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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 5/31/2021 Avalanche cont'd 1214672 Report: Coyotes special assistant to the GM Brian 1214705 Erik Johnson back on the ice for Avalanche – is a playoff Daccord resigns return possible? 1214706 Three players who need to step up if Avs are to beat Vegas 1214673 Islanders coach Barry Trotz not ready to make his goalie choice between veteran Semyon Varlamov and Round 1 he 1214707 Blue Jackets taking steady approach to report 1214674 Players get back to business as the sound of fans again doesn't want to stay filled TD Garden 1214708 Report: Seth Jones unwilling to negotiate with Blue 1214675 The Islanders couldn’t handle the Bruins’ onslaught in Jackets on contract extension Game 1. Here’s how they plan to adjust in Game 2 1214709 Change of plans: Blue Jackets likely to trade Seth Jones 1214676 Bruins-Islanders playoff schedule without contract extension 1214677 Instant analysis: How the Bruins tilted the ice in their favor and neutralized the Islanders in Game 1 1214678 Bruins Notebook: Fourth line gaining traction 1214710 Lowetide: It won’t be easy, but the Oilers need to re-sign 1214679 Game 1 observations: Islanders no match for dominant Darnell Nurse soon B's top line 1214680 Bruins-Islanders Round 2 playoff preview, analysis, key matchup 1214711 NHL draft lottery preview: Kings have options to consider 1214681 Haggerty: Boston Bruins, Pastrnak Give Boston A Moment We All Needed 1214682 Bruins provide big crowd a night to remember on day 1214712 Wild, Golden Knights set for Game 7 showdown Massachusetts opens back up for business 1214713 Solving the Zach Parise situation? Dealing for Jack Eichel? Paying Kirill Kaprizov? Wild’s offseason work begi 1214683 Nedeljkovic, so good so far for the Hurricanes, wavers on Canadiens the winner 1214714 Habs relishing playoff pressure as they head to Toronto 1214684 Hurricanes, Lightning battle to the final seconds in Game 1 for Game 7 of the second round 1214715 Jack Todd: Carey Price in vintage form against the Leafs 1214685 Nino a no-go for Game 1? Hurricanes forward 1214716 About Last Night: Can I get 2,500 witnesses? Habs force “questionable” for opener Game 7 1214686 Tampa may have more offensive talent than Nashville, but 1214717 Canadiens playoff notebook: Jake Evans’ strengths, Canes expect similar grind difficulty of limited minutes, Leafs anxieties, Carey Price 1214687 Hurricanes can’t solve ‘best in the world’ Andrei 1214718 Jesperi Kotkaniemi and the Canadiens get an experience Vasilevskiy despite best efforts: Civian’s postgame vibe they will never forget che Islanders 1214719 Islanders strongly considering goalie change in Game 2 1214688 Keeler: Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche punked the punks. 1214720 The Islanders have a Mat Barzal problem Hard. And Vegas had it coming. 1214721 Islanders confident they can fix mistakes, get even with 1214689 Avalanche crushes Golden Knights 7-1 in chippy Game 1 Bruins 1214690 Knights-Avalanche Game 1 Quick Hits: Ryan Reaves’ 1214722 Barry Trotz not sure who he's starting at goalie for on deserves suspension Islanders in Game 2 1214691 Gov. Jared Polis makes beer bet against Nevada Gov. 1214723 If Islanders are to beat Bruins, their top line needs to Steve Sisolak for Avalanche-Golden Knights series answer the call 1214692 Avalanche’s Brandon Saad scores in second period 1214724 Is It Already Time for the Islanders to Make a Goaltending against Golden Knights in Game 1 Change? 1214693 Avalanche’s Gabe Landeskog scores off ’s pass in first period against Golden Knights 1214694 Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen scores early goal against 1214725 Rangers dump European scouting director Nick Bobrov Golden Knights in Game 1 1214695 Keeler: If Nazem Kadri can’t start Avalanche-Vegas Flyers series, Knights forward Ryan Reaves shouldn’t, either. Not 1214726 Can Flyers get lucky again in draft lottery? If not, they 1214696 Gabe Landeskog, Mr. Avalanche, is spirit of team with should still get a solid player -or-bust dreams 1214727 Thought-provoking Flyers trend against 2 East teams still 1214697 Cale Makar, Avalanche show flash, push through Vegas playing in postseason physicality in dominant Game 1 win 1214698 Erik Johnson, still recovering from injury, gives Avalanche Penguins a boost with surprise appearance on ice before Gam 1214728 Minor league report: Nailers edged by Swamp Rabbits 1214699 Deen’s List: The Avalanche came to play in Game 1. 1214729 Penguins forward Jake Guentzel: 'I let a lot of people Vegas couldn’t keep up and resorted to playing dirty down' 1214700 Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 1 Odds, Prediction, 1214730 PENGUINSGoalie Larmi Indicates He’s Leaving Penguins, Pick (May 30, 2021) North America 1214701 Dater’s Daily: Evander Kane Chirps Ryan Reaves 1214731 What to Make of the Penguins Failure? 2 Places to Start 1214702 Analysis: Give Them Nothing, Avalanche Close Gaps, 1214732 Dan’s Daily: Sullivan Safe, Pasta Hat Trick, Habs Force CRUSH VGK in Game 1 Game 7 1214703 Avs Have Way More Skill than Vegas, but can they survive the Vegas cheap shots? 1214704 WATCH: MacKinnon Speeds Past Vegas Defense for Electrifying Goal Tampa Bay Lightning Websites 1214733 How ‘big-game player’ Barclay Goodrow — the Lightning’s 1214767 The Athletic / LeBrun: Which coaches are in position for ‘Jeep’ — starred in Game 1 new NHL opportunities? 1214768 The Athletic / Which NHL teams have drafted the best and worst since 2005? 1214734 Maple Leafs look to break playoff drought in Game 7 1214769 The Athletic / NHL playoff predictions unplugged: against Canadiens Anonymous scout, coach and exec pick second-round 1214735 Leafs-Canadiens notebook: Injured Jake Muzzin game- winners day call for Game 7 1214770 Cale Makar had four points; Nathan MacKinnon scored 1214736 Even if the Leafs win Game 7, in some ways they’ve twice as the Colorado Avalanche dismantled the Vegas already lost something Golde 1214737 The Leafs won’t have home-crowd advantage for Game 7. 1214771 Barclay Goodrow scored a goal from a tight angle on Alex It wouldn’t have helped, anyway Nedeljkovic in the third period and that ended up bei 1214738 ‘We are right where we’re supposed to be.’ Leafs coach 1214772 Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman go over all the news Sheldon Keefe breaks down the Game 7 challenge and rumours in the NHL including Sabres' talks with 1214739 The Leafs’ recent Game 7 history is scary. Look back if 1214773 .ca / Conn Smythe Power Rankings: Kucherov you dare shines in Round 1 1214740 ‘Time to put it all on the line’: Leafs looking to turn the 1214774 Leafs must embrace 'incredible opportunity' to exorcise page ahead of Game 7 playoff demons 1214741 The archive of epic sports meltdowns already includes the 1214775 Maple Leafs hope to extinguish Game 7 demons against Leafs. It’s history they have no intention of repeat Habs 1214742 The Maple Leafs' Shanaplan will be on trial in Game 7 1214776 USA TODAY / Golden Knights' Ryan Reaves receives 1214743 Muzzin not yet ruled out for Game 7 after suffering match penalty for injuring Avalanche's Ryan Graves lower-body injury in Game 6 1214744 Maple Leafs capable of winning Game 7 and it's on them Jets to prove it 1214760 Happy Hockey Anniversary! 1214745 Maple Leafs need to win Game 7 for Joe Thornton 1214761 Happy anniversary! Ten years since Jets' return 1214746 One night for Maple Leafs' Matthews, Marner to salvage 1214762 Bring on the Habs! ... or the Leafs! their reputations 1214763 Jets prepared for anything as they await Round 2 1214747 It’s not too late for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to opponent come up big for the Maple Leafs SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 Canucks 1214764 ‘Excited to see what he can bring’: Canucks sign top prospect Vasily Podkolzin to three-year deal 1214765 Canucks shopping list: That gaping hole on the blue-line 1214766 Canucks sign Vasili Podkolzin: What to expect from top prospect in his rookie season 1214748 Avalanche’s potent top line overwhelms Golden Knights 1214749 Graney: Robin Lehner isn’t why Golden Knights lost Game 1 1214750 Golden Knights-Avalanche recap 1214751 Golden Knights buried by Avalanche in series opener 1214752 Golden Knights name starting goalie for Game 1 against Avalanche 1214753 Ryan Reaves faces suspension, ‘on a mission to hurt somebody’ 1214754 Golden Knights drop Game 1 in rout to Avalanche 1214755 Winner of the Vegas, Colorado playoff series will be the Stanley Cup favorites 1214756 Golden Knights have a lot to shore up after blowout loss to Avalanche in Game 1 1214757 Well-Rested Colorado Avalanche Dismantle Sluggish Golden Knights, 7-1, In Lopsided Game 1 In Sunday 1214758 Game 1: Lehner Stumbles, Reaves Tossed, Avs Crush VGK, 7-1 Capitals 1214759 Kuznetsov expects to still be with Caps for the 2021-22 season 1214672 Arizona Coyotes

Report: Coyotes special assistant to the GM Brian Daccord resigns

BY LOGAN NEWMAN

MAY 29, 2021 AT 12:02 PM

The search for a new head coach. Roster changes. Now, an entire group of assistant general managers.

The Arizona Coyotes and general manager Bill Armstrong have a busy offseason ahead of them.

Brian Daccord, the special assistant to the general manager and director of goaltending operations, has resigned from the team, according to Craig Morgan and Canada-based hockey reporter Alex Blair.

Daccord is one of four assistant general managers to leave the team over the last eight months. The Coyotes now do not have any assistant GMs.

In September, assistant general manager and director of scouting Lindsay Hofford was fired. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported later that month that assistant to the GM Jake Goldberg was also no longer with the team. Goldberg’s departure was reported at the same time as the hiring of Daccord.

In February, Coyotes assistant general manager and Tucson Roadrunners GM Steve Sullivan was fired.

All three of those executive office members were hired under former Coyotes general manager John Chayka.

Daccord was the first hire Armstrong made with the Coyotes, according to Blair. Morgan tweeted that Daccord was Armstrong’s “right-hand man.”

Prior to joining Arizona, Daccord had spent five years in the scouting and player development departments of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Coyotes now have several openings to fill in assistant general manager positions. They also must find a new head coach after the team and Rick Tocchet parted ways on May 9.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214673 Boston Bruins Trotz on Sunday, though, was looking at bigger acreage than what was happening in and around the Isles’ 24-square foot net. He flatly said the Isles “won’t be able to win” unless they get all four lines clicking.

Islanders coach Barry Trotz not ready to make his goalie choice between Along with choosing between Sorokin or Varlamov, Trotz said he is veteran Semyon Varlamov and Round 1 hero Ilya Sorokin considering whether to alter some line combinations, no doubt aimed principally at sparking some giddyup out of star forward Mathew Barzal, whose lack of pluck resulted in but one attempt over his 16:24 in ice By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff time.

Updated May 30, 2021, 7:04 p.m. Fast and clever, when Barzal is on his game he gets defenders back on their heels, creates spacing gaps and abundant scoring chances for

himself and linemates. That’s the good Barzal. The bad Barzal, here It’s Game 2/Round 2 of the Bruins-Islanders playoff tussle Monday night Saturday night, was barely a blip on the sheet. on Causeway St., and Isles coach Barry Trotz said mid-afternoon on “If you get on the ice, it doesn’t matter who you play with,” noted Trotz, Sunday that he needed a little more time to decide who’ll be in his net for asked by the NY Post’s Larry Brooks about his options for Barzal. the 7:40 p.m. faceoff. “You’ve got to raise your game — and we’ve got some guys who’ve got “I don’t know where I’m going as of yet,” said Trotz, a man who has made to raise their game if we’re going to have success against the Boston these kinds of decisions across 30-plus years of coaching, including Bruins.” 1,880 NHL games. “I’ve got a couple of more hours to mull over it, and I’ll Trotz sees what everyone sees. The Bruins, first to five postseason wins, let which goalie know who’s playing.” are in stride, a team in full, with Rask laser-locked on shots, the No. 1 It’s not really where Trotz, his goalies, his 18 skaters or the legion of Isles line cranking like the old Iron Horse in North Station at happy hour, and fans want to be at this hour. It’s not where any playoff team cares to be at secondary scoring at the ready. anytime. “Right now, they’re feeling good, they’re clicking,’ said an admiring Trotz. The Islanders weren’t very good, to the of being overwhelmed, in “They got through Washington, they got the mojo. They’re feeling it. Game 1, and goalie Ilya Sorokin was high on the checklist of They’re healthy. They’re getting good goaltending. The power play’s disappointment, though Trotz said after Sunday’s workout that he hitting at a real high rate (6 for 15, 40 percent over the last four games) “couldn’t blame anything on him.” … they’re feeling it right now.”

Sorokin, hotter than a blacksmith’s iron in Round 1 against the Penguins, To mute it, added Trotz, the Isles must stay out of the penalty box and yielded a couple of fat, costly rebounds in the 5-2 loss Saturday night. defuse the Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak line (11-8— Two or three times, under pressure, he looked lost, maybe a touch 19 through six games). panicky, when unable to find pucks that had dropped at his feet, primo “If we can do that,” he said, “we have to do it with four lines going and scoring opportunities that easily could have been popped over the line by everybody contributing.” more alert Boston sticks.

It’s a decent bet (see your preferred “enhanced fan engagement” broker to place all wagers) that Trotz already knew Saturday night, before Boston Globe LOADED: 05.31.2021 leaving TD Garden, that it’s time to hand the job to veteran stopper Semyon Varlamov. “Varly,” by the way, is a top candidate to be named this season’s Vezina winner as the league’s best tender.

Varlamov came up uncharacteristically beatable (0-2) vs. the Pens in Round 1, and lost his No. 1 gig to the 25-year-old Sorokin. But this is now a setting for a more experienced hand, the Isles down a game in an opponent’s building, momentum palpably Black and Gold.

Dropping Game 2 might not be a kiss of death for the Isles, but it would be enough for them to depart the Garden Monday night via team ambulance, red lights flashing, rather than bus.

Varlamov has the cred: 577 career games, including 48 in the playoffs in five separate postseasons, and he pinned up a .943 save percentage this season against the Bruins. Not to drill down too deeply in the decimal points, but that’s a smidge better than the sterling .937 save percent that Tuukka Rask has posted thus far through six postseason games (5-1) in the NHL’s bubble-free playoffs.

Goalie coach Bob Essensa was charged with delivering the book on Sorokin to the Bruins prior to the start of the series. The book read he was prone to rebounds. Game 1 proved it a potential best seller in the Bruins Pro Shop.

“We talked about Sorokin,” coach Bruce Cassidy said late Sunday morning during his presser. “He’s a good , but there will be some rebounds with him. So don’t quit on any pucks and make sure you are in a position to get to those.”

By Trotz’s eye, it wasn’t a rebound or any specific Sorokin shortfall that sealed his club’s fate in Game 1. He felt Charlie McAvoy’s third-period goal for the 3-2 lead, the consequence of poor puck management and turnover, was what tilted the ice, the strike coming off a short David Krejci feed only 18 seconds after the Bruins snuffed out an Isles power play.

Nearly 10 minutes later, at 15:50, David Pastrnak knocked in his third of the night to make it 4-2, an unassisted strike off a puck he filched in the neutral zone. Taylor Hall helped pave the way, barreling down the slot and pushing back defenders Adam Pelech and Noah Dobson for Pastrnak to go mad hatter.

“Obviously,” noted Trotz, “the fourth goal was the nail in the coffin.” 1214674 Boston Bruins “So for Kurls [Sean Kuraly], Wags, and myself, I think we accept that with open arms. Last night, we did our job. We put our best foot forward each time we step on the ice and play to our identity.”

Players get back to business as the sound of fans again filled TD Garden Neither line budged, but Cassidy said he liked what he saw out of the Bruins’ group. They haven’t given the team any scoring, but Cassidy said their physicality and puck protection will be valuable. By Julian Benbow Globe Staff “They were physical when they needed to be,” Cassidy said. “Better O- Updated May 30, 2021, 6:30 p.m. zone, puck protection a little better than they have been in the past. They’re finding that part of the game in the playoffs really can wear

teams down and benefit us. If they can generate a little from that, that’s Connor Clifton was playing soccer with some of his teammates under great. Hopefully, they do. one of the stairwells in TD Garden long before the puck dropped for “We’re going to need everybody and they’re going to need everybody Game 1 of their second-round series against the and they’re going to need to play against good players. If they get a little when he started to hear the building buzz. bit of confidence here at home, once we go to New York, it won’t be an For the first time in more than a year, the doors to TD Garden were open issue worrying about matchups. So it bodes well for them if they can sort to a crowd that was expected to be nearly full capacity. of replicate that type of game.”

The familiar sound of fans filing in was like a shot of adrenaline. Smith’s status uncertain

“It’s why we play the game,” Clifton said. “We miss them a lot.” Craig Smith received treatment Sunday after sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 1. Cassidy said he would have a better idea about his The hardest part was containing their energy for the game. availability for Game 2 on Monday ... Kevan Miller did not practice with the taxi squad Sunday and will not be available Monday ... Matt Grzelcyk, “I think there was a lot of excitement around yesterday and having the who was shaken up after taking a hit from Leo Komarov in the second fans back,” Clifton said. “We definitely talked about, ‘Don’t use all your period, also received treatment. Cassidy said he “looks good” and should energy in warm-ups.’” be available Monday. That wasn’t an issue Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy had to worry about since he typically doesn’t go out for warmups. But the magnitude hit him as the lights dimmed and Todd Angilly started singing the national Boston Globe LOADED: 05.31.2021 anthem.

Cassidy caught himself staring into the rafters.

“You’re looking around, you’re looking at the banners — Celtics, Larry Bird, etc.,” Cassidy said. “Then you’re looking at the Bruins banners. You know, where can we hang a Stanley Cup banner? And you’re taking it all in at the same time.”

But the buzz in the arena added an element that had been missing.

“This is the first time in a while, obviously, where now you got noise during the national anthem,” Cassidy said. “Now you’ve got just the typical full house surroundings and noise that go with it. To me, that’s what I was trying to enjoy.”

In a dominant 5-2 win, the Bruins put on a show in front of a crowd they had been longing for since the COVID-19 pandemic changed the sports landscape and left teams playing in empty arenas.

After playing last season under the challenging circumstances of a bubble, then returning to a quiet home rink, Cassidy said he was glad that moment of normalcy finally came.

“That’s what I was thinking about, just being grateful to be back in that mix because we didn’t know honestly two or three weeks ago,” Cassidy said. “We didn’t know if we would have a full house or not. We thought maybe it might be another year of playoffs where we’re limited in numbers.

“Last year we had none at all, so I think it was awesome. We’re very appreciative of the crowd and grateful that we were able to get more people into the building. Hopefully, keep it going because it just adds to it. That is playoff hockey.”

Fourth line faceoff

Knowing they would be tested against the Islanders’ potent fourth line of Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck, and Casey Cizikas, Cassidy threw his fourth line into the fire, sending out the fourth line of Curtis Lazar, Chris Wagner, and Sean Kuraly to start the game.

The trio has played together since Game 2 of the Bruins’ first-round series against the , and Lazar said they were up for the challenge.

“When you’re going into a series you want to look across at the other team and you want to win your battles, win your matchups,” Lazar said. “It seems that that’s the line that we’re going to be going against, it’s a great challenge. They’re one of the top fourth lines in the league. They’ve been playing together for numerous years. 1214675 Boston Bruins “They obviously have a lot of firepower up front and they’re good players. They want to score goals and it’s going to be our job to defend better and obviously create more offense.”

The Islanders couldn’t handle the Bruins’ onslaught in Game 1. Here’s how they plan to adjust in Game 2 Boston Globe LOADED: 05.31.2021

By Julian Benbow Globe Staff

Updated May 30, 2021, 9:54 a.m.

New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz thought something was off when he looked at the TD Garden scoreboard.

For the first two periods of the Islanders’ second-round opener against the Bruins, his eyes told him that his team was getting off about as many shots as the hosts.

But the numbers said something wildly different.

After the first period, the Bruins had ripped a staggering 18 shots. The Islanders had eight. In the second period, the Island only put four pucks on the net. The Bruins fired 12. By the end of the night, the Bruins had peppered Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin with 40 shots on the way to a 5-2 win. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask only had to fend off 22.

“I looked at the shot clock, I didn’t feel like it was that many,” Trotz said. “I think they had a happy finger on the shot clock a little bit.”

Playing in front of a packed crowd for the first time in more than a year, the Islanders expected a Bruins team with plenty of proven firepower to come out with some extra juice. But they weren’t prepared for the way they were bombarded in Game 1.

The Bruins’ top line was prolific. Patrice Bergeron had eight shots. David Pastrnak had seven. Brad Marchand had four.

Pastrnak finished with a hat trick.

The 18-shot difference was the largest for the Bruins since they outshot the St. Louis Blues by the same margin in Game 5 of the in 2019. Islanders defenseman Andy Greene downplayed the disparity.

“We’re not too worried about that,” Greene said. “I know it looks like a big number but I think through the first two periods, I don’t know off the top of my head, but it seemed like scoring chances were pretty close.

“They’re a volume shooting team. They shoot from a lot of bad angles and try to create havoc and traffic in front there. But at the same time, it’s something we can probably do a little bit better, but we’re not too concerned about it.”

Trotz was more worried about the chances his team passed up than the ones they allowed. Their 22 shots were a postseason low. They haven’t taken more than 30 since Game 2 of their first-round series against the .

“The problem is we passed up some looks,” Trotz said. “Sometimes when we can put it in play, drive the net, we’re looking for that next play a little bit too much tonight. And that wasn’t quite there. Therefore, you take yourself out of an opportunity.”

Sorokin, the Islanders’ rookie goalie, has had his hands full in the playoffs. In five starts so far, he’s had to fight off 39.6 shots per game, including a playoff-high 50 in Game 5 against the Penguins. Trotz said the Bruins are clearly taking a page from Pittsburgh’s book.

“They were buzzing, they were crashing the net, they were standing in the crease, all those types of things,” Trotz said. “Boston went to the net on him. Obviously, they watched our last series. They’re trying to make it tough on him and they did.”

After taking the Bruins’ first punch, Islanders winger Anthony Beauvillier didn’t see the Game 1 barrage as a reason to veer from the plan his team brought into the series.

“I think we just got to stick to what we do best and our game plan and what brought us here,” Beauvillier said. “Obviously, they’re a really good team and the further you’re going to go in the playoffs, the harder the games are going to get and the harder it will be to win. 1214676 Boston Bruins

Bruins-Islanders playoff schedule

Staff Report

Updated May 30, 2021, 1:56 a.m.

Bruins-Islanders playoff schedule

(Bruins lead series, 1-0)

Game 1: Saturday, May 29, at TD Garden...... Bruins 5, Islanders 2

Game 2: Monday, May 31, Islanders at Bruins, TD Garden, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN

Game 3: Thursday, June 3, Bruins at Islanders, , 7:30 p.m., NBCSN

Game 4: Saturday, June 5, Bruins at Islanders, Nassau Coliseum, 7:15 p.m., NBC

* Game 5: Monday, June 7 Islanders at Bruins, TD Garden, TBD

* Game 6: Wednesday, June 9, Bruins at Islanders, Nassau Coliseum, TBD

* Game 7: Friday, June 11, Islanders at Bruins, TD Garden, TBD

* — If necessary

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214677 Boston Bruins only a 173-169 edge in the five games against the Capitals in the first round, in part because they were outshot dramatically, 41-19, in the Game 5 clincher. After 40;00, the Boston edge stood at 30-12.

Instant analysis: How the Bruins tilted the ice in their favor and ▪ The Isles may not be as big as the Capitals, but they make up for it, neutralized the Islanders in Game 1 especially on the forecheck, with quickness and pop. Case in point, Leo Komarov’s forecheck on Grzelcyk at the 7:00 mark of the second, leaving Grzelcyk slow to get back on his feet. He eventually made his way back By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff to the bench, gingerly, and then made his way to the dressing room briefly after regaining his wind on the bench. He returned quickly to the Updated May 30, 2021, 12:13 a.m. bench and finally began taking regular shifts around the 13:20 mark.

The Bruins can’t afford to lose backline personnel. They already have The Bruins Saturday became the first team this postseason to post five seen Steve Kampfer and John Moore exit for the season, following consecutive victories, sending the New York Islanders and their surgery. They have no handle on how soon, or if, Kevan Miller, dinged in energized and usually productive forecheck skittering down Causeway the Washington series, will be back. Jeremy Lauzon finally made his way Street en route to a 5-2 victory at the Garden. back for Game 1 against the Caps, but Jakub Zboril remains not ready for . The little bit of rust the Bruins might have feared after nearly a one-week layoff was, for the most part, sanded off by midway through the first ▪ The Bruins followed one part of the game plan to a T: owning a 30-12 period. The Bruins pounded Islanders rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin with advantage for shots on goal over the opening 40:00. Shot attempts were 40 shots, tilted the ice their way throughout most of the 60 minutes, and even more lopsided, 49-20. They should be able to control the series if breezed to victory with three strikes in the third. they can keep up that kind of advantage for firepower.

The Islanders, built around structure and patient and stout defense in ▪ The Isles love to hit. Two of their forwards ranked among the league’s front of their net, never were able to get a grip on the game. Their top 10 hitters in the regular season: 6. Cal Clutterbuck (191) and 8. Matt energized, plucky forecheck, something that gave Boston fits and starts Martin (181). By the end of 40:00 in Game 1, the Isles had a 36-12 lead early this season, failed to keep the Bruins pressed in their own end and, in hits, and Clutterbuck had 6 and Martin had 4. Connor Clifton led the in turn, delivered little in the way of bonafide scoring chances against Bruins in the regular season with 108 pops. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. ▪ Sorokin had 28 saves to his credit over the first two periods. Not bad. “We did a better job moving [the puck] quickly,” noted Bruins coach But he was clearly the more “leaky” of the two tenders. He had two or Bruce Cassidy. “Rims around the boards. We started winning our share three instances where he couldn’t find the puck after stopping it and was of battles along the boards, so wingers, that backs them off … even if fortunate the Bruins weren’t more alert with their sticks. Sorokin also you just punt it out to the neutral zone they have to reset and start over.” gave up a fat rebound off a Bergeron bumper shot, leading to Pastrnak cashing in the loose puck for a brief 2-1 lead in the second. Leaks near Early in the season, noted Cassidy, the Isles dogged forechecking was a the red pipes are dangerous. problem. Some of Saturday night was simply having the advantage of knowing what was to come. The Isles brought it. The Bruins swatted it away. Boston Globe LOADED: 05.31.2021 “Maybe we were lesson stubborn at times, too … kept moving it,” added Cassidy, now 32-29 in his playoff action as the Bruins bench boss. “We built in some misdirection or reverses in certain situations that we’ll continue to work on.”

▪ Led by David Pastrnak’s hat trick, the top line finished 3-3—6, underscoring yet again how hard it is for the opposition to contain the Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Pastrnak trio.

The main challenge in suppressing them is that, individually, they all are equal amounts passers and shooters. The trio collected 19 of the 40 shots on Sorokin.

“That top line can do a little bit of everything,” noted Isles backliner Scott Mayfield prior to puck drop. “I think the biggest thing for me is that they’re never out of a play, so I’m never out of a play — you can’t take a second off. Even if you think things have calmed down, you’re never out of a play and you have to make sure if they are on the ice you’re watching them the whole time.”

▪ Like the Washington series, in which the Bruins saw Tom Wilson score the series-opening goal, the Black-and-Gold again had to chase a lead when Anthony Beauvillier connected on the night’s first power play.

Every club prefers to play with a lead. The Bruins led for only 8:47 over the first three games against Washington until finally working with healthy lead times in Games 4 and 5. But the Isles are better structured and more disciplined than the Capitals. If the Bruins have to chase leads in this series, it will cost them energy, and could be a tough trend to reverse.

▪ The Bruins evened it, 1-1, with their first power play of the night, Pastrnak connecting from the left side after Matt Grzelcyk was on target with a wrister from the right point.

It was a slight departure for coach Bruce Cassidy, using both Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy at the points. But only 33 seconds remained in the first when the Bruins were handed the advantage, leading Cassidy to pair up his two most offensive-minded backliners for the draw. The strategy paid off only nine seconds into the advantage.

▪ The Bruins finished the first period with a substantial 18-8 shot advantage and outchanced the Isles, 26-12 for the period. They owned 1214678 Boston Bruins “He’ll give it a shot in the morning if he’s able to and we’ll have a better update then,” said Cassidy.

If Smith cannot play, the logical choice to go in would be right wing Bruins Notebook: Fourth line gaining traction Karson Kuhlman. But where to play him is another question. For the least amount of disruption, Cassidy could just drop him into Smith’s spot next to David Krejci, where Kuhlman has played a little bit before. Jake By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald DeBrusk bumped up to play there in the third on Saturday and did not have a great night overall. In 13:27 of ice time, he had no shot attempts. PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 3:12 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at 6:31 p.m. On the back end, Cassidy expects Matt Grzelcyk, who went to the room briefly after a Leo Komarov hit while favoring his right leg, to be ready for

Game 2. If you wanted to give the New York Islanders an edge in anything in this Kevan Miller, however, is again out for Game 2. He has not skated yet East Division series, it just might be their depth up front. since suffering an upper body injury in Game 4 of the Washington series. Yes, the Bruins have the star power, and in Saturday’s 5-2 victory, that B’s still chattering about crowd was in plain sight. David Pastrnak‘s hat trick shredded the Islanders and handed the B’s the Game 1 victory. Less than 24 hours after the raucous Game 1 victory, he B’s were still buzzing over the Garden crowd. But that doesn’t change the fact that the Isles have four good lines that could create a problem on any given night. With the B’s still needing to “We heard them when they started getting in the building. We were hold serve with home ice advantage going into Monday’s Game 2 at the playing some soccer under the stairwell. We heard them coming in and Garden, they will continue to need contributions from players down in the they were great,” said Connor Clifton. “But coming out for warmups, it’s lineup. why we play the game. We miss them a lot and (Saturday) night was unbelievable.” The B’s fourth line of Sean Kuraly, Curtis Lazar and Chris Wagner now has five playoff games under its belt, all wins. The unit has yet to get on Lazar had spent his NHL career in Ottawa and Buffalo before arriving the scoreboard but they are contributing. The group combined for 18 hits here at the trade deadline. — six apiece for Lazar and Wagner and four for Kuraly. “It was absolutely incredible,” said Lazar of his first full Garden crowd Slowly, the line appears to be gaining some traction. It needs to continue experience. “Just to have the building rocking, full, it’s exciting from the to trend upward, especially when the series shifts to Long Island and last standpoint knowing the year we’ve gone through as a society fighting change goes over to Isles coach Barry Trotz. through COVID. To have a little freedom is great. But to have the support of the Bruins fans, I’ve never experienced anything like that before. “I like what they did,” said coach Bruce Cassidy of the fourth line’s There’s nothing more exciting than when I go in on the forecheck, hit a Saturday night performance. “They were physical when they needed to guy and hear the fans roar and appreciate it.”… be. Better O-zone puck possession, a little better than they have been in the past. They’re finding that part of the game in the playoffs can really Trotz told reporters on Sunday that he had not yet decided whether he’ll wear teams down and benefit us. If they can generate a little bit from go with Ilya Sorokin or Semyon Varlamov in net for Game 2. Sorokin that, that’s great. Hopefully they do. I think they did have a couple of allowed four goals on 39 shots in Game 1. looks around the net. So, again, good solid night from them. We’re going to need everybody and they’re going to need to play against good players. And if they can get a little bit of confidence here at home, once Boston Herald LOADED: 05.31.2021 we go to New York, it won’t be an issue to worry about match-ups. It bodes well for them if they can sort of replicate that type of game.”

With the exception of the -overtime victory over the Capitals in Game 3 of that series, Saturday’s win saw the fourth line earn its most ice time. Both Lazar and Kuraly played over 14 minutes and Wagner over 12.

“It’s definitely trending in the right direction,” said Lazar. “We’re building each and every game. And I think as a line we’re just understanding what’s expected of us, which is putting pucks in deep, being hard to play against, just being that momentum line and being solid on the penalty kill when we’re called upon. So far, we’ve aimed to do that. It’s just a matter of staying even-keeled to grow together.”

The unit got the starting nod to play against their counterpart, the Isles’ “Identity Line” of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck, widely considered one of league’s top fourth lines.

Challenge accepted, said Lazar.

“Absolutely,” said Lazar, who had the line’s best chance of the night. “Any time you go into a series, you want to look across at the other team and you want to win your battles, you want to win your match-ups. It seems like that’s the line we’re going to be going against and that’s a great challenge. They’re one of the top fourth lines in the league and they’ve been playing together for numerous years, so for Kurls, Wags and myself, we accept that with open arms. Like (Saturday) night, we do our job. We put our best foot forward each time we step on the ice and play to our identity.”

That identity has not yet been fully formed, but it may be getting there.

Smith questionable for Game 2

Cassidy did not have much of an update on Craig Smith, who could not return for the third period after taking a hit from Clutterbuck. He said that Smith was in to get treatment on Sunday and a decision will be made on his availability on Monday. 1214679 Boston Bruins The bottom-six could see a bit of a shakeup Monday night depending on the status of second-line winger Craig Smith, who left the game with a lower body injury in the second period and didn't return. B's head coach Game 1 observations: Islanders no match for dominant B's top line Bruce Cassidy didn't have an update on Smith after the game. DeBrusk was moved up from the third line to skate in Smith's place alongside Taylor Hall and David Krejci.

BY NICK GOSS The lackluster performance from the bottom-six didn't cost the Bruins in Game 1 because the Bergeron line was so dominant, but the Islanders

are a really good defensive team and it wouldn't be shocking if they kept BRUINS the top line in check for a game or two. The B's third line will have to step up at some point. So far, it's been a non-factor for most of the playoffs. BOSTON -- The Bruins had nearly a week of rest between the first and second rounds of the 2021 , but the long layoff didn't seem to bother them in a Game 1 win over the New York Islanders on Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.31.2021 Saturday night.

TD Garden played host to a near-capacity crowd for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year as 17,4000 fans saw the B's earn a 5-2 victory to open Round 2.

Here are three observations from Game 1.

1) Bruins' top line still red hot

The Islanders had no answers for the Bruins' first line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. This trio picked up right where it left off after a stellar Round 1 versus the Washington Capitals.

Pastrnak was the best of the group. He scored a hat trick, finding the net once on the power play and twice more at even strength. Bergeron picked up assists on Pastrnak's first two goals and Marchand earned a helper on his linemate's second tally.

David Pastrnak came to play in Game 1.

The #NHLBruins have their first lead. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/0KsVXGzLyg— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) May 30, 2021

These numbers are nothing new for Boston's top trio. It's been a trend all playoffs (and for several years, quite frankly).

Marchand Bergeron Pastrnak have played together 69 minutes in the playoffs thus far, 112-57 attempts, 63-27 shots, 60-23 scoring chances— Bruins Stats (@bruins_stats) May 30, 2021

This line accounted for 19 of Boston's 40 shots on net at all strengths. They spent a ton of time in the attacking zone and created an abundance of scoring chances.

This series will be a very challenging one for the Islanders if they don't find a way to slow down the Bruins' top line. New York struggled in most shot metrics at 5-on-5 against Sidney Crosby's line in Round 1 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Saturday was more of the same for the Islanders.

2) Mathew Barzal still hasn't scored for NYI

The Islanders' top center and leading scorer for four consecutive seasons still doesn't have a goal in seven games during the 2021 playoffs.

Barzal was mostly a non-factor in Game 1 with zero points, only one shot on net and two penalty minutes. He also failed to tally a single shot attempt, shot on net or scoring chance during 13:43 of 5-on-5 action. Barzal lost five of his six faceoffs, too.

The Bruins' best players shined in the series opener and it was the difference in the game. The Islanders' best player made the opposite impact, and it's hard to envision New York's offense matching Boston's firepower in this series if Barzal's struggles continue.

3) Bruins' bottom-six must be better

Only six of the Bruins' 40 shots on net came from their bottom-six forwards, and half of them came from Chris Wagner. The B's also generated just five scoring chances in 17:42 of 5-on-5 ice time from the third and fourth lines, compared to 24 scoring chances and 24 shots on net from the top-six forwards.

Boston's third line, specifically, didn't create nearly enough in the attacking zone. One shot from Charlie Coyle and zero from both Jake DeBrusk and Nick Ritchie is subpar, to say the least. Ritchie, in fairness, did set a good screen on Charlie McAvoy's go-ahead goal in the third period. 1214680 Boston Bruins As noted above, Barzal was subpar offensively in the first round. He tallied three points (zero goals, three assists) but only one at 5-on-5. Barzal is the Islanders' best playmaker, a key cog on their power play Bruins-Islanders Round 2 playoff preview, analysis, key matchup and has led the team in scoring four consecutive seasons. New York will be in real trouble if he struggles for a second straight series.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, Islanders BY NICK GOSS Pageau is the most notable "B's killer" left in the playoffs. He dominated Boston during the regular season with eight points (five goals, three assists) in eight games. He has scored 11 times in 31 career games BRUINS versus the B's. Many hockey fans are about to see the Boston Bruins and New York Pageau is a crucial part of the Islanders' third line alongside Travis Zajac Islanders play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. and Kyle Palmieri. He tied Beauvillier for the team lead in scoring during These teams will meet in the second round following the Islanders' first- Round 1 with seven points (one goal, six assists) -- six of them coming at round clinching Game 6 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on 5-on-5. New York needs another strong series from Pageau to match Wednesday night. The Bruins eliminated the Washington Capitals in Boston's firepower. Game 5 last Sunday. Kyle Palmieri, RW, Islanders Boston has the home ice advantage as the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 4 A bunch of teams, including the Bruins, were reportedly interested in seed from the East Division. Game 1 is Saturday night at TD Garden. acquiring Palmieri from the Devils before the trade deadline. The This is the first playoff meeting between these teams since the 1983 Islanders got him, and he underwhelmed in the regular season with just Wales Conference Final, which the Islanders won in six games en route two goals and two assists in 17 games. However, he's been more to their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup title. productive in the playoffs with three goals in six games -- two in Game 1 (including the overtime winner) and another in the series-deciding Game Bean: What B's can expect from strong, balanced Islanders team 6.

Which team has the edge? What is the key matchup, and which goalie Palmieri is another player who loves playing against the Bruins. He situation is more favorable? Here's our playoff preview for Bruins vs. scored five goals in nine games versus Boston during the regular Islanders. (All stats via Natural Stat Trick) season. Whether the Islanders receive the required amount of scoring depth to beat the B's could be largely dependent on Palmieri's Regular Season Head-to-Head performance in this series. The season series between the Bruins and Islanders really is a two-part David Pastrnak, RW, Bruins story. Pastrnak struggled a bit early in the Capitals series but got going late The Bruins struggled mightily against the Islanders for most of the year, with a goal and an assist in both Game 4 and Game 5. His less-than- going winless in the first five matchups (0-3-2). However, after both stellar production early in the series wasn't from a lack of good looks at teams made meaningful moves before the trade deadline, the Bruins the net, though. He led the Bruins over the five-game series with 34 shot dominated the series by winning the last three games and outscoring the attempts, 22 shots on net (11 more than anyone else) and 18 scoring Islanders by a 10-3 margin. chances during 5-on-5 action. If Pastrnak continues to generate those After the trade deadline, the B's controlled more than 60 percent of the kinds of chances in Round 2, the floodgates could open and we might shot attempts, shots on net and scoring chances at 5-on-5 in the three see four or more goals from him. games against the Islanders. They also out scored New York 5-2 at 5-on- Charlie Coyle, C, Bruins 5. Coyle had a poor regular season (16 points in 51 games) and wasn't The post-trade deadline numbers are a better indication of what this much better in Round 1. He tallied one goal and one assist with just second-round series could look like because those rosters are what we'll seven shots on net in five games versus the Capitals. He's being paid see over the next two weeks. like the best third-line center in the league, but he certainly hasn't Key Matchup performed to that level in 2021. A bounce-back series from Coyle would likely give the B's a clear advantage in scoring depth that could prove Slowing down the Islanders begins with cooling off a red-hot second line pivotal in the series outcome. that dominated in the series-clinching Game 6 versus the Penguins. New York's trio of Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey scored Mike Reilly, D, Bruins eight 5-on-5 goals in Round 1, including one from Beauvillier and two The Islanders are a well-structured team defensively and they forecheck from Nelson on Wednesday night. really well. They also play a tough, physical game that wears down The Islanders' first line has not been very potent in the playoffs so far. opponents over the course of a long series. Reilly's ability to jumpstart No. 1 center Mathew Barzal scored zero goals and tallied one 5-on-5 the transition game by skating out of trouble in the defensive zone and assist in six games versus the Penguins. making a good first pass up ice will be important for the Bruins. Reilly also is one of the best B's defensemen in regards to getting shots The second line is on fire, and that's where the B's need to put their through to the net and avoiding traffic in front. This ability will also be shutdown line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak important against an Islanders team with the third-most blocked shots in as far as matchups go. We also should expect to see the Charlie the playoffs entering Thursday. McAvoy-Matt Grzelcyk pairing often deployed against the Isles' second line, especially at TD Garden where the B's have the last line change as Goalie Breakdown the home team. Tuukka Rask, Bruins: 5 GP, .941 SV%, 1.81 GAA in first round The Bruins' second line of Taylor Hall, David Krejci and Craig Smith has Rask had a rollercoaster Game 1 against the Capitals that ended with a been awesome since the team acquired Hall at the trade deadline. They soft overtime goal allowed. After that, he was excellent in net for Boston. were good in Round 1, too, scoring three goals in five games against the Rask had a .949 save percentage over the last four games, including a Capitals, including Smith's Game 3 winner in double overtime. This trio Game 5 performance in which he stopped 40 of the 41 shots sent his still has another level (or two) to hit, though. way as the Capitals tried to extend their season. His .906 save If the Bruins' second line is even with the Islanders' in terms of scoring, percentage on high-danger chances in Round 1 also shows how locked the B's should be in pretty good shape because they have a deeper and in he was throughout the series. more talented group of forwards overall. The Islanders have a weaker power play than the Capitals and were 21st Players to Watch in goals scored per game during the regular season, whereas the Capitals were fifth in scoring. Rask probably won't have to steal the Mathew Barzal, C, Islanders series for the Bruins -- he just needs to avoid the kind of puck-handling mistakes and soft goals we saw from Tristan Jarry that torpedoed the Penguins in the first round.

Might Islanders fans regret this 'We want Boston' chant?

Ilya Sorokin, Islanders: 4 GP, .943 SV, 1.95 GAA in first round

New York's starting netminder Semyon Varlamov was one of the best goalies in the regular season with a .929 save percentage and a 2.04 GAA in 36 games. After Sorokin started and won Game 1 of the first round, Varlamov returned from injury and got his job back. He lost the next two games and played particularly poor in Game 3, giving up five goals on just 27 shots.

Islanders coach Barry Trotz went back to Sorokin and he won the next three games. Sorokin did allow three goals in two of his four starts versus the Penguins, but overall he played quite well given the high amount of shots and scoring chances he faced.

Sorokin needs to be the Islanders' first or second best player for them to win this series. He's capable of it, but Rask has much more playoff experience and boasts a far more impressive playoff track record.

Prediction

Bruins in five.

This series should go a lot like the Islanders' first-round matchup but with one key difference. Like the Penguins, the Bruins should control between 55 and 60 percent of all shot attempts, shots on net and scoring chances during 5-on-5 action. The Bruins, similar to the Penguins in Round 1, should win the special teams battles against the Islanders.

The major difference is goaltending, where the Rask/Jeremy Swayman duo is superior to Jarry and the Islanders' combo of Sorokin and Varlamov. So, unless the Islanders show massive improvement at 5-on-5 against a Bruins team that defends better than the Penguins, the B's shouldn't have too much trouble reaching the semifinal.

The Boston Bruins won’t get much clarity on injured right wing Craig Smith (lower body) until they hit the ice for Game 2 morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday. Smith was knocked out of the game a couple of shifts into the third period of Saturday night’s Game 1 5-2 win over the New York Islanders after a leg-on-leg collision with Isles winger Cal Clutterbuck.

Jake DeBrusk finished up as the right wing on the second line skating with David Krejci and Taylor Hall for most of the third period and would presumably get the promotion into the top-6 group if Smith can’t play on Monday.

Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller still hasn’t skated to this point and will be out again for Monday night’s Game 2 vs. the Islanders. Matt Grzelcyk was also similarly dinged up and missed a couple of shifts after taking a hard hit from Leo Komarov along the end boards, but it sounds as if the puck-moving defenseman will be okay after finishing Saturday night’s win.

“He’s here getting treatment. It’s an optional today, so most people are going to exercise their option. He’ll give it a shot if he’s able to in the morning, and we’ll have a better update then,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “Not much of an update until we see him on the ice tomorrow. [Kevan Miller] won’t be available tomorrow. Grzelcyk was in for treatment, but he obviously finished the game and looks good. So, we should be fine on the back end.”

Smith would, of course, be a big loss for the second as his energetic, second-effort style has been a great fit with Hall and Krejci as he’s got a goal and three points six games, including a double-OT game-winner in Game 3, along with 16:06 of ice time. It remains to be seen who might draw into the Boston Bruins lineup if Smith can’t go, but one would expect it to be Trent Frederic, Anton Blidh or Karson Kuhlman from the Black Aces/taxi squad if Smith isn’t feeling good enough to play.

Joe Haggerty 1214681 Boston Bruins everybody inside their homes and made us all feel like we were living in a Contagion nightmare for the last year-and-a-half. And a confirmation of what normal life is returning to as we slowly emerge from the COVID-19 Haggerty: Boston Bruins, Pastrnak Give Boston A Moment We All depths with vaccines introduced, infection numbers dropping and people Needed ready to resume all of their day-to-day activities.

“The energy, the atmosphere, was everything you expected and more. To say that we’ve missed [the fans] is an understatement,” said Published 18 hours ago on May 30, 2021 Bergeron. “You appreciate it even more when the fans are taken away from the game for quite some time and you have to play without them. By Joe Haggerty It’s still competitive, but it’s not the same. Not the same energy and the same atmosphere. It was a special night. Good to have them and good to have the win. BOSTON – The beautiful, timeless thing about sports, whether it involves the Boston Bruins or not, is that oftentimes it transcends what’s literally “It seemed like it meant a lot to all of us. For the fans it was a year of ups happening on the ice, the field or the court. More than the game, it tells and downs, more downs than not, craziness and hearthache. You could us all about what we were all going through at the time as some sort of tell that everybody was just trying to enjoy themselves and have a good time capsule. time.”

A sporting event at the right place and time can create an unmistakable There will be future heartaches and other craziness in all our individual feeling that something special, even communal, is unfolding even as the lives, of course. actual game is being played for all to see. There may even be other global pandemics (shudder at the thought) in It was that way with the Boston Bruins in 2013 when they returned to the the future that force us to get reacquainted with once-foreign terms like ice to play the in an emotional, cathartic game following social distancing and quarantine. But Saturday night was about a the awful Boston Marathon bombings, and it was that way on Saturday resounding playoff win for a Boston Bruins hockey club that appears to when 17,4000 rowdy Bruins fans finally returned to TD Garden after be in the middle of something special, and about a statement to the city being barred for the last 15 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. of Boston that normal life as we know it is returning after the most challenging year of all of our respective lives. Sure, the Bruins continued playing last year’s postseason in an empty Toronto arena as part of a protective bubble and they played to partial The City of Boston deserved a raucous celebration for all we’ve endured crowds at TD Garden for the second half of this year’s regular season. over the last 15 months, and boy did the Boston Bruins ever give it to us on Saturday night. But Saturday night felt different. It felt like a triumphant and jubilant return to the way life used to be for all of us. It felt like the city of Boston was open for business again. Boston Hockey NowLOADED: 05.31.2021 “They were into it, they were loud, they were passionate,” said Charlie McAvoy, of the fans returning to see him score the game-winning goal for the Boston Bruins. “They were everything that makes Bruins fans so special.”

Even better, it all had a happy ending for the Black and Gold on Saturday night, of course, with the Bruins winning a 5-2 decision over the Isles in Game 1 and David Pastrnak notching a hat trick that saw hundreds of hats rain down from the stands. Certainly, in the actual game breakdown, it looks like the Isles are overmatched after allowing the Perfection Line to amass three goals, six points and a whopping 23 shot attempts in a dominant opening performance for the Boston Bruins.

It was fitting that David Pastrnak, the high-energy game-breaker that thrives most on the passionate crowd and the adulation from the fans, came electrically alive for his biggest moment of this postseason with the fans back in full force.

“That was obviously a lot of fun having the fans back. You could definitely feel the energy already this morning. We were all excited,” said Pastrnak. “It was definitely a different game with the fans. It’s a different sport with them in the building. It warms your heart and kind of reminds you of why you play this sport.

“It was awesome to have them back and they were our 7th Player all night. I enjoyed it a lot. It’s nice to see the hats, especially when it’s your team that scores the hat trick. Hopefully they keep being loud and we’ll keep getting some wins for them.”

The Bruins fans were loud and animated right out of the gate during pregame warm-ups while lustily booing the two-beer limit at TD Garden announced on the jumbotron, and then they made a massive, towel- waving commotion when the Bruins and Islanders came onto the ice to warm up. They pushed out the first “We Want the Cup” chant in the second period and turned TD Garden into one giant “Goodbye COVID- 19” party for the entire city of Boston.

It wasn’t just the highly entertaining playoff game either.

It was the lines of Bruins fans flooding Causeway Street and lined up down the sidewalks and around the block to get into The Harp prior to the 8 pm puck drop. It was the Boston Bruins dressed up as Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior raring to go with the rest of the Black and Gold Faithful for this second round series.

It was a reminder of what life was like prior to the global pandemic that wrecked the economy, took hundreds of thousands of lives, shuttered 1214682 Boston Bruins bowl, not on the ice, but what always gets me isn’t so much Angilly’s fine work but watching people watch him. Until Saturday night, I missed that.

I missed seeing Boston’s other sports stars in the house. Whether it’s Bruins provide big crowd a night to remember on day Massachusetts Pastrnak wandering around Fenway Park during a Red Sox game or opens back up for business David Ortiz sitting courtside at a Celtics game, the fraternity of Boston professional athletes has long been a scene unto itself, especially at playoff time. Though the sales teams from the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics By Steve Buckley and Patriots are highly competitive when it comes to everything from signage to suites, the players have a thing going that has nothing to do May 30, 2021 with business.

And so as the Garden swung into near-capacity mode Saturday night, it I am not here to tell you TD Garden was the loudest it’s ever been was kind of cool when a spotlight was directed at a suite and Patriots Saturday night, because there’s really no way to tell. running back James White and newly-signed defensive back Jalen Mills were introduced. According to the Bruins it was the first time Mills has And, anyway, I’d probably go with the Boston Bruins’ epic third-period ever attended a hockey game. comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the 2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Or maybe the second quarter of Game In the end, most professional athletes are just goofy fanboys. And like 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals, when the Celtics outscored the Lakers by 19 other fans, they’re about to start shaking off the dust and showing up at a points and then cruised to their first championship since 1986. ballpark, stadium, or arena near you.

But in those cases it was all about the hockey, all about the basketball. Here’s something else I missed but didn’t know I missed: The guy Sports. Oh, make no mistake: When David Pastrnak head-faked wearing the team jersey or sweater of some former Boston star who everyone on the ice and then floated a shot past New York Islanders hasn’t played in years. goaltender Ilya Sorokin late in the third period Saturday night to complete It’s always been a pregame ritual of mine: Find the fan with the oldie-but- a hat trick, the joint rocked. It rocked again when Taylor Hall scored an goodie shirt that he or she just can’t part with. Yeah, I forgot all about empty-netter with 1:25 remaining to seal Game 1 of this second-round that. And then I showed up at the Garden Saturday night for the first time Stanley Cup playoff series. And when the scoreboard clicked down to in a year … and saw a guy in a Terry O’Reilly sweater. 00:00 and the Bruins had their 5-2 victory over the Isles, everyone cheered once more and kept cheering as they spilled out to Causeway “I bought it probably 15 years ago,” explained Rich Carty, 34, a sales Street. consultant from Walpole. “I’ll be honest with you: I never saw him play, but I heard he was an absolute animal so I said to myself I’d love to see What separates this game from all the others, and why it will be myself wearing that.” remembered for many years, is that it took place on the very day that a symbolic “Open for Business” sign was placed on the front door to He attended Saturday’s game with his wife, his brother and his brother’s Massachusetts. After more than a year of living life from your living room, wife. after a year of Zooming and DoorDashing and Toasting, now it was permissible for people — lots of people, not just this 12 percect capacity “I hadn’t been to a game in four years,” Carty said. “But my wife said it’s claptrap — to leave their garden and step inside the Garden. time to get outside and do something fun.”

Saturday was cold and rainy and yet warm and fuzzy. We were able to It is time. be us again. Some 25,000 people filed into Fenway to watch Nate And here are. Eovaldi pitch the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the , and then 17,400 folks stepped inside the Garden for what we can all agree was the main attraction of the day. The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 “In the warm-up, it felt like 22 players playing their first NHL game,” is how Pastrnak responded to a question about the excitement level of the Bruins playing in front of a full house. “It’s different with them in the building … it reminds you why you play this sport.”

It was as if the Bruins held a pregame meeting and told themselves, “If they want to cheer, let’s give ‘em something to cheer about.”

The Bruins did this right, from beginning to end. They designated A.J. Quetta, the injured Bishop Feehan High School hockey player, to be their honorary Fan Banner Captain. Here’s a young man who faces many challenges in the aftermath of suffering a severe spinal cord injury, but he recently returned home following months of rehab in Atlanta. In inviting him to the Garden Saturday night, the Bruins put a huge smile on this kid’s face.

“Guys are well aware of it and we tried to do what we could to help his spirits, help the family, help the community,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “Our guys pay attention.”

And they paid attention to their hockey, submitting this impressive series- opening victory over the Islanders. But the introduction of A.J. Quetta, followed by the fine display of hockey … these are things you would have noticed merely by watching the game on television. But there are other things you only notice when you’re in the building, as well as things that perhaps you didn’t know you’ve missed.

What did I miss that I didn’t know I miss?

I missed the Green Line cars packed with Bruins fans in their black-and- gold sweaters. The bonus on Saturday is that the Green Line cars were teeming with two sets of fans — Bruins fans headed for the Garden, and Red Sox fans headed, I guess, for the commuter trains at North Station.

I missed watching people watch Todd Angilly sing the national anthem. He’s doing his work these days from a platform in a corner of the lower 1214683 Carolina Hurricanes feet more, 10 feet more. But it’s little fixes. Everybody’s trying their hardest out there, everybody’s putting 100 percent effort out.”

This one game, that one goal, won’t shake the Hurricanes’ confidence in Nedeljkovic, so good so far for the Hurricanes, wavers on the winner Nedeljkovic, earned the hard way during the Nashville series, but it does make their task more difficult against the Lightning. They did a lot of things right Sunday but couldn’t capitalize, and there’s no question as a BY LUKE DECOCK team — and especially some individuals — they have more to give.

MAY 30, 2021 08:55 PM That’s true across the board, but especially in net. The Hurricanes don’t necessarily have to win the goaltending battle. But they certainly can’t

lose it like this. RALEIGH

Even on a Tuesday in January, it would have been a brutal goal at the News Observer LOADED: 05.31.2021 end of a discouraging play.

It started when Jani Hakanpaa couldn’t get the puck out of the zone. Barclay Goodrow skated down the left wing, cut inside and was forced back outside by Brady Skjei, then took a speculative shot from just above the goal line, harmlessly you might even say, from Alex Nedeljkovic’s right.

Nedeljkovic, so good for the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs, had a good look and scrambled toward the post but left a gap between his right pad and the post along the ice. Goodrow’s shot caromed off the pad and somehow went in. Short side. Tight angle. Near post.

Back-breaking in the middle of the season. At this moment, with seven minutes to go in a playoff game, at home, the first of a new round against the defending champs, it’s a potential series-breaker.

The Hurricanes had scrapped and scraped for everything against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, nothing coming easy — not that it has for this team even in the best of times — playing from behind and tying the score early in the third. And then the Lightning got as easy a goal as you’ll ever see with seven minutes to go for the 2-1 game-winner in front of the largest crowd yet at PNC Arena, the Hurricanes’ first loss at home this postseason.

