a fourth-line spot they aren’t in the lineup on a particular night.

“You enjoy everything (about the competition) except telling the guy he’s not playing,” said Babcock, as speculation on who gets sat, demoted or even traded heats up every day Zach Hyman gets closer to returning. “You want everyone to be playing their best and being happy. The reality is on good teams, that doesn’t happen all the time.”

A few days ago, it was Nic Petan being sent down, getting five points in two games with the Marlies and being reinstated for Tuesday against the Kings. Injured John Tavares came back and Jason Spezza sat, after his best game. Dmytro Timashov was also out Tuesday as the Leafs prep for the Vegas Golden Knights at home Thursday. Hyman could be back by Saturday against the Flyers and that will require a couple of bodies to be pushed right off the roster for cap purposes.

“We’re trying to figure that out,” Babcock said. “Spezza comes here in a good mood and he’s enjoying the guys. It doesn’t make it easy and the hardest part is when you’ve been a top player and trying to fit into that (reduced) role.

“Other guys are used to it, they’ve spent 10, eight, five years doing it and have found a way to survive and stay mentally strong.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160287 Toronto Maple Leafs Frederik Andersen Michael Hutchinson

SICK BAY Leafs - Golden Knights Game Day LW Zach Hyman (knee)

GOLDEN KNIGHTS GAMEDAY LINES Lance Hornby LW C RW

Jonathan Marchessault William Karlsson Reilly Smith GOLDEN KNIGHTS at MAPLE LEAFS Max Pacioretty Paul Stastny Mark Stone 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena Tomas Nosek Cody Eakin Cody Glass TV: Sportsnet RADIO: FAN 590 Will Carrier Nicolas Roy Ryan Reaves THE BIG MATCHUP DEFENCE PAIRINGS G Marc-Andre Fleury vs. RW William Nylander Brayden McNabb Nate Schmidt Vegas keeps leaning on Fleury to get it through rough patches, with him tied for a league-high 14 games played with Calgary’s David Rittich and N. Hague/D. Engelland Shea Theodore recording a big 2-1 win in Columbus on Tuesday. But his .897 save percentage against Toronto is also among his lowest against any team. Jon Merrill Nick Holden As for Nylander, is he going to follow up his icebreaker goal from GOALIES Tuesday with a bit of a streak or fade back in the pack? Marc-Andre Fleury KEYS TO THE GAME Malcolm Subban 1. Boxed in SICK BAY The Leafs gave up another power-play goal on Tuesday and had better be careful with their own master plan with the man advantage as the RW Alex Tuch (upper body) Knights are pretty sharp at both ends of the special teams’ sector. SPECIAL TEAMS 2. Engelland exit? POWER PLAY Knights coach Gerard Gallant benched defenceman Deryk Engelland in Columbus in favour of rookie Nic Hague. That’s led to some speculation Toronto 17.3% (20th) the aging 37-year-old local favourite might see more of the press box and Las Vegas 23.6% (6th) less of the ice. PENALTY KILLING “(Hague) deserves a chance to play, and we’re trying some different options,” Gallant told reporters. “It’s tough. You’ve got to make tough Toronto 75.4% (26th) decisions, and the kid came in and played a real good game.” Las Vegas 89.8% (2nd) 3. Matthews matters Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.07.2019 Leafs scoring leader Auston Matthews has six points in three games versus the three-year-old Knights and warmed up with the game winner Tuesday.

4. Take that

The Knights are the NHL’s best team in takeaways, a warning to the Leafs who like to try fancy moves when they get the puck deep. Maybe they were on to something going with a mostly grind game against the Kings.

5. Starts and stops

While Toronto continues to bounce between quick starts and sleep walking in the first period, Vegas ranks second in the NHL with seven victories when leading after one frame. Fans are already in a restless mood on Bay St., even after the Leafs came back with a strong third against L.A.

LEAFS GAMEDAY LINES

LW CR W

Andreas Johnsson Auston Matthews William Nylander

Nic Petan John Tavares Mitch Marner

Ilya Mikheyev Alexander Kerfoot Kasperi Kapanen

Trevor Moore Nick Shore Frederik Gauthier

DEFENCE PAIRINGS

Morgan Rielly Cody Ceci

Martin Marincin Tyson Barrie

Travis Dermott Justin Holl

GOALIES 1160288 Toronto Maple Leafs “Honestly, it’s crazy. I don’t think you (necessarily) need the talent even to play top two. If you have the confidence and you figure it out enough where if you know what to do to get there, stay there and to stop the top guys, then you don’t need crazy skill. You don’t need to be a guy who Leafs' Kerfoot hoping to put an end to sin of taking up residence in the was born with these gifts that every other kid dreams of. penalty box “If you figure out what the coaches want you to do and you get good at it, I think you can’t really go wrong.”

Terry Koshan Not that Dermott is expecting anything to come quickly.

“There is a lot going on out there,” Dermott said. “If you get a handle on the (defensive) stuff, it’s good for you. It’s tougher to learn than it looks, Alex Kerfoot has been getting the best seat in the house for goals scored but if you get that down pat, you are pretty set.” against the Maple Leafs. LOOSE LEAFS Trying to solidify his place with Toronto after being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in off-season, Kerfoot has no further interest in Winger Zach Hyman practised again on Wednesday but was not part of watching from a prime location. the initial line rushes, so don’t expect to see him in the lineup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. “Just a matter of time,” Hyman said Not known as a player who beat a path to the penalty box in two seasons of coming all the way back from knee surgery. “I feel like I’m close. with the Avs, totalling 66 penalty minutes, Kerfoot through 16 games has Almost there. I reiterate it’s not just my decision.” Part of keeping Hyman become the Leafs’ most-penalized player, taking eight minors. in good spirits away from the ice is the recent purchase of a Husky puppy Through National Hockey League games on Tuesday, only five players in … The Toronto Marlies suffered their first regulation loss of the season the league had been whistled for more. on Wednesday, falling 3-1 on the road against the Rockford IceHogs in a day game. Matt Read scored for the Marlies (7-1-2-1), while Kasimir Worse, the Leafs’ opponent has scored a power-play goal during each of Kaskisuo made 28 saves in goal … Babcock was asked about Nic Kerfoot’s past three penalties and four overall. Petan’s place in the organization and had this to say: “We’re trying to figure that out for him.” Could be, too, that the Leafs are trying to figure “That’s pretty bad, yeah,” Kerfoot said of the feeling that comes with out what they could get for Petan in a trade with Hyman knocking on the sitting in the box while goals are scored against. door. “I’m not happy about it. Right now, it feels like I’m worrying about it a bit Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.07.2019 too much. It’s an easy thing to clean up.”

How does Kerfoot go about doing that? The 25-year-old centre said his lack of discipline has not been a result of getting accustomed to a new system.

“Just stupid penalties,” Kerfoot said. “I’m trying to get on guys in the D zone and stuff, and I’m just doing it carelessly.

“I have to not interfere with guys, make sure they have the puck, and when they have the puck, make sure my stick is on the puck and not getting up in their hands.”

Four of Kerfoot’s penalties have been of the stick variety, and it’s not as though he has been thwarting scoring chances with the game on the line.

“The penalties I take, a lot of them, they don’t do anything,” Kerfoot said. “It’s not like I’m getting the puck or creating anything. It’s just stupid. I just have to have the mindset to (stop taking them).”

Leafs head coach Mike Babcock likes that Kerfoot plays with some spunk, but he has pulled Kerfoot aside for a chat.

“He can’t go to the box,” Babcock said. “He and I have discussed that. He is a smart guy.

“You have to be greasy, you have to be on the edge, do all the things he is doing, but you can’t go to the penalty box.”

DERMOTT ON COURSE

Travis Dermott is getting his legs back since returning from off-season shoulder surgery, averaging 12 minutes 51 seconds in three games on the Leafs’ third defence pair with Justin Holl.

At some point, the thinking is Dermott will take on a greater role with the Leafs, moving into the top four, if not eventually the top pairing in the next few years.

The 22-year-old Dermott has the potential to play those minutes, and though it’s always a work in progress for a young blueliner to help shore up the defensive zone, Dermott envisions a rise in the depth chart as well.

Dermott’s performance will be the determining factor in the minutes he eventually gets, but the Leafs’ financial situation could help. Five Toronto defencemen, including Tyson Barrie, Jake Muzzin and Cody Ceci, are slated to be unrestricted free agents next summer.

“(Top four) would be nice,” said Dermott, who is headed for restricted free agency next year. “You always want to move up. And if you don’t want to, then you are probably going to move down. 1160289 Toronto Maple Leafs Andersen sees improvement in communication with his defence. “It’s like a chicken-and-egg thing, if I play comfortably, they’ll feel better,”

he said. “Everyone has clear jobs and the more we stick to that, to less- Andersen saving Maple Leafs grief is-more, it might open up a seam in the middle (to break out). That’s just getting used to each other. Some teams are different, the goalie will literally get out of the way every time. Or the D will come to get it always. For (new) D-men, that’s tough to transform. The more you get used to Lance Hornby each other’s voices and signals, the better.”

Meanwhile, the very active Andersen has now passed Bruce Gamble for Stuck at home Saturday night, Jake Muzzin enjoyed the high drama of an ninth place in minutes playedfor Toronto franchise goalies, closing in on old -fashioned duel on TV, starring his favourite character, Frederik 12,000. His next game will tie for 11th on the Leafs list with Andersen. 205.

Not a Western shootout, as much an Eastern tiebreaker between the Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.07.2019 Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers. Andersen made 10 saves to Brian Elliott’s nine and in Muzzin’s mind, the good guy triumphed.

“He just looked so calm and cool in net,” said Muzzin, who missed the road trip and 4-3 win with an injury. “He was dialled in, so nice to see, comforting for him and the team.”

Two nights later, Andersen held the Leafs in again versus a Los Angeles team that sensed a win at Scotiabank Arena if it could keep Toronto’s offence in sleep mode. Andersen made 18 saves in the final 40 minutes as his teammates finally woke up in the third period and won 3-1.

That gave Andersen consecutive wins and a chance to tie Marc-Andre Fleury for the NHL lead of nine victories on Thursday with the Vegas Golden Knights in town. A season-high third straight win would take further heat off the slow-starting Leafs in a week of scrutinized home games.

“He’s the backbone of our crew, man,” Muzzin said on Wednesday. “He settles everyone down. We know what we’re getting, we’re not wondering who’s going to show up in net blah-blah-blah. We’re lucky to have him.”

Andersen appeared to be hitting some pot holes with the rest of the team until the last few games, battling his own annual October malaise. But the rest of the Leafs weren’t helping, with too many penalties, a string of ordinary outings by their best players and injuries that disrupted the lineup. Andersen steadily rose above it, culminating with the club record 11-round shootout win against the Flyers.

“Winning lightens the mood for everyone,” Andersen said after practice. “You leave the rink pretty excited. You build off that and had a really good game (Tuesday).”

The rest of the week is set up well, a day off for Andersen before the next two starts against the Knights and a Saturday rematch versus the Flyers at home. Michael Hutchinson, still looking for his first win, would get the call in Chicago on Sunday. Coach Mike Babcock wanted Hutchinson to play more than just back-to-backs to eventually bring Andersen’s workload down below 60 games, but the team wallowing at the .500 mark means putting some more certain points in the bank via Andersen.

“You have so much trust in Fred,” said captain John Tavares. “Not that you’re trying to make mistakes, but you can be a bit more free, a little more comfortable trying to execute just because there is so much trust in his ability to make a key save.

“When we defend well, he’s clearing all those easy shots. (Against Philly in the shootout), he just kept making himself look big.”

At the start of October, Andersen had the same challenge as the rest of the Leafs, to assimilate new players and absorb system changes implemented by two incoming assistant coaches. Then there was two new defensive pairings, including Muzzin, whom he played with just half of last season and Tyson Barrie, someone he didn’t know at all. With Muzzin usually playing 22 minutes-plus per night, they have to be on the same page, especially getting organized after a dump-in as forecheckers come calling.

“We’re still building that,” Muzzin said. “Playing the puck for a goalie and a D-man is one of the toughest plays in hockey. Here’s the thing, you have three guys (two D and the goalie) and on average three different commands (hold the puck, move it, let it go around the boards, etc.) and you’re all trying to call the same one.

“Sometimes you call one, the other team reads it and Fred’s thinking that’s still the play. Sometimes it’s a situational play, sometimes the forwards come at us and not him or (vice-versa).” 1160290 Vegas Golden Knights “But as I play more, I’m going to get a little bit more confident. Obviously you don’t want to get away from the defensive side of the game, but I want to be able to show that offensive side of my game, too, because I feel like that’s a big part.” Defenseman Nic Hague hopes to stay in Golden Knights lineup What milestone?

Knights right wing Mark Stone appeared in his 400th career NHL game By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal Tuesday and was greeted in the locker room with a congratulatory handshake from general manager Kelly McCrimmon. November 6, 2019 - 10:47 am Stone also received a game puck to commemorate the occasion, though Updated November 6, 2019 - 12:45 PM he admitted after the game he had no idea he reached that milestone.

TORONTO — Nic Hague shuttled between the Golden Knights and their LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 11.07.2019 minor-league affiliate in Chicago on three occasions last month.

He went back down again Wednesday, though it remains to be seen how long the rookie defenseman will be gone.

Hague and center Nicolas Roy were reassigned to the American Hockey League in a move that’s most likely salary cap related. The Knights face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

“It’s kind of crazy, a lot travel. But if that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes,” Hague said following Tuesday’s morning skate in Columbus, Ohio. “Obviously every time you get the call up, it’s a good day, and every time I come up here, I want to try to stick and show that I can be here and prove that I belong.”

Hague replaced veteran defenseman Deryk Engelland in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory at Columbus, and whenever Hague is recalled, coach Gerard Gallant must decide whether the 20-year-old played his way into the lineup permanently.

Gallant had been reluctant to scratch 37-year-old Engelland, one of the team’s three assistant captains and top penalty killers, despite his lowly puck possession statistics.

Through 15 games, Engelland had the worst 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage among the team’s defenseman at 43.8 percent.

But after Engelland’s glaring turnover led to the first goal in Saturday’s 4- 3 overtime defeat to Winnipeg, Gallant couldn’t hold out any longer and shuffled the deck to open the four-game road trip.

Hague joined right defenseman Shea Theodore on the third pair against Columbus, while Nick Holden and Jon Merrill were reunited as the second pair.

“I think every time I step on the ice it’s a day to get better and that includes games, practices or whatever it may be,” Hague said. “Being around these guys, I try to be a sponge and learn a lot, try to take it all in and do everything I can to try to improve my game. I want to be here. I want to learn and get better and I want to stick. I want to play.”

The Knights shielded Hague from danger as much as possible, and he played a career-low 12:02 in 17 shifts, all at 5-on-5. The drawback was Theodore, one of the team’s top defensemen, also saw his ice time shaved and logged a season-low 18:05.

But Hague finished with a 64.3 shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 and appeared to mesh well with a puck mover such as Theodore.

Hague’s shining moment came midway through the third period when he used his 6-foot-6-inch frame to strip Blue Jackets leading scorer Pierre- Luc Dubois of the puck on a 2-on-1.

“He read the play real good, and then with that long reach, people don’t expect that,” Gallant said. “He puts it out there, and he’s got a real good stick for big man. He played real solid.”

Hague has made nine appearances for the Knights with two assists and is projected to be a mainstay in the lineup for the next several years.

Whether Tuesday was the beginning of the end for Engelland remains to be seen.

“I do video and watch stuff, and I feel like I’m gaining a little bit more confidence maybe in terms of the offensive side of the game,” Hague said. “I felt like the first couple games I was maybe a little hesitant to show that side because I wanted to make sure that I was worrying about the defensive end. 1160291 Vegas Golden Knights “Dubois is a great player in this league, and for Nic to wait him out, wait him out, wait him out, when a lot of guys would panic in that situation,” Schmidt said. “He uses his stick, which is his greatest asset, in that situation. I was pumped for him, honestly. That was awesome.” The play that shows why the Golden Knights think Nic Hague can be a top-tier NHL defenseman Not only did Hague force the giveaway without allowing as much as a shot attempt, but he used his body (and left arm) to shield Dubois as he passed the puck to Jonathan Marchessault, starting an offensive rush the other way. By Jesse Granger “When I saw that I poked it behind him, I want to jump on that and not let Nov 6, 2019 another guy come in and get it,” Hague said. “I wanted to close that out and push it up to the forwards.”

COLUMBUS — Midway through the third period of Tuesday night’s It’s only one play, but it was a key one that helped seal an important game, a pass jumped over Brayden McNabb’s stick in the offensive victory for Vegas. More importantly, Hague showcased all the skills that zone, springing the Blue Jackets on a 2-on-1 rush toward the Golden give the coaches confidence he’ll one day be a shut-down defenseman. Knights’ net. “That’s exactly it,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “He read the play real well, Vegas was clinging to a 2-1 lead with less than 11 minutes left in the third and then with that long reach that people don’t expect. He’s got a real period, looking to close out Columbus after watching third period leads good stick for a big man, and he played real solid tonight.” slip away in each of its past two games. The Blue Jackets couldn’t have Hague’s stick skills are phenomenal for a man his size. That helps him picked a better player to have the puck on his stick in this pressure- tremendously on the offensive end, evident by his career offensive packed situation. Pierre-Luc Dubois currently leads the team in goals and numbers. He was named the Canadian Hockey League’s defenseman of points, and is fresh off a 61-point season. the year in 2017-18 after leading the Mississauga Steelheads with 35 He gathered the puck with speed through the neutral zone, with goals and 43 assists. In his rookie year in the AHL he produced an teammate Sonny Milano streaking down the right side of the ice. impressive 13 goals and 19 assists.

The only defenseman back for the Golden Knights was rookie blueliner But his coordination — combined with his massive wingspan — is even Nic Hague, playing in just the ninth game of his NHL career. more of a weapon in his own zone.

When a turnover happens so suddenly in the offensive zone, it’s easy for “We all wish we had that reach,” Schmidt said with a laugh. “The guy can the trailing defenseman to be caught flat-footed, but Hague transitions to reach the blue line from the top of the circles. I mean, how many guys in defense seamlessly. He turns, picks up plenty of speed and drifts toward the league can do that? It’s pure jealousy for me, honestly. Dubois’ side of the ice. “Not that he’s going to be Zdeno Chara, but you can see how Chara uses Hague not only gets into perfect position, but he also has the awareness his stick and doesn’t have to put himself into bad positions. He’s smart to notice his teammate Reilly Smith hustling to get back into the play. with his body, and that’s what I think you’re going to see with Nic the more he grows. How he positions himself to use his stick, and not have “We had a little bit of back pressure, so I thought I could maybe force him to use his body to engage.” a little bit,” Hague explained. “I tried to close the space out, and poke check when he got in tight.” Hague’s biggest critique since he was drafted has been his skating. That’s no surprise for a teenager his size, but he has made leaps and As Dubois crossed the blue line he realized he wasn’t going to be able to bounds in his skating over the past two seasons. Not only is his skating get around Hague, so he slowed his speed dramatically, looking for a more than good enough to keep up at the NHL level, but his reach cross-ice pass to Milano. nullifies any deficiencies he may encounter.