The Hurricanes have prided themselves on their resilience, but this will be as difficult to recover from, in its own way, as either double overtime loss.

“It’s tough. Tough for everybody,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s no use hiding it. It’s a no-good goal. A bad goal. He’s going to admit it. It happens. He made a lot of good saves tonight, too. That’s part of it. We’ll bounce back and he’ll bounce back. We’ve got to score more than one to win anyway. That’s the way I look at it. We had our chances. We’ve got to make it tougher for them.”

Nedeljkovic made some huge saves and only gave up two goals, the first on a deflection against Tampa Bay’s potent power play, but the other was just awful. One too many under any circumstances. It’s not something that’s been an issue in the playoffs.

There was the one goal in Game 4 in Nashville, when Nedeljkovic jumped to play the puck and missed it, but for the most part he’s been a rock, a constant, utterly reliable and consistently composed during a postseason when the Hurricanes quietly have not gotten enough production — and Brind’Amour’s quiet frustration is starting to show as he shuffles his lines — from several key players.

That includes Andrei Svechnikov, Teuvo Teravainen and Nino Niederreiter before he was injured in practice Saturday and went from probable for Sunday to “very, very doubtful” for the series in the space of 32 hours. Vincent Trocheck has been flying around, but only has three points to show for it. If the Hurricanes were getting more from some of their big guns, maybe Nedeljkovic’s howler wouldn’t have been so magnified.

It also doesn’t help that the guy at the other end of the ice has never made a habit of handing out freebies. Andrei Vasilevskiy was as good as expected, screened by Jesper Fast on Jake Bean’s power-play goal to start the first period, and prone to giving up juicy rebounds the Hurricanes couldn’t convert, but otherwise seamless. His excellence leaves no margin for error, so when a goal like that goes in at the other end, the stakes are exponentially higher.

“Plays get magnified so much in the playoffs,” Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook said. “The further you go the more and more each little play matters. I think we might have had a couple tonight that we’re trying to do the right thing but it’s just where it might not go — we need it to go five 1214684 Carolina Hurricanes The Lightning had another power play but Nikita Kucherov was called for cross-checking McGinn in the back of the neck to abbreviate it. The Canes are 0-3 with a man advantage in the game.

Hurricanes, Lightning battle to the final seconds in Game 1 of the second Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has had some high-stress round moments in net as the Canes have gotten some good looks but has stopped all 26 shots and been Tampa Bay’s best player.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER FIRST PERIOD: NO SCORE, PLENTY OF ACTION

MAY 30, 2021 04:34 PM The first 20 minutes of the game were scoreless but not action-less, and the Canes spent a lot of it in the Tampa end during the first period to please the crowd of more than 16,000.

This was the way hockey is supposed to look, especially playoff hockey. The Canes had the first two power plays of the series and had some decent chances, including a shot in tight by Vincent Trocheck. His line Two teams pushing the pace. Hard play, but no cheap shots. Good has been active throughout the period, and winger Martin Necas had a goaltending. Strong work on special teams. Intense for 60 minutes. shot ring the post. The Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning supplied plenty of With Nino Niederreiter out with an upper-body injury, Jordan Martinook that Sunday in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series at PNC has been moved on the Trocheck line. Arena, the Lightning emerging with a 2-1 victory. Canes center Sebastian Aho took a puck off the foot early and was in Barclay Goodrow’s goal at 12:39 of the third period, on a shot that beat some pain but was quickly back on the ice. Alex Nedeljkovic to the short side, gave the Lightning the 2-1 lead and proved to be the difference. The Canes had a 15-12 shooting edge in the first, Trocheck with a high- quality four shots, and an 11-8 edge in scoring chances “I think we were fine,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We (naturalstattrick.com). worked hard. We just made some mental errors. Our execution can be better on some things. It was a pretty good game for us. Tough way to The Lightning are playing without defenseman David Savard, a surprise end it, but I felt like were OK.” late scratch with an upper-body injury.

The Lightning scored the first goal of the series on a Brayden Point GAME SETUP: IT’S FUN, FOLKS power-play score in the second period. The Canes tied it 1-1 with a power-play strike by defenseman Jake Bean early in the third. Win or lose, hockey fans can all agree on one point: the playoffs are fun.

Bean’s score, on a shot from the point, came just as it appeared Tampa But what about the players? Can there be any fun n the Stanley Cup Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was going to completely stifle the Canes. playoffs with so much at stake, or is it an intense, physical grind from With a crowd of 16,000 becoming antsy with each Vasilesvkiy save, game to game? Bean had Canes fans standing and roaring, “It is a grind but it is a ton of fun,” center Vincent Trocheck said Sunday But Goodrow’s score lowered the volume. The forward played one game before Game 1 of the Canes’ second-round series against Tampa Bay. in the opening round against Florida and the goal was his fourth career “The whole purpose we play hockey is to be playing in the playoffs, to be playoff score in 49 games. playing for a Stanley cup.

“They’re a good team. We’re a good team too,” Bean said. “They might “Everybody’s goal is the same, to win a Stanley Cup. I mean, this is our have managed it better than us tonight in some scenarios, and we might dream. I definitely would that this is fun.” have been better in some. We know we have another level. We knew this Tampa Bay had the most fun last year in winning the Stanley Cup, even wasn’t going to come without any kind of adversity.” in the bubble and silence of Edmonton. The Lightning now go into the Game 2 of the series will be Tuesday at PNC Arena. series with the Canes with the look of a team with its full lineup in place and with the intent of repeating. The Canes carried over power-play time into the third period, then turned it into a tying goal by Bean. More than 16,000 fans will be at PNC Arena on Sunday hoping to help make things miserable for the 2020 champs. There were more than Bean a shot through traffic from the point, with Jesper Fast in 12,000 at the three home games against Nashville in the opening-round front of the net, to finally get the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy at 1:41 of series and Trocheck said they were a factor. the third for a 1-1 tie. “It was rocking, and it got our hearts pumping a little bit faster and the “He’s the best goalie in the league,” Canes forward Jordan Martinook adrenaline pumping,” he said. said. “We’ve got to get in front of him and make it hard on him. You look at the goal we scored, it was a good net front. I think we can get there a That support helps, but the Canes must get the job done on the ice and little more.” Trocheck and his line could be a big part of that.

Tampa Bay’s Blake Coleman was called for tripping Martinook with 13 Trocheck was remarkably productive much of the regular season, with 17 seconds left in the second period. The Canes had difficult time setting up goals and 19 assists in his first 33 games. He then went the last 14 early in the third before Bean found a lane and got off his shot for his first games without a goal, with seven assists, and had two goals and no career playoff goal — Andrei Svechnikov and Fast with the assists. assists in the six-game playoff series with Nashville.

Updates from earlier in the game: If there is an “X-factor” for the Canes, it could be Trocheck returning to the offensive form he showed much of the season. One of his linemates, SECOND PERIOD: TAMPA BAY LEADS 1-0 right wing Martin Necas, was the team’s top scorer in twill he eight games against Tampa Bay with three goals and five assists, and the The Canes said a top priority against Tampa Bay was staying out of the Canes need the Trocheck line to do its part this series. penalty box. The Canes’ first penalty of the series resulted in the Lightning’s first goal of the series and a 1-0 lead after two periods. The Trocheck line be missing left winger Nino Niederreiter. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Sunday morning that Niederreiter, who left After Brock McGinn was called for high-sticking, the Lightning scored as Saturday’s practice session early, was questionable for the game Brayden Point redirected a shot by Victor Hedman at 8:15 of the second although he did not specify an injury. period. The Lightning were 8-for-20 on the power play in the opening- round series against Florida. How important is winning Game 1?

Point was able to get inside position on Canes defenseman Jani “They’re all important but you don’t want to get behind if you don’t have Hakanpaa in scoring his fifth of the playoffs. It was Hedman’s ninth assist to,” Brind’Amour said. “You have to find a way to get four (wins). And to of the playoffs. get four you have to start with the first one.”

Preferably in Game 1.

News Observer LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214685 Carolina Hurricanes TAILWINDS

Martin Necas took a three-game point streak into the second round. … Brind’Amour would pass for second-most playoff wins by Nino a no-go for Game 1? Hurricanes forward “questionable” for opener a coach in franchise history with a win. Paul Maurice has 25; Brind’Amour went into Sunday tied with Laviolette with 16.

BY LUKE DECOCK

MAY 30, 2021 01:49 PM News Observer LOADED: 05.31.2021

Just when the Carolina Hurricanes got out from wondering whether Jaccob Slavin would play that night, Nino Niederreiter has entered the discussion.

The forward left the ice in the middle of Saturday’s practice and was “questionable” for Sunday’s Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Sunday. On Saturday, Brind’Amour said of Niederreiter’s departure, “I don’t think it will be an issue.”

Niederreiter had one goal in six games in the first-round series against the . If he’s unable to play, Brind’Amour said Saturday that Cedric Paquette was available to play against his former team if needed.

Paquette missed the final six games of the regular season and did not play against Nashville. He had three goals and four assists in 38 games after he was acquired from the for Ryan Dzingel.

A HERO’S WELCOME

David Ayres, the Toronto emergency goalie and Zamboni driver who stepped in and shocked the world by backstopping the Hurricanes to a win over the Maple Leafs last February, was scheduled to be the second- intermission siren sounder on Sunday. Tripp Tracy was scheduled for pregame and N.C. State women’s tennis stars Jaeda Daniel and Alana Smith at the first intermission.

STRENGTH ON STRENGTH

If there was one constant theme ahead of the series from the Hurricanes, it was the danger of Tampa Bay’s power play and the need to stay out of the penalty box and not rely as heavily on the Hurricanes’ excellent penalty-kill as they did in the first round.

The Lightning were a 22.2 percent team in the regular season -- ninth in the NHL -- but with the postseason addition of Nikita Kucherov they converted at a 40.0 percent clip against the in the first round, scoring eight power-play goals in the six-game series. Only the Colorado Avalanche, which went 6-for-12 in a sweep of the St. Louis Blues, has been better.

“They are extremely skilled, and you got to be careful, but that’s where you actually get worse if you’re too cautious,” Brind’Amour said. “They’ll eat you up. They’re going to get their chances regardless. We’ve just got to limit the amount of them by not taking penalties. When we do, we can’t change too much of what we’re doing. We’ve had success doing it the way we’re going to do it. But knowing that they’ll still get their chances.”

The Hurricanes limited the Predators to three power-play goals -- two with a two-man advantage -- on 26 chances, the most any team has faced in the playoffs so far. At 88.5 percent, the Hurricanes actually performed better than they did in the regular season, when they were third in the NHL at 85.2 percent.

MYSTERY MEN

While a great deal of attention has surrounded Kucherov’s return to the Lightning after missing the entire season, especially as he leads the NHL with 11 postseason points, the Hurricanes have an X-factor of their own. Among the 35 games Teuvo Teravainen missed this season were all eight against Tampa Bay. Teravainen had a goal and an assist against Nashville.

“We haven’t seen Teravainen on their team,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “I don’t think he played a game against us this year. You’re getting slightly different looks. In the end, Game 1 is a feel-out game, kind of get a gauge for where things are and go from there.”

Teravainen had a goal and an assist against Nashville, and was notably on the ice for only one Predators goal the entire series. 1214686 Carolina Hurricanes “It won’t be a cakewalk going up and down the ice,” Staal said.

That’s the way it always is, and that’s the way it will be again.

Tampa may have more offensive talent than Nashville, but Canes expect similar grind News Observer LOADED: 05.31.2021

BY LUKE DECOCK

MAY 30, 2021 06:30 AM

RALEIGH

The offensive talent on both sides of the ice in this series is staggering, and that’s even before Nikita Kucherov’s, uh, miraculous return from injury in time for the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning just won the Stanley Cup with a high-powered group that starts with a mobile defense led by Victor Hedman and backing up forwards like Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Kucherov, who merely leads the playoffs in scoring so far.

The Carolina Hurricanes can answer with Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Martin Necas, Vincent Trocheck up front, not to mention playoff goal-scorer Brock McGinn, and the unpredictable but explosive Dougie Hamilton on defense. All of that makes them a “legit contender,” according to none other than Stamkos on Saturday.

It’s easy to look at all of that and expect, or perhaps maybe hope, that the second round will be a little more up and down, a little less bump and grind, than the first round was. The only way the Nashville Predators — a one-line, one-pairing team — could compete with the speed and skill of the Hurricanes was to slow things down, clog up the ice and grind it out. The Hurricanes and Lightning, theoretically, could whiz up and down the ice trading chances like it’s 1985 all over again.

“This is obviously a team that’s very dangerous on the rush and off turnovers and quick transition,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “It’s going to be a different style for sure.”

Yes, isn’t it pretty to think so?

One needs only to look at the eight games these teams played during the regular season to be disabused of any notion this series will be any less brutal than the last. Five of the eight were one-goal games before empty- net goals. Two went to OT. Only once did one team get four goals past the opposing goalie.

The stretch of four games in six days in February that served as a sort-of mini-playoff preview — two in Raleigh followed by two in Tampa — saw the Lightning win three of four, but if you take out the empty-net goal in every game, a reminder of how close things actually were, there were a total of 13 goals scored, 7-6 in favor of Tampa. There were two shutouts. It was not an offensive bonanza.

“I looked back at all our games against Tampa and there wasn’t a lot of room,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It was low scoring and low shots. We had a lot more against Nashville. It looks that way, but we were getting quite a bit of offense. It might be tighter in this series than the other series, just based on how they defend. And obviously, they’ve got some high power, so we’re going to have to try to defend them and shut it down.”

Then you’ve got the goalies, with Alex Nedeljkovic catching lightning in a bottle for the Hurricanes as a rookie — he recorded his first NHL shutout against the Lightning in February — and Andrei Vasilevskiy the current NHL gold standard and presumptive Vezina Trophy favorite for the Lightning. Both ranked among the top six in every traditional and advanced goaltending stat.

In terms of goals per game, neither team was in the top six for offense in the NHL. Both were in the top six defensively.

So just as the Lightning and Florida Panthers slugged it out for six games in a first-round series that sometimes turned violent, all the skill on the ice in the second round is going to have to fight its way through the static to rise above. The Lightning will be far more dangerous off turnovers than the Predators, but a few key power-play goals could swing the series one direction or the other. A goaltender may steal a game or two. A physical price will still be paid. 1214687 Carolina Hurricanes when you factor in one of the most lethal and consistent power-play systems we’ve seen in years. Despite how well the Canes were playing, you could almost blindfold yourself and predict what was going to happen Hurricanes can’t solve ‘best in the world’ Andrei Vasilevskiy despite best when the Lightning got their first power play of the game a little under efforts: Civian’s postgame vibe check halfway through the second period. Rinse, repeat, Victor Hedman to Brayden Point. You live and die by a “power kill” like the Hurricanes’, and it was looking fabulous for the first half of Tampa’s man advantage until it was just slightly too aggressive. If anyone is going to cash in on the By Sara Civian centimeter of breathing room, it’s going to be the Lightning. After that, though, the Canes were excellent shorthanded. They killed two of three penalties overall and got better with PK. The first-ever playoff meeting between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning was everything everyone thought it would be: fast, • On the other side of this coin, the Hurricanes’ power-play units looked a fun, special teams-heavy and a heckuva goaltender showcase. The bit different without Nino Niederreiter (upper-body), who is “very, very Canes brought their much-hyped pressure early and often. But the doubtful” to return to the series. Unit one: Martin Necas, Sebastian Aho, Lightning brought a certain man named Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vincent Trocheck, Teuvo Teravainen and Dougie Hamilton. Unit two: Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Staal, Brett Pesce, Jake Bean and Jesper How a game of hockey is won is usually incredibly nuanced, complicated Fast. Unit one had a few good looks throughout the game but couldn’t and subjective. But the two reasons for Sunday’s outcome — a 2-1 win bury any, and overall in retrospect going 0-for-5 was costly against the for the Lightning in Game 1 of the Central Division finals — couldn’t have Lightning. Unit two struggled a bit more at first but came through where it been more clear cut: counted for …

1. Vasilevskiy’s performance: Anyone who has ever seen him play for • … Bean’s first career playoff goal. “We need him to be good,” said five minutes could’ve seen it coming, but still, no one could stop it. Brind’Amour, who has been healthy-scratching Jake Gardiner in favor of the rookie Bean, a first-rounder from 2016. “We need him to step up and And Canes did as much as they could to try. According to Natural Stat take another step. Hopefully it propels him to the player that we think he Trick, they owned a 56.1 percent advantage in Corsi for the game, a 53 can be.” percent advantage on the faceoff dot, and a 2.87 to 1.97 edge in expected goals. They outshot the Lightning 38-30 and out-chanced them • You heard it here first, friends (and enemies, according to the comment in every period except the third. Vasilevskiy turned 37 of the 38 shots sections recently): Vasilevskiy is good. But what are the Canes going to away. do about it? “He’s the best goalie in the league, so we’ve got to make it hard on him and get in front of him,” Jordan Martinook said. “You look at “He’s the best in the league, the best in the world, let’s put it that way,” the goal we score, it’s a good net front. We had some good looks, but I Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We know that. We knew think we can get there a little more, just try and get in his eyes. He’s the that coming in. It’s not a surprise. I mean he’s been doing it for quite a best goalie in the world, so we’re going to have to do some special things while. We just have to figure out ways to make it a little bit harder on him to get pucks by him. You’ve got to tip your cap. He’s very good. We’ll because he’s going to make a lot of great saves. That’s pretty much come again and try and throw everything we’ve got at him, try and get exactly what we thought was going to happen, as far as his performance, more bodies in front. It’s all we can do.” and now we just gotta keep trying.” • Looks like Vincent Trocheck is shaping up to become the Lightning’s 2. Rookie goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic’s late-game blunder. villain of the series. Shayna’s ellipses say it all. • And now for tonight’s vibe check. First up is the one and only Brian “It’s tough. It’s tough for everybody. And there’s no use hiding it: It was a Pesce, aka Brett’s dad: no-good goal,” Brind’Amour said. “It was a bad goal. He’s going to admit And we’ll give the final vibe check to Brind’Amour tonight: it. It happens. He made a lot of good saves tonight, too. That’s part of it. He’ll bounce back. We’ll bounce back. We’ve got to score more than one “Nothing’s come easy for this group, ever,” he said. “Nothing’s ever to win anyway. That’s the way I look at it. We had our chances. We’ve handed to them. Everything they’ve gotten, they’ve earned. There’s got to make it tougher. We’ve got to get more than one.” never been an easy game. It seems like there’s been anything that’s gone easily. Obviously, we’re in the playoffs. We’re going to have to go Those two factors added up to the first loss at home for the Hurricanes earn every inch of ice that we get, every goal. But this group’s always this postseason, and they were a reminder that there is no room for error bounced back. So I don’t expect anything different.” against Tampa Bay. As a neutral observer, man, it was a great hockey game.

Postgame observations The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 • We’ll start with Nedeljkovic’s aforementioned blunder and get it out of the way. It was a real shame for a slew of reasons: 1) I thought Game 1 was Nedeljkovic’s strongest showing of the postseason up until that goal. 2) That was the worst goal he’s allowed by far in the postseason. And 3) The timing couldn’t have been worse than with less than half of the third period left to play. But we’ve been talking about resiliency all year, and this will be the latest test. It was a brutal mistake, but it was still only one mistake. I don’t think you should replace him with Petr Mrazek after one mistake, but that decision is well above my pay grade.

• The Canes started on time. The only thing more solid than their first period was Vasilevskiy. The Canes peppered him with 15 shots in the first period (to the Lightning’s 12), and they weren’t soft shots. according to Natural Stat Trick, the Canes had 1.64 expected goals in the first and six high-danger chances, while the Lightning had 0.51 expected goals and two high-danger chances. The Hurricanes obviously didn’t end up scoring in the first, but after allowing the Predators to score the first goal in five out of their six first-round games, the Canes needed to make a point to “come in hot,” as Jaccob Slavin would say. To Brind’Amour’s point, this is where the Canes should’ve scored “more than one” goal.

• Smart folks like y’all would never underestimate the power of special teams in the playoffs, and there’s a reason we’ve all been harping on this even more than usual leading into a Hurricanes-Lightning matchup. The series is relatively even at five-on-five, but the Lightning’s odds skyrocket 1214688 Colorado Avalanche time with 11:34 to go in the second period, when Graves rocked Vegas center Mattias Janmark in the corner, a shot that sent the big Swede to the locker room and Graves to the sin bin for interference.

Keeler: Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche punked the punks. Hard. And Headhunting No. 27 in blue became the theme of the third period. Again, Vegas had it coming. it was all the Knights had.

Avs-Knights, on paper, was supposed to be the NHL’s version of By SEAN KEELER | [email protected] | The Denver Post Dodgers-Padres, two heavyweights stuck in a division that wasn’t big enough for the both of them. PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 9:48 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at 10:45 p.m. Sunday was Dodgers-Rockies. On the road.

Anytime a Vegas player found two strides of space, a Colorado skater would close in before the guy could make his third. Rented mules cringed. From Halifax to La Jolla, woodsheds waved white flags in solidarity. The Knights dumped and chased early until one of those rainbows was caught out of the air by Colorado’s Devon Toews. The defenseman Nathan MacKinnon blew past a Vegas defense that looked as if it was collected the puck, shifted out of neutral, and initiated a rush that Mikko attempting to skate across wet sand. The burgundy blur cut right and Rantanen capped off with a nifty backhand from the right face-off circle, thrusted into the clear, the way a shark does just before it breaches the putting the hosts up 1-0. surface with a wounded seal in its jaws. Five minutes later, Landeskog piled on from the left side, wristing a There was nothing standing between MacKinnon and Vegas goaltender diagonal, silken thread from Cale Makar past Lehner to make it 2-0 Robin Lehner but the cold and the inevitable. Nate The Great went top midway through the opening stanza. shelf, glove side. The scoreboard said Avalanche 6, Golden Knights 1. There was 22:55 of regulation yet to play. They had it coming. To a man.

Vegas got what it deserved: Nada. “I don’t care who’s in net, to be honest with you,” Landeskog said.

The punks got punked. DeBoer wasn’t resting Fleury. He was sparing him.

The Knights turned up Sunday looking to fight. Or send messages. Or dance. It sure as heck wasn’t to play a hockey game. Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 You don’t sit a Hall-of-Fame goaltender for a series opener unless you’re thinking about the long game. Or a vacation.

“Rest is a weapon,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said after Colorado romped to a 7-1 victory in Game 1. “Especially at this time of year.”

It won’t be this easy again. Surely.

It will, however, be this physical. This brutal.

Because brutality is all the Knights have. You know it. They know it. With 11:56 left in the evening, the game so out of reach that the Mars rover found a seat near the glass, Vegas enforcer Ryan Reaves put his arm around the back of Ryan Graves’ neck, a classic clothesline, and threw the Avs defenseman to the ice.

If you’ll recall, the Blues tried a similar tactic in Game 3 a round earlier. You know how that one turned out.

Reaves had no stinking business opening this series after the blindside, face-plant-to-the-post job he did on Minnesota’s Ryan Suter just this past Friday night.

After Sunday’s goonery, Reaves has no business finishing it, either.

But if you’re counting on the NHL’s department of player safety to come riding to the rescue, don’t hold your breath.

If the Avs are to advance, let alone survive, they’re going to have to handle things by themselves. Including justice.

And, frankly, it wouldn’t have mattered if Knights veteran Marc-Andre Fleury had started between the pipes. Or was trying to protect his crease with nothing but a giant foam finger and a lanyard.

Either Vegas coach Peter DeBoer is playing it carefully or he’s the cockiest son of a biscuit on the planet.

Lehner was money for the Knights in the bubble last summer. But he also came in 5-6 lifetime against the Avs in 12 previous regular-season meetings, giving up almost three goals per stint (2.94).

Fleury vs the Avs: 26 regular-season trips, 15 wins, three career shutouts, two of them this past winter, 2.40 goals allowed.

But rest is a weapon, so DeBoer elected to keep the biggest sword within arm’s reach, his 36-year-old net-minder, on the bench. While the Avs had a week off after sweeping the Blues, Vegas got pushed by Minnesota to the brink.

Yet it was the Knights who looked rusty, start to finish. The Avs skated harder. They went to the boards hotter. And the heat got turned up big- 1214689 Colorado Avalanche Makar assisted on Colorado’s first three goals and his counterparts on Vegas’ blue line struggled in front of goalie Robin Lehner, the surprise starter over Marc-Andre Fleury. The Knights’ defensive pair of Alex Avalanche crushes Golden Knights 7-1 in chippy Game 1 Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez were both minus-2 after Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the second period.

Norris Trophy candidate Shea Theodore, who plays big minutes on RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Vegas’ second defensive pairing, also couldn’t slow down Colorado’s Rantanen (96), left, celebrates his goal during the first period of game 1 relentless attack. in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoff series on May 30, 2021 in Denver. Colorado Avalanche, at home in , took on the Vegas The onslaught began early. The left-shot Rantanen scored with a wicked Golden Knights. backhand from the right wing 4:55 into the game and Landeskog doubled the lead at 10:13 off a diagonal feed from Makar. Saad, MacKinnon and By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post Landeskog (power play) scored at 1:04, 4:03 and 14:23 of the second period for a 5-0 lead. PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 9:04 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at 11:38 p.m. Vegas’ William Karlsson finally solved goalie Philipp Grubauer at 14:59 but MacKinnon struck again on a sensational rush to extend his playoff-

leading goal total to eight. That concern about a weeklong break between games, and facing a Game 2 is Wednesday, and if the Knights don’t have an answer for team playing off momentum from their Game 7 victory at home in Las MacKinnon and company, they’ll return home 0-2 with Games 3 and 4 on Vegas? Friday and Sunday at T-Mobile Arena. Fahgetaboutit. Footnotes. Finnish forward Sampo Ranta made his NHL debut on the On a rainy night outside Ball Arena but an electrifying atmosphere inside Avs’ fourth line. Ranta, a 2018 third-round draft pick, turns 21 on the building Sunday, the rested Avalanche steamrolled the Vegas Golden Monday. … Avs second-line center Nazem Kadri served the third game Knights in what turned into a chippy Game 1 of their second-round of his eight-game suspension for a check to the head of St. Louis series. defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of the first-round series. Kadri appealed his suspension Thursday but the NHL has yet to rule on it. … Colorado came out flying, getting a goal from right winger Mikko Defenseman Erik Johnson was among the few Avalanche players to Rantanen within the first five minutes and cruised to a 7-1 victory to participate in Sunday’s morning skate. The 33-year-old Johnson, the improve to 5-0 in the postseason. team’s most senior member, hasn’t played since Jan. 30 because of an upper-body injury. “EJ” is still likely weeks away from a possible return “I love the way our team played tonight,” Avs coach said. but is one of Colorado’s core leaders. “Guys like having him around. “Right away, out of the gate, skating, relentless puck pressure. Great Obviously, he’s a lot of fun and a committed teammate,” Bednar said. … commitment to our checking game, capitalizing on our chances. The top Avs depth forward Jayson Megna and Vegas defenseman Brayden line set the tone, again, but our whole team was involved and playing McNabb remain the only players on the NHL’s COVID absence protocol well.” list. McNabb is a regular for the Knights. Following the Avs’ four-goal second period, the third took seemingly twice as long to complete. Vegas turned physical, Colorado didn’t back down, and there were seven penalties within the first 8:04 of the frame — Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 including four misconducts and a match penalty to Knights enforcer Ryan Reaves for punching helmetless Avs defenseman Ryan Graves while he was lying under a pile on the ice.

Graves was bloodied but left the ice on his own power.

“Reaves is — he’s on a mission to hurt somebody there in the third and that’s what he goes out and does,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said. “I’m sure the league will take a look at it.”

The last angle clearly shows Ryan Reaves drive Ryan Graves’ head into the ice with his knee. If that’s not a suspension I don’t know what is.

In what world is that an acceptable hockey play?

Landeskog added: “They weren’t happy with the way the game was going and so they were trying to send a message for Game 2 or — I don’t know. But overall I think we played a good game. It’s Game 1. Doesn’t mean anything going into Game 2. Just have to follow it up with the same.”

Avs defenseman Cale Makar scored a power-play goal with four combined players in the penalty boxes late in the third period for his fourth point of the game.

“(Makar) was dangerous every time he was out there and I think overall, our D core did a great job with breaking the puck out, jumping up in the rush, creating 4-on-3s and things like that,” Landeskog said.

This series features the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avs and the second team to finish with a league-high 82 points. But the Golden Knights, who were edged out for the regular-season trophy by a tiebreaker, lost big in Game 1 because Colorado’s best players threw daggers at the visitors from start to finish.

The Avs’ top line of Rantanen, center Nathan MacKinnon and left winger Landeskog combined for five goals through two periods, and third-line wing Brandon Saad also scored to give the hosts a 6-1 lead through two periods.

“Everyone took it seriously, the break. It wasn’t a vacation,” MacKinnon said. “Everyone was ready to go. And we had a great start.” 1214690 Colorado Avalanche

Knights-Avalanche Game 1 Quick Hits: Ryan Reaves’ penalty on Ryan Graves deserves suspension

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 8:58 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at 9:53 p.m.

1. Rest wins, rust loses

The Avalanche benefited from dispatching St. Louis in four first-round games. The Knights’ bill for getting stretched to seven games by Minnesota came due Sunday night. This was adults vs. kids. This was fresh vs. tired. This was swift-skating vs. skating-in-cement. If there was any doubt the Avs’ rest (six off days), would hurt, it was erased … again and again and again. It was 2-0 less than 11 minutes into the game. It was 5-0 halfway at the midpoint. It was 6-1 after two periods. Credit Avs coach Jared Bednar, who leaned on the top line of Mikko Rantanen- Nathan MacKinnon-Gabe Landeskog to build the lead — each played at least 13 minutes and had a combined eight points through two periods.

2. Makar magic

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar described his first-round play as “average.” He was likely chafed over his plus-1 rating against St. Louis. The high standard he sets for himself was met in the opening 21 minutes when he assisted on each of the Avalanche’s first three goals. Makar broke up a Vegas play in his zone that led to Rananten’s goal. He made an incredible cross-ice pass (tape-to-tape) on Landeskog’s first marker. And he started the play with a crisp pass to Valeri Nichushkin that led to Brandon Saad’s goal. If Makar, who scored a third-period goal, is playing this well in his zone and seeing the ice like it’s just him and four teammates in the offensive zone, the Avs will be tough to contain.

3. Reaves a disgrace

Vegas fourth-line winger Ryan Reaves shouldn’t have been eligible for Game 1 after his cheap-shot cross-check of Minnesota’s Ryan Suter into the goal-post on Friday. Well, we shouldn’t be seeing Reaves for a few games after he received a third-period match penalty/intent to injure against Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves (who delivered a hard check on Mattias Janmark in the second period). Like with Avalanche center Nazem Kadri in the St. Louis series, a match penalty means an automatic suspension until the league’s Dept. of Player Safety can decide on a ban. The Knights may be better off without Reaves because the puck finds his stick by accident.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214691 Colorado Avalanche

Gov. Jared Polis makes beer bet against Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak for Avalanche-Golden Knights series

By JOE NGUYEN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 8:44 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at 9:13 p.m.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak challenged Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to a beer bet Sunday, wagering that the Vegas Golden Knights will defeat the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Sisolak put up a case of suds from 7Five Brewing, the Las Vegas brewery owned by Golden Knights right winger Ryan Reaves.

Polis accepted the bet during the third period, offering up a case of Odell Brewing beers.

The Avalanche took Game 1, crushing the Golden Knights, 7-1, at Ball Arena.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214692 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche’s Brandon Saad scores goal in second period against Golden Knights in Game 1

By JOE NGUYEN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

May 30, 2021 at 7:35 p.m.

Make that three assists for Cale Makar on Sunday.

The Avalanche defenseman recorded the assist after Brandon Saad scored off of a pass from Valeri Nichushkin 1:04 into the second period against the Golden Knights at Ball Arena in Denver.

The score gave the Avs a 3-0 lead in Game 1.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214693 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche’s Gabe Landeskog scores off Cale Makar’s pass in first period against Golden Knights

By JOE NGUYEN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

May 30, 2021 at 6:53 p.m.

It took just a little more than 10 minutes for Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar to record two assists on Sunday.

At 10:13 into the first period, Makar found captain Gabe Landeskog for a score past Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to give Colorado an early 2-0 lead. Defenseman Sam Girard was also credited with an assist.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214694 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen scores early goal against Golden Knights in Game 1

By JOE NGUYEN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

May 30, 2021 at 6:37 p.m.

And here you will observe the Moose in his natural habitat…

It’s been a week since the Avalanche last played, but they’re certainly not rusty.

Winger Mikko Rantanen got Colorado on the board Sunday when he blasted a backhander past Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Avs a 1-0 lead 4:55 into the first period. Cale Makar and Devon Toews were each credited with an assist.

The Avs and Golden Knights kicked off Game 1 of their best-of-seven, second-round series on Sunday night.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214695 Colorado Avalanche Conventional wisdom would tell you that rest favors the hosts, right? Only recent Cup history, strangely enough, doesn’t quite jibe with logic.

Since 1991, a team that swept its four-game series to reach the second Keeler: If Nazem Kadri can’t start Avalanche-Vegas series, Knights round has met a squad that needed seven games to get there five times. forward Ryan Reaves shouldn’t, either. Not after what he did to Ryan All five times, the team coming off the longer series wound up beating the Suter. team that had advanced via sweep.

“(It’s about) limiting that speed, limiting that skill,” Knights defender Zach By SEAN KEELER | [email protected] | The Denver Post Whitecloud said of the Avs. “Making it tough in all areas of the ice.”

PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at The winner of this series has the inside track at Lord Stanley’s love 12:45 p.m. handles. It’s got it all: Pride. Revenge. Contempt. Stars. Stakes. It’s also going to be chippy, right from the jump.

Vegas doesn’t just like the muck. The Knights swim in the stuff. They Cheap-shot artist? Ryan Reaves is a cheap-shot Monet. A doyen of the poke. They prod. dark arts. A man who works in brutality the way other virtuosos toil in paints and clay. And, as we were reminded in the Wild series, sometimes they shove guys, blindsided, into metal objects. The maestro was in rare form Friday night. Four minutes into the second period of a Game 7 victory over Minnesota, with the Golden Knights up “Everyone, I think, believes that (the Avs) are the measuring-stick team in 2-1, Reaves, the burly Vegas forward, got behind Minnesota’s Ryan the league,” Pacioretty said. “And they’ve been sitting at home, probably Suter at the edge of the Wild’s crease. resting up, but, no matter what, we’ve got to make life difficult. Especially for their star players.” He then shoved the Minnesota defenseman in the back. A blow that sent the guy careening, face-first, into the crossbar. Again, Gary: One strike zone. All we ask. Handing Reaves a stick and free reign is like handing Picasso a paint brush. Any blood from this easel “It was pretty violent, obviously,” Wild coach Dean Evason told reporters is on your hands, too. Forever. afterward.

Obviously. If that happens on the sidewalk, it’s a felony. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s two minutes for interference. Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021

If Avs center Nazem Kadri can’t start the NHL’s showcase scuffle between Colorado and the Knights, then Reaves shouldn’t, either. Period.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, repeat offenses. Guess what? Reaves has been fined or suspended by the NHL four times since November 2015, including once for an illegal check to the head just last September.

Kadri’s head-shot on St. Louis’ Justin Faulk in the first round landed Naz an eight-game suspension. But sending a man’s skull into a metal pipe is somehow above board?

If Kadri’s sin was worth eight tilts, the floor for Reaves should be six. Minimum. One strike zone, . Same balls and strikes for everybody.

Because everybody’s going to be watching. And how the league chastens Reaves’ impiety — or doesn’t — could set the tone for the NHL’s most anticipated series of 2021.

Irresistible force in one corner, an immovable object in the other. Speed, skill and spine against grit, gumption and guts. Porsche 918 Spyder versus monster truck. No wonder neutrals can’t stop wagging their tongues.

Colorado-Vegas pits the two NHL teams that piled up the most regular- season points (82), separated by 753 miles of highway and one tie- breaker. The Avs notched 35 regulation wins to Vegas’ 30, an edge that secured the Presidents’ Trophy for the former. It’s a Stanley Cup preview, played out a month too early.

“Yeah, (the Avs are) the best team in the league,” Vegas forward Max Pacioretty said late Friday when asked about Colorado, which hosts Game 1 Sunday night at Ball Arena. “They arguably have the best player in the league. A couple of them. We’ve got to make life hard on them.”

The Avs won four of the eight meetings, dropping three in regulation and another in overtime. Five of those eight were decided by a goal, including a clutch 2-1 Colorado victory in the desert back on May 10 that ultimately sealed the chase for home ice.

“We knew that, to get to where we want to go, we’d have to go through them, at least in the second round,” Pacioretty said.

The faithful on Chopper Circle — now 10,500 strong, thank goodness — should give the top seed an edge, on paper. With two teams this good, it’s about the mental side of things going forward as much as the physical.

Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury loves the big stage. And while the Knights went the distance against the Wild, the Avs will have been off for more than a week by the time the puck drops. 1214696 Colorado Avalanche saying things and then going out and doing it every single shift you can see the guys hop on his back and follow him.”

Philipp Grubauer, the Avs’ No. 1 goalie, agrees. Gabe Landeskog, Mr. Avalanche, is spirit of team with Stanley Cup-or- bust dreams “Unbelievable captain in the room and on and off the ice,” Grubauer said. “Everybody on that line, doing the right things — those guys are our leadership, basically, our pull-horse, our engine, they drive us.”

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post The Avs made Landeskog the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2011 after the May 30, 2021 at 5:45 a.m. Swedish native came to North American at age 16 and played two years of major junior for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. He was captain in his second year with Kitchener, the first European captain in club history. It was pretty clear at that time that he was a Gabe Landeskog is all things to the Avalanche. natural leader. Captain. Blood-and-guts grinder. Elite skater. Unconventional offensive Bednar replaced Patrick Roy as the Avs’ head coach in 2016 when threat. Even a brawler if it’s needed. Landeskog was beginning his sixth NHL season at age 23. Landeskog And it was all on display in the Avalanche’s first-round playoff sweep of was named captain in 2012 by Roy’s predecessor, Joe Sacco, becoming the St. Louis Blues. the NHL’s youngest-ever captain at the time at 19 years, nine months and 13 days. Broken nose and all, Landeskog was much more than a left winger on the top line. He was the spirit of a team that crushed the 2019 Stanley Bednar has seen plenty of growth in Landeskog since, but none more Cup champions. obvious than his work in the uncomfortable area in front of the opposition’s net. “He’s huge for this team. He’s the team captain, the leader,” Avs winger Andre Burakovsky said of No. 92, who re-broke his nose earlier this “The net presence is an area that he’s really grown at over the course of month in a game at Los Angeles. “The way he played, the way he my time here. The numbers on his deflection goals, screen goals, that showed up for every game, that’s a sign of a true leader. He showed the he’s involved in have been going up every year and now it’s a big staple way from Game 1 until the fourth. It’s unbelievable to watch him play.” of his game,” Bednar said. “That whole line has grown together and there’s a familiarity there and they’re complementary to one another in In Game 1 against St. Louis, Landeskog had a goal, an assist and a fight the way that they play and part of that is Landy’s ability to get to the net for a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, then capped it off with an assist on Nathan and create traffic. MacKinnon’s empty-net goal in the 4-1 win. “It’s turned into one of the top lines, if not the top line, in the league. The MacKinnon-centered line, with Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen on Those guys being the leaders on the ice, I think (Landeskog) has the wings, combined for three goals, 10 points, 16 shots and a plus-8 become more comfortable as the leader in our locker room and it has rating. become clear over the last few years that it’s about winning — not just being a good team and getting into the playoffs. As our team has Perhaps most importantly, Landeskog set the tone for the series by progressed, Landy’s been the guy pushing that forward and really trying dropping gloves with Brayden Schenn midway through the first period of to hold our team to a new standard.” a scoreless game and pounding the Blues’ center to the ice. A matchup against Vegas now awaits Landeskog and the Avalanche, “He drags us into the fight, has an outstanding game, both on the and with it an opportunity to do something he’s never done before in his checking side of things and the production side of things,” Avs coach 10 seasons in an Avs sweater: advance past the second round of the Jared Bednar said. “He takes some comments from St. Louis, takes it Stanley Cup playoffs. personally, and he was out there to prove a point. He was the leader of our group. It’s the toughest test yet for a team with championship aspirations, but also its best opportunity to hoist the Cup since last winning the “Our top line had an amazing first couple nights and the rest of our team Presidents’ Trophy two decades ago. followed suit. Excellent leadership, both in the room and especially on the ice for him — setting an example and setting the tone of the series.” And nobody senses that urgency more than Landeskog, the Avs captain who’s been there every step of the way as the franchise has slowly Landeskog did more of the same in Game 2. His fierce forecheck on ascended to the top of the NHL. Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly led to a turnover and Avalanche goal 35 seconds into the game. Landeskog finished the series with two goals — “Every season that goes on and every playoff series that you get both on redirections in front of the net in Games 1 and 4 — and six eliminated your hunger and your (desire) just goes up that much higher,” assists for eight points, one behind MacKinnon’s team-high nine. Landeskog said last week. “I think that’s the difference between our group. We’re just that much more hungrier for it this year, that much Avs backup goalie Devan Dubnyk, acquired from San Jose before the more competitive, I’d like to say. Obviously, we were competitive last trade deadline, had seen it all before from Landeskog. The 35-year-old year as well. You realize you have so many chances.” veteran hated playing against him because of it.

In six seasons from 2014 to 2020, they were enemies when Dubnyk was the No. 1 goalie for the Minnesota Wild. Much of Landeskog’s game is Denver Post: LOADED: 05.31.2021 being a crease-front presence in the offensive zone, and Dubnyk couldn’t stand it when Landeskog planted his rear end right in front of his mask.

They had multiple heated dust-ups over the years.

“He’s one of the best in the world,” Dubnyk said of Landeskog’s overall game as a power forward. “Me and him, we joked now about always getting into battles, because he goes to the right areas and he’s a handful for goalies to deal with around the front of the net.

“That’s why me and him used to always get into it. Fortunately, we’ve cleared the air on that one and now I get to be on the other side of it.”

Dubnyk has only been with the Avs for a little more than six weeks. But he’s already realized what a great captain the Avs have.

“Every day he does the right things, he says the right things at the right time, and then the best part about it is he goes out and does it every single game,” Dubynk said. “That’s the most important part. It’s good to be good leader and say the right things, but when you got a guy that’s 1214697 Colorado Avalanche the most points in the NHL this season and have a skilled, physical team — one of the league’s best.

So the Avalanche’s win, while not necessarily an indication of how the Cale Makar, Avalanche show flash, push through Vegas physicality in rest of the series will go, showed they are as legitimate a club as they dominant Game 1 win come. For the rest of the second round and potentially beyond, Colorado isn’t going to catch anyone by surprise. The league is on notice.

By Peter Baugh “I love the way our team played tonight,” Bednar said. “Great commitment to our checking game, capitalizing on our chances. The top May 31, 2021 line set the tone again, but our whole team was involved.”

During a weeklong break that didn’t cause any rust, the team discussed what went wrong in its second-round, seven-game series losses each of The Golden Knights quickly proved unable to keep up with an Avalanche the past two years. Bednar said the Avs talked going into the series onslaught on the ice Sunday, so they instead responded with elbows and about, in his words, not wading into the series. hits and, most notably, a body slam. Colorado’s 7-1 win in the second- round series opener featured 74 combined penalty minutes (44 of which Star winger Mikko Rantanen made sure they didn’t. After the Round 1 went to the Golden Knights), a nine-minute Avalanche power play and sweep against the Blues, he said he probably should have scored more one Vegas ejection for a penalty with “intent to injure.” in the series. So he wasted no time Sunday, taking a Devon Toews pass on the rush and backhanding it past Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner. “You know they were trying to send a message for Game 2,” said Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who finished with four points as his “There were so many goals tonight, I can’t even remember the first goal, team took the lead in the best-of-seven series. to be honest with you,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said.

“There were some big hits thrown, clean hits,” Colorado coach Jared “It was huge,” Bednar said, also noting Rantanen’s strong defense Bednar said. “Some of them were a little high and a little late.” throughout the game. “I loved his game, especially at the start. First period, second period, he was a horse on the puck. He was hanging on And then there was one, courtesy of Vegas fourth-liner Ryan Reaves, to it. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion for him.” that caused mayhem on the ice and left the Avalanche coach and his players bothered after the game. That Lehner, who stopped only 30 of 37 pucks, got the Game 1 start was a bit of a surprise. Marc-Andre Fleury carried the Golden Knights to a By the end of the second period, Colorado had seized a five-goal lead, seven-game series victory against the Wild and had an exceptional .928 and Vegas didn’t wait for Game 2 to show how it planned to respond. save percentage on the season, but the Vegas coaching staff opted to go Already angry at Colorado’s Ryan Graves for a second-period hit on with the well-rested Lehner. Mattias Janmark, the Golden Knights continued to go after the Avalanche defenseman — and his teammates — in the third. Asked about his thoughts on the Golden Knights’ decision, Landeskog said simply: “I don’t care who’s in net, to be honest with you.” The result: a messy final period. After a whistle nine minutes in, Reaves, who did not receive any discipline from the league for a cross-check on Though Lehner surely wanted a few save opportunities back, neither Ryan Suter in the Minnesota series, grabbed Graves by the neck and Vegas goalie could have stopped the Avalanche’s second goal. A Golden threw him to the ice. The Vegas forward then appeared to kneel on his Knights defensive breakdown left Landeskog alone by the net, and opponent’s head, and by the time he got up, Graves lay motionless on Makar found him with a backdoor pass, which the captain lifted into the the ice. net easily.

Reaves received a match penalty and could be looking at a substantial “I saw the shooting lane was a little bit full, and Landy made a great read suspension from the NHL. The play did not leave Colorado’s players to go backdoor,” Makar said. “I was able to find him.” pleased. Girard picked up a secondary assist on the play, and he also helped the “Reaves, he’s on a mission to go out there and hurt someone in the Avalanche seize the puck in the defensive zone by laying a hit on Vegas third,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “That’s what he goes forward Alex Tuch. out and does.” The goals kept coming in the second, as Vegas had no answer for the In the immediate aftermath, even normally level-headed players lost Avalanche’s top line of MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen, who are control. Mild-mannered Brandon Saad and Vegas defenseman Alex currently the top three point-per-game players this postseason. Pietrangelo rolled around, tussling on the ice. Both got 10-minute MacKinnon, leading the way with 12 playoff points, scored a pair of misconduct penalties, and so did Vegas’ Zach Whitecloud and highlight-reel goals in the period. He whipped a no-look shot through Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin. Lehner’s legs for the Avalanche’s fourth goal, then, later in the period, zoomed around Nicolas Hague to find open ice. MacKinnon skated The officials rewarded Colorado with a nine-minute power play, and toward Lehner and put the puck over his shoulder for his second goal Makar scored the night’s final tally to put what was already a blowout and third point of the night. even more out of reach. “I noticed (Hague) had a loose gap, and I gathered some speed,” “Not unexpected,” Bednar said of the Golden Knights’ style of play in the MacKinnon said. “I managed to get around.” third, noting that he thought the officials did a solid job in general. “The only play I really didn’t like, that was out of the context of the game, was The play encapsulated the night’s on-ice action: The Avalanche the Reaves play on Graves when he’s down.” celebrated, the Golden Knights looked lost, and the puck sat in their net.

Standout Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard also took a hit in the Makar said he knows Game 2 on Wednesday won’t be anything like third. Vegas forward Max Pacioretty threw his shoulder backward at Sunday. Vegas will come out with fire. Knights captain Mark Stone said Girard while protecting the puck, hitting him high. Like Graves later in the his team needs to learn from the blowout, then flush it. It’s on Vegas to period, Girard went to the dressing room, but both returned by the end of respond, and Makar stressed after the game that the Avalanche will have the game. to stay ready.

“(The hit on Girard) was just high,” Bednar said. “You can’t just get him in “We know teams’ game plans against us are going to be physical,” the the head. But that’s a play that happened fast.” defenseman said. “At the end of the day, we just have to match that. Or even put it back on them.” Fortunately for the Avalanche, all of their players were able to finish the game. Vegas, on the other hand, lost Janmark after the Graves hit.

The chaotic final period overshadowed a dominant Avalanche The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 performance, which came exactly a week after the team polished off a sweep of the Blues. That series was difficult to interpret: It might’ve just been a superior opponent dominating an injury-riddled, less-talented team. But Vegas isn’t the Blues. The Golden Knights tied Colorado for 1214698 Colorado Avalanche • A large group of extra players, many of whom were on the AHL roster during the season, was on the ice for an additional skating session. Here’s who was in attendance: forwards Miikka Salomaki, Logan Erik Johnson, still recovering from injury, gives Avalanche a boost with O’Connor, Liam O’Brien, , Kiefer Sherwood and T.J. Tynan; surprise appearance on ice before Game 1 defensemen Dan Renouf, Bowen Byram, Keaton Middleton, Kyle Burroughs, Jacob MacDonald and Dennis Gilbert; and goalies Adam Werner and Justus Annunen. Bednar said Saturday that O’Connor is “ahead of schedule” in his lower-body injury recovery. He could be an By Peter Baugh option at some point in the playoffs. May 30, 2021

The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 Shortly after taking the ice Sunday morning ahead of the Avalanche’s Round 2 opener, Erik Johnson kneeled to catch his breath. Captain Gabriel Landeskog, who had just come off the bench, skated toward him and leaned down, pulling the 33-year-old in for a hug.

The two longest-tenured Avalanche players were finally back on the ice together.

Johnson, an alternate captain, suffered an upper-body injury Jan. 30 against the Wild when he took a high hit from Jordan Greenway. The 6- foot-4 defenseman didn’t play again in the regular season, finishing with one assist in only four games. Until Sunday, he hadn’t been on the ice for team skates.

At the trade deadline, general manager said Johnson might be able to return if the Avalanche reached the later rounds of the postseason. Coach Jared Bednar said Saturday the defenseman is “doubtful” for the postseason. And though Johnson skating at Sunday’s optional skate is encouraging for Colorado — Nathan MacKinnon watched from the bench in street clothes and chatted with Johnson when he rested — it doesn’t sound like a return to game action will happen in the immediate future.

“To get him back on the ice is a step in the right direction,” Bednar said in his morning skate media session ahead of Game 1 against Vegas. “I don’t know about him being fully cleared or any of that to actually play. He’s just taking it step by step in his return-to-play protocol, basically. As he feels better, he’s doing more, and it’s good to see. … We’ll see where it goes, but I don’t have anything on an imminent return or even him joining the main group for practice.”

Still, his presence is more than welcome. Defenseman Ryan Graves chatted with him on the ice, and forward Andre Burakovsky called out when he saw the veteran skating. Bednar said he’d been around the team more recently as his recovery progressed.

“I think all the guys are really excited to see him around,” Bednar said. “He’s a lot of fun and a committed teammate.”

“It’s fun, obviously; he’s a big part of our team, and he’s been away for a while,” Pierre-Edouard Bellemare said Sunday. “He’s one of those pieces you feel like you’re missing in the locker room. So it’s just fun to have him there.”

Johnson is the longest-tenured Avalanche player, coming over in a trade from the Blues in the 2010-11 season, and has 213 points in 577 games with Colorado. The 2006 No. 1 draft pick was the first Avalanche player on the ice Sunday, starting by skating laps around the rink to get his heart rate up. He stayed on the ice for around 20 minutes, skating and shooting an occasional puck at the net.

MacKinnon said earlier in the week that he doesn’t think Johnson will play again this season, but it’s still been nice having him with the team and in good spirits.

“Even if he’s not supposed to play, it doesn’t matter,” Bellemare said. “It’s good to see him.”

Quick hits from morning skate

• Bednar did not say whether 20-year-old Sampo Ranta will make his NHL debut against Vegas. Ranta had skated with the fourth line during the week with Alex Newhook, who played all four Round 1 games, on the line of extra forwards.

• The Avalanche are now allowed to have 10,500 fans at Ball Arena. Bellemare joked that he’s scared about how loud the crowd will get. “Seven-and-a-half (thousand fans) felt like 15 (thousand),” he said. “What’s 10 (thousand) going to feel like?” 1214699 Colorado Avalanche The Avs are searching for their first conference-final appearance since 2002.

They’re one game closer. Deen’s List: The Avalanche came to play in Game 1. Vegas couldn’t keep up and resorted to playing dirty Lehner gets the nod

It was a puzzling decision by Knights head coach Peter DeBoer.

By Aarif Deen The Golden Knights surprised many when they chose to turn to goalie Robin Lehner for Game 1. Lehner had not started a game since a 2-1 May 30, 2021 loss to the Avalanche on May 10 — his only start against Colorado.

They sat a future Hall of Famer and a potential Vezina Trophy finalist to It’s the matchup the entire hockey world wanted to see and the give their second goalie a sniff of playoff action. Avalanche gave us a 60-minute preview of why they’re not scared of the Lehner allowed seven goals. The Avalanche swarmed him early and did Vegas Golden Knights or their fourth-line hitman Ryan Reaves on not let up. His defense didn’t help him much, if at all, but the move was Sunday. still a curious one from DeBoer. Especially when you consider the record The Avalanche came to play. Vegas couldn’t keep up and resorted to the guy sitting on the bench has against the Avs this year. playing dirty. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas’ backup on Sunday, helped the Golden The Golden Knights tried to physically dominate the Avs but spent 60 Knights to a seven-game series victory over the Minnesota Wild in the minutes chasing the better team. Colorado skated away with a 7-1 victory first round. He was also 4-3 in seven starts against the Avs during the at Ball Arena after a week off. There were no signs of rust in the regular season, recording two shutouts and posting a .932 save Avalanche’s game. percentage.

“Rest is a weapon,” Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog said. “Especially Not sure who DeBoer goes with in Game 2. But the disrespect to Fleury this time of year. We’ve played a lot of hockey and I think the coaching is very much showing. There is no reason why he shouldn’t have gotten staff has done a good job of managing our rest here throughout the week the start. and making sure we’re ready to go.” “I don’t care who’s in net, to be honest with you,” Landeskog said.

Colorado scored six goals before the second period was over. Its power Vegas starts its fourth line play was spectacular and looked like the Harlem Globetrotters at times. It completely outmatched the second-best team in the league in every facet DeBoer tried to set the tone early. He chose to start his fourth line off the of the game, led by the top line and stud defenseman Cale Makar. opening faceoff. The Avs countered with a more skillful line — maybe the best line in the NHL. “I love the way our team played tonight,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Right away, out of the gate, skating, relentless puck pressure. Great MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen didn’t score on that first shift but commitment to our checking game, capitalizing on our chances. The top they swarmed the Knights every chance they had. That’s not the line you line set the tone, again, but our whole team was involved and playing want going toe-to-toe with Reaves and company. well.” Rantanen’s historic run Superstar center Nathan MacKinnon and Landeskog each scored two goals and added an assist. The third piece of that line, Mikko Rantanen, The Moose is loose. It’s actually been loose for 15 straight games scored the opening goal and had two points. Makar finished with a goal spanning two postseasons. and three assists. Rantanen’s three points extended his playoff point streak to 15 games. And the only response Vegas had was to trot out Reaves in the third He entered the game tied with MacKinnon (14 games, all in 2020) for the period to take shots at goaltender Philipp Grubauer and other Avs after longest playoff point streak in Avalanche history over two postseasons. the whistle. He did what he does best: Use his massive frame and brute Goals galore force to toe the line and often cross it. On Friday he sent Minnesota’s Ryan Suter face-first into the post with a crosscheck from behind. Let’s recognize just how much of an offensive threat this rendition of the Avalanche truly is. And against the Avs, he decided to take it one step further and get ejected for intent to injure. The match penalty means an automatic Colorado has scored five or more goals in four consecutive games dating suspension as the NHL’s Department of Player Safety decides how long back to Game 2 against the St. Louis Blues. It’s the first time in franchise he sits. history the Avs have accomplished the feat in four straight playoff games.

If the DoPS uses the same standard on Reaves that they have time and And the one game they didn’t score five? A 4-1 victory in Game 1 against time again on Avs center Nazem Kadri, then Reaves won’t play another St. Louis. game in this series. They have 27 goals in five games and are just the fifth team since 1927 The last angle clearly shows Ryan Reaves drive Ryan Graves’ head into to score that many and start the postseason 5-0. The last four teams all the ice with his knee. If that’s not a suspension I don’t know what is. made it to the Stanley Cup Final. And three of them won the Cup.

In what world is that an acceptable hockey play?

There is no saying how Vegas will respond in Game 2. But surely its milehighsports.com LOADED: 05.31.2021 confidence heading into this matchup has been shot down. At best, the Golden Knights can try to slow the Avs down. But they can’t stop them.

That’s what Game 1 showed us.

The Deen’s List

Drawing first blood

They didn’t win Game 1 against the in 2019. They didn’t win Game 1 against the in 2020. They did this year — against the second-best team in the NHL.

Colorado jumped out to a 1-0 series lead in Round 2 for the first time during this three-year stretch. And what a statement it was. Rantanen, a left-shot right winger, used a wicked backhand from the right circle to give the Avs a 1-0 lead just 4:58 into the game. 1214700 Colorado Avalanche they played in the regular season, and Vegas lost both of those games. But the playoffs are a different animal. In this instance, Colorado has had a week off after sweeping St. Louis. Meanwhile, Vegas was pushed to Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 1 Odds, Prediction, Pick (May 30, the brink and didn’t eliminate Minnesota in Game 7 until Friday night. 2021) Conventional wisdom shows that it takes a team that hasn’t played at least a period to get their game legs back. Vegas already has their legs. It’s a good bet that they score first and have a lead, probably just 1-0, By Bob Wankel after the first period. And if you think they can pull off the victory and take home ice away from Colorado in the first game, you’ll like to know that May 30, 2021 Vegas was 31-3-2 when they scored the first goal this season and 22-4-0 when leading after the first period. Although two of those regulation losses were against the Avalanche. The Stanley Cup Final kicks off with Game 1 tonight. Oh, wait. It’s not really the Finals, it’s just the second round. In this case, the West Cale Makar OVER 1.5 shots on goal (-240, DraftKings) Division Finals. However, there are a lot of pundits who believe the Yes, we know the odds aren’t great here, but remember, shot totals at winner of this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Ball Arena always seem to be inflated. So you can pick any Avalanche Colorado Avalanche will ultimately be the Stanley Cup Champion. player and you’re chance of hitting the OVER on almost any of them is Let’s take a look at the Game 1 matchup between Vegas and Colorado worth it when they play on home ice. In the first round, the Avalanche from a betting perspective in our Golden Knights vs. Avalanche betting were credited with 85 shots on goal in two home games compared to just preview with odds, picks and predictions. 60 in two road games. We picked Makar because it was the lowest over/under total to go over. But really, almost everyone goes over for the And why not? They tied for the best record in the NHL in the regular Avalanche at home. season, with Colorado finishing ahead of Vegas on a tiebreaker. Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 1 Prediction They played each other eight times in the regular season, and each team won four times. Vegas outscored Colorado in those eight games 18-17. This series is ultimately going to have to be won at 5-on-5 as both teams Considering they were two of the best offenses in the NHL this season, do a good job killing penalties. Colorado’s power play was on fire against the fact that they averaged a combined 4.38 goals total when they played St. Louis, but only connected at 4.8% in eight games against Vegas each other ought to tell you something. during the regular season. When games are decided at even strength, lower-scoring affairs are more common. We expect Vegas to look better It tells you this series is going to be close. It’s going to be tight. It’s going early, but Colorado to eventually take over the game and use their rested to be long. And it’s likely going to live up to the billing and excitement that bodies to overcome the Golden Knights in the opener — close game, but has been brewing about all season as most pundits figured the winner of an Avalanche victory nonetheless. the west would come down to these two teams. Pick: Avalanche 3, Golden Knights 1 Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 1 Betting Pick (May 30, 2021)

You may remember that the Avalanche had to win five straight games to finish the season and eight of nine just to win the tiebreaker over Vegas. milehighsports.com LOADED: 05.31.2021

It was incredibly important to them because of how good both of these teams are at home. Colorado was 22-4-2 at Ball Arena. The Golden Knights were 21-5-2 on home ice. And while both teams were excellent road teams, in a matchup of this caliber, knowing you would have a winner-take-all game on your home ice in front of your fans is key.

The other thing of note for these playoffs is the superb goaltending both teams are getting right now. Starting with Vegas, Marc-Andre Fleury has been sensational. His story has been well-documented. Originally expected to be the backup this season, Fleury took over as the starter and had an incredible season going 26-10-0 with a 1.98 goals against average (GAA) and a .928 Save percentage (Sv%), ranking third in the NHL in both categories.

He’s been even better in the playoffs with a 1.71 GAA and a .931 Sv%.

On the other side has been Philipp Grubauer. His regular season GAA of 1.95 was second-best in the NHL and his .922 Sv% ranked seventh, which is nothing to sneeze at. He’s only played four postseason games but is undefeated with a 1.75 GAA and a .936 Sv%.

We tell you all this because as talented as these two teams are, it’s likely going to come down to which goalie outperforms the other to swing this series.

Avalanche to win AND UNDER 5.5 goals (+190, DraftKings)

This one is purely based on trends. Colorado doesn’t lose at home. Six of the eight regular season games between these two teams were under 5.5 goals total and the playoffs usually get even tighter. Colorado recognizes the gravity of the moment and isn’t going to just blow their home ice advantage in Game 1 after working so hard at the end of the season to earn it. Not to mention, they’ll have fresher legs than Vegas as the game wears on, which really favors Colorado. Take that minus in front of the Avs to win the game outright and simply flip it to a plus by adding the Under and getting value on your bet.

Golden Knights to win the first period (+250, FanDuel)

Actually, we like this bet regardless of the outcome, but it would go a long way to helping Vegas win the game outright as well. The Golden Knights only had a first period lead against the Avalanche twice in the eight times 1214701 Colorado Avalanche

Dater’s Daily: Evander Kane Chirps Ryan Reaves

Published 3 hours ago on May 31, 2021

By Adrian Dater

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane couldn’t resist talking some serious trash at Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves, over the prospect of him being suspended for a match-penalty “intent to injure” action against Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves in the third period of Colorado’s of the Golden Knights in Game 1..

Ouch.

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We’ll see if Reaves responds, but I don’t think we’ll be officially hearing from the Golden Knights player in any official capacity for a while, after that gutless stunt tonight.

We will definitely see what the NHL DoPS is made of with this decision on Reaves. A lot of people think the league is afraid of Reaves. Let’s see what happens. Reaves has been suspended four times by the league since 2015, but nothing too recently and nothing for more than a couple of games.

Reaves and Kane, by the way, have a history with each other.

Vegas was still mad about Graves’ hit on Mattias Janmark that put him out of the game. Might have been a half-second too late, which is why Graves got the interference penalty. But Janmark was too busy admiring his pass and not keeping his head up. Totally clean hit otherwise. Shoulder to midsection. Vegas can dish it out, but can’t take it, is what they proved tonight.

The Maple Leafs play a seventh game tonight and they’re a bit nervous about it in Hogtown. (Toronto Star)

They’re singing the praises of David Pastrnak in Boston again (Boston Hockey Now)

In case you missed Gabe Landeskog’s take on Reaves’ antics:

Landeskog on Zoom on Reaves garbage: "Reaves is on a mission to hurt someone in the third. That’s what he goes out and does. I’m sure the league will take a look at it. It was intent to injure.”

— Adrian Dater (@adater) May 31, 2021

Analyzing where it all went wrong for the Penguins (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Seth Jones doesn’t want to stay with Columbus beyond this coming season, it would seem (NHL.com)

Colorado hockeynowLOADED: 05.31.2021 1214702 Colorado Avalanche rough hit on Mattias Janmark in the first period, and the Vegas enforcer made his point.

By trying to plant Graves head deeper into the ice than a tooney. Graves Analysis: Give Them Nothing, Avalanche Close Gaps, CRUSH VGK in laid motionless in the Colorado Avalanche crease while all hell broke Game 1 loose.

Get used to it, kids. Even if the NHL surprises us all and suspends Published 7 hours ago on May 30, 2021 Reaves (which they should), Vegas isn’t going to adopt a choir boy mentality. Their best hope is to slow the Avalanche, and that means By Dan Kingerski grinding them down. Or, if needed, a ground-and-pound approach.

For 11 more wins, saddle up. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

The adage in is make them hit over your head before you move *Hello Avs fans–I’ll be helping Adrian Dater cover the series. I’m a 20- back. The Colorado Avalanche adopted a similar theory in Game 1 of year hockey media type who has worked at Sportsnet, NHL Home Ice, their Round Two playoffs series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Head and cover the Pittsburgh Penguins for Pittsburgh Hockey Now. Adrian coach Jared Bednar unleashed the Colorado attack, and they shrunk the has pulled out the couch and filled my room with what he called “gummy gaps at the blue line from the opening puck drop. bears.”

Colorado used speed and more speed for a 7-1 beatdown of the Vegas I’m a little afraid of those, but I hope you enjoy the more technical Golden Knights in Game 1 of their Round Two series. After a breakdowns of the Colorado Avalanche. performance like that, the fans in section 328 who were chanting, “We want the Cup,” can be forgiven for jumping the gun. Colorado needs 11 more wins, but they seem very possible after Sunday night. Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 05.31.2021 Vegas had no room. Nowhere to turn.

And eventually, no hope.

The Avalanche forced Vegas to prove they could get behind the defensemen before backing the defensemen off the blue line. The gaps small, to the point that they were non-existent. As Vegas tried to enter the offensive zone, an Avs defender or forward was only inches away.

In the words of The 300, “give them nothing.”

The aggressive, forward-leaning coverage not only stymied Vegas but spurred the Avs transition game. Vegas must have felt whiplash as Colorado deflected, intercepted, and otherwise took the puck and transitioned to offense.

Pick a goal. Any goal. Most of them came from transition–a good play in the defensive zone and hard break forward. Vegas didn’t have an answer for the weak side trailers on the transition rush, and the Avalanche popped three early goals while four Vegas defenders faced the other way, but we’ll dive into the Avs weakside trailers another time.

This breakdown is about the Avalanche playing in Vegas’ face.

The seven-goal outburst originated from the Avs defense, clean breaks out of their own zone, and numbers against the Vegas defense. Vegas couldn’t keep up.

Colorado Avalanche

So, watch the microscopic gap. Watch Toews take away the passing lane, and then the Avalanche speed explosion as Toews leads the rush, and Rantanen blows past on the other end.

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The Avs speed advantage was not only present but oppressive. Vegas managed just 25 shots and only 18 shots at even strength. In short, the Avalanche were on their skates, and Vegas was left behind.

For another example, poor Vegas dumped the puck and could only watch the lightning breakout. A couple of touch passes around the wall and hit Nathan MacKinnon with speed–two Vegas defenders were helpless.

The series is quickly shaping up to be the physicality and size of Vegas against the raw talent and speed of the Colorado Avalanche. You’d like to say the speed and skill will win out, but this is the NHL playoffs. That’s not a given.

Vegas “Message Sending”

Make ’em beat you before you give it to them. And Vegas surely wasn’t able to beat Colorado with the puck.

Vegas had their own reply, however. In the grand hockey tradition of not being able to beat a team on the ice, Vegas gooned it up, especially in the third period.

Credit officials for being on top of the message sending by Vegas, especially in the third period. But there’s no stopping Ryan Reaves when he’s within arms reach. Vegas wanted a word with Ryan Graves after a 1214703 Colorado Avalanche

Avs Have Way More Skill than Vegas, but can they survive the Vegas cheap shots?

Published 6 hours ago on May 30, 2021

By Adrian Dater

The Avalanche just destroyed the Vegas Golden Knights tonight, in one of the best-played games I’ve ever seen them play. They have already established that they have a lot more high-end skill than the VGK, but this could have been a truly ugly night in what had shades of the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore 2004 scandal in Vancouver.

Ryan Reaves should be nowhere near an active hockey playing surface for the next several days, after a blatant attempt to seriously injure Avs defenseman Ryan Graves in the third period of Colorado’s 7-1 Game 1 win at Ball Arena.

Reaves hog-tied Graves to the ice, sucker-punched him a couple times while down then put the entire weight of his body behind a knee to Graves’ head. Graves appeared unconscious for a few seconds, not moving at all, facedown on the ice.

Honestly, it was bordering on assault and if the NHL Department of Player Safety doesn’t give Reaves a suspension for it, the department will prove itself to having one set of standards for some player on-ice conduct, and another for others.

Reaves somehow is the NHL’s favored son though, or so it seems. Reaves put Ryan Suter’s head into the goalpost in Game 7 for Vegas Friday night, shoving him from behind, but skated away with only a two- minute penalty from the league.

The Avs played like a symphony orchestra in the game, almost a perfect game in my book. We knew Vegas would try to hit the Avs hard, but slamming guys to the ice and then trying to crush his head with his full body weight – and Reaves is a very big guy. It was a gutless play by Reaves, but as one of the league’s last pure enforcers, this is the kind of game he plays. He doesn’t appear to care, either.

Reaves just casually skated to the dressing room after getting a five- minute major penalty for intent to injure. Ho hum, just another night at the office for the unskilled Reavo.

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The league just gave Nazem Kadri eight games for, admittedly, a terrible hit on St. Louis’ Justin Faulk. But this was worse. Kadri’s hit came in a split second against a guy coming down the middle. This was a guy intentionally trying to crush Graves’ head.

Graves returned to the game, so that was great news. But concussion symptoms can come into the night after a thing like that.

“I’m assuming the league will take a look at that,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said.

Well, who knows? Does anybody know what the standards are anymore with the NHL DoPS?

“Reaves is on a mission to hurt someone in the third. That’s what he goes out and does. I’m sure the league will take a look at it. It was intent to injure,” said Gabe Landeskog on Zoom afterward.

Bingo. The Avs lost D-man Sam Girard to a shoulder to the head by Max Pacioretty. Fortunately, Girard returned too. Unless the league hands Vegas some overdue suspensions, the league’s double standard for its golden child franchise will continue.

Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214704 Colorado Avalanche

WATCH: MacKinnon Speeds Past Vegas Defense for Electrifying Goal

Published 7 hours ago on May 30, 2021

By Adrian Dater

I gotta give that goal by Nathan MacKinnon some singular press here.

MacKinnon’s turbo-fueled burst past some flat-footed Vegas Golden Knights skaters was the highlight-reel Avs goal of the night when there were several of them. The Avs played like a symphony orchestra in those first 40 minutes, outshooting Vegas 27-17 and even being the more physical team.

Ryan Graves, in fact, hit Vegas’ Mattias Janmark in the second period that sent Janmark to the dressing room, not to return.

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MacKinnon’s goal was his second of the night and gave the Avs a 6-1 lead. Here’s the goal:

Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214705 Colorado Avalanche

Erik Johnson back on the ice for Avalanche – is a playoff return possible?

Published 17 hours ago on May 30, 2021

By Adrian Dater

Well, shocker today at Ball Arena: Erik Johnson was on the ice, on skates, in Avs practice gear. Here, see for yourself:

The Condor is flying!

EJ has been out since Jan. 30, after taking a hit into the boards in Minnesota from Jordan Greenway. It’s been assumed that he has had concussion symptoms.

The question: could EJ actually come back in the playoffs? Jared Bednar today said it’s “doubtful”, but that means there could be a chance. Obviously, the Avs will need to advance beyond this round before that’s even a possibility.

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Either way, it’s great to see Erik Johnson on skates again.

Speaking of being back on skates with the rest of the team today: Logan O’Connor. As we reported a couple days ago, Bednar said LOC could return soon, that he’s ahead of his rehab schedule.

Bednar would not tip his hand as to whether it’ll be Sampo Ranta or Alex Newhook in the lineup tonight. My money is on Ranta, but we’ll see.

Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214706 Colorado Avalanche

Three players who need to step up if Avs are to beat Vegas

Published 17 hours ago on May 30, 2021

By Adrian Dater

Here we go tonight, Game 1, Avs-Vegas, best-of-seven second-round series. I’m anticipating Marc-Andre Fleury in goal for the Golden Knights, though coach Pete DeBoer doesn’t make his goaltending plans public. Brayden McNabb, big Vegas defenseman, tested positive for Covid-19 and may not be able to play in the series.

But enough about Vegas.

I want to focus in on three players who I believe need to step up their games even more in this round. Not that any of them were bad in the first round against St. Louis – far from it. But, to me, these are X-factor kinds of guys who can really put the Avs over the top with strong series:

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Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214707 Columbus Blue Jackets money on the table. Last offseason, former No. 1 center Pierre-Luc Dubois dragged his feet in negotiations on the first extension of his career and then requested a trade that was eventually granted Jan. 23 in Blue Jackets taking steady approach to report Seth Jones doesn't want a deal with the that brought Patrik Laine and Jack to stay Roslovic to Columbus.

Former star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky also left in 2019 as a free agent, signing a long-term deal with the Florida Panthers, and former top six Brian Hedger center , acquired at the trade deadline in 2019 to bolster a playoff push, also left that offseason for the Nashville Predators. The The Columbus Dispatch Blue Jackets didn’t pursue either Bobrovsky or Duchene aggressively, focusing their efforts on Panarin, but all three left along with fellow rental Ryan Dzingel, who wasn't extended an offer. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) waits for the puck to drop against during the second period of their NHL Last offseason also included a swap of unsigned RFA forwards that sent game at in Columbus, Ohio on April 12, 2021. Josh Anderson to the and brought Max Domi to Columbus, a move Kekalainen said was prompted by Anderson’s refusal The rest of the hockey world is processing a weekend report that Seth to sign an extension longer than one year. Had they signed him for one Jones wants to leave Columbus, but the Blue Jackets’ approach remains year, Anderson could have walked straight into the UFA market this status quo. offseason without the Blue Jackets being compensated — which is what happened when they kept Panarin and Bobrovsky rather than trading They’re not tipping their hand about Jones’ future with the team, them. immediate or long-term, they’re not confirming nor denying the accuracy of the report issued Saturday night by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and The Jones situation feels eerily similar, right down to him describing his they’re not ready to make any decisions either way about the biggest first potential foray into the UFA market as "a situation that you only get brick they’ve got left in the wall of their franchise’s foundation. once in your lifetime," when asked during a season-ending press conference May 10. Panarin issued those exact words, once through an It’s just business as usual until a decision is made either way. interpreter and once on his own, and Kekalainen still decided to keep him “We will respect (Jones’) decision, and when we decide we’re going to do and Bobrovsky. something, whether it’s signing him long-term or moving him, we’ll do it,” It was a calculated decision based on the potential for the Blue Jackets to said John Davidson, who returned to Columbus recently for a second make their first extended playoff run, which he felt outweighed the risk of stint as the team’s president of hockey operations. “We will continue our losing both for nothing. The Jackets pulled off a stunning sweep of the discussions (with Jones’ camp) and whatever happens, happens. But we Tampa Bay Lightning for the first playoff series victory in franchise history have an agreement that the Blue Jackets are going to keep this in-house. that season, but lost in the second round to the Boston Bruins in a close And we’re going to keep it in-house. You try to be professional and that’s series that lasted six games. what we’re going to do.” Was it worth the cost of watching Panarin join a The team might not be talking, but somebody with knowledge of the rival for nothing, not long after Davidson did the same in his role as situation talked to Friedman about it. president of hockey ops? "Sometime within the last week or so, Seth Jones informed the Columbus Arguments can be built for both sides. Blue Jackets that he will not be re-signing,” Friedman said during a segment of TV broadcast. “I’m saying, ‘for now,’ at this point, because I That's where Jones' situation breaks from the Panarin narrative. The don’t like to deal in absolutes, but it does appear as if he is prepared to Blue Jackets finished last in the realigned Central Division this season test free agency and we’ll see how Columbus decides to handle this over and traded away veterans Nick Foligno, David Savard and Riley Nash the next little while.” before the April 12 deadline. They acquired two extra first-round picks in this year's draft and have the fifth-best odds of winning the NHL draft According to Davidson, the plan is to keep lines of communication open lottery. with Jones and agent Pat Brisson before the July 28 start of free agency. That's when Jones will officially become a pending unrestricted free The Jackets still have talent, but also have a loaded “to do” list this agent and have one year left on his current deal. Neither Jones nor offseason to revamp the roster. Odds appear higher this time that Jones Brisson immediately returned messages seeking confirmation of the will be traded if, indeed, he is intent on becoming a free agent. report or comment about the situation, which hasn't included a conversation yet between Davidson and Jones. “We’re in a bit of a different position right now, where we’re reloading again, so we’ll do what’s right — with Seth, for Seth and for us,” That's still a goal of Davidson's, even if it's just to say hello and catch up Davidson said. “Everything will be on top of the table. Anything can on other things, while Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen happen, one way or the other, depending on what Seth’s decision is. continues to speak with Jones and Brisson. That’s just being forthright. You’ve got to weigh every option possible to do what’s right for your club.” “I can tell you that discussions are ongoing,” Davidson said Sunday. “Seth’s been very open with Jarmo. They’ve had great discussions and they’re going to continue having discussions and they’re going to be in- house. It’s professional. That’s the way we want to do our business.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 05.31.2021

If those discussions don’t lead to a contract extension, a tough decision will have to be made.

“If he chooses not to sign a long-term deal, I won’t disrespect him for it,” Davidson said. “He has that right. I mean, that’s the business of hockey. He’s a player we’d love to have for the long-term, but if that’s not going to work out, then we have to do what we have to do to protect our franchise to continue to build a hockey club with players that want to be here. It’s that simple.”

Getting players to stay in Columbus has been a problem the past three years.

Nick Foligno, Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner, David Savard and Oliver Bjorkstrand had no issue with it, but other key pieces have either bolted as free agents or forced trades.

Two years ago, former star left wing Artemi Panarin signed with the New York Rangers as a UFA and left a significant amount of guaranteed 1214708 Columbus Blue Jackets pending UFA. The GM then added pending UFA forwards Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline, in separate deals, and the Jackets stunned the NHL by "going all in" for a Report: Seth Jones unwilling to negotiate with Blue Jackets on contract shot at making a playoff run. The plan worked in a stunning first-round extension upset of the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning, but the Jackets' season ended in the second round against the Boston Bruins.

Panarin, Bobrovsky, Duchene and Dzingel all departed as free agents, Brian Hedger and Panarin, who signed with the New York Rangers, walked away from an eight-year, $96 million last-ditch offer from the Blue Jackets that was The Columbus Dispatch worth roughly $15 million more than the deal he signed to leave.

Panarin's decision created a huge hole in the lineup and also, by proxy, Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, here moving the puck around made Jones the Jackets' top target to build around. As such, Jones Carolina's Andrei Svechnikov on Feb. 7, becomes a pending unrestricted would likely carry a massive amount of leverage into any negotiations for free agent July 28. an extension. He’s only 26, already has nine NHL seasons to his credit, has become a name that's monitored annually for Norris Trophy The Blue Jackets’ "reload" plan hit a large speed bump on Saturday, contention and would likely wear the captain’s 'C' if he re-signs. roughly the size of star defenseman Seth Jones. Now, after the news Saturday, he's seen as the latest Blue Jackets star Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Jones, 26, plans to test who wants out. free agency after next season rather than negotiate a contract extension to remain with the Blue Jackets. Friedman said that “sometime within the During his season-ending interview with reporters May 10, Jones said last week or so,” Jones told the Blue Jackets the news, which could almost verbatim what Panarin uttered in the year before his departure. prompt the team’s management to trade him this summer rather than “I'm still here for another year, as of now, and I can’t really sign an hang onto him for one more spin next season — after he becomes a extension until (July 28) anyway,” Jones said. “My agent and the GM and pending unrestricted free agent July 28. myself will have talks well before that, so we’ll just see where that goes. Jones and his agent, Pat Brisson, did not immediately reply to messages ... It’s a situation that you only get once in your lifetime.” seeking to confirm the report. The Blue Jackets neither confirmed nor Kekalainen said recently he had discussed the situation with Brisson, but denied the accuracy of it, saying that discussions between the two sides the Jackets' GM declined to reveal any specifics about those talks. — specifically between Jones' side and general manager Jarmo Brisson has also been tight-lipped and Jones hasn't much said much Kekalainen — will continue. either. He and defense partner, Zach Werenski, told The Athletic this "Seth’s been very open with Jarmo," said John Davidson, who was past season they’d be open to negotiating on contract extensions this recently re-hired as the Blue Jackets' president of hockey operations. summer — but that now seems like decades ago instead of months. "They've had great discussions and they’re going to continue having Werenski, 23, will be a pending restricted free agent July 28 with one discussions and they’re going to be in-house. It’s professional. That’s the year left on his current deal. The Jackets have control of his contract for way we want to do our business.” one more RFA year, but Werenski, who recently fired Brisson as his Davidson said the Blue Jackets are prepared to trade Jones if necessary agent, can become a UFA after the 2023-24 season. but didn't indicate they were preparing to make a move anytime soon. Losing one or both of Jones and Werenski, two of the biggest foundation “If (Jones) chooses not to sign a long-term deal, I won’t disrespect him pieces on the roster, would be incredibly difficult to overcome in the short for it," Davidson said. "He has that right. I mean, that’s the business of term, even if potential trades returned handsome packages of “futures” in hockey. He’s a player we’d love to have for the long-term, but if that’s not the form of draft picks and/or prospects. Hanging onto both and not going to work out, then we have to do what we have to do to protect our getting anything for either, ala Panarin, would be much worse. franchise to continue to build a hockey club with players that want to be “We’re not doing that,” Kekalainen said earlier this month, when Jones’ here. It’s that simple.” situation was compared to the Jackets getting no compensation for Blue Jackets: Seth Jones' looming free agency a major question Panarin or Bobrovsky.

Prior to Davidson's return, Kekalainen said he planned to make a strong The only other option would be to deal Jones, either this summer or push to re-sign Jones in July and would have no problem starting next sometime prior to next season’s deadline. Werenski is slightly less season without a signature on a new deal for the team's top blue-liner. pressing, but trading him might have to be considered if he’s also Davidson said he and Kekalainen have discussed that possibility among unwilling to sign long-term. numerous issues the team has on its plate this offseason, but did not say This is the third straight offseason the Blue Jackets have received an whether it's still a possibility. initial stiff-arm on extension talks with a key player. Panarin started it two As for Friedman's report, attached a qualifier to it by saying Jones’ years ago, but Dubois also dragged his feet last offseason before unwillingness to negotiate with the Blue Jackets was, “the case for now,” requesting a trade upon his agreement to a two-year RFA "bridge" which appears to keep the window open for the possibility of a new extension. development at some point. Regardless, the report was given to a large Dubois's play led to a quick exit via a trade Jan. 23 with the Winnipeg television audience and quickly spread across social media platforms. Jets, who acquired him along with a second-round pick for star forward Whether it changes eventually or not, it's still another blow to a team Patrik Laine and center Jack Roslovic. Laine, who struggled in his first that's already reeling from the perception that top players don’t want to spin with the Blue Jackets, is now a pending RFA without a contract for play in Columbus. next season and a decision is also looming on Max Domi — yet another puzzle piece with only one year left before he can hit the open market. Blue Jackets: Will Davidson-Kekalainen reunion work? The Jones situation is the priority, though. It's something with roots that stretch back to a difficult contract negotiation with former top center Ryan Johansen, who eventually signed "It’ll be fine, one way or the other," Davidson said. "If Seth stays, it’ll be and was then shipped to the Nashville Predators for Jones. helpful. If Seth decides he doesn’t want to sign an extension, we’ll do what we have to do to help the Blue Jackets. That’s all.” The Blue Jackets have since had contract issues with former forwards Josh Anderson and Pierre-Luc Dubois and were unable to convince star left wing Artemi Panarin to stay in 2019. Panarin, not too long after Cam Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 05.31.2021 Atkinson signed a long-term extension in 2017, issued essentially the same edict to the teams that Jones reportedly did recently — stating that he wouldn't negotiate with them on an extension.

In that situation, Kekalainen kept Panarin for one final season and didn't trade either him or former star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who was also a 1214709 Columbus Blue Jackets “We have to make decisions that aren’t going to impede what we want this team to become, and it’s almost black-and-white in your thinking.”

The bigger issue is finding and fixing the organizational flaw (flaws?) that Change of plans: Blue Jackets likely to trade Seth Jones without contract keeps chasing away top players. Panarin. Sergei Bobrovsky. Matt extension Duchene. Josh Anderson. Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Each of those players left under different circumstances. Panarin wanted By Aaron Portzline to be a Ranger. Bobrovsky wanted to be the NHL’s highest-paid goaltender. Duchene wanted to pursue a music career, along with May 30, 2021 hockey, in Nashville.

But no NHL team has lost more talent than the Blue Jackets in the two seasons since they won their only playoff series. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson declined to confirm reports that star defenseman Seth Jones Why is this happening? has told the club he won’t be signing a contract extension with it this summer. “It’s a fair question,” Davidson said. “But deep in my heart, I know what it’s like to live in Columbus, and it’s a great city. I know how strong the “There was an agreement to keep the discussions private,” Davidson ownership is here. I know the facility we play and practice in is good. The said. “The Blue Jackets will continue to keep things private.” fans are outstanding. There are a million things here that are good.

But Davidson has made it abundantly clear that the Blue Jackets won’t “I’m going to continue beating the drum, and I wouldn’t beat the drum if I take the same approach with Jones that they did two years ago with didn’t think it was true because then I’d be a liar, and I’m not gonna be forward Artemi Panarin, who eventually signed with the New York called a liar. I’m gonna beat the drum. Rangers. “We’re going to find people. We’re going to draft people. We’re going to “The No. 1 thing we’d like to do is keep Seth,” Davidson told The Athletic get free agents. There are plenty of players who loved playing here and on Sunday. “He has every right in the world to leave if he wants to not still live here. This is not all bleak because two or three players have extend the contract, but we’ll do what’s best for our team. We just want wanted to move on.” players who want to be here.

“This is a different scenario (than in 2019). We were in a position (then) where we thought we had a chance to make a pretty good run at (the The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 Stanley Cup). Beating Tampa Bay (in the first round) was great. Losing to Boston in six … it was a good series, and they lost in seven in the Final.”

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Jones had informed the Blue Jackets in recent days that he was planning to test free agency in 2022. He has one season remaining on his contract with Columbus.

Earlier this month, Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen spoke openly about holding on to Jones into next season even if he hadn’t signed an extension, keeping alive a pipe dream that Jones might somehow change his mind as his UFA status drew nearer.

But that was before Davidson was rehired by the Blue Jackets, returning to the same job he held in Columbus from 2012 to 2019.

Sources have told The Athletic that the Blue Jackets, barring a change of heart by Jones, are likely to trade Jones this summer, most likely near the NHL Draft in late July.

Davidson wouldn’t put it so bluntly, of course.

“Whatever happens is going to be what’s the absolute best for the Blue Jackets franchise, period,” Davidson said. “That’s just how it works. Doesn’t matter if it’s Seth Jones or Joe Smith, the player has the right through the (collective bargaining agreement) to do what they feel is necessary for them and their careers.

“We want players who want to be in Columbus, who want to be Blue Jackets, and we’re going to continue to create that culture.”

As for the Blue Jackets’ plan to “reload” this offseason and be competitive again in 2021-22? Well, that likely takes a hit with Jones’ decision, too.

The Blue Jackets will get a massive trade return for Jones, one of the NHL’s best all-around defensemen. But the return Columbus gets will likely be loaded with future commodities, such as draft picks and prospects.

It’s feeling more and more like the Blue Jackets are in the early stages of a rebuilding project, which can take a few seasons or more.

“What you’re trying to do is build a team that can win, and win for a good amount of time,” Davidson said. “How long that takes, well, it’s up to the management team to get the job done. It can be short; it can be long. It depends on free agency, the strength of the draft, all that stuff.

“It’s hard for me to sit here and give a real firm answer. We have some good players and some more good players coming. It’s all part of a puzzle that we as management have to put together as quickly as possible. 1214710 Edmonton Oilers Adam Larsson played the penalty kill almost as often as Nurse and had better results.

I think we’re safe in calling Nurse a top-pairing defencemen in the NHL Lowetide: It won’t be easy, but the Oilers need to re-sign Darnell Nurse 2020-21. soon For him to establish himself at that level, we would need to see it for three years in a row. Either way, an impressive season.

By Allan Mitchell Now comes the hard part: The next contract.

May 30, 2021 Signing Nurse now

In February 2020, just before the pandemic changed everything, Post Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse has delivered value in each Media’s Jim Matheson tweeted “with (Zack) Kassian signed, how are of his six full NHL seasons. He took a big step forward this year, and things going with RFA Nurse. Have to think Oilers are using (Josh) there is talk of the Olympics and votes in the annual (season-ending) All- Morrissey as their total comparable. Both LD, both 24, both shutdown Star teams. guys, similar pts. Morrissey: $6.25 mil for 8 yrs starting in 20-21. Nurse camp using Jacob Trouba’s $8 mil as comparable.” All good news, save for the contract reckoning general manager Ken Holland has with the player; the dilemma will reach its apex in summer COVID-19 changed everything, including the salary cup for NHL teams. 2022 when Nurse reaches free agency. The biggest contracts signed by defencemen since February 2020 include Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8 million per year for seven years with the Holland should meet the problem head-on and sign Nurse long-term this Vegas Golden Knights), Torey Krug ($6.5 million a year for seven years summer. with the St. Louis Blues), Jeff Petry ($6.25 million a year for four years with the Montreal Canadiens), Jonas Brodin ($6 million a year for seven Nurse is the one member of the Oilers’ perceived inner circle of on-ice years with the Minnesota Wild) and T.J. Brodie ($5 million per year for talent (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl) who received a series of bridge four years with the Toronto Maple Leafs). deals during the first seven years of his career. It’s a fairly common practice but does have some danger involved, mostly because of the All five men are more established than Nurse and have more defined absence of restricted free-agent seasons to soften the full blow of (more roles. Nurse also has the “with or without you” splits with McDavid, and expensive) unrestricted free-agent campaigns. that has to be a major consideration for Holland. The GM must evaluate how much McDavid helps Nurse, how much Nurse brings without No. 97 Now, with Nurse one season away from free agency and coming off a on the ice, and the gap between Edmonton’s top defender and the rest of career season, a long-term contract is a priority for him and impossible the group. for the team to afford. Nurse with McDavid shines like a diamond, and the McDavid minutes Ideally, Holland and Nurse find a term and cap agreement and move without Nurse fade to near 50 percent but remain quality. Nurse’s value forward seamlessly. It’s a difficult sweet spot to find, and there are is seen with McDavid on the bench, as Nurse’s five-on-five minutes see examples of misspent dollars and term. the club bend but not break compared with Nurse off the ice with other Claude Giroux was bridged by the , and the impact of defensive options 44-60 (42.3 percent). his first long-term deal ($8.25 million per year for eight years) is still being Here’s the question Holland needs to ask: How much of Nurse’s success felt. Giroux has been a fine player in those years but hasn’t always is directly related to playing with McDavid, and can he reasonably covered the bet and is a drag on the cap with one season remaining on negotiate based on that gap when his coach clearly prefers the the deal. combination? P.K. Subban’s big contract with the Montreal Canadiens was signed in What’s more, the Oilers don’t have much on the left-handed side behind August 2014, and the club traded him to the Nashville Predators less Nurse now, and if Oscar Klefbom can’t play in 2021-22, the left side of than two years later, the size and length of the contract a contributing the defence will be thin. Nurse’s number without the captain at five-on- factor. five towers over fellow lefties Kris Russell (8-16) and Caleb Jones (5-11) How can the Oilers avoid signing a contract that will negatively affect and highlight his importance to the team, with or without Klefbom’s their cap beyond the value of the player? Is it possible to pay a return. defenceman over $7 million a year and get a full return on investment if Signing Nurse this summer he delivers 50 percent or more of his value without the puck? Players like Nurse (or Jesse Puljujarvi) can be signed beginning July 28 A No. 1 defenceman (it’s normally July 1), and it makes sense for Edmonton to move quickly. In a 31-team league, logic dictates there should be a No. 1 defender for Reasons include cap certainty for 2022-23 and beyond, allowing Holland each team, but hockey fans have very specific ideas about a top player to map out his roster with all the major pieces in place. on the back line. This player should play major minutes in each game It also gives Edmonton a foundation piece on the left side of the defence, state and deliver offensive and defensive totals that are among his hopefully joined by Klefbom in the fall. Nurse’s passing ability and team’s best in all categories. patience with the puck were especially noticeable this past season, and Nurse also led the team’s blueliners in five-on-five goal differential (71- his five-on-five scoring remains a strength. 56, 55.9 percent) and, more importantly, succeeded in five-on-five The flat cap likely takes $8 million a year off the table, even with Nurse’s minutes away from McDavid. Here are Nurse’s numbers compared with outstanding play. other Oilers regulars (five-on-five, away from McDavid): Darnell Nurse bet on himself with those bridge deals, and he’s going to Nurse played 491 minutes away from the captain, and the Oilers scored get paid handsomely in his next contract. There’s simply no way for the 50 percent of the goals. That’s outstanding compared with the rest of the Oilers to avoid it. The short-term deals made over several seasons group defensively and represents a most elusive goal (breaking even guaranteed this day would come if Nurse continued to improve. with McDavid at rest five-on-five) for the organization. Something in the $7 million range and for longer than five years seems Across the NHL likely, and based on what is behind him on the depth chart, the sooner Does Nurse score high across the league in those categories? Is he the better. among the top 10 in ice time? Points per 60?

Nurse is a No. 1 defenceman in five-on-five time on ice and does well in The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 five-on-five points per 60. He qualifies in power-play points per 60, but was the top option in that area for the 2020-21 Oilers, and next season it’s likely to be Oscar Klefbom or Evan Bouchard. 1214711 Los Angeles Kings

NHL draft lottery preview: Kings have options to consider

By ANDREW KNOLL

PUBLISHED: May 30, 2021 at 5:33 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2021 at 5:33 p.m.

Though the playoffs have not hit their midway point, an important moment for those awaiting the consolation prize of a top draft pick will come Wednesday with the NHL’s draft lottery.

The Kings will be among those teams with an eye on the ping-pong balls, as they have a six percent chance of picking second for the second consecutive season and a 5.8 percent chance of picking first at the draft, which is scheduled for July 23-24.

They finished with the league’s seventh worst points percentage, and with the expansion Kraken possessing a default position of third (same odds as the Devils) in the lottery seeding, that means the Kings would pick eighth if the draft order unfolded according to last season’s performance. The Buffalo Sabres and the Ducks would pick 1-2 if the default order were to hold.

There were some adjustments to the lottery process. There was a reduction of the number of draws, dropping from three to two, meaning only the first two picks are determined by lottery. Beginning next year, there will be a limitation on the number of spots, 10, that a team can ascend in the draft order via the lottery. A team will also only be able to select first in two out of every five seasons, beginning next year and not factoring in top picks prior to 2022.

Mathematically, the Kings have the best odds of picking either eighth (49.4 percent) or ninth (34.5 percent) this season, according to Tankathon.com.

Last week Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said his club would be looking to pick the best player available, and it seems quite likely that Kings GM Rob Blake will employ a similar approach.

The Kings have outstanding organizational depth at center, but lack a dependable No. 2 pivot at the top level. On the wings they have some promising prospects, but few if any wingers who are slotted into their ideal roles on the main roster.

Though the right side of their defense has further solidified over the past two seasons, a left-shot who could contribute to the power play and join the rush would be a brilliant fit for the current roster, which had limited offensive contributions from its defense. In goal, Cal Petersen has established himself as an NHL goalie, but the lower levels of the organization could stand to develop a backup or potential challenger to Petersen.

The top of the 2021 draft projects to be heavy on defense with four rearguards likely to be taken in the top 10, headlined by University of Michigan blue-liner Owen Power. Another Michigan star, Matthew Beniers, is the top-rated forward in the draft. Swedish goalie Jasper Wallstedt will almost certainly be the first netminder off the board.

Veterans Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar both said they expected the Kings to pursue upgrades for the roster this offseason. A top-flight center, Buffalo’s Jack Eichel, could be in play, and the return of fans to arenas should allow teams around the league to spend more freely. Still, the Kings have remained focused on the future and prudent asset management, meaning making the selection remains their most likely strategy.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214712 Minnesota Wild

Wild, Golden Knights set for Game 7 showdown

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

MAY 28, 2021 — 1:20PM

LAS VEGAS – The stakes are familiar, but the stage isn't.

After getting behind 3-1 in this best-of-seven series against the Golden Knights, the Wild is still trying to stave off elimination. But now that's also the objective for Vegas, as both teams will collide for a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Friday night to advance to the second round of the playoffs and face Colorado.

"The message is clearly the same as the last few games," coach Dean Evason said. "There has to be some desperation, one win at a time, and we have to have some fun out there."

This will be the first Game 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas but the third straight year in which the Golden Knights have played in a Game 7.

Last year, Vegas prevailed against Vancouver in the Edmonton playoff bubble. The season before that, the Golden Knights lost in San Jose to become the last team in the NHL to blow a 3-1 series lead.

Vegas wants to use the energy from the crowd, and the Wild is expecting the Golden Knights to have a strong start.

"We have to match that or exceed it for us to have success tonight," Evason said. "There's no secrets. You get to this point and there's no secrets about what's going on. On the other side, I'm sure there's no secrets for us for them. It's going to be a great hockey game. We're all looking forward to it. It'll be fun."

The Wild has participated in three Game 7s in its history and won all three – on the road.

Four players from the Wild's last Game 7 in 2014 vs. the Avalanche, a 5- 4 overtime win, are expected to be in the Wild's lineup on Friday: winger Zach Parise and defensemen Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin.

"For the guys that were here that were part of that game, it was just comeback after comeback, just no quit out of the guys," Parise said. "It'll be the same thing tonight. Regardless how the game starts, how it is happening through the game, we play all the way to the end and give ourselves the best chance."

Evason said it's possible the Wild has some game-time decisions ahead of puck drop, but it looks like the Wild could stick with the same lineup it's used the past two games. Carson Soucy, who's missed those games with an upper-body injury, skated Friday morning in Vegas and is progressing, Evason said, but is not available to play.

About the Golden Knights:

Vegas forward Ryan Reaves and defenseman Brayden McNabb are in the NHL's COVID protocols. Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer said Friday morning the team is awaiting further results to determine if both players had false positives. Fleury is the expected starter for Vegas. DeBoer is a perfect 5-0 in Game 7s. Defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez (4-0) are also undefeated.

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214713 Minnesota Wild breakdowns defensively during the worst possible times and whether the Wild’s inability to advance further demonstrates the need to improve drastically at the center position.

Solving the Zach Parise situation? Dealing for Jack Eichel? Paying Kirill But the Wild sure feel like they’re headed in the right direction with a core Kaprizov? Wild’s offseason work begins of 24-year-old players.

Guerin, who wants nothing more than to deliver Wild owner Craig Leipold By Michael Russo and the State of Hockey loyalists a Stanley Cup and perennial contender, will continue to build a team that looks like it has had three quality drafts May 30, 2021 in a row, possess a growing pipeline of prospects — like Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Calen Addison, Adam Beckman, Marat Khusnutdinov,

Ryan O’Rourke — and so far holds nine picks in the July 23-24 NHL LAS VEGAS — The Wild had such high hopes for this latest trip to the Draft, including two first-round picks and five picks in the first three postseason, the organization’s eighth in nine seasons, especially rounds. because they drew the Vegas Golden Knights, the exceptionally good With the season over and the calendar already about to flip to June, let’s fourth-year franchise that for some bizarre reason always has trouble take a cursory peek at Guerin’s bulky offseason to-do list that’ll have to beating Minnesota in the regular season. get going pretty quickly. This time would be different, they thought. In no particular order … The Wild, hungry and motivated, were boasting young phenom and Re-signing Kaprizov, Fiala and Eriksson Ek Calder Trophy shoo-in Kirill Kaprizov. Lightning-fast Kevin Fiala. One of the top shutdown lines in the league in the GREEF Squad (Jordan Kaprizov, 24, Fiala, 24, and Eriksson Ek, 24, can all become restricted Greenway–Joel Eriksson Ek–Marcus Foligno). A deep, mobile blue line. free agents if unsigned by July 28. Fresh blood in net with the capable Cam Talbot. Fiala and Eriksson Ek have the right to file for arbitration if they so Even when one of the best home teams in the NHL regular season got choose, while Kaprizov has literally no rights … yet all the leverage in the spanked in St. Paul in Games 3 and 4, the Wild managed to grind out a world. pair of victories to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to force a decisive Game 7. Kaprizov is the rare type of “free agent” that can’t be signed to an offer sheet, can’t sign with another team and can’t file for arbitration. The only They fully expected to pull off one final victory to set up a second-round team that can sign him is Minnesota. playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche. But unfortunately for the organization and its loyal fan base, the Wild went to the Vegas tables So, there’s your big sigh of relief as Wild fans. with a bigger stack of chips than they’ve arguably ever had, rolled the But make no mistake, Kaprizov holds the hammer. He led all NHL dice and went seven-out. rookies with 27 goals and 51 points. He led the Wild in scoring, but this After Friday night’s season-closing 6-2 loss at T-Mobile Arena, the Wild isn’t your typical first-year player for another reason. The Wild only own unsatisfyingly fell to 19-36 in 55 playoff games since 2013 with an eighth his rights for another three years before he can technically depart as an playoff series loss in their past 10. unrestricted free agent in 2024. So a bridge deal makes no sense because if the Wild sign him for two years, Kaprizov could play hardball “We just talked to the group that we hoped that they’re proud of each in 2023 and only accept a one-year deal. A three-year deal is risky other and proud of themselves for how they conducted themselves this because it walks him straight into free agency and a potential exit. year,” coach Dean Evason said after a game in which the Wild sustained an impactful loss when defenseman Jonas Brodin separated the AC joint It’s believed the Wild have already offered him an eight-year contract in his left shoulder 5 1/2 minutes into the first period, according to two north of $8 million, the maximum term a team can re-sign one of its own sources. players. Kaprizov has said that he will get more involved in negotiations after the season, but the fact that his agent, Paul Theofanous, hasn’t “You get to a Game 7 and obviously one team wins and one team loses,” already jumped at such a commitment means he’ll either be looking for Evason continued. “Our effort was there. We competed our butts off. We more money or a shorter-term contract. did that from Day 1 and Game 1. Our resiliency and the way the group conducted themselves all year, they should be extremely proud of At 24, if Kaprizov were to sign a five- or six-year deal, that would give him themselves.” the ability to really strike a with a contract in the $10-11 million range or more if he develops into a true star and the flat salary cap The defeat and sudden end to the Wild season now triggers what should begins to grow. So betting on himself may make a lot of sense if the Wild be a busy offseason that could feature lots of drama as general manager aren’t willing to go north of $10 million now. Bill Guerin tackles the team’s Seattle Kraken July 21 expansion draft exposure complications; counts dollars and cents during contract And let’s be honest, with all due respect to Kaprizov, the playoffs were a negotiations with Kaprizov, Fiala and Eriksson Ek; sees if there’s enough true eye-opener for him. He finished with two goals, one assist and 10 money left over to re-sign pending free agents Nick Bonino and Ian Cole; shots in 18 minutes, 52 seconds of ice time per game. He learned quickly investigates the trade market for No. 1 center Jack Eichel; sees if he gets just how much harder the Stanley Cup playoffs are compared to the any nibbles on Matt Dumba; and confronts the woolly mammoth in the regular season. So, do the Wild really want to commit in the $10 million room — Zach Parise’s future. range now?

But first, Guerin and his staff will need to dissect and digest another first- “Some things were definitely easier than I thought. Some things were round exit after a successful regular season in which the Wild easily definitely more difficult,” Kaprizov, through a translator, said of his season locked up the third spot in the West Division and flirted with top-two down as a whole on the morning of Game 6. “Overall, you’re never left the stretch. satisfied. You always want to do better. You always want to have a better performance. So overall, I think, at the end of the day there is definitely a There are all sorts of what-ifs from the series: What if Victor Rask buried lot of improvement and things to get better at.” that shot on a 2-on-1 in Game 2? What if the Wild didn’t cough up that 2- 0 lead in Game 3? What if Parise played Games 1-3? What if Eriksson Eriksson Ek had a tremendous season by scoring 19 goals in 56 games, Ek’s goal counted in Game 4 and wasn’t overturned by Foligno’s then tying for the team lead in the playoffs with two goals (and, ahem, goaltender interference? What if Marc-Andre Fleury was mortal in the two overturned goals). He was visibly playing with a leg injury in Game 7. first four games? And what if Brodin wasn’t erased from a blue line that The fifth-year NHLer has turned into one of the league’s top two-way was already without Carson Soucy so early in Game 7? centers and should get some Selke Trophy love this offseason. He’s Guerin & Co. will also have to determine why the Wild once again had going to earn a heckuva lot more than the Wild could ever have projected such trouble finishing early in the series, why they again couldn’t adjust after crushing his career-high of eight goals this season. to the standard of officiating that traditionally — and frustratingly — Then, there’s Fiala, who had an up and down season but turned it on late changes in the playoffs, why they again couldn’t fight their way to the despite always getting the short shrift in terms of linemates in large part dirty areas (is size and ruggedness an issue?), why they had so many because of the chemistry between Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, and Parise chose to put the team ahead of himself during the playoffs by not Parise’s diminished role. There were so many nights where Fiala looked saying much that would cause further distraction. But make no mistake, like a man alone on an island and had to do so much by himself. Parise and his agents plan to address all of this with Guerin during the offseason because it’s hard to believe Parise will be willing to bite his He still ended up with 20 goals and 20 assists in 50 games, but he had a tongue for the next four years of his contract, let alone another year. very disappointing postseason in terms of production despite the fact he came through in Game 6 with a goal and assist in the third period to help But it’s doubtful that Guerin wants to or plans to buy out Parise. In fact, it the Wild extend the series. wouldn’t be shocking if Guerin tries to have a heart-to-heart with Parise in the coming days and attempt to convince him to embrace a third- or His term and dollars are going to be fascinating. One can argue he did fourth-line role as he works to make the team younger, faster and more not take the next step this season toward being a true star after his dangerous. breakout last February. He also has maintained his objective is to be more of a complete player by improving defensively and being safer with So stay tuned. the puck, to be more disciplined by taking less selfish penalties and to not let his frustration boil over on the ice. Deal with Seattle expansion

It’s safe to say he was pretty inconsistent with all of that. So it’s also safe Watching Alex Tuch be one of Vegas’ best players all series brought to say he won’t be offered anything close to Kaprizov, both in terms of heartache to Wild fans and made them realize once again just how money and years. It’s hard to see Guerin offering Fiala a seven- or eight- painful the expansion decisions the Wild made in 2017 were. They gifted year contract, in other words. Fiala’s going to have to put his ego aside Tuch to the Golden Knights so they’d take Erik Haula over Dumba, Eric and accept these facts. Staal and others.

It would not be shocking, however, if Guerin dangles Fiala on the trade That was Chuck Fletcher. market to see if he can hook anything substantial. Yes, it would be a This is Guerin, and his original “just accept we’re going to lose one good shame if the Wild were to deal a talented potential game-breaker like player” philosophy ain’t so easy to stomach anymore. Fiala, but Guerin has already proven to be bold in his two seasons as GM and you can bet he wouldn’t be scared to trade Fiala if it were for a First, he has to decide whether or not to protect seven forwards, three significant return. defensemen and one goalie; or eight skaters and one goalie. Then, he has to decide which players he protects. Could Fiala be part of a package for a top center? Guerin may want to quietly find out. Assuming nobody waives their no-move clause and he chooses the 7-3-1 path, the seven forwards would likely be Parise, Zuccarello, Fiala, Deal with the Parise situation Eriksson Ek, Jordan Greenway, Foligno and one of Ryan Hartman, Nico As much as the Wild will try to downplay this in the coming days, trust us Sturm or Rask; the three defensemen would have to be Ryan Suter, when we say this will need to be addressed because Parise ended the Jared Spurgeon and Brodin (exposing Dumba and Soucy); and the season miserable and humiliated in his home state, and at the lowest goalie would be either Kaapo Kahkonen or Talbot. point of his career. If Guerin goes the eight-skater route, the skaters would be Parise, After seeing his ice time slashed to 10 minutes a night after being on the Zuccarello, Suter, Spurgeon, Brodin, Fiala, Eriksson Ek and one of COVID-19 protocol list, then falling to the seven-minute range, Parise Dumba, Soucy, Greenway, Foligno, Hartman, Sturm or Rask. One of was scratched in three of the final four regular-season games. He was Kahkonen or Talbot would have to be exposed. scratched in the first three playoff games. He was removed from the See? Not easy. power play, where he previously earned his living, even in the playoffs, where he conceivably could have helped. He skated with the taxi squad While Guerin probably isn’t willing to give prospects to Kraken GM Ron in the playoffs and endured several other what he felt were indignities Francis, would he trade high draft picks to protect one of his goalies or this season. other players?

Plain and simple: The Wild decided that they were a better team without It’s something he may consider at this point. For instance, if he’s going to Parise in the lineup to start the series. protect Kahkonen because of his age, would he throw the Kraken a second-round pick to “protect” Cam Talbot and maybe a few others? Give Parise credit though. He entered the lineup in Game 4 and finished That would make a lot more business sense than when he made clear he with two goals and one assist despite Evason not using him on the power wouldn’t trade high draft picks for rentals at the trade deadline. play in key moments in Games 6 and 7. Guerin also does not want to leave Dumba exposed, so would he try to He made it crystal clear after Friday’s game that there will need to be manipulate this by making a deal to protect Dumba or would he preserve conversations during his exit meetings with Guerin and Evason. the asset by trading Dumba before the expansion draft?

From Guerin’s perspective, though, it sounds like his hope is Parise just Trading Dumba won’t be easy, though. embraces a new role that often happens in the twilight years to once terrific players. If Parise would accept this role, the Wild would love him Guerin tried to trade Dumba during the offseason after signing Brodin to to be part of the future. a seven-year extension and couldn’t get anything close to max value. Next season, Dumba earns $7.4 million in real money, which is a pretty But Parise is 36 years old and, at this point, would probably accept a hefty price for him. Plus, teams may not want to take Dumba now trade to most any contender or a more appetizing situation. regardless because they’d have to find a way to protect him.

The question, of course, is whether he is tradeable with four years left at Another interesting wrinkle Guerin will have to consider with Dumba? He a more than $7.5 million cap hit with Father Time reaching his bruised has a 10-team no-trade clause that kicks in July 28, so if Guerin wants to and battered body. The Wild would surely have to eat half that cap hit to eventually move Dumba, every team is an option now as opposed to two make a trade work. months from now when the GM might be further hamstrung by Dumba’s It wouldn’t be surprising if Parise’s agents would be willing to help Guerin contract protection. find Parise a new home. They’ve done that historically with a number of Some of this could be alleviated if Suter, Parise or Zuccarello would their other clients when they’ve fallen out of favor with their current clubs. agree to waive their no-move clauses for the purpose of expansion only If a trade can’t be consummated, would the Wild buy him out? Courtesy since it’s unlikely at least Suter and Parise would be taken by Seattle. But of Cap Friendly, they’d only owe him $6.7 million in actual cash spread those conversations haven’t occurred yet. over eight years, but there’d also be $26.8 million in cap hits spread over It wouldn’t be shocking if Guerin tried to make a trade or two in advance eight years, including $2.4 million, $6.4 million, $7.4 million and $7.4 of expansion if it means making decisions less problematic. million in the first four years. To get a center or not? Of course, one other issue is that pesky cap recapture penalty if he’s traded and subsequently retires or ultimately retires with the Wild for a The Wild need help up the middle, plain and simple. non-injury reason. For the sanity of Kaprizov and Fiala, they shouldn’t enter next season with Rask and Hartman in those spots.

They somehow got by all year without big production at center beyond Eriksson Ek, but long term, it’s hard to see how the Wild become a true contender if they don’t acquire a center or two.

Now, does that mean pursuing Eichel or perhaps Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov? Does that mean signing a free agent like top-six center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (he’d be hard to afford given the restricted free agents that warrant raises) or a depth center like right-shot Derek Stepan (wouldn’t be shocking because the Wild considered trading for him in February)?

Or, does that mean hoping Marco Rossi is back healthy and ready to make the team out of training camp?

Let’s be honest, though: If the Wild didn’t feel young, lean Matt Boldy was ready to debut down the stretch or in the playoffs (he skated in warmups before Games 6 and 7 as insurance in case a banged-up forward couldn’t play), think they’ll be banking on Rossi stepping right into the NHL from the OHL after 18 months away from hockey due to the pandemic shutting down his last major junior season, then being diagnosed with myocarditis after contracting COVID-19?

Eichel will be costly – figuratively and literally.

Several teams will be pursuing him, so the cost of acquiring him will be massive. To make it work financially (he has a $10 million cap hit in each of the next five years), the Wild would almost certainly have to give up Dumba ($6 million cap hit) and Fiala (RFA commanding a big raise) or another player (Greenway?) and a first-round pick?