“In that spot I just try to avoid allowing the backdoor pass,” Hague said, “It’s so hard to play against a defenseman with those long sticks, ask any “and if he’s going to shoot it from there, then I just (try) to force it from as forward,” Schmidt said. “I teach 15-year-olds at a camp that I work with in far out as I can and I know (Marc-Andre Fleury) is pretty good back the summer, and I always tell them that our job is to disrupt the forwards’ there.” timing. Their job is to get in tight to you, use you as a screen, and get you standing straight up so they can go around you or in between your feet. As Dubois slowed, Hague knelt down to place his stick flat along the ice, The further you keep them from your body, with your stick, the better for taking away any passing lane, but also keeping his edges on the ice to us.” not slide himself out of the play. In his 12:01 of ice time Tuesday night, Hague allowed the fewest scoring Vegas drafted Hague with the 34th-overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft out chances of any defensemen on the team. At even strength he was also of Mississauga. He stands a towering 6-foot-6, 221 pounds, and has yet tied for the highest Corsi percentage of all defensemen with Nic Holden, to celebrate his 21st birthday. limiting Columbus’ shot attempts while on the ice. Hague served as the Chicago Wolves’ top defenseman last season and “He looked much more comfortable tonight, just talking to him on the is just now breaking into the NHL, but the way he played the dangerous bench,” Schmidt said. “I didn’t want to believe it when I first started 2-on-1 late in Tuesday night’s game shows exactly why the Golden breaking into the league and coaches would tell me that it takes Knights are so high on him. defensemen longer than forwards to get into the league, but it’s true. “The most impressive part was the patience,” said Golden Knights “The forwards don’t have to know all of the intricacies about the veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt, who watched the play from the defensemen, as much as defensemen need to know the tendencies of bench. “Having patience and not panicking when that guy starts to slow the forwards. The game is forever evolving as they try to create space down. Because what (Dubois) is doing is waiting for you to do something and we try to take it away. A game within the game. And every game he that’s going to open up a passing lane for him, and the best players in the gets confidence he’s just going to get better and better.” world can wait you out. It showed a lot of poise from Nic.” It was Hague’s best performance of his short NHL career, and it was also Hague holds Dubois from passing long enough for Smith to catch up to the first time he was paired with Shea Theodore. In his first eight games, the play, and take any passing opportunities away, and Dubois then opts Hague played alongside veteran Deryk Engelland, who is a great mentor to shoot. He uses his body to shield Hague from the puck and pulls it for young defensemen but isn’t as fleet of foot as Theodore. back to attempt a wrist shot from the left hash marks. “Now he’s playing with Shea, who is a lot more mobile, and can go up That’s when Hague uses his single best attribute. The reason Vegas and down the play and help him relax a little bit,” Schmidt said. drafted him so high and thinks he has the physical tools to be a game- changer at this level: His ridiculously long reach. “I think anybody can play well with Theodore,” Gallant said. “He’s a great skater, and tonight they were really solid and looked real good. They Hague stands back up, reaches his stick through the body of Dubois and didn’t turn many pucks over so that’s real key.” pokes the puck away perfectly. If Hague can force Gallant to keep him in the lineup and can continue improving at this rate, he could be the answer to Vegas’ questions on the blue line, both in the immediate and the future.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160292 Washington Capitals “You know, usually on a team there are a couple guys who are willing to do it, and it is no different on our team,” Wilson said. “But like I said, those guys play hard, and they play the right way.”

The Caps want to play heavy, and others are sharing the weight with Capitals Coach Todd Reirden has praised Hathaway and Gudas for Tom Wilson stepping up for their teammates, with Gudas in particular commanding respect in the room.

Gudas stood up for defenseman Michal Kempny against the New York Samantha Pell Rangers on Oct. 18, dropping the gloves with Brendan Lemieux five minutes into the first period after a high hit in Kempny’s season debut. November 6, 2019 at 8:32 PM EST The next game, a 5-3 win against Chicago, Gudas got in a tiff with Connor Murphy, who Gudas said hit Ovechkin “unnecessarily” at the end of the first period. Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson isn’t afraid to throw his body around or step in to defend a teammate. Now in his seventh NHL “One hundred percent, you want to be on a team that is willing to fight,” season, he isn’t changing his approach anytime soon; he knows his Gudas said. “Doesn’t look for it, but is willing. . . . Teams don’t like playing identity still resides in creating offense with his physical presence and against us right now, and when we play to what we are capable of, it is being the player his opponents are aware of on the ice. fun to be a part of a group that wants to play a similar style to myself.”

But General Manager Brian MacLellan acquired two strong, tough Hathaway fought once in the preseason and once Oct. 18, against the players this offseason in forward Garnet Hathaway and defenseman New York Rangers’ Brendan Smith. After Michael Haley hit Dmitry Orlov, Radko Gudas, and the complementary additions have allowed the 6-foot- Hathaway took exception and challenged Smith to a fight. Hathaway 4, 218-pound Wilson to open up his game. fought with a broken nose, which he had received from a hit from Jacob Trouba earlier in the game. “I just think that when you have more guys playing a harder game, the team does better,” MacLellan said. “Often if someone is playing that way, Hathaway said finding his game and being able to fit into his role has it brings the other guys up to that level, and they want to play that way, been a growing process since he started in the league in 2015. But he too. They set the tone for the game.” accepts his physical presence and knows, if it’s implemented effectively, opponents will notice that he is on the ice and will “always be on edge.” With Hathaway and Gudas on board, Wilson no longer is the sole hard- hitting presence, and he is less obligated to take fighting majors. In the “I don’t think he’s changed his game, I think it’s just complemented well Capitals’ first 16 games, both Gudas and Hathaway have dropped the with me and Gudas,” Hathaway said of Wilson. “It’s so nice not to have to gloves to stand up for their new teammates. Wilson has taken notice — play against those two guys and Ovi too. I think we are all on the same and so have all the players in the room. page that it is necessary for us to be physical and take on that role to help the team.” “I mean, in years past, if there was a hit or a teammate that needs to be stood up for, you know, I was kinda the guy that was going to do it,” Wilson said. “And I still am, but now there are two to three other guys Washington Post LOADED: 11.07.2019 who are willing to do it as well.”

Still, Wilson said when he finds himself in situations when fights happen “really quick” on the ice, he will be in the middle of it. The difference now is in slower-developing situations: An opponent delivers a big hit, and there is a chance to reciprocate on an ensuing shift.

Wilson, who has no fighting majors and is second on the team with 39 hits this season, also said opponents looking for a fight no longer are always looking for him.

MacLellan was quick to note that the team acquired Hathaway and Gudas not solely with Wilson in mind and that Wilson has to play his game no matter who is in the lineup.

“It doesn’t have to be the same guy every night, and it’s going to be the same thing with them,” Wilson said. “If they get hit, there are still going to be two guys there to stand up for them. That’s what is great about a team and what is great about having guys willing to do it. It is a group mentality, not just one guy by himself trying to take on the whole team.”

Alex Ovechkin, also a physical presence for the Capitals, said there is now less pressure not only on Wilson, but everyone. T.J. Oshie said mentally it is a little easier for Wilson to just focus on hockey and scoring goals, but he is still going to be physical and drop the gloves if he has to. Wilson already has 12 points (five goals, seven assists). Last year, Wilson had 22 goals and 18 assists in 63 games after missing the first 16 because of a suspension for an illegal check to the head.

“Everything right now is fast, and it’s not a lot of tough guys out there,” Ovechkin said. “Teams don’t want to play against us because we play physical.”

Hathaway, who leads the team in hits with 41, and Gudas, who is third with 34, aren’t the only depth players getting involved. Wilson points to a Capitals preseason tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks. Neither Hathaway nor Gudas were on the ice. When Martin Fehervary got hit on his blind side near the boards by Andrew Shaw, Wilson instinctively skated directly over, but Tyler Lewington swooped in and dropped the gloves before Wilson could. Wilson got pinched against the glass trying to get out of the way as Lewington and Shaw started trading punches.

Last timeout: Jakub Vrana’s first hat trick is more reason to celebrate for the Capitals 1160293 Winnipeg Jets they get the most out of their short stay. The Penguins, Coyotes, Islanders, Kings and Devils have all come to town this season and left with two points in their pockets.

Jets should make visiting teams as miserable on ice as survey suggests You'll note that none of those teams are considered current NHL they are off it powerhouses, but they all felt a bit mightier as their charter took off from James Richardson International Airport after the final buzzer.

Overall, the Jets are just 2-4-1 so far at Bell MTS Place, and 2-10-1 By: Mike McIntyre dating back to last season, when they lost their last three regular-season games on home ice, followed by all three playoff dates at St. Louis. Posted: 11/6/2019 7:00 PM They've been outscored 43-27 in that ugly 13 game stretch.

There was a time, not long ago, that playing at the downtown barn was They dislike us. They really, really dislike us. usually a nightmare for visitors. But things have changed, and what once was typically the loudest building in the league has gone quiet on many An ESPN poll of NHL players has revealed that Winnipeg is the No. 1 nights. most dreaded destination in the league (42 per cent), citing a host of factors including how cold, dirty, boring and depressing we apparently No doubt a big part of that is the on-ice product, as two home wins dating are. Bunch of sweet talkers, aren't they? Although, kudos to the one back to mid-March is hardly reason to stand up and shout. Fans have anonymous player who praised Winnipeg for "always having TSN on," already sounded off, in this space and others, about the recent end of the which I suppose could be a new licence-plate slogan going forward. sellout streak and other factors that could be involved, with increasingly Bless his boring heart. pricey tickets and concessions being cited.

Naturally, this overall negativity making headlines across North America Winnipeg has just two Saturday-night home games all year, which is has plenty of locals frothing at the mouth, ready to defend River City absurd. They also have yet to play a Friday-night contest, with this against any and all critics. I mean, we couldn't even beat Buffalo (34 per week's match with Vancouver the first of eight to come. Those are nights, cent)? Really? for obvious reasons, when fans might feel like letting loose a bit more than a mid-week affair. And the Jets have plenty of those, including an Quick side story: The best part about my last trip to Buffalo while equally absurd 13 Tuesday-night home dates. covering the Jets was the fact it was an afternoon game, which allowed me to drive in from Toronto in the morning, cover the game and then get I also throw some blame towards the NHL schedule makers this year, the hell out of there before nightfall. The best part about this year's trip to who haven't exactly done the Jets any favours. Winnipeg has just two Buffalo? The fact that colleague Jason Bell is on it. Saturday-night home games all year, which is absurd. They also have yet to play a Friday-night contest, with this week's match with Vancouver the But I digress. How dare some rich, entitled athletes diss our hometown? first of eight to come. Those are nights, for obvious reasons, when fans Don't they know that when it comes to bashing Winnipeg, only those of might feel like letting loose a bit more than a mid-week affair. And the us who have spent our entire lives here are allowed to do that? Seriously, Jets have plenty of those, including an equally absurd 13 Tuesday-night we like to pride ourselves on being thick-skinned, and in many ways we home dates. are. But as soon as some outsider says a few unkind words, we seemingly turn into a puddle. Add it all up and Winnipeg isn't such a scary place anymore, at least not in the way the Jets would like it to be. Fortunately, there may be a much The fact is, Winnipeg is not for everyone. Think of it as an acquired taste, quicker fix to their game than there is to the city they play in. one that's likely not going to resonate with hockey players who are flying in and flying out, usually in the grip of a typical Prairie winter, going from The Jets look much more relaxed on the road lately, as a 6-3-0 record the airport to their downtown hotel to the rink and then back to the airport. away from Bell MTS Place suggests (one of those was a neutral-site game in Regina against Calgary). Finding a way to bring that style of play But spend a bit of time here and the story often changes, as we've seen back home would go a long way to improving their fortunes this season, with the likes of , Bryan Little, Dustin Byfuglien, Mark not to mention reinvigorating a fan base that hasn't been given much to Scheifele, , Kyle Connor, and Connor cheer about lately. Hellebuyck. Those eight players — the first three came over from Atlanta in 2011, the last five were all Jets draft picks — all decided to sign long- Otherwise, NHL players might soon start picking Winnipeg as one of their term contracts to keep Winnipeg as their hockey home. favourite cities to visit — for all the wrong reasons.

Sure, they were paid handsomely. But they would have been, no matter which market they signed to play in; eventually, all eight could have Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.07.2019 opted to play elsewhere when they hit unrestricted free-agent status. That tells me a lot more than some survey of 50 anonymous players does.

We've seen a similar outcome with members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Winnipeg Goldeyes, typically American players who eventually fall in love with the city, some settling here once their playing days are done.

That's not to say we should entirely dismiss the findings. Winnipeg can, and should, do better, and there's no question we have our fair share of flaws which need to be addressed. But that doesn't mean folks should get all bent out of shape, even if the reaction is entirely predictable and downright humorous, including Tourism Winnipeg saying they'll find a way to distribute some informational material to out-of-town players in the future.

We saw it last year when some snide comments from a few San Jose Sharks about Winnipeg being a dark city with spotty Internet service blew up and became an international incident, including followup apologies from the players. And now comes this latest salvo.

Fact is, if there's one area Winnipeggers — and specifically Jets fans — should really be concerned about, it's that this city has become far too comfortable a place for hockey visitors these days.

Give the Jets some credit; they've been doing a great job lately of rolling out the welcome mat and giving opponents the VIP experience, ensuring 1160294 Winnipeg Jets semifinal in Nashville. His innocent shot from the corner slipped between goalie Pekka Rinne's skate and the post to open the scoring and helped propel the visitors to a 5-1 victory and a series win over the Predators.

New team, new outlook While he has four assists through 15 games with the Canucks, it appears Myers is earning his keep with his new team, currently second in the Pacific Division at 9-3-3 after a 2-1 overtime loss Tuesday night to the visiting Blues. By: Jason Bell He's on the right side of the No. 1 tandem with Alex Edler and is Posted: 11/6/2019 5:42 PM averaging almost 22 minutes of ice time per game. The veteran duo is showing strong possession numbers with a 57.7 per cent Corsi rating — simply put, they help the Canucks create more scoring chances than they Tyler Myers was all for a major move, particularly when he finally had a allow in their own end. say on where the road would lead. "The fit has gone really well to start the year. Eddie and I have done a lot Now, months after taking full advantage of his first crack at unrestricted of talking on and off the ice to get our communication the best that it can free agency, the ex-Winnipeg Jets defenceman doesn't even try to be, and I think it’s gotten better and better as the season’s gone on here. temper his enthusiasm of being one of the new faces on the upstart It’s been pretty easy and we’re just trying to work as hard as we can to Vancouver Canucks. try and make that adjustment as quick as possible," he said.

"It's going really well, thanks for asking. It's been everything we'd hoped While frustrated by his lack of production, Myers is buoyed by the for," Myers told the Free Press earlier this week. "It's been pretty knowledge the chances continue to come. seamless coming here. It’s always tough leaving guys from your previous team. That was the hardest part when I left Buffalo and it was the same On Tuesday, he had Vancouver's two best opportunities to score in leaving Winnipeg. overtime. On the first, he fired from the slot but was denied by St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington. On the second, he went from potential hero to "But when I jumped in the room in Vancouver, the guys welcomed all of inadvertent goat when he shot wide and then collided with teammate J.T. us new guys very quickly and the transition was very easy. It was nice to Miller, allowing the Blues to scamper away on 3-on-0 breakaway. After a come in and have it feel natural." few slick passes, Jaden Schwartz ended things.

Myers, who turns 30 in February, returns to Winnipeg on Friday night as "I’ve been really happy with my offensive game. The opportunities are the Canucks and Jets collide at Bell MTS Place. Game time is 7 p.m. there and they’re going to start going in. I’m not worried about that," said Myers, who also plays on the second power-play unit and kills penalties. After spending parts of five at-times trying seasons with the Jets, Myers "We have a really good group dynamic going right now and it’s just a headed west, signing a five-year contract worth an average annual value matter of keeping it going. Goals and points and stuff like that will come." of US$6 million. It was, perhaps, the least surprising news to come out of the July 1 free-agent frenzy, as it was no secret the towering, mobile Off the ice, life is good for the married father of a young son, soon to be blue-liner was at the top of Vancouver general manager Jim Benning's three years old. His wife, Michela, has family in the Vancouver area, and wish list. the couple keeps a home in Kelowna, where Myers played four years of junior in the WHL. He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first Indeed, it's a significant number, and the cash-strapped Jets were in no round (12th overall) of the 2008 NHL draft. position to offer the same money and term, particularly for a player who wasn't on their top duo and, for long stretches, was cast as a third-pairing Myers said he treasures the time his family spent in the Manitoba capital. defenceman. "We have a lot of good memories from Winnipeg, especially the playoff Jets GM made only a perfunctory inquiry about his run we had a few years ago. That whole month and a half was really desire to remain in Winnipeg during exit interviews after the club bowed special to go through with that group of guys. It provided a lot of out to the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the playoffs, said experience for all of us to kind of realize what it takes to win," said Myers. Myers, who was born in Houston but grew up in the Calgary area. "My whole time in Winnipeg, the almost five years I was there, I’ll always cherish. We had a great group in the room and I wish those guys all the "They expressed some interest, but once (the meeting) was over there best — just not when I’m playing against them. wasn’t much communication after that," he said. "The sense was it was coming to an end. I had communicated that things had gone well with my "I keep in touch with the some of the guys but it’s a lot of family talk. It’s time in Winnipeg and if there was a spot for me, I’d be happy to talk not hockey-related talk. I’m excited to get back there. Any time you play about re-signing. I found out in the weeks after the season ended it was against your old team, you want to try and get a win out of it. But it will be looking like free agency was going to be my route, and Vancouver, good to go up against the guys again and visit after the game." ultimately, ended up being the best fit for me. That’s the business part of the game."

Those who watched a lot of Myers since his arrival in February 2015 in Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.07.2019 the blockbuster trade that sent Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian to the Sabres likely viewed his deal as an overpayment by the Canucks. In Winnipeg, he showed flashes of his former Calder Trophy form (in 2010 he was the NHL's rookie of the year) and his offensive numbers were solid.

However, his defensive deficiencies were hard to ignore.

For a giant on skates, Myers (6-8, 229 pounds) was passive at defending the space in front of the net, turned the puck over with frequency and was caught chasing opponents' talented forwards for extended stretches. Those significant problems were a byproduct of the fact he spent the majority of his time at even strength playing alongside Dmitry Kulikov, whose struggles in his own end are apparent.

Myers' most effective tool was his massive range — when his gap was off, he had that reach to fall back on. And his offensive output made up for some of his shortcomings. In his final two seasons in Winnipeg, Myers posted six goals and 30 assists in 2017-18 and nine goals and 22 helpers in 2018-19.

He scored four times during the Jets' terrific post-season run in 2018, including a memorable tally in Game 7 of the Western Conference 1160295 Winnipeg Jets Just two days later, Patrik Laine collided with at practice in Anaheim. Laine missed two games, although Jets head coach said the lower-body injury was present well before the teammates ran into each other. Lots of concern over Little's health

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.07.2019 By: Jason Bell

Posted: 11/6/2019 4:58 PM

There's real concern for the health of Bryan Little, who was struck in the ear by friendly fire Tuesday night at Bell MTS Place.

The Winnipeg Jets forward was treated at one hospital for a gash to the head and then transferred to another for neurological testing before spending the night under observation.

Little, who turns 32 next week, had just skated behind the New Jersey net when he was hit by a rising rocket off the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers in the third period of the Devils' 2-1 shootout win.

Little slumped to the ice holding his bloodied head and the Jets training staff rushed out to help before he was shepherded off the ice. He was taken to St. Boniface Hospital and got 25-30 stitches, then transferred to the Health Sciences Centre’s neurological unit.

"Little was alert at all times and is in good spirits (Wednesday morning)," the Jets said in a statement.

The veteran centre was playing just his seventh game after missing nine to begin the 2019-20 NHL season. He took a high hit from Minnesota Wild forward Luke Kunin in the last pre-season game, but had scored twice — including the overtime winner against the Calgary Flames at the Heritage Classic outdoors in Regina — and assisted on three others since his return.

Little played all 82 games the past two seasons, however, he had a pair of injury-filled campaigns prior to that, including a fractured vertebrae in 2015-16 and a knee injury a year later.

Winnipegger and former NHLer Jordy Douglas was watching from the press box when the scary scenario unfolded in the Devils' end with 7:26 gone in the final frame.

The worst part was Little never saw it coming, he said.

"When you're in front of the net for a screen or a deflection, there's an anticipation the puck is coming. In Bryan's case he's going by the net and he's not expecting it, so there's no way to react," said Douglas, whose six-year NHL career culminated with parts of two season (1983-85) with the Jets 1.0.

"He had no sense it was going to be four-feet wide or six-feet wide or whatever it was. He took the full brunt of that, no way he coculd get out of the way. I just cringed."

There was a palpable hush that fell over the crowd at the downtown rink. Ehlers, visibly shaken, was one of the first players to come to Little's side, and later helped his centreman get to the bench.

Eerily, just days ago the speedy winger said he hadn't experienced the overpowering emotion of seeing another player struggle on the ice in front of a stunned, silent crowd. He was reacting to a head-to-head collision between Boston Bruins forward David Backes and Ottawa's Scott Sabourin last weekend that knocked out the Senators forward. Sabourin left on a stretcher and is being treated for a concussion, broken nose, cuts and bruises.

"I don't remember being in that situation. I hope I never will be," Ehlers said Monday.

The Jets endured a couple of strange injuries earlier in the season, including one directly inflicted by a teammate. Blue-liner Josh Morrissey was accidentally bumped by in the warm-up in New York on Oct. 6 and had to miss the game with the Islanders plus a contest two nights later in Pittsburgh.

At the Heritage Classic, broke a foot bone while tossing a football with Kyle Connor and , among others, at . 1160296 Winnipeg Jets According to the report, Kane, 28, took out the markers in amounts varying between $20,000 and $100,000 on or about April 15.

The casino alleges that Kane has yet to pay back the loan and is seeking JETS NOTEBOOK: Little needs 25-30 stitches, spends night in both that money and the legal fees associated with filing the lawsuit. neurological ward after taking puck to head Kane signed a seven-year $49 million deal with the Sharks two summers ago after he was dealt to the club from Buffalo at the trade deadline during the 2017-18 season. Scott Billeck The Jets traded Kane to the Sabres prior to the trade deadline during the November 6, 2019 4:02 PM CST 2014-15 season after an apparent falling out with the team.

The deal including Kane, Zach Bogosian and goaltending prospect Jason Kasdorf heading to Buffalo in exchange for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little needed extensive work to close a Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and a first-round pick 2015 NHL draft, gash created by a puck to his head in Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the which the Jets used to select . New Jersey Devils. During Kane’s time in Winnipeg, he had his wages garnished by the Little was circling around the New Jersey net when he was drilled by a province for two unpaid parking tickets. There was also speculation that one-timer off the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers in the third period. Kane had walked out on restaurant bills, although those claims were Little, bloodied, fell to the ice and stayed there for a couple minutes never substantiated. before he was helped off the ice by Ehlers and a trainer and down the tunnel to the dressing room. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 11.07.2019 Little was transported to St. Boniface Hospital where he received 25-30 stitches near his ear to close the wound.

From there, he was transferred to the Health Sciences Centre’s neurological unit where he spent the night for further observation.

“Little was alert at all times and is in good spirits this morning,” a release from the team said Wednesday.

Little has had a tough start to the 2019-20 season.

He was hit up high by Minnesota Wild forward Luke Kunin in Winnipeg’s final preseason game at the end of September. The resulting concussion forced him to miss the first nine games of the regular season.

Little has two goals and three assists in six games this season, including the winner in overtime at the .

There isn’t much new to report on the saga that’s playing out with Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien.

But every day, it seems a little nugget of new information finds its way into the public sphere.

On Tuesday, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun was on Leafs Lunch talking about the situation.

LeBrun said he feels that, ultimately, a grievance will be filed by the NHLPA, with the simple reason being that Byfuglien fought through an ankle injury last year and when he finally took to the ice again prior to training camp beginning it, “by all accounts” hurt quite a bit.

LeBrun wondering what most have and that’s why wouldn’t Byfuglien report to camp and have the whole process go through the team while he was being paid.

Byfuglien is suspended at the moment for not reporting to camp and is not being paid.

LeBrun always wondered the same thing the team may be thinking, and that’s why wouldn’t Byfuglien get the surgery during the summer months rather than the last week of October?

“This one is a fascinating one on all kinds of levels,” LeBrun said.

LeBrun added: “He did things his own way, which is his right.”

What was also interesting from LeBrun was that it appears, at least at this moment, that the Jets want Byfuglien back.

“But let’s see how everyone feels about each other at the end of this process,” Lebrun said.

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who spent parts of six seasons with the Jets/, is being sued by a Las Vegas casino over unpaid gambling markers.

According to a report by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging that Kane owes the casino $500,000 after he borrowed the credits from the casino in April during the Stanely Cup Playoffs series between the Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights this past spring. 1160297 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks' Roussel getting closer to return from knee surgery

PATRICK JOHNSTON

November 6, 2019 3:15 PM PST

Antoine Roussel was a fine addition to the Canucks' lineup last season and will surely be again, once he's cleared to play NHL hockey again.

Antoine Roussel’s slow road to recovery continues.

The flying Frenchman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last March. It was repaired surgically and the recovery time frame for such a procedure is usually six to nine months.

Roussel is now roughly dead in the middle of that window.

He’s in Minnesota this week to check in with his surgeon about the status of his knee. He has been skating on his own for almost two months now, but most of that exercise has been very limited.

He has been seen around Rogers Arena with regularity and has simply said, when asked, that he’s feeling good, progressing well, but not getting ahead of himself.

Roussel tallied a career-high 31 points in 2018-19, and had 40 points in his sights when he got hurt in a collision with the Rangers’ Brendan Lemieux. An underrated playmaker, he is better known for being an agitating presence on the ice, always willing to get his nose dirty.

If he is cleared to join his teammates in practice, his return to the lineup won’t be imminent, but it won’t be far away either.

When he spoke with the media at the end of the 2018-19 season, he said he hoped to be back in time for Christmas.

“A nice gift,” he called it.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160298 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks send Sautner back to Utica

PATRICK JOHNSTON

November 6, 2019 1:24 PM PST

The depth defenceman looked in trouble Saturday after hitting his head, but reported no ill effects on Monday.

Ashton Sautner is going back to Utica. Again.

For the third time this season, the 25-year-old has been re-assigned by the Vancouver Canucks to their American Hockey League affiliate.

Sautner was assigned to Utica to start the season but has been recalled twice to act as the team’s seventh defenceman: the first time because Oscar Fantenberg was recovering from illness, the second and most recent time to cover for Fantenberg being loaned to Utica so the Swede could get some game action in.

Sautner has suited up for a Canucks game just once this season. That was Saturday night in San Jose, where he only played four shifts before being knocked out of the game with an apparent head injury by Sharks’ defenceman Brenden Dillon.

Despite looking worse for wear — he appeared to hit his head on both the glass and the ice, and he sat with his head in his hands for some time on the bench — he wasn’t diagnosed with a concussion.

He skated in practice with the Canucks on Monday and said afterward he’d seen the team doctor on Sunday, who had cleared him.

He felt no lingering effects from the hit, he said.

The Canucks now head out on the road with one spare defenceman, Fantenberg, and one spare forward, Sven Baertschi.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160299 Vancouver Canucks Schenn’s line. On other nights Jay Beagle’s line has drawn that kind of assignment, which frees Sutter, who has scored five goals to date, to attack. On still other nights, Green plays power against power with Elias Pettersson going against the top line. Ed Willes: Canucks pass significant test against bruising Blues Pettersson, it should be noted, finished with six shots against the Blues and didn’t shrink from the game’s physicality. He also supplied the screen on Hughes’s game-tying goal in the late going. ED WILLES “(Sutter’s) deployment has been a little different,” Green said. “It hasn’t November 6, 2019 12:06 PM PST strictly been in a matchup role as it has the last few years. Part of that is our young players matching and Beagle’s line has played well.

Opinion: If they’re going to be taken seriously as a contender, they must “It makes life easier during the game.” call on that level of commitment on a nightly basis for the rest of the Well, maybe in this aspect. But as Virtanen said, it never gets easier in season the NHL. By the end of the month, the Canucks will have played 17 of This is the reality of the NHL season. their first 27 games on the road, and that stretch will reveal something about their team. On Tuesday night, the Vancouver Canucks dropped a 2-1 overtime decision in a five ice-bag game against the defending Stanley Cup The next 55 games will reveal even more. champion St. Louis Blues. Afterwards, the Canucks agreed they’d passed a significant test in a game that was played with playoff intensity. But they also get to enjoy that moment, to say nothing of the impressive Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.07.2019 start to their season, about as long as it takes most people to sneeze.

Their next test comes Thursday night in Chicago. Then it’s Friday night in Winnipeg. Then they’re home two nights later to begin a four-game stand where they play every second night. Then they’re on the road for six more, which brings them to the end of November, or about the time the season starts getting interesting.

“It always gets harder (in the NHL),” said Jake Virtanen.

Which will be the one great constant about their next 57 games.

With the overtime loss to the Blues, the Canucks have now earned points in 12 of their last 13 outings while building a 9-3-3 record, good for second in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference. Along the way they’ve displayed a certain tenacity that showed up against the champs in a big way.

But if they’re going to be taken seriously as a contender, the Canucks have to call on that level of commitment on a night-in, night-out basis for the next five months until the end of the regular season. The Canucks believe their newly formed depth and increased size allows them to withstand the schedule’s merciless grind. And it was hard to argue that point after Tuesday night’s battle with a snarly Blues team.

After scoring five or more goals in five of their previous six games, the Canucks and Blues clawed and scratched at each other for 63 minutes and 28 seconds before Jaden Schwartz potted the game winner on, of all things, a three-man breakaway. Schwartz’s golden goal was the result of a comedic sequence in which Tyler Myers wiped out J.T. Miller after Myers had fired wide on a decent scoring chance.

But in the post mortem, the Canucks were talking about the 63 minutes that preceded that calamity, not that moment where things went haywire.

“It felt like a game you see more towards the end of the year,” Myers said. “We have to realize that’s what the games are going to look like as we go through the season. There’s got to be some patience in the game. You can’t force things and I thought we did a pretty good job of that.”

That showed up on the scoresheet where the Canucks were credited with a season-high 29 hits, including eight by Miller, who emerged as a team leader in the bruising affair. It also showed up with the efforts of players like Virtanen, who finished with five shots; Josh Leivo, who drew a key assist on Quinn Hughes’s game-tying goal; and Brandon Sutter, who helped shut down the Brayden Schenn line in regulation.

“That was a big-boy game,” said Canucks head coach Travis Green. “That’s a heavy team and they know how to win.

“We’ve talked about it in this room. If you want to win a Stanley Cup, you have to play in some heavy games. As much as you want to be skilled, there’s still a lot of size to hockey. I thought that was the most physical game we’ve been in this season.”

So will this be a November to remember for Green’s team? Check back in three weeks, but the coach said the Canucks have been built to stand up to the NHL grind.

Case in point: His many options in matching up against the opposition’s best lines. On Tuesday night, the Sutter–Virtanen–Leivo line saw a lot of 1160300 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks closing in on new deals with assistant coaches

PATRICK JOHNSTON

November 6, 2019 1:38 PM PST

With the team off to a flying start, Canucks management is set to re-up with his team's assistant coaches.

Not all the names have been signed to the dotted line, but the Canucks are closing in on re-upping with all of their assistant coaches, sources tell Postmedia.

It’s believed the new deals for Nolan Baumgartner, Newell Brown, Manny Malhotra, Darryl Seward, Glenn Carnegie and Ian Clark are one-year extensions, tying everyone in with head coach Travis Green’s deal, which runs until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner during practice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Oct. 2, 2018. Arlen Redekop / PNG

Baumgartner, Brown, Malhotra and Seward have all been Green’s assistants since he was hired as Canucks head coach before the 2017- 18 season, while Clark joined the staff last season.

Carnegie has been the Canucks’ skills coach since 2009-10.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160301 Vancouver Canucks In other words, look beyond the counting stats. The way defensemen can impact offense goes well beyond goals and assists.

It’s also about tilting the ice and controlling the run of play. About How Tyler Myers has exceeded expectations and fit in seamlessly on breaking opposition forechecks, smart squeezes and keeping the puck Vancouver’s top pair alive at the blue line by being deliberate, clever and aggressive:

As a result of plays like this one, occurring consistently over 200 feet of ice, the Canucks went into Tuesday night’s game against the Blues By Thomas Drance directing shot attempts at their opponents at a rate of over 70 shot attempts per hour with the Myers and Edler pair on the ice. According to Nov 6, 2019 hockey analytics site Moneypuck.com, Myers and Edler are the only regular defense pair in the NHL (minimum 100 even-strength minutes) so far this season to top that 70 on-ice shot attempts for per hour mark. In overtime on Tuesday night, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers stepped into a Bo Horvat pass on his one-timer side, shot the puck If loud mistakes – like the overtime miss or the late second-period wide on the far side and collided with teammate J.T. Miller. giveaway to O’Reilly which forced Edler to take a goal-saving minor penalty – stand out, it’s quiet, effective habits that tend to ultimately It was a tough sequence. prevail in the long run. Those are the areas of the game in which the Myers/Edler pair have excelled in so far, the areas of the game where It sprung the St. Louis Blues the other way, with odds so overwhelming they have been among the primary drivers of Vancouver’s early-season there was no chance for Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom. success. It was a play Myers was so disappointed about that he could barely “Seamless,” Myers summarized to The Athletic this week when asked speak to it postgame. about how he’s fit into this surprisingly effective Canucks roster. “Were you surprised to see a three-on-zero going the other way?” Myers “I think when Eddie and I are at our best, we’re playing aggressive – was asked by a reporter. aggressive gap, closing on guys in the defensive zone,” Myers said of “As soon as I ran into Millsy there, I knew it was going to be 3-on-0, so I their early-season success. “And when we’re doing that, I find we’re not wasn’t really surprised …” Myers said, trailing off abruptly. spending a lot of time in our end.

The silence dragged on before the reporter bailed Myers out, “feel bad “We can only get better at that with how much we do it, how consistently for Marky?” we do it. When we have that mindset, when we’re using our sticks the way we can, we’re both big bodies, we both can skate, so the quicker we “Yeah … you don’t want to give that up,” Myers said, trailing off again. can get on guys the more time we’re going to spend in their zone and Loud mistakes stand out in hockey. They often colour perception unduly, that’s the mindset we have.” particularly in an obsessive, fatalistic Vancouver hockey market that even It’s that mindset they put to use so well on Tuesday night. on the best of days bends toward the negative. In a first period shift, for example, Myers helped the Canucks maintain In Myers’ case though, the overtime sequence really shouldn’t obscure zone time and set up two five-alarm scoring chances with an assertive the fact that in nearly all other respects, Tuesday was a signature pinch down the right boards: performance for a player whose Vancouver tenure has, 15-games in, exceeded all expectations. As play reset to Myers at the point following Miller’s chance, Myers once again combined with Miller on a pretty passing sequence in the high slot, Myers logged the second-most minutes among Canucks skaters (23:07) faking a Blues defender off of their feet and setting up a dangerous point against St. Louis, directed six shot attempts on net, threw three hits, shot that got through but narrowly missed wide: recorded a pair of takeaways and blocked a shot. More importantly, the Canucks controlled play by a wide margin with the Myers and Alex Edler Finally, as Myers’ miss circled the wall to Edler, Brock Boeser and Edler pair on the ice, recording 21 shot attempts to St. Louis’ 13 at 5-on-5 and combined for another passing sequence to Edler on his one-time side. outshooting the Blues 12-8 while soft matched against the Ryan O’Reilly Reading the play, Myers did well to drop down to the backdoor, where he line (and facing the Brayden Schenn line as a secondary matchup). might’ve had a scoring chance if Edler and Miller had connected more smoothly on a high-low pass: “Just veteran players, these kind of games don’t surprise those guys,” Canucks head coach Travis Green said of his top pair following Tuesday “It’s a read for sure, it’s feel,” Myers said of learning how and when to night’s 2-1 overtime loss to the defending Stanley Cup champions. jump into the play as he adjusts to playing full time with Edler. “You get a “They’ve been in games like these, they’ve been in battles, physically feel for it especially with how long Eddie and I have played for.” they’re not going to get intimated in a game like this. It’s sequences like these that explain why Myers and Edler have had “And I think we have a group that looks forward to playing in these kind of such a significant impact on Vancouver’s even-strength offensive games. That’s what you want really, you want a team that wants to play performance in the early going, even if they haven’t been producing the in games against the best clubs in the league and see how they match points themselves. They’re both cerebral, they’re both physical and up.” they’ve been playing aggressive, effective hockey — the type of hockey that helps control games. On Tuesday night, for a second time this season, the Canucks went toe- to-toe with the defending champions and essentially controlled the game. And their auspicious on-ice results are a direct result of an accumulation They not only held their own against a physical, street-wise club, they of sequences like this one on Tuesday, in which Myers comes late and arguably deserved better than just one point. with perfect timing, receiving a pass from Elias Pettersson. Though the play doesn’t come off, when the Blues turn the puck up the other way, Myers and Edler were central to that, as they have been all season. Edler disrupts the St. Louis breakout at the Canucks’ blue line and Myers The two veteran defenders have been Vancouver’s even-strength is able to quick up the puck to Miller, keying the transition game: leaders in minutes and the club’s go-to matchup pair. They’ve been key “I think if you look at all six of our D, we’re doing a really good job of not only to Vancouver’s early-season resurgence, but also to the club’s timing that second layer when our forwards turn up,” Myers said of the dynamic, surprising level of offensive production. Canucks’ success taking that fourth man’s ice this season.

“They take away time and space, they have a long reach,” Green “As a defense corps we’re all trying to defend first and make sure you summarized when discussing Myers and Edler’s offensive impact. “That finish your job in your own zone to get the puck and then we all try to allows us not to spend as much time in our own zone. create offensively,” Edler added. “Whether it’s making good breakouts or “You look at the top teams in this league and their back end is getting the puck up quick.” exceptionally good. People get enamoured by offense and points, but not So far, it’s working for the Canucks. And while there are some reasons spending time in your zone means you’re spending it in the other team’s for concern – Edler, in particular, is playing a lot of minutes considering zone and that’s important.” his age and durability issues, and is taking an awful lot of penalties in the early going – the fact is, that Myers and Edler have functioned as a high- end top defensive pair in the early going.

With Edler and Myers logging matchup minutes, Vancouver is coming out ahead on the shot clock and even on the scoreboard against the best forward lines in the league. They rank fifth among all regular defensive pairs (minimum 100 5-on-5 minutes) by shot attempt differential. Despite this high level of play, the duo has had unfortunate finishing luck. But if they can maintain this consistent level of offensive pressure, it is reasonable to expect that the Canucks will start to outscore their opponents by a wider margin with Myers and Edler on the ice at even- strength.

What’s perhaps most surprising though, is how quickly Edler and Myers have managed to gel.

“We’ve worked at it,” Myers says of finding chemistry with Edler off the bat. “Even before camp started we’d had some conversations about how we want to move the puck, how we want to move the puck – in terms of communication on the ice – and I think it’s got even better since the season started. I think we both move the puck well and you combine that with how much we spoke to each other at camp off of the ice to see how we could get better, I think it’s only building.”

“The best way to get better together is to play games together,” Edler adds. “But sometimes you have to watch a little video, talk about different things. In the beginning, communication on the ice is really big too.”

There are big questions the Canucks still need to answer as November rolls along. The schedule is going to be denser and the quality of competition is going to be higher. The grind of an 82-game season tests the resolve, durability and skill level of all teams.

With the level of dynamic form Myers and Edler are in at the moment, Vancouver’s top pair has been essential in powering a young club to a surprising 21 points in their opening 15 games. As the backbone of the club’s success to this juncture, their ability to both maintain something approximating this level of play and stay relatively healthy is likely to determine how the club’s season plays out from here.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160302 Websites behind my model until the end of the season where there are fewer games to predict. From Oct. 10 to April 1, my model offered a more accurate reflection of a team’s future point total than its point pace on any given day in 155 of 174 days or 89 percent of the time. Fifteen of the 20 The Athletic / By the numbers: How projections can be wrong and why days where it didn’t perform as well were after March 13 where there was that’s OK little discernible difference between the two.

The goal isn’t to be perfect because that would be impossible – it’s to be less wrong and this model (and likely a few others out there) do that, By Dom Luszczyszyn relative to just looking at the standings at the time. That’s the value Nov 6, 2019 presented by the daily projections, and every day they get a little more accurate.