But would Buffalo even want to trade Eichel without a top center, which doesn’t exist (Eriksson Ek is going nowhere), or a top prospect coming back? And would that top prospect – Rossi – even move the needle?

Remember, Rossi only fell to the Wild last October at No. 9 because the Sabres took Jack Quinn at No. 8. So there’s a chance Buffalo scouts weren’t high on him then. And even if they were, would Rossi’s health situation scare them off despite the fact he has gotten the all-clear medically to begin training for next season?

Guerin will also need to do some due diligence into Eichel’s character and the neck injury that limited him to 21 games played this past season.

But make no mistake: The Wild will investigate what it would take to get Eichel. They just may not have the pieces to make it work.

As for Kuznetsov, that probably doesn’t make sense. Guerin has worked hard to build a good culture in the dressing room, so he may ultimately decide not to go hard after the out-of-favor Capitals center, who has had major character issues off the ice.

Odds and Ends

What else will Guerin look to get done this summer?

• Evaluating whether or not to re-sign pending unrestricted free agents Bonino, Cole, Nick Bjugstad or Marcus Johansson. Cost will be everything, but it’s expected Guerin will at least talk with Bonino, Cole and Bjugstad to gauge their interest in returning.

• Other unrestricted free agents include Brad Hunt, Kyle Rau, Luke Johnson, Joseph Cramarossa, Andrew Hammond, Dakota Mermis, Louie Belpedio, Gerry Mayhew and Matt Bartkowski.

• Evaluating the staff: Evason is safe, but it’ll be interesting if he tinkers with the assistants. Bob Woods, Darby Hendrickson and Brett McLean do have term left on their deals, it’s believed. coach Tim Army is expected to return, but assistant coach Alex Tanguay is not planning to renew his contract.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214714 Montreal Canadiens “We’re approaching the game like we did the last two,” Ducharme said. “We want to control what we can control. We’re confident. We’re going to Toronto to head to Winnipeg.”

Habs relishing playoff pressure as they head to Toronto for Game 7

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.31.2021 Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 30, 2021

The playoffs bring out the best in Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The 20-year-old Finn scored in overtime to give the Canadiens a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Saturday, forcing a seventh and deciding game in their best-of-seven North Division semifinal Monday at (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Kotkaniemi was a healthy scratch for Game 1 of the series after he finished the regular season without a point in his last 12 games. In an ironic twist, he was pressed into service after Jake Evans, another key ingredient in Saturday’s win, was injured.

The overtime goal gave Kotkaniemi a team-leading three goals for the series, and he has seven goals in 15 playoff games going back to the playoff bubble in Toronto last summer when he had a similar bounceback after being demoted to the AHL.

“I’m happy for him,” coach Dominique Ducharme said. “I really like the way he’s played since the beginning of the playoffs. I felt that he needed a good week of practice before starting the postseason. He understood what was happening. He worked and made an effort (and) it’s good to see a player get rewarded that way.”

Evans didn’t score in his return to action, but he played a key role in making sure that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner didn’t score as he joined Phil Danault and Brendan Gallagher on the Canadiens’ shutdown line and played a career-high 23:08.

While there have been high expectations for Kotkaniemi since he was selected third overall in the 2014 draft, Evans has taken a longer road to the NHL. A seventh-round draft pick in 2014, he played four seasons at Notre Dame and was in his second season with the Laval Rocket when the Canadiens called him up last season.

Like Kotkaniemi, Evans had a breakthrough in the bubble, although they were cast in different roles.

“I know I’m not the most skilled guy and I don’t have a great one-timer,” Evans said Sunday prior to the team’s departure for Toronto. “I know I probably can’t pull a toe-drag off very often, so for me it’s just about knowing what I can do to have success and how I can help the team. It’s using my speed and just playing hard and playing that gritty way that can frustrate teams and cause them to make poor plays and then try to capitalize.”

Saturday’s game marked the first time there were spectators in a Canadian NHL arena since March 2020, and Evans said the 2,500 fans helped him push through fatigue.

“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty tired at some points,” Evans said. “After the game, I couldn’t move for a little bit. I was pretty gassed. But the fans and just that excitement of playing a Game 6 against one of your rivals is a really cool experience. It helped me out a lot.”

Evans had a relatively light work schedule compared with the top four defencemen led by Shea Weber, who played more than 37 minutes.

Ben Chiarot said that Sunday was literally a day of rest so he and his mates on the blue line would be ready for Monday.

“You never have as much fun playing hockey as you do in game number seven,” Chiarot said. “The key is to play without thinking too much. This is a high-pressure situation. Guys tend to tighten the stick. It’s about staying relaxed, playing the game and enjoying it.”

The Canadiens have exceeded expectations with consecutive overtime wins to force a seventh game, but Ducharme said his team has some unfinished business. 1214715 Montreal Canadiens games, but given a playoff series, a discernible goal and some level of offensive support, he can win this series — and perhaps more.

The Leafs will still be favoured Monday night. They have a good team, Jack Todd: Carey Price in vintage form against the Leafs even if it’s not the juggernaut it’s made out to be. Mitch Marner is a bona fide two-way star with a strong supporting cast — but like many an offensive machine, Toronto has had trouble making the transition from Jack Todd • Special to Montreal Gazette the stat-fattening and deceptive regular season to the tight-checking hell of the playoffs. Publishing date: May 30, 2021 Now the pressure is all on the boys in blue. And it says here that the

Canadiens are going to bring back memories of all the seasons when When Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s shot from the slot deflected off a stick and they have ousted powerhouse teams like the Bruins, Capitals and became a Hoyt Wilhelm knuckleball that fluttered past Leafs goalie Jack Penguins in the playoffs. The Leafs are up next. Don’t miss it. Campbell to give the Canadiens a 3-2 overtime win Saturday night, the Heroes: Carey Price, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Joel Armia, Corey tremors were felt all the way to Toronto. Perry, Tyler Toffoli, Paul Byron, Philip Danault, Ben Chiarot, Shea For the second straight game, the plucky Canadiens proved that tenacity Weber, Clément Diop, Mason Toye &&&& last but not least, Jesperi and luck sometimes overcomes sheer talent, that you win the games on Kotkaniemi’s hat. the ice, not in the minds of the talking heads that keep telling you you’re Zeros: Nazem Kadri, Tom Wilson, George Parros, Patrick Burke, Colin going to lose. Campbell, Nikita Mazepin, Sportsnet, the Stache Cam, Canadiens Predictably, as Kotkaniemi’s knuckler and Campbell’s whiff put the Maple season-ticket holders who scalped their seats, Ron MacLean, Claude Leafs one strike away from the golf course, ’s Brochu, David Samson &&&& last but not least, Jeffrey Loria. Stache Cam cut to Auston Matthews, as it did when the Cole Caufield- Now and forever. Nick Suzuki tic-tac-bam play won Game 5, completely ignoring the celebration on the Canadiens bench.

It hardly mattered. Number 15, the reincarnation of Bobby Smith, had Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.31.2021 given the Canadiens the win at 15:15 of the first overtime period, tying this hullabalicious series at three games apiece and sending it back to Toronto for a deciding Game 7 Monday night, a game that was never supposed to happen.

For the jittery Leafs, it will mean facing elimination with their legion of media cheerleaders looking on aghast. For the surprising Canadiens, it’s perhaps an indication that they were always better than they showed during a regular season that was unlike any other.

For the Habs and their fans, it was as unforgettable as any night in the history of the Bell Centre. Fans in the building (albeit many of them there through the greed of season-ticket holders who cheerfully scalped their seats) making more noise than 2,500 people should be able to make. Montreal in only its second night of freedom from the hated curfew, the even more hated Leafs in town and the home team emerging with an improbable victory.

At that, the Canadiens were almost coached right out of the playoffs — by their own coach. Kotkaniemi’s flutter ball saved Dominique Ducharme some hard questions about a self-defeating strategy in the third period and overtime that should have spelled defeat and would have, had Carey Price not turned in a Hall of Fame performance with 41 saves on 43 shots.

Ducharme, who had already made the decision to bench the agile and hard-hitting Alexander Romanov for yet another game, decided that his third defensive pair of Eric Gustafsson and Brett Kulak couldn’t be trusted on the ice.

With Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot and Jeff Petry wobbly with fatigue and Joel Edmundson not far behind, Ducharme left them out there for shift after shift with the Canadiens bottled up in their own end. The Leafs got two goals on deflections off the unfortunate Petry to tie it in the third period and kept the pressure on, outshooting the Habs 13-2 in 15 minutes of overtime.

Weber finished the night with 37:09 on the ice with Chiarot at 35:22, Petry at 34:51 and Edmundson at 28:38. Kulak, meanwhile, saw only 6:13 on the ice and Gustafsson 6:39, 2:09 of it on the power play. Surely fresh legs were called for and if Ducharme has faith in no one else, then Romanov should be dressed. You aren’t going to win many games turning your end into a shooting gallery for an offensive powerhouse like the Leafs.

If not for Price, the Canadiens would not have survived the onslaught. We’re seeing vintage Carey Price here, the Price who is very much the equal of Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden or Patrick Roy. He’s the reason the Canadiens have taken it as far as Game 7 and he’s the reason Montreal just might win it.

The big guy is in the heads of the Leafs snipers, no doubt about that. Their shooting percentage is running about one-tenth what it did in the regular season. Price may no longer be able to carry the club through 70 1214716 Montreal Canadiens at the other end. It was as lopsided as can be, but the Leafs simply couldn’t score on Price. All it took was one chance at the other end for the Canadiens to end the game. With five minutes remaining in the extra About Last Night: Can I get 2,500 witnesses? Habs force Game 7 frame, Paul Byron stole the puck from Travis Dermott and fed it to a streaking Kotkaniemi, who used Zach Bogosian as a screen to fire a shot past Campbell. The Habs fans lucky enough to attend went home happy.

Erik Leijon • Special to Montreal Gazette The Montreal Canadiens have pulled themselves from the brink of elimination. The Habs and Leafs will meet one more time Monday for all Publishing date: May 30, 2021 the marbles. For the Habs, they went to the limit against the North Division’s top team in the regular season. For the Leafs, they’re in danger of another first round defeat after entering the season with Stanley Cup The Montreal Canadiens have pushed the Toronto Maple Leafs to the aspirations. But what I’ll remember the most, and likely never forget, edge. The two teams will face off in Game 7 of their first-round best-of- were the people. After 14 months, 2,500 got to see a Habs game in the seven series Monday after the Habs defeated the Leafs 3-2 in overtime flesh. After all this time, that’s pretty cool. The Liveblog commenters Saturday night. Beyond the scoresheet, including Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s happily ate crow in the form of Price saving the day. game winner and Carey Price’s 41 saves, Game 6 will likely be remembered as the first NHL game to be played in front of a live 3. “The curse is now on TO mind…has to be…2 games to close it twice audience in Canada since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. to tie it twice to lose it in OT….its got to be in their minds” -Michael Wered Seeing 2,500 hockey fans at the Bell Centre again was a moment that transcended sport: 2. “CAREY PRICE. No doubt, the best goalie in the world right now. How he turns into a monster in the playoffs, I have no idea. But I’m happy to The crowd sang O Canada with Bell Centre organist Diane Bibaud and have him make me EAT MY WORDS.” -Marc Taillefer announcer Michel Lacroix welcomed everyone back. 1. “Our best player 10.5 million played like our best player. Toronto’s did March 11, 2020. not. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Price was amazing. Bergevin’s Perry, Toffoli additions paid off and KK says to all the doubters/ Haters …This That was the last time there were fans in a Canadian arena. This is just a one is for you!!!!” -Charles Patrick lovely sight to see.

The first period was scoreless, but an important reminder of the difference a live, interactive crowd can have. They welcomed Game 4 Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.31.2021 hero/Game 5 goat Alex Galchenyuk with boos befitting a former Hab in another sweater. The referees had their decisions second guessed all night, especially the non-calls. Not that extra penalties would have done either team any good early on: the Leafs and Habs didn’t score on their respective first period power plays. Tyler Toffoli took the butt end of Nick Suzuki’s stick and left to the dressing room for repairs, but returned for the second. The Habs outshot the Leafs 15-9 in the first and had more chances, although Price still had to be sharp on occasion, stopping a difficult deflection off a Mitch Marner shot.

An unlikely first period highlight? Erik Gustafsson hit Wayne Simmonds. Kinda.

Second period was also scoreless. Tyler Toffoli held and shot on a 3-on- 1, with Jack Campbell making the save. The Leafs were dealt a major blow to their blueline when Jake Muzzin left the game with a lower body injury and didn’t return. Both teams played shorthanded at the back end, one by necessity and one by choice: Habs third pairing Gustafsson and Brett Kulak barely saw the ice all game. Eric Staal then missed a golden open net opportunity from a pass by Jeff Petry.

In the third period, the Canadiens power play, shut out in the series up until that point, finally came to life. With William Nylander in the box for backing into Price with intent, Cole Caufield got partial contact on a one- timer attempt, but it was enough to cause a chaotic scene in the crease where Corey Perry leaped on the rebound and fired it on an empty net with Campbell out of place. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe challenged the call, claiming Tyler Toffoli was in the crease impeding Campbell from returning to position, but the goal stood, giving the Habs a 1-0 lead. It also sent the Habs to another power play.

Seconds into that power play, Marner flipped the puck over the glass without being contested, which gave the Habs a 5-on-3 advantage. The snake-bitten Toffoli scored his first of the series, getting into scoring position and receiving a pass from Nick Suzuki along the half wall to make it 2-0.

The Canadiens held on past the halfway mark of the third period, but the Maple Leafs eventually stormed back. Jason Spezza put his team on the board first, beating Price from the slot area after Joel Edmundson failed to clear.

The Maple Leafs continued to wear down the four Habs defencemen as the third period progressed. T.J. Brodie tied it up for his squad, after his hard slap shot deflected off Jeff Petry and past Price.

Overtime was the Carey Price show. His four defencemen were running on fumes (Shea Weber led the way with 37:09), hanging on for dear life to prevent high-quality scoring chances but struggling to clear the zone. Price had to make 13 saves in overtime, compared to one for Campbell 1214717 Montreal Canadiens We also saw him doing good work after a Canadiens power play, when the Leafs like to come hard with their big guns. And in the second period, a time of the game that has been a serious issue for the Canadiens, Canadiens playoff notebook: Jake Evans’ strengths, difficulty of limited Evans’ battle level along the walls opened the door to his team’s best minutes, Leafs anxieties, Carey Price’s calm offensive pressure sequence of the period, roughly 90 seconds of nearly uninterrupted offensive zone time.

“I think Jake risks surprising a lot of people this season if his confidence By Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin keeps going in the right direction,” former coach Claude Julien said during training camp. May 31, 2021 Four months later, Evans is proving his old coach right.

We tend to only look at one side of the ice time extreme, especially in the Jesperi Kotkaniemi was one of the faces of the Canadiens’ Game 6 win Stanley Cup playoffs. So when Shea Weber racks up 37 minutes of ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs because of his overtime goal. time at age 35 or Ben Chiarot and Jeff Petry are at 35 minutes, people The 2018 No. 3 overall pick, the one that was put on a fast-track to the will admire that ability to find the energy necessary to go out and battle, NHL at a young age, Kotkaniemi has a pedigree that makes it so when block shots, play physical and skate up and down the ice. he makes the difference in a game, his star shines a bit brighter. Errors are bound to arise when you are playing that frequently, but there However, as the third-line centre, Kotkaniemi only played 15 minutes in is another side to that coin, and Chiarot wanted to make sure it was an overtime game, and he was not having a great night before producing recognized Sunday. The first question he took was with regard to his the game-winner. energy level after playing so much the night before, and his answer was quick and to the point. On the opposite side of that spectrum is Jake Evans, a rookie who turns 25 on Wednesday and who was drafted 207th in 2014, the only player “Yeah,” he said, “I thought all six Ds did a good job last night.” selected by the Canadiens that year playing in the NHL today. Evans And in case you thought that was just lip service, just Chiarot being a spent four years in college and two seasons in the AHL before making it good team guy, he made sure to come back to it when he took a third to Montreal. question about managing energy when you are playing heavy minutes. The spotlight does not naturally gravitate to players like Evans, but in He wanted to make sure his point was clear. Game 6 he played a career-high 23:05 and the opposing player who was on the ice most often over that time is named Auston Matthews. “I know we’re saying the top-four guys are playing a lot, but Gus and Kulie play a key role in that too,” Chiarot said. “Their minutes are just as And he did all that after missing the four previous games with an injury. important. Even though there’s not as many, those are key minutes and “The whole injury thing was obviously very frustrating and, watching all minutes that we depend on pretty heavily. So I thought all six guys did a those games, I just wanted to be back out there and have that chance to great job last night and we’ll look to continue to do that.” play another game,” Evans said Sunday. “So when I found out I was Erik Gustafsson and Brett Kulak each played nine shifts in Game 6 for playing yesterday, I was just so excited and so ready to get back in there. fewer than seven minutes of ice time, so it is difficult to look at their I think also the fans helped me out a lot, too. performance and see it the way Chiarot does. Except Chiarot has a “I’m not going to lie, I was pretty tired at some points, and after the game, perspective that we do not, and when you think about it, sometimes I couldn’t move for a little bit. I was pretty gassed. But the fans and just playing very infrequently has its own difficulties that are simply different that excitement of playing any Game 6 against one of your rivals was a than those of playing every second shift. really cool experience and helped me out a lot.” Take this as an example. When he was still with the Laval Rocket, and even after he made his first Gustafsson’s third shift of the game came at 12:14 of the first period. He jump to the NHL last season, Evans always had a very realistic was sent out with Petry for a neutral zone draw against the Maple Leafs’ evaluation of his own place in the best league in the world. He saw third line of Alex Kerfoot, Wayne Simmonds and Ilya Mikheyev. It was a himself as a bottom-six centre who would carve out a spot through his relatively safe situation, and it gave Edmundson a bit of extra rest. That commitment to hard work and self-improvement. shift lasted 49 seconds for Gustafsson and ended at 13:03 of the first. Then Game 6 comes along, an elimination game for the Canadiens, and Then he sat on the bench for the final 6:57 of the first period, went back there is Evans, top-six forward. to the dressing room and sat in there for the 17-minute intermission, came back out and sat on the bench for another 6:01 before, quite Maybe his humility helps his focus (though it can sometimes hurt his suddenly, his services were needed. confidence when things aren’t going as well), but Evans has always wanted to avoid thinking he is something he is not. What that’s done is By this point, Gustafsson hasn’t played in 30-40 minutes of real time, but forced Evans to focus on improving his strengths rather than working on the Canadiens were in a bit of a jam. Weber took a delay of game weaknesses that might always remain weaknesses. penalty, so the rest of the top four had expended a lot of energy killing it off, with even Kulak getting on the ice for a little bit. Kulak’s penalty killing “I know I’m not the most skilled guy and I don’t have that great one-timer shift came after he sat on the bench for the last five minutes of the first or probably can’t pull a toe drag off very well very often,” Evans said. “So period, the entire intermission and the first five minutes of the second, for me, it’s just knowing what I can do to have success and how I can then he’s asked to kill this penalty in this game after having spent 1:41 on help the team. the penalty kill all season.

“I think for me, it’s using my speed and playing hard and playing that Now, with the penalty successfully killed, Gustafsson needed to go out gritty way that can frustrate teams and cause them to make poor plays and help the Canadiens make a little push back. But he had been sitting and then try and capitalize on those. So I think it’s just knowing what for a long time, and that couldn’t have been very easy. brings you success, and I think that’s been helped me out a lot lately.” It was an important moment in the game, relatively speaking, because Playing to the left of Phillip Danault in place of Tomas Tatar, Evans every moment in a playoff game is the most important moment of the brought intensity and speed to limit the time and space of Matthews’ line. game until it is replaced by the next most important moment of the game. His transition to the wing was made easier by the fact that defensive responsibilities are always very clear when you play with Danault. Having Just ask Leafs defenceman Travis Dermott if there are any unimportant said that, Evans was the Canadiens’ second-best centre in the faceoff moments in a game. Or Rasmus Sandin in Game 5. All of these circle in the regular season, so him being a right shot adds another asset moments can matter, and it is up to you as a depth defenceman to to Danault’s line if he is thrown out of the faceoff circle or if Dominique essentially make sure they don’t. Ducharme would simply rather have a righty in the circle. “One shift can make a difference in that kind of game,” Ducharme said. Just like Danault, Evans also shined on the penalty kill, where his “So whether you get six, 10, 12, 20, 25, it’s the next time you get on the aggression and speed was a welcome addition to what the Canadiens ice, to be winning your shift. That’s a little bit the way we’re playing right were doing against the Leafs power play to that point in the series. now, is just turning the page on the last time we’ve been on the ice and going back and you’re playing against five guys, you make sure you’re It would be fair to say this is a far more complex situation for the Leafs, trying to win that shift. one jam-packed with more personal pressure for some of their top players. For the Canadiens, their challenge is to stay loose and remain “Anytime you go on the ice, it doesn’t matter how many times you go, it’s focused on the job. a key time.” One team has everything to win. The other team has nothing to lose. The question the Canadiens don’t need to ask themselves heading into Game 7 Hockey can be a funny game. When one team is completely dominating play the way the Canadiens were in the first period, the longer that team The Maple Leafs will not cease to be the more talented team in Game 7. goes without scoring, the longer the opposing goaltender continues to But there is a psychological aspect that enters the equation and mitigates make big save after big save, the more the sense grows that the team that talent gap, which is where the Canadiens can perhaps gain an edge. being dominated will be scoring the next goal.

Whether it was in explaining the acquisition of experienced players to And when it happens, it can be totally demoralizing, while it gives a boost justifying decisions to leave young players out of the lineup to start the to the opposing team. playoffs, the Canadiens have often emphasized the importance of managing emotions in the playoffs. And it is something they have done We saw this happen in Game 6 when Maple Leafs goaltender Jack admirably well, even when they were down 3-1 in the series. Campbell stopped Nick Suzuki on a breakaway at about the midway point of the first period, a save that shifted the momentum to the Maple Several team leaders have taken the responsibility of making sure the Leafs, and their chances began coming. team’s heads are in the right place during games, whether it’s Weber, Corey Perry, Eric Staal, Brendan Gallagher or Joel Edmundson. Their Matthews whistled a one-timer high from the slot. More chances came experience is shining through in these situations in keeping their and the Maple Leafs began to carry the play, culminating in a glorious teammates focused on the task at hand. opportunity for Nick Foligno on a point-blank one-timer.

“A Game 7 is a high-pressure situation, and guys can tend to get tight,” Carey Price got across and made the save, and the Canadiens entered Chiarot said Sunday. “But I think for us, it’s just to stay loose, to just play the first intermission tied. Being down 1-0 at that point would have been the game and enjoy it.” very difficult considering the start they had, but Price didn’t allow it.

For Ducharme, playing loose does not only mean the players must relax, Fast forward to the start of overtime, and the Maple Leafs are peppering but more so that the players need be confident in what they control, in Price with chances. None of them are going in, but the constant pressure knowing what’s been repeated to them over and over again will be is wearing on the Canadiens, especially a defence group that had played executed properly if they have that confidence. as much as we mentioned earlier.

Now try asking someone on the Leafs about being able to play loose. It’s “Down in the third and coming into overtime, I think they just had some a lot tougher to do that when you constantly have to ask yourself what momentum going,” Chiarot said. “Kind of like we had at the beginning of will happen if you lose. the game.”

No Canadiens player has to ask himself that, and therefore no And in overtime, what always tends to happen, happened. The Canadiens player has to worry about the answer. Canadiens scored on their second shot of overtime after Price made 13 saves. This is the fourth year in a row the Leafs core is facing a do-or-die game and they know only too well that they lost the first three. What always tends to happen did not happen in the first period. That’s the value of Price when he’s playing like this. “There’s a lot on the line,” said Morgan Rielly, a member of that core. “That’s pretty much what it feels like. Obviously, it’s a big opportunity for this group to move forward to win and put that behind us. But there’s a lot at stake. And I think as a group, it’s just a matter of controlling the The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 nerves, doing what you have to do today to prepare. I mean, look back at the game, yeah, sure, but we’ve got to move on and be ready for tomorrow.”

Ducharme has the luxury, at this point in the series, of sticking with a very pragmatic approach in preparing his team. Meanwhile, Sheldon Keefe needs to find a way to sell his players on accepting a challenge that is very familiar to some of his most important players.

He presented Game 7 to his players as an opportunity they should embrace. You can take a cynical view of it and say the opportunity here is not to fail or an opportunity to get out of a mess they created themselves.

But it can also be viewed as an opportunity to finally reach their potential and break through this mental block.

“As much as it sucks how we got here, and what we’ve been through the last couple of games — and we hate it — I really feel, frankly, that we are right where we’re supposed to be,” Keefe said Sunday. “We’re facing a Game 7 situation, a very difficult task, at a time when the other team has momentum, at a time when you start to doubt and question yourself, and people on the outside doubt and question yourself, or question you. You’ve got an opportunity here in a Game 7 to embrace that and meet that head on and push through it. I think it’s an incredible opportunity for our team.

“I woke up this morning extremely excited for our group. Last night, you feel like shit because of what you’ve been through, and you’re right there in overtime, you could end the series and you don’t get it done. But you wake up this morning, you think about the opportunity that our team has for everything that they’ve been through, especially our core guys, to have this opportunity on this stage, to have this be the moment to push through it, I think it’s an incredible opportunity.” 1214718 Montreal Canadiens The other meaning of the word experience, the one that had everyone up in arms prior to the series, has played a big role in the Canadiens getting to this point.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi and the Canadiens get an experience they will never There are those who have the experience, led by Carey Price, who made forget 41 saves, including all 13 in overtime and looked like someone who was simply not going to allow his team to lose.

By Arpon Basu “When he’s on and settling things down, I think it helps the group as a whole, ” Weber said. “You have that backbone.” May 30, 2021 Weber’s experience also loomed large, along with that of Petry, Ben Chiarot and Joel Edmundson, a group of four defencemen who essentially played the entire game. They might have made a few Think back to the word that was on everyone’s lips when this series mistakes due to all that usage, but the consistent physical toll they are began, when the Canadiens were massive underdogs to the powerhouse forcing the Maple Leafs to pay is starting to pay dividends at this late Toronto Maple Leafs, when it seemed like the Canadiens were doing stage of the series. You can see the frequency increasing of Maple Leafs everything wrong. players getting rid of the puck a bit quicker than they want to, Maple That word was experience. Leafs forwards purposefully arriving second on the puck to avoid getting hit. Well, experience has two different meanings. On the one hand was the meaning everyone was talking about leading up to the series, the “I’ve played against them,” Canadiens forward Tyler Toffoli said, “and meaning that refers to life experience, age, savvy, know-how. The didn’t like it very much.” Canadiens were banking on the experience their players had in the But there’s also the lack of experience shining. There’s Caufield and Nick Stanley Cup playoffs, leaving inexperienced players such as Jesperi Suzuki combining to score the overtime goal in Game 5, and Kotkaniemi Kotkaniemi, Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov out of the lineup. But providing the overtime winner in Game 6. we’ll get back to that because experience also has another meaning, a meaning that took precedence on this very special night that actually had “It’s pretty unbelievable,” Kotkaniemi said. “I just tried to think, that’s little to do with hockey. probably my first-ever OT goal. So it’s pretty remarkable. It’s a great feeling, especially when the fans are in the stands. It gives you This meaning is defined by the Oxford dictionary as such: an event or goosebumps.” occurrence that leaves an impression on someone. Then there is Jake Evans, a rookie who came in for Tomas Tatar and Saturday night at the Bell Centre was an experience, and that definition played on the Canadiens’ top line, asked to face the Maple Leafs’ best hits it perfectly. There were 2,500 fans in the building for Game 6 of this players all night and doing an excellent job not only in his own end, but in series, a game no one expected the Canadiens to reach after falling the Toronto end as well. behind in the series 3-1. As the Canadiens prepared in the dressing room to come out for the game, having already had their first encounter with “The way he skates, the way he manages situations, he’s gaining actual hockey fans in more than 14 months in the warmup, they could maturity in his game, he plays hard,” Canadiens coach Dominique hear those fans. They were yelling, happy for the opportunity to be there, Ducharme said of Evans. “He can do a little bit of everything, and he with no curfew to respect. It was a sign of societal progress, that we are does it well. Against those guys, you cannot just try to defend, you need coming out the other side of this difficult time for so many. to be spending O-zone time, you need to be forcing them to play defence. I thought that line had some good moments in the O-zone, The Canadiens have always managed to keep in mind that playing in forcing them to defend. Jake can help that way, not only defensively.” empty buildings allowed them to bring some joy to people watching at home, people whose experiences on a daily basis were less than When Kotkaniemi finished his postgame interview on “Hockey Night in pleasant. But as they put the final touches on their preparations to come Canada,” there were still fans in the stands. So Kotkaniemi skated back out and meet those fans, they could already feel them in the dressing out on the ice and did a twirl, applauding the fans as they applauded him. room. Kotkaniemi is 20. This was a memorable night in so many ways, but it “One-hundred percent we could hear them before the game,” Canadiens was most memorable for him, giving his team an opportunity no one captain Shea Weber said after Montreal’s 3-2 win in overtime. “Going out thought it would ever have. for warmups, I had chills again. Honestly, it was unbelievable. It felt like a lot more than 2,500 people. It was amazing. I can’t imagine what 20,000 It was an experience, in both senses of the word. people would feel like, because that was electric.”

Then, the Canadiens went out and started the game as though those The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 2,500 people were pushing them to greatness. It took only 34 seconds before the crowd began to chant Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell’s name in an attempt to distract him (it didn’t work). When Weber cleared the puck on the penalty kill, the crowd roared. Phillip Danault blocked a shot, the crowd roared.

The Canadiens got the first 10 shots on goal of the game, and that crowd had a lot to do with that.

No one can blame Weber for thinking that a crowd of 20,000 is unimaginable, because a big reason the crowd of 2,500 sounded so loud is that he and his teammates and anyone else who has been in the building during this pandemic has grown accustomed to artificially produced crowd noise that is controlled with buttons and machines.

That artificial crowd noise was loud, but it lacked something important, something everyone in the building at the Bell Centre experienced Saturday night.

It lacked emotion. It lacked humanity. The Canadiens, and those fans, got that on this night, that human interaction that has been lacking this whole season, and it made the entire experience unique and special.

Then the Canadiens went out and gave themselves a chance to experience that again. 1214719 New York Islanders

Islanders strongly considering goalie change in Game 2

By Larry Brooks

May 30, 2021 | 9:37pm | Updated

If the Islanders go down 2-0 to the Bruins in this second-round series that picks up in Boston on Monday night, chances are they wouldn’t want to do so with their No. 1 goaltender on the bench.

And so there is a strong possibility that Semyon Varlamov will replace Ilya Sorokin in nets for Game 2, with head coach Barry Trotz admitting on Sunday that he would “mull over it.”

“The great thing about our goaltending is that you can put anyone in and you can be successful with either one of them,” Trotz said in the early afternoon. “Last series, Ilya started feeling it against Pittsburgh and so we stuck with him.

“He’s playing good [but] I don’t know where I’m going as of yet. I have a couple of more hours to mull over it and Ill let which goalie know who’s playing.”

Sorokin was not the most serious issue in Saturday’s opening 5-2 empty- net abetted defeat but despite Boston’s 40-22 advantage in shots and 58-30 edge in five-on-five attempts, the 25-year-old netminder was not at his best.

Semyon Varlamov could be back in goal for the Islanders in Game 2.

UPI

In addition to having trouble finding pucks in his skates with Bruins routinely crashing the net, Sorokin allowed a pair of rebound goals to David Pastrnak after kicking initial shots directly into the left circle, where No. 88 was hovering.

Sorokin went 4-0 in the first round with a .943 save percentage and 1.95 GAA in place of Varlamov, who lost both of his starts in Games 2 and 3 while allowing seven goals on 72 shots (.903, 3.61). But the titular No. 1 was coming off a lower-body injury that prevented him from dressing for Game 1.

Presumably healthy and sharp following a stretch of practices, the 33- year-old Varlamov went 5-1 against the Bruins during the regular season with a .943 save percentage and 1.93 GAA. He was the team’s go-to guy throughout a 19-11-4, .929, 2.04, seven-shutout regular season that might earn him a nomination for the Vezina.

As well, Varlamov started 19 of the Islanders’ 22 postseason matches last year in going 11-7 with a .921 save percentage and 2.14 GAA.

Trotz said that the Islanders would go with “the same group,” so that rules out the possibility of Oliver Wahlstrom returning to the lineup for this one. The winger has missed the last two games in the aftermath of sustaining a lower-body injury during the third period of Game 5 of the first round.

Boston second-line winger Craig Smith, who left Saturday’s contest one shift into the third period after having been nailed on a check by Cal Clutterbuck midway through the second, will attempt to participate in the morning skate, “if he’s able to,” according to Boston coach Bruce Cassidy.

Game 3 is set for the Coliseum on Thursday at 7:30, with Game 4 scheduled for Saturday at 7:15. And as for the if-necessaries, Game 5 would be in Boston on June 7, Game 6 on the Island on June 9 and Game 7 in Boston on June 11, with the times TBD.

New York Post LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214720 New York Islanders Guentzel and Bryan Rust] and on this line there are probably three great players at different points in their career.

“That’s what makes that line so good. We can’t, and we won’t be able to The Islanders have a Mat Barzal problem win unless we have all four lines helping to keep them contained.”

And the Islanders probably won’t be able to win unless they get much By Larry Brooks better and much more from Barzal, who has a career seven goals in 37 playoff games. May 30, 2021 | 7:25pm | Updated P.S.: Bryan Trottier had five goals in his first 42 playoff games … before scoring 37 in his next 75.

The Islanders are built four-line tough, that is understood. They can withstand a lack of production from an upper-echelon forward. They can even win a best-of-seven under that circumstance. This we know after New York Post LOADED: 05.31.2021 the six-game, Round 1 victory over the Penguins in which Mat Barzal was held off the scoresheet.

But the Islanders won’t thrive forever, or perhaps even for very much longer, if Barzal does not get untracked following a disappointing outing in Saturday’s opening 5-2 defeat to the Bruins, on for only four attempts for and 16 against at five-on-five.

“It will be difficult,” head coach Barry Trotz said when asked if his team could sustain success without Barzal generating offense. “We have in the past, at times, but to be quite honest I don’t know if we can do it against a very good Boston team.

“We rely on the four lines and need at least three lines going and I didn’t feel that I had three lines that were really on top of their game [on Saturday]. I think we have a really good analogy with the [Patrice] Bergeron line. If it’s not going for Boston, they would probably be in a little bit of trouble.”

That analogy, though, would probably be more apt if Anders Lee hadn’t gone down on March 11. Because while the Lee-Barzal-Jordan Eberle unit clearly was at the top of the Islanders’ ecosystem, it is not clear at all that Barzal centering Eberle and Leo Komarov remains the club’s first line.

Indeed, the Anthony Beauvillier-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey unit probably has earned that designation. And off its play through the first seven playoff matches, the line centered by Jean-Gabriel Pageau with Kyle Palmieri on one side and either Oliver Wahlstrom or Travis Zajac on the other might even be considered the team’s second line.

Trotz said that he would go with the same personnel for Monday’s Game 2 but was considering switching up a combination or two. One would imagine that the coach is contemplating a switch on at least one of Barzal’s flanks.

Mat Barzal

Adding a more dynamic element to No. 13’s line would prevent the B’s from keying so strongly on the center, who is the focus of all of Boston’s attention when on the ice. There is no doubt that flipping Palmieri and Komarov would boost Barzal’s line even if dinging Pageau’s, but it would seem that lending aid to No. 13 would be a priority.

Nevertheless, Barzal must adapt and adjust. Fact is, he drew the Charlie McAvoy-Matt Grzelcyk top pair last match for just 3:36 at five-on-five, about the same amount of time as Pageau’s unit and much less than the 7:46 drawn by Nelson’s line. His unit got the Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak line as a match for 4:04, opposed to the 6:22 for Nelson’s unit.

So that, A) would tell you whom the Bruins consider the Islanders’ top line, and, B) should have been of at least some benefit to the club’s leading scorer during the regular season (17-28-45), who has gone 0-3-3 throughout the tournament.

“I think that if you get on your ice it doesn’t matter who you play with,” Trotz said. “You’ve got to raise your game, and we’ve got some guys who need to raise their games if we’re going to beat the Boston Bruins.”

If it is on Barzal to break out of containment, it is on the Islanders to contain the Bergeron line to at least some degree following its dominating performance in Game 1 in which Pastrnak recorded a hat trick — one on the power play — and the unit owned a staggering 89.16 xGF.

“One of the questions was, ‘You did a good job against [Sidney] Crosby’s line, what’s the difference between Crosby’s line and Bergeron’s?’ and I can answer that probably a little bit better [now],” Trotz said. “With Crosby’s line there is a great player and two very good players [in Jake 1214721 New York Islanders "We’re extremely positive," Pelech said. "We’re all itching to play this game."

Islanders confident they can fix mistakes, get even with Bruins LOADED: LOADED: 05.31.2021

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated May 31, 2021 12:57 AM

BOSTON — The Islanders are a positive group heading into Game 2 of their second-round series against the Bruins.

But it was not blind positivity. They were realistic about the challenge of slowing the Bruins — who have won five straight playoff games, including 5-2 in Saturday night’s Game 1 at TD Garden — and their lethal top line of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

"We’ve got some guys that need to raise their game if we’re going to have success against the Boston Bruins," coach Barry Trotz said on Sunday after an optional practice at Warrior Ice Center. "Right now, they’re feeling good. They’re clicking. They got through Washington. They’ve got their mojo. They’re healthy. They’re getting good goaltending. The power play is hitting a real high rate."

Two-for-two in Game 1, including one from Pastrnak with 23.3 seconds left in the first period as part of his hat trick. One of Bergeron’s two assists came on the power play as well.

"We’ve got to stay out of the box," Trotz said. "We’ve got to contain that big line and, if we can do that, we have to do it with four lines going and everybody contributing."

Those things must happen for the Islanders to return to Nassau Coliseum — which will be nearly packed with 12,000 fans — for Thursday night’s Game 3 with a split of the first two games.

Trotz said he hadn’t yet decided whether to turn back to Game 1 starter Ilya Sorokin or give goalie Semyon Varlamov his first start since Game 3 of the first round against the Penguins.

Trotz said he will dress the same 18 skaters for Game 2 and that he just might switch up his combinations. That likely means a change on Mathew Barzal’s top line after he, Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov totaled only three shots in Game 1. Eberle and Komarov had assists but Barzal has yet to score a goal this postseason.

"They’re a team that’s known for their offense and their ability to generate on that side of the puck, but they did a pretty good job defending," said Kyle Palmieri, a candidate along with Travis Zajac and, possibly, Jean- Gabriel Pageau to be moved to Barzal’s line.

Island Ice Ep. 92: Isles vs. Bruins Game 1 analysis

The guys discuss the Isles' Game 1 loss to the Bruins in the second round of the playoffs, Boston's "Perfection/Wicked Good" line and what's ahead in Game 2.

"I think there are some areas that we can be better at," Palmieri added. "We knew it was going to be a tight series. We’re just looking forward to doing some more things well and trying to get a better result for Game 2."

Despite the Islanders being outshot 40-22 and outchanced 65-38 — Trotz questioned how accurate the scoresheet actually was in that regard — Game 1 was tied at 2 entering the third period. But it turned when the Islanders mustered little on an early power play and defenseman Charlie McAvoy of Long Beach scored the go-ahead goal at 6:20, just 18 seconds after the teams returned to even strength.

"I thought we played a pretty good game," said defenseman Adam Pelech, who tied it at 2 at 12:34 of the second period with a shot through traffic from the blue line. "There are definitely adjustments to be made and I’m sure we’ll take care of that and be a bit more prepared. We were right there until the end."

The Islanders will need more blue-line shots from their defensemen. They will need more traffic in front of Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. They will need to limit the production from the Bruins’ "Perfection Line."

But they believe they can get that done. 1214722 New York Islanders

Barry Trotz not sure who he's starting at goalie for Islanders in Game 2

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated May 30, 2021 5:21 PM

BOSTON — Barry Trotz expressed no issues with how Ilya Sorokin played in Game 1. But the Islanders coach was not ready to commit to starting the Russian rookie in Monday night’s Game 2 against the Bruins at TD Garden, leaving open the possibility of switching back to Semyon Varlamov.

Sorokin allowed four goals on 39 shots – two long rebounds deposited by David Pastrnak as part of his hat trick and two screened shots – in Saturday night’s 5-2 loss in Game 1. It was Sorokin’s fourth straight start and he’s 4-1 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage, including the Islanders’ six-game, first-round victory over the Penguins.

"I can’t blame him on anything, really," Trotz said after Sunday’s optional practice at Warrior Ice Rink. "They hit spots. It went right over to Pastrnak. Actually twice, once on the power play and once five-on-five. There was nothing he could do about that. I was happy with his game."

Still, Trotz said he had yet to decide on a goalie for Game 2 and Varlamov, in net for losses to the Penguins in Games 2 and 3, presents an intriguing option.

Island Ice Ep. 92: Isles vs. Bruins Game 1 analysis

The guys discuss the Isles' Game 1 loss to the Bruins in the second round of the playoffs, Boston's "Perfection/Wicked Good" line and what's ahead in Game 2.

He went 19-11-4 with a 2.04 GAA, a .929 save percentage and seven shutouts in the regular season and could be among the finalists announced on Tuesday for the Vezina Trophy. He led the Islanders to the Eastern Conference finals last season and was 5-1-0 with a 1.93 GAA and .943 save percentage against the Bruins this season.

"You can be successful with either one of them," Trotz said. "The last series, Ilya started feeling it against Pittsburgh and we’ve stuck with him. He’s playing good. I don’t know where I’m going."

There were three instances in Game 1 where Sorokin seemed to lose the puck in his pads.

"A couple of times Boston bull-rushed our net and created some of those situations," Trotz said. "I have a couple of clips of our 'D' actually screening him so we didn’t help him a whole lot. Just moving over two feet here, two feet there would really help our goaltending. They came at us hard and we weren’t able to find some pucks and there was some loose change around."

Wahlstrom sidelined

Oliver Wahlstrom will remain out of the Islanders’ lineup for Game 2. Trotz confirmed it was a lower-body injury the rookie sharpshooter sustained in Game 5 against the Penguins.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214723 New York Islanders Pageau will adjust regardless. Trotz could put me and Sparky the Islanders mascot on Pageau’s wings, and we probably would be good for two goals on Monday.

If Islanders are to beat Bruins, their top line needs to answer the call The Bruins are flying high, led by their top line. The Islanders are down 1- 0 and getting little from theirs. It’s not what you want.

By Neil Best Said Trotz, "We won’t be able to win unless we have all four lines helping to keep them contained." [email protected] @sportswatch It starts with an urgent call on line 1. Updated May 30, 2021 4:13 PM

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.31.2021 The Islanders’ putative top line does not have to be perfect – if you’ll pardon the expression – to match its Bruins counterpart for the Islanders to have a chance in the teams’ second-round playoff series.

They are "not built that way" in the hockey vernacular. Rather, they rely on balance and depth among their four lines, which can be a good thing.

Still: It is difficult to imagine the Islanders winning four of the next six games, beginning Monday night in Boston, without getting more from Mathew Barzal and friends than they did in losing Game 1, 5-2.

But don’t believe me. I just type for a living. More important is that Barry Trotz seems to agree, and appears poised to do something about it.

The guys discuss the Isles' Game 1 loss to the Bruins in the second round of the playoffs, Boston's "Perfection/Wicked Good" line and what's ahead in Game 2.

Trotz said on Sunday that he anticipates dressing the same 18 skaters as in Game 1 but is considering changing their deployment. It would be a surprise if that did not include Barzal’s line.

Asked whether the Islanders can win without more from that group, Trotz said, "It’ll be difficult. We have in the past at times, to be quite honest. I don’t know if we can against a very good Boston team.

"We rely on the four lines, and we need at least three lines going and [Saturday] night I didn’t feel like I had three lines that were really on top of their games."

Might that entail an adjustment in approach and/or personnel for Barzal’s line?

"You get on the ice, it doesn’t matter who you play with," Trotz said. "You’ve got to raise your game, and we’ve got some guys that need to raise their game if we’re going to have success against the Boston Bruins."

To review: Trotz suggested a star such as Barzal should be able to produce regardless of his linemates, and also hinted he will change those linemates anyway. Both of which are dead on.

While the Bruins’ "Perfection Line" of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak was totaling 19 shots on goal in Game 1 – including a Pastrnak hat trick – Leo Komarov, Barzal and Jordan Eberle managed three.

Barzal has no goals and three assists in seven playoff games this season.

Much of this is ongoing fallout from Anders Lee’s season-ending knee injury on March 11. It was a huge blow, but injuries happen, and overall, the Islanders have been fortunate in that area.

Now it is time for Trotz to act, having tried several options before settling on Komarov as Barzal’s left wing.

"Uncle Leo" is a great guy to have on one’s team, both in the dressing room and on the ice, but he is not a suitable left wing for the No. 1 line on a Stanley Cup-level team.

There are limited options available to Trotz. He tried Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri after they arrived in a late-season trade with the Devils, and they would seem to be the leading contenders.

Zajac is a better faceoff man than Barzal, but he is a natural center. Palmieri provides some scoring punch, but he has worked well on the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

For a more interesting, radical jumpstart, Trotz could move up Pageau – also a better faceoff man than Barzal – and let Zajac center Palmieri and Komarov. 1214724 New York Islanders Sorokin in net during the postseason, but right now a change in net could jumpstart the Islanders the way it did last round and last year.

Goaltending changed the course of the series in round one, and it is sure Is It Already Time for the Islanders to Make a Goaltending Change? to be a major storyline in round two, The fact that the Islanders have two they have faith in means a lot this time of year and they need to take advantage of that. Published 18 hours ago on May 30, 2021 Just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins how important that is. By Christian Arnold

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.31.2021 BOSTON — One game into the Second Round, is it time for the New York Islanders to make a change in net?

The Islanders, who dropped Game 1 to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday night, saw firsthand what a force Boston was, especially the “perfection line.” Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves on the 39 shots that Boston poured on, including some very key stops early on, but the rookie netminder rebound control wasn’t as sharp on Saturday and it directly led to two of David Pastrnak’s three Game 1 goals.

The four goals on Saturday had been the most Ilya Sorokin had given up during the postseason in five starts.

The Islanders rookie was good in Game 1, but he wasn’t the same as he had been against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the First Round. However, now is the time for the Islanders to make a change in net to swing the momentum of the series back in their favor.

Sure Semyon Varlamov won’t have played since May 20 when the puck drops on Monday for Game 2, but the Islanders have been successful when they’ve used both of their netminders in the playoffs. And, even with Varalmov’s early struggles in the First Round, he is coming off a Vezina Trophy-like regular season.

Varlamov was 19-11-4 with a .929 save percentage and a 2.04 goals- against average in the regular season. He owned an even better record against Boston this season.

Islanders Tricked by ‘Perfection Line’ in Game 1

The veteran netminder was 5-1-0 against Boston in seven appearances and had a .943 save percentage and a 1.93 goals-against average. Of the three playoff teams in the East Division, Varlamov’s 13 goals against to Boston was the fewest he’d given up against Washington, Pittsburgh or Boston.

By no means was Ilya Sorokin the reason why the Islanders dropped the opening game of the Second Round, but the young goaltender showed a bit of his age during parts of the night. Sorokin was quick to make the initial stops at times, but left some golden rebound opportunities up for grabs. Two of which turned into goals.

Pastrnak’s first goal of the night came off a quick leg save, but the rebound was directed right towards a wide-open Pastrnak. The Islanders need players around him to pick up Pastrnak in that situation, no question, but a rebound that enticing isn’t something the Isles can afford either.

It happened again on Pastrnak’s second goal as well.

And Sorokin lost track of the puck several times throughout the night. In the second period made a stop but didn’t know where the puck had gone, not realizing it was sitting between his pads until one of his teammates skated over. He was able to cover up for the whistle.

Sorokin nearly did it again in the third period when he lost the puck in his pads and nearly pushed it over the line with the Islanders still only down by one.

Could the Russian rookie shake off the Game 1 performance? Perhaps, but the Islanders have seen the strategy of switching goaltenders during the playoffs work to great success. Just look at last year’s tournament in the bubble when the Islanders rode the hot hand of Varlamov before changing things up Game 7 against the Philadelphia Flyers and putting in Thomas Greiss.

Greiss stepped up in that game and lifted the Islanders to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1993.

Trotz has not been shy about making a change in net when he needs to, especially in the playoffs. Saturday won’t be the last time we see Ilya 1214725 New York Rangers

Rangers dump European scouting director Nick Bobrov

By Larry Brooks

May 30, 2021 | 1:35pm | Updated

The winds of change have swept director of European scouting Nick Bobrov out of the Rangers’ organization.

The Post has learned that Bobrov, who served in that position for six years, was dismissed by Chris Drury in the wake of his ascension to the dual post as the club’s president-general manager.

The Rangers confirmed the move but declined further comment.

Drury, who in addition to conducting the ongoing coaching search and reconstructing the front office, will oversee the draft in conjunction with director of North American scouting Chris Morehouse. Input will be sought from the European scouting staff when applicable.

Gordie Clark, who had been the director of player personnel for 13 years, transitioned into a pro scouting role at the start of the 2020-21 season under the direction of then-GM Jeff Gorton.

The entry draft will be conducted on July 23-24. The lottery will be held this Wednesday, with the Rangers currently in the No. 16 spot, holding a 1.0 percent chance of getting the first-overall pick and a 2.1 percent chance of moving into the top two.

Arizona, entering the lottery as a placeholder in the 11-hole, has forfeited its pick for having violated the NHL’s combine regulations in 2020. Hence, if the Rangers stay in place they would own the 15th-overall selection.

New York Post LOADED: 05.31.2021

1214726 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers would be thrilled if Mason McTavish (6-1, 207), whose stock seems to be rising, was available. The center/left winger plays with an edge, has a shoot-first mentality, and owns a booming shot. He is ranked No. 2 among North American skaters by Central Scouting, and No. 14 Can Flyers get lucky again in draft lottery? If not, they should still get a overall by Button. solid player With no OHL games this year, McTavish went to Switzerland and collected nine goals in 13 games. by Sam Carchidi Two-way winger Matthew Coronato (5-10, 183), who will play at Harvard, is another intriguing prospect who might be on the board for the Flyers.

Playing for Chicago in the USHL, he had 48 goals and 85 points in 51 Four years ago, luck was with the Flyers when they moved from No. 13 games. Coronato is known for his speed and ferocious forechecking. to No. 2 in the draft lottery. If the Flyers opt for a defenseman, Corson Ceulemans (6-2, 198), a They are hoping for a similar script when the draft lottery is held University of recruit, would be a solid choice. Playing for the Wednesday from the NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, N.J. Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the right-handed shooting Ceulemans had 35 points in 43 games in 2019-20, and in a Back in 2017, the Flyers had just a little over a 2% chance to land the No. shortened season, he had four goals and 11 points in eight games this 1 or No. 2 overall pick in the lottery. They beat those odds, received the year. No. 2 pick, and selected center Nolan Patrick. Another defenseman to WATCH: prospect “We got an unexpected gift,” Paul Holmgren, then the Flyers’ president, Carson Lambos (6-1, 197), a smooth skater who is regarded as a strong said at the time. two-way player -- and someone who clears bodies in front. He appears destined to go somewhere in the first round, and will probably be Flyers center Nolan Patrick was drafted No. 2 overall in 2017. available in the early teens. There will be two draws in Wednesday’s lottery: one to determine who In franchise history, the Flyers have never drafted a player No. 13 gets the No. 1 pick, the other to decide who gets the No. 2 selection. The overall. They have selected some notable players at 14, including Brian Flyers, again, have about a 2% chance to secure one of those picks. Propp (1979), Joel Farabee (2018), and Cam York (2019). The draft will be held virtually July 23 (first round) and July 24 (Rounds 2- Joel Farabee (left) was chosen by the Flyers at No. 14 overall in 2018, 7), and Owen Power, a 6-foot-6, 213-pound defenseman from the and the next year they selected Cam York (right) at No. 14. University of Michigan, is favored to be chosen at No. 1. Joel Farabee (left) was chosen by the Flyers at No. 14 overall in 2018, Power is one of three University of Michigan freshmen who could be and the next year they selected Cam York (right) at No. 14.Zack selected in the top 10. The others are center Matthew Beniers (6-2, 175) Hill/Philadelphia Flyers and center/left winger Kent Johnson (6-1, 167).

Johnson, a speedy and creative player, is ranked No. 3 among North American skaters by Central Scouting. Craig Button of TSN ranks him as Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 05.31.2021 the draft’s 13th-best player. The Flyers will probably pick around 13th.

Brent Flahr, a Flyers assistant general manager, is the man who heads the team’s draft board. He said this year’s draft is more challenging because the pandemic shut down the Ontario Hockey League, and because it was a bit more difficult to see the other leagues in person.

“Our guys have a pretty good grasp on things,” he said of his scouts, “but some players haven’t been seen in person, and video scouting is dangerous. Sometimes you watch a video and you see the good things, but you don’t see the context of the game. It can be a little misleading at times, but it’s all we’ve got [on some players] and it is still a good tool.”

Based on the odds and where they finished -- and assuming they don’t trade their selection -- the Flyers will probably pick around 13th in the first round. Based on their record, they are slotted at 14th before the lottery, but they would move up a slot because Arizona has forfeited its first- round pick.

If Arizona wins either lottery, there will be a redraw.

‘Average’ draft class

Flahr said it’s an “average” draft year, “but there are some good players there.”

Buffalo, at 16.6%, has the best chance to win the lottery, followed by Anaheim (12.1%), New Jersey (10.3%), and first-year Seattle (10.3%).

The Flyers have the 14th-best odds at 1.8%, but, again, they will move up a spot because of the Arizona situation. The Coyotes forfeited their second-round pick last year and their top pick this year for violating the NHL’s combine-testing policy.

If the Flyers pick as expected, centers Chaz Lucius (6-1, 185) and Cole Sillinger (6-0, 197) could be among the highest-rated players available.

Lucius, a University of Minnesota recruit who played for the U.S. National Team Development Program in the USHL, has a quick release and powerful shot. He had 20 points, including 13 goals, in 13 games this season.

Sillinger had 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 31 games for Sioux Falls in the USHL, and he is the son of former NHL forward Mike Sillinger. 1214727 Philadelphia Flyers

Thought-provoking Flyers trend against 2 East teams still playing in postseason

BY JORDAN HALL

FLYERS he Flyers entered the third period with a deficit 26 times this season, which was 46 percent of their games.T

Head coach Alain Vigneault and the players constantly mentioned how difficult it is to come back in the NHL. The Flyers played from behind far more often than they wanted to and ended up tying the Golden Knights for the NHL's most victories when trailing entering the last 20 minutes of a game. Both clubs had six, but Vegas was 6-9-1 in such situations while the Flyers were 6-19-1.

"There's no doubt it was a very challenging season in the aspect that we were chasing most of the games," Vigneault said earlier this month. "At the end of the day, that’s on me, it’s on team preparation. And the players have their responsibility also in the sense that they have to get themselves in the right mental state to go out there and be able to execute and make the right plays. Our starts made it very challenging, always chasing the game is a challenge."

Interestingly, though, the Flyers were neck and neck late in most of their matchups with the Bruins and Islanders, the final two East Division clubs standing in the NHL playoffs. Boston leads New York in the second- round series, 1-0, with Game 2 on Monday at TD Garden (7:30 p.m. ET/NBCSN).

The Flyers went 2-4-2 against the Bruins and 3-1-4 against the Islanders. But in those 16 combined matchups, the Flyers trailed only five times entering the final stanza and held a third-period lead in seven of the games.

The Bruins and Islanders got the best of the Flyers in crunch time. The two teams combined to outscore the Flyers 22-11 in the third period and beat them six times after regulation (three in OT, three in the shootout).

Perhaps the Flyers can take that into their offseason, that they weren't all that far off against the two East Division clubs still playing in the postseason. Against the Bruins and Islanders, the Flyers didn't get the goaltending and goal scoring they needed when it mattered most. Things could have been different if they found a way to balance out the discrepancy late in games. The Flyers didn't make winning plays and it burned them.

"I never really had an issue with anybody not trying or showing an effort to help the team win," Travis Konecny said earlier this month. "It was more just being focused and making sure that little mistakes aren't going to happen. Guys are going to be able to go back and reflect on that stuff and hopefully learn from that."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214728 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Nailers edged by Swamp Rabbits

SETH RORABAUGH

Monday, May 31, 2021 12:50 a.m.

Goaltender Tommy Nappier made 33 saves on 36 shots for the in a 3-2 road loss to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena at Greenville, S.C. on Sunday.

Defenseman Patrick McNally and forward Patrick Watling each scored goals for Wheeling (21-37-6-1) while forward Austin Fyten recorded two assists.

Highlights:

The Nailers’ next game is a road contest against the on Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214729 Pittsburgh Penguins “Physically, try to get stronger,” said the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Guentzel. “Just excited to get in the weight room get going for that reason because I’ve just got to be better overall. It’s going to be a good summer just because it’s left a sour taste in my mouth. Penguins forward Jake Guentzel: 'I let a lot of people down' “I know I’ve got to be a lot better.”

Follow the Penguins all season long. SETH RORABAUGH

Sunday, May 30, 2021 9:17 a.m. Tribune Review LOADED: 05.31.2021

If there was ever a time that things felt just right for the Pittsburgh Penguins during their first-round series against the New York Islanders, it came during the early stages of Game 6 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., on Wednesday.

At 11 minutes, 12 seconds of the first period, the Penguins scored a power-play goal.

More importantly, Jake Guentzel scored a goal.

Up until that point in the series, Guentzel, one of the more prolific goal- scorers in the franchise’s storied postseason history, had been held off the scoreboard by a stout Islanders defense.

But he was finally able to find twine.

Off the left half wall, defenseman Kris Letang fed a pass to the slot for Guentzel, who was wound up for a one-timer.

Guentzel stroked a shot that hit off the right skate of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and hopped past goaltender Ilya Sorokin’s glove.

Tumbling to the ice after the shot, Guentzel pumped both arms in celebration as he put his team up 2-1. For one moment, Guentzel and the Penguins were in a good place.

Alas, they were evicted from that place pretty quickly as they lost to the Islanders, 5-3, in an elimination game that ended their season.

Guentzel, who led the team with 25 shots during the series, was distraught over his lack of production.

“Sometimes, you’re feeling it and everything it goes in,” Guentzel said via video conference Friday. “Sometimes, it’s not going to find a way into the net. I thought I had chances. I had shots. I’ve got to find a better way to produce and do my job there. I take a lot of responsibility for that. I let a lot of people down. I’ve got to find a way to put the puck in the net, make plays and be better there.

“Yeah, it hurts.”

That pain has been amplified in triplicate considering the Penguins have not won a postseason series for three consecutive years.

This postseason appeared to offer greater hopes than the previous two as the Penguins had won the East Division, their first division title since 2014.

“We were feeling good about ourselves going into the playoffs,” Guentzel said. “Sometimes, you just run into a good team. They’re a good team, and they had a great goaltender. It’s part of the game sometimes.”

While everything is a matter of speculation so early into the team’s offseason, there would appear to be no limit to what changes management — namely new general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke — might consider in crafting the 2021- 22 roster.

That includes a potential personnel maneuver involving an All-Star like Guentzel, who was the team’s second-leading scorer during the regular season with 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists) in 56 games.

“You know the game is a business,” Guentzel said. “You never know what’s going to happen. You never want to be an early exit, and the last three years have been that case. We’ve just to be better overall in the playoffs. … It’s out of our control. That’s management. We’ve just to make sure we’re better next year.”

For Guentzel’s part, he appears focused on turning his postseason futility into offseason motivation. 1214730 Pittsburgh Penguins

PENGUINSGoalie Larmi Indicates He’s Leaving Penguins, North America

Published 7 hours ago on May 30, 2021

By Shelly Anderson

It appears that Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender prospect Emil Larmi has decided to walk away from North American hockey, at least for the time being.

The undrafted Finnish goalie, 24, indicated that decision on an Instagram post that appeared Sunday.

After three successful years with HPK Hameenlinna in Finland, he spent the past two seasons playing for the Penguins’ minor-league affiliates, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the and Wheeling of the ECHL, but also spent time this year on the NHL taxi squad that was allowed under COVID-19 rules.

With Wilkes-Barre this season, he was 1-4-1 with a 4.87 goals-against average and an .845 save percentage.

The Penguins signed him to an entry-level contract two years ago.

Larmi was something of a favorite at Penguins summer development camps. He not only showed a great deal of athleticism, but also flashed a great sense of humor that also has been seen on his social media accounts.

Here is his post. Keep in mind that English is not his first language:

“While finishing packing the apartment where I haven’t even been in three months, I finally had a moment to make this post. Last two years have definitely been the toughest years of my life. It feels like Edward Murphy has been following me all the time with his laws. It’s pretty clear that things didn’t went as planned. Lot of bad luck, bad timing and even worse results. There have been times when I’ve just wanted to leave everything and I bet I’ve been through every bad thought a person can have. Even though this might be the most negative post I’ve ever done, that’s not the whole truth. In the end I’m grateful what I’ve experienced and what these years have done to me as a human being. I’m grateful of the people I have around me and who have kept my head above the water. I kinda feel like the kid who came to the States two years ago is going back as a man, on and off the ice.

“Now it’s a good time to focus on something else than chasing the dream here. It’s not a good bye, it’s see you later. Don’t know when, but some day. Just huge thanks to everyone who’ve been here with me. Now I just can’t wait to get back home.”

Pittsburgh Hockey NowLOADED: 05.31.2021 1214731 Pittsburgh Penguins Each has been one of the few Penguins to make an impact, even if it didn’t translate to bigger points.

Guentzel has not made an impact and has been the target of physical What to Make of the Penguins Failure? 2 Places to Start play, which he has been unable to overcome. Until his Game 6 power- play goal, he had one lonely assist in the series. He didn’t score at even strength and his total over the last three years is six points (3-3-6) in 14 games. Published 9 hours ago on May 30, 2021 That’s brutal for a top-line winger who is responsible for finishing on the By Dan Kingerski left side of an all-time great. On Friday, Guentzel said he “let a lot of people down,” and he was looking forward to getting into the weight room this summer. The Pittsburgh Penguins social media universe did not burn itself down as it did in the past two years after an early Penguins playoff exit. Because the Islanders were able to bottle him, he’ll have plenty of time. Perhaps losing is more acceptable after three times rolling craps. If you want changes for next season, make sure to include the Penguins’ Perhaps deep down, fans didn’t believe the Penguins would beat Barry left-wingers. Trotz and the New York Islanders, or perhaps it’s the cold fear of what comes next. 2. Tristan Jarry added a need.

The Penguins have been a star-laden team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni The Pittsburgh Penguins thought they had their goalie situation settled. Malkin, and Kris Letang for a generation of hockey fans. While the fans After a couple of years of mediocre netminding by former Penguin Matt have adopted a sibling rivalry between Crosby and Malkin, the stars have Murray, Jarry forced out Murray. not. Jarry was solid after a rough start. He upped his save percentage to But now, we wait and wonder if the Big 3 will stay together. about .909 after an opening couple of weeks, where he plummeted to well under .800. Beyond the Crosby-Malkin-Letang question, which we’ll spend weeks parsing, the Pittsburgh Penguins were not good enough. Not enough There isn’t a “points stolen” stat, but Jarry worked his GSAA (goals saved players overachieved. Instead, as a team, the Penguins underachieved. above average) to a positive 1.3, according to Hockey Reference.

And despite that, they still should have beaten the Islanders if not for But enough doling the positives that precede the criticism. faulty goaltending. Jarry wasn’t good enough in the playoffs. Not even close. It was so bad, Beyond the debate and the wonder of the Penguins’ big three (which is a Penguins fans spread memes with Matt Murray and “Miss Me?” quotes. complicated question about which other teams will have input. Trust me on that; we’ll report as soon as we confirm one more detail), there are Moving forward, the Penguins now have a huge question mark in net. two places the Penguins need to look to improve for 2021-22. The Pittsburgh Penguins absolutely cannot enter the 2022 playoffs, assuming they make it, and hope Jarry is better. Free agency, trades, and the Seattle expansion draft will play a role. Seattle may poke around on one of the Penguins’ left wings, which is In the words of head coach Mike Sullivan, who will return next season, where we will start. “hope is not a strategy.”

1. Penguins Left-Wing Badly Underachieved. The Penguins must fortify the backup position behind Jarry. That’s not a knock on current backup Casey DeSmith, who has proven to be a The Penguins’ top-nine LW group: Jake Guentzel, Jared McCann, and capable puck stopper. Still, the Penguins will need a playoff capable Jason Zucker were awful in Round One. Zucker was present in Game 6, backup to puck Jarry and be ready in the event of another Chernobyl but his fit with Malkin is dubious at best. His fit with the team because of meltdown. a $5.5 million salary is also dubious. Unless the Penguins go full rebuild and a playoff goalie is a luxury they Such players can hang around if they elevate their game in the playoffs. don’t need, a playoff experienced backup is essential. There were plenty Zucker doesn’t qualify for that exemption. Zucker managed a pair of available for a pittance last summer. We’ll see what the crop looks like goals but was MIA for the moments in between. this summer, and there should be a few more available, and perhaps a higher profile ‘tendy from Toronto and maybe a worker bee from Arizona. Jared McCann’s playoff struggles continued. He’s been absolutely invisible in the postseasons, enough to diminish his potential as a LW We’ll play with the names later in the summer. The names are less sniper. The 26-year-old winger has three assists in 11 playoff games. He important than the need. had a single assist in the Round One series against the Islanders. And the Penguins can start there. McCann seemed to indicate that he struggles with playoff nerves. He has never played on a team that has won a postseason series.

He still hasn’t. Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.31.2021

From this third-line perch beside Jeff Carter, who was on fire, McCann was well placed to be a difference-maker in the series. Instead, McCann failed to get inside the Islanders’ defense or get behind them for enough prime scoring chances. IN six games, he had only two high-danger scoring chances. He posted merely one assist.

Suddenly, his healthy scratch in the 2020 Qualifying Round looms larger.

And Guentzel. The former darling of the Penguins who rocked 42 points (23-19-42) in his first two playoff runs. The rookie who popped a playoff hat trick and filled the nets on the 2017 Stanley Cup run has gone ice cold in the last three playoff seasons.

Not only did Guentzel not score at even strength, but he was non- existent, too. Guentzel’s No-You-See-Me, Now-You-Don’t routine left Penguins captain Sidney Crosby holding the bag for a lackluster top-line performance.

Crosby and Rust gathered a few points against New York. Crosby had a couple of defensive gaffes in Game 6, which was shocking, but there’s no questioning Crosby’s overall game, or Rust’s, in the last few playoffs. 1214732 Pittsburgh Penguins Colorado: The Colorado Avs have what it takes to beat Vegas in Round Two, but can they?

Later Sunday morning, I’m hopping a flight to Denver to cover that series Dan’s Daily: Sullivan Safe, Pasta Hat Trick, Habs Force Game 7 for our National Hockey Now outlets. I’ll continue our Pittsburgh Penguins coverage, too, but I’m going to miss Indy. That chaps me (no wifi on Frontier. Cmon folks, it’s OK to have one amenity), but it’s a sacrifice for the business. Published 21 hours ago on May 30, 2021 It should be a great time. But Indy… Car races are so much the same in By Dan Kingerski this era–every week, the same drivers have a close finish for TV ratings. The cars are designed that way. But–there was a time when the Indianapolis 500 was about technological advancements. Before cars Usually, I cannot watch playoff hockey for at least a few weeks after the were equalized for better TV viewing, one car usually dominated the Indy Pittsburgh Penguins are eliminated. No, I don’t suffer from the same 500. And we enjoyed the greatness. Heck, rearview mirrors were letdown or raw emotions that fans go through (I’m jealous). Usually, by invented by Ray Harroun in the very first Indy 500 in 1911. Harroun and the end of the Penguins season, I’m sick of hockey for a while. Not this his brightly colored yellow “Marmon Wasp” averaged nearly 90mph over year! I am eating up these rivalry series with a big ol’ spoon. the famed brick pavement.

In the Daily: Montreal used an electric atmosphere to beat Toronto to Never before did Indy have a remotely close finish. Winners were force Game 7, David Pastrnak showed up in a suit that would make a coronated as usually the best (or luckiest) man and machine. matador jealous then scored a hatty, Seth Jones will test free agency, and Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is safe, according to Sportsnet But–in 1982, two cars made 500,000 people go bonkers, and venerable reporter Elliotte Friedman. broadcaster Jim McKay lost his marbles. It remains one of the great sports broadcasts and finishes of all time. It made me an Indy fan and a Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Yep, Mike Sullivan is expected to be back as the Rick Mears fan. Pittsburgh Penguins head coach. My son was born just before Memorial Day, 1997. When we brought him Really, Sullivan being safe shouldn’t be news, but here we are, and lots home from the hospital, the first thing he and I did as father and son was of people were firing lots of arrows hoping to hit a target. watch Arie Lueyendyk win the ’97 race. Of course, my son was two days old. He didn’t say much, but I’m sure he enjoyed it. Jake Guentzel, who didn’t score a goal until Game 6 and didn’t have any at even strength, made perhaps the biggest admission of the Penguins “There’s time to catch him … I’ve never seen anything like it!” I watch clean-out day: “I let a lot of people down.” this every year, and someday, I’ll show my buddy, little Leo (my two-year- old grandson, who loves cars). Have a watch. Enjoy. National Hockey Now & NHL

A media friend asked on Saturday–what is National Hockey Now?? Simply, NHN is the umbrella company for all of our Hockey Now sites, Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.31.2021 from San Jose to New York and all points in between. And–we have a HUGE expansion announcement coming on Tuesday. Game changer.

Boston: David Pastrnak arrived at TD Garden in a white matador suit, then popped a hat trick to embarrass the New York Islanders 5-2.

New York: The Islanders were backing off the Perfection Line, leaving gaps, and–get this–wanting interference penalties. They were FAR from perfect.

After catching a lot of flak from Islanders fans who began every sentence with –“Well what about the Penguins…”– wanting interference penalties is amusing to me. Yep, that’s a penalty, should be a penalty, and should be called. Officials allow the team that interferes to have a distinct advantage to “let the boys play.”

Sportsnet: Ole, Ole Oleee! Ole! Ole! The Montreal Canadiens made news by allowing 2500 fans into the Bell Centre, squandered a 2-0 third period lead, and still forced Game 7. Ole! Ole! Ole!

Toronto should be glad there won’t be too many, if any fans, in ScotiaBank for 7. The pressure would be suffocating. If Toronto loses, just stand back and watch the world burn.

Columbus Blue Jackets d-man Seth Jones won’t re-sign before free agency. The top-tier rearguard is willing to test the waters and could be the latest big name to bolt.

Columbus–the city, the fans–have done everything right, but there is still something missing.

TSN: The Canadian team which wins the North Division will get to stay in Canada. reports the NHL expects a travel exemption to be in place to allow a U.S. team to come and go.

Florida: The Panthers had a disappointing end. They lost to a (probably) better team (Tampa Bay), but they gave Tampa all it could handle. Joel Quenneville reflected on the season on locker clean-out day.

San Jose: Hey Johnstown fans, remember Archie Irbe? The goaltender, most known for his stints in Carolina and San Jose, had a great conversation with our folks in San Jose.

Vegas: Max Pacioretty didn’t take the morning skate for Game 7 on Friday, then he showed up in a big way for Game 7 against Minnesota. 1214733 Tampa Bay Lightning Sommer tried something radical in putting Goodrow on the fourth line early in the 2015-16 season. Goodrow would tell our Kevin Kurz that “it was kind of a point where it could go one way or another, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to push on the gas pedal here, switch some things up.'” How ‘big-game player’ Barclay Goodrow — the Lightning’s ‘Jeep’ — starred in Game 1 Goodrow did just that, tallying 13 points in the next 12 games and becoming an AHL All-Star. DeBoer said it was the case of a prospect needing more development time to be ready for the next level.

By Joe Smith “It just kind of clicked,” Sommer said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and there just comes a moment where guys either make it or break it. It May 31, 2021 goes south or it goes north. And he went north.”

Goodrow’s breakout season came in 2018-19, when he was part of the The Jon Cooper quote was catchy, but it’s also true. Sharks team that made a run to the Stanley Cup Final. People forget that before Goodrow scored one of the biggest goals in franchise history, the The Lightning coach was talking the other day about third-line winger OT winner in Game 7 against Vegas, he was benched. Goodrow had Barclay Goodrow when he said “you can’t have all Ferraris.” been on the ice for three of the first four goals the Vegas Golden Knights had scored. DeBoer sat Goodrow for a good chunk of that game but “Sometimes you need a good old-fashioned four-wheel-drive Jeep to get didn’t give up on the scrappy winger. you through the mud,” Cooper said. “And that’s what Barclay Goodrow can do for you.” “They have to know they’re going to have another chance to fix it,” DeBoer said. The Lightning needed Goodrow to get them through a fast-paced, physical Game 1 against the Hurricanes, who threw everything at the With just over a minute left in overtime — just Goodrow’s second shift in defending Stanley Cup champs for 60 minutes at a packed PNC Arena that period — he scored the game winner, beating Marc-Andre Fleury. on Sunday night. That Goodrow scored the game winner with seven “Probably one of the biggest goals in Sharks history,” Sommer said. minutes to go in a 2-1 victory was fitting, but so was the fact he was on “Barclay is one of my favorite all-time players. He’s earned everything the ice for the final 79 seconds in a six-on-five situation to close it out. he’s gotten.” The goal was important, but so was Goodrow having the presence of mind to hand Ryan McDonagh his stick when the defenseman broke his. Goodrow should earn a nice pay bump this summer when he’s an unrestricted free agent, with his $925,000 cap hit a bargain. But before Victor Hedman won the Conn Smythe last fall, with Nikita Kucherov and that, he hopes to put his name on another Cup. Goodrow said when he Brayden Point racking up scoring records. But it was Goodrow who was arrived in Tampa, he knew there were so many highly skilled players, he on the ice for the final moments of the Cup-clinching win. You know how felt he could bring physicality. “I take a lot of pride in being defensively much a coach values a player when he’s on the ice for high-leverage sound and being counted on to do a good job on the penalty kill and minutes, and Goodrow played three of the final six minutes in a one-goal defend a lead when we’re up late in a game,” he said. game. Goodrow said he was just trying to get the puck on net for a rebound on “You can tell he’s a big-game kind of player,” Hedman said. his winner Sunday, sneaking a wrist shot under Carolina goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. “It just found a way to go in,” Goodrow said. “You can trust him in any situation,” McDonagh said. “In a tight game, he’s out there and he makes a goal happen. We’ve got the lead, he’s out Sommer wasn’t surprised: Goodrow has found a way his whole career. there defending. He sacrifices his body, he’s willing to block shots, we all When told of Cooper comparing Goodrow to a four-wheel-drive Jeep, feed off that. Secondly, he’s got some undercover skill around the net Sommer laughed. “It’s a fair comparison.” front there, and that chemistry with that line to be offensive has come up in situations time and time again. So, I think he’s just such a versatile “I think I’ll take it,” Goodrow said with a smile. “Those are pretty reliable player.” cars. I know the resale value is pretty good, they hold up in all kinds of conditions. I’ll take it.” The Lightning played a strong road playoff game, perhaps conservative in the early going, when they needed goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to be their Here are other observations from the Lightning’s Game 1 win: backbone. Hedman was terrific, looking a lot like his Norris Trophy- Vasilevskiy ‘in the zone’ caliber self. And the power play came through with the first goal of the game. But it’s players such as Goodrow and his line with Blake Coleman Goaltending could be the difference-maker in this series, and it certainly and Yanni Gourde who embody why the Lightning won the Cup last year was Sunday night. and could very well complete a historic repeat this summer. Vasilevskiy, who channeled mentor in a series-clinching They’re tough. They’re smart. They are annoying as hell to play against. shutout Thursday against the Panthers, picked up where he left off with And they can make the big plays at key times. another stellar performance. The Lightning needed him, especially early on, with Vasilevskiy making 15 first-period saves. The Hurricanes were “Not all players are like that,” Cooper said. “And when you find them, putting on the pressure, taking it to Tampa Bay, but the Vezina Trophy you’ve got to utilize them. (Goodrow) doesn’t usually get his accolades winner helped the Lightning weather the storm. from getting game-winning goals, he’s usually the guy stopping game- tying goals from happening. But you’re really happy for the guys that are “He’s the best in the league, let’s put it that way,” Carolina coach Rod team-first players that earn the opportunity to bask in the limelight, which Brind’Amour said. “We know that. It’s not a surprise. He’s been doing it he deserves.” for quite a while. We just have to figure out ways to make it a little bit harder on him.” There’s a reason the Lightning paid a hefty price to acquire Goodrow and Coleman at last year’s trade deadline. The San Jose Sharks didn’t want McDonagh has compared Vasilevskiy to former Rangers goaltender to trade Goodrow, who became an identity player for the franchise after Henrik Lundqvist because of their competitiveness and high standards. an inauspicious start. Before Goodrow scored the OT winner in Game 7 And Sunday was another example. for the Sharks in the 2019 Western Conference final, he was struggling to find his way in pro hockey. “He just tracks the puck so well, he never gives up on the puck,” McDonagh said. “He just stays to his strengths, he never seems to be The undrafted forward from Toronto had played his first full NHL season sliding and flopping around the crease. He’s so well prepared, strong on in 2015 with the Sharks, though former San Jose coach Pete DeBoer his skates and we’ve got great confidence in him. He knows teams are said Goodrow probably wasn’t ready yet. He needed more seasoning, as going to have pushes, surges in the playoffs, and we know he’s our AHL coach Roy Sommer found out in the 2015 playoffs. backbone back there.”

“He stunk,” Sommer recalled Sunday night by phone. “I didn’t know what In the first period alone, the Hurricanes had a 1.78 expected goals rate was wrong with him. He couldn’t make a play, had no confidence. Didn’t and six high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. But the hit anybody. There was no mojo to his game.” game was scoreless after 20 minutes.

“He’s the best goalie in the world,” Carolina’s Jordan Martinook said. There was a sign made by a Carolina fan that was shown on the Jumbotron before the game. Vasilevskiy made sure it didn’t age well.

Nedeljkovic’s goal he gave up to Goodrow wasn’t a good one, and the Canes weren’t saying it was after the game.

“It’s tough, it’s tough for everybody,” Brind’Amour said. “There’s no hiding it, it was a no-good goal. It was a bad goal. It happens. He’ll bounce back.”

All it takes against the Lightning is one “bad goal” per game, so if Vasilevskiy keeps playing like this, it’s going to take a special effort from the Hurricanes rookie to beat them.

Cernak ‘should be OK’

The Lightning started Sunday with a bit of a surprise as David Savard was scratched because of an upper-body injury. He was coming off his best game with Tampa Bay, and seemed fine, but had to be replaced by Luke Schenn for Game 1.

Then came another blow with Erik Cernak leaving the game late in the second period after hitting his head in a collision, getting sandwiched by two Hurricanes players.

“He should be OK,” Cooper said.

Cernak, who anchors the team’s shutdown pair with McDonagh, is extremely difficult to replace. But give credit to the five defensemen left, with Hedman delivering a monster performance (27:36, eight blocks, including a couple in the final minute). McDonagh played over 25 minutes, and Mikhail Sergachev logged nearly 23.

“I thought we did a good job managing our shifts, keeping them short,” Hedman said. “Everyone was kind of rolling. We did a good job on the back end of maintaining the play we want to play. Even though we’re down one guy, you want to execute plays and get up in the rush. I thought we did a pretty good job of that.”

Power play comes through

The Lightning power play versus the Canes “power” kill is expected to be a key storyline throughout the series.

We didn’t expect there to be this many power plays in Game 1 (eight total, with five for Carolina), but each team had a goal with the man advantage. The Lightning’s power-play goal, scored by Point on a deflection of a Hedman shot, was important as it gave the defending Cup champs the first goal of the game.

The Canes’ penalty kill was a bit more aggressive than the Panthers put forth in the first round, especially on puck carriers like Nikita Kucherov, who had one assist to give him 12 points in the playoffs. But Tampa Bay still feels like it can execute against the Hurricanes. So far, so good.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214734 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs look to break playoff drought in Game 7 against Canadiens

Staff Report

By The Canadian Press

Mon., May 31, 2021

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to exorcise some post- season demons tonight when they host the Montreal Canadiens in a winner-take-all Game 7 of their North Division playoff series.

Toronto has lost six post-season series in a row since beating the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the NHL playoffs in 2004.

The underdog Habs have won two consecutive overtime games to set the stage for Game 7.

The lone previous Game 7 between the rivals came in 1964 when Dave Keon had a hat trick to lead Toronto to a 3-1 win at the Montreal Forum.

Toronto has lost seven straight contests where it could have eliminated an opponent. That includes six since 2018 with the core of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

The Canadiens finished 18 points behind the first-place Leafs in this year’s 56-game campaign. The winner of the series faces the Winnipeg Jets in the North Division final, which will start Wednesday.

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214735 Toronto Maple Leafs Game 5: 4-3 Canadiens (OT) Facing elimination, Montreal played its best game of the series, capped

by Nick Suzuki’s winner. Leafs-Canadiens notebook: Injured Jake Muzzin game-day call for Game Game 6: 3-2 Canadiens (OT) 7 Newly inserted Nick Evans helped the Habs blank Matthews and Mitch

Marner for the third straight game. Jesperi Kotkaniemi buries the OT By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter goal.

Sun., May 30, 2021

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021

Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin hasn’t been ruled out for Monday’s Game 7 against the Canadiens despite what appeared to be a groin injury suffered in Game 6.

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Sunday that Muzzin, who has two goals in the first-round series against Montreal, was undergoing tests and while the outlook wasn’t promising, there was still a chance he could return.

In Saturday’s game, the veteran defender skated back into his own zone to retrieve a puck before pulling up in apparent pain. He appeared to be favouring his groin area as he skated to the bench.

Muzzin did not return to the ice. The Leafs didn’t practise Sunday, but were expected to conduct a full morning skate on Monday prior to the deciding game at Scotiabank Arena.

Whither Willy: Keefe was contemplating line options for William Nylander, who leads the Leafs in playoff scoring with four goals.

Nylander had been with Alex Kerfoot and Alex Galchenyuk earlier in the series, but was with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in Game 6 as the Leafs searched for more offence. Keefe has also had Nylander with Nick Foligno.

Nylander. who notched four goals in the first five games of the series, played a series-high 24:23 in Game 6.

Grit: Montreal forward Jake Evans, after a two-game injury absence, did an outstanding job of helping shut down Matthews and Marner in Game 6.

“I know I’m not the most skilled guy, and I don’t have that great one- timer, and I can’t pull off a toe drag consistently,” Evans said Sunday in Montreal, before the Canadiens left for Toronto. “So I have to use my speed and be gritty.”

Will: Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme said veteran forward Corey Perry has spoken up on the bench throughout the series, especially in tough moments. Ducharme also said Shea Weber, Eric Staal, Joel Edmundson and Brendan Gallagher have helped calm situations when the Canadiens faced elimination.

Ducharme said Weber wills his team to results. The hard-rock defenceman, who returned to the lineup for Game 1 after missing 14 games with an injury, led all skaters in Game 6 with over 37 minutes of ice time. “His presence on the ice, his experience … for the other team, playing against Shea isn’t easy,” Ducharme said. “He has the experience and the will to go further. I think that inspires our group.”

The road to Game 7

Game 1: 2-1 Canadiens

Paul Byron’s terrific, short-handed goal broke open a 1-1 tie in the third period and sent Montreal to victory in Carey Price’s first game since a concussion.

Game 2: 5-1 Leafs

Auston Matthews’ first goal of the series paced the Leafs’ attack.

Game 3: 2-1 Leafs

Price made the highlights with an incredible diving save to rob Jason Spezza, but Jack Campbell made 14 of his 27 saves in the third period for the win.

Game 4: 4-0 Leafs

Campbell posted his first playoff shutout while William Nylander scored his fourth goal of the series. 1214736 Toronto Maple Leafs Alas, there’s a reason the Leafs are now 0-6 in potential series-clinching games in the Matthews-Marner era. There’s a reason why, in those six games, they’ve been outscored by more than a 2-to-1 ratio — 26-12, to be exact. Heading into Monday, they’ve yet to prove they possess the Even if the Leafs win Game 7, in some ways they’ve already lost collective stomach for high-stakes hockey. Matthews and Marner, something specifically, have registered one goal between them and two points apiece in those six potential closeout situations. They’ve got one goal

between them and four points apiece in this series. And certainly Keefe By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist wasn’t in the mood to turn down the heat on his stars.

Sun., May 30, 2021 “In a game of this magnitude those guys need to be difference makers for us,” Keefe said. “We’re not down on their game and how they’ve played. I think they’ve played really well. I’ve gone through and looked at the chances they’ve had, and just how fine a line it is from really breaking out . and having huge offensive numbers to being where they’re at here now.” There are those who like to call them, when strung together, the greatest It’s a fine line, indeed. Matthews, who led the NHL with 41 goals in 52 two words in sports. Those people would not be Maple Leafs fans of games, has just one playoff goal, even though he leads the series with recent vintage. There’s not much evidence to suggest they’re members 32 shots on goal, not to mention a couple of pinged posts. Marner has of the Maple Leafs, either. logged more ice time than any Leaf other than Morgan Rielly, but if the Because as much as Toronto’s NHL team spent Sunday attempting to series ends unhappily he’ll be dogged for some time for his brain cramp put a brave face on Monday’s looming Game 7 against the Montreal of a puck-over-glass penalty that helped turn Game 6 in Montreal’s Canadiens — as much as they attempted to characterize it as an exciting favour. “opportunity,” rather than the lamentable product of a series of Even if the Leafs win, in some ways they’ve already lost something. unforgivably squandered ones — it doesn’t take a qualified sports They’ve allowed the Winnipeg Jets, the second-round opponent awaiting psychologist to see what’s happening here. the Toronto-Montreal winner, extra rest and recuperation after a first- , the former Leafs coach, liked to call it “the pucker factor.” round sweep of the Oilers. They’ve incurred a key Game 6 injury, one Which was a fun phrase to toss around in the days when the young Leafs that threatens to keep top-pair defenceman Jake Muzzin out of Game 7 styled themselves as nothing-to-lose underdogs facing more heavily and perhaps beyond, if there is a beyond. (Muzzin, who the club said favoured opponents who, Babcock theorized, might squeeze their sticks underwent undisclosed tests on Sunday, hasn’t yet been ruled out of too tightly under the overbearing weight of expectation. action but seems a likely scratch.)

Now, well past the seven-year mark of the Shana-plan, in the fifth season More than any of that, they’ve made Monday night’s game another starring Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the sweat’s building on referendum on the top-heavy roster construction that sees four players Toronto’s brow. Now it’s the Leafs, perhaps burdened by their history of earn 50 per cent of the salary cap. They’ve rekindled the occasional big-moment failure — including losses in their three most recent Game debate about whether Matthews and Marner, the two highest-paid 7s, not to mention last spring’s series-deciding Game 5 against players in the NHL this season as measured by their respective salaries, Columbus — who appear to be wilting in the heat. Which is why this are merely regular-season savants incapable of producing when it particular Game 7 is less eagerly anticipated than it is seriously dreaded. matters most.

It certainly wasn’t supposed to be necessary. This season was supposed “We’re facing a Game 7 situation, a very difficult task at a time when the to be different. With the Leafs breezing through the Canadian division other team has momentum, at a time when you start to doubt and schedule in first place thanks to a new and improved defensive question yourself, and people on the outside start to doubt and question approach, this series wasn’t supposed to be close. The Leafs dominated you,” Keefe said. “I think it’s an incredible opportunity for our team.” their 10 regular-season meetings with the Canadiens, earning 15 of the Come late Monday, it’ll either be seen as an opportunity seized or an all- possible 20 points in the standings. And after the Leafs shook off John time albatross descended. It’ll either be an occasion to string together the Tavares’s scary injury in a Game 1 loss to take a commanding 3-1 series two greatest words in Toronto sports — “Leafs advance” — or a moment lead, the first playoff meeting of the NHL’s two oldest franchises since of déjà vu for a tortured faithful who somehow knew the ending before 1979 had the look of a mismatch. the sounding of the final horn. But thanks to Toronto’s slow-starting overtime losses in Games 5 and 6, here we go again. Just when they’d convinced some observers, including this one, that they’d sufficiently changed, they’re suddenly one loss away Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021 from their most humiliating collapse in recent memory.

And yes, losing Monday’s Game 7, no matter how it happens, would rank as more pathetic than Toronto’s infamous blowing of a 4-1 lead to the Bruins in the dying minutes of a Game 7 in 2013. That menacing Boston team, only two years removed from winning the Stanley Cup, made it to the Cup final that spring. This Canadiens squad, as hard as it has fought, and as formidable as Carey Price has proven to be, is expected to go no such place.

On Saturday night in Montreal, the Leafs appeared pained and stunned. A day later, Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe attempted to frame Monday’s match as an enviable chance at long-awaited glory. The Leafs, for all the doomsaying, are one win away from advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

“As much as it sucks how we got here, and what we’ve been through the last couple of games — and we hate it — I really feel, frankly, that we are right where we’re supposed to be,” Keefe was saying on Sunday.

Never mind that, on the continuum of NHL success, eking out one measly series against an inferior opponent would amount to clearing the lowest of possible bars. With his team’s season crumbling in front of his eyes, what’s a coach to do but tell lies?

“I don’t think pressure is an issue here,” Keefe claimed after Saturday’s loss, convincing precisely nobody. 1214737 Toronto Maple Leafs without changing its recently announced staged plans for reopening the province just because of an NHL playoff game.

Folks, the Leafs and Ottawa Senators have already been getting all the The Leafs won’t have home-crowd advantage for Game 7. It wouldn’t preferential treatment they could possibly deserve for months, while the have helped, anyway CFL stays dark, the Toronto Raptors have been banished to Florida, the Blue Jays are now calling Buffalo home and Ontario residents were banned from even playing pickleball.

By Damien Cox Contributing Columnist Moreover, the history of the Leafs and their fans doesn’t suggest such a move would automatically help the club. Toronto hockey crowds have for Sun., May 30, 2021 decades been regarded as dominated by suits who can’t be bothered to be in their swishy seats at the start of periods, and when they are seated tend to sit on their hands. Toronto has never been known for its Well, sure, it would be nice to have fans in the stands at Scotiabank boisterous home audiences, and this century Leafs patrons have made Arena for Game 7. Any glimpse of normalcy these days is more than more of a statement by throwing jerseys or even waffles on the ice to welcome. express their displeasure with the home team than for creating an intimidating atmosphere for visiting clubs. But would it make a difference? And did it make a difference for the Montreal Canadiens against the Maple Leafs on Saturday night to have When the Leafs had a chance to go to the Stanley Cup final in 1993 2,500 fans — mostly cheering for les bleu, blanc et rouge — inside the against Los Angeles, Game 7 was at Maple Leaf Gardens, but the Kings Bell Centre? still won. In 2004, when the Leafs last won a playoff series, they beat Ottawa in Game 7 at the Air Canada Centre. But in the very next round, Interesting questions, and when this is all over the entire relationship they succumbed to Philadelphia in six games, with the decisive defeat among fans and athletes and teams is going to be examined in a way it again on home ice. has never been examined before. So while it might be nice, changing government policy to “help” the Leafs Like it or not, new barriers have been erected between the players, the is both unnecessary and likely wouldn’t help the blue and white at all. media that cover them and the fans who pay their salaries over the past 16 months, and it will be interesting to see if they become permanent in a For this one, the Leafs are truly on their own. And should be. post-pandemic world.

That said, given the thousands of dollars many were willing to pay to attend Game 6, has the pandemic separated us even more from the Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021 glitterati of professional sports, or has it made us even more desperate to be anywhere near them?

In terms of the impact of the tiny crowd in Montreal, you might have thought listening to the always over-the-top Ron MacLean on “Hockey Night in Canada” that this was a seminal moment in Canadian history, akin to Paul Henderson scoring in ’72 or the repatriation of the Constitution in 1982. Everybody on television had their marching orders to hype the moment, and they did. At least analyst Kevin Bieksa was honest enough to point out afterwards that it really was a small gathering.

That said, it was nice to see fans again. It was encouraging. It was an optimistic moment after months and months of depressing restarts and stops. Just the sound of live voices cheering was in and of itself such a welcome departure from the canned sound we’ve been used to.

So all good. Just not the moment for the ages some were selling.

Did those fans motivate and inspire the Habs? Well, maybe in the early going, but Jack Campbell’s terrific goalkeeping kept Montreal off the board.

Did the presence of paying customers influence the sequence of goal/replay review/confirmed goal/minor penalty/five-on-three power play/goal that created a 2-0 lead for the Habs? Well, it’s difficult to say what influences NHL officiating these days. It’s been so bad since Tim Peel exposed to the hockey world the way things are actually done that suggesting this or that motivates referees to call this or that is really just a guess.

And what about in overtime? After the Canadiens had blown a multi-goal lead for the second consecutive game, did the fans in the stands push them to victory in overtime? No, not really. Instead, the Canadiens looked to be running on fumes and were dominated by the Leafs until a Travis Dermott turnover ended up on Jesper Kotkaniemi’s stick and a second later behind Campbell in the Toronto net.

The fans didn’t help Montreal win Game 6. Carey Price was terrific, Tyler Toffoli was absolved for obviously interfering with Campbell at a crucial moment, and the steady pounding of Leaf bodies continued to take its toll. When smallish defencemen such as Dermott and Rasmus Sandin are coughing up the puck while either avoiding collisions or getting hit hard, you know that part of the Montreal strategy is working.

Which brings us to Game 7. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown spent Sunday pushing for a crowd of 2,500 to be allowed into Scotiabank Arena, an audience made up of front-line workers and fully vaccinated people. It was a cute bit of politicking. But Lord knows the Ontario government has struggled badly enough, in policy and messaging, 1214738 Toronto Maple Leafs components of the group that have been through a lot and have been trying to push through this situation.

“As much as it sucks how we got here, and what we’ve been through the ‘We are right where we’re supposed to be.’ Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe last couple of games — and we hate it — I really feel, frankly, that we are breaks down the Game 7 challenge right where we’re supposed to be.

“We’re facing a Game 7 situation, a very difficult task at a time when the other team has momentum … at a time when you start to doubt and By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter question yourself, and people on the outside doubt and question you. You’ve got an opportunity here in Game 7 to embrace that and meet that Sun., May 30, 2021 head on, and push through it. I think it’s an incredible opportunity for our team.

Sunday might have been the most important day of Sheldon Keefe’s “I woke up this morning extremely excited for our group. Last night, you career as Maple Leafs coach — and the team wasn’t even on the ice. felt like (expletive) because of what you’ve been through — when you’re right there in overtime and you can end the series, and then you don’t get On the eve of Game 7 against the Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena, it done. But you wake up this morning, you think about the opportunity Keefe focused on addressing the poor starts that led to Montreal wins in that our team has, with everything we’ve been through, especially our Games 5 and 6. But more important, he delivered a message to his core guys. To have this opportunity, on this stage, to have this be the players, who acknowledged that doubt has crept in after the Canadiens moment to push through, I think is an incredible opportunity, and I’m very outplayed them in two potential elimination games. excited for our team to play.”

“I think it’s natural in the playoffs to let doubt creep in, but it’s up to us as players to control that,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said on a Zoom call after Sunday’s off-ice meeting. Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021

It’s also the coach’s responsibility to get the most from his players, and Keefe took part of the blame for the level of play that led to a pair of overtime defeats. He’s facing a number of challenges heading into the deciding game of the series on Monday night:

The noise

Some Leafs, notably star forward Mitch Marner, were savaged on social media following Game 6 on Saturday. Keefe reiterated his season-long message to players: tune it out, especially with the season on the line. “That’s really our focus,” the coach said, “is making sure we’re in the right frame of mind. We really talked (about the need to) block out the noise throughout the season. There’s no more important time to do that than right here now.”

Matthews and Marner

After a torrid regular season, Marner and Auston Matthews haven’t been difference-makers in the series. Keefe said Canadiens goalie Carey Price, at the top of his game, is part of the reason. He’s 7-3 lifetime in elimination games with a sub-2.00 goals-against average, while the Leafs are winless in their last seven elimination games — outscored 31-16.

“Montreal has done a good job against them, for sure,” Keefe said. “I went back today through all the scoring chances, the number of looks those guys have had. Despite the good job Montreal has done, they have found ways to generate some really good, high-danger chances in every game.

“They haven’t executed, and it hasn’t gone in for them ... Those guys have to remain confident and not get distracted. I think those guys have played hard and they’ve played well, and they haven’t been rewarded with it. So they have to find ways as a line to score.”

The slow starts

“It’s a question we’ve been talking through as a coaching staff,” Keefe said. “That’s an area of the game that hasn’t been nearly good enough for us in the last two games. There’s responsibility for the players to be ready at the drop of the puck. But as a coaching staff and as head coach, I take a lot of that responsibility myself to have the group ready, and it hasn’t been the case.

“So we’re looking at that and talking about that. It’s a very important for us to establish that. Montreal is a team that will come with lots of energy and speed and pressure early. In the games we’ve had success as a team, we’ve managed that early on and then pulled away as the game went along. They’ve been able to establish their game for a longer period of time the last two, and we have to change that.”

The message

“It’s a big thing that we talked about. You know, as you leave (Saturday’s loss in Montreal) and you get on the bus, and then on the plane … and thinking about it through the day, you reflect on what the group has been through, particularly our core group. This team is its own unit, and it’s separate from anything that’s happened in the past. But there’s 1214739 Toronto Maple Leafs ages in Game 4, with three goals in the final four minutes to tie and a OT winner from Matthews. The momentum heading in Game 5 was all Toronto’s, but the Blue Jackets and their rotating goalies found a way to disappoint Leafs fans. Martin Marincin was in for injured Jake Muzzin. The Leafs’ recent Game 7 history is scary. Look back if you dare “It’s hard to put it all into words,” said Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. “It’ll take some time to digest it a little bit, but it’s definitely a bad feeling, bad taste. And comparing to the loss in Boston, this one’s different, for By Kevin McGran Staff Reporter sure, for obvious reasons. I mean, whether that makes it worse or easier Sun., May 30, 2021 to deal with, I don’t know, but right now it feels like it’s harder to live with. But yeah, I can’t really put all my emotions into words. I don’t have the vocabulary to do it.”

The agony of defeat. That is all the Maple Leafs and their fans have felt in Game 7s (or Game 5 in the case of 2020) since they last won one in 2004. Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021

Joe Nieuwendyk scored a pair of goals to beat the Ottawa Senators that year, the last playoff-round victory in franchise history.

The Leafs were built for a long Cup run then, having beefed up by adding Brian Leetch and Ron Francis at the trade deadline. and the Philadelphia Flyers ended those hopes in the second round.

Game 7s have not been kind to the Leafs since. If you want to dig deeper, they are 0-7 in their last seven attempts to eliminate an opponent, which includes moments when they were up 3-1 (this round against Montreal) and 3-2 (in 2019 against Boston).

Here’s a look back at the highs — scratch that, the lows of the Leafs’ latest Game 7 appearances.

May 13, 2013

Bruins 5, Leafs 4 (OT)

This set the bar for modern-day disappointments. But first, a bit of context. Few thought the Leafs of Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf would even win a game in the series. Yet there they were — without injured No. 1 centre Tyler Bozak — ahead 4-1 at 5:29 of the third period after a Nazem Kadri goal in Game 7. Boston’s Milan Lucic had a look on his face that suggested it wasn’t over. Nathan Horton scored at 9:18 to make it 4-2. Leaf Matt Frattin failed to convert on a breakaway. Then Boston pulled goalie Tuukka Rask with two minutes left and the deluge began. Lucic scored at 18:38, Patrice Bergeron at 19:09 and almost scored again before overtime, when he put it away at 6:05. No Leafs lead has felt safe since. “We ran out of gas,” Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said after the game. “There’s nothing you can say to explain how and why it happened. It happened.”

April 25, 2018

Bruins 7, Leafs 4

The Leafs battled back after trailing three games to one to set up Game 7 in Boston. Two goals from Patrick Marleau, another from Travis Dermott and a brilliant breakaway marker short-handed by Kasperi Kapanen had the Leafs up 4-3 heading into the third period. This is where the narrative that Frederik Andersen is not a Game 7 goalie took root — Torey Krug, Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak scored in short order in the third to put the game away. Kadri picked up a game misconduct in the opener and was suspended for three games. Jake Gardiner was a minus-5 in Game 7. Still, the new-era Leafs felt hopeful, that this was just a stepping stone. “You have to take the positives out of it,” said Kadri. “We would have loved to have advanced, but I think for the future we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with, and we will be back in this situation.”

April 23, 2019

Bruins 5, Leafs 1

It was the Bruins yet again and the Leafs had two chances to put them away, but a Game 6 loss at home setting up another Game 7 at TD Garden. Kadri was suspended for the series after a Game 2 hit on DeBrusk. John Tavares scored the Leafs’ lone goal. It never really felt like they were in the game. Coach Mike Babcock endured criticism for underplaying stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. “We’ve improved our team drastically, you’ve witnessed it,” said Babcock. “This series, we were a way better team than we were a year ago. But we’re at the same point with the same result here today, and so that part is disappointing.”

Blue Jackets 3, Leafs 0

In the best-of-five qualifying round, Game 5 was the equivalent of Game 7. New foe, familiar result. The Leafs had pulled off a comeback for the 1214740 Toronto Maple Leafs “We’ve been on the other end of the stick in these do-or-die games,” Matthews said. “We’d obviously like to rewrite that script. We have great opportunity come Monday.

‘Time to put it all on the line’: Leafs looking to turn the page ahead of “We’ll be ready.” Game 7 Toronto added grit, leadership and experience in hopes of rectifying the issues identified in past playoff failures. But it desperately needs more out of Marner and Matthews, especially with captain John Tavares out. By Joshua Clipperton The Canadian Press The dynamic duo put up gaudy offensive numbers in the 56-game Sun., May 30, 2021 regular season — Matthews won the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leader, while Marner was a point better than

his linemate to sit fourth in the league. But they’ve combined to score just TORONTO - Nick Foligno still believes. once in the playoffs.

The same goes for Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and the rest of the The underlying numbers suggest they’re doing their part. The puck just Toronto Maple Leafs. isn’t going in.

Believing, however, is one thing. Doing is something different entirely. The scoresheet, series ledger and eye test all suggest otherwise.

Toronto is left with zero room for error ahead of Monday’s decisive Game “We’ve got to make sure we’re better,” Marner said. “Nothing we can do 7 in its first-round playoff series with Montreal after failing to match the now. Just got to make sure we’re ready for Game 7. Canadiens’ intensity and desire twice in 48 hours. “Look forward to it.” The Leafs had two opportunities to change their own narrative and bury a The Leafs are 11-1 all-time when leading a series 3-1 and 7-1 at home in wounded opponent. But a tortured fan base instead watched as the Game 7. But it’s hard to ignore the mounting pressure on a group that will Canadiens were allowed off the mat thanks to a lack of killer instinct face the toughest questions of their careers if Toronto once again fades that’s been a worrying hallmark for this ultra-talented group. feebly into the night. Up 3-1 in the series with an opportunity to clinch, the Leafs were stuck in “You have to ignore it,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe, in the top job neutral early in Game 5 at home. They fell behind 3-0 before rallying to since partway through last season. “I don’t think pressure has anything to tie and eventually losing in overtime. do with it at this stage. I don’t think that’s a factor. Still ahead 3-2 heading to Montreal — where 2,500 fans were allowed “The games have gotten harder, Montreal has played better and we inside the Bell Centre for the first Canadian NHL crowd since the start of haven’t dealt with it.” the COVID-19 pandemic — the Leafs promised things would be different. The Leafs were unable to overcome back-to-back Nazem Kadri playoff They weren’t. suspensions in 2018 and 2019 — Toronto led the latter 3-2 with a chance Montreal again came out with guns blazing before that small, boisterous to clinch at home — before an injury to defenceman Jake Muzzin was a crowd that sounded like a full house against timid, unsure Toronto. The key factor in last summer’s defeat to Foligno’s Blue Jackets. Canadiens scored twice in the third period to go up 2-0 before the Leafs With more depth in 2021, Toronto lost Tavares to a concussion and knee again flipped a switch and responded with two of their in the final nine injury following a scary collision in Game 1. Muzzin appeared to pull his minutes of regulation. groin Saturday and could miss Monday’s winner-take-all finale at Toronto dominated OT, outshooting Montreal 13-2. But the calm, cool Scotiabank Arena. Carey Price held the fort with a number of big saves before Jesperi Looking to rally from 3-1 down to win a series for the third time in Kotkaniemi took advantage of a turnover to send the series to a seventh franchise history, the Canadiens insist the mounting angst on the other game. side isn’t a focus. “It’s time for the words to stop, the cliches to stop,” Foligno said in the But there’s little doubt they know it’s there. wake of his team’s most recent setback following a personal three-game injury absence. “It’s time to put it all on line. “We’re thinking about the next game,” Montreal captain Shea Weber said. “We’ve given ourselves a chance to play for the series, and that’s “I have no doubt going to battle with these guys that we’ll do that.” all we could ask. Toronto fans are decidedly less optimistic. And history gives them plenty “We have belief.” of reasons to be. So does Toronto, but actions will be that matters. The Leafs’ last series win came 17 years ago — 6,250 days by the time they hit the ice Monday — against the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 the “Don’t worry about what the fans are saying,” Foligno said of the 2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals. message ahead of a Game 7 that could define this roster. “Sometimes this is what catapults you. It’s hard for the fan base to hear right now but Toronto, which dominated this season’s Canadian-based North Division, we are going to come and have the mindset that we’re going to win a failed to make the playoffs seven straight years on the heels of the 2004- hockey game. 05 lockout before returning to the postseason in 2012-13. The Leafs led the Boston Bruins 4-1 in the third period of Game 7 to set the stage for a “With the odds, with this team ...that’s what’s going to get done.” jaw-dropping collapse. They have one last chance. There would be three more seasons of missing the playoffs - Toronto bottomed out in 2015-16 but was rewarded with the No. 1 pick to select Matthews — before a return in 2016-17. Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021 The young, upstart Leafs bowed out to the Washington Capitals that spring. But expectations were much higher the next two years when Toronto fell to Boston twice more in seven games.

The inconsistent Leafs were also eliminated from last summer’s post- season bubble by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a five-game set that went the distance.

In all, Toronto has lost seven straight contests where it could have eliminated an opponent. That includes six since 2018 with the core of Matthews, Marner and William Nylander. 1214741 Toronto Maple Leafs Roberto Duran will always be remembered for “No mas” in his 1980 boxing match with Sugar Ray Leonard, when he turned away from his opponent in the eighth round and quit, telling the referee “No more” in Spanish. Duran’s stature immediately plunged in his native Panama, The archive of epic sports meltdowns already includes the Leafs. It’s though Duran would consistently maintain he hadn’t uttered those words, history they have no intention of repeating claiming what he’d said was “No sigo,” meaning “I’m not carrying on,” because he was suffering from stomach cramps.

They snap, they crack, they pop. By Rosie DiManno Star Columnist At the Beijing Games, Cuba’s Angel Valodia Matos — taekwondo gold Sun., May 30, 2021 medallist in Sydney in 2000 — was so infuriated in the belief he’d been cheated, disqualified from the bronze-medal match while he was being stitched up with a toe injury and a time violation called, that he kicked the A crack-up. A meltdown under pressure. In sports. judge in the face. That temper meltdown not only cost Matos the chance to appeal the decision but also earned him a lifetime ban. You might think athletes, who’ve been playing the games at elite levels since childhood, accustomed to nerve-wracking competition, would be Three years ago, at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams was so enraged — immune. Especially those who are innately fearless and over-the-moon and rattled — by the chair umpire calling three code violations against self-confident. her in the final with then-upstart Naomi Osaka that her game fell apart, though she was quite evidently heading for a straight-sets defeat Which could describe the Maple Leafs circa 2021, heading into Game 6 anyway. With boos cascading from the crowd during the trophy Saturday at the Bell Centre. Not coming out of it, though, as 3-2 losers in presentation, Osaka was reduced to tears, unable to savour her first overtime. career championship. Now 0-6 in elimination games, in the era of Auston Matthews and Mitch (Still doesn’t excuse Osaka, now an established pro with four Slam titles Marner. And facing elimination themselves in Game 7 on Monday in on her resumé, for playing the diva card, last week declaring she Toronto. wouldn’t do post-match media at the French Open and eat the mandatory The human factor, the doubts, can seize any individual, any team. fine. Osaka, in a long posting on Twitter and Instagram, ducked behind the rubric of mental health, though she’s never appeared remotely In the annals of sports, there have been incidents of failure, of nervous uncomfortable with reporters. “I’ve often felt people have no regard for collapse, that rise to the level of tragedy. The real thing, not the stuff that athletes’ mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press just feels like the end of the world for the participants and the fans so conference or participate in one.” What most in the tennis world have desperately attached to them. taken from her startling announcement is that Osaka, who’s never fared Perhaps no stage, no venue, is more psychically baring than a boxing well on clay, just doesn’t want to field loser questions.) ring: the naked exhibitionism of it, the vicarious experience of an A few more from the meltdown archives, often a euphemism for “choke”: audience while two men — now women also — try to literally pummel each other into submission. Jordan Spieth at the 2016 Masters, blowing a five-shot lead coming out of the final-round back nine, with a quadruple bogey to hand the There’s no shortage of melodrama that’s unfolded in the squared circle, championship to Danny Willett; Jana Novotna sobbing on the shoulder of even death. The “sweet science” often leaves the taste of ashes. It is a the Duchess of Kent following one of the greatest disintegrations ever in terrible beauty. a Wimbledon final, 1993; the failure of defending champion Italy to win a And it can unman a fighter. single match at the 2010 World Cup, crashing out at the bottom of their group; Perdita Felicien tripping over the first hurdle in the final at the Hardest to watch, in my experience, was the 1997 heavyweight Athens Olympics. championship bout between Lennox Lewis and Oliver McCall, both of them former WBC belt-holders. In their previous meeting, McCall had And sure, add to that list the Collapse on Causeway Street by the Leafs defeated Lewis via a second-round stoppage, taking away the title. in 2013, gagging on a 4-1 lead with five minutes left in Game 7 regulation Lewis, while born in England, had boxed for Canada, striking Olympic time, sent packing by Boston in OT. Ugh. gold at Seoul in 1988, in the super-heavyweight division. These Leafs, many of them with horrid memories from recent playoffs As was well-known at the time, McCall — the Atomic Bull — after losing past, should not have been feeling tightened collars as Game 6 at the his world title to Frank Bruno in 1995, had nearly disappeared down the Bell Centre loomed, after failing to put away the Habs on Thursday at drain of drug addiction and anti-social violence, arrested a number of home. times and twice gone into rehab. “We just have to meet their desperation,” said veteran forward Jason That night in Las Vegas, Lewis controlled the first three rounds with stiff Spezza. “They know if they lose, they go home.” left jabs and occasional hard rights to the head. In the middle of the third Looking for their first series win in 17 years. round, McCall dropped his gloves to his sides and refused to fight, instead wandering around the ring and gazing into the crowd, even as “We’ve got guys who’ve won many series,” noted coach Sheldon Keefe. Lewis continued to hit him in the face. After three, McCall refused to go to “We’ve got guys who’ve won the Stanley Cup.” his corner. Then it got really bizarre. This, emphasized the coach, is a team independent of those that came McCall threw only two punches in the fourth. When the bell sounded, before and surrendered to the squeeze of pressure. after the referee guided him to the corner, McCall started weeping. Not a “We’re competing to extend our season. That’s this group. That’s the few quiet tears but full-throated sobs. A complete emotional motivation, that’s the pressure.” disintegration in the middle of a bout, a moment of existential crisis. And from Zach Bogosian, in possession of a Cup ring with Tampa last Between the fourth and fifth rounds, the ref knelt in McCall’s corner, year, following the Lightning’s stunning elimination in the opening round gently asking if he really wanted to continue fighting. Tears were in 2019, swept by Columbus. streaming down McCall’s face. Yes, he did, but then threw only one punch in the fifth, making no effort to protect his brain from Lewis’ fists. “As a group we’ve grown, just being comfortable uncomfortable.” The fight was called after 55 seconds, crowd booing lustily. Strange, but they’re suddenly looking an awful lot like the Leafs of 2020 A few months later, McCall was detained in a mental hospital after his … 2019 … 2018 … 2017 … wife took out an emergency custody order.

That’s an extreme example, and clearly McCall had pre-existing mental issues that presumably don’t apply — that we know of — to any of the Toronto Star LOADED: 05.31.2021 players who are contesting the NHL playoffs. But one never knows when an athlete might flip out or be totally overcome by the stresses of gut- check competition or lose nerve. 1214742 Toronto Maple Leafs Father Time. They’d prefer not to keep those rolling, not start over with an 82-game, six-month schedule.