From that chart, we can also establish a few guidelines. It’s Nov. 6, 2018 and I’m doing the same thing I do every day from October to June: simulate the remainder of the NHL season. On this day After the first two months or so, the difference between what’s projected I’ll be wrong, just like I was the day before and just like I will be the day and what happens will still likely be around eight points. The margins for after. error are large and that’s why the NHL has surprise teams every season that greatly surpass expectations. Here’s what the standings looked like That’s the nature of the business. As Carolina’s Eric Tulsky put it in his last year in early-December. conversation with Craig Custance for The Full 60 podcast, the goal is to be less wrong. One year later, we can see exactly how wrong I was. Again, it’s low on the Islanders and too high on a team like the Flyers, but it’s much more bullish on the Penguins despite a woeful start and more Our projections thought the New York Islanders would finish with 88 bearish on the Sabres despite them having a top-five points percentage points. Wrong, they earned 103. It thought the Tampa Bay Lightning at the time. In the West, there’s still a modicum of belief in St. Louis would only get 108. Wrong, they ended up with 128. It thought the despite a bottom-five point pace, plus playoff projected finishes for both Minnesota Wild would be a playoff team with 97 points. Wrong again, Vegas and San Jose despite neither team being on a 90-plus point pace. they finished with 83. It thought the Columbus Blue Jackets would finish with 97 points. Idiot. They finished with 98 points. At the New Year, the average error falls to six points and drops further to five by the All-Star break. That means a team projected for 95 points is One year ago, on average, our projections were off by 7.1 points. On the going to land somewhere between 90-to-100, give or take. And that’s in surface, that seems terrible. Ten teams were off by 10 points or more February. Here’s what the projected standings looked like then. and while that may seem like a huge miss, it’s a byproduct of how difficult the sport is to predict thanks to the inherent randomness of every game. Just two teams not in a playoff spot find a way in and both are on the When 69 percent of games have the favorite with a less than 60 percent cusp. Projected points and point pace start converging a bit, but there are chance of winning, games often boil down to a slightly weighted coin flip. still some differences. The model finally recognizes the Islanders will be That anything can happen is what makes the sport so exciting, but also a closer to 100 points, though still underrates them, but elsewhere it’s a challenge in discerning signal from noise. touch more accurate for teams like Winnipeg, Colorado and Chicago in the West. Even this late in the game there are teams like St. Louis and Models account for that. Every simulation has a different output and it’s Buffalo whose projection and pace are off by 10 or more points. important to remember that the projections merely represent an average of all those iterations. There’ll be some simulated seasons where a 95- It takes a long time to be any more accurate, but by the trade deadline, point team ends up with 105, and some with 85. There’s a large margin that’s halved to about 2.5 points. Even that close to the end, there can of error this early and that simply means being more uncertain in where a still be some differences between what is projected to happen and what team will ultimately land. It leads to a lot of “wrongness” and that’s OK. actually happens. Here’s where we stood just after the trade deadline last year. It’s also nothing without context. An extremely popular question from people who see a model’s output is “why is this team so low/high when Just minor quibbles here and there. Everyone projected for a playoff spot their point pace is the opposite?” When a model differs drastically from did make it, though the battles were tight and there’s no guarantee that the standings that’s a natural question to ponder, especially when a team would apply for the future. At this point, the biggest difference is Buffalo that’s been starved for on-ice results finally gets some and feels which is still 11 points off its finishing total, but almost every other team is disrespected by the algorithm for not believing in those results. Trust me, within five points. I get it. That’s just one season of data, but I imagine the same pattern will hold in The standings can lie though, especially this early in the season. While other seasons where a simulation based on a regressed output will my model was off by 7.1 points on Nov. 6 of last year, the team’s point generally be more predictive of a team’s point pace for a majority of the pace was off by nine points (after being off by 11 the previous day, season, especially so early on. It’s easy to get fooled by early results, showing the instability that also comes with looking at early records). which is why it’s always prudent to look at underlying numbers to see whether a team is actually good or just fortunate to be in the position Here’s what my model projected on this date last year compared to each they’re in. team’s point pace and their final result. In terms of this year’s surprise teams, Vancouver and Arizona’s starts If the ultimate goal is about being less wrong, then my model’s point look very encouraging based on their 5-on-5 dominance, the Islanders projections were less wrong than a team’s point pace in 17 instances, are interesting because they look to be continuing last year’s trend, compared to 13 for the standings. Buffalo’s numbers look more middling than promising and Edmonton, well, there’s enough reason to remain skeptical there. While some may want to put a lot of stock into early results, what has been previously known about each player and team shouldn’t be For teams not expected to do much, looking at early standings success completely forgotten. My model is stubborn in its opinion of players and can be an intoxicating feeling, but may come with similar after-effects if teams, but that’s a feature, not a bug. not careful. It’s only been 15 or so games for each team and as exciting as this early time can be, it’s best not to get carried away. In the goal of Otherwise, it would’ve pegged the Canucks as a playoff team, the Wild being less wrong, a little patience never hurt anybody. as a top team in the West, the Avalanche as contenders, the Golden Knights, Hurricanes and Panthers as also-rans or the Senators as an 80- point team. It may have been low on a team like the Islanders or Flames, but that comes with the territory. It will be wrong sometimes, but it’ll be The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 wrong less than putting faith in the standings alone.

And that applies to more days than Nov. 6. I went back and looked at the difference between my projections and each team’s point pace at the time for every day of the 2018-19 season. The difference is stark in the season’s first half, up until around mid-December. That’s around the time where a team’s point pace becomes a bit more meaningful, but it still lags 1160303 Websites “Those are the low moments you go through as a family.” Son of Chicago Blackhawks coach , Brett would make

regular dressing-room appearances, firing around tennis balls with Denis The Athletic / What it’s really like to grow up the child of a pro hockey Savard, Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, . player or coach To this particular six-year-old, that was no big deal. But at school, he would see classmates wearing replica jerseys with those household names on the backs. Those same boys had a hard time believing Brett By Scott Cruickshank when he’d tell them that he knew their heroes and had even skated with them. Nov 6, 2019 “You start to realize it’s a pretty unique situation,” said Brett. “When

you’re a kid, you’re kind of proud of that.” To Jackson Playfair, the scene remains vivid. For Brandon Sutter, whose father Brent was playing for the Blackhawks “To the day I leave this earth, I’ll remember,” he said. in those days, the connection was no big deal. That is, until he realized that even when his dad ventured out of town for work, he could still see What Jackson recalls is walking home one winter’s day in Saint John, him — on TV. N.B., with his big brother, Dylan, and his baby brother, Austyn. The boys, bundled up, are keen to get out of the cold. “That’s a wakeup call,” said Brandon. “The team’s on the road and you’re watching him and you’re like, ‘Oh, this is kind of cool.’ That wasn’t a Yanking open the front door, they walk inside their home. Inexplicably, common thing.” half of their belongings are in boxes. Meanwhile, their parents, Jim and Roxane, are smiling and huddled around the kitchen TV, which is tuned Dylan Playfair didn’t need telecasts to alert him to his dad’s prominence to TSN. as an assistant coach in the late 1990s for IHL Kalamazoo. He’d go to K- Wings games and there, in the middle of the hoopla, was Pops. “I could see across the bottom of the picture, it said, ‘Jim Playfair hired by the Calgary Flames’ — that was his first NHL coaching job,” said “All the fans, sitting in the seats, cheering and yelling and banging on the Jackson. “That was when all three of us kids realized that Dad was going glass, then seeing your dad on the inside? That was something that to The Show — and we were going to get to go with him. It was a pretty always sparked a lot of joy and pride in me,” he said. “I remember cool experience.” thinking, ‘Whatever I do in my life, it has to be big,’ because you’re supposed to build on what your parents do, and I always thought my dad Understandably, that snapshot from the 2002-03 season, when he was set the bar pretty high.” eight years old and his dad was promoted to assistant coach in Calgary, remains frozen in Jackson’s mind. Austyn Playfair’s introduction to the hockey lifestyle arrived immediately after Dad led the Saint John Flames to the 2001 Calder Cup For kids of hockey players and coaches, poignant childhood recollections championship. Amid raucous celebration, the brothers were allowed to like Jackson’s reflect their unique upbringings. crawl over the boards.

Uncertain times in an unsettled profession. Then three years old, Austyn couldn’t believe it: “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, we can go on the ice without our skates on? What? We can Even good news, like a promotion to the NHL, creates upheaval. And have our feet on the ice? That’s crazy.'” bad news, in a blink, can rock their worlds. But for the Playfairs and the Conroys, it was the Flames’ 2004 playoffs There is the side of the their childhood existence that is on display — or, that really drove home the fact that their dads’ occupations were at least, easily assumed. something else. That, thanks to Dad’s status, they are roaring around the backstage These men were not accountants or electricians or librarians. areas of sports facilities, swiping bubblegum, getting free gear, going to games whenever they want, pocketing last-minute concert tickets, “I started to realize, ‘This is kind of different. People around me are acting rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, enjoying the ride provided by a differently,'” said Taylor Conroy, then in Grade 2. “I was seeing it well-compensated parent. happening and thinking, ‘Oh, this is very strange.’ It wasn’t really normal … doing ‘Go Flames go!’ chants in the morning on the intercom, which is To outsiders, they are living the life. Upside is indisputable. so bizarre to think of now. But that’s what was happening.” But — according to the offspring of Jim Playfair, Craig Conroy, Darryl Dad’s popularity Sutter and Brent Sutter — much more is going on, both charming and challenging. Even if it is difficult to articulate. Rushing to school one morning, Taylor Conroy forgot her lunch. No problem. Dad, after practising at the Saddledome, would fetch “They’re hard questions to answer,” Brett Sutter, son of Darryl, said. “You something. get so used to it. You don’t even think anything about it, to be honest with you.” Noontime, since it was late spring, had been scheduled for outside. While Taylor was patiently waiting in the playground, she saw students begin to The other day over lunch, a couple of his peers asked him what it was run madly. “I wasn’t sure what was going on.” like growing up with a father who was an NHL coach. “I had to think about it. I’m like, ‘Geez, I don’t know.’ It was normal.” She laughs. It was only her father.

To him, anyway. “Just him walking over with my lunch bag,” said Taylor. “He loves to talk about it now. You know how he is. One of my dad’s favourite stories, of Because it is a childhood influenced by big personalities and the course.” shadows they cast; by mockers in the schoolyard; by coaches at minor- hockey rinks; by expectations, their own and others’. So downplay it all you want, keep it to yourself, bite your lip, there’s no question — these are well-known gents. Like it or not. And by the whims of power brokers who, with a single mood swing, can demolish a family’s day to day. A teacher once asked Jackson Playfair if his dad would come by one day after lunch to address the students. The visit was easily arranged. Meaning Jackson can contrast his dad’s hiring by the Flames to the darker end of the employment spectrum. But when Jim got there, he realized that it wasn’t a single classroom, it was the entire school — 600 kids’ worth — crammed into the auditorium. “The joy of that … then the feeling when he gets a phone call and he’s No problem. fired in the middle of the year,” he said. “He doesn’t have a job and now we have to figure out where we’re going to move. You know that you’re “It was like watching someone wow the crowd. I think each class had a losing your school, you’re losing your friends, you’re losing your hockey question for him, so it was quite the barrage,” said Jackson. “They had us team, you’re losing your whole life. (brothers) sitting at the front by the podium. So it was cool. People who didn’t know who our dad was, they were aware after that.” However, not all moments are destined for the scrapbook. “But if I was out there playing against me, I’d probably be saying a few things to get under my skin,” he said. “So I can’t blame anybody or feel Sophia Conroy recalls TV crews coming into their home to interview Dad any resentment about it.” when he was a member of the Los Angeles Kings. For a shy girl, it was not necessarily a thrill. Sophia Conroy remembers hearing that the children of one of the Flames players were getting a rough time at school. Her dad gathered the girls to “I was always very difficult — I never liked cameras and I hated ask if they, too, were being bullied. “But we didn’t really have that whenever they’d come,” said Sophia. “This one time — it’s probably still problem,” said Sophia. on YouTube somewhere, which is awful — they followed my dad up (to my bedroom) to get me. I refused to be on camera.” Since then, the avenues of abuse have widened.

For Darryl Sutter and his clan, the visibility of the job meant that trips to For those in the public eye, social media is a game-wrecker. That’s plain. local eateries just weren’t worth the hassle anymore. “It would be hard to see things posted on Instagram or Twitter,” said “We had a lot of dinners at home because you couldn’t go out — he’d be Taylor. “People are pretty brutal on there. Anyone who was young now taking pictures the whole time, answering questions,” said Brett. “It would would have much more exposure to the negative part of sports.” almost not be a relaxing night out. It comes with the nature of Canadian hockey fans.” Trying an array of sports, Taylor Conroy had harboured high hopes. If her dad was a professional athlete and an Olympian, well, why couldn’t she Kids say the darnedest things — and, at times, the meanest. The follow? children of NHL coaches did not always have it easy . “I just thought it was going to come naturally to me,” said Taylor. “When I “I’ve actually heard that,” said Taylor Conroy. “It’s a little bit harder to wasn’t amazing at any of the sports I was doing …” come after you when your dad plays on the team. But it’s easier when he’s the coach. ‘The team’s horrible, so it must be your dad’s fault.'” It was the same for puck-chasing offspring. Naturally, they wanted to reach the NHL. They were also aware of rinkside chatter about their So wisecracks fly. Considering the source is a useful way to gain ability, their potential, and, of course, what role their dad had played. perspective, as Jackson Playfair knows — at least now. “I mean, the kid who’s saying the team sucks and they should fire the coach is eating his “You get both sides of it,” said Brett Sutter, who was drafted 179th overall cereal and listening to his dad reading the newspaper and saying the in 2005 — his father was drafted 179th in 1978. “There’s a lot of kids who team sucks and they should fire the coach.” think you’re given opportunities because of your last name. It can also go the other way — you have to earn it more. I’d never go into it thinking I But when jabs arrive in real time in the schoolyard, it’s harder to embrace was going to get a longer look … or get the short end of the stick, either. that grownup approach. “Something my dad always said: ‘Be your own player. Be who you are.'” “You hear it and it hurts, it does,” said Jackson. “The scary part … if Johnny Joe is saying the team sucks, and the team really does suck, you Comparisons, though, are unavoidable. There are expectations upon might be moving. You might be going to a new school, you might be arrival. “Yeah, the pressure was absolutely there,” said Dylan Playfair. going to a new hockey team, you might be going to a new neighbourhood “I’d definitely be lying if I said it wasn’t something I thought about all the in a new city.” time.”

Dylan admits he would engage. Partly because he knew he had been given a leg-up in the hockey world — with the new gear, the extra ice time, the in-house tutelage, the blood Razz him? Brace yourself for a return volley of verbal abuse. High road line. “To say there’s not an advantage would be a lie, so those be damned. “If you’re going to play dirty, if you’re going to play mean” assumptions were completely grounded.” said Dylan, “then let’s play dirty, let’s play mean.” Kids want to do right by their family history, no matter what. One cuss-peppered retort landed him in the principal’s office, where he cooled down and apologized — and understood why he was a target. So if it wasn’t off-the-charts production, it needed to be something else. “When it comes to chirping and being mouthy and being ignorant,” said “I always felt if I could be hard enough to play against, I could uphold the Dylan, “there’s certainly things that are low-hanging fruit … (like) cutting Playfair name,” said Dylan. “I was always very protective of my dad’s someone down who’s on the public radar.” name and my name and I think that came out a lot of time in really But Austyn, the youngest of the Playfair boys, had no problem aggressive play.” disregarding insults. Jackson, to his credit, managed to adopt a healthy view of the process.

“I always had a pretty laissez-faire attitude,” he said. “It’s not like I’m “If I was good enough to play on the first team, I’d play there. If I wasn’t, going to roll up my sleeves and actually take offence to it. It was never then I wouldn’t,” he said. “Hockey’s hockey. You could be in anyone’s too cutthroat in my experience.” family, you could be anyone’s nephew or niece … but people judge you It helped that most of his dad’s bad news arrived in the summer. That on yourself.” way, the family was gone before the barbs could really ramp up, Pro-sports immersion does produce players — Jackson Playfair, 25, with according to Austyn. “A midseason firing would be tougher because kids the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears; Brandon Sutter, 30, with the Vancouver might do the nana-boo-boo thing.” Canucks; Brett Sutter, 32, with the AHL Ontario Reign — but there are Brett Sutter, for much of his father’s time in charge of the Flames’ less predictable paths, too. fortunes, was playing for WHL Kootenay. That kept him away from Sophia Conroy, 20, is in her third year at Queen’s University in Kingston, taunts. Then again, Cranbrook, B.C., is a Vancouver Canucks Ont., in the Faculty of Life Sciences. She’s considering a career in stronghold. “Obviously, a big rival,” he said. “We’d get in some good little dentistry. Few of her current classmates know her dad is assistant scuffles. I was a diehard Flames fan, so I loved it.” general manager of an NHL club. “It doesn’t really come up,” she said. “I For the most part, he ignored the guff when it got personal. just say he works for the Flames, so people assume he’s a doctor or a trainer or something.” “You’d hear the whispers,” Brett said. “Not so much to your face, but you know people are talking about it. They’ll say something as they walk Her 22-year-old sister, Taylor, aiming for a combined degree in business away. It’s nothing that you can’t brush off. I usually never said too much. I and arts, is working through her final year at the University of Calgary. “I always had friends at school who’d say, ‘Don’t bother.’ always hope that I’ll end up in the sports world … it’s been such a huge part of my life for so long.” “It’s just the nature of it. At the end of the day, you ride and die with your family.” Their youngest sister, Sydney, is a Grade 10 student at Queen Elizabeth High School in Calgary. But when your namebar reads SUTTER or PLAYFAIR, you can expect special attention on the ice, too. Asked about that, increased jabs and Austyn Playfair, 22, recalls telling WHL Tri-City brass that he was giving hacks, Jackson laughs because, yeah, obviously, there were more. up junior hockey: “I’m going to make clothing.” From the Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver, he’s completed the fashion-design course and will graduate in December from the fashion-marketing “Doctors and lawyers and whatever, everyone has a little moment when program. they might freak,” said Jackson. “Unfortunately, because of what he does, it’s able to be put on that level and that scale. As a family, we all Dylan Playfair’s name, you may already know. He plays a character on got a good laugh and a chuckle out of it. Ultimately, we’re not always the beloved “Letterkenny” series — “Hold my spitter. Tarps off, boys. going to end up on the TSN Top 10. Let’s have a donnybrook” — and his list of acting credits grows. “That’s the lesson — whether you stumble or fall, or you have the “I haven’t had to go back to a part-time job or anything like that,” said the greatest success or a moment when you’re not thinking 100 percent 27-year-old. “It’s been really fruitful. I’ve been very fortunate.” clearly, as long as you can learn from it and grow and, looking back, say, The life ‘That’s not how I’d handle that today.'”

One time during Sophia Conroy’s soccer prime — Grade 6 or so — the About the person in charge, people love to talk. Certainly there is glory — coaches handed her a game jersey, which featured her father’s No. 24, or, at least, the potential of glory — but the burden never lifts, even for along with the family name across the back. family members.

She flipped. “I got so mad. I was like, ‘Now I look just like him.'” “You feel the pressure of the losses, you feel the pressure of the media,” said Jackson. “The assistant or associate coach — rarely do you see that Taylor remembers well the episode: “Something about it made her super name in the media headlines or read about him in the paper. But when uncomfortable. I think people just thought we’d want it. I always wanted it he’s the head coach, that weight’s on your shoulders. Being that kid, you — she did not. I don’t know if that made her feel a little more pressure … definitely feel it a lot harder in many different ways. or if it was just her wanting to be her own person.” “People don’t realize the ups and downs of a season — it’s not just Sophia, in the end, opted for No. 7 — a more subtle tribute to her dad, something you watch on TV and turn it off. It comes in (the house) and it who wore that sweater at Clarkson (N.Y.) University. affects everybody. It affects the way everybody’s living, good and bad. You feel that.” Austyn Playfair gets it. Asked to name the worst part of the adventure, Dylan doesn’t hesitate: He recalls being introduced to his junior-high class in Abbotsford as the “The stress of it. Sometimes winning is a fickle thing. When you’re son of the Heat’s new coach. “I wanted to jump out of my skin,” he said. winning? Everyone’s happy. When you’re losing? It’s really hard to put on “I was like, ‘Dude, that’s not who I am.’ I want to meet people for who that smile. That’s the hardest part. When we’re between jobs and he’s they are, not because my dad’s job is cool. looking for a job, it’s not just him on the hunt by himself. We’re all kind of “My mom was always saying, ‘What we do isn’t who you are. Who you there with him.” are — you need to find that out.'” The challenges, though, can have a shaping effect. Growing up, Taylor Conroy boiled down her dad’s prominence to a single And not necessarily in a bad way. thing: “Just one random fact that people know about me.” “I have the life skills to walk into a room, not knowing anybody, and put Then again, the subject of Dad’s job does serve as a natural ice- your personality out there and meet new people, and not feel terrified or breaker.Which can be handy, giving the transient nature of the anxious,” said Austyn Playfair. “It’s those life skills from leaving a place, profession. Sure, that’s an established byproduct of the gig. But, from the being dropped in a school, and having to fend for yourself.” inside, an entirely unappreciated piece of the ordeal. Added Dylan: “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without those Born in St. Louis, Taylor Conroy’s school years featured stops in Calgary experiences. I wouldn’t have the self-control or the understanding of my and New York (state) and Los Angeles and Calgary again. place in the world without that. In a lot of ways it led me to the career “A bit of a chaotic time,” she said. “Luckily, I was young enough that path I’m on now.” meeting people wasn’t super challenging. Coaches deal with it a lot Beyond the character-girding aspects of being children of coaches and because they don’t stay anywhere long.” players, there were plentiful perks. Indeed, Jim Playfair’s pursuits have carried his crew from Dayton, Ohio, Austyn got to play with a sawed-down Daymond Langkow stick, but his to Kalamazoo, Mich., to Saint John, N.B., to Calgary to Abbotsford, B.C., dad made sure to spread the wealth. “He’d talk to other parents and to Phoenix. they’d say, ‘Yeah, we just paid $250 for a stick yada yada yada,’ and my This year, he was hired by the Edmonton Oilers. dad would show up at the next practice with a stick and be, ‘Hey, this one’s on us.’ He was always good about keeping us level headed on Uprooting, according to Jackson, forces everyone to pull together. that.” Particularly siblings. Flames game passes, too, were well-distributed — to teachers “We didn’t have the best friends or the long-lasting neighbour that was occasionally and to the boys’ chums, the wider the range the better. “We your buddy for 20 years,” he said. “I’ve always had my brothers. We were were aware that what we had wasn’t what everybody else had,” said in it together … one of us was always on the other shoulder going Jackson, “so it’s important that you share it.” through it.” More benefits? Last-minute concert tickets. Maybe a rope-lifting at an Dylan remembers going back to Fort St. James, B.C., during the summer exclusive party at the Stampede. Dinner reservations at trendy and envying the kids there. How lucky they were to live in the same restaurants. Brushes with celebrities. house their whole life, to get to see their dads at 5 p.m. every day. “Or fill in the blanks, right?” But one of the best bonuses has nothing to do with privilege or freebies.

But from an often turbulent existence, the boys were able to draw Simply, it’s the luxury of summers off. Undivided attention from the old inspiration. Dylan notes one particular chunk of his father’s arc — from man. There’s nothing like it. Calgary head coach to Calgary associate coach to Abbotsford head Brett Sutter remembers fondly offseasons at the family farm in Viking, coach — and marvels at his dad’s behaviour during the heartache of Alta. “That was amazing, spending three or four months together. That back-to-back demotions. was awesome, too.” “To watch him handle that with grace, I mean, I wouldn’t wish that on Said Dylan: “Every summer of my childhood, I remember my dad being anyone, really,” said Dylan. “Now that I’m older, I recognize how much there all day, all night. Hanging out with us on the beach. Having friends that took for him to be a leader in our family, to take it in stride and not be and family over. Training with him. Late nights around the fire. I bitter about it … and not let it affect his home-life attitude. Everyone deals remember asking him if he ever wanted to be a GM, and he said, ‘No. I with adversity, but there’s something about being under the public eye always want to have my summers.'” and dealing with it.” Trumping all, though, is having front-row seats to the big moment — Sometimes it’s not a firing that creates waves. when Dad’s diligence turns into tangible triumph. After all, there’s nothing like seeing your dad play a starring role in a viral video that ends up being viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Brett points to the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championships in Los Angeles. “My dad is my biggest idol,” he said. “So those are great memories — being able to cheer him on.”

Because, all along you’ve participated in everything — from house- cleanings to house-findings, from skids to streaks, from grim to gravy — and your role is real.

You know it.

“It makes all of the moves, all the sacrifices, worth it,” said Dylan. “The highs are really high and as much as the lows suck, you know that you’re doing it together.

“Every part of their journey, we’re a piece of that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160304 Websites Well, once everyone gets around to putting all the new numbers into their phones, at least.

“That was pretty funny in Prague — I didn’t have every number from all The Athletic / Off Beat: Group texts, May-December bromances and the new guys, so it’s just number, number, number, number, no names,” making friends in an NHL dressing room Gustafsson said. “I was just like, ‘Come on. Can’t everyone just say their names so I can save it all?’”

The Blackhawks’ group text isn’t terribly active most nights. On the road, Mark Lazerus if a player is headed out to dinner somewhere, he’ll fire off a quick text that he’s leaving for Italian food at 7:30. Meet me in the lobby if you want Nov 6, 2019 in. If someone can’t find Ommen’s most recent email, he’ll ask the hive mind what time the bus leaves for the rink. On a Thursday night in mid- October, a few guys were talking about the Patrick Mahomes knee injury This is the fifth edition of Off Beat, an occasional series peeling back the on Thursday Night Football. curtain to show the human side of professional sports, and the little quirks of hockey culture. You can find the first four editions here and here And this being hockey, there’s naturally some chirping going on. Mess up and here and here. a drill in practice, and you’ll hear about it on the group chat the rest of the day. And yes, again, Shaw is the loudest one in the chat. On his way out of the Blackhawks’ dressing room one afternoon last month, Alex DeBrincat announced to nobody in particular that he was “He talks to himself half the time,” Toews said. “I’m not even joking.” going to see “Joker.” It’s the smaller group chats that can get a little livelier. The Snapchat “Wait up, I’ll come,” Patrick Kane said. group was overloaded with family photos and artfully presented dinner tables over Canadian Thanksgiving. The resident hockey nerds of the “Hey, me, too,” Alex Nylander said. team — Kane, DeBrincat and Dylan Strome — have their own little group text, and they’ll fire off power-play analysis while watching the same And that’s how a 30-year-old found himself at the movies with a couple of game in their respective homes. Shaw, who quickly bonded (and 21-year-olds. One of the most famous people in Chicago and two guys annoyed) DeBrincat and Strome while they were briefly linemates at the who could walk into just about any restaurant in the city and not get start of the season, still chimes in with them every now and then. noticed. A 13-year veteran, a third-year standout and a rookie on a new team in a new city. Two Americans and a Swede. There’s also Instagram, of course.

Spend enough time around Chicago — or 30 other cities across North “I don’t comment much, but I comment on Shawzie’s pics a lot,” America, for that matter — and you never know which combination of Gustafsson said. “And I think I follow DeBrincat’s dog. No idea why. Hit Blackhawks you might run into. Oh, sure, you might see longtime BFFs follow one time, I guess, and now it’s following me.” Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook together. But you also might run into Jonathan Toews and Marcus Kruger braving the cold to walk to a mall in During their first Stanley Cup run in 2009-10, the Blackhawks were downtown Calgary. What on Earth do they have to talk about? You might inseparable. They rolled 15 to 20 strong to the bar on the road, went out see DeBrincat out to dinner with Seabrook, Cam Ward and Chris Kunitz for massive, late-night team dinners after home games, and everyone in Anaheim; or Strome with Artem Anisimov at the MGM Detroit hung out with everyone. When they did split up for smaller dinners on the steakhouse. What could they possibly have in common? Maybe you’ll road, you didn’t pick your dining partners based on whom you liked, you find Brandon Saad and David Kampf grabbing a quick bite. Wait, what? picked based on what food you wanted. After all, it didn’t matter who was Or you might have spotted Brendan Perlini and Slater Koekkoek catching coming with you, because you liked everyone. a flick in Vancouver. Does Koekkoek even like European soccer? In 2015-16 and 2016-17, that was no longer the case. There were the old How do these groupings come about? How are friendships forged in the guys and the young guys, the Swedes and the Russians, the Czechs and NHL? How does the new guy become just one of the guys? Well, it turns the Slovaks. And the groups didn’t really mix all that often. So in the fall out an NHL dressing room isn’t all that different from any other office of 2017, Toews — who occasionally has to double as social mediator setting. Throw a bunch of people into close quarters for hours on end, and cruise director as team captain — and the rest of the leadership every single day, and friendships will form, cliques will materialize and group declared that the cliques had to go. No more Core and Everyone merge, and inside jokes will build. Those things matter, too, because the Else, no more young guys and old guys. closer you are as an office, the better you’ll feel going to work every day From now on, they were all just Blackhawks. And it worked. Under-the- — and, ideally, the better you’ll perform. surface tensions dropped away, and even though the team struggled on “That’s the biggest thing about a team,” Toews said. “Everyone wants to the ice, there were few conflicts off it. feel like whatever contribution they’re making, however big or small, it’s “Especially the last two or three years, we’ve been trying not to have so being noticed and it’s valued. And hanging out together, spending time many cliques on the team,” Kane said. “Try to make it one big group with together, that’s a good way to do that — to make sure guys feel like and everyone together. I mean, obviously I’m really close with Duncs and know that they’re part of a team, and that their impact matters.” Seabs, and Crow and Tazer. With everything we’ve been through, it’s Andrew Shaw has wasted no time reintegrating himself into the great to hang out with them. But it’s also good to see what other guys are Blackhawks’ social scene. (David Banks / USA Today) up to, too.”

Every workplace has the Reply-All person. It’ll probably shock absolutely Kane is the most obvious clique-buster on the team. Over the last few no one that Andrew Shaw is the Blackhawks’ Reply-All guy. seasons, he’s gravitated toward the younger guys — staying out in practice longer to work on skills development, lingering in the locker room Just before training camp opened in September, strength coach Paul to geek out over stats, and yes, taking the kids to the movies. First, it was Goodman blasted out a text to more than 50 players with ice times, Nick Schmaltz, Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza. Now it’s DeBrincat, weight-room times and conditioning-test times. Strome and even Nylander and Kirby Dach, who was 6 years old when Kane made his NHL debut. “And Shawzie replied to all of the guys,” Erik Gustafsson said, shaking his head. “Just dumb. But Shawzie is dumb, so … ” “I’ve always enjoyed when younger guys come into the locker room,” Kane said. “I think it’s good for the team, especially for us older guys, to Like with any social network, the group text has become a staple of talk to them about certain things. Not just hockey things, but lifestyle communication in the NHL. While official team business is usually things, too — how they live their life. I enjoy that. They have a lot to offer, covered with email — director of team services Tony Ommen sends out too. They’re so skilled, so talented, they’ve been training the right way, daily emails with practice times and travel reminders and the like — the with personal trainers and personal skill guys and things like that. Even players themselves mostly keep in touch through texts. A few of the talking to a guy like Kirby, there are things you can take from the way he younger guys on the team have their own Snapchat group. Perlini said trains and the way he works on the ice in the summers. They help you the Tucson Roadrunners used a WhatsApp group when he was in the feel younger, too.” AHL. But the group text is the easiest way to keep 23 guys on the same page. The result is all these odd couples and groupings you see about town It can be hard to be the new guy. And there are a whopping 10 new guys sometimes. Sure, Seabrook is 13 years older than DeBrincat. But they on the Blackhawks roster this season. They were all made to feel both like eating steak the night before a game, so you’ll usually find them welcome right away. Seabrook downplays his behind-the-scenes role, and a few others in a steakhouse on the road (if you’re wondering, yes, but there’s a reason you’ll never hear a Blackhawks player, on or off the sometimes Seabrook picks up the check, but usually they do the pick- record, bemoan Seabrook’s contract. someone’s-credit-card-out-of-a-hat game). If someone mentions he has an errand to run after a practice, or plans to go shopping in Beverly Hills In that room, he’s worth every penny. on an off day in Los Angeles, any one of the other 22 guys might join “I don’t know, you talk to him,” Seabrook shrugged, talking about his him. outreach efforts to any given player. “You try to get to know him on a “Some teams are definitely grouped,” said goaltender Robin Lehner, personal level. It’s all about having fun and helping them feel as who’s on his fourth NHL team in the last six seasons. “This team seems comfortable as they can.” to be not that grouped. It’s different from team to team. It depends on the Getting integrated into a new team is a different experience for every personalities you have, how long they’ve been together, how many new player. For Kampf, who spoke little English when he first came to guys you have — all of these things come into account. But this team Chicago, it was difficult at times. He clung to Michal Kempny, who also isn’t grouped. It’s very friendly.” occasionally had to serve as his interpreter.

In fact, some younger players go out of their way to hang out with the “I knew enough English to understand,” he said. “But I can’t say some older guys. You never know what pro tip you might learn, or what long story, you know, or something like that. A small sentence was OK. hilarious tale of yesteryear you might hear. But that’s it.”

“You always go to dinner with different guys and get to know new guys Kampf roomed with DeBrincat on the road, but they mostly just watched and hear new stories,” Strome said. “Lehner’s an interesting guy to talk their respective Netflix shows with headphones on. (For the record, to, so I’ll hopefully get to go to some dinners with him on the road. I nearly every player will tell you that a quiet roommate is a perfect mean, I never knew any of these guys before I came here. Seabrook roommate.) But Kampf’s English has improved tremendously over the always has awesome stories, so I like going with him, and he loves going past year, so now he’s just one of the guys. to good places. And Duncs usually follows Seabs around, so it’s always fun.” “I was a little bit nervous the first time, but after that, it was great,” Kampf said. “Every guy on the team is very nice.” That’s not to say there aren’t players that are especially close with others. Strome and DeBrincat are the new Keith and Seabrook. David DeBrincat was just a kid when he cracked the NHL. So trips to Las Kampf kept close with Dominik Kahun last year, and has quickly bonded Vegas were particularly stifling. While all his teammates went out for with Dominik Kubalik — “The Czechs never leave each other’s sides,” drinks and blackjack, he was literally doing homework, finishing up his Saad said — and Shaw bought a house right around the corner from his high school career. But it didn’t take long for him to get over the age longtime buddy Saad. difference.

And there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as it doesn’t come at the Now there are May-December bromances all over the roster. expense of team chemistry as a whole. “It wasn’t too weird,” DeBrincat said with a laugh. “Once the year goes “It happens naturally, especially when you’ve got guys from different on, you see the child in every one of these guys.” countries,” Toews said. “You can’t have cliques, you’ve got to make an Perlini and Strome came to Chicago together in the Schmaltz trade last effort to go out with different guys on the road and stuff like that. But it year, so that eased their transition. But Perlini, who was traded to the still happens naturally. If you think about it, if you were playing in Russia, Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 28 and will start the getting-to-know-you you’d probably hang out with your Canadian or American buddies, too. process yet again, said it was easy to make friends and feel comfortable You’ve got to allow some guys to do what makes them feel good, and right away. what makes them feel comfortable.” “It’s not as hard as people think,” he said. “I went to five different schools And that’s always been a part of Toews’ mandate, even when he was a in five years as a kid, so I got used to moving. It’s just your common slightly overwhelmed 20-year-old captain. No man left behind. attractions — what do you like outside of hockey, like golf or whatever. “I’m not one of the loudest guys, the biggest talkers in the room,” he said. You’re around each other every day, so you chat about things and you “But you do it in your own way. You’re an individual and you’ve got your bond that way. The guys in here are great, so it’s really not that hard.” own problems and your own game to worry about, so it’s not always “It’s like anything in life,” Lehner said. “You get what you take, you know? easy. But when you notice a guy that can use some help or to be If you don’t try to socialize and get to know people, you don’t get to know included, and you just do something or say something to make him feel people. If you put your foot in the water, good things usually happen.” comfortable and part of things, I think that goes a long way. And I think a lot of guys have done a good job of that.” All that said, of course, it’ll never be like 2010 again. Back then, nearly the entire roster was young and single. These days, the family room Perhaps nobody more than Seabrook, the Blackhawks’ one-man down the hall from the locker room is bursting with babies, toddlers and welcoming committee. elementary schoolers. The hockey world is a small one, and it seems like everybody has So the days of lingering in the locker room for hours on end or huge, late- crossed paths with just about everybody else at some point along the night dinners are few and far between. At least at home. way to the NHL. But anytime you walk into a new workplace for the first time, it can be a little intimidating. “You’ve got to pick your spots,” Seabrook said. “For me personally, with kids, it’s definitely tougher to get out whenever you want. You can’t just Enter Seabrook. do what you want whenever you want. You’ve got to make a plan. You’ve “If you come into this locker room, Seabrook is going to make you feel got kids, and they might have school or baseball or hockey or some kind welcome right away,” Kane said. of activity the next day. You want to go on dates with your wife. So it’s picking your spots and trying to find time. That’s the biggest challenge.” He won’t casually sidle up to you and ask how you’re doing. He’ll catch you from across the room, his booming voice echoing in every stall. If That’s the case for some of the new guys, too. It’s not always about you don’t already have a nickname, you’ll have one within minutes. If you needing a restaurant or bar recommendation. Sometimes it’s about do already have one, you’ll probably get another one. And it will be needing a doctor or a school recommendation. worse. “Being a guy who’s comfortable living in Chicago, you don’t really think Toews is the captain, but Seabrook is the paterfamilias. about certain things after a while,” Toews said. “You just kind of come to training camp and settle in. For other guys, there are a lot of new things “He’s awesome,” Olli Maatta said. “He’s always really friendly, always you don’t maybe quite think about. That’s where you can be helpful.” has something going on, and he keeps it really light in the room, which is nice. Obviously, when the game comes around, that’s when it gets However, even in the clique-free, carefree Blackhawks dressing room, serious. But you need that. You need to come to the rink and have a little there are limits to how much help you can get. Getting out of the house to fun once in a while. That’s why you love hockey.” hang out with your buddies and bond with your teammates is important. Critical, even, to a team’s success.

But it’s not always easy.

“We don’t share babysitters,” Seabrook said. “They’re a hot commodity around here. There might be some fights over babysitters.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160305 Websites Bill Guerin, who won the Stanley Cup twice as a player and is now general manager of the Minnesota Wild, once described Chicago as “the town you loved to get into and hated when you left.”

The Athletic / ‘You can do stupid s—’: Why life on the road can be good His description made sense after he explained how visiting players arrive for NHL players in Chicago and drink until 4 a.m. or later, depending on how much planning had gone into stocking hotel rooms with adult beverages. Guerin recalled players not yet being hungover by the time of a morning skate, definitely “feeling the night before” by the time of the game, and By Rob Rossi then after: “getting our butts beat by the Blackhawks and going out after Nov 6, 2019 the game and having a good time until our flight the next morning.”

When relayed that anecdote, the Colorado Avalanche’s Ian Cole widened his eyes. Shaking his head, he sheepishly offered that NHL road trips During his first few weeks in the Vegas Golden Knights dressing room “are not anything like that nowadays.” during the 2017-18 season, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury felt like a stranger. Could they be? “I don’t think so,” Cole said.

Fleury’s longtime teammate in Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby, felt the same Should they be? “I’m not going there,” Cole said. way for a few weeks early this season, too. “Look, everyone has their own lives at home,” Cole said. “I think on the The Penguins had a home-heavy schedule in October. Aside from a road is where a team can galvanize. Going to dinner. Doing lunches. night in Saint Paul, Minn. and another in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Hitting the movies. Anything… Penguins were in Pittsburgh for 18 of the first 20 days in October. “It’s just spending time together. I don’t think you need to do anything Had it been any other season, Crosby would have looked forward to a specific or special to create that. I think just having time together will do swing through NHL cities in Florida and Dallas — a five-days/six-nights that for a team.” trip that included a day off in Dallas — as an overdue opportunity to get Several players said teams’ charter flights provide opportunities for some time with unfamiliar faces. bonding. Technological advances have allowed those who don’t fancy Problem was, the Penguins had broken training camp with four new card games to bring gaming into the fold. players and one of those was saddled with a long-term injury by the third Dominik Kahun, who was traded to the Penguins in the offseason after regular-season game. By the time the Penguins took a three-game road spending his first NHL season with the Blackhawks, said he noticed a trip late in October, there were still some unfamiliar faces in Pittsburgh, difference between the teams’ cultures when traveling for his first making that jaunt an important one. preseason road game with Pittsburgh. “I think it’s always good to get on the road,” Crosby said of the Penguins’ “In Chicago, we didn’t play much,” Kahun said of video-game first significant time together away from Pittsburgh this season. “You get competitions that Crosby is famous for extending well beyond the to know the guys, get to spend more time with them. Whether it’s at confines of an aircraft. “But here, most guys play Fortnite and some guys dinner, the hotel or on the bus, everything is a little more laid back and play NHL and FIFA (games). everyone’s on the same schedule, so you see everyone.” “I play only the sports games. But I always have somebody to play The road remains a place where the best stories are better lived through against.” but not told. The medical community is best equipped to debate whether a night of Which is not to suggest the modern NHL in 2019 shares anything in heavy drinking or a day of intense gaming is more likely to leave a player common with the early years of the league, in which players came to worse for the wear. Each activity is good for breaking down social know well each of the six hockey towns, or the 1980s, when the Oilers barriers, and each can help distract players from dwelling on a losing partied as well off the ice outside of Edmonton as they dominated on it. It streak. isn’t like that anymore in hockey. While many extracurricular activities have changed over the years, one And just what was “that” like, anyway? really hasn’t: pranks. And if one of hockey’s living legends of pranking Well, during his contract dispute with the Oilers at the start of the 1987- has his way, that will never change. 88 season, Paul Coffey was presented with an opportunity to join the In Pittsburgh, Fleury made it a point at least once each season to mess Penguins. He jumped at it, but not merely because those Penguins had with a teammate, and he brought his bag of tricks to Las Vegas. Neither begun to assemble talent around a still-emerging Mario Lemieux. changing franchises nor becoming a father of three has weakened his Coffey said he and the Oilers had always “had a lot of fun” — too much enthusiasm for fostering a chummy culture by annually setting up a fun, some people might say — when the road trips took them to teammate or two for the good of the team. Pittsburgh in the early-to-mid 1980s. A local bar, Froggy’s, was famous At some point this season, with the bright lights of Las Vegas far away, a for serving stiff drinks, and Oilers players were happy to indulge in the Golden Knights player is going to walk off an elevator to find the entirety excess for a couple of nights in Pittsburgh. of his hotel room has been moved to that floor’s lobby. It’s Fleury’s In between, they would manage to drub the Penguins. But Coffey said greatest hit and to be a teammate of his is to expect it, to crave it. It’s not those “great nights at Froggy’s” did a lot more for those Oilers than the unlike Bruce Springsteen fans waiting for him to play “Born To Run” at a win at the old Civic Arena. concert.