“It’s all about building a team, all the leaders you have and the voices,” The Maple Leafs' Shanaplan will be on trial in Game 7 Keefe said. “A lot of our guys have taken a step in that regard. We have to be who we are. You have to look at (the good things) you’ve done to get here in the grand scheme and that gives us confidence.”

Lance Hornby THE SIX IN THE SEVENTH

Publishing date: May 30, 2021 Monday night against Montreal will be the 25th time since 1939 that Toronto has played a Game 7, with a record of 12-12 to date. Other

notes about the all-or-nothing game in team history: This part of the Shanaplan was all but stamped: ‘Too Big To Fail’. — The most recent three Game 7s were losses, all on the road, all to President Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas, assistant Boston. Brandon Pridham and head coach Sheldon Keefe spent the autumn — Toronto’s record at home in Game 7 is 7-1, including its last series win figuring the best way to maximize the growth potential of the Maple of any kind in 2004 versus Ottawa. The lone defeat was against Wayne Leafs. Gretzky and the Kings in the 1993 West final. Take Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and the young — Only one Game 7 has involved the Leafs and Montreal, the 1964 Leafs core, surround them with more veterans — many from the GTA semifinal, with Toronto winning 3-1 at the Forum. Dave Keon had a hat and hungry to win a Stanley Cup for their hometown. Pad depth in goal, trick. defence and save some cap space for the trade deadline. — Four Game 7s involving the Leafs have gone to overtime. Lanny In an all-Canadian division, surely that would get them a high seed and at McDonald and Nik Borschevsky scored winners for Toronto in 1978 and least through the troublesome first round where four previous Leafs ‘93, against the Islanders and Red Wings, respectively. Detroit’s Leo entries have stalled since 2017. Reise (1950) and Boston’s Patrice Bergeron (2013) have eliminated the They did attain first place, but again find themselves 60 minutes from a Leafs. quick summer, a 3-1 series lead frittered away.

To win Game 7, it’s vital that everyone punch the clock on time, not just Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.31.2021 the maligned Matthews and Marner, but elements of this club brought in precisely for a moment like Monday at Scotiabank Arena.

“You want to continue this,” Keefe urged Sunday after the second of two stunning overtime losses. “You like our team, you like our group, they’ve been through a lot. They’ve had a great regular season to put ourselves in this position, to have this game in our building. There’s no shortage of motivation.”

That should certainly be true of Matthews and Marner. Both have seen 30-plus playoff games now and though some were dramatic — their multi-point Game 4 overtime win last August against Columbus and Game 2 last week — they still await their Doug Gilmour/Wendel Clark moment during one of these Game 7s. They don’t want to be on the wrong end of the post-series handshake line again.

It’s great that Zach Hyman plows their road to the net, Wayne Simmonds has their back, Grandpa Joe Thornton eases their stress level and Keefe shields them whenever public heat is too intense.

They’ve had room to roam, space to grow as men. In the regular schedule, Matthews won the Rocket Richard Trophy, Marner was the team’s leading poit-getter for the third time in the past four seasons. That flowed into the first four games of this series, if not with points, then certainly with good defence to tax the Habs checkers.

But their world has suddenly gotten a whole lot smaller. Matthews has one assist since Game 2 and has not scored on 20 shots.

That highlight clip of him last month in Montreal, taking a puck off Nick Suzuki and scoring in one remarkable flick motion now looks dated, while Marner’s feeds have dried up with two assists in four games, 12 shots and a playoff goal-less streak stretching back 17 games.

However you break down their breakdowns in the past 72 hours — give full marks to goalie Carey Price and Phillip Danault’s line — if the Leafs fall on Monday, fans will judge 2021 largely for Matthews playing like he was trapped in a phone booth and Marner aimlessly shooting pucks over the glass instead of past Price.

“In a game of this magnitude, those guy need to be difference-makers for us,” Keefe said. “We’re not down on their game. I’ve gone through (video), looked at the number of chances they’ve missed. It’s just so fine a line of them breaking out compared to where they are now.

“There is increased tension now that we’ve lost some games. They know the responsibilities they have to the team. That said, it doesn’t let anyone else off the hook, myself included.”

Jason Spezza, Simmonds, Thornton, Alex Galchenyuk, Zach Bogosian and TJ Brodie all came here for the right reasons, all but Bogosian yet to win their first title. Their enemy now isn’t so much an impatient public, as 1214743 Toronto Maple Leafs

Muzzin not yet ruled out for Game 7 after suffering lower-body injury in Game 6

Terry Koshan

Publishing date: May 30, 2021

The door remained open for Jake Muzzin’s possible participation in Game 7 as of Sunday afternoon.

The Maple Leafs defenceman suffered a lower-body injury in the second period of Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens and didn’t return.

“He was getting further tests, so we don’t have an update on his status yet,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He hasn’t been ruled out at this point, but we’re awaiting results. We’ll have more on that (Monday).”

If Muzzin can’t play (which seems likely, considering it’s thought to be a groin issue), expect Rasmus Sandin to get back in on Monday night.

At forward, Keefe said among the moves he is contemplating is putting Alex Kerfoot back at centre between Alex Galchenyuk and William Nylander. Nick Foligno returned from a lower-body injury in Game 6 and was on the second line in Kerfoot’s spot.

“Kerfoot has played very well for us, no matter where we’ve had him,” Keefe said. “It’s a combination of Nick’s health and how it affects the rest of the lineup, but that’s one of the things that’s on my list to sort through.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214744 Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs haven’t had Tavares for five games. They haven’t had Nick Foligno for three, and probably won’t have defenceman Jake Muzzin for Game 7.

Maple Leafs capable of winning Game 7 and it's on them to prove it Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have one goal between them, and only William Nylander and Alex Kerfoot have a point-a-game pace for the Leafs in the series.

Terry Koshan Yes, the Leafs need more actual production from their two best players.

Publishing date: May 30, 2021 On the whole, of course this is a team that is capable of winning Game 7. It’s not as though Toronto has been outplayed and lucky to win three

games. No one knows the Maple Leafs as well as Sheldon Keefe. Anything less than moving on — Game 1 against the Jets would be on With Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena Wednesday in Toronto — would be a disaster for a team that was doorstep on Monday night, the Toronto coach provided his team with the supposed to come out of the North Division. kind of verbal support he might have thought wouldn’t have been “The fact that we’ve battled back in (the past two games) and sent them necessary a few days ago. to overtime, that’s encouraging,” winger Zach Hyman said. “We do battle Not when the Leafs had a 3-1 jump in the best-of-seven series in the first and we fight, and if we do that from the start, we will put ourselves in a round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, only to see it disappear with overtime great position. That’s where our heads are at and why we’re ready to go.” losses in Games 5 and 6.

Recent playoff history is a source of pain and frustration for Leafs Nation, Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.31.2021 and the knives are out for the Leafs in the public forum.

On Sunday, Keefe wasn’t having any of that.

“As much as it sucks how we got here,” Keefe said, “I really feel that we are right where we’re supposed to be, where we’re facing a Game 7 situation, a difficult task at a time when the other team has momentum, at a time when you start to doubt and question yourself and people on the outside question you.

“You have an opportunity to meet that head on and push through it.

“I woke up (Sunday) morning extremely excited for our group.

“(Saturday) night, you feel like s*** because you’re right there in overtime and you can end the series, then you don’t get it done.

“For everything that they’ve been through, especially our core guys (in past first-round falls), to have this opportunity on this stage, I’m excited for our team.”

The Leafs didn’t have much adversity to endure during the regular season. When a team loses just 14 of 56 games in regulation, there was not a lot that got in its way.

The opening game against Montreal threw something completely different at the Leafs when John Tavares was checked by the Canadiens’ Ben Chiarot and then struck accidentally in the head by Corey Perry, the collisions causing the captain to suffer a concussion and a knee injury.

The Leafs lost in the wake of the horrific incident, but got themselves mentally straight afterwards, buoyed by Tavares’ quicker-than-expected recovery.

The Leafs won each of the next three games before uninspired starts and overtime gaffes put them back on an even keel with their Original Six rivals.

Has the Leafs’ confidence taken a blow with the manner in which the past two games ended?

In Game 5, it was Alex Galchenyuk’s giveaway that led Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield to conspire on the winner.

In Game 6, the Leafs controlled the play in the sudden-death period, outshooting the Canadiens 13-2. If not for a Travis Dermott turnover, and if Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s resulting shot doesn’t go off Zach Bogosian and past goalie Jack Campbell, we might have spent Sunday asking the Leafs about playing the Winnipeg Jets in the second round.

“It’s natural during a playoff series to let doubt creep in a little bit, but it’s on us to control that,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “I don’t think we’re overly happy with how we got here, but the reality is we have to go out on home ice tomorrow and win one game.

“We have a huge belief in our group to be able to play with anybody, to beat anybody one time, and it comes down to our work ethic, our preparation, and having that belief, having that confidence and just going out there and playing with it.” 1214745 Toronto Maple Leafs In some ways, this is why the laid-back superstar was signed in the off- season. Part mentor and part motivator, Thornton’s Zen-like approach was a much-needed tonic for a group of players who have spent the first four years of their career failing to live up to their hype. Maple Leafs need to win Game 7 for Joe Thornton In a pre-season interview, Thornton was asked about the pressures of playing in Toronto and for a team that was expected to contend for a Stanley Cup. Michael Traikos “I got no stress, man,” he said in his laid-back, -like drawl. Publishing date: May 30, 2021 Well, there’s stress now. Maybe not on Thornton, who at this stage of his

career is nothing more than a fourth-line afterthought. But there is stress Win one for Jumbo. on the Leafs. They don’t want to go down the same career path that Thornton has been stumbling down. They don’t want another collapse. Put it on a T-shirt and plaster it to the walls of the team’s dressing room. They don’t want any more questions about not living up to the hype. This is what should motivate the Toronto Maple Leafs as they head into this winner-takes-all Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday Thornton and the other veterans can help in that regard. While he was night. brought here for his laid-back approach, he was also brought here because of his size and his grit and because he has been here before. Not that they need any more motivation. As much as we like to bring up Thornton’s past disappointments, we don’t always talk about how he has learned from those mistakes and how The Leafs, who got themselves into this mess after squandering a 3-1 he has come up big in the playoffs. series lead, have more than enough reasons to want to come out on top. They obviously do not want to suffer another first-round exit, another He helped the Sharks to the Cup final in 2016, where he had 21 points in Game 7 loss, and another epic collapse. They don’t want to go through 24 games. Two years ago, at the advanced age of 39, he was in the what Joe Thornton has spent a career going through. conference final — two wins away from reaching another Cup final.

And yet, for a team that is built around 20-year-olds, there is always next Thornton, who has been used on the top power-play unit now that year — or the year after. Tavares is out, scored with the man advantage in Game 4. But at the same time, if the Leafs are going to win Game 7 it probably won’t be For Thornton, there might not be a next year. This might be the last we because of a winger who is logging around 12 minutes of ice time. see of the 41-year-old. The last time he plays in Toronto. The last time he plays at all. No, Game 7 belongs to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and William Nylander. It belongs to the young stars, who need to step up and do what If that’s the case, it’s up to the Leafs to make sure the grey-bearded they are being paid to do. veteran doesn’t stumble into the sunset like hockey’s version of Don Quixote. They need to avoid another collapse. They need to get over the hump. And if they truly care about their teammate, they need to carry Thornton What an awful way that would be for him to close out his Hall of Fame over it as well. career.

The Leafs can change that narrative on Monday night in Toronto. If the players were able to rebound and win Game 2 for their injured captain, Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.31.2021 then it’s time for them to do the same for Thornton. They cannot allow his career to end just yet — and certainly not like this. Not with another epic collapse. Not with another first-round loss. Not with even more heartbreak.

Thornton might not necessarily need to win a Cup, but he doesn’t need any more embarrassment. He’s already had enough to fill two lifetimes.

Fair or not, his reputation has been marked by past playoff failures. He is the cautionary tale for many of these young Leafs; the player who put up a ton of points in the regular season, but who could not quite get it done in the playoffs.

Where do we even start?

There was the first-round loss to the Canadiens in 2004, when Thornton was the captain of a Bruins team that blew a 3-1 series lead and lost in Game 7 on a play where he was beaten cleanly on a defensive zone faceoff. Thornton, who played through a rib injury and did not record a point in that series, was traded to San Jose the following season, where the disappointments followed.

There was the first-round loss to the Ducks in 2009, in a season in which the Sharks had the best record in the NHL. There was the Game 7 loss to the Kings in the second round in 2013. And, even worse, the Game 7 loss to the Kings the following year, when the Sharks blew a 3-0 series lead to the eventual Stanley Cup champs.

There were the eight times when Thornton failed to get out of the opening round and the five times he lost in the second round. There were the constant questions of his leadership, his passion, his ability to come up in the clutch.

This, however, would be the worst of them all.

Heading into Game 5, the Leafs were in control. They had outscored the Canadiens 12-4 in the first four games. They had their foot on their opponent’s neck. And then, for whatever reason, they took it off. And while Thornton is not to blame for any of this, both he and Leafs are back in a familiar position. 1214746 Toronto Maple Leafs David Pastrnak tied for the Rocket Richard Trophy last year. He scored a hat trick Saturday night for Boston. That gives him five goals in six games for the Bruins. That’s what’s expected of the greats.

One night for Maple Leafs' Matthews, Marner to salvage their reputations Coach Keefe is trying his best to say as many positive things about Matthews and Marner as possible as Game 7 approaches. Really, so many Leafs are under question right now, including the coach, and so they have little choice but to speak with confidence. Steve Simmons “They haven’t executed and it hasn’t gone in for them,” said Keefe, Publishing date: May 30, 2021 indicating what he’s been saying all series long — that Marner and Matthews are playing all right. They’re just not getting rewarded for it.

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are the faces of the Maple Leafs On Saturday night in Montreal, though, they weren’t playing all right. franchise. Matthews seemed out of sorts most of the game. Marner, who has been holding the puck too long and not reacting to the increased intensity of And right now, it’s not a very promising look. the Canadiens, was penalized for the second time in the playoffs for flipping the puck over the boards. Marner hasn’t scored a goal in this playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, and maybe worse than that, hasn’t scored in his past 17 This time, he looked to the sky, as though he needed help of some kind. Stanley Cup playoff games. He looked, then shook his head, and then understood more when the Canadiens went ahead 2-0 with him in the penalty box. Matthews, who ran away with the Rocket Richard Trophy as hockey’s leading goal-scorer, has registered just one in six games against Keefe has watched all kinds of tape since Game 6 ended late Saturday Montreal. He was first in the NHL in scoring all year long. Today, he is night. He broke down what Matthews and Marner had done against tied for 66th in goal-scoring in the post-season, tied with 91 other players. Montreal, not just in this series but also in the regular-season games. He saw enough good things to be able to show them to his two high-end The silent numbers scream almost as loudly as frustrated Leafs fans as players. Game 7 approaches in a playoff series that never should have gotten this far. And at the same time, the two players somehow must avoid the biting and angry criticism they are receiving from the anonymous trolls of social Your best players have to be your best players. That’s the oldest axiom media. in playoff hockey. Coach Sheldon Keefe is overplaying them through six games. Their production, combined, is the weakest it has been at any “Those guys have to remain confident and not get distracted,” said time in this five-month season. Keefe. He has told his players often to avoid the Blue Noise. “We need everybody to be at their best tomorrow.” Matthews had three points in Game 2 of the series — a goal, and two assists. He has one point in the other five games combined, two of them It is one game now to put history aside. Or one game to keep the sad lost in overtime. That isn’t what you pay $14 million Canadian dollars for. historical frustration alive.

This isn’t what the Maple Leafs bargained for.

Combined, Matthews and Marner are paid somewhere in the Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.31.2021 neighborhood of $27 million a season, more than any two players on any other NHL team. There’s a reason for that. They are immensely talented.

There’s another reason for that: You build around your best. The Leafs have the $40-Million Four. Unfortunately, John Tavares isn’t playing right now. William Nylander has done his part to contribute, although he has been scored on too often against Montreal.

Matthews and Marner are like the contestants on Jeopardy!, pressing the buzzers late with no opportunity to answer the questions. Questions that players of their extreme level answer every spring.

This is the time of the year and Game 7s are the times of our dreams. No kid ever thought about scoring the winning goal in Game 5 of a series. In the driveway and in the backyard and when our eyes were shut, it was always Game 7.

“What an opportunity,” said Morgan Rielly, the longest-serving Leaf, who has lost three Game 7s in his career, lost the final game of a five-game series last August, and has been maybe their best player in the series. He has never been to the second round of the playoffs. This should have been the Leafs’ best opportunity to advance — and it still might be.

“You enjoy it,” said Rielly. “It’s a great challenge. It’s an awesome experience to play in these games. A huge chance for guys to really rise to the challenge.”

Matthews had the most explosive goal-scoring season in the history of the Maple Leafs franchise this season. He was exceptional and at times, incomprehensible. He did things others couldn’t do. He scored goals other couldn’t score.

And now, it’s all about one game. Win it, and the Leafs move on to play Winnipeg on Wednesday night. Lose it, and the greatest scoring season in Toronto history becomes almost irrelevant.

This is the time of year that matters most. This is when the game is harder to play, tighter checking, more intense, less space, more game- planning. 1214747 Toronto Maple Leafs With no John Tavares around, Matthews and Marner, along with Zach Hyman, are having to chew up the overwhelming share of defensive- zone faceoffs.

It’s not too late for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to come up big for In Games 5 and 6, no line for the Leafs lined up for more. the Maple Leafs The result, more so on Saturday, was a lot of time chasing the puck.

“We’re playing too much in our zone,” Marner said. “When we got in their By Jonas Siegel zone, we were doing a decent job of moving the puck around and getting to the net. But too much energy (was) wasted in our own zone.” May 30, 2021 Maybe it’s time the Leafs more aggressively stuff the trio in the offensive zone and force the Canadiens to defend and defend and defend.

It’s obviously possible for the Maple Leafs to close out the Habs and The question for Keefe is whether he can come up with another line (or chase away their pesky playoff ghosts without a big performance from two) to swallow up more of the defensive burden. their two best players in Game 7. But their odds of avoiding a disastrous fate Monday night increase substantially if Auston Matthews and Mitch That was supposed to be the point of Riley Nash. Unfamiliar with the 32- Marner finally deliver. year-old, however, who didn’t play a game for the Leafs during the regular season and was coming off a long layoff, Keefe has turned away Matthews and Marner were responsible for a third of the Leafs’ offence from Nash — scratching him four times. during the regular season, scoring a combined 61 of the team’s 186 goals. Matthews alone was responsible for 22 percent of the attack with Keefe might want to reconsider him in Game 7 and have Nash centre a 41 goals, which earned him his first Rocket Richard Trophy. defensive-minded unit that can keep things safe. He could even create multiple defensive units if he wanted to by keeping William Nylander He has scored just the one goal in this series with Montreal, however. alongside Matthews and Marner and returning Nick Foligno to the wing. Marner has yet to score, meanwhile, and in fact has gone 17 consecutive playoff games without a goal. He last scored in Game 1 against the It’s asking a lot to have a banged-up Foligno playing centre. Boston Bruins in the 2019 playoffs more than two years ago — though he This is when the loss of Tavares is really felt. The gap between him and does have 10 assists, including four in this series. what’s left is large. It’s not been enough. Keefe might not like the idea of putting all his eggs in one basket, though, “I think we’ve done a lot of really good things,” Matthews said after Game or of playing Nash ahead of Alex Galchenyuk, a potential source for 6, “whether it was gaining momentum for our team when we’ve lost it or offence. just creating chances and creating havoc. Obviously, we’d like to see On Sunday, Keefe said he was toying with the idea of reconnecting those pucks go in, but we’re just going to keep shooting and keep fighting Galchenyuk with Kerfoot and Nylander. He wondered if playing Nylander and keep working to help the team win.” with Matthews and Marner in Games 5 and 6 had taken Nylander out of A big Game 7 for the Leafs and their relative struggles against the the zone he’d been in previously. Canadiens won’t matter. He should dress the players he trusts most in an all-or-nothing Game 7. Up until Game 6, Matthews and Marner were mastering the process of (Dan Hamilton / USA Today) their play against Montreal, if not finding results to justify those efforts. Nylander ended up logging almost six minutes with Matthews and Marner Saturday night was a different story, for the most part. in Game 6, not far off the sum total of their time together as a line during “I thought they worked really hard,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. the regular season (just under 10 minutes). “Obviously, they didn’t get enough done.” There were hints of something interesting. Shot attempts were 9-3 for the For two periods, Matthews and Marner looked out of sorts, like the weight Leafs. Expected goals were over 70 percent (small sample of their responsibility in driving the Leafs to the second round for the first notwithstanding). time in 17 years was crushing their spirit. And yet, there were signs of life Nylander’s presence, in theory anyway, opens up shooting space for as the night wore on. Matthews. And with a bonanza of offensive-zone draws, a super line of Matthews increasingly looked more like the shark who chowed down on that kind could put the Canadiens on their heels repeatedly. the Canadian division during the regular season. Keefe might also want to use home-ice advantage in Game 7 to pick on He had nine shot attempts in the third period and overtime and finished Montreal’s weaker players. with 15 overall, with seven hitting the net. He unlocked more of the Habs coach Dominique Ducharme barely used his third pair of Erik dangerous looks that had been so difficult to find in Games 1-5, even as Gustafsson and Brett Kulak in Game 6. But when he does on Monday his line dictated play. He began hunting down pucks again and asserted night, Keefe should make him pay with Matthews and Marner — and himself more physically. maybe Nylander. He has ripped off plenty of shots all series. He should target the Canadiens’ weaker lines, too. Matthews had maybe his best look of the series with around six minutes The Phillip Danault-led group has been somewhat fortunate in containing left in the third period when he found daylight in the slot. the Leafs’ No. 1 crew so far in this series, but Danault and Brendan He nearly beat Carey Price with a wicked backhand in overtime. Gallagher (and whichever third forward joins them) are still pesky opponents. Matthews is shooting 3 percent in the series. There’s some unluckiness at play here. And also, of course, Price doing Price things. Keefe could work to get the Matthews line on the ice against lines led by Eric Staal and Jesperi Kotkaniemi instead, or even the smaller-sized line It’s easy to forget, because of his brilliant passing, that Marner was a 20- of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Tyler Toffoli. goal scorer during the regular season for the third time in his career. That’s the 82-game equivalent of 30 goals. He’s yet to score on 17 shots When Matthews scored his 40th goal of the regular season at home in the series, though he’s not been without chances. against the Habs on May 6, it came with the pairing of Jon Merrill and Ben Chiarot on the ice, as well as a line centered by Kotkaniemi. It feels like there’s more the Leafs can do to increase Marner’s and Matthews’ odds of finally breaking through in Game 7. Marner also found the scoresheet that night with his 19th goal, doing so against Caufield and fellow youngster Jake Evans, as well as Chiarot and For one thing, lighten their lift in the defensive zone. Kulak on the back end.

Home-ice advantage only matters if you use it, especially without fans in the building. That said, Matthews’ lone goal in the series came with Shea Weber on the ice, as well as the Danault line. Matthews rushed into the offensive zone with Justin Holl at his side and beat Price on a rebound. That might be a blueprint for getting more done in Game 7.

“We’ve got to do a better job of getting inside and making it hard on him,” Keefe said, referring to Price, who has a .926 save percentage in the series. “You look at a lot of the goals and the way they’re going in, they’re hitting off bodies and (they’re) redirections and stuff like that. We’ve got to focus on those kind of things.”

Keefe denied that pressure played any part in the Leafs dropping Games 5 and 6. But it doesn’t feel that way, and it doesn’t look that way with Matthews and Marner especially.

This is their fifth playoff series with the Leafs, without a win on their record. Never has the pressure been greater on them to perform as the best players and leaders of the team. You can bet they feel that weight — and the weight to produce. Keefe said it was best that players ignore those things.

And really, when Matthews and Marner have been at their best in previous playoffs, it’s when they’ve played with a certain freedom and lightness. Marner was all over the place during the 2018 first-round series against the Bruins when he played that way.

“It’s a special job to be the top players that drive your team — and on a good team — and those guys do it,” Jason Spezza said the other day. “I’m willing to say they have daily pressure on themselves, whether it’s regular season, playoffs, to perform. They want to perform.”

Spezza went on to say that others needed to step up around Matthews and Marner. He was speaking ahead of Game 6.

But he knows, just as they do, that the Leafs need Matthews and Marner to lead the way in Game 7. To dominate. The Leafs’ biggest advantage in the series is just that: They have Matthews and Marner. The Habs have no equal.

A dominant player for the Ottawa Senators during their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, Spezza advised that the two of them “just keep plugging along.”

“When you’re that good,” he said, “the puck (eventually) goes in for you and you’ll make an impact in games.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214748 Vegas Golden Knights

Avalanche’s potent top line overwhelms Golden Knights

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 30, 2021 - 10:13 PM

DENVER — The NHL’s most dangerous top line combined for 183 points in the regular season to lead the Colorado Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy.

It only felt as if they matched that total Sunday night.

Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen combined for eight points in Colorado’s 7-1 victory over the Golden Knights in Game 1 of the West Division final at Ball Arena.

“We played a good game,” Landeskog said. “It doesn’t mean anything going into Game 2. We’ve just got to follow it up and do the same thing again.”

The three combined for nine goals and 24 points in the first-round series sweep of St. Louis and picked up where they left off Sunday. Colorado has outscored its opponents 27-8 in starting the postseason 5-0.

Landeskog had two goals and an assist, and Rantanen got the scoring started with a goal on a backhander from a tricky angle in the first period before following it up with an assist on Landeskog’s power-play goal in the second period.

“It’s our job to lead the team offensively, and that’s what we try to do on a nightly basis,” Landeskog said.

MacKinnon, one of the NHL’s most explosive players, showcased his speed when he blew by Nic Hague and beat Robin Lehner in the second period for a goal. He had another goal and an assist.

“The top line set the tone again, but the whole team was involved, playing well and skating well,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. ‘Our talk before the game was, we didn’t want to wade into this thing.

“I loved the way our team played, right away out of the gates. We were relentless with our puck pressure and showed great commitment to our checking game and capitalizing on our chances.”

MacKinnon has eight goals in the first five postseason games, the seventh player in league history to reach that mark.

Rantanen has a point in a team-record 15 consecutive playoff games.

“I loved his game, especially at the start,” Bednar said. “He was a horse on the puck. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion for him. He was finding the open man all over the ice. … That line was really good, and he was outstanding.”

The big three, who are all homegrown top-10 draft picks of the Avalanche, had plenty of help.

Star defenseman Cale Makar, another top-10 pick for Colorado, had three assists before blasting a one-timer past Lehner for the final goal.

“He was fantastic start to finish,” Bednar said. “Skating, head into plays, defended well.”

The Avalanche entered the game with a week off after the sweep of the Blues but quickly erased any thought of a potential slow start because of rust.

“It wasn’t a vacation,” Makar said. “Everyone took it serious and was ready to go, and we had a great start.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214749 Vegas Golden Knights “We obviously didn’t like the (Graves) hit and lost a player,” Knights captain Mark Stone said. “But you’re down 4-0 (at that point) and try to get yourself in the game any way. We kind of got away from our game …” Graney: Robin Lehner isn’t why Golden Knights lost Game 1 Here’s one thing that will change: You can expect Fleury to return as the Game 2 starter Wednesday after sitting Sunday. You have to believe it was always the plan. By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal It wasn’t a bad one. The Knights should have started Lehner in Game 1. May 30, 2021 - 10:02 PM They certainly didn’t get taken to the woodshed because of it.

DENVER — For the first time in these Stanley Cup playoffs, Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer started Robin Lehner in net. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.31.2021 Colorado torched the Knights 7-1 on Sunday in Game 1 of the West Division final best-of-seven series.

And it was absolutely the right choice to go with Lehner.

I mean, it wasn’t entirely his fault the Golden Knights were totally outclassed.

No matter the outcome — a serious butt-kicking by the Avalanche — this was the perfect spot to go with Lehner. You can’t — as DeBoer has done so often the past few seasons — continue saying your team has two No. 1 goalies and a postseason advantage would be to always have a rested one and not support the stance.

Marc-Andre Fleury played all seven games in a 14-day span against Minnesota in the previous series. He was very good. But it also could prove beneficial as this series moves forward to allow him several days off.

“It was an opportunity to use (Lehner) and make sure Robin got in a game and remained sharp,” DeBoer said. “I wouldn’t change the decision. The game wasn’t about Robin Lehner, obviously.”

Let’s be real. Lehner wasn’t good. He allowed seven goals on 37 shots. Some his fault. A handful that weren’t.

But those in front of him were far worse.

The rain storm that hit this capital city Sunday was a mere drizzle compared to the tempest awaiting the Golden Knights inside Ball Arena.

Lehner’s night began when Mikko Rantanen beat him with a backhand at 4:55 of the first period. Then the clouds really opened.

Colorado toyed with the Knights. Their top line, as elite as the NHL knows, dominated. Even if Fleury had played, Game 1 would have been a mismatch on the western edge of the High Plains.

Lost their way

It’s fine when you’re getting run out of an arena to try to find a spark for Game 2. That usually means ratcheting things up physically. Playoff hockey. Things get testy. It’s part of the deal.

But the Knights lost their way searching for retaliation after a second- period hit by Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves on Mattias Janmark.

It wasn’t pretty. Janmark never saw Graves, who went through the shoulder and into the neck area when planting the Knights forward into the boards. Janmark didn’t return.

Graves was assessed a minor penalty for interference, just as Knights forward Ryan Reaves was for driving Wild defenseman Ryan Suter into the goal post during Game 7 of the previous series.

Both were dangerous, dirty, unnecessary hits. Each probably deserved at least a double minor.

Instead, Reaves doubled down Sunday.

He was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure when he took Graves down near the Colorado crease and faces a possible suspension. It happens when you’re kneeling on another player’s head as he lies on the ice within a scrum.

At that point, things went completely off the rails. Zach Whitecloud and Alex Pietrangelo received 10-minute misconducts and Max Pacioretty a minor for the Knights. Brandon Saad and Valeri Nichushkin received 10- minute misconducts for the Avalanche. It all got pretty stupid, actually.

Back to Fleury? 1214750 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights-Avalanche recap

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 30, 2021 - 9:24 PM

Golden Knights vs. Avalanche

Series schedule

Game 1 — Avalanche 7, Knights 1

Game 2 — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Ball Arena, NBCSN

Game 3 — 7 p.m. Friday, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN

Game 4 — 5:30 p.m. Sunday, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN

Game 5 — TBD June 8, Ball Arena, TBD*

Game 6 — TBD June 10, T-Mobile Arena, TBD*

Game 7 — TBD June 12, Ball Arena, TBD*

RJ’s three stars

3. Left wing Gabriel Landeskog — Colorado’s captain had two goals and an assist. He scored on his only two shots on goal.

2. Center Nathan MacKinnon — The Avalanche superstar showed why he’s one of the best players in the world with two goals and an assist. His second goal, in which he blew right past the Knights’ defense, was a thing of beauty.

1. Defenseman Cale Makar — Colorado’s premier puck mover had an excellent game and tallied a goal and three assists. The Norris Trophy contender’s setup on the Avalanche’s second goal was sweet.

Key play

Left wing Brandon Saad’s goal 1:04 into the second period.

The Knights were hoping to reset and regroup after being down 2-0 at the first intermission. Saad’s quick tally quelled any thoughts of a comeback and started a four-goal second period for Colorado.

Key stat

7 — The number of goals the Avalanche scored. The Knights hadn’t allowed that many in a game all season.

Knights quotable

“We didn’t play well. They played a great game. They came out ready to go. They’ve been sitting there raring to go. We had to play a smarter first period, a smarter start to the second. Just can’t get down like that. We’ll flush this one.” — Knights captain Mark Stone

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214751 Vegas Golden Knights “Playoffs are about having short memories and getting ready for the next one,” DeBoer said. “Bottom line was, we weren’t good enough. They were very good.”

Golden Knights buried by Avalanche in series opener The Avalanche showed fresh legs after finishing a first-round sweep of St. Louis on May 23 and hurt the Knights in the first period by quickly transitioning from defense to offense.

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal After the teams exchanged rush chances, defenseman Devon Toews lugged the puck out of his zone and found Rantanen charging down on May 30, 2021 - 7:55 PM the right wing. Updated May 30, 2021 - 9:47 PM The Knights had four players back to defend, but Rantanen’s backhander beat Lehner high to the glove side 4:55 into the period.

DENVER — The sarcasm dripped from Pete DeBoer’s voice as the Colorado’s top line continued the onslaught and added to the lead Golden Knights coach talked about the daunting task in front of his club midway through when Makar walked in from the right point and found in the West Division final. Landeskog uncovered on the weak side for a 2-0 advantage.

The Avalanche are talented and fast and deep. They possess elite “We had an emotional series there with Minnesota, and obviously coming offensive skill, and the analytics tilt heavily in their favor in almost every into this we were trying to ride the emotion into it,” Holden said. “These significant category. two days are going to be really good for our group. You get some recovery tomorrow and then start dialing it in for Wednesday’s game.” Meanwhile, the Knights won 40 games during the regular season and were getting less respect than Rodney Dangerfield.

“Maybe we shouldn’t even have come,” DeBoer grumbled before Game LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.31.2021 1.

At least on Sunday, Colorado lived up to the hype and looked to be on a different level, rolling past the Knights 7-1 in front of a raucous announced crowd of 10,489 at Ball Arena.

The best-of-seven series continues with Game 2 on Wednesday.

“They played a great game. They came out ready to go,” Knights captain Mark Stone said. “We’ll flush this one. We’ll see what we did wrong. There were a few areas that we were actually not bad at, but there’s a lot of things we need to improve going forward.”

The Knights tied Colorado for the NHL lead in points during the regular season, but were ripped apart in the opener by the impressive puck movement from the Avalanche’s top line.

Gabriel Landeskog had two goals, and Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to become the seventh player in NHL history to have at least eight goals through his first five playoff games. Linemate Mikko Rantanen opened the scoring and added an assist in the Avalanche’s four-goal second period.

The seven goals were the most allowed by the Knights since Dec. 23, 2019, in a 7-3 loss to Colorado.

“I think we gave their skill players just a little bit too much respect, a little too much room,” defenseman Nick Holden said. “Obviously good players are going to make plays when they have space. That’s something that we’ll probably focus on a little bit more.”

The Knights also lost their cool after Game 7 hat trick hero Mattias Janmark was injured on a hit by Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves with 11:34 remaining in the second period and didn’t return.

Fourth-line wing Ryan Reaves, who was fortunate not to face supplementary discipline for a hit in Game 7 against Minnesota on Friday, was assessed a match penalty for attempting to injure Graves during a third-period scrum and is expected to be suspended.

Colorado ended up with a nine-minute power play in the third period from the altercation. Defenseman Cale Makar, who carved up the Knights with three assists, converted on the power play to complete a four-point night.

The Knights finished with 44 minutes in penalties, including two 10- minute misconducts.

“I think emotions get away,” DeBoer said. “Obviously, the Graves hit on Janmark and Janmark leaving with the injury, that’s tough to watch. A defenseless player and one of your teammates getting hit like that. It’s hard not to carry that emotion through the rest of the game.”

Goalie Robin Lehner made his first appearance of the postseason in order to rest Marc-Andre Fleury and was shelled for seven goals on 37 shots.

William Karlsson had the Knights’ goal when he converted a pass from Max Pacioretty to cut the deficit to 5-1 with 5:01 left in the second period. 1214752 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights name starting goalie for Game 1 against Avalanche

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 30, 2021 - 4:15 PM

Updated May 30, 2021 - 5:26 PM

DENVER — The Golden Knights made a change in net for Game 1 of the West Division final.

Goalie Robin Lehner appeared for the first time this postseason, starting against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday at Ball Arena after Marc- Andre Fleury played every minute of the first round.

Philipp Grubauer got the nod for the Avalanche after he stopped 103 of 110 shots in the four-game sweep of St. Louis.

“Our goalies have been great. Our tandem has been the best in the league if you look at it,” coach Pete DeBoer said Sunday morning. “If you had a list of the importance of different elements of the games to win in the playoffs, goaltending would be right at the top. Always critical. I know from our end we’re going to get good goaltending.”

DeBoer used a similar move with his goaltenders during the playoffs last season when Fleury started the opener of the Western Conference Final against Dallas after Lehner shut out Vancouver in Game 7 of the previous series. Lehner returned to the crease for Game 2 and finished out the five-game loss to the Stars.

Lehner, who missed more than a month of the regular season with a concussion, went 13-4-2 with a 2.29 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He combined with Fleury to win the Jennings Trophy, which goes to the goalies with the fewest goals allowed.

But Lehner lost three of his final four starts, including a 2-1 loss to Colorado on May 10 that decided the West Division title.

Fleury started throughout the first-round series against Minnesota and posted a 1.71 goals-against average with a .931 save percentage. In Game 7 on Friday, the Vezina Trophy candidate stopped 18 of 20 shots.

Lehner has the lowest goals-against average in the playoffs among active goaltenders at 2.01.

The 29-year-old started 16 of 20 games during the Knights’ run to the Western Conference Final last season and had a .917 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214753 Vegas Golden Knights DeBoer said he and McCrimmon have discussed whom they want on the taxi squad after the Silver Knights’ inaugural year ended Saturday.

The Silver Knights lost 3-2 in the final game of their best-of-three Pacific Ryan Reaves faces suspension, ‘on a mission to hurt somebody’ Division final against Bakersfield. DeBoer said the Golden Knights will give the taxi squad players a few days off before calling them in.

“Congratulations to Manny Viveiros and his staff and the Henderson By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal group on a great season,” DeBoer said. “There was a lot of development, a lot of good hockey played down there. We’re excited about a lot of guys May 30, 2021 - 10:14 am down there.” Updated May 30, 2021 - 11:16 PM Bellemare on ex-team

Former Knights center Pierre Edouard-Bellemare said he doesn’t feel DENVER — The Golden Knights suffered their largest loss of the season extra motivation playing against his old team. in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche. The fourth liner spent two seasons in Las Vegas before signing a two- That might be only the beginning of the fallout from the 7-1 defeat year deal with Colorado in 2019. Sunday at Ball Arena. “It’s round two of the playoffs,” Bellemare said. “At this point, I don’t really Tempers erupted after left wing Mattias Janmark, who lifted the Knights care who we’re playing against.” into the second round with a hat trick in Game 7 against the Minnesota

Wild, left in the second period after a hit from Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.31.2021 Four players went to the penalty box — two from each team — after Max Pacioretty hit Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard 3:47 into the third period. Then right wing Ryan Reaves was given a match penalty for going after Graves following a whistle with 11:56 remaining.

Four players — two on each team — were given 10-minute misconduct penalties in the aftermath of the play. It resulted in a nine-minute power play for the Avalanche, and defenseman Cale Makar scored.

Reaves could miss time for his match penalty. The NHL rulebook states “in addition to the match penalty, the player shall be automatically suspended from further competition until the commissioner has ruled on the issue.”

“Reaves is on a mission to hurt somebody in the third, and that’s what he does,” Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said.

Janmark, acquired at the trade deadline, was hit in the corner of the offensive zone by Graves with 11:37 remaining in the second period. Janmark, who didn’t have the puck, didn’t appear to see the hit coming and was struck in the face by Graves’ shoulder.

Graves received an interference penalty. Janmark was face down on the ice for several seconds before being assisted to the bench. He went to the locker room and did not return.

Captain Mark Stone said the Knights “obviously didn’t like the hit” and called it a blindside play they’re trying to get out of hockey. Coach Pete DeBoer didn’t have an update after the game on Janmark.

“For sure the emotions of the game was a result of one of your players carried out with a dirty hit,” DeBoer said. “That’s hard to get past.”

The Avalanche took exception to how the Knights responded. Coach Jared Bednar said he expects the NHL to look at Reaves’ match penalty. Graves was attended to on the ice but returned to the game.

“I didn’t have a problem with the way they played,” Bednar said. “The only play that I really didn’t like was the Reaves play on Graves when he was down. Some were a little high and a little late. I didn’t see anything crazy for playoff time except I didn’t like that play from Reaves.”

Full building

Knights right wing Alex Tuch said he heard general manager Kelly McCrimmon announce Saturday that T-Mobile Arena would return to full capacity for Game 3 and started fist-pumping in his car on the way to the airport.

A crowd of 12,156 attended Game 7 on Friday, approximately 70 percent of capacity. The Knights haven’t had a full building since a March 3, 2020, win over the .

“It’s felt like a full building the entire playoffs, and it’s gotten louder and louder each time they’ve increased capacity, so I can’t even imagine what 100 percent is going to feel like,” Tuch said. “It’s been well over a year since we’ve had that, and it’s been over two years or so since we’ve had that in the playoffs.”

Taxi squad 1214754 Vegas Golden Knights highlight-reel goal. He blew by everyone, skated around the Golden Knights and went in alone on Lehner, beating him to make it 6-1.

The six goals tied the most the Golden Knights had allowed this season, Golden Knights drop Game 1 in rout to Avalanche and tied the most they've allowed in a playoff game. They lost Game 4 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final 6-2 to Washington.

Colorado led in shots on goal 27-17 through two periods. By Justin Emerson (contact) Golden Knights fall behind Avalanche early in Game 1 Published Sunday, May 30, 2021 | 2:52 p.m. The Golden Knights had trouble starting fast in the first-round series Updated Sunday, May 30, 2021 | 8:56 p.m. against the Wild. It didn't hurt them in the end — they won in seven games — but the Colorado Avalanche might be a different animal.

Vegas allowed a pair of goals in the first period and will spend at least DENVER — the second chasing this year's President's Trophy winner, trailing 2-0 It’s hard to find things that went right for the Golden Knights on Sunday in after a period at Ball Arena on Sunday. Game 1 against Colorado in the second round playoff series. The Avalanche gave their home fans something to cheer about early, Vegas trailed fewer than five minutes into the game, and things just got scoring on their third shot of the game. Devon Toews made a nice play in worse from there in an ugly 7-1 defeat. the Colorado zone to exit, and let Mikko Rantanen glide down the right wing. He fired a back-hander on net from in tight, and it dinged off the It’s the most goals Vegas has ever given up in a playoff game. post and in to put Colorado up 1-0 at the 4:55 mark of the first.

Robin Lehner started in net for Vegas, making his first appearance of the The second goal was an even prettier one by the Avalanche. Cale postseason and first at all since May 10 — the regular season home Makar, who could win the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman, finale against the Avalanche. He struggled to contain Colorado’s walked the line for a moment, then fired a bullet across the ice to a firepower, allowing seven goals on 37 shots. streaking Gabriel Landeskog. The Colorado captain didn't miss, firing the puck into a wide open net at 10:13 for an early two-goal lead. Colorado did most of its damage in a four-goal second period. The top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog The Golden Knights struggled to get going, not scoring until the 8:22 combined for five goals and eight points, including a pair of goals from mark on the power play and not until Colorado already led by a goal. MacKinnon in the second. They had a couple of shots on that power play, including one dangerous rebound try where Jonathan Marchessault had his stick tied up, but that The Golden Knights scored their goal with 5:01 to go in the second was about it for Vegas chances in the first. period. Makar even dropped another dime late in the period and almost put the Colorado finished the scoring with 4:11 left in the third period, a power- Avalanche up by three, but Toews couldn't pull the trigger on the back- play tally from Cale Makar for his fourth point of the night. door finish. The game devolved into a mess in the third. The teams combined for 62 Colorado led 14-8 in shots after a period. penalty minutes, including four 10-minute misconducts stemming from a brawl near the Colorado net. Golden Knights embracing rare underdog status against Avalanche

Ryan Reaves was assessed a match penalty for intent injure after taking You can't get plus money very often when wagering on the Golden down Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves. Knights, which was the betting favorite in nearly all of its games this season. A match penalty is an automatic ejection and an automatic suspension until commissioner Gary Bettman makes a ruling. But in both Game 1 and in the second round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, the Golden Knights are listed as the underdogs. The Golden Knights had an early chance in the second period, but Reilly Colorado is a minus-190 favorite for the series. Smith couldn't corral a breakout pass. After that, the Avalanche went ahead and put Vegas in an enormous hole. It's only the second time in Golden Knights history they aren't favored in a series — along with the 2018 Western Conference Final against The Avalanche added two more goals in the first 4:03 of the second Winnipeg — but Vegas is embracing it. period, and ended the middle frame with a commanding 6-1 lead at Ball Arena on Sunday. It tied the most goals the Golden Knights had ever Statistically, Colorado was not only the best team in the NHL this year, surrendered in a playoff game. but one of the best in a decade. The Golden Knights are pretty good though, and aren't shrinking from the challenge. They'll get a chance to Brandon Saad scored first for Colorado, collecting a rebound and firing it establish footing in the series when the puck drops for Game 1 at 5 p.m. back just 64 seconds into the period. With the secondary assist, at Ball Arena and televised on NBC. defenseman Cale Makar picked up his third point of the night. "It's different than the first round, being an underdog, and coming in I And then came Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche superstar didn't have guess with a little chip on your shoulder and trying to prove to everyone a point when his linemates scored in the first period, so he made up for it else that says that we have no shot of beating Colorado and that in the second. He collected the puck in front of the net, waited, then fired Colorado is the team to beat," forward Alex Tuch said. "In our locker a missile by Robin Lehner to put the Avalanche up 4-0 at 4:03 of the room we think that we're the team to beat." second. Colorado led the NHL in goals (Vegas was third) and was third in goals A scary moment occurred at the 8:26 mark of the period when Colorado against (Vegas was first). The Avalanche also led the NHL at 5-on-5 in defenseman Ryan Graves caught Mattias Janmark up high with a hit. shot share (59.0%) percentage of scoring chances (60.4%) and expected Janmark was sprawled on the ice and when he finally was able to get up, goals (60.1%). he immediately went down the tunnel and did not return. Graves was assessed a two-minute minor for interference as Vegas lobbied for a The expected-goals number is particularly impressive. They're the only major. team to surpass 60% for a series since Natural Stat Trick began tracking such numbers in 2007-08. When the Golden Knights led the league in The Golden Knights did not score on that power play, but put Colorado expected-goals percentage last year, they did so with a 56.1% mark. on back-to-back power plays of their own when William Carrier took a roughing minor, exited the box, and took another roughing minor. The "You look at the analytics, they're overwhelming," coach Pete DeBoer second one hurt, as Gabriel Landeskog tapped in a feed from Mikko said. "They're great in every area, they're rested, they're fresh, they're Rantanen and MacKinnon to put Colorado up 5-0. healthy. We're going to have to be dialed in in all our areas in order to compete." The Golden Knights got one back — a William Karlsson deflection with 5:01 to go to make it 5-1 — then MacKinnon turned on the jets for a Indeed, the Avalanche haven't played since last Sunday after polishing off a sweep of the Blues in the first round where it outscored St. Louis 20- 7. Vegas meanwhile played a physical seven-game series against the Wild, and has not had more than two days off in two weeks.

But the Golden Knights are getting healthier. They are not expected to have defenseman Brayden McNabb (COVID list) or forward Tomas Nosek (undisclosed injury), but Vegas played its trump card in Game 7 against Minnesota in the form of Max Pacioretty. He hadn't played in nearly a month, then returned to score the series-winning goal.

A trickle-down effect of Pacioretty returning is slotting everyone else into their preferred spots in the lineup. Tuch performed well on the top line in Pacioretty's absence, but his return meant Tuch slid back down to the third line, where DeBoer believes he forms mismatches with Nicolas Roy and Mattias Janmark.

Case in point: Janmark had a hat trick and the trio combined for six points in the Game 7 victory.

"We've had chemistry since the start it's the first time in a lot of games that we've been able to play together," Tuch said. "It provides a boost in our goal-scoring confidence for sure and I think it gives us a little bit of a deeper look, I guess you could say."

The Golden Knights are expecting a similar lineup to Game 7 on Friday, with the only change coming in net. Marc-Andre Fleury started all seven games of the Wild series, but it was Robin Lehner who left the ice first for morning skate, a usual indicator of that night's starter. Lehner has not appeared this postseason, but started 16 of the team's 20 games last year.

The Golden Knights finished the regular season 4-4 against the Avalanche, including 2-2 at Ball Arena. Vegas is 6-3 all-time in Game 1, but has lost its last two. The Golden Knights are 4-1 in the series when they win Game 1, and 2-2 when they lose.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214755 Vegas Golden Knights strong with six points, matching the total MacKinnon had against the Golden Knights.

But the game won’t just come down to the forwards. Winner of the Vegas, Colorado playoff series will be the Stanley Cup Both teams have elite puck-moving defensemen, who will have a thing or favorites two to say about it. Makar, Toews and Girard form a murder’s row on Colorado’s back end, finishing first, third and 13th, respectively, in Evolving Hockey’s measure of Goals Above Replacement. Makar led the By Justin Emerson (contact) way with 16.4, and his 44 points in 44 games made him the only point- per-game defensemen in the league. Sunday, May 30, 2021 | 2 a.m. The Golden Knights’ trio doesn’t have he same advanced-stats love, but

Shea Theodore, Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez were pretty good in Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer was almost sarcastic in his response their own right. Martinez in particular had a revelatory season, posting Friday when asked about the upcoming playoff series against the per-game highs in goals and points after it looked like his career may Colorado Avalanche. have plateaued in Los Angeles. Pietrangelo hit a hot streak at the end of the year, and Theodore continued his usual excellence with 42 points They had just polished off the Wild in a hard-fought seven-game series, that tied for seventh in the NHL among defensemen. and there was little time to enjoy the moment with date against Colorado two days away. And finally the goaltending. Marc-Andre Fleury was spectacular in the regular season for the Golden Knights, teaming with Robin Lehner to win “I think we know, and I’m sure I’m going to read from you guys, all about the Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed and looking like a the hill we’ve got to climb here,” DeBoer said. “We know what we’re strong bet to be a Vezina Trophy finalist as goalie of the year. He carried dealing with and we’ll enjoy this tonight and start looking at that that into the playoffs, starting all seven games against the Wild and tomorrow.” allowing just 12 goals.

He’s not wrong: The Avalanche are the toughest test the Golden Knights In the other net Grubauer turned in a career season, tying for the league have ever had in the playoffs. It’s a second round series befitting of lead with seven shutouts and pitching a .922 save percentage. He was Godzilla vs. Kong, a clash between the two best teams in the West certainly the beneficiary of strong team in front of him, as he finished 13th Division — and possibly even the league. in the NHL with 4.3 goals saved above expected, according to Evolving Hockey (for comparison’s sake, Fleury was first at 19.2 GSAx). He They tied for the best record in the NHL, and the Avalanche claimed the allowed seven goals in the four-game sweep of the Blues in the first top seed and home ice via tiebreaker. round. Fans have been salivating over this matchup for months and for good The Golden Knights and Avalanche split the season series — 4-4 with reason — the winner of this series will be one of the favorites for the each team going 2-2 at home. Vegas will enter the series as a betting Stanley Cup. underdog for only the second time ever and first since the 2018 Western “The best team in the league,” forward Max Pacioretty said of the Conference Final against Winnipeg. Avalanche. “They arguably have the best player in the league — a That doesn’t bother the Golden Knights. They’re ready for the challenge. couple of them. We’ve got to make life hard on them.” Strap in for a good series because when two heavyweights like this meet That’s the issue with the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon is a superstar in in the playoffs, they rarely disappoint. the Connor McDavid tier of best player in the world, but you could make “We knew that to get where we wanted to go, we’d have to get through a case for a few players as the next-best player on the roster. them at least in the second round,” Pacioretty said. “We both had the Is it Mikko Rantanan, who led the team in goals? Cale Makar who won same record and they got on us a tiebreak, but everyone I think believes the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year last year and is a contender for they’re the measuring-stick team in the league. They’ve been sitting at the Norris Trophy as this year’s top defenseman? home, probably resting up, but no matter what we’ve got to make life difficult, especially on their star players.” What about Sam Girard or Devon Toews, who held anchor arguably the best blue line in the league? Goalie Philipp Grubauer had the best season of his career. We haven’t even mentioned their captain, Gabriel LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.31.2021 Landeskog.

The point is Colorado is stacked with as much firepower as anyone in the league, but Vegas held the stars in check as well as could be reasonably hoped.

The top line of MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen combined for 1.18 points per game in the regular season as Colorado’s three leading scorers, but had just 12 points in 21 man-games against the Golden Knights this season.

Part of that was Vegas’ penalty kill and how it shut down the eighth- ranked power play (22.7%) in the regular season. The Avalanche scored just one power-play goal against Vegas in 21 tries, a 4.7% success rate.

The Golden Knights held the Avalanche in check, allowing just 17 goals in the season series, and five of those came in one game. The main issue was that Vegas struggled to score against Colorado, mustering 18 goals that was the fewest against any opponent this year.

“They have a lot of speed and skill and they’re good in all areas of the ice. Their lineup is very good all the way through it,” defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. “Executing our game plan, and a managing pucks and doing all the little things that make us a good team are going to be key. Looking forward to the next series.”

And where the Avalanche’s top forwards didn’t light up the score sheet, Vegas’ top scorer did. Max Pacioretty had six goals and eight points in seven games against the Avalanche, scoring a third of the Golden Knights’ season total against Colorado on his own. Mark Stone was 1214756 Vegas Golden Knights Seventy-nine total penalty minutes were handed out in the game, most coming in the third period when the Golden Knights sought revenge for a second-period illegal hit by Graves that knocked Mattias Janmark out of the game. Golden Knights have a lot to shore up after blowout loss to Avalanche in Game 1 “He’s a defenseless player,” Stone said of Janmark on the play. “It’s blindside interference. We obviously didn’t like the hit, and we lost a player to an interference blindside hit. We’re trying to get those out of the game.” By Jesse Granger Alex Pietrangelo and Zach Whitecloud were given 10-minute misconduct May 31, 2021 penalties for their roles in the same scrum for which Reaves was tossed from the game. Max Pacioretty was also penalized for a reverse hit on Samuel Girard earlier in the period. DENVER — The Avalanche poured in goal after goal in Sunday night’s blowout win over the Golden Knights in Game 1 of their second-round “I think emotions get away,” DeBoer said. “Obviously, the Graves hit on playoff series. Janmark, and Janmark leaving with the injury, that’s tough to watch. A defenseless player and one of your teammates getting hit like that. It’s It was an ugly game from start to finish for Vegas. The Golden Knights hard not to carry that emotion through the rest of the game. were outskated by the Avalanche, who were razor-sharp and capitalized on nearly every scoring chance they earned in a 7-1 shellacking at Ball “For sure, the emotion in the game was a result of one of your players Arena. being carried out with a dirty hit. That’s hard to get past.”

“We didn’t play well,” Vegas captain Mark Stone said. “They played a Janmark didn’t return. DeBoer didn’t have an update on his status but good game. They came out ready to go. We had to play a smarter first said, “He obviously didn’t return for the night, so not good.” period and a smarter start to the second.” And the Golden Knights will have more than Janmark’s injury to get past. Vegas was less than 48 hours removed from an emotional Game 7 win It was the worst playoff loss in franchise history. The good news is they over the Wild in the first round. In that quick turnaround, the Golden have two days off to prepare for Game 2. And though Sunday night was Knights flew to Colorado to face a team coming off six days rest, and to ugly — for many reasons — one game doesn’t make a playoff series. say the Avalanche were prepared is an understatement. The 2017-18 second-round playoff series between Vegas and San Jose comes to mind. The Golden Knights beat the Sharks 7-0 in Game 1, but Colorado’s leading scorer, Mikko Rantanen, opened the scoring early San Jose answered with a win in Game 2 to earn a split in Las Vegas. with a backhand shot on the rush that sneaked past Robin Lehner’s glove, off the iron and into the net. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog It won’t be easy, as the Avalanche have yet to lose a game this followed up shortly after with an easy backdoor goal set up by a perfect postseason, but a win Wednesday would have the Golden Knights flying seam pass from Cale Makar. home feeling great, a possibility that seemed a long way off in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s game. Makar, 22, was dominant for the Avalanche, with a goal and three assists. Star forward Nathan MacKinnon pitched in with two goals and an “Obviously, you’re not feeling good about yourself,” DeBoer said. “But I assist. It was a nearly flawless offensive game by Colorado. think we have to put it in perspective. The playoffs are about having short memories and getting ready for the next one. Whether you lose 2-1 or 7- “I think we gave their skilled players a little too much respect and a little 1 — you can debate the meaning of whether you lose badly or not badly too much room,” Vegas defenseman Nick Holden said. “Obviously, good — but the bottom line was we weren’t good enough tonight. They were players are going to make plays when they have space, so I think that’s very good. We’ve got to be better for Game 2.” something we’ll probably focus on a bit more.”

Five players scored for the Avalanche, who have outscored their opposition 26-8 this postseason. The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021

“We’ll flush this one,” Stone said. “See what we did wrong. There are a few areas that we were actually not bad at, but there are a lot of things that we need to improve going forward.”

It came as somewhat of a surprise that Lehner started in net after Marc- Andre Fleury played well in all seven games of the first round. Coach Peter DeBoer explained his reasoning after the game.

“The decision to go with Robin was, (Fleury) had just played seven games in 14 days and an emotional Game 7,” he said. “It was the perfect opportunity, in our minds, to use our other starter. That’s been a strength of ours all year. And (we wanted) to make sure Robin got in a game and stayed sharp because who knows when we’re going to need him. So there was a lot of rationale for it. I wouldn’t change the decision. The game tonight wasn’t about Robin Lehner. Obviously, we didn’t play well enough in front of him.”

DeBoer is right, Lehner wasn’t the reason Vegas was blown off the ice in Game 1. He certainly didn’t play well, but no one on the team did. The Avalanche outplayed the Golden Knights in just about every aspect.

The Golden Knights did have more possession in the third period and gave up only one goal despite facing a nine-minute power play, but it’s hard to take many positives from that period considering the Avalanche were sitting on a five-goal lead. And the argument could be made that the post-whistle actions in the third were more embarrassing than the score.

Colorado’s nine-minute power play was the result of a post-whistle scrum for which Ryan Reaves was given a match penalty for attempting to injure Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves.

“Reaves is on a mission to hurt someone in the third,” Landeskog said. “That’s what he goes out and does. I’m sure the league will take a look at it. It was intent to injure.” 1214757 Vegas Golden Knights

Well-Rested Colorado Avalanche Dismantle Sluggish Golden Knights, 7- 1, In Lopsided Game 1 In Denver Sunday

May 30, 2021

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

They matched point for point in the standings during the 56-game pandemic season.

But in Denver on Sunday, a well-rested Colorado Avalanche team demolished a Vegas squad that squeezed out a physically-draining seven-game series win only 48 hours earlier.

Result: Avalanche 7 Golden Knights 1 in front of attendance of 10,489 at Bell Arena, with Colorado five-for-five in the postseason after sweeping St. Louis in four games.

Colorado scored twice on 14 shots on VGK netminder Robin Lehner in the first period. The Knights looked like they didn’t have their legs, so to speak.

In the much-anticipated showdown between the two teams with the most points during the NHL’s shortened COVID-19 season, the Avs jumped on the Knights with goals by Mikko Rantanen (2) nearly five minutes in and Gabriel Landeskog (3) mid-way through the first period. Rantanen and Landeskog are two-thirds of what many believe is the best line in the league.

“They came out fast. We have do a better job handling their speed,” VGK fourth-line forward Patrick Brown said after the first period.

In the second period, the Golden Knights hardly responded.

The Avalanche scored twice in the first four minutes to seize a 4-0 lead thanks to goals by Brandon Saad and Nathan MacKinnon (seventh in five games).

The Knights’ Mattias Janmark absorbed a brutal shoulder shot to the head from Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves, but VGK didn’t score on the power play.

Landeskog notched his second goal of the game with a power play backdoor tally with about five minutes left in the middle stanza and Colorado was cruising with a 5-0 lead.

The Knights countered with a goal by William Karlsson, but MacKinnon struck again with about three minutes left in the second period and the Avalanche were up, 6-1, after two periods.

The third period was muddied hockey, which included a lengthy nine- minute power play for Colorado. Avs defenseman Cale Makar scored on the power play to give Colorado a 7-1 lead. Final: Colorado 7 Vegas 1. VGK’s Ryan Reaves appeared to be looking to hurt Graves. Check this video:

After the game, Colorado’s Landeskog reportedly said on zoom, “Reaves is on a mission to hurt someone in the third. That’s what he goes out and does. I’m sure the league will take a look at it. It was intent to injure.”

Meanwhile, the Knights want to have a short-term memory as they prepare for Game 2 in Denver Wednesday.

“We’ll flush this one,” VGK captain Mark Stone said after the game.

The Knights and Avs split their eight games during the regular season. Marc-Andre Fleury started seven of the eight games.

Expect Fleury between the pipes in Game 2. The VGK return for Games 3 and 4 at T-Mobile Arena Friday and Sunday.

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214758 Vegas Golden Knights The high-sticking call on Pacioretty was overturned because his stick didn’t make contact, but the roughing call stood.

Girard went to the room, came back to the bench, but was immediately Game 1: Lehner Stumbles, Reaves Tossed, Avs Crush VGK, 7-1 sent to the locker room a second time.

After some scrums and chats, each team received a pair of minor penalties, and the game remained 5v5. Published 7 hours ago on May 30, 2021 However, things went off the rails midway through the third period, when By Dan Kingerski Reaves dished some frontier justice to Ryan Graves for his second period hit on Mattias Janmark. Reaves had Graves in a headlock near

the net, slammed him to the ice, and may have gotten a few more licks in DENVER — The Vegas Golden Knights may be without Ryan Reaves for during the ensuing melee. a while, and the sting of a Game 1 beatdown will sit with the Golden Graves left the game. So, too, did Reaves, who was ejected for intent to Knights for a few days after the Colorado Avalanche embarrassed VGK injure. Colorado got a nine-minute power-play, and that was the end of in a 7-1 win in Game 1, Round Two of their much-anticipated NHL playoff most of the hostilities and the game. series beginning at Ball Arena. Reaves will get a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety, or it will The downfall began in the first period as head coach Pete DeBoer flipped at least be reviewed, which could cost Reaves money or keep him out of goaltenders for Game 1, from Marc-Andre Fleury to Robin Lehner. Game 2 on Wednesday. Things didn’t go well–Lehner was flopping from the start. The big goalie mishandled a couple of pucks and whiffed on a backhander. Cale Makar completed his four-point night with a slap shot power-play goal near the end of the nine-minute man-advantage. Colorado outshot the Golden Knights 14-8, but that included a couple of late, long-range shots for VGK. Lehner stopped 29 of 36 shots as “Lehner…Lehner” taunts rained down from the nearly full rafters. The Vegas Golden Knights managed only 24 Five minutes into the game, Colorado defenseman Devon Toews shots on goal. intercepted a centering pass, and Colorado was off. Toews dished to Mikko Rantanen, who got the edge on Vegas center Nicolas Roy. Rantanen’s 15-foot high backhand whizzed past Lehner’s glove. 1-0. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 05.31.2021 The Colorado push continued.

Midway through the first period, Colorado worked the puck around the offensive zone. Both Alec Martinez and Mattias Janmark failed to cover Gabriel Landeskog as the Avalanche captain raced down the left-wing. Cale Makar put a saucy pass on Landeskog’s stick, and Landeskog (3) snapped it into the yawning cage past a diving Lehner. 2-0.

Ryan Reaves started the game, but Vegas never got their physical game. Instead, it was Colorado who snowed the Golden Knights.

The push became a full-fledged Avalanche in the second period as Colorado exploded for four goals, and Nathan MacKinnon found his best stride.

One minute into the second period, Brandon Saad (4) slipped undetected on the offwing and beat Lehner. 3-0. Saad, who has one Stanley Cup ring with Chicago, continued his playoff burst.

A few minutes later, Colorado salted the flats. MacKinnon also was uncovered on the backside, and he, too, whipped a wrister past Lehner from the LW circle.

Seriously, Nathan MacKinnon uncovered?

It was that kind of night. And it got worse.

Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog (4)finished a glorious tic-tac-toe power- play goal after the Golden Knights got caught trying to send a physical message, and William Carrier earned his second roughing penalty of the period and second in four minutes.

Late in the period, MacKinnon laid waste to the Golden Knights defense as he flew past them at the blue line and deked Lehner. 6-1.

The Vegas Golden Knights did put a marker on the board midway through the second. William Karlsson netted an open chance in front of the net, though there wasn’t too much celebration as Karlsson’s goal only cut Colorado’s lead to 5-1.

VGK managed just 17 shots through two periods, including only 13 at even strength.

Things got chippy as the second period deepened, but officials were conscious of message sending at it was the Golden Knights who got the gate. With a big lead, Colorado was able to turn the other cheek and take the power play time.

However, things came to a head, literally, in the third period when Pacioretty, who was a surprise insertion in Game 7 against Minnesota, reverse-checked Samuel Girard and made direct contact with Girard’s chin. 1214759 Washington Capitals

Kuznetsov expects to still be with Caps for the 2021-22 season

BY J.J. REGAN

CAPITALS

There is plenty of speculation surrounding the future of Evgeny Kuznetsov in Washington. He, however, is not buying it.

In an end-of-season press conference, Kuznetsov was asked if he believed he would be with the Capitals next season.

“Of course. I like this team," Kuznetsov said. "I like to be here and this organization, the team, did a lot of good things for me and I believe I've done some good things also."

Drafted by Washington in 2010, Kuznetsov just wrapped up his eighth NHL season. The 2021 season was a tough one as he registered only nine goals and 20 assists in 41 games. He also tested positive for COVID-19 twice, broke the NHL's health and safety protocols and was benched for a game for being late to a team function.

The benching came in May and it was that incident that seemed to spark the Kuznetsov rumors. Pierre LeBrun first reported the possibility of Kuznetsov being moved in the offseason saying, "Keep an eye on this one as far as I believe Washington perhaps being willing to listen to trade offers for Kuznetsov this offseason."

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan also did nothing to quell those rumors with his end-of-year media availability on Wednesday.

"I think we're always open to trading people if it makes sense for what's going on," MacLellan said of Kuznetsov. "If it's going to make our team better, I think we're open to it."

Kuznetsov, however, is unconcerned. He has heard the rumors — which have become impossible to ignore — but he is not worried about outside speculation.

“All I’m worried about what people inside the team and what coaches, what they think actually and what they want me to do," Kuznetsov said. "If I am not success then those rumors will be for every player. Like that is the business right? And I understand that whatever is going to happen, my job is just to be in shape, practice and perform on the ice.

"I’m a nice person, I am never going to complain about anything because I understand that if I didn’t [have] success on the ice that I know I have to be better and know that is how life will be.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214760 Winnipeg Jets Ladd, who played for just four regular-season games and one post- season contest with the New York Islanders during the ‘19-20 season, is now at the tail end of his career. He was on the Islanders taxi squad during the abbreviated 2021 campaign but is now considered a healthy Happy Hockey Anniversary! scratch during the playoffs. He still has two more years with an annual cap hit of US$5.5 million.

"As you get older, you look back at different moments in your career and Jason Bell how that shapes you as a person and a hockey player, and Winnipeg 5/31/2021 was such a big part of that for me. I look back with some fond memories," he says

"One of the things Brandy and I talk about all the time is how great the Hocky fans in revelled in the big reveal May 31, 2011 that people were in Winnipeg, the amount of care everyone has for one Atlanta’s NHL franchise was pulling up stakes and heading north. another in the community, looking out for one another. That’s something you come away from with a lot of respect for. It’s one of those things you But three former Thrashers forwards, in conversation with the Free Press don’t really understand until it’s gone." recently, all say the stunning development wasn’t initially on their radar. Bryan Little, 33, played parts of four years with the Thrashers — "I found out through social media. I had no prior knowledge until the highlighted by a sensational 31-goal harvest during the 2008-09 season. announcement. It wasn’t a drawn-out process. There was a lot of shock The skilled, multi-purpose centre admits he had no inkling he and his ... it caught everyone by surprise," recalls former Jets captain Andrew teammates would be on the move. Ladd. "I know I was back home (near Cambridge, Ont.) when we heard the "As players, we really didn’t hear any rumblings it was gonna happen. It news. I remember leaving Atlanta that year and there was like no felt like it came in a hurry, especially when you’re fully expecting to go indication that we wouldn’t be back. As far as we knew, we be back in a back to Atlanta." few months for training camp. I feel like it took a few months to process True North Sports & Entertainment announced the deal during a packed things," Little remembers. "I was sad because we were living in Atlanta news conference at Winnipeg’s downtown arena, sparking a raucous for a few years and that’s where I had started my pro hockey career. I celebration the Manitoba capital. was saying goodbye to all the trainers and other people you got to know.

The city lost the Jets in 1996 when the team was sold to a Phoenix group "For me, I’d never been to Winnipeg and didn’t know anything about it, and relocated to the desert. other than how cold it was. But it was exciting once we got to the city and seeing how excited the fans were. As a Canadian kid, you always kind of Ladd, a two time Stanley Cup champion (Carolina Hurricanes 2006, dream about playing in Canada, so after the initial shock to the system I Chicago Blackhawks 2010), was home in Summerland, B.C., after was pretty pumped to play in front of a crowd like we had at the MTS wrapping up his first season in a Thrashers jersey — the most productive Centre. Going from 5,000 to a sold-out arena every night was pretty of his career in terms of offence (29G, 30A) — when news of the awesome. We figured out pretty quickly this was going to be fun." relocation broke. Little, selected 12th overall in 2006 by Atlanta, hasn’t played since late "For a lot of us, it was a pretty quick turnaround and a surprise that it 2019 after being struck in the side of the head by an errant shot by actually happened. Right way, you had a quick mindset shift. Some guys teammate Nikolaj Ehlers. He was hospitalized with a brain bleed, and had wives and kids and they’re trying to co-ordinate the move and their suffered a ruptured ear drum and numerous other side effects including lives for the next year," says the 35-year-old winger. "Then it’s a shift to, vertigo. ‘Let’s see what Winnipeg’s all about’ and just excited about being back in a Canadian market. He remains sidelined indefinitely, and a resumption of his career is doubtful. "I was getting married that summer (in Las Vegas). My wife (Brandy) had been in optometry school (Boston) and she was really engrained in Little was the club’s top middle man for the lion’s share of eight full studying and graduating. So, it was our first time to really live together seasons — playing 843 regular-season games, while collecting 217 post-school for her, so it was a great time for both of us to start out in a goals and 304 assists. But he was a spectator for a wild debut by the new place. We ended up renting Jonathan Toews’ condo for the first Jets with the Columbus Blue Jackets visiting first during the 2011 couple of years. preseason.

"The lead-up from the time they got the team, you could feel the energy Fans were chanting "Go Jets Go" before the team stepped on the ice. coming to the city as a player and how excited everyone was to have the Just six seconds in, Byfuglien pulverized Matt Calvert with an open-ice Jets back and how fast the season tickets sold out. As a player you got hit, and then the 6-5, 260-pound bulldozer and teammate Mark Stuart caught up in that." each got into fights before the game was a minute old.

“As you get older, you look back at different moments in your career and "I’d never seen anything like this for an exhibition game. It was like a how that shapes you as a person and a hockey player, and Winnipeg playoff game. I couldn’t believe it, says Little. "I couldn’t believe the was such a big part of that for me. I look back with some fond memories." energy every home game. You’d think it would die down a bit, but every - Andrew Ladd every home game had playoff atmosphere. Playoffs were nuts. You hear about the ‘Whiteout’ but to see it, to play with that all around you, it was Ladd suited up for 348 regular-season games with the Jets, registering crazy." 110 goals and 136 assists, but was a pending unrestricted free agent in 2016 and, ultimately, dealt to Chicago just days before the trade Tight restrictions in Ontario owing to the COVID-19 pandemic have given deadline. The Jets obtained forward Marko Dano and a first-round draft the Little and his wife, Brittany, plenty of time to spend with two-year-old pick (2016), which later landed the organization defenceman Logan daughter, Parker. Stanley. But one of the franchise’s most hard-working and dedicated players on Two of the couple’s three children were born in Winnipeg during Ladd’s the ice, and thoughtful and well-spoken off it, is totally tuned in on stint with team. He says "the group of misfits" that first season north of Winnipeg’s current playoff run in the all-Canadian Division. the border developed some tight bonds. He concedes it’s a struggle not being part of the excitement. "I still have a lot of really great friends from the organization, whether "The toughest part is not being around the team right now. If there wasn’t that’s Blake (Wheeler) or Bryan (Little) or Buff (Dustin Byfuglien). We had a pandemic but still in the same situation, I’d probably be in Winnipeg a really close group, and the unique thing about us is we all started right now, around the guys, going to games," he says. "Right now, I’m having kids at the same time, so the wives were really close and the guys just a fan watching on TV and it’s been exciting cheering the guys on. were really close at that time, guys to lean on and to play with," Ladd says. "It was a great part of my career and something I really enjoyed." "I texted with guys a little more during the regular season, because once you get to the playoffs you’re in hyper-focused mode so you don’t want to bug them too much. The only game (of the series with the Edmonton Oilers) I didn’t see the end of was the triple-overtime one (Game 4) "I was basically a nobody compared to some of the guys on the team, but because I just couldn’t stay up. I’ve gotta get up at 6:30 (a.m.) and be a just going to a grocery store people knew who you were. They lived and dad. breathed hockey. I’d take my suits to the drycleaner and the guy starts complaining to me about our power play, and giving me advice. And he’s "I made it to the end of the second period and I was like, ‘I trust these right! I was ready to invite him to our next video session," he says, guys to get it done.’" laughing.

Tim Stapleton wasn’t dress for that first pre-season test, either. In fact, "Misfits is a perfect word for that team, a bunch of clowns. I thought the the now 38-year-old who hails from just outside Chicago, came over with locker room was so awesome and we all got along but jabbed each other the Thrashers but was placed on waivers late in Jets training camp. His a lot. I remember Tanner Glass — I sat next to him in the corner with Jim bags were packed and he was waiting for flight information to get to St. Slater — we’re all friends and one day he just looks at me and he’s like, John’s, N.L., to join the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate, "You have this look that I just want to punch you in the face.’ the IceCaps, when Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had a change of heart. "We’d all have a good time and there were no cliques, no odd man out. That first we were like the lovable losers, no real expectations. Everyone Winnipeg Jets Alexander Burmistrov (from left), Tim Stapleton and was just happy the Jets were back." Evander Kane have a light moment during a practice at Bell MTS Place. “We’d all have a good time and there were no cliques, no odd man out," said Stapleton. "That first we were like the lovable losers, no real expectations. Everyone was just happy the Jets were back.”(Wayne Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.31.2021 Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Winnipeg Jets Alexander Burmistrov (from left), Tim Stapleton and Evander Kane have a light moment during a practice at Bell MTS Place. “We’d all have a good time and there were no cliques, no odd man out," said Stapleton. "That first we were like the lovable losers, no real expectations. Everyone was just happy the Jets were back.”(Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files)

"I cleared waiver and they told me to get to practice. Even (head coach) Claude (Noel) was surprised to see me. He goes, ‘You’re still here!’ The whole training camp was me waiting for them to tell me I was gone," says Stapleton. "When I got to the room, on the white board they had all the lines wit the guys’ numbers and then way at the bottom, not even close to the lineup, was my number and for those four days I was a total fill-in for drills.

"I remember I took a shot from Toby Enstrom off my stick and it rode up and hit me under the visor and I ended up getting 10 stitches by my eye lid. That about summed it up."

After a strong college career at the University of Minnesota (Duluth), Stapleton played two seasons with Helsinki of the Finnish elite league before inking his first inking his first pro deal this side of the pond with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played the bulk of the 2008-09 season with the AHL’s Marlies before getting dealt to Atlanta.

Finally, in his second year there he made inroads with the brass of Southeast Division squad. The last thing the diminutive forward needed was another change of scenery.

"I literally found out at a bar. I was having a few summer drinks with some buddies and some guy says, ‘Hey you just got sold to Winnipeg’ and I was like, ‘What?’ That’s how I found out. I was single, so for me the move to Winnipeg for me was pretty easy. I was living out of a hockey bag and suitcase, anyway," says Stapleton, who puts a hilarious spin on every tale he tells.

"In Atlanta, I was finally playing more ... a guy who was more on the bubble and who had finally made an impression. My exit interviews were all very positive and I was in the mindset of knowing I was in a good spot. Then, all of a sudden the team gets sold and all these guys that trusted me and were rooting for me got fired."

But he had a supporter in Noel, who played him 63 times in what would be his final year in North America. After an 11-goal, 27-point season, he signed for more money with Minsk Dynamo of the KHL.

“Misfits is a perfect word for that team, a bunch of clowns. I thought the locker room was so awesome and we all got along but jabbed each other a lot." - Tim Stapleton

"We all knew there would be a lockout (2012), so I sold myself to the devil and chased a little more money in Russia," says Stapleton, who spent six years overseas before retiring in 2018.

He’s now part-owner of a company that makes biltong, a healthier type of beef jerky. He and his wife, Marissa, are raising two kids in Long Beach, Ind., located on the shore of Lake Michigan, about 100 kilometres east of Chicago.

Stapleton says the franchise relocation and inaugural season of the Jets 2.0 produced some of his best hockey memories. 1214761 Winnipeg Jets Glendale (Ariz.) council meetings when we thought the Coyotes were maybe coming here.

"For me, that day at Portage and Main was validation, because I wrapped Happy anniversary! Ten years since Jets' return my entire identity around the belief Winnipeg could support an NHL team."

Two major hurdles had to be cleared before the relocation was finalized. Jason Bell The still unnamed franchise needed to sell 13,000 season tickets almost immediately, and the deal had to be rubber-stamped by the NHL’s board 5/31/2021 of governors.

"This isn’t going to work very well unless this building is sold out every TEN years ago to the day, a group of suits met in the bowels of the night," said the commissioner. downtown arena to announce what was to many in these parts the Done and done. The still unnamed Winnipeg franchise sold 13,000 righting of a wrong. season tickets in less than 72 hours, and the league’s board of governors TEN years ago to the day, a group of suits met in the bowels of the gave the official thumbs-up less than three weeks later. downtown arena to announce what was to many in these parts the Chipman revealed later that summer the ownership group had come righting of a wrong. within just a few minutes of acquiring the Coyotes in May 2010, however, The NHL was returning to Manitoba’s capital. the City of Glendale wired US$25 million to the NHL’s office just in time.

"Today, on behalf of my family, our partner, David Thomson, and our But the owners of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose entire organization, I am excited beyond words to announce our stayed patient. purchase of the ," Mark Chipman, the chairman of True Chipman had always maintained his philosophy with running the Moose North’s board, said during a hastily called press conference May 31, was "to operate as though we were part of the NHL." 2011, at 11 a.m. On May 31, 2011, a hockey-crazed province finally hit the big time again. "In a sense, I guess you can say True North, our city and our province has received the call we’ve long since been waiting for."

The immediate response was, predictably, some spontaneous shinny at Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.31.2021 Portage and Main.

A decade later, Cassidy Dankochik remembers putting pedal to metal and racing from Gimli to the iconic intersection to join in a celebration he steadfastly maintains was tortuously long overdue.

"There was no way I was missing it," says Dankochik, 28. "There were maybe three other people there before me, and then the crowd really started to grow. We watched the announcement on the big screen (Global courtyard) but I’m not sure how much people actually heard because everyone was going nuts.

"That’s the place to go when something happens with pro hockey in Manitoba. You can track it all the way back to the Bobby Hull signing (in 1972), the (Dale) Hawerchuk signing (1981), crowds of people coming to ‘Save the Jets’. But this time fans gathered to welcome them back — for good."

In Atlanta, there was little reaction beyond a sombre media briefing held by co-owner Michael Gearon, who maintained his group did all it could to find someone who would help keep the financially troubled team in Georgia.

True North and the Atlanta ownership group had negotiated the reported US$170-million transaction into the wee hours of the morning, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman revealed when he took to the podium after Chipman.

"If we didn’t get this done (Tuesday), I think there was a good chance this wasn’t getting done," Bettman said, noting, the parties were on a conference call at 3:30 a.m. without a done deal. "We were really out of time.

"It is clear times have changed for Winnipeg as an NHL market and this is a wonderful time to add a club to Canada."

Meanwhile, hundreds of rabid hockey fans gathered just a few blocks east, while a thousand more congregated at The Forks.

While the blade of Dankochik’s wooden stick splintered early in the colossal scrimmage, his exuberance couldn’t be shattered.

A former Red River College student and now the editor of the Quesnel Cariboo Observer newspaper in the B.C. interior, he was just four years old when the original Jets franchise vacated the city and headed for Arizona in 1996, and just a year removed from high school when the purchase of the Thrashers was announced.

"I could talk anyone’s ear off about them coming back," Dankochik said. "I was big on all the (online hockey forums) following the ownership issues. I’d watch the old Jets highlights on YouTube. I was watching 1214762 Winnipeg Jets "You can’t practice at a playoff pace. It’s not the same," Maurice said following Saturday's workout at Bell MTS Place.

"We don’t want to. We’re not running and finishing every check and Bring on the Habs! ... or the Leafs! battling in the same way. Right now it’s all details and tactics and trying to keep the legs right and for the first few days, just getting rested and getting over our last series. We don’t work on long durations but we want to be sharp when we do." Mike McIntyre If the Jets have a preferred next opponent, they're not saying publicly. 5/31/2021 Winnipeg went 4-4-2 in the regular-season against Toronto, and 6-3-0 against Montreal. But as we just saw in the series against Edmonton, there's not a lot of weight to put on those previous head-to-head And on the seventh day, they rested. Just as they did on the sixth. And meetings, as the Jets went just 2-7-0 against the Oilers. the fifth. And the fourth. And, well, you get the picture. "If it’s Toronto, we’ve just hit the one and two leading scorers in the It has now been a week since the Winnipeg Jets stunned the hockey league, and we’d move to the fourth and fifth leading scorers — I believe world by sweeping the heavily-favoured Edmonton Oilers right out of the — in the regular season. If it’s Montreal, you’ve got almost a different playoffs. And, incredibly, Paul Maurice's crew is still waiting for their next dynamic in terms of committee scoring," said Maurice. dance partner. "Picking a team is foolish because every team in the playoffs has enough That will finally be settled Monday night as Toronto and Montreal face-off of a strength and your task at hand is to play as close to as strong a at Scotiabank Arena in Game 7 of their first-round series. And Winnipeg, game as you’re capable of playing. It doesn’t have to look like the other no doubt, will be hoping they beat the holy heck out of each other. One team’s in order to win." overtime? Two? How about three? Play on, gentlemen. Play on. The North Division champion will then move on to play an American Either the first-place Maple Leafs avoid a catastrophic collapse and find a opponent in the third round. If that's Winnipeg or Montreal, it would be the way to get it done, or the fourth-place Canadiens complete the epic winner of the Colorado-Vegas series. The Jets and Habs had the least comeback after being down 3-1. Regardless, the victor won't have much amount of regular-season points of remaining playoff teams, while the time to catch their breath. The North Division final starts Wednesday — Avalanche and Golden Knights tied for the most. If it's Toronto, it would in Toronto, if the Leafs win, and in Winnipeg, if the Canadiens win — and be the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay series. the NHL has once again condensed the schedule. They'll play again on Friday, then back-to-back on Sunday and Monday. The NHL is still negotiating with the federal government about where those third-round home games would be played. It's expected an For either Toronto or Montreal, that will mean 11 playoff games over a exemption may be granted allowing for cross-border travel, which would 19-day span, dating back to the start of their series on May 20. That's a prevent the Canadian semifinalist from having to relocate south of the lot of high-stakes hockey in a short period of time, which is where border for the rest of the playoffs. Winnipeg should have a marked advantage. The Jets, who began their series with the Oilers on May 19, will only be playing seven times over But that's a worry for another day. For now, the Jets will enjoy 48 more the same 19-day span, which will have included a nine-day break. hours of calm before the second-round storm finally begins.

A quick aside: This scheduling crunch was avoidable. For reasons that make no sense, the NHL insisted on waiting to start the first-round north Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.31.2021 of the border until after Calgary and Vancouver had finished their remaining three regular-season games, which had to be postponed due to the Canucks COVID-19 outbreak.

Every other division got their playoffs underway of May 15, 16 or 17, but the North was held back, even though the results of those games had zero impact on the postseason. Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto were the only teams who had to play on consecutive nights in the first round. And now Winnipeg and one of Toronto or Montreal will be the only teams to have to do it again. In fact, the other three division finals all include a two-day break between games at one point to let their northern neighbours catch up.

I'd say Winnipeg is in a much better position to weather it. By disposing of the Oilers so quickly, the Jets got to put their feet up, get in plenty of practice time and video scouting sessions and heal up some injuries. That's key for players such as Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nikolaj Ehlers, who began the series with Edmonton on the sidelines but made their debuts in Games 2 and 3 respectively.

No such luck for their next opponent. Toronto, for example, lost one of their top defenceman in Jake Muzzin to a lower-body injury in Game 6 on Saturday night, and his status isn't clear. They're already without captain John Tavares, who got knocked out in Game 1, and others, such as Nick Foligno, are clearly playing hurt. Montreal is slightly healthier, but there are several players currently banged-up.

Don't expect the Jets to be sending any "Get well soon," cards.

For Winnipeg, there's always the balance between rest and rust, and you wonder if this is a case of "be careful what you wish for." Has too much time passed to carry any momentum over from the first round, which already seems like a lifetime ago? Can they hit the ground running against a rival that will be fresh off an emotional victory?

The Jets took two days away from the rink after beating Edmonton, practised on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, then took Sunday off. They'll return to the ice Monday, then hold one final skate on Tuesday. If they're facing Toronto, they'll also board a charter to head east. If it's Montreal, that's some unexpected bonus time in their own beds. 1214763 Winnipeg Jets "The longer that your break is, the more anticipation — I don’t think anxiety — but we’re close to needing a game here soon. But we’ve tried to be as even-keeled on our non-game days and even on the morning- skate days as possible. Calm but ready," Maurice added. Jets prepared for anything as they await Round 2 opponent Jets starting netminder Connor Hellebuyck spent some one-on-one time with goalie coach Wade Flaherty prior to the skate but didn’t participate in practice, leaving Laurent Brossoit and Eric Comrie to stand guard. Jason Bell Hellebuyck was brilliant against Connor McDavid and the rest of the 5/30/2021 Oilers, posting a 1.60 goals-against average and .950 save percentage — leading all puckstoppers in those categories during the playoffs.

The Winnipeg Jets still don’t know who they’ll face in the second round of The Michigan product turned aside 151 of 159 shots and registered a the NHL playoffs, although it doesn’t sound like it matters much. shutout in Game 3.

Ready, willing and able to take on all comers is a fitting mantra for the The Jets haven’t advanced beyond the opening round since 2018 when surging Jets, who await the winner of the opening-round series between they dispatched the Minnesota Wild in five games and then survived a the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. thrilling seven-gamer against the Nashville Predators.

"The approach for us doesn’t really change. We’re focused on kind of The upstart Vegas Golden Knights halted Winnipeg’s storybook run in how our team’s going to play, how our team’s going to defend," Jets the Western Conference final. centre Adam Lowry said Saturday. "I don’t think it’s going to change, In 2019, the Jets were sidelined in six games by the eventual Stanley regardless of who the opponent is — whether it’s against Toronto or Cup-champion St. Louis Blues, and then last August they lost a best-of- Montreal." five qualifying series to the Calgary Flames in the Edmonton bubble. The host Habs prevailed 3-2 in overtime Saturday night — on the Twelve-year veteran Mathieu Perreault, who has experienced the strength of Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s winning tally at 15:15 — to force a frustration of post-season joy rides cut short in Washington, Anaheim and seventh and deciding game Monday night in Toronto. Winnipeg, wants this odyssey to progress well into the summer. Winnipeg either welcomes Montreal for the Round 2 opener Wednesday "This is great. Obviously, this is what we play for. A guy like me that’s night or begins the series in Toronto the same night. getting older, you never know when another chance is gonna come up, The Jets took six of nine regular-season contests against the Canadiens, so I’m very happy that we get a chance to play in the second round," said while splitting eight games in regulation time with the Leafs, losing once Perreault, 33, who scored once in the first round. in overtime and once in a shootout. "Now, it’s gonna be down to eight teams and you can really cherish that, Lowry said the club’s collective patience is running thin after erasing the and bring everything you have to that second round so you can keep Edmonton Oilers from the playoff picture six days ago. moving forward."

"It’s one of those things where you try and stay sharp in practice, you try Veteran blue-liner Nathan Beaulieu continues to heal after shoulder and use the days to make sure that any bump or bruises you’re staying surgery in early April but isn’t an option for the playoffs should the Jets on top of that. On the ice, you’re staying sharp. You want to make sure get ravaged by injuries. you don’t let any bad habits creep into your game. And then you’re kind "He’s here, he’s post surgery and rehabbing, but this is a long rehab… of just waiting," said Lowry, 28, a seven-year veteran. he’s not going to be available for us at any point in time," said Maurice. "We’re going to go wherever we’re told… it’s one of those things where "He’s back rehabbing with us and travelling with the group. He should be sometimes you get a little anxious to get started. We all want to just keep a part of it right now, and he is." playing. You try and stay sharp as best you can, try to stay as rested as Beaulieu, in the first year of a two-year contract that carries an annual you can, so that when the series starts we’re ready to go." cap hit of US$1.25 million, hasn’t played since March 9. Top-line left-winger Kyle Conner fired the series clincher at 6:52 of triple- overtime as the Jets posted a 4-3 triumph in the wee hours Tuesday morning to sweep the Oilers in their best-of-seven opening-round playoff Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.31.2021 matchup.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice gave his group two days off following the test of endurance at Bell MTS Place before summoning them to the rink for practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"The first couple of days were just spent resting and recovering from that marathon game, but then you kind of start going into meetings, you start talking about why we’re successful," added Lowry, who chipped in a pair of assists in the series with Edmonton. "Showing why we’re committed to the style of play Paul wants and the style of play that made us successful in Round 1."

The Jets have a day off scheduled today.

Winnipeg is a relatively healthy bunch, save for the nagging wounds that are customary during the chase for the Stanley Cup.

Maurice skated them hard Friday but placed a heavy priority on special- teams play during Saturday’s practice. He’s cognizant of the risk of some rust buildup within his club.

"There’s a timing to that and a peaking to that. So, (it’s) really important that we go about our business and cover our bases. At the same time we’re not winding them up before practice. First you’ve got to probably fill the reserves, get rested, get ready, get right," said the longtime Winnipeg bench boss. "That anticipation is coming. I think you can already feel it. And I think there’s confidence that we’ll be able to get to that emotional level. 1214764 He has served as team captain for Russia on multiple occasions, including the 2021 World Junior Championship and the 2018 , where he led the tournament in scoring with 11 points in five games and helped Russia win a bronze medal. ‘Excited to see what he can bring’: Canucks sign top prospect Vasily Podkolzin to three-year deal It’s easy to forget that Podkolzin was quoted as saying at the scouting combine before the 2019 NHL Draft that he thought his KHL ties might scare off some clubs but he planned to be playing in North America for the 2021-22 season, and it’s looking like he’ll be right on time. Steve Ewen “I can do whatever I can be asked to do — power forward or playmaking Publishing date: May 30, 2021 and I can score goals as well. Playing against men wasn’t hard from a physical point of view, it was hard psychologically and I hope in two years that I play in Russia I will get stronger. I hope it is the beginning of the Vasily Podkolzin is on his way to the Vancouver Canucks. Let the debate new stage of my career,” he was quoted as saying through an interpreter about where he’ll fit in the lineup begin. on draft day.

The Canucks announced Sunday morning that they had signed Podkolzin, a 19-year-old Russian winger who’s their top prospect, to a three-year, entry-level deal. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.31.2021

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound left shot forward was the 10th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft at , and he’s played the majority of the past two seasons in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg.

It’s well documented that Vancouver could use help on its third line. The assumption is that Podkolzin could instantly find a home there.

Could he be even better than that? Could he challenge for second-line minutes right away, like Nils Hoglander did this past season as a rookie? General manager Jim Benning wasn’t biting on that Sunday.

“He’ll come to camp and have to earn his spot. We’ll see where he’s at. Travis (Green, the Canucks coach) will play him where he deserves to play,” Benning said of Podkolzin. “He’s played in the KHL against men already. And, with his strength and the way he takes the puck to the net, I think his game will be even better on the smaller ice surfaces here.

“He’s a big, strong kid. He plays in all situations. He plays a 200-foot game. He kills penalties. He’ll be able to play the power play once he’s up and going. I’m excited to see what he can bring.”

Podkolzin was the lone Canucks player to make TSN’s annual Top 75 NHL-affiliated prospect ranking last month, coming in at No. 50.

The Elite Prospects website describes him as: “a skilled winger who plays with an edge. Podkolzin combines his fine hockey sense, puck handling and shooting with an aggressive, in-your-face, type of game. He competes hard, is very difficult to play against and has the tools to be a high scoring player.”

Rhys Jessop, a former Florida Panthers scout based in Vancouver, offered up a glowing scouting report.

“I think fans are going to love him. I really value what he brings to the table. He plays a really aggressive and forceful game, based around intensity on the forecheck. His skill level is quite good, but his stride will need some refinement. I think he could be a really effective top-six winger for a long time.”

Podkolzin’s stay with SKA St. Petersburg was tumultuous at times. He seemed to fall in and out of favour. He was a healthy scratch for stints. He was even sent down to the KHL’s equivalent of the AHL earlier this season.

His KHL regular-season stats — seven goals and 19 points in 68 games over three seasons — are pedestrian at best. Benning maintains he’s not concerned about those numbers. He also points out that Podkolzin did produce points in the playoffs for SKA St. Petersburg, recording five goals and 11 points in 16 post-season encounters this year.

“He played his very best when it mattered most,” Benning said.

Benning emphasized that Podkolzin won’t be a player you merely judge on the totals in the goal and assists column.

Benning made a comparison to Vancouver centre Bo Horvat, saying that Podkolzin’s game is “well rounded … it’s like Bo came in with a mature attention to detail already.”

He also made a comparison to Hoglander, explaining that Podkolzin will “make players around him better, almost like Hoglander does a little bit. Hoglander is first on pucks and in puck battles and Vasily will bring that to our group, too.” 1214765 Vancouver Canucks rather see on your third pairing, playing managed minutes against lower- quality forwards.

That’s the kind of matchup you’d like to be in a position to exploit, but, Canucks shopping list: That gaping hole on the blue-line again, there’s a big hole in the top two pairings so he might find himself spotted into a bigger role than you’d like.

The one real positive on the blue-line this season was Travis Hamonic. Patrick Johnston Signed on the eve of training camp, he was behind the eight ball, started poorly, then got hurt. Publishing date: May 30, 2021 But once he returned to action full time, he was the Canucks’ best

defensive defenceman. Shot data from HockeyViz.com shows that when The Vancouver Canucks were not a good defensive team in 2020-21. he was on the ice, the opposition’s efforts to get pucks towards the net were much worse than when he wasn’t. That’s not all about the defence corps, of course, as defending in the NHL is as much about how the five men on the ice work as a unit as That’s everything the Canucks hoped he would be. And they are surely anything. interested in bringing him back to play a similar role, likely alongside Hughes once again. But the base of the story is always going to be about the players who play closest to the net and the decisions they make with and without the The numbers puck. The simple truth is the Canucks didn’t play well enough defensively. It When we look at the defencemen who have played for the Canucks in seems crazy to try to return with the same mix of blueliners as they did the last two seasons, we see a lot players being asked to do more than this year, though a healthy Hamonic, a revitalized Hughes and a more they should. mature Rathbone could combine to change the mix somewhat on their own. On the weekend, we looked at the holes to be filled among the forwards. Today it’s the holes in the defence corps. Too often they were in their own end and too often they were yielding high-quality chances. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Canucks gave The holdovers up the second-highest number of high-danger scoring chances against, which are shots taken from on top of the crease and dead in front. Quinn Hughes’ rookie season had him trending towards being a true No. 1 defenceman, but as a sophomore he struggled in his own end. They were just too permissive in defending the net.

He’s a smart player, one who you’d expect to spend the summer going The old-school blueliner who seemingly put up a force field around your over what went wrong and finding solutions. The Canucks have every net just doesn’t work anymore. To be an effective defender you need to reason to be confident he’ll be a fixture on the top pairing for years to be able to skate and make smart decisions with and without the puck. come. He’s without a contract but given how few rights he has as a restricted free agent, there’s little doubt he’ll be re-signed. It’s possible the Canucks may be able to spring one of the extra quality defencemen out of Carolina ahead of the draft. The Hurricanes simply Tyler Myers tantalizes because he’s a giant defenceman who can lay have too many good defenders and won’t be able to keep them all. opponents out and has offensive instincts. He is best when the puck is on his stick as he’s prone to poor defensive reads. The Canucks have Same goes for Colorado, where someone like Devon Toews might find played him as a top-four defenceman, which has been a challenge for themselves tradable. him. He’s best deployed on the third pairing. Perhaps Rathbone on his own changes that dynamic in 2021-22. Maybe Nate Schmidt, if he is still a Canuck next season, will be looking to prove Hughes doesn’t just return to his rookie season form but also adds new he can be the true two-way presence the Canucks hoped he’d be, but defensive tools to his kit. Maybe Schmidt returns with a new fire in his mostly wasn’t. Assuming he stays, he’s a quality player to build the belly. second pairing around. Like the forward depth, the Canucks’ defence corps sure seems like it Olli Juolevi, who GM Jim Benning told CHEK TV on Friday lost 10 to 15 needs something new. pounds during his bout with COVID-19, and Jalen Chatfield both spotted in on the third pairing but at this point it’s hard to see either as anything more than a seventh defenceman. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.31.2021 So, no matter what, the Canucks need to sort out three, maybe four, more defencemen to play regular minutes next season.

With little space to work with under the salary cap — even after a buyout or two, an AHL reassignment or two, and perhaps a trade — the manoeuvring this summer won’t be easy.

The kid

The first face that will surely be looked to help figure this all out will be Jack Rathbone. The former Harvard captain showed well in his late- season cameo.

His skating and hockey sense was always going to take him a long way, his ability to adjust to the challenges NHL forwards present to a defenceman was the main question mark.

But is he really ready for a top-four role? Ideally you’d bring him along on the third pairing — especially since that would speak to depth above him that he’d have to beat out to win more ice time.

The veterans

The two other faces that will be discussed as the summer progresses, especially if the Schmidt trade talk doesn’t die down, are Alex Edler and Travis Hamonic.

Edler showed his age in 2020-21, but still performed capably enough. But at age 35, how much is left in the tank? And he’s another player you’d 1214766 Vancouver Canucks “He’s an important young player for them. He’s not close to the same level of prospect as Pettersson and Quinn Hughes were coming into the NHL, but he has a high skill level, great hockey sense, great compete level. He plays hard and brings a unique element to a lineup. His skating Canucks sign Vasili Podkolzin: What to expect from top prospect in his is an issue for the NHL, but everything else about his game yells top-six rookie season forward. I see him as a second-line forward on a contender and a guy who could play higher in the lineup in a pinch or on a lesser team. The

way he ended his KHL time was very promising and a good indicator he By Thomas Drance can help the Canucks right away as a top-nine forward.”

May 30, 2021 Added a veteran NHL talent evaluator familiar with the KHL when asked whether Podkolzin is ready to play in the NHL next season:

“It’s a tough league to handicap in terms of evaluating NHL readiness. It’s Vasili Podkolzin is coming, and he’ll be on the Vancouver Canucks’ a European-style game on a big ice surface and teams play really roster to begin next season. defensively, but I noticed his small area game was excellent. He had a projectable shot, quick release and accurate — I think that’ll play up. It’s The Canucks have signed their top prospect to an entry-level deal. The also not a very physical game in the KHL, and that’s the specific area of contract was officially announced by the club Sunday, but the two sides the game that he’ll be more effective at in the NHL. There’s a lot to like agreed to terms late last week, as was first reported by The Athletic about his game.” contributor Rick Dhaliwal. Based on Podkolzin’s performance in his latest KHL season, his The contract is a three-year entry-level pact that comes in at a $925,000 statistical profile stands out. face value cap hit, with full Schedule A bonuses totalling $850,000. His full cap hit will be pegged at $1.775 million in each of the three years. While he logged only prescribed ice time, that he was able to contribute and play as regularly as he did as a 19-year-old on a top team in a It’s interesting that Podkolzin’s entry-level contract includes the max face difficult league like the KHL makes him uncommon. And an uncommon value cap hit and full Schedule A bonuses. That valuation pegs profile is always a promising sign for a top prospect. Podkolzin’s deal at a modestly higher range than a typical entry-level contract for 10th picks, based on the ELCs signed by the likes of Owen It goes without saying that Podkolzin doesn’t have the type of statistical Tippett and Evan Bouchard. track record at the KHL level that suggests he possesses upside as a dynamic offensive contributor like Kirill Kaprizov or Nikita Kucherov. Podkolzin’s entry-level valuation, however, reflects his situation. He’s a That’s fine from a Canucks perspective, though, because that’s not player who developed within the SKA Saint Petersburg system, which is where the bar is set for Podkolzin. a deep-pocketed organization in the KHL, giving him additional options and leverage. His entry-level deal is a perfect match, for example, with His value is more likely to be measured in whether he can provide sturdy Florida Panthers 2018 first-round pick Grigori Denisenko, who came two-way impact and physical value. He’s expected to be more of a through the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl system. supporting offensive piece and a handful all over the ice than a top-line- calibre scoring threat. It’s also worth noting that Podkolzin’s deal doesn’t include a European out clause. Unlike previous European-based Canucks prospects with Patience will still be required. Any 20-year-old player entering the NHL as options, including players like Nikita Tryamkin and Elias Pettersson, a rookie is liable to take some time to find a groove in terms of honing Podkolzin will be able to be assigned to the AHL. their defensive details and providing two-way impact. Podkolzin is still poised to be a useful Canucks contributor right off the hop, however, Don’t expect that to happen, though. Podkolzin is in the Canucks’ plans even if he’s somewhat sheltered at five-on-five to begin 2021-22. to play an everyday role in the NHL this upcoming season. Podkolzin will be given every opportunity to cement himself as an His spot in the lineup isn’t so much written in pencil as it is etched into a everyday top-nine player on Day 1 of training camp 2021. wax tablet with a stylus. It’s an opportunity Podkolzin has waited patiently for. An opportunity the The bruising winger has an NHL-ready frame and has played regularly in organization is going to be counting on him to seize. the top Russian men’s league. He already has pro-level two-way intelligence and an offensive game that — though he projects to be a supporting-level offensive piece rather than a top scorer in the NHL — should translate off the hop. It’s worth noting, too, that at this point in his The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 development, Podkolzin’s playmaking and area game are more advanced than his finishing.

The NHL game will be an adjustment for Podkolzin in his rookie campaign, but this isn’t a player who’s going to need a ton of additional development time.

“He’s got the physical attributes,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning told The Athletic on Sunday. “At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he’s a physically strong kid, and he plays a solid two-way game. His attention to detail for a young player is very good. He’s got that 200-foot game, too.

“I think he’s going to be better on the small ice surface,” Benning continued. “Seeing him at the world junior a couple of years ago, when he’s played on the smaller ice surface, I think his game is better. He works hard, gets to pucks first, competes hard on the puck and can make plays. He can play with good players and complement good players.

“The last couple of years, he’s played in a really good organization and hasn’t had a lot of opportunity on such a deep team, but I think he’s going to be an all-situational type player — kill penalties, play on the power play, and he’s good five-on-five.”

The Canucks general manager’s take on Podkolzin’s readiness matches closely with other opinions within the industry. The Athletic’s top scout, Corey Pronman, similarly sees Podkolzin as a player capable of stepping into an NHL role immediately, largely because of his physical game and sky-high work rate: 1214767 Websites Arizona and Columbus. The Coyotes are looking at a number of guys who would be first-time NHL head coaches as the organization looks to rebuild the roster. Nelson — who was interim head coach in Edmonton replacing Dallas Eakins midway through the 2014-15 season — has The Athletic / LeBrun: Which coaches are in position for new NHL been highly thought of everywhere he’s gone but still awaits his first real opportunities? chance as NHL head coach.

Rocky Thompson, San Jose Sharks: He’s another name like Lambert and Nelson that seems on the verge in the next year or two. The Sharks By Pierre LeBrun plucked him out of the Vegas organization where he was AHL head May 31, 2021 coach to join Bob Boughner’s San Jose staff. He’s another guy I thought Arizona would reach out on but as of this weekend, that hadn’t happened.

There are currently five NHL head coaching openings and interviews are Kirk Muller, free agent: Let go in Montreal along with head coach Claude well underway in all those situations so it’s a good time to look at what’s Julien midseason, I wonder if an NHL team will want to take a look at going on. Muller, who took over in the bubble last summer when Julien had his health situation and the Habs performed well. Muller was head coach in Plus, let’s cast an eye as well to the future in the coaching ranks. Carolina almost a decade ago and seems primed for a second kick at the NHL free-agent head coaches can. He has certainly put in the miles over the years as an assistant/associate. Does he get a look for the big job again? Gerard Gallant: Canada’s world championship head coach has interviewed with the Rangers and Blue Jackets so far, sources confirm. Don Granato, Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres assistant took over as interim I’m told he left a favourable impression on the Rangers’ brass. It’s head coach this season and he is a legitimate candidate for the believed he talked to Seattle in April 2020 but I don’t think the Kraken permanent job though GM Kevyn Adams is casting a wide net and talking have circled back. Everywhere he goes, players go through a wall for to a lot of people. Still, Granato is well-liked and has a real shot at it. him. Hard to think he won’t get hired this offseason. Jack Capuano, Ottawa Senators: The associate coach to D.J. Smith in Rick Tocchet: He’s a hot candidate right now. Sources say he has Ottawa has helped bring along that rebuild in Canada’s capital and interviewed recently with Seattle, Buffalo, Columbus and the Rangers. perhaps after another season trending up that work will net the former Clearly, teams value how he maxed out the talent he had to work with in Islanders head coach a second chance. He’s got one year left on his deal Arizona. That, plus his Stanley Cup championship experience from being in Ottawa. He’s currently the head coach for Team USA at the men’s an assistant on the Penguins staff in 2016 and 2017. worlds in Latvia.

David Quinn: Fired by the Rangers, he’s already interviewed in Other notable NHL assistants on the radar include Brad Larsen, Columbus, which is hardly a surprise given the John Davidson Columbus; Joe Sacco, Boston, Nolan Pratt, Colorado; Jeff Halpern, connection. Hearing that a few other teams have also sent out feelers. Tampa Bay. Teams are often attracted to second-time head coaches. Pascal Vincent, Jets organization: Honestly surprised he still hasn’t got Bruce Boudreau: He recently interviewed with the Sabres but as far as I his shot in the bigs as a head coach. can tell, that’s the only team that has reached out. Boudreau’s .635 win “Pascal is a real student of the game and in life,” said Jets GM Kevin percentage behind the bench is second only to Scotty Bowman in NHL Cheveldayoff. “Over the time that he has been with the Jets organization history so it’s somewhat surprising he hasn’t got more calls. There are he has worked as an assistant in the NHL under two head coaches and some who fear the game has passed him by at age 66, which I don’t has been a very successful head coach in the AHL. Along the way, he think is fair. Perhaps the next gig here is for an NHL team to hire him as has gained valuable experience in all aspects of coaching today’s game.” an associate coach to fix their special teams. He did talk to Toronto about an associate role last offseason but it didn’t work out. Benoit Groulx, Lightning organization: Also has put in his time. Given Tampa Bay’s place in the hockey world, it’s weird that his name isn’t out John Tortorella: First, for those wondering if the veteran bench boss still there more. wants to coach, the answer is yes. But as far as I can tell from checking with a few sources, the phone hasn’t rung yet. Some teams I know worry “He has one of the best hockey minds I have come across,” said about his tough-love approach at times (Patrik Laine, Pierre-Luc Dubois), Lightning GM Julien BriseBois. “He is demanding and holds players but he’s also the same coach who led the Jackets to series wins over accountable. He has done a lot of winning at every level he has coached Tampa Bay and Toronto the last two years. at and gets the most out of his players.”

Claude Julien: Man, talk about being under the radar these days. Julien Spencer Carbery, Capitals organization: He was named AHL head coach has kept a very low profile since his Habs dismissal earlier this season. I of the year Friday. As far as I know, he hasn’t got any calls from NHL don’t believe any team has asked Montreal permission to speak to him teams yet and I suspect the next step for him would be to become an yet (Julien has another year on his contract at $5 million), but I’ve also NHL assistant first at some point. A name to file away. heard a few teams kicking his name around a bit. I do think if the fit is right he would coach again. Karl Taylor, Predators organization: Named AHL coach of the year last season. Bob Hartley: Does a KHL championship get the veteran coach back on the NHL radar? I traded emails with him recently to ask if he’s got calls “Karl hasn’t missed any steps through his progression to become our from NHL teams and he politely declined to answer. He won the Jack head coach in Milwaukee,” said Preds GM David Poile. Adams as NHL coach of the year in 2015 in Calgary and then was fired “Love his resume. Checks all the boxes, knowledgeable, experienced, by the Flames a year later and we haven’t seen him in the NHL since. great relationships. Definitely deserves consideration for NHL He’s currently coaching host Latvia at the men’s worlds. opportunities.” NHL assistant coaches on the radar Other AHL head coaches on the NHL radar include Jay Woodcroft, Lane Lambert, New York Islanders: Barry Trotz’s longtime assistant is Oilers; Jay Leach, Bruins; Troy Mann, Senators; Kris Knoblauch, viewed by many around the game as being ready to be an NHL head Rangers; Neil Graham, Stars. coach. I suspect Arizona has him on its radar and it wouldn’t surprise me Nate Leaman, Providence and Team USA world juniors: Sources say the if expansion Seattle also doesn’t reach out when the time is right. Sabres plan to talk to him once he’s back from the men’s IIHF world Obviously the Isles are still in the playoffs so any team wanting to talk to championship where he’s an assistant coach on Team USA after leading Lambert must be patient. Or, they can call Isles GM Lou Lamoriello now the program to world junior gold this past year. I’d be surprised if Buffalo and see how that goes (I’m joking). But either way, it seems like a is the only team that wants to talk to him. foregone conclusion Lambert will be an NHL head coach sooner rather than later. Scott Sandelin, University Minnesota-Duluth: His one and only NHL interview was in the summer of 2019 when the brought Todd Nelson, Dallas Stars: Nelson has won at every level he’s coached him in for the job that eventually went to Dallas Eakins. While it might be and seems due as well. Sources say he’s interviewed recently with surprising Sandelin has only had one NHL interview given his track record in college, my sense is that it’s more to do with the fact he hasn’t chased it very much. But I also think that after 20-plus years at UMD, he would be open to listening to NHL teams.

Andre Tourigny, Hockey Canada: The world junior coach for Canada’s silver medal team this past year took on more responsibility with Hockey Canada in March when he accepted a one-year deal to coach in four international events: the current men’s worlds in Latvia as an assistant, the world juniors again as head coach, an assistant on the Canadian Olympic staff for Beijing and finally head coach next spring at the men’s worlds. The two-time OHL coach of the year in Ottawa is filling out his resume nicely with the Hockey Canada gig this year. It should open doors with AHL/NHL teams over the next few years.

Rikard Gronborg, Zurich Lions: The former Swedish national team head coach is a name that’s been on the radar for a few years but NHL teams have rarely dipped their toes overseas for the big job behind the bench. Which is too bad. I do believe NHL team executives need to broaden their thinking on coaching hires. Gronborg has put in the time at a high level.

Speaking of broadening the scope …

Imagine the day when a woman steps behind an NHL bench as head coach. I can.

It will be a watershed moment for the sport.

But first, some doors have to be opened at other coaching levels in men’s hockey.

Some coaches to keep an eye on:

Laura Schuler: Head coach of the Canadian national women’s Olympic team in 2018, the former national team player is in her 19th season in NCAA women’s hockey in varying roles, currently serving as a high- performance coach advisor to the Quinnipiac Bobcat’s women’s program. She also spent a number of years as a development coach for Hockey Canada.

Cassie Turner: Turner has been the head coach of the Quinnipiac University women’s hockey team for six seasons. In her first season as head coach, Turner set the NCAA record for wins by a first-year women’s ice hockey head coach at any level. She is credited for re-energizing the program. She also has coached for Hockey Canada, head coach of Canada’s national women’s under-18 team in 2014-15.

Kori Cheverie: She’s the assistant coach on the Ryerson Rams men’s hockey team in Toronto, joining the men’s coaching staff as a full-time assistant in 2016, becoming the first female to be a full-time assistant in a men’s hockey program in Canadian university sports history.

Cheverie, who has definite NHL coaching aspirations, played six seasons in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) with the Toronto Furies.

Cheverie is sitting on the “Women Breaking Barriers” panel at the upcoming NHL Coaches’ Association Global Coaches’ Clinic (alongside NFL coach Jennifer King and NBA coach Natalie Nakase).