“I don’t care what anybody says, you win as a team,” Coffey said. “We “Flower’s room prank? Oh, it always kills,” Cole said. “You’d think it gets obviously had great players in Edmonton. But we were a team, all of us. old, but it doesn’t. At least, it didn’t when I was in (Pittsburgh). Does he And I’m just being honest about it, but it’s when you get on the road — still do it in Vegas?” when we’d get to a city like Pittsburgh, a place we knew where to go to Fleury’s Chesire cat grin gave away the answer to Cole’s question. He blow off steam, to just be with the guys and bond away from the rink — cautioned that saying anything would “ruin the surprise” of hockey’s that you become a team. It’s as important as going through hard times worst-kept secret. together. Why does he play so coy about his trademark road prank into his 16th “I think you remember the hard times and those times on the road as NHL season? much as the winning. I really do.” “To me, it’s important every season to be on the road and bring the guys Froggy’s closed its doors years ago. But the doors are still open at some together — that’s a good way to build a camaraderie,” Fleury said. “And I famous NHL hot spots in cities like Montreal, New York and Chicago — think you can do that by doing anything or nothing, you know? But you the latter being a place former players recall with mixed emotions. can also do it by just doing stupid shit. “If it gets a little smile, I think that’s good for everyone. It’s not stupid if it brings that smile. That’s important in a long season. And it’s, like, you can do stupid shit on the road because it’s just the guys.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160306 Websites “Not enough.” “I for sure look at myself as a guy who has to get going, secondary

scoring-wise,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has one goal in 17 Sportsnet.ca / Loss to Blues shows that Oilers are not deep enough yet games. “Those two guys, they’re getting big goals for us almost every game. We’ve got to find a way to help them out, support them. Get an important one.

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec “We’ve got to find a way to start producing — every line.”

November 7, 2019, 12:40 AM Look, they’re a much better team than last season. The Oilers can kill a penalty most nights, get goaltending and move a puck far better than a

year ago. EDMONTON — “Not enough.” After a 7-1 start, however, the Oilers have gone 3-4-2. Dave Tippett could have been answering any one of a number of It’s time to have all hands on deck, and Dave Tippett is looking around questions, after the St. Louis Blues beat the Edmonton Oilers for fun at his ship. Rogers Place Wednesday. You can guess what he’s finding. Like, “how much did everyone else help Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, coach?” Not enough.

Or perhaps, “the Blues really tested your roster tonight. What do you think of your team’s depth?” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.07.2019 Maybe, “what about the scoring from your right side, coach?”

The actual exchange began with a post-game question about whether the Blues give Tippett a gauge on where his team is at right now.

“You look at that team, they are deep all the way through,” began the Oilers head coach, after a 5-2 loss to St. Louis. “You see who measures up to that and who is not up to the standard. How many players you have in that standard.”

“What did you think you had in there tonight,” Tippett was asked.

“Not enough.”

That assessment is, of course, both big- and small-picture.

On the night, the Oilers didn’t have enough players on their roster who can match the heavy, stout Blues as they roll four lines and three pairings. It is ‘big boy’ hockey at its best — the kind of game the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to figure out how to play if they’re ever going to win anything. Same for the Oilers.

There were two St. Louis empty netters, and the Oilers did have their goalie pulled on a late power play, with a chance to drag this one into overtime. But that doesn’t fool Tippett for a second: the Oilers are better than they’ve been, but they’re nowhere near deep enough to beat a Blues team playing that style of hockey.

No chance. Not for a team that relies on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to get the job done, or it doesn’t get done at all.

From Wednesday’s game:

• Three of the Oilers’ four right wingers haven’t scored yet this season.

• Three of their four centres have just one goal.

• Behind Leon Draisaitl and James Neal on the left side, there was one goal in the Oilers starting lineup.

• Draisaitl (13 goals) and McDavid (8) have scored 21 of the Oilers 48 goals — or 44 per cent.

“We have lots of guys looking for a lot of extra ice time and extra opportunities. But there is not much happening,” said Tippett. “There is just not enough, right through. The guys who have been killing penalties have been doing a pretty good job, even though we gave up two tonight.

“We need some help there, that goes without saying. Hopefully (Joakim) Nygard will give us a boost coming back with his speed. He was just getting going and could help us. But there are some other guys who we need to chip in.”

Alex Chiasson is snake bit — he gets chances, but nothing goes in.

Jujhar Khaira has one kicked in goal all year. It was his fourth goal in 77 games.

Tomas Jurco is showing us why he is on his fifth organization at age 26. Gaetan Haas, Patrick Russell, Colby Cave… Sam Gagner as a first- liner?

To all of that, we’ll borrow a quote from Tippett. 1160307 Websites it couldn’t come at a worse time for Hall, who is looking to cash in on a mega free agent deal that his past work says he more than deserves.

The Devils are also in a bit of a tough spot, because on the face of it Sportsnet.ca / Analyzing Taylor Hall's early impact and the Devils' difficult you’d want to go long-term with a player as dynamic as Hall, but are you decision fully confident that he won’t hit an early decline because of the myriad of injuries he’s suffered in his career? Or that this is the sudden start of it?

The thing is, as jarring as these numbers look, we are still talking about Andrew Berkshire just one month into a season where Hall is coming back from an injury that kept him out of hockey games since the end of last December. In my

opinion he has earned the leeway to have time to shake off the rust and To say there’s been a bit of speculation about Taylor Hall this season get his game back before we make sweeping judgements about where would be a bit of an understatement. Every reaction on the ice, every he’s trending. piece of body language and any interview he gives is picked apart. Another consideration is that Hall has repeatedly shown interest and Everyone is trying to read the tea leaves to find out if there’s any chance savvy in these sorts of statistics, so you can bet a stack of cash that he’s he wants to stay in New Jersey rather than leaving for somewhere else well aware of how things have been going for him this season. He’s likely as a free agent next summer. looking to figure out what’s holding him back, which might help him Hall has been relatively cagey about his future, choosing his words address things and turn it around quicker. carefully while making sure it’s known that he’s taking his time with his If the Devils wait it out hoping this turns out to be an early-season slump, first chance at unrestricted free agency. Combine that with his agent but find out that perhaps Hall isn’t the same player and his market value being the notorious Darren Ferris, and we can probably expect that kind implodes, it could be a disaster for them. But I don’t see any other of rampant speculation all season long and into the summer. reasonable approach to take for a team that is just starting to dig itself The question few seem to be asking right now is: “What’s the best-case out of a brutal stretch to start the year. scenario for the Devils?” They’re in a tricky position here as a team in Patience can be rewarded. Although I don’t think the comparison holds at mid-rebuild that also has some players who are in their competitive the team level, if we remember the St. Louis Blues last season, we know windows and likely want to win as soon as possible, Hall being one of that sometimes not making a panic move is the best move of all. them. So can Hall provide value long-term despite his pretty rough injury history, or would it make more sense for the Devils to move him for future assets? Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.07.2019 The 2018 Hart Trophy winner has been solid on the surface this season. He’s on a point per game pace despite a career low 4.8 shooting percentage that is not going to last very much longer. But let’s dig deeper into his play and see how he’s doing, compared to what we’re used to seeing from him.

Looking at Hall’s individual contributions to the Devils’ offence, we need to keep in mind that this offence has been increasing each year. But even accounting for that Hall was still fully in Hart Trophy form in his injury-shortened 2018-19 season despite the Devils struggling around him.

Hall has been one of the biggest offensive generators in the NHL over the past few seasons, creating tons of opportunities for his teammates thanks to his unique combination of skills where he can beat you with a shot, a pass, a deke, or just with breakneck speed and physicality.

However, so far this season you’ll notice his shots across the board have significantly fallen off. His shot rate from the inner slot has dropped by over a third from his previous two-year average, and the same goes for his scoring chances on net. His overall scoring chance production is down 20 per cent, rush chances are down more than 10 per cent, and his perimeter shots are nearly halved.

Usually when we see a drop in perimeter shots it isn’t a big deal, but because Hall’s shot rate has fallen across the board, this is a concern. Hall’s passes to the slot are actually up this season — he ranks 30th in the NHL there and second on the Devils behind Wayne Simmonds. But everywhere else has fallen off.

The end result is that Hall’s ability to create scoring chances for his teammates has dropped by nearly 30 per cent compared to last season’s career high numbers.

So, it’s fair to say it’s been a slow start for one of the league’s best offensive performers, but Hall has historically brought a lot more than the offence he creates individually. He has been one of the best transition driving wingers in the NHL over the course of his career, and his impact on the flow of play is massive. So let’s look at how the Devils have fared with him on the ice over the past three seasons as well.

Here’s where things go from a little concerning to a lot more concerning. Over the past few seasons, Hall has had an absolutely stellar impact on the control of the flow of play. Not only has he driven results, but the areas he’s exerted the most influence happen to be the most important ones — passes to the slot and inner slot shots.

The drop off here is gigantic. He’s gone from one of the league’s best play drivers to below average, and it makes you wonder if there are some lingering problems left over from his injury last season. If that’s the case, 1160308 Websites The Swedish forward, who was drafted in the seventh round in 2014, currently leads all rookies in goals and was named October’s rookie of the month for his standout play.

Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rookie Notebook: Jack Hughes heating up for Devils Bear, meet Ovi

Edmonton Oilers rookie rearguard Ethan Bear is logging big minutes already this season with the red-hot Pacific club, leading all rookies in Emily Sadler | @EmmySadler average time on ice (21:25) while getting top-pair billing alongside Darnell Nurse. The 2015 fifth-rounder has gone up against some tough November 6, 2019, 1:27 PM competition… and produced some pretty funny post-game lines, too.

Luck not on Farabee’s side Two weeks ago, we looked at which rookies might be making it to the How’s this for bad luck: Philadelphia Flyers rookie Joel Farabee had his crucial 10-game mark and beyond, meaning the first year of their first career NHL assist and his first NHL goal overturned by offside respective entry-level deals would officially be on the books. (Rookies challenges during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 24 — who signed their ELCs at age 18 or 19 and don’t hit 10 NHL games are his second career NHL matchup. eligible to have their rookie deals pushed back a year or two.) At the time, we saw several intriguing cases. His luck did turn, finally: Farabee finished the game with a point when he assisted on a third-period goal from — you guessed it — Hayes. Now two weeks later, the picture is a little clearer in terms of which youngsters are here to stay and which need a little more time to develop But then, a week later, the bad luck struck again. After forcing overtime in the minors. with his first (legal) NHL goal on Nov. 1 against the Devils, Farabee’s overtime winner was disallowed due to a distinct kicking motion from the We begin this edition of the Rookie Notebook with an update on where rookie on the goal. things stand with those on the bubble. Farabee has since scored another goal, giving him two on the season, Here to stay and has learned a valuable rookie lesson: No goal is safe. The top two picks from June’s draft, New Jersey’s Jack Hughes (13 Boqvist’s busy week games) and New York’s Kaapo Kakko (12 games), have since passed the mark — no surprise there — while Chicago also wasted no time You thought your week was busy? Chicago Blackhawks rookie rearguard making their intentions clear with pick No. 3, Kirby Dach. He has a goal Adam Boqvist has had a jam-packed schedule over the past seven days and three assists through nine NHL games after joining the club following filled with firsts. Last Wednesday, he scored his first goal as a pro hockey a three-game conditioning stint with AHL Rockford and has proven he player with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. One day later, he got the call to belongs in the big leagues. join the Blackhawks. Saturday brought his NHL debut, with his first NHL goal — a gorgeous snipe — coming Sunday against the Ducks. Not ready yet Dach hungry for more One of the intriguing 10-game cases was Winnipeg Jets defenceman , whose season-opening NHL stint sat stuck at eight games We touched on Dach off the top, with the Blackhawks confirming the for a little while as the club pondered the best move. The Jets decided to rookie will be sticking around beyond the 10-game mark. Dach showed send him to develop with AHL affiliate , with the door still up hungry for NHL experience and has rewarded Blackhawks brass for open, per his contract, for him to return to his native Finland. drafting him third overall last June with a goal and two helpers through nine games. Still on the fence Also, maybe he’s just actually hungry. The Jets now have another decision to make in , who has played very limited minutes since getting called up in place of Mark Blackhawks writer Chris Kuc gave us a great glimpse into the day-to-day Letestu. With Letestu now ruled out for six months due to a myocarditis life of the 18-year-old rookie centreman in a recent article on the team’s diagnosis, the Jets may need to rely more heavily on its depth going website in which we learned that he’s taken up temporary residence with forward. Gustafsson is now nine games into his NHL stint, with game No. veteran defenceman Brent Seabrook. The article includes plenty of great 10 scheduled for Friday. quotes, but this one might be the best gem in there:

Another tough decision on the horizon: The Arizona Coyotes and rookie The Ducks have built themselves a reputation for drafting and developing Barrett Hayton (eight games). He’ll go back to the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie strong defencemen. Add Josh Mahura to that list. The 21-year-old Greyhounds if he doesn’t stick with the NHL club, as he’s not eligible to registered a goal and five points in a 17-game NHL stint last season, and play in the AHL as a 19-year-old. He’s been the extra forward in Arizona started off 2019-20 on a historic note. so far this season, slotting in at various spots. He got top-line minutes over the weekend — and produced a highlight-reel between-the-legs All three of his season-debut assists on Oct. 29 came in a span of less assist — but it’s still to be determined whether he’ll stay in the desert. than three minutes in the second period.

Joel Farabee (eight games) has certainly looked like a legitimate NHLer Despite the successful season debut, Mahura’s NHL stint didn’t last long. during his call-up with the Philadelphia Flyers, showing no signs of The Ducks announced Wednesday afternoon that they’ve sent him back slowing down with a pair of goals and three points on the season so far. to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.

The first month of the NHL season saw several strong rookie Samsonov’s strong starts performances, with plenty of great quotes and milestones. Here’s a round With starter Braden Holtby in a contract year, it’s crucial for the up of some of the standout rookie moments from the past two weeks: Washington Capitals to figure out what exactly they have in rookie Ilya Olofsson shines in October Samsonov.

We learned two things about Buffalo Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson in the So far, they like what they’re seeing. Samsonov, 22, has started five month of October: games and won all of ’em, giving him the most wins among rookie netminders so far (Vancouver Thatcher Demko is 4-1 and New Jersey’s 1. He’s got a very weird pre-game/intermission ritual. Mackenzie Blackwood is 3-2). He has posted a 2.38 goals against average and .915 save percentage, with plenty more starts to come. 2. He’s basically a one-man power-play unit. The Sabres spent much of October teaching opponents a valuable lesson: Don’t take penalties. Vancouver Canucks rookie Quinn Hughes gave fans a scare last Friday Buffalo has been electric with the man advantage, posting a 26.9 power- went he fell awkwardly to the ice during the first period against the play percentage — and most of that is due to the Sabres’ newest sniper. Ducks. He appeared to catch a rut in the ice, which led him to twisting his All six of Olofsson’s NHL goals have come on the man advantage and ankle and pushing his knee forward. Thankfully, the 20-year-old is just just two of his 10 points have come at even-strength. His six-game stint fine after sitting out the remainder of Friday’s matchup and missing to close out the 2018-19 campaign also yielded two power-play goals, Saturday’s game. He was back in action Tuesday against the Blues and making that eight in all. He has yet to score at even-strength. came up clutch for the Canucks to tie things up and force overtime. Vancouver lost the game in OT, but gained the peace of mind in knowing their kid was just fine.

Things are looking up for Quinn’s little brother, too…

Remember that scoreless start that plagued No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes? Safe to say it’s firmly in the rearview mirror. The New Jersey Devils have struggled, but Hughes is now finding his footing. In the six games since registering his first NHL point on Oct. 17, Hughes tallied three goals and three assists.

Like his brother, Jack also had an injury scare Friday night. During a game against the Flyers, the rookie was rocked by a big hit from Matt Niskanen and went down hard. Also like his brother, he too would be just fine — but it must have been a stressful night in the Hughes household.

OK, bending the rules here a little but it’s for a good cause. Though not technically a rookie according to the NHL’s official guidelines, we can’t help but highlight a pretty cool first from New York Islanders forward Cole Bardreau. The 26-year-old (he turned 26 on July 22, which is why he’s no longer considered a rookie) scored his first NHL goal in front of the home crowd on a penalty shot to give his team the lead against the Senators on Tuesday night and help extend the club’s win streak to 10.

Bardreau, a longtime AHLer, was clearly emotional after the goal — as was every single guy on the Islanders bench. Bardreau’s path to the pros went through the NCAA and included several severe injuries, including a broken neck that almost left him paralyzed. Rookie or not, seeing Bardreau find the back of the net under the bright lights Tuesday night will certainly stand as one of the best “firsts” of 2019-20.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160309 Websites When you look at the long shift Thompson had at the end of Tuesday’s game against Boston, helping the Canadiens cling to a 5-4 lead, you see the value in the work he did with Moreau.

Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Nate Thompson continues to surprise after "For Nate, he had a lot of power coming in but we tried to extend his working on speed power out, to give him more power endurance," Moreau said in a phone conversation with Sportsnet on Wednesday.

"Hockey’s one of those games where it’s not enough to be able to Eric Engels | @EricEngels reproduce power for one shift or two strides. You have to be able to reproduce it over and over again. So one of our training tools for him was November 6, 2019, 3:12 PM to extend his power out over a longer duration, so he could have a good 40-45 second shift where he doesn’t fatigue.

BROSSARD, Que. — "What do they want with Nate Thompson," asked "Everyone gets tired at the end of a shift, but if you’re the guy who can an Eastern-based professional scout just two days after the Montreal just have a little bit more juice in the last 10 seconds of a shift and you Canadiens acquired the aging centre from the Los Angeles Kings in the can reproduce that over 15-20 shifts a game, then you’re going to have lead up to last year’s trade deadline. more success than if you’re hitting a wall 30 seconds into a shift."

The scout in question had seen Thompson skate some of his 43 games and talk to a lot of people around the hockey with the Ottawa Senators during the 2017-18 season and had come world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what away less than convinced he could still be a steady contributor to a team they think about it. contending for a playoff spot in 2019. So far, Thompson’s consistency within his shifts has stood out as a good "He’s slow," the scout said to us. quality in his play.

Sean Burke, who heads up pro scouting out West for the Canadiens, saw His teammates see it. something different. "Since he’s come in our lineup, he’s been consistent and he’s really "I scout that area and was positive on Nate," said Burke via text message stabilized the fourth line," said Canadiens assistant captain Brendan last weekend. "But we have a number of guys who watched him, Gallagher on Wednesday. including (Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin). He has been "Nate’s a guy that (Canadiens coach) Claude Julien can really trust, and good for us and what we were looking for in that role." he can use him on the penalty kill and have him take those important D- Play the Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Pool presented by RAM for your zone draws. I think he’s been really good for the young linemates that chance to drive away with a 2020 RAM 1500 Sport or win cash prizes! he’s had, too. Guys come up and they understand just how complete a It's FREE and easy to play! player he is and they really learn off of him. It really simplifies their game, it makes their game easier where they have less responsibility, and I In truth, Thompson has been much better than just good, and he’s think that’s probably a pretty underrated quality in that he’s able to make probably been a lot better than anyone thought he’d be when he came other guys’ jobs much easier." over with a 2019 fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round pick. It’s a direct, hard and strong brand of hockey that Thompson plays. He controls the action on his line — which currently has Nick Cousins on his The Alaskan fit in so seamlessly last season that the Canadiens wasted left and Nick Suzuki on his right — and he makes high-percentage plays no time in signing him to a new contract. On April 25, Thompson put pen at both ends of the ice and rarely ends up out of position. to paper on a one-year, $1-million deal. And Thompson’s unheralded ability to play with pace (on a team that It’s what the 35-year-old did next that’s largely contributed to his strong demands it) is a big reason he secured his role this season, even though start to this season. 20-year-olds Suzuki and Ryan Poehling and were threats to unseat him.

"I went on a diet," Thompson said earlier this week. "It wasn’t like I lost Thompson knew they’d challenge him for his job, so he did everything in 10 pounds. It was maybe three to five pounds, and I maybe put on a bit his power to keep them at bay. more muscle and got a bit leaner than I have been in the past. "I think for me, I’ve always been a guy that’s never really let myself get "But I think the biggest thing was just working on my explosiveness, and complacent," he said. my quickness. I think everyone in this league is strong, but it’s all about speed and that’s where the majority of my training was trying to work "Even coming into camp, I knew that I had a good opportunity, but it toward was having that speed." wasn’t given to me. I know nothing’s been given to me, so I think I had to come in here and still play my game to earn a spot. And at the same That meant five to six training sessions a week throughout the entirety of time, I don’t want to just play my game and keep my spot; I want to make the off-season with Dr. Chad Moreau, who runs Back To Function out of an impact." Lomita, Calif., near Hermosa Beach. Thompson is doing that in multiple ways. He owns the Canadiens’ best "We’d do a lot of competitions and challenges and he has a point faceoff percentage (55.7 per cent) and he’s making an indelible imprint system," Thompson said of Moreau, who is the older brother of former on young players such as Suzuki, Poehling and 19-year-old Jesperi NHLer Ethan Moreau. Kotkaniemi.

"I think it created some competitiveness. I was working out with (Toronto "I’ve picked up so many little things from him," Suzuki said Wednesday. Maple Leafs defenceman) Jake Muzzin, (Calgary Flames forward) Milan "I’m asking him different little things, getting little tips from him. It’s not Lucic and (Kings forward) Dustin Brown, and there were some other just defence. I think he’s definitely underrated in the offensive zone. He young guys with us. We were pushing each other, and I think having seems to be thinking a lot of the same things as me." those challenges throughout the summer really pushed us to be competitive and it definitely helped me." Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus , Rogers Hometown The evidence is plain to see. Through 15 games, Thompson has been Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. flying up and down the ice. Thompson is doing a lot of them, too, leaving Julien impressed. It’s true he has yet to record a goal, but he’s already got five assists — or three less than he produced in 83 games split between the Canadiens "I think it’s pretty obvious he’s been good," the coach said Wednesday. and Kings last season. "He’s been good everywhere. His pace has been good throughout the And that’s only part of what has made him a valuable contributor to start of the season so far. His line’s been good, they’ve been producing, Montreal’s 8-5-2 record on the season. you’ve seen him make great plays, very reliable. Everything you want from a guy who has that role. He’s giving (it) to us, so (we’re) definitely very happy with his professionalism on the ice and off the ice. He’s doing his job well in both areas."

Even that East-based scout chimed in when we reached out to see if his impression of Thompson had changed.

"He’s been a pleasant surprise," he said. "I give him credit for doing what he needed to stay in the game."

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160310 Websites case. From what I understand, the dispute is whether or not both sides already knew this and it isn’t a revelation.

This is, in the minds of the player, his agency (Octagon), and the NHLPA, Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: What's next in 'complicated' Byfuglien a legitimate hockey injury. And they are prepared to strenuously defend situation? that.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what Elliotte Friedman they think about it.

November 5, 2019, 11:47 AM “DUSTIN BEING DUSTIN”

Right from the beginning, other teams questioned why, if Byfuglien was still bothered by his injury, he didn’t just show up to camp, accept a rehab When Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff described Dustin Byfuglien’s assignment and get paid. future as “a complicated situation,” he wasn’t lying. Anyone who knows Byfuglien is well aware of his unique personality. The defenceman’s future is complex and confusing. In the middle of it is He’s his own man. Some of his friends and teammates have said no one his 2018-19 ankle injury, his post-playoff exit physical, Byfuglien’s own is surprised he’d do the exact opposite of what should be done or what is unique take on the world, and now, the NHL and NHLPA. expected. There’s a question I always ask when trying to find out why things occur “That’s Dustin being Dustin,” they say, with a laugh. the way they do: “What don’t I know?” In this case, the answer is “a lot.” This is probably going to arbitration, and, when lawyers are involved, “If he can avoid going to training camp, getting poked and prodded, just certain information will be kept private until it must be presented. resting on his own,” one former teammate added, “I think he’d like that. A lot.” With that in mind, it is foolish to claim I know everything. But here is what I can tell you, from both parties’ perspectives. I can totally see that. But it adds extra layers to the dispute.

There’s a reason Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is being evasive. The Another said not to dismiss the divides that occurred in the Jets’ dressing clamps are tight, he’s trying not to pour gasoline on the fire. That edict is room last season, and how Byfuglien felt about all that. He believes those from the league itself, which will take the lead on Byfgulien’s file. took a toll on the big defenceman, too. The organization has worked hard to address those concerns, from giving Patrik Laine much more At issue is Byfuglien’s season-ending physical. Taken after the Jets were responsibility, to captain Blake Wheeler promising a change in his eliminated in the first round by the St. Louis Blues, multiple sources leadership, to head coach Paul Maurice pushing a positive environment. indicate it pronounced him “fit to play.” According to Brian Burke, who has some expertise in these matters, these checkups must be signed by Byfuglien is out until the New Year. At some point, he’ll decide if he the doctor, the medical trainer and the player. There is also something wants to play. And, it is very likely an arbitrator will be forced to decide called “Form 25A” — which labels you as “fit” or “unfit” — that must be what — or if — he should be paid. signed by the doctor. If a player disputes the findings on Form 25A, he can seek a second opinion. He is in the second-last season of his five-year, $38-million contract. He is scheduled to earn $8 million this season and $6 million next. Because It is, I’m told, the NHL’s position that those results were never disputed he is suspended, he hasn’t collected any of that. Barring any kind of during the summer and that, when Byfuglien informed the team that he settlement, what will have to be decided is when he’s eligible to be paid. wasn’t going to play, he said he’d lost his passion for hockey. Therefore, I’d expect the league to argue it’s not until he agrees to report, and either his preference was to retire. go on a rehab schedule, or suit up to play. I’d expect the NHLPA to counter that Byfuglien deserves every penny. In the reporting of this story, one thing was made clear to me: the NHL will fight hard to protect the integrity of the year-end physical. A player There’s something else, though. signing it, then successfully disputing it months later would lead to major legal league-wide consequences. Let’s say Byfuglien does decide to return. Does he want to go back to Winnipeg? Do the Jets even want him? The league also feels Winnipeg did nothing wrong in this situation and should not be penalized. Cheveldayoff isn’t saying, but the suspicion is the Jets know they are much better with him than without him. As for the player’s choice, well, During the 2018-19 season, Byfuglien had two lengthy absences due to it’s much less certain. ankle problems, returning to full-time action with a week to go in the regular season. 1. I don’t think this will end up in a settlement/contract termination; Byfuglien is too important for the Jets to turn into an unrestricted free You know athletes. They play hurt. They put their bodies on the line, agent. But, for the sake of argument, there is recent precedent. In especially at playoff time. He played hard against the Blues, averaging October 2015, Los Angeles and Mike Richards reached a settlement on 25:42, with eight points in six games. He feels the Jets were well aware the last five years of his contract, with the former King getting slightly less he wasn’t anywhere close to 100 per cent. He didn’t dispute the finding of than 50 per cent of the $16 million owed to him. In June 2017, Anaheim the physical, and figured that, with a summer of rest, any lingering issues and Simon Despres came to an understanding — one-third of the $16 would disappear. million owed. Last September, Tampa Bay terminated the final season of Jake Dotchin’s contract, and a settlement was reached in July. More Byfuglien didn’t complain about pain during the summer because he important to the Jets would be if any money stayed on the cap. Richards didn’t skate. He took it easy, thinking rest was best. It was only when he counts against Los Angeles’s number through 2031–32, but Despres is re-started skating immediately prior to training camp that he realized the not counted towards the Ducks’ total. ankle hadn’t healed. 2. Regular readers of this blog are aware that I keep a Nov. 1 stat. Since He hasn’t spoken on this matter, but, according to a few sources, 2005–06, just nine of 59 teams four (or more) points out of a playoff spot maintains that this was when he began thinking about retirement. The after games on that date have reached the post-season. St. Louis took it NHL season is a grind, and Byfuglien wasn’t excited about beginning it in to another level in 2018-19, coming back from last overall on Jan. 3 to pain. The proof, he feels, is that he moved his family back to Manitoba. If win it all. This year, eight teams will try to recover from this early hole: he hadn’t been thinking of playing, he wouldn’t have returned to the Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New Jersey, the Rangers, provincial capital. Ottawa and San Jose. Byfuglien recently had surgery to repair the damage. I’ve been told there 3. This is a critical time for the Sharks, whose first-round pick belongs to was a broken bone in his foot, also fixed in the procedure. However, the the Senators. Two very different games on the weekend. They timing of that injury is also in dispute. I don’t spend much time in my responded very well to head coach Peter DeBoer using the dreaded “S” Twitter mentions, but, apparently, a few people took that to mean he word on them — “soft” — outshooting Winnipeg 53–19 on Friday, but injured it doing something else in the summer. I don’t believe that’s the losing 2-1. (Every ex-player I’ve ever worked with said the worst thing a coach could call his players was soft.) Then, Vancouver pounded them and best possible fit, there is nothing wrong (with playing) the whole 5–2 on Saturday. season in Europe.”

The issues have been discussed: goaltending, declining shot rates from Chris Johnston reported last weekend that the Rangers are interested. It Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson, the fact they’ve never depended on makes sense to consider pairing him with Kaapo Kakko. speed in a fast league. But, a couple of opponents have also pointed out that they’re not as deep as they’ve been. GM Doug Wilson saw that, 10. I could see Edmonton making a run at Okulov, even though Montreal which is why he brought back Patrick Marleau after initially declining to, is considered the front-runner. but they might need more. 11. Most GMs who go overseas try to stay in Stealth Mode. Arizona GM Another key might be the return of defenceman Radim Simek, who made John Chayka was photographed with Dan Milstein, who reps many a real impact in his rookie season before a gruesome leg injury took him Russian players. That is believed to be the third time Chayka’s visited out in March. Tim Heed was playing fewer than nine minutes per night, winger Alexander Barabanov. The Coyotes are his most ardent pursuer. which taxed Burns and Karlsson. Entering Monday’s games, the former 12. Taylor Hall’s agent is scheduled to meet with New Jersey GM Ray was second in ice time (26:15) and the latter was sixth (25:18). Dallas, Shero during the team’s swing through Western Canada. I think that’s with Miro Heiskanen (13th) and John Klingberg (18th), is the only other going to be in Calgary. team with two blueliners in the top 23. Burns, approaching 35, is an absolute freak of nature. But at his current pace, he is looking at ice 13. I’m making my prediction: Colorado goes big-game hunting. They are times not seen by a player that age since Scott Niedermayer 11 years banged up now, but looked dynamite when healthy. And they’ve got ago. plenty of assets.

4. Last Christmas, the Kings made it clear they were willing to move 14. Nate Schmidt is back after a 13-game absence, and the Golden some of their veteran content for younger pieces. It’s a new year, but the Knights badly missed him. Does Vegas feel the need to add mobility on plan has not changed. Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are staying, as the blue line? Opponents do think it is one of their few weaknesses. are their younger prospects, many of whom are not with the NHL team. 15. May mean something, may mean nothing, but both Montreal and That leaves several veterans, and you don’t need me to tell you who they New Jersey sent a different mix of scouts to separate games in Buffalo. are. One of their most difficult decisions involves Kyle Clifford, a huge (First was against Arizona, second versus the Islanders.) When I first part of their culture and someone who is trying to convey the lessons he started, a GM told me to look for that kind of thing. learned from the Matt Greenes, Rob Scuderis and Jarret Stolls onto the next generation. It doesn’t sound like there’s a ton of discussion yet 16. With Travis Dermott back and Zach Hyman nearing his own return, about an extension, but word is you will have to work to make the Kings teams checking to see if Toronto wishes to move a big salary are being consider parting with him. told the Maple Leafs are determined to give their strongest roster a chance. They want to see that group in action before making any rash 5. Teams needing anything fixed in the dressing room should consider decisions. That means, as expected, a team of 20 or 21; so two or three Clifford. “He’s like Tim ‘The Tool Man’ Taylor,” one former teammate will be traded or waived. texted. “Around (Manhattan Beach) everyone just hires people, but not him.” 17. One exec, seeing Nic Petan get four points last Friday in his AHL return last weekend: “He’s too good for this league.” The winger rebuilt his own backyard last summer. 18. In the last week, both Alex Ovechkin (“If they want to win Stanley “One of my brothers, he’s a huge handyman,” Clifford said Monday. “I Cup, they have to play differently”) and Doughty (“If any team wants to be was always FaceTiming him for advice.” successful in the playoffs, they need their top scorers playing good Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, defence and they need their best defenders chipping in on the offence. Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown That’s the only way you’re going to win”) have weighed in on how the Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. Maple Leafs play. While I thought the Ovechkin comments were totally blown out of proportion, there is an opportunity for Toronto. All of a 6. Pierre Dorion’s presence in Los Angeles and Nashville started the sudden, Mike Babcock doesn’t need to pound it into the group, because rumour mill. It’s known the Senators are looking for experience up front, their peers are doing it for him. but he warned not to jump to any conclusions. Ottawa had six days between games, so his primary goal was taking the opportunity to check 19. Speaking of the AHL, the deadline for applicants to replace retiring out a few Western Conference clubs. The Predators are trying to move commissioner David Andrews was Oct. 31. There was a lot of interest; Kyle Turris, and the fact Dorion was watching them against Calgary had now we’re going to see who applied and who gets an interview. An some wondering if the Senators would consider it. The GM wouldn’t announcement is expected in January. John Hoven reported Darren discuss that, but I’m told it’s not happening. Abbott’s candidacy. He’s the president of AHL Ontario, and a legit contender. But there will be more. It’s a coveted job. 7. One thing that is new about Ottawa: They have a presence in Russia looking at potential free agents. “You haven’t seen them dive into this 20. Eight more points for Boston’s top line in the Bruins’ 6–4 win over pool that often,” one opposing team executive said. “Now, they’re here.” Pittsburgh on Monday night. Five for Brad Marchand, two for David Pastrnak, the other by Patrice Bergeron. I meant to include this a few 8. I did want to give the Senators credit for getting a quick update on weeks ago, but I was asking a few of their teammates about their Scott Sabourin to Sportsnet’s during last Saturday’s game in consistent excellence. Take a look at two power-play goals scored Boston. When a player is conscious, talking with doctors and moving against Tampa Bay on Oct. 17: extremities after such an awful-looking injury — teams have to let fans/viewers know as fast as possible. Obviously, the player and his They aren’t even looking at each other. One of the Bruins said they are family are the first priority, but you can’t reach everyone as quickly as so good with the extra man because they’ve practised against their best you’d like and people watching the game are agonizing alongside them. defensive players for years, from Zdeno Chara on down. It’s a good point. If you practise like you play — against that level of talent — 9. The Karjala Cup is an international tournament beginning Thursday in competitive nature and structure should make you better. Finland. There are at least two forwards closely watched by NHL teams: Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi and Russia’s Konstantin Okulov. Edmonton 21. How bananas is this line for the 11-1-2 Bruins? In all situations, they GM Ken Holland is going, and last weekend, I asked Puljuajrvi’s rep, are outscoring opponents 27–7 with all three on the ice, including 12–0 Markus Lehto, via text if the winger would consider returning to the Oilers on the power play. After Monday night, do you know how many NHL now that things seem calmer. Lehto was very polite, complimenting teams had more than 12 power-play goals? Five. Boston has 15; Buffalo, Edmonton’s early-season success, but said a new address remains the Vancouver and Washington 14; Vegas 13. Bergeron/Marchand/Pastrnak preferred option. alone are tied with or outscoring the other 26. The Bruins have scored 36 goals with Marchand on the ice; that’s No. 1 in the NHL. Bergeron and “Jesse’s unwillingness to return has nothing to do with current coaches, Pastrnak have been on the ice for 31 — tied with Roman Josi for fifth. management, the team, fans or the city,” Lehto wrote. “Like I have said Between them are John Carlson and Leon Draisaitl (34), and Connor multiple times, Jesse has just asked for a change of scenery and to get a McDavid (33). (Source: Natural Stat Trick.) fresh start somewhere else. Nothing wrong with that considering the past three seasons. It is very difficult for me to see that he would return there 22. One more on Marchand: Boston’s scored 80 per cent of the goals all of a sudden now…. If things don’t work out now with the right team that have occurred with him on the ice. There is only one player above 200 minutes who can say the same: Vancouver’s Jordie Benn (10-2, 83 As a high pick and a centre, Poehling’s a target for other hungry players per cent). He’s played 37 fewer minutes, though. who want their shot, too.

23. Josi and Ryan Ellis are both on a point-per-game pace after 15 “He will be an NHLer, for sure.” games. Last defensive teammates to do that in at least 70 appearances? Al MacInnis and Gary Suter for Calgary in 1989-90. Only four 30. One more story from the outdoor game in Regina. At the luncheon, I defencemen this century have done it: Nicklas Lidstrom (2005-06), Mike sat next to one of my favourite athletes, longtime Saskatchewan Green (2009-10), Karlsson (2015-16) and Burns last year. Roughrider Gene Makowsky. The retired lineman and Grey Cup champion is now Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport in the province. 24. I don’t expect the Oilers to lose too often in overtime, but it happened He’s a huge Oilers fan, and would always ask me what they were up to Monday night at home — 3-2 to Arizona. Edmonton remains atop the whenever we saw each other back in the CFL on CBC days. He told a Pacific Division, “but we are not satisfied,” defenceman Oscar Klefbom great story about meeting years ago. said last Friday. “We’ve had good starts before.” When Gretzky found out who Makowsky was, the Great One peppered Klefbom himself has nine points in 16 games, third in per-game ice time him with questions about the 2009 Grey Cup. The Roughriders appeared behind Thomas Chabot and Burns. He’s on the first-unit power play, and to have won the championship when the Montreal Alouettes missed a I asked him if catching his career-high 12 goals from 2016-17 was last-second field goal — only to be penalized for too many men on the possible. field. Given another chance, the Alouettes made the kick to win the game. Gretzky wanted to know how that happened. I find that amazing. “Yes, I have to think it is,” he responded. “I have to be a threat to score, The mind can set the great apart from the merely good. The desire for not just pass. What if one of Connor or Leon gets hurt? I have to be able detail. The willingness to learn how things go wrong, or how they go right. to help.” Makowsky was amazed by Gretzky’s curiosity, too.

25. Klefbom says the tone is entirely different. I’ve heard from a few 31. Monday morning, I attended an event for the University of Toronto’s people now that Holland gave a stirring speech the night before training Basketball Excellence Program, featuring Nick Nurse, head coach of the camp began. Klefbom didn’t want to go deeply into it, although he did say NBA champion Raptors. Nurse was on his game during the 60-minute that the GM “talked about how he’s won Stanley Cups, but isn’t satisfied presentation. People always ask about books being read by decision- and wants more.” (I believe a lot of the message was about Detroit’s path makers, so I’m happy to pass along that he’s read Freedom in the from NHL afterthought to Stanley Cup champion, and how Edmonton can Huddle: The Creative Edge in Coaching Psychology “about 50 times.” follow the same path. From what I heard, players were willing to run Asked if he spoke to anyone in particular about what it takes to repeat, through walls when it was over.) Nurse mentioned two names. The first was Bill Belichick, who told him to Since then, it’s been about “building confidence in us,” Klefbom said. “get my ass back in the office. Get to work,” adding that working hard at it “(The coaches) want us to make plays, not just off the glass when we’re is the only way. (I’m paraphrasing here.) The second was Phil Jackson. in trouble. But when something goes wrong, it’s a lot quieter.” Nurse told a hilarious story about going on a long drive in Jackson’s The Oilers have to build depth, but know cornerstones are in place. Got truck, with the 11-time champion coach stopping to buy a bag of cherries to make them believe. that was consumed during their trip. One piece of advice Nurse got from Jackson is among the best he’s ever received: Imagine yourself holding a Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it sword. Sometimes you’ve got to give your players the sharp tip. It has to 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, happen. But there are other times you have to look at the handle, and they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover realize you can’t always be so cutting. Canada’s most beloved game.