Stacey Colarossi: The former head coach of Laurentian University’s women’s hockey team (Laurentian cancelled its hockey program in April), she spent eight seasons behind the bench.

Prior to that, she spent nine seasons as associate coach of the York University Women’s Hockey Program. She seems ready now to jump to the men’s side of the sport.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214768 Websites average of one pick traded away each year). But the Penguins don’t appear in red anywhere else, suggesting that they’ve done reasonably well with what they have.

The Athletic / Which NHL teams have drafted the best and worst since The Blue Jackets and the Bruins led the way by drafting the most players 2005? to get into an NHL game with 51 apiece, but the Bruins were the league’s most efficient, doing it with 78 picks to Columbus’ 89 for a 65 percent rate, a full 16 percentage points higher than the league average of 49 percent. The Bruins were also the most productive on a per pick basis, By Scott Wheeler and Harman Dayal producing an average of 61 points out of every selection. May 31, 2021 The Kings light up green the most, ranking first in total games played and games played per pick, second in total NHLers and total points produced by those NHLers and third in hit percentage. The NHL has created an entire industry of coverage and curiosity in prospects and the draft that thrives well beyond when the picks are The Canucks, on the other hand, don’t look good here. They made the made. fewest picks and drafted the latest on average, which drives some of those results down, but it’s ugly no matter how you slice it, with league- It has done so because of how early its predominantly 18-year-old draft worst rates virtually across the board as well. They missed a lot, and the takes place, the global nature of the sport and the wide range of leagues players they did get didn’t last or become particularly productive. The and levels available to prospects before they reach the NHL, and, maybe 2005 to 2015 lookback period results are very grim, albeit a lagging above all else, the parity in the league created by its salary cap, which indicator that doesn’t capture their recent drafting turnaround under GM fuels a never-ending pursuit of the cheap-entry level contracts and young Jim Benning. players who can open a team’s contending window. Of the players who did make it, the Avalanche produced the most On top of all of that, there are these two truths: productive ones and by a decent margin. That’s driven in part by top picks like Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene, but 1. Hockey is the hardest of the big four sports to scout because it doesn’t they deserve a ton of credit for also drafting highly skilled forwards like have the measurables of the other sports. Even as data at the NHL level Mikko Rantanen (10th), Ryan O’Reilly (33rd), Chris Stewart (18th) and inches closer in some areas, its data points in junior, college and non- Paul Stastny (44th) as well as highly productive defencemen like Tyson NHL pro leagues are inconsistent at best and unreliable or empty at Barrie (64th) and Kevin Shattenkirk (14th). worst. Though average pick isn’t as strong a measurement for predicted 2. Because of the time lag between a player’s draft day and NHL debut success as actually weighting each pick (which we’ll get to in a moment), (even as the league gets younger) and the breadth of games being it does highlight some interesting notes at either end of the spectrum. It’s played across several time zones and multiple continents, NHL fans, no surprise that the Sharks drafted lower on average than any other team even the diehards, don’t have the time to keep adequate tabs on their in the league given how competitive they were as a franchise from 2005 prospects. The result is an economy of draft authorities who do that work to 2016. They actually did OK, all told. On the other side, you’d like the for them. Coyotes to do better than they did considering their favourable draft slots. The sheer difficulty that comes with drafting in hockey also creates a ton The Islanders and Blues probably challenge each other to round out the of unpredictability, which results in hits and misses. Every hockey fan has top five here with the Kings, Bruins, Blue Jackets and Oilers. The only the instinct to pore over old drafts to wallow in all of the players their teams that are likely in the conversation to give the Canucks a run for the team missed on. worst record are the Devils and Rangers, though the Canadiens, Flames Here, through an exhaustive review of draft data since the 2004-05 and Wild are firmly in the bottom 10 as well. lockout (a good barometer for modern player evaluation), we’ve tried to Other notes: cut through the noise to provide a holistic picture of how every NHL team has done. The worst team draft classes: Only five team draft classes from 2005 to 2010 produced zero NHL games. The Canucks (2007 and 2010) had two We’ll start with some of the raw data before trying to take it a step further. of them and the Flames (2006), Canadiens (2008) and Penguins (2008) The data includes a total of 2,551 picks from 2005 to 2016 (it’s too early had the other three. It still feels too early to fully write off the other drafts for the 2017 to 2020 results, so our focus there will be more anecdotal at since, because players taken in 2011 are only 27 and 28 right now, and the end of this article). Of those picks, roughly half have played an NHL it’s not completely unheard of to have players that age find their way into game. Those players have played more than 280,000 games, and have the league. produced nearly 120,000 (and counting) points. The best team draft classes: The most productive team draft class of this Here’s what the raw data looks like across several counting stats, with a era was Boston’s 2006 group led by Phil Kessel (5th), Milan Lucic (50th), bit of an index for the ones that aren’t obvious: Brad Marchand (71st), which have combined for more than 2,100 points • NHLers: Players each team has drafted who’ve played at least one (and counting). Pittsburgh’s 2005 group finishes an unsurprising second game in the league. This is not a barometer for NHL regulars. thanks to No. 1 pick Sidney Crosby, but they don’t get there without nearly 600 points from 62nd pick Kris Letang, either. The Islanders had • Hit %: The percentage of NHLers produced according to the number of back-to-back drafts that produced more than 1,100 points and more than picks made by each team. An easy way to identify a scouting 1,400 points in 2008 (Josh Bailey, Travis Hamonic, Matt Martin and department’s success rate. (Scouts don’t trade picks.) Jared Spurgeon) and 2009 (when they drafted John Tavares at No. 1 but Takeaways also hit on all seven of their picks). Tampa’s 2011 class deserves some love for going six-for-six and nabbing Vladislav Namestnikov (27th), There are some immediate trends that develop out of this dataset (which Nikita Kucherov (58th) and Ondrej Palat (208th). we dove into previously in 2019 and has now been updated through all games on March 30, 2021). The best feeders: The London Knights remain the giant of player development, producing more NHL picks (38) than any other program The first ones are the teams that lead the way on various fronts. from 2005 to 2016 outside of USA Hockey’s all-star national program (66). The Blackhawks, for example, made the most picks in the 12 drafts from 2005 to 2016, selecting 105 times. That’s nine more than the next-most For a closer look at the results, though, we’ve also taken the data a step for a team (which accounts to basically selecting an entire extra draft further, mining it right down to the expected value of each pick. class) and an average of nine selections per draft. But despite all of those picks, their 41 NHL players is tied for 17th among the league’s 30 As you might imagine, point totals alone are inadequate for measuring a teams (sorry Vegas, we’ll get to you later!). That gives them a 39 percent player’s overall value, particularly for defencemen and goalies. We need success rate, which is tied for last in the league. a more holistic way of objectively assessing each draftee’s impact and for that, we’ll turn to colleague Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score Value On the flip side, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup twice and made the Added model. GSVA, which is measured in wins, is an all-in-one stat that fewest picks in that span, selecting just 72 times (six per draft, for an combines box score statistics like points, shots, blocks and penalty differential with underlying metrics that measure two-way impact and Brady Skjei at 28th, Chris Kreider at 19th, Marc Staal at 12th) or nail it in then adjusts it for usage. the second if they squandered their first pick (Derek Stepan in 2008, Artem Anisimov in 2006). Their best class on a relative basis was 2013 Here, for each player, we analyzed how many wins of value they chipped where they selected Pavel Buchnevich, Anthony Duclair and Ryan in during their first seven NHL seasons, as that’s how long teams Graves all in the third round or later. typically have control over a player’s rights. If there were recent draftees that haven’t played all seven seasons yet (e.g.: someone drafted in 2015 Toronto was below average in the drafting for most of this sample but might have only played four NHL seasons so far), we took the existing since Brendan Shanahan’s arrival, the club’s had a strong turnaround. results and simply projected their value for the remaining years. William Nylander (eighth in 2014) and Mitch Marner (fourth in 2015) were Luszczyszyn’s goalie data was derived from Evolving-Hockey’s data. critical hits that are worth a combined 17.4 wins above expected based on their draft slot. Let’s begin by looking at the total value every team has gained from the draft. On the right side of the table, we’ve included six notable draftees Similar to New York, we didn’t expect to see Dallas round out the top 10. purely for context (you shouldn’t judge the ranking of teams based on The Stars have been hit and miss with their first-round selections but these six). they’ve made up for it by mining Jamie Benn, John Klingberg, Esa Lindell and Roope Hintz outside of the first round. Washington may not immediately come to mind when you think of the best drafting teams in the NHL — they haven’t mined an impact player Nashville’s a really fascinating case in the top half. The Predators since 2015 with Ilya Samsonov — but they’re at the top of the table for amassed a number of elite defensive talent in Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, this lookback period. The Capitals landed this high in large part because Seth Jones, Samuel Girard and Mattias Ekholm but they’ve been held of how many goalies they’ve unearthed as Braden Holtby, Semyon back significantly by an inability to find high-end offensive weapons up Varlamov, Samsonov, Philipp Grubauer and Michal Neuvirth have front, especially at centre. combined for 55 wins of value. The Capitals drafted especially well between 2006 and 2014, including the 2012 draft where they pulled Filip It might be surprising to see the Blackhawks as low as 19th but that’s Forsberg, Tom Wilson and Chandler Stephenson with their first three because the heavy lifting to construct their Cup-winning core was mostly selections. Landing John Carlson and Evgeny Kuznetsov with late first- accomplished just prior to our lookback period. Between 2002 and 2004, round picks is mighty impressive as well. Chicago acquired a boatload of picks that helped yield , Brent Seabrook, Corey Crawford, Dustin Byfuglien, Dave Bolland, Troy Meanwhile, at the absolute bottom, the New Jersey Devils netted roughly Brouwer and Bryan Bickell. a fifth of the value from drafting that the Capitals did. New Jersey and Arizona at 25th are the two teams that you could argue were unable to The one drafting juggernaut we haven’t touched on yet is Tampa Bay. draft a single star player through 12 draft years. The Lightning ranked as the NHL’s best drafting team outside of the first round, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering that they’ve netted Examining the total value each team’s extracted from the draft is a good Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli and Ondrej Palat in later starting point but one factor that we need to account for is the quality of rounds. each team’s picks. It’s a lot easier to mine high-end talent as a bottom- feeder consistently drafting in the top 10 compared to a contender Conversely, this table also explains part of the reason why it’s taken the picking in the mid-to-late 20s, after all. To account for this, we can look at Oilers so long to round the corner out of their rebuild. Edmonton’s had a the historical average value of every pick in the draft. tough time supplementing its first-round selections with players that can move the needle elsewhere in the draft. The first overall pick, for example, is expected to be worth 17.7 wins over seven years on average by the GSVA model, the second pick 12.3 wins, Recent results (2017-2020) the final pick in the first round 2.8 wins and so on. Wheeler: When I think about the teams that have drafted best of late and Here’s what each pick has been worth on average by GSVA: I haven’t pored over the data, the first team that comes to mind is Vegas. I loved their drafts in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Part of all of their noticeable What we can do with this is tabulate an expected number of wins/GSVA hits has been driven by the number of high picks they’ve had, but they for each team’s draft capital and then compare that to what they actually haven’t really missed on any of those (Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, Erik garnered. This means that a team like Edmonton that’s consistently Brannstrom, Peyton Krebs and Brendan Brisson) and they appear to drafted in the top five will have a much higher bar to clear while a have hit everywhere else in the draft as well (Lukas Cormier, Lucas perennial contender like Pittsburgh that’s had few valuable picks will be Elvenes, Ivan Morozov, Jack Dugan and the rest). graded far more generously. If I had to predict the teams we’ll look back on as the most successful So which teams have outperformed their draft capital most significantly, another 10 years from now (relative to where they’ve picked in this ie: picked the best on relative terms? stretch) when we do this all over, though, I’d bet on the Hurricanes, who’ve drafted most in line with my board, and the Kings, who’ve The top-five drafting teams on a relative basis (Washington, Tampa Bay, assembled an unrivalled group of prospects in the last few years that Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Boston) all won the Stanley Cup in the past should turn them around faster, in theory, than some of the other current decade. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the bottom-five drafting rebuilding teams. teams (Buffalo, Florida, Edmonton, Arizona and Vancouver) account for some of the longest ongoing rebuild projects in that span. All three of those teams really get it.

Of course, this isn’t a definitive ranking of drafting ability, there needs to Dayal: The Canucks have taken full advantage of some of the more be room for subjective interpretation. Pittsburgh, for example, gained 11 recent top picks they’ve had. Elias Pettersson (5th) and Quinn Hughes of its 19.5 wins above expected from Sidney Crosby, who was a no- (7th) were home run picks in 2017 and 2018, respectively. 2019 second- brainer selection — it’s an excellent pick on paper but it’s not one a team round pick Nils Höglander graduated ahead of schedule as a valuable should get too much credit for here. Without Crosby, they’d be neck and middle-six contributor already while Jack Rathbone has top-four upside neck with Dallas for the 10th spot, which is still solid. The Penguins have despite being a 2017 fourth-round selection. had limited draft capital to work with, ranking 23rd in expected pick value, but they’ve made the most of it by landing a pair of high-end top-six I’m also a big fan of what Colorado has done at the draft table recently, at forwards in the third round in Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. least with its first-round picks. Cale Makar is going to be a perennial Norris Trophy candidate, Bowen Byram could be another cornerstone Anaheim ranks high on this list at sixth. They’ve drafted really well but piece on the back end and I think the Avs also got excellent bang for their squandered the opportunity by relinquishing players like Shea Theodore, buck with Alex Newhook at 16th in 2019. It’s scary to imagine how this Jake Gardiner, William Karlsson and Kyle Palmieri before they broke out. Avalanche team might look like when Byram and Newhook break in This mismanagement has undermined an amateur scouting staff that has closer to their primes. otherwise passed with flying colours.

The Rangers were a bit of a surprise at seven. They’ve certainly struggled to land players that move the needle since about 2014 and had The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 very little in the way of draft capital to work with before that but they did well from an efficiency standpoint from about 2005 to 2013. During this time they made it a habit to either hit in the first round (J.T. Miller at 15th, 1214769 Websites leaves Nick Leddy and Scott Mayfield to containing the David Krejci-Hall- Smith line. That puts pressure on the Islanders to come up with their own balanced attack and means Mathew Barzal, without a goal in six games, needs to step up, the executive said. The Athletic / NHL playoff predictions unplugged: Anonymous scout, coach and exec pick second-round winners “Barzal’s going to have to get going a bit,” he said.

The executive was also bullish on Boston’s goaltending led by veteran Tuukka Rask who was sensational with a .941 save percentage against By Scott Burnside the Capitals.

May 31, 2021 “I don’t know why in Boston they shit all over the guy,” he said. “He’s proven that he can win series.”

Our coach was concerned about the status of Smith after leaving Game And so we bid adieu to Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and 1 with an injury but regardless echoed his feelings that Boston is going to shockingly, as it turns out Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Auston be too much for the Islanders to handle. Matthews? Mitch Marner? Hanging by a thread. Goodbye first round, hello second round of the NHL playoffs. Well sort of. With Montreal “I just think they’re firing on all cylinders,” the coach said. pushing heavily favored Toronto to a deciding seventh game Monday in Toronto in their first playoff clash since 1979, the North Division is still a How much fun should this series be? Two deep, fast, talented and few days behind the rest of the NHL playoff world. physical teams that can bring the power from the back end, too. Great coaching matchup with defending Stanley Cup champ Jon Cooper But no matter. The pandemic playoffs wait for no team or player and so matching wits with Rod Brind’Amour. Jaccob Slavin’s return to the we have once again imposed on our panel of experts — an NHL coach, Carolina lineup late in the Nashville series was a key. Both teams have executive and scout — to guide us into the second round. killer power plays so finding that line between physicality and being in the box could be a deciding factor. While everyone struck out on the Winnipeg-Edmonton series, won in an improbable sweep by the Jets, our panel of prognosticators was Rookie Alex Nedeljkovic will need to keep up his stellar play if he’s going otherwise pretty damned good in the first round. Of the seven series to saw off Andrei Vasilevskiy who is a favorite to win his second Vezina completed they combined for a 16-5 mark in the first round. Impressive. Trophy. Nedeljkovic has a .922 save percentage and has played in four straight overtime games, winning the last two to close out the Preds, so It doesn’t get any easier with four of the best teams in the NHL, Colorado nerves at this point should be a non-issue. The goaltending should be a and Vegas in the West and Carolina and defending Cup champion mismatch but our executive said he doesn’t know if the Hurricanes get Tampa in the Central, squaring off. past Nashville without Nedeljkovic. So, without further ado here’s a look at how our panel sees the second “This guy has played good all year,” he said. round shaking down. Still, our panel believes strongly in the Bolts. We’ll circle back when Montreal and Toronto finish up to add in predictions on whomever Winnipeg faces. So stay tuned. “Tampa is playing like demons,” our scout said. “I don’t think Tampa’s going to take a step back.” East Division Both the executive and the scout noted the return of Barclay Goodrow — Boston Bruins vs. New York Islanders who scored the game winner in Game 1 on Sunday night — as being Boston enters this series as a favorite based on a variety of factors, not critical to the Lightning in maintaining the identity established last the least of which was their easy handling of Washington and the summer that they can play on the freeways and in the trenches. For our emergence of Taylor Hall and Craig Smith who have taken some of the scout, he said there is just too much to like about Tampa from their pressure off Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Not goaltending on out. that Pastrnak needed much relief as he recorded a hat-trick in the Bruins’ “When I watch them they’re playing with some major determination,” he series-opening 5-2 win Saturday. said. But the Islanders represent something else entirely given their four-line, Our executive joked that given how devastating Tampa’s power play has in-your-face style of play that took advantage of seemingly every misstep been – they went 8-for-20 for a cool 40 percent efficiency against Florida by the Penguins and their porous goaltending. Rookie netminder Ilya – Brind’Amour should start working the officials sooner than later. The Sorokin remains the starter for the Isles although Semyon Varlamov key for our executive will be in Carolina’s depth scoring. Guys like Nino could definitely make his presence known in this series and Isles coach Niederreiter, Vincent Trocheck, and Martin Necas, who had a strong Barry Trotz was non-committal about his starting goalie in Game 2. series against Nashville, will need to continue to produce. “Any team that Barry Trotz has coached is going to be a demon to play “Jordan Staal has been great. They certainly have it in them,” the against,” our scout said. “And it’s not like Butch (Bruins coach Bruce executive said. “But I’m going to take Tampa in six although I could see Cassidy) is a lightweight. That series for me is a tossup.” Carolina winning it in six or seven.” Our scout believes the addition of veterans Kyle Palmieri, who was Our coach likewise felt this series was going to be a tough challenge for excellent against Pittsburgh, and Travis Zajac, used sparingly in the first Tampa. round, are important as this second-round series unfolds. “I don’t like the matchup for Tampa Bay just because they come at you “Those guys don’t get rattled a whole lot,” the scout said. “For me, it’s so fast, they’re such an aggressive team, Carolina,” the coach said. The always the secondary scoring guys in the playoffs.” way the Hurricanes employ their four lines on the forecheck will definitely One issue for our executive was how to accurately assess the Islanders’ test the Tampa blue line corps, the coach added. But in an achingly tight play in their series win over Pittsburgh given how poor Tristan Jarry was series, the coach felt the presence of Vasilevskiy would tilt the tables just for the Penguins. enough in Tampa’s favor.

“To me, this is a whole different series for the Islanders,” the executive “He’s likely the best goaltender in the world and I have a hard time in the said. The Islanders’ identity is in making life difficult for opposing teams’ playoffs betting against that,” the coach said. top players but the depth provided by Hall’s addition and the addition of Perhaps our executive put it best when he outlined how good Vegas was Mike Reilly on the blue line may make that more difficult for the Isles. in all aspects of the game, how good they are on both sides of the puck “That top line (Bergeron, Pastrnak, Marchand) is one of the best in and on special teams but then added this caveat: “The only problem is hockey and now adding Hall they just have three solid lines,” the Colorado is better.” executive said of the Bruins. It hearkens back to the outset of this prognostication project when it was What, for instance, does Trotz do with the top defensive pairing of Adam still up in the air whether Colorado would finish first or second in the Pelech and Ryan Pulock? If they go up against the Bergeron line that division and the consensus from our panel was that it didn’t matter who the Avalanche played. It was an easy sentiment to appreciate after watching the Avs cut through St. Louis, just two years removed from a Cup win, like the proverbial hot knife through soft butter in a four-game sweep.

Our executive joked that he forgot Brandon Saad – a two-time Stanley Cup champ – was with the Avavalanche, that’s how deep they are up front. And the blue line, including the additions of Devon Toews in the offseason and Patrik Nemeth at the deadline, is imposing.

“It’s as good as anyone in the league, or better,” the executive said. “And (Philipp) Grubauer’s been really, really good. This should be a helluva series,” he added.

Our coach had praise for Vegas head coach Pete DeBoer and believed there was merit in starting Robin Lehner against Colorado given the workload carried thus far by Marc-Andre Fleury. Though, obviously, this was before Lehner was lit up for seven goals against in Game 1 on Sunday night.

Our coach also believes Vegas will find another gear after stutter- stepping their way through much of the first round.

“I didn’t think they were playing very well, to be honest with you,” the coach said. But, for our coach, Colorado still has too much talent. “For me, Colorado’s still the best team.”

Our scout initially had Vegas coming out of the west and in fact, had Vegas and Tampa in the final. He likes the Golden Knights’ maturity and he’s likewise a big fan of DeBoer. Max Pacioretty’s return to the lineup – he scored in his first playoff appearance in Game 7 – and having Ryan Reaves also back in the fold even if both are banged up improves the chances for Vegas. Still, our scout was waffling.

“When I watch Colorado play,” he said searching for words. “Oh, it’s like they’re at a level…I’m just not sure Vegas is going to be able to do it.”

In the end, he stayed with his pre-playoff conviction and went with the Golden Knights. “But I have my doubts,” he admitted.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214770 Websites “The game tonight wasn’t about Robin Lehner. We didn’t play well enough in front of him.”

The one play that took this from a simple rout to a dangerous game of Cale Makar had four points; Nathan MacKinnon scored twice as the frontier justice was a hard, injurious hit by Avs defenceman Ryan Graves Colorado Avalanche dismantled the Vegas Golden Knights 7-1 in Game on winger Mattias Janmark, who did not return to the game. Janmark 1 of their series. Ryan Reaves received a match penalty in the game. was engaged with another Colorado player and Graves took full advantage.

That the hit came with Colorado holding a 4-0 lead was gas on the fire, Mark Spector@sportsnetspec and that fire burned right through a third period that saw Vegas tough guy Ryan Reaves ejected with a match penalty for bloodying Graves. May 31, 2021, 12:34 AM Remaining Time -3:21

Reaves ejected after kneeing Graves' head while down on the ice The playoffs ended with one arm tied behind the collective back of the Colorado Avalanche last season, injuries depleting them to the point “(The Graves hit) is blindside interference. We didn’t like the play, and we where they left the Edmonton bubble after two rounds with a lost a player. We’re trying to get those hits out of the game,” said Stone, disappointed shrug. who had no problem with his team’s search for vigilante justice the remainder of the evening. “Let’s be honest – you’re down 4-0 halfway “I would have liked to have seen our team fully healthy,” said Nathan through the game. It’s a long way to climb yourselves out of.” MacKinnon, after a Game 7 loss in Round 2 to the Dallas Stars, a game started by third-string goalie Michael Hutchinson. “You can call it an The league will look at the Reaves play, as they do all match penalties. excuse or whatever you want. That’s just the way it is. We lost some key guys to our team.” “Reaves was on a mission to hurt someone there in the third,” said Landeskog. “And that’s what he goes out and does.” This spring, with a healthy lineup and a divisional foe rolling into Denver after polishing off Minnesota in a seventh game just two nights prior, the Stay tuned. It’s heating up out West. Avalanche wasted no time declaring their dominance out West. They are healthy, and they are good. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.31.2021 Mighty good.

Colorado beat the Vegas Golden Knights as thoroughly as one team can defeat another Sunday night, opening their West Final in a 7-1 rout. It was a tour de force that was stated emphatically that the Avalanche may have ran out of bullets last year.

This time around, with players the quality of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, they are here and they mean business.

“I love the way our team played tonight,” said Colorado head coach Jared Bednar. “Right away, out of the gate, great skating, tremendous puck pressure, capitalizing on our chances... The top line set the tone, but our whole team was very good.

This Game 1 was about “learning from the past,” Bednar continued. “We discussed the Dallas series. We wanted to make sure we used our legs tonight, and just play to our identity. Turn it up a notch in the second round.”

Rest beat rust in Game 1 of this series, with Colorado siting around for a week after sweeping the St. Louis Blues.

Did Vegas fail to make the emotional leap from a frantic Game 7 to the start of a new series?

“We didn’t play well. They played a good game,” said Vegas captain Mark Stone. “They came out ready to go.”

The Vegas top line of MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen scored twice in the first period, then blasted tree more home in a four-goal second period for Colorado. Makar was a magician on the blue line with three assists and a goal.

Surely Vegas goalie Robin Lehner found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when Vegs head coach Peter DeBoer gave him his the start, spelling off Marc-Andre Fleury, who played every minute of Round 1 for Vegas.

Thanks coach.

The Avs came out, as Ilya Bryzgalov so famously said, “Like gorillas coming out of a cage.”

“Listen, rest is a weapon. Especially at this time of year,” Landeskog said. “We knew they were coming off a seven-game series with one day of rest, and we wanted to make sure we had a fast start.”

“Flower had just played seven games in 14 days, and an emotional Game 7,” explained DeBoer, who you can bet will go back to Fleury for Game 2 on Wednesday. “It was a perfect opportunity to use our other starter — that’s been a strength of ours all year. 1214771 Websites do a good job on the penalty kill and defend a lead when we’re up late in games.”

To that point, the Lightning were 31-1 this season when leading after two Barclay Goodrow scored a goal from a tight angle on Alex Nedeljkovic in periods, which is why Goodrow was spotted everywhere in the final ten the third period and that ended up being the game-winner as the Tampa minutes. Bay Lightning took Game 1 with a 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Shortly after his goal, with the frantic push on from the home team for the equalizer, Goodrow used his stick to deftly break up a dangerous two-on- one pass mere feet from being converted by Sebastian Aho. Eric Francis@EricFrancis In the final minute, Ryan McDonagh’s stick broke, only to have Goodrow May 30, 2021, 11:28 PM immediately replace it with his own as the clock ticked down.

“We just trust him in any situation,” said McDonagh, whose club snapped a scoreless tie midway through the game when Brayden Point redirected One day after his coach referred to him as a Jeep amongst Ferraris, a deft Victor Hedman slap pass through the wickets with the man Barclay Goodrow took the wheel for a series-opening spin as the game’s advantage. top skater as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. “When it’s a tie game he’s out there and makes a goal happen. When When Jon Cooper referenced the 28-year-old as a good old-fashioned, we’ve got a lead he’s out there defending. First and foremost, he four-wheel-drive-type player who had the ability to drag his sublimely sacrifices his body and is willing to block shots. We all feed off that. skilled club out of the mud, he did it knowing there’d be games like Sunday’s when Goodrow would lead the game with seven hits and top all “Secondly, he’s got some undercover skill around the net-front there.” forwards killing penalties. On a team full of players who took turns playing the hero role throughout What he’d only seen once before since Goodrow arrived in Tampa was a last season’s breakthrough run, Sunday’s star looked to be Point before game-deciding goal, leaving the coach unsure whether to compare it to a Andrei Vasilevskiy 37 saves seemed to be the difference. luxury ride or a weather-torn beater. But in the end, it was Goodrow taking a bow. “I don’t know if it was either one of those, but it sure was the winning goal,” he beamed, following the win over Carolina that wrestled home-ice “He’s a big-game kind of player,” said Hedman, whose club plays Game advantage away from the division champs. 2 Tuesday.

"He usually doesn't get his accolades from getting game-winning goals. “Obviously last year in the bubble he was outstanding. And you go back He's usually the guy stopping game-tying goals from happening. So to San Jose days, he scored a Game 7 overtime winner against Vegas. you're really happy for guys that are team-first players and have an He rises to the occasion and he’s a warrior out there. We were pretty opportunity to bask a little bit in the limelight." pumped to see him come back.”

Goodrow’s winner came with over seven minutes left in a tight game that had 16,300 Caniacs frothing after rookie Jake Bean tied it 1-1 early in the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.31.2021 third period with a power-play blast.

Goodrow sent a sharp-angled shot towards Hurricanes hotshot Alex Nedeljkovic that the rookie netminder somehow let in short-side, under his pad to deflate a Carolina club that had a 23-3-5 home record this year until Sunday’s loss at PNC Arena.

Three of his four career playoff goals have been game-winners, which says plenty about his ability to step up in the crunch. Nine of his 32 regular season winners have been winners too – a shockingly high percentage for a depth forward.

Asked afterwards how he felt about being described by his coach as a mid-range sport utility vehicle, Goodrow paused.

“I’ll take it,” he smiled, rolling with the analogy.

“I think they’re pretty reliable cars. I know their resale value is pretty good. They hold up in all conditions, so I’ll take it.”

Goodrow’s acquisition at last season’s trade deadline with Blake Coleman marked the organization’s clear intention to add more moxie, grit and defence to a club dripping in offensive firepower.

Having seen his character shine through in San Jose where he scored the game-winner in Games 5 and 7 of the Sharks’ first-round victory over Vegas in 2019, Goodrow was given far more than just token fourth-line minutes upon his arrival.

His return from an injury in time for the Bolts’ Game 6 victory over Florida solidified a third line that saw plenty of ice time and responsibilities against a potent Canes team Sunday.

Almost six of his 18:48 played on Sunday came on the penalty kill, limiting the NHL’s second-ranked power play to the Bean blast in five attempts.

“When I was traded here, obviously there’s so much skill on the team and so many high-end, elite players for goal-scoring, playmaking, whatever it may be,” said the six-foot-two, 203-pound Toronto native who had six goals and 20 points this season.

“I think my game is a little different than that. I can bring physicality and I do take a lot of pride in being defensively sound and being counted on to 1214772 Websites Archibald off the draw and preventing him from being able to get his stick in the shooting lane before Ehlers unloaded his perfect shot.

The biggest boost for Dubois between series was the opportunity to Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman go over all the news and rumours participate in regular practice after what has been a tumultuous season in the NHL including Sabres' talks with Jack Eichel, the latest on John that included a contract dispute, a fulfilled trade request, a 14-day Tavares, if the Winnipeg Jets will have fans in the stands and more. quarantine, two injuries and a variety pack of linemates as he bounced between playing centre and both wings.

Can Dubois be the Jets' X-factor heading into Round 2? Ken Wiebe@WiebesWorld “There have been a lot of ups and downs and it hasn’t been the easiest May 30, 2021, 10:23 AM year,” said Dubois. “I haven’t been injured in my life and this year there’s two. You can learn from everything. I still know my game isn’t necessarily

where I know it can be and where it should be. WINNIPEG — How much rest is too much? “I’m somebody who puts a lot of pressure on himself and has a lot of The answer to that question remains a bit of a mystery, much like the expectations, but you just keep working in practice. Now’s the time to get Winnipeg Jets' second-round opponent, which will require a Game 7 your game where you want it to be and when the second round starts, it’s between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens to determine. a new game and that’s what I’m trying to work on right now.”

Now that the gas tanks have been refuelled after a four-game sweep of The Jets also employ the goalie who was kept the busiest this season in the Edmonton Oilers that included three consecutive overtime games — Connor Hellebuyck. including a triple-OT thriller ended by Kyle Connor in the clincher — the After leading the NHL in starts (45) and saves (1,223), Hellebuyck was at Jets admit to being a bit restless to get back into game action. his best in the opening round, posting a perfect record while sporting a But the benefits of some additional time off still outweigh any possible 1.60 goals-against average and .950 save percentage. downside of a semblance of rust creeping in. As much as Hellebuyck enjoys the rhythm of a regular schedule, the “You want to make sure you don't let any bad habits creep into your extra time between action will allow him to be fresher — which could game throughout the practice. And then you're kind of just waiting,” said come in especially handy as the Jets face games on consecutive days Jets centre Adam Lowry. “We're going to go wherever we're told. It's one for a second round (Game 3 is slated for Sunday, with Game 4 following of those things where sometimes you get a little anxious to get started. Monday). We all want to just keep playing. You try and stay sharp as best you can, Hellebuyck used Saturday to work individually with Jets goalie coach try to stay as rested as you can, so that when the series starts we're Wade Flaherty and he’ll be up for the challenge of going head-to-head ready to go.” with either Jack Campbell or Carey Price. The series' start date actually became clear Saturday night with the No matter which team advances, the Jets know they’re in for a stiff test Canadiens forcing another elimination game after surviving a third-period against a club that features plenty of depth. rally by the Maple Leafs to win in overtime — just like they did in Game 5. “You look at Montreal and they seem to do it by committee,” said Lowry. CHOOSE PLAN “They don't necessarily have one superstar up front or anything like that. Round 2 in the North Division begins Wednesday in Toronto if the Maple They have a bunch of really good players. They're small, they're quick, Leafs win and in Winnipeg if the Canadiens are victorious for a third they're tenacious, they're on the puck and they kind of do it through hard consecutive game. forechecking and throwing pucks to the net and creating scrums. They have a bit of a bigger back end. The Jets are going to stay off the ice Sunday after three consecutive days of practice. “And then you look at Toronto and obviously Auston (Matthews) and Mitch (Marner). But they've got a little bit of extra depth, depending on Despite having to wait for more than a full week between games, the Jets what happens with (John) Tavares and how he heals. Obviously you look won’t have trouble getting fired up for the next opponent. at how (William) Nylander's played in the first round and you kind of go down their forward list and they have some depth, they have some “Calm but ready,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “There’s a timing scoring. They get contributions from all different lines. Both teams to that and a peaking to that. So really important that we go about our present different challenges. They attack slightly differently. They create business and cover our bases. First: you’ve got to probably fill the their offence a little differently. But we're focused on how we play and reserves, get rested, get ready, get right. That anticipation is coming. I how our style of play is going to prevent those chances against, whether think you can already feel it. Right now, it’s all details and tactics and it's against Toronto or Montreal.” trying to keep the legs right. Jets continue embracing underdog status as they await next opponent “And I think there’s confidence that we’ll be able to get to that emotional level. The longer that your break is, the more anticipation. We’re close to When you look at how the Jets disposed of the Oilers, there’s a quiet needing a game here soon.” confidence surrounding this group as they find themselves in the second round for the first time since 2018. There are some obvious benefits for the Jets when it comes to the extended break, and at the top of that list is the opportunity to get back to “Going into it, there weren't a whole lot of believers in our team, but even full health. through our struggles down the stretch I don't think the belief in our locker room ever really wavered,” said Lowry. “We've gone through this year Whether it’s the regular bumps and bruises that come up at this time of and for the most part we were really strong bouncing back from losses, the year, or an extra week and change for speedy winger Nikolaj Ehlers coming back and generally winning the next game. And you kind of go on to build up his strength and conditioning after missing the first two games that slide right near the end of the year and everyone's trying to figure of the first-round series with a suspected shoulder injury, the Jets will out: 'What's wrong with the Winnipeg Jets? Why are things not going take it. right for them?’ Ehlers made an immediate impact in his return to the Jets' lineup, scoring “But in our locker room, we really believe in the group we have here. We twice, including the overtime winner in Game 3. have a world-class goalie who gives us a chance to win every night. I Fellow forward Pierre-Luc Dubois was sidelined the series opener with don't know if you're catching teams by surprise. Everyone's kind of an undisclosed injury he suffered in the regular-season finale, but geared up to play. I think maybe Edmonton maybe was a little surprised returned for Game 2 and finished with two assists in three games, with at our commitment to defence and how tightly we were able to check both points coming on the power play. some of them early in the series. But as you move on, every team is capable of winning every night. You're going to get every team's best Dubois also made an important play on the Game 3 overtime winner that every night and the better team's going to come out on top.” didn’t end up on the scoresheet, subtly holding up Oilers winger Josh Whether the Jets remain an underdog against the Maple Leafs or a slight favourite against the Canadiens, their approach won’t change one bit.

The Jets know the style of play they’ll need to lean on once the next round begins.

The commitment to team defence, focusing on puck management and limiting turnovers, being disciplined and creating offence the right way remain high on the list of priorities.

“A guy like me that's getting older, you never know when another chance is going to come up, so I'm very happy that we get a chance to play in the second round,” said Jets left winger Mathieu Perreault. “Now, it's going to be down to eight teams and you can really cherish that and bring everything you have to that second round so you can keep moving forward.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214773 Websites Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets In four straight wins to sweep the Edmonton Oilers in Round One,

Hellebuyck faced a combined 159 shots (39 of which came off the stick Sportsnet.ca / Conn Smythe Power Rankings: Kucherov shines in Round of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl) and let in only eight of them for an 1 impressive .950 save percentage and 1.60 goals-against average. Winnipeg’s deep offence has found its stride after slumping down the stretch, but Hellebuyck’s presence has made it clear to his teammates that even when the goals don’t come, he can still get them the win. That Emily Sadler@EmmySadler was certainly the case in Game 2, a 38-save shutout in what was a low- May 30, 2021, 9:52 AM scoring chess match of a game that ended 1-0 in overtime.

“He’s the reason we have a chance. He’s the reason we are a playoff team and the reason we have confidence every time we go out there,” Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is (mostly) in the books, and as 16 Jets captain Blake Wheeler said of Hellebuyck after that Game 2 shutout teams are (almost) trimmed down to eight, we've seen plenty of standout against Edmonton. “You just can’t say enough about having a guy who performances prompting early Conn Smythe conversations. you believe is going to stop every shot. And when one does go in, you just kind of say, ‘Well, that was lucky.’ It’s such a great confidence boost Round 2 got underway Saturday night, with the Boston Bruins defeating for the group where you don’t feel like you have to play perfect hockey." the New York Islanders in Game 1. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens extended Round One until Monday by forcing Game 7 against the Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes Toronto Maple Leafs. Carolina’s deep roster has already brought a handful of MVP-like Here's an early look at potential Conn Smythe contenders through the performances, from Jordan Staal leading by example and young Martin first round of post-season action. Necas scoring big goals to the dynamic duo of Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin flexing their offensive muscles and Alex Nedeljkovic’s CHOOSE PLAN strong performances behind them. But it’s Sebastian Aho who gets the Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche nod here, thanks to his clutch first-round play against Nashville. He collected his points in bunches in Round One, and in the biggest game, Few players can take their game to the level that the Avalanche forward he was at his best. Aho scored twice to send the Predators packing in reaches in the playoffs. In Game 1 against the Blues, the 25-year-old had Game 6, tallying two smart redirections to fool the phenomenal Juuse two goals and an assist. Game 2 brought an even better performance, Saros. He leads the offensive powerhouse in goals (5) and points (7) and tallying a hat trick (including his second straight game-winning goal) for a will be really fun to watch against Tampa Bay in Round Two. four-point game. He’s playing at a 2.25 points per game pace, a scoring threat every time he's on the ice. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

One point behind MacKinnon is Gabriel Landeskog -- the only other Prior to Saturday’s Game 6, Nylander had at least one point in every first- playoff performer whose points-per-game average starts with a two. The round game, including a goal in the first four. He’s been undoubtedly the captain earned at least one point in all four games against St. Louis, best forward for Toronto, and at a time when the team’s other stars are tallying two goals, six assists, and eight points in just four games, and struggling to produce, Nylander is doing all he can to carry this offence to could have some Conn Smythe buzz as well. Round 2.

Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Prior to these playoffs, the last NHL action Nikita Kucherov saw involved The biggest reason the Montreal Canadiens climbed back from a 3-1 him hoisting the Stanley Cup. Now back in the post-season after missing series deficit? His name is Carey Price. While Montreal's young centres the entire regular season while recovering from hip surgery, he hasn't have been the heroes in overtime, Price has been the brick wall missed a beat and is already playing like he's ready to ready to pick up positioning them for success. If the Habs can complete the comeback another Cup. and win Game 7, we'll have ourselves a great goalie showdown between Price and Hellebuyck with the Jets. He landed himself on the scoresheet in five of the Lightning’s six first- round games against Florida to defeat the Panthers, starting with a two- Anthony Beauvillier, New York Islanders goal, three-point effort in Game 1 and topping that total with a four-point On an offence that’s not exactly known for its high-scoring ways, matchup three games later. He leads the league in playoff points with 11 Beauvillier has been the most productive forward for this defensive- (3G, 8A). minded group and was a major reason why they were able to outscore Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights the Penguins. He put up three goals and seven points in six games against Pittsburgh, and got off to a strong start against Boston with With every game of the Golden Knights' first-round series against the another goal. Minnesota Wild, a new hero emerged for Vegas, capped by Mattias Janmark landing himself in Vegas Game 7 lore. But, just like he did throughout the regular season, Marc-Andre Fleury has provided a Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.31.2021 steady, strong presence all along with plenty of heroics of his own.

After putting up stellar numbers in the regular season — a 1.98 goals- against average, .928 save percentage, six shutouts in 36 appearances — he hasn’t missed a beat in the playoffs with his 1.71 GAA, .931 save percentage, and one shutout. Playing against a tough, persistent defence in Minnesota and opposite another hot goalie in Cam Talbot, Fleury kept Vegas strong even when the club struggled offensively.

David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy looked every bit the top defenceman he is in the Bruins' first-round matchup against Washington, and while this Conn Smythe ranking is technically all about those Round 1 takeaways, the early start for Boston's second-round series against New York cannot be ignored. In other words, David Pastrnak's offensive outburst cannot be ignored. Hello, Conn Smythe contender. Pastrnak's smart play and elite skill were on full display Saturday night.

Through six games, the dynamic winger and one-third of The Perfection Line now has five goals and nine points. Safe to say, Playoff Pasta has officially arrived. 1214774 Websites "Despite Montreal doing a really good job against them, they have found ways to generate some really good high-danger chances in every game," said Keefe.

Leafs must embrace 'incredible opportunity' to exorcise playoff demons Matthews fired seven shots on net while logging more than 30 minutes of ice time on Saturday. But the Leafs held only a slight edge in shot attempts in the five-on-five minutes that Matthews played. So, he wasn't the dominant Rocket Richard Trophy winner we saw in the regular By Mark Masters season.

"We've done a lot of really good things," the 23-year-old insisted, TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who "whether it was gaining momentum for our team when we've lost it or just held a media availability on Sunday ahead of Monday's Game 6 against creating chances and creating havoc. Obviously, we'd like to see those the Canadiens. pucks go in, but we're just going to keep shooting and keep fighting and keep working to help the team win." Maybe this was meant to be. Perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs need to go to the limit again to finally, once and for all, exorcise their playoff Marner was less upbeat following Saturday's loss. demons. "We need to be better in these situations," the 24-year-old winger said. "As much as it sucks how we got here and what we've been through the "We're playing too much in our zone. When we got in their zone, we were last couple games ... I really feel, frankly, we're right where we're doing a decent job of moving the puck around and getting to the net, but supposed to be," said coach Sheldon Keefe. "We're facing a Game 7 too much energy was wasted in our own zone. We've got to make sure situation, a very difficult task at a time when the other team has we're better than that." momentum, at a time when you start to doubt and question yourself and Marner appears to be pressing. He uncharacteristically flipped the puck people on the outside doubt and question you. You got an opportunity over the glass leading to a delay-of-game penalty on Saturday. He here in a Game 7 to embrace that and meet that head on and push termed the play "dumb." through it." "Those guys have got to remain confident and not get distracted," said The last four seasons, the Leafs failed to push through at key moments Keefe. "There's lots of moments where those guys have had chances to in the opening playoff round. make the difference so they have to trust that those chances will be there "We've been on the other end of the stick in these do-or-die games," again and got to make good on them. And, throughout all that, they have noted centre Auston Matthews. "We would like to rewrite that script and to continue to play hard and play structured and play smart and all those we have a great opportunity come Monday." kinds of things. But, certainly, we need everybody to be at their best tomorrow and our best players, in particular." "Obviously, nerves come into play," said defenceman Morgan Rielly, the longest-serving Leaf. "It's a big challenge for us, but having that "We're going to breakthrough here," vowed Hyman. "I know those guys experience of playing in these games helps." put a lot of pressure on themselves and it's going to be a big night for them." The difference this year is the Leafs are the clear favourites in the series having finished 18 points clear of the Montreal Canadiens in the regular 'They need to be difference-makers': Leafs expect Matthews, Marner to season. And they showed that superiority by building a three games to step up in Game 7 one lead. And yet they have ended up at the same spot as usual. Just Auston Matthews led the league in goal-scoring in the regular season like against the Boston Bruins in 2018 and 2019 and against the while Mitch Marner finished fourth in the NHL with 67 points. However, Columbus Blue Jackets last year, the Leafs season comes down to a their success has not translated over to the playoffs as Toronto's top duo win-or-go-home game. has just one goal between them in the series against Montreal. "There's a lot on the line," said Rielly. "It's a big opportunity for this group With Nylander leading the team in goals (four) and points (seven) in the to move forward and win and put that behind us. There's a lot at stake." series, Keefe has tried to find more ice time for the smooth-skating Rielly, Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Zach Hyman are Swede. That included more minutes alongside Matthews and Marner in the five guys expected to play on Monday who were also part of the four Game 6. previous playoff eliminations. "It’s been OK," Keefe said of the trio. "We used it more last night than we General manager Kyle Dubas bolstered that core with hungry veterans have and I don't think it was Will’s strongest game of the series so I don’t like Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian and Nick Foligno know if it’s a true indication of what they could be capable of. So, it’s for exactly these scenarios. something we got to look at."

"It's just staying in the moment," said Foligno. "That is the best thing you Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Leafs had a 9-3 edge in shot attempts in can advise anybody. In a Game 7 you rise to the occasion because the five minutes and 37 seconds Nylander, Matthews and Marner played you're in the moment. You look around that room and the guys around together at even strength. our team that have the abilities that they have, I feel real confident with Nylander was held off the scoresheet on Saturday for the first time in the their mindset being that way." series although he did help set up the Jason Spezza goal by being strong Toronto has come painfully close to advancing in the past. And now on the forecheck. they’ve been one goal away twice in this series. "Will had been playing very well in the [previous] role and how I was "Last night, you feel like s— because of what you've been through and utilizing him," Keefe noted, "and the last couple of games I got away from you're right there in overtime and you could end the series and you don't that in an effort to get him a little bit more and it really hasn't gone as well get it done," said Keefe. "But you wake up this morning and you think for him so I have to manage that a little bit and make sure I'm not getting about the opportunity for our team. Everything they've been through, him out of the rhythm that he was in." especially our core guys, to have this opportunity on this stage, to have After missing three games with a lower-body injury, Foligno returned to this be the moment to push through it, it’s an incredible opportunity." the second-line centre role on Saturday night starting between Alex Playoff disappointment is nothing new to the Maple Leafs. Toronto has Galchenyuk and Nylander. But Keefe is considering reuniting Nylander been bounced from the playoffs in the first round in four straight years and Galchenyuk with Alex Kerfoot in Game 7. and are 0-6 in elimination games since 2018, but have a chance to put "I wanted to get Nick back in the spot we had him in before he left the their previous playoff failures behind them with a win in Game 7 on lineup and get a sense of where he was at," Keefe explained. "Kerfoot's Monday. Mark Masters has more. played well for us no matter where we've had him. So, that is something One reason why the Leafs are in this position is the top line's lack of we're looking at. It's a combination of Nick's health and how it effects the production. Matthews has one goal on 32 shots. Marner has yet to score rest of the lineup. That's one of the things on my list today to sort while firing 17 shots on Carey Price. Zach Hyman has one goal on 19 through." shots. Leafs Ice Chips: Will we see Nylander-Matthews-Marner in Game 7?

William Nylander leads the Leafs in goals (4) and points (7) in the playoffs, which has led Sheldon Keefe to try and get him more ice time, including shifts with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. But the coach isn't sold on that trio together. "We used it more last night than we have and I don't think it was Will's strongest game of the series," Keefe noted.

There wasn't much of an update on defenceman Jake Muzzin, who left Saturday's game with a lower-body injury.

"He's getting further tests this afternoon so we don't have word or update on his status yet," Keefe said. "He hasn't been ruled out [of Game 7] at this point."

One trend in all three losses by the Leafs in the series has been a slow start. They fell behind 1-0 in Game 1, 3-0 in Game 5 and 2-0 in Game 6.

"That’s inexcusable, obviously," said Hyman. "It's something that we've discussed as a team. So, that's on us and we'll be ready to go for Game 7. We can't change anything in Game 5 and Game 6, but it's something we have to grow from and learn from. I think the guys are ready and it's a huge opportunity. Montreal-Toronto, Game 7, we'll be ready."

Keefe is taking some of the blame for the early-game angst. The coaching staff spent time on Sunday discussing the best ways to get the group going in Game 7.

"There's a responsibility for the players to be ready at the drop of the puck but, as the head coach, I take a lot of responsibility myself to have the group ready and that hasn't been the case," he said. "Montreal is a team that's going to come with lots of energy and speed and pressure early. In the games where we've had success as a team, we've managed that early on and then pulled away as the game has gone along. They've been able to establish their game for a longer period of time here in the last couple and we have to change that."

Montreal has outscored Toronto 4-1 in the first period in the series while the Leafs hold a 9-2 edge in the second period and 7-3 in the third period.

TSN.CA LOADED: 05.31.2021 1214775 Websites their previous playoff failures behind them with a win in Game 7 on Monday. Mark Masters has more.

“It's natural during a playoff series to let doubt creep in a little bit,” said Maple Leafs hope to extinguish Game 7 demons against Habs Rielly. “But it's on us to control that. As a group we have to approach it like we have to win one game. We're not overly happy with how we got here, but the reality is we have to go out there on home ice tomorrow and win one game. And I think that we have a huge belief in our group to be By Kristen Shilton able to play with anybody, to beat anybody one time.”

The Leafs’ chances of success would improve with more output from TORONTO — The Maple Leafs have one chance left to either re-write their top line. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner especially have had a their painful playoff history, or remain doomed to repeat it. quiet series so far, with Matthews notching one goal and two assists and Marner having yet to score while tallying four helpers. For the third time in four years, Toronto is facing elimination in Game 7 of its first-round NHL playoff series. Every one of those games ended in a The low production hasn’t been for lack of effort. Matthews leads all Leafs’ loss, as did a decisive Game 5 in the qualifying round of last Leafs in shots (32) and all forwards in shot attempts (116) this summer’s postseason tournament. postseason; Marner has put 17 pucks on Carey Price and recorded 105 attempts. But the Canadiens top line centered by Phillip Danault has It wasn’t supposed to be like this again for Toronto. This time, the North continually stymied the Leafs’ top scorers. Division’s top-seeded Leafs built a 3-1 lead over Montreal in their opening-round series, and were poised to advance to the second round “There's a great emphasis from their team that anytime Mitch and Auston for the first time since 2004. are on the ice to make sure that [they are] extra focused [on them],” said Zach Hyman, who has played primarily on a line with Matthews and Then came the Leafs’ Game 5 loss in overtime, followed by another Marner throughout the series. “In the playoffs, you key in on guys who overtime loss in Saturday’s Game 6. In both outings the Leafs fell behind make a big difference. On our end, it’s just continuing to stick with the by multiple goals, and had to claw their way back in the third period just process and continue to work and generate chances and those chances to force an extra frame. are going to fall in.”

Leafs determined to fix slow starts: 'It's Montreal-Toronto Game 7, we'll Keefe is also doing his part to ensure Toronto ices the best possible be ready' lineup in Game 7, at least given the information at hand. The Leafs lost Jake Muzzin to a lower-body injury midway through Game 6 and he was Slow starts have plagued the Maple Leafs in the past two games, falling having tests done on Sunday to determine whether he’ll be available on behind 3-0 and 2-0 in games before making a comeback that would Monday. Keefe said he hadn’t seen Muzzin since returning from Montreal ultimately fall short in overtime. The team is determined to fix their poor but that he is not officially ruled out yet for Game 7. starts and will be ready for the Canadiens right from the jump in Game 7. Meanwhile up front, Keefe is navigating the return of Nick Foligno from a The result is that a series once dominated by Toronto is now up for grabs lower-body ailment with the stellar play of Alex Kerfoot. Foligno returned in Monday’s Game 7. And only a victory has power to change the Leafs’ in Game 7 following a three-game absence and was originally slotted sad playoff narrative. back onto the Leafs’ second line, but Keefe replaced him with Kerfoot “[After Game 6] you feel like sh*t because of what you've been through (who has six points in his last four games) in the second period. and you're right there in overtime, you could end the series, and you “That's one of the things I'm looking at,” Keefe said. “We wanted to get don't get it done,” coach Sheldon Keefe said on Sunday. "[But] as much Nick back in the spot we had him before and get a sense of where he as it sucks how we got here and we hate it, I really feel that we are right was at. Kerfoot’s played very well for us no matter where we've had him. where we're supposed to be, where we're facing a Game 7 situation at a So, it’ll be a combination of Nick's health and just how it affects the rest of time when you start to doubt and question yourself, and people on the the lineup; figuring that out is one of the things on my list.” outside doubt and question you. You’ve got an opportunity here in Game 7 to embrace that and meet that head on and push through it.” When all that preparation is done, what’s left will be earning the biggest win of Toronto’s season to date. If they manage that, the Leafs will have Only nine players expected to be in Toronto’s lineup on Monday also done more for themselves than just reach the next round. suited up in their most recent Game 7, a 5-1 loss to Boston in April 2019. Fewer than that (eight) were with the Leafs the season before when they “You wake up this morning and you think about the opportunity that our blew a 4-3 third period lead in another Game 7 against Boston and fell 7- team has,” Keefe said. “For everything that they've been through, 4. especially our core guys, to have this opportunity on this stage, to have this be the moment to push through it. I think it's an incredible Keefe has said throughout the regular season and playoffs that this is a opportunity. I'm very excited for our team to play tomorrow.” different group, one not tormented by past postseason failures. But for key players who have been through them all, like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly, the unsettling memories of a job not done still linger. TSN.CA LOADED: 05.31.2021

“You leave the game last night and you're thinking about it throughout the day,” Keefe said of Toronto’s recent shortcomings. “You reflect on what the group has been through, in particular our core group, and we've talked about it. I think this group that we have here, this team is its own unit, and it's separate from anything that's happened in the past but there's components of the group that have been through a lot here.”

What the Leafs hope is to have learned a thing or two along the way, even over the past week. In Games 5 and 6, Toronto fell behind because of self-inflicted errors, whether via turnovers in the defensive zone (Game 5) or undisciplined penalties (Game 6). They also managed to bridge the gap in both instances with timely goals and reach overtime, only to be undone by more giveaways - one by Alex Galchenyuk, one from Travis Dermott - that led directly to Montreal’s game-winning goals.

Those mistakes can’t be undone now, and Toronto can’t allow itself to be haunted by them either.

Playoff disappointment is nothing new to the Maple Leafs. Toronto has been bounced from the playoffs in the first round in four straight years and are 0-6 in elimination games since 2018, but have a chance to put 1214776 Websites

USA TODAY / Golden Knights' Ryan Reaves receives match penalty for injuring Avalanche's Ryan Graves

Mike Brehm

USA TODAY

The Vegas Golden Knights were upset with Ryan Graves' injury-causing hit on Mattias Janmark and went after him during Sunday's 7-1 Colorado Avalanche victory.

But Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves is looking at the possibility of a suspension after he was ejected in the third period for punching Graves in the back of the head, throwing him to the ice and going after him while he was down.

Reaves received a double minor for roughing and a match penalty. That means an automatic review of his actions by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Graves was down on the ice for several minutes, but was able to skate to the dressing room.

"Reaves is on a mission to go out and hurt somebody in the third (period), and that's what he goes out and does," said Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog.

Reaves was suspended one game for a hit to the head in last year's playoffs and was suspended for three games for boarding in 2016.

Janmark, who scored a hat trick for the Golden Knights in their Game 7 victory against the Minnesota Wild, didn't return to the game after he was hit by Graves in the second period.

Graves received a two-minute minor for interference on the play.

Vegas coach Peter DeBoer called that hit dirty and said he had no update on Janmark.

"It's hard not to carry that emotion through the rest of the game," he said.

The incidents marred a dominant win by the rested Avalanche, who had swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round.

Goalie Robin Lehner was a surprise starter for Vegas after DeBoer opted to rest Marc-Andre Fleury, who had started all seven games against Minnesota. Lehner made his first start since May 10.

The line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen scored five goals, and defenseman Cale Makar had a four-point game.

"There's a lot of things we need to improve going forward, and we're fortunate to have two days between games here," said Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.

USA TODAY LOADED: 05.31.2021