26. Hours before Arizona beat Edmonton, former coach Todd McLellan was in Toronto running Kings practice. There was one point where he Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.07.2019 stopped a power-play drill and demonstratively explained to a group that included Anze Kopitar how he wanted them to rotate on a certain play. I asked him about it after.

“I was telling them that if they moved, they would force the defence to move, too,” he said. “But you can’t just tell them to do it. You have to show them why it is going to work. That’s what I was doing.”

In the same practice, McLellan was also playing the role of a pinching defenceman, pressuring the winger to keep the puck in the offensive zone. At one point, he actually bumped with Michael Amadio. I told McLellan he was pretty aggressive. He laughed and said, “I was terrible. I didn’t keep a single puck in.”

Someday, someone’s going to have to write a book about the last decade in Edmonton. There were good players and good teachers. How did it go so sideways?

27. One scout on the Coyotes: “Islanders West. Structure. Player buy-in. Know their roles. Only difference is the Islanders’ players will beat you up. In Arizona, the coach will do it.”

28. You watch some of the early-season surprises: Arizona, Buffalo, Islanders, Vancouver. Know what they have in common? A lot of players. You can debate how good they are or aren’t, but they can all play in the NHL. You need bodies who can hold their own at this level.

29. Ryan Poehling gets the call-up from AHL Laval for Montreal’s huge Tuesday night home game against Boston. The last time we saw him in an NHL game, he was getting a hat trick in his debut versus Toronto. Poehling had a strong pre-season, but was sent down after suffering a concussion late in exhibition play. He wasn’t as dominant as you’d hope in the American League, but one exec who watched him pushed back against that narrative.

“He got hurt, and no one should underestimate how hard it can be for a young player to recover from that injury so early in his career,” he said. “It takes time, especially getting used to the physicality.” 1160311 Websites a good sense of who we are as players and a good sense of his game and what makes him successful."

When does Hyman, who had knee surgery on April 29, expect to be TSN.CA / Tavares eager to have Hyman’s ‘consistency’ in lineup back?

"Soon," he said with a chuckle. "I feel like I'm really close, I feel like I'm getting there ... That's a hard question. My goal is the next game, but Mark Masters there’s a lot of variables that go into when I come back. It's soon. I can’t tell you if it’s this weekend or not."

It hasn't been an easy road back for Hyman, who scored 21 goals and TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes added 20 assists in 71 games last season. on the Maple Leafs. who practised at Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden "Even when you're healthy, you're anxious to get playing again and once Knights. June and July roll around and you're not playing in a Stanley Cup Final you want to play," Hyman said. "I've had to wait an extra two months to John Tavares spent time at the end of practice hammering pucks into the start my season, but there's light at the end of the tunnel and almost net from the same spot on the ice where one night earlier he had there." somehow missed a wide open cage. Hyman has leaned on Dr. Meg Popovic, the team's director of athlete "Doesn't get much easier than that," Tavares said during a first wellbeing and performance, for support. intermission interview following the gaffe against the Los Angeles Kings. "I just kind of got stuck with it and rushed it a bit and just got underneath "Meg's awesome," said Hyman. "She's an amazing resource that we it." have. All teams should have a person like Meg around who's just there to listen and whatever's going on with you, you can have a source to talk to After a seven-game absence due to a broken right index finger, Toronto's confidentially. She's awesome and she's around all the time and just captain definitely experienced some rust in his return. And perhaps that talking with her over breakfast can make your day better. She's an was to be expected even though the 29-year-old skated hard and worked amazing person." diligently throughout the three weeks of rehab. Zach Hyman is nearing his return to Toronto's lineup as the Leafs inch "I can't recall the last time I really had to do that kind of comeback in- closer towards being at full strength for the first time this season. With a season," he said. "You miss a decent amount of time so just trying to get six-month recovery period, Hyman speaks about the mental grind on his back in the rhythm." rehab process and praises the Leafs' director of athlete well-being for Tavares has actually never been in this situation before in his NHL keeping him positive. career. His most significant injury, a torn MCL, happened at the Sochi When Hyman is activated off the long term injured list, the Leafs will need Olympics in 2014 and he didn't play again at all that season. Other than to make some moves to get under the salary cap. Three players will likely that, his longest previous injury absence was five games during the need to be shuffled off the current roster. Jason Spezza, who was a 2016-17 season and that also ended his year. healthy scratch on Tuesday, is among the depth players in limbo. Tavares has been incredibly durable throughout his professional career, But the 36-year-old is focused on only the immediate future. playing at least 77 games in all but one of his full-length campaigns. "I think I can help the team," he said. "Nobody's said anything to me. I So, this is a new challenge for the centre, who's trying to get back to a assume I'm here and part of the group and I don't know if you’ve heard sense of normalcy. things I haven’t heard but, for me, I'm trying to build and help this group "Just not thinking a whole lot," he said of his desired state of mind on the out. I think I've been able to hop in and contribute when Johnny was out ice, "just being instinctive and going to the right spots and playing quick and try and help the team stay afloat. My role will change day-to-day, but and making plays that you don't realize you’re making. Sometimes that I'm just trying to practice and get ready to go for the next game." takes a little bit when you comeback. But I want to come back and make Spezza was among the first players on the ice at practice. He was the an impact right away. I’m not trying to wait and wait for time to get going last player on the ice at the end. … I know I can still be a lot better." "I love being around the guys," he said. "I love being around the game. I How much will Hyman's return help Marner, Tavares? think we have a pretty cool job and it's pretty fun every day. And when Working his way back from injury, Zach Hyman says he is feeling good you come to a new team you get to meet new personalities and I'm and is close to making his debut for Toronto, but is still not exactly sure enjoying being around (Auston Matthews) and some of the younger guys when that will be. Mark Masters has more on why his teammates are that I didn’t know very well." excited to get Hyman back into the fold. Marner appreciates how Spezza has helped him learn more about taking If Tavares is facing a challenge in shaking off the rust, what will Zach faceoffs while also offering advice on tipping pucks and being effective in Hyman be dealing with? front of the net. And Marner hasn't noticed Spezza change his demeanour regardless of playing time. Head coach Mike Babcock, during an interview on TSN 1050's OverDrive program Wednesday afternoon, said the left winger will likely return to "It hasn't seemed like it's affected him at all," said Marner. "He's been a game action this weekend. Earlier in the day, the coach was asked how big part of this team inside this locker room. He’s bringing the same Hyman can help Tavares and fellow linemate Mitch Marner. attitude every day ... His attitude's been unbelievable."

"I don't know how long it's going to take him to help them," Babcock said. "He loves hockey," said Babcock, "that's one thing about Spezz. I tell ya, "I mean, any time you get injured for two weeks and you come back every day he comes here in a good mood, he's enjoying the guys, but it you're not the same as you were so if you miss as much time (as him), I doesn't make it easy. The hardest part is when you've been a top, top don't know how much time it's going to take. I really don't know the player and now you’re trying to fit into that role piece, that’s the hardest answer to that." part."

Hyman was an important part of Toronto's most consistent line last How does Spezza, the second overall pick in the 2001 draft, manage his season with Tavares and Marner. Babcock calls him one of the best emotions? forecheckers in hockey. What does Tavares appreciate about Hyman? "You don't let the days you don't play affect the days you do play," he "His consistency with what he brings to the table every day," he said. explained. "You have to be strong willed and when you get in the lineup "Obviously relentless on the forecheck, putting pressure on the opponent, you have to have a clear mind and just play and when you're out of the his attention to detail all over the ice and just making the game easier, lineup you have to work and try to get better and not let the days blend in because he's in the right spots. He makes it tough on the opponent with each other and affect each other. causing a lot of turnovers in all three zones and he's got a good stick "Over the course of my career, if anybody's ever asked me advice on around the net, knows how to get open and use his body. So, he just has what to do when you're in and out of the lineup, I tell them to work and to keep working on your game and try to stay sharp and now I have an opportunity to practice what I preached over the years."

Spezza played perhaps his best game as a Leaf on Saturday, picking up a goal and an assist in Philadelphia while also scoring in the shootout to keep the team alive.

"It felt good," Spezza said. "I felt like I had a good game. It felt good to contribute. You just try and chip away. My last five, in general, I felt more and more comfortable. It was a different start to the year for me, but I think the last four or five games I started to feel a little bit more confident out there and making more plays and getting chances and to tap one in felt good and that usually gives you a bit more (energy in the) legs."

Spezza will be adding the puck that was used to score his first Leafs goal to the rest of his career keepsakes.

Leafs Ice Chips: Last on at practice, Spezza upbeat amid uncertainty

Jason Spezza was the last Leaf on the practice rink Wednesday as the veteran continues to work hard with sights on getting back into Toronto's lineup. With roster cuts coming due to the Leafs' cap crunch, Spezza is staying positive amid the uncertainty of his future.

Babcock is hoping his team will establish its identity within the next few games. Asked what his ideal identity would be for the team, the coach insisted it's not up to him.

"I don't think that's something I can decide," he told TSN in a pre-game interview on Tuesday. "What we got to do is find out about the players we have … it's a process of figuring out what we can do best."

What do the players think the identity should be?

"A team that comes every night (and) other teams know that all four lines and all three D pairings are coming to play and nothing's going to be easy and nothing's going to be given," Marner said.

"Fast," said Matthews, "tenacious, play with pace. I think, for us, just finding that consistency night in, night out has been a struggle."

Patience pays off for Matthews and Leafs against Kings

Auston Matthews says the Maple Leafs stayed patient and it paid off in the third with a pair of goals that helped them edge the Kings. With back- to-back wins, he's hoping they can carry this momentum moving forward.

TSN.CA LOADED: 11.07.2019 1160312 Websites guessing about a read or a go, then we should smooth things out a little bit.”

“I think we're still kind of getting confused when [the opponent] gets to a TSN.CA / Toronto Maple Leafs missing something on special teams certain point and when we should switch off,” Marner added. “But we’ve talked about those things. I thought our kill has been good, but we’ve been taking a lot of penalties throughout games. It’s something we’re trying to get better at. " Kristen Shilton Given the amount of talent the Leafs have to pepper their power play

with, including Tavares, Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, TORONTO – Nearing the quarter mark of the regular season, the Maple there’s a distinct air of underachievement with only nine man-advantage Leafs’ special teams have been more liability than asset, with both the goals to the team’s credit so far. penalty kill and power play ranking well into the NHL’s bottom half. McFarland coached the Florida Panthers’ second-ranked power play last That’s not the scenario the Maple Leafs expected to be facing, and season, and was expected to help the Leafs be just as dominant. So far, turning both units back into weapons has become a top priority. the players are still struggling to execute McFarland’s strategy.

“[Special teams] haven’t been good enough, any way you look at them,” “He’s been great,” Tavares said of the new coach. “He just continues to head coach Mike Babcock said after the Leafs’ practice on Wednesday. stay positive and he’s very detailed and gives us a good understanding of “They kind of look like our team; we're a work in progress. We think we what we're looking to do, how we’re trying to execute and then staying can be way better in both areas, but that's great to say. We got to do it. with those details. He tells us to not try and do too much, stay patient, and let our creativity come off of that.” We got a number of things that we’re trying to get done that we haven’t gotten done as quickly as we thought we would, but that's part of If the Leafs can follow that plan, the kind of confidence they found last [improving].” season on special teams should follow.

Through 16 games this season, Toronto ranks 20th in the NHL on the “We had such a good start in those areas last year, and when you have power play (17.3 per cent), and 26th on the penalty kill (75.4 per cent), some early success, it just breeds momentum,” Tavares explained. “That putting them far below Babcock’s preferred threshold of sitting at least can snowball, even when maybe things don't go well, because there’s top-10 in both areas. always a trust that if you keep working you're going to find it back. We have to find a stretch where things all just click and come together, be a The penalty kill has been especially unsuccessful to start the year, little bit sharper, have a little better execution and when we get our allowing the second-most power-play goals against in the NHL (14). The opportunities, want to put them in.” Maple Leafs have hurt themselves with the sheer volume of penalties they’re taking, ranking eighth in the NHL with 60 minor penalties and 124 penalty minutes overall. At this time last year, Toronto was the least- TSN.CA LOADED: 11.07.2019 penalized team in the league, clocking in at 103 penalty minutes and 49 infractions.

Meanwhile, the Leafs’ power play is 1-for-20 over the past five games and has continually struggled on zone entries and maintaining significant offensive zone time. John Tavares’ return to the lineup on Tuesday should help the power play’s prospects eventually, but Toronto was still 0-for-4 with the extra man in his first game back.

“The number one thing that will help our penalty kill is staying out of the box,” Babcock said. “And then our power play, get everyone back and let’s get rolling. We need puck speed, we need retrievals, and we got to be happy to shoot the puck and spend more time in the offensive zone.”

Looking back a year ago, Toronto’s specialty teams were one of the team’s greatest strengths. Through 16 games of the 2018-19 campaign, the Leafs’ power play was fifth-best in the league (27.3 per cent) and their kill was fourth-best (84.8 per cent).

Since then, Toronto has undergone significant changes in staffing and personnel, which has compounded some of its issues.

Assistant coaches Jim Hiller and D.J. Smith both left the organization last May, replaced by Paul McFarland as the power play guru and Dave Hakstol as the kill coach. Then Ron Hainsey, Toronto’s top shorthanded player the last two seasons, left for Ottawa in free agency last July.

Newcomer Cody Ceci is leading the way in shorthanded minutes per game (3:41), while Jake Muzzin, Morgan Rielly and Mitch Marner are all adapting to larger roles on the kill. Muzzin is averaging 2:47 per game now, up from 1:28 last season; Marner is at 2:44, up from 1:21; and Rielly logs 2:41, up from 1:05.

It's expected that Zach Hyman (ACL tear) will return to Toronto’s lineup in the coming week or so, giving the Leafs back one of their top penalty killers and alleviating some of the pressure on guys like Rielly and Marner, who also appear on Toronto's top power-play unit.

But to this point, the combination of new roles and a new system has presented a steep learning curve for the Leafs, which has been amplified by a landslide of self-inflicted wounds.

“There are a few little things we can clean up, but it starts with taking less penalties,” said Muzzin. “We usually can kill three; the fourth one will bite you. So just move your feet more, because all our penalties were stick penalties. Once we get in that groove [on the kill] of no hesitation, no 1160313 Websites establish an identity this season, they have missed him. Simply put: Hyman does all the dirty work necessary to win. Last week, Babcock called Hyman “the best there is in hockey” at puck retrievals. Hyman brings something totally unique to sit at the table with the rest of the high- TSN.CA / Frank Seravalli identifies heartbeat player for each Canadian skill Leafs’ forwards. Toronto doesn’t have a player like him and his NHL team return, along with captain John Tavares from a hand injury, will finally have everyone correctly slotted in the lineup. “He’s a huge part” of the

team, Babcock said. “I mean, even the people that aren’t fans are now Frank Seravalli fans.”

Winnipeg Jets: To Be Determined

A heartbeat is defined in the dictionary as a “vital unifying force,” and The real truth is the Winnipeg Jets are still searching for their pulse. In that’s especially true in the hockey world. the last handful of years, that heartbeat has certainly been captain Blake Wheeler. He has been their chief “driver” as coach Paul Maurice likes to Every great NHL team has a “heartbeat player,” a guy who is the pulse of say. The Jets went as Wheeler did. But this year, in a year where the team. He likely isn’t the best or most talented player, but he is a spark Wheeler has vowed to change his leadership style, it doesn’t feel like it’s plug who drags everyone else into the battle on a nightly basis. the case. Wheeler (and most of the rest of the Jets) has struggled to produce points. Two-hundred-foot centre would seem to be Heartbeat players are hard to come by. Not every team has one. a candidate - his teammates praised him for squaring off with Ryan Which players are vitally important to the success of Canada’s seven Reaves in Vegas on Saturday – but Lowry hasn’t registered a single clubs? point in 14 games, either. The Jets just don’t seem to have the same juice this season. Let’s break out our stethoscope to examine: Vancouver Canucks: Bo Horvat Calgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk It might sound cliché to pick the captain, but Bo Horvat is the closest Tkachuk is the poster boy for “heartbeat player.” He is the fuel for the thing the Canucks have had to a heartbeat player since Alex Burrows Flames, the straw that stirs the drink in Calgary. We’re not just talking departed in 2017. There are no “nights off” for Horvat, who consistently about his jaw-dropping OT winner from last week that is among the best takes on the toughest minutes, wins the majority of faceoffs (60 per cent) goals of all-time, or how no other Flames player in franchise history has and drives as hard to the net as anyone. Think back to Vancouver’s first scored as many points as Tkachuk has (192) before turning 22. No, it’s a swing out East of the season. Horvat scored in St. Louis, stood up for comeback like Tuesday night against Arizona that puts him on the poster. rookie Quinn Hughes in New Jersey, and was an all-around beast on the He did the dirty work, throwing the body behind the net before funneling trip, collecting a hat trick in Detroit and a goal at the Garden. It’s early, the puck up the boards and getting in front for the re-direction with 3:30 but it’s probably safe to say the Canucks made the right choice for left that jumpstarted it all. Whatever Tkachuk lacks in high-end skill captain as Horvat leads the best team in Canada to start the season. compared to Johnny Gaudreau or some of the other top-end players in the NHL, he makes up for in heart, and that might even be more valuable. TSN.CA LOADED: 11.07.2019 Edmonton Oilers: Darnell Nurse

We think of the Oilers as running on the back of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl – and that certainly is true from a production perspective. But it’s Nurse who brings the energy from the backend. Nurse is a grinder from the old school - with the toughness that makes him a perfect match for Oil Country. He piles up hits and blocked shots and he isn’t afraid to drop the gloves when necessary. Nurse has also developed the dynamic necessary to be productive at the offensive end. Still, for a team with a mandate from head coach Dave Tippett to cut down on goals against, it’s Nurse’s presence in front of the net that has the Oil allowing the fourth fewest inner-slot shots against so far in the NHL this season.

Montreal Canadiens: Brendan Gallagher

There is no question Gallagher is the heartbeat of the Habs. Take a look at his highlights and the same adjectives can be used to describe him in almost every one. He is relentless, gritty and effective. Gallagher goes to the net with reckless abandon and little regard for his 5-foot-9 frame. His nose is always dirty. After back-to-back 30-plus goal seasons, Gallagher is on pace to approach 40 this season with his persistent and unique edge to the game. Gallagher, 27, only knows how to play one way - and that’s all-out, every shift. Whether it’s jumpstarting his team by scoring in the opening minute, like he did in Arizona, or providing a spark with a hit, Gallagher is Montreal’s motor.

Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk

It must be a Tkachuk thing, because Brady and Matthew are both a chip off the ole’ Big Walt. In the nation’s capital, the Sens feed off Tkachuk’s energy more than his talent. Take Monday night’s win at Madison Square Garden. Yes, Tkachuk chipped in with a goal and an assist. But he was also under New York’s skin all night, certainly not shy in the bright lights of Broadway. The 20-year-old winger was in the middle of every skirmish, rattling the Rangers. “We played right into his hands,” said Rangers coach David Quinn, who coached Tkachuk in his only college season at Boston Univ. “A few too many of our guys got distracted.”

Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Hyman

The Maple Leafs are close to getting their heartbeat back. Hyman is a mere days away from returning from off-season knee surgery - and if you listen to coach Mike Babcock, who says the Leafs have struggled to 1160314 Websites

USA TODAY / Jets' Bryan Little gets 25-30 stitches to close laceration after errant shot to head

Chris Bumbaca

USA TODAY

Winnipeg Jets winger Bryan Little received 25-30 stitches to close a laceration near his ear after being hit with a shot against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Little was behind the side of the Devils' net when Nikolaj Ehlers ripped a shot wide that struck Little directly in the head. The referee immediately signaled for the training staff to attend to him on the ice. Little got up to skate off but was in obvious pain.

The Jets said Wednesday that Little was taken to nearby St. Boniface Hospital to receive stitches and then went to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for further observation in the neurological unit. The team said he has been alert and was in "good spirits this morning."

"Little was alert at all times and is in good spirits this morning," the team said. "Further updates will be provided when available."

Little, who missed the first nine games of the season with a concussion, was a first-round pick in 2006 when the organization was still the Atlanta Thrashers.

USA TODAY LOADED: 11.07.2